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Search Results for: Diamonds in the rough

Diamonds in the rough: Wedding ring tossed & found at Wellesley dump

July 13, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley’s Felicity Bortolan used to remove her wedding ring before showering. But that routine is no more after a close call this past Saturday morning during a dump run.

“I’m completely fanatical about where I put stuff and my ring, I always take off and put in the same place when I shower,” she says of the jewelry, which marks 21 years of marriage to her husband Paul. “However there were tissues and other things that were on the counter and these covered my ring. In the sheer hurriedness of getting to the dump I swept the trash off the counter and tied the bag. Paul took it to the dump.”

felicity's ring
The ring, back where it belongs…

He came home shortly after the dump drop to pick up Felicity to run an errand. She took a pass, but their son Sean and daughter Olivia were game. Felicity instead gave her mom a call. That’s when she realized she hadn’t put the ring back on.

“I literally dropped the phone to get upstairs, but deep down I knew it wasn’t there,” Felicity says.

 

Back to the dump

Her next call was to Paul, whose wisely cut the errand run short. The Bortolans mobilized and headed back to the dump for one of their more unusual family outings: Operation Diamonds.

“I couldn’t speak, I was very emotional” upon arriving at the RDF, she says. Her son Sean ran off and found the RDF’s Phil Barton. “He came immediately, put up cones and switched the compactor off.”

A truck was organized in minutes to haul the compacted trash to a covered warehouse section behind the RDF office, and the the trash was then dumped out all over the warehouse floor.

“Was it smelly? Yes, a bit. It didn’t bother us. The worst part was the liquid pouring from the truck and the guy warning us that it could be a really grim situation when was dumped. ‘So just prepare yourself, he said!’ But there was no hesitation from anyone to start raking through the bags,” she recalls.

Fortunately, the family had a pretty clear timeline, which gave the RDF staff a sense of where the bag might be based on the number of times the compactor had been switched on. They also knew that the bag had a red tie. “So swiftly those got pulled from the wreckage,” Felicity says.

Man with a plan

Paul bought the ring in Boston during a business trip/vacation years ago, before his company relocation from South Africa coincidentally landed him back in Boston, and the family settled in Wellesley. As events unfolded, Paul formulated a plan of attack for getting the ring back. Failure was not an option.

Paul knew a charcoal packet was the first thing he’d put into the bag with the ring, so he began ripping open the bottom of bags with red ties. On the 5th or 6th try, he found the right one.

That’s when the recovery crew really started to sift through the trash, pulling stuff apart.

“It’s nerve wracking, the looking and not finding it,” Felicity says. “In one moment Paul said to me ‘It’s not here.’ But seconds later I found it. I was overjoyed! Everyone was!”

Thanks all around

Felicity says she was overwhelmed by how everyone pulled together.

“My ring is a mere item to everyone, it means nothing to anybody except me,” she says. “But the team completely appreciated that fact.”

Felicity says, “I cannot express my thankfulness, gratefulness, and appreciation enough of the Wellesley RDF team.”

She also heaped praise on her family, including eldest son Brandon, who wasn’t there but was very concerned. Passersby, too, earned her respect, as they offered gloves and words of encouragement.

As for the RDF employees, Felicity wanted to recognize them by name:

  • Phil Barton
  • Tyler Greene
  • Owen Johansson
  • Nick Wozniac
  • Jim Adamackis
  • Art Cafarelli

The efforts by these and other RDF employees came as no surprise to others as word of the Bortolans’ Saturday morning drama spread on social media.

Others recalled having somewhat similar experiences involving jewelry and wallets. Then there were our own notorious misadventures accidentally bringing library books to the book swap area.

So the heroics of the RDF staff never seem to change. But Felicity’s handling of her wedding ring will.

“Needless to say I will not take it off again!” she says. “That routine of putting it on the counter is gone forever.”


More: The great Wellesley necklace hunt: From parking lot to vacuum bag


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Wonderful Wellesley, Lockheart
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley summer round-up, 2020

September 10, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Welcome back to a post-Labor Day Wellesley that looks a lot different than those of years past. We can remember end-of-summer times when our family just barely skidded back into town ahead of the first day of school. Off we sent the kids, practically tracking beach sand into the classroom.

