Morses Pond beach in Wellesley to open June 5

May 25, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Recreation Department says Morses Pond beach will officially open—without lifeguards, so swim at your own risk—Mon., June 5-Sun., June 25, 10am-dusk. During those dates, the yellow gate at Turner Road will be monitored by Recreation staff, and parking at Morses Pond will be limited to Wellesley residents only. (Non-residents can walk, run, or bike in.)

On Mon., June 26-Sun., August 20, 10am-5pm, the beach and pond will fully open for the season, with lifeguards on duty.

The price of admission

Family passes for residents—$250 (that rate includes 5 free day passes for the season)
Adult pass (residents)—$125
Senior/child under 16 (residents)—$60
Daily passes—$10 per person (proof of residency is required)

Non-residents

Season pass adults/seniors—$190
$90 per child (under age 16)
No daily passes available

Contact the Recreation Department for information at 781-235-2370.

Cold waters of Morses Pond no deterrent to those who plunged for Elodie

High school senior contributes newest Wellesley traffic box painting

May 23, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

It’s traffic-box painting season in town, and Wellesley resident Clara Eikeboom is adding her artistic talents to the two signal boxes outside the Wellesley Police station on Washington St. After submitting an application and preliminary designs in March to the Wellesley Public Art Committee, the Winsor School student got word that her plans were perfectly lawful. By early May she’d set up a shade shelter and started sketching her designs onto the metal surfaces.

Wellesley traffic box art shows police cars through the years. Traffic box artists receive a stipend of $1,000 for their time, transportation, and supplies.

“I got the idea because I really enjoy the electrical boxes all around the Wellesley, and I dreamed of doing one myself.”

Eikeboom also dreamed of a spring spent outdoors, beyond the four walls of a classroom. Thus, her perfect senior project was born. “I’m so glad I can do this and I don’t have to be in school,” she acknowledged.

One of the two boxes she’s painting is themed “Police Cars During the Ages.” One side portrays a Model T; another side a Crown Victoria, and another, a modern-day electrical model. For that last one, Eikeboom pointed to WPD’s fully electric 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E parked nearby. “I had a model for my drawing right here.”

For her second box, Eikeboom painted a Sherlock Holmes silhouette as a nod to the famous British fictitious case solver; and a large fingerprint, to symbolize the scientific side of criminal investigations.

For his part, Wellesley PD chief Jack Pilecki was glad to have the chance to see the boxes outside the station livened up. He and Eikenboom together came up with the themes for the boxes. “I am extremely happy with how they are turning out. Clara has been amazing. I hope everyone who sees them likes them also,” Pilecki said.

Eikenboom expects to finish up the project within a couple of weeks. After that she’ll travel to Minnesota to work in a kitchen at a German language summer camp. “This will be my third summer working in the kitchen,” she said. Fluent in the language, She welcomes the opportunity to communicate with other German-speakers from all over the country and abroad. Next fall, it’s off to Bucknell University.

The Traffic Box Art Program is a collaboration between the Wellesley Public Arts Committee and the Wellesley Police Department. Since 2020 local artists have painted about a dozen signal boxes at high-visibility intersections to enhance the visual experience in Wellesley.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Wellesley Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and a grant from the Community Fund for Wellesley’s Al Robinson Fund for the Arts.

Civil Discourse Community Dialogue on Race—invite to additional session

May 22, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Civil Discourse Initiative recently held two dialogues on racial identity and racism in Wellesley. Due to the strong interest from the community, the organizers have added an additional in-person session on Thur., June 1, 7pm-9pm. The June 1 session will be held in person; confirmation and location will be emailed upon registration.

Dialogue participants will meet in small groups for the two-hour dialogue. To participate, please sign up by Tuesday, May 23. Space is limited.

[Read more…]

Here’s the schedule for Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, May 20 & 21

May 18, 2023 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, organized and funded by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, is ready to bring the excitement during the town’s largest community gathering of the year. This two-day event takes place on May 20 and 21, and includes events and activities for all ages.

