Wellesley High School students help refugees turn the Next Page

July 28, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, in FY 2019, (October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019), a total of 30,000 refugees were resettled in the United States. Once they gain entrance to the country, refugees need assistance with basics such as affordable housing, school supplies, English language acquisition, and finding a job.

Next Page, Wellesley — Zona Sherman, a ceramicist, is one of the artists partnering with Next Page.

A group of Wellesley High School students searching for a way to help hit upon the idea of starting a non-profit that would tackle the most pressing needs of the newly arrived. Ela Eryilmaz, Lauren Pryor, and Isabella Remedios, along with several additional WHS students, have started a non-profit called Next Page, created to help refugees thrive after they go through the initial resettlement process and start work toward putting down roots in a community. The goal of Next Page is to donate funds to local shelters and programs that provide English as an Additional Language classes, job opportunities, housing, and other services that help refugees turn the next page in the current chapter of their lives.

To raise funds the organization connects artisans and buyers through Instagram (@officialnextpage), and soon to an e-commerce website. Part of the money from the art pieces sold will go to the artist, generally a creative with a strong belief in Next Page’s mission (seven artists have so far signed on). Part of the funds raised will be used by Next Page in order to continue their social impact work. The main revenue needs are those to create the e-commerce website, register as a 501(c)(3), and buy items to donate to the programs and shelters.

The groups that Next Page are working with are the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; The Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center; and the International Institute of New England; all with locations in Boston.

Eryilmaz, a rising junior who is fluent in both English and Turkish, says she is drawn to helping refugees, as she has seen at least part of their journey first-hand. She was so moved by her experiences in Turkey that she wrote a poem that reads in in part, “The elderly had sorrow in their eyes, staring at the sea with memories of the abandoned homeland./Kids played with deflated balls, broken plastic cars, reusable water bottles, rocks, old books — not understanding the situation./What we saw in the pictures became a reality/We drove to the villages on the mountain tops…”

The US Department of Homeland Security defines a refugee as “a person outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”

Eryilmaz doesn’t quibble with that definition, but she finds inspiration in author Khaled Hosseini’s broader view of the matter: “Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us—except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale.”

Wellesley Silver Scouts boost awareness about feminine hygiene product needs

July 19, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Katie Stewart, a seventh grader at Wellesley Middle School, and Eliza Towle, an eighth grader at Carroll School, have earned their Girl Scout Silver Awards by raising awareness of the need for feminine hygiene products for disadvantaged girls and women in Massachusetts.

The scouts recently held a donation drive in front of Roche Bros. in Linden Square for Dignity Matters, a non-profit in Framingham that supplies period protection items to food pantries, including Wellesley Food Pantry.

The scouts explained to more than 45 people that menstrual products are not included in the SNAP benefits for low income or homeless girls and women. Those who stopped at their table learned about H.1959, a bill before the Massachusetts Legislature that would increase access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters, and public schools.

Dignity Matters has an Amazon wish list as well as two Wellesley 24/7 dropoff locations.

wellesley girl scouts — Silver Scouts Eliza Towle and Katie Stewart

Information shared by Sally Webster

More: Pandemic no match for this Eagle Scout project on Wellesley trails

Pandemic no match for this Eagle Scout project on Wellesley trails

July 15, 2020 by Bob Brown 3 Comments

george steps — Mark Luzaitis learned a thing or two about building things from son George

George Luzaitis presented his plans for an Eagle Scout project to the Wellesley Trails Committee back in February: building steps to ease the ups and downs of those negotiating their way between the Cochituate Aqueduct and Dale Street near the new skating and swimming facility on Rte. 9. The 2020 Wellesley High School graduate was a key member of the Raiders’ dominant cross country and track & field teams, and liked the idea of helping to improve the trails that he and his teammates often train on.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, and a project that was supposed to take place in early May got bumped indefinitely.

The project’s roots go back to fall of 2019, when Luzaitis connected with the Trails Committee’s Denny Nackoney, who observed that the steep-sloped hill coming off the aqueduct onto Dale Street was getting increased foot traffic with the opening of the sports center and a new traffic light across Rte. 9.

Due to the location’s proximity to Morses Pond, the scout had to get permission from the Wetlands Protection Committee, whose coordinator, Julie Meyer, provided lots of assistance.

dale street trail — The steps go between the aqueduct and the pumping station near Dale Street

Luzaitis got the all-important go-ahead from Troop 185 leader Paul Sullivan to proceed with the project on June 15. The Boy Scouts of America’s Mayflower Council interviewed Luzaitis about the project as well to go over safety protocols being implemented. He provided masks, new work gloves, hand sanitizer and emphasized social distancing where practical for his assistants, which included some senior ranking scouts and adult volunteers.

While the project took a long time to complete end to end, it should also last a long time. The steps have been constructed with 4 inch x 6 inch x 8 foot pressure-treated wood that had to be cut down and fastened together into 4 foot wide x 21.5 inch deep boxes. The survey work and measurements were critical to that last step ending up at the proper level coming off the trail.

There were plenty of rocks, roots and earth to work through during what Luzaitis’s father Mark described as “our own ‘big dig.'” Most of the earth was re-used to backfill the steps as they were installed. Crushed stone tops off each step.

So this project is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Before…

before dale st steps

After:

Dale St Steps

Wellesley to get social-distance swarmed by environmental group?

May 29, 2020 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

We came across an odd little item this week on Facebook that informed us that Wellesley Square would be the site of a “social distance meditation swarm” on Sat., May 30, at 10:30am. Apparently a group called Extinction Rebellion has invited one and all to join them in Wellesley and “practice meditative and highly conscious social distancing as we walk the crosswalks and occupy street corners with masks and signs.”

