March 2012 Wellesley

Vol. 1 No. 11

Free to Every Home and Business Every Month

Open Mic Draws a Crowd

Last Hurrah for H.S., Larsson Gym

BY DAVE HALPERIN February 16 was an evening to remember as basketball players, fans, and longtime staff said goodbye to the old Wellesley High School gym in fashion:

March 1, 2012

both the varsity boys and girls squared off against Natick's varsity boys' and girls' teams in a doubleheader, on a night that was also Senior Night for the players.

boys head coach Glenn Magpiong told the crowd before the boys game, and before introducing seniors Cedric White, Harry James, Cooper Ainge, Nick

"This is a very special night,"

continued on page 20

LAST HURRAH

JP Licks on Central Street hosted its first Open Mic night in February. In this photo, Sam and Eric, who met on Craigslist the day before the event, perform together for the first time.

Photo by Caroline Fahey.

See and read more on page 9.

Chuck Tiberio pauses with the boys' team during the singing of the National Anthem.

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Page 2

“We will be working more with the colleges. We want the students to know that we are here for them.

The schools are so close; it is just a natural fit,” Amy added.

Brig Br ight g L Lights: g Wellesleyites You Should Know By: Je’Lesia ’L M. Jones

Businesses in downtown sections of cities and towns all across America have closed due to the tough economic times experienced over the last few years. Although insulated from many of the ills that befall some communities, Wellesley faired about equally with other suburban towns that saw businesses close their doors and move, or shut down altogether. If Demian Wendrow can help it, Wellesley Square will bounce back. Demian, leader of the Wellesley Square Merchants Association, is deeply committed to the revitalization of Wellesley Square.

“Wellesley Square is a very special area. It has always been known as one of the best shopping areas in the West (west of Boston),” Demian said. “We want to keep the Square as a premier shopping experience. And I’m very optimistic about that. There are more and more stores being filled and more coming. The last few years have been up and down, but I feel hope-

ful,” he said.

Indeed, since the end of 2010 there have been lows. Residents have watched stores close: Ann Taylor, The Body Shop, Rugged Bear, Different Drummer, and Clarks. Neena’s Design Lighting left the Square, but has reopened in Linden Square. There is reason for hope, however. New businesses, like J.P. Licks, Lacrosse Unlimited, Milestone, and Gustare Oils and Vinegars have opened, and Isabel Harvey moved from a Linden location to the Square.

“We work heavily with the Chamber of Commerce, the Selectmen, and the Planning Board. We try to all work together because we have the same goal, which is Wellesley. There is also the Wellesley Initiative evolving,” Demian said.

The Association is involved in continuing plans for bringing people to the Wellesley Square area as well as for strengthening existing

projects. Current events run by the Merchants Association include July Jubilation, Mom’s Day Out, and the Holiday Stroll.

“There was a merchant’s group, and a few years ago we kind of talked about some of the events dying, so a few of the merchants started to brainstorm on building Wellesley,” Demian said.

Photo by Dave Halperin.

“July Jubilation has been going on for about 20 years. It was started by Frank Shea, now retired. Then, rumors said it would possibly die.

Merchants got together and worked hand-in-hand with the Chamber of Commerce to continue,” Demian said. “Wellesley is about tradition and we did not want to let it go.

Each year July Jubilation gets stronger and last year we added the petting zoo. Mom’s Day Out,” Demian continued, “will celebrate its fourth year this year, and the Holiday Stroll has been going on for about 25 years. It was created by the town, supported by the town and run by the Merchants with the help of the Chamber.”

Demian feels strongly that revitalization efforts for Wellesley Square will succeed because of the commitment and cooperation from the Board of Selectman, the Planning Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and the merchants all working together for a common goal.

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“My whole focus is bringing everyone together and working together. The more ideas we can come up with, the better. The fact that we are sitting down; I don’t think that happens in most towns,” Demian said. “Wellesley is special.

We are bringing everyone together to make it happen.”

Demian Wendrow, Director of Operations at London Harness, has been committed to the success of Wellesley Square since he first began running the store over a decade ago. His wife, Amy Lynch, who started at the store as an intern, then became a full-time employee about six years ago, shares dedication to the Square’s rebirth, and feels strongly that cooperation is key.

“The Selectmen and the Planning Board made it a point to sit down with merchants and landlords for the first time. They posed the question: ‘What can everyone

March1, 2012

do to make Wellesley Square a better place?’” Amy said. Such collaboration is not common in many towns.

“I think it’s really about shopping local and supporting small shop owners, and not going to the big box stores,” Amy said.

“Most of the stores in the Square are small businesses who can’t always compete with the big stores.”

Amy recalled a story about a customer coming into London Harness one day and saying that they could have purchased an item they wanted at Nordstrom’s, but came to the store because they wanted to support the community. “We really feel that we have a neighborhood feeling here in Wellesley Square.”

In addition to rebuilding the Square, Demian and Amy and the Wellesley Square Merchants Association feel an obligation to the community. “We (the merchants) try to make sure we are giving back to the community any portion of funds we can. We have given to the Wellesley Education Association and for Mom’s Day Out we gave back to Wellesley College and the Blue Star Mothers,” Demian said.

“It gives me a great sense of pride and I feel privileged to show that we all care.”

The Merchants Association feels it is important to be involved in the “lifeblood” of the community. “We are really focused on adding more events, particularly events to coincide with the reopening of the high school,” Demian said. “We want to support the high school. We see great opportunity to work with the school and grow.”

“We will be having the Wonderful Wellesley Weekend and, yes, Wellesley Square will do something to support the reopening of the high school, like having celebratory signs in our windows, offering discounts, and so forth,” Amy said.

The Wellesley Square Merchants Association is also employing the latest social media to direct customers and businesses alike to Wellesley Square. “The Association is using social media to advertise events. Any event we have is promoted on Facebook and Twitter, and we send email blasts,” Demian said. “We are trying to focus more on social media. We just recently bought the domain: www.shopwellesleysquare.com.”

In addition to the efforts of the Merchants Association, “The Wellesley Initiative has been going on for about eight or nine months.

It is made up of the Selectmen, Planning Director, and merchants and we are trying to brand Wellesley Square in an effort to rejuvenate the Square,” Demian said. This will be accomplished through “way finding,” which means better signs for parking; a directory to make it easier to maneuver around town; and merchants will change their websites to signify Wellesley Square, as opposed to just Wellesley,” he explained.

Demian Wendrow’s drive and dedication was first noticed by Dan Woodman, owner of London Harness, when the company Demian worked for was going out of business. He knew that Demian had worked in the industry and was highly respected. Demian has managed London Harness for more than ten years.

Demian and Amy, who live in Framingham and have no children except for “Charlie,” a rescue dog, have been married about 15 months. “Charlie comes in with us and works at the store about three days a week,” Amy said.

“I feel very optimistic about Wellesley Square and the way things are going and the way we are all working together. I feel great promise. It’s not just about one merchant. It’s about all of us, building relationships, working together, and working hand-in-hand with great people. That motivates me,” Demian said.”

Bright Lights: Wellesleyites You Should Know appears in each edition of Wellesley Local Town Pages.

Please email Je'Lesia M. Jones at arie8@comcast.net with Bright Lights' suggestions.

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 3

New WOW Chairperson: Phyllis Gimbel

Making Wellesley More Welcoming

BY DAVE HALPERIN

World of Wellesley Collaborating with Colleges Following Incident

World of Wellesley, a local organization dedicated to making the town a community where diversity is celebrated, has a new chairperson.

Following in the footsteps of long-time Chairman Richard McGhee, who is now Chairman Emeritus, former WOW President Phyllis Gimbel has taken the reigns.

"I'm building on what Richard spent 19 years going, trying to make the community understand

Since taking the position, Gimbel and WOW initiated a meeting with representatives from all three colleges in town - Babson College, Wellesley College, and Massachusetts Bay Community College - following an incident in which a student of one of the schools reported feeling unwelcomed at a retail store in Wellesley.

With an eye on creating programming to increase awareness of and celebrate diversity, regular World of Wellesley initiatives include the annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast, the WOW

BY DAVE HALPERIN World of Wellesley is working with representatives from Babson College, Mass Bay Community College, and Wellesley College in an effort to create programming in town aimed at increasing awareness of diversity, eliminating instances of racial prejudice, and making the town a more welcoming place for students, staff, faculty, and their families.

Newly elected WOW Chairperson Phyllis Gimbel is one of the forces behind the collaboration, which also includes former WOW Chairman Richard McGhee and Mass Bay Community College's Dean of Institutional Planning, Research and Assessment, Yves Salomon-Fernandez; Wellesley College Dean of Intercultural Education and Religious and Spiritual Life, Victor Kazanjian; and Babson College Vice President of Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer, Donna Bonaparte.

"We're trying to devise a way that we can collaborate on programs, so that people in the town of Wellesley who work at these colleges, [such as] the faculty members and staff and their children who attend the public schools, feel more comfortable," Gimbel said.

A recent meeting between the three colleges and WOW was proposed by WOW after an incident in which a student from one of the colleges felt that he or she was mistreated at a local retail establishment due to his or her race or ethnicity.

"People who work here and live here may be from different backgrounds, and some of the kids, and also the students [at the colleges] are saying they're not feeling totally welcome," Gimbel added.

more that there's a need for a group that celebrates diversity, and trying to make this town just a bit more welcoming," Gimbel said, adding, "I think [the town] has made huge strides since I moved here in 1975."

