Private school spotlight: Riverbend School Open House on Saturday, Nov. 2

November 1, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST: Riverbend School in South Natick hosts a true community of learners. Every member of the Riverbend community is actively engaged in improving how we teach, learn, and inspire one another. Take a tour at our Admissions Open House on November 2, 2019, 11am – 12:30pm and earn what’s going on right now, and what the future holds.

Join Riverbend School at our Admissions Open House

Children’s House (Ages 15 months through Kindergarten)
Elementary & Middle School (Grades 1 through Grade 8)

WHERE: 33 Eliot Street, South Natick, MA
WHEN: Saturday, November 2nd, 11:00am – 12:30pm

Riverbend School, Natick — Riverbend has been growing and in motion most of its first ten years in existence. The 200-student independent school has added two buildings in the span of four years.

Learn about our future new classrooms and full-size gymnasium

Construction vehicles have made their way to Riverbend School, and the real digging has begun. By this time next year, Riverbend will have built additional classrooms specifically designed to support the Montessori pedagogy. The art and design spaces will allow our students to expand their curious nature and problem-solving skills. The addition of a full-size gymnasium will give students the chance to spread their wings and continue to develop their skills.

We’ve mounted cameras for time-lapse project updates, and we’ve staged safe viewing areas for our youngest students — toddlers love trucks! Like an exuberant child, Riverbend is eager to “dig” in. Join us on the adventure.

Natick coordinates with Wellesley on water main work

August 5, 2019 by bbrown Leave a Comment

A Swellesley reader asked why imminent construction activity regarding a water main project in the Bacon Street/Rte. 135 area of Natick would also impact Wellesley. We reached out to the Wellesley Department of Public Works to find out, and here’s what the DPW’s Bill Shaughnessy shared with us:

“The answer to your question is that the Town of Natick,Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley. The mains in Wellesley are Natick mains and the drinking water is from their wells. Natick’s engineer contacted both the Natick and Wellesley police to get approval of the detour plan. Natick also contacted the DPW to make us aware that they would need to close the road to dig access pits to do the work.

The following notification is also being issued today:

NOTIFICATION

EAST CENTRAL & BACON STREET

WATER MAIN CLEANING LINING PROJECT

Bacon Street from Central Street (Route 135) in Wellesley to Oak Street in Natick is closed to through traffic 8:30 am to 3:00 pm this week (August 5 to 9, 2019).

The Town of Natick, Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company (Contractor), 32 Walton Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley.

Bacon Street will be open to traffic starting Friday night. However there may be delays next week as the traffic may be restricted to one lane to complete the project.

The detour routes are as follows:

Vehicles traveling east on Rt 135 intending to turn onto Bacon will be detoured into Natick and directed to turn right onto Mansfield Street, then Marion Street then onto Bacon Street.

Vehicles traveling south on Oak Street in Natick and intending to turn down Bacon to Rt 135 will be detoured through Marion Street and onto Rt 135 in Natick.

We appreciate your forbearance with this important drinking water quality project. If you have any questions, or concerns throughout the project, please do not hesitate to contact Natick’s Project Manager, Gregory Eldridge from Haley and Ward, Inc. at (978) 648-6025 or email him at [email protected]

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Wellesley Business Buzz: Atelier and Code Ninjas open; Babson coffee entrepreneur hits Shark Tank; summer camp registration begins; Crane & Lion at “crossroads”

January 4, 2019 by bbrown Leave a Comment

Here’s a round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Code Ninjas set to have Grand Opening

Code Ninjas will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, January 5, 10am – 2pm in its Linden Square location. The business helps kids crack the codes of coding, math, logic, and problem solving.

Also recently opened nearby is the Verizon Wireless store. The independently owned store can help you out with all manner of mobile devices such as phones and tablets. They don’t do in-home services or take back cable boxes or cancel home or business services. But if you need to buy a device, load it up with accessories, or get help with switching your data from phone to phone or other device-related services, they are on it.

Atelier hair salon open for business

Atelier, the new hair salon at 39 Grove St., has opened for business this week over at Hair Square in Wellesley (Grove Street Barber Shop, Barber Walter’s, etc.). Good luck to Megan Andrade and her crew.

Wellesley Roche Bros. kicks in big donation to Food Bank

Roche Bros. partnered with Dietz and Watson to donate $3,500 to the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Roche Bros., Wellesley — This novelty check for $3,500 will be donated to the Boston Food Pantry.

Summer camps registration has begun

But don’t panic. And don’t be fooled by Busy January Kids who claim they “just want to hang out and chill all summer.” Those kids will quickly turn into Summer Bored Kids by the beginning of July. Find out all about summer camps here in Wellesley and beyond on our Summer Camps page.

