Waylandenews Executive Director Kim Reichelt is a member of the Wayland School Committee
Non-Profit Highlight
Who Says I Can’t
Mission: to address the psychological and physical impacts of disability by focusing on the restoration of self-esteem through the provision of equipment and coaching for re-entry into sporting and athletic activities.
Annual Town Meeting will begin on Monday, April 29. Details on the schedule for Town Meeting and information on electronic voting, available documents, etc. are online here.
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!
Our apologies for missing last week. We had a completely drafted email, but forgot to schedule it to send. This email has all the information that would have been in last week’s, plus whatever is new from this week.
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If you would like to submit a post on our website, click here for information on how to add your post. You can also submit events via the “Post Your Event” button on the calendar page if you are registered and logged into the site.
Kim Reichelt, Executive Director &
Wayland News
* Fire Chief David Houghton to retire June 30. Fire Chief David Houghton’s last day on the job will be June 30. “It’s time to go,” Houghton said of his decision to retire after 38 years with the department, the past four as chief. Houghton, 56, informed Town Administrator Louise Miller on Jan. 7 of his decision, saying serving as chief in the town where he grew up is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job that can sometimes be a grind.
* Costs estimates jump (again) for Wayland field projects. Taxpayers could be on the hook for about $1.7 million due to estimated cost increases in the athletic renovation project at the high school and construction of a turf field at the Loker Conservation and Recreation Area.
* Owl hit by car in Wayland, returned to the wild. A local resident rescued a barred owl on Tuesday after a car hit the bird, and on Thursday she had pleasant privilege of setting it free. “It’s always joyous to return them to the wild,” said Alison Webber, of Wayland, who is a state- and federally-licensed animal rehabilitator.
* Parents demand answers after resignation of METCO director. Parents and alumni packed Thursday’s School Committee meeting, seeking answers as to why the district’s METCO director is stepping down after 19 years on the job. Superintendent Arthur Unobskey on Wednesday sent an email to parents and staff that Mabel Reid-Wallace had decided to leave the district, effective June 30. No reason was provided.
* Seven Wayland HS Students Display Artwork In Boston. Students from Wayland High School under the direction of art teachers, Véronique Latimer and Amy O’Connell are representing the town in the Massachusetts Emerging Artists juried exhibit at the State Transportation Building.
* Three From Men’s Lacrosse Named Pre-Season All-Americans. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes Keaton Ackermann, Lucas Bastarache (WHS ’15) and Quinn Fettig are among those recognized by Inside Lacrosse as Division III Preseason All-Americans, it has been announced. Ackermann was selected to the Third Team, while Bastarache and Fettig garnered Honorable Mention recognition. All three are seniors.
* METCO director stepping down. METCO director Mabel Reid-Wallace is stepping down after 19 years on the job, and no reason was given in an email sent Wednesday by Superintendent Arthur Unobskey to parents and staff. “In those nineteen years, Ms. Reid-Wallace has done invaluable work for the district,” Unobskey’s email said. “She has been a trusted and passionate advisor, mentor and advocate for our students and their families.”
How you can help…
You can access the announcements below on our website:
Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable Valentine’s Day Gift Collection. Each year the Roundtable collects items for Valentine’s Day and fills gift bags for women, men and children temporarily living in local shelters. These bags are then given to three local shelters. Some examples of items are gift cards for CVS, Target, Friendly’s, grocery stores etc. For mothers in the shelters some items would include bath products, socks, cosmetics, nail polish, hair products, phone cards, journals, postage stamps etc. Items for children should be age appropriate from crayons, coloring books and non-violent toys to bath and hair products, to books and diaries. In past years the Roundtable has provided as many as 125 bags to the various shelters. For complete details on the gift collection, click here for the event flyer.
