Waylandenews Executive Director Kim Reichelt is a member of the Wayland School Committee
Non-Profit Highlight
Dignity Matters
Mission:to assist homeless women and women in need by providing underwear and feminine hygiene products when they need them most. Through our action, we support women in regaining self-confidence and dignity by helping them stay healthy and clean.
Redistributing gently used bras is also good for the environment by keeping these items out of landfills.
Santa’s 54th Annual Ride through Wayland (escorted by the Wayland Firefighters Association) will take place Wednesday-Friday. His route and stop timings are online here.
If you have last minute shopping to do, consider placing your Amazon order online through this link to help support the cost of this newsletter.
To make best use of our online calendar, you can filter the calendar to show only categories of interest, and you can adjust settings to view it in daily, weekly or monthly view through the controls near the top of the page. We welcome your feedback at info@waylandenews.com!
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Kim Reichelt, Executive Director &
In the News…
News from this past week
* Some MetroWest homeowners may benefit by paying real estate taxes early. Changes to federal tax law could mean a busy end of the year for local tax collectors. Homeowners, particularly in wealthy communities, could pay some property taxes due next year early to get a break on their federal taxes. “In towns as affluent as Wayland is, this affects a large number of our citizens,” Wayland Treasurer/Collector Zoe Pierce said. “I have been bombarded with phone calls from people.” (The Town’s notice about how to pay early is online here.)
* Ethics Commission tweaks Wayland coach over apparel purchases. State ethics officials have closed their probe into a former Wayland High School administrator, finding reasonable cause to believe he violated the state’s conflict of interest law by directing business to his father’s clothing company.
How you can help…
You can access the announcements below on our website:
Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner and Program. The Boston Parent Council presents the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner and Program on Friday, January 19, 6-9:30pm at Wayland Middle School. All are invited to attend and participate. The program includes performances by school choruses, a jazz band and a fashion show. There will be crafts for kids, historical displays and a silent auction. Menu: Caribbean meal with choice of jerk or fried chicken, rice and peas, mac and cheese, beverage and dessert. All proceeds will benefit the Boston Parent Council to support the Wayland Metco Program. Sponsored by the Boston Parent Council with support from Wayland PTO. Please pay at the door: Adults $15, Kids $8, Vegetarian $12
Ways you can help:
* VOLUNTEER: We are looking for Wayland and Boston parents to volunteer that night to set up, donate desserts, prepare salads on site, serve food, and clean up. For questions, contact Michelle Mathis at bostonparentcouncil16@gmail.com. Please sign up here: http://signup.com/go/caTURCA
* SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS: We are in need of silent auction donations from both communities. Suggestions for donations include gift cards, sports tickets, baskets with themes OR individual items that would go into baskets with these themes (movie night, reading, kitchen, bath and beauty, sports, gourmet food). If you are a business, we will showcase your business card and/or information. For questions, contact Jen Pearlman at jenpearlman00@gmail.com. If you would like to donate something for the silent auction, please fill out this form.
The Wayland Depot is open on Monday this week for the holiday! The Depot is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm.
Boosters seeks donations in Annual Appeal. Winter Sports Season is Here!! Support our student-athletes with a donation to our Annual Appeal. Please donate today at www.waylandboosters.org
Wayland Middle School PTO running gift drive campaign for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
The Wayland Middle School PTO is starting a holiday gift drive for middle school-aged kids living in residential homes of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, a local organization offering support, housing, and education to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. These are kids that are neither with foster families or their own families during the holidays. Most gifts range between $5-$30, and all are 100% tax-deductible!
Donate gifts via Wayside’s Amazon.com wishlist, curated especially for the Wayland Middle School PTO gift drive. All gifts will be shipped directly (c/o Wayside director Sara McCabe)
Help Provide Holiday Cheer for Families Affected by Domestic Violence. The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites our local communities to become involved in making the holidays brighter for families affected by domestic violence, those living in shelter and transitional housing, and those who have moved on from shelter and transitional housing to rebuild their lives in our communities.
Three local agencies offer services and programs for families affected by domestic violence. They are REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. There are a number of ways that you can help. Sponsoring a family can be a wonderful way for you and your family to do something together to help others. You can match yourselves with a smaller family or invite your relatives, friends, and colleagues to join you in sponsoring a larger family. For those who cannot sponsor a family, gift cards to retail stores for food, clothing, and other necessities are welcome. Popular stores include Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, CVS, Target, and Stop and Shop. Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape are also needed. Or neighborhoods and organizations may do a drive for items needed throughout the year, items like food, new sheets, towels, paper goods, cleaning products, and toiletries. Helping hands are also needed to serve as elves and reindeer. Complete post with more details and contact information online here.