Times have changed. Given that the Wellesley Public Schools, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, has switched over to a hybrid model of learning that doesn’t start until mid-September, many families may have chosen to  hunker down at their summer escape spots for a little while longer. And why not? Remote instruction for students starts September 16th. The transition to a hybrid model that includes in-person instruction will begin on October 1st. So those who have reluctantly left their happy places all too early year after year suddenly have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to extend the season.

Here are some other highlights from Wellesley that you might have missed over the summer:

1) Wellesley residents took to the streets

Hundreds of people, many holding signs bearing the names of those killed in recent years while in police custody, lined Washington Street in Wellesley from Reidy Field past the tennis courts in a mostly silent vigil. SEE PICS.

Wellesley demonstration

The somber crowd, facing the road as honking vehicles drove by, urged justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality. Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after being pinned to the ground by a police officer who kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. READ MORE

2) Wellesley Free Library reopened

We had missed the  Wellesley Free Library terribly since it closed in March due to COVID-19 concerns, so you can bet we rushed right in to get a first look at the main branch the second it opened. No matter how many rules we had to follow (and there are a lot of rules) it didn’t matter. We just wanted to drift through one of our old haunts and remember better days. READ MORE.

Wellesley Free Library
Wellesley Free Library

3) WHS Class of 2020 got its outdoor ceremony

About 200 Wellesley High School graduates took part in a scaled down but still rewarding ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2020’s launch to the future. The entire ceremony clocked in at a bit over an hour and a half. READ MORE. SEE THE VIDEO.

WHS graduation 2020

4) Linden Square art installation refused to go down to coronavirus

Three recent Wellesley High School 2020 graduates took up their paintbrushes and completed a long-planned project for their WHS Art Intensive course. It had been a long time coming. First the public artwork, a 6′ x 27′ mural-style painting on the curved brick wall at the corner of Linden and Everett Streets, faced delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next, the artists were challenged by 90+ degree temperatures. No matter, they got out there and made it happen. Project mentor Alexander Golob said, “The result is a joyous and playful mural that showcases various animals doing activities that community members told us they were doing during the pandemic, baking, listening to music, playing soccer, going for picnics.” READ MORE

Linden Square mural
Mural title: “A Town At Play – Finding Meaning During Covid-19.” Photo credit, Alexander Golob

5) Diamonds in the rough at the RDF

Wellesley’s Felicity Bortolan used to remove her wedding ring before showering. But that routine is no more after a close call this summer during a dump run.

“I’m completely fanatical about where I put stuff and my ring, I always take off and put in the same place when I shower,” she says of the jewelry, which marks 21 years of marriage to her husband Paul. “However there were tissues and other things that were on the counter and these covered my ring. In the sheer hurriedness of getting to the dump I swept the trash off the counter and tied the bag. Paul took it to the dump.” READ MORE, SEE THE ROCKS

6) Colette Aufranc won Wellesley BOS seat in special election

Colette Aufranc, who cited her financial experience and school volunteer efforts as prepping her for a seat on Wellesley’s Board of Selectmen, won a close Special Election race over two other candidates. Just over half of all registered voters cast ballots. Aufranc’s competition for the position were Gwen Baker and Odessa Sanchez. READ MORE

7) Wellesley Square clock

Don’t be alarmed if you notice the 2-dial Wellesley Square clock disappearing in coming weeks. It’s getting a facelift and more. This Wellesley landmark is being completely renovated and hopefully will be back before the holiday season, says the Department of Public Works’ Mike Quinn, who is superintendent of the Park & Highway Division. YOU’VE GOT TIME TO READ MORE

8) Wellesley police went for gold with Winnie the dog

The Wellesley Police Department has welcomed Winnie, a 10-month old English Cream Golden Retriever, as its community resource service dog. SEE THE CUTE PUP

9) Mrs. Swellesley has a thing for Phil

It’s not what you think. READ MORE

10) Letter from Wayne the postal worker to the Wellesley community

Wellesley Square Post Office, Wayne
Wellesley Square Post Office, Wayne

Wayne says, “For approximately the past 10+ years I have had the pleasure & honor of being your “Window #2 postal clerk” at the Wellesley Square Post Office. It has truly been a great & rewarding run! It is time for me, however, to venture on into life’s next adventure as I will be retiring from the United States Postal Service on June 30th after 32 & 1/2 years of employment.” READ MORE


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Filed Under: 2020 Town Election, Business, Education, Embracing diversity, Government, Police, Politics

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London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley police log: $60K wedding ring goes missing; check fraud continues; subcontractors want their pay

February 17, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley police stationWellesley, Mass., police log for the week of

Arrests

On December 4, 2022 at 11:31 a.m. Officer Mankavech observed a Ford Bronco enter the left turn lane near 900 Worcester Street and then swerve back into the left travel lane on Worcester Street westbound.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, who exited her vehicle when she stopped. The operator advised Officer Mankavech that her license was suspended and she believed she had a warrant for her arrest.  Officer Mankavech confirmed that her license was suspended and there was an active default warrant issued by the Lowell District Court for motor vehicle related offenses. Officer Mankavech took the operator into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on $200 bail.the   While conducting an inventory of the contents of the motor vehicle officers located drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine.  

On December 6, 2022 at 2:21 p.m. Officer Dennehy was dispatched to the area of Carver Road for a male party soliciting door to door.  Officer Dennehy located a male party, on Winslow Road.  A query of his information revealed there was an active arrest warrant issued by New Haven County, Connecticut.  The Emergency Communications Center contacted the Meriden CT Police Department who indicated that they would extradite the male party back to Connecticut.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and held without bail. 

On December 29, 2022 the Wellesley Police Department Warrant Apprehension Unit responded to State of Rhode Island Department of Correction and took custody of an individual who had been arrested by the Cranston, R.I., Police Department on December 27, 2022.  He had four active warrants in Massachusetts.  A default warrant issued by the Dedham District Court on May, 18, 2022 for a Wellesley case for 4 counts of unlawful possession of a theft detection device, 1 count of receiving stolen property over $1,200 and 7 counts of receiving stolen property under $1,200.   The other three warrants were issued by the Attleboro District Court, Taunton District Court and Wrentham District Court.  He was transported to the Wellesley Police Department where he was booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to the Dedham District Court. 

Incidents

On December 2, 2022 at 6:10 p.m. an officer spoke to a reporting party regarding fraudulent bank transfers.  The reporting party stated that in November there were two fraudulent charges totaling $7,600.   She reported the fraudulent charges to her bank and they requested a police report.  The officer advised her to monitor her credit report and to call the police department if she noticed any fraudulent activity.

On December 3, 2022 at 12:54 p.m. an officer spoke to a reporting party about vandalism to their property.  Sometime between 11:00 p.m. the night before and 8:30 a.m. eggs and toilet paper were thrown on their property.  No permanent damage occurred.  They did not have any security cameras and were not aware of anyone who might be responsible for the damage.

On December 5, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. a male reporting party came to the police station to report that his wife’s wedding ring had been lost.  He stated that it had been missing for approximately 3 months.  The ring had 16 diamonds weighing 5.98 cts and valued at $60,000.  They have not noticed anything else missing and requested a report be filed for their insurance company.

On December 5, 2022 at 2:20 p.m. an officer was dispatched to a parking lot on Washington Street for a report of a male party sitting in a motor vehicle exposing himself.  The female reporting party stated when she returned to her vehicle she observed a male party in the vehicle next to hers that had exposed himself.  She stated after leaving the parking lot she called 911.  Officers searched the parking lot and area and were unable to locate the vehicle.

On December 6, 2022 at 4:49 an officer spoke with a reporting party regarding credit card fraud.   The reporting party stated that $9,100 was withdrawn from the account via five internet transfers.  On December 10, 2022 the bank closed the account, opened a new account and reimbursed her the stolen funds.  There is no further information available and no suspects at this time.

On December 7, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. an officer spoke with a reporting party who had received threatening messages from an unknown individual he had met through an online dating application.   The reporting party and unknown individual had exchanged naked photographs.   The unknown party then attempted to extort money from the reporting party.  The reporting party blocked the party’s phone number and blocked him on the dating app.  The phone number used by the unknown party came back for Onvoy, Inc and Bandwidth.com in Connecticut.   

