The Swellesley Report

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

Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend continued…Fireworks & more this Sunday

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The Wellesley Celebrations Committee has rescheduled the following Wellesley’ Wonderful Weekend activities to Sunday, Oct. 17: Fireworks, Picnic and Concert.

fireworks

  • 3 p.m. to Dusk — Picnic in the Park at Hunnewell Field
  • 4 p.m. — Concert featuring music by The Reminisants and a USO Variety Show by The
    Wellesley Theatre Project
  • 7 p.m. (dusk) — Fireworks

The 53rd Wellesley Veterans Parade and many other activities took place earlier this month.

The overall theme was Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the USO.

One other bit of unfinished business: Parade float awards.

Best School Trophy—Schofield School

2021 parade schofield
Best Theme Related Float – Sustainable Wellesley
Best Organizational Float — Hardy School
Most Original Float — Fiske School
Most Patriotic Award — Wellesley Theatre Project
Chairman’s Award –Wellesley Scholarship Fund
Judges Award – Rotary Club of Wellesley
Best Youth Organization –Wellesley Mother’s Forum

2021 parade mothers forum

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Wellesley Veterans Parade marches on

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The 53rd Wellesley Veterans Parade became the grand finale for this fall’s Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend activities after the fireworks and picnic in the park were nixed due to weather concerns.

The parade provided a solid afternoon’s worth of entertainment, however, as the town cheered on a long list of honorees, chauffeured in a variety of fancy vehicles, and were treated to marching bands, school floats, and more.

We hunkered down initially in front of Wellesley Free Library, to get Town Hall in the background of our photos, then ventured down toward Wellesley Square near the review stand.

Below is our roundup of the sights and sounds from Sunday’s event. Next up: Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend returning in May.

2021 parade covid
Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend Grand Marshals included the Health Department and COVID Working Group. Among those pictured are JoAnn Jones and Rosetta Solari whose group produced over 20,000 face masks, more than 2,500 of which were given out in the Town of Wellesley from a group of 5 women who sew bears for the Wellesley Police and Fire Departments to give kids, and whose group grew to over 60 women and 1 man who learned to use a Serger sewing machine.

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, breast cancer awareness
Chief Jack Pilecki in the Wellesley Police Department’s breast cancer awareness car

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, military police
Chief Pilecki’s backup

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, antique cars

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, ambulance
Colin Rixon of Wellesley driving a 1918 WWI ambulance provided by the American Heritage Museum of Military History in Hudson, Mass.

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Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend gets off to a fun start

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Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, organized and funded by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, drew enthusiastic crowds to a variety of events on Saturday, starting with the pancake breakfast at the high school and ending with activities such as Art in the Park and the EV showcase nearby.

We did the rounds throughout the day to capture the scene.

We started with a Wellesley Trails Committee guided walk in the in the North 40, the 46-acre triangular parcel along Weston and Turner Roads that the town bought from Wellesley College in 2014. The plan is to keep half of the acreage as open space. It is unclear what might become of the rest.

vernal pool boardwalk north 40
View of vernal pool from North 40 boardwalk

 

On the way to the guided walk we noticed new signage for a housing development being built right up against the North 40. The marketers made extensive use of almost every trite marketing term for this sort of thing: “exclusive,” “connoisseurs,” and “luxury” were all used to draw in those with a craving for a posh lifestyle and the deep pockets to attain it. We refuse to sign on until we’re guaranteed a “curated” and “bespoke” experience.

bristol

From there we swung by the pancake breakfast at Wellesley High School, organized by Wellesley Kiwanis Club and Wellesley High School Key Club. At least 1,000 pancakes and waffles were cranked out, according to Chef Brian.

pancakes key
Wellesley Key Club at your service

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Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend 2021 schedule

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Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend is this coming weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 3), and organizers will be planning for  the 2022 edition, to be held in late May, right after this one is done.

The Annual Wellesley Veterans’ Parades cost about $60K apiece, with $4,700 coming from the town per parade, organizers say. So organizers are seeking donations now and during the events this weekend to support these traditions.

They also need convertible vehicles for the parade honorees to ride in. Contact the Celebrations’ Committee at Town Hall, 781-431-1019 x2295 or visit the WWW website for more info.

