7/18/08:  Fundraiser for Sara Orozco, Monday, July 28, 7pm, home of Debra Weisenstein, 66 Woodridge Rd.  Refreshments, beer & wine, Special Guest Speakers: Tom Conroy, State Representative for Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland, Angus McQuilken, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.  On-street parking available.  Suggested donations of $25 $50 $100 or $250 gratefully appreciated.  RSVP by July 24th to 781-444-7944 or
rsvp@SaraOrozco.com.  Even if you cannot attend, you may make a donation at www.SaraOrozco.com or mail a check made out to the Committee to Elect Sara Orozco to 5 Alfreton Road, Needham, MA 02494.

7/11/08:  History book available.  A book about the history of Wayland entitled, "The Puritan Village Evolves" by Helen Fitch Emery is available and can be purchased at the Town Clerk's office for $25.  A great gift idea for Wayland fanatics!

7/11/08:  Brown office hours. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, will be holding office hours on Tuesday, July 22 at the Wayland Senior Center, 41 Cochituate Road, from 2:15 to 3 p.m. Office hours provide constituents an opportunity to stop in and voice any concerns they may have to Sen. Brown or a member of his staff. No appointment is necessary. If you have any questions regarding office hours you can email Sen. Brown’s office or phone him at 617-722-1555.

7/11/08:  Rep. Conroy Announces District Office Hours.  Representative Thomas Conroy is pleased to announce his local office hours for the month of July in Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland. No appointments are necessary and meetings are held on a first come, first served basis. Office hours and locations for Monday, July 14th in Wayland are at the Wayland Free Public Library, 5-5:30pm in the Raytheon room.  Tom or his legislative aide, Jenny Nathans, can also be reached at Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us or 617-722-2460.

7/11/08:  Important reminder to landscapers in Wayland.  Police Chief Robert Irving reminds landscapers working in Wayland of Wayland Bylaw 139-4, Obstructing Free Passage.  In past years, vehicles used by landscapers have been parked on the sides of narrow roads causing a safety hazard for motorists, pedestrians and the landscapers themselves. It is a violation of the town bylaw for vehicles to be parked in such a manner as to obstruct the free passage of vehicles or pedestrians.  Landscaper vehicles should be parked in the driveways of the residence where they are working or in an area that does not obstruct vehicles or pedestrians. At no time should a vehicle be parked on a sidewalk or in the travel lane of a through roadway. Police officers will be enforcing the bylaw, which carries a $300 fine.  Specific streets that have been known to have a chronic problem with landscaping vehicles blocking lanes include Pelham Island Road, Glezen Lane, Plain Road, Bow Road, Claypit Hill Road and East and West Plain streets.  All roads in town will be monitored for violations of the bylaw. It is also a parking violation for any vehicle to be parked on the grass of the historic site of the "Training Field," located at the intersection of Glezen Lane and Training Field Road. Landscapers are also reminded not to blow leaves or other debris into the roadway and that grass clippings and other debris removed from a residence must be disposed of properly. Leaves and grass clippings cannot be deposited at local cemeteries without permission.

7/8/08:  Would you like to host an international student this fall?  There are five high school students, all boys, from five different countries who need family placements for this coming year in the United States.  The metrowest district of AFS (American Field Service) needs to find homes for two of them. Take a moment to preview their short bios and photos. Please think about friends or colleagues that that you feel might consider hosting and take the time to contact them OR pass on their information to us and we will contact them and ask if they would like to host this fall.  These students will be arriving August 13-16 and will be staying for the academic year. At the very least, these students all need welcome families until permanent host families can be identified. Welcome families can be in place for varying times ranging from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.   AFS needs to find welcome families for these five boys by mid-July; paperwork on potential host families has to be underway by the end of July.  Please help us do all that you can to find wonderful families to host these kids. Feel free to ask Wayland residents Molly Faulkner, Beth Butler or Ann Gordon about their recent experiences with AFS; they can connect you to other residents who have either hosted or who've been AFS exchange students themselves.   Contact: Molly Faulkner at 508-358-7741, farringtonfamily@comcast.net or Jennifer Freeman at 508-405-4259 or jennifer.freeman@afsmassbay.org.

7/3/08:  Take the library's survey.  The library recently received a grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to plan and implement new programs and services to address the interests and needs of Wayland’s "baby boomer" community (currently age 45-65).   In order to identify the needs of active adult users, the library has created a survey. So, if you are over 45, please fill out the online survey. There will be print copies in the library itself, too, if you prefer paper. (Actually, you are welcome to fill it out even if you are younger than 45 or older than 65 because the library can use feedback from all age groups in planning programs!)

7/3/08:  Grocery Shopping Bus, Monday, July 21.  Hannaford in Waltham.  The Grocery Shopping Bus continues to be a FREE service. For reservations, call the COA office (NOT JFK) for this outing. Shoppers will be picked up at their homes in time for a 10am drop off at the grocery store. Shoppers will have 1 ¼ hours to shop. The van will return to the store to pick up shoppers with their groceries at 11:15am. Shoppers will be home no later than 12:15pm. Seats are limited so make your reservations early, COA office: 508-358-2990.

7/3/08: Free Blood Pressure Clinics.  The Wayland Board Of Health provides free blood pressure clinics on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (July 15th this month) from 10:45-11:15am in the Senior Center. Anyone needing a blood pressure measurement who is unable to make it to the clinics may call the Board Of Health’s Ruth Mori for an appointment (508-358-3617).

7/3/08:  Among activities run by the Council on Aging are: 

• TAI CHI ($5/class), Wed. 10:30-11:30am in the Town Building Hearing Room.  All levels welcome. Start anytime.  (Class is open to non-seniors on a space available basis). 
• Better Balance.  The Summer Session of Better Balance starts Monday, July 28 at 9:30am in the Wayland Senior Center. This is a 3 weeks session only. Classes are 60 minutes in length. Class fee is $19 for the 3 week session. Pre-registration is required no less than one week before the session starts.
• Mah Jongg Club.  Mahjong moves to Tuesdays at 1pm for the summer. If you are interested in Mah Jongg but have never played, we have “veteran” players who have offered to instruct our novice players. We would appreciate players bringing their set to share with members at their table as we do not own sufficient Mah Jongg sets to accommodate all.
• Genealogy Group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays, at 1pm in the senior Center. This is a gathering of people who share a common interest. New participants are always welcome.

For complete details, visit the COA website.

7/3/08:  Wayland/Weston Community Blood Drive, Monday, July 14.  St. Ann's Parish, 127 Cochituate Rd., Wayland, 12-6pm.  Enter a drawing to win Red Sox tickets as Blood Donor of the Game.  Please call 1-800-448-3543 for an appointment to donate.  Please bring a valid ID and drink plenty of fluids before donating.  All blood types needed.  Blood type "O" is in great need.  To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health. 

7/3/08:  Free Community Education Series.  Savor the summer and nourish the soul while learning to relax with Tai Chi Doo Yin (dowyin).  Tai Chi Doo Yin is a low-impact moving meditation for the novice.  This series will be led by Suzanne Reitz, RN of Parmenter.  Suzanne is certified in Holistic Nursing and Healing Touch.  The initial session will be July 8, from 10-11:30am, and will introduce Meridians, Mindfulness, Relaxation Response.  The class will experience warm-ups, Doo Yin and imaging.  The final two sessions are July 15 and July 22.  The potential benefits of Tai Chi Doo Yin are postural stability, balance, stress reduction, and pain reduction.  The location is the Dora Eftham Healing Garden, 10 Green Way.  This program is for adults only.  Please RSVP to 508-358-3000.

6/27/08:  Book Group Contacts: Do you belong to a book group? If so, the library would like to have a contact name for your book group. The library is planning some new literary programming next year, including a “community reads” event in which everyone in town reads the same book. They would love to be able to inform your book group about the selection as soon as it is confirmed so that you can put it on next year’s reading list. Please email contact information to Ann Knight at wayland@waylandlibrary.org or call 508-358-2311.

6/27/08:  Host an International Student.  There is an opportunity for a Wayland family to share their home and their lives with an international student.  International Experience-USA is seeking a host family in an effort to bring an overseas student to Wayland High School for the 2008-09 school year.  The students in the program are 11th graders, boys and girls, from a wide range of countries.  You can share your home, your heart, and your America and at the same time learn about another culture.  If you are interested, email Phil Murray or call 781-449-2309.  If you would like to learn more about the program, visit www.ie-usa.com

6/26/08:  Library Focus Groups: The library recently received a grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to plan and implement new programs and services to address the interests and needs of Wayland’s adult community. One of the grant requirements is that we get feedback from active, older adults in our town. Please go to www.waylandlibrary.org  to fill out our survey. Also, if you are in your 50’s or 60’s and are willing to participate in a focus group, please contact Library Director Ann Knight at aknight@minlib.net or 508-358-2311. Help make the library even better!  The library needs your participation.

6/26/08:  Library Hours: The library summer weekend hours begin on Saturday, June 28. During the summer the library will be open on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and closed on Sundays. Weekday hours remain the same as the rest of the year. Also, due to the holiday, the library will be closed from 6pm on July 3 through July 6.  Note: even though the library's tile roof is being replaced, the library is still open for all our regular hours, both upstairs and down, and waiting to serve you. The library expects the roofing work to be done by the end of July.  Come on in and pick up some books for the beach or some DVDs to enjoy on lazy summer evenings.

6/26/08:  Summer Reading Program: “Wild Reads,” our animal-themed reading program, encourages children to read during the summer months. To learn more, register for the program, and see our events calendar, visit www.waylandlibrary.org.

6/26/08:  Passport to Adventure Book Club: This club (for children ages 9 and 10) will feature reading, writing, and fun activities with local author Helen Kampion. We will meet on the following Tuesday mornings: July 8, 22, and August 5 from 10am-12pm. Sign up at the library between 6/17-7/1.

6/26/08:  TV series DVDs: They are in order at last. Actually, they always were in order—the order in which we bought them! Not a lot of help to you, the patron, when you wanted to find, say, all seasons of Foyle’s War. Well, now it’s a lot easier. We’ve kept the series DVDs in the same location—right after the non-fiction films and continuing into the corner by the stairs—but we’ve put them in alphabetical and numeric order. So, you’ll find every season of Foyle’s War together, first to fourth, right after The Forsyte Saga and just before Freaks and Geeks. Just look for the lavender label on the spine.

6/26/08:  Reminder about new booster seat law.  New Booster Seat law goes into effect on July 10, 2008.  Until age 8, all children under 57" are required to be in a booster seat.

6/26/08:  Looking for some great hikes this summer?  Visit some of SVT’s Top 20 Reservations. Trail maps are available online.

6/21/08:  Rep. Conroy Announces District Office Hours.  Representative Thomas Conroy is pleased to announce his local office hours for the month of July in Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland. No appointments are necessary and meetings are held on a first come, first served basis. Office hours and locations for Monday, July 14th in Wayland are at the Wayland Free Public Library, 5-5:30pm in the Raytheon room.  Tom or his legislative aide, Jenny Nathans, can also be reached at Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us or 617-722-2460.

6/18/08:  Sue Pope to meet with local residents over coffee.  Susan Pope, Republican candidate for state representative in the 13th Middlesex District, is inviting residents of Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury to sit down with her for a cup of coffee and a conversation about the issues that are most important to them.  “One of my favorite things about public service is the opportunity to talk one-on-one with people throughout the community,” Pope said. “Seniors, parents of school-age children and young people face very different issues in their daily lives, and they all offer a great perspective on what our towns really need. I look forward to hearing what they have to say.”  Pope's Wayland “meet and greet” days this summer will be June 26 at Starbucks, 5-6pm, July 9 at Caraways, 3-4pm, and August 7 at Starbucks, 7:30-8:30am.  If residents are unable to attend one of the meetings, Pope is inviting them to call her at (508) 358-2462. In addition, look for Sue in your neighborhood this summer as she goes door-to-door.  Pope, a 38-year Wayland resident, served as state representative for the 13th Middlesex District from 1997 to 2007. She is currently a member of the Wayland Finance Committee, and served on the town’s Board of Selectman and School Committee for a combined 18 years.

6/15/08:  Friends’ Award Goes to Ben Boegehold: Congratulations to Ben Boegehold, this year's winner of the Friends of the Wayland Public Library Award. The Friends present this award annually to a graduating Wayland High School senior who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and a love of literature and reading throughout his or her high school career. The recipient was chosen by the High School English Department and the award was presented during the Senior Awards Ceremony in June. The Friends wish Ben much success in his future endeavors.

6/15/08:  What's New at the Library?  A lot, that’s what! We’re adding things to the collection every day. To find out what they are, just go to our home page, put your cursor on “Reader’s Corner,” and click on “New Items.” From there, you’ll find lists of everything we put in the library in the previous month—every book, recorded book, DVD, and CD. Click on the item’s title and go right to the catalog page, where you can put it on hold by using the “Request” button. Everything new, right there for you.

5/28/08:  Summer Musical Theater:  "Hollywood Then and Now".  Take a trip with us to the beginning of Hollywood up until today. This is an original production created by our director, Jim Mullane, with skits and musical numbers that give each student a chance to shine. This production has individual roles and a company with lots of fun songs and dance numbers. The old classics, “Give My Regards to Broadway,” Hurray for Hollywood” and “Thanks for the Memory” combine with newer classics “Last Dance,” “Fame,” and “My Heart Will Go On” to make for a memorable performance to be enjoyed by family and friends the final evening of the program. No experience necessary.  (min and max of 18 students) Wiith Jim Mullane & staff (choreographer, music director, stage manager) at Wayland Middle School Theater.  Fee: $440 Ages: 9-14. Time: 9am-3pm, June 30 - July 18 (no class on 7/4) OR July 21—August 8.  Call JoAnn at Park & Rec at 358-3664 to register.

5/27/08:  Public Safety Trading Cards Contest from the Wayland Police Department.  Trading cards of Wayland Police Officers and Public Safety Dispatchers are available for distribution to members of the public.  There will be a contest with prizes awarded, open to all elementary school students.  The contest has been extended to run until November 19.  All Wayland elementary school students (K-5th grade, excluding immediate family members of Wayland Public Safety Personnel) are eligible.  Upon collecting all 27 trading cards, students may bring their cards to the Wayland Public Safety Building for verification, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm.  After these hours, Detective Chris Cohen may be contacted at 508-358-1723 to set up an appointment for verification of the cards.  Once the cards are verified, the student will be entered into a raffle.  Grand prize is a Nintendo Wii.  2nd price:  $100.00 Toys ‘R’ Us gift card.  3rd Prize:  $50.00 Toy ‘R’ Us gift card.  Multiple runner-up prizes.  Complete details are available online.

5/27/08:  FireWatch 2008 Poster/Calendar Contest.  Wayland elementary school students, use your art to illustrate the dangers of fire and the importance of fire safety. Enter the third annual FireWatch Poster Contest, sponsored by the Wayland Fire Department’s S.A.F.E. (Student Awareness of Fire Education) program, to help promote fire safety in our town.  To enter the competition, Wayland elementary students are asked to first plan and practice a home fire escape drill in their house and then create an original poster that relates to FireWatch themes for their grade. The themes by grade are: Grades K – 2: Show how something hot can start a fire.  Grades 3 – 5: Show how to protect yourself against fire using fire safety.  Directions on how to plan and practice a home fire escape drill are included online. All applicants will need to draw their fire escape plan on the handout and return their completed plan with the fire safety poster. Posters should be 8 ½ by 11 inches in size, and positioned horizontally (landscape graphic) on white paper. Please use markers, crayons or colored pencils only.  Entrants should print their name, address, phone number, grade, and school on the back of the escape plan handout and the fire safety art poster. Students may give the entry to their teacher to submit, or they can drop them off at one of the Wayland Fire Stations or mail to: Wayland Fire Department, Attn: FireWatch Poster Contest, 38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland, MA 01778.  The deadline for submissions is June 27, 2008.   Each poster will be judged on its originality, artistic value and how well it relates to the fire safety theme. Six winning entries will be selected from each grade category, and one overall winner will make the cover of the calendar. The 13 winners will each receive a fire safety gift bag filled with fire safety items for their home, as well as, a fire safety award; and their art will appear in the Fire Watch calendar. Winners will also receive recognition by the Wayland Fire Department on it’s website; and will be invited to attend an award ceremony at the Wayland Fire Department’s, Fire Prevention Week, Open House in October, 2008. We wish all contestants the best of luck, and hope that you will make fire safety a part of your every day life.

5/24/08:  Library Roof Work Update:  The library is hoping to be able to resume full service on both floors of the library in the second week of June, marking the end of the structural reinforcement of the attic. The roof will be re-tiled in June and early July. The library truly appreciates the patience of its users.

5/24/08:  Summer Reading Program: “Wild Reads,” the statewide animal-themed reading program, encourages children to read during the summer months. Research studies have shown that students who do not practice reading skills during the summer actually lose reading abilities they worked so hard to acquire during the school year. Students who don’t read over the summer are less prepared for school success in the fall. We hope our summer program will have kids thundering for great books as well as the fun activities and special events the library has scheduled just for them. Readers will also have three opportunities to vote for an animal that the library will sponsor from Zoo New England. The library has a summer reading program just for teens—“X-Pect the Un-X-Pected.” Participants of all ages can track their progress online and post book reviews to our website. To learn more, register for the program, and see the library events calendar, visit www.waylandlibrary.org.

5/24/08:  Rep. Conroy Announces District Office Hours.  Representative Thomas Conroy is pleased to announce his local office hours for the month of June in Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland. No appointments are necessary and meetings are held on a first come, first served basis.  Office hours in Wayland for Monday, June 16th are 5-5:30pm at Starbucks, 44 Main Street.  Tom or his legislative aide, Jenny Nathans, can also be reached at Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us or 617-722-2460.

5/23/08:  The Wayland Business Association (WBA) is accepting new members for the 2008-2009 fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008. Anyone interested in the business and civic environment in Wayland is invited and encouraged to join. At 94 members and growing, the WBA has improved in a number of ways this year -- an expanded and informative website, online and printed directory listings, and new interesting activities. Benefits include networking opportunities at five dinner meetings and other special events during the year; increased business visibility; listings in the online and print directories; and information about town matters affecting local business. Most importantly, the WBA helps support Wayland community organizations with a portion of the dues and the proceeds from its annual fundraisers.  For further information on the WBA and how to join, please visit www.waylandbusinessassociation.org or call (508) 358-7735.

5/23/08:  Mah Jongg Club.  2nd and 4th Mondays, 1pm.  After a large turnout for the COA's initial Mah Jongg gathering, they have scheduled two additional Mah Jongg sessions at the Wayland Senior Center, June 9th and June 23rd. The COA does not have sufficient Mah Jongg games for the entire group. If anyone has a Mah Jongg set to donate or loan, please call the COA at 508 358 2990. In the interim, it would be appreciated if players who have a set, could bring it on Mah Jongg days to share at their table.

