Wellesley Business Buzz: Go pink for Ellie Fund; Stretch Lab cuts ribbon; Wellesley Books author visits are back; Real estate renaissance; Soccer signups

September 26, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Wellesley goes pink for the Ellie Fund

Be on the lookout for Wellesley retailers who are honoring National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by turning the town pink with decorated storefronts, and pink-themed events. Some businesses will donate a percentage of sales, or collect contributions in support of the Ellie Fund.

The support of the Ellie Fund takes place across Wellesley for the entire week of October 1-8. More information here on Wellesley Square participants and Linden Square doings.

The Ellie Fund’s mission is to provide essential support services for breast cancer patients to ease the stresses of everyday life, allowing the focus to be on family, recovery and healing. The foundation provides transportation to medical appointments, light housekeeping, nutritional and grocery assistance, childcare reimbursement, nutritious prepared/delivered meals and integrative therapy services free of charge. No proof of financial need, residency, or citizenship is required. To donate to the Ellie Fund, click here .

StretchLab in Linden Square under new ownership

It’s not a stretch to say that Dr. Jamie Snead is qualified to assess the safety and efficacy of a studio that offers one-on-one stretching as a way for clients to stay limber and prevent injuries. Jamie (as he prefers to go by in the studio) is not only chief of orthopedics at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, he’s also gone through the StretchLab training program, which he proclaimed, “pretty intense.”

StretchLab Wellesley — StretchLab owners Dr. Jamie Snead (wearing hat) and Kelly Snead (wielding scissors) at the grand opening. Local luminaries attended including Select Board member Beth Sullivan Woods (far left, in bright blue) and Lise Elcock from the Charles River Regional Chamber.

The idea behind the one-on-one stretching is that certified “flexologists” work with clients individually to identify tightness and body imbalances, and customize a stretch routine. The goal is to experience the freedom that comes with having a wider range of motion and flexibility.

Jamie, along with his spouse and business partner Kelly, came across a StretchLab franchise when they were on vacation in Arizona a couple of years ago. They tried out a sample stretch and were impressed. “When we got back here we looked into it, and ended up buying the existing Wellesley Linden square franchise,” she said.

One of the flexologists gave my twitchy hip flexors a 30-minute workover while I was there for the studio’s grand opening. Although I still need a hip replacement (they’re flexologists, not miracle workers), I came away feeling that my joints benefited from the attention. Most importantly, the young woman working with me listened. As she stretched me out, there was no pressure to endure any pain, and she made no sudden movements during the session.

Business: StretchLab
Location: Linden Square, Wellesley (across from the CVS drive-in)
Phone: 339-217-0217

Sign up now for Wellesley Youth Soccer

Registration is still open for Wellesley Youth Soccer’s pre-K through third grade in-town programs and for the additional professionally led development program for grades pre-K through fifth grade.

Wellesley Books author visit

In-person author visits are back at Wellesley Books, so I stopped in to see best-selling dynamic author duo Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone on their tour to promote their joint effort, A Merry Little Meet Cute. With frank scenes about mental health struggles, the progressiveness of sex work, queer self-acceptance, and more, the holiday-themed novel isn’t your average rom-com romp. What is has in common with that genre is romantic fiction fun, hi-jinks, and hilarity.

Julie Murphy (left) and Sierra Simone (right) spoke about their holiday rom-com, A Merry Little Meet Cute, at Wellesley Books — Julie Murphy (left) and Sierra Simone (right) spoke about their holiday rom-com, *A Merry Little Meet Cute*, at Wellesley Books

Julie is the author of the Y/A book Dumplin’ (and its Netflix adaptation starring Jennifer Aniston), about a self-proclaimed fat girl who takes on her small Texas town’s annual beauty pageant. Sierra, as she delicately put it at the reading, writes “a little on the spicier side. I tend to write a little more of the forbidden stuff.” Medieval bodice rippers that include ancient and sexy secrets are right in her wheelhouse.

It all started in the back of a van

Julie and Sierra were a kick at the sold-out reading, treating the audience to the story of their own best-friends origin story. Like so many meet-cute tales, theirs started in the back of a van at the start of an authors’ tour. Julie had agreed to go on tour, but had a laundry list of misgivings. “I’m not very good with strangers. And I’m not very good at sharing a room with people I don’t know. I like my privacy,” she revealed to the audience.

