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.

In the spring vernal pool animals are often in a race against time for survival before the pool dries up during the summer. Come see what you can find in one of Wellesley’s 18 vernal pools.  From fairy shrimp to damselflies, green frogs and painted turtles, learn about these seasonal pools and the many creatures that might inhabit them on Wednesday, April 14 at 4:00PM. The "Fairies, Frogs, and Damsels!" Spring and Summer Wildlife of Vernal Pools: Part 2 event is brought to us by the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust Educational Series and co-sponsored by the Wellesley Free Library, Natural Resources Commission, and Sustainable Wellesley.

Register in advance for this half-hour virtual educational Zoom event here.

What is a vernal pool?
How does the vernal pool change from early spring to late spring/summer?
Why and how does that affect what creatures are in the pool?
How does that affect what critters are drawn to the pool?
Who are the predators and who are the prey?

Joy Marzolf, former naturalist and educator for over 13 years at Mass Audubon's Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary and now with her own company The Joys of Nature, will provide the answers to your questions and provide tips for exploring Wellesley’s vernal pools.

This event is designed for families and curious children of all ages. Pre-registration is required here. More info: Facebook. Website. 

According to the Wellesley Geographic Information System (GIS), Wellesley has 18 vernal pools and 15 of them are certified! You can explore the location of these by using the Wellesley GIS Property Viewer and turning on the Vernal Pool layer. A map to the Guernsey Sanctuary vernal pool is here. An aerial view of the North 40 vernal pool is here. 

Additional resources:
Massachusetts GIS of Certified Vernal Pools
Massachusetts Vernal Pool Certification Process

How do Rain Barrels help our community?

Rain barrels:


• Reduce stormwater runoff
• Improve residential storm management.
• Slow pollution from runoff
• Lower municipal water demands and save energy at treatment plants.
• Provide a chlorine-free water source for plants and gardens
• Offer a water supply to residents during periods of drought
• Are durable, and with proper care will virtually last forever.

ORDER YOUR RAIN BARREL! 

Rain Barrels are available for purchase by residents at the discounted price of $69.00.
Deadline: April 19th, Midnight


Visit: https://www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/community/
Select: Town of Wellesley
Pick-Up: April 26th 9:00-3:00pm, Wellesley Town Hall, 525 Washington Street

Green Collaborative - March 31 - 9 to 10 am on Zoom
Click Here to Register

Please Help Search Out Prospects
 
A key purpose of the Green Collaborative is to find ways to mutually assist in green initiatives.  The Municipal Light Plant, Sustainable Energy Committee, Sustainable Wellesley and the WHS Climate Action Club are reaching out to ask for your assistance.
 
We are in search of the 1 in 50 homeowners who can benefit by purchasing an air source heat pump this year.  The MLP is providing up to $2,000 in rebates.
 
It's a numbers game and we are seeking your help in reaching out to as many homeowners as possible.
 
Our one hour program will provide:

• Context of where this fits into Wellesley's response to the Climate Crisis;
• Information on where and how this equipment adds value; 
• Briefing on how the program will work; and
• Ideas for easy ways you can benefit and help

Please join us on March 31 from 9 to 10 am. Click Here to Register.
 

Learn all about the weird and wonderful skunk cabbage, Spring’s first wildflower at an event co-sponsored by the Wellesley Free Library, Natural Resources Commission, and Sustainable Wellesley on Wednesday, March 24 at 4:00PM via Zoom.

Register in advance for this half-hour virtual educational event:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkfumrrjspHdViHn5Wx5n00yTISrPKffMb  

Wonder how to spot them? Wellesley's Judy Barr will let you know. HINT: the flowers don’t look like flowers, and the leaves don’t look like leave.

• What do their flowers and leaves look like?  
• How does this weird plant burrow thru snow? 
• What is the rest of the life cycle of this amazing plant?
• Where can you find them in Wellesley?

Note: If you love purple and green, you will love this plant!!!! 
Designed for families and children of all ages. Pre-registration is required here. 

Stay tuned for more in the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust Educational Series:
Wednesday, April 14, 4PM - Pre-register here
Spring & Summer Wildlife of Vernal Pools: Fairies, Frogs, and Damsels

The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust is our local 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust that protects 14 sanctuaries across more than 45 acres of natural land in Wellesley and bordering lands in Needham and Weston. More information about our mission, the sanctuaries and membership can be found at WellesleyConservationLandTrust.org.

​Wellesley residents are invited to share a delicious vegetarian dinner prepared by local chef Dave Becker of Juniper on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. Take a night off from cooking and learn the benefits to your health and the well-being of our planet when you make Mondays meat-free, all while you support the efforts of the Wellesley Food Pantry to help those in our community who need it most.  This event is sponsored through a partnership by LWV Wellesley and Sustainable Wellesley.

Participants will pick up a dinner at Juniper and then return home to watch a live, fun cooking demonstration as they dine. The cost to join this exciting community event is $75, which will include a three-course meal, the chef’s own cookbook and a generous donation to the Wellesley Food Pantry. A red or white wine pairing can be included with dinner for an additional $20 per bottle.  
"Meatless Monday" Menu:

• Muhammara Spread (Roasted red pepper and walnuts) with fresh baked pita 
• Miso-Lentil Soup
• Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Curry Vinaigrette Dressing
• Butternut Squash Farro Risotto

Here’s how it works:

• Register before March 22 and pay $75.
• Prior to the event, you will receive an email with final details about pickup, plus a link to join the cooking class.
• Dave’s team will prepare a 3-course, meatless, fully cooked, takeout meal for two.
• You pick up dinner at Juniper in Wellesley between 5:00 and 6:15 p.m. on Monday, March 29; a specific time for your pick up will be sent in an email the day before the event.  Optional bottle(s) of wine, selected for the meal, may be purchased for $20 cash at pick-up.
• At 6:30, join other diners and watch Dave live on Zoom preparing the meal in his home kitchen.
• Feast while you watch!
• Ask Dave questions in the Zoom chat area and hear his responses live.

What’s Included:   The $75 fee includes: a 3-course takeout meal for two, a cooking class with Dave on Zoom, a Dave Becker cookbook, and a donation to the Wellesley Food Pantry.  Additional donations for the Wellesley Food Pantry are welcome.  A small fee for ticketing and use of PayPal will be added to your final cost; if you have questions, please email LWVWellesleyEvents@gmail.com 

Register before March 22 –Space is limited!  Each meal serves two but you may purchase more than one meal.  

The  Wellesley Food Pantry  currently serves approximately 200 Wellesley households and more than 420 individuals; about one-third are children and another third are seniors.  The Food Pantry has provided supplemental and emergency food to Wellesley residents in need since 1989.  

“Meatless Monday” is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet.  Since it began in 2003, the movement has taken root in over 40 countries and been adapted to 22 different languages.   Eating less meat and more healthy plant-based foods can help reduce the incidence of chronic preventable diseases, preserve precious land and water resources, and combat climate change.  More information is available at the “Meatless Monday” website.

This event was created by the League of Women Voters of Wellesley and Sustainable Wellesley in the interest of fostering both community support for those who need it, as well as an awareness of the many ways individuals can act to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.  LWV Wellesley is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It works to influence public policy through education and advocacy.  Sustainable Wellesley strives to engage residents, businesses and the Town of Wellesley to take sustainable actions to protect biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice.