Wellesley Historical Tollhouse Shop is now online

August 7, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

For those customers missing the treasures often found at the Wellesley Historical Society’s Tollhouse Shop since it closed in March due to COVID-19, the techno-challenged volunteers have stepped up their game and created an Instagram account and on-line shopping site where select items can be purchased and delivered through contactless arrangements.

Currently available are Waterford goblets, Mariposa hostess gifts, Shelley tea cup and coffee pot, Williams Sonoma Lobster Boil Plates to name a few. Additional items are added every week. Photos of available items can be seen on Instagram at Tollhouse229 or viewed in greater detail along with purchasing instructions at www.wellesleyhistoricalsociety.org/tollhouse-shop.

(Shared by Maura Shoulkin)

WHS Tollhouse Shop

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Writing history: a new chapter at a Washington Street house in Wellesley

July 15, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The following Sponsored Post has been researched and written by Dede Long, a Realtor at Pinnacle Residential Properties.

Every house has a story to tell, whether through the styles and methods of building from 200 years ago or by showcasing the advancements of modern construction in the present day. Wellesley’s rich architectural diversity gives us a visual history lesson, preserving the heritage and personalities of each unique neighborhood while effortlessly blending the old with the new.

Pinnacle, Wellesley — Dede Long (left) and Kerry Miles hold a copy of letter from Eleanor Early.

My affection for older homes is rooted in their ability to serve as time capsules and is one of the reasons I became a Realtor at Pinnacle. There is something magical about imagining the world as it was during the time the house was under construction. Who were the original homeowners and what was their occupation? From where did they come? Who designed the home, and what special labor was required to build it? What did the world look like as owners looked through the ‘wavy’ glass of the old windows? It is this collective history of the people and bygone days that gives older homes a soul as unique as a fingerprint, and in turn, endears them to their owners as they become a part of the story that a house is always writing.

It just felt like home

That is certainly true for my friends, Kerry and Damian Miles, who remember a connection that was ‘hard to describe’ when they entered the Washington Street house on the Lower Newton Falls side of town. “There was just something about the way the house felt”, says Kerry. “Damian and I knew that we had found our home from the moment we walked in the door.”

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Wellesley Town Meeting—the budget; MLP opt-in/opt-out drama; 2nd Monday in Oct. petitioners kept waiting

June 23, 2020 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

wellesley town hall war memorials Wellesley Town Meeting (TM), conducted remotely via Zoom, ran until almost midnight on Monday as elected officials voted on the annual town budget and issues related to the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant Voluntary Renewable Energy program.

Finances came first, with the goal being to deliver a balanced budget of about $180M for FY2021, which starts in July. The COVID-19 crisis has presented challenges in ensuring that the town-wide financial plans goals be met. All decisions are based on what Wellesley identifies as the 5 P’s — PAY the full cost of current operations/services; PROACTIVELY address emerging issues; PROTECT the Town agains material risks; PRESERVE the Town’s assets; and PLAN for the long-term.

A sixth, unwelcome P has wormed its way into all current financial discussions, and it’s called PANDEMIC. Due to the coronavirus’ impact on the economy, new growth is down by about $500k; State aid is down $200k; and local receipts (building permits, motor vehicle excise taxes, and investment income) is down by about $1.6 million, for a total reduction of approximately $2.3 million.

A cross-departmental effort ahead of TM was put in place to cut Wellesley’s capital spending 25% across the board, leading to projects like the Town Hall Annex project being deferred. Bond refunding and soliciting the Community Preservation Committee to pick up an extra $200K in softball field refurbishment funds have been used to save the town on expenses in the new fiscal year. And TM overwhelmingly agreed with budget recommendations that it was time to dip into Free Cash reserves to help fund budget items such as pubic safety; winter maintenance (snow removal); special education costs and out-of-district tuition costs; and RDF equipment.

Some of the big-ticket items that were approved:

$10,078,359.00 was appropriated to the Water Enterprise Fund
$9,765,538.00 was appropriated to the Sewer Enterprise Fund
$2,750,000 was OK’d to be expended by the DPW, for engineering designs, bid documents, construction services and associated costs related to the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repair of Great Plain Avenue

You can see all the Articles here.

