Love That Dirty Water: How a Cleaner Charles River Will Yield Safer, More Resilient Communities

Since 1965, <a href="https://www.crwa.org/">Charles River Watershed Association</a> (CRWA) has been the leading voice for a cleaner, healthier Charles River. While the river is significantly improved from its “Dirty Water” days, the work is not done. And now we face the growing threat of climate change, bringing flooding, extreme heat, droughts, and more. Join us to learn what further action is needed to achieve a swimmable Charles, and how modernizing our water management practices will make your community better able to withstand the weather extremes of climate change.&nbsp; Join MetroWest Climate Solutions for a free webinar with <a href="https://www.crwa.org/emily-norton">Emily Norton</a>, who has served as Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association since 2018. To register, visit <a href="https://www.metrowestclimatesolutions.org/">metrowestclimatesolutions.org</a>. Emily directs a staff of scientists and advocates focused on protecting and restoring the Charles River and its watershed communities. During her tenure, the organization has more than doubled in staff and has expanded its work in municipal climate resilience, dam removal, reducing invasive species, and more. Emily previously served as Massachusetts Chapter Director for the Sierra Club, and prior to that, worked in political fundraising in Washington D.C., as a finance director on a Cape Cod congressional campaign, and as a political appointee in the Clinton Administration U.S. State Department. She earned a B.A. in philosophy at the University of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. MetroWest Climate Solutions aims to inspire sustainable, equitable communities by hosting programs that address the climate crisis. MCS includes members from First Parish in Wayland, First Parish in Lincoln, First Parish Church in Weston, First Parish in Framingham, CFREE Lincoln, and Energize Wayland. Photo by Jacob Licht on Unsplash

Online

Grow Native Plants in Mini-Greenhouses in the SNOW!

Learn a new technique – the winter sow – for growing our local native flowering perennials from seed. Your potted seeds will stay outdoors until spring and then baby native plants will appear! The seeds selected are “Pollinator Powerhouses.” These plants are powerful tools to help fight pollution, floods, record-breaking heat waves, sea-level rise, and mass extinction of species. On January 15, join us for a workshop at the Wayland Town Building (41 Cochituate Rd.) in the Large Meeting Room. Sessions will be offered at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. These sessions will be sponsored by the <a href="https://www.wayland.ma.us/council-aging">Wayland Council on Aging</a>, <a href="https://www.waylandgardenclub.org/">The Wayland Garden Club</a>, <a href="https://www.metrowestclimatesolutions.org/">MetroWest Climate Solutions</a>, and <a href="https://www.energizewayland.org/">Energize Wayland</a>, respectively. This is an in-person event but, as a courtesy for those unable to attend, a supply kit will be available during the day for pick up. When you register, please request supplies if you will not be attending in person. Local native plant gardeners Shelley Trucksis and Jean Milburn will make a presentation about local native plants and their role in preserving our ecosystem. Sowing native seeds in winter is an economical way for homeowners to add native plants to their yards so that their gardens work to support pollinators in synergy with surrounding properties. Provided: New this year – a peat-free potting mix, PittMoss, a sustainable alternative to peat-containing potting mixes. You will receive PittMoