Viewfinder: Senior Softball Is Alive and Well in Wayland

EMASS Senior Softball League offers Wayland players and spectators thrills four days each week.

Like most towns, Wayland summers feature a wide range baseball and softball opportunities.  Among the many leagues for kids are a few adult leagues, including the EMASS Senior Softball League. The EMASS Senior Softball League is impressive in at least two ways: first, many of the players are in their mid-to-late 60s, with some players in their 80s. And secondly, the level of skill and competitiveness lacks nothing over the leagues for younger players. The EMASS league players hail from a number of area towns besides Wayland, including Sudbury, Framingham, Lexington, Cambridge, Belmont and Canton, and represent some of the best senior athletes in eastern Massachusetts.  A few minutes of watching an EMASS game provides sufficient evidence …

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bruce rankin

1:41 am on Friday, March 15, 2013

i'd love to see those pictures, how is your mother?   more ›

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Viewfinder: Flavorful Cuisine, Naturally

Whole Foods' Charlotte Rosato demonstrates cooking with natural flavoring.

In Monday's "Flavoring Foods Naturally" cooking class, Whole Foods' culinary expert Charlotte Rosato performed her magic in front of a select group of guests, showing how to use natural flavoring as she prepared "Eastern Spiced Chicken & Spinach Salad." Rosato's classes, a regular feature at Whole Foods in Wayland, aim to educate consumers about healthy alternatives to the high fat, sugar and sodium content of many food products. Rosato weaves into her cooking instructional facts, such as the volume of salt consumed daily by the average American – 3,400 mg – is far more than is needed. Rosato also appears at the Wayland Farmer's Market each summer Wednesday from noon-3 p.m.  Drop by to discover new approaches to healthy cuisine for you and…

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Viewfinder: Wayland Stays Cool

Options for dealing with the heat wave gripping the area.

The intensely hot weather arriving in the area this week will, no doubt, send residents seeking relief from the heat and humidity. Fortunately, Wayland offers many options for cooling off. The photos above provide some suggestions for chilling in the heat wave.

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Viewfinder: Rainforest Reptiles Visit Bright Horizons

Fun and fact-filled program entertains while teaching youngsters respect for all types of animals.

On Monday, July 11, snakes, lizards, turtles and even an alligator dropped by to visit the students at Bright Horizons in Wayland. The animals were part of a presentation by Rainforest Reptile Shows that aimed to educate students about the animals in a fun way. The animals added to the amusement by displaying different sides of their surprisingly distinct personalities. Herpetologist Kristen Wendling explained that a number of the animals were formerly pets of people who did not understand what they were getting into. Many of the animals cared for by Rainforest Reptiles were either abandoned pets or were seized from pet owners who were not caring for them properly. According to their website, Rainforest Reptile Shows is a family-based …

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Viewfinder: Meditations in Nature

Plant life provides an opportunity to reflect on beauty, fragility and resilience in nature.

This week's Viewfinder provides some images of nature that we might reflect on for comfort in the midst of this week's events. The photo collection consists mainly of flowers and plants growing near the Wayland High School.  In one photo, a young vine pushes upward against what seems presently to be impossible odds. Many of the other photos present small blossoms that often go unnoticed. Readers are invited to add their images, thoughts and feelings to this collection.

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Viewfinder: Wayland Summer Farmers' Market

Locally grown produce and much more is offered each Wednesday at Russell's Garden Center.

Fans of locally produced foods will find many reasons to make a weekly visit to the Wayland Summer Farmers' Market at Russell's Garden Center. Each Wednesday from noon-5 p.m., a dozen or so vendors present their wares, ranging from freshly picked vegetables to relishes, sauces, pickles and bread, with locally raised beef, pork and fish in between. Viewfinder presents samples from yesterday's farmers' market offerings.

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Viewfinder: Claypit Hill Clap-Out

Claypit students, parents and administration honor the graduating fifth grade class with traditional hallway applause.

On Wednesday, as the fifth grade class at the Claypit Hill Elementary departed for the last time, students, parents, teachers and administrators lined the main hall and school entrance to celebrate the graduating class with a traditional clap-out. Amidst noise and excitement, fifth graders high-fived and hugged teachers and younger students as they filed out to the bus area past a throng of proud parents.  Despite the drizzle, many families lingered outdoors to take photos and to enjoy the moment. Viewfinder presents some scenes of the celebration.

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Viewfinder: Little Red Riding Hood Visits Happy Hollow

Opera Boston introduces youngsters to the joy of opera.

On Monday, June 6, elementary students enjoyed an operatic treat with the performance of "Little Red Riding Hood" by the outreach program at Opera Boston. Three professional opera performers, supported by a professional pianist and stage manager, staged the classic story by Seymour Barab.  The performance was arranged by Young Audiences of Massachusetts and the Wayland Culture Enrichment Committee. According to its website, the mission of Young Audiences is to serve as "the vital link between Massachusetts' best performing artists, arts organizations and the region's school children." The Wayland Culture Enrichment Committee is funded by the Wayland Parent Teacher Organization.

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Viewfinder: Wayland Memorial Day Parade

Faced with weather concerns, Wayland marchers spontaneously organize a shorter and safer parade route.

On Memorial Day, just as the annual parade was preparing to move out, weather radar showed rain moving in. With an extended ceremony planned at Lakeview Cemetery following the parade, town officials decided to avoid the possible precipitation and to move the ceremony indoors into the Wayland Middle School gym.  The question was what to do about the parade. The parade originally was planned to start at the middle school and end at Lakeview Cemetery. Now the parade had to start and end at the middle school.  Some quick thinking arrived with a solution: A lap around the middle school parking lot. The photos above provide scenes from the spontaneously-reorganized parade. If you have your own photos from the parade or ceremony, feel free to add…

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Viewfinder: Wayland Community Pool Opens This Weekend

Swimming fun, fitness and safety education for the whole family

Memorial Day weekend marks the official opening of the Wayland Community Pool.  The bubble enclosure currently over the pool will be opened to let in the sun and kick off a great summer season. Viewfinder visited the pool recently, and presents some images of the fun ahead for Wayland residents.

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