Try Wellesley Girl Scouts this September

September 5, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Special to Swellesley via Sally Webster

Girl Scouts isn’t just for younger girls. Wellesley Girl Scouts invites girls in 6th-8th grade who live or go to school in Wellesley to try out the middle school troop this month with no obligation to join. Come to our kickoff meeting on Sunday 9/12 from 5-6pm. Join us for a late afternoon hike up Noanet Peak in Dover on Sunday 9/26.

Last year, we went canoeing, snow tubing, and snowshoeing at night with a full moon! Our troop held two book groups, two scavenger hunts in Wellesley Square, and an Amazing Race activity at Morse’s Pond. As part of Scouting for Food, our troop held a mini-drive last January for the Wellesley Food Pantry, and the girls made 22 lasagnes for Lasagne Love in March. During the past election, scouts used their media skills to help the Wellesley League of Women Voters create a new yard sign reminding people to vote. Last year, five girls earned their Silver Award by taking action to make their community a better place.

gs canoe — Girl Scouts canoeing at Plymouth

At troop meetings, girls get to know each other with team building challenges. Scouts develop leadership skills by discussing plans for upcoming events and outings. Each girl adds her own perspective, talents, and interests. Together, the troop sifts through ideas and decides what will work. The middle school troop runs town-wide events for younger scouts such as an ice skating party and an encampment, a fun-filled day at a Girl Scout camp.

Our troop meetings occur the first Sunday of each month from 5-6pm. Girl Scouts follow the strictest guidelines for COVID-19 protocols. Girls come as often as their schedule allows; no scouting experience is necessary. Adult volunteers facilitate troop activities.

RSVP to the middle school Girl Scout Troop 73505 at [email protected] or join now by registering with GSEMA. An annual national membership is $40. Due to the uncertainty this year, there are no troop dues; activities may require a fee. Discreet, confidential financial assistance is available.

Wellesley also boasts a vibrant Girl Scout troop for high schoolers, with a focus on community service, leadership, outdoor adventures and travel. For more information, email [email protected]

gs scav — Girl Scout scavenger hunt at Wellesley Square

Learn about Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan at Rotary Club meeting

August 30, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Rotary Club, Marybeth Martello — Wellesley Rotary Club speaker, Dr. Marybeth Martello

How is Wellesley addressing climate change and what does it mean for you?

The Rotary Club of Wellesley will host Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Director, Dr. Marybeth Martello, who will speak about development of a town-wide Climate Action Plan on Tuesday, September 7, 7pm, via Zoom.

The Wellesley Climate Action Plan, is a road map for reaching Wellesley’s newly revised climate goals. The goals have been set to mitigate the effects of higher temperatures, drought, extreme weather events, and flooding. Addressing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resilience to climate change impacts can potentially reduce future costs and yield additional economic, health, ecosystem, and infrastructure benefits. Dr. Martello will discuss climate action strategies at the community and household level and will invite feedback and questions from the audience.

Dr. Martello is speaking as part of the normal Rotary meeting. All are welcome to join the full meeting starting at 6:30pm, or at 7pm to hear Dr. Martello speak.

EVENT: Wellesley Rotary Club meeting
SPEAKER: Town of Wellesley’s Sustainability Director, Dr. Marybeth Martello
DATE: Tuesday, September 7, 2021
TIME: 6:30pm for meeting; speaker begins at 7pm
PLACE: via Zoom. Email [email protected] to receive a Zoom Meeting invitation.

More on the Rotary Club of Wellesley

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Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club plans in-person comeback

July 20, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club After over a year of getting creative with its fundraising efforts due to the pandemic, The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) is bringing back its in-person, community-based events to keep moving forward with its mission of raising money for as many area charitable organizations and scholarships for Wellesley students as possible.

First up: The Wonder Run will be held on October 2, 2021 as part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend.

Also planned: The Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is scheduled for May 7, 2022.

Wait till next year: As we reported earlier this month, Wellesley Marketplace, traditionally held in November, will not take place in 2021. “Many, many factors played a role in our decision to postpone Marketplace for another year, the biggest one being time,” WHJWC incoming president Lindsey Crowley said. “Marketplace planning typically begins in February, reviewing and soliciting vendor applications. This past February, we decided against starting to plan for 2021 based on COVID-19 conditions and predictions which was the right decision at the time.