Don’t skip breakfast on Sat., May 20

Remember to start everything out with the most important meal of the weekend—the Pancake Breakfast, on Sat., May 20, 8am-1pm, at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St.

Gluten free, waffles and pancakes are available as an option and there will be bountiful chocolate chips for toppings at this all-you-can-eat family fun event with the prices that haven’t gone up in years. $10 if you’re 14 or older, and five dollars if you’re 13 and under.

Have a cool car? Help out

There is a serious need the 54th Wellesley Veterans’ Parade has for convertibles to carry the Honorees in this year’s Parade, to be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, starting at 1pm, starting at the junction of Routes 9 & 16, at the Friendly Aid parking lot.

Anyone who might have an available convertible can contact Roy Switzler, Parade Chairman at 781-235-1299 (o), or 617-840-5718 (c) or at wellesleycelebrations@gmail.com or rswitzler@aol.com

This year, the Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade theme is “Birth of Our Nation: Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.”

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend—what’s new in 2023

Encampment location change: The encampment is usually on the grounds in front of Wellesley Town Hall. That’s not happening due to construction of the historic building. Instead the 18th century military encampment will take place at Morton Park Field. There will be tours all day on Saturday and a cannon firing hourly 11am-4pm near the Wellsley PD, 485 Washington St.

Catch Connect: This year, free transportation on Saturday, May 20 will be provided by the MWRTA Catch Connect from 10:00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. to the many Wellesley Wonderful Weekend venues (e.g. Touch a Truck event, Wellesley Police and Fire Department open houses, Art in the Park and other events). Riders over 12 years of age can ride unaccompanied.

If you would like to use this service on Saturday, please email info@sustainableWellesley.com. In your email, make sure to share that you/family/friends would like to try Catch Connect so we can accommodate your travel plans.

Climate Action Passport:

Grab a passport at the Library, Free Eye Exam/Eyeglass donation event at Wellesley High School, Touch a Truck, or the Wellesley Police Department or Municipal Light Plant open houses.
Get your passport stamped at Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend climate action events.
Show your passport at the Climate Action table at the WWW picnic (Hunnewell Field) on Sunday, May 21 from 4:30 p.m. to dusk. All stamped passports will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bike shop gift certificate.

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend schedule, Sat., May 20

Saturday, May 20: 18th century military encampment at Morton Park Field—The Royal Irish Artillery Division and 26th Yankee Division. Tours all day on Saturday. Canon firing Saturday, 11am-4pm, on the hour, nearby Wellesley Police Station, 485 Washington St.

8am-1pm: Pancake Festival at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St., Wellesley Kiwanis Club. Wellesley Key Club (slight cost)

8am-1pm: Free Eye Exams at the Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street, Wellesley Lions Club

9am-10am: Morses Pond Trail Guided Walk, Wellesley Trails Committee, Meet at town beach access road gate, end of Turner Rd.

9am-10:30am: Walking Tour of Wellesley Hills Square with Wellesley Historical Society. Meet at the Tollhouse, 229 Washington St.

10am-noon: Bike Safety Rodeo, for children under twelve. With Wellesley Police and Wellesley Kiwanis, Tailby Parking Lot, Linden and Crest Roads.

9am-noon: Touch a Truck Open House at Wellesley Department of Public Works, 20 Municipal Way (off Rt 9)

11am-3pm–Open House at Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, 4 Municipal Way (off Rt. 9)

11am-3pm: Open House at Wellesley Police Station, 485 Washington Street

11am-to 3pm–Open House at Wellesley Main Fire Station #2

Noon-3pm: Open House at Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington Street

11am-3pm–Open House at Wellesley Historical Society, Stanwood House, 323 Washington Street

(Rescheduled until fall due to expected rain) Noon-2:30pm: Art in the Park, Wellesley Community Art Project & Wellesley Women Artisans – Simons Park (corner of Washington and Brook Streets, left of Main Library)

1pm-3pm: Pups in the Park, Rotary Club of Wellesley, Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc., and Wellesley Celebrations Committee, Hunnewell Field

1pm-3pm: Build Your Own Nancy’s Troll and Fairy House event (for elementary school kids), in memory of Nancy Bagdasarian. At Pickle Point on Morses Pond. Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Crosstown Trail. Parking area opposite 49 Russell Rd.