On December 8, 2022 at 10:28 a.m. officers responded to a residence to speak with a reporting party who stated she was concerned she was being scammed by the contractor working on her chimney.  She stated on December 5, 2022 a male party knocked on her door and advised her there was a hole in her chimney and stated he was an employee of New Boston Masonry and Construction and he could repair the chimney for $100.  He provided her with a proposal document and flyer from the company.  On December 8, 2022 workers came to complete the work.  She stated she heard a lot of noise on the roof and felt the contractors may have been damaging the chimney rather than repairing it.  A short time later a male party approached her with photos on a cell phone to show her the current condition of her chimney and advised her the cost to repair it would now be $12,500 and he would require a deposit of $9,000.  He requested the check be made out to a 3rd party.  The reporting party became suspicious and contacted the police, advised him she was contacting the police and they immediately left the property and left behind a ladder and tools.  The officer spoke with the reporting party who stated she did not wish to have the contractor complete the work.  The officer advised her to contact the company and advise them she wished to cancel the work.  The contractor contacted the officer at the police station to determine if the reporting party wanted to cancel the work or not.  The officer advised the contractor that the reporting party did not wish to have his company complete the work and explained her concerns about the unexpected cost.  After speaking with the contractor, the officer learned that he did not have a home improvement contractor registration in his own name and the workers had not applied for a building permit.  After reviewing the requirements to conduct masonry work the officer filed a complaint with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Officer of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations.

On December 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a business on Linden Street for a report of $17,000 worth of missing electronic equipment.  The equipment was delivered on November 21st.  On November 29th the installer for the electrical equipment advised the reporting party that several items were missing from the shipment.  The reporting party was unsure if the items were inadvertently left out of the shipment or if they were stolen after they were shipped.  

On December 9, 2022 at 7:53 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a parking lot on Linden Street for a report of a breaking and entering into a motor vehicle.  The reporting party stated the driver side window had been smashed and her purse was taken from the vehicle.  The purse contained two wallets with various credit cards, driver’s license and other items.   Later in the day the reporting party contacted the officer and advised that some of the credit cards stolen had been used at a Walmart in Walpole.  The officer conducted an investigation and was able to identify a female party who used the stolen credit cards.  The female party will be summonsed to Dedham District Court for Breaking and Entering into a Motor Vehicle for a Felony, Destruction of Property Under $1,200, and seven counts of Receiving a Stolen Credit Card.

On December 8, 2022 at 5:20 p.m. a male reporting party’s dog was bitten by a dog on Willow Road.  Animal Control Officer Smith followed up with the dog owner, quarantined the dog for 10 days per state guidelines.  The owner of the dog hired a trainer to ensure the dog does not bite another dog again.

On December 9, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. an officer spoke with a male reporting party who works at a nursing home in Wellesley.  He stated a resident informed him that approximately $600-$800 in cash was stolen from a locked drawer in her room at some point over the last few weeks.  The key for the drawer was stored in another bureau drawer.  Several people would potentially have access to the room.  There are no suspects at this time.

On December 12, 2022 at 9:42 a.m. an officer spoke with a resident from Lincoln Circle who was the victim of check fraud.  The reporting party had mailed a check from the Babson Post Office on Saturday, December 3rd and upon reviewing his bank transactions online noticed that the check had been changed from $2,523.24 to $9,000 and the payee had been changed.   

On December 13, 2022 at 7:20 p.m. an officer spoke to a male reporting party who was scammed via social media.  The male party had received a friend request from an unknown female party on Instagram and chatted with them for a little while.  The unknown party asked for a naked photo and

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Filed Under: Crime, Police

Refined Renovations, Wellesley

Wellesley hike—Kelly Memorial Park & Boulder Brook Reservation

February 19, 2022 by Deborah Brown 3 Comments

First thing I noticed was the welcoming committee of robins, over a dozen of them flitting around Kelly Memorial Park on a mid 40-degree February morning. According to Mass Audubon, the common songbirds are either overwintering here or came down earlier in the season from more northern New England points or Canada. They thank you for your backyard feeders. The next hello came from a friendly and photogenic pup, emerging from the woodland path. Behind him, a walker on crutches, despite the icy conditions. Encouraged, I strapped on my Yaktrax and started my 1.6-mile loop walk from Kelly Memorial Park, through Boulder Brook Reservation, to the top of of the rocky ledges, then back down via a short border-jump over to Weston, and back to the Elmwood Road parking lot.

Kelly Memorial Park, Wellesley
The dirt parking lot at Kelly Memorial Park on Elmwood road has room for about 10 cars. The sign, above, is at the trailhead.

For this hike, I followed the purple arrows. There are many off-shoot paths in the Kelly Field and Boulder Brook areas, which is what makes the spot so popular with kids and families who want to get out and run around in nature. But for today, I kept to the path most traveled.

Kelly Memorial Park, woodland path, Wellesley
The purple arrow trail leads over to Kelly Fields and Katharine Lee Bates Elementary school.

