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-Kim Reichelt
The Eliza Juliet Norton Foundation aims to continue Eliza’s legacy by providing children with increased access to and enhanced experiences in athletics and beyond with a focus on teamwork, good sportsmanship, and community building.
The HRDEIC has updated their community resource guide. It can be found here and on the HRDEIC web page (top left)
Wayland News
Latest News
* Wayland Select Board Votes to Oppose Special Town Meeting Article. At their meeting on Monday, November 20, 2023, the Wayland Select Board reaffirmed an earlier vote to oppose a special town meeting warrant Article scheduled for December 6, 2023, at 6:45 pm. The warrant article in question was filed by citizens’ petition, which was submitted to the Town Clerk’s office. When considering whether to support the aforementioned article, the vote quantum was 0-5-0. This number represents zero members in favor, five members against, and zero members abstaining. During numerous discussions related to the article, the Select Board collectively agreed that a press release to further explain its rationale for opposing this this Article would be helpful to residents.
* Attorney General finds School Committee intentionally violated Open Meeting Law. The most recent Open Meeting Law decision by the Attorney General involving Wayland boards and committees was issued yesterday, and found the School Committee had violated the Open Meeting Law intentionally in issuing inadequately detailed minutes. The decision is available online here. The School Committee has been involved in five decisions issued in the last two months, four of which have involved violations. There are ten pending cases against the committee, and three which have been sent to the School Committee but not yet submitted to the Attorney General.
* Wayland Announces Start of Council on Aging – Community Center Project. Today the Wayland Town Manager‘s office announced the execution of a completed contract with Tower Construction Co. of Cranston, RI to begin construction of the Town’s new Council on Aging & Community Center project (COACC). The completed contract represents the culmination of many years of hard work invested by countless volunteers and community leaders. The new COACC will be constructed within the shell of an existing building located at 400-440 Boston Post Rd., Wayland, MA 01778 which is in the vicinity of the Town Center commercial complex.
* Liberty’s Pizza: Wayland community supports owners as they rebuild lives after fire. For many immigrant families, coming to America is the ultimate sacrifice. With their entire lives behind them, rebuilding their life in an unknown environment in hopes of improving their family’s future can be daunting. Sam and Shery Maksimous, Wayland’s Liberty’s Pizza owners, took the big leap and became successful business owners. However, on Oct. 3, their reality was shattered when the International Auto Body Shop in Wayland’s Cochituate Plaza caught on fire, which Liberty’s Pizza was a part of.
Wayland METCO team welcomes prospective METCO students in Roxbury. JaNae Hood METCO Academic Liaison, Wayland Middle School; Mark Liddell, METCO Academic Liaison, Wayland High School; and La Toya Rivers, METCO Director, Wayland Public Schools K-12 welcomed students at the November 18 METCO showcase in Roxbury
Wayland Middle School PTO Gift Drive. Join the Wayland Middle School PTO and help make the holidays brighter for tweens and teens, ages 12-18, living in the Wayside group home just a few miles from the Wayland Middle School, who can’t be placed in foster homes, and can’t be with family, primarily because of abuse and neglect. These 80+ kids, some with no family contact at all, are living in a group home for the holidays. How can you help? Visit the Wayland Middle School PTO’s Amazon wishlist of items picked out by the kids of the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. For many of these kids, this will be their only holiday present. Because every kid deserves to have something special at the holidays, and to know that someone out there cares! Most gifts are under $50, and all are 100% tax deductible. Click here to pick out and donate a gift now! SHIPPING: Select “Wayside Campus-Gift Registry c/o Tim Hagen Address” All gifts are 100% tax deductible
Wayland Community Fund serving Wayland residents temporarily in need of financial assistance. Please call us if you need help!
The Wayland Community Fund (WCF) provides short-term emergency financial assistance to Wayland residents who have lived in Wayland for at least one year. WCF provides funding for basic needs such as utilities, rent, food, medical bills, and other living expenses. Please call us if you need help with your bills, 508-358-3624 or go to the town website for an application.
Join the MRC! New Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers are always needed! We have a great group of volunteers, however, we would love to recruit new members. If you are interested in helping out your community and would like to volunteer please contact the Health Department at Health@wayland.ma.us.
Upcoming Meetings
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 Calendar to confirm meeting times, locations and agenda. There can be updates from when we capture the schedule below.
Note: Links to all remote and hybrid meetings are available via this page
Monday, November 27
* No meetings currently scheduled
Tuesday, November 28
* Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, 7pm. Agenda includes: updates on Treasurer appointment, 132 Hammond Rd Good Shepard Parish Development, Mahoney’s/Cascade and School St proposals
* Planning Board, 7pm. Agenda includes: MBTA Communities as of Right Multi-Family Zoning bylaw amendments
* Conservation Commission, 6:30pm. Agenda includes: Rt 20 Landfill Cleanup, 124 Cochituate Rd (construction of 60 unit rental development, 24 School St (12 new townhouses), 23 Claypit Hill Rd (retaining wall and perrimeter fence)
Thursday, December 1
* No meetings currently scheduled
Friday, December 2
* No meetings currently scheduled
Announcements
New Listings
Wayland Police Department shares guidance to help prevent package theft this holiday season. As the holiday season approaches and gifts begin to be shipped and delivered, Acting Chief Ed Burman and the Wayland Police Department would like to provide tips to help community members prevent package theft. According to the National Neighborhood Watch, nearly 19% of Americans have had at least one package stolen in the past 12 months.
Vaccine Clinics – open to all. he Town of Wayland announces upcoming vaccine clinics: Protect yourself and your loved one’s this winter and get the updated COVID-19 vaccine and your seasonal flu shot! The Wayland Health Department is offering the following vaccinations while supplies last:
* Standard dose flu vaccine for age 6 months-64 years
* High dose vaccine for those age 65+
* COVID-19, Pfizer and Moderna ages 6 months+, Novavax ages 12 years
Vaccines are available free of charge and, like pharmacies, we will bill your insurance, please provide us with correct information. If you are uninsured, we can also provide you with vaccination.
* Wednesday, November 29: 6 months to 18 years old only, 1:00 PM- 3:30 PM register here
* Wednesday, December 6: Adults (18+ and older), 10AM – noon register here
Local vaccine clinics are open to anyone who lives, works, learns in or visits Wayland – we do not ask for proof of residence, we collect insurance information.
Homebound appointments, for those who are unable to leave home without the use of a chair car/ambulance are offered. leave a message at (508) 358-6805 to schedule. Our next homebound visits will be late November or early December.
No computer? No problem! Call us and leave a message at (508) 358-6805, you will get a call back in 3-5 business days to assist you with registration.
The latest from the Wayland Library (full newsletter online here).
Note: Many events require registration. Please visit the Wayland Library calendar for registration links.
Adult Services:
* Explore Roleplaying Games (November 27)
* Author Talk: Craig Harris and Indigenous Music (November 29)
* Virtual Author Talk: Naomi Alderman and The Future (November 30)
* Virtual Author Talk: Victoria Aveyard (December 5)
* Great Presenters: Win Treese and The Romantic Engineer (December 5)
Children’s Book Sale. Just in time for the holidays, the Friends of the Library are gathering together a terrific assortment of books for kids of all ages. Picture books, chapter books, YA novels, graphic novels, drawing books, activity books, popular series, fantasy, and more–at amazing prices! Sunday, December 10 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Book Groups
* Evening. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. (December 4)
* Noon. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (December 8)
For Families: Family Holiday Singalong with David Polansky. Local musician David Polansky will lead a Family Holiday Singalong for all ages upstairs in the Round Room of the Library. In addition to vocals, Polansky will play the keyboard and the trumpet. Come and sing your favorite holiday songs and learn some new ones. Refreshments will be served. This event is a part of the Wayland Center Holiday Open House. For all ages. Sunday, December 3, at 3 p.m.
* Build it!: Homes and Houses. Winter is coming and people and animals all need shelter – somewhere snug, warm and dry. Join Ms. Stephanie to design and build winter houses using cardboard and recyclables. For ages 4 and up, with caregiver. Please register HERE. Wednesday, November 29, at 3:30 p.m.
* Pokemon Card Trading Day. Kids are invited to a Pokémon card trading day at the library. Come with cards you are willing to trade! For ages 7 to 11. Please register HERE. Thursday, November 30, at 4:00 p.m.
