The Swellesley Report

Here’s 1 new use for shuttered Wellesley Boston Sports Club

December 1, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

While former Boston Sports Club members in Wellesley wonder what will become of the Babson-owned property now that it has closed (Babson’s not saying yet), the Massachusetts Police Training Council has found 1 short-term uses for it: Police training.

A public safety memo has been issued to the Babson community that the Massachusetts Police Training Council, in coordination with Babson College Public Safety and the Wellesley and Needham Police Departments, will be conducting police training at 140 Great Plain Ave. on Monday, December 4 through Friday, December 8 from 8am – 4pm. There will be numerous marked and unmarked police vehicles, fire apparatus, and EMS vehicles in that area.

The public is being asked to lease avoid this area during the dates and times listed.

Any concerns should be directed to publicsafety@babson.edu

Thanks to a Swellesley reader for the tip: Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Condo developers turn attention to Wellesley Select Board to move project forward

December 1, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The developers behind the proposed 489 Worcester St., condo complex at the intersection of Cliff Road have been doing the rounds with various Wellesley town bodies, from the Planning Board to the Wetlands Protection Committee. But their focus will now shift largely to the Select Board in an effort to get eventual state and Town Meeting approval to build their planned 45-unit project.

The window is tight to get its zoning amendment bid on the warrant for the 2024 Wellesley Annual Town Meeting in March. But developer Victor Sheen says his team’s plan is to make as much progress as it can and be ready for whichever Town Meeting, annual or special, works out.

Sheen and partner Peter Holland during the Nov. 20 Planning Board meeting (see Wellesley Media recording) said they’d be pursuing approval for their project under 40R zoning, a more streamlined smart growth approach than the residential incentive overlay district method they were leaning toward in earlier meetings with Planning. One big benefit to a developer of going the 40R route is that Town Meeting needs to approve it by a simple majority rather than a two-thirds vote, as is the case with most zoning bylaw amendments. 40R projects, like the William Street apartment complex in Wellesley, are attractive to municipalities because they stand to get significant state funding in return.

Getting 40R approval involves a well-documented process that in the case here starts with the developer working with the Select Board and allowing the town to conduct various peer reviews, such as for traffic impact. If satisfied, the Select Board submits an application to the state, which gets a few months to chew over the materials before giving a thumbs up or down. In the case of 489 Worcester St., to be ready for Annual Town Meeting, this would mean needing to get everything to the state by about year-end.

The planned project has undergone numerous changes since emerging early this year. Big news in the presentation shared by the developers at the Planning Board meeting was that the proposed project would be reduced from its original 69 units to 45 in a main manor building (9 units would be deemed “affordable” based on a state formula). Plans for townhouses have been scrapped, and 2 existing single-family homes will be retained. The team has also made other adjustments to the proposal, from traffic schemes to aesthetics to sustainability commitments, based on feedback from town officials and the community. A transportation impact assessment, municipal systems impact analysis, and other reports have also been included in the latest presentation. The developers had scooped up several properties, including the big one at 489 Worcester St. (aka, Rte. 9 west), to make this project possible, and have proposed landscaping and design of the main building intended to keep it from overwhelming Cliff Road.

The project has clear supporters on the Planning Board who want to see it move ahead quickly. Others on the Board still have questions and concerns, as do members of the public, who commented during the Planning Board meeting on issues such as the project’s scale in a current single residence district, traffic impact in light of Upham Elementary School soon closing, and ledge removal. But by taking the 40R route, the project team mainly needs to get the Select Board and Town Meeting’s blessing (and eventually the Zoning Board of Appeals), with the Planning Board playing more of an advisory role to other town bodies (Planning discussed putting together a memo with its recommendations). The project team has also been meeting with the Wetlands Protection Committee, and is slated to meet with that group in December.

Planning Director Arbeene noted this development won’t count toward the town’s still developing MBTA Communities commitment even though it is relatively close to the Wellesley Hills commuter rail station.

A liaison update on the 489 Worcester St. project is slated for the end of the Select Board’s Dec. 5 meeting.

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Warrant for Wellesley Annual Town Meeting opens

November 30, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Select Board will convene 2024 Annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 25 a 7pm. at Wellesley High School (yes, not the middle school).

This year’s Annual Town Meeting lasted 4 weeks.

The Town Meeting Warrant is open until 4pm on Thursday, Dec. 21. The warrant is the list of articles to be mulled and voted on by Town Meeting members, and typically includes budget, bylaw, and other topics.

Individuals or groups wishing to have an article included in the Warrant must submit a petition, signed by at least 10 registered Wellesley voters, to the Town Clerk prior to the closing of the Warrant. Contact the Town Clerk with questions. (Learn more about citizen petitions, which can help keep Town Meeting from being dull.)

Various town boards, including the Select Board and Planning Board, have already begun discussions of possible Annual Town Meeting articles.

Learn more about Town Meeting basics.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley Historic District Commission needs a new member

November 30, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The Planning Department is seeking a candidate to fill a vacant seat on the Historic District Commission.

The Commission’s primary role is to review alterations to buildings and structures within Wellesley Historic Districts. Wellesley has a historic district in the vicinity of Cottage and Abbott Streets as well as four single building historic districts located at 377 Weston Road, 38 Lowell Road, 26 Elmwood Road, and 126 Woodlawn Avenue.

Meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday evening of each month; regular members serve for a three-year term. Read the complete job description.

Preferred candidates are members of the Wellesley Historical Society, American Institute of Architects, Board of Realtors, or a resident or property owner in a Town Historic District.

Interested individuals should send an email and a resume to the Planning Department at planning@wellesleyma.gov

For questions or more information, contact Preservation Planner Madison Vlass by email or phone at 781-431-1019 ext. 2230.

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Wellesley taking steps toward outdoor amplified sound policy

November 29, 2023 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

Plenty of noise has been made in Wellesley about the need for a consistent outdoor amplified sound policy, and the Natural Resources Commission is now taking steps to put one in place at least for its properties, such as the Hunnewell Field complex and Perrin Park. The NRC during a summer retreat listed completing a sound policy as one of its 2024 objectives.

Commissioner Lisa Collins has been conducting research on the issue for months, and at the NRC’s Nov. 16 meeting (see Wellesley Media recording) she shared ideas that have emerged from that work. She stressed that the presentation shared at the meeting (and a draft policy being circulated among NRC members) was just to get a conversation started, not any sort of decision. Though there does seem to be agreement in town that sound rules should be equitable, say for baseball and softball, and could vary based on location, such as those near homes or not.

The town’s recently completed Athletic Fields & Outdoor Courts Utilization Study showed that while a large percentage of respondents were “very receptive” to amplified sound, the next biggest group of respondents were “not receptive.” Volume, time of day, type of sound, and duration were all cited as considerations. As we heard during the debate about bringing lights to the high school track and field, while some neighbors were opposed to lights, others were more concerned about the companion increase in noise.

The NRC is looking to develop its own amplified sound policy as part of its handbook, though a policy could also serve as one that Schools or other organizations in town could adopt and adapt for their purposes.

Collins reviewed questions raised in past permits and looked at what other built-out communities in the area have done on the sound policy front (not a ton, with self-monitoring the norm). The NRC has approved amplified sound on a permit-by-permit basis for most of its properties (though the Hunnewell Track & Field complex does have a specific set of rules), and has had to deal with permittees who have misunderstood or straight out ignored sound rules. The thought by groups to even have sound at their events has become more prevalent in large part because it’s now so easy to crank up the tunes anywhere via phones and wireless speakers.

Sound questions can arise before the NRC and its Playing Fields Task Force advisory group for everything from annual town events such as Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend to ongoing camp requests.