(Canceled due to expected rain: limited showing of the artwork will happen during Sunday’s picnic instead) 10am-4pm: The Wellesley Society of Artists is pleased to present “Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists”, featuring the artwork of 30 WSA member artists on display at Simons Park (corner of Washington & Brook Street, left of Main Library).

4pm–dusk: Paint the Town–Plein Air Painting event, Wellesley Society of Artists and Page Waterman Gallery, Town Hall grounds, corner of Washington and Grove Streets, Wellesley Square.

4pm: Veterans Ecumenical Memorial Mass at Saint Paul Church, 502 Washington Street, Wellesley Veterans Council

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend schedule, Sun., May 21

8am-10am: Guided Bird Walk at Morses Pond, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust. Park on wooded side of Turner Rd. Meet at Turner Road Gate.

8am: Wonder Run 5K Race* (small fee charged) 9am: Kids Fun Run* (small fee charged), Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street. Register here.
A Lexington Minuteman re-enactor will fire a musket shot to start the race of the 9th annual Wonder Run 5K & Kids Fun Run

9:30am-2pm: Antique Car Show, Wheels of Wellesley X, on Central Street, from Juniper Restaurant to Fire Station 1. Organized by the Modifiers Car Club and the Wellesley Celebrations Committee

1pm-3pm: 55th Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade. 2023 Theme: Birth of Our Nation: Celebrating the 25oth Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party—1773-2023. Route along Washington St. (Route 16) through to Central St. in Wellesley Square. Reviewing Stand in front of Wellesley Village Church. Wellesley Celebrations Committee

4:30pm-dusk: Picnic in the Park at Hunnewell Field. Food, drinks, kids’ rides, crafts, games, ponies, & other fun. (small charge for food, drinks, and some activities.

6pm: Concert for Wellesley at Hunnewell Field. Featuring music by The Reminisants, and a musical theatrical performance by Wellesley Theatre Project Wellesley Theatre Project

Dusk: Fireworks – The Biggest and the Best! At Hunnewell Field. Sponsors: Roche Bros./Sudbury Farms and Needham Bank

Please support the Celebrations Committee with a donation. Those fireworks (and so much more) are free to all revelers, but not to the organizers!

Donations can be sent by check made payable to Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc. and sent to Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc. P.O. Box 812202, Wellesley, MA 02482-0015 or by visiting wellesleywonderfulweekend.com/donate

An hour in a Wellesley garden—library in full bloom at Foundation event

May 18, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Free Library Foundation celebrated spring with an opening reception for the organization’s “Books in Bloom” fundraising event. Guests moved around both floors of the library to appreciate stunning floral interpretations of much-loved fiction, non-fiction, and picture books. The opening night reception featured live music by the Wellesley High School MTB Jazz Trio. Guests enjoyed raw bar by Wellesley’s own Row 34 chef-owner Jeremy Sewall; savories from Waski’s Cheese Shop; and treats from Ware Baking Co.

Proceeds from the event help The Library Foundation to fund enhancements such as expansion to the library’s collections in the form of new databases, evolving materials formats, expanded reference materials, and more. Their motto: “We take what you love and make it better.”

The flowers arrangements (along with the food and the open bar) are gone, but here are some pictures.

Wellesley Free Library Foundation, Books in Bloom

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Rotary Club puts on Wellesley’s yummiest spring fundraiser

May 17, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

After depriving everyone in town for three years due to a little thing called “the pandemic,” The Rotary Club of Wellesley finally relented and fed over 300 guests at the triumphant return of their Taste of Wellesley fundraising event, held at Elm Bank Reservation on May 4.