The Wayland Community Fund serves Wayland residents who need financial assistance
During the past fiscal year, the Wayland Community Fund provided $ 28,717 in financial assistance to Wayland residents. Overdue utilities accounted for 35% of the expenditures, rent 24% with the remainder covering a wide variety of bills including medical costs, food, and children’s’ items. The Wayland residents who were helped included elderly individuals with serious illnesses, single parents who were out of work, a severely disabled parent with small children, and a family who had taken in children who were at risk. The WCF is staffed by five volunteers who cover all operating expenses. It receives no public funding. More information on the fund, including who it serves, and how to donate, is available on the Wayland town website online here.
Board of Selectmen seeks volunteers for Board and Committee Openings. The Board of Selectmen is beginning the process for filling volunteer openings on boards and committees. These openings are the result of expired terms as of June 30, 2017, or vacancies due to early resignation. Both reappointments and new appointments will be considered. A complete list of open positions as of June 30, 2017, is posted on the Wayland town website online here. For more details, click here.
Meeting Schedule for The Week: See the Town Website’s Calendar online here. Please check the online calendar for the latest updates, as meetings noted below could have been updated (change in date, time or location) since we captured them. Also, some meetings could have been added since we collected the calendar information.
Please check the Town Calendarto confirm meeting times, locations and agenda. There can be updates from when we capture the schedule below.
Monday, December 18
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COA-Community Center Advisory Committee, 6:30pm. Agenda includes: review updated design goals and outline/schedule a work plan of combined efforts of the CoA and Recreation Dept in preparation for 2018 ATM warrant article and subsequent report to BoS
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School Committee, 6:30pm. Executive Session, review school budget with Finance Committee, High School athletic plan, budget calendar and rpesentations, Finance Subcommittee update, TEC update, school start time discussion, superintendent’s priority elements, staff deployment and class size report, Open Meeting Law process, outstanding document requests, public communications, Executive Session
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Personnel Board, 7pm. Agenda includes: Executive Session, 2017 vacation carryover requests, starting wage for local building inspector, potential 2018 ATM articles, review pending pay equity law, HR transition
Finance Committee, 7:15pm. Agena includes: review and discuss school budget with school committee.
Tuesday, December 19
* Energy and Climate Committee, 7:30pm. Agenda includes: green communities grant project updates (streetlights, EV/charging stations, TB lighting, bus hybrid conversion), non-grant projects (resiliency grant, Town Building heating/cooling), Solarize, Library Project, Goal Setting
Wednesday, December 20
* Zoning Board of Appeals, 7pm. Windsor Place (24 School Street) 40B application (update on septic design and mounding analysis, discussion of civil engineering issues, architectural design review, landscape design)
* Community Preservation Committee, 7:30pm. Agenda includes: applications for 2018 ATM requests, request for administrative funds (North Cemetery archaeology monitor)
You can access Announcements on our website by clicking here.
New announcements this week
The Library will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
Booster Store Holiday Hours at Wayland High School.
Wayland Boosters will be selling apparel and gear at the High School Store on Tuesday and Friday this week. They are offering a new jogger pant, a black Under Armour hoodie, and a great new plush blanket! Their favorites are also restocked, so come get your pom-pom hats, baseball hats, camelbak bottles, grey distressed hoodies, and duffle bags! Hours at the high school store will be 11 am – 1 pm, December 19 and 22, come early for best selection! The Wayland Depot will also carry a selection of Booster items. Hours at the Depot this week are Monday – Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm.
Press Release from Wayland Treasurer/Collector’s Office regarding property tax prepayment. In anticipation of the passing of the proposed federal tax legislation, the Treasurer/Collector’s office will begin accepting prepayments of your third and fourth quarter real estate tax bills on December 18, 2017. You may remit funds either directly to this office during business hours (see below), or use the drop box that is located in the front hallway of Town Hall. Our offices will close at 12:30pm on December 29th, 2017. Any payments placed in the drop box after 12:30 on December 29 but before the open of business on January 2, 2018 will be credited with a payment date of December 31, 2017. Due to software limitations, you will NOT be able to pay your bills on-line or via Century Bank’s lockbox in Medford. Additionally, please keep in mind that state law prohibits us from honoring postmarks. If you choose to make your payment using an e-check process through your bank , be sure you allow for enough mailing time. Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office at 508-358-3635.