Thursday, Sept. 30:

EVENT: Two free outdoor movies—Captain America: The First Avenger & USO – For the Troops
TIME: 7pm
LOCATION: Tailby Parking Lot (Commuter Rail Lot, Wellesley Square)
SPONSORS: Wellesley Recreation Department, Wellesley Youth Commission and  Wellesley Kiwanis Club

Saturday Oct. 2:

EVENT: Pancake Festival*
TIME: 8am-1pm
LOCATION: Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street
SPONSORS: Wellesley Kiwanis Club and Wellesley High School Key Club

EVENT: Wellesley Lions Club Eye Mobile collecting used glasses. All types of glasses, for all ages are needed: prescription glasses, readers, and sunglasses. The Lions collect, sort, and clean the glasses, then send them to those in need.
TIME: 8am-1pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Lions Club Eye Mobile, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street
SPONSOR: Wellesley Lions Club

EVENT: North 40 Walk
TIME: 9am-10am
LOCATION: Meet at 9am at gate to Morses Pond at end of Turner Road (off Weston Road)
SPONSOR: Wellesley Trails Committee

EVENT: Live WWII Army Camp Living History : 26th Infantry “YANKEE” Division
TIME: 10am-2pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Town Hall front lawn, 525 Washington Street

EVENT: Touch a Truck, Police Car and Fire Engine
TIME: 11am-3pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Department of Public Works, 20 Municipal Way (off 455 Worcester Street, Route 9)
HOSTS: Police, Fire, MLP and DPW departments

wellesley fire truck

EVENT: Art in the Park
TIME: noon-3pm
LOCATION: Simons  Park (Corner of Washington & Brook Street, left of the Library)
SPONSORS: Wellesley Community Art Project & Wellesley Women Artisans

EVENT: Open House Tolles Parsons Center
TIME: 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: 500 Washington Street
SPONSOR: Wellesley Council on Aging

EVENT: Build Your Own Woodland Troll & Fairy House
TIME: 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: Cochituate Aqueduct, Russell Road / Kendall Road (for elementary school kids)
SPONSOR: Wellesley Conservation Land Trust

EVENT: Community Play Space – Family Games
This “for the love of play” group will provide a variety of unique, athletically inspired activities and equipment for participants to play and use at their own leisure. Free event.
TIME: 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: Hunnewell Field
SPONSOR: Wellesley Recreation Department

EVENT: Wellesley EV Showcase
View different makes and models of environmentally-friendly EVs and PHEVs.
TIME: 1pm-4pm
LOCATION: Cameron Street Parking Lot (next to Main Library and Hunnewell School)
SPONSORS: Energy New England; Sustainable Wellesley; Wellesley Climate Action Committee; Municipal Light Plant.

EVENT: Veterans’ Ecumenical Memorial Mass
TIME: 4pm
LOCATION: Saint Paul Church, 502 Washington Street
SPONSOR: Wellesley Veterans’ Council

Sunday Oct. 3:

EVENT: Annual Wonder Run 5K and Kids Fun Run 1K*
TIME: 8am—5K Run & 9am—Kids 1K Run
LOCATION: Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street
REGISTRATION: www.whjwc.org
SPONSOR: Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club

EVENT: Antique Car Show Wheels of Wellesley VIII
TIME: 11am-4pm
LOCATION: Central Street (from Juniper Restaurant to Fire Station 1)
ORGANIZED BY: Wheels of Wellesley and Wellesley Celebrations Committee

EVENT: 53rd Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade
TIME: 1pm-3pm
THEME: 2021 Theme: 80th Anniversary of the founding of the USO (United Service Organizations)
LOCATION: The parade starts at the intersection of Route 16 (Washington Street) and Route 9 and continues westbound along Route 16 to Wellesley Square. The reviewing stand is in Wellesley Square.
SPONSOR: Wellesley Celebrations Committee

parade wellesley police

EVENT: Picnic in the Park at Hunnewell Field—Food*, drinks*, kid’s rides*, crafts, games, pony rides* & other fun. Hand sanitizer dispensers throughout field.
TIME: 3:45pm

EVENT: Concert for Wellesley, featuring the Reminisants and a USO Variety Show by Wellesley Theatre Project
TIME: 4pm
LOCATION: Hunnewell Field

EVENT: Fireworks
TIME: 7:30pm
LOCATION: Hunnewell Field
SPONSORS: Roche Brothers/Sudbury Farms and Wellesley Dental Group, Drs. Ali and Ali

fireworks

*Please note, asterisk indicates a small fee may be charged.

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Register now for Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Wonder Run

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The 8th annual Wonder Run 5K & Kid’s Fun Run will take place on Sunday, October 3rd as part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. Sponsored by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, the Wonder Run will begin at 8am followed by the Kid’s Fun Run and activities led by Sensei Nicco at 9am at the Wellesley High School track.

Wonder Run, Wellesley

In honor of all the heroes of the last year, the Wonder Run will be hero-themed so break out those capes or scrubs and support the WHJWC. Costumes are encouraged for all ages, and awards will be given out for the best costumes.

Pre-registration fee: $35 for adults, $15 for kids
Day-of registration fee: $40 for adults, $20 for kids
Stainless steel water bottles to be given out to the first 250 registrants. Please register at www.whjwc.org

EVENT: Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Wonder Run
DATE: Sunday, October 3, 2021
START TIME: 8am
LOCATION: Wellesley High School

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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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