We went for the sense of community. We went to support the Rotary Club’s mission to end food insecurity. We went because we were hungry. Taste of Wellesley did not disappoint. The food (and drinks), generously donated by 15 participating restaurants, was so good we felt like finally, after years of longing, we had really, truly dined. The event raised over $30k for the Rotarians to continue their work with the Wellesley Housing Authority, Mass Bay Community College and organizations serving homeless veterans.

Here are some pics:

Wellesley Rotary, Taste of Wellesley — Club president Bill Westerman delivers remarks

Participating restaurants

Alta Strada
Bocado Tapas Bar
Cafe Mangal
Comella’s
CrepeBerry
Exhibit A Brewing
Fiorella’s Express
Juniper
Lockheart Restaurant
Papa Razzi
Roche Bros.
Smith & Wollensky
Takara Japanese Restaurant
The Cottage
The Laughing Monk

Here’s the entire list of over 50 dining options in Wellesley.

And let’s throw in Natick restaurants, for good measure.

Next up for the Rotary Club—Pups in the Park

Don’t miss Pups in the Park during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. Last year the event raised $5,000 for International Fund for Animals to support animals in Ukraine, Turkey, ands Syria. Organizers are looking to do the same this year.

Enter your pup in the “Pups in the Park” event, where they can compete for cutest, best costume, best kisser, and more. Everybody comes away a winner. If 10 pups register, there will be 10 award categories. If 100 pups compete, there will be 100 awards, in which case the Rotarians are really going to have to get creative with the categories. Most soulful eyes?

$20 contribution for each dog. Register here using the QR code. Donations of up to $5,000 matched by the Rotary Club.

Special guest stars: author Pippi Babson the Black Lab will be there with his human friend, Gig Babson. Also, meet new friends from Buddy Dog and Shultz’s Guest House.

DATE: Saturday, May 20
TIME: 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: Hunnewell Field
SPONSORS: Rotary Club of Wellesley, Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc., and Wellesley Celebrations Committee

Wellesley Rotary Club, Pooch Parade 2022. Such a good doggie.

An hour in a Wellesley garden—it’s up to us to eradicate the dreaded garlic mustard

May 12, 2023 by Deborah Brown 4 Comments

The plea came from a Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild member. She needed help committing herbicide.

“Dear gardeners and anyone with opposable thumbs,” began the email. “As many of you might already know, garlic mustard is a very bad bunny. Even bunnies don’t like it much…we have the equivalent of a flowering forest fire of it in our yards, woodlands and public spaces. Please heed the call and haul it out!”

Garlic mustard, Wellesley — A patch of mature garlic mustard sidles up to two cottonwood trees.

I was one of almost 100 garden club members cc’d on this formal summons to war. Actives, sustainers—all were called to action, and encouraged to recruit friends and family. It was time to stop a weed determined to eradicate native beauties such as woodland phlox, Solomon’s seal, trillium, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and trout lily. I’ve seen every one of those lovelies in Welleslsey’s open spaces including Fuller Brook Park, Centennial Park, the North 40, and Boulder Brook. I’ve also seen plenty of garlic mustard in those places, lurking about, gaining in strength and numbers as it goes unchecked. Don’t let those little white flowers and heart-shaped leaves fool you. One garlic mustard plant can produce hundreds of seeds that spread with the wind, off to colonize another patch of unsuspecting ground. Garlic mustard is non-native, highly invasive, and going for broke.

What the town is doing

The town knows all about the situation, and in fact the Natural Resources Commission has garlic mustard on its list of Wellesley’s Least Wanted Invasive Plants. (Not making this up. The NRC really does have such a hit-list.) To those who take a live-and-let-live approach to flora management, breezily claiming that a weed is just any plant growing where we don’t want it to, well, that’s part of the story. But then there is a subset of weeds known as “invasive species.” The NRC says such plants are aggressive and “spread unchecked into undisturbed land, upsetting the balance of native species and changing the ecosystem.”