The following is a detailed schedule of our office hours during this two week period:
* Monday 12/18/17 8am-7pm
* Tuesday thru Thursday 12/19/17-12/21/17 8am-4pm
* Friday 12/22/17 8am-12:30pm
* Monday 12/25/17 Closed
* Tuesday 12/26/17 8am-7pm
* Wednesday & Thursday 12/27/17-12/28/17 8am-4pm
* Friday 12/29/17 8am-12:30pm
Storytime at the Wayland Winter Farmer’s Market, Saturday, January 6, at 11:00-11:30 a.m. Come to a storytime upstairs at Russell’s Winter Farmer’s Market. Program led by librarian Carly Moniz. For ages babies to 5 years, with parent/caregivers.
Library Book Groups. Groups are open to all and the books are available at the library. No registration required.
* Sci-Fi/Dystopian: This next title for discussion is William Gibson’s contemporary classic, Neuromancer. Wednesday, January 3 at 7:00 p.m.
* Non-Fiction: In The Secret Life of Trees, forester Peter Wholleben’s fascinating stories, supported by the latest scientific research, reveal the extraordinary world of forests and illustrate how trees communicate and care for each other. Wednesday, January 3 at 1pm
* Evening: Darkly funny and deeply emotive, Jem Lester’s Shtum tells the story of a couple who pretend to separate in hopes of benefitting their autistic son. Monday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m.
* Armchair Travel: Rachel Friedman surprises no one more than herself when, on a whim, she buys a ticket to Ireland, a place she has never been. She recounts her adventures there in A Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost. Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m.
* Noon: This month: My Brilliant Friend, a modern masterpiece by one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors. Friday, January 12.
Spotlight on the Department of Public Works. The Buzz went on site last week, to see exactly what DPW is all about. In addition to plowing and keeping our streets in shape and cleared, they’re responsible for keeping our drinking water clean and running, they process our trash and recyclables, and maintain our parks and fields. What goes on behind the doors of our brand new DPW facility? What is DPW doing to prepare for winter? What’s so important about the Baldwin Pond Water Treatment Facility? And what’s so special about the Transfer Station?
We’ll find out from Tom Holder, Director of the Department of Public Works and Joe Doucette, Superintendent of Highway and Parks. They’ll also talk about the “private roads” issue, and what makes plowing them so controversial. The Buzz airs on Sundays and Tuesdays, at 10am and 6pm on your Public cable channel (Comcast Ch. 8; Verizon Ch. 37). And online on-demand anytime at WayCAM.tv/buzz
Announcements from prior weeks
Now Open: Mainstone Farm Trails in Wayland. SVT and the Town of Wayland have finished the trails at Mainstone Farm and have opened a small parking area at a new trail head on Rice Road. The Hamlen Family, which owns the farm, agreed to put trails on the property when they sold a conservation restriction to the Town and SVT in April 2017. The new trails meander through the forested portion of Mainstone Farm and connect with trails on adjacent conservation lands, creating a network of more than 11 miles of trails in the heart of Wayland. When you visit, please remember that the farm is still privately owned and large portions of the land are not open to the public. Please stay on marked trails. For directions and a trail map, see Hamlen Woods and Mainstone Farm.
Did you know LEDs reduce lighting energy (and cost) by 85% compared with standard bulbs? And they don’t burn out nearly as quickly. In this season of lights, switching to inexpensive LEDs is an excellent way to make a difference. But where’s the best place to find them? And how do you know which ones work best? Your MassEnergize Wayland volunteers researched local lighting suppliers and concluded that Wayland Home and Design, located at 70 Andrew Street in Town Center, offers the best combination of expert advice, product selection and competitive cost. They have a buy-one-get-one free promotion until the end of the year, and they have a great choice of LED Christmas lights. Finding a local place to buy LEDs is just a start. To learn more about LEDs and find more good deals on solar energy, home repairs, electric cars, recycling and so much more, visit www.MassEnergize.org. Join the collective genius in caring for our common home!
Booster Store Holiday Hours at Wayland High School. Wayland Boosters will be selling apparel and gear at the High School Store on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning December 12. We are offering a new jogger pant, a black Under Armour hoodie, and a great new plush blanket! Our favorites are also restocked, so come get your pom-pom hats, baseball hats, camelbak bottles, grey distressed hoodies, and duffle bags! Hours at the high school store will be 11am-1pm, December 12,15, 19 and 22. Come early for best selection!