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An NRC discussion this past spring regarding a request for amplified sound for a sports program at Kelly Field raised issues of “a slippery slope” in allowing amplified sound, the concerns of neighbors, and the importance that some see in the relationship between playing music and enjoyment of sports. The NRC in May approved a request for amplified sound via portable gear at a few Youth Softball games, a decision made in part out of fairness given a tradition of amplified sound use at Reidy Field, where a built-in sound system is used for Little League baseball games.

Collins raised the idea of including in the policy caps based on various criteria such as per field, number of events, season, or total duration of sound. She put forward a recommendation that all requests for amplified sound must be permitted, and that some fields, such as Perrin Park, only be available for one-off requests rather than ongoing ones.

During discussion by the Committee, member Laura Robert suggested some thinking go into what constitutes “unwanted sound,” be it pounding music, sound near a playground, or other such considerations (NRC Director Brandon Schmitt chimed in with “vuvuzelas,” those loud horns sometimes heard at soccer matches). Music selection could be another factor, and Joe Roberts of Terriers Sports has mentioned during deliberations on his past sound requests the use of apps that can regulate lyrics based on the age of participants.

The NRC could inventory its sites and come up with a list of what’s acceptable or not for sound at each location, Collins said.

As a next step, NRC members plan to comment on the draft policy and presentation shared by Collins, and discuss it at a meeting in December.

It’s time to think about running for office in Wellesley

November 29, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

If you’re thinking about becoming more involved in town affairs, your chance is coming up. Although Wellesley’s annual town election isn’t until March 5, 2024, the wheels of government are already starting to turn. Here are upcoming important dates you need to know:

Nomination papers

Nomination papers will be available at Town Hall, 888 Worcester Street, Suite 140 starting December 6, 2023, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm.

Town-wide office papers will be available Dec. 6, 2023-Jan. 11, 2024. Papers are due January 16, 2024, at 5pm.

Town Meeting Member papers will be available Dec. 6, 2023-Jan. 26, 2024. Papers are due Jan. 30, 2024 at 5pm.

Nomination papers may be picked up at Town Hall’s temporary location at 888 Worcester Street, Wellesley.

Wellesley Town Election calendar 2024 — Graphic credit: Town of Wellesley

How to run for public office

The League of Women Voters Wellesley will sponsor an information session on how to run for local public office on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7pm-8:30p, at the Warren Building, room 8, 90 Washington St. Come listen and learn from town residents who ran and who won!

RSVP to LWVWVoterService@gmail.com

The League also has an informative Candidates Handbook that breaks down the steps for running for office in Wellesley.

Wellesley Holiday Happenings 2023

November 29, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of holiday activities taking place in Wellesley:

Don’t see your low-cost or free community-oriented holiday event here? Contact Deborah at deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion.

Mass Hort Festival of Trees—through Dec. 29

Massachusetts Horticultural Society‘s 15th Annual Festival of Trees showcases dozens of decorated trees, the Snow Village, and a festive model railroad display, Nov. 24-Dec. 29, at the Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley.

Visitors vote with their raffle tickets for trees they would like to win and take home at the end of the event. Trees range from one foot to nine feet tall, and many have gifts in addition to beautiful decorations.

Don’t miss the Snow Village, an indoor model train exhibit, or the holiday lights and decorations that fill the Garden. Paid tickets include a cup of hot chocolate at admission and a s’mores kit for the fire pit at the end of your visit. Tickets are on sale now.

Please note: Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required for both MHS members and general admission. Tickets will not be sold on site.

H.O.M.E. Store at Wellesley Village Church—Dec. 2 & Dec. 3

H.O.M.E. Store is back! Support a good cause and do some holiday shopping on Dec. 2 & 3, 9am-5pm, at Wellesley Village Church, 2 Central Street. H.O.M.E., Inc. enhances the quality of life of people who have fallen on challenging times by honoring their dignity, attending to such basic needs as food and shelter, supporting their long-term health and development, and fostering a vibrant and mutually supportive community. Whether you are looking for a Maine souvenir or an interesting craft, the Home Store has something for everyone. Quilts, knit/crochet items, birdhouses, jams and jellies, pottery, and stained glass.

