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Vol. 2, No. 29
Wednesday, October 25, 2000
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Contents | Wellington News | Home
Some of you may be receiving the Wellington News for the first time with this issue. This is a publication of Citizens for Wellington Park. This email newsletter is the primary method we use to keep in touch. At our recent Parkfest, we gathered many new names and emails. Some of you may receive this at more than one email address. If you do not wish to receive this publication (at this address or otherwise), please just reply to this email and put the word "unsubscribe" in the email. There is a lot of material in this particular newsletter and you might even consider reading it offline.
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Alert: Are there any volunteers who have some time during the day this week to help plant bulbs at Wellington Park (even if you are not on the Garden Committee)? Jennie Luciano has the bulbs and the new bulb planting auger (and the loan of a portable battery powered drill to make it dig). Thanks to the Mahoney's who made the special trip to obtain the auger bit. Jennie has proposed either Wednesday (10/25) or Thursday (10/26) at around 1 PM as a possible time to do some bulb work. Please call her at 244-0926 if you could help at those times or any other time.
Our Garden committee met on the afternoon of the Parkfest and made some plans for future plantings. Jennie Luciano showed a plot plan that she had come up with for the planting. Welcome to new Garden Committee members Pam Annas and Rose Morahan! Linda Johnson (Angelucci) has a pair of Burning Bush shrubs that she has offered to the park.
Our sugar maples, donated by Phil Mastroianni Corp., are looking spectacular. We are responsible for their upkeep including watering. At this stage, they need to be watered twice a week. What has worked well so far is to fill up a cooler with water and roll it over to the park in a small wagon and distribute it to the trees. Are there any volunteers out there who would like to take on this responsibility for the immediate future? If so please call Ted at 969-6222 or reply to this email.
The water fountain has been removed for the season but will make a reappearance next spring. We had discussed the possibility of adding a garden hose connection near the water fountain for use by our gardeners. This would have a special key required to operate it. This was looked upon favorably by the Parks and Recreation Department. However, it appears that it won't be installed until next spring.
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Sincere thanks to everyone who came out to Wellington Park to participate in our second annual Wellington Parkfest on Sunday, October 15th. It was also the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Wellington Park as well as the grand opening of our new playground.
The weather was absolutely wonderful, a beautiful Indian summer day with sun and pleasant T shirt temperatures. It was probably about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. We were very fortunate since we really had no rain date. The Monday after the Parkfest turned out to be cold and rainy.
As with most Wellington Park events, we never know how many people to expect. Last year's inaugural event in September drew about 100 people. This year, there were at least 200 people over the course of the afternoon. We may just have set a new record for the number of people in Wellington Park at one time!
There are many people to thank for helping to make the Parkfest such a success. First off, thanks must go to Ann Dorfman, the main organizer for Wellington Parkfest 2000. Having an event like this was Ann's dream many years ago to help people to get to know each other. She and her helpers got the word out for the event by poster and with door to door flyers. Eleanor Ambrosio sent out our Wellington Park thank you's to our citizen and business sponsors and a very nice invitation. Maria Plati designed the signboards with the balloon picture that you saw around major intersections.
No one should have gone hungry or thirsty on Sunday at the Parkfest. Ann Dorfman obtained a good supply of soda and the delicious cookie dough ice cream. The McGrath's (Lindbergh Ave.) supplied the large Gatorade containers which gushed forth with lemonade and fruit punch mix (donated by Subway of West Newton). Susanne McInerney donated a quantity of canned Cran-Grape juice and Lorraine Miller supplied juice boxes.
Our first 100 or so hot dogs and rolls were provided by Jane and Don Quinn. And what would hot dogs be without a nice assortment of mustards and condiments (also provided by Jane). Thanks to Bob Mobilia, who provided the grill and presided over the hot dogs for the afternoon. Of course we thought a hundred would be enough hot dogs. Wrong! Thanks to those who raided their freezers to supply the additional hot dogs consumed on Sunday (it's good we had a few vegetarians in the crowd.).
