 We are happy to introduce 2 new Leadership Team members.
PAUL EPSTEIN Dr. Paul Epstein's commitment to sustainability began many years ago here in Wellesley where he learned the value of recycling and its impact on the health of future generations. Having a son who is the President of an environmental consulting firm and a now a granddaughter, this 40 year Wellesley resident is even more inspired to take action in new and meaningful ways. As an avid lover of the outdoors—whether skiing, hiking, golfing, or enjoying water activities—Paul believes that a healthy environment is vital to the well-being of all people. Since selling his long time dental practice, Paul now practices part time and he has chosen to use his extra time to commit to sustainability efforts. Paul served for six years as the President of Neurofibromatosis Northeast, where he oversaw research fundraising and organized an annual charity golf tournament that raised money for research over the course of 36 years. Not only does he bring his science, small business and fundraising backgrounds to our leadership team, he also has educational experience teaching at dental schools and dental society programs. Paul is excited to bring his experience, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to create a lasting, positive impact on the local environment. JEFF PROWDA Jeff Prowda is passionate about the environment and sustainability with a diverse global background in the legal and pharmaceutical industries. He is a corporate lawyer by training and has practiced law for over 24 years, with the last 15 years working in house on legal teams. He is currently the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Valo Health and was previously the SVP and Head Corporate Counsel at Shire Pharmaceuticals. He has been active in ESG initiatives over the years at both Valo and Shire. He has been interested in sustainability and the environment, but was motivated to join Sustainable Wellesley by his daughter Madison and her commitment to environmental and sustainability issues during high school. In his personal life, he has installed solar panels on two houses in Wellesley, drives an electric vehicle and is an avid recycler and composter. He is focused on maximizing the impact Sustainable Wellesley can have on the town of Wellesley and building efficiency and networks by collaborating with other local groups and students interested in environmental issues and sustainability. Jeff will serve as Sustainable Wellesley's Treasurer. Thank you to Jeff and Paul for your energy and insights. Their personal and professional experiences and commitment to environmental stewardship will help drive positive change in the community. Plus, they are fun to have around! Want to get involved? Simply email us at [email protected].  Are you thinking about getting involved in Town government?
Consider running for the following board positions: Select Board Health Natural Resources Planning Public Works School Committee and more In addition to town board positions, there are 10 spots for each precinct for Town Meeting. Nomination papers for candidates for Town wide offices and Town Meeting member seats are available starting Wednesday, December 4, 2024. You can pull papers at the Town Clerk's office, located at 888 Worcester Street, Suite 140 until December 18. As of December 26, nomination papers will be available at the reopened Town Hall building at 525 Washington Street. Nomination papers must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on January 14, 2025. The Wellesley League of Women Voters will be hosting a seminar on How to Run for Office on Wednesday December 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Warren Recreation Building (90 Washington Street). Wellesley's Annual Town Election is Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Visit the Town Clerk webpages for additional information or message [email protected]. GreEn Friday Holiday Gift Guide: For Fashionistas, Foodies, Book Lovers, Travelers & More!11/25/2024
 Below are some fun holiday gift ideas and local stores you can find them. Feel free to gift experiences too such as a course, a game, an activity (set up garden for them, etc.) or a local adventure. Send us your favorite ideas as well at [email protected] and we will include them here.
Foodies/Entertainers:
Travelers: Sea lovers, even public transit travelers
Sustainable Wellesley has tried to suggest where to buy these items at local stores. When in your favorite local store, ask them for a sustainable gift idea. Mention Sustainable Wellesley at Fulfilled Goods in Newton and get a discount on any low-waste, package-free pantry staples, dry goods, personal care items and sustainable cleaning products. This market and refillery also has gift cards you can get for friends and family- teachers and colleagues too. When wrapping consider using reusable gift wrap. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, household waste increases by more than 25%?! That's over 1,000,000 tons of additional waste! Wellesley's RDF wants to remind the community that wrapping paper is not recyclable. Find out more in their Holiday Waste Guide.  Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers. This legislation will accelerate clean energy development, improve energy affordability, create an equitable infrastructure siting process, allow for multistate clean energy procurements, promote non-gas heating, expand access to electric vehicles and create jobs and support workers throughout the energy transition.