* Lego Club. Children will make fabulous creations out of legos. This month’s theme is Magical Creatures! We will meet in the Raytheon Room. For ages 5 and up, with caregivers. Please register HERE. Wednesday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m.
For Teens:
* School Bus Stop at the Wayland Public Library Reinstated! Starting on Monday, November 13, Wayland Middle School and Wayland High School students can get dropped off at the Wayland Public Library. The #2 Bus will stop at the library at around 3:40 pm. For questions about the bus route/stop, please contact Melissa Ricci at Melissa_ricci@waylandps.org. For questions about the waiver form and scheduling, please contact the schools’ main offices. (WMS main office: 508-358-3801; WHS main office: 508-358-7746). Thank you to Melissa Ricci, schools’ transportation coordinator, and to Janet Delano, dispatcher for First Student, for making this happen
* Henna Workshop for Teens. Henna, more traditionally referred to as Mehendi art, is a temporary tattoo art form consisting of intricate motifs that adorn hands and feet. This workshop will take an unconventional approach to the ancient art form. Teens will begin by getting familiar with the henna cone, and then draw patterns, such as flowers, leaves, and vines, on a canvas. Teens are also, of course, welcome to draw on their own hands. All materials will be provided. Local teen Niyathi Srinivasan from Henna for Humanity will lead this workshop. For teens in grades 6 and up. Please register HERE. Thursday, December 14, at 4 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 1 Christmas Tree Sale. Wayland Boy Scouts Christmas Tree sale starts Saturday. 100% of our Trees are Premium Grade – the best grade available. Fresh from Nova Scotia, from 5 to 10 feet
Sale at Community United Methodist Church, Main St & Damon St
Wayland Youth Lacrosse Spring Registration 2024 now open. Registration for the SPRING 2024 WAYLAND YOUTH LACROSSE season for players in grades PRE-K–8 is now available online at http://www.waylandyouthlacrosse.org
We are very excited to be able to offer another full program of practices, games, and events this spring. It’s never too late to start; novice players are welcome! Our emphasis at all levels is for kids to have fun learning to play lacrosse and to make new friends.
Don’t delay. Register now AND save $25 on all Grade 1-8 registrations submitted before December 15, 2023! Registration will close on 1/15/24.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the Wayland Youth Lacrosse at Waylandlacrosse@gmail.com
Holiday Pop-Up Sale & Kids’ Shop, December 2. First Parish in Wayland’s Holiday Sale returns on December 2, 10am-3pm. It’s an opportunity to shop with a purpose! We’ll feature Fair Trade giftable food items, handmade items from nonprofits, and gently used holiday décor. Back by popular demand: The Kids’ Shop, featuring tables of low-cost items where kids can shop for family and friends. (Cash sales please.)
We’ll offer handmade items (jewelry, scarves, purses, ornaments, home décor, etc.) from at least four organizations supporting marginalized women and children, including:
Project Have Hope from Uganda
Under the Same Moon from Guatemala
Rift Valley Women’s Group from Tanzania
Sewing Seeds for Hope, for Afghan Women artisans
Also, we will offer our delicious Equal Exchange Fair Trade Organic foods that support small farmers throughout the world. Join us to purchase unique, handmade gifts and food items and to help marginalized families break the cycle of poverty.
First Parish in Wayland is located at 225 Boston Post Rd. Overflow parking is available at Trinitarian Congregational Church, across the street.
Upcoming from Arts Wayland:
Join Arts WaylandArts Wayland is open to all artists in all media and art supporters of all towns and locations, not just Wayland. We welcome new members to join and make new friends who love the arts and art making
Mosaic Jewelry Workshop. Friday, December 8, 6:30-9 pm, enjoy a night out making your own jewelry. Mosaic artist Amy Lou Marks will supply the silver-plated pendant bases and earring blanks and all the glass, china, beads, jewels and bling that you will need to make a unique gift for yourself or for others. With the holidays right around the corner, this is a great way to have fun creating something one of a kind for your loved ones! The best part–no previous jewelry or mosaic experience is needed. To make your evening more festive, BYOB and snacks to share. The course fee includes all supplies to make either one or two pieces of jewelry (pendant or pair of earrings). Pendants include a chain. Extra pendant and earring bases are available for an additional fee of $20/base.