Prepared to hate Sierra, her tour roomie, Julie had her lead all prepared. “Hi, I’m Julie Murphy, and sometimes I snore,” she said by way of self-introduction.

“That’s ok,” Sierra said. “I have narcolepsy, and I can sleep through anything.”

That was eight years ago, and they’ve been best friends ever since. A Merry Little Meet Cute got its start when the pair retreated to a little cabin in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma, right before Christmas. It was a place where Julie and Sierra found they could let themselves work in their own rhythm. “These little cabins were always decorated for Christmas, and it really set a mood,” Julie said.

And out of that mood came A Merry Little Meet Cute, which Sierra said is a plus-size rom-com about “an adult content creator who has partnered with an adult entertainment producer with a heart of gold. His work producing adult films isn’t as lucrative as he needs right now. So he figures what if to make a quick buck he breaks into the holiday movie business?”

Of course, the star of the squeaky-clean Hallmark-type movie has to keep her regular gig in adult film-making a secret. Of course, someone on the set knows her secret. Things just might get so steamy in the town of Christmas Notch that snow begins to melt.

Note: Sierra’s Y/A chops notwithstanding, this is not a book for your young adult reader.

BOOK: A Merry Little Meet Cute
AUTHORS: Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins

What’s behind Wellesley’s ‘Real Estate Renaissance’?

The Charles River Regional Chamber on Oct. 6 (12-1pm) presents an online panel discussion on Wellesley’s “Real Estate Renaissance,” the topic of a recent Boston Globe article written by a reporter who interviewed non other than Mr. Swellesley among other locals. The online session is free for members, $20 for non-members.

Wellesley’s real estate action has included new restaurants and retailers, new multi-family developments, plus the early stages of bio labs.

Presenters

Scott Faber, senior VP of investments, Lincoln Property
Amy Frigulietti, assistant executive director, Town of Wellesley
Elizabeth Holmes, director of corporate services, R.W. Holmes Realty
Joel Kadis, co-CEO & partner, Linear Retail Properties

MORE: Wellesley’s amped-up restaurants scene

Wellesley schools round-up: MassBay land acknowledgement; we get schooled by school construction managers; Dana’s new project is shovel-ready

September 22, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

MassBay land acknowledgement plaque installed

MassBay Community College last week unveiled a permanent land acknowledgement plaque in a ceremony attended by chiefs of three native tribes. MassBay is believed to be the first community college in Massachusetts to make this public acknowledgement with a permanent marker and a ceremony of reconciliation and healing. During the ceremony the college announced an Indigenous People Scholarship had been formed for current and future MassBay students, for which fundraising has begun.

“Today Indigenous people became visible,” said Chief Ladybug (Croatan) Native Heritage New England and Program Chair for Health Studies at MassBay. “As a Massachusetts indigenous person, today’s land acknowledgement that MassBay Community College campuses sits on land that belongs to the Nipmuc, Pawtucket, and Massachusetts tribes was historic for me, my family, and my tribe. Acknowledgment is the first steps to our tribal healing.”

Nine tribes were present at the gathering including Croatan, Ponkapoag, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Cherokee, Blackfoot, Wampanoag, Natick Praying Indians, and the Nipmuc. Chief Black Wolf of the Nipmuc, Chief Eagle Rising (Mi’kmaq) from the Great Lowell Indian Cultural Association, and 8-year-old Sophia Wise Owl (Ponkapoag) all spoke at the ceremony of gratitude for this acknowledgement.

“We are proud to hold this important ceremony and to give proper recognition of the land on which our college sits,” said MassBay President David Podell. “As our plaque reads, we cannot change the past. But what we can do and will do is to is honor the land, the ancestors, and the indigenous traditions as we at MassBay use this sacred land as a communal place to nurture learners to move forward and make a more inclusive world.”

Chief Caring Hands of the Natick Praying Indians summed up the Ceremony by saying, “I leave you with a truth: a people honor themselves when they honor its original people.”

Donations to the MassBay Indigenous People Scholarship Fund can be made by visiting www.massbay.edu/give, using the dropdown menu.

Swellesley editors are residents, but we need to clean up our act

While walking in the Hunnewell School area, we came across a different sort of sign affixed to the chain link safety fencing that encircles the construction site.

Dang, by mid-morning today we’d already used foul language, loitered, and did one other thing on this list, which we’ll leave to your imagination.

Dana Hall groundbreaking

Dana Hall is another step closer to a major renovation of its Upper School Classroom Building, the school’s largest academic space, which dates from 1956.

Dana Hall, Wellesley, construction — Board of Trustees Chair Courtney Caruso ’05; Head of School Katherine Bradley; and Campaign Steering Committee Chair and Manton Foundation Trustee Sandy Niles, break ground on the Upper School Classroom Building project.

“Our students have been at the heart of all our decisions, discussions and desires,” Head of School Katherine Bradley said at the groundbreaking event. “We knew we needed a learning environment that would meet their needs and provide the space where they could explore their interests, engage with new challenges and realize their fullest potential.”

The project, designed by Dario Designs, is being funded by private philanthropy. Last fall, the Dana Hall announced a historic $15 million gift from the Manton Foundation, with $10 million designated to support the Classroom Building. The project’s general contractor, CM & B construction management, estimates a 15-18 month timeline for completion.

Wellesley looking for civic-minded residents to fill important slots

September 22, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Town Meeting vacancies

Wellesley Town Hall, summer — Wellesley Town Hall

Get involved in Wellelsey’s Town government as a Town Meeting Member.

Two candidates are needed to fill seats in Precinct A and one candidate is needed in Precinct F. According to Town bylaws, a Special Election will take place to fill these seats.

Interested candidates must be registered voters in the Precinct in which they’d like to run, and will serve until the next Annual Town Election.

Any resident may nominate a candidate for this position, or candidates may nominate themselves. Send nominations to Town Clerk KC Kato.

Nominations must be received by September 29, 2022 in writing or by email and include name, address, and email address if available. The nominee’s permission should be obtained in advance.

Individuals who fill these vacancies will participate in the Special Town Meeting that begins on Monday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.

What is Town Meeting, anyway?

The town website describes Town Meeting as, “the legislative body for the Town of Wellesley. 240 voting town meeting members are elected by precincts in the Annual Town Election on the first Tuesday of March every year except in years in which there is a Presidential Primary Election. Each precinct has 30 members elected to three year staggered terms.

The Annual Town Meeting begins on the last Monday in March and meets Monday and Tuesday nights until the business of the meeting is concluded. The length of the town meeting is dependent on the number of articles on the Warrant and the complexity of the issues to be discussed.”

MORE: Wellesley not ready to rethink Town Meeting quite yet

Veterans graves/ceremonial officer needed

The Graves/Ceremonial Officer assists the Veterans Services Officer (VSO) with duties as needed. In addition, this individual is responsible for caring for and providing upkeep for veteran graves in the community.

veterans day girl scouts — The graves/ceremonial officer is an essential part of the team that puts together important ceremonies such as Veterans Day observances at Town Hall. File photo, 2019

Specific duties include:

Placing American flags on the graves of veterans who are buried in Wellesley cemeteries.
Organizing, publicizing, and conducting annual ceremonies recognizing veterans in Wellesley, including dressing the graves in mid-May, on Memorial Day, on September 11, and on Veterans Day on November 11.

Additional responsibilities are determined by the VSO. Contact the West Suburban Veteran’s District office for more information.

Here’s an example of the kind of ceremony the graves/ceremonial officer helps make happen.

A sense of history

Wellesley Historical Commission — Award-winning home at 68 Crest Road.

The Wellesley Historic District Commission is seeking volunteers to fill two vacant seats.

The Commission is supported by the Planning Department and is responsible for reviewing alterations to buildings and structures within Wellesley’s local historic districts. Meetings generally take place on the first Tuesday evening of each month. Members are appointed by the Select Board to three-year terms.

The commission also presents annual awards to homeowners who have completed either successful historically sensitive renovations or built historically appropriate new construction that honor and respect Wellesley’s architectural history.

Any Wellesley resident may apply. Preferred candidates are members of the Wellesley Historical Society, American Institute of Architects, Board of Realtors, or residents or property owners in a historic district.

Submit a cover letter and resume with your qualifications to the Planning Department, 888 Worcester Street, Suite 160, Wellesley, MA 02482. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Please contact the Planning Department with questions.

