March Newsletter & Upcoming Events Dear Wayland Dad, With a big town election coming up Tuesday, March 31st, Wayland Dads wanted to send out a special "get out the vote" newsletter.  Above anything else we as members of the community need to be involved in local politics.  Be it voting tomorrow or attending Town Meeting next week, it is essential you voice your opinion.    Thank for your support and involvement in Wayland. Wayland Dad's Group  wayland.dads@gmail.com Join our member page. In This Issue Drop in Play Saturday March 14th Politico - Town Meeting "Get out the VOTE!"
Kids Drop in Play -              "Get the kids out of the house and set them free" Saturday April 4th @ Loker Gym from 9-11:30am  Location: Loker School Gym When: Saturday, April 4th, 9:00-11:30am We are hosting a special "prepare for Town Meeting" Dads Drop-In on Saturday.  Since many of us are new to town and the Town Meeting forum, we thought it valuable to review some of the nuances of Town Meeting, review some of the Warrants on the ballet and host a general instruction.  Stay tuned!     Politico -              "March 31 Tues - ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION" We need to turn out the vote!!!   Polls are open from 7:00am - 8:00pm tomorrow or you can stop by the Town Clerk's office this morning to file an absentee ballot. Note:  Given some of the logistical challenges that families with children are faced with when it comes time to vote we will be collecting cell numbers to keep folks up to date via text blasts or for questions.  If  you would like to receive text blasts during this town voting cycle please reply to this email  (wayland.dads@gmail.com) with your name and cell number.     ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION    Tuesday March 31st from 7am  - 8pm Mark your calendar, put a reminder on your phone - get to the polls tomorrow to vote in the Wayland town elections!  There are two contested races and a write-in opportunity.  Participation is key. Please vote. Selectman: Vote for two:  Lea Anderson, Mary Antes, George Harris Recreation: Vote for two:  Bruce Cummings, Heidi Seaborg, Brud Wright Assessors: Write-in two names:  There is wide support for the two write-in candidates Cheryl Kane and Zack Ventress. Key Information Sources WayForward:    http://wayforward.us/ Wayland Town Meeting 2015:  http://www.wayland.ma.us/Pages/WaylandMA_Selectmen/ATM2015 Polling Station:   http://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx Wayland Community Center:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/633705603417999/ WDG Blog:   http://waylanddads.blogspot.com/   ANNUAL TOWN MEETING    Starting Monday April 6th @ 7:30    Through Wednesday April 8th @ 7:30 Mark your calendar as the town meeting spans several days starting on April 6th and finishing on April 8th.  If needed there could be a fourth night of April 13th.       Likely agenda for April 7th will include Articles 25 and 26 summarized below:     Article 25 Summary:  Acquire Municipal Parcel in Town Center and Convey Access Easement in Town Center Cost: $1.00 This article, if passed, will allow the Board of Selectmen to acquire or lease a 4-acre parcel of property at the Town Center to serve a municipal function. The article will also allow the BOS to grant an easement on land at the Town Center near the waste water treatment facility in order to improve traffic flow and access to parking for the second phase of construction (located just after the Verizon Wireless Store on Andrew Ave). This article would have to pass in order for testing and feasibility design of the proposed Senior Center/Recreation Center (Article 26) to be considered-without this land, there could be no proposed plans for a municipal building at the Town Center.  Read More  Article 26 Summary: Appropriate Funds for Due Diligence and Feasibility Design for a Proposed Council on Aging/Community Center at Wayland Town Center Cost: $150,000 This article, if passed, will allow the Town to explore and study proposed plans for a Council on Aging/Community Center at the "municipal pad" at the Town Center. Such studies include: Confirming programming requirements for the COA/Rec Center Reviewing site conditions of the land Identifying permitting needs Creating conceptual/schematic designs for the building Plans for the site include renovating the existing building to create a multi-generational facility to be used by the COA and other groups, including the Recreation Department. Other potential components that are currently being explored by other groups, but would enhance the Community Center project include: Walking trails to connect the Community Center to the river, A potential "Community Boat House" for canoeing/kayaking, Connecting the Town Center to the Rail Trail bike trail system This article involves a two-phased project: due diligence and feasibility design. The second phase of the project, the feasibility design, will only be undertaken if the results of the due diligence indicate that a functional building at the municipal pad is permittable.   Read More   The week of April 6th the WDG will host a 3 day continuous Tail Gate Party!
About Us The Wayland Dads Group is a community-building program for dads and their children and a great way for families to meet other families in the community. Its cornerstone activity is the Saturday morning Drop-In where dads and kids meet on alternate Saturdays of each month during the school year. Goals: *    Fun with our kids through planned activities - Saturday drop ins and trips *    Give dads an easy, fun option for their kids on a Saturday morning *    Building a sense of community among kids and fathers *    Giving moms a break!  (And scoring points) *    Make it through winter without going stir crazy What:  Bi-weekly Drop in Plays Where:   Loker school gym When:  Alternating Saturday mornings throughout the school year Thanks for your support!

