Another Wellesley weekend brought to you by COVID-19

April 11, 2020 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

As we head into the expected surge period for COVID-19, Wellesley residents and businesses continue to adjust. With confirmed Wellesley COVID-19 cases steadily climbing (up to 43 entering the weekend), the practice of mask and glove wearing has started to take hold in town among those out shopping as well as those just walking or running in less crowded areas.

Wellesley Variety, Raja — Raja at Wellesley Variety, behind the mask

Holiday food shopping has led to full parking lots and long lines at local grocery stores, but praise continues for those working at these retailers as they seek to practice social distancing while moving people along.

roche day before easter — Roche Bros. line on Saturday afternoon, lots of masks & lots of patience

roche sauce — Splat! You hate to see that

The Captain Marden’s crew also is adhering to strict safety measures while providing assistance to customers.

Captain Marden's Wellesley — Captain Marden’s crew

With local fields still closed…

Sprague Field, Wellesley

…More people headed to other local open space. But that openness become a bit less so as crowds ventured out in the relatively nice weekend weather at spots such as Longfellow Pond, which had a full parking lot on Saturday afternoon (thanks to reader MT for sharing this photo).

ongfellow pond parking lot mt

It would have been a nice opening weekend for golf at Wellesley Country Club, but not yet.

Wellesley Country Club golf course — No need to yell “Fore!” at Wellesley Country Club, where the willows weeped for the lack of players.

Nearby at Babson College, it was the flags that were missing from Kerry Murphy Healey Park

Babson flag poles

Meanwhile, a twist on a birthday party where revelers needed to keep their distance (thanks to reader BN for sharing).

More:

Wellesley, Massachusetts college campuses: cornavirus updates

March 11, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

coronavirus image Dozens of colleges across the country have responded to coronavirus concerns by trading in classroom instruction for online learning, or by taking even stronger measures by requiring students to move out of dormitories. The three colleges located in Wellesley — Wellesley College, Babson College, and MassBay — have put forth three markedly different responses to what the Centers for Disease Control calls an “emerging, rapidly evolving situation.”

Wellesley College says it so far “has not yet made a decision to do remote instruction at Wellesley, but we are giving that option serious consideration and will make a decision by the end of this week” in response to coronavirus concerns. Students have not been asked to leave school.

The College has, however, decided to temporarily suspend access to events for visitors from outside the Wellesley College community. The Carillon Open Tower (March 12) and the Midday Muse (March 19) have been cancelled. As of now, later events such as concerts and recitals will take place as scheduled, but only Wellesley College students, faculty, and staff may attend (with College ID).

MassBay also continues to hold classes at its Wellesley location, as well as its Ashland and Framingham campuses, and says it is “actively monitoring the global, national and regional news and information around the COVID-19 disease. There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 among our students, faculty, or staff” as of March 10th. Students commute to the state school campuses, which do not have dormitories.

The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, in residence at MassBay, has pushed off its family concert scheduled for Sunday, March 15. The orchestra hopes to reschedule the event.

As we reported yesterday, Babson College in Wellesley has announced that all students must be out of residence halls by March 21, and that all classes will transition to fully online by March 13 and will remain online through the end of Spring semester.

Coronavirus update: Babson students need to be out by March 21

March 10, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Babson College in Wellesley has announced that “as a proactive measure against the spread of COVID-19, Babson College will transition all classes fully online beginning Friday, March 13 and will remain online through the end of the Spring semester.”

According to Babson, “Students will be able to meet academic requirements remotely. We are requiring students to move out of their residence halls by March 21. We acknowledge that this is a challenge for all, and recognize that some students will need to remain in campus housing due to travel or other unique circumstances. More specific information and guidance will be communicated tomorrow.”

Babson hopes to be able to hold commencement in the spring.

Colleges have been announcing drastic measures left and right this week due to coronavirus concerns, with MIT nixing classes next week and going online only March 30, Harvard requiring students to move out within the week, and other schools making moves as well.

More: Latest Wellesley events canceled or postponed due to coronavirus concerns

Wellesley theater productions round-up

January 16, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Here’s a round-up of what a couple of Wellesley theater groups are up to:

Wellesley Repertory Theatre presents boom

Wellesley Repertory Theatre, the award-winning professional theatre company in residence on the Wellesley College campus since 1998, will bring playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s boom to the Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre at Wellesley College on January 16 — February 9, 2020.

Wellesley Repertory Theatre, boom

At an evolutionary museum far in the future, a curator tells the story of two present-day people on a first date interrupted by a comet hitting the Earth, with globally catastrophic repercussions. This couple soon finds themselves as the last two people on the planet; the fate of humanity suddenly lands on their shoulders as they realize they could be the new Adam and Eve. Spanning billions of years, boom riotously looks at the depths of humanity – what we want from one another, how we take care of each other, and how our stories become important.