Town Meeting members voted overwhelmingly to approve all items that were taken up. Scorecard here.

Just when you think you’re done

Six Citizens Petitions were also scheduled to be heard, however, it was thought that most of the petitioners would agree to have their petitions moved off until fall for discussion. Part of the reason for doing so is that given TM is being done remotely, an unprecedented situation, it seemed best to debate the petitions when TM is able to meet in person.

Not all the petitioners agreed to have their issues tabled, however. The petitioners for Article 44, led by Phyllis Theermann of Sustainable Wellesley, chose to bring forward their motion on the Voluntary Renewable Energy Program (VREP). The big point of debate: whether to automatically enroll all the Town’s electricity customers in the VREP.

Scott Bender, Board of Public Works, gave a brief presentation in which he noted that 1,000 residents currently participate in the VREP, which represents a 10% participation rate. By being a part of the program, participants agree to have a fee of 7% added to their electricity bill. That 7% collected then goes to fund projects such as community solar projects and electric vehicle charging stations.

Right now, residents who are interested in the program “opt-in”. Article 44’s premise is that with TM’s vote of approval, the opt-in enrollment model would be abandoned and replaced with an “opt-out” system.

TM member Chris Shedd said, “The irony of it is that it’s a voluntary program that we are forcing people to do.”

Others agreed, saying that opt-out systems by their very nature are “deceitful” and “a ploy” akin to sketchy marketing strategies put forth by those who want to separate the unsuspecting from their hard-earned money.

As the debate stretched out, TM member David Himmelberger tried to end things by making a motion to “lay it on the table.” With that motion, moderator Mark Kaplan was required to stop the discussion and take a vote. The motion, which required a 2/3 vote, did not pass, and debate continued. Had the motion passed, Article 44 would have been pushed off to fall, and petitioners would have been faced with the added chore of again having to collect signatures for the article to appear on the ballot.

So Article 44’s petitioners took their chances and came out ahead. That’s called gambling, Wellesley-style.

One TM member in support of Article 44 said, “sometimes laudable goals need a nudge,” and another member took exception to the idea of opt-out models being categorized wholesale as a ploy. “Elected officials make government decisions for our town. That’s not a ploy.”

Finally, disgusted when the arguments became repetitive, and the hour approached midnight, one TM member said, “Let’s get on with it.”

In the end, TM voted yes to enroll all the Town’s electricity customers in the Voluntary Renewable Energy Program. The vote came down 158 yes; 48 no; 1 abstention for the non-binding referendum.

But what about the second Monday in October?

Moderator Kaplan said that since the late hour was taking TM into “almost tomorrow”, it was time to wrap things up.

Town Meeting will resume on Tue., June 23, at 7pm.

The likely scenario: a debate and vote on Articles 42 & 43, which have to do with the second Monday in October.

Article 42 asks that in Wellesley the second Monday of October henceforth be commemorated as Indigenous Peoples Day and that the town cease to recognize Columbus Day.

Article 43 supports the observance of Italian American Heritage Day on the second Monday in October to coincide with National Italian-American Heritage Month and supports the observance of Indigenous Peoples Day on a to-be-designated day in the month of November to coincide with National Native American Heritage Month.

The meeting will be televised live on Comcast channel 8 and Verizon channel 40 beginning at 7pm and will be live streamed on Wellesley Media.

Wellesley Town Meeting on Mon., June 22: budget is main thing; Columbus Day articles may be debated

June 21, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Town of Wellesley will hold its remote Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting beginning at 7pm on Monday, June 22, 2020, using the Zoom meeting platform.

The meeting will be televised live on Comcast channel 8 and Verizon channel 40 beginning at 7pm and will be live streamed on Wellesley Media.

Town Meeting’s main focus will be Wellesley’s budget, but it’s the outcome of Citizen’s Petitions 42 & 43 that many are watching closely.

Petition 42 asks that Town Meeting (TM) members vote to establish the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day and cease to recognize Columbus Day in Wellesley.

