Name: Rules of the Ride bike safety event
Start: 2023-06-10T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2023-06-10T11:30:00-04:00
Location: Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street

Beyond Wellesley: Wegmans to close its Natick Mall store later this summer

June 1, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

It’s been a fun five years, but Wegmans announced on Thur., June 1, that it will close its Natick Mall location later this summer, with an exact date TBD. The 146,500 sq. ft. multi-level food market opened with great fanfare in 2018, only to find that, according to Brien MacKendrick, human resources director, Wegmans New England division, “Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work.”

A memo on the Wegmans corporate website said that the store’s 365 employees (142 full-time and 223 part-time) were notified of the decision throughout the day and were assured that their positions with the company are secure, albeit at other area Wegmans’ locations.

Wegmans has five additional stores in the Greater-Boston area, and approximately 2,700 employees. Corporate says Wegmans does not have plans to close any other stores.

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.

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.

Get your ticket to Rotary Club’s yummy “Taste of Wellesley” fundraiser, May 4

April 28, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

After a three-year pause due to COVID, the Rotary Club of Wellesley is proud to bring back its “Taste of Wellesley” annual fundraiser to support the community. The event will again feature a wide variety of signature dishes from Wellesley restaurants, cafes, caterers, local breweries and wineries, along with live music and auction items that are locally sourced. The event will take place at The Gardens at Elm Bank on Thursday, May 4, 6:30pm-9pm. The event will provide a wonderful evening of food, beverages, live entertainment and opportunities to gather in community. Online tickets here.

Tickets also for sale at:

Roche Bros., 184 Linden Street, Wellesley
The Windsor Press Inc., 356 Washington St., Wellesley Hills
Or contact a Rotary Club member

Purpose of the Taste of Wellesley

[Read more…]

Feast & Fettle will deliver Easter dinner right to your Wellesley door

April 3, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Feast & Fettle has just announced their Easter menu, available for delivery in Wellesley and all surrounding towns.

This year, the menu features a selection of fully prepared dishes that will be delivered the day before the holiday. It includes member favorites from last year such as Roasted Leg of Lamb with Chermoula Sauce, Brown Sugar-Mustard Baked Ham, and Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, as well as some exciting new additions like Potato-Cheddar Gratin and Egg Dying Kits.

The best part about the Feast & Fettle Easter menu is that you don’t need to be a subscriber to place an order. This means that anyone can take advantage of this amazing opportunity to spend less time cooking and more time with family on the day of the celebration. The deadline to order is April 5th at noon and you can place your order here to ensure that your Easter feast is a memorable one.

Feast & Fettle, Wellesley delivery — The order deadline for Feast & Fettle’s Easter menu is Wednesday, April 5th, at noon.

If you’re tired of spending hours in the kitchen preparing meals for your family on holidays, then the Feast & Fettle Easter menu is the perfect solution. With a wide range of delicious options to choose from, you can relax and enjoy the day with your loved ones, knowing that a delicious meal is on the way. So why not make this Easter a stress-free one and place your order with Feast & Fettle today?

Link to menu: https://www.feastandfettle.com/order/easter23

Wellesley Business Buzz: élan Fine Consignment just fine again; Fair in The Square on Sunday; Easter Bunny brunch; French Bakery selling its treasures locally; On to spring for Faherty

March 30, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

élan Fine Consignment is back in style

After a pipe burst last December under the floorboards at élan Fine Consignment in Wellesley Hills, business owner Kim Hutchings mopped up the mess and kept on going. None of the merchandise at the high-end shop had been damaged, so she rigged up a couple of industrial fans and stayed open until mid-January while she plotted her repairs.

elan, Wellesley — élan Fine Consignments is back in action after a two-month closure.

Now élan is back in action and as Kim moved about her renovated shop, she happily rattled off the designer bags and clothing brands she’s currently carrying—Chanel, Loius Vuitton. Valentino, Gucci, Prada, and more. Many are brand-new.

Although Kim’s never gone through a business upheaval that forced her to close for two months, now that the drama is behind her, she’s philosophical. She never liked that ugly old floor anyway. “It was kind of nice to put it all back together, and now it looks beautiful,” she said.

WELLESLEY BUSINESS: élan Fine Consignment
LOCATION: 402 Washington St.
HOURS: Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm; Saturday, 11am-4pm; Sunday, closed

Fair in the Square

Fair in The Square is back and has a new date due to weather—Sunday, April 2, 11:30am – 1:30 pm, in the Linden Square Courtyard. Meet the Easter Bunny, get a temp tattoo, and enjoy free ice cream for the first 200 kids—all free.

Easter Bunny brunch

Bunny Brunch at The Cottage will remain April 1 as planned. Grab the kiddos, dress up in your fancy spring outfits, and head over to The Cottage to meet the Easter Bunny as everyone enjoys a bountiful brunch. Photos are encouraged. There will be two seatings: 8:30am and 10am. Call for prices and reservations: 781-239-1100

Sock Drive

Linden Square also is kicking off a Cradles to Crayons Sock Drive this weekend at participating stores. Please bring a brand new socks from new-born to adult sizes to donate during Fair in the Square on Sunday. The drive will continue through April 16.

French Bakery selling its treasures locally

Needham backyard bakery Le Petit Four has begun selling its croissants, breads, and other creations at both Capt. Marden’s and Fells Market in Wellesley.

CBS News 4 recently caught up with the owner, who has brought her talents from France. Keep an eye on Le Petit Four’s website for local sales, typically on Fridays at Capt. Marden and Saturdays at Fells Market.

On to spring for Faherty

Clothing retailer Faherty plans to open in Wellesley Square at 50 Central St., formerly home to Talbots, and adjacent to where Lululemon now operates.

The signage at 50 Central St., indicates a winter 2023 opening, but that ship has sailed. We reached out to Faherty and they say a mid-April opening is now the goal.

Faherty opening winter 2023

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Delicious gluten-free Italian classics a reality in cookbook co-authored by Wellesley resident

February 7, 2023 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The premise is simple—take a sour situation and make the best of it.

But what about when life gives you a gluten intolerance and many of your ancestral Italian favorites are suddenly off limits? Even nonna’s lasagna? For longtime friends and Wellesley resident Cynthia Delia Coddington, and Jo Provenzano Hoppe of Bridgton, Maine, the answer was anything but simple. But it came in time, in the shape of a cookbook co-authored by the pair.

Their book, Senza Glutine: Timeless Italian Dishes for the Gluten Free Palate, released in late December, is currently available for sale at Wellesley Books and other selected local bookstores, and on Amazon. With the completion of Senza Glutine, a health crisis that started out lemons led Cynthia and Jo on a path to la dolce vita.

The project began as a creative outlet during COVID, Cynthia and Jo took a six-week online course on food writing and publishing. Their mission: to take the many recipes handed down to each of them from their Italian relatives and coalesce them into a beautiful cookbook that would keep family culinary traditions alive. Their challenge: to adapt every one of those ancestral recipes to suit a gluten-free lifestyle.

Italian cookbook, Wellesley — Wellesley resident Cynthia Delia Coddington, left, and Jo Provenzano Hoppe of Bridgton, Maine, collaborated on *Senza Glutine: Timeless Italian Dishes for the Gluten Free Palate.* Photo by Beth Shedd Photography.

Cynthia remembers well the day her doctor told her to cut out gluten, a protein commonly found in breads, pasta, pizza, and cereal. Her incredulous response was, “You don’t get it. I’m Italian. We eat wheat.”

Jo Provenzano Hoppe had a similar reaction when she learned she had celiac disease, also an autoimmune disorder.

Since those individual diagnoses over ten years ago, the two became friends more recently when Jo and her husband made a retirement move to Bridgton, Maine, a bucolic area with lakes, a ski resort, and plenty of hiking trails. Cindy and her family had a vacation home nearby. The two soon met and discovered their shared Italian ancestry and love of cooking and eating, as well as their gluten intolerance. Thus began what Cynthia calls, “an unbelievable friendship and an incredible project.”

The book contains over 100 beautifully photographed recipes, illustrated techniques, and information on how to source the best gluten-free products. While all the recipes were developed for those with gluten sensitivities, the end product is really for everybody around your table. Cindy and Jo’s tagline is, “Liberate yourself from the bondage of gluten intolerance.” Take it literally. This book is for any home cook who has been making two meals—one for family members who can eat gluten, and one for family members who can’t. Liberate yourself from the cleaning bondage of cooking with two pots, two skillets, two lasagna pans. You may have six burners on that stove in your fancy Wellesley kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you want to use them all every night. Using the recipes in Senza Glutine, everyone can eat the same thing at mealtimes, with no compromising on taste or texture for anyone.

“The hardest thing to get right was pizza crust,” Cindy said. “Baked goods basically are the hardest because you have to replace the flour. We had to get familiar with what finely ground means, what coarsely ground means, and how the texture will affect the recipe. You never stop learning.”

Wellesley Italian cookbook — Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Cindy and Jo took a trip last fall to southern Italy, land of their roots. All of the photographs in *Senza Glutine* (with the exception of the authors’ portrait) are an artistic result of their travels. “The Italians really get gluten-free,” Cindy said. “In restaurants there, it wasn’t a problem at all.”

The seven major chapters of Senza Glutine include The Gluten Free Pantry; Antipasti (appetizers); Primi (first courses); Secondi (main courses); Contorni (sides); Salse (sauces); and Dolci (desserts).

Recipes we’re hoping to try soon—arancini (rice balls); baked clams oreganata; chicken marsala; roasted eggplant lasagna; panna cotta; biscotti; pizza. This list should keep us busy in the kitchen for the rest of the winter.

COOKBOOK: Senza Glutine: Timeless Italian Dishes for the Gluten Free Palate
AUTHORS: Josephine Hoppe and Cynthia Coddington
PAGES: 244
PUBLICATION DATE: December 26, 2022
BUY: Available at Wellesley Books and other selected local bookstores, and on Amazon

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Wellesley Heath Dept. kicking off programs to encourage family meals

January 24, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Health Department later this month is hosting an online program about the benefits of having family meals, and will follow that up with additional “Families Eat Together” programs.

Hear from Dr. Annel Fishel, a clinical psychologist at Mass General Hospital and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project,on Jan. 31 at 7pm by registering now. She’ll discuss the academic, mental health, and nutritional benefits associated with having family meals.

Maybe it even makes sense to plan a family meal around watching this online program.

Joyce Saret, the Wellesley Health Department’s senior community social worker, says the program can help families think about the obstacles to sitting down for meals together and better understand the benefits of eating together. Conversations sparked over meals can boost vocabulary, literacy skills, and overall self-esteem, she says.

Having meals together extends to the community’s elders, many of whom were isolated during the pandemic and have since experienced anxiety and depression.

The Health Department plans to hold more family meal-related programs, including workshops that might focus on how to talk to kids, meal prep that involves kids, and more.

While we know that busy schedules are common among families in town, the department currently doesn’t have data on how prevalent family meals are.

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