Wellesley High School building project down to 2 options

The School Building Committee reports that in conjunction with the Permanent Building Committee and with input from residents and others, it has narrowed down the choices for the Wellesley High School project to either the "Forum" (a plan to renovate and add to the existing building) or the "Hub" (all new construction). Take a gander here at the 2 project options and at a schedule of 5 public meetings to be held between April 30 and May 20.

 

 

Latest Wellesley High literary magazine available

Check out a copy of Red Ink and read pieces with titles such as A Beast that Cannot be Tamed and  The Hopeless Romantic.

 

 

 

Metrowest restaurant reviews

A web site called Metrowest Boston Area Dining Guide puts its spotlight on Wellesley's Alta Strada and the reviewer liked what he or she experienced, including a wine-savvy server, appropriate food portions and a tasty meal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going ga-ga over Wellesley zip codes

For the second time in recent weeks, a local magazine is putting the spotlight on Wellesley zip codes 02481 and 02482. The Boston Globe Magazine did it here and it turns out Boston Common has done likewise (looks like you need to fish around for a hard copy to read this 2-page spread). Boston Common gushes that "Famed as a suburban retreat for the rich and famous, Wellesley is as beautiful as it is expensive." It points out that we're only a 25-minute drive from the city -- or even a lot faster "if you happen to own a new Mercedes CL Class.."  The piece goes on to describe Wellesley as a true college town, says it's a tough call whether the Cliff or Pierce Estates are "most desirable" and lists assorted financial, media and sports celebs who call Wellesley home.

 

 

 

Wellesley College: case of the eBay scam

The Wellesley College police log is mainly a collection of reports on students getting tipsy/sick/injured and cars being parked illegally. Every so often there's something a little different...like a reported robbery of one student's handbag and the subsequent discovery that her stuff was up for sale on eBay and in the possession of another student.

 

 

 

 

Getting your kids running

The Wellesley Recreation Department and Needham Track Club are teaming to offer a Youth Summer Track & Field Program at Wellesley High School's track mid-June through July during early evening. The program is open to kids age 4-14. It costs $125 per child, $299 max per family).

If you prefer a less formal, but lower budget option, check out the weekly Wednesday night track events for kids (and older runners) from mid-June to mid-August at Framingham's Bowditch Field. It costs just a buck or two and top finishers in a series of different distance races receive ribbons. Watch for more info at the Greater Framingham Track Club's web site.

 

 

Morses Pond: Hello neighbor

Friends of Morses Pond Association members are interested in a  public hearing regarding what will be built at the Wellesley Motor Inn site on Rte. 9. The hearing takes place on Thursday, April 10 at 8 p.m. in Great Hall at Town Hall. This property abuts Morses Pond and FOMP wonders whether a boardwalk or viewing area near the pond could be in the cards. Nothing of that sort is currently shown on the plans, which are viewable at the Planning Board office.

 

 

 

From Harvard to Wellesley to Harvard

The New York Times reports that Harvard University has hired Jane Mendillo to manage its $35 billion endowment. She has been doing something similar for Wellesley College for the past six years. And before that, she was at Harvard in a different capacity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for mentioning us

A quick thanks to Redfin's Boston real estate blog "Sweet Digs" for adding The Swellesley Report to its blogroll. That should help get us out of this housing market slump.

Bates Principal Bock headed to Weston

Bates Elementary School Principal Amber Bock has been selected as assistant superintendent of Weston public schools effective July 1. Memos to Bates parents went home this week. Bock has served as principal at Bates since 1997. So good luck to her.

The town earlier this year began a search to replace Hardy Elementary School Principal Gayle Vonasek, who is set to retire after 12 years on that job.

 

 

Kel's closing

Kel's Shoe Bistro at 83 Central St. in Wellesley is closing down after 3-plus years in business. A note on the company's web site reads:"We are sad to say that Kel's is closing. There are still a few bargains left, so come on in. Once they're gone, so are we!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This was the birthplace of Wellesley"

So says Deborah Bates, a Wellesley Historical Commission member, in this Boston Globe update on the status of the original Wellesley Country Club building set for demolition this year. Bates and others are seeking possible ways to save at least parts of the buildings, perhaps by working some of it into a new DPW building. Town Meeting members will get their say on the building's fate starting next week. 

Sen. Brown wants Wellesley -- and some others -- to hit the jackpot

Here's a link to a letter published by Sen. Scott Brown (who represents Wellesley as part of his constituency) in The Sun Chronicle about an effort by him and other politicians to shift "rainy day" funds raised through the lottery from state coffers to town and city coffers. 

Community Playhouse marquee's grand finale

With the marquee from the Wellesley Community Playhouse building on Washington Street coming down this week, the Townsman cites an old story that gives a good feel for what the theatre used to be like, noting that the first movie shown there was Mary Pickford's "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and the last was "Children of a Lesser God" in 1987. The theatre opened in the 1920s and has Babson roots. Now it houses assorted businesses that probably deal with enough of their own melodrama and felt that more boring signage might be better for business.

The loss of the theatre itself has been  mourned over the years on several web sites (such as here and here) whose operators pine for the days of such wholesome entertainment venues.  Here's what's left for now where the marquee was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natick votes for override, sticking with Redmen nickname

If you felt slighted at not having an override in town this year, perhaps the $3.9 million override voted for by Natick residents Tuesday will bring you some satisfaction. Separately, Natick residents voted to keep the controversial Redmen nickname for sports teams by a 2-to-1 margin, though the vote is nonbinding. More from the Globe.

 

 

 

 

Wellesley's Earth Day (and beyond) activities

The town's Natural Resources Commission is promoting a slew of activities to celebrate Earth Day:

April 26: NRC's 9th Annual Wellesley Earth Day Clean-up, 9 a.m.- 12 noon

Free refreshments and T- Shirts. Meet at the intersection of River St. and Rt. 16 to help clean-up along the Charles River. Sponsored by the NRC and the Charles River Watershed Association.

 

April 27: Annual "Run of the Charles" Kayak and Canoe Race

Long and short races along the Charles River, 9 am - 3 pm, for more information. Contact the Charles River Watershed at www.CharlesRiver.org.   

 

May 1: Wellesley Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony,  Time TBA

Sponsored by the NRC and DPW, Morses Pond , free.

 

May 3 - June 7:  Wellesley Trail Walks Led by the NRC's Trails Committee. 

Explore Wellesley's trails with a series of 4 one-hour walks. Visit the Wellesley Trails Committee web page for a complete schedule. 

 

May 3: NRC's Vernal Pool Program, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Learn how to protect these important natural resources, Wellesley Main Library, free.  Registration requested. Start indoors at library for a slideshow, then head out to a vernal pool (wear boots, clothes you can muck about in). Sponsored by the Natural Resources Commission and its Wetlands Protection Committee.

   

May 18:  NRC's Tots and Tails on Trails Walk, 9:30 -10:30 am

Enjoy this 2-mile loop walk for kids, dogs and adults along Wellesley's Fuller Brook Park Path and the Town Hall. Meet at the entrance to the High School Football field. Part of the Wellesley Wonderful Weekend and the "Healthy Wellesley" NRC/Board of Health Program. 

For More Info: Contact Janet Bowser, Natural Resources Director at (781) 431-1019, ext. 2294 or at jbowser@wellesleyma.gov

 

 

 

Picture perfect

A couple of nice Wellesley pictures from a photographer named Barbara L. Slavin who shares her work on the Web site Flickr.

High Water in Wellesley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken at Wellesley/Newton line at bridge over Finlay Dam

Originally published early March 2008/Some rights reserved 

 

 

 

Glass Windowpane at Wellesley College greenhouses

 

 

 

 

 

Originally published March 23, 2008/Some rights reserved

 

 

 

Tax stories

While Wellesley avoided an override vote this spring, plenty in town are still struggling with high taxes. One way Wellesley tries to help people out, especially seniors, is by making them aware of the tax deferral program. From The Milford Daily News:

While not many are aware of the program, in Wellesley it's all about marketing. "We talk about it more at meetings with Council on Aging and when tax payers call, we recommend it," said Lauren O'Sullivan, assistant administrator in Wellesley's assessors office. Wellesley's $50,000 income limit is also higher than some towns and lower than Framingham's $60,000.

And here's a Globe story on how some communities cut seniors' taxes in return for them doing some work for the community at schools, etc.

 

 

 

MassBay spring author/speaker series focuses on immigration

MassBay Community College in Wellesley will host a series of readings and presentations by authors and others over the next few months all focused on the topic of immigration. The school's own professor Mohammed Zefzaf will present in Wellesley and Framingham later this week (more details on his and other presentations here). Scheduled for later this spring are Congressman Barney Frank, Author Ted Conover (Coyotes) and history professor Vincent Cannato.

 

 

 

Wellesley vs. moths

The town's DPW has issued a memo updating residents on the latest stage of Wellesley's battle vs. Winter Moths Caterpillars. The town will be spraying some of its trees and directs residents what to do about chomped-on trees on their own property. 

 

 

 

More on pellet gun incident

WCAC-TV's "Wellesley This Week" has an interview with a still shaken but back on the job Steve Young, the street cleaner who got shot last week with a pellet gun while working.