 

Fairy Rock, Wellesley
As I walked down the path from the Kelly parking lot, I soon came across Fairy Rock, a popular climbing spot for kids. On the right side of the path is a meandering stone wall, a remnant of the area’s farming days.

 

Katharine Lee Bates School, Wellesley
Katharine Lee Bates School, Wellesley

The path opens up to a view of the Kelly Field, and Katharine Lee Bates elementary school beyond the playing fields. In warmer weather the field is full of teams taking advantage of the four baseball diamonds and multiple soccer areas. I stayed to the left and walked along the paved part of the path that continues on behind the baseball backstop and along Boulder Brook.

Boulder Brook Reservation, Wellesley

 

Boulder Brook Reservation, Wellesley
The wooden bridge leads to the Boulder Brook Reservation meadow, a 31-acre parcel that was once part of Boulder Brook Farm, a working dairy farm in the 1900s. The property was purchased by the Town in 1966.

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Filed Under: Hikes, Outdoors

Call and Haul, Wellesley

Wellesley Police log: Silverware flies over mask spat; ‘beep your horn 1 more time’…then pepper spray; PVC downspout swiped

November 17, 2021 by Bob Brown 5 Comments

Wellesley Police Department

Wellesley MA police log for Oct. 19-Nov. 5:

Arrests

On October 19, 2021 at 10:06 a.m. Officer Cunningham was conducting traffic enforcement when he observed a large dump truck on Washington Street operating in a truck exclusion section of the roadway.  He stopped the truck and requested his license and registration.  A query of the operator’s information showed his license was revoked as a habitual traffic offender.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and transported to Dedham District Court.

On October 22, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. Officer Lucenta was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when she observed a BMW sedan pass her location with excessive window tint.  She stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested her license and registration.  A query of her information revealed that her license was suspended.  She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and transported to Dedham District Court.

On October 22, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to a Wellesley Square restaurant for a report of an altercation between patrons at the restaurant.  The officers spoke to two female parties involved in the disagreement and found that a male party,  and a female party, were dining at the restaurant when they asked other patrons who were dining and wearing a mask to protect themselves against COVID-19 if they were vaccinated.  The couple then began making comments demanding that they take off their masks and that they were ruining their dinner.  The male party was using vulgar language, which was disturbing other patrons at the restaurant.  Two male parties sitting at another table began to intervene on the behalf of two nearby women.  The female member of the initial party then threw silverware at the two male parties.  A piece of the silverware struck one of the female parties before landing on the table of the male parties.  The male from the initial party began to verbally threaten to fight the male parties and was separated from them by a restaurant employee.  The couple was taken into custody, transported to the station booked in the usual manner and afforded all rights.  The female was later released on personal recognizance and male was released on $300 bail. 

Incidents

On October 20, 2021 at 2:05 p.m. a Wellesley resident came to the police station to surrender a firearm for destruction that was no longer wanted.  The firearm was properly secured until it can be destroyed.

On October 22, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. an officer spoke to a female party regarding fraudulent activity on a business account.  She stated she noticed on October 15th that $14,552 had been withdrawn from the business account.  She contacted her bank and they were able to refund the withdrawn monies.  She requested a police report for documentation.

On October 22, 2021 at 11:57 a.m. an officer was dispatched to Cliff Road for a report of a breaking and entering into a vehicle.  The reporting party stated that the passenger side window was smashed and a bag, which contained his wallet, was stolen.  The vehicle was broken into sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.  There are no suspects.

On October 23, 2021 at 11:10 a.m. an officer spoke to a female reporting party regarding identify fraud.  The reporting party stated she had been notified by three financial institutions that there were suspicious attempted transactions on her accounts.  A total of $60,000 was transferred from her bank account in three separate transactions.  There were attempts to change passwords to other financial accounts.  The reporting party is working with the financial institutions to close the compromised accounts and open new accounts.  The stolen funds were refunded to her by her bank and she has placed a fraud alert on her accounts. 

On October 25, 2021 at 12:58 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the area of Weston Road at Fells Road for a report of an intoxicated female party who appeared to need assistance.  The female party was located on Weston Road under the Route 9 overpass and appeared to be unconscious.  The officer was able to wake up the female party and speak to her.  She agreed to go to the hospital for evaluation.

On October 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. an officer spoke with a female reporting party regarding misuse of her credit card.  The card was used to purchase a chair to be delivered to an address in Superior, Wisconsin.  The reporting party was able to cancel the online order and have the charge to her credit card reversed.  The officers advised the reporting party to cancel her card and request a replacement card and to contact one of the credit reporting bureaus.

On October 25, 2021 at 4:54 p.m. an officer spoke to a female reporting party regarding illegal dumping into a dumpster at a business on Washington Street.   There was mail identifying the individual responsible for disposing of their personal

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Filed Under: Crime, Police

Rumble Boxing, Natick Mall

Trails walk in Wellesley: Kelly Memorial Park and Boulder Brook Reservation

July 12, 2018 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Summer in Wellesley is a great time to get out and hike the town’s trails. I’d always been curious about that Overbrook Reservation sign at the corner of Route 9 and Weston Rd., so I decided to see what that area, purchased in 1978 by the Town Conservation Commission, was all about. A trail guide I consulted suggested that I could hike along Boulder Brook via a narrow, rough trail at the bottom of a rocky bank. I found the general area easily enough, and Boulder Brook was there alright, but if there ever was a trail in that 10-acre wetland area, it’s long since been taken back by nature. So don’t go there. That’s why you have me, to warn you off such nonsense.

Overbrook Reservation, Wellesley
Overbrook Reservation at corner of Weston Rd. and Rt. 9 is open dawn to dusk, but I’d say don’t ever go there. Nothing to see but litter, the suggestion of a trail, and a glimpse of Boulder Brook.

 

Kelly Memorial Park, Wellesley
I left the Overbrook area and drove down Weston Rd. heading toward the town of Weston, took a right onto Elmwood Rd., and parked in the Kelly Memorial Park lot on the left. There’s a picnic table at the park, at which two young people were enjoying their lunch. The main trail is easily visible just beyond the sign. The trail leads over to Kelly Fields and Katharine Lee Bates Elementary school.

 

Kelly Memorial Park
The plaque on the stone says, “Kelly Memorial Park. Named in honor of the Kelly brothers. Joseph P. — killed in action June 19, 1944 in Normandy. John H. — killed in action December 16, 1944 in Germany. This tablet erected to perpetuate the memory of their sacrifice.”

 

Fairy Rock, Wellesley
As you walk down the path from the Kelly parking lot toward Bates School, you’ll come across Fairy Rock on your left. It’s a popular climbing spot for young kids, as you can imagine. Behind Fairy Rock runs Boulder Brook. On the right hand side of the path, about 30 feet into the woods, runs a long stone wall. It’s put together sporadically for the first 300 or so feet, before it gets its act together and becomes a more continuous affair for its last 200 feet. Finally, the stone wall gives up altogether as the woods give way to the Kelly field area.

 

Kelly Memorial Park area, Wellesley
These ferns needed only a bit of leaf litter to catch hold in this rocky space.

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Filed Under: Environment, Outdoors

Theater review: Wellesley Repertory Theatre’s “The Liar”

January 17, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Let’s get the political references out of the way right now. Wellesley Repertory Theatre’s play “The Liar” isn’t about that Liar, the Washington, DC one, although pains have been taken by many to force a comparison. No, this liar is from France — you know, one of those non-s**thole countries — and our liar is fun and flamboyant and outrageous in a rollicking way. He’s the one your mother warned you about, all promises and wild times. Look out, ladies, he’s also something of a gossip and a tramp-shamer. But somehow, you’ll love him all the same.

The Liar, Wellesley College
(Photo by David Brooks Andrews)

 

His name is Dorante, played with great physicality and madcap zaniness by Dan Prior, and the man can’t tell the truth to save his own skin. It’s his tragic flaw, if you will, but that’s about as heavily Shakespearean as the play gets, multiple references to the Bard throughout notwithstanding. Remember, this is a comedy from start to finish. Arguments don’t last forever, and hearts don’t stay broken for long. When Dorante falls in love with Clarice, a later mistaken identity situation leads him to confuse her for her more reserved BFF Lucrece, played by Angela Bilkic with a pouty face under a purple bouffant up-do. Dorante, who not only is a liar but a fast talker, is up to the challenges put before him, which are largely of his own making. I hope the girls’ friendship can survive this.

As a foil to Dorante, who can tell no truth, we have Dorante’s servant Cliton, who can tell no lies. Played with goofy lovability by Sam Wharton, Cliton’s got love life issues of his own. All I’ll say is that it involves twins — both played by Caitlin Graham —  one a stern, dominatrix type and one a fun-loving flirt. Ooh- la-la, we must indeed be in France in this light comedy with dialogue spoken entirely in pentameter. Based on a 1643 play by French dramatist Pierre Corneille, it was translated and adapted by David Ives.

