 Are you considering running the 2021 Boston Marathon® on October 11th?
Looking for a bib number? Want to support climate action in Wellesley at the same time? Sustainable Wellesley is proud to announce it is accepting applications from Wellesley residents willing to commit to fundraise at least $5000 and adhere to the BAA's terms and conditions. We encourage you to apply by filling out this simple application. The Sustainable Wellesley marketing team will help power your fundraising efforts. Funds raised will support Sustainable Wellesley's work to engage residents, businesses and the Town of Wellesley to take sustainable actions to protect our climate; reduce pollution of air, land and water; preserve biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice. Learn more about charitable running for the Marathon here. Application Deadline: May 5th. Apply Now  We realize rain is in the forecast but State officials are urging the public to take water conservation steps now after announcing much of Massachusetts is in a state of drought.
Kathleen Theoharides, MA.'s Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, said in a recent statement that “in most regions across the Commonwealth, dry conditions have set in again, and it is important that we all take water conservation steps now to lessen its potential impacts on our environment and water supplies." Let us know how will you cut back on water usage by emailing us at info@sustainablewellesley.com. Let's hope we don't top last year when Massachusetts experienced its worst drought in four years.  Did you hear the honks and see the signs? Last Saturday, more than 50 high school and college students and adults of all ages bookended Wellesley Square at the former Peet’s Coffee site where Chase Bank will soon open. The goal was to have a presence at the main access points of the Square and the Chase site to alert bikers, walkers, runners and drivers of the huge impact that the banking industry has on our climate crisis and its environmental justice implications. “A new Chase Bank branch will be moving into where Peet’s Coffee was and we felt we would use this opportunity to raise awareness about the fact that JPMorgan Chase Bank provides far more overall funding worldwide for both current and new fossil fuel projects than any other bank in the world,” said Sydney Stearns, Wellesley College Sophomore. “Even though the fossil fuel sector is only a small percentage of Chase's portfolio, any funding to this industry is problematic for the future of our planet,” Stearns said. Other banks in town scoring low on the corporate social and environmental responsibility list due to fossil fuel financing include Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, RBC, and TD Bank. In spite of the severe warnings from climate scientists and worldwide agreements for lowering carbon emissions in the 2016 Paris Climate Accord, Chase has since funded the carbon-polluting fossil fuel industry with more than $268 billion. Fossil fuels, especially from tar sands, are a major cause of climate chaos. “This is part of a national campaign to hold Chase accountable for its complicity in the climate crisis,” said Natick High School student and member of the Sunrise Movement Hannah Takasaki. “We encourage anyone reading this to keep the pressure on until Chase completely stops funding the climate crisis by writing a review to tell Chase to fund a sustainable future. Since they are not alone at profiting at the expense of the environment, and often negatively impact communities of color the most, consider where you bank and which credit cards you hold,” Takasaki said. The 350 Metrowest and Northern 350 organizers felt they had such an impact that they have decided to do it again on Saturday, April 17th and April 24th from 10.30-12pm. The organization is asking the community to learn more, share their knowledge and consider cutting up credit cards, closing accounts and selling shares of banks that support activities that fuel the climate crisis. Local community groups and individuals are encouraged to attend with masks and keeping physical distances. Meet at Wellesley Square @ 5-way Intersection of Rt. 135 & Rt. 16.   For those doing something different next week for the school April break, take a minute this week to:
1) Write/call your Town Meeting Member letting them know that you support the Town's updated greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals. These goals appear in Article 24, Motion 1 and call for reductions in town-wide GHG emissions of 50% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2030, 75% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2040, and net zero town-wide GHG emissions by 2050. These science-based goals follow State policy, are in line with The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, support Wellesley’s Unified Plan, and echo similar climate actions taken by an increasing number of Wellesley’s peer communities across the Commonwealth. 2) Enjoy Sierra Club's free plant-based cooking classes! You know that going meatless is good for the environment and for your health. The production of meat and dairy generates a lot more greenhouse gases than the production of comparable amounts of plant-based proteins. Check out two upcoming online cooking classes from the Sierra Club for inspiration and helpful tips. Sunday, April 18, 6-7pm Plant-based Cooking Demonstration: Learn how to make healthy plant-based food with the Plant-based Planet Team! We’ll demonstrate how to make various plant-based dishes at home. Feel free to ask us questions! Register in advance here. Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-7:30pm Our Sustainable Kitchen Cooking Class, Second Episode: Professional vegan chef Diana Goldman will teach you virtually how to prepare delicious plant-based food. Register in advance here. 3) Enjoy the week!  The Town of Wellesley is looking to understand the specific retail, restaurant and business wants, needs and patterns in Wellesley Square in an effort to bring vitality and new businesses to our community.
