To the editor:

I am excited to announce that I am running for re-election to the Wellesley School Committee. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Town of Wellesley over the last three years and I ask for your vote so that I can continue that service for another term.

Experience is crucial to the success of any board—and the School Committee is no exception. In my three years on the board much has been accomplished, but there is still work to do on many fronts. I am excited for the opportunity to put my institutional knowledge to work as we finalize our next strategic plan, complete our school building projects, and continue to focus on excellent education for all Wellesley students.

Since my election in 2020, it’s been a busy three years in public education. No one could have imagined the effect of COVID-19 when I last threw my hat in the ring, but as we know, it has had a profound effect on education—both during the pandemic and in this continuing recovery stage. During that time, I worked hand in hand with the Wellesley Board of Health to get students safely back in school as soon as possible. Coming out of the pandemic, we continue to work towards closing learning gaps and increasing student achievement.

I served as chair of the Committee last school year and led it through challenging community discussions around bullying, Hunnewell swing space, communications, and academic excellence. I presented multiple times at Town Meeting, facilitated School Committee conversations and talked with parents from across the district. I am a trusted advocate for parents and the schools and my collaborative approach creates space for different viewpoints, tough questions and then coming together to make difficult decisions. It’s crucial that we can disagree and then after a decision is made, move forward as a team.

The long awaited elementary school building projects are underway with overwhelming townwide support in a debt exclusion vote in December 2021. As the School Committee liaison for the Hunnewell project, I am involved in the day to day detailed work of a major construction project. Balancing budgets, schedules and educational programming needs is an ongoing challenge. No other School Committee members or candidates have that crucial Wellesley School building experience. It is exciting to see the work I’ve put in is helping to keep both schools progressing towards an on-time opening in 2024.
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I’ve also enjoyed working on sustainability issues as a member of both the Mobility Committee and the Climate Action Committee. We’ve completed townwide plans for Sustainable Mobility and Climate Action and are now working towards accomplishing the strategies outlined in each of those. The world’s climate crisis means that we need to re-double these efforts in the years to come.

Working with parents, educators, and across town boards has been a learning experience that has set me up to be an even more effective member of the Committee in my second term.

Please reach out if you’d like to talk about your thoughts and concerns regarding Wellesley Public Schools. I’d love to hear from you.

I humbly ask for your vote on March 7th.

Catherine Mirick
Kingsbury Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
www.mirickforschoolcommittee.com

To the editor:

I have decided not to seek re-election to the Wellesley Board of Health. For the past 35 years, I have been honored and gratified to be a member (and chair for about 30 years) of the independent, elected Board. Together with past and present Board members, each of whom brought certain health care experiences and expertise, and with an outstanding professional and administrative staff, we have accomplished much in promoting and protecting the health of all Wellesley residents, employees and such out-of-town “visitors” as summer campers, college students, restaurant customers and more.

On the ballot for the March 7, 2023 town election for Board of Health to replace me is a superstar. Shira Doron, MD, is a widely recognized and often-quoted infectious disease physician, a hospital epidemiologist, and Chief Infection Control Officer, Tufts Medicine Health System. Since the 2020 start of the COVID pandemic, she has attended most of our Board of Health meetings, providing expert advice, consultation, and guidance; and has offered unique information and insights.

While Dr. Doron is running unopposed, I urge that you to cast your vote for her, so as to show your support of her as we welcome her to the Board of Health, which oversees and supports the full range of local public health functions in community health and environmental health. Your vote for Dr. Doron is also a vote of confidence for all the extraordinary efforts of the Board members and Health Department staff.

Shepard Cohen
Wellesley resident

To the editor:

I am announcing my candidacy for re-election to the Wellesley Select Board on Tuesday, March 7th.

It’s been an honor to serve the Town as a member of the Select Board for the past six years. Since March 2020, Wellesley has faced extraordinary uncertainty resulting from the pandemic. But, through cautious and thoughtful financial management, the Town is emerging from the pandemic with a strong financial outlook, an intact and skilled workforce, and a continuing commitment to provide a level of service our residents, commercial interests, and visitors expect.

During four of my six years on the Board I have served as either chair or vice chair.  I have seen first-hand the strength and commitment within our community, whether in our dedicated professional employees, community leaders, or business owners.