	March Newsletter & Upcoming Events Dear Wayland Resident, It's good to see the sun doing its part in making the snow melt.  It feels like we are turning the corner toward spring as we are get ready for our next Dads Drop-In this Saturday, March 14.    Very Important:  Given that we don't have a community center in town it costs Wayland Dads and the WCPA about $300 per Drop in Play.  Practically every town within a 100 mile radius that has a Community Center offers space at a fraction of the cost or at no direct cost to their communities.  There are dozens of local groups here in town looking for space to meet and to host their events that represent constituencies from Seniors to Toddlers.       Families with Children here in town will have several articles up for vote that impact you and we hope you will be able to make it.   We urge you to participate in the Town Meeting and we wanted to let you know that as this is a first time for many of us ... you will be in good company.  If you care about the town and how your tax dollars are spent, then you owe it to yourselves and children to make a difference.  We have great coaches and people to help educate us on how town government works and how we can get involved.   We have 4 tickets left for the Celtics game on 3/22 so if you are interested please reply or submit your name below.     Thank for your support and involvement in Wayland. Wayland Dad's Group  wayland.dads@gmail.com Join our member page. In This Issue Drop in Play Saturday March 14th Politico - Town Meeting "Get out the VOTE!" Breakfast Club Winter Schedule Update Wayland Softball - New Season Youth Baseball Youth Soccer Youth Lacrosse
Kids Drop in Play -              "Get the kids out of the house and set them free" Saturday March 14th @ Loker Gym from 9-11:30am  Location: Loker School Gym When: Saturday, March 14th, 9:00-11:30am The next scheduled Drop-in was for 3/28, but because of Worlds Fair Day at Loker we are looking to have a Drop-in on Saturday, April th.  We hope to extend the Drop Ins thru early April pending approval. There is definitely enough interest given the weather. It's been a challenging winter and unlikely that Soccer will start on time. Thanks for everyone's support over the winter with Drop In Play. Stay tuned!     Politico -              "Please help - WE need your vote!" Update - last week a number of folks attended a meeting at Heidi Seaborg's home. We had an informative discussion, met several candidates and started working on a Town politics 101 educational type material and ultimately a "cliff notes" style description of the upcoming Warrants we all get to vote on at Town Meeting. We will post that information on the WayForward web site and distribute a link in the Wayland Dads newsletter. What can you do now?  Start planning for how you are going to attend Town Meeting. We are told the likely important nights are Tuesday (4/7) & if needed Thursday (4/8).  How do we get both you and your spouse to attend? We are going to do something to make this a fun event.  Can you and your neighbor share a babysitter? Can everyone recruit just one extra person or couple?   We need to turn out the vote!!!    WayForward:   http://wayforward.us/ Wayland Community Center: https://www.facebook.com/groups/633705603417999/ Important Dates March 11 Weds - Last day to register to vote prior to Town Election and Town Meeting open until 8:00 p.m. March 17 Tues - Postal delivery of warrants (Town Code 36-2A, MGL c. 39, s10) March 19 Thurs - Candidates Night - League of Women Voters March 25 Thurs - Moderator's Forum (Tentative Date) at 7:00 p.m. March 30 Mon - Selectmen conduct ATM Warrant Hearing at 7:00 p.m March 31 Tues - ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION April 6 Mon - ANNUAL TOWN MEETING (Monday at 7:30 p.m.) April 7, 8, 13 (T, W, M) Adjourned sessions of Annual Town Meeting (Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and Monday at 7:30 p.m. as necessary) The week of April 6th the WDG will host a 3 day continuous Tail Gate Party! The Cochituate Breakfast Club - February                Kids Breakfast with Dad Monthly on the first and third Wednesdays   Father & Daughters - Wed., March 18th @ 7:15am Fathers & Daughters - Wed., April 1st @ 7:15am Location: Mel's - 310 Commonwealth Rd, Wayland This is a great Wayland tradition open to all Wayland's elementary schoolchildren and their fathers. It is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your sons or daughters and meet other dads in town. The Father-Son breakfasts are on the first Wednesday of each month, and the Father-Daughter breakfasts are on the third Wednesday of each month. Both groups meet at 7:15 a.m. at Mel's and are held only during the school year. The modest annual dues are $30 per family to support raffle prizes given out each breakfast, plus $13 for each father-son or father-daughter pairing (with $5 for each additional son or daughter) to cover the breakfast buffet when you attend. Contact Jeff Baron (jeffrey.s.baron@gmail.com) with questions for Father-Daughter or Tom Cribben (tcribben@yahoo.com) with questions for Father-Son. Hope to see you there!! More Information http://wayland.wickedlocal.com/article/20140910/News/140919340 http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20110916/News/309169357 Winter Schedule -                Day Ski & Sledding Trips and Poker Updated Winter Calendar March 3/14  Drop-in Play @ Loker School 9-11:30am   3/22    Celtics Game!    