Wellesley Historical Society and Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club give out big donations

May 27, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Historical Society has announced the 2023 Jim Marcotte Scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Rhys Ramsden and Fatima Sillah.

Rhys Ramsden is passionate about music—its production as well as its power to transform. Rhys pursues this passion through song writing, music recording and collaborating with other artists. He has developed a significant online music presence and uses this presence to build community. Beyond the composition and production of music, Rhys looks forward to exploring the ways that the music industry has promoted gender stereotypes and hopes to see the industry move beyond its current binary: domination by cisgender men and sexually-packaged women. Rhys will be attending The New School in New York City, where he will major in music technology.

Wellesley Historical Society scholarship winners — Rhys and his mother Linda at Wellesley Scholarship Foundation’s Scholarship Award Ceremony. From left: Linda Ramsden, Rhys Ramsden, and Historical Society board president Peter Mongeau. Photo credit: Wellesley Historical Society.

Fatima Sillah has been active in the Wellesley High School community as a member of Young Ethnic Scholars (Y.E.S.) and as a member of the student council. She provides peer mentorship through the Journeys program and is a student ambassador for the World of Wellesley. She loves to sing and dance and has participated in WHS musicals, acapella groups, and the Hip Hop Dance club. The first-generation college student will attend UMass Boston in the fall to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a dentist.

More about the scholarship’s namesake, Jim Marcotte.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, doing what they do

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club awarded a grant of $3,500 to Natick-based Family Promise Metrowest to support families facing homelessness and housing insecurity in the Metrowest region. More here.

Here’s the schedule for Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, May 20 & 21

May 18, 2023 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, organized and funded by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, is ready to bring the excitement during the town’s largest community gathering of the year. This two-day event takes place on May 20 and 21, and includes events and activities for all ages.

Don’t skip breakfast on Sat., May 20

Remember to start everything out with the most important meal of the weekend—the Pancake Breakfast, on Sat., May 20, 8am-1pm, at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St.

Gluten free, waffles and pancakes are available as an option and there will be bountiful chocolate chips for toppings at this all-you-can-eat family fun event with the prices that haven’t gone up in years. $10 if you’re 14 or older, and five dollars if you’re 13 and under.

Have a cool car? Help out

There is a serious need the 54th Wellesley Veterans’ Parade has for convertibles to carry the Honorees in this year’s Parade, to be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, starting at 1pm, starting at the junction of Routes 9 & 16, at the Friendly Aid parking lot.

Anyone who might have an available convertible can contact Roy Switzler, Parade Chairman at 781-235-1299 (o), or 617-840-5718 (c) or at wellesleycelebrations@gmail.com or rswitzler@aol.com

This year, the Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade theme is “Birth of Our Nation: Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.”

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend—what’s new in 2023

Encampment location change: The encampment is usually on the grounds in front of Wellesley Town Hall. That’s not happening due to construction of the historic building. Instead the 18th century military encampment will take place at Morton Park Field. There will be tours all day on Saturday and a cannon firing hourly 11am-4pm near the Wellsley PD, 485 Washington St.

Catch Connect: This year, free transportation on Saturday, May 20 will be provided by the MWRTA Catch Connect from 10:00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. to the many Wellesley Wonderful Weekend venues (e.g. Touch a Truck event, Wellesley Police and Fire Department open houses, Art in the Park and other events). Riders over 12 years of age can ride unaccompanied.

If you would like to use this service on Saturday, please email info@sustainableWellesley.com. In your email, make sure to share that you/family/friends would like to try Catch Connect so we can accommodate your travel plans.

Climate Action Passport:

Grab a passport at the Library, Free Eye Exam/Eyeglass donation event at Wellesley High School, Touch a Truck, or the Wellesley Police Department or Municipal Light Plant open houses.
Get your passport stamped at Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend climate action events.
Show your passport at the Climate Action table at the WWW picnic (Hunnewell Field) on Sunday, May 21 from 4:30 p.m. to dusk. All stamped passports will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bike shop gift certificate.

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend schedule, Sat., May 20

Saturday, May 20: 18th century military encampment at Morton Park Field—The Royal Irish Artillery Division and 26th Yankee Division. Tours all day on Saturday. Canon firing Saturday, 11am-4pm, on the hour, nearby Wellesley Police Station, 485 Washington St.

