Wellesley trails walk this Saturday: Centennial Reservation

September 25, 2018 by bbrown Leave a Comment

September 29, Saturday (9:00-10:00 a.m.) – Centennial Reservation Walk

Take a picturesque walk through rolling meadows to the top of Maugus Hill, one of the highest points in Wellesley. Explore the conservation land purchased by the town for Wellesley’s 1981 Centennial Celebration, view the Great Blue Hills in Canton, and take our trail through MassBay Community College open space. Meet at Centennial Reservation parking lot off of Oakland St. Entrance to the parking lot is on the right, 0.5 miles south from Rt. 9.

Come along to enjoy some of Wellesley’s beautiful open spaces and discover trails that will expand your recreational options. The walks and events are free, and no registration is required. Most walks cover 1.5 to 2 miles and last about 1 hour. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear.

Activities take place unless it pours rain or there are high winds.

More info from Wellesley Trails Committee

Centennial Reservation — Photo by Raina McManus

Free home energy savings seminars at Tolles Parsons Center, Sept. 27 & Oct. 22

September 24, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Winter heating costs have you worried? Do you want to cut your utility bills?

Learn ways to reduce your energy usage and make your home more comfortable and efficient. The seminar will review available programs that help you reduce energy usage. The 2018 Town Wide Energy Assessment Campaign sponsored by the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant and National Grid is offering no-cost energy audits, free light bulbs and significant rebates and assistance on insulation, heating equipment and appliances. The seminar will familiarize you with the audit process

You are encouraged to bring your oil, gas and electric bills with you. Volunteers will help you determine your benchmark energy rating and assist with the audit process.

WHEN: The seminars will be held Thursday, September 27th and Monday, October 22nd

TIME: 1pm – 2 pm on both dates

WHERE: Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St. Wellesley.

Sign-up with the Council On Aging at 781-235-3961. Walk-ins are welcome.

This program is sponsored by the Wellesley Sustainable Energy Committee.

American Red Cross blood drive in Wellesley on Sept. 26

September 23, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’d like to give much needed blood at the American Red Cross blood drive in Wellesley this week, head over to the Community Center between 1-6pm on Sept. 26.

Call 1 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or go online if you’d like to make an appointment first.

Wellesley Dental Group and the Community Center have combined or organize the event.

Opioids detox center plans to open in Wellesley

September 20, 2018 by bbrown 1 Comment

Coleman Institute BayMark Health Services is readying a detox and treatment center in Wellesley to help those addicted to opioid prescription painkillers, heroin, alcohol and other drugs. The outfit over the summer posted job listings for an executive director and medical director to lead the Wellesley Coleman Institute, which will be located at 30 Washington St., in lower falls, and could open by the end of November.

BayMark has more than a dozen Coleman Institutes across the country, including in major cities such as Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Richmond, Va., its flagship location. Coleman Institutes have been around for the past 20 years, and use a combination of Naltrexone therapy and long-term case management to lead patients to recovery.

At least according to Massachusetts Department of Health numbers on resident deaths by opioid-related overdoses, Wellesley has not been hit as hard by the crisis as other communities across the state. Four Wellesley residents died between 2015 and 2017 from opioids-related overdoses, according to the state.

Wellesley first responders have administered Narcan to those who have overdosed on opioids, and opioids have been a topic of discussion among town officials, including at the schools. Wellesley has been on former professional basketball player Chris Herren’s speaking circuit, on which he talks about his own heroin addiction. Newton-Wellesley Hospital has also been active in sharing information about addictive drugs.

“The stigma associated with substance use disorders, or addictions, have misled many to believe that the disease only impacts one type of person, family or community,” according to a Coleman spokeswoman. “As the opioid epidemic worsens, we have seen that the disease does not distinguish by race, age, gender, education or socioeconomic level or by the area in which you live. Opioid use disorder, along with alcoholism and other issues, impacts Americans in every community across the country.”

The Coleman Institute allows patients to receive outpatient treatment in an environment similar to a primary care office. And in this case, the office will be within about a mile of Newton-Wellesley Hospital as well. The Coleman Institute offers customized withdrawal management services backed by ongoing recovery support.

“Our aim is for this to be a regional office offering withdrawal management options to those in need throughout New England,” the Coleman spokeswoman says.

Wellesley Village Church participates in its fourth Feeding Frenzy

September 20, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

It was Feeding Frenzy Sunday at Wellesley Village Church, and for the fourth year running parishioners lined up assembly-style to scoop and measure macaroni and cheese and beans and rice ingredients, weigh them, and vacuum seal the healthy meals up, ready to be transported to food pantries across the region.

Wellesley Village Church, End Hunger — End Hunger New England comes in to churches, corporations, and other organizations and sets up the assembly lines. From there, volunteers work together to create nutritious, protein-enriched meals from bulk ingredients. The meals are then brought to food pantries and other charitable organizations in the community and distributed by local volunteers.

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