Gimbel said aims to be collaborative in her and WOW's interactions with the community. "We want to be very collaborative, very communicative, and very transparent," she said.

Diversity Festival, and the annually published WOW book.

McGhee said WOW is in good hands under Gimbel.

"She's a gofer, an ambitious gofer," he said, adding, "She knows how to network with people, how to reach out to people and how to work with them, and that's very important to an organization like us."

She added that she hopes differences can become more appreciated, a sentiment echoed by Salomon-Fernandez of Mass Bay. "I see our campus as a microcosm of the world, and what we would like is for our students to be embraced," she said, "... and we would like to become more involved as a partner [with WOW], and, to the extent that we can, help Wellesley become a much richer place, or maybe a place where we value diversity, not only in our words, but also in our

While no definitive programs have been developed, those involved are set to meet again soon with an eye on planning and coming up with more concrete ideas.

deeds."

Wellesley College's Kazanjian says the timing for the partnership is right.

"It's very exciting on two levels," he said. "First of all each campus... has really developed quite powerful diversity programming that has stepped up in the last few years as part of their on-campus work, with a really big commitment to our students to broaden their understanding of multiculturalism... as part of the process of becoming good citizens."

Kazanjian said the collaboration provides a platform for the colleges to pool their resources while also engaging the town, since WOW can help bridge the gap between the school s and the community.

"WOW brings this very longstanding commitment to taking on the difficult task of engaging the town of Wellesley in this kind of town educational program around diversity, to not only enhance the life of a community and individuals, but to address situations as they occur," he said.

Babson's Bonaparte said the school is excited to be a part of the collaboration with WOW in any way they can, whether that means by providing space for programs or by helping develop programming something, she said, the college is adept at. ""We have a long history of collaboration" with WOW and "we would like to continue that through events, educational forums, celebrations... We're a resource that has extensive experience in managing and creating in a rich, diverse, and inclusive environment," she said. "I would think that WOW would want to tap into all of that in response to an incident."

No matter what specific ideas the collaboration generates, those involved say it's an opportunity to move forward.

"We don't like to lament what happened; we should understand role of history in order to not repeat past wrongs, but at the same time, we move forward," Salomon-Fernandez said.

Added McGhee: "What we're going to do is join hands with the colleges, and do some proactive work in the community."

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Page 4

March1, 2012

Bringing Us the Farm Organizers of Wellesley Farmers' Market Get Ready

BY DAVE HALPERIN

15]," Spencer said.

Beginning May 3, Wellesley will see the emergence of a weekly farmers' market at the Whole Foods parking lot. While as of press time, no vendors had been signed on, Farmers' Market Steering Committee member and Massachusetts Horticultural Society volunteer John Spencer is confident the 12 market stalls will be filled.

Spencer is currently recruiting - and vetting potential farmers and food vendors for the market, which will be open each Thursday from 2-6 p.m.

"We're looking for a mixture of farmers who grow good varieties of vegetables and who can produce for the long season, because we have an ambitious season that starts in May and goes all the way to [November

"We're also looking for farmers and vendors of cheese, eggs, herbs, and flowers, and we also want to get some educational outreach going," he added.

Mass Hort President Kathy Macdonald, whose organization is running the weekly event, said the market is an opportunity for the group to promote its values of environmental sustainability through local food sourcing as opposed to "driving crops 1,000 miles to the dinner table."

To that end, Mass Hort will be one of several community organizations that will operate a community outreach booth at the market each week. Others slated to fill that role include the town's Health Department and the Sustainable Energy Committee.

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"It's really part of who we are and what we do," Macdonald said. "It's part of our community outreach, to help people learn more about health, nutrition, gardening, and sustainability." It's also true to their roots. Mass Hort was founded in 1829 by a group of Bostonians wanting to improve the quantity and quality of produce in Boston.

All of this made the group a logical choice for the town in its search for a nonprofit to take control of the market - something they realized was necessary after speaking with organizers of communitydriven farmers' markets in Belmont and Winchester. Before that, it was Whole Foods Market that broached the idea of an outdoor market to the town, after which Sustainable Energy Coordinator Molly Fairchild established the Farmers' Market Steering Committee. She quickly tapped Spencer, known for his leadership

of the town's Weston Road Community Gardens, and three others with expertise.

Spencer said Fairchild is the reason Wellesley now has a farmers' market.

"The person who deserves credit is Molly Fairchild," he said. "She was instrumental in bringing the residents together."

Spencer's efforts these days are not free of politics. He acknowledged there is "some controversy about the number of farmers' markets in the area" and how their "dramatic increase has not been matched by the numbers of farmers," although he said the demand from consumers is there. He also said it's important to steer clear of treading on the turf of existing area markets such as those in Natick and Framingham.

"We try not to compete with other markets who have the same

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customer base as us.... The idea is not to poach vendors or customers," he said, noting that the Wellesley Farmers' Market's Thursday operation contrasts to those towns' weekend entities.

Moreover, retail stores in areas close to farmers' markets have expressed concerns in other communities, such as in Roslindale Village, where one business claimed a drop in business due to competition from the Roslindale Village Farmers Market.

Spencer said he is being careful to keep local businesses in mind, and also reports research that has shown an uptick in business in communities that host markets.

"I'm told that the research indicates that for every dollar spent at a farmers' market, $1-3 is spent in addition at other businesses," he said. "We're going on the assumption that it adds to business in town, rather than shifting it around."

"We're making sure we get the right mix of vendors," he added. "I think it will work, but we'll see once it's up and running."

Fairchild said she's excited for opening day, but called the market a work in progress.

"There will always be new things to learn," she said, "but the exciting piece is how it's existing with so many different programs in our community, and I hope that it will really bring the community together around sustainability."

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 5

Advancing Technology Makes Home Improvement and Design Better! said. “Why would I ever want to replace it?”

Doug Masters, owner of Masters Touch

A few years ago, my Dad called because he felt it was time to remodel his vintage 1972 kitchen. I remember the classic avocado colored refrigerator, and when 1980 rolled in, he splurged to have it painted a golden yellow. Other than that though, my Dad is like a lot of people. If you don’t keep up with the times, you’ll become set in your ways.

Over a cup of coffee, we discussed Dad’s big plans for the kitchen. I quietly suggested some recessed lights and perhaps some under cabinet lighting. You could have heard a pin drop. “I’ve had the circular fluorescent light for 30 years,” he

So we built the new kitchen around the buzzing old light, but at least we were able to sneak in quartz counter tops, triple pane windows, and then we topped it all off with a great paint job using the latest and greatest paint.

It’s amazing how far we’ve come the last few decades.

Every year wonderful new home improvement products are unveiled, adding countless hues and textures to make your world a more efficient and colorful one.

Here’s a look at some great products that you can have in your home right now. While some of these have been out for a while, they’re still worth a look. Be sure to check out these and many other great new offerings before you plan any type of home improvement project.

Counter Tops After decades of Formica and

then Corian, the last 20 years has seen an explosion in counter top choices. Granite, one of the best values, is now available in hundreds of colors. Years ago, most fabricators offered about a dozen colors at the most. Now, there’s also a plethora of fabricated materials that can eclipse granite in some performance characteristics, and offer bold new colors and looks never before possible.

Paint As oil based paints continue to be phased out to reduce harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that are emitted as they are manufactured or as they dry, 40 years of R and D into waterbased products has really paid off. Interior and exterior paints and stains are better than ever, with bold color lines and incredible durability and easy to clean finishes. A quick tip, watch out for “Lifetime” coatings, especially for exterior applications.

Believe me, many companies pitching these products also have a bridge to sell you.

Vinyl Floors We’ve come a long way from the basic vinyl tiles and sheet goods so popular from the 1950s through the 1980s. Today’s luxury vinyl tile is so realistic, you have to touch it to realize it’s not real tile or wood. Digital technology and enhanced manufacturing processes have made these products a popular choice for kitchens in some of the finest homes in the area.

Lighting Lighting technology seems to be advancing as fast as computers. Every time I visit a lighting shop I’m amazed at the extent of products available and marvel at the advances being made with energy efficient lighting. LED lights are coming on strong and are now being used for practically any type of light you many need in your home. A simple upgrade you can do in your home now is to replace all the incandescent bulbs in your recessed lights with LED bulbs.

You will go from 65 watts or

more down to about 15 and get a lot more light!

Blinds And Soft Window Treatments In 1985, metal “mini” blinds were king. Today, there are dozens of varieties of window blinds, with something for almost every home décor. Many of the cellular or “honeycomb” style shades are room darkening and are extremely energy efficient, keeping heat out during the summer and in during the winter. Most products are a lot safer today as well, with chords designed to protect young children from choking hazards. A tip for the ladies – bring your husband into the design shop and show him the blinds that open and close with a remote control. You are guaranteed to get the ones you want.

Tile We all know it and love it – pink, green, or blue gloss tile, 4” square. It adorns the walls of many homes in the area. It’s a tribute to decades of a lack of selection. However, visit any tile

HOME IMPROVEMENT continued on page 6

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HOME IMPROVEMENT continued on page 5

design shop today and you will be amazed at the variety. From stone tile called “river rock�, which is great for a shower floor, to shimmering glass tile for the bathroom walls or kitchen back splash, there’s something for everyone.