Clarice, Dorante’s love interest delivers her all-pentameter lines in a Kim Kardashian accent with as much bounce and loudness as her hot-pink wig. With her bold, teasing ways, she mocks an admirer saying, “My contact lenses must have misted, because I didn’t even know that you existed.”

Alcippe, her jealous long-term beau, played with dolorous befuddlement by Charles Linshaw, comes to believe that his pal Dorante has been seeing his cupcake Clarice on the side. Dorante moves around the stage like a crowing cock, bragging about his last night’s (unnamed) conquest and in fact comparing himself to Chanticleer, Chaucer’s vain rooster who rules a barnyard harem. The bigger his lies become, the more physical his storytelling becomes. Still, the cowardly Alcippe doesn’t deck his pal for spreading rumors and talking trash about his lady love. He just stews about it, until he later challenges Dorante to a duel. I hope the guys’ friendship can survive this.

The duel scene was the best bit of choreography, and anyone who has ever seen a Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cartoon will recognize the reference, right down to the big kiss on the nose. I’m not sure other than the actors whom to credit those crazy moves to, but just know it was appreciated. There was an Abbott and Costello part too, I think.

In between scenes, the go-go dancing and the music that makes the play sound like the set of The Dating Game was a cute way for the actors to bop around stage, moving around bits and pieces of Wellesley’s own David Towlun’s colorful and sparkly-mod sets.

Throughout all this, Dorante’s dad, beautifully costumed by Chelsea Kerl in a flowing navy brocade coat trimmed with pearls and diamonds, is determined to marry him off in an effort to secure the joy of grandchildren. Played by John Kinsherf in a classic Shakespeare dad way, kind of like Juliet’s father, but not quite so heartless.

I could forgive this play a lot of wackiness, but I found it weird that Dorante’s dad believed all his son’s lies. He actually bought any sort of nonsense his boy spouted saying, “He’s youthful, but he’s truthful.” These two didn’t seem like they were meeting up in France after a lifetime of estrangement, so surely his dad must have over the years caught his son, who we’ve been told is unable to tell the truth, in many lies. That to me was a weakness in the writing, even though there is an explanation of sorts at the end. Let’s just say the tree doesn’t move far from the apple.

Once the lovers get matched up properly and the family secrets are laid bare, it’s all’s well that ends well in this fun and frisky stage production.

With:

Angela Bilkic*
Danny Bolton*
Caitlin Graham*
John Kinsherf*
Charles Linshaw*
Ariela Nazar-Rosen
Dan Prior
Paul Michel Valley* (understudy)
Sam Wharton

Director Marta Rainer; Producing Artistic Director Nora Hussey; Stage Management Lindsay Garofalo*; Set Design/Production Management, David Towlun; Costume Design, Chelsea Kerl; Sound Design, George Cooke; Lighting Design, Bailey Costa; Vocal Coach, Paul Michael Valley; Photography, David Brooks Andrews; Flight Director, Ted Hewlett

* denotes member of Actor’s Equity Union

Remaining performances, Wellesley College, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Alumnae Hall:

Through Feb. 4, 2018
Evenings:  Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays @ 7pm
Matinees:  Saturdays & Sundays @ 2pm

________________

TICKETS:

$20 general admission | $10 seniors and students

PAY WHAT YOU CAN on Thursdays!

To make a reservation call the Box Office @ 781-283-2000
The theatre is handicapped accessible,
Please email disabilityservices@wellesley.edu for information.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Theatre, Wellesley College

Wellesley shopping

Wellesley’s retail scene spans from classic Wellesley Square, punctuated by Town Hall sitting above on a hill, to newer Linden Square, nearby Church Square, and then a slew of shops stretching down through Wellesley Hills. Here’s a rundown of retail shops, restaurants, and services throughout town.

Shop Wellesley Square:

Anderson’s Jewelers: This family-owned jeweler in Wellesley Square has a wide selection of diamonds, precious stones, estate collection, sterling silver, watches, and giftware.