The Wayland Depot will also carry a selection of Booster items. Hours at the Depot are Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 12-4pm.
Wayland Buzz: Spotlight on the Council on Aging. Guests on the Buzz will be Julie Secord, Director of the CoA, and Board member Nancy Leifer. They will be talking about the activities, programs and services the COA provides for seniors and their families, and how the COA interacts with others in the community. And, with plans going forward for a new Council on Aging and Community Center building, we’ll talk about what the future might hold. Please join us. Starting December 10. The Buzz airs on Sundays and Tuesdays, at 10am and 6pm on your public cable channel (Comcast Ch. 8; Verizon Ch. 37), and online on-demand anytime at WayCAM.tv/buzz
* Great Presenters: Wild Ways-Corridors of Life. Wildlife the world over need to roam for breeding, foraging, and to carry out their traditional migrations-but they are often blocked by human-made obstacles. Now there’s new hope for them through an approach called “connectivity conservation.” From North America’s Yellowstone to the Yukon, to Southern Africa’s elephant highways stretching across five nations, animals are on the move again in the stunning cinematography of Wild Ways. Linda Harrar of WGBH (Channel 2) Boston will present a 20-minute clip and talk about the documentary. Tuesday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m.
* Book-A-Librarian. Our librarians love to help patrons, but sometimes they need more time than is available on a drop-in basis. With the Book-a-Librarian service, librarians will meet with patrons in half-hour sessions to personally assist with research questions, technology, downloading ebooks, resume/job search questions, and more. Please call 508-358-2311, ext. 24 to set up an appointment with one of our reference librarians.
* CALLING ALL COMIC BOOK ARTISTS. We will be hosting our first-ever ComicCon Wayland on Saturday, April 7. If you would like to have a table to show off your books, or would like to lead a workshop, please contact Youth Services Librarian Pam McCuen. If your art is for adults, contact Reference Librarian Rachel Sideman-Kurtz.
School Age Programs at the Llbrary
* Drop-in Winter and Holiday Crafts, Wednesday, December 20, 3:00-5:00p.m. Children will make festive crafts for the holidays. Led by librarian Elise Katz.For ages 4 and up.
* Movie Time: Cars 3. Wednesday, December 27, 3:00 p.m. Movie time at the library! Children are invited to watch Cars 3 at the library. Rated G. Running time 103 minutes. For ages 4 and up.
* Lego Club, Wednesday, January 3, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Children will make fabulous creations out of legos. This month’s theme: Star Wars.For ages 5 and up.
Upcoming Baby and Pre-School Programs at the Library
* Upcoming Storytimes
* Mother Goose Time (Infants-2.5 years) Tuesdays, December 12 and 19 at 10:30am.
* StoryVine (2.5 -5 years) Thursdays, December 14, 21 and 28 at 10:30am.
* Zumba Kids Jr., Tuesday, December 26, 10:30-11:00 a.m. Rhythm and dance program for children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. Led by Julia Walderzak of H2K Happy Healthy Kids Fitness Studio.
* Brain Building Storytime. Wednesday, December 20, 10:30-11:30am. Storytime, parachute play, and brain-building activity. Program led by Beverly Mobilia of Wayland Community Partnerships for Children and Families.For ages 2 to 5, with parent/caregiver.
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* Sing-along with Jeannie Mack, Thursday, January 4, at 10:30am, eannie Mack will perform all kinds of fun, bounce-around, sing-along songs geared for young children. Plenty of opportunity for audience participation! For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with caregiver.
* Storytime with Corbyn the Dog, Thursday, January 18, 10:30 a.m.,Children will listen to dog stories and have a chance to visit with Corbyn, a beautiful Samoyed. Corbyn (with her owner Helen) has been certified as a therapy dog by Pets and People Foundation. For ages 3 and up.
Police to offer Adult R.A.D. Training (Rape Aggression Defense Systems). When: the class will total 12 hours and be conducted in 4 sessions (January 16, 18, 23 and 25, 6-9pm) at Wayland Town Hall (Large Hearing Room). Cost: The class is free. The class is open to females who reside or work in Wayland. Class size is limited. If interested, contact Detective Sergeant Jamie Berger (508-358-1722 or email jberger@wayland.ma.us)Click herefor details.
Announcing Mini-grant Funding for Projects in Effective Teen Relationships & Violence Prevention, the Arts, and Community Service
Following the success of past years, The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund is offering an exciting program to fund small projects in three areas: Effective Teen Relationships & Violence Prevention, the Arts, and Community Service.