5/23/08:  Genealogy Group.  The Genealogy Group will meet twice in June at the senior Center. This group will meet June 2 and June 16 at 1:00pm in the senior Center. This is a gathering of people who share a common interest. New participants are always welcome.

5/23/08:  Need a handicapped parking permit?  Monday, June 16, 1pm   Learn how to apply for a disability placard. The Registry of Motor Vehicles will join us Monday, June 16 at 1:00pm in the Selectmen’s Room to present information on this program. Learn more about the program (i.e. free meter parking) and what documentation needs to be provided for the application process.

5/23/08:  Free blood pressure clinics.  The Wayland Board Of Health provides free blood pressure clinics on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 10:45-11:15am in the Senior Center.

5/23/08:  Governor’s Statewide Youth Council Seeks Applicants.  The Governor’s Office of Community Affairs announced this week that it is seeking applicants for the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council. The goal of the Council is to encourage the Commonwealth’s young people to become involved in their communities and to participate in planning and problem solving by taking on leadership roles.  The Youth Council will focus on issues important to youth as well as the Governor’s priorities of education, economic development and civic engagement. The Youth Council will act as an advisory body to the Governor and his Administration. In developing the concept for the Council, an extensive outreach process has been utilized. Between January and March of this year, four planning meetings were held in Boston, Lowell, Worcester, and Springfield, with approximately 80 young people attending each meeting. Eighty-three community- and faith-based organizations also participated in this process. The Statewide Youth Council will be comprised of 28 young people ages 14 to 20 representing the 14 counties in the Commonwealth, with two representatives per county. Participants will come from various walks of life and will represent the diversity of the Commonwealth. Each youth member, together with his or her adult sponsor, will also be responsible for organizing meetings in their local communities to assess which issues should be brought to the statewide council. These “local councils” will provide more access opportunities for youth to become involved beyond the 28 official representatives, and in this manner will better serve all of the youth of Massachusetts.
Selection of the council will be by application, which is available at www.mass.gov/governor/youthcouncil. Applications are due by May 30, 2008. A selection committee will review the applications and select the 28 members, who will then be notified via mail. The Office of Community Affairs is dedicated to ensuring that the Council serves the Governor with its full potential. If you would like to become involved, please contact the Office of Community Affairs at 617-725-4020.

5/22/08:  Landfill schedule.  The Wayland Landfill & Recycling Center at 484 Boston Post Road will be closed on Tuesday, May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday. The facility will be open on Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Electronics Collection Day will be Saturday, June 7.  The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for certain hazardous materials is Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration is required by noon on Friday, May 30 in the Board of Health office. Forms are available at Town Hall, landfill, library, Senior Center and on the Board of Health Web site at www.wayland.ma.us/boh.

5/22/08:  Demonstration garden at Middle School sign.  The Wayland Middle School PTO will be planting a demonstration perennial garden around the Middle School sign on Saturday, May 31 from 10am-12pm. The project will focus on selecting and planting native species which require less water, less fertilizer and less fuss than more traditional landscape plantings such as marigolds and chrysanthemums.  Brian Brown of Linnaean Farm will be leading a demonstration on plant selection and proper planting techniques at 10 a.m. The community is invited to attend the demonstration and to help plant the garden following the demonstration.  Linnaean Farms will be donating the plants used in the garden.  For questions or more information contact janetschwartz@comcast.net

5/16/08:  Parmenter and Weston Council on Aging sponsors "On Our Own Terms" series.  A three-part series on death and dying, each session will begin with a video from Bill Moyers' PBS series "On Our Own Terms", to be followed by a roundtable discussion and Q&A period.  Sessions are scheduled for May 20 (Living with Dying), May 27 (A Different Kind of Care) and June 10 (A Death of One's Own).  Each session will be held at the Weston Public Library, 6-8:30pm.  For more information, call Parmenter at 508-358-3000.

5/15/08: Peace Lutheran Church in Wayland will host our *Rejoicing Spirits* worship service on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 4pm. Rejoicing Spirits is a ministry which intentionally reaches out to enrich the spiritual lives of people who have developmental disabilities, along with their families, friends, care providers, and other supportive community members, by sharing God’s message of love through a meaningful contemporary Christian worship service and fellowship time. Individuals are free to be themselves while actively participating as contributing members of an inclusive faith community. The service includes lots of music, joyous singing, prayer, Scripture, and meaningful messages. We invite anyone who is interested in worshiping God in a new, exciting, and inclusive way to come and worship with us at this service. For more information, contact the church at 508.358.7110 or email us at peacelc@aol.com

5/14/08:  Parmenter’s Wayside Hospice Bereavement Support Groups Announced.  Parmenter Visiting Nurse Services’ Wayside Hospice program announces their 2008 Bereavement Support Group series for anyone in the community who has experienced a loss. These groups will meet at the Parmenter’s administrative building located at 266 Cochituate Road (RT 27) in Wayland. The sessions will meet on Thursdays from 7-8:30pm. The upcoming session will begin on May 22nd and end on June 26th. The final session will be October 9th through November 13th. Please call Parmenter at 508-358-3000 for further information.

5/11/08: Suburban Coalition Annual Meeting, Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 7:30-9pm, Alcott School, Laurel Street, Concord, MA.  We will have our annual meeting and discuss our accomplishments this year, plan strategy and activities for the next few months and review information gained from the the Legislative Breakfast. Please plan to attend and participate in the discussions.  Please note the new location for this meeting, the Alcott School in Concord. Directions can be found at: http://www.colonial.net/maps/directions_alcott.php.  Questions? Please contact dorothypresser@suburbancoalition.org.

5/10/08: Wayland Archaeology group is holding two sessions of a "Field Workshop" this month on Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28; and Tuesday and Thursday, June 3 and 5, 10 and 12, 17 and 19 and 24 and 26, from 9 to 3.  There will be instruction on field techniques including making field records and materials identification.  Prior experience is not required.  For information, email Paul Gardescu or call him at 508-358-2669.

5/9/08:  Words that Cook!: The entire "Words that Cook!" series, an award-winning family literacy program, is currently being broadcast on our local cable station on Mondays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., funded by the Friends of the Library. The series celebrates the joy of reading, the art of writing, the wonder of storytelling and the magic of wordplay through a combination of interviews and live action spiced up with animated fun. Designed for parents and educators of children ages 0-12, each program features professionals, experts, parents, and children modeling and discussing enjoyable and practical techniques for enriching literacy experiences. The goal is to enable parents and educators to see the connection between helping children reach their potential and the necessity of creating opportunities for reading, writing, and communicating together.

5/9/08:  Roof Work Update:  We are hopeful that work in the attic, which has required us to offer modified service, will be completed in the early part of June and that we can resume full service at that time.

4/24/08:  Important reminder to landscapers in Wayland.  Police Chief Robert Irving reminds landscapers working in Wayland of Wayland Bylaw 139-4, Obstructing Free Passage.  In past years, vehicles used by landscapers have been parked on the sides of narrow roads causing a safety hazard for motorists, pedestrians and the landscapers themselves. It is a violation of the town bylaw for vehicles to be parked in such a manner as to obstruct the free passage of vehicles or pedestrians.  Landscaper vehicles should be parked in the driveways of the residence where they are working or in an area that does not obstruct vehicles or pedestrians. At no time should a vehicle be parked on a sidewalk or in the travel lane of a through roadway. Police officers will be enforcing the bylaw, which carries a $300 fine.  Specific streets that have been known to have a chronic problem with landscaping vehicles blocking lanes include Pelham Island Road, Glezen Lane, Plain Road, Bow Road, Claypit Hill Road and East and West Plain streets.  All roads in town will be monitored for violations of the bylaw. It is also a parking violation for any vehicle to be parked on the grass of the historic site of the "Training Field," located at the intersection of Glezen Lane and Training Field Road. Landscapers are also reminded not to blow leaves or other debris into the roadway and that grass clippings and other debris removed from a residence must be disposed of properly. Leaves and grass clippings cannot be deposited at local cemeteries without permission.

4/17/08:  Eat Your Books is hiring.  EatYourBooks.com is a new website based in Wayland. We need part time help for data entry so if you have some spare time and would like to earn some money working from home, please contact us. We will be paying by the amount of data entered, so the faster you are, the more you will earn but the pay will be in the range of $8-$12 per hour. If you are interested contact Jane Kelly on 508-308-2066 or click [INSERT LINK] for more details

4/17/08:  Moderator seeks applicants for Electronics Communications Committee:  In accord with the vote of the Town under Article 27 of the Warrant for the 2008 Annual Town Meeting, I have been authorized to appoint four members to the Electronic Communications Committee.  The Committee has been created to recommend improvements to the Town’s ability to communicate useful, accessible, and timely information with its citizens via electronic media. The Committee will examine the utility of the Town’s website, contrasting it with the best features of websites in other towns and is expected to post its minutes and report on the Town website. All those who are qualified and interested in serving on this Committee are invited to contact me at my e-mail address, pgossels@socialaw.com or by writing to me at 32 Hampshire Road, Wayland, MA 01778, on or before April 30, 2008. Please include a summary of your qualifications with your application.  -C. Peter R. Gossels

4/11/08:  Longfellow Children's Center now enrolling for summer camp programs for children ages 12 months to 14 years.  Camp Longfellow includes daily swim lessons for campers in preschool and up, and tennis lessons at the new "Zip Zone" for campers entering kindergarten and above. All campers enjoy sports and games at the appropriate level, as well as arts and crafts.  For those with an artistic inclination, The Longfellow Children’s Center offers the Longfellow Arts Camp where children entering kindergarten and up explore a wide variety of media, including clay work with a wheel and kiln. Campers also experience dance and dramatic play, and are offered a free swim once a week. Release your child’s inner artist!  The center’s newest camp program, the Learning Connection, offers children entering first grade and older the opportunity to extend their learning in a small-group settings in math, language arts, reading and Spanish. Campers enjoy swim lessons every morning, and may sign up for an afternoon program at Camp Longfellow.  All of the campers enjoy a varied, nutritious lunch buffet and daily snacks. You supply the children, and we do the rest! Extended hours are available from 7:30am until 6pm daily. Call for more information at 508-358-0710.