8am-1pm: Pancake Festival at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St., Wellesley Kiwanis Club. Wellesley Key Club (slight cost)

8am-1pm: Free Eye Exams at the Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street, Wellesley Lions Club

9am-10am: Morses Pond Trail Guided Walk, Wellesley Trails Committee, Meet at town beach access road gate, end of Turner Rd.

9am-10:30am: Walking Tour of Wellesley Hills Square with Wellesley Historical Society. Meet at the Tollhouse, 229 Washington St.

10am-noon: Bike Safety Rodeo, for children under twelve. With Wellesley Police and Wellesley Kiwanis, Tailby Parking Lot, Linden and Crest Roads.

9am-noon: Touch a Truck Open House at Wellesley Department of Public Works, 20 Municipal Way (off Rt 9)

11am-3pm–Open House at Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, 4 Municipal Way (off Rt. 9)

11am-3pm: Open House at Wellesley Police Station, 485 Washington Street

11am-to 3pm–Open House at Wellesley Main Fire Station #2

Noon-3pm: Open House at Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington Street

11am-3pm–Open House at Wellesley Historical Society, Stanwood House, 323 Washington Street

(Rescheduled until fall due to expected rain) Noon-2:30pm: Art in the Park, Wellesley Community Art Project & Wellesley Women Artisans – Simons Park (corner of Washington and Brook Streets, left of Main Library)

1pm-3pm: Pups in the Park, Rotary Club of Wellesley, Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc., and Wellesley Celebrations Committee, Hunnewell Field

1pm-3pm: Build Your Own Nancy’s Troll and Fairy House event (for elementary school kids), in memory of Nancy Bagdasarian. At Pickle Point on Morses Pond. Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Crosstown Trail. Parking area opposite 49 Russell Rd.

(Canceled due to expected rain: limited showing of the artwork will happen during Sunday’s picnic instead) 10am-4pm: The Wellesley Society of Artists is pleased to present “Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists”, featuring the artwork of 30 WSA member artists on display at Simons Park (corner of Washington & Brook Street, left of Main Library).

4pm–dusk: Paint the Town–Plein Air Painting event, Wellesley Society of Artists and Page Waterman Gallery, Town Hall grounds, corner of Washington and Grove Streets, Wellesley Square.

4pm: Veterans Ecumenical Memorial Mass at Saint Paul Church, 502 Washington Street, Wellesley Veterans Council

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend schedule, Sun., May 21

8am-10am: Guided Bird Walk at Morses Pond, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust. Park on wooded side of Turner Rd. Meet at Turner Road Gate.

8am: Wonder Run 5K Race* (small fee charged) 9am: Kids Fun Run* (small fee charged), Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street. Register here.
A Lexington Minuteman re-enactor will fire a musket shot to start the race of the 9th annual Wonder Run 5K & Kids Fun Run

9:30am-2pm: Antique Car Show, Wheels of Wellesley X, on Central Street, from Juniper Restaurant to Fire Station 1. Organized by the Modifiers Car Club and the Wellesley Celebrations Committee

1pm-3pm: 55th Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade. 2023 Theme: Birth of Our Nation: Celebrating the 25oth Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party—1773-2023. Route along Washington St. (Route 16) through to Central St. in Wellesley Square. Reviewing Stand in front of Wellesley Village Church. Wellesley Celebrations Committee

4:30pm-dusk: Picnic in the Park at Hunnewell Field. Food, drinks, kids’ rides, crafts, games, ponies, & other fun. (small charge for food, drinks, and some activities.

6pm: Concert for Wellesley at Hunnewell Field. Featuring music by The Reminisants, and a musical theatrical performance by Wellesley Theatre Project Wellesley Theatre Project

Dusk: Fireworks – The Biggest and the Best! At Hunnewell Field. Sponsors: Roche Bros./Sudbury Farms and Needham Bank

Please support the Celebrations Committee with a donation. Those fireworks (and so much more) are free to all revelers, but not to the organizers!

