Connecticut, welcome to Wellesley

The Journal Inquirer, a North-Central Connecticut newspaper includes an article this week about taking a day trip to Wellesley. The writer visits the Wellesley College greenhouses, Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley Square and more. Read about how an outsider views the town. The story ends with:
Isn’t it time to bring a little spring into your life?  Wellesley, Mass. might just be the place to kick-start the season.

Town Meeting update: Sprague Field plan gets go-ahead

The much debated Sprague Field overhaul got a big thumbs up at Town Meeting, where the crowd broke into applause following approval of the $4 million or so project, according to the Townsman.

To get a recap of other Town Meeting decisions, check here. 

Town Meeting continues on April 7. Expect discussion next week on the Wellesley High School project, the old country club building and the Naming Rights Policy.

Traffic issues delaying Grossman's replacement plan

The Board of Selectmen has put off its decision regarding National Development's parking and traffic plans in light of continued concern by residents about whether the project will make congested roads on the east end of Washington Street unbearable.  More from the Globe.

  

Summer dodgeball league forming in Wellesley

Who needs the plodding pace of softball? Boston Sports Clubs in Wellesley is starting up a spring-summer dodgeball league for adults. The club formed its first league in February and attracted 6 teams, including member and non-member ones. The league will run from May 22-July 31 on Thursdays at 7pm. $50 for members, $60 for non-members. Teams will have 6-8 players. More info: 781.263.5800 or e-mail Lauren.Dragone@town-sports.com

Wellesley Booksmith launches lunchtime book club

Wellesley Booksmith is encouraging you to bring your lunch to its Used Book Cellar on April 29 at noon and yap about a book called "The Secret of Lost Things" by Sheridan Hay.

 

 

MassBay art exhibit coming

From MassBay:

Local artist Ma Qingxiong will be showcasing his paintings in the Felix Juliani Art Gallery April 7-24, 2008.  Massachusetts Bay Community College is the latest stop for his traveling collection of paintings.The exhibit, titled "The Continuation of Traditions" is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.Qingxiong's works are a signature style of blending the philosophy and technique of Chinese painting with western art concepts. Many of the pieces are inspired by western landscapes. His inspiration started in China with Huang Shan (The Yellow Mountains), the Great Wall, and the Yangtze River; it continues in America with the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Coast, and New England. Admission is free and the exhibit is open to the public.  For more information, please call 781-239-3112.

Wellesley Green Ribbon committee urges Blue Ginger to change name

Wellesley environmental activists are putting the heat on the owners of Blue Ginger to change the name of the restaurant to the more eco-friendly Green Ginger.

Ming Tsai, the notoriously press shy chef who opened the restaurant 10 years ago with wife Polly and is expanding it this spring, could not be reached for comment. However, sources close to the restaurant say Tsai has already made a number of inconveniently truthful moves, which include eliminating all but green tea from its list of hot beverages, adding sustainable sushi dishes to the menu and lowering the carbon footprint of its Tea-smoked Salmon.

Next on the Green Ribbon committee's radar: Wellesley High School's sports team nickname, the Raiders. The committee is looking for the school to add some color to the name by changing it to Green Raiders. You might recall that the teams used to be called Red Raiders, but out of respect toward Native Americans, the school dropped "Red" from in front of Raiders in the 1990s and changed its logo to that of a  criminal (i.e., a pirate).

"I'm also considering changing my last name to Green," quipped John Brown, the school's athletic director.

In a proactive move, Wellesley College is mulling whether to follow suit and switch its nickname from the Blue to the Green.

 

 

Small houses come under fire in Wellesley

Wellesley's Planning Board this spring is expected to take up a proposed bylaw that would require owners of houses smaller than 3,600 square feet to add on to their homes or move elsewhere.

"The idea is to offer a trade-off to realtors and builders suffering under the new anti-mansionization rules," said one board member, who asked to remain anonymous. "You have to admit, some of the houses in town are ridiculously small. What are we living in, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood? Do these people think they're dolls?"

 

Newsflash: Commuter rail train arrives exactly on time at Wellesley Square station

Ok, we fess up. April Fools.

 

 

Hardy's principal search goes on

Wellesley's Hardy Elementary School, looking to replace retiring principal Gayle Vonasek, had narrowed down its possible choice to three finalists. But in a surprising twist, the school's PTO has notified the Hardy community that none of the three has been been chosen and the search is being re-opened. 

Bates Elementary School is also on the prowl for a principal in light of Amber Bock being named assistant superintendent of Weston, Mass., public schools. Bock had this to say about her time in Wellesley to date and what lies ahead:

    I have loved the quality of excellence and professionalism that have characterized my time in Wellesley. In terms of [best] memories, I can't pick - but life in an elementary school is full of charming and challenging daily events.  I will miss the energy and feel of having children around me all the time, and certainly Bates is a wonderful memory to carry as a building where both faculty and parents were so enjoyable to work with. 
    I expect to find many of the same characteristics of excellence and ongoing effort to improve that have made both Wellesley and Weston such strong school communities.  

 

Two takes on Wellesley High school options

Now that the School Building Committee has narrowed down choices for the Wellesley High School building project to two -- renovation/addition or all new construction -- , activist groups in town are choosing sides. The Wellesley High School Preservation Committee is sticking to its guns: It wants to save as much of the old school as it can to help the town retain its character. Meanwhile, Committee 21 has come out in favor of the new construction approach, arguing that it should cost less and pointing to the project 3 year vs. 4.8 year construction period as being significantly shorter.

 

Wellesleyite wins $1 million dollar jackpot

You might recall an item we published recently on Jackpot Rewards, a new Web site that offers shopping discounts and deals and whose corporate brass largely resides in Wellesley.

Well, now it turns out the fourth winner of its $1 million sweepstakes also lives in Wellesley. Frank Santo, owner of Isabella's restaurant in Dedham, says his winnings will come in handy given his family is moving into a new house, though he also plans to donate a chunk to charity for feeding the hungry.

 

Story time at MassBay

From MassBay Community College:

MassBay Community College (MassBay) and World of Wellesley proudly present A Storytelling Festival to be held at MassBay's Felix Juliani Art Gallery and Cafeteria on Sunday, April 13, 2008 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

The Storytelling Festival will feature MassBay's Director of International Education and Study Abroad Programs Marie Lourdes Elgirus and other guest artists. Elgirus is a long-time educator and experienced storyteller who will share stories and folk tales from Haiti, Mexico, and various African countries in this afternoon of multicultural celebration. She has shared some of her favorite Haitian folktales with numerous American schools and museums, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., where she appeared during Haiti's bicentennial celebration.

 

Wellesley mourns death of another young person

UPDATE (4/15/2008): Friends of Barron are sharing memories at a Facebook group called: John Barron November 23, 1987 - March 28, 2008. As of mid-April, more than 500 people belonged to the group.

UPDATE: More details from the Townsman.

The community this weekend is remembering John Barron, a 20-year-old Wellesley man who died unexpectedly on Friday. Notice of the Merrimack College student's death was in newspapers this weekend and was noted as well to members at Village Church, who were invited to join together to keep Barron and his family in their thoughts/prayers. Wellesley has lost several young people to suicide in recent years, spurring actions by Wellesley High and others to seek causes and solutions.

Here's the death notice and more details:

John Daniel Barron of Wellesley died suddenly March 28, 2008. Devoted son of Barbara (Murphy) Barron of Wellesley and Brian Barron of Wellesley. Beloved brother of Brian and Catherine Barron both of Wellesley. Loving grandson of Elizabeth Murphy and the late Daniel J. Murphy, and the late William and Audrey Barron. He also leaves a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, other relatives and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, April 1st at 10AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, Wellesley followed by interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley. Visiting hours in the Henry J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 56 Washington St. (RTE 16)Wellesley Hills, Monday from 3-8PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John's memory to Wellesley Public Schools-The Bridge Program, 40 Kingsbury St., Wellesley, MA 02482.

 

 

Block-buster deal

Tenants at the Taylor Block at the corner of Washington and Grove Streets are wondering what might come next for them in light of the block changing ownership hands. The parking lot behind the businesses on that block, including White Mountain Creamery and Tuttu Italiano, is closed all day March 31, according to a notice posted by Sullivan & Co.

The Hunnewell Elementary School is also keeping an eye on what might become of the block - it refers to plans for the block to be torn down and replaced with mixed retail/housing/underground garage - in notes from a recent school council meeting.

 

 

Tickets and warnings

The Boston Globe surveyed 21 local police departments, including Wellesley's, to get a sense of how often cops let drivers off with a warning rather than giving them a citation (which usually means a fine and court appearance). 

Wellesley police issued written warnings about two thirds of the time according to the review of 2007 data. That puts Wellesley on the high end, though Waltham cops issued warnings 80% of the time. Check yourself if driving through Medway: police issued warnings only about 12% of the time there.