Please take online survey to help planning for Town Meeting: To better predict the number of voting handsets required at Wayland’s upcoming Annual Town Meeting, the Electronic Voting Implementation Sub-committee has setup an anonymous online survey. Please answer the questions posed on the survey online here. Your participation will help reduce cost, and allow us to provide a more efficient and orderly town meeting experience. Thanks!
There are two contested races in our upcoming Town Elections (School Committee and Board of Public Works). For a list of candidates and information on voting, click here. Mark your calendar now for the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Night on April 29.
Waylandenews Executive Director Kim Reichelt is a member of the Wayland School Committee
If you would like to submit a post on our website, click here for information on how to add your post.
Wayland News
News in the past week
* Back to full in-person school in Wayland. The Wayland Public Schools will be charging a $32 fee for pooled testing for students from the period after April vacation until the end of the school year, thanks in part to financial assistance from the state. Wayland’s elementary schools returned to full in-person learning on April 5, and Wayland Middle and High schools are expected to transition on April 27.
* American Legion in Wayland marks Vietnam War Veterans Day. Members of the Charles H. Alward Post 133 of American Legion in Wayland marked Vietnam War Veterans Day with a brief ceremony at the Wayland Town Building on March 29.
* Wayland town administrator receives strong performance review. Town Administrator Louise Miller received a strong evaluation from the Board of Selectmen for the period from September 2019 to August 2020, receiving an overall rating of 4.4 out of a possible 5.
Each week, families provide us with a brief list of groceries and other household supplies they need. Community volunteers sort through purchased items to fulfill requests for essential items like milk, pasta, proteins, fruit, veggies and paper goods, and then deliver their requests directly to their homes. We rely on donations from the public to purchase requested items from our local Donelan’s and Stop & Shop stores, and since its creation last April, the food pantry and COVID-19 Relief Fund has supported over 800 deliveries, helping an average of 17 families each week.
1. Select “Wayland, MA” in the Municipality drop down menu
2. Click the gray “Click here to VIEW or PAY your bills” box
3. On the next page, select “COVID-19 Relief Fund” in the left column titled “Select Bill Type”, enter requested information, and then click on “Add to Cart”
4. Proceed to checkout where you can pay by echeck or credit card (there is a fee for credit card payments).
If you or someone who know is in need of basic food resources or would like to volunteer on Wednesday mornings, please call us at 508-358-7701.
The 2021 Wayland Elementary PTO Backpack Auction is online now. Bidding is open now and ends at 9pm on April 15. Funds raised in this year’s auction go directly toward next year’s enrichment programs, teacher projects, classroom and recreational equipment needs, school socials, STEAM nights, Art shows, talent shows, fieldtrips, and more! Details are online here.
Wayland High School senior chairing fundraiser for bereavement services. Wayland High School senior Ryan Najemy is chairing Hope Grows Here: A Virtual Adventure, a fundraiser to support the bereavement services of Jeff’s Place, which offers hope and healing in a supportive community for grieving children, teens, families and individuals. Between now and May 23, participants can choose their desired physical activity, whether it’s walking, running, swimming, hiking or biking. People can register to participate in the fundraiser and create their own fundraising page online here.
Wayland resident to serve as event co-chair for Embracing the Legacy. Emma Carpenter of Wayland and John J. Boyle III of Newton, members of the board of directors at Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, will serve as event co-chairs for Embracing the Legacy, the nonprofit’s annual gala that raises funds to support its programs. Set for Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m., the event will be held virtually this year.
Please donate yarn to the Wayland COA.The Wayland Council on Aging is collecting donations of yarn and knitting needles for our “Knit Together” knitting group, which is making children’s hats, mittens, scarves and other items to donate to children in need. Our knitted items will go to The Knitting Connection in Medford, which gives knitwear to shelters and agencies that work with families in need. A marked bin for donations is located inside the front entrance of the Town Building. Thank you for helping us help others!
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.
Links to join the meetings via zoom are posted on each agenda. The call-in number for public comment during board and committee teleconference meetings is 508-358-6812.
Monday, April 12
* Board of Health, 5:30pm. Agenda includes: permits to keep chickens (31 Plain Rd, 199 Oxbow Rd, 68 Moore Rd), COVID-19 case report, 105 Plain Rd subdivision
* Surface Water Quality Committee, 7pm. Agenda includes: Dudley Pond (weed harvesting and Solitude contract), Heard Pond (Solitude contract), Mill Pond, Lake Cochituate
* Energy & Climate Committee, 9am. Agenda includes: Warrant Article (Community Choice Aggregation), Loker School Solar Panels, Project Updates, 3-5 year committee plan
* Community Preservation Committee, 5pm. Agenda includes: CPA Town Meeting articles (Library document conservation, Native Plant restoration and Pollinator Garden, Mill Pond Dam Walkway replacement, MS Athletic Field study, Heard Farm signs and Orchard restoration, Facade and sides rehabilitation at 70-74 Main St)
* Social Justice Book Group for Teens (The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth, April 27)
For Families:
* Pop-Up Parking Lot Library. Stop by the library on Wednesday afternoons between 1-4 p.m. for in-person browsing of popular and new materials, plus fresh air! Maintain 6 feet if there is a line. Wear a mask & hand sanitizer will be provided prior to browsing. Remember to bring your library card! Weather permitting.
* Curated Collections for Kids. Would you like a handpicked selection of books just right for your children? Call the Children’s Room at 508-358-2308 and we’ll pull together a bundle for you to pick up at your convenience. We’d love to hear from you!
The League of Women Voters of Wayland will hold its 71st Annual Candidates Night on Thursday evening, April 29th at 7pm via Zoom. Both contested and uncontested candidates will have an opportunity to speak. There are contests for the School Committee and the Board of Public Works. Three candidates are running for two positions on the School Committee: Ellen Grieco, Jessica Polizzotti, and Kathleen Steinberg and four people are running for two seats on the Board of Public Works: Abner Bruno, Duane Galbi, Sherre Greenbaum, and Cliff Lewis. In addition to the seven people running for the two contested boards, there are 12 candidates running for uncontested positions covering eight boards. Nancy Brumbach from the Sudbury League will moderate the forum. All candidates will make an opening statement. This will be followed by a question and answer period. Residents are urged to submit their questions to info@lwvwayland.org in advance of the forum. There will be no opportunity to ask questions via Zoom. Town Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 11; the polls will be open from 7am to 8pm; no-excuse absentee voting will be available. Town Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 11th; the polls will be open from 7am to 8pm; no-excuse absentee voting will be available. On May 6th, the League will hold its annual Town Meeting Issues Forum, where a number of Town Meeting articles will be explained. We hope you will put both dates on your calendar in preparation for Town Elections and Town Meeting.
Please submit electronic Voting Survey. To better predict the number of voting handsets required at Wayland’s upcoming Annual Town Meeting, the Electronic Voting Implementation Sub-committee has setup an anonymous online survey. Please answer the questions posed on the survey online here. Your participation will help reduce cost, and allow us to provide a more efficient and orderly town meeting experience. Thanks!
Registration open for Household Hazardous Waste Day. The Wayland Board of Health is pre-registering Wayland residents for its next Household Hazardous Waste collection day – Saturday, April 24, 8-11:30am at the DPW Garage at 66 River Road. Residents are encouraged to dispose of household hazardous waste at this event. Participation helps to protect the environment from hazardous waste being disposed of improperly. To sign up please complete a pre-registration form online on which you may choose a half-hour slot. Completed forms must be submitted to the Board of Health office by April 23rd at noon. Information regarding the types of household hazardous waste that will or will not be collected is listed online here. For complete details, click here.
Night at the Museum: Wayland residents welcome in Concord. In celebration of the Concord Museum’s new permanent April 19, 1775, exhibition, and in partnership with the Wayland Museum and Historical Society, all Wayland residents are invited to a complimentary in-person evening at the Concord Museum on Wednesday, April 7 or 14, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Wayland’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) invites all interested residents to a Public Hearing on April 14, at 5pm on Zoom, hosted by the Town. The link can be found on the agenda posted on the CPC webpage. The topics for discussion will be the five articles that the CPC has submitted for Annual Town Meeting approval. The CPC will review each article and answer questions from attendees.
Wayland adopted the Community Preservation Act twenty years ago with a 1.5% surcharge on annual real estate tax. Through this surcharge and contributions from the State Trust Fund dedicated to towns that have adopted the CPA the town has accumulated close to $20 million. It is required that the funds be spent on Open Space, Historic Preservation, Community Housing and Recreation. It is the responsibility of the CPC to review applications for the funds and recommend specific projects for town meeting consideration.
This year the Open Space projects include planting of native species to support reduction of invasive plants and planting of pollinator gardens. The Recreation projects include in one article: funds to restore the walkway over the Mill Pond Dam, design for the athletic fields at the Middle School, and signs for Heard Farm. An Historic Preservation Project will fund the conservation and digitization of historic documents owned by the Wayland Free Public Library. Another Historic Preservation article seeks funds to rehabilitate the façade and sides of 70-74 Main Street, a late 19th century commercial building that return it to its former appearance and will enhance this streetscape.
Please come to learn about these exciting projects and express your interests and questions.