Imagine, a pedestrian weekend main street, re-use and plastic free stores, no styrofoam, EV charging stations, community refrigerator, a fix it shop, in town composting and recycling, etc. Let them know what YOU want by filling out this survey. It takes less than a minute to fill out the survey.  If electric vehicles (EV) prices still give you pause, or if your steadfast mantra is “reuse,” then read this blog “Affordable Used Car Roundup,” which highlights where to find used EV deals in and around Wellesley. For example, a 2014 Chevy Volt priced at $10,699 before rebates and incentives, and a 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf for $13,998 are listed. It's part of Energy New England’s Wellesley Drives Electric program offering useful nuggets of information for all things EV. If you want to be an EV driver, or already are and want to do even more to fuel the trend, read these 3 insider tips.
1. EV interested residents as well as existing EV drivers looking for home charging incentives and installation info can connect with a Wellesley Drives Electric EV specialist via the website, which has a contact form, email address (ev@ene.org) and toll-free telephone number (1-833-443-8363). This 1-on-1 help and support is a free service available to all Wellesley residents. Specialists can even help you to set up a local in-person first test drive of an EV (as health and safety allows). 2. The site is also home to the Wellesley Drives Electric EV Action Committee, a group of EV Ambassadors that meet quarterly to provide a forum to ask questions and make suggestions for new program initiatives, according to Alex Banat Wellesley Drives Electric EV Specialist. 3. Wellesley Drives Electric is also co-sponsoring a virtual Earth Day event on April 22 at 6 p.m. Register here and join a drawing to win a $250 gift card. Several area town Drive Electric programs are partnering for the event, which will teach some EV basics and highlight how EVs can help the earth and benefit consumer pocketbooks. An interactive Q&A will follow the program.  Share information on mobility options and help shape plans to expand access to key areas of our community for all residents. On April 15, 2021, the Town of Wellesley will sponsor an online forum presenting information on the Sustainable Mobility Plan (SMP). To creatively address the Town’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the Town is developing one plan for both sustainability and transportation.
Sustainable mobility highlights transportation modes and the supporting infrastructure that increases access while reducing environmental impacts, inefficiencies, and costs. Along with traditional travel options, there are new technologies and innovative project design that allow communities to identify, test, and prioritize new modes for moving people (and, given the growth in e-commerce, packages). Some key questions we will explore include: How can we improve the environmental and safety aspects of auto travel? Will advances in e-bikes lower costs and make riding as convenient as driving? What are the new technologies that work for Wellesley in reducing greenhouse gases? Why is the 15-Minute city such a popular sustainability idea? What travel pattern trends will be permanent post-COVID? Through the Sustainable Mobility Plan development, together, we will: Track progress in projects identified in the 2019 Unified Plan Explore current travel patterns and impactful trends Identify the most promising sustainability practices and trends List challenges and trade-offs for moving forward Develop action plans for near, mid, and long term improvements Please join this event and invite family and friends so we can better understand the barriers and opportunities for greener travel options. You can register for the Town forum on the Sustainable Mobility Plan here. Follow the Sustainable Mobility Plan’s progress on the Town’s Facebook page or the Town of Wellesley website.  On April 10th from 10.30am - 12pm, local climate groups led by 350MASS MetroWest are joining together with citizens of all ages in Wellesley Center to make the MetroWest community aware of the huge impact that the banking industry has on climate crisis and environmental justice. All are welcome to join the rally, specifics are here.
