The Swellesley Report

Wellesley ice cream joints to unite for Cone Crawl

bbrown — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:37:13 +0000

Wellesley Theatre Project (WTP) this weekend will begin selling tickets to the first annual Wellesley Cone Crawl, which on June 15th from noon to 5pm gets you a small cone at 6 local ice cream/smoothie shops (JP Licks, Pinkberry, Truly Yogurt, White Mountain Creamery, Whole Foods and Boloco) and raises money for WTP programs. You can find reps from the nonprofit WTP around during this Wellesley Wonderful Weekend.

How it works:

Community supporters, students, parents, and folks wanting to have a crazy fun time visiting the best Cone Shops around will purchase a WTP First Annual Cone Crawl ticket for $10 each.
Each WTP Cone Crawl ticket will entitle the bearer to visit participating Wellesley ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato shops to enjoy a small cone (think tasting size).
When they complete the Cone Crawl Course of 2013, the participants will be invited to the Wellesley Theatre Project studio on Central Street to claim their WTP “I Conquered the Cone Crawl” T-Shirt.

All proceeds will support WTP’s classes and camps, productions, workshops/master classes, scholarships and more.

Sponsors include First Commons Bank, Milestone, Benoit Mizner Simon & Co., Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation, and Music Together of Wellesley and Needham.

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Random scenes from Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend

bbrown — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:22:25 +0000

Art in the Park weaving installation next to Wellesley Free Library.

Military encampment at Town Hall

Wellesley High Lacrosse team car wash at Linden Square (photo by Caleb Brown, from back seat of a car).

Wellesley Police Department open house.

Wheels of Wellesley car show at Wellesley Community Center (shown: Rob Cerulle’s 1929 2-door Ford sedan)

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On the Button: Wellesley Senior Center supporters

bbrown — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:21:53 +0000

Tom Coyle from the Friends of the Wellesley Council on Aging, says the group is making available a variety of $1 buttons for those in favor of building the Tolles-Parsons Senior Center in town.

Supporters of such a center, to be built at the old American Legion property at 496 Washington Street under the latest proposal, were buoyed by approval for design and permitting funds at the most recent Town Meeting.

The subject sparked vigorous debate, with opponents questioning the need for a standalone facility, which is expected to cost millions to build and bump up tax bills.

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Justine’s Table to remain BYOB for now

bbrown — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:33:42 +0000

Justine’s Table, the Rte. 9 East restaurant in Wellesley that opened last year, has withdrawn its application for an all-alcohol license after Wellesley Board of Selectmen members raised many concerns and questions during a public meeting earlier this month.

Questions were raised about who really owns the business (various names have been involved over the past couple of years), with the board seeking to straighten that out before considering an all-alcohol license. The current owner, Gordon Breidenbach, and restaurant group’s attorney explained that they’ve worked to clarify ownership in recent months by filing appropriate paperwork. Still, the board said that uncertainty surrounding construction of a residential apartment building behind Justine’s (construction is expected to get underway this summer) raises fresh questions about the appropriateness of granting an all-alcohol license at this time. Terms such as “troubled” and “premature” peppered the comments from the board members.

Board members expressed an appreciation for the business owner’s desire to move forward with an all-alcohol license to help fuel interest in the restaurant. After all, the restaurant group’s attorney acknowledged that business has not been as brisk at Justine’s as hoped for. He said the lack of tenants upstairs (and the lack of residents from the apartment building to be built) has eliminated some potential customers, and noted that feedback from actual customers is that BYOD doesn’t fit well with Justine’s fine dining approach — they’d rather buy their booze on-site.

Withdrawing the application spared Justine’s of having its application denied by the board, and gives hope that the restaurant group can re-apply once paperwork is tidied up and the construction project is further along.

WHERE to eat in Wellesley

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Lincoln gets a Swellesley Report of its own

bbrown — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:07:14 +0000

Congrats to Alice Waugh, a journalist and communications professional, for launching The Lincoln Squirrel, a hyperlocal website in her hometown of Lincoln, Mass.

I met with Alice last fall to discuss the origins of The Swellesley Report, back when she was noodling the idea of site for the town where she grew up and moved back to a few years ago. The Squirrel started up late last year, and now features a steady stream of news, photos and events.

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Ex-Wellesley School Superintendent looks to get back in the game

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:18:07 +0000

Bella Wong, who resigned as Wellesley’s school superintendent at the end of this past school year, is one of 3 finalists for the interim superintendent/principal at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.

Wong late last year was named Weston’s representative to the Minuteman High School Committee.

More on the L-S Regional High School process (Boston.com).

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Morses Pond beach tags on sale

bbrown — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:00:59 +0000

Residents can now purchase Morses Pond beach tags, while non-residents can buy tags starting next week.