Sustainable Wellesley would like to thank Senator Creem and Representative Peisch for listening to their constituents about the importance of this bill, and working hard to get bill passed. Read the press release here.  Some of our leadership team members The Sustainable Wellesley community (that includes YOU) is thankful to live, work, study, and play in a town with a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse pollution. So, a big thank you goes to: residents, students, businesses, and municipal officials for the actions - big and small - that you all are taking.* More shoutouts go to the state of Massachusetts for its clean and efficient energy priorities.
Clean energy costs across the United States are coming down while renewable technologies are booming to new heights. Solar and wind electricity is getting cheaper than fossil fuels and hyper-efficient heat pumps are outselling gas furnaces. Some of this is from federal policies, but much happens on the local and state level. That is why we need you. More voices, more people, and more actions lead to more success. If you feel the need to DO something find out how here! There are teams in our community you can be part of to move things forward. What resonates with you?
Reach out and let us know what you are considering, or what you want help with. Let us know what you like to do; what you want to do; what you are good at; or if you just want our advice and direction. Many thanks to all of you and have a happy Thanksgiving! Sustainable Wellesley Leadership Team, Scott Bender, Philippa Biggers, Paul Epstein (NEW!), Mary Gard, Lisa Gieger, Trish Glass, Quentin Prideaux, Jeff Prowda (NEW!), Phyllis Theermann and Berry Witek P.S. You can donate here to keep all of our initiatives (& more) going:
*Did you know that:
 **Big thanks to Judith Boland, Resident and Retired Physician for sharing this
Another sun-drenched, colorful fall day in October. I step outside. We love that we live within a walk of two elementary schools, athletic fields and Wellesley Square. A grandmother is pushing her grandchild for a stroll. Leaves are drifting down like confetti - magical. Simultaneously, two, two stroke gas engine leaf blowers are up and running in unison around the block. My decibel app shows 60 dB- (the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against this and greater levels of noise for babies). The grandmother is most likely aware - she is having to raise her voice to respond to the toddler- and she probably can smell the fumes, even from here -as can I. We are breathing in Volatile Organic Compounds. Benzene - a long known carcinogen, nitrous oxide - a powerful greenhouse gas, and tiny particles known as PM2.5 which, among other alarming cardiovascular and respiratory health risks have now been shown to be linked to the EGFR mutation in various cancers. See the Resolution of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers passed by the Mass. Medical Society here. As she and the baby walk closer to their neighbors’ landscapers they will also be breathing in the dust from dried animal feces, pesticide and herbicide residues, brake dust, mold spores, possibly lead residues from old paint and more...The risk to the baby is concerning to say the least. All of these exposures and their risks are highest for the operators of the two stroke engines. Later that day I walked past that same grandmother’s house. The yard is carpeted in oak leaves, piles of deep red oak leaves are edging the streets. She is using a lithium battery leaf blower to create a big pile of leaves, possibly to be vacuumed up into a landscaper’s truck. Nearby is a rake. She might not put it this way but she is demonstrating public health risk mitigation. I aim to do the same. Would you? When speaking to my landscaping crew, I will take into consideration that they are now being told that one of their most basic tools of their trade is risky. So much so that communities near and far are banning the use of two stroke gas engine leaf blowers to protect the health of workers, children, the public, and the environment. Instead of having the landscaping company do their twice yearly “business as usual”, I will try something new:
 The Natural Resources Commission is holding a land conservation charrette on Thursday, November 21 to gather ideas from the community on a plan to preserve open space.
The meeting will take place in person from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the Wakelin Room of the Wellesley Free Library. All members of the community are encouraged to attend. Help the NRC define priorities and identify strategies to protect open space. Advance registration is recommended; sign up here to indicate your interest in participating. Members of the NRC hope that by engaging in a Town-wide planning process and gathering support now, the Town will be well prepared when conservation opportunities come up in the future. While you are at it, share your opinions in the town's Strategic Housing Plan Survey here.  In an attempt to eliminate plastic, Holly Cleaners is now offering the option of purchasing reusable dry cleaning bags in lieu of plastic packing for your clean garments. {update: we just got word that Lapels Dry Cleaners offers green cloth bags for dry cleaning too}.
This plan is similar to supermarket programs- you buy your own bag and bring it with you at drop-off. They are offering 2 sizes of bags. They cost $2.55 and $3.10 respectively. The bags are yours to keep. When you drop your clothes, you give them your bags to package your garments in after cleaning. They are non-woven eco-friendly zipper bags with a small window on them. Depending on the amount of dry cleaning you do and the services you use, it may require purchasing several bags. In order to protect your clothes, they can only fit about 3 / 4 garments per bag. This is not mandatory but a great option to plastic. We applaud this plastic reduction initiative.  You know there are many connections between climate and children’s health, so come to this meeting to learn how you can make a difference.
Wellesley Green Schools is collaborative group of caregivers, students and staff working together to reduce Wellesley schools' ecological footprint and to inspire students to create a healthy sustainable world. Please Join us for our Next Meeting Thursday November 14th at 10:30 am via Zoom (please note later time). Get Zoom link here. Learn about what is happening in schools across Wellesley and share what is important to you/your school community. Save the date for the rest of the WGS meetings: 1/16, 3/13 and 5/15  Looking to buy an EV?
Did you know that Wellesley's power comes from ~80% non-emitting sources and should increase to ~100%? That means when you drive electric and heat your home with electric heat pumps, you are using a good chunk of clean energy. Plus, electric vehicles and heat pumps create less emissions than their counterparts -- no matter where your energy comes from. Want to learn about the EV rebates out there? Check out this free Webinar: Understanding the Massachusetts MOR-EV Rebate for Electric Cars on Thursday, November 14th @ 1:00PM or 7:00PM to learn all about the rebate and how to apply it. Insider scoop:
Register for the 1pm event here and the 7pm event here.  Guess what?
Wellesley can now rely on battery power during our summer hot spells instead of relying on power from the dirty (& expensive) “peaker plants" to help reduce our peak electricity usage. Not only are the cost and emissions savings exciting, the stored battery energy available could be used to power municipal departments for a few days if need be. Plus, we will be contributing less to emissions in environmental justice communities. How are we doing this? Wellesley's Municipal Light Plant (MLP) is launching a nearly 5 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS): six lithium ion battery storage systems and inverters that convert DC to AC power. A big thanks goes to our MLP and the non-profit Citizens Energy Corp. Citizens Energy Corp actually paid for the upfront costs of our new system located on nearly 4 acres of MLP property. You too might consider incentivized solar and battery storage systems.  Did you know our own Wellesley Free Library has a library of things?
This collection of non-traditional library items is ever-expanding and items are available to you with just your library card. The THINGS you can borrow include:
 Anxiety is part of life but the amount we -- and our children (of all ages) -- are feeling is high. One reason many folks are anxious is due to their concerns about the future, and how extreme storms, droughts, and other climate related events will effect the health of their planet.
We realize this topic is deep and heavy, but it weighs on many including on our youth. If we don't acknowledge it and talk about it, we are just making the anxiety worse. In good news, Heather White, CEO & Founder of OneGreenThing, will be at Wellesley Books in Wellesley discussing her book on this topic: 'Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future' on Wednesday, November 13th, 7 pm. She will share some of the practical tools to manage overwhelming emotions and turn anxiety into meaningful climate action. Tickets for this event are $5 but can be put towards the purchase of the book at the event. Alternatively, you can add on a purchase of the book to your order and receive a free ticket. To buy tickets click here, or call Wellesley Books at 781-431-1160 to purchase a ticket directly and avoid Eventbrite fees. Heather has over 20 years of experience in environmental policy, law, and nonprofit management and focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. Through her nonprofit, OneGreenThing, she addresses eco-anxiety by promoting joyful daily actions to inspire a cultural shift toward climate solutions. Sustainable Wellesley is proud to co-sponsor this event with Mass Energize.  Interested in greening your house of worship? Do you want to connect with others who want to protect the environment – and our climate – by working within their congregation? Gather with other congregants and faith leaders to share the challenges and successes you’ve had, learn about how the Building Emissions and Reduction Disclosure Ordinance will affect your congregation’s buildings, and learn from others in the community.