Petition 43 in its original version read that Town Meeting was being asked to adopt a resolution to establish the second Monday of October as Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day.

Those putting forth Petition 43, however, have amended the language for that petition. The amended language for Petition 43, approved by Town Counsel in March, is broken into two parts. Part 1 asks Town Meeting to “support the observance of Italian American Heritage day on the second Monday in October to coincide with National Italian American Heritage Month.” The second part of the petition asks TM to “support the observance of Indigenous Peoples Day on a to-be-designated day in the month of November to coincide with National Native American Heritage month.”

On Monday the Board of Selectmen will announce that it is ready to take up the six citizens petitions (41, 44, 45, 46, 42 & 43 — in that order). It is likely that the petitioners of 41, 44, 45, and 46 will agree to have their petitions moved off until fall for discussion. The reason for pushing off the petitions is that right now the town is focused on the budget. Also, given that TM is being done remotely, an unprecedented situation, it seems best to debate the petitions when TM is able to meet in person.

Given that Petitions 42 & 43 are tied to a specific date — October 12, 2020 — TM may agree with the petitioners that the timely nature of the petitions requires immediate action.

Wellesley resident and proponent of Petition 43 Donna Maria Ticchi said, “Article 43 originally asked our Town to support a compromise — an inclusive observation of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October. We listened and learned that this is not an acceptable compromise and have amended the language on the petition. We have removed the name Christopher Columbus, which is offensive to some. The new language represents a further step toward a compromise that would recognize, honor, and respect both groups.”

World of Wellesley president and proponent of Petition 42, Michelle Chalmers, said, “Proponents of 43 now wants Columbus Day renamed to Italian Heritage Day. They say they’ve changed their motion to reflect their new-found views. I feel very good about Indigenous People’s Day passing. I think the people of Wellesley understand that it’s the right thing to do.”

You can find the wording of 42 & 43 here:
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Flag Day ceremony in Wellesley on June 14th

June 10, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley will hold the annual Flag Day ceremony on Sunday, June 14 at 1pm at Woodlawn Cemetery (148 Brook Street).

The event will take place outdoors and follow current COVID-19 restrictions for social distancing.

Worn and damaged flags from the community and the cemetery will be appropriately retired during a controlled burn by the Wellesley Fire Department. The burning ceremony will also include remarks from local veterans and a salute from the Wellesley Police Department.

Flag Day is American tradition held since 1937 and is the most appropriate way to dispose of American flags.

Wellesley 9/11 monument and flag: here’s the story

Wellesley war memorial monuments

Interfaith demonstration at Wellesley Village Church calls for “justice and joy” for all people

June 8, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The grounds of the historic Wellesley Village Church (WVC) at 2 Central St. served as gathering place for a witness on Sunday, at which hundreds of demonstrators came together in solidarity. Representatives from multiple places of worship joined to share the sacred space along with WVC parishioners and clergy, residents, Wellesley police, and more.

The purpose of the interfaith and multi-congregational witness as stated by church leadership was to “unite in the conviction that black lives matter, that police brutality and racial injustice must end, and that we are called to pray and work for justice and joy for all people.”

Hundreds of participants held signs, prayed, and simply lent their physical or spiritual presence to a the cause. There wasn’t a prayer of social distancing for most attendees, but those who wished to keep six feet apart hung back along the edges and across the street.

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration — Demonstrators gather at Wellesley Village Church (WVC) at 2 Central St.

There was music. There’s always music at Wellesley Village Church. The church bells rang; a trio including saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr.; Max Ridley on bass; and Tyson Jackson on drums played a jazz selection; and the windows and doors of the church were thrown open so that the sounds of WVC’s organist David Carrier could be heard.

Partners who attended the demonstration were the Congregational Church of Weston; Charles St. AME; St. Andrews Church; Wellesley Hills Congregational Church; Temple Beth Elohim; Dover UCC; Wellesley UU; St. John/St. Paul Roman Catholic Community; Wellesley Police Department; and Pilgrim Church in Sherborn; World of Wellesley.