The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted and encouraged. For example, a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received.

In a letter this week

• New School Committee member Costas Panagopoulos thanks Wellesley voters

See more letters here.

How to submit your letter to the editor

The deadline is Wednesday at noon for letters to appear that week, or a week further out. Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

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For those tracking the Commonwealth’s plan under the Affordable Homes Act to sell MassBay Community College property to support new housing and help fund campus upgrades, there have been a couple of new developments. The state’s designation of 45 acres at 40 Oakland St. as surplus (this includes about 40 acres of forest adjacent to Centennial Reservation and 5 acres of parking lot) has raised questions from town leadership, concerns from forest users, and hopes for housing advocates.

One development is that the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) has proposed draft regulations for Surplus Real Property and is asking for public comments. The purpose of the regulations is “to establish a framework to guide municipalities and developers in the residential development of surplus real property…”

You’ve got until 11:59pm on April 13 to submit comments to EOHLCRegulationComments@mass.gov (with the subject line “Comments on 760 CMR 77”). Don’t send the comments to the town of Wellesley—as the town of Wellesley emphasizes on its MassBay Proposed Land Disposition web page.

A second development is that a group has been formed called Friends of Centennial, which describes on its website how the organization came to be and how it hopes to proceed.

“For several months, a small group of concerned residents has quietly laid the groundwork to protect the 40 Oakland Street parcel and the surrounding shared natural spaces that have been used and cherished by thousands for many decades. With our own funds, we took the time to research, consult experts, and build a strong factual and legal foundation before asking the broader community to get involved. To date, we have invested more than $35,000, which has allowed us to move forward with focused confidence.

“The next phase requires wider financial and community support. We hope you will join us by donating to our new nonprofit organization, Friends of Centennial, so that we can take the necessary action to stand up against this proposed project.”

The group has retained Hill Law, “a firm with specialized land use expertise to evaluate and pursue legal strategies to eliminate or significantly reduce the scope of development.”

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The New England Patriots are getting support on Super Bowl Sunday from icy Morses Pond in Wellesley, where the words “Go Pats!” have appeared.

“I felt the team out in sunny Santa Clara needed a message from snowy New England,” says Erin Reilly, a pond neighbor.

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Wellesley Girl Scouts are all over town selling cookies. Come warm up with the Sprague 4th grade Juniors at a pop-up cookie shop this Sunday, Feb. 1 from noon to 4pm at Truly’s Next Door. Free hot chocolate and tea.

Multiple Wellesley troops will be outside Roche Bros next weekend as people stock up for the Patriots game and Valentine’s Day. Cookie booths will be set up at The Linden Store, Boston Sports Institute, and more in coming days and weeks.

Search for booths by zip code. Note that cookie booths in other towns support Girl Scout troops in those towns.

Troops receive $1.10 for each box sold. The rest of the proceeds stay local and fund the camps and properties maintained by Girl Scouts of Eastern MA.

Back in October, the high school and middle school troops hosted the Daisies, Brownies, and Junior troops for a day of archery, crafts, and s’mores at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham. Hosting community events is a long-standing tradition that gives Wellesley Girl Scouts opportunities to become leaders and entrepreneurs.

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From the town of Wellesley:

Due to the severity and duration of the snowstorm, all Town of Wellesley non-emergency buildings will be closed on Monday, January 26. Staff will be working remotely.

All scheduled Board and Committee meetings will move to a remote format. Please check meeting agendas for information. 

Programs and classes for the Wellesley Council on Aging and the Wellesley Recreation Department are canceled. 

Wellesley Public Schools and the Wellesley Free Library are also closed on Monday, January 26. 

The Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) is closed on Monday, January 26 due to the continued snowstorm. The facility is expected to be open for regular hours on Tuesday, January 27.

The Department of Public Works is asking everyone to stay home and stay off the roads if possible. This allows DPW to focus on clearing and treating main and secondary roads and sidewalks, followed by parking lots. 

For non-emergency assistance during the storm, contact the Wellesley Fire Department at 781-235-1300 or the Wellesley Police Department at 781-235-1212. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. 
 

Storm photos & videos welcome at theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

 
Residents were coping well with the cold on Sunday, seen playing tennis and waiting in line for baked goods.