Audio Visual Systems And Home Automation This technology is more affordable than ever. Just 10 years ago, flat panel televisions were over $10,000. Now, they are priced right and have incredible picture quality. Coupled with a blue ray player and a good stereo, anyone can have a high

definition movie theater experience right at home. Better yet, you can integrate the mechanical systems and alarm into a slick package and run everything from your Ipad or Iphone.

You’ll be able to control heating, lighting, window treatments, your audio visual system and your alarm from anywhere in the world. Now that’s incredible!

These products are just the tip of the iceberg. Virtually anything you will need, whether you’re doing the work yourself, or hiring a professional, is going to be a vastly superior product from what you have now or what you may have used the last time you remodeled.

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March1, 2012

Wellesley's Busy Election Season Mark your calendars: two elections will take place in Wellesley in March. The presidential primary is on March 6, at which time voters will choose a presidential preference candidate and elect certain state party committee members and the local committee for the Democratic and Republican parties. Those committee members work to further the goals of their parties at a local level.

Then, on March 13, the Annual Town Election takes place. This year the election includes contested races for the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, as well as contested races for Town Meeting Members positions in precincts B, E, and F. Town Meeting is the legislative body of town government, deciding budgetary expenditures, among other things.

Additionally, Town Clerk Katherine Nagle announced that the town still needs candidates to fill open Town Meeting seats in several precincts. Contact the Clerk's office for more information, at 781-4311019, ext. 2252.

Also on March 13, voters will answer the question of whether to accept new legislation to allow the town to issue liquor licenses for restaurants with a minimum of 50

seats (under current legislation, restaurants must have a capacity of 100 seats).

NOTE: Voters should be aware that their precinct and polling place may have changed since the last election, due to population growth that spurred re-precincting.

To find out what precinct one is in, visit www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php or call the Town Clerk's office 781-431-1019, ext.

2252.

Polls on March 6 and March 13 are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those seeking absentee ballots, for the March 6 election they are now available either in person or via mail-out requests. These ballots must be applied for by noon on March 5 and returned by the end of polling on March 6.

Absentee ballots for the March 13 election are also available. Again, voters can request an absentee ballot by mail or in person voting. These absentees must be requested by noon on March 12 and returned by close of the polls March 13.

All absentee ballots are counted in the polling places on the day of the particular election.

Valentine's Day at the Flower Shop

BY DAVE HALPERIN It was early in the day on Valen0DUFK tine's Day, but Winston Flowers DFFHOHUDWHG Sales Associate Erin Hines (pictured) was ready for the FRXUVHV onslaught sure to come DYDLODEOH that evening.

She said the store's floral designers were ready too, with the help of some of their colleagues at Winston Flowers' headquarters in South Boston.

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"Usually everything is made here, but on holidays '5,9,1* +2856 '$<6 $ :((. we have to have the studio 9$5,(7< 2) &/$665220 +2856help us," she said.

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Bridget Kelly said they begin readying themselves for Valentine's Day well in advance of the holiday.

"We have an extra 70 vehicles (for delivery) and hire a slew of temporary drivers," she said.

The most popular item? No surprises there: "Red roses," Kelly said.

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Wellesley Game Show to Air This Summer

BY DAVE HALPERIN Watch out Wellesley! Local resident Aaron Levinger's seventh game/reality show production could be hitting the small screen as early as this summer - and those involved say it could be his best one yet.

Levinger, who is something of a game show expert with internationally-recognized street-cred on the subject, first began producing game shows for Wellesley Media Corp. (formerly WCAC-TV) in 2007 with the show Wellesley Password.

These days he's busy in post-production for his latest, Word Nerd Plus, a four-episode game show that filmed on one Saturday in late January.

Word Nerd Plus is both a vocabulary and math challenge featuring teams of two squaring off against one another. In the vocabulary portion, teams have 45 seconds to create the largest word possible from an 8-letter scramble; in the math competition, six numbers are given and contestants need to reach a 3digit target using different math functions.

For Jaenicke, what makes Levinger's shows special is his ability to give them a Wellesley twist, exemplified this time around by the heated battles between the WMS teachers and presence of other Wellesleyites.

None of that would be possible, friends say, if it weren't for Levinger's ability to bring people together.

"As far as the teachers go, he was just very well loved," Gelormini says of the now-23 year old. "He has a special place in teachers' hearts... He was just one of those students that carved a little place in

your heart."

"People stick their necks out for him," adds Jaenicke. "He just has that way about him."

Levinger, who recently won a "worst game show moment" essay contest sponsored by the game show web site Game Show Garbage - "[The moment I wrote about] was so bad I just had to write about it" - manages his own game show blog at gameshowweekly.blogspot.com, and once appeared on a radio talk show as an "internationally recognized game show producer," a moniker that has gained him no shortage of ribbing from friends.

He says he "doesn't know how to answer" the question of why he likes game shows so much, but that his Asperger's Syndrome is "one way to look at it."

Daniel Barkowitz, veteran performer and emcee, served as the Word Nerd Plus game show host.

Asperger's itself is also a big part of Levinger's life, as he regularly fulfills speaking engagements at area schools in order to help students and faculty better understand the condition, a volunteer effort he performs both on his own and for the nonprofit organization Understanding Our Differences.

Math judge Dr. Barbara Shinn-Cunningham and word judge Kara Gelormini.

Seen recently at Wellesley Media Corp.' s studios on Walnut Street, Levinger was busy at work with his assistant, Anne-Laure Lehman, editing the show's raw footage and planning audio and visual components like an opening montage and a clock sound to dramatize the evaporating time.

As Levinger himself addressed, no matter how good the raw footage of Word Nerd Plus was, it's now up to him to make something out of it.

"I'm trying to make it into something resembling a game show," he joked.

In both events, the desire to best the competition or show off one's vocabulary or math knowledge was evident, but the desperation-fueled home run swings - for words that may or may not actually exist - also provided plenty of humor and drama, says Wellesley Middle School teacher Kara Gelormini, who appears on the show as a judge.

As with previous productions, he'll have help along the way, and the finished product will certainly be true to his roots, roots that include his love of game shows and his enduring presence in the Wellesley community - a place that continues to support his work.

"When I see [so many people coming together to help] it reminds me of how good a place Wellesley is," Jaenicke notes.

"Bringing people together, that's what I'm most proud of," says Levinger.

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"There was a lot of banter... mostly with the middle school teams," Gelormini noted, referring to the two pairs of WMS teachers that threw their hats into the Word Nerd Plus ring.

With a former M.I.T. dean serving as the host of Word Nerd Plus, and teams of alumni from Brown University and M.I.T.; one comprised of current Babson College students; and another made up of the 2010 National School Scrabble Champions, there was also no shortage of brains in the building.

"There was really something about all the players - it was hilarious and electric. The repartee was great," said contestant Coco Jaenicke, one half of the Brown University squad and a neighbor and friend of Levinger. "This was one of the best shows Aaron's done yet."

Page 7

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Page 8

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March1, 2012

Arts In Wellesley Wellesley Residents to Perform in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

BY RENEE REYNOLDS

the musical director of the production.

nate to a local food bank. Donations will be collected for the Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton at all performances. A list of needed items will be posted on the Newton Country Players’ Web site at http://www.newtoncountryplayers.org/news.html.

The Newton Country Players will bring their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to MassBay Community College this month.

The performances will be held on March 9-10 and March 16-18, and will feature three Wellesleyites.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's interpretation of the Biblical story of Joseph, told in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Joseph, a descendant of Abraham, had 11 brothers who were extremely jealous of him. The last straw came when his father, Jacob, gave Joseph a multi-colored coat. The brothers sold Joseph into slavery and the musical tells of how he was able to overcome that, become a powerful man in Egypt and man of God, and eventually reunite with his family.

“Newton Country Players decided to do this particular production because of the fact families could be involved,” said Colleen Locke, publicity coordinator for the Newton Country Players.

“The mission of Newton Country Players is to bring together people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests to promote and participate in theater.”

The show, which is performed entirely through music, features three actors from Wellesley: Thomas Hillmer, Ava Keresztes, and Kaitlin Kolb. The play is directed and choreographed by Michelle Leibowitz of Hopkinton. Karen Winkler of Milford is

The production features two real-life sets of siblings in the show and three sets of children who are on stage with their real parents. Three other families have members taking part in front of and behind the scenes, said Locke.

In addition to promoting local theater, the play also gives the community the opportunity to do-

Tickets for adults are $20; student and senior tickets are $18.

The show is free for MassBay students with a valid ID. Those interested in purchasing tickets may call 617-244-9538 or email ncplayersinfo@gmail.com. All performances are at 8 p.m., aside from the March 18 performance, which will take place at 2 p.m.

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March 1, 2012

Arts In Wellesley Open Mic Dishes Out Musical Flavors JP Licks Event Draws Many

BY DAVE HALPERIN PHOTOS BY CAROLINE FAHEY Doing their part to increase the availability of live music in Wellesley, the folks at JP Licks held their inaugural Open Mic night in early February, to the delight of musicians and audiences alike.

According to Becker, no date has been set (as of press time) for the next Wellesley JP Licks Open Mic, as the first one was a "trial run," but all signs point to a regular thing.

"People seemed to be having fun," Becker said. "They came in all night, thinking, what's going on in there?"

"It was really exciting to have something like that," said store Supervisor Evan Becker. "I grew up in Wellesley and I feel like [live music] isn't something that happens around here very often."