“As a new Chase Bank prepares to open for business in Wellesley, it is an ideal time to let passersby know that JPMorgan Chase Bank provides far more overall funding worldwide for both current and new fossil fuel projects than any other bank in the world,” said Rick Devereux, 350MASS MetroWest. Other banks in town scoring low on the corporate social and environmental responsibility list due to fossil fuel financing include Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, RBC, and TD Bank. In spite of the severe warnings from climate scientists and worldwide agreements for lowering carbon emissions in the 2016 Paris Climate Accord, Chase has since funded the carbon-polluting fossil fuel industry with more than $268 billion. Fossil fuels, especially from tar sands, are a major cause of climate chaos. “Banks are making profits at the expense of the environment and their policies often negatively impact communities of color the most,” said Wellesley College student Suzanna Schofield. The good news is that the fossil fuel sector is only a small percentage of Chase’s portfolio, so the option to stop its support is within reach. The demonstrators will be asking the community to learn more, share their knowledge and consider cutting up credit cards, closing accounts and selling shares of banks that support activities that fuel the climate crisis. Masks and physical distancing required. Rain date April 17th.  Last week after the Massachusetts Legislature put its climate bill on the Governor’s desk for the second time, Governor Baker signed it into law. This sweeping and historic statute is the first piece of climate legislation passed in Massachusetts in over a decade, creating the foundation for bold and robust statewide climate policy for years to come.
Specifically, the Roadmap Bill strengthens Massachusetts’s emissions reduction targets to establish a 50% reduction by 2030, a 75% reduction by 2040 and a goal of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Having targets like these will hold the Commonwealth accountable to reduce emissions in our energy, transportation and building sectors. To make these goals, the act stipulates the development of a Net Zero Energy stretch building code, which it empowers communities to adopt by 2022. It also mandates energy efficiency standards for appliances by 2025, and authorizes another 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power. It also provides protections for Environmental Justice communities. What does this mean for Wellesley? Later this month, Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Committee (SEC) will be updating the Town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals and bringing them to the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) 2021. These goals, contained in Article 24, call for reductions in town-wide GHG emissions of 50% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2030, 75% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2040, and net zero town-wide GHG emissions by 2050. These science-based goals follow State policy, are in line with The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, support Wellesley’s Unified Plan, and echo similar climate actions taken by an increasing number of Wellesley’s peer communities across the Commonwealth. Residents are encouraged to contact their Town Meeting Members letting them know they support these emissions reductions goals for our community. OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU! ADVISORY
There are six positions on the 15 member Advisory Committee that will become open at the end of the current fiscal year that Town Moderator Mark Kaplan will be filling to take effect as of July 1, 2021. Five of the openings are for three year terms and one is for a two year term. All Wellesley (residents) (town meeting members) who are interested in being considered for one of these vacancies should contact Mark Kaplan at moderator@wellesleyma.gov by no later than April 23, 2021. Please include a current resume if you have one as well as a brief description of your background including (1) any prior involvement in either town government or the community in general; (2) any knowledge, expertise or experience that you have that you feel may be relevant for service on the Advisory Committee; and (3) the reasons that you are interested in being considered for appointment to the Advisory Committee. ______________________________________________________________________________________ PRECINCT F TOWN MEETING MEMBER A special election for Precinct F will take place on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7 p.m. to fill a Town Meeting Member vacancy. Section 8A, Chapter 202 of the Acts of 1932 specifies that in the event of a vacancy in the full number of Town Meeting Members, the Town Clerk shall call a special meeting of the Town Meeting Members from the affected precinct to elect a new member until the next annual election. The special election candidates shall be from the registered voters of the precinct. A quorum for this special meeting is a majority of Precinct F Town Meeting Members. The special election Town Meeting Member will serve until the next annual election. Town Meeting Members, or others, should nominate candidates for this position on or before Tuesday April 6, 2021. Nominations should include the candidate name, address and email address if available, and should be submitted in writing or by email. The nominee’s permission should be secured in advance. Any resident may propose nominations and candidates may propose themselves. Please submit nominations by email to kckato@wellesleyma.gov or by phone at 781-431-1019 ext. 2252 no later than April 6. |
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