Need good news? Wellesley firefighter home after COVID-19 landed him in hospital for 10 weeks

June 2, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Wellesley is celebrating the return home of firefighter Brian Hester, who has been fighting off COVID-19 for the past 10 weeks in the hospital and at a rehab center.

Fire Chief Rick DeLorie spoke in early April about the firefighter being hospitalized (at that time unnamed), and the challenges that others in the department faced in falling ill from the new coronavirus as well (See “Wellesley firefighters cope with COVID-19 from within”).

A happy reunion was captured at the Wellesley Fire Department station on Rte. 9 Tuesday.

Hester has worked for the town since 1989 and became a firefighter in 2002.

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 Hills Junior Women’s Club, Virtual Wonder Run

May 27, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club, Wonder Run We always look forward to the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) Wonder Run but, unsurprisingly, the charitable organization has had to reimagine the event due to COVID-19 concerns.

This year a “Virtual Wonder Run” will take place in support of two community organizations — The Second Step program and Family Promise Metrowest.

The WHJWC encourages the community to join or donate in support of The Second Step and Family Promise through a GoFundMe campaign. Both programs are committed to helping families through difficult times, and are facing difficult times of their own with the increased critical financial needs associated with COVID-19.

Here’s how the Virtual Fun Run works:

[Read more…]

Remembering the life of Wellesley’s Olivia Wigon through LivOn22

May 26, 2020 by Duncan Brown Leave a Comment

Live On 22 logo

LivOn22 is a new virtual fundraising event created by the family and friends of Wellesley’s Olivia Wigon to honor her life and raise money for organizations which reflect how she lived. The event will be held on July 18th, which would have been Olivia’s 22 birthday, and in order to participate all you need to do is to get physically active in some way.

The recommended distance is 5k, but however far you want to go is really up to you; the point is to move in a way that brings you joy.

On the day of the event, print out the LivOn22 bib to wear during your running, swimming, walking, or whatever other form of exercise you so desire, and post a photo with #LivOn22 on social media. As well as exercising, the LivOn22 team is asking for help fundraising. The goal is to raise $22,000, which will be split evenly between The Island School and The JED Foundation. These organizations were chosen to reflect Olivia’s passion for marine science, and to help support suicide prevention. The suggested donation minimum is $22, but the LivOn22 team encourages participants to try to raise even more.

Olivia had a strong desire to boost ocean life across the world. She had the opportunity to put this into action when she attended The Island School on Cape Eleuthera in the Bahamas where she was able to meet like minded people and further develop her interests. Olivia was able to bring what she had learned at The Island School with her to other communities, and continued her passion for changing the world at The University of Miami, where she was a double major in Marine Affairs and Human and Social Development and worked as an intern with the UMiami Shark Research & Conservation Program.

Despite losing her battle with mental health, the ripples which Olivia created in her life are still benefiting the world and driving attention towards the issues she was dedicated to combating. Through your participation in the LivOn22 challenge, Olivia—a wonderful sister, daughter, friend, and agent of change—will be remembered and inspire continued change for good.

Wellesley Food Pantry moving to temporary summer location

May 25, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Food Pantry will spend the summer at the Unitarian Universalist Society (UU), 309 Washington St., while the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, the pantry’s permanent home, undergoes renovations. The pantry will be ready to open on Monday, June 1. The pantry’s morning hours will not change. Curbside donations will remain Mondays, 8:30am – 10:30am (look for curbside bins at the UU’s west entrance). Also look for the designated donation bins at Roche Bros. and Whole Foods.

The pantry’s food distribution hours will remain Tuesdays from 9am – 11am.

Food Pantry, UU Wellesley — The Wellesley Food Pantry’s summer location at UU Wellesley. Photo credit, Peter Lull

The pantry will not have evening hours during the summer. Clients who need special accommodations should contact the pantry at [email protected]wellesleyfoodpantry.org to discuss options.

Curbside pick-up or delivery (only if unable to pick up) is available to clients who call or email to fill out shopping forms by the prior Friday.

Please follow all local and state health guidance including wearing masks and maintaining proper physical distances from other (6 feet of space). All clients, staff and vendors should enter and depart through the door on west side of building. Parking is restricted to the west side of the building, and the driveway circles around the church to exit. Look for the signage.

Donations wish list

The pantry is accepting donations but for now would like only items on the wish list due to limited storage capacity. Here’s the list:
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Wellesley houses of worship will continue to love their neighbors at a distance

May 23, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday revealed the state’s re-opening plan, which includes a rough timeline along which organizations in various sectors might re-open. Up first were places of worship (up to 40% occupancy), beginning May 18. But don’t expect Wellesley’s religions houses to rush toward re-filling those pews. They’re all still praying on it.

Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, Wellesley Village Church will not rush to re-open.

Despite the new guidelines, religious organizations in town are taking a cautious approach under advisement of each of their own committees as they study the situation carefully. Services and masses, which have been online for weeks now, will continue in that vein, while baptisms, weddings, and funerals will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Temple Beth Elohim‘s (TBE) Rabbi Joel Sisenwine in an interiew said, “Preservation of human life and health is one of the great values in Judaism. In the rabbinic tradition we’re told to sacrifice certain joys of religious life in order to preserve life, and that is true today.”

Sisenwine said the synagogue, which has not scheduled a re-opening date, has gone as far as temporarily re-branding itself. For now, call it TBE Online.

Milestone Church‘s Pastor Jay Mudd in an interview agreed that now is not the time to take COVID-related health concerns lightly. “We’re huggers at Milestone,” he says. “That’s just not going to work right now.”

Mudd noted that when services do resume, worship will look different than before. According to the Milestone website, “We will have to limit interaction and worship with only a handful of people in the room. Your overall worship experience will be much different than you expect.”

Day by day

No church or synagogue offices are staffed right now. A pastor or rabbi might stop in briefly to record a section of the upcoming online worship service. A bare-bones cleaning crew does the rounds of chores quickly and at a distance from one another. Phone calls either go to voicemail or are picked up by a staff member working from home.

When the buildings do re-open, expect to see masks on clergy and worshippers; plenty of sanitation supplies available from hand sanitizer to bleach wipes; and even plexiglass shields in some offices to protect staff as they interact with the public. All scenarios are currently up for discussion including traffic patterns throughout the spaces and a dismissal system that could look less like a meandering flock headed out in to the world and more like a military operation.

It seems likely that most sanctuaries will remain closed until fall, which could be the most sensible course given that attendance at Wellesley churches and synagogues already trends downward during the summer months. The closest to opening may be St. John and St. Paul’s. Weekly mass attendance is a precept of the Catholic Church, although dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation has been granted to the faithful for now.

According to Wellesley Village Church (WVC) pastor Sarah Butter in a statement on the church’s website, “I am not ready to reopen WVC for public worship or gatherings until we discern it is in the best interest and well-being of all. For now…worship will be remote and small groups and meetings will continue to gather on-line.” WVC is looking to work toward a phased reopening, hopefully in the fall.

The commandment has been delivered loud and clear: Love they neighbor as thyself — but do so at a distance.

Where to worship online in Wellesley

Wellesley Business Buzz: Linden Square and Wellesley Square taking next steps; Cafe Mangal still cookin’; Wellesley Dental opens wider; higher ed. still hiring

May 22, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Linden Square to launch The Pick-Up program on Memorial Day

Linden Square, Wellesley Linden Square on May 25th will roll out The Pick-Up program, a contactless way for tenants and customers to return to shopping and takeout from their favorite stores and restaurants.

The Pick-Up program expands on the curbside program that was rolled out for restaurants at the start of the COVID-19 mandatory closings. Customers will be able to place orders directly with stores by phone or on-line, and arrange for same day pick-up, or a time most convenient to them. Check in with your Linden Square favorites to find out all the details.

Wellesley Square Merchants will see you curbside

Many Wellesley Square Merchants will start doing curbside pick-ups starting May 25. Look for the stores to offer staggered hours so as to avoid congestion in the Square. Check in with individual stores first. Here’s your handy shopping guide to Wellesley Square Merchants.

Stay tuned for upcoming information on how Wellesley’s businesses scored a grant to help them keep shoppers and workers safe when stores re-open. Businesses have been working with the Board of Health to have kits of masks, gloves, sanitizing stations and more ready in time for the next phase of re-opening.

Café Mangal still cookin’

Cafe Mangal, Wellesley During these difficult times, Café Mangal has continued to do what it does best — provide food to the hungry. The popular Wellesley Square spot has provided food to workers at Newton-Wellesley Hospital; Wellesley Town Hall and the Police and Fire Departments; the DPW; the Post Office; Elizabeth Seton Residence/Nursing Home, and more.

Mehmet Ozargun, executive chef and owner of Mangal, says, “We love providing our delicious food to frontline workers in Wellesley and nearby communities.”

Wellesley Dental says “open, please”

With the recent issue of the Governor’s four-phase plan, Drs. Ali & Ali and the team at Wellesley Dental Group has made the decision to do a “soft re-opening”, from May 26 – June 7. The office will be open for emergency procedures and pressing dental needs. Look for the practice to fully re-open on June 8.

Wicked smaht Wellesley resident named to academic post at Wentworth

Wellesley has more than its fair share of folks who have forged careers at the most prestigious universities in the country, but even for our education-focused town, Ian Lapp, PhD, stands out from the pack.

The Wellesley resident, named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Wentworth Institute of Technology effective June 8, has held positions at Babson, Harvard, and Columbia. Before that, he received his bachelor’s in sociology from the University of Wisconsin- Madison; a master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and a master’s degree in television, radio, and film from the Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.

We wish Dr. Lapp well as he helps shepherd Wentworth through these challenging times.

Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]

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