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Monthly Archives: December 2008

Wellesley's top 10 stories of the year

By bbrown | Published: December 31, 2008

10. Beach Boys kickin’ it old school in Wellesley: If they’re still allowed to play concerts, I’m allowed to use the phrase kickin’ it old school. An anonymous donor sprang for the free show in May. Town officials pulled out all the stops on the security and transportation front. A Beatles knockoff band also came [...]

Posted in clubs, crime, Music, playgrounds, Politics, retail, sports, Sprague Fields, Wellesley College, Wellesley High School | 1 Comment

Wellesley seeks new planning director

By bbrown | Published: December 31, 2008

Rick Brown is retiring in March after 36 years on the job. He’ll be a tough act to follow, with involvement in such projects as Wellesley Center and Linden Square among his accomplishments. If you’d like a shot at replacing him as Wellesley’s planning director and enacting your idea to put a dome over Hunnewell [...]

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In with the new, out with the old

By bbrown | Published: December 31, 2008

Wellesley’s business scene saw lots of changes in 2008, as Roche Bros. swapped from one side of Linden St. to the other and an assortment of other businesses opened and closed, some squeezed by the tough economy. Newcomers included Miss Michelle’s Center for the Performing Arts, Sweet Beads, Qdoba, DTOX, Panoply Day Spa, Kenzie Kids [...]

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Owl sighting, almost

By bbrown | Published: December 29, 2008

Was so excited to spot this owl in the rafters of the Wellesley Farms train station, until realizing it was phony, probably there to keep pigeons from decorating commuters.

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Madoff's Wellesley victims

By bbrown | Published: December 29, 2008

Been keeping an eye out for whether any Wellesleyites got duped by alleged thief Bernard Madoff, and while we haven’t seen any on the big lists, Wellesley’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Center and Wellesley College did show up on a list of organizations that had received donations ($5,000 apiece for these two) last year from the Carol [...]

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Wellesley and wacky wine laws

By bbrown | Published: December 26, 2008

Wellesley rated a mention on the Enobytes web site’s “Top 10 Wackiest Wine Laws That Still Exist” posting (thanks to BobD from the Wellesley Wine Press for passing along) 6. In many states, it is illegal to carry an alcoholic drink from the bar to a table. In some states its illegal to sit at [...]

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Wellesley Centennial quilt

By bbrown | Published: December 26, 2008

This cozy collection of Wellesley landmarks created in 1981 can be seen at Wellesley Free Library’s local history room.

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Merry Christmas from The Swellesley Report

By bbrown | Published: December 24, 2008
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Wellesley artist is creative every day

By bbrown | Published: December 24, 2008

With the new year approaching fast, you might wanna take up Wellesley artist Leah Piken Kolidas on her challenge to be Creative Every Day. Her recent creativity included taking part in the ongoing Do Not Leave Unattended project in which people mail around notebooks, decorate them with art and words, and highlight them on the [...]

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Wellesley Townsman parent sues Boston Globe parent

By bbrown | Published: December 23, 2008

The Globe actually wrote its own story about Gatehouse’s no-chance bid to put a stop to the Globe’s scheme to wipe out the Townsman’s parent company via new online websites targeting Newton, Needham, Waltham and sooner or later, Wellesley. Management and other employees of Gatehouse are in a tizzy because the Globe has been borrowing [...]

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Another Wellesley teardown

By bbrown | Published: December 23, 2008

Yep, this gingerbread house just doesn’t deserve to live. Thinking the Community Preservation Commission isn’t going to rescue this one.

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Free carbon monoxide detectors for senior citizens

By bbrown | Published: December 23, 2008

The systems will be delivered and installed at no cost. They’re for those 60 and older who are heads of households in single family homes. The units plug into wall outlets and have battery backup. Call 781 235-1300 for more details.

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Wellesley '08: The music video

By bbrown | Published: December 21, 2008
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St. James parishioners: We ain't budging

By bbrown | Published: December 21, 2008

St. James the Great vigil participants celebrate a 5th Christmas at the Wellesley church on Rte. 9. The Globe reports the latest on this stalemate. Next up: an appeal to the Vatican could be decided on in the spring.

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Wellesley College: Old school

By bbrown | Published: December 21, 2008

Came across this postcard showing the college around the turn of the 20th century:

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