Once you see garlic mustard for the bully it is, you can’t un-see it. Changing the ecosystem is exactly what the noxious plant does, in an insidious way. First, it emerges before other woodland plants in the spring, all the better to welcome them into a living hell of soil disruption and intimidation techniques such as dominance. Garlic mustard sidles up to native plants. Then it takes over their space and crowds then out. Once a patch is established, the roots of garlic mustard secrete chemicals that inhibit germination and growth of native species.

Our neighborhood nearly lost a gorgeous stand of hundreds of woodland phlox to the onward march of garlic mustard. When the woods lost several trees to Hurricane Irene in 2011, within a couple of years something lovely happened. The felled trees made way for increased sunlight, which encouraged the spread of a few phlox that had maintained a small, long-established colony in the dappled sun near the wood’s edge. Drawn by the sunshine, the patch migrated and became so striking within another two years that passers-by would stop to take pictures. But by 2016, garlic mustard had gotten wind of the situation, and moved in. Trouble was, I didn’t know garlic mustard was a menace. With its delicate white flowers woven through the tapestry of light pink and white phlox, the newcomer looked like another wildflower to me. So I welcomed it. Big mistake. By the time I wised up, it was almost too late. One sad spring, phlox blooms were down by more than half. Those that managed to soldier on were outnumbered by garlic mustard, 100-to-one, easily. It all happened so fast.

But I move fast too, when I have to. Like most bullies, garlic mustard folds when confronted. On the plus side, the plant is easy to pull. Just yank it from the base, and the tap root come right out. Today the phlox is back to its former glory, a process that has taken years. My garlic mustard pulling will probably never be done, but it’s worth it. Although garlic mustard is easiest to pull up after a rain, this is not the best time to get rid of garlic mustard. Now is. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions, just get out there and do it.

Call to action

It’s up to Wellesley residents to do this job, because the town just doesn’t have the resources or the staffing to do it. The Park & Tree Division has 15 full-time employees performing maintenance on trees, landscapes, and hardscapes across 900+ acres of athletic fields, parkland, conservation land, ponds, and 70+ traffic islands in town. Primarily a maintenance division, Park & Tree also takes on some projects working on lands owned by the NRC, Schools, the Select Board, the Water Division, Recreation, Libraries, Police, Mass Highway, and DPW.

“We don’t have an effective weapon other than the chemical Glyphosate which is not organic and thus not used on public lands here in Wellesley,” Cricket Vlass, Landscape Planner for the town said. “Just know, waging war is laudable but likely not winnable.”

Not winnable? That sounds like a challenge. We have not yet begun to fight. I saved the phlox by pulling out 100 garlic mustard plants several times per week. Let’s call this the “brighten the corner where you are” approach to garlic mustard management. Or as my mom used to say, “Look around, see what needs to be done, and do it.”

Think of your outdoor Wellesley happy place. Now get out there and save it. Pull up 100 garlic mustard plants, bag them, and throw them in the trash (never in the RDF yard waste area or in your own backyard composting operation). Do this several times per week, and your happy place will thank you. This will take years. Maybe for as long as you live in Wellesley. Don’t ever give up.

“We hope that homeowners will join us in the battle against these marauders,” Vlass said. “We can’t do it alone.”

Wellesley Middle School students vs. garlic mustard

Earlier this month during a community service day, many Wellesley 8th graders helped remove massive amounts of the invasive to help prepare for the Simons Park Lawn Conversion or Lawn “Habit to Habitat” Project. The Natural Resources Commission has reimagined the area adjacent to the main library and is converting resource-dependent conventional lawn into a thriving, ecologically functional landscape that supports native at-risk pollinator species. More here on the project, which is in its second year.

Donations needed for Postal Food Drive in Wellesley on Saturday, May 13

May 10, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

On Saturday, May 13 (Mothers’ Day weekend) the the Wellesley Food Pantry will once again be the beneficiary of the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive sponsored by the letter carriers of the U.S. Postal Service. As the carriers complete their regular routes around town they will also be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to WFP. Residents are asked to please have items out by 9am on Saturday for pick-up.

