More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
The Wellesley Council on Aging (COA) Board of Directors will host an open public meeting for the town’s seniors and others. All are welcome. This will be a great chance to meet the COA Board, ask questions, and learn more about the Tolles Parsons Center.
For additional information please call the COA at 781-235-3961 or visit www.wellesleycoa.org
EVENT: COA Public Listening Session
LOCATION: Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St.
DATE: Jan. 2, 2020
TIME: 2pm – 3:30pm
The Wellesley Advisory Committee has issued its recommendations to Town Meeting members on articles to be discussed at the Special Town Meeting set for Dec. 9. Or actually, make that “recommendation,” singular.
Advisory voted 11-2 in favor of about $4,700,000 in funds for designing a new Hunnewell Elementary School building that could cost a total of more than $57M.
On the other article on this Special Town Meeting warrant, regarding the the appointment of a committee to evaluate governance of the Council on Aging, Advisory was awaiting a presentation the proponent of this citizens petition. So Advisory did not have the info needed to make a recommendation. If it does get the info before the meeting and votes on a recommendation, that will be available to Town Meeting members in a supplemental report.
The Wellesley Hills Post Office hosted the Council on Aging for a tour of the inner workings of the government building. I’ve always been curious about what goes on behind the front counter, so I hopped on the tour and got a few pics. Here’s what’s behind the scenes:
Wellesley Hills Post Office
337 Washington St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
781-235-4374
Mon – Fri, 8am – 5pm
Sat, 8am – 1pm
Sun, Closed
Wellesley Square Post Office
One Grove St., Wellesley, MA 02482
781-235-3666
Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 6pm
Saturday: 8am – 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Babson College-area Post Office
231 Forest St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
781-235-4376
Mon – Fri, 9am – 1pm; 2:34 – 4:30pm
Sat and Sun, closed
Pro tip: When you’ve left mailing your holiday packages to the very last minute, this is the only place in town to go. It’s out of the way, parking is limited, the hours are weird, the place is a hole in the wall, and there’s hardly ever a line. You’re welcome.
All post offices are closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
For 110 years, Wellesley Friendly Aid has been there for residents in their times of greatest need, but that doesn’t mean the venerable non-profit doesn’t also know how to throw a party.
Help them celebrate a century plus of care and concern on Sunday, October 20th, 2pm – 4pm in the Arnold Wakelin Room of the Wellesley Free Library. There will be a birthday party (that means cake!) at the gathering jointly sponsored by Wellesley Friendly Aid, Wellesley Free Library, and the Wellesley Historical Society. Celebrants will go back in time to 1909 with refreshments, music, photographs, and children’s games from the early 1900s as well as a presentation by Wellesley native, Tory DeFazio.
A group of dedicated trustees and volunteers provide this support to Wellesley residents with the help of generous donations from townspeople and local businesses.
Karen Mondell, Program Administrator
Wellesley Friendly Aid Association
781-235-3960
Wellesleyfriendlyaid.org
Wellesley Friendship Circle is a social group for senior women in Wellesley that meets on Mondays from October 21, 2019 – May 11, 2020. Hosted by Wellesley Friendly Aid and the Wellesley Service League, members enjoy a wide range of activities including crafts, holiday parties, various guest speakers, and musical performances. Transportation and lunch are provided.
Location: Warren Building
Day: Mondays, October 21, 2019 – May 11, 2020
Time: noon – 2pm
FREE!
To register, contact the Wellesley Recreation office at 781-235-2370 or email at [email protected]
The Elizabeth Seton Residence of Wellesley Hills will be holding its Annual Meet the Need Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Wellesley Country Club. The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, a long-time supporter of the Catholic not-for-profit nursing and rehabilitation facility, will be honored at the dinner.
The program will include a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, raffle prizes and entertainment provided by the Bo Winiker Jazz Trio. The event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased on the Elizabeth Seton Residence website or by contacting Judith Coogan at [email protected] or 781 997 1351.
Linden Square will be hosting a Sidewalk Sale from September 4 – September 8. Loads of merchants will have their goods out all day at the Sidewalk Sale. Don’t miss the discounts at this fun yearly event.
Scoops Lacrosse, which has been offering kids’ clinics on the South Shore, expands into Wellesley this fall. The 6-class program will take at Boston Sports Institute on Rte. 9 beginning Sept. 8. These are no-pads clinics designed to teach fundamentals, and you can borrow a stick. Discounts available for families with more than one participant.
Support Swellesley: Got other Wellesley business tips on openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]
You can also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.
Wellesley Weston Lifetime Learning (WWLL) will be moving to Wellesley Community Center as its new home. An open house for WWLL and its non-credit courses for adult learners will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 1-3pm.
The fall semester begins on Sept. 9 with a 10am class.
Fifteen courses are offered. Three courses offer different guest speakers each week: American Issues, History Potpourri, and Greater Boston Cultural Institutions. Other courses include Poetry, Drama, Literature, Science, Energy and Climate Change, Jazz and Rock, History, Writing Your Story, and Western Gunslingers. The fee is $60 for one course and $110 for two.