As at our build, we had real movie popcorn courtesy of West Newton Cinema (and thanks to Joanie Waldron, who works there). Thanks to all of those who brought the wonderful desserts. I was lucky to get a taste of a particularly delicious pumpkin cheesecake. And inquiring minds want to know who made those cute cupcakes that looked like potted flowers? Since it was Wellington Park's 70th Birthday Party, we even had a very delicious birthday cake, courtesy of the Blum family next door to the park. As part of our ceremony we all sang Happy Birthday to Wellington Park and to Tammy Blum (who was also celebrating a birthday!).
Thanks also the Blum's for providing the electricity for our sound system. The sound system itself (as well as the podium) was generously lent to us by Newton Community Service Centers. The Newton Parks and Recreation Department allowed us to use their portable stage on wheels and it probably never looked as good as it did after the treatment given to it by Jane Quinn (and Lisa Mobilia), including the lovely flower arrangements and autumn leave theme. Move over Martha Stewart! Topping off the stage was a lovely balloon bouquet (just like on the signs). Thanks to Carol Kelley for arranging for the balloons, to Janet Kuklinski for pickup, and to Peal Saunders, her sister Maple, and to Lisa Mobilia, for distributing them to the children later in the afternoon!
In the play area, Mike Myers set up the pumpkin decorating table and amazed folks with his creative design skills. Earlier in the day, Mike had also been a big help in setting up the volleyball net. Mike had a terrific idea that we customize the play structure a little. Keep an eye out for our fire engine panel to be customized a little to say something like "Wellington Park Fire Department". Tables and chairs were provided by various neighbors, including the Kelley's, Miller's, Kuklinski's and others. Our setup this year was near the north pedestrian gate and not near the water fountain as it was last year at Len Saunder's very good suggestion!
Many thanks to Bonnie McCormick (and her husband Dennis) who helped at the registration table and entered folks in our drawing for prizes. Prizes were generously donated by some of our local merchants. West Newton Cinema generously donated two pairs of tickets. These were won by Rami Blum (Kilburn Road) and Patricia Fanara (of Westwood, MA). Captain Marden's (1367 Washington Street) had given us a pair of lobsters which surprisingly was won by none other than alderman Dick Bullwinkle. Hair by Hanna (1299 Washington Street, next to the courthouse) had given us a certificate for a wash, cut, and style ($28 value) which was won by the Manelovig family (Waltham Street). By the way, even if you did not win, mention Wellington Park at Hanna's and get 50% off your first haircut and 20% off all other services!
Ruth Comstock organized a series of games for children (and many young-at-heart adults) over in the tennis court area starting off with an exciting water balloon toss. Thanks to Burger King of Waltham for discount coupons and to Richard Steinberger for some prizes (and for the loan of video camera and tripod). Thanks to Ann Dorfman for photographing the Parkfest and to her husband Jon Waldron for video taping the festivities. Thanks also to Susanne McInerney for taking digital photos of the Parkfest. We hope to have all these pictures available on our website shortly. A lively volleyball game took place on our grass court later in the afternoon. Thanks to Jim Frances, whose giant soccer ball proved to be the hit of the party as it was rolled all over the park all afternoon. Apologies and thanks to anyone we missed here.
We had a ceremony which recounted the events leading up our grand opening of the playground. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to some of our volunteers and others who were instrumental in bringing us to this point, symbolic of the lots of other volunteers who helped bring about our play structure. Our intention will be to honor all those sponsors of the Wellington Park Fund and all those who have volunteered to help improve Wellington Park with some form of permanent recognition to be placed at Wellington Park (perhaps in conjunction with one of the benches we will be installing).
At the ceremony, we recounted the history of Wellington Park (researched by Jane and Don Quinn). Ronda Andrews began Citizens for Wellington Park and, as part of her speech, read some excerpts from her original letter to the city about Wellington Park. Ann Dorfman, had the idea for a park gathering many years ago and was instrumental in planning last year's and this year's Parkfest. At this year's event, we were honored with the presence of Mayor David Cohen, local aldermen, Anthony Salvucci (who addressed the audience), Dick Bullwinkle, Myra Tattenbaum (who helped with our Wellington Newton Serves project), and Christine Samuelson, as well as our State Representative Peter Koutoujian.
Thanks were given to our many citizen and business contributors to the Wellington Park Fund. Special thanks went to one of our earliest major sponsors ($1000), Garden City Alarm Company (Gerry McDade) as well as our latest, Fleet Bank. The wonderful new sugar maples donated by Phil Mastroianni Corp. and planted in time for the Parkfest were in fine fall color. For our organization to be able to accept donations we needed a non-profit sponsor and that is where Tony Bibbo of Newton Community Service Centers stepped in. NCSC reaches out to the community by cooperation with organizations such as ours. From the very beginning, we worked very closely with the Newton Parks and Recreation Department especially Bob DeRubeis. This is probably the city department that does the most with the fewest people! They have given us utmost support every step of the way in our planning and building process.
We honored all those who participated in our many planning meetings for the new play structure and the head of play structure committee, Lorraine Miller. The play structure committee discussed and resolved a great many of the important decisions leading up to our play structure such as vendor, features, colors, siting, and even roof style. We appreciated the great cooperation of our selected vendor (GameTime) and their representative Doug Knotts and on site supervisor Peter Budish. For our build day and the days after, we had an incredible response from so many volunteers and helpers of all ages. Phil Corbett was our main man when it came to putting things together especially the carpentry involved with our border timbers (not to mention ordering our materials). Len Saunders, our champion Rebar pounder, helped in just about every volunteer activity we have ever had at Wellington Park. Our Garden Committee has really bloomed with new volunteers such as Jennie Luciano and chairperson Jana Tolisano. Anna Kamenetsky represented all the children who helped at the park and who will be the future parents who may bring their children to play at Wellington Park in the new millennium. Your editor, Ted K., also received a citation and flowers! (Editor's note: Thanks!!!).
Mayor David Cohen thanked the Citizens for Wellington Park for all their hard work at Wellington Park. He then presented a citation to Citizens for Wellington Park which was accepted on our behalf by Ronda Andrews. We will put a copy of this citation on our website and on the bulletin board for everyone who helped at Wellington Park to take pride in. Mayor Cohen then proceeded to cut the ribbon on the new play structure. Our new Wellington Park Playground was officially open!!
Many new friendships were made at the Parkfest. We were celebrating not only the building of a play structure but the building of community, which in the long run may be much more important.
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Perhaps you have noticed the strange white paint marks on the courts at Wellington Park? Will we be reading in the National Enquirer about aliens landing in our own little park? The real answer is that the marks are "Dig Safe" indicators in preparation for test borings to be done under the courts. The city has funded ($2K) some preliminary borings to determine what lies beneath in order to avoid cracking court surface in the future. According to those who have been around long enough to know, the Wellington area used to be somewhat marshy and was described as a peat bog. Gene Cronin, "the mayor of West Newton", even remembers a small pond in the vicinity of the northwest corner of the park as well as a small stream that cut across the park.
Many have asked about the future of the courts at Wellington. Thanks to our aldermen's efforts, $60K was put in the 2001 budget for new courts at Wellington Park. The availability of this funding is somewhat contingent on other factors. As you may realize, funding is quite tight in our city. If there are no major emergencies in the city and we have a somewhat mild winter (small snow removal expenses), then the likelihood of our courts being done next year becomes much higher. Mayor Cohen has assured us that the Wellington Courts are indeed high on the list of capital improvements. Basically we need to wait until spring to find out if they will be done this coming year. If approved, then work might actually be done next spring or summer (depending on the bidding process). Perhaps the test boring machines will strike oil and we will have install one of those huge oil well derricks in the court area instead. Then the city will have all the money it needs; we could even install seats on the oil machinery and give rides. Who knows?
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Recently, we took a survey on whether or not to put a fence around the play area. The black vinyl coated fence would be provided by the city just outside the timber area and be 4 feet high (3 feet above the timbers). The survey indicated that a strong majority (35-8) of respondents favored such a fence. We provided all comments and the results of the survey to the Parks Commissioner Fran Towle. The original discussion on the fence topic can be found on our website at http://wellingtonpark.org/fence.htm.
Recently, Ann Dorfman has come up with an alternate proposal. In fairness, we wanted to get your feedback on this alternate proposal. In reality, what we can do is to take your input and present it to the Parks and Recreation Department. It is the Commissioner who makes the ultimate decision on any fence proposals in public parks.
So for your comments and opinions, we present the original proposal (#1) and an alternate proposal (#2). We would like some sense of your feelings on these proposals in the near future. This current discussion on fences (including a drawing map) will be found at http://wellingtonpark.org/fence2.htm. Your response could be in the form of detailed comments or could simply be your favored option, (#1, original fence proposal) or (#2, alternate fence proposal). The easiest way to respond would be just to reply to this email with your preference and / or comments.
Place fence outside landscape timbers directly around the play structure
and swing area.
Run a fence from the south edge of the wing area at the Kilburn Road fence
to the tennis court fence, and from the tennis court fence to the fence on
the east side of the park. This will divide the park into two zones. One
large open field on the south side of the park, and a second area that contains
the courts, play structure, swing set, and smaller amount of open grass on
the north side of the park.
Please let us know what you think.
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There has been much more usage of the play structure. Many children bring their new shiny scooters to the Wellington courts to ride. May we suggest that helmets are as appropriate for scooter riding as for bike riding (especially if you tend to attempt tricks with them).
There have been recent instances of children taking scooters on the play structure. Unfortunately, this is very unsafe and may indeed damage the coatings on the decks or scratch the structure or slides. If you see any scooters in the play area, please remind the owners that scooters are not allowed on the structure. Thanks!
By the way, if anyone went to see skateboarder Andy Macdonald (and NNHS graduate) at the opening of the NCSC skate ramp a few months ago, you might want to check him out in the Vert Ramp finals at the Gravity Games in Providence which will be shown this Sunday afternoon (11/29, 4-6 PM, NBC Channel 7). This was taped last summer, just before his appearance here in West Newton. (Psst - he wins the gold medal in a very close contest with Bob Burnquist.)
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Have you been wondering what those bags near the gates are for? They are for the purpose of storing smaller bags to be used in keeping the park clean, particularly of dog mess. In case you are not familiar with the procedure: (1) Put bag over hand like a glove. (2) Pick up the mess. (3) Turn bag inside out enclosing the mess. (4) Tie bag shut (5) Dispose of bag in receptacle. They can also be used for other types of trash that may be found. All park users are encouraged to help keep the supply of bags full. Just bring your old grocery, newspaper, and convenience store plastic bags and put them in one or more of the supply bags tied to the fences. Thanks to those who have been faithfully doing this. It really is helping to minimize the mess at Wellington Park.
Wellington Park is a shared public space. Dog owners are requested to keep their pets in control and away from the play area. Many people have a fear of animals. Please respect this possibility and keep your pet under control (particularly when children are using the play area). Please be mindful of the fact the park is surrounded by houses on three sides. In deference to the park's neighbors, make an effort to keep unnecessary noise to a minimum. This applies to all park users.
It has been suggested that some people may be interested in forming a dog committee to compare notes, discuss dog related issues, organize poop patrols, etc. If you would be interested in being on such a committee or perhaps even leading it, let us know and we will try to put folks together. Your email should go to dogs@wellingtonpark.org. Please check out the "Canine Corner" section of our website. Thanks!
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Bruce Nelson reports seeing a male Marsh Hawk (now called the Northern Harrier) fly over the park on October 12. He was being chased by a bunch of smaller birds. We would appreciate any unusual wildlife sightings at Wellington Park. Just as many birders maintain a "yard list" of birds seen, we may keep a "park list" in the Nature Notes section of our website.
Speaking of wildlife, the nearest conservation area to our neighborhood is Dolan Pond Conservation Area, accessible from Auburndale Avenue or from Webster Park (off Webster Street). There is now a "Friends of Dolan Pond" with a website, www.dolanpond.org and an email newsletter. Please send email to dolanpond@aol.com if interested.
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Today, the Wellington Park Fund reached a new high of $6055 today with a generous $100 donation from the Newton Fire Fighters Association. Our sincere thanks to the Newton Fire Fighters for their support of the Wellington Playground. They were also instrumental with the loan of their generator to power our tools on the Playground Build Day. Our appreciation also to Ginger and Sun-Sue Fong, James Rizza, and Ginny Buell for their recent contributions!
Your contributions are tax deductible thanks to our sponsorship by the Newton Community Service Centers, (www.ncscinc.com). If you wish to make a donation to the Wellington Park Fund, please make out your check to NCSC, Inc. and write "Wellington Park Fund" on the check and send it to:
Newton Community Service Centers, Inc.
Wellington Park Fund
492 Waltham Street
West Newton, MA 02465
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Lost: Brown Sunglasses (Armani) - if anyone found a pair of sunglasses at the Parkfest, please let us know at 969-6222 or by email at found@wellingtonpark.org.
Found: We still have a number of items found at the park - a long handled spade shovel (build day), a small yellow child's pullover, a sweatshirt
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Buttons & Bows Playgroup - Located on Henshaw Place, Fall openings for children 18 months and up, open Mon.-Fri. 8:45 AM to 12:45 PM, warm, comfortable atmosphere, snack and lunch included, have pre-school teaching certificate, Lic # 186283. Please call Diane at (617) 332-4422.
Check out the NCSC website at www.ncscinc.com for a listing of the many, many upcoming programs and presentations at Newton Community Service Centers. Check out new playgroups, child care and adult day care options. NCSC is our non-profit sponsoring organization. Come say hello to their executive director, Tony Bibbo, at the Parkfest.
Entertainment Books are available from the NCSC office (492 Waltham Street). They are priced at $20. To get one see Diane at NCSC or call 969-5906.
"The Teen Internet World: Dangers and Myths" - On Wednesday, October 25th, the Teen REACH program at Newton Community Service Centers, located at 492 Waltham Street in West Newton, will present a discussion and live Internet demonstration highlighting the dangers associated with going on line. You'll be shocked to see what your child can be exposed to even when "parental controls" have been installed. The 7:00 p.m. workshop is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance, as space is limited. Please call Chris Fortunato, Director of the Teen REACH program, at (617) 969-5906 ext. 125, to sign up.
The Sunday afternoon basketball program at Newton Community Service Centers (NCSC) has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last four years. In response to a request from Rabbi Scott Rosenberg, from Temple Reyim in Auburndale (Newton), NCSC started the program for boys and girls 4 -15 years-old. Open to all children, regardless of religious affiliation, the program now enrolls hundreds of children each year. Rabbi Rosenberg was concerned that children observing the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday and attending religious education programs on Sunday mornings, would miss out on the opportunity to participate in basketball programs, most of which were held during these times. Kevin Burns, Director of the Sunday Basketball program found that many children had conflicting obligations on Saturdays and Sunday mornings and that the afternoon time slot really filled a community need. The first session begins November 1st. For more information contact Kevin Burns at (617) 969-5906 ext. 181.
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The Wellington News email edition is the fastest and easiest way for our organization to keep in touch with you. Just send an email to WellingtonPark@aol.com or call (617) 969-6222 and leave a message. Or if you wish to be removed from the list let us know the same way. And of course, check out our web site http://www.wellingtonpark.org. Back issues of Wellington News are available online. If you are not wired, just read our high tech cork bulletin board at the park.
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Hope to see you at the Park soon! Come on down.