The Open Mic was unique in the range of age levels it attracted, as middle school, elementary school, and high school performers mingled and performed with more seasoned adult performers. Among those on stage at different times were seventh grader Piper Higgins, a father-daughter duo, and high school student Scarlet Randall.

Other performers included JP Licks' employees Eliyah Afzal, Sam Peterson and Jay Provost, who partnered with friend Josh Cassie; the duo of Scott and Eric, who met on Craigslist the day before the event; Linnea Herzog; and Julia Guidi and Ben Simon.

Wellesley High School sophomore Scarlet Randall.

Piper Higgins of Wellesley Middle School.

Julia Guidi and Ben Simon.

Anna, from the Sprague Elementary School, and her father.

Page 9

Page 10

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March1, 2012

Arts In Wellesley Wellesley Choral Society Benefit Concert On Sunday, March 4, at 2:00 p.m., a Concert of Chamber and Vocal Music to benefit Wellesley Choral Society takes place at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills.

of contemporary classical music and appears regularly as soloist or orchestral musician with many different musical organiza-

School Chorus and music teacher at Milton Academy. As a vocal soloist, he has appeared with Boston Lyric Opera, Lake George Opera and Boston Aria Guild, among others.

The performance is followed by a festive reception during

WSA Presents Pastel Artist Donna Rosetti-Bailey

This intimate concert features Edward Whalen, tenor, and Trio Viscaria. The musicians in the Trio are Monica Pegis, violin; David Fisher, cello; Hisako Hiratsuka, piano.

Mr. Whalen opens the concert with a selection of early Italian and English art songs. They are mostly from the 17th century and by various composers. Mr. Whalen will accompany himself on classical guitar. After intermission, Trio Viscaria plays the Piano Trio, K 564 by Mozart and the Piano Trio, Op. 8 by Brahms.

All performers donate their services for the benefit of Wellesley Choral Society. Trio Viscaria. On the left, Monica Pegis, violin; center, David Fisher, cello; on Hisako Hiratsuka is a graduate the right, Hisako Hiratsuka, piano. of Tokyo University of Arts and tions. David Fisher is a graduate which the audience can mingle Music. She currently teaches of the Curtis Institute of Music. with the artists. Complimentary piano at Tufts University and has Separately, he graduated from refreshments provided. an active career as chamber Swarthmore College, Cornell Directions to the church can be music player and accompanist.

Medical School, and Rockefeller found on the WCS website, She is the regular accompanist University and currently works www.wellesleychoralsociety.org for the Wellesley Choral Society at Massachusetts General Hospi- . The church is handicapped acand has appeared as soloist in tal. cessible and there is ample free many of the Society’s concerts.

Monica Pegis is a graduate of Edward Whalen is Music Di- parking. Suggested donation: New England Conservatory of rector of Wellesley Choral Soci- $20, students $5.

Music. She is an avid interpreter ety and Director of the Upper

Touch

of

The Wellesley Society of Artists is pleased to present a pastel demonstration with local artist Donna Rosetti-Bailey.

The demonstration will take place at the Wellesley Free Library on Tuesday, March 20th from 7-9 p.m. Rosetti-Bailey is a Bostontrained artist and teacher who is the recipient of numerous awards and exhibits. Her pastel landscapes reflect “jewels” of nature which are often tucked away. She has the ability to draw the viewer in, to experience her view of nature. For more information on Rosetti-Bailey, visit her website at www.donnarossetti-bailey.com.

The Wellesley Society of Artists (WSA) welcomes all to this free event and informative event. The WSA was founded in 1933 for the purpose of encouraging and supporting local artists. If you are interested in learning more about the Society, please visit our website for information and membership at www.wellesley societyofartists.org This demonstration will be held in the Wakelin room at the main library. The library is located at 530 Washington St., Wellesley.

Come and enjoy a great evening!

Light refreshments will be served.

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March 1, 2012

Page 11

Arts In Wellesley Family Concert by WSO, March 11 Children and their families from the Wellesley area will love the annual Wellesley Symphony Family concert, held on Sunday, March 11th at 3 p.m., at MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland Street and hosted by Sprague School’s Brian Hagar-McKee. The Wellesley Middle School Grade 7-8 String Orchestra, prepared by Mary Alice McCann, joins the Symphony for several pieces. Children will enjoy an instrument petting zoo at 1:30 and a Show ‘n Tell, a chance to see and hear instruments played up close, at 2:15.

The orchestra will perform the perennial favorite, The Little Engine that Could, written by Allen Feinstein and narrated by orchestra president Leslie Holmes. The middle school strings will join the symphony for Highlights from Harry Potter by John Williams, Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst, and the glorious Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. A Simple Introduction to the Orchestra by William Kraft showcases the different sections of the orchestra, all to the tune of the children’s song Frére Jacques.

The winner of the WSO 2011 Young Soloist Competition is cellist Sasha Scolnik-Brower, a junior at Phillips Academy in Andover. In 2011 he was a firstplace winner of both the Boston Symphony Concerto Competition and the Boston Youth Symphony

Concerto Competition. He studies with Natasha Brofsky at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, having previously studied with Andrew Mark, Thomas Kraines, and Jan MullerSzeraws. As a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, he has toured England, Germany, and the Czech Republic. As a soloist, Sasha has performed with orchestras including the Reading Symphony, Nashua Chamber Orchestra, Longy School of Music Chamber Orchestra, and Merrimack Valley Philharmonic. Sasha is a passionate chamber musician, and in 2010 was a semifinalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a member of the Kaleva String Quartet. He performs regularly with his mother, flutist Julie Scolnik, and sister, pianist Sophie Scolnik-Brower.

When not playing music, Sasha enjoys his academic studies, particularly French, English, physics, and math, and loves playing tennis. Sasha will play the famously difficult, hauntingly beautiful first movement of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto #1.

The 2011 WSO Special Achievement Award is being given to Yugo Okutomo, 8, a third grader at the Angier School in Newton. He is a violin student of Bonnie Black, and he truly loves to play the violin, anytime and anywhere...from summer folk fid-

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dling festivals to more formal performances such as this special opportunity to play with the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Yugo plays his favorite sport, soccer, with the Newton Youth Soccer League. Other favorite activities include swimming, camping, skiing, and sleep-overs with his best friend. Yugo is a voracious reader, and in his spare time can be found reading virtually any books he can get his hands on. Yugo will perform the virtuosic Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, third movement.

Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and stu-

dents, and free for children under 12 and may be purchased at Walgreen’s, 266 Washington Street, Wellesley Books, 82 Central Street, on-line, and at the door.

There is plenty of free parking at

the college. Call 781-235-0515 or visit www.wellesleysymphony.org.

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 12

March1, 2012

Brooks Returns to Norwood

safe from those crimes.

"In law enforcement these days, the number one issue right now is the increasing rates of heroin and opiate abuse," he said. "I think people realize that it's an issue in Massachusetts, but they may not know that it's as bad or worse here as anywhere else."

Wellesley Deputy Police Chief Takes Top Job

BY DAVE HALPERIN Deputy Police Chief Bill Brooks is trading his assistantship for a chief's role, and his Wellesley uniform for some new Norwood blues, 8.5 miles away as the crow flies.

For Brooks, the move to Norwood is a return to the police department where he served as a detective sergeant for 14 years, from 1986-2000.

"Professionally, it's appealing to me," Brooks said. "I've been a police officer for 35 years, so the opportunity to be a chief is appealing to me, and it's particularly appealing to go back to a community I'm familiar with and a department I'm familiar with."

Norwood welcomes a man known statewide for his substance

abuse prevention expertise, his work ethic, and his communication skills.

"I don't even know where to begin with Bill," said Wellesley Chief of Police Terrence Cunningham, when asked to characterize his deputy chief of nearly 12 years.

"When I had the opportunity to bring him here (when Cunningham himself was promoted to chief from deputy chief), it was just a no-brainer. He's so revered by the law enforcement community.

"He's a dedicated professional who's just about getting the job done, not being heralded," Cunningham continued. "He was just artful."

Moving from the shores of the Charles River to the banks of the Neponset, Brooks will find a town

of similar size and population - each is approximately 10.5 square miles and is home to approximately 28,000 people - and, like Wellesley, Norwood recently unveiled a new high school.

There are differences, however; for example, Norwood has an airport, lacks major colleges, and involves a socioeconomic shift.

Brooks said substance abuse leads to a high rate of opiate deaths and an increase in housebreaks and identity theft. He said Massachusetts was the first state to record a higher rate of deaths due to opiate abuse compared to deaths caused by automobiles.

Brooks said he is focused on the big picture: the causes and types of crimes that occur regardless of geography and town character, and how to keep people

In addition to Chief Cunningham, other members of the Wellesley community praised Brooks' service to the town.

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March 1, 2012

Page 13

Fostering Healthy Relationships, Now and Later Youth Commission Programs Beginning Late March

BY DAVE HALPERIN The goal of upcoming programming being offered by the Youth Commission is the fostering of healthy relationships, now and in the future, for teens.

abusive relationship might look like," says REACH's Colleen Armstrong. "We want to help them recognize the warning signs...and, ultimately, understand what can be done if they, or a friend, is going through it."

Overwhelmingly, Armstrong notes, teens will talk to their friends when something is going wrong in a relationship, so the program will address peer support and intervention.

"It's a difficult conversation to have, and that's the first thing to acknowledge," she says, adding that PAVE's work is not just a conversation.