Family fun times from one end of Wellesley to the next

September 20, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley last weekend was taken over by families in search of bouncy houses and other rides, craft tables, face painting stations, and more. Their quest for fun took them from Fiske Elementary School‘s annual Western Round-Up, to the Wellesley Mothers Forum’s Fall Carnival in Wellesley Square. Here are a few pics:

Fiske School Western Round-Up is still wild

We don’t care how much rebranding the PTO engages in. The Fiske Western Round-Up (the fundraiser’s official name as of this year), also known under the alias “Wild West Round-Up,” is still a wild time. At the fair with a western flair, attendees swaggered about wearing cowboy hats while they enjoyed rides, games, and lunch at the Chuckwagon. The strains of country music could be heard as kids played the annual cowboy strut game for treasure jar prizes.

Fiske Western Round-Up, Wellesley — Fiske Western Round-Up

Fiske Western Round-Up — Fiske moms and honorary sheriffs Laura Smith (left) and Teresa Peters sold tickets and kept general law and order in Round-Up Town.

Wellesley Mothers Forum

The Wellesley Mothers Forum set up bouncy houses and games, and scooped ice cream for a couple hours of family fun at the Wellesley Town Green, all for free as their gift to the community.

Here’s what the Wellesley Town Green looked like before the Mother’s Forum took over for the day. Peaceful. Calm. Serene.

Who needs peaceful, calm, serene when it’s the weekend, baby? Here’s what happens when Mothers Forum members bring to life their vision of what could be on a nice stretch of lawn in the shadow of Town Hall.

The Wellesley Mothers Forum provides mothers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with an opportunity to gather once a month to enjoy interesting speakers, share parenting information, and form new friendships. Membership information here.

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

Beyond Wellesley—we visit the beautiful Cornell University area

September 16, 2022 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Ithaca, N.Y., is the kind of destination where the usual summer fun is on tap—there are plenty of spots to hike, bike, swim, shop, and dine—yet the two-college city (Cornell University and Ithaca College) feels homey, a place where its 30k+ full-time residents and the student population work, play, and live side-by-side. Fortunately for the 1.6 million visitors between May 2019 and 2020 to the Commons, the area’s busiest shopping and dining district, the locals like to share their secrets.

We booked an Airbnb for a few nights in early September and drove the 5.5 hours from Wellesley. Our goals: to see Ithaca’s famous gorges, enjoy some good meals, bike the safe and scenic Rail Trail up to Taughannock Falls (the tallest waterfall on the East Coast), hike the beautiful Robert H. Treman State Park, visit the Johnson Museum of Art on the Cornell University campus, and more. You don’t go to Ithaca to experience the fall “shoulder season,” that period of time after the crush of tourists has gone home and you can finally get into all the cool restaurants and attractions. You just go to visit Ithaca. If you want a party scene, it’s there for you, somewhere. Certainly the red solo cups littered around student rental houses after a Saturday night debauch attest to that. It’s just not in your face, demanding your attention and participation. (We’re still kinda exhausted from last year’s adventure to Block Island, a rock-on place if ever there was one.)

Working out the kinks

After being in the car for so long, we were eager to stretch our legs. We went straight to the Fall Creek Gorge suspension bridge, a part of the Cornell campus, where we walked 140 feet over the rushing water, alongside students on their way to class. There’s a small parking area at 310 Fall Creek Dr. After walking over the bridge, there are plenty of paths along the water for additional exploration.

We were told ahead of time that the beauty of the bridges was marred by fencing and safety netting that was put in place in 2010 after a long history of people jumping from the Fall Creek Gorge and other nearby bridges. We found that the unobtrusive netting couldn’t grab attention from the roar of the water and the natural beauty of the scene. When you consider that before safety measures were installed, 27 people died by suicide between 1990 and 2010 (including 15 students) by jumping from the five area bridges, the protective measures seem a small price to pay.

The Commons, dining and shopping

Ithaca Commons is the area’s hot hangout scene, a place to catch a movie at the Cinemapolis Art House Theater, or visit Buffalo Street Books to browse volumes on two floors, and their basement collection of vinyl. We peeked into the iconic Chanticleer, but the landmark corner dive-bar looked too cool for the likes of us. We didn’t want to go in and risk altering the vibe. Lots of indie shops and restaurants gave the two-block pedestrian mall an authentic feel. You couldn’t just as well have been in Faneuil Hall. The Commons is all Ithaca, from the head shops to the outdoors store to upscale artisans shops and restaurants. Not much in the way of chains here.