Wayland Booster apparel at the Wayland Depot. A wide selection of Wayland Booster apparel is available at The Wayland Depot, located along the Mass Central Rail Trail in Wayland center. Stop in for local, creative, unique gifts, and more. You support artists and Wayland charitable organizations when you shop local and small at The Wayland Depot. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 12-4pm, One Cochituate Rd, Wayland. Phone: 508-358-5386
April Member Salon at the W Gallery. April 2021 Members Salon. This exhibit will be open for viewing in the gallery from 1-5 pm on Saturdays and 11 am-5 pm on Sundays from April 5th through May 1st. We have safety protocols in place including social distancing and mask wearing requirements.
Lifelong Learning Program at Regis College in Weston. There is something for everyone in the Lifelong Learning Program currently offered via Zoom from Regis College. Spring is here and the list of summer/fall sessions will be on the website soon. You may take one course or many and become part of a dynamic group of adults. Classes are led by individuals who often tap into the knowledge they gained from their professional careers and/or who bring to bear other areas of expertise they pursue now or have pursued previously for personal enjoyment. For more about the program and the schedule of classes, click here
The Young Naturalist – Two-Week Summer Program. Explore the natural world with 2 long-time Wayland Educators. This two-week outdoor program focuses on the experiential study of nature. Through walks, games and crafts, and gardening, storytelling and observation children are encouraged to expand their understanding and appreciation of nature. Fee: $550. Monday-Friday, July 19-30, 8:30am-1pm at Community Arts Building, Peace Lutheran Church, 107 Concord Rd. Enrollment is K-1 (maximum 6 students), and Entering 2-3 (maximum 6 students). For questions and registration: Contact: Evi Treffs
Listings from Prior Newsletters
Pooled COVID-19 testing extended through school year, April 9 deadline to enroll.Pooled testing can quickly detect, trace, and isolate COVID-19 positive individuals, helping us to attend school in person and keeping students, staff, and families safe! The program is voluntary, but is strongly encouraged to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The extended program runs for seven weeks from April 26 – June 11 for $32 per student. Financial assistance is available at 50% or 100% of the fee.
New Walk-In Hours for Wayland Municipal Buildings. In accordance with the Governor’s orders to advance to Phase IV, Step 1 of the state’s reopening plan on March 22, 2021, the Town of Wayland will continue the process of opening its buildings to the public in a limited capacity. Click here for announcement for full listing of hours.
Got Puzzles? Let’s swap! The Wayland Council on Aging is hosting a Puzzle Swap during April. Drop off new or used jigsaw puzzles (with all the pieces, please, and no children’s puzzles) in the donation bin inside the front entrance of the Town Building. We’ll collect puzzles through Friday, April 23. Then, on Wed., April 28 from 1 to 2pm, puzzles will be displayed outdoors on tables on the walkway between the Town Building and the soccer field. We will help “customers” maintain appropriate social distance. Rain date: Thursday, April 29, 1-2pm. Questions? Call the COA at 508-358-2990..
The Children’s Way now enrolling for 2021-2022.Ages 2.9 – 5 years (or until entrance to Kindergarten). Three, four or five days, half days or full days. Applications available at https://tcw.wayland.k12.ma.us/home. Go to the “For Families” tab at top to find applications. (No application fee required)
Exploring a Human Rights Commission, Tuesday, April 13 at 7pm with Professor Martha F. Davis. Martha F. Davis, an expert on local human rights, is University Distinguished Professor of Law at Northeastern University, where she is faculty director of the law school human rights program. Professor Davis is an affiliated scholar of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Lund, Sweden. She has written widely on human rights and social justice, with work appearing in publications ranging from the Yale Law Journal to the Boston Globe. She is the co-author of the textbook, Human Rights Advocacy in the United States, co- editor of Global Urban Justice: The Rise of Human Rights Cities and co-editor of the forthcoming Research Handbook on Poverty and Human Rights. Register for the Zoom link online here
“Renewal” – a juried exhibit. Renewal is an instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption and the repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken. After more than a year of coping with the pandemic and intermittent shut-ins, we are beginning to reach out to friends and family and to resume some of our daily activities with greater protection and safety, as vaccines become available and the number of Covid cases decline. As spring flowers begin to blossom and the weather beckons us outdoors again, our emotional, creative, and spiritual energies can be renewed as well. We invite all artists to submit 2D and 3D artworks that speak to the theme of “Renewal” for our spring juried exhibit. All information is also available on the W Gallery website (artswayland.com) Jury: The entries will be juried by a committee made up of Arts Wayland member-artists.
Musicians of the Old Post Road presents C’est Magnifique. Saturday, April 24, 7:30pm. Live Streamed on www.oldpostroad.org. Tickets $10 students, $35 individual, $70 family.