"There's a lot of interactive activity, some small group work, and we'll also take a look at media images, to recognize where we're getting our messages from and [ask], are they good?"

"We want to set healthy foundations for youth so they can go on and develop healthy relationships with friends, which translates into healthy teen relationships, and then adult dating relationships," says Youth Commission Director Maura Renzella.

To help Wellesley teens and their parents meet these goals, Renzella has partnered with the nonprofit groups REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and IMPACT Boston to bring five anti-domestic violence sessions to town in late March and April.

A single-session parents-only program - for parents of children of any age - meets on March 21, while the program for youth in grades 8-12 meets on March 27 and April 3, 10, and 24.

Run by PAVE (Peers Against ViolencE, the youth arm of REACH) the first three teen sessions aim to help youth understand what a healthy relationship is, and what it isn't.

"We're really going to be focusing on defining what a healthy relationship is, what it looks like to them, and what an unhealthy and

PAVE's three sessions will segue into the fourth teen session, a visit from IMPACT Boston, a personal safety and self-defense education outfit.

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confronted by violence, or may need to talk to a friend or boyfriend or girlfriend about abusive behavior.

"It's easy to think about having this conversation intellectually and academically; you feel very safe... and you know what people want to hear, but it's a very different thing when you feel adrenaline in your body," Stone explains. "What's it really like to stand up in front of someone and say, 'What are you doing?'"

IMPACT instructors, wearing full body protection, will challenge students to "stand face to face with them and tell them you don't like what they're doing."

Meanwhile, the purpose of the single-session parents' program, run by REACH instructor Joanne Patterson, is two-fold: to prevent unhealthy teen relationships from happening in the first place; and to help parents recognize if their teen is in such a relationship, and then help them intervene in a positive manner.

Patterson says the difficulty of helping teens caught in an abusive relationship is the understandable tendency of parents to go into "protective mode," where they demand their teen stop seeing their significant other immediately. Arguing that this isn't realistic and can backfire, she says REACH

will help parents achieve a balance between helping them out of the relationship and respecting their decision-making.

In the best case scenario no one is ever in that situation, so Patterson will help parents discover ways to have conversations with children of any age about healthy and unhealthy relationships - a conversation that doesn't happen often enough, she says.

"You're more likely to have a good talk with your kids if you have them before they're in a relationship, and [you if you do it] in a healthy way," she says.

Page 14

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March1, 2012

March Calendar of Events February 29 and March 1, 2, and 10 Wellesley High School presents the 2012 Winter Play, a selfscripted and student-directed 40 minute one-act show. A story of interstellar proportions awaits you in the all new WHS theater! Wed. 2/29 @ 4:30 pm. Thurs. 3/1 @ 7:30 pm. Fri. 3/2 In-school performance (3rd block) for WHS students only. Sat. 3/10 Performance @ METG (Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild) High School Drama Festival Semi-Finals at Weston High School; time TBD. $5 entrance fee at the door.

March 4 Choral Society benefit. On Sunday, March 4, at 2:00 pm, a Concert of Chamber and Vocal Music to benefit Wellesley Choral Society takes place at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills. This intimate concert features Edward Whalen, tenor, and Trio Viscaria. The performance is followed by a festive reception during which the audience can mingle with the artists. Complimentary refreshments provided.

Directions to the church can be found at www.wellesleychoralsociety.org. The church is handicapped accessible and there is ample free parking. Suggested donation: $20, students $5.

March 5, and each Monday WAGLY Meetings. WEST SUBURBAN ALLIANCE OF GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH (WAGLY) at Unitarian Universalist Society, Wellesley Hills,

309 Washington St., every Monday (except public holidays) from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.Nonprofit support organization for Metrowest GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) high school youth and straight allies providing weekly social and educational programs. Information: www.WAGLY.org; info@WAGLY.org March 5 Health Issues Meeting. Town of Wellesley to Host Report from CHNA 18 Identifying Major Health Issues in Nine Communities Including Wellesley. Community-wide meeting on March 5, 2012, 2:00-4:00 PM at the Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St., to share results of a report identifying major health issues in the nine cities and towns in CHNA 18.

Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the report, provide feedback on the data collected, and discuss the results with colleagues. Attendees will receive a hard copy of the report. The report and additional data will also be available on March 5th on the CHNA website, www.chna18.org. Directions and Parking: http://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/directions/inde x.html.

March 7 and 8 The Fulller Brook Park Preservation Project, Phase 3: Final Design & Permitting Meetings.

March 7th – 7:00 PM, Great Hall,

Town Hall. March 8th – 9:00 AM, Juliani Meeting Room, Town Hall. (This is an encore presentation for those unable to attend the March 7th meeting) March 8 Meet The Candidates Night, Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Wellesley, Thursday, March 8, 2012, 7:00pm – 9:15pm, Sprague Elementary School. 7:00-7:30: Meet your Precinct’s Town Meeting Candidates and mingle with the Town-Wide Candidates over dessert. 7:30-9:15: Recognition of retiring Town officials & Town-Wide Candidate presentations with Q&A. This program is free and open to the public! This is your chance to: Meet your precinct’s town meeting candidates! Hear from candidates for town-wide office! Ask questions!

Questions? Call Jean Childs, (781) 235-0963 March 9 Skater and author Kristi Yamaguchi at Wellesley Books. 4 p.m.

Yamaguchi will talk to fans and share her new picture book IT'S A BIG WORLD, LITTLE PIG! featuring Poppy the Pig and her latest adventure at the World Games ice-skating championship in Paris! Tickets cost $5 and may be used as a $5 coupon towards the purchase of DREAM BIG, LITTLE PIG or IT'S A BIG WORLD, LITTLE PIG! Only one coupon is applicable per book purchase. To reserve your ticket(s) please call Wellesley Books at

781.431.1160. Tickets are non-refundable and at 3:55 pm on the day of the event, unfilled seats will go to those in the standby line. All tickets will be held at Wellesley Books and may be picked up at any time prior to the event or at the event itself.

March 11 Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Family Concert, 3 p.m., Mass Bay Community College. The Wellesley Middle School Grade 7-8 String Orchestra joins the Symphony for several pieces.

Children will enjoy an instrument petting zoo at 1:30 and a Show 'n Tell, a chance to see and hear instruments played up close at 2:15.Tix are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12, and may be purchased at Walgreen’s, 266 Washington Street, Wellesley Books, 82 Central Street, on-line, and at the door. There is plenty of free parking at the college. Call 781-235-0515 or visit www. wellesleysymphony.org.

March 11 Wellesley High School Dance Team. WHS Dance competes at

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March 13 Town Election. Not to be confused with the Primary Election on March 6, or Town Meeting on March 28, the Town Election includes contested races for positions on the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, as well as Town Meeting Member positions.

Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For polling places visit http://www.wheredoivotema.com /bal/myelectioninfo.php\ March 28 Annual Town Meeting. Town Meeting Members discuss and vote on the 2012 Warrant for Town Meeting, including articles on a partial leaf blower ban, the creation of a new Facilities Maintenance Department, and several fund transfers and appropriations.

To view the Warrant, visit http:// www.wellesleyma.gov/Pages/We llesleyMA_Selectmen/2012ATM /signedwarrant.pdf

Film: I AM I AM is an inspiring and entertaining non-fiction film that asks two provocative questions: what’s wrong with our world, and what can we do to make it better? http://youtu.be/PeqB8JwpdE4 (follow the link for the movie trailer) Tom Shadyac, director of a series of Hollywood comedy blockbusters, steps in front of the camera to recount what happened to him after a serious cycling accident left him incapacitated. After eventually recovering he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to investigate how we can improve the world we live in.

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state meet in Lowell. 2012 MSSAA Winter State Dance Tournament. Sunday, March 11 at Lowell High School.

Armed with his curiosity and a small film crew, Shadyac meets with a variety of remarkable men and women from the worlds of science, philosophy, academia, and faith – including David Suzuki, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lynne McTaggart and many more. The result is a fresh, energetic, and life-affirmfilm that challenges our preconPaying ceptions about human behaviour.

In the process of trying to figure

out what’s wrong with the world, Shadyac discovers there’s more right than he ever imagined. He learns that we're far more interconnected than we're led to believe and that humans function better and remain healthier when expressing positive emotions like love, care, compassion, and gratitude.

"Everyone needs to see this film" - Bruce Cohen, Academy Award winning producer (American Beauty) Film: "I AM" - Join World of Wellesley and The Youth Commission for a screening of "I AM" on Tuesday, March 20th at the Wellesley Middle School Auditorium.

Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. and the film will start at 7:05 p.m. (running time: 80 mins). After the film please join us for a thoughtful discussion until 9:00. No Charge for the event and everyone, 10 and over, are welcome to participate. Any questions about the event please contact Michelle Chalmers, Board Member of World of Wellesley, at moh 23321@aol.com or 781.591.9435.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March 1, 2012

Page 15

Skunks, Coyotes, Wellesley to Host Report from CHNA 18 Rodents, and More Warm Weather, Other Factors Change Identifying Major Wildlife Patterns Health Issues

BY DAVE HALPERIN

West Suburban Community Health Network Area 18 (CHNA 18) will hold a community-wide meeting on March 5, 2012, 2:004:00 PM at the Wellesley Free Library, to share results of a report identifying major health issues in the nine cities and towns in CHNA 18, including Brookline, Dedham, Dover, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, Weston and Westwood.