Donations can be sent by check made payable to Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc. and sent to Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc. P.O. Box 812202, Wellesley, MA 02482-0015 or by visiting wellesleywonderfulweekend.com/donate

Rotary Club puts on Wellesley’s yummiest spring fundraiser

May 17, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

After depriving everyone in town for three years due to a little thing called “the pandemic,” The Rotary Club of Wellesley finally relented and fed over 300 guests at the triumphant return of their Taste of Wellesley fundraising event, held at Elm Bank Reservation on May 4.

We went for the sense of community. We went to support the Rotary Club’s mission to end food insecurity. We went because we were hungry. Taste of Wellesley did not disappoint. The food (and drinks), generously donated by 15 participating restaurants, was so good we felt like finally, after years of longing, we had really, truly dined. The event raised over $30k for the Rotarians to continue their work with the Wellesley Housing Authority, Mass Bay Community College and organizations serving homeless veterans.

Here are some pics:

Wellesley Rotary, Taste of Wellesley — Club president Bill Westerman delivers remarks

Participating restaurants

Alta Strada
Bocado Tapas Bar
Cafe Mangal
Comella’s
CrepeBerry
Exhibit A Brewing
Fiorella’s Express
Juniper
Lockheart Restaurant
Papa Razzi
Roche Bros.
Smith & Wollensky
Takara Japanese Restaurant
The Cottage
The Laughing Monk

Here’s the entire list of over 50 dining options in Wellesley.

And let’s throw in Natick restaurants, for good measure.

Next up for the Rotary Club—Pups in the Park

Don’t miss Pups in the Park during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. Last year the event raised $5,000 for International Fund for Animals to support animals in Ukraine, Turkey, ands Syria. Organizers are looking to do the same this year.

Enter your pup in the “Pups in the Park” event, where they can compete for cutest, best costume, best kisser, and more. Everybody comes away a winner. If 10 pups register, there will be 10 award categories. If 100 pups compete, there will be 100 awards, in which case the Rotarians are really going to have to get creative with the categories. Most soulful eyes?

$20 contribution for each dog. Register here using the QR code. Donations of up to $5,000 matched by the Rotary Club.

Special guest stars: author Pippi Babson the Black Lab will be there with his human friend, Gig Babson. Also, meet new friends from Buddy Dog and Shultz’s Guest House.

DATE: Saturday, May 20
TIME: 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: Hunnewell Field
SPONSORS: Rotary Club of Wellesley, Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc., and Wellesley Celebrations Committee

Wellesley Rotary Club, Pooch Parade 2022. Such a good doggie.

Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild spruces up the post office boxes

April 15, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Members of the Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild took advantage of the mid-80s April temperatures to yank the winter greens out of the Square and Hills post office window boxes and put in fresh spring annuals and perennials. The civic organization funds, plants, and maintains the boxes seasonally. Members each take a week-long turn watering the boxes, no easy task during the hot summer months.

Wellesley Gardeners' Guild, post office boxes — From left, Post Offices Civic Improvement co-chair Laurie Roberts; Tami Moffitt; and co-chair Kim Moldaver.

Post office boxes past

Wellesley Gardeners' Guild, December 2020 — December 2020

Wellesley Hills post office boxes

Station Oak, Post Office Square, Wellesley — Station Oak, Wellesley Square Post Office, May 2022

Cold waters of Morses Pond no deterrent to those who Plunge for Elodie

March 29, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The early-spring waters of Morse Pond were frigid, while the wind picked up and raised choppy little waves along the sparkling surface. No question, the pond looked cold. Oh well, that was just business as usual at the sixth annual Plunge for Elodie, and determined Wellesley community members gathered in force to jump right in, literally, to fight Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The rare disorder affects people who are missing a critical protein that helps bind the layers of their skin together.

Plunge for Elodie, Wellesley — Elodie and her supporters get pumped up for the Plunge.

Elodie is the kindergartener who inspires her supporters to dash into the water and out every March, as the hope grows ever stronger that a cure will be found for the life-threatening genetic disease. The facts of EB are sobering. Those with EB have extremely fragile skin, which leads to severe pain and wounds. It’s up to family members to change bandages at least daily, and obsessively guard against infection. Currently there are neither treatments nor a cure, and children’s lives are cut devastatingly short due to infections, nutrition issues, and neoplastic complications.

Those who plunge for Elodie and her peers get it. It’s all about empathy. It’s all about community.