Get more info at www.wwllcourses.org, call 781-205-4204, or email: [email protected]. Brochures with full information about all courses, and registration procedure, are available at the Wellesley Community Center, Wellesley library and COA/Tolles Parsons Center.
Sponsored Content. People of all heritages/identities are welcome to join us as we focus on the role of white people in dismantling racism and building a just society. We’ll examine the impact of white privilege and how being unaware of that advantage helps perpetuate racism. We’ll discuss short readings and share everyday situations in which we did not speak up effectively against racial bias. Using role-playing, we’ll work out effective ways to respond. http://www.wpcr-boston.org
Dates: 9/11/19 – 10/16/19, $85/$95
Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) has appointed Wellesley’s Christopher Collins and Dr. Brenda Haynes to its Board of Trustees.
Collins is a principal at ECG Management Consultants, a healthcare consulting firm, where he heads its national academic healthcare practice as well as the firm’s Boston office.
Dr. Haynes is a former oncologist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and previously served as a director of the Hospital’s Charitable Foundation. She also currently chairs the Hospital’s Development Committee and Resilience Council. Additionally, she was a member of the Leadership Gifts Committee, Chair of Annual Giving and Board of Trustees at The Winsor School in Boston.
Wellesley Council on Aging (COA) Director of Senior Services Gayle Thieme will leave the COA at the end of this month, closing out a 16-year tenure marked by a high point of shepherding the Tolles Parsons Center (TPC) from inception to its 2017 completion. Thieme’s last day will be August 30, 2019. She’ll relax for the Labor Day weekend, and then start right in at a mystery job. Although Thieme isn’t ready to share specifics about her new position, she will allow that seniors are a part of her future. “For 22 years I’ve worked in positions where I have served seniors – I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she says.
Thieme’s years in Wellesley have left a big mark in town. A 13,000 square foot TPC-sized mark, to be exact, and every inch was hard won. Back in 2011, Thieme looked on longingly as abutting towns Needham and Natick approved the building of her dream — a standalone senior center. Wellesley wasn’t there yet, but Thieme was a believer that support for a Wellesley senior center existed and that the center would eventually rise.
A few things conspired to help coax the TPC into being. Thieme’s faith and hard work were instrumental. Then there was the $825k bequest to the town back in 2005 from former Wellesley resident Billie Tolles. (Some seed money always helps.) Finally, the town got behind the project when in 2016 voters approved to borrow about $5.5 million for the project. (More money helps even more.) The end result: Wellesley now has the Tolles Parsons Center, located at 500 Washington St.
Wellesley resident Mary Bower, legendary as the prime mover, principal organizer, chief spokesperson, and cheerleader for the the senior center, and the namesake of the TPC’s Mary Bowers Cafe, said, “Gayle has been such a huge part of my life for her 16 years at our COA, but since 2005, we’ve shed much sweat and many tears together and wondered if we’d ever see a senior center in Wellesley. But, with her as our Director, we gave each other strength to persevere and never give in or give up. We both shared the same goal for Wellesley seniors and I’m proud and most grateful that our vision became a reality in the Fall of 2017. Without her, I don’t think we’d have our Tolles Parsons Center.”
For Thieme, her years at the COA haven’t entirely been about Tolles Parsons. She says, “Certainly my proudest accomplishment has been (helping) to bring the TPC to fruition and working with many incredible people over more than a decade to achieve this. This was no easy feat! Additionally, I am proud of the significant expansion of programs and services and growing the staff and volunteer pool to support this growth. I also am proud to have launched the Volunteer Drivers Program back in February 2011 with a generous grant from The Fund for Wellesley to run it as a pilot. The program continues to operate today with about 35 drivers. We are always looking for additional drivers.”
Thieme isn’t done taking care of Wellesley’s seniors. She wants everyone to know that the COA is temporarily closed for warranty work and carpet replacement. “COA staff have relocated to the Department of Public Works building at 20 Municipal Way while the TPC is closed for repair work through August 16. We expect to return to the TPC on Monday, August 19.”
Thieme is thankful for her years in town. “I have always appreciated the tremendous support I received from my colleagues. Wellesley’s professional staff members are extremely capable and so very committed to their work and serving the residents of the Town to the very best of their abilities. When I stepped into the job as Director of Senior Services in 2006, I never imagined what the next decade plus had in store for me. It absolutely took a village and it was an incredible learning experience for me.”
Until a new COA Director is hired, Linda Clifford, Assistant Director of Senior Services, can help with residents’ questions. She can be reached at [email protected] or by phone 781-235-3961 x6422
The COA’s main number is 781-235-3961, or send an email to: [email protected]
Lights out on a 24-year Wellesley MLP career for Director Dick Joyce
Popular Wellesley store to close — I’m already pining away
The Wok owners Hon Pui and Carol Chan retiring
The Tolles Parsons Center will be closed for warranty work and carpet replacement from Friday, August 9 through Friday, August 16 (scheduled to re-open Monday, August 19). During this closure, Council on Aging (COA) staff members will be relocated to the Department of Public Works building located at 20 Municipal Way in Wellesley. You may continue to reach COA staff members by phone at 781-235-3961. Several of our programs will be relocated to other locations. The program schedule and meeting location is outlined below:
