Spring 2008

Submitted by cpitts on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 14:37
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Our Village
Published for Waban residents by the Waban Improvement Society
Spring 2003

Articles

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Notice of the Annual Meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 7:30 p.m.
Waban Branch Library
Speakers include: Mayor Cohen, Alderman Brian Yates
Discussion to include the Waban Branch Library.
What's with the envelope?
Every year, the Waban Improvement Society asks Waban residents to make a contribution of $15 to fund the tree lighting ceremony, gardening supplies, the newsletter, the annual meeting and other various gatherings. The self-addressed envelope enclosed can be used to mail in your dues, in case you haven't already done so.

Letters from Our Past and Current President
Greetings Neighbors! The past few years that I have served as President of the Waban Improvement Society have been tremendously rewarding for me. I have had the opportunity to become involved in our special village in many new ways and to meet and interact with interesting and intelligent neighbors. The time has come to pass the reins to the next President, Kristie Gill. Kristie lives on Chestnut Street with her husband and three beautiful children. She exudes boundless energy, has innovative ideas, and will bring many new members with her. I have complete confidence that the Waban Improvement Society will flourish under her leadership. I will remain active, taking the position of Vice President to support Kristie and to ensure a continuity of our traditions. We all wish her much success! Susan Shief
Dear Fellow Wabanites, 1 am truly excited about following in Susan's footsteps as the President of the Waban Improvement Society. I moved to Waban nearly three years ago and have been active in the Waban Improvement Society for two years now. I enjoy getting together with the other Board members, some of whom have lived in Waban all their lives. Over the years, WIS has been active in building the library, planting ard maintaining beautiful gardens around Waban Square, lighting trees in the Square during the holiday season and hosting neighborhood gatherings. I intend to continue our support of all these activities. In addition, I am looking forward to starting some new WIS traditions including Welcome Neighbor and a fall Welcome to Waban Barbecue. The Waban Improvement Society is what we as Wabanites make of it. If you have any new ideas about bettering our neighborhoods or would like to be a part of the activities we are currently sponsoring, please call me or any of the members of the Board, listed on the second page of this newsletter. This group is about community, so the more the merrier.! Best Wishes
Join the Fun!
Established in 1889, the Waban Improvement Society was the first neighborhood association in Newton.

Successful Fundraising for the Warren Lincoln Playground
A group of Waban residents are raising funds to update the playground equipment at the Warren Lincoln field at the juncture of Moffat and Montclair Roads. The existing structures will be removed by the City of Newton due to safety concerns. The new equipment meets today's safety standards, and is designed for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school aged children. For more information, including pictures of the playground plans, visit the playground Website at http://www.wabanplayground.com. The update is expected to be complete by this fall. The equipment will be assembled by Waban residents, supervised by professional builders. The new equipment will cost a total of $57,000. To date, over sixty percent of these funds have been raised from corporate sponsors, a pledge from the City and donations from over 80 Waban households. Letters and phone calls soliciting donations along with a benefit held at the West Newton Cinema contributed to this success. To make a financial donation or to assist in the playground construction, please contact Chris Pitts at 558-9393 or cpitts@wabanplayground.com or Melanie Henriques at 965-3246 or mhenriques@wabanplayground.com.
Warren Lincoln's Legacy
Did you know that the Warren Lincoln Playground was actually named after Mr. Warren Lincoln? An article in the May 7, 1945 Newton Graphic states this land was sold to the city on the condition it would be used for a playground. Waban residents had previously purchased the land to block construction of apartments. This community effort was spearheaded by one Mr. Warren Lincoln.

Waban Moms
Waban Moms is a social organization primarily for mothers of small children. We meet the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the home of one of our members. Everyone brings either a beverage, appetizer or dessert and a few dollars to chip in for pizza. In addition, we have organized playgroups and informal get togethers at various playgrounds. There are currently about 70 women involved in Waban Moms. If you are interested, please contact Kristie Gill at 332-3042 or kristie.gill@verizon.net.

