To the editor:

I’d like to add to praise I’ve read about the late Cathy Brauner, who for 29 years was the backbone of the Wellesley Townsman, along with so many other contributions she made.

From 2005 to 2015, I got to know her over some opinion pieces some colleagues and I wanted to submit. She listened and advised me with kindness, patience, and wisdom. I can still hear her even-tempered voice, serious, firm, yet always quick to find humor. As busy as she was, she always found time to pick up the phone (and I called her a lot). She welcomed multiple viewpoints, and rarely inserted her own political viewpoints, except in her editorials. She exhibited the best of journalism ethics.

When the controversial Town Manager proposal (to revamp our town government) came up for a referendum in early 2015, I had warned her she was going to get an outpouring of letters from the public. At first, she said there wouldn’t be room, but ever responsive to her public, she asked her publisher for extra pages and managed to get five extra pages devoted to letters!

I so miss the Cathy Brauner Townsman. In spite of how scarce her resources, she found a way to make it a great local paper. In my case, she patiently tolerated my several drafts, each one I’d swear was going to be the final draft.

Every week, she wrote a wonderful historical piece, “Fifty Years Ago This Week,” that made Wellesley’s history ever so vivid for us. Whether or not I agreed with her views, her editorials were, like her, measured and fair.

When speaking to me in her editor role, she was reserved, but when I once asked her about her daughters, she exploded with enthusiasm, talking a blue streak, her love for them barely containable. All evidence was that she was a great mother.

I also saw her inner investigative reporter when she spoke to me about the mysterious death of a relative, I think it was an uncle, killed many years earlier in a military helicopter crash she found suspicious and possibly politically motivated. She’d been haunted by the questions his death left behind and I had thought she’d write about it someday. Now I wonder if she left notes behind. I also wondered if that incident helped spark her interest in journalism.

I will always be grateful for the brief time I knew Cathy and hope she knew how many hearts she touched.

Jeanne Mayell
Wellesley resident

Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Projects has this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.

To the editor:

The value of our environment is significant, and although such a statement seems indisputable, many have yet to acknowledge such truth, especially those in Wellesley. Residents of this town do not prioritize saving our environment. However, it is much simpler than many think. There are three ways that can have such a grand impact. They are reducing, reusing, and recycling. Our goal is to raise awareness, and attempt to make Wellesley a cleaner, healthier town!

Reduce: The first of the three R’s is to reduce. Reducing the amount of waste put into the environment is extremely important. The US produces 268 million tons of waste every year. The average American tosses 4.5 pounds of trash per day. If everyone decided to just reduce the amount of waste they produce by only a small amount, that would be astronomical for the environment. However that can’t happen until everyone accepts this new idea of reducing, and starts to reduce. For some people it is hard to change their lives and habits. In Wellesley, we could set an example for the rest of the US and surrounding towns by reducing our waste amounts. Even if it is only 25%, that is better than 0%. People need to be aware that this will take time, but if we work together we can improve.

Some ways to move toward improvement are to:

1. Pack lunch in a lunchbox not paper bag.
2. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store.
3. Use a reusable water bottle. (Don’t use plastic water bottles.)
4. Consider what you buy. (If you are picking between two items, maybe pick the item with less packaging.)

Reuse: The second of the three R’s is to reuse. Reusing is a big part of helping the environment, because when you are reusing you are reducing the amount of waste you produce. If everything was reusable, there would be no waste production in the world. Right now it is not possible to have everything 100% reusable, but there is always somewhere to start. Reusing isn’t always easy so let your creativity flow and start reusing!

Some ways to reuse are to:

1. Share toys. (When you are done with a toy give it away.)
2. Hand down clothes. (When you outgrow your clothes give them to someone who is younger than you.)
3. Have a garage sale.
4. Find a new purpose for an old item.
5.  Start composting your food.

Recycle: The third and last of the three R’s is to recycle. Recycling has lots of benefits while being so simple. Just think how easy it is to put that plastic bottle into the recycling bin that’s right next to the trash bin.

[Read more…]

Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Projects has this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.

Local businesses are the core of a great town. With enough variety and interest, these businesses can really give a town its charm. However, ever since Covid 19, these businesses haven’t been getting all the love they once had. Now, many citizens turn to online shopping and food, like Amazon and DoorDash, leaving local businesses behind in the dust. One way to fix this is through promotion. By adding events and taking suggestions from the residents of Wellesley, we can make the town of Wellesley thrive.

First, one important way to give local businesses support is to add events. In a recent survey we created,  77.7% of Wellesley respondents said that they would be interested in more town events.  One such event could be Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week is an event where all the restaurants in a certain area have their prices reduced or have special menus. This event could occur once or twice a year for one week. This event can bring a town together. People who can’t afford more expensive restaurants will be more able to afford them, which can then create a very meaningful experience for them. Special menus add to the customer experience, and might even get more long-term customers. If there is clear community support, we can add this event, encourage the town to market it, and create fun experiences for all.