At the meeting, attendees will hear: Unique data that is not easily available to the public, What the major health issues are in their town or city, How their town/city compares to others in the CHNA, in the region, and across Massachusetts, What people who live and work in each town think are the major health issues and what are they doing about it, What can be done to address

these major health issues, and How to use the data in the report for program planning, grant writing, and to encourage community involvement Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the report, provide feedback on the data collected, and discuss the results with colleagues. Attendees will receive a hard copy of the report. The report and additional data will also be available on March 5th on the CHNA website, www.chna18.org.

Meeting Details Where: Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St, Wellesley MA, 02482, 781-235-1610 When: Monday, March 5th, 2:00-4:00. Light snacks will be provided.

Directions and Parking: http://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/directions/index.html

Visit us online:

www.wellesleytownnews.com

Wellesley residents may notice an increase in the skunk population this winter and spring, due to their proliferation during a warm winter with little snow accumulation. The warm weather may also be one of the causes although it would be impossible to say for sure - of recent coyote attacks on dogs in Wellesley.

According to Animal Control Officer Sue Webb, skunks in the area have fared well this winter without the hindrance of snow, which can keep them inside their dens more often during the winter. Instead, they've been "outside", foraging for food.

"There were no skunks last year, because they couldn't even get out of their dens," Webb said. "This year, they're doing fine."

Rodents on the other hand, could have suffered this winter due to a severe lack of acorns across New England; but, like the skunks, rodents were able to take advantage of the lack of snow and forage for food on the ground.

"This winter the rodents are down but they're able to

houses, from such sources as birdfeeders. Therefore, with more rodents prowling, it is possible that coyotes were drawn to the same residential plots, preying on the rodents.

Two Wellesley households reported that their dogs were attacked by coyotes, with one family dog losing its life in early February; others have reported seeing packs of coyotes.

But Webb dismissed the presence of any sort of patterns, even if the possibility of one is often on her mind.

"I keep looking at patterns, and, yes, [the recent attacks] come as a concern that [the coyotes] went after two dogs, but we just have to get the word out that people have to stay close to their dogs, and we'll hope for the best," she said.

move around a lot easier," Webb said. "So we may see an explosion of everything this year."

"I've been getting lots of calls about squirrels and other rodents," she added. "There was no snow cover, so everything is running around."

Due to the lack of acorns, Webb said, rodents were probably also more likely to seek out food in and around Wellesley yards and

Webb said that dogs less than 20 pounds are especially at risk of a coyote attack, and that all dogs should always be close to their human companion. Coyotes, she said, can take advantage of dogs being left in back yards within an invisible fence or a low, wooden fence, which the agile coyotes can easily jump over.

"If the owners are there with them, [the coyotes] won't come close," Webb said. "We're too scary looking to them."

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Page 16

March1, 2012

Town Meeting to Vote on Maintenance Department

BY DAVE HALPERIN If a town is something of a nonprofit business, then its buildings must be one of its most important assets. But, as Town Meeting heard in 2011, Wellesley has done a poor job of maintaining those buildings; luckily, one group says, the problem is an organizational one and the solution could save the town money.

According to a recent presentation by the Ad Hoc Facilities Maintenance Committee (FMC), a consultant had found "multiple, glaring problems" in the maintenance of town-owned facilities, including "lack of detailed plans, multiple bosses, no consensus on approach" and "inadequate maintenance and preventative maintenance [and] inadequate funds." Learning of such issues in 2011, Town Meeting approved the creation of the FMC, and the group has been working since then to develop a proposal for change.

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Enter the notion of a Facilities Maintenance Department (FMD), which would centralize most of the town's facilities' maintenance operations - including the town and school's facilities departments - under one roof and under the leadership of a Facilities Maintenance Department Director who would report directly to the town's executive director.

Likewise, the move would turn the town's departments, includ-

ing the schools, into customers of the new FMD. (The Department of Public Works would remain independent until Fiscal Year 2013, while Municipal Light Plant and Water and Sewer would stay separate indefinitely.)

The FMC is asking Town Meeting for the transfer of $1.5 million into a Facilities Maintenance Capital Fund, similar to the town's Stabilization Fund, for Fiscal Year 2012, followed by an additional $1 million in subsequent years (as voted on in those years by Town Meeting) to fund the FMD. Town Meeting will vote in March on whether to create the department, which would begin operations on July 1, 2012.

FMC Chair Tom Goematt told the Board of Selectmen at a recent meeting that the move would mean long term cost savings for Wellesley, due to cost and resource sharing, and decreased energy consumption through the work of a new energy manager position within the FMD. "There certainly is a feeling that [sharing resources and manpower] has not been done well to date, and there is a feeling that we can prevent much higher costs in the future," he said, adding, "We believe there are definitely savings to be had through professional energy management."

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 17

School News

Sponsored By

The Year of the Dragon Wellesley Chinese Language School Celebrates New Year, School Anniversary

BY DAVE HALPERIN The Italo-American Club on Oak Street could barely contain the excitement and movement generated by the Wellesley Chinese Language School's Chinese New Year celebration on January 28, when student and adult performers and presenters took the stage to mark the start of the Year of the Dragon, after guests enjoyed a buffet of Chinese cuisine.

Prior to the dancing, singing, storytelling, and Chinese language and culture performances by the school's students, Board member Helen Fang explained the significance of the Year of the Dragon.

"The dragon is a symbol of power and excellence," she said.

"This combination ensures the dragon has the combined head of all living beings and all their power."

Since December of 2010, the Wellesley Chinese Language School has been offering classes on Sundays at the Wellesley Congregational Church in Wellesley Square, and the recent New Year celebration also served to mark the school's one-year anniversary.

"We got together [to talk about starting a school] in the Wellesley Free Library in the spring of 2009," Fang told celebrants. "We didn't expect that one and a half years later our school would not only be up and running after all the hardships and ups and downs, but would be in full swing."

Today the school strives to fulfill its mission of teaching Chinese language to all.

"The Wellesley Chinese Language School is founded on the premise that everyone can learn Chinese, whether coming from a

bilingual, 'heritage' background or beginning Chinese as a monolingual adult," its mission statement declares. "Our school strives to educate, challenge, and inspire Wellesley and its surrounding communities by presenting quality curriculum incorporating Chinese language learning classes and Chinese cultural studies for both children and adults, thereby promoting cross-cultural understanding."

The school's success, said Fang, is a credit to the efforts of many.

"When I see parents and children holding hands in school, I often get emotional," she said. "So that's why I always thank all the parents, teachers and volunteers... We can proudly say that we have the most responsible teachers and outstanding curriculum, and we are putting our children in good hands."

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March1, 2012

School News

Sponsored By

WHS Student Takes National Science Honor Senior Christina de Fontnouvelle is Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist

BY DAVE HALPERIN Recognizing a potential for scientific advancement, Wellesley High School senior Christina de Fontnouvelle decided to take a chance last summer when, while working at the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute, she asked for and received permission to perform research into antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

That risk paid off, as de Fontnouvelle has been recognized as an Intel Science Talent Search 2012 semi-finalist. More importantly, her research may have set the table for future breakthroughs in the fight to combat bacterial resistance to certain antibiotics.

For the past two summers, the Wellesley resident has been working with the Forsyth Institute's Dr. Ricardo Teles. Following her jun-

Chinese New Year Celebration On February 8, the Wellesley Middle School held a Chinese New Year Celebration.

Students saw performances, took part in activities, and learned about Chinese cultural traditions.

Photos by Connie Main.

ior year at WHS, her research found that auto-aggregation (the adherence of many cells to each other) in the bacteria F. nucleatum (F. Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp. nucleatum) induces the production of beta-lactamases - bacterial enzymes that can prevent a class of antibiotics, including Amoxicillin, from doing their job.

F. nucleatum is a pathogenic oral bacterium that can also cause serious infections in other areas of the body.

It was already known that bacterial cells can create these enzymes; however, de Fontnouvelle discovered that the bacterial cells, when attached to each other, can pass the ability to make these enzymes to their neighbors. Furthermore, she found that the aggregated F. nucleatum can pass along antibiotic resistance to Streptococcus pyo-

genes, which causes Group A streptococcal infections.

The student's decision to pursue the investigation was a product of her scientific curiosity and the recognition of a gap in current research. But when she started, she wasn't so sure her thesis would be proven true.

"Never did I think that I would discover a previously unknown mechanism of beta-lactamase induction through the work that was to come... There was some trial and error, and at times my high level of independence in this project was stressful, but in the end it was really rewarding as I saw my hard work come to fruition in a new discovery," she said in an email.

De Fontnouvelle said the importance of the discovery lies in the widespread usage of Amoxycillin.

In the future, "New treatments should be explored for certain infections, either by targeting mechanisms by which these bacteria produce beta lactamase, or by using other antibiotics," she wrote.

Any current or future contribution by de Fontnouvelle to our scientific knowledge can probably be traced to her learning the scientific method in Wellesley Public Schools.

"My experience with WPS has really sparked my interest in science," she wrote. "I have found the science curriculum here in Wellesley to be not only really strong and thorough, but also incredibly engaging. [WHS] science courses often place an emphasis on lab work and activities rather than lectures and textbook notes."

In March, de Fontnouvelle will present her work at the 2012

American Association for Dental Research Conference. It will also be published in the 2012 Special Edition of the Journal of Dental Research.

Recognition aside, the success of DF's work last summer has solidified her desire to pursue science academically and professionally, and for good reason.