As a member of the Select Board, vice chair of the HHU Building Committee, and the Select Board appointee responsible for the Town Hall Interior Renovation Project, the Wellesley Office Park Development Agreement and the electrification of the new Wellesley Office Park residential complex, I have always worked to build consensus and broad support. Working toward a sustainable future financially, environmentally, and in the development and long-term maintenance of our infrastructure has been, and will continue to be, a priority for me, as it has been throughout my first two terms.

There are additional critical issues that must also be addressed. Following the pandemic’s impact on our business community, and retail businesses especially, we have seen remarkable improvement, with an influx of new restaurants leading the way. This is in large part, due to the leadership of the Select Board and the work of its staff. Economic development must be a priority and we must include input from the community as we identify opportunities and projects that will impact our town as a whole. Both the expansion of our retail and commercial base and increased diversification of housing options must reflect the character of the Town and the reasons so many people wish to live and work here.

And we must continue to provide an excellent educational system that ensures that every student reaches their potential in supportive and challenging public schools.

I remain committed to our community values. All of us are responsible for maintaining civil and sensitive discourse. We must respect diverse perspectives as we work toward solutions for the challenges and opportunities ahead. By working together respectfully, we will continue to be a town that embraces challenges, welcomes new solutions, and remains a strong and vibrant community.

I am asking for your vote on Tuesday, March 7.

Thomas Ulfelder
Sagamore Road
Wellesley, MA 02481
www.electtomulfelder.com

The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted (example: a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received).

See guidelines for letters to the editor here.

Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

To the editor:

On Thursday, Jan. 19, the Wellesley Select Board eliminated their Business Liaison role, a direct line of communication for local businesses to one point person on the Board.

Although local businesses were outspoken and overwhelmingly favored keeping the Select Board business liaison, the Board voted 3-2 to eliminate the liaison. (Olney, Ulfelder, and Aufranc voted to eliminate, Lanza and Sullivan Woods voted to keep the liaison.)

This move will further the perception that Wellesley is not a business friendly town. Our leaders should be doing everything reasonable to help existing and new businesses in town, not making it more difficult to navigate town government. No wonder Central St. has so many vacant storefronts.

A decision of this importance should have been discussed and voted on during a normal Select Board meeting, which is broadcast and recorded by Wellesley Public Media; not during a hastily announced mid-day ‘retreat’ that is not broadcast or recorded. Why did the Select Board seemingly do this ‘under the radar?’

Rick Howes
Wellesley resident

To the editor:

My mom is 98 and lives at her home with some help. She is incredibly sharp, is easy to talk with, has a good sense of humor and doesn’t complain. Her mobility is limited to a walker and a wheelchair. Over the recent years she has been in short-term rehab five times. Each time she’s in the hospital for a few days prior to rehab. Medicare rates short-term rehab facilities with one to five stars. She has mostly been in five-star facilities but was in a three-star facility this past summer. At the three-star facility they gave her the wrong medication and hurt her leg moving her, resulting in extending her rehab by several weeks.

When it is time to be released from the hospital, the social workers at the hospital asks for or suggests rehab facilities. One needs to study the Medicare website to identify the five star facilities. If you have time, visit the facilities and talk with the facility directors.

There are eight five-star facilities in our area that are not-for-profit. I prefer the not-for-profit facilities because I believe they are less likely to cut corners. A great facility will employ directly the PT, OT, speech therapy, etc. providers. Other facilities outsource these providers and in my experience they are much less qualified, give short sessions and simply don’t care as much.

If there are no great facilities available upon hospital discharge, you have the right to challenge the hospital discharge and are automatically entitled to two additional hospital days paid by Medicare. During that time frame, there is a reasonable chance a bed may be available at a great rehab center.

If the rehab center determines the patient is not making sufficient progress, Medicare will no longer pay for rehab—private pay is $600 – $800 per day. You have the right to contest the decision to a Medicare outsourced third party who will decide quickly. We contested the decision and won three extensions. Our argument was mainly that 95+ year olds takes longer to recover.

One is entitled to up to 100 days in rehab paid by Medicare as long as the patient is progressing. Also, as long as there are 60 or more days between rehab stays, the clock resets and Medicare will pay.

I hope this is help to those with elderly parents.

Frank Pinto
Wellesley resident

To the editor:

Wellesley residents, like you, care deeply about preserving nature, particularly as we face climate change. Wellesley residents cherish community, especially in their neighborhoods. Wellesley residents, like you, ardently support health and fitness for children. So do we.

