Neighbors Archives - Page 3 of 51 - The Swellesley Report

Happy 101st birthday to Wellesley’s Anne Powers

September 19, 2023 by Bob Brown

Anne Powers, who has lived in Wellesley for more than 70 years, just celebrated her 101st birthday. So yes, of course she deserved at least 2 parties.

Harry Powers, the oldest of her 4 children, tells us that the celebrations included her children and their partners, as well as her younger sister, who is 95. Harry’s younger siblings are named George, Kathy, and Eleanor.

Aside from attending parties, another way Anne Powers remains active is through daily sketching. A graduate of Vassar College and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, she’s been been a prolific artist throughout her life.

Born in Boston and raised in Brookline, Powers came to Wellesley after marrying Burton Powers, who moved here in the late 1940’s after serving in the Navy. He moved here to be near his father, who was the medical director at a small mental health facility on Grove Street. Burton Powers, a lawyer who practiced in Boston well into his 80’s, first lived with his wife on Ingraham Road in Wellesley, and later Benvenue Street.

Anne Powers has been an active artist since 1948, according to her son, primarily as a painter. But she has also sculpted and made prints. “At first she would use whatever space was available as a studio. By the mid 1980’s, after all of her children had grown and moved on, my mother was able to set up a permanent studio on the third floor of the house and installed a flat bed printing press in my old room on the second floor,” Harry says.

Known as “Anne Lyman Powers” in the art world, she is currently represented by a Newbury Street Gallery and has sold many paintings and prints over the years, according to her son, who adds that the MFA has one of her paintings in their collection.

In an online biography, Powers said she became interested in painting at around the age of 16. “I have always preferred realist painting with recognizable subject matter – but a subject matter that has two aspects. The first is that the subjects should be explicit – portraits, human or animal forms, landscapes, still life and so on. I have never limited myself in any way here. I say to myself that I’ll paint anything, any time, anywhere. So most of it reflects my home and family, friends, occupations and travels. I feel free to absorb influences from any direction: a bit of surrealism, a bit of pop, a bit of abstract expressionism.

“The second aspect addresses the object which is the painting – or whatever the work is – its composition, color relationships and texture. The considerations here should obey rules for abstraction. The marriage between these two principal aspects should be accomplished in a way which makes possible and enhances a feeling, an experience or a statement about the world in which we live or about the human condition. In short: a realist abstraction or abstract realism. That’s where the interest lies for me—in the tension to be resolved.”

Powers, who turned 101 on Sept. 13, is 1 of 15 centenarians living in Wellesley.

Got ideas for a profile of a Wellesley resident who hasn’t been overexposed? Let us know: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
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Wellesley’s Kunal Sharma lights up Times Square

September 13, 2023 by Bob Brown

Kunal Sharma, a Wellesley man whose photography we’ve written about, is now starring in Times Square on the other side of the camera.

Sharma was featured in an awareness video from the National Down Syndrome Society on people with Down syndrome and for the recent NYC Buddy Walk, according to his mother, Sandhya Sharma.

Kunal NYC — Kunal Sharma appearing in NDSS promotion in Times Square (Courtesy photo)

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Wellesley’s Young Birder, Henry Malec-Scott

July 22, 2023 by Bella Gonzalez

The American Birding Association (ABA) has named Wellesley resident Henry Malec-Scott its Young Birder of the Year for the 10-13 age group.

The ABA awarded him gold for the Conservation and Community Leadership module, silver for the Illustration module and an honorable mention for the Photography module.

Malec-Scott, who recently turned 11, enjoys birding in and around town. His favorite spots include Centennial Park, Rosemary Brook and Longfellow Pond, where we met to talk about what he does and the impact he has had on the Wellesley community.

After taking up photography and drawing to commemorate the birds he has spotted, he began sharing his work on an Instagram account (@parkerbirds) run by his parents, as well as via a website with the same name.

Malec-Scott, his mother, Nicole, and I each donned a pair of binoculars (his were gifted to him by the ABA) and explored Longfellow Pond earlier this month.

During our hike, Malec-Scott explained how he learned to memorize bird calls and taxonomy names, pointing out species such as Chickadees—Massachusetts’ state bird—and Eastern Kingbirds.

"What's For Breakfast?" Gray Catbird, Henry Malec-Scott — “What’s For Breakfast?” Gray Catbird, Henry Malec-Scott

Malec-Scott is homeschooled, allowing him to explore his personal interests in depth and ultimately transforming his hobby of birding into exposure to biology, statistics, art and physical education, among other school subjects.

When he’s not birding, Malec-Scott enjoys learning languages on Duolingo—he’s currently mastering Klingon—and writing his very own newspaper about Minecraft.

His knack for birding began at an even younger age, inspired by his father, who he likes to challenge to a friendly competition to see which birder can “stump” the other first.

“I got more serious in the last few years,” said Malec-Scott, leading him to craft an entry for the ABA’s Young Birder of the Year at the age of 10.

Common Gallinule, drawn by Henry Malec-Scott

In late 2022, he convinced his family to make the switch from sun-grown coffee to shade-grown coffee as a test-run for his larger project, which “increase[s] density and diversity of bird species, sustain[s] wintering areas for migration [and] improve[s] bird health and habitats” by not engaging in deforestation.