"I also realized that my hard work could have a truly meaningful impact," she wrote.

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 19

Wellesley Sports Girls Take BSC, Move on to Tourney

BY MIKE STOLLER As the Wellesley girls’ basketball team cruised into the state tourney in February, they did so following a dramatic victory over Natick on February 16. A loss would have meant sharing the Bay State Conference title with their neighbors to the west, while a win would mean sole possession of the top spot.

Not to be denied, on a night that honored seniors and the last game in their high school gym, the Raiders recorded their seventh win in their final nine regular season games, taking down Natick, 65-49.

The regular season success had come as somewhat of a surprise for the Raiders – what after losing six talented seniors to graduation last year. The remarkable season certainly wasn’t expected, but Wellesley proved to be a driven group on a mission, especially as the Raiders closed out

their last campaign in their current gymnasium.

rallied to win in the final two minutes.

The Raiders had held up their end of the bargain by upsetting BSC Carey Division rivals Braintree and Newton North, and nonleague powerhouse Lincoln-Sudbury of the Dual County circuit as part of an earlier six-game winning streak.

“We were down the whole game,” Cieri said. “It was a big upset, considering we lost to them the first time.”

“[We’ve] come up big, and everybody’s been truthful to themselves,” Wellesley head coach Kristin Cieri said. “We expected to have sort of a down year, and the kids turned it around and have been playing above themselves and overachieving.”

Cieri was referring to such games as last month’s stunning 41-36 win over L-S, in which the Raiders trailed by as many as eight points for much of the game, but hung in there enough to cut the deficits in half at times and finally

The Raiders also overcame a first quarter injury to junior starter, 6foot forward Charlotte Bussema, who sprained her ankle two minutes in and missed the rest of the game. Bussema was hoping to recover in time for the tourney.

Junior 6-foot-3 center and captain Grace Miller led the Raiders with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Leigh Berndsen followed with eight points and 10 boards.

The Raiders trailed, 10-2, early, but slowly crawled their way back in.

“We got the ball inside to Grace and Leigh, and we played disciplined and did not try to get it all back at once,” Cieri said. "We slowly got it back.”

Senior standout captain Caroline Harrington capped off a stellar defensive effort by forcing a key turnover with 25 seconds left in the game and Wellesley leading, 38-36.

Grace Miller for two against Natick. Photo by Connie Main.

bench. With Magpiong and Bussema hurt and Harrington also injured during the midseason, Garpestad has thrived in an increasing role, playing strong defense and depositing four to six points per game.

pact at some point during the campaign.

“It’s been a different person every night,” Cieri said. “It’s an interesting and fun group. They’re not thinking about [the past], just

“She basically went for a steal, and knocked it out of bounds off the L-S player,” Cieri said. “[She] had an outstanding defensive game.”

The Warriors were forced to foul in the waning moments, and Harrington and sophomore point guard Sophia Mavrommatis canned a combined three free throws to seal the win for Wellesley.

Co Captain Shannon Magpiong makes a triumphant return to the court after being sidelined by injury. Photo by Connie Main.

The Raiders had also endured much of the season without injured Caroline Harrington (left) and Grace Miller fight for a loose ball. Photo by Connie Main. senior star captain Shannon Magpiong, who started the first three games “She’s been a good leader,” Cieri trying to achieve what they can before getting hurt. But Magpiong said. now and sharpen the focus.” made a dramatic return for the Rounding out this year’s cast is The coach summed up, “It was Raiders final regular season game junior guard/forward Amanda not so much that we were going in against Natick, and at 5 feet, 11 Harkavy, sophomore guard Natalie [to the season] with expectations inches, she makes a big impact on Harte, freshman guard Lexi Jones but with goals. And we wanted to the wing as a guard/forward. and freshman forward Catherine play a first round [tourney] game Cieri praised senior guard Claire McNamara. All have made an im- at home in the new building.”

Garpestad as the first player off the

Page 20

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March1, 2012

Wellesley Sports LAST HURRAH continued from page 1

Osborn, Reed Westerman, Avery Brooks, Connor Darcey, and Paul Santangelo. "... It's the last game to be played in Larsson gym, so these guys can say they were the last to play here, and these seniors can say they were the last seniors ever to play at Larsson."

In the first game, the boys didn't let down a fan base eager to send the old gym out in style. Feeding off an emotional student section and a no vacancy family side, they won with pressure defense, offensive ball movement, and the stellar play of guards Cedric White,

Cooper Ainge, and Harry James.

White was especially dominant, one moment hounding Natick guards all night and turning steals into breakaway layups and opportunities for teammates, then turning around and hitting threes or slicing through the lane for buckets in traffic.

"It was a career night for Cedric, and I think that was true both offensively and defensively," Magpiong said afterwards.

While Wellesley controlled much of the first half, Natick was able to pull within one at the break, 31-30.

But that would be all the Hawks could muster in the face of the

Raiders intensity and deadly outside shooting.

At the start of the third, White nailed a three to get things going, and after the teams traded buckets and turnovers, Ainge hit a three of his own to make it 39-33. Then James converted a trey off a dish from Ainge, making it 42-33 and leading to a Natick timeout with 3:59 left in the third quarter.

Four minutes later the game was virtually over, as Wellesley led 5741 heading into the fourth. The final tally was 77-60.

The girls, meanwhile, had a lot to play for that night - the Bay State Conference title was at stake in

Coach Glenn Magpiong, backed by players and fans.

their game against Natick, which came into the contest one game behind Wellesley in the standings.

Not to be denied, the Raiders came out on top, 65-49, on a night when seniors Shannon Magpiong, Caroline Harrington, and Calire Garpestad were honored.

But this night was about more than just basketball, as so many were honored and so many memories of the old gym were recalled.

Former girls' lacrosse and field hockey coach Chris Molonea paid tribute to the custodians "who do all the extra things to make things run safely and smoothly" and Magpiong acknowledged Athletic Department Secretary Maryanne McDonald with Athletic Trainer Patty Hickey with bouquets of flowers.

Cedric White (rebounding) and Harry James during the game against Natick. Photos by Connie Main

The Rice Street Singers and the Keynotes sing the National Anthem, led by Choir Director Dr. Kevin McDonald.

Athletic Director John Brown later talked of the memories that have been created in the gym over the years, recalling a time when 1,200 people filled Larsson during

the girls' team's state championship run in 2008. He also talked of the Raiders many fans, including one 12 year old girl who comes to every game, and longtime supporter and WHS math instructor Chuck Tiberio, who that night was given a plaque to honor his "presence at every basketball game," in the words of Molonea.

Tiberio told a reporter it wouldn't be easy to say goodbye to a place where he'd spent so much time.

"It's tough to see the place go.

I've spent two-thirds of my entire life in this building," he said.

Asked how the new gym could possibly build up the character and charm of the old one, Brown said it would be a product of teammates and fans filling the space with memories.

"You develop it by your student body, your fan base, and your community," he said.

Boys Coach Glen Magpiong thanks Patty Hickey and Maryanne McDonald (left).

March 1, 2012

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 21

Wellesley Sports

Tarheel Phenom to Coach Wellesley Girls Lacrosse

BY MARY KAYE CHRYSSICAS With her tousled blonde curls, penetrating eyes and contagious smile, new Wellesley High School Girls Lacrosse Coach Sarah Dacey looks more like a lifeguard that causes you to swim far out into the ocean, just to be rescued. But looks can be deceiving, because Dacey is actually a legend in the soccer and lacrosse worlds - and is possibly one of the fastest women ever to grace a field.

Raised in Framingham with three big brothers, they made sure their little sister was resilient, competitive, and tough. Her parents were also supportive, driving Dacey to all her practices and lacrosse and soccer games. They never pushed her and always allowed her to be exactly who she was. Fortunately, she was very self motivated and a gifted athlete. If she made a commitment to a team, Dacey's parents expected her to follow through with that commitment. They'd never allow her to miss a practice just because she didn't feel like going. Most importantly, they enjoyed the journey and meeting the other parents and kids along the way.

Dacey explained, "They were perfect because I had some success, and they never let it get to my head. They always preached about just being a good sport and teammate." That attitude helped her dominate at Framingham High, where she was named Parade NSCAA All American. As an athlete, Dacey described how she prepared for games: "I thought positively and visualized success.

I always played my best in the big games... Making sure you ease

your anxiety is helpful." That seems to be the big difference between great athletes and mediocre ones. They take the anxiety out of performance. So it's no surprise that during her senior year, she led the Framingham Flyers to win the State Championship.

In 1994, the UNC Tarheels recruited Dacey, and she wound up playing both lacrosse (actually founding the team) and soccer for renowned Coach Anson Dorrance.

Her coach forced her to look inside herself and develop mental toughness. Dacey says, "I take a lot of

things from Anson. He taught me about discipline and pushing myself. He was all about putting people first, which I loved. It didn't matter if you were a great soccer player, just a great person. That's what mattered: character."

As a two-time All-American midfielder, she led her UNC lacrosse team to two NCAA Final Fours and her soccer team to three NCAA national championships. In addition to making All-American, she was a 2-time team MVP and

2-time All-ACC Conference player. After graduating, Dacey became an assistant at Boston College for both soccer and lacrosse. But she soon missed being on the run and jumped back on the fields to play professionally for the Carolina Courage and then the Boston Breakers as a starter. In 2003 she was the associate Athletic Director, soccer and lacrosse coach for the Faye School. In 2005 she was offered the head soccer and assistant lacrosse job at Babson College.