You’ll also learn about greening congregations from Eric Grunebaum and Chris Lewis of Greener U who will discuss the many ways that houses of worship and other nonprofits can plan and implement decarbonization projects, and how organizations can create manageable, realistic pathways and phasing for energy projects over time. During this online event on Tuesday, October 29 from 7-8:30pm (Sign up below), you’ll learn the journeys of other nonprofits and houses of worship that have significantly reduced their energy use. You’ll have support from exerts and from fellow congregants to discuss your current and potential projects and how you can build momentum to move them forward. This event is for anyone involved in building decision making, such as clergy, financial teams, green teams, property management, board members, or other leadership. This free event is hosted by Green Newton, The Climate Action Task Force of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton and the Boston Catholic Climate Movement. Please RSVP by October 25.  Save the date! The Grand Opening of Hardy Elementary School is planned for Saturday, November 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Wellesley Public Schools will hold a brief ceremony celebrating the completion of the new Hardy. Following the ceremony, visitors can tour the building and learn more about the design and construction process. This event is open to everyone in Wellesley. The new Hardy School opened to students in August 2024, just six months after the opening of the new Hunnewell School. Hardy is a 80,039 square foot, 18-classroom school designed to serve approximately 365 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and was funded in part with a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The construction of both new schools was approved by voters in December 2021 as part of a project to replace the aging and obsolete Hardy, Hunnewell, and Upham elementary schools.  Land Conservation Plan
Help shape land conservation in our community. Wellesley's Open Space and Recreation Plan identifies existing open space, however, the Town lacks a forward-looking, actionable plan that targets specific parcels of conservation value and maps out strategies for protecting them. The NRC’s 1978 authorizing legislation instructs the NRC to “propose for acquisition by the town those natural resources that the commission deems useful or important to the town.” Given recent missed conservation opportunities, the NRC believes a comprehensive, Town-wide plan is of great value. We have many opportunities to increase preservation. While about 33% of Wellesley is open space, approximately 50% of that open space is held privately with no long-term protection. And overall, only a mere 9% of Wellesley is protected under Article 97 of the state Constitution. By engaging in a Town-wide planning process and building consensus upfront, the Town will be best prepared to conserve open space. In preparation for this effort, the NRC has been working with the Town's GIS Department to update property records, so that the Town knows what is currently preserved. The best time to conserve is proactively – not when development is imminent and costs are high. The Land Conservation Plan will position the Town to achieve this. REGISTER FOR THE PUBLIC CHARRETTE HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4DACAC22A7F94-52242517-land  Wellesley Safe Routes Plan
The Town of Wellesley Mobility Committee in collaboration with consultants Kittleson & Associates is identifying low-stress routes and exploring opportunities to enhance the Town's walking and biking infrastructure. This project will develop a network of safe, low-stress walking and biking routes, address gaps, and highlight easy opportunities for improvement. Join the Public Meeting on Wellesley’s Safe Routes Plan! Wednesday, October 30, 2024 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Tolles Parsons Center - Schuler Room 500 Washington Street  Wellesley's Municipal Light Plant is hiring a Sustainability Program Coordinator. Please consider and share.