“However, since we are now nearly five months behind in planning we just don’t think this large-scale event is feasible to execute this year. We also polled our recent vendors, and the results painted a picture that was uncertain and hesitant to commit, therefore we couldn’t guarantee we would have enough vendors to even fill the venue. But mark my words, Marketplace will be back and better than ever for 2022.”

It’s all about flexibility

Although WHWJC last year canceled all three of its major fundraisers, with ingenuity and creativity the membership pivoted. Club members produced a community cookbook entitled Wellesley at Home and brought back Luminary Night. Both events helped fulfill the Juniors’ annual fundraising mission and fostered community connection.

Despite the many challenges COVID presented, the club still distributed $64,000 in scholarships and awarded $63,970 in grants in the 2020-2021 season. “In this unprecedented year, it is truly amazing that we were able to uphold our regular charitable giving levels,” said outgoing WHJWC president, Steph Flynn.

WHJWC also stayed virtually connected to its direct service partners. The Club gave over one hundred $100 Roche Brothers gift cards to Wellesley Friendly Aid for Thanksgiving, and upheld the annual Holiday Toy drive. The Kids on the Block team produced a high-quality video to ensure key messages of self-esteem, friendship and inclusion could be delivered to Wellesley kindergartners. And WHJWC provided snacks and messages of support to Elizabeth Seton Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation residents, planted pots to beautify the new ABC House, and completed several drives to benefit the Wellesley Food Pantry.

About the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club

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Marketplace will wait until 2022, but Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club keeps giving

July 1, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club has announced that its annual Marketplace event, which brings together hundreds of artisans and shoppers heading into the year-end holiday season, has been canceled for this year and will return on Nov. 19, 2022.

Dear friends of Wellesley Marketplace,

After much discussion with our leadership team, among our membership, and with so many of you, we have decided to cancel our annual arts fair for the second year. We will not have Wellesley Marketplace in 2021. We appreciate all of your support, however, we sadly felt that holding Marketplace just wasn’t feasible this year.

Please save the date for our next Wellesley Marketplace on Nov. 19, 2022.

Best wishes and be well,

Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club

While losing out on such major fundraisers hurts, the Club continues to give. Elizabeth Seton Residence expressed its thanks for a grant of $3,020 from the Club for the purchase of outdoor patio furniture and umbrellas for resident comfort, safety and enjoyment.

The Club has supported Elizabeth Seton Residence for years, both through volunteering and grants.

Residents enjoying a sunny afternoon cookout in the courtyard of the Elizabeth Seton Residence. — Residents enjoying an afternoon cookout in the courtyard of the Elizabeth Seton Residence (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Seton Residence)

Wellesley Rotary Club adds new members to its ranks

June 12, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Rotary Club, part of a worldwide service association of business and professional leaders, has inducted 4 new members into the club: Gary Arthur, founder of Village Table; Jim Grimm, a real estate agent at Pinnacle Residential Properties; Dede Long, also a real estate agent at Pinnacle; and financial advisor Pat Hayden.

Gary Arthur, Wellesley Rotary Club. Photo credit: Roger Pelissier

Here’s a little bit about the club’s new movers and shakers:
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Wellesley Mothers Forum kicks off new membership year

June 9, 2021 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

The Wellesley Mothers Forum is kicking off the 2021-2022 membership year with almost 300 members and over 40 volunteers looking forward to a return to a more normal slate of social gatherings than were allowed during the thick of the pandemic.

Co-Presidents Rachel Dulberg and Margaret Donahue, along with a new board, look forward to re-instating in-person playgroups, couples’ nights as well as the fall carnival while adhering to all recommended CDC guidelines.

The Forum is open to mothers from Wellesley and surrounding towns, and helps them to build a long-term support network in person and online. Groups within the Forum cater to moms of children with special needs, working moms, kids entering kindergarten, and more.

Other Forum benefits include access to lectures on topics from parenting to health, a local merchant discount program, and access to meals for new moms and families during times of need.

The Forum charges $165 for an annual membership, which is pro-rated depending upon what time of year you join. Send email to [email protected] with questions.