Saint John School’s Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market—Dec. 2

The annual St. John School Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, 8am-1:30pm, or until supplies last, at Saint John School, 9 Ledyard St. The proceeds from Trees & Trimmings support Saint John School by directly contributing to the school’s operating budget, community activities, and enrichment opportunities for students and teachers.

Guild of Carillonneurs—Dec. 2

The Wellesley College Guild of Carillonneurs, under the direction of Margaret Angelini, will hold a Holiday Tower concert on Saturday, Dec. 2, 1pm. The carillon is housed in Galen Stone Tower, which rises 182 feet from the ground in Green Hall. The bells were installed in 1931 and the college’s Guild of Carillonneurs ring them throughout the year. Come meet the Guild members and listen to holiday tunes played on the bells.

This event is free and open to the public. Please contact sn102@wellesley.edu with any questions. For accessibility and disability resources, please contact accessibility@wellesley.edu.

Lake Waban, Wellesley, and Galen Tower — Galen Tower, across Lake Waban. Fall 2023

Wellesley Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 3

The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association is getting ready for the always festive Holiday Stroll on Dec. 3, noon-6pm. Free parking, fun traditional activities, and Scavenger Hunt. More info to follow.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert—Dec. 3

The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra will perform their annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 3, 3pm, at MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills. Tickets here.

Featuring the Fireside Barbershop Quartet performing music arranged by Mark Latham, and Chris Ten Eyck, principal trumpet, in an arrangement of “What a Wonderful World.”

Also, music by Tchaikovsky, Coleridge-Taylor, Anderson, Prokofiev, Strauss and Corelli, plus the traditional sing-along.

Tree lighting in Wellesley Square—Dec. 3

Town officials will hold the annual tree lighting ceremony at Wellesley Fire Station 1 on Central Street on Sunday, Dec. 3, 5pm.

Wellesley High School Winter Band Concert—Dec. 6

The talented members of the Wellesley High band will perform for the community at the annual Winter Band Concert, Wednesday, Dec 6, 7pm-8:00pm, at the WHS Katherine L. Babson Auditorium.

Linden Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 10

Tis the season to celebrate at the Linden Square Courtyard with its beautiful holiday decor and stunning tree, Sunday, Dec. 10, 11am-1pm.

The Wellesley Food Pantry will be collecting of unopened boxes of mac & cheese, raisins, and canned tuna.
Cradles to Crayons will be collecting new or gently used infant and kids coats.

Holiday jazz concert—Dec. 10

Pianist Alexander Xhoja and vocalist Melony Gabriela Sanchez will present a Holiday Jazz Concert at the Wellesley Free Library on Sunday, Dec, 10, 3pm-4pm.

Temple Beth Elohim Dreidel Dash—Dec. 10

Temple Beth Elohim will hold its fifth annual Dreidel Dash 5k on Sunday, Dec. 10, 9:30am-noon, at TBE, 1o Bethel Rd. The race is a great opportunity to connect as a community and celebrate Chanukah, and is open to all.

The first 250 registrants and volunteers will receive a custom knit hat. Runners and non-runners are encouraged to come dressed in your most festive fun Chanukah attire. There will be an award given to the best solo and the best group costume during the award ceremony. More information and race registration here.

dreidel dash

Community Messiah Sing at UU Wellesley Hills—Dec. 10

UU Wellesley Hills will hold it’s 3rd annual Community Messiah Sing on Sunday, Dec. 10, 1:30pm at 309 Washington St. Local choral singers, lovers of classical and holiday music, young and old—all are welcome to come usher in the holiday season with this festive offering of Part I of George Frederic Handel’s Messiah oratorio (which covers the Christmas story). Handel’s best-known and widely loved music comes to life realized by four stellar professional soloists, a professional chamber orchestra with organ and harpsichord, and YOU, the audience, standing to sing along on the choruses. (Not a singer? Not a problem! Listeners of all ages are very welcome to come enjoy this seasonal classic.)