Please look for the Stamp Out Hunger flyers in your mailbox as to whether your letter carrier is participating. This drive is important for filling the Wellesley Food Pantry’s shelves ahead of the slower donation stream typical during the summer season.

Please see the Food Pantry’s wish list:

Canned salmon, chicken or tuna
Canned and dried fruit (except pineapple)
Pasta, all types
Cooking oil, all types
Cereal
Oatmeal
Laundry detergent
Dishwashing liquid
Nuts
Honey

Other ways to donate

In general, the Wellesley Food Pantry is low on financial donations, which are crucial to funding its operations. The Food Pantry does not receive any public/government money, relying on the community to help fund and support its mission.

Please consider how you can help:

Make a financial donation—you can send a check to Wellesley Food Pantry (207 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02481) or click here to donate.
Shop for items off the wish list (see the list here) and deposit in the collection bins at Roche Bros. or Whole Foods, or bring items directly to the Pantry, located at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St., and drop off curbside on Monday afternoons, 2pm-3pm.

The Wellesley Food Pantry volunteers appreciate the support they receive from all members of the community.

Spring wanderings around Wellesley: Streetscape Curator comes to town; Village Church helps fight hunger; Wonderful Wellesley events ramping up

May 4, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

In our wanderings around town lately we’ve met some interesting people and seen some pretty sights. Matthew Dickey, behind the popular Instagram account Streetscape Curator (40k followers), was the featured speaker at a Mass Hort event last weekend. The Dorchester resident travels all over Massachusetts (and beyond), seeking out interesting homes and buildings, and telling their stories through crisp, beautiful pictures and meticulous research. During his talk at Elm Bank Reservation about the historic Manor House, Dickey told the crowd that the home was built for Alice Cheney Baltzell. Alice was the daughter of Benjamin Pierce Cheney, who founded what would become American Express.

Mass Hort just scored a $600K grant from the State to shore up the 100+ year old 40k sq. ft. building.

Streetscape Curator Matthew Dickey speaks in front of the Manor House in the Italiante Garden at Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley.

Elm Bank Reservation, Manor House, interior — A peek inside the Manor House.

Feeding Frenzy at Wellesley Village Church

It’s been a long-standing yearly tradition at Wellesley Village Church for parishioners to don hair nets and plastic gloves, join the assembly line, and put together healthy, non-perishable meals to benefit food pantry clients across the region. In partnership with End Hunger NE, over 100 church volunteers worked last Sunday toward providing food to families and individuals facing food insecurity. With inflation bumping up the cost of food by 9.9% in 2022, according to the US Department of Agriculture, the need for food assistance is only growing.

If you’d like to volunteer to package meals at the End Hunger NE warehouse (203 Oak Street, Pembroke, MA, awning #7) just sign up for a time. It’s a meaningful bonding opportunity for a group—people who arrive together serve next to each other on the assembly lines. Half of each team works the food bins and half weighs, seals, and boxes the meals.

More info here on how it all works.

Wellesley Village Church, Feeding Frenzy. Matthew Martin of End Hunger NE (in the striped shirt) keeps the energy going as he works toward the goal of ending hunger in the Northeast.

Artist Wendy Letven swings by Beth Urdang Gallery

At Beth Urdang Gallery in Wellesley Square, multidisciplinary artist Wendy Letven stopped by for a reception and to talk about her work which includes sculpture, wall reliefs, wall installations, mobiles of painted aluminum and cut paper, and watercolors.

Based in New York, Letven teaches Art and Design at Parsons School of Design and at Montclair State University. You can see her work at the gallery at 15 Central St., and also check out the striking window display next to Tutto Italiano.

Beth Urdang Gallery, Wellesley — Artist Wendy Letven, flanked by her works: “Blue Spinner” (left), made from acrylic, enamel, and aluminum ; and “Outer Orbit,” made from acrylic, Enamel, wire, and aluminum.