The pond officially opens for swimming on May 25, the start of Memorial Day weekend. Tags cost $25 for kids up to age 16, $30 for adults and $25 for senior citizens until June 11. The child and adult tags cost an extra $5 after that date.

Daily tags cost $5 for residents, $10 for non-residents.

For more info, swimming lesson info, visit the Wellesley Recreation Department website.

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Ex-Red Sox player Carl Crawford sells Wellesley home for $2.6M

bbrown — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:06:45 +0000

Carl Crawford, the $140M former Red Sox outfielder now playing for the LA Dodgers, last month sold his 5, 235 sq. ft. ,Wellesley home at 39 Temple Rd., for $2.6M.

He was looking for $3.2M last summer when the single-family home with batting cage near Dana Hall School hit the market, but settled for a little bit more than the $2.5M he paid for it 2 years ago.

As for Crawford, he’s bounced back a bit baseball-wise, batting over .300 so far this season after a couple of disappointing injury-plagued seasons in Boston.

Former Celtics player Ray Allen, the other big pro sports player who lived in Wellesley but headed out of town, sold his mansion for $4.6M earlier this year to break even on the investment.

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Watertown police, marathon bomber copter expected at Wellesley Veterans’ Parade

bbrown — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:58:58 +0000

The Wellesley Celebrations Committee plans during the 45th Annual Wellesley Veterans’ Parade on Sunday, May 19 to honor those whose efforts helped capture the Boston Marathon bombers and protect the public during the events.

From 3-3:15pm at the 13.1 Mile Mark (halfway home) of the Boston Marathon, a ceremony will be held to salute “Boston & Wellesley Strong,” according to Roy Switzler, chairman of the Wellesley Celebrations & Parade Committee. A band will play the National Anthem and America the Beautiful, a Marine Color Guard will be in attendance, and the street will be marked with a painting of the Boston/Wellesley Strong symbol, he says.

What’s more, expect an appearance by the Watertown Police Department and a fly over by the helicopter used to locate the 2nd marathon bomber in the Watertown boat. The state police copter is expected to land later at Hunnewell Field, though that depends on whether it has any assignments that day.

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Wellesley Veterans’ Parade to honor town’s finest this weekend

bbrown — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:53:24 +0000

As Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend nears, the Celebrations Committee has revealed the names of those being honored that day, as listed below, as well as the Line of March (those marching in the parade). That’s shown below as well.

Parade Grand Marshals	Korean War Veterans In recognition of those “Not Forgotten”.
Distinguished Service Award	Janice G. Coduri In recognition of 18 years service as Director of the Wellesley Free Library.
Chief of Staff	Edward B. Williams In recognition of Wellesley’s oldest Veteran, 102 years of age.
Dedicated Service Award	Peter Bracken In recognition of 40 years service at the Municipal Light Plant and Department of Public Works.
Dedicated Service Award	Dr. Robert Callahan In recognition of 25 years service as a teacher at Wellesley High School.
Dedicated Service Award	Lynne Johnson In recognition of 33 years service as an Art teacher at Wellesley Middle School.
Dedicated Service Award	Richard A. (Rick) Weaver In recognition of 37 years service at the Wellesley Police Department.
Community Service Award	Suzanne G. Suzy Littlefield In recognition of 12 years service on the Wellesley School Committee, and as a former Advisory Committee member, Wellesley High School Building Committee member, and longtime TMM.
Community Service Award	Mary Ann Cluggish In recognition of 12 years service on the Wellesley Free Library Board of Trustees, and service on the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission, Wellesley Recreation Commission, Open Space Management Study Committee, Advisory Committee, Permanent Building Committee, and longtime TMM.
Community Service Award	Mark Antonelli In recognition of 6 years service on the Wellesley Recreaton Committee, and service as a former Advisory Committee member, Town By Law Committee member, and longtime TMM.
Special Appreciation Award	Marcia G.Weaver In recognition of the committee and by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) for her efforts to bring the “Gold Star Memorial Coach” train to life.
Special Appreciation Award	Wellesley Hills Branch Library In recognition of the 100 year Anniversary of its founding.
Special Appreciation Award	Wellesley Boy Scouts Troop #182 In recognition of their 100 year Birthday.
Special Appreciation Award	St. Mary’s Church In recognition of their 200 year Anniversary.
Special Appreciation Award	Richards of Wellesley In recognition of Mr. Richard Foote, 50 Years in Wellesley business.
Special Appreciation Award	The Family of Francis Cummings In recognition of a former Wellesley resident who was a crew member of the USS Thresher, a nuclear powered submarine, which sank 50 years ago in 1963.

45th Annual Wellesley Veterans’ Parade

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