Wayland High School Late Night 2019: Help support a safe, fun night for our students! Saturday, May 18 will be an exciting day for Wayland High School students – it is the evening of the Junior Prom. For the 21st year, Wayland High School parents and the local business community will come together to fund and support “Late Night,” a fun, supervised event for our Prom-goers and their guests immediately following the Prom. Late Night is a free, after-Prom celebration organized and chaperoned by our High School parents, designed to provide a safe and substance-free environment where classmates can be together and celebrate on Prom Night. Late Night is 100% funded by our Wayland parents and the local business community. We keep this event FREE for the kids to make their attendance as easy as possible. All Juniors and their guests are encouraged to participate in this event, whether they attend the prom or not, so we need your financial support. Donations are needed to plan and secure the entertainment, food and activities that will ensure a fun and successful event. The cost to cover all of the event expenses is estimated to be $85 per person. Please help us make Late Night 2019 a memorable event by making as generous a donation as possible. Tax-deductible donations can be made payable to the Wayland PTO and mailed to: LATE NIGHT 2019, c/o Elizabeth Shine, 29 Training Field Road, Wayland, MA 01778. Please provide your name, phone number, and email. Or you can go online and donations can be made at www.waylandpto.org/high-school-pto/late-night/. The Wayland PTO is a non-profit organization, Fed ID# 20-0141838. Please contact Lana Murphy or Sandy O’Driscoll at LateNightWHS@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to learn more. Let this be the ONLY Party in Town!
Wayland Elementary Schools’ PTO is looking for local talents, experiences and donations for the 2019 Backpack Auction. The Wayland Elementary Schools’ PTO is gearing up for the 2019 Backpack Auction. The Backpack Auction is the second part of the elementary PTO’s annual fundraising campaign in which the proceeds are divided between Claypit Hill, Happy Hollow, and Loker School. The auction is a chance for the Wayland teachers, staff and community to raise money for the elementary schools by donating items or their time for families to bid on. This silent-style auction includes items such as kids classes and lessons, camps, passes to local venues, tickets to sporting events, gift cards and special events with your favorite teachers. The Backpack Auction will take place in March. In order to make the event a success, we need you! You can share a hobby (knitting lessons, sports lessons, photography, baking lessons, etc.), your services (author, musician, athlete, artist, event planner, etc.), a donation from a Wayland business, event tickets, or even time in a vacation home. Please email Backpackauction2019@gmail.com with questions or donations by February 1.
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, 2019. New applicants encouraged! Please visit www.laurendunneastleymemorialfund.org.
The Wayland Community Fund serves Wayland residents who need financial assistance. The WCF is a volunteer organization that provides assistance to Wayland residents in financial need, paying utility bills, rent, medical expenses and many other items. It pays bills, it does not provide cash. The organization was originally funded by a bequest from the late Suzanne Leavitt. Contributions from Wayland residents now provide sufficient funding. The WCF is staffed by five volunteers who cover all expenses. As a result, 100% of every contribution goes toward helping people in Wayland. Since its founding 20 years ago the WCF has provided more than $550,000 to Wayland residents in financial need. The Wayland Community Fund can be reached at 508-358-3624.More information on the fund, including who it serves, and how to donate, is available on the Wayland town website online 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, January 21
* MLK Jr Day
Tuesday, January 22
* Board of Public Works, 7pm. Agenda includes: ATM articles, cemetery regulations, potential sources of stormwater management funding, Operational Budget
* Zoning Board of Appeals, 7pm. Agenda includes: Windsor Place (24 School St) 40B application, Herb Chambers site plan approval (extend/alter existing commercial buidling), 110 Boston Post Rd (addition in non-conforming lot), Loker Field site plan approval
* Board of Selectmen, 7pm. Agenda includes: Board Retreat- develop the goals of the board for the next 12-18 months
* Planning Board, 7:30pm. Agenda includes: site plan public hearing continuation for High School athletic fields, site plan approval recommendation for Loker fields, preliminary subdivision plan on Shaw Drive
Wednesday, January 23
* Board of Library Trustees, 8am, Wayland Library. Agenda includeS: Special Act for Town Manager, Fundraising/Foundation, Space Needs, Long Range Plan
Thursday, January 24
* Wayland Housing Authority, 4:30pm, 12 Bent Ave. Agenda include: Executive Director’s report, Maintenance and Capital Program Improvements, Affordable Housing
Curious Creatures, Monday, January 21 at Claypit Elementary School, 10:30-11:30am. Cost is $15 per family. WCPA presents Curious Creatures, a live hands-on animal show. Open to the public – all families welcome! Get up close and personal with an alligator, snake, gecko, or bearded dragon! Stroke the fur of a chinchilla! Pet a squirrel or ferret! Purchase tickets at the door. Flyer online here.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner and Program: “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” Wayland Middle Schoo, Friday, January 25, 6-8:45 pm. Dinner at 6pm, Program starts at 7:30pm. The Boston Parent Council presents the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner and Program. All are invited to attend and participate.
Menu: Caribbean meal with choice of jerk or fried chicken, rice and peas, mac and cheese, steamed vegetables, salad, beverage, and dessert. Adults $15, Vegetarian $12, Kids $7, Program Only $5.