On April 24 at 7:30 pm, the period instrument chamber ensemble Musicians of the Old Post Road will livestream its final concert of the 2020-21 season. Entitled C’est Magnifique!, the program will spotlight the fiery French Baroque style of the 18th century when composers were merging French elegance with Italian virtuosity. For more information and tickets: visit www.oldpostroad.org
2021 Kindergarten information is now available. Intent to Enroll is in progress. The Wayland Public Schools have begun planning for Kindergarten registration for September 2021. Letters have been mailed home to families with children who will be 5 years old on or before August 31. The Intent to Enroll process begins on March 8. More information is available on the Wayland Public School Kindergarten Information website
The Floral Heart Project : A Covid Memorial (created by Kristina Libby, NYC)- It has been over a year since the first case of COVID-19 showed up in Massachusetts. To remember those lost and those struggling, a banner and floral heart (generously donated by Russell’s Garden Center) has been placed on the front yard of First Parish, 225 Boston Post Road, Wayland to remain until the end of March. (Questions: Rev. May) Feel welcome to visit the memorial, with friends, family, small socially distancing groups, add a flower/wreath. Display your own floral heart image at your house or business. Contribute to charities that support and aid those suffering financially from this pandemic. Support neighbors/all of Asian descent who fear increasing numbers of hate crimes, especially the latest shootings in Atlanta.
Roundtable Spotlight Series: Amplifying the Voices of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault. Over the course of the year, the Roundtable has hosted a Spotlight Series focusing on segments of our communities that face additional barriers when considering if and how to seek help or support. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, please join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, April 13 at 3pm for their next Spotlight Series event: Amplifying the Voices of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault. This event will feature male survivors from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s (BARCC) Survivor Speakers Bureau, who will share their stories and what they want the community to know. The conversation will be moderated by a staff member from BARCC and allow time for participants to submit questions through the chat. The BARCC Survivor Speakers Bureau (SSB) was formed in 2002 by a group of survivors who wanted to share their stories as tools to educate others about the realities of sexual violence. The members of the SSB share their stories and engage in a dialogue with audiences ranging from college students to mental health counselors. For complete details, including registration information and support resources, please click here.
WayCAM Board Seeking New Members. WayCAM’s Board of Directors anticipates two vacancies later this year, and encourages interested parties to seek information now. The board meets regularly with Executive Director Jim Mullane and brings a variety of skills to discussions and decisions. A nonprofit organization, Wayland Community & Access Media, Inc. (WayCAM) manages facilities for community access TV on the Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access channels of the Wayland cable television system. Contact Executive Director Jim Mullane for an overview of WayCAM’s mission and how board members contribute.
Roundtable Spotlight Series: Amplifying the Voices of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault. Over the course of the year, the Roundtable has hosted a Spotlight Series focusing on segments of our communities that face additional barriers when considering if and how to seek help or support. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, please join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, April 13 at 3pm for their next Spotlight Series event: Amplifying the Voices of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault. This event will feature male survivors from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s (BARCC) Survivor Speakers Bureau, who will share their stories and what they want the community to know. The conversation will be moderated by a staff member from BARCC and allow time for participants to submit questions through the chat. We encourage everyone to join us on April 13th at 3:00 PM to hear and participate in this important conversation. Working together, we all have a role to play in recognizing the voices and stories of all survivors of sexual assault in our communities. Registration is required, and can be completed through the Roundtable’s website. For questions, please email infodvrt@gmail.com. For complete details, click here.
Music-making continues virtually. Wayland’s favorite senior singers continue to lift their voices together every week, and YOU can join the fun by (old-school) telephone or (new-school) computer, tablet or smartphone. After 30-something years of music-making, we’re determined to stay connected and healthy with singing! Contact us at goldentones.org, or call 508-318-6318 to learn how to join our 90-minute “virtual rehearsals,” weekly on Tuesdays at 10am, and Fridays at 2pm. There are no auditions and no attendance requirements, only a friendly group of music-lovers from all over MetroWest who enjoy singing, dancing and music-making to pop classics and show tunes.
Transportation for Wayland Seniors. Under a new, grant-funded program, the Wayland Council on Aging (COA) can now arrange for free taxi rides for seniors who have no other way to get to non-emergency medical appointments or other essential errands such as grocery shopping, visits to food pantries, or to pharmacies to pick up prescriptions. The program is funded by a Metropolitan Area Planning Council/ MassDevelopment grant designed to offer short-term support to communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wayland residents age 60 and over who find themselves without transportation options may contact the COA to request a ride. COA staff will review requests for compliance with the grant’s guidelines. For those who qualify, staff will make arrangements with either Tommy’s Taxi and JFK Transportation, who are partnering with the COA under the terms of the grant. Ride requests must be made at least one full business day in advance. The program runs through December 31, 2020, or until the funds are depleted. If you have questions or would like to ask about a ride, call the COA at 508-358-2990 or email coa@wayland.ma.us
Would you like to serve on a Town Board or Committee? Many appointment opportunities, ranging from A-Z (literally! from the Audit Committee to the Zoning Board of Appeals) are posted online here.
Share this Newsletter: 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.