Wellesley Theatre Project to perform in Atlanta

Wellesley Theatre Project‘s (WTP) audition-only touring group, IMPACT! will attend the Junior Theatre Festival January 17 – 19 in Atlanta Georgia as the only group from Massachusetts, along with 6,000 others performing artists representing 129 groups, 31 states, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. WTP will present a selection from Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Wellesley Theatre Project

At the festival, youth theatre companies perform 15-minute staged selections from titles in musical licensor Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior collection for adjudication, after which students attend interactive workshops. Students interested in technical theatre can participate in the tech track, which includes the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals backstage for the festival’s main stage events.
[Read more…]

Babson College President to speak at The Wellesley Club meeting

January 6, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Babson College, Wellesley — Dr. Stephen Spinelli, Jr.,
President of Babson College.

The Wellesley Club will welcome guest speaker Dr. Stephen Spinelli, Jr. to its January 13, 2020 meeting at the Wellesley College Club. Dr. Spinelli, Babson College’s 14th president, assumed his new role in July 2019. A successful entrepreneur, academic leader, scholar, and philanthropist, Dr. Spinelli co-founded Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and was chairman and CEO of the American Oil Change Corporation, helping to pioneer the quick-lube industry nationwide and turning Jiffy Lube into the nation’s dominant competitor.

MEETING LOCATION: Wellesley Country Club, 300 Wellesley Ave.
DATE: Jan. 13, 2020
SOCIAL HOUR: 6pm
DINNER: 7pm

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]

[Read more…]

Wellesley Theatre Project presents “Frozen, Jr.”

December 6, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Theatre Project, Frozen Snow and ice will be here soon as Wellesley Theatre Project (WTP) presents Disney’s FROZEN, JR Friday, December 13th at 5pm and 8pm and Saturday, December 14th and Sunday, December 15th at 2pm and 5pm. All performances will take place at the Sorenson Center at Babson College, located at 19 Babson College Drive, Wellesley, MA 02482.  Tickets are priced $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, and may be purchased online at http://wellesleytheatreproject.org in advance, or at the door for $18 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

Based on the 2018 Broadway musical and the 2013 Disney film, Disney’s FROZEN, JR brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. A story of true love and acceptance between sisters. When faced with danger, Princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, it is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

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Wellesley schools roundup — Babson gets big bucks; Fay Classroom Visit; WHS Jazz concert; Cotillion news; MassBay and student hunger

November 22, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Babson gets $50 million donation

In his greatest gift to New England since his Atlanta Falcons blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank has bestowed $50M on alma mater Babson College in Wellesley. READ MORE

Fay School Classroom Visit Day

Fay School, Southborough — Fay School, Fall 2019

Join Fay School for a Classroom Visit Day. It’s a unique opportunity for day students and their families to see Fay School at its best as you tour our campus, talk with teachers and lead administrators, and observe students and teachers in action on a typical school day. For more information and to RSVP, visit www.fayschool.org/visitdays

WHEN: Thursday, December 5
TIME: 10am – noon
WHERE: 48 Main St., Southborough, MA

Wellesley HS Fall Jazz Concert

Wellesley High School Performing Arts presents Rice Street Singers, the One O’Clock Jazz Band, the Two O’Clock Jazz Band, and guest artists Kim Nazarian & Darmon Meader from New York Voices. Free admission.

DATE: Monday, Nov. 25
TIME: 7pm – 9pm
WHERE: Wellesley High School Auditorium, 50 Rice St.

Wellesley Cotillion moves formal dance location to Randolph

After three years at Boston University, the Wellesley Cotillion Committee has announced a change of venue for the annual formal dance. This year the town’s juniors and seniors will dance the night away at Lombardo’s in Randolph, Massachusetts. The big night will be Saturday, January 4, 2020, 7:30 – 10:30pm. READ MORE

Thanksgiving recess

Wellesley Public Schools will be closed on the following dates:

Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)
Friday, Nov. 29
Monday, Dec 2 (Professional Day)

MassBay tackles student hunger

MassBay, Wellesley MassBay Community College’s Student Nourishment and Care Committee (SNACC) has awarded 48 students with meal cards totaling $15,000 for the fall 2019 semester, as part of the new Meal Scholarship Program. Launched as a pilot program in March 2019, The MassBay Meal Scholarship Program first awarded 29 students’ meal cards totaling $2,430 before it was expanded this semester. As a committee, SNACC is committed to helping students overcome food insecurity to ensure their academic goals can be attained.

“Students cannot focus on their studies if they are hungry, if their blood sugar is low, if they are worried about where their next meal is coming from, or if they are worried about whether they can feed their children,” said MassBay President Dr. David Podell. “The SNACC committee is working to eliminate this barrier, because we know lack of basic needs can derail a student’s goals. This initiative is an important step to eliminate student hunger on our campuses.” MORE

Here’s how to get your school’s news into Swellesley’s weekly Schools Roundup post:

Send in a short blurb and/or picture about news and events going on at your school. Email: [email protected]

Stuff that’s newsworthy:

Upcoming events such as bake sales, book sales, fairs, etc.

Dates such as for Back to School Night, meetings, etc.

Pictures of events that may not have been open to the public but that give people an idea of great things that are happening in your school, such as authors’ visits.

Congratulations to faculty/staff who are retiring, or who are new hires.

The weekly deadline is Wednesdays at noon. The post will appear each Thursday.

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