Volunteer sign-up online here. All proceeds benefit the Boston Parent Council to support the Wayland Metco Program. Sponsored by the Boston Parent Council with support from Wayland PTO.
Vokes Players announce its production of Peter and the Starcatcher, directed by Katie Swimm. Performances will be held at Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre, Route 20 in Wayland from February 21 through March 9, Thursday-Saturday evenings at 8pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturdays, March 2 and 9. For tickets and information call 508-358-4034, or order online at www.vokesplayers.org. Ticket prices are $23 for Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees; $28 for Friday & Saturday evenings. By turns exhilarating and enchanting, silly and preposterous, this breathless, inventive theatrical experience utilizes a healthy dose of stage magic to help us locate our own individual imaginations. Peter and the Starcatcher tells the story of three orphaned boys who are sold into slavery at the same time that a special assignment is being undertaken by Lord Aster and his daughter Molly for the Queen. Descriptive language and staging tell a story of two ships on the ocean, one carrying “star stuff,” the other carrying a young boy without a name, without a family, and without a purpose. When these ships and missions collide, this unnamed boy’s fate becomes entwined with magic, danger, a girl with special powers, an evil pirate captain, and yes, a crocodile. This is an origin story that will delight and surprise you. Its magic will lure you back to a time when you believed in Neverland, too. Tickets and more detail at www.vokesplayers.org
Wayland Fire Department announces Open Burning Season.Open burning season runs from January 15th to May 1st. A valid permit obtained from the local Fire Department is required. The Fire Chief reserves the right to deny open burning on any day due to weather or environmental conditions. The Fire Department will begin issuing open burning permits beginning on January 15. There is no cost for the burn permit. Details are online here.
Lifelong Learners: An Independent Collaborative Spring Information Session. Lifelong Learners: An Independent Collaborative (LLAIC) is for adults who love learning, and want to do it in a friendly, fun setting without exams or pressure.You are invited to an LLAIC interactive information session on Wednesday, January 23 from 11:30am-1:30pm at Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Road. You will hear about our program, learn about our spring courses, and experience some mini-classes. There will be refreshments and a raffle for a free course. Now entering its tenth semester, LLAIC, a secular organization, conducts classes and programs at Temple Shir Tikva. Its peer-led courses cover art, film, history, economics, science, music from opera to rock, and literature of all genres. Its affinity groups and activities include current events, book discussions, French conversation, and trips to live theater, concerts, movies, and New England tourist attractions.Find out more about us at www.llaic.org. Please let us know if you are coming by emailing llaic2014@gmail.com or calling 508-435-1205 and leaving your name and contact information. Or just show up at 11:30am!
The Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market takes place on Saturdays, 10am-2pm at Russell’s Garden Center though March 16. Special event days include New England Cheese Day (February 9) and Massachusetts Farm Wineries Day (March 9). The popular Farm Fiber Days will take place on Sundays this year with extended hours of 10am-3pm on January 27 and March 3. Contact Peg Mallett at pegm@russellsgc.com with any questions.
2019 Wayland World’s Fair, Saturday, January 26 at Loker School. Saturday, January 26, 1-3pm. Come experience cultures from six different continents. Sample tasty food, take part in family-friendly activities, and learn about a variety of cultures that make up our community while building community! All tickets available at the door; Proceeds benefit Wayland PTO $8/person or $20/family. Contact waylandworldfair@gmail.com with questions or to inquire about need-based reduced ticket prices.
An Evening with Greg O’Brien…inside the mind of Alzheimer’s. Wednesday January 23, at 5:00pm at Carriage House at Lee’s Farm. Please join us for an insightful presentation by Greg O’Brien, author of “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s”. Greg shares his journey with early onset Alzheimer’s through the lens of an investigative reporter and journalist. Book signing following the program. Be sure to RSVP as seating is limited! By email: amy@carriagehousewayland.com or by phone: 508-358-2800.