“I’m here because it’s a really important cause, and basically we’re jumping in the water and it’s such an insignificant amount of pain that we’re going through compared to what Elodie’s going through,” said Wellesley High School football team member Declan Ahern.

“It’s such a good cause and it’s good to be united as a team and do something that’s this important. It feels great to be here with the whole community,” said WHS track member Anna Turner.

The Wellesley connection is strong for this event, which hosts satellite Plunges in almost a dozen other locations in the U.S. and internationally. Elodie’s mom, Emily Kubik, is a WHS Class of 1999 graduate. She’s backed up by her crew of WHS besties, whose friendship and deep connection have thrived over the years. Emily has always felt supported throughout her daughter’s diagnosis at birth, and during the subsequent challenges the family has faced. “People don’t believe me when I say I have ten best friends from high school. I think they think it’s a little weird. But I think it’s amazing, and I couldn’t imagine it any other way,” she shared with the crowd of a couple hundred during pre-Plunge remarks.

This group of lifelong friends has been a part of a larger team whose dedication has been instrumental in raising millions of dollars to fund EB research. They expect to raise over $2 million this year, making it one of the most successful rare disease fundraisers in the world. Thanks to their tireless efforts, there are currently 39 clinical trials devoted to EB, up from just two trials in 2010.

Cold waters of Wellesley’s Morses Pond no deterrent to those who Plunge for Elodie https://t.co/bq0lx0Q85w @plungeforelodie pic.twitter.com/NOL3VT4ISl
— swellesley (@swellesley) March 29, 2023

As groups dashed into Morses Pond in waves, shouting with pumped-up bravado on the way into the water, shrieking with shock on the way out, it was clear something important was happening. On the sidelines Elodie’s purple and pink butterfly wings flapped as she jumped up and down with excitement. Elodie may not yet fully grasp how many people have her back. With hope, and a cure, someday she will.

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Wellesley Select Board office hours, March 23

March 18, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Select Board chair Lise Olney will hold office hours via Zoom on Thursday, March 23, 9am-10:30am.

Residents may ask questions, give input, and share concerns about Town operations, economic development, and other issues.

Email Lise Olney directly at lolney@wellesleyma.gov to schedule a 15-minute appointment. You’ll receive a reply confirming your appointment time and the Zoom link, if applicable.

Wellesley volunteer & charity news: Service League links up with MassBay; holiday gift drives

December 1, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley volunteer and charity news:

Service League helps at MassBay

The Wellesley Service League is in the midst of a very busy fall, with members back to work in person and providing support to many partners. Here are a couple of photos from MassBay Community College, where Service league members helped students develop a LinkedIn profile to help get them started on the path to a productive career.

Wellesley Service League at MasBay — Wellesley Service League volunteers at MassBay

Wellesley Service League at MassBay — Service League members working with students

Holiday charity drives from Heroes Fitness, Housing Authority

Heroes Fitness in Wellesley Square is hosting a free workout class on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 9am in honor of its annual toy drive for kids in need through Sojourner House. Everyone is welcome to come by, drop off a gift, enter a raffle and enjoy some treats. You can secure a complimentary workout class as well by registering and dropping off a gift.

The Wellesley Housing Authority is holding its first holiday gift drive for seniors and adults with disabilities. The Virtual Mitten Giving Tree involves sponsoring a resident who has identified an item they would enjoy as a holiday gift. Email contact@wellesleyhousing.org or call 781 235-0223 to take part. All gifts must be delivered by Dec. 16

Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club grants application is available for 2023 award cycle

November 4, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC), an 80-member non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to community service, is accepting applications for the 2023 awards cycle. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb, 1, 2023. You can find a link to the application under the Grants tab at whjwc.org

The goal of the WHJWC grants program is to fully fund concrete programs and make a measurable impact on communities in the MetroWest region. Last year the Club donated $70,500 in grants to 27 Wellesley-area community groups, making it one of the largest grant-making organizations in the area.

If you have any questions, contact the WHJWC at their NEW email address, grants@whjwc.org.

Wellesley Marketplace fundraiser

Help the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) welcome back the 44th annual Wellesley Marketplace holiday fair at Wellesley High School on Saturday, November 19 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving). It’s been three years since the WHJWC has been able to bring more than 200 local artists and craftspeople to town, so this year’s Marketplace is a special homecoming of sorts! Artisans are excited to set up their booths with a full range of goods including fine art, gourmet foods, hostess and teacher gifts, jewelry and clothing, home accessories, ornaments and children’s clothes.