Spring in bloom at the Hunnewell tennis courts

More spring happenings during Wonderful Wellesley

Wonderful Wellesley is all about what’s happening in town including special events, new stores and restaurants, special offers and more.

Sing and dance with Boston’s beloved, award-winning family music entertainer, Vanessa Trien (of Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys), well known for her lively, interactive concerts for the whole family. Bring your kids and get ready to sing, dance, twirl, jump like a monkey, and tickle like a tickle monster with Vanessa and Jumping Monkey sidekick, Adam Rothberg.

DATE: Saturday, May 6
TIME/LOCATION: 11am concert in Linden Square Courtyard. Plus, the Frozen Ice Cream Truck with be giving out FREE ice cream to the first 200 kids, while supplies last.
TIME/LOCATION: 3pm concert in Wellesley Square in front of iCode

Concerts last approximately 45 minutes. Rain date is Sunday, May 7, same times.

More music with Wellesley Symphony Orchestra

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra will hold its “Cathedrals of Light” spring concert on Sunday, May 7, 3pm, at MassBay Community College auditorium at 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills.

This program consists of music inspired by the idea of cathedrals, and the idea of inspiration itself.

Music performed will include :

Jennifer Higdon’s “blue cathedral” “
The Sunken Cathedral” written for piano by Claude Debussy and arranged for orchestra by Hubert Mouton
Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres” (Brothers), written in 1977
5th symphony by Jean Sibelius

The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra offers a pay-what-you-can ticket pricing system, though recommends $30 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased online.

All attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and present proof of vaccination at the door. Per WSO and MassBay policy, all attendees must be masked at all times.

Save the date: Wheels of Wellesley Car Show

DATE: Sunday, May 21
TIME: 11am-3pm
LOCATION: Central Street in Wellesley Square, from Juniper to Fire Station 1

Wellesley business buzz: Prepped and Polished expands; Refined Renovations opens studio; Jesamondo extends welcome to new stylist

May 2, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Prepped and Polished has moved within Wellesley

Prepped and Polished has moved to a larger Wellesley location at 462 Washington Street (near Mathnasium and the Barber Chair). With six private classrooms, the new space is about four times larger that that at its former 18 Grove St. location, allowing the tutoring and test prep business to meet students in a more comfortable environment. Prepped and Polished has been delivering educational services for almost 25 years and has three locations (Wellesley, Sudbury, and Newton Centre).

Award-winning design-build firm opens Wellesley studio

Refined Renovations has been refining homes in Boston’s north shore for the past 20 years. Now the company has a new Wellesley design studio at 184 Worcester St., Wellesley (near Great Wok), to better serve clients in the Metrowest area and downtown Boston.

The full-service design-build firm handles everything and is ready to take your project from inspiration to completion. The team of designers works with the in-house build team to ensure your project comes out beautifully. Refined Renovations specializes in kitchen remodels, complete home renovations, custom homes and furnishings and interiors. The company also provides a full suite of interior design services.

Refined Renovations, Wellesley — Beautiful and elegant kitchen.

Refined Renovations has been featured in the Boston Globe, regional magazines, and has earned eleven Best of Houzz awards over the past eight years, with over fifty 5-star reviews.

Refined Renovations has distinguished itself as a premier full-service design-build company in the Boston area, building dream homes and transforming dozens of kitchens to fit the personality and unique style of each client. The company’s growth is the result of repeatedly delivering on its promises. The focus is always on customer satisfaction and beautiful style. Whether you are renovating your existing home, or building your dream home, Refined Renovations would love to partner with you!

Currently booking design projects for fall and winter renovations. Limited openings exist for 2023.

Jesamondo weaves new stylist into its team

Jesamondo Salon & Spa has added Whitney Taylor, stylist and hair extension expert, to its team of salon professionals. Whitney specializes in extensions by Bellami, Harper Ellis, and Bombshell—let her weave something extraordinary with hair extensions that’ll leave you looking and feeling more youthful and vibrant with voluminous locks. Book an appointment.