Wayland Historical Society is pleased to present PHYSICK AND CHIRUGERY: PRACTICING MEDICINE 1750-1850 with Tony Howes, MD, PhD on Sunday, January 27, 2:30pm at the Raytheon Room at the Wayland Public Library. Medical practice before the modern era in a town such as Sudbury (Wayland) was limited by a shortage of trained practitioners and by a dearth of knowledge regarding the cause and treatment of disease. Most people would often rely initially on folk or home remedies to treat symptoms of disease as described, for example, in ” The Frugal Housewife ” by Lydia Maria Child. However, if expert care was required they would turn to a country doctor such as Ebenezer Roby. Such a doctor was expected to differentiate between potentially fatal and self-limited disease and prescribe appropriate palliative remedies. He could dress wounds, set fractures and remove painful teeth. He may have worked with the military in the Revolutionary War and gained experience with amputations, wound care and removal of foreign objects as well as caring for men with contagious diseases such as smallpox and dysentery. Great advances were being made during this period which set the stage for many of the miracles of modern medicine and we owe a debt of gratitude to the caring country doctor and his long-suffering patients for providing the material that we now often take for granted. Refreshments follow the program.
Y’ladim BaTeva Winter Open House, Saturday, January 26, 4-5:30. Looking for an alternative Jewish learning program? Ma’yan Tikvah – A Wellspring of Hope is hosting a winter Open House for its Y’ladim BaTeva outdoor Jewish learning program and all are welcome to attend. Join us to learn more about this an innovative, outdoor Jewish learning program, as Rabbi Katy Allen leads a sample educational walk at Upper Mill Brook Conservation Area. Afterwards, we’ll reconvene indoors for hot chocolate and light refreshments, as we share more about the school and answer questions. We’ll close the day with a Havdalah ceremony. Please RSVP for the Open House at: Rabbi@mayantikvah.org. Complete details online here.
Community Nursery School of Wayland will hold an Open House on Tuesday, January 29, 6-7pm and Wednesday, January 30, 9:30-10:30am. Come see classrooms, meet teachers, and tour the school with the school’s Director. Children are welcome! CNS is now enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year to fill openings in our 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day programs for children 2.9-5 years old as of August 31, 2019. CNS is located at 5 Damon Street, Wayland, across the street from the Hannah Williams playground. For more information, please call the school at 508-651-2555 or visit their website at cnswayland.org.
The Latest from the Wayland Library. The Library’s complete newsletter is online here. Below is a condensed version:
Programs for adults include:
* Carl Hobart: How Rwanda Saved My Life, Wednesday, January 30
* Tech Help by Appointment
* Cooking with Chocolate, Sweet and Savory, Wednesday, January 30
* Art Reception Snow Date, January 29 (reception was cancelled on January 20)
Book Groups
* Evening:Everything Here is Beautiful, February 4
* Noon: Self Portrait with Boy, February 8
* Non-Fiction: And Then We Danced, February 13
* Sci-Fi/Dystopian: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, February 13
* Cookbook Club: The Food Lab, February 14
Baby and Pre-School Programs
* Weekly Storytimes
* Mother Goose Time (Infants-2.5 years),
Tuesdays, January 22 and February 5, 12, and 19 at 10:30am
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StoryVine (2.5 -5 years), Thursdays, January 24 and 31, February 14 at 10:30am
* Inclusive Playgroup: Stories, Songs, and Sign.
Wednesday, January 23, February 13 and 27, 11:15am-12pm.
* Storytime at the Farmers’ Market, Saturdays January 26 and February 2, 16 and 23, 11-11:30am
* Brain-Building Storytime, Wednesday, January 30 and February 20, 11:15am-12pm
* Zumba, Tuesday, January 29 at 10:30am
School-Age Programs
* Drop-in Family Game Day, Wednesday, January 23, 3-4:30pm
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Let’s Build: Strongest Paper Bridge, Wednesday, January 30, 3-4:30pm
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Girls Who Code for Grades 3 to 5. The Wayland Public Library is offering a Winter/Spring Girls Who Code club for girls in grades 3 to 5. This club will teach basic coding in an engaging and creative way to girls in the upper elementary grades. The club will meet every Monday, January 28 through April 8, (except for school holidays) and will be facilitated by a Wayland parent and other volunteers. The library will supply laptops for the girls to use during class. Girls who were in the fall session are welcome to register for the Winter/Spring club and new girls are welcome to join. Please register here or from the library’s online calendar. The mission of GWC is to help bridge the gender gap in technology fields. Questions? Email Youth Services librarian Pam McCuen.
Late Night Pizza Study Nights for Teens during Exam Week, January 22-24. Pizza at 5:30, the library will be open until 11pm.