Babson sophomore pitches coffee device on Shark Tank this week

Tune in to ABC’s Shark Tank on Jan. 6 at 9pm and you’ll see Babson College sophomore Max Feber pitching his business, BRUW – a mess-free cold

[Read more…]

It was vintage Carol Chaoui at Vintage Vogue cancer research fundraiser

September 20, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley’s own Wonder Woman — athlete, cancer survivor, and fundraiser extraordinaire — dresses to impress wherever she goes. You might see the veteran Boston Marathon runner around town training for her next race (or just to keep her energy level up), wearing her signature color, orange. Or you can spot her and husband Amin walking their beloved pups Finn and Ollie — look for her orange boots if it’s a rainy day. And nobody slides into an MRI scanner with more aplomb and looking better than she.

But at Vintage Vogue, the fashion show/fund raiser at Regis College to benefit the Dana-Farber Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Research Center, Carol Chaoui looked especially in her element as she sashayed across the stage in an elegant yellow and gold brocade boatneck shift with three-quarter sleeves. On her feet: gold shoes accented with a tiny bow on each, saved from being called flats by a 1/4″ heel. In a nod to 1920s Flapper style, her 3″ headband sported feathers. A simple long gold necklace finished off the long, lean look. And this was just one of the four outfits the mother of four modeled.

Wellesley, Carol Chaoui — Carol Chaoui looked especially in her element as she sashayed across the stage in an elegant yellow and gold brocade boatneck shift with three-quarter sleeves. Photo credit: Beth Shedd Photography

Only Chaoui could get 350 people to abandon their Athleisure wear for the night and dress way up in their vintage best for the event, which raised big bucks to fight breast cancer. Chaoui said, “When online ticket sales closed, we were just shy of $60,000 and we hope to bring in more with the online auction which starts October 1. We’re hoping to get to $75,000.” An MBC patient herself, Chaoui spent months planning the fashion show and styling it with Patrice Goldman from Renew Arts & Industry. Goldman’s Natick shop carries vintage mid-century items, contemporary original art, and new stuff with an emphasis on mid-century modern’s clean lines and cool vibe. Chaoui even has her own spot named after her at Renew. It’s called Carol’s Corner and it’s bursting with vintage clothing and accessories, many of which doubtless turned up on some of the 30+ fashion show models. Kelley Tuthill, former WCVB reporter who reigned at that station for 18 years, emceed the evening.

Kelley Tuthill, Wellesley — Kelly Tuthill (left) and daughters Maddie and Cecelia

Attendees enjoyed themselves as they mingled, sipped wine and nibbled on tasty bites, but the evening was set up to be educational as well. Lisa Mullins of WBUR was on hand to lead a special panel discussion about the Dana-Farber Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Center and the work it does to fund new treatments to fight the disease. “The panel discussed clinical trials, new options and the need for funding as less than 7% goes to MBC research, with the largest amount going to ‘raising awareness’,” Chaoui said.

Attendee Martha Collins said, “It was inspiring to meet so many vibrant women living with breast cancer. I was surprised to learn that less than 10% of breast cancer research funding is focused on metastatic forms of the disease. Events like this that are focused specifically on funding research for MBC are clearly needed. This makes me especially proud of Carol, who has personally raised more than $300k for this research.”

Models line up to take a bow and blow kisses to their admirers. Over 30 models participated — lots of mother/daughter or mother/son appearances; Hollywood throwbacks; tributes to old sit-coms like Bewitched, I dream of Jeannie, and Get Smart; and more. (Beth Shedd Photography)

“Patrice and her team really raised the bar super-high,” Chaoui said. “This was so much more than a runway show. It was really a theatrical production. She has a great crew of volunteers and extraordinary lighting, technical and sounds folks who made it an evening to remember.”

Carol, darling, you’re my style icon. Keep swanning around town in your cool clothes, and I promise I will try to keep up. When shopping I always ask myself, “Would Carol approve?” If the answer is yes, and the cut of the cloth is twirly, and the cost/benefit analysis fits (not gonna lie, I usually make it fit), I buy it.

Congratulations on a fabulous fundraiser to all the organizers. Surely someday MBC will be nothing but a vintage disease, the kind that stays forgotten in the closet, never to come out again.

Wellesley College Club is site for Natick Organic Farm’s annual Harvest Dinner

September 11, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Join the Natick Community Organic Farm at beautiful Lake Waban as the sun is setting and enjoy live music, fabulous hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar including tastings of local wine, beer and spirits. Mingle with other farm supporters as you check out and bid on wonderful silent auction items. Sit, relax and feast on the scrumptious seasonal fare. The meal is lovingly prepared by the Wellesley College Club’s talented chefs and provided by NCOF and over 30 local food and drink producers.

Beyond Wellesley — a restaurant visit to Buttercup in Natick

June 21, 2018 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Buttercup, Natick — The patio at Buttercup, a new farm-to-table restaurant at 13 West Central St. in Natick Center. Photo credit: Buttercup

All last year I’d drive by 13 West Central St. in Natick Center, certain the two-story historic brick building would blow down during the next big storm. The structure, now home to Buttercup, the area’s newest farm-to-table restaurant, is pretty to look at today, but for a while there it was just sad, drab, and vulnerable. But then, rescue. The vacant former American Legion space was taken down down to the studs by developer Stonegate Group. The facade was then preserved as a condition of development of the historically and culturally significant property per the Natick Zoning Board, with input from both the Natick and Massachusetts Historical Commissions.

