More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
Memorial Day observances in Wellesley took place in front of Town Hall at the War Memorial on Monday evening. The moving ceremony included a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a rifle salute by the Wellesley Police Department, the presentation of the War Memorial scholarship awards, patriotic songs, poetry readings, and more.
Join the community in honoring the service of the nation’s military heroes in front of Town Hall, at the Wellesley Town Memorial. This always moving service includes a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a rifle salute by the Wellesley Police Department, patriotic songs, and more.
Almost 100 groups marched down Route 16 as part of the 54th annual Wellesley Veterans Parade and presented themselves to presiding officer Tori DeFazio and other members of the Celebrations Committee at the reviewing stand in Wellesley Square. This year’s parade theme was the 90th anniversary of the Purple Heart (here’s a list of all Wellesley Purple Heart medal recipients). As always, the parade also honored all United States military veterans, and recognized the many organizations and people who serve the Wellesley community.
More than a dozen individuals and organizations were recognized during the event. From Parade Grand Marshal Constantin Chrysafidis, a former Wellesley resident at 35 Fells Rd. for many years and a Purple Heart recipient after being wounded in battle during World War II, to posthumous Community Service awardee Catherine L. Johnson for her dedicated public service on behalf of the Town, the event allowed for somber remembrances in a celebratory atmosphere. Here are profiles of each of the 17 honorees.
The Celebrations Committee last held Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend in October 2021 as a comeback from COVID (the event was canceled in May 2020 and 2021). Here it is, seven months later, and they turned around and put the whole shebang together again, just to remind us all that Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend is a spring thing. After covering both weekends from one end to the other, we’re all worn out. But we’ll be all rested up by next May and ready for more fun.
Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, organized and funded by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, is ready to bring the excitement with loads of events from Thursday, May 19 – Sunday, May 22. The weekend will kick off with an outdoor movie at the Tailby Parking lot (register through the Wellesley Recreation site) and end on Sunday, May 22 with a fabulous fireworks display at Hunnewell Field.
Don’t miss the fun with activities like the Hunnewell Fun Fair; the Pancake Festival at Wellesley High School put on by the Kiwanis; the Touch-a -Truck event/DPW Open House (bring some non-perishable grocery items to fill up a truck for delivery to the Wellesley Food Pantry); the Rotary Club-sponsored Pooch Parade at Hunnewell Field; and so much more.
With a favorable extended weather report, looks like it’s going to be a very Wonderful Weekend!
*Please note, asterisk indicates a small fee may be charged.
Easter falls on Sunday, April 17, 2022, and a happy one to those who celebrate the religious holiday. In-person services are back this year, and masks are encouraged by some churches, and required by others. For those who wish to celebrate at home, live streaming services will be available by most churches.
Whether you choose to attend in-person or online, all the services and masses will be celebratory, and all are welcome.
Make sure you check church websites for all the Holy Week details.
Thanks to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for sponsoring this Easter services post.
First Church of Christ, Scientist
8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114
MetroWest Baptist Church
2 Brook St. 781-431-0828
Milestone Wellesley
42 Elmwood Rd. 781-235-6025
79 Denton Rd. 781-235-7310
Easter Sunday services, April 17, at 9am & 11am. The services will contain glorious Easter hymns and anthems, Easter readings, an Easter sermon, prayers, and the sharing of Holy Communion.
There will be a children’s Easter egg hunt at 10am, between the two services.
St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)
9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045
St. Paul Parish (Catholic)
502 Washington St., 781-235-1060
Easter Sunday services:
7:30am Mass at St. Paul
9am Family Mass at St. John (Upper Church with simulcast in Powers Hall)
9am Family Mass at St. Paul (Main Church with simulcast in Parish Hall)
11am Mass at St. Paul
12pm Mass at St. John
There is no Sunday 5pm Mass on Easter Sunday
UU Society of Wellesley Hills
309 Washington St., 781-235-7423
10:30am Easter Sunday service
Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church
2 Central St., 781-235-1988
Details:
7am Sunrise Service—outdoors and in the Chapel, with Village Table breakfast following
10am Celebration Service—sanctuary and livestreamed, with hand bells, brass, and choir
11:10am All Church Fellowship, with egg hunt on the church lawn
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington St., 781-235-4424
9am Family-Friendly Easter service
11am Easter service with Communion
Both services will be held in-person, with livestream offered as well
Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)
26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268
Passover starts April 15 at sundown to commemorate the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. The festive and social spring-time ritual lasts until April 24.
Last year due to coronavirus, synagogues including Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley and Wellesley Weston Chabad celebrated Passover Seder with their members online as they carried on the ancient traditions.
This year many feel its high time to attend services, carry on the traditions—and find the afikomen—in-person again.
Happy Passover to all who celebrate.
The most uplifting birthday party in Wellesley takes place each year in a common area at the Glen Grove apartment complex. The room is decorated with flowers and balloons, a massive sheet cake takes up most of a table, and well-wishers stand ready to receive the guest of honor. At last, Herlda Senhouse makes her way confidently into the room with the aid of a walker. Wellesley’s oldest resident is ready to celebrate her 111th birthday.
Herlda, a woman of style, looked great, as always. Wearing a classic black cashmere sweater under a casual salmon jacket, black pants, gold button earrings, and a string of pearls, the Woburn High School graduate appeared both comfortable and elegant. Although Herlda was masked up, she didn’t leave her room without putting on her signature red lipstick. She’s particular that way.
Representing the Wellesley Select Board, Chair Tom Ulfelder recognized Herlda’s milestone noting that the woman “…known as ‘Aunt Herlda’ to so many continues to lead a full life, sharing her wisdom with younger generations, enjoying deep relationships with her many friends, and remaining engaged in her church and in civic affairs…”
Wellesley Historical Society’s Executive Director Taylor Kalloch brought the Boston Cane out of storage to allow Herlda to hold it for a few minutes. A quirky Massachusetts tradition dating back to the early 1900s, the publisher of the Boston Post, Edwin A. Grozier, sent an engraved gold-headed ebony Boston Cane to each of the 700 towns in the Commonwealth (no cities were included). He requested that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town.
In the 1930s it was discovered that women also lived to be august personages, and the “oldest male citizen of the town” idea was dropped in favor of the “oldest resident of the town.” Because so many towns have lost track of their Boston Cane, the Historical Society shines Wellesley’s up and brings it out just once a year, before spiriting it back to a super-secret storage space. Herlda has been the official holder of the cane since 2016.
Today, it’s Herlda’s 111th birthday. Tomorrow, the party continues. She and her niece and nephew and a friend are going to the Encore Casino in Everett, where she’ll play the slots. Because she doesn’t much believe in stress, Herlda and her entourage will be chauffeured to and from the casino so all can relax and enjoy the day.
Happy birthday, Herlda. You sure know how to live, ma’am.
Thoughts on COVID: It’s been, “a messy, messy thing,” and there were times when she almost felt like she was in jail, due to the many pandemic restrictions.
Advice for longevity: “Don’t live too fast.”
Advice for the future: Have something to look forward to. Herlda is anticipating a spring visit from Atlanta family members.