In Lauren’s spirit and memory, small grants are now available for individuals and groups with dynamic project ideas in any of the above areas.Keep On Sparkling! Interested parties are invited to complete an online application by January 31, 2018. New applicants encouraged! Please visit www.laurendunneastleymemorialfund.org
Arts Wayland Holiday Small Works Exhibit and Reception at the Library.This show will feature original paintings and photographs in a wide variety of styles and materials, sized 12″ x 12″ or smaller, by over 20 local artists.
Registration open for Baseball Winter Clinics and Spring Baseball and Softball
Baseball Winter Clinics. Championships are made in the offseason! Get a head start on the season with Wayland Little League’s Winter Clinics available for baseball players ages 7-16. There are two separate clinics: an 8-week session focusing on throwing, hitting, and fielding, and a 4-week session later in the season dedicated to pitching and catching. These sessions will be held Sunday afternoons starting in January at Doug Carroll Baseball Academy in the nearby Saxonville area of Framingham. Each clinic will feature instruction from Wayland Little League coaches and Doug Carroll instructors.Registration is now open with an early bird discount of $30 for registrations paid by November 15th. Registration closes 12/31/17. These clinics are expected to sell out so register now at www.waylandlittleleague.org
Spring Baseball and Softball. Registration is now open for all spring 2018 Wayland Little League baseball and softball programs including our newly-introduced T-Ball Spinners program for boys and girls ages 5-6. All baseball programs are transitioning to age-based programs to align with Little League International, with specific divisions for each age group: Sea Dogs (ages 7), Paw Sox (ages 8), Minors (ages 9-10), Majors (ages 11-12), and Babe Ruth (ages 13-16). Dedicated softball programs begin for kids in grades 2-3 (Rookie) and continue on for grades 4-5 (Juniors) and grades 6-8 (Seniors). An early bird discount of $25 is available for registrations paid by November 30. Registration for all spring programs close 12/31/17. To learn more about the spring baseball and softball programs and to register, visit www.waylandlittleleague.org.
Raise your voice with Golden Tones chorus! If you love music and enjoy singing pop classics and show tunes for a variety of audiences, come to an open rehearsal, every Tuesday, 10am-12pm at the Wayland Senior Center. There are no auditions and no attendance requirements, only a friendly group of music-lovers from all over MetroWest. To learn more, visit goldentones.org, or call 508-318-6318. The chorus, now 29 years young, performs almost 50 concerts a year, many to disadvantaged audiences and also at community events and schools. You can help continue this outreach with a tax-deductible gift at goldentones.org.
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Note: inclusion of an announcement or event does not indicate an endorsement of the activity by WaylandeNews.
Events and Happenings
Below are highlights of the coming week. For all events, view our online calendar.
Monday, December 18, WMS/WHS Winter Concert and Art Exhibit, Wayland High School, 7:30-8:30pm. The Wayland Middle School and Wayland High School orchestras will present their winter concert in the Wayland High School Auditorium. There will also be an art exhibit featuring works by Wayland High School artists, Free and open to the public.
Wednesday, December 20, Drop-in Winter and Holiday Crafts, Wayland Library, 3-4:30pm.Children will make festive crafts for the winter and holiday season. Led by librarian Elise Katz.For ages 4 and up
Wednesday, December 20, 3D Design Workshop-Sliding Box, Wayland Library, 4:30-6pm.In this 3D design workshop, participants will design their own working sliding box. Using Tinkercad.com, participants will assign specific dimensions to create a functional object. Some experience with Tinkercad is recommended, but not required. Objects will be printed after the workshop, and will be free. Parents of very young children are encouraged to design with their children. Space is limited so sign up online, in person, or over the phone.
Wednesday-Friday, 54th Annual Santa’s Ride through Wayland, 5-8pm. Schedule for all his stops online here.
Please feel free to forward this email to friends and neighbors. If you have suggestions or information to add to the website or future newsletter, please email us.
Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner and Program. 
Help Provide Holiday Cheer for Families Affected by Domestic Violence. 
Spotlight on the Department of Public Works. 
Drop-in Winter and Holiday Crafts
Announcing Mini-grant Funding for Projects in Effective Teen Relationships & Violence Prevention, the Arts, and Community Service
The Wayland Depot Adds Holiday Hours. 
Registration open for Baseball Winter Clinics and Spring Baseball and Softball
Raise your voice with Golden Tones chorus! 