Extinction Rebellion, Wellesley — Screen shot of Extinction Rebellion’s Facebook event post

Extinction Rebellion says that their occupation activity is meant to point out similarities between the coronavirus crisis and climate crisis, and that they will not be passing out flyers or engaging motorists or pedestrians in conversation.

We tried to contact the group via Facebook messenger and email, but got no response.

Although Extinction Rebellion directs swarm participants to meet at 10:15am at the Congregational Church at 2 Central St., head pastor Rev. Sarah Butter had no knowledge that a group was planning to use the church as a jumping-off point.

Phyllis Theermann, part of the Sustainable Wellesley leadership team told us that she knows of the group, but hadn’t heard they were planning an event in Wellesley.

According to their website, Extinction Rebellion is a “strictly non-violent movement, whose overall ambition is an international rebellion that helps humanity to turn quickly onto a course that is compatible with life on earth, and to build resilient communities in the face of ecological and societal crisis.”

Look for the folks wearing black and green and holding signs in the Square on Saturday at 10:30am. Just don’t try to engage them in conversation. They won’t be there to talk to such as you.

What about needing a permit?

Generally, demonstrations that stay on the sidewalk and do not block traffic do not require a permit. Given that the group plans to “walk the crosswalks”, however, we wonder if that could be construed as an attempt to block traffic. Blocking traffic is kind of a thing with Extinction Rebellion.

It’s likely that the environmental group’s strategy of naming coronavirus as part of their stated demonstration goal (pointing out similarities between the coronavirus crisis and climate crisis) is extra insurance for getting around a permit. The First Amendment states that demonstrators do not need to secure a permit when their demonstration is a rapid response to unforeseeable and recent events.

Wellesley Club to hold Town Affairs Night, March 2

February 24, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Club will host its annual Town Affairs Night on Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Wellesley Country Club beginning with a social hour at 6pm, followed by dinner at 7pm.

This event provides an opportunity for members and invited guests to hear from municipal leaders about the major issues and articles coming before the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. This year, speakers will include: Todd Cook, Chair of the Advisory Committee ;Marjorie Freiman, Chair of the Board of Selectmen; and Melissa Martin, Chair of the School Committee. At the conclusion of their presentations, there will be a question and answer period.

As an expression of gratitude and appreciation for their service to the town, the Club has invited key staff members from the major town departments to attend the meeting. The membership will have an opportunity at that time to acknowledge and thank them for their work on behalf of the town.

About the Wellesley Club

The Wellesley Club is the oldest civic organization in Wellesley, having been established 130 years ago in 1889, and has been influential in the development of the Town. The Club’s mission is to promote literary and social culture among its members, with a focus on discussions relating to the welfare of the Town of Wellesley. The Club provides a forum for public discussion of
pertinent topics and an opportunity to meet and discuss a wide range of issues. Town residents with an interest in the Club should contact Club Secretary, Peter Cory at [email protected] or visit www.wellesleyclub.org .

Membership in the Wellesley Club is limited to 300 members and a Wait List of 100. Members may invite guests to the meetings.

For a copy of the Club’s Constitution and By-Laws, click here.

The process for membership in the Wellesley Club is by nomination from an existing Wellesley Club member. To be nominated for membership, a candidate must fill out the attached Proposal for Membership form, have it signed by your member sponsor and two directors. When completed, the form must be returned to the Club Secretary. At the next appropriate Board of Directors meeting, the nomination will be voted upon by the Board of Directors for acceptance to the Wait List and then formally presented to the club membership in the next meeting invitation.

2020 Wellesley Town Election

Subscribe to get Swellesley’s daily email newsletter

Become a fixer at Wellesley Rotary Club Repair Cafe

February 22, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Rotary Club

Renaissance man Paul Hephill to speak at Rotary Club meeting, Feb. 18th

February 13, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Paul Hemphill, author of Inspiration for Teens, which highlights over 200 life lessons from “a very unexpected source”, will be the speaker at the next Rotary Meeting at the Wellesley College Club on Feb. 18, 7pm.

After receiving a college degree in philosophy, Hemphill was drafted into the United States Army. He served in Vietnam as a chaplain’s assistant, and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Following his military service, he went into broadcast sales and in the late 1970s led the most financially successful small market radio station in the nation.

Until late 2019, Hemphill was a successful marketing specialist who helped teenagers get into their first-choice colleges. He has written four other books, narrated the audio version of this book, and has written, produced, and narrated its video version. The videos make up a classroom course that is designed to be a new teaching model for how American History can be taught in our schools.

Instead of a textbook approach to history, the author sees the future of teaching history as a video-oriented and story-telling format that generates useful life lessons to inspire our youth to become better persons and better citizens.

All are welcome for the light buffet ($30) and easy conversation beginning at 6:15pm. Please make a reservation here or call 781-591-0759 to speak with a Rotary Club board member. When making a reservation, please indicate if you will have the
meal in the comment section of the registration.

The 7pm – 8pm meeting will address Rotary business and feature our guest speaker. Feel free to arrive at 7pm to attend just the
meeting and hear our guest speaker.

The Rotary Club of Wellesley is one of Wellesley’s oldest community service groups and conducts local programs to benefit the Town of Wellesley. The public is always invited to any Rotary program. Please check the web site www.wellesleyrotary.org for times and location.

Rotary Club speaker discusses the sustainable benefits of electrification

Subscribe to get Swellesley’s daily email newsletter