Second, another important way to support local businesses is through a Farmer’s Market. A Farmer’s Market is important because, like Restaurant Week, it can bring the town of Wellesley together. It is also a place where local businesses can show off what they have to offer. Other towns like Needham and Natick have Farmer’s Markets that benefit their communities a great deal because local businesses gain relationships with lifelong customers and sell products that they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Finally, we can take suggestions from the residents of Wellesley, which will help support local businesses. One idea that came from community members answering our survey is to have businesses create a welcoming package that the businesses in town put together. In these welcoming baskets, there could be small samples of many different businesses in Wellesley or perhaps coupons. There could also be a QR code that would take you to the Wellesley Merchant’s Association. This will give the new residents a positive impression of the town, and they might be willing to try these new businesses.

By adding events, adding a Farmers Market, and taking suggestions from the residents of Wellesley, we can help promote these local businesses. However, we need your help to support the businesses by physically buying from them. Instead of turning to Amazon or DoorDash, you should get out of your house and go buy from these amazing local businesses.

Theo Martin
Wellesley Middle School student

Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Projects has this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.

To the editor and the working community:

Teenage employment is a large issue which we want to solve. Teens (14-16) are overlooked when applying for a job.

Teenage employment has decreased 25% since 1997 and 17% since 2000. This is concerning because if teenage employment is low, then jobs are not filled, and teens don’t get working experience.

Teenagers also have other responsibilities like sports, extracurriculars, and family. These activities will help in a working environment because they are a mirrored version of a workspace. For example, a basketball team represents coordination, teamwork and effort, all which are key characteristics in a good employee.

Teens are limited to eight-ten working hours a week and cannot work more than three hours a day, so if a business owner wanted to have an adult work more hours they could. If teens were given an opportunity in the workforce they would build good life experience rather than wasting time.

The Worcester community is already starting to hire more teenagers as they know teens are incredibly abled workers. There are many groups that support the teenage working community and we want you to be a part of it. Teenage employment around the world is low because teenagers are snubbed in the workforce, even though teens can work just as well as adults.

We hope this new information helps your understanding of teenage employment grow. Teenage employment is incredibly important and business owners shouldn’t look over teenagers just because of their age when hiring new employees.

Sincerely,

Caiden Lainer
Wellesley Middle School student

Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Projects has this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.

To the editor:

As humans we feel compassion and sadness when we see dogs and cats that are suffering helplessly alone. Currently there are 22,218 dogs and cats without homes in Massachusetts.

In Wellesley, there is one dog for every ten people. As a resident of Wellesley, I own two loving golden retrievers. My family and I spoil them rotten with love, toys, and lots and lots of treats. They are my best friends and the center of my life, I love them with everything in me.

Every pet should get a chance of having a purpose in life, and make someone so happy and fulfilled. Instead 12-week old puppies and kittens and 12-year old dogs and cats come into shelters underfed and underweight. They get out of rescue vans shaking, with fleas and bruises all over their matted fur. They never get the chance to feel loved and cherished.

These innocent animals receive medical treatment and slowly gain back strength to sit in a cold, empty, dimly lit room until they are euthanized to make room for the new rescues.

However it does not have to be like this! Massachusetts animal shelters are kept open solely by donations. The first way they get funding is by donor checks sent via the US postal service to local shelters. The second way donations are received is through the secure online donation portal on the Massachusetts Government website. The third way that many people aren’t aware of is line 33f on the Massachusetts state income tax form. This allows taxpayers to select an amount to donate to Massachusetts Animal shelters.

If you are doing taxes this spring season please take the time to consider the animals suffering by themselves. Whether you donate money through your tax returns, write a check, donate online—and whether you contribute $10 or $10,000—you will be a part of the progress to make lives better for wretched animals. If you want more information on line 33-F income tax return then go to ma.gov website.

Maggie Nolan
Wellesley Middle School student

Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Projects has this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.

To the editor:

The cost of living in Wellesley is 148.4% of the national average, while the average house expenses are 324% higher than the national average costs. This is making the reality of living in this town very difficult and out of reach for the majority of people looking to live here.

My goal is to bring more awareness to ADUs throughout the town of Wellesley. An ADU, otherwise known as an Additional Dwelling Unit, is a secondary housing unit on a single housing lot. The unit must contain at least 250 square feet of gross floor area, and no more than the lesser of 900 square feet. ADUs play the role of garages, pool houses, and even just mini living homes.

As of now, you might think that having an ADU on your property is pointless, and would only be costing you more money, along with an increased tax payment. This is not actually the case. In towns like Salem, where they have brought more awareness to ADUs, there is actually a financial advantage.  According to SalemMA.gov, on September 23, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill into law that gives homeowners the option to deduct their ADU from tax payments. This means there would be no additional charge for having the ADU on owned property.

These dwellings are very affordable in comparison to your regular home costs. To create an ADU, less money is spent because the sizing of these units are much smaller than an average home.They can also benefit homeowners by providing extra income, and can offset increased cost of living. This could be crucial, as the average price to live in a home in Wellesley is just around $1.8 million dollars.

In order to have an ADU on your property, here are the important laws in order for this to work. You must live in the ADU/PDU (primary dwelling unit) for at least 184 days per year. The same owner must own the PDU and ADU, and there is no dividing the two.

My vision for the future is to eventually have the majority of homes in Wellesley build accessory dwelling units. If we can start to build these dwelling units through the town, just like Salem, Wellesley will be able to address the housing issue in our town. I urge you to consider building an ADU on your property to solve the housing problem for the future generations.

Willy Segal
Wellesley Middle School student