After 5 years at Babson, Dacey is now the Director of Coaching for the FC Greater Boston Bolts club teams.

Dacey has trained under legends, taking the best from their styles to create her own unique approach.

As a coach, she describes herself as "tough but fair. I like to think I

can get the most out of my players.

I have high expectations and know what female athletes are capable of at all levels. I believe in pushing yourself to be the best you can be.

And I expect my players to be good teammates to one another."

Dacey commands a great deal of respect from young adults. When asked why kids respond to her, she offered, "I think they understand that I have been where they are and played many roles on teams. I identify with the kid who starts and

the one who may sit on the bench.

I have a unique ability to tap into my inner kid, and I also think humor helps. If it's not fun, then why are you doing it?"

COACHES CORNER

John Brown, Athletic Director for Wellesley High School, jumped at the chance to hire Sarah Dacey and bring new energy to the girls' lacrosse program. She will be joined by assistant coach Katie Boshko, who played for Dacey at Babson College and is a personal trainer. The season will not be easy, since they lost the majority of their starters to graduation, but Dacey is unfazed.

How would you describe yourself?

"I think every year, every team is different," she said. "I never knew last year's varsity team so it's a fresh start. I know they were very strong, yet we hope to remain a top team in the Bay State Conference and go deep into the state tournament.

The reality is, you graduate players and get excited for new seasons because the team makeup changes with new faces, emerging leaders. It's a new start all the way around with a new coaching staff and a fresh look at a varsity squad, and it's my job to teach them as much as I can. Success can be measured in many different ways, so I look forward to the opportunity."

Wellesley athletes are pumped to learn from this powerhouse and have already received their extensive training instructions for the coming months. Captains Marina Guigli, the team's goalie, and Molly McNamara, a midfielder, doubt the transition will be difficult. "There's room on the lacrosse team for many of the younger players who have already proven they can play at the varsity level in soccer, basketball and ice hockey," McNamara said. "Our new coach is inspiring so we are all excited for the new season," Guigli agreed.

One thing is certain: Don't challenge Sarah Dacey in a race.

Mary Kaye Chryssicas is an author, yoga teacher, motivational speaker and lacrosse coach.

Sarah Dacey Speaks With Mary Kaye Chrissicas Intense, funny, loyal, understanding and definitely curious.

What do you love about coaching?

I love teaching the game, being around people and learning about what motivates them as an athlete and person. I enjoy coaching young women and having a positive impact.

What defines a great athlete?

Great athletes have speed, exceptional hand/eye coordination, body control, vision, spatial awareness, passion, discipline and a competitive attitude.

The best athletes?

Work the hardest and define sacrifice.

Pet Peeve?

Players who don't appear to work hard and aren't willing to learn.

What makes a winning team?

Good team chemistry, talent, communication, shared goals, playing with heart, respect and appreciation for what makes us all different and a little luck.

Who are your role models?

My family had a huge impact on me.

My mom died when I was 17 so they have always been supportive and kept me grounded. I also have great respect and admiration for my coaches Anson Dorrance, Bill Palladino and Jenny Levy.

Happiest when?

At the beach with close friends and family!

Remembered for?

Caring about what I do and making an impact on young people's lives.

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

Page 22

Wellesley Sports Wellesley Gymnasts Take BSC Again

BY DAVE HALPERIN

petition, where they placed fifth.

Orr said the team's 19 athletes are able to keep having fun; they

The Wellesley High School gymnastics team continued their amazing run, winning the Bay State Conference meet for the third year in a row on February 11 at Newton North High School, making them 36-1 over the last four years.

March1, 2012

support each other, and the competition.

"We lost our voices after every single meet this year, because we're cheering for ourselves and the girls

Freshman Becky Lapides on the beam.

focus," co-Head Coach Sage Orr said of the Bay State Conference meet win. "That's one of our teams' strength that we really try to focus, and also have fun."

Exemplifying that focus were Christa Perry, Ali Kelliher, and Molly Harrington. Perry placed first in the all-around competition and first in the bars, while Kelliher won the vault and placed third in the allaround. Harrington won the floor competition and placed third on the bars.

Ali Kelliher flies through the air, watched by Amy Hedlund and Lauren Raveret (foreground) and coaches Melissa McManus and Sage Orr.

Last year the team placed third at MIAA sectionals and second in the state meet, which earned them a spot in the all-New England com-

The team poses before a recent meet in their "spirit" leg warmers.

Varsity Dance Team Headed to States

on stage.” Practicing 4-5 afternoons each week and fundraising diligently for dance fees and team uniforms have made this team tough to beat and cohesive.

The Wellesley High School Varsity Dance Team returned home recently from the Emmanuel College Dance Competition with an impressive 3rd place finish in their division.

Coach Leahy, former captain of the Boston Celtics Dancers, is “very proud of these dancers’ hard work and dedication to doing their best, not only at performances but also at each practice.” The team’s hard work is certainly paying off.

Sunday’s performance is a nice indicator that these Wellesley high school dancers are ready for the next big competition - the State Dance Championships in March where they, along with all other high school dance teams in Massachusetts who have qualified for the State-level tournament, will compete for the State title.

Varsity dance team co-captains, Molly Astrove and Laine Wirth, both agree that “cohesiveness and camaraderie have also really helped the team to show it’s best

The Wellesley High School Varsity Dance Team performs at every Friday’s home basketball game for both the varsity boys' and girls’ teams.

The team, led by coach Alexis Leahy, consists of 15 dancers from the high school who danced to a remix of Lady Gaga songs and had the crowd clapping to the beat of the music during its performance. The choreography of the routine was entertaining and high-

Senior Captain Jess Gates warms up on the bar.

She said the idea of teamwork and supporting each other helps the team and individuals succeed.

"To compete not just for themselves but for their team, their high school, their coaches, it takes them out of the insular pressure of having to succeed only for themselves," she explained.

"They smile and they love what they're doing."

The victory, along with the team's first place finish in the Bay State Conference's regular season, set the groundwork for a six seed in the MIAA South Sectional meet, held on February 25, after Wellesley Local Town Pages press time.

"What stood out was just the team's cohesiveness and their

on the other teams," Orr said.

"These girls have been competing with and against each other since they were little kids and they want to see each other do well."

lighted the dancers’ mastery of technique and showmanship.

Local Town Pages www.wellesleytownnews.com

March 1, 2012

News Briefs

BY DAVE HALPERIN

New Flood Zones The Planning Department recently sent a notice to residents living on or near a flood plain.

Pending Town Meeting approval on March 28, the town will adopt Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) created by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, effective July 1, 2012.

FEMA has notified towns in Norfolk County that if they don't adopt the new maps, property owners will not be eligible for flood insurance policies or federal mortgage insurance and loan guarantees. The changes affect property owners' structures, not the properties themselves, unless future construction is planned.

According to Planning Department Chair Meghan Jop, those who purchase a flood insurance policy prior to the likely adoption of the new maps will be grandfathered in with lower cost policies.

To find out if a property is within a flood plain, visit the Planning Department's website at http://www.ci.wellesley.ma.us/Pa

Page 23

ges/WellesleyMA_Planning/inde x or call 781-431-1019 ext. 2232.

High School Parking Lot After the WHS community moved into its new building in late February, it was time for construction crews to begin demolition of the old high school, along with asbestos abatement.

That work will continue through June, possibly into July, at which point construction of the new parking lot (on the site of the old school) will begin.

The lot, said Owner's Project Manager Roger Gurney, will be completed in December 2012.

Until then, to keep demolition and school activities separate, "Traffic patterns will be relocated away from the existing school to the new one, including with a new bus drop-off and parent drop-off location," Gurney said.

The future entrance to the new high school (right) and the old building (left), where the future parking lot stand.

National Youth Art Month

School in Natick, Sprague Elementary School in Wellesley, and Tenacre Country Day in Wellesley will be participating in the store's student art exhibitions.

March means that Wellesley Books is celebrating Youth Art Month. The Central Street store will host readings, student art exhibitions, and craft activities, as well as highlight some of their favorite art books in the store. Select classes at Lilja Elementary

Youth Art Month is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. It provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are fostered through experience in

Wellesley Kitchen Tour Ticket on Sale March 1 The Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club (WHJWC) is pleased to announce that the 2012 Annual Wellesley Kitchen Tour of 6 amazing kitchens will occur on May 5, 2012.

The kitchens feature the work of some of the area's most talented interior designers and builders. We encourage you to mark the date on your calendar and plan to explore the possibilities that could await your kitchen.

Tickets will be available online beginning March 1 at whjwc.org.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $30 or on the day of the tour at the tour homes for $40.

All visitors must be 18+ years to be admitted to a Tour Home.

the visual arts that are not possible in other subjects offered in the curriculum. For more informa-

tion, see the informational booklet at http://www.acminet.org/ YAM%20Booklet.pdf.

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The WHJWC is a volunteer organization dedicated to community service.

Four fundraisers: the Wellesley Phone Book, the Wellesley Marketplace Craft Festival, Luminary Night and the Wellesley Kitchen Tour, provide scholarships for Wellesley students and support many area charitable organizations.

In 2009-2010, $137,000 was given back to our community in donations and scholarships. $68,500 was awarded to 48 students in amounts ranging from $750 to $3700, with the average award being $1,400. Another $68,500 was donated to local charitable organizations.

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