Wellesley Chamber of Commerce

Shop Wellesley Square

July Jubilation 2016 hoop
Hula hooping in Wellesley Square during annual July Jubilation

 

Shop Linden Square

Linden Square courtyard
Linden Square courtyard

 

Shop Church Square

Church Square Wellesley

Wellesley murder docu-drama lays it on even thicker than we could have hoped for

June 18, 2013 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

screenshot_366The writers for Investigation Discovery’s “Sins & Secrets: Murder, Lies & Bondage Ties” TV program — the story of the 1999 murder at Morses Pond of Mabel Greineder by her husband Dirk — reached deep into their thesaurus to paint a picture of Wellesley that contrasted sharply with the gruesome crime scene.

The show (which I sped through in between periods of the Bruins game) had barely started last night when out popped that go-to Swellesley term, “tony.” From there, viewers were treated to current/ex Boston Herald writers sharing their predictable points of view and actors who seemed familiar from pharmaceutical company commercials portraying the Greineders.

Viewers who stuck it out were absolutely bombarded with a wave of classic Swellesley adjectives and descriptions: “well-appointed mansions,” “exclusive,” “upper-class neighborhoods,” “peaceful bedroom community,” “affluent,” “lily-white” (twice), “decked out in the best [Halloween] costumes money can buy,” “well-heeled,” “well-bred,” and “upscale enclave.”  I learned that not unlike the “horndog” Dr. Dirk Greineder, who turned Wellesley into “his own sinful playground,” that “everyone in Wellesley has a guilty pleasure or two,” including the “diet-cheating trophy wives and preppy high-schoolers smoking in the boys’ bathroom.”

And about those Wellesley women: “They never leave their homes without their diamonds and pearls.”

Grimly, the show concluded that none of us have looked at passersby on Wellesley streets and our neighbors in town the same since the Greineder killing. Right.

By the way, this isn’t the first such true-crime show to shine the spotlight on the Greineder case: A&E’s City Confidential (“The Doctor’s Double Life”) did the same in 2003.

RELATED: Wellesley Greineder murder gets fresh TV rehash in “Murder, Lies & Bondage Ties.”

 

Filed Under: Crime

Sparkly new Wellesley store coming to Linden Square: Impulse by Adamas Fine Jewelry

September 19, 2012 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Look this fall for Impulse by Adamas Fine Jewelry to open in Wellesley at 180 Linden St., next to Divine Kitchens, offering a new twist on what Adamas delivers at its Newton store. A soft opening at the 1,100 sq. ft. space is targeted for Nov. 5.

Veronica Sagherian, who runs Adamas — and soon Impulse — with her brother Anto Aboyan, says the Linden Square site will be “a boutique jewelry store, more of a gallery style, representing different U.S. and international designers.  We hope to bring our clients new and fashion forward finds from all around the world.” Sagherian emphasizes that only one line it carries at Impulse will be exclusively its own, and that jewelry prices will range from roughly $100 to $2,500 (with online sales coming as well).

The existing Adamas store specializes in custom design and more traditional fine jewelry, diamonds, precious stones, platinum and gold.

Sagherian says Wellesley was chosen as a location “because of its geographic proximity to our current Newton store.  We also loved Linden Square as a shopping destination.  We draw our current clientele from Newton, obviously, but as far away as Wellesley, Natick, Needham, Weston, Boston, just to name a few towns.  The new store will offer these same clients of Adamas Fine Jewelry a new product and shopping experience, and hopefully attract many more clients from Wellesley and beyond.”

Sagherian acknowledges the established jewelry competition in town, but says “Impulse will not be similar to any one of them… We bring with us 15 years of experience in catering to a high end client, personalized service and attention to detail, in a traditional jewelry setting.  Impulse,  however, will bring clients a boutique shopping experience.  The jewelry offered at Impulse bridges the gap between fine and fashion jewelry, hence our slogan ‘between fine and fashion jewelry, you’ll find Impulse.’ We work hard to bring jewelry designs that are a little bit trendy, fresh and not over-saturated in the market.”

Adamas has made quite a name for itself locally and even in Hollywood, where jewelry such as the pieces shown here have been designed for actors on Desperate Housewives and other shows, and are available for other clients as well. More recently, Adamas grabbed attention for designing earrings for Aly Raisman, Needham’s gold medal Olympic gymnast.  “We then gifted the same pair of earrings to the entire gymnastics team for winning the team gold,” Sagherian says.

One other thing: In our greenest of green towns, where businesses from dry cleaners to grocers tout their greenness, you’ll be interested to know that Adamas offers a line of jewelry using recycling and reclaimed metals and gemstones. This collection, dubbed Eclipse, will be offered at Impulse.

 

Filed Under: Business

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