Entry is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

Wellesley High School Winter Choral Concert—Dec. 14

The talented members of the Wellesley High choral ensemble will perform for the community at the annual Winter Choral Concert, Thur., Dec 14, 7pm-8:30pm, at the WHS Katherine L. Babson Auditorium.

Holiday harpist concert

Harpist Shelley Otis will present a Holiday Concert at the Wellesley Free Library on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2pm-3pm.

Sign up to ring the Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell—through Dec. 24

Every year outside Roche Bros. an army of volunteers rings the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive. Sign up to volunteer here.

Shoppers on their way in or out of the store historically help make the Wellesley kettle one of the fullest in the state. Donations come back to the Wellesley community, supporting neighbors needing assistance through the Wellesley Board of Health, the Council on Aging, the Veterans Service office, and Wellesley Friendly Aid. The Red Kettle accepts donations via cash or check. All donations are appreciated. No donation is too small.

See you at the Red Kettle. We’ve already grabbed our spot, but there’s plenty of room for more bell ringers.

Salvation Army, Wellesley — We always have a swell time with friends at the Red Kettle.

The gift of free parking

Free 2-hour holiday-time parking in Wellesley has begun.

The Select Board has waived parking fees at 2-hour street meters in Wellesley’s commercial districts through Monday, January 1, 2024. Remember to look for bags designating specific free meters. Fees WILL be charged in all municipal parking lots, and at 4-hour and 10-hour street meters.

Free parking is offered to help support our local businesses and to bring more shoppers to downtown areas. Shop local and enjoy free parking at all 2-hour bagged street meters during the holiday season. Please note: Parking attendants will ticket cars after 2 hours. Please do not move cars to a different meter; this will also result in a ticket.

Wellesley free parking

Beyond Wellesley: Nutcracker Ballet performances

Commonwealth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker (Weston, MA)—Nov. 24-Dec. 17
Share the merriment of the holiday season as the accomplished dancers of Commonwealth Ballet and guest artists frolic, battle and dance through Clara’s holiday dream. The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including one intermission. Recommended for ages 4 and older.

A special sensory/family friendly performance will take place on Friday, Nov. 24, 1pm, featuring a shortened version of the ballet at reduced prices.

LOCATION: Eleanor Welch Casey Theater, Regis College, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, Mass.
TICKETS here

Studios Dance Academy’s The Nutcracker Ballet (Wayland, Mass.)—Dec. 9
Enjoy the magic of the holiday season at this beautiful presentation on Saturday, Dec. 9, 4pm, at Wayland High School auditorium, 264 Old Connecticut Path, Wayland, Mass. The role of Sugar Plum is being played by Brooke Bovie, a senior from Wellesley.

Call the studio 781-235-3638 or email to reserve tickets studios@comcast.net Limited tickets available at the door.

Calling all Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daisy—call for discounted tickets, and attend the performance to earn a fun badge.

Walnut Hill’s Nutty Nutcracker (Natick, MA)—Dec. 9 & Dec. 10
The Community Dance Academy at Walnut Hill has teamed up with local children’s author David Ira Rottenberg to bring his well-loved children’s book Gwendolyn’s Nutty Nutcracker to life. The fun 1-hour kid-friendly performance features the most loved music from the Nutcracker and intermission meet-and-greets with the characters and the author.

LOCATION: Perrin Theater, Keiter Center for the Performing Arts
PARKING: 146 Bacon Street, Natick MA 01760

TICKETS here

[Read more…]

Wellesley South Asian community celebrates Diwali & more

November 29, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

South Asian festivals such as Diwali, which took place earlier this month, are enjoyed at home by a growing number of Wellesley residents. Increasingly in recent years, such occasions also are celebrated at larger community events.