Buy tickets here.

About the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club

[Read more…]

Save the date: Wellesley Mothers Forum Fall Carnival is Sept. 17

September 2, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Mothers Forum will hold its Fall Carnival on Saturday, September 17, 10am-12pm, on the Wellesley Town Green (between Town Hall and the Post Office in Wellesley Square). Join the community organization for a day of family fun including bouncy houses, performances from Walnut Hill, music with Bach to Rock, face painting, fall crafts, magic and more. Don’t forget to wish Wellesley Police community service dog Winnie a very happy birthday.

A history of helping: Wellesley Food Pantry seeks summertime donations

July 14, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

There are some who might be surprised to learn that many Wellesley residents need help putting food on the table. After all, the US Census Bureau puts the 2020 median household income in town at $214K, so with numbers like that, where’s the need? The truth wasn’t publicly acknowledged in Wellesley until the late 1980s that many neighbors aren’t quite so flush and might need some help with the groceries. Seems that residents in need were going over to Natick to access the food pantry in that town, since Wellesley was without such a safety net.

That changed in 1989, when the Wellesley Food Pantry opened its doors at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church thanks to the efforts of representatives from local houses of worship, along with Wellesley Friendly Aid board members. Once the ball got rolling, volunteers quickly stepped up to donate needed items, organize the shelves, and provide monetary support. Today the Pantry is supported by special programs like the annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (which accounts for about 10% of the yearly donated food) and the Wellesley Scouting for Food Drive (which brings in about 40% of food donations). Given that both those drives were canceled during the pandemic, the spike in monetary donations of $130,854 donated to the Pantry in 2021 was a welcome infusion of resources.

In addition, the Wellesley Food Pantry gets donations from area businesses, houses of worship, civic organizations, and everyday people who make room in their grocery carts each week for a few donations to run over to the Pantry. Village Table, a Wellesley-based organization set up during the pandemic to combat food insecurity, is also one of the Pantry’s partners, with the charitable group’s fully prepared, fresh, and nutritious meals a popular item among clients.

“We serve 174 families and 97 children,” said Pantry board of directors president Peter Lull in during an interview at the Pantry. “Usually our breakout is about a third of clients 18 years and younger, and about a third 65 years and older,” with the rest falling somewhere in between.

How to donate

There are two constants in the world of the Wellesley Food Pantry—donations are always needed, and space at the pantry is always limited.

“We don’t have a ton of storage space,” says Lull. “We ask that when people want to donate they really stick to the specific wish list we have because we don’t have the room to store a lot of excess inventory.”

Check the Pantry website for the wish list for items most in need at the moment. There are also collection bins at Roche Bros. and Whole Foods. Or you can do a curbside drop-off on Mondays, 2pm-3pm, at the west entrance of Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.

Largesse from vegetable gardens is also welcome. Residents can drop fresh produce donations on Tuesdays, 8am-11:30am, in the Wellesley Hills Church kitchen (from the west entrance, down the stairs and to the right before entering the assembly room).

Monetary donations are also welcome. On average the Pantry spends over $2,000 per week to purchase foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, eggbeaters and other perishable items, as well as non-perishables when donations are low. Almost all monetary donations ($130K in 2021) go directly to stocking the Pantry, as administrative expenses are minimal—the staff and management are all volunteers, and the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church provides the Pantry with rent-free space.

You can mail your check, payable to the Wellesley Food Pantry, to:

Wellesley Food Pantry
207 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02481

You may also donate using PayPal or a credit card.

How to volunteer

Helping out at the Food Pantry is one of those gigs in town that people tend to hang onto once they secure their spot. Lull has volunteered for over 15 years. “We are always willing to take names, but for the most part we’re pretty well staffed. We don’t get a lot of volunteer turnover,” he said.

He says there are several dozen regular volunteers and dozens of occasional helpers from Wellesley Service League, National Charity League, Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, and more.

How to register for help from the Pantry

Support from the Wellesley Food Pantry is open to all qualified Wellesley residents. Residents needing Food Pantry assistance can register by email, mail, or in person with an appointment. More information here.

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