Fall 2007 Publisher’s Letter

Although the calendar year is drawing to a close, it seems as if the arrival of fall marks the beginning of a new year. The cooler, crisp air invigorates and transports us from the lazy days of summer to the onslaught of fall activities that come with the return to school, committee meetings, and the accelerated pace of work. The stores are filled with back-to-school shoppers, and the sidewalks are teeming with students who attend our local colleges.

As the neighborhood children walk by with their shiny new backpacks and the crossing guards return to work to guide them safely across the street, I am reminded of the value that Wellesley and Weston residents place on their children’s education, and how our public schools are among the best in the nation. At a time when many of our country’s schools are crumbling due to lack of funding and neglect, our schools continue to flourish. Our excellent teachers and top-notch students remain a source of pride, and are the reason why many people relocating to the Boston area choose Wellesley and Weston for their new homes.

Fall is always a time of change, and this year in particular marks a transitional phase in many of our schools. A new Wellesley Public Schools superintendent, Bella Wong, and a new Wellesley High School principal, Andrew Keough, are featured in “Steady As We Go” in this issue. The challenges that they face are described, as is the plan these two educators have to form a partnership with local families.

Another change taking place this fall is the opening of Linden Square. I remember when Diehl’s first closed, creating much talk about what would happen to the character of Linden Street. Questions flourished: What will become of our favorite stores? Will Wellesley lose its small-town charm? What will the new Roche Bros. be like? Now that the first building phase of the Linden Square development is ready to open, the excitement of anticipation is in the air. “Here Comes the Neighborhood” will give you the lowdown on the new stores and restaurants that will soon be ready to visit, and describes what to expect in the next phase of development.

One of the reasons Linden Square has evolved into a neighborhood shopping area of which we can be proud is due in large part to the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers who serve on the boards and committees that constitute our town government. These individuals share a mission to ensure that any changes that take place are for the greater good of the community now and in the future. In “Town Meeting: Ancient, Venerable, and More Important than Ever,” we look at our unique form of representative government and learn why it has persevered throughout the years.

WellesleyWeston Magazine is a community magazine, and I’d like to thank all of our readers for their continued support and interest. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc. for providing the beautiful photos for our “It’s Easy Being Green” article in the Summer 2007 issue. If you have photos or story ideas you would like to share, please contact our editor, Jill Nilsen, at jill@wellesleywestonmagazine.com.

I hope you enjoy all of the wonderful changes that fall has to offer.

Sincerely,

Beth Furman