If you are interested click the link as we will likely get a bus to take us in and need to start lining up tickets  >> Prelim Headcount Celtics  Depending on the number of Dads interested, we can secure 1-2 Suites which will include a ticket and food, along with a ride to and from the game. More info. to follow regarding this event. 3/28  Ski Date (Tentative) 3/29 Spring Easter Egg Hunt @ Loker April Additional Drop IN Dates pending availability. May  5/17   2nd Annual WCPA Golf Tournament In our inaugural event last year, we had 24 golfers, 6 hole sponsors, a closest to the pin sponsor (Lynch Tree & Landscaping), a lunch sponsor (Santander Bank) and a few door prizes provided by local businesses. This year, we would like to at least double or triple the number of golfers, sponsors, prizes and good times! Please mark your calendars now and hold the date!  May 17th, 2015.  If you have a foursome that you would like to enter into the tournament or know of any local businesses that would like to be a sponsor, please email Shane Capron at golf@waylandwcpa.com for more details. If you have some cool weekend destinations, ski spots or sledding hills we have some "go pro" cameras to capture the action so email us with what you got  wayland.dads@gmail.com  All 'go-pro' footage captured at Wayland Dad's events will be shown at the Summer Camping Trip on the Big Screen. Wayland Men's Softball League                New Season Ahead     "All Wayland Guys.....Spring Wayland Men's Softball will begin Late April/Early May depending on weather & field conditions.  If you have not played in our league and are interested in getting on a team or entering your own team to the league....please send me your name, email, cell #,  address, & shirt size to  waylandmensoftball@gmail.com.  I will add you to our email list for further information as we get closer to the start of the season."     Warmest regards, David Pearlman The Commissiona  "Big Shout out to the Softball League for their support of Wayland Dads!"  Wayland Youth Baseball and Softball                New - Register now!!!! Register for the 2015 Baseball and Softball Season Registration deadline is March 13th    Don't forget to register your son or daughter for the upcoming baseball and softball season.  There are some great sessions for all age groups and levels so make sure you reserve your spot today.  Visit  www.waylandbsa.org for more information or to register. We also have some great free clinics coming up for kids in grades K-6.  Returning players, come on down to get some of that rust off.  New to baseball or softball?  Stop by to learn how fun, safe, and enjoyable it can be! Tuesdays March 10, 17, and 24 from 6pm - 8pm @ Wayland Town Building Gym (Grades 3-6) Saturday March 21 from 4pm - 6pm @ Wayland Town Building Gym (Grades K-2) Thanks in advance for your help and please let me know if you have any questions or what other information you would need from me? Wayland Youth Soccer (WAYS)              Register now as the reg. deadline is now!!! Registration for the spring 2015 season is now available on-line at http://www.waylandsoccer.org/  The spring program includes intramural soccer for children in Kindergarten and the 1st and 2nd grades, and travel soccer for grades 3-12.  Our emphasis at all levels is for kids to have fun learning to play soccer and to make new friends. The ten week intramural programs for K through Grade 2 are conducted on Saturday mornings at the Middle School, in both the fall and spring seasons. The spring program starts April 11th and is designed to introduce young children to soccer in a fun and age appropriate format.  Soccer requires little equipment (cleats and shin pads) and a lot of games that involve running and developing foot skills with the ball. Over 40% of our elementary school children participate in Wayland Youth Soccer and we'd love to have your child join us as well. We set a March 1st target date to get registrations in so that we can finalize plans for the spring program.  Don't delay.  Register now! Wayland Youth Lacrosse              Register online! Hello Wayland Youth Lacrosse families! Registration for the spring 2015 season is now available on-line at  http://waylandlacrosse.com/Registration/Default.asp?n=73801&org=waylandlacrosse.com      New Players New players are welcome at all grades and level of ability - we've had a number of kids play for the first time as 7th and 8th graders.  Our goal is to develop skills, understanding and love of the game and to provide children with a positive team experience. We like to be competitive but do not coach games to "win at all cost". All players will get equal playing time regardless of ability - we believe this approach encourages more kids to play and results in a better experience for players, parents and coaches.
About Us The Wayland Dads Group is a community-building program for dads and their children and a great way for families to meet other families in the community. Its cornerstone activity is the Saturday morning Drop-In where dads and kids meet on alternate Saturdays of each month during the school year. Goals: *    Fun with our kids through planned activities - Saturday drop ins and trips *    Give dads an easy, fun option for their kids on a Saturday morning *    Building a sense of community among kids and fathers *    Giving moms a break!  (And scoring points) *    Make it through winter without going stir crazy What:  Bi-weekly Drop in Plays Where:   Loker school gym When:  Alternating Saturday mornings throughout the school year Thanks for your support! Scott and Tyler Wayland Dad's Group Wayland, Massachusetts 01778