3/20/08:  Pegasus Adds New Activities for Grades 3-6.  Fifteen summers after its inception, the Pegasus Summer Program continues to attract more than 200 children to its wide array of enrichment and recreational activities, which evolve each year in response to the young participants’ interests. Children entering Grades 3 through 6 can participate in two newly designed specialty areas this summer: “Incredible Adventures” and “Construction Crew.” “For the past few years, we’ve offered four specialty areas for school age children,” explains Program Director Christine Robinson, noting that children choose from Performing Arts, Science, Fine Arts, and WPKN (Media). In the past, Media was the only activity specifically geared for Grades 3–6 children. Activities in the new programs are designed to appeal to the large number of children interested in the inventive, hands-on aspects of the Science area’s many choices and to provide challenging physical activities. In Session I, which runs from June 30th to July 18th, the new specialty area will be called “Incredible Adventures.” Each week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, children will enjoy a different theme. To start, they will learn magic tricks from a professional and enjoy a program-wide magic show. In the second week, they will develop mapmaking and orienteering skills to use in a culminating activity, an “Ultimate Treasure Hunt.” The final week will be devoted to challenging outdoor activities, from hiking and swimming at Walden Pond to canoeing on the Charles River, and investigating all kinds of insects in a Drumlin Farm workshop. During Session 2 (July 21 – August 8), children will have a chance to join a “Construction Crew,” where they will work on both individual and group projects. The first week, they will use a variety of materials to build outdoor structures. A second activity will involve designing a model city or town. Individual projects will feature whatever elements the child deems important for a model town: ski areas, recreation centers, playgrounds, swimming pools, or parks. In the final week, the “Crew” will be sanding, sawing, hammering, and painting as they make gumball machines and flat scooters. Pegasus enrollment is still open and registration forms are available in school offices, by calling 508-358-3781, or online from www.waylandenews.com, or www.wayland.k12.ma.us/district/district_info/ws_community_prog/Pegasus.htm.

3/20/08:  Wayland High School History Project team needs your help. The Wayland High School History Project team needs your help! For the seventh year running, a crew of U.S. history students will be working with area citizens to create the fourth volume of our local oral history archive. To date we have investigated how the World War II years, the 1950s and the Vietnam era played out in residents’ lives. We now hope to turn the clocks back to the 1930s and tap into the fading memories of the all-too-rapidly disappearing men and women who recall what "hard times" were like in their youth (Wayland residents or otherwise). Past efforts have proven this is not only a meaningful way for young people to learn about our past, but it’s also very enjoyable for interviewers and interviewees alike. If you or anyone you know may consider sitting down with three students to recount the distant memories and stories from yesteryear, contact Kevin Delaney at 508-358-3726 or email To get a better idea of our work, check our archives at www.whshistoryproject.org.

3/20/08:  Wayland Democratic Town Committee elects officers for new terms. The Wayland Democratic Town Committee elected officers at a meeting at the Wayland Public Safety Building on March 9. Jon Saxton was elected to chair the committee for a two-year term, while Michael Tichnor was elected as vice-chair. Michael Bate was elected as secretary and Irene Chang was elected to the position of treasurer. Cathleen Ashton was selected as the affirmative action and outreach officer. Sandy Coy was elected to the executive committee. Twenty-six members were elected on the ballot on Feb. 5, along with almost a dozen life members who constitute the Wayland Democratic Town Committee. "I’m honored to be reelected as chair," said Saxton. "This is going to be a critical year for our community, our state and our nation and our committee is poised to make a difference at every level." The committee works to elect Democratic candidates, sponsor forums and bring speakers to town. It sponsors a monthly breakfast on the third Friday of the month, open to all, from 7-9am at Mel’s Restaurant on Route 30. The Wayland Democratic Town Committee is the local unit of the Democratic Party. For more information on the committee, or to be added to their mailing list, visit the Wayland Democratic Town Committee website or send an e-mail or contact Jon Saxton at 508-650-1497.

3/20/08:  State funding for Nike Site project. The state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) has awarded $800,000 to the Nike Site project. Headed by Oxbow Partners, the project proposes to build 16 affordable housing units. Wayland acquired 13.5 acres from the federal government’s General Services Administration and the National Parks Department. The community’s plan for the site includes affordable housing on 2.75 acres, 10 acres of passive community open space, and the creation of wheelchair accessible trails that connect to the open space as well as to the nearby Bay Circuit Trail. This housing will be comprised of 11 units at or below 80 percent area median income and five units at or below 100 percent area median income. The condominiums will consists of nine two-bedroom units, including one adaptable unit, and two three-bedroom units restricted to households with incomes at or below 80 percent of area median income. The 100 percent units will consist of two two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom units. "I am pleased that the AHTF upheld its commitment to providing essential funds which will be used toward quality affordable housing," said Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.

3/20/08:  Summer internship in Sen. Brown’s office. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, is now accepting applications for summer 2008 internships in his State House office. Only college students and recent high school graduates will be considered. Decisions will be made on numerous factors, but the highest priority will be given to candidates from the senator’s district. Interns will gain experience in areas including legislative research, constituent services and communications. During the summer the Legislature hosts a lecture series for interns. Intern tasks will vary, but may include attending legislative briefings on issues affecting the district, researching pending legislation, drafting correspondence, and monitoring news. Flexible scheduling is available. Please forward resumes to the Office of State Sen. Scott Brown at the State House, Room 520, Boston MA 02133, or contact Maria Vurmo at 617-722-1555.

3/20/08:  Brown receives award from Metco program. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, recently welcomed over 200 students, representing the 31 participating Metco (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) communities at the State House as part of Metco Day. These young advocates asked legislators to match the $1.5 million increase recommended for the Metco program by Gov. Deval Patrick in the fiscal 2009 state budget. During the ceremony, the Metco program recognized Sen. Brown with an award for his work in the Senate to further the success of the program. "It is a great honor to receive this recognition from the Metco program," said Brown. "I have heard many success stories because it’s a program that benefits both the participating students and the students of the host communities." The Metco program is grant funded by the state. For 41 years, it has integrated classrooms throughout metropolitan Boston and Springfield. The program brings over 3,000 students to the classrooms of 190 schools located in 37 participating Boston and Springfield area communities. It is a voluntary program where students in urban communities attend public schools in suburban communities that have agreed to participate. Five of the towns in Sen. Brown’s district partake in the Metco program. The intent, according to the Massachusetts Department of Education, is "to expand educational opportunities and reduce racial imbalance." Sen. Brown is the ranking Republican member of the Education Committee and Higher Education Committee and a co-chair of the Legislature’s Metco Caucus. 

3/14/08: Wayland Women's Over 30 team looking for a few players.  Did you play soccer in high school or college? Have you been playing indoors or on a coed team and want to try playing outside with other women from your town? We play spring and fall on Sunday mornings in the Suburban Women's Soccer League. We are in the A division in this league and play 10 games a season against teams from Weston, Sudbury, Stowe, Acton Boxborough and Sutton. We are looking for a few players to join our team. Contact Jennifer Leichter at f.leichter@comcast.net if you are interested.

3/11/08:  Nominations now open for River Stewardship Award.  Do you know someone who is an outstanding advocate for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers? Is there an inspiring project, innovative strategy, or creative program that demonstrates the importance of protecting our watershed, or is dedicated to building an environmental legacy for future generations?  The League of Women Voters and the Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council are pleased to announce the sixth Annual River Stewardship Award program. The 2007 Steward Award winner from Wayland was Dr. Brian Donahue, Associate Professor of American Environmental Studies at Brandeis. Dr. Donahue leads the annual River Fest history paddle sponsored by Wayland.  The purpose of the award is to honor individuals or organizations whose actions demonstrate innovative thinking, creative solutions, extra effort, and brave positions that promote, preserve, and protect the watershed. Stewardship projects could involve educational efforts such as water quality testing, recycling or clean up projects, innovative strategies, tools or technologies, and advocacy in opposing wasteful and polluting horticultural practices or damaging development practices. Eligible communities include, but are not limited to, the shoreline towns of Framingham, Wayland, Sudbury, Lincoln, Concord, Bedford, Carlisle, and Billerica. Applications are due no later than April 25, 2008. Individuals as well as colleagues, friends, or neighbors can submit nominations! We are looking for environmental organizations, community/youth/faith/school groups, businesses, local government employees or teachers whose work will inspire children, families, town, and school leaders.  Information and applications are available online or by calling Betsy Sluder at 978 369-1851.

3/7/08:  Russian nested doll painting fun for families. Traditional Russian artist and lecturer Marina Forbes will offer a unique workshop on the rich Russian folk tradition of Matryoshka (wooden nested doll) painting at the Wayland Art Center, 153 Main St., on Saturday, March 8 from 1 to 4 pm. It is open to adults and families with children age 6 and up. This is a great opportunity for adults and families to work together and learn about Russian crafts and culture. Participants will hear the story of the Matryoshka doll and learn about her traditional Russian dress and customs. Traditional Russian painting techniques and floral and berry designs will also be introduced. The goal is to produce a finished piece of Russian folk art on wood. Students can work on 7-piece, 5-piece, 3-piece or 1-piece Matryoshka sets. Throughout the workshop, students will be listening to traditional Russian music, and during a brief break from the painting, there will be a demonstration of a few steps from a traditional Matryoshka dance. For more information or to pre-register, call 508-358-3664 or e-mail marina@anylanguage.org.