Under the supervision of the Municipal Light Plant (“MLP”) Assistant Director, the Sustainability Program Coordinator develops, implements, and administers the MLP’s sustainability programs designed to encourage its customers to adopt technological, behavioral, and other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electrical demand or use. These programs include rebate or incentive programs for beneficial electrification, energy efficiency, and solar energy, which are guided by the principles and goals set forth in the Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan and by the Municipal Light Board and MLP senior management. The Sustainability Program Coordinator coordinates program development and delivery with MLP staff (Customer Service), other Town departments (e.g., Climate Action Office), program vendors, and other stakeholders (citizen, business, and contractor groups) to ensure they are well coordinated and communicated and provide MLP customers a positive experience. The incumbent continually monitors and evaluates the progress, customer uptake, and performance and effectiveness of these programs to estimate the resulting energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure they produce meaningful benefits. The Sustainability Program Coordinator coordinates and oversees the Town’s Energy Coach program, which is staffed by volunteers who provide guidance and resources to residents and building owners on opportunities to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. A link to the complete job description can be found HERE. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, environmental or energy policy, engineering, or sciences, or related field. Three (3) years of professional experience in the sustainability field such as energy policy and technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification, and sustainability or greenhouse gas reduction program management. Solid working knowledge of sustainability technologies and policy, particularly electrification (heat pumps and electric vehicles), energy efficiency, and solar. Ability to methodically and accurately collect, assimilate, and synthesize or analyze data and information to track and troubleshoot applicant workflow and processing, evaluate program performance and effectiveness, and identify trends, problem areas, and opportunities for improvement. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Good organization skills and attention to detail and professionalism, commitment, and sound judgement when interacting with customers. High level of proficiency in Microsoft® Excel and basic proficiency in Microsoft® Word and Powerpoint. The Town of Wellesley provides excellent health and retirement benefits along with a competitive salary to its employees. Please submit a cover letter and resume to: Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, Attn: Joanne Scannell, 4 Municipal Way, Wellesley, MA 02481 or email as a WORD or PDF document to [email protected]. AA/EOE. Salary range: $85,000 - $115,000 per year depending on experience.  Find your treasure on November 2nd between 9am-1pm at Wellesley Village Church's annual Rummage Sale. A small $2 entry fee offers you access to thousands of gently used items for sale at bargain prices.
Items are organized into departments, with dedicated spaces for women’s clothing, accessories and shoes, children's clothing and toys, men’s wear, kitchen and home goods, and more. The Chic Boutique is a perennial favorite, specializing in higher-end women’s designer clothing, purses and shoes. Make time for one of the “best one day thrifting event in Boston,” said Cherie Hoffman, Co-Chair of the sale. Hoffman reminded us that for more than "80 years, this sale has brought community together, saved lots of volume from the landfill and generated about $400,000 that has been deployed to charities helping children and families nearby and farther away.” Its a win win.  Sure, its stunning now, but winter will be upon us.
Get the incentives and rebates while they are hot. Don't wait until your heating or cooling system breaks down. Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant’s latest heat pump program offers lots of rebates. If you plan to use heat pumps to heat and cool 100% of your home you will receive $8K-$10k. There are rebates for non-National Grid customers that use heat pumps (including mini-splits) for partial home use as well, but the biggest discounts are for those that disconnect from fossil fuels (as well as electric resistance heat). Don't forget about the financial incentives from the state and federal government too. PLUS, solar installation incentives are available as well. Learn more from Wellesley's no cost energy coach.  You know the scariest part of Halloween? Buying a new costume when there are so many hiding in the back of our closets that have only been worn for a few hours!!! Bring Dorothy, Harry Potter and those Ninja Turtles back to life!!! You’ll feel good that your closet is cleaner and Mother Nature will thank you for cutting down on waste! Consider donating on the Facebook groups Wellesley Give and Take and/or Buy Nothing Wellesley, MA (must be Wellesley Resident). You can even post an "In Search Of" (ISO) if you are looking for a specific costume. Other donation options are: RDF Take-It-Or-Leave-It rack, the Schofield Shoppers Corner (open Wed. 8:30-noon) or Sprague's PTO Costume Sale (drop box in front of the Sprague school). Don't wait to donate!!!
 Co-Author Eve Driver, with connections to Wellesley, will be speaking on Tuesday October 1st at 7pm at Wellesley Books about her first book, "What We Can't Burn." Click here to get a ticket ($5 fee and space is limited). Eve, a journalist and climate policy advisor, will discuss our energy future.
