The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Assocation/New England Sports Network award is given monthly to “one male and one female student-athlete who display excellence in the areas of academics, athletics and community service,” according to a press release.

Schwartz is a member of WHS’s lacrosse, swimming and cross-country teams and has been a state qualifier during each of her three years on the swimming and diving team. In addition, she has also run in the MIAA Division 4 Girls Cross Country Meet and been recognized with the school sportsmanship award.

It wasn’t too difficult to figure out what to give Mom for Mother’s Day—a beautiful bouquet, a pretty scarf, a trip to the MFA. But, then comes Father’s Day. What do you do for Dad? A new tool, another shirt that he doesn’t wear, or a book he doesn’t read?

The Wayland Habitat Project can solve your problem! Buy your father (and father-in-law) foundation blocks for the two duplexes that will be built on Stonebridge Road. It is big and showy but the certificate he will receive doesn’t take up a lot of space. It appeals to his engineering/handyman instincts (the blocks fit together like Legos and you can build the whole foundation with them). He will know that he brought you up well because you spent your money wisely (a two-for-one—a gift for him and support for a worthwhile project). And it is easy for you to do. We can even provide you with a card for Dad.

To buy the blocks online, simply go to http://www.habitatmwgw.org/ and click on the DONATE button at the top of the home page. Then click on the DONATE NOW button, fill out the form, and direct your donation to the Wayland Build—buy one or two blocks.

Or you can buy a block at Russell’s and pay by credit card or cash or send a check to Mary Antes, 11 Old Farm Circle, Wayland, MA 01778. Make checks payable to Habitat for Humanity MWGW (for the MetroWest Greater Worcester Chapter). In the memo line put Foundation Blocks.

The blocks are $75 each or $125 for two. On the appropriate day or days, Dad can put a message on the block for the family that will live in the house or have his children or grandchildren decorate the blocks and then place them in the foundation. It is a meaningful gift for the entire family!

If the blocks are a little out of your price range, consider “five bucks a board.” You can purchase one or more boards that will be used in the construction of the house. Please let any member of the committee know how we can help you honor Dad on his special day, June 17th.

Library Closed Monday, May 21.  The library will be closed during the day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 21, to allow the full library staff to participate in the process of creating a long-range plan for the next five years.  The library will re-open that evening at 6:00 p.m. 

SUMMER READING.  The theme for this year’s summer reading program is “Dream Big”  Our Youth Services staff is busy visiting local schools and planning programming for the summer.  Watch this space for announcements about summer program events and how you can participate. 

Making Music with Ellen Hoffman.  Ellen Hoffman will be coming to the library in May to offer some of her popular “Making Music” programs.  Ellen mixes rhythm and reading, instruments and imagination, and music, and movement for 45 minutes of musical fun!  She’ll be at the library on Thursday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2-3.  For more information, contact the Youth Services Department at 508-358-2308.  This program is supported in part by a grant from the Wayland Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

SHAKESPEARE WITH HELEN WHALL.  Due to unavoidable circumstances, Dr. Whall’s Shakespeare program on Henry the Fourth, Part II, originally scheduled Tuesday, May 8, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.  Professor Helen Whall will return to give her final program in this series on The Merry Wives of Windsor on Tuesday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. 

Navigating the Path to Independence.  In the next program in our series for adults with disabilities and their families, Wayland resident Deborah Harrison will take a look at the effectiveness of life skills coaching for adults with disabilities.   The title of her talk is “Time Management, Organization, and Communication Skills Training for Adults with Disabilities.”  As a life and career coach and case manager for adults with disabilities, she works with clients to explore options for feeling more effective in their personal and work lives. Important keys to successful independent living involve a certain level of self-awareness, self-motivation, and self-monitoring abilities for managing time, organizing one’s life, and using effective communication skills.  Deb is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, with over 25 years of experience treating speech, language, and communication disorders in a variety of clinical settings.  Monday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. 

WRITING WORKSHOP.  Attention recreational writers.  The library is considering hosting a self-directed memoir/short story writing group to meet either once or twice a month at the library, schedule permitting.  The group could be as small as four or as large as eight.  If you are interested in participating in this type of group, please contact Maxine Weintraub at maxinebernice@comcast.net or the library at wayland@waylandlibrary.org. 

BRAWERMAN PHOTOS.  The May exhibit in the library foyer features recent photographs by George and Ruth Brawerman. Their work includes pictures taken in the local area as well as on Cape Cod and in the Sarasota area of Florida. George and Ruth are particularly interested in summer and early fall shapes and colors. 

Arts/Wayland Art Show.  Arts/Wayland members will have an art show in the Raytheon Room during May.  The public is invited to join members of Arts/Wayland for an artists’ reception at the exhibit on Sunday, May 20, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. 

EXHIBITORS NEEDED. Are you an artist or a photographer who enjoys sharing your work with others?  If so, we have openings in our exhibit schedule for the Raytheon Room this summer during July and August.   If you are interested in exhibiting your work there, please call Jim Zebrowski at the library at 508-358-0834.