Waban Improvement Society Board of Directors
President
Kristie Gill, 612 Chestnut St; 332-3042; kristie.gill@verizon.net
Vice President
Susan Shief, 100 Evelyn Rd, 527-0966, sshief@aol.com
Treasurer
Bob Cantina 696 Quinobequin Rd, 244-9533
 
Secretary
Portia Pantage, 240 Winslow Rd, 244-5975, Portia814@aol.com
Directors:
 
Resa Aronson, 7 Radcliff Rd, 244-8620
Barbara Brustowicz, 12 Radcliff Rd, 965-4506
Stefanie Cronin, 795 Chestnut St, 795-0996
Aline Cullen, 71 Avalon Rd, 964-5873
Irene Dhosi, 59 Carlton Rd, 527-5916 |
Theresa Fitzpatrick, 1935 Beacon St, 332-1654
Arnold Garrison, 181 Pine Ridge Rd, 527-3744
Anki Javitch, 133 Waban Ave, 332-6744
Keith Munsell, 128 Waban Ave, 244-6548
Kim Nauen, 63 Devonshire Rd, 527-7668
Christopher Pitts, 24 Fredana Rd, 558-9393
Sona Petrossian, 71 E. Quinobequin Rd, 965-7987
Carol Todreas, 89 Windsor Rd, 332-9028

 

Help Keep Waban Beautiful
One of the primary responsibilities of the Waban Improvement Society is to tend (plant, prune, mulch, and water) the flowers and bushes in Waban Square: at the library, the T-stop garden, and Beacon Street near Starbucks. Although much of this is done by our WIS resident gardener, Gail Wintersteiner, she needs your help. So, the Waban Improvement Society is asking for volunteers from our village to assist with this beautification effort. This year, we are especially seeking volunteers to assist in the following activities:

  • Adopt a Barrel: In the late spring, the several wooden barrels that are placed throughout the center of Waban need plants! Volunteers are asked to plant geraniums (or whatever you choose) in an assigned barrel and water the plants during the summer, particularly when there has been very little rain. This is a terrific project for families with young children. You can take special pride in your "family barrel".
  • Adopt a Task: Pruning: Volunteers are needed to assist in pruning forsythias in the Square (so that the City doesn't do it for us and shape them into lollipops!).
  • Weeding: Assistance is needed in weeding the islands by the library and by Starbucks, and especially in the new MBTA garden. Mulching: The City of Newton will be providing mulch (gratis) to the Waban Improvement Society some time during the month of May - and volunteers will be needed to help spread it! This requires no experience, and is a one-time task - and even a commitment of one half hour will be appreciated!
  • Watering: During the dry summer months, it is often necessary that the gardens, especially by the T-stop have consistent watering. Since the only source of water is by the library, we really need some help.

Your help is needed and would truly be appreciated, whether you have just a few minutes or many hours to donate. For more information and to volunteer, please contact Gail Wintersteiner at g.winters@rcn.com or 965-1038.

Waban Branch Library Update
Thanks to all Waban residents who contacted City Hall in support of the library, which has been saved for another year. However, we still have work to do. We need, as a community, to show the City we consider the library crucial to our everyday lives. Usage rates for library services need to increase. Story Time for Tots will continue every Monday at 4:00pm, with a hiatus for July and August and will resume in September. We hope to schedule other activities at the Waban Branch Library. If you are interested in getting involved with these activities please contact Theresa Fitzpatrick at tabilel@yahoo.com.

Waban Square Bulletin Board
There is a Waban Improvement Society Bulletin Board at the comer of Beacon Street and Windsor Road. This board contains announcements and happenings in the Waban area and will be updated every 3 months to ensure that all fliers are timely. Welcome Neighbor The Waban Improvement Society will be putting together a package for our new Waban neighbors. The package will help newcomers orient themselves to our village and find the "hot" spots in town. If you are interested in being part of Welcome Neighbor, please contact Theresa Fitzpatrick at tabilel@yahoo.com.

Membership Form
Name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
Phone __________________________________________________
Yes, I wish to support the Waban Improvement Society. Enclosed is $15 (per household per calendar year) for membership. Your contributions enable us to publish and mail our newsletters, sponsor the holiday sing-along, and fund beautification and maintenance projects. Suggestions/concerns about Waban: Other ways to volunteer: Yes, I am interested in:
____helping with gardening activities. (Please note specific activity.)
____being a director of the Waban Improvement Society.
____helping with the Welcome to Waban activities.
____helping with the Waban Library as a reader
Please print and send this form to: Waban Improvement Society, P.O. Box 6, Waban, MA 02468

Online version released July 22, 2003
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