Announcements from Prior Newsletters
Pegasus Summer Program Announces 2019 Dates. Pegasus, the district’s summer enrichment program, announces its session dates for 2019: Session 1, June 24 – July 12, and Session 2, July 15 – August 2. Online registration for the preschool – Entering Grade Six program will begin in late January, and the registration opening date will be announced in All Schools News. For general information about Pegasus, click here. Programming changes for 2019 are now on the website. Questions may be directed to the Pegasus line in the Wayland School Community Programs office at Loker School (508-358-8621) or email pegasus@wayland.k12.ma.us.
Wayland School Community Programs; Winter/Spring/Summer Offerings. Winter/spring enrichment programs offered through Wayland School Community Programs are registering now. The programs give children opportunities for after-school enrichment and include art, drama, yoga, Chinese Language & Culture, French, Spanish, chorus, and private music lessons. Please click here for additional information and links to all WSCP program websites/registration forms.
Wayland Dads and the WCPA host Dads and Kids Drop-in Loker School, Saturdays, February 2 and March 9, 9-11am. Get out of your house and bring your kids Saturday morning and let them run around in the Loker gym. We open the gym, lay out the mats, empty the “ball” room, bring down the ropes and let the kids play. Dads have coffee & bagels (w/toaster oven) and great conversation while kids in preschool to 2nd grade burn off a little energy. The Drop-ins have proven to be very popular, especially on those cold mornings when Mom really needs a break!
Valeo Futbol Club registration open. The Valeo Futbol winter skills mini-champions league program is an in-house instructional league designed to meet the development needs of young, ambitious soccer players. $200 per session. Registration is online here, and the cost is $200 for 6 weeks. Click on the flyer image for more details – but note one correction from what’s on the flyer – the program starts January 26.
Preschool Open House at Bright Horizons in Wayland, Wednesday, January 30. Are you looking for the perfect fit for your preschooler’s early education? Join Bright Horizons at Wayland for a Preschool Open House to experience how our preschool program prepares children for school success. Explore our preschool classrooms and see our Signature Practices in action, learn more about our play-based approach to curriculum and learning, and meet with our engaging teachers. Bright Horizons is located at 321 Commonwealth Road. There’s no need to RSVP, we’ll see you there!
Registration Open for Spring Baseball and Softball Programs
Calling all ball players! Registration is now open for all Wayland Little League Baseball and Softball spring programs. We have programs for kids ages 4-16 at every skill level with an emphasis on skills development, safety, and fun. So come on out and be a part of this growing program in Wayland! To learn more and to register, visit www.waylandlittleleague.org.
Register Today for Wayland Recreation Winter Programs
Registration is now open for all Wayland Recreation Department winter programs. We have a variety of options for anyone ages 2 to 102. Try a new sport. Uncover a hidden artistic talents. Develop a new skill. We have something for everyone! For more information and to register, visit www.waylandrec.com.
Wayland Youth Lacrosse Registration is Now Open for the 2019 Spring Season. Registration for the 2019 spring youth lacrosse season is now open for Kindergarten through Eighth Grade players. Wayland Youth Lacrosse is proud to offer the boys and girls in Wayland another season of playing lacrosse, one of the fastest-growing, most popular sports in Massachusetts. Our Town and Select Teams are comprised of student-athletes who have a wide-range of lacrosse skills, including new players who are just beginning their lacrosse game and skilled players who have been shooting on the net for years. All teams and levels are committed to developing the whole player and focus on teamwork as well as character and skill development. Select Teams offer players an additional competitive opportunity to take their lacrosse skills to the next level. The season runs from the end of March through early June with our Laxapalooza W-Day in the middle of May. For registration information, as well as practice and game times, visit www.waylandlacrosse.com. Late registration is open through March 15.
Golden Tones chorus celebrates 30 years of feeling good through singing!
If you enjoy singing and dancing to pop classics and show tunes, come to a rehearsal at the Wayland Senior Center. There are no auditions and no attendance requirements, only a friendly group of music-lovers from all over MetroWest. The chorus, now 30 years young, performs almost 50 concerts a year, many to disadvantaged audiences and also at community events and schools. To learn more, visit goldentones.org, or call 508-318-6318.
Join Sudbury Valley New Horizons Music
Love music? You know… it is never too late to go back to your instrument or start a new one! One of our members went back to his violin at age 87 after not playing for 70 years! He is 90 now and still playing! And, we have beginners in their 70s and 80s. Make a new year resolution and come play with us. We have a Concert Band (woodwinds, brass & percussion) and a String Ensemble (violin, viola, cello & bass) and range in age from 30-something to 90. Go to our website for more information, svnhm.org, or contact Diane Muffitt at muffitt@svnhm.org or 978-261-5065.
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