Here’s the challenge. If you believe it is important to protect nature and its wonders for our children—and their children—you need to know that putting 5 million lumens of stadium lights on 80-foot poles at Fuller Brook Park will come at a cost.

The habitat and wildlife, including animals, birds, pollinators, and trees, will be negatively affected. The wetlands, which are a part of the Charles River Watershed, will be impacted.

Many properties along the Fuller Brook path depend on these wetlands to absorb stormwater. The Charles River Watershed reports that with 10-year and 50-year storms, the track & field, and some nearby homes, will periodically be under water. In fact, the entire area is designated as a flood plain by the federal government. This is not the right location for further spending to light the field.

Wetlands play a critical role in containing the greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. The town of Wellesley spent $5,000,000 to protect Fuller Brook, Skating Pond and these wetlands through a restoration project because we knew this was important.

The closest homes to the track & field are just 34 yards away. Research shows that light at night—especially combined with noise—negatively impacts human health. It is especially harmful to children, and children live directly across the street from the track & field. If this was your neighborhood, if these were your children, what would you do? What should you do, as a neighbor?

Hundreds of Wellesley residents voiced their opposition through signed petitions, emails, and letters, and in more than 135 public citizen speaks at Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and School Committee meetings. Nevertheless, the lights were approved in a 3-2 decision of the NRC which allowed private fundraising for stadium lighting to proceed—but the costs to our taxpayers will be far greater. This proposed project must still go through the Wetlands Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals, so you can still share your concerns.

What do you want Wellesley to look like in the future? How will you demonstrate you care for nature, and for your neighbors? Stadium lights and night events will urbanize our community with harsh bright light, amplified evening noise, trash, traffic, and parking issues.

Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives.

For example, Terrier Sports hosted a series of night events at MacDowell Field at Babson College in the fall of 2022. This lighted field is far from homes, offers ample parking, multiple routes for traffic, and is not in a wetland habitat. The Wellesley High School Athletics department has a good working relationship with Babson.

Staging night games at nearby already-lit athletic fields with sufficient parking and traffic will be less costly to the taxpayers of Wellesley. Wellesley deserves better. Ask the School Committee to pursue these alternatives.

Allowing this development at the track & field, so close to homes and habitat, and along the Fuller Brook Path which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will open the door to future intrusions on NRC parkland elsewhere in Wellesley.

Cliff Canaday, on behalf of Friends of Hunnewell Fields

The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted (example: a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received).

See guidelines for letters to the editor here.

Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

To the editor:

I’m a 15-year-old girl living in Wellesley, and I’m a big fan of the Swellesley. I know you must get a sea of complaints in this inbox, but I promise this isn’t a complaint; It’s a PSA for an exhausted father, written by his teenage daughter. It is a letter I am writing out of love for my dad and everything he does for me! A letter for all of the other Wellesley parents who have to drive their kids to school every morning, too.

Today, as my dad was driving me to school, I witnessed another frequent violation of the law that I thought deserved to be recognized, as many residents are affected by it. My dad and I drive down Washington St., passing by Green’s hardware and the UPS store every morning between 7:30-8:30 am. As many Wellesley residents know, (and as all of the 20 or so signs lining the street remind these drivers), it is illegal to park in the parking lane between 7:30-8:30 to compensate for morning traffic. My dad is a busy man, but a very kind one. When people park in that lane, he gets sooo annoyed and complains about it for the rest of the ride. While he may sound like every other road-raged driver, I promise that this is very unlike him! He is a man of peace, and getting to use that lane is one of the few joys in his life. Who are these drivers to rip this small source of happiness right out of his sad old hands?

To all drivers of Wellesley, I urge you, DO NOT PARK IN THE PARKING LANES ON WASHINGTON ST. BETWEEN 7:30-8:30! Let my poor, hardworking father have his little things, and most of all, let me have my peaceful drive to school, free of his annoying complaints. I have to go to Chemistry now; to whoever has to read through hundreds of complaints from aggravated Wellesley residents: I hope you have a nice, calm afternoon. And I hope that everyone gets to enjoy THEIR little things :)

Brader Wolfson
Tired Wellesley teenager

The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted (example: a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received).

See guidelines for letters to the editor here.

Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com