3/7/08:  TEC offering career exploration workshops. The Education Cooperative (TEC) is partnering with select businesses to offer a series of one-day career exploration workshops for Wayland High School students. This exciting program will give students an overview of each business they visit, along with actual information about what the varying careers in this business involve. If you are thinking about a career in hotel management, visit Marriott Copley Place on April 30; for finance, visit the Federal Reserve Bank on March 11; for bioresearch, visit Abbott Bioresearch Lab on April 16; for medical, visit Brigham & Women’s Hospital (to be announced, check our Web site). Any high school student interested can participate. A bus will depart from a centrally located high school at 8:30am and return by 2pm. Each workshop is limited to 40 students who register on a first-come basis. Cost is $45. Each day will culminate with lunch, speaker presentations, and a chance for students to interact with professionals in the workplace. To register, visit the TEC website. Call 781-326-2473, ext. 121, or e-mail with questions.

3/7/08:  Fitness challenge. By the time they reach high school, 63 percent of children are no longer physically active. Fit children have fewer chronic health problems, are better able to meet the demands of daily physical activity, and have a stronger self-image and more self-confidence. By making fitness a family affair and establishing habits in elementary school, children may be motivated to pursue exercise throughout their lives. A fitness challenge will be introduced on Thursday, March 13 at the Happy Hollow PTO meeting which will include a healthy dinner at 6pm followed by a presentation by Empowerment Fitness from 6:30 to 7:30pm and open to all interested residents. This group has combined physical activity with positive psychology in Needham High School to help teens cope with stress and pressure while moving in a non-competitive, non-threatening manner (spinning bikes). They "aim to build kids up to be their best selves from within, rather than how they perceive they are being judged by their peers." They offer classes with themes such as "Strive for Greatness, Not Perfection" and "Challenging Self-Limiting Beliefs." Children will track their minutes of physical activity each day for one week in intervals of 10 minutes. They will receive bonus points for exercising as a family, trying a new activity, eliminating television and video games for a day, and walking or riding to school. Students will turn in their sheets at the end of the challenge regardless of how they did and be entered into a raffle to win prizes donated by local businesses such as Planet Gymnastics.

3/7/08:  The Suburban Coalition Annual Legislative Breakfast will be held on Monday, April 7 from 9:00-11:30 at the Great Hall of the Statehouse. The topic of this year's breakfast is "Planning for the Economic Future."  We are very pleased to welcome as speakers Secretary Leslie Kerwin, Secretary of Administration and Finance, and Michael Widmere , President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Ms. Kerwin and Mr. Widmere will address the financial outlook for the state's economy, and what it means for local communities, from two different perspectives.  Speaker of the House Sal Dimasi will also be speaking, providing insights on the House budget deliberations and how that may affect local communities.  All members of the Legislature have been invited to attend the event as well. This is a wonderful opportunity to share viewpoints and concerns with our state elected officials.  We also encourage our members to make an appointment to meet with their individual legislators after Breakfast.  For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Dorothy Presser at dorothypresser@suburbancoalition.org.

3/7/08:  USTA teams at The Longfellow Club. The Longfellow Club will be sponsoring numerous USTA Summer League Teams. Longfellow opens all its USTA teams to the public. If you have been looking for some great summer team tennis and do not know where to go, we are the place for you.  Longfellow’s USTA teams have consistently done well and often go on to the regional and state level tournaments. Registration begins mid-March and regular season matches run from early May to late July. Practices are available for both the men’s and women’s team.  Longfellow plans to sponsor the following level teams – Ladies 4.5, 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0; Senior Ladies (50 and older) 3.5, Super Seniors Ladies (60 and older) 3.0, and Men 3.5 and 3.0.  USTA membership and team registration required and must be done on the USTA’s Web site. If you are interested in playing on a team or for more information, contact Lorie Gochenour, adult tennis program director, at 508-358-7355.

2/29/08:  Jamie Berger Promoted.  Police Chief Robert Irving is pleased to announce the assignment of Sgt. Jamie Berger to the position of detective sergeant.  Sgt. Berger began his career with the Wayland Police Department in June of 1998. Prior to that he had worked as a seasonal police officer in Provincetown and was a member of the Wayland Police Auxiliaries. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant on Oct. 3, 2006.  Sgt. Berger graduated from Wayland High School in 1989 and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Castleton College in 1993. He graduated from the Eighth Norwood Police Academy in 1998.  Sgt. Berger has attended numerous schools and seminars during his career. He is a member of the Wayland Police Honor Guard, the Bicycle Patrol and is a certified field training officer.  In his new position, Detective Sgt. Berger will be responsible for the overall supervision of the Detective Division, Youth Services and Community Services for the department.

2/29/08:  Winter activities for people with disabilities.  The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Universal Access Program will offer ice skating, cross-country skiing, kick sledding, and snowshoeing for individuals with disabilities at the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course in Weston, from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, March 2.  In the event of no snow or ice, hiking, nature walks and other activities will occur.  The Universal Access Program (UAP) provides recreational accessibility to state and urban park facilities for individuals with disabilities, their families and friends. For people with disabilities, free use of accessible equipment and staff assistance are available.  UAP strives to increase the participation among people with disabilities in indoor and outdoor recreational activities in integrated settings. In February and March, UAP will offer ice skating, sit-skating, cross-country skiing, sit cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling, and other winter activities at Massachusetts state parks.  The program also offers accessible cycling, boating, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, and letterboxing programs in the summer and fall.  Pre-registration is required. Call Venture Into Well-Being at 413-527-8980. Ask about volunteer opportunities.  For more information on DCR’s Universal Access Program and a schedule of activities, and to confirm program status, call 617-626-1294 (voice) or 413-577-2200 (TTY) or visit www.mass.gov/dcr and click on "Universal Access Program."  The Universal Access Program is also offering training opportunities for volunteers to assist people with disabilities. This program will be offered at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course in Weston on Sundays, prior to UAP programs, through March 3 from 8:30 to 11am.

2/26/08:  Community Service Awards Nominations.  Do you know someone who deserves an award for their volunteer and community service? Nominations for the 2008 Community Service Awards in Wayland are being accepted until April 11th. The awards are sponsored by the Wayland High School Community Service Leadership Program and Wayland Youth and Family Services. These awards will be given to high school students and adults in the community who have unselfishly contributed to building and strengthening their own and other communities by carrying out a significant amount of unpaid service.  High school students are eligible if they have completed 40 or more hours of community service or shown significant leadership or responsibility in performing service during the time period from April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008. Students may be nominated or may submit documentation of their service to receive this award. Adults are eligible if they have contributed an exceptional amount of service to the community. Service may have been started at any time during residence or employment in Wayland, but must be continuing into the present. Adults must be nominated for this award. The Community Service Awards ceremony will be held on April 29, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Wayland High School Little Theater. Everyone is welcome to attend.  Forms and more information on eligibility are available online here, and at the Wayland High School Guidance office, the Wayland Public Library and the Office of Youth and Family Services in the Town Building. Questions can be addressed to Susan Troilo, Wayland High School nurse at 508-358-3712 or Judy LeFevre-Levy at 508-650-0148.

2/26/08:  First Parish in Wayland Presents Dido and Æneas March 16 at 10am.  In lieu of a normal Sunday Service, First Parish is presenting an orchestra-accompanied staging of Henry Purcell's baroque opera Dido and Æneas, first performed in England in 1689. It will take place on Palm Sunday, March 16, beginning promptly at 10 am, and lasting an hour. This was the first English opera, and features both regional and Wayland-based professional and semiprofessional singers and musicians led by music director Pauline Oliver and stage director Jason McStoots, a well-known classical tenor. The title roles of Dido and Æneas are played by Amy Meneely of Wayland and John Whittlesley of Boston, with two significant additional parts played by Carla Chrisfeld (Belinda) and April Spencer (Sorceress). The church choir will act as a Greek chorus. There is no charge for the event. First Parish is located at the intersection of Routes 27 and 20 in Wayland. Phone 508-358-9179.

2/25/08: Fifth Annual Sudbury Valley Trustees Photo Contest.  Drop off at SVT headquarters from May 12 through June 6 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm only)  Attention, all you nature enthusiast photographers. You’ve probably taken some great photographs in our 36-town region. Do you think yours could be award winning? Bring up to three of your nature photographs, taken within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord River Basin to our headquarters during the dates listed above. Winning photographs will be selected in three categories (people, rivers, and wildlife habitat), plus an overall “Best In Show.” All winning photographs will be displayed throughout Riverfest in the barn at Wolbach Farm. More details on SVT’s web page starting April 15, 2008. Members: Entry fee is $10 for the first photograph and $5 for additional photographs, Non-Members: $10 per photo.

2/25/08:  Girls & Dolls Fashion Show & Tea.  Sunday, April 6, 1-2:30pm at Fairbank Community Center, Sudbury.  Fashions for girls (ages 5-9) and their dolls (American Girl dolls and others).  Sweets, tea, lemonade, door prizes, party favors.  Fashion show with clothes by Rugged Bear and Multiplicity Doll Clothes, all available for purchase.  An American Girl doll will be raffled off.  This event was a sell-out last year.  Register early, openings are limited.  Fee $15/child, $20/adult.  If your child is interested in being a model for our event, call our office at 508-358-3664.  Model openings limited. 