What’s significant there now is food, wine, a buzzing patio scene, and a jam-packed reservations calendar for the 100-seat foodie haven. The site is also home to several other businesses, and there are 11 one- and two-bedroom residential units on the top floor. But the big, sparkly news is the addition to the downtown Natick scene of what may be that area’s first truly destination restaurant.

It’s a good thing I made Friday night reservations, because it was immediately apparent that there was no way I could have just wandered my way into the farm-to-table restaurant, which sources organic and local ingredients. Words have gotten out and those words are “plan ahead.” The friendly front-desk staff member confirmed she was expecting us, and the hostess led me to our table without raising an eyebrow upon learning that my companion was “literally down the street parking the car.” I ordered a Nantucket-brewed Sankaty Light lager from the server, who as it turned out was on his way the next day to that beautiful island, and perused the curated menu.

Husband and wife team Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz and Gabriel Sanchez Luz, who also own The Farmhouse in Needham, put together quite the Kickstarter campaign to make that menu happen and get Buttercup up and running.

[Read more…]

Overnight rail work in Natick and Wellesley, June 9-10

June 8, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

This from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA):

Advisory: Overnight Rail Work in Natick and Wellesley June 9-10.

MassDOT and the MBTA are undertaking federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure installation which will increase the safety of commuter rail customers and would like to advise the community of upcoming overnight welding and rail work within the right-of-way along the MBTA Worcester Commuter Rail Line in Natick and Wellesley.

Due to the equipment necessary to perform this work, higher noise levels can be expected. Starting Saturday June 9 at 5am and overnight into Sunday June 10, 2018 until 5 pm, the PTC Systems Integrator Ansaldo STS USA, Inc. is scheduled to perform welding activities along the rail. The work will take place along the Worcester Line at locations in the vicinity of Marion Street in Natick, at locations in the vicinity of Wellesley College, on the rail line behind Linden Street (between Crest Road and Weston Road) in Wellesley, and on the tracks north of Route 9 in Wellesley.

Please note this work is being done only along one track and crews will return at a later date to complete the second track. For further information regarding PTC please visit: mbta.com/ptc. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We appreciate your patience as the MBTA takes this important step in making the railways safer for customers with the implementation of the PTC program. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the PTC program at 617-721-7506 or [email protected].

It’s Wellesley vs. Natick in first round of WGBH’s High School Quiz Show

January 9, 2018 by bbrown Leave a Comment

Wellesley High quiz team (Photo credit: ©2017 WGBH/Elizabeth Friar)

Wellesley High School is set to face Natick High School in the first round of WGBH’s High School Quiz Show academic competition, which includes 16 teams.

If you’d like to see the competition live before it is shown on TV, you can attend the taping on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 8:30am at WGBH Studios in Brighton. RSVP: http://www.wgbh.org/support/hsqs_day2_830.cfm

The episode will air on March 3 at 6pm on WGBH 2.

MORE: Wellesley High grads told “You’re Not Special”

Beyond Wellesley — brew your own beer at Barleycorn’s in Natick

December 16, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED POST

Fact: On this month in 1933 the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) was repealed and a thirsty nation rejoiced. This December, celebrate repeal — and your constitutional right to make and drink your own beer — by visiting Barleycorn Craft Brew, a beer lover’s paradise in Natick where you “use their gear to brew your beer.” It’s a great place to go with friends and family, or to host a group or corporate event.

Barleycorn’s provides over 100 different craft beer recipes, along with the ingredients, instructions, and equipment to make them — you do the rest, and end up with six cases of beer. (You can also make wine or soda). It’s the ultimate fast, fun, and easy DIY.

HOW IT WORKS: Each batch of beer involves 2 two-hour sessions. First, you pick a recipe, measure and prepare ingredients, and add them to your kettle. Then, you flash-cool your beer and add yeast. Two or three weeks later, you come back to bottle your fermented beer, apply your custom label, and enjoy. It’s your own personal brewery.

Barleycorn’s has it all — recipes for light domestics, dark stouts, pale ales, New England and West Coast IPAs, brown ales, Scottish ales, porters, lagers, wheat beers, and Belgian ales. They even have recipes created just for them by renowned brewers like Sean Lawson (Lawson’s Finest Liquids) and Matt DeLuca (Castle Island), as well as their own versions of hard-to- find beers whose names… can’t be mentioned.

So grab a few buddies, head over, and meet the new owners, Wellesley’s own Fred Kelly and Tom Wilber. It will be a fun and tasty experience — guaranteed.

Order a Barleycorn’s gift card here. It’s the perfect gift for beer fans who think they have it all.