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Never a good sign

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Wellesley Hills House of Pizza seized sign nov 17

Wellesley dump not for everybody

Though you might get the impression anyone from anywhere can stop by based on a blurb about it in the current issue of Improper Bostonian magazine (there’s no online version). The magazine points out what a great deal the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility is, includes directions to it, cites the take it and leave it zone….but neglects to stress that you need to be a Wellesley resident to go there (or at least know when stickers aren’t checked).

Speaking of the RDF, it is open for the next 2 Sundays from 11am-3pm for leaf disposal, recycling and trash disposal.


Weston vs. Dunkin’: Sound familiar?

Weston officials are fighting to keep a Dunkin’ Donuts from mussing up the town, recalling Wellesley’s own efforts to keep a Dunkin’ Donuts from invading Linden Street in 2006 and bringing certain ruin to the town.


Everyone’s Playground photo and video tour

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Everyone’s Playground, the new structure at the Sprague Fields/Sprague School, features ramps that make the it accessible to all kids, including those who use wheelchairs or walkers. Features include a very cool Sway Fun rocking ride, side-by-side and twirly slides, plus one that has sort of rollers on it, a selection of tire and other swings, a climbing rope, tunnels, musical bars and more.

Here’s a quick video tour (excuse the Blair Witch Project-like breathing…video was taken in the middle of a run):

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Wellesley chief has his say on police details

Wellesley Police Department Chief Terrence Cunningham sticks up for using police officers rather than flaggers via this Myths/Facts letter. Wellesley police offers do details on their off-time and get $36 an hour, whereas civilian flaggers get $34.85, Cunningham states.

Of course Gov. Deval Patrick and others see things a bit differently than Cunningham and many police personnel, as evidenced by new rules put into place to replace off-duty cops with civilian flaggers at traffic/construction sites.

Tornado watch in Wellesley Saturday night

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Saw on the Wellesley Police Photo Division Web site that there was a tornado watch last night. Guessing it didn’t hit Wizard of Oz proportions.

The story of Wellesley’s Boston Bruin

Ed Barry, Northeastern hockey player

The Boston Bruins are off to a hot start and in first place in their division, so it seems like a good time to visit the way-back machine and reminisce a bit about Ed Barry, a Wellesley native born in 1919 who once played left wing for the B’s.

Barry’s Bruins career was short — just 19 games — but he can claim that he scored a goal for the hometown hockey team during the 1946-47 season, back when there were only 6 NHL teams. His career NHL stats also include 3 assists and 2 penalty minutes. During his stint with the Bruins he was one of the few U.S.-born skaters in the NHL. Hockey Hall of Famer and old-time Bruins star Milt Schmidt told the Boston Globe in a 1989 article that Barry was an aggressive player, though not especially fast.

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According to the Legends of Hockey website, Barry spent most of his hockey career playing for the Boston Olympics, a Bruins farm team in  the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (he also coached the Olympics). Barry  also played for Northeastern University alongside longtime Bruins broadcaster Fred Cusick and is in the school’s sports Hall of Fame). He also played for the Coast Guard Cutters while serving in WWII. Barry was also a coach for Boston State College and served as an ECAC and NCAA hockey official.

Barry’s Wikipedia profile says he left the Bruins because he didn’t want to travel for away games.

After hockey, Barry honed his golfing skills and went into the insurance business in Needham at Barry and Farrell Insurance Agency.

How Wellesley fits into Boston art gallery shake-up

The Boston Phoenix writes about a big turnover this year among Boston art galleries, especially those in the South End. But one gallery bringing some life back to the area is Khaki Gallery, known in Wellesley for its Crest Road location. Khaki Gallery, now with a spot on Harrison Avenue in Boston, is launching with a show of gallery owner Nahid Khaki’s stuff.  She tells the Phoenix: “This is where everything happens.”

And Wellesley isn’t?

In other artsy-fartsy news, J. Todd Galleries at 572 Washington St. in Wellesley is featuring an exhibit of 60 or so works highlighting views of Boston, according to this MetroWest Daily News piece. A public reception for the exhibit is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 5-8pm and the exhibit runs through Dec. 5. These stocking stuffers are expected to sell for between $2K and $70K.

Theatre freebie Nov. 20

Wellesley residents as well as Wellesley businesses and employees are invited by The Wellesley Players on Nov. 20 for a free pre-show reception at 6:30pm and free tickets to that night’s 8pm performance of “Tribute” at Babson’s Sorenson Center for the Arts. Visit the Wellesley Players’ website for coupon details.

The joys of being a Hollywood actress

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Wellesley-raised Ari Graynor, who has had roles in the Sopranos and movies such as Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, graces the cover of the current Improper Bostonian magazine under the title of “Infinitely Cool.” Yep, she’s hit the bigtime now. The interviewer asks tough questions about the drunkest she ever got, if she’s a real blonde and if she’s ever gone into a gas station bathroom barefoot.