Down the street a couple of blocks from The Commons is the famous Moosewood Restaurant, which we tried out our first night in town. The vegetarian eatery is under new ownership since earlier this year. Danica Wilcox and her husband Nicholas, after living in Spain for many years, came home to take over the restaurant where Danica long ago was hired for her first job in the Moosewood kitchen. We sat outside on the lovely brick patio and watched the street scene go by. Our servers, both local students— one experienced and one in-training acolyte—were attentive and able to answer our questions about the dishes on the curated, seasonal menu. The choices included five apps, a few salads, several mains, and three side dishes, all vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options. I tried out the strozzapreti pasta (similar to penne) with shiitake and oyster mushrooms, baby spinach, sherry cream, gremolata, and parmesan. The dish, unfortunately, was bland and barely sauced. Moosewood is the kind of place where there are no salt and pepper shakers on the table, and I was determined to eat dinner as it was served for the purposes of this story. I doggy-bagged most of the meal and doctored it the next day on my Airbnb’s hotplate. A dash of seasoning and a little cream brought the strozzapreti to life, making it what it surely would have been if the chef’s final tasting hadn’t somehow been missed. Mr. Swellesley dared try his historic first black bean burger, and lived to tell about it. Who knows what the future could bring for his limited palate.

The lemon tahini broccoli and the spicy coconut curry we’re told are two must-try items. Homemade desserts include their famous fudge brownie. Wines and beers, some local, as well as a selection of creative non-alcoholic drinks such as ginger tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade, are available in this restaurant, which offers nice ambience in a convivial downtown location.

It’s all uphill from here

We made a quest out of our desire to see Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot waterfall billed as the highest vertical drop waterfall in the northeastern United States. Ithaca Bike Rental, located in view of the 45k-acre Cayuga Lake, outfitted us in good-quality bikes up to the task of taking us along a scenic paved

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Business Buzz: Shopping events in Wellesley Square & Linden Square; HYP Yoga is back; Thanks to our newest sponsor—Mature Caregivers

September 15, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Parents Day Out in Wellesley Square

It’s time for the annual Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association Parents Day Out, a time when everyone can enjoy specials offered by participating merchants in the Square. On Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 17, many of the area’s stores will offer discounts and deals, so make sure you stop by and shop, dine, and enjoy Wellesley Square. Here’s a list of participating merchants.

Live music will be part of the fun, as will free parking, courtesy of the Town of Wellesley.

Linden Square Sidewalk Sale

Do you love searching the racks for great deals? Then head over to your favorite participating stores at the Linden Square Sidewalk Sale. Your great find is waiting to be discovered. Deals up to 70% off, through Sept. 18.

Hot take: HYP yoga is back in Wellesley

After taking a two-year savasana from Wellesley, HYP Studio is back in town. The studio has brought back a full roster of hot yoga classes in a 1,000 sq. ft. space, along with equipment Pilates classes. The facility is located at 141 Linden St. A note on their website says that HYP Yoga’s Needham studio is officially closed.

Welcome back!

Barre Method adds childcare

The Barre Method in Wellesley Square has added “childcare method” to its roster of services during the exercise studio’s busiest morning class times. Kids can play just down the hall, where they’ll be fully supervised by an experienced staff member. For now, childcare is offered twice a week, during the 9:30am 60-minute class times. The fee is $10 for the length of the class

Thanks to our newest advertiser: Mature Caregivers

Mature Caregivers provides geriatric expertise and reliable in-home eldercare from certified providers age 50+.

Wellesley 2022 State Primary election results

September 7, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Unofficial results from the Massachusetts State Primary election shared by Wellesley’s Town Clerk show that Wellesley’s voting results were largely consistent with those across the state, though not in the Republican primaries for governor and Lt. governor.

Although Chris Doughty bested Geoff Diehl in all Wellesley precincts, Diehl carried the state, and will run for governor in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election vs. Democrat Maura Healey, whose opponent Sonia Chang-Diaz stopped campaigning months ago.

Republican Lt. governor candidate Kate Campanale topped Leah Allen across all Wellesley precincts, but Allen took the state, and faces Democrat Kimberley Driscoll in November.

Democrat Andrea Campbell won the Attorney General primary in Wellesley and the state, and will face Republican Jay McMahon in November.

Incumbents Alice Hanlon Peisch and Cynthia Stone Creem ran unopposed for state representative and senate seats, respectively.