The town doesn’t have official numbers on how many people with South Asian roots live here. But members of the community from India and other South Asian countries who we’ve interviewed say their population in town has grown significantly—from a double-digit number of families to more than 200—over the past 20 years.

General public awareness of South Asian holidays has also risen, with local libraries offering programs such as “paint your own diya (tea light),” and schools adding Diwali to their calendars (Diwali is on the Wellesley Public Schools Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar for 2023-2024). Those celebrating the Festival of Lights get their homes glowing well ahead of the wider light displays across town for Christmas and Hanukkah.

An annual Wellesley Diwali party, which started off as home-based potluck dinners among a few friends and some word of mouth, is now held at larger venues, such as the Italo-American Educational Club or this year, at Needham’s VFW hall. Events such as the springtime Upham Color Run are inspired by Holi, a South Asian festival of colors that celebrates spring, love, and life.

I recently connected with Wellesley Diwali party planners past and present to get an update on this year’s celebration and some history on past community activities. After writing about the Natick Desi Group and attending its recent Diwali party, I reached out to members of Wellesley’s South Asian community to get an update on Diwali festivities that were in the works.

I met in person with Kamana Jain, Nibedita Chattopadhya, and Vandna Bhagat, all members of Wellesley’s South Asian community who have organized past Diwali parties.

Then I followed up by email with Rama Ramaswamy, a co-founder of the Wellesley South Asian Association, which she says was named as such “to be inclusive of the greater South Asian diaspora (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet).” Ramaswamy was part of the organizing team for this year’s multigenerational Diwali event.

“The purpose for creating this group was to organize cultural opportunities in which our children might partake and get to meet/know each other,” Ramaswamy said. “And similarly, for South Asian neighbors from all over town to meet via celebrating the most well known festivals.”

diwali wellesley — Current Diwali party organizers Rama, Malini, Rashmi, Lavanya, and not shown, Hitaishi (courtesy photo)

Party people

Jain, Chattopadhya, and Bhagat bonded while organizing Diwali events in town over the span of 5 years. Their friendship was apparent in part by the way they kept finishing each other’s sentences during our conversation at Wellesley Free Library.

While residents with South Asian roots may celebrate different holidays depending upon which country or state they are from, Diwali is the big one, and is much more than a one-day celebration. “In India, people exchange Indian sweets for a month. There is a lot of visiting involved,” Bhagat said, adding that the bonding over planning for the Diwali party was very much in that spirit.

“Everyone here wanted to do something, especially for Diwali. One interesting thing about India is that in different states in India we celebrate different festivals, but one common festival is Diwali. Everybody celebrated that,” Bhagat said.

Though as Jain once pointed out, recalled Bhagat, “potluck is not scalable.” Thus the move to bigger venues and the introduction of catering and DJs. Though the organizers tried to keep costs down, such as by making their own decorations, sourcing marigold garlands from Etsy, and picking up vases from Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility. They prevented things from getting too crowded by limiting attendees to Wellesley residents.

Wellesley Diwali party, 2018 (courtesy photo)

From there, attendees—including kids—were encouraged to perform at the parties to showcase their talents. Bhagat says her sons learned the Indian national anthem by going to the events, and attendees from other South Asian countries were invited to sing their anthems.

“We are first generation, so we have a sense of growing up in India and celebrating Diwali at home,”Chattopadhya said. “Our children don’t know our festivals unless we make an effort to celebrate them and share with people of similar backgrounds.”

Much of the focus was about the children, with parties featuring game trucks, photo booths, and other activities to keep them wanting to attend events year after year. “Every time we organized the Diwali party we changed the flavor,” Jain said. “It was never the same.”

Kids invited their friends from non-South Asian families as well, spreading familiarity of customs such as Diwali throughout Wellesley.