Additional event in the area: October 2 | Cambridge — 6:30p Harvard COOP  Have you heard/ seen the lane restrictions on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and I-95 (Route 128) interchange on the Weston and Newton border? Traffic on all on- and off- ramps in this area will be reduced to a single lane in each direction as the MassDOT bridgework ($230 million MassDOT project will replace and repair eight bridges over the roadways) is underway - 4 YEARS.
Don’t fret, take public transportation! New Reduced-fare Options for Income-eligible Riders The MBTA has expanded access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders, offering half-off regular fares on Commuter Rail, Subway, Bus, Ferry, Express Bus, and The RIDE.
Department of Transitional Assistance
To apply online, you will need your driver's license, state ID, or Mass Liquor ID for your RMV ID number or other government-issued photo identification. The system will check your eligibility automatically. If approved, your reduced fare CharlieCard will be mailed to your home. You will need to apply to renew every year. Note: If you don't qualify, you may be eligible for one of our other reduced fare programs, which offer discounted prices on bus, subway, Commuter Rail, and ferries. To learn more, visit MBTA.com/income eligible. *Qualifying RIDE customers who are currently enrolled in the TAP program can switch to the income-eligible program. The income-eligible program provides the same fixed route discounts as the TAP program, along with new discounts on the RIDE. *Qualifying RIDE customers who are currently enrolled in the Blind Access program can also enroll in the income-eligible program in order to receive reduced fares on the RIDE and continued free fares on the fixed route. Seniors 65+ now eligible for reduced fare on the Ride In addition to offering reduced fare to income-eligible riders between 18 and 64, the MBTA has expanded its reduced fare program for seniors (65+) to include those traveling on the RIDE!
Plus, Tap to Ride, the contactless payment method is now available. Other MBTA Green Line Scoop: Green Line D branch service will be suspended during the following weekends in the following locations: · October 5 – 6: Between Kenmore and Newton Highlands.
· October 19 – 20: Between Riverside and Brookline Hills.
 Thank you to Wellesley resident Alex for encouraging us to rethink the way we dry our clothes. He shared this funny cartoon as well as some content from Green America that offer some inspiring points.
"Why reduce your clothes dryer useage?
Try air-drying your clothing outdoors for that “fresh” smell and natural disinfect. There are a variety of racks and lines for outdoor air-drying of clothes. If you have pollen allergies, wet weather is headed your way, or don’t have enough outdoor space use an indoor drying rack instead. There are many creative ways to dry indoors as well. Some like to simply hang bigger items like sheets and towels over a door, table, banister, or a shower rod. In a hurry? Try turning on a fan at a low speed which uses less electricity use than a dryer. Drying inside also helps keep indoor winter air moist. Have other ideas/habits/tips on ways to reducing energy use? Please share them at [email protected].  At 15 years old Dylan Zajac (present Babson student) had the vision to take old cell phones, computers, and other electronic waste and use it to lower the expanding gap in digital accessibility. He started Computers for People, and now five years later the non profit has blossomed into a leading force in its domain, making significant strides in narrowing the digital divide across regions like New Jersey, New York City, and Massachusetts.
Through its tireless efforts, this organization has not only transformed discarded technology into valuable resources but has also transformed lives by providing equal access to the digital realm for all. Hear more about how they created a sustainable solution to the environmental woes posed by discarded electronics, while also tackling the pressing challenge of the digital divide from David Kieser, Program Manager for Computer for People, at the next Rotary meeting on September 24th. The meeting is being held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library’s main branch at 550 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM and the guest speaker will begin around 7:00 PM. Sneak peaks can be see on this Kelly Clarkson Show Video. The Rotary Club of Wellesley is one of Wellesley’s oldest community service groups and conducts local programs to benefit the Town of Wellesley. The public is always invited to any Rotary program. Please check the web site www.wellesleyrotary.org for times. If you are interested in attending, please register on their web site or send an email to [email protected]. |
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