UPCOMING BOOK GROUPS.  Our Evening Book Group will be discussing The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri on Monday, June 4, at 7 p.m.  The next meeting of the Noontime Book Group is at 12 noon on Friday, June 8, and the book to be discussed is Waiting by Ha Jin.  New members are welcome at both book groups. 

GREAT DECISIONS.  The next meeting of Great Decisions will be on Friday, May 18, at 9:15 a.m. in the Raytheon Room.  The topic will be Cybersecurity.  The securitization of cyberspace has caused a sea change for both governments and the private sector, faced with new threats, new battlegrounds, and new opportunities.  Faced with challenges such as international cybercrime and authoritarian control of networks, how will the U.S. and its democratic allies approach the cyber frontier?  How does this new domain figure in U.S. strategic interests? 

EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS POSTPONED.  The final two employment workshops with Gary Gekow, originally scheduled for May 12 and 26, have been postponed until the fall when we will run the entire four-part series of workshops on jump-starting your job search. 

WAYLAND READS POETRY IN 2013!  Planning for the next “Wayland Reads” community-wide reading event is underway.  The Wayland Reads theme for 2013 will be poetry.  If you have ideas or suggestions or would like to help plan programming for Wayland Reads Poetry 2013 please contact Ann Knight at the Library or Sally Cartwright at sallycartwright@comcast.net.

Enjoying the ride on Saturday, May 5. Well deserved & extremely honored !

In grateful appreciation for over 20 years of service to the community, Adrian has coached and mentored hundreds of Wayland children over the past 20 years in all sports, through various Park and Recreation programs and has supported the WBSA through his efforts in coaching and umpiring.

He is a true leader in the community. His affable smile and youthful enthusiasm are qualities that have positive impacts on everyone who he has touched.

Thank you Adrian ! See you behind the plate…

Maxine Gordon had those rare qualities that made her a great coach and sportswoman and a true role model for all our youth. Maxine loved people and sports. She loved kids. She loved a good game. The Wayland Baseball and Softball Association was greatly enriched by her involvement and spirit. Maxine always had cheerful, encouraging and positive words for every player. She instilled the love of sports and good sportsmanship. Maxine made a difference in a lot of kids’ lives. She coached both softball and baseball teams and was the first woman to coach in the majors. She helped each player to develop and grow. Each player came with a certain set of skills. Each improved. Each could feel good about how they played. Each was an important part of the team. Maxine’s players developed skills while enjoying the sport, the competition, and the camaraderie.

With her enthusiasm and knowledge, her encouraging selfless approach, and her love of people and sports, Maxine Gordon was a great role model for all.

WBSA 2012 Adrian.JPG (96 KB)

Now Registering Sellers Sellers: $25, Sellers set their own prices, bring their own tables or blankets, and keep their own profits.

Buyers: $1 admission per family for buyers collected at the door. Sponsored by Sudbury Family Network. Sudbury Family Network is a parent-run organization working to connect, inform, support and engage families with children from infancy through preschool and beyond.

Wayland residents will now have a free, safe method to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication thanks to a new drug collection program announced today by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone and Police Chief Robert Irving. MedReturn Drug Collection Units will be delivered by Friday to 29 police departments in Middlesex County, including Wayland.  The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office purchased the units for the departments through drug forfeiture funds, which can be used for the purpose of drug rehabilitation, drug education and other anti-drug efforts. 

“Illegal use of prescription drugs is the nation’s fastest growing drug problem,” DA Leone said.  “Part of the problem is that these harmful drugs often sit unused in medicine cabinets, offering easy access for young people to take and abuse them.  These new drug collection units provide an effective and convenient method for disposal of unwanted medications without harming our environment and keeping powerful drugs off of the streets.”

The effort is part of the District Attorney’s goal to address issues of substance abuse among young people.  An estimated 2.4 million Americans misused prescription drugs for the first time within the past year, and about a third of those users were age 12 to 17, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“There is a misunderstanding about the dangers of prescription drugs,” said Chief Irving.  “No one should ever take a prescription drug that was not prescribed for them by their doctor.  All too often we see instances where people have misused and abused these drugs with deadly consequences.  Having the drug collection unit in Wayland will make it easier for all residents to safely dispose of unused drugs and hopefully prevent future drug-related incidents.”

The drug collection units will be placed at the Wayland police station.  Medication can be disposed of anonymously at any time. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.  According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Heath, more than 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain killers got them from relatives or friends. Additionally, the study reports, more and more opiate overdoses are now a result of prescription painkillers. 

Every day, on average, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The DEA also reports that 56 percent of teens say prescription drugs are easier to get than illicit drugs.  Two in five teens believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs.  Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. 

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including communities such as Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Natick, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.

• Gaining Ground-organic farming
• Cradles to Crayons
• Community Gardens
• Parmenter Food Pantry-packing and delivering food
• A Place to Turn-food drive
• Salvation Army-making sandwiches
• Assisting elderly residents-chores and yard work
• Wayland Conservation-trail maintenance

You can participate in as many activities as you want and for as many weeks as you want.  NOTE: TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED BY STUDENTS AND PARENT DRIVERS. PARENTS ARE NEEDED TO CHAPERONE AND DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THIS PROGRAM TO RUN.  For more information, contact Amy Schoeff at amy_schoeff@wayland.k12.ma.us