Malec-Scott used his artistic skills to design prints, stickers and informational posters about the benefits of shade-grown coffee as related to bird conservation, which were displayed at the Wellesley Public Library, along with some of his sketches of birds.

The posters were also shared digitally by Sustainable Wellesley and posted in Whole Foods’ staff room and on Truly’s community bulletin board.

In the year ahead, Malec-Scott will continue his local birding endeavors with a plan to submit to the ABA’s contest again, and he and his family hope to travel to areas where they can spot birds that are uncommon to see in the New England area.

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Wellesley’s July Jubilation 2023 in Review

July 19, 2023 by Bella Gonzalez

This past Saturday was Wellesley’s annual July Jubilation sidewalk sale, bringing even more than the usual liveliness to Wellesley Square.

Running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the event closed off Central Street to vehicles, providing space for businesses from all areas of town to host sales and for organizations to share information about their doings.

July Jubiliation_street view — Photo courtesy of Town of Wellesley

Wellesley-ites of all ages—as well as those from other communities—filled the street, celebrating a day with clear skies, which seem all too uncommon this summer.

Novelty events such as a bouncy house, cornhole and live outdoor fitness classes accompanied sales from some of the town’s most beloved businesses.

“There were good vibes all around and people seemed to be enjoying themselves,” said Demian Wendrow, who owns London Harness and serves as the head of the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association.

He observed that the heat brought more foot traffic than usual off of Central Street and into the stores this year.

The merchant group works to plan the event, ensuring that all of the businesses set to participate are well prepared.

This year’s July Jubilation was sponsored by Boston Veterinary Clinic.

“We like to have these kinds of events to give back to the community,” said Wendrow.

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Wellesley preps pickleball changes

July 6, 2023 by Bob Brown

The Wellesley Recreation Commission is slated to meet on Friday, July 7 at 8am to make at least some decision about pickleball designed to provide noise relief to neighbors but not deprive players of the paddle sport they love.

Rec Commission reps has made the rounds recently at meetings of the Natural Resources Commission (watch Wellesley Media recording from June 15) and School Committee (June 20), both of which oversee town property where pickleball is played near homes (Perrin Park for the NRC, Sprague Field for the schools). The Rec Commission does not have jurisdiction of these properties.

Rec Commission ideas shared included shifting the pickleball courts at Sprague, using the Hunnewell Field tennis courts and basketball court (hoopsters unite if this will cramp your style!), and eventually finding a space like the Morses Pond parking lot or a corporate property that would be away from homes.

NRC and School Committee members were empathetic toward neighbors and players, though the NRC wanted to get more data before making any call, and Schools emphasized they do still want to at least keep pickleball at Sprague for school programs in the spring and fall. Other short- and long-term options remain on the table, including possible new locations for pickleball play.

The Rec Commission’s Ansley Martin said during the group’s own meeting on June 29 that he made clear the commission’s short- and long-term recommendations. He said everyone was receptive to the idea that new pickleball sites need to be identified, but that there’s a big difference between that and everyone signing off on it.

While the Rec Commission came close to making decisions on tightening playing hours to 9am-7pm and allowing pickleball on only certain days at certain courts, members decided they needed more data before making a decision. There was also discussion about the possibility of hiring park rangers to, in part, ensure pickleball players are following the town’s rules—the Rec Commission doesn’t want neighbors to have to play any enforcement role.

Rec does want to at least make some decision on pickleball with summer underway, so it could be as little as reduced hours and a recommendation that players use noise-reducing equipment, but it could be more dramatic scheduling changes.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley School Committee to hear pickleball proposals on Tuesday

June 5, 2023 by Bob Brown

The Wellesley Recreation Commission, which has been hashing out ideas to satisfy pickleball players and court neighbors in recent months, will take its proposals to the School Committee on Tuesday, June 6 as part of an agenda section slated to start at 7pm. The Rec Commission indicated during its mid-May meeting that it would be doing so.

The Commission’s mission statement reads that the body’s goal is “To increase people’s enjoyment of living in Wellesley and build a deeper sense of community, as we provide recreational and educational opportunities to all Wellesley residents, regardless of age, ability & means.” It doesn’t oversee the town’s fields and courts, however—they are overseen by the schools (Sprague, etc.) and Natural Resources Commission (Hunnewell, etc.)

The popularity of playing pickleball at the Sprague Field courts once only the domain of tennis players has riled some neighbors, as the paddle sport can get loud, especially when multiple games are being played. Neighbors of the pickleball courts at Perrin Park have also aired complaints.

After a quick look at pickleball reservation data in town over the past year (1,000-plus reservations), Rec Commission Chair Paul Cramer laid out at the Commission’s mid-May meeting a possible scenario that would entail initial compromise followed by a long-term solution of locating pickleball courts away from homes.

One caller during that Rec Commission meeting discussed a lawsuit brought against the town of Falmouth by neighbors fed up with pickleball noise. He emphasized that it would be best for Wellesley to avoid something like that.

The Swellesley Report has been reporting on the rise of pickleball in town since 2018.

sprague pickleball — Pickleball on far court, tennis on near court at Sprague Fields

The School Committee agenda also includes the latest on the Hunnewell track & field project, including lights. The project continues to make its way through government vetting, including at the Wetland sProtection Committee.