Community members stay in touch in between events, and while planning for them, via an email list and a Facebook group. As those I interviewed shared, it’s never too soon to start planning for the next big festival.

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MassHort Festival of Trees—65+ decorated trees, Snow Village model train display, lights, and more

November 28, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 15th Annual Festival of Trees is back with over 65 decorated trees, lights galore throughout the gardens, the Snow Village, a festive model railroad display, and—for some reason we’re told will become clear later this year—several huge, lighted butterflies. Get timed tickets online now (they’re not being sold at the gate) for this festive and fun holiday event at the Garden at Elm Bank.

On display in the Hunnewell Building, Festival of Trees offers beautiful holiday trees that are donated and decorated by local businesses, garden clubs and other organizations, and individuals. Visitors vote with their raffle tickets for trees they hope to win and take home at the end of the event, which runs through Dec. 29. Trees range from one foot to nine feet tall, and many include impressive gifts in addition to beautiful decorations.

Enhancing the Festival is Snow Village, an indoor model train exhibit donated by Bill Meagher of Needham. For many years, Bill put in close to full-time hours setting up the Snow Village and taking care of it throughout the Festival, a labor of love for which MassHort is forever grateful. He’s still involved, but these days Bill has dialed his efforts back from a G scale to a more manageable Z (if you know, you know). Once the Bay State Model Railroad Club based out of Roslindale got a look at Bill’s set-up—villages and vignettes including Christmas in the City (Boston, of course!), Fenway Park, a Dickensian village, the North Pole, hundreds of decorated houses and lights, too many Santas to count, and skaters galore—the group happily volunteered to take over the technical aspects of keeping the display in tip-top condition throughout the Festival.

Holiday lights and decorations fill the Garden. Visitors stroll through a winter wonderland with hot chocolate in their hands and gather by the firepits to keep warm and cozy while melting s’mores. The yummy treats are included with paid admission for visitors ages 4+. If it sounds like an enchanting holiday-time experience, that’s because it is.

Tickets are now on sale! Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required for this event.

Become a member today to get discounts on Festival of Trees tickets.

Reminder: Wellesley Reusables Area closes on Dec. 2

November 28, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Friends of Recycling volunteers who staff the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility’s Reusables Area (aka, Give & Take) share a reminder that the season ends this Saturday, Dec. 2. The area will reopen next April.

Hours for the Give & Take this week are 7am-12pm on Wednesday, then 7am-3pm on Thursday-Saturday.

During this last week, volunteers will only accept small items—so no large furniture.

From volunteers Joany Sasso & Priscilla Messing: “Thank you to the Wellesley residents and to all the FOR volunteers for a great and prosperous season!”

If you’re looking for an RDF Reusables alternative during the off-season, a private Facebook group called Wellesley Give & Take is one option.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

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Make history by supporting your local news source, The Swellesley Report, by contributing or by becoming an advertising partner.

See something? Send something: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Please support your local news source, The Swellesley Report, by contributing or by becoming an advertising partner.

Nomination papers

How to run for public office

Mass Hort Festival of Trees—through Dec. 29

H.O.M.E. Store at Wellesley Village Church—Dec. 2 & Dec. 3

Saint John School’s Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market—Dec. 2

Guild of Carillonneurs—Dec. 2

Wellesley Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 3

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert—Dec. 3

Tree lighting in Wellesley Square—Dec. 3

Wellesley High School Winter Band Concert—Dec. 6

Linden Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 10

Holiday jazz concert—Dec. 10

Temple Beth Elohim Dreidel Dash—Dec. 10

Community Messiah Sing at UU Wellesley Hills—Dec. 10

Wellesley High School Winter Choral Concert—Dec. 14

Holiday harpist concert

Sign up to ring the Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell—through Dec. 24

The gift of free parking

Beyond Wellesley: Nutcracker Ballet performances

Party people

Please support your local news source, The Swellesley Report, by contributing or by becoming an advertising partner.

See something? Send something: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com