2/23/08:  Babysitting Basics. A Babysitting Basics class will be held Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 4-7pm at Parmenter Community Health, 266 Cochituate Road (Route 27). Learn important babysitting skills such as diapering, first aid, mealtime and bedtime rituals, contracts and ethics, and safety awareness. Fee is $35 (includes snack). Space is limited; pre-registration required. Call 508-358-3000, ext. 235, to register.

2/23/08:  Career Exploration Program at Minuteman. Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington will offer a Spring After-School Career Exploration Program for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. The program will run each Monday and Wednesday in March from 4:15-6:15pm. It will include diverse academic enrichment and technical program offerings such as Adventures in Science, Author’s Workshop, BioQuest, Chemistry for Kids, Cosmetology, Environmental Technology, Engineering Design, Landscape Design, Medical Minutes, Creative Metal Welding and many more! This program is an excellent opportunity for middle school students to develop an understanding of their talents and interests as they may relate to high school, college and career success. There will be two cycles offered. Cycle 1 will be on March 3, 5, 10 and 12, and Cycle 2 will be on March 17, 19, 24 and 26, with the cost of each program being $20 per cycle. Bus transportation will be provided from and to the elementary or middle school within Minuteman’s 16-town school district, which includes the towns of Sudbury, Wayland and Weston. There is a small program fee (non-refundable) of $20 for each cycle per student. For more information call 781-861-7150 or visit the Minuteman website. Minuteman now supports online registrations. We are located at 758 Marrett Road in Lexington.

2/23/08:  Home Alone class. A Home Alone and Home Safety class for children ages 9 to 11 will take place Thursday, March 6 from 4-7pm at Parmenter Community Health Auditorium, 266 Cochituate Road (Route 27). Children will learn important skills to handle situations they might encounter when they are home alone. Topics will include basic first aid, accident prevention, telephone protocol and safety measures. The lessons will be reinforced by presentations from the police and fire departments. Fee is $35 (includes snack). Space is limited; pre-registration required. Call 508-358-3000, ext. 235, to register.

2/22/08:  Modified Hours/Roof Construction: In preparation for the library’s tile roof replacement this spring, structural reinforcement in the library attic will require that the main level of the library be closed until about 3pm each weekday from March 24 through the end of April. There will be a modified morning operation set up in the library’s Raytheon Room during this time. Patrons will be able to collect reserved books and museum passes from the Raytheon Room, and the Children’s room will operate as usual. There will be no access to adult department library stacks or computers until after 3pm.

2/20/08:  Help Wanted:  Activities Assistant - part time, some evenings and weekends. Flexible hours.  Since Sunrise Senior Living opened our first community in 1981, the quality of our team members has remained one of the main characteristics that sets us apart. We offer a unique, challenging and rewarding work environment, competitive salary and excellent benefits as well as the opportunity for both personal and professional growth. Sunrise employs over 35,000 team members dedicated to serving seniors. In this exciting role, you will get to know our Assisted Living residents and their interests, you’ll organize and carry out appropriate activities and encourage family, staff and community involvement. Ideal candidate will also be responsible for maintaining care standards within a Sunrise Community. The ideal candidate has strong organizational and communication skills, with a solid understanding and appreciation of Seniors.  For more information, call 508-652-6300 or email wayland.avc@Sunriseseniorliving.com.

2/15/08:  Arts/Wayland Membership Drive.  Arts/Wayland invites visual, literary and multi-media artists, photographers, musicians and individuals interested in supporting the arts to become members and participate in this local organization. Established in 1980, it is dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of artistic expression in Wayland and surrounding communities. Exhibition space in the Wayland Public Library and other venues is coordinated by Arts/Wayland, affording artists an opportunity to gain exposure and share their work. Receptions at the Library allow exhibitors to discuss their work and receive valuable input as well. Updated regularly, the Members Handbook lists all members including their areas of interest and local resources such as exhibition spaces, art instruction opportunities and other arts organizations. Members can promote their shows, performances and art on the Arts/Wayland website, www.artswayland.org. The website also provides information on meetings and other activities. Email newsletters are sent out periodically with announcements of upcoming events, member news and calls for entries for member shows.  Arts/Wayland sponsors juried shows in prominent venues in the area. In addition, members have the opportunity to participate in several group shows throughout the year.  Informal member gatherings are organized occasionally with talks on special topics by experienced artists. Art related activities are also sponsored in conjunction with other artist organizations in order to exchange ideas. Membership is open to anyone in Wayland and surrounding towns. To become a member, please see the membership form on our website at www.artswayland.org.  Membership forms are also available at the Wayland Library across from the front desk.  Membership dues are $25 per year.

2/15/08:  New Museum Pass: Did you know that right next door in Weston is the Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History? The Library now has free passes to the museum, which is open Thursday–Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The museum offers a range of activities for people of all ages. Visit their schedule of events at www.spellman.org. Our pass admits two adults (children 16 & under are free). These and all our other museum passes can be reserved online at our website or by calling the library.

2/15/08:  Peace Lutheran Church will host our second Rejoicing Spirits worship service on Sunday, February 24 at 4pm. Rejoicing Spirits is a model for spiritual inclusion which has been developed by folks at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Exton, PA. This ministry intentionally reaches out to enrich the spiritual lives of people who have developmental disabilities, along with their families, friends, care providers, and other supportive community members, by sharing God’s message of love through a meaningful and adapted Christian worship service and fellowship time. Individuals are free to be themselves while actively participating as contributing members of an inclusive faith community. The service includes lots of music, joyous singing, prayer, Scripture, and meaningful messages. We invite anyone who is interested in worshiping God in a new, exciting, and inclusive way to come and worship with us at this new service. For more information, contact the church at 508-358-7110 or email us at peacelc@aol.com.

2/15/08:  Thursday, February 21, Happy Birthday Presidents Family Day, Spellman Museum, 10am-3pm.. Activities will include stamp games and puzzles related to US presidents, a stamp designing contest and arts and crafts activities using postage stamps. Admission is free for children 16 and under. For more information, visit the Spellman Museum website The Spellman Museum is located on the Regis College campus in Weston.

2/15/08:  Representative Thomas Conroy announces office hours for March. Office hours for Friday, March 14th are at Starbucks, 44 Main Street, Wayland, from 5-5:30pm. Tom or his legislative aide, Jenny Nathans, can also be reached via email or phone at 617-722-2460.

2/15/08:  Vokes Theater holding auditions for The Drawer Boy. Written by Michael Healy, directed by JulieAnn Charest Govang. Auditions will be Sunday March 2 & Monday March 3 (7-10pm). These auditions are by appointment only! To schedule an appointment, please call (508) 358-4034, and leave a message with your name, number and preferred audition time. We will call you back with a confirmation of the exact time. Other audition times may be arranged.

2/15/08:  Wayland METCO's 40th anniversary celebration will be held on Friday, March 28 at Sandy Burr Country Club from 7pm-midnight. Join the Wayland Jazz Band and dance to the music of DJ Charles Clemons. Donation of $40 per person includes dinner. Send your check by Monday, March 10 to Wayland METCO Program, 41 Cochituate Rd., Wayland. Contact Debby Mead if you have any questions about the auction.

2/15/08:  Historical Society program for 1st and 2nd grade girls. First and second-grade girls are invited to register for "Living in Long Ago Days", an after-school program sponsored by the Wayland Historical Society. The program will include Early American games, clothes, food and crafts. The program meets for four sessions (Tuesdays March 11, 18, 25 and April 1) from 3:15-4:45 at the Grout-Heard House. Registration is limited. To register, send the $40 fee to the Wayland Historical Society, P.O. Box 56, Wayland, MA 01778. Scholarships are available.

2/11/08:  Wayland Community Emergency Response Team to Conduct Shelter Drill.   On Saturday morning, February 16th, starting at 9am, Wayland's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will conduct a shelter drill at the Wayland Middle School. This school has been designated as the town's emergency shelter. The CERT team will set up the appropriate areas of the school for shelter registration, dormitories, medical treatment, and other designated functions. The drill will include transporting some cots from the public safety building to the Middle School and setting them up in the dormitory area. This will be the first drill to familiarize the CERT team with operating a shelter facility at the Middle School.  All interested Wayland residents are invited to participate by assisting the CERT team in the shelter drill. Volunteers will be teamed up with a CERT member who is familiar with shelter operations.
Interested volunteers should plan to be at the Middle School by 9am. The drill will conclude by noon. If you have any questions or desire additional information, please contact Joe Gordon, the CERT Operations Officer at 617-835-3266.

2/10/08:  The Wayland Public Schools Foundation Spelling Bee will be held on Sunday, March 16 at the Wayland High School beginning at 12:30pm. All children in grades 2 through 5 are welcome to participate in this fun, town-wide event. Registration forms will be sent home in early February with your children. Each team is made up of three children in the same grade. Registration is $25 per speller and includes a T-shirt and a goodie bag. (No one will be turned away if entry fee is a problem). Registration deadline is February 29th. It is a spirited and fun community event that supports the efforts of the Wayland Public Schools Foundation. Please join us. For more information contact Maura Keating (508-358-2482), Rebekah LaCava (508-358-7871), or Maureen Lampert (508-358-0833). Visit the WPSF website for more information. The purpose of the Wayland Public Schools Foundation is to enrich the education of Wayland's children by funding teacher grants for innovative projects, curriculum and technology not covered by the regular school budget

2/7/08:  Dodgeball for Kids!  Email Kara Brewton to sign up for six Friday evenings from 6 to 7:30 pm: March 14th, 21st, 28th, and April 4th, 11th, 18th.  Signups will be limited to the first 30 kids, and at least two parents will need to stay to stay each evening during the game.  What ages should sign up?  Most of the kids that will sign up are expected to be 3rd-5th graders.  The hope is to keep it relaxed, and fun, fun, fun.

2/7/08:  The Wayland Depot re-opens for the rest of the Season (til June) on Tues. Feb.12th. The Depot will be stocked with wonderful last minute Valentines Day cards and gifts,as well as one of a kind items for Mother's Day, birthdays, graduation, etc. The Wayland Depot is located across from the library.

2/7/08:  Dates for Bereavement Support Group. Wayside Hospice of Parmenter Visiting Nurse Services will be offering three bereavement support group sessions which will each run for six weeks. The aim of the groups is to provide a safe place for you to talk about your loss with others who are also grieving, and hopefully to provide you support in the process of healing. The group facilitators will be Beth Roy, LICSW, and Annabelle Bitter, LICSW. Both have run numerous support groups in medical settings. The meetings will be held at Parmenter Community Health, 266 Cochituate Road (Route 27), Wayland, from 7 to 8.30 p.m. Session 1 takes place from Feb. 28 to April 3, Session 2 from May 22 to June 26, and Session 3 from Oct. 9 to Nov. 13. If you would be interested in attending one or more of the sessions, call Linda Maguire at 508-358-3000 to register, so we will have an idea of how many participants to expect. Parmenter is offering these programs free of charge to the community.

2/7/08:  Wayland Citizens Firefighting Academy. The Wayland Firefighters Association is accepting applications for our third Wayland Citizens Firefighting Academy. Students will have the opportunity to see what it’s really like to be a firefighter. Training will be presented from a new recruit’s perspective and will include "hands-on" activities such as extinguishing "live fire" with extinguishers and extricating trapped victims from a vehicle using the "jaws of life." The Wayland Citizens Fire Academy will provide a unique inside look at a firefighter’s career as well as important fire education and prevention lessons. Classes start March 26 and will be held once a week, including two Saturday mornings, for four weeks. The program is geared toward adults, however high school students may enroll if accompanied by an adult. To get your application or receive additional information contact the Wayland Firefighters Association or leave a voice mail at 508-358-6922 with your name and contact information. We would also like to hear from past graduates and invite them back during the program.

1/31/08:  Schedule at MetroWest Free Medical Program.  The MetroWest Free Medical Program provide free health care to people without insurance. We are open the following Tuesday evenings during February from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 105 Hudson Road in Sudbury:  Feb. 5 – General adult and children’s care, women’s health, orthopedics, social services and mental health screening (specialist clinic in psychiatry).  Program is closed February 12 and 19.  Feb. 26 – General adult and children’s care, women’s health, orthopedics, social services and mental health screening (specialist clinics in dental screening, dermatology and psychiatry)  For more information visit www.metrowestfreemedicalprogram.org or call 508-532-0739.

1/31/08:  The Council on Aging's Grocery Shopping Bus.  The COA's pilot program continues, featuring a different store on the last Monday of each month. The February destination will be Hannaford Bros. On 55 Russell St. in Waltham (site of the old Waltham Super on Main St.) There is also a Citizens Bank at this location. Hannaford features a large bakery, deli, prepared foods, fresh fish and large produce department. For reservations, call the COA 508 358 2990 – not JFK Transportation. Shoppers will be picked up at their homes in time for a 10am drop-off at Hannaford. The COA van will return to Hannaford at 11:15 for pick-up. Shoppers will be home no later than noon. There is no charge for the Grocery Shopping Bus but seating is limited. The COA welcomes suggestions for future grocery store destinations.

1/31/08:  Beacon Hill Village Project: Wayland Model.  The next open meeting of this exploratory task force will be Monday, February 11 at 2pm in the Wayland Town Building Selectmen’s Room. The Wayland COA is serving as a facilitator only for this initiative. Should a model be developed, it would most likely be a private, non-profit 501.c3. The process of evaluation and design is extremely interesting. We encourage your participation. Come share your ideas or just listen to the varying perspectives. Representatives from other towns have also been attending as they are determining whether to create their own model or be part of an inter-town collaborative. For further information, call the Wayland Council On Aging, 508-358-2990.

1/31/08:  Classes at the Council on Aging.  Among classes being offered by the COA are digital camera basics (currently full, but call to place your name on a notification list for the next class), Color Theory (February 15, $10), and Better Balance (four weeks, starting February 1, $25 for the four weeks).  Pre-reigstration required, call the COA at 508-358-2990. Visit the COA Programs page for details on these and other classes.

1/31/08:  BSO Open Rehearsals.  The Council on Aging has traditionally sponsored a bus to go in to 4 different Boston Symphony Orchestra Open Rehearsals. The dates for the remaining rehearsals are February 6 and February 20. The bus leaves the Town Building at 5:15pm. At least 25 riders are needed to make hiring the bus feasible. Currently the cost is $61 for all 4 bus trips to the rehearsals, if we have 25 participants. If there are have fewer people, the cost will go up; if there are more, the cost will go down. Why drive in and battle traffic and pay upwards of $30 to park your car?? Please call the Council on Aging office at 508-358-2990 if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity. Rider costs will be pro-rated for the remaining concerts. The COA provides transportation ONLY. You are responsible or purchasing your own BOS rehearsal tickets. Please call the Boston Symphony ticket office at 617-266-7575 for ticket information.

1/30/08:  Temple Shir Tikva invites the public to a two-session course, "American Jewish Demographics: Keeping Our Kids Jewish," on Wednesday evenings, February 6 and 13,6:30-8pm.  Dr. Ben Phillips, an associate research scientist at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, will teach. The public is invited to attend the classes at no charge.  The first session on Feb. 6, "Intermarriage and American Jewry," focuses on preconceptions about intermarriage and its effects. Dr. Phillips will examine social scientific research findings on factors associated with intermarriage, including the differences between in-married and inter-married households. He will also discuss the impact of intermarriage upon raising Jewish children and differences among intermarried families.  The second session on Feb. 13, "Educating the Next Generation of American Jews," focuses on the diverse range of formal and informal educational opportunities that American Jewish parents offer their children. Dr. Phillips will examine current social scientific research findings on the impact of Jewish day schools and summer camps as well as the Birthright Israel program.  A light supper is served from 6-6:30pm at $5 per person. Participants are encouraged to RSVP in advance to Linda Goldbaum in the temple’s office by calling 508-358-9992 or e-mailing lgoldbaum@shirtikva.org

1/25/08:  Town clerk’s reminders.  The 2008 census forms have been mailed to all Wayland households and should be returned as soon as possible. If you have not received one or you are a new resident, contact the town clerk’s office.  The presidential primary is Feb. 5. The polls are open from 7am to 8pm. Precincts 1 and 4 vote at the Wayland Town Building and Precincts 2 and 3 vote at Wayland Middle School. Absentee ballots are available at the town clerk’s office.

1/25/08:  Winter activities for people with disabilities.  The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Universal Access Program will offer ice skating, cross-country skiing, kick sledding, and snowshoeing for individuals with disabilities at the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course in Weston, from 11am to 3pm on the following Sundays – Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10 and 24, and March 2, as well as Monday, Feb. 18.  In the event of no snow or ice, hiking, nature walks and other activities will occur.  The Universal Access Program (UAP) provides recreational accessibility to state and urban park facilities for individuals with disabilities, their families and friends. For people with disabilities, free use of accessible equipment and staff assistance are available.  UAP strives to increase the participation among people with disabilities in indoor and outdoor recreational activities in integrated settings. In January, February and March, UAP will offer ice skating, sit-skating, cross-country skiing, sit cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling, and other winter activities at Massachusetts state parks.  The program also offers accessible cycling, boating, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, and letterboxing programs in the summer and fall.  Pre-registration is required. Call Venture Into Well-Being at 413-527-8980. Ask about volunteer opportunities.  For more information on DCR’s Universal Access Program and a schedule of activities, and to confirm program status, call 617-626-1294 (voice) or 413-577-2200 (TTY) or visit "www.mass.gov/dcr" and click on "Universal Access Program."  The Universal Access Program is also offering training opportunities for volunteers to assist people with disabilities. This program will be offered at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course in Weston on Sundays, prior to UAP programs, on Jan. 27 to March 3, 8:30-11am.

1/25/08:  ‘World of Storybooks’ at Spellman Museum.  What do Goldilocks, The Cat in the Hat, Pippi Longstocking and Harry Potter have in common?  Answer: They all are featured on postage stamps from around the world.  Many other favorite characters from children’s literature are also commemorated on stamps. These can been viewed at the Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History on the Regis College campus in Weston.  The exhibit, which will run through April 30, is titled "The World of Storybooks – A Magical Journey Through Stamps."  Stamps from over 30 countries featuring tales from national folklore legends to classical stories and fairy tales familiar to children worldwide are on display along with first-day envelopes, souvenir sheets and other philatelic examples featuring well-known children’s stories.  Stamps honoring famous children book authors such as Hans Christian Anderson, Beatrix Potter and Dr. Seuss are also on exhibit.  The show’s opening reception is Sunday, Jan. 27 from 12-4pm. Free origami lessons will be offered by the Origamido Studio of Haverhill. Admission is free for everyone and children will receive a free packet of stamps.  Family Days including storytelling, puppet shows, children’s authors, stamp games and puzzles and arts and crafts activities are planned for various weekends throughout the show. The exhibit is designed to appeal both to children and adults and the stories on stamps range from "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Snow White" to "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."  The museum is regularly open from Thursdays to Sundays from 12-5pm, and children age 16 and under are admitted free.
The museum’s gift shop has items related to the show. Parents are welcome to schedule a stamp birthday party at the museum and Boy and Girl Scout leaders can arrange for special merit badge programs. For more information call 781-768-8367 or visit www.spellman.org.

1/25/08:  Home Alone class.  A Home Alone/Home Safety class for children ages 9 to 11 will take place Wednesday, January 30, 4-7pm at Parmenter Community Health, 266 Cochituate Road (Route 27), Wayland.  Children will learn important skills to handle situations they might encounter when they are home alone. Topics will include basic first aid, accident prevention, telephone protocol and safety measures, and they will be reinforced by presentations from the police and fire departments.  Fee is $35 (includes snack). Space is limited; pre-registration required.  Call 508-358-3000, ext. 235, to register.

1/25/08:  Free admission at The Discovery Museums for Wayland residents.  With the generous support of the Wayland Cultural Council, Wayland residents will receive free admission – plus additional discounts – when they visit The Discovery Museums in Acton on the weekend of February 2 and 3.  During the "Free to Explore" weekend at The Discovery Museums, all Wayland residents will receive free admission to both museum buildings – Children’s Discovery Museum (for children ages 0 to 6) and Science Discovery Museum (for children ages 6 and up) as well as discounts on membership and gift shop purchases.  To receive these benefits, Wayland residents must simply show proof of residence, such as a driver’s license, at the admissions desk and gift shop.  As the museum marks its 25th anniversary, the "Free to Explore" weekend is The Discovery Museums’ way of saying "thank you" to the Wayland community for 25 years of support.

1/25/08:  Early Childhood Outreach Program coordinator available.  The Wayland Public Schools, through its Early Childhood Outreach Program, serves children ages 3 to 5 and their families throughout the school year.  The coordinator of the Early Childhood Outreach Program, Dr. Marlene Moskowitz Dodyk, is available to meet and consult with parents regarding their children’s development. Recognizing and respecting the various individual styles and rates of development of young children, the coordinator assists parents in understanding their children’s development and in identifying any special educational needs which children might be experiencing.  If you are a Wayland resident and have any concerns about your child’s speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, cognition, and social and emotional development, contact Dr. Moskowitz Dodyk at 508-358-3759 to arrange for a special education preschool screening.  Dr. Moskowitz Dodyk welcomes questions and discussions with parents at any time during the school year, and assists in the transition of young children into kindergarten as well.

1/25/08:  Children’s Way openings for fall 2008.  The Children’s Way early childhood program, operated by the Wayland Public Schools, has openings for fall 2008 in both full and half-day programs. Programming is offered for children ages 2 years and 6 months to 5 years-plus.
The Children’s Way is located in the Wayland Town Building and offers a wide range of hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Applications are also being accepted for the 2009-10 school year. For more information call The Children’s Way at 508-358-7072.

1/22/08:  Free Drop-in Meditation Group. Start your week off in a peaceful state of mind. Monday mornings, 8:30-9:30am ongoing, beginning on February 4th at the Zen Message Center (348 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury).  Medical research has shown that meditation can be immensely effective in reducing stress. This drop-in group is free and open to all. No experience required. No registration required. For further information call the Zen Massage center at 978-579-2121.

1/18/08:  Library Circulation: Our circulation figures are up over what they have been for the last two years. Apparently, reports of the death of the book are highly exaggerated! Library program attendance is also at an all-time high. The library staff and Trustees are gratified by the strong continued use of the library by residents of our community. We are fortunate to live and work in a community that values literacy and cultural programming.

1/18/08:  Library Roofing Project: This spring the Library will be getting a new red tile roof on the 1900 section of the library. Before that happens, however, there needs to be some reinforcement work done in the attic. The reinforcement work is scheduled to begin on March 24 and will involve some temporary modifications in library service. Please watch this space for updates on how the construction will affect access to the library.

1/17/08:  Wayland Veterans Publish "Book of Remembrance" for the World.  The book will be available for pre-ordering until March 15 and is targeted for distribution by mid April, around Patriots Day.  An order form is available by clicking here.

1/17/08:  Help Wanted:  Wayland Town Beach Director.  Oversees the daily operation of the Wayland Town Beach; supervises the training of lifeguards and other beach personnel, and oversees the management of all beach activities including swim lessons and beach facility. Current Certifications Required: CPR, Basic First Aid (Instructor preferred), Water Safety Instructor (WSI), Lifeguard Training Instructor (Waterfront and Head Guard). Qualifications: Minimum 4 years experience in lakefront aquatic setting. Must have proven ability to lead and teach other employees, maintain dicipline, deal professionally with general public. Experience in supervision, management, and administrative skills. Beach opens for weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend and full time the last day of school in Wayland (approx. June 18th). Hours of work: pre-season and post-season hours required. During full time season - up to 40 hrs. per week.  Click here for the Help Wanted posting to reply.

1/17/08:  Sunday, February 10, Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance, Thoreau Club, Sudbury.  Wayland Park & Recreaction is holding its annual Father Daughter Valentine's Dance at the Thoreau Club in Sudbury, 275 Forest Ridge Rd. off Rte. 62 (20 minutes from Wayland Town Building). There will be lots of dancing, music, refreshments, and games, and party favors. Party dresses and sports coats are required. We welcome non-residents to join us.  Ages 5 & 6 come from 1:00pm- 2:15pm; Ages 7 - 9 come from 2:30pm - 3:45pm.  The fee is $25 per couple.You may register on line at www.wayland.ma.us/park or call us at 508-358-3660.

1/17/08:  Rep. Conroy Announces State Budget Open Forum in Wayland.  Representative Thomas Conroy is pleased to announce an open public forum on the state budget on Thursday, February 7th, from 7:30-9:30pm at the Wayland Town Building. Residents of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Governor Deval Patrick will release his FY09 state budget recommendation (referred to as House 1) on January 23rd, and deliver a State of the State address the next evening to the state legislature. The February 7th open forum in Wayland, moderated by Representative Conroy, will provide the public an opportunity to discuss several aspects of House 1, including: proposed state aid to towns and cities; sources of revenue, such as corporate tax reform and casino licenses; Ideas for making state government as efficient and as effective as possible; The legislature’s initial reaction to House 1; and Budget challenges facing other towns.  “State aid to towns and cities is an important element in composing local budgets, and I want to provide clarity — and receive citizens’ input — on state aid levels to each of the towns that I am privileged to serve,” said Representative Conroy.  Wayland’s Finance Committee is scheduled to decide on a budget proposal for the town on February 4th, and present its proposal to the Wayland Board of Selectmen on February 11th. The Lincoln and Sudbury Finance Committees are also actively working on budget proposals in preparation for town meetings in late March and early April. If interested in attending the budget forum, please let us know at Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us or 617-722-2460. Last minute arrivals are of course welcome.

1/10/08:  Income Tax Help. It’s that time of year again! The Council on Aging has several volunteers trained by the AARP to help low and moderate income seniors with their Federal and State tax returns. The COA will schedule appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning February 5 between 9am and 3pm. Bring your 2006 returns, year-end bank statements from 2007; any 1099 forms and W-2 or W-2P forms for wages, pensions, annuities, other income. If you think you may be eligible for the State Circuit Breaker Income Tax Credit, inform the volunteer. Those forms are available at the Assessor’s Office. Call the COA office for further information (508 358 2990).

1/5/08:  Jerusalem: Sacred City, Three Faiths:  Temple Shir Tikva invites the public to join in for a three-session course on "Jerusalem: Sacred City, Three Faiths," presented by Dr. Steven Kaplan, professor of comparative religions, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 16 and 23.  During 2007-08, Kaplan is a research fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University.  Light supper takes place from 6-6:30pm, and the classes take place 6:30-8pm.  Jerusalem is sacred to the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. While our different traditions unite in venerating the city, our theological, ritual and devotional expressions vary, to some degree.  During the course, we will share our traditions (or memories) of this sacred city, while Dr. Kaplan provides insights from past and present.  Incorporating visual material and commentary, Dr. Kaplan explores Jerusalem’s sacredness from earliest times to the present. He plans to discuss themes that include pilgrimages, foundational legends, sacred communities and messianic movements.  Please register in advance by calling Linda Goldbaum at 508-358-9992 or e-mail "lgoldbaum@shirtikva.org"

1/4/08:  Suburban Coalition is holding a General Meeting on Wednesday, January 9, 7:30-9pm at Alcott School on Laurel Street in Concord.  Please join in for a presentation from Municipal Benchmarking. Municipal Benchmarking provides reports to communities to help inform decisions about municipal government. Their reports can provide communities with information to understand how they compare to other communities with similar demographics in terms of municipal finance, employee benefits and educational progress.  Municipal Benchmarking will explain what they do and how their reports can provide value to communities and to the work of the Coalition.  The group will also be discussing the final 2008 Position Paper at this meeting. Please note the new location for this meeting, the Alcott School in Concord. Directions can be found at: http://www.colonial.net/maps/directions_alcott.php.  Questions? Please contact dorothypresser@suburbancoalition.org.

1/4/08:  Sudbury Valley Trustees' Letterboxing Challenge (ongoing).  Take a walk at several SVT reservations while you enjoy a treasure hunt! The SVT Letterboxing Challenge will bring you on a tour of trails in three regions of our watershed in search of stamps you’ll need to collect to earn your prize. Follow the clues, find the letterboxes, stamp a notepad and be one of the first 100 people to visit us at our office and collect your prize. To begin your quest visit http://svtletterboxing.blogspot.com/ for your clues! Thanks to letterboxing volunteers “Dale End Farm”, “Zess the Treehuggers” and