The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley Square Parents Day Out is September 17-18

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SPONSORED POST: The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association is getting ready for two big days of the all-new Parents Day Out, a time when everyone can enjoy specials offered by participating merchants in the Square. On Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18, many of the area’s stores will offer discounts and deals, so make sure you stop by and shop, dine, and enjoy Wellesley Square. Swing by Linden Square, too—lots of merchants there are also getting in on the fun.

Wellesley Square, Parents Day Out

Adjacent to Parents Day Out, on Wellesley Green (between Town Hall and the post office), the Wellesley Mothers Forum will be showing everyone a good time at their Fall Carnival on Saturday, 10am-noon. The fun will include a magic show, balloon twister, bouncy house, story time with Wellesley author Lisa Rogers, and more.

All this and free parking on both days starting at 10am, thanks to the Town of Wellesley. Look for the 2-hour free street meters marked with hoods, and the signs in the Town-owned lots offering 2-hour free parking. NOTE: the 2-hour limit will be enforced, and parking fees WILL apply at any 4-hour and 10-hour meters, and private parking lots.

Wellesley Square MerchantsThe weather forecast says the day will be picture perfect—just another reason to give yourself time to enjoy the one and only Wellesley Square. But you only need one, don’t you: you deserve it.

Details of special offers will be posted here on Thursday. In the meantime, here’s a list of participating merchants:

 

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Linden Square, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley
Watertite Roofing
Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

Save the date: Wellesley Square July Jubilation Lite is July 17th

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Wellesley Square will be the site of July Jubilation Lite on Saturday, July 17, 10am-4pm (the rain date is July 24th).

July Jubilation Lite, WellesleyAlthough this year’s July Jubilation Lite will be a scaled-down event as compared with previous years, now more than ever the focus will be on community merchants, who will be on hand to welcome shoppers back to the Square.

July Jubilation Lite will feature live music, a DJ, and merchant displays and their specials.

The Ballunatic will be creating balloon sculptures and be available for photos in front of the Temporary Main Library at 50 Central Street, 11am-1pm. Stop by for a visit, and pick up some library swag. The Ballunatic is sponsored by the Friends of the Wellesley Free Library.

There will be free parking in Wellesley Square during the event. Look for specifically designated free parking areas. Please note: Parking fees will be enforced in all non-designated locations.

Musical guests

Central Street will be closed from Abbott Street to CVS (65 Central Street) so that the featured musicians can rock on:

11am: Mike Kim, solo acoustic

noon–1:30pm: Shira Doron and Off Label

1:30pm–2:30pm: Christine Lucas and Patrick Hayden

2:30pm: Shira Doron and Patrick Hayden

Music in Central Park is TBD.

The event is hosted by the Wellesley Merchants Association, with the support of the Town of Wellesley.

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John O'Toole, Wellesley

Marketplace will wait until 2022, but Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club keeps giving

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Wellesley Hills Junior Women's ClubThe Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club has announced that its annual Marketplace event, which brings together hundreds of artisans and shoppers heading into the year-end holiday season, has been canceled for this year and will return on Nov. 19, 2022.

Dear friends of Wellesley Marketplace,

After much discussion with our leadership team, among our membership, and with so many of you, we have decided to cancel our annual arts fair for the second year. We will not have Wellesley Marketplace in 2021. We appreciate all of your support, however, we sadly felt that holding Marketplace just wasn’t feasible this year.

Please save the date for our next Wellesley Marketplace on Nov. 19, 2022.

Best wishes and be well,

Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club

While losing out on such major fundraisers hurts, the Club continues to give.  Elizabeth Seton Residence expressed its thanks for a grant of $3,020 from the Club for the purchase of outdoor patio furniture and umbrellas for resident comfort, safety and enjoyment.

The Club has  supported Elizabeth Seton Residence for years, both through volunteering and grants.

Residents enjoying a sunny afternoon cookout in the courtyard of the Elizabeth Seton Residence.
Residents enjoying an afternoon cookout in the courtyard of the Elizabeth Seton Residence (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Seton Residence)
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Wellesley springing back to life

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It wasn’t an official Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, but it had that kind of feel to it.

That annual event was scrapped last year due to the pandemic but is making an official comeback on the first weekend of October.

This weekend in town, renewed energy could be seen across Wellesley.

I started my Saturday helping the Wellesley Trails Committee install flower boxes on the lower falls footbridge that traverses the Charles River next to the  Waterstone assisted living facility on Washington Street. We’re hopeful that flowers, which will be planted and tended by Waterstone, will be blooming in those boxes before summer’s done, as bridge beautification ideas have been discussed since before the current bridged replaced a dilapidated railroad bridge about a decade ago.

flower boxes lower falls bridge wellesley trails

On my back through Wellesley, I spied a town employee giving the raised lettering on the Wellesley Hills train station sign a fresh coat of paint.

wellesley hills sign painting

Just down the block from there I saw that another couple electrical boxes were being painted as part of that ongoing program.

electrical box seaward and washington

forest and washington electrical box painting art

I then dropped by Linden Square, where a pack of teens selflessly paraded from the Kids Backing Kids Diaper Drive tent at the Linden Square parking lot into a Federal Realty building where thousands of diapers were being stored. Collections were also taking place at Sprague Field, and those will be added to the ones collected at Linden Square as well as another few thousand at Fiske Elementary School.

Volunteers collected nearly 19,000 diapers and 300 packs of baby wipes, far exceeding the organization’s goal of 10,000 diapers.  “All diapers and wipes have been distributed to several local and regional organizations that help families in need (the Wellesley Food Pantry, individual families in low-income housing in Wellesley, Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton, the Chelsea Collaborative, and the Diaper Circle in Brookline),” said Kids Backing Kids’ Jim Rodrigue, providing an update after the event.

Linden Square, Wellesley
Kids Backing Kids collected nearly 19,000 diapers as part of its campaign

 

Elsewhere in Linden Square, shopper were checking out sidewalk sales.

linden square sidewalk sale

linden square sidewalk sale

linden square sidewalk sale

Finally, I swung by Wellesley Square for the tail end of its sidewalk sales and outdoor concerts. Not settling for just a community service dog, the police appeared to be trying out a community service monster (actually, the wild thing was part of a library promotion).

monster police car

live music wellesley square

sidewalk sale wellesley square

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Wellesley Business Buzz: Hedi’s Furniture coming; Linden & Wellesley Square sidewalk sales; Local beer update; Bountiful will make a trip to you

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Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, MA business news:

Hedi’s Furniture business coming

We don’t have many details beyond this, but a business called Hedi’s Furniture is readying to occupy 572 Washington St., the former home of J.Todd Gallery in Wellesley.

The business has begun seeking showroom design consultants and sales reps, and refers to the business as having strong interior design roots.

Hedi's sign

Linden Square, Wellesley

Linden Square doings

SHOP: Linden Square will hold its annual Sidewalk Sale on Thurs., May 20 – Sun., May 23. Loads of merchants will have their goods out all day, and some sale items will be discounted up to 70%. Don’t miss the discounts at this fun yearly event. Here’s the list of participating stores.

DONATE: With many families in need of basic necessities, it is more important than ever to open your hearts and donate to Welcome Home, a local home goods pantry. Welcome Home provides families experiencing hardship with basic household items so they can live with dignity.

DATE: through Sun., May 23rd
DROP-OFF LOCATION: PoppinIn, LindenSquare
NEEDED: New or like-new household items such as glassware, bakeware, towels/sheets, pots/pans, small appliances
QUESTIONS: [email protected] or 617-454-4795

Wellesley Square MerchantsWellesley Square Sidewalk Saturday

Wellesley Square Merchants will hold their monthly Sidewalk Saturday event on May 22. Central Street will be closed 10am – 5pm. from Grove Street to CVS, creating a pedestrian-friendly, family-fun event. Live music will be part of the fun in front of CVS and further down the street in Central Park (near the Wellesley Square post office). Here’s a list of some of the merchants who plan to be outside.

Additional dates for Wellesley Square Sidewalk Saturdays are: June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18.

Wellesley beer update

We have an update from Wellesley resident and brewer Chris Mirick, whose gluten-free beer we wrote about in October (“Wellesley homebrewer: Don’t fear this gluten-free beer”).

His Ankleknocker Gluten Free Pale Ale has been launched commercially, and Ankleknocker is going to be a line of gluten free beers from Zelus Beer Co. in Medfield.  Sherborn Wine & Spirits has begun carrying Ankleknocker, and other stores in the area should have it soon as well, Mirick says.

“We’re working on a summer ale next, as well as some other ideas. With the weather turning warmer and people wanting to get together and socialize as we come out of this long dark period, I’m excited to have a great gluten-free option out there!” he writes.ankleknocker

Bountiful will make a trip to you

Bountiful meal delivery service
Dill & lemon salmon

Bountiful, the latest meal delivery service to include Wellesley on its roster of towns served, is ready, willing, and able to save residents time and energy on cooking dinner. The company prides itself on sourcing ingredients locally, providing reliably delicious dinner options, and offering an exciting and diverse rotation of menu items.

On their plates right now: shrimp tossed in panko and coconut then deep fried, served with grilled pineapple salad and a sweet and sour mai ploy dipping sauce; chickpea tikka masala slow roasted in a stew of fresh roma tomatoes and curry spice, mixed with roasted veggies and spooned over rice; watermelon and cucumber gazpacho; and more.

 

 

 

 

swellesley ad advertising

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Wellesley Square Sidewalk Saturday is May 22nd

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SPONSORED POST: As the spring weather gets gorgeous and rules for gathering relax, the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association is getting ready for its monthly Sidewalk Saturday event on May 22. Central Street will be closed to traffic 10am – 5pm from Abbott Street to CVS, creating space for a pedestrian-friendly, family-fun time. Live music (provided by WellesleyRocks) will play in Central St. by CVS, including the Wellesley High School Rock Band. In fact, the Live Music Series is part of the scene in the Square every Saturday, noon-2pm, thanks to the Wellesley Rotary Club’s sponsorship.

Wellesley Merchants

Dozens of stores throughout Wellesley Square will participate as they put into action their plans to get customers back to the Square. The fact is, the past year-plus hasn’t been easy. The shops, stores, and services of the area haven’t yet come back to the level of pre-pandemic business. The merchants need shoppers to get out there and visit real, live, bricks-and-mortar stores.

As Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association president Demian Wendrow said, “We have to get people out of the habit of online shopping and back into shopping in their own community. Every sale is so important to us, now more than ever.”

Select Board member Beth Sullivan Woods said, “Our retail districts need the community’s support to rebound and thrive.  Their ingenuity, patience and resilience through the pandemic has been remarkable.  To welcome everyone back to shopping in person as we emerge from the pandemic, our merchant community has partnered with the Town and its residents to create a revitalized, safe and fun shopping experience. ”

MORE INFO: Go to ShopWellesleySquare.

Future dates for Wellesley Square Sidewalk Saturdays are: June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18.

Helpful tips for parking in Wellesley Square:

Wellesley Square welcomes visitors with a number of convenient parking options.

You can purchase parking with Passport, a pay-by-phone mobile parking payment app you can use with your smartphone.

If you want to pay with coins, you certainly can. “Come  into any store and we will gladly supply change for the meters,” Wendrow said.

More parking information:

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