Wellesley Townsman blog

Rain poll!

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under Fun, weather | Leave a Comment

Pet of the Week

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Anne-Marie Smolski
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Less than 2 years old, Little Girl is medium in size and very sweet. She’s just been spayed and loves to be petted. Little Girl is up to date with shots and is house trained. For more information about her or other pets in need of adoption visit petfinder.com.

Preview of tomorrow’s Townsman

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under General, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Here’s a peak at tomorrow’s front page.

Map of Waban Sound Barrier

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under Highways, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Sorry to disapoint any Wellesleyites who live near Route 128, but apparently the Waban Sound Barrier is only going to help out Newton residents. (Don’t forget to check out our story on this in tomorrow’s Townsman).

Here’s a map from the office of Rep. Kay Kahn (D-Newton) detailing where the noise barrier is tentatively scheduled to go. It’s no. 8 on a list of 53 and will cost between $4 million and $4.5 million. 54 Newton homes will benefit from the barrier. (I know the map is small, but if you double click on it, a larger version appears).

Sneak peak of tomorrow’s Life page

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under Exercise, Fun, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Here’s a quick preview of a photo from tomorrow’s Life page. (Don’t forget to read the whole story in tomorrow’s Townsman!)

Yup, that’s me exercising in a fitness boot camp at the Beacon Hill Athletic Club off of Linden Street.

Wellesley Historical Society Item of the Week

Posted on July 22, 2008 by Anne-Marie Smolski
Filed Under Sports, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

It’s all about tablecloths this week at the Wellesley Historical Society, 229 Washington St. They have various square damask and lace ones priced from $22-35. The Tollhouse Shop is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Those who donate items get a tax-deductible receipt, and volunteers will even pick up your items. For more information call 781-235-6690.

Cash Back!

Posted on July 22, 2008 by JettW.
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

I live in Brookline, and I every time I finish work here at the office, I ride the commuter rail all the way into Back Bay. Now, keep in mind, this is the year 2008, and some small businesses and functions alike still don’t take plastic these days. Serenity now! We are literally in an era where technology advancement is climbing exponentially…and yet, businesses and the commuter rail don’t take plastic. Shouldn’t the Wellesley Hills train stop include some kind of Charlie Card machine so, I don’t have to buy something, so I can get cash back?

I swear the commuter rail division must be run by Tyler Durden and the rest of Project Mayhem from Fight Club! Can you imagine Brad Pitt in a conductor’s outfit with his black eye asking for cash only? I can!

Here’s a dynamite idea, give train conductors portable credit card machines. I know these exist, because waiters in Paris use them! Why stop there? Let’s give them a fully-capable Batman utility belt! That’s got to lighten up the job a little, right? I mean who wouldn’t want a Batman utility belt?

Fortunately, I’ve developed a system that works and is cost-effective. Without having to pull $20 each time from the ATM, I just go to Whole Foods and buy a bottle of water that costs about 50 cents. I use my bank card, and then press the almighty “cash back” button, and pull out my train dough…which is a whopping $5.25!!! I just wish other places other than super markets would yield to the cash back option.

Ingenious, no?

Wellesley man arrested on assault charges in Framingham

Posted on July 22, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under Arrests, People, Police | Leave a Comment

A Wellesley man has been arrested by Framingham police and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a baseball bat, assault with a dangerous weapon, a pellet gun, and threatening to commit a crime, according to a MetroWest Daily News article.

Thomas O’Connell, of 71 Fairbanks Road, was arrested yesterday he went to a Framingham home, allegedly armed with a pellet gun and a baseball bat. Police say he was looking for another man with whom he had an argument.

Wellesley High’s reductions, down to the last inch

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Elana Zak
Filed Under Wellesley High School | Leave a Comment

Last week, the School Committee voted on reducing Wellesley High by a little more than 24,000 square feet. Wondering what was cut? Here’s a list of everything:

Key: sf= square feet; gsf= gross square feet; CR= classroom; numbers all indicating square feet unless otherwise stated

The current educational program last voted by School Committee has a net sf of 217,630. 280,000 gsf / 1.45 = 193,103 net sf. The net sf reduction required to get to 280,000 gsf is equal to 24,527.

Non-Instructional Space

1,500   Eliminate private cable space

   150   Reduce staff dining room from 1,000 to 850

   500   Reduce kitchen size

   200   Reduce Performing Arts storage from separate 600 and 400 to one 800 sf

   150   Reduce Athletic storage from separate 750 and 400 to one 1,000 sf

   137   Reduce cafeteria size

     40   Reduce aggregate for 4 recycling closets from 240

Student Support Space

2,000   Student Union

   500   Performing Arts changing rooms (250 each for male/female)

2,000   Reduce auditorium seating from 800 to 600 seats

1,800 Reduce boys athletic lockers from 3,000 to 1,200 team room

   800   Reduce girls athletic lockers from 2,000 to 1,200 team room

   200   Reduce 1 small conference workroom

Instruction Space Size

3,500   Reduce 62 core academic classrooms and 8 flex from 850 to 800

2,000   Reduce Fitness Center from 4,000

   250   Reduce 5 misc CRs from 850 to 800

   200   Reduce 4 small CRs from 550 to 500

   150   Reduce Drama CR from 1800

   300   Reduce TV Studio aggregate from 2150

   250   Reduce Language (50), Culinary (100), and 2 Technology Project Labs (50 ea)

   200   Reduce digital/photo lab from 1200

Program Elimination

7700            Practice Track

Total = 24,527