Peter Mayer Benefit Concert & Nonprofit Showcase Tickets, Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM. Thanks to the generosity of theMargaret Stewart Lindsay, Ilene Beal, and Stifler Family Foundations, Arts Wayland invites you to join us for Peter Mayer of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band for a night of holiday music to benefit local non-profit organizations, including Arts Wayland. This family friendly event takes place at the Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church in Cambridge, MA on December 9th beginning at 6:30 pm. Please buy tickets here: Peter Mayer Benefit Concert & Nonprofit Showcase Tickets, Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite and choose Arts Wayland as your charity of choice. You are invited to join us before and after the concert to meet directly with the non-profit organizations benefiting from your attendance, and to learn more about their work. A meet-and-greet with the artists will follow the show as well. This show is general admission. We can’t wait to see you there for what one critic called “A Christmas Show Like No Other!”
ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE Dive into the festive spirit at our annual Holiday Marketplace. This year the event will be held from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday, December 3rd at the Wayland High School Commons. Explore a winter wonderland of unique gifts and handcrafted treasures from local artisans and vendors and embrace the joy of gifting while supporting local businesses and artists.
A Conversation with MA Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, Thursday, January 25 at 7:00 pm on Zoom
How is our commonwealth battling climate change, and what will it mean for you? Congregation Or Atid is pleased to host Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer as she discusses this and other issues facing us in the era of climate change. This event is free and open to the public.
Please use this link to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the zoom link.
Announcements from Prior Newsletters
Celebration International Church Food Pantry serving the community for over 25 years Celebration International Church in Wayland partners with the Boston Food Bank to serve the people of Metrowest by providing groceries in a time of need. If you or someone you know is enduring unemployment, financial hardship, a disability, or something similar, we would like to help! Visit https://www.cicalive.org/food-pantry for more information.
2023 Hazardous Waste Collection for Wayland residents. First $50 of Hazardous Waste is Free. Residents will pay overages
In the past the Wayland Health Department has held an annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day (HHWD) for Wayland residents through Clean Harbors. We understand how important it is to properly dispose of household hazardous waste and have held these events at least twice a year for many years. Despite a lot of outreach to Clean Harbors and research into other vendors we have not been able to secure a date for this event in over a year. According to the state, many municipalities are having the same problems with obtaining a vendor to host a HHW event. This is due to a shift to regional HHW collection depot models which at this time there is no ability for Wayland to join one but there may be an opportunity in the future.
We have been able to identify an interim solution and we have made arrangements with NEDT New England Disposal Technologies. Beginning on April 1 and through June 30, 2023, Wayland residents may drop off hazardous waste to their facility and Wayland will cover the cost up to $50 per household.
We urge residents to contact the facility of your choice prior to traveling to confirm posted dates, times of operation, and types of waste accepted. Payment by resident can be made to NEDT in the form of cash or credit card.
Golden Tones Chorus is Together and Live. It’s a music-making opportunity for MetroWest people of retirement age with NO AUDITIONS and a come-when-you-can attendance policy. Join us in-person (observing protocols to minimize covid risk) or via zoom, Tuesdays, 11am-12:30pm. Choir experience and music-reading are NOT required to have fun singing, dancing, playing, and creating live concerts for the MetroWest community! Visit goldentones.org, email office@goldentones.org, or call us at 508-318-6318.
Emergency alert notifications may include missing children or missing persons, criminal activity, fires, drinking water contamination, utility outages, various threats to people or the environment and other incidents as deemed necessary by Town public safety officials. Those enrolled also may receive timely non-emergency alerts, including road closures, snow plow schedules and more. The alerts are sent to residents via phone call, text message, email and social media.
All community members are invited to register for the CodeRED notification system to receive important alerts and updates. To sign up for these informative, lifesaving alerts, please click here. Registration is customizable, allowing users to choose which alerts they’d like to receive, as well as preferred ways like text, email, cellphone, landline and more.
Community members are encouraged to download the CodeRED Mobile Alert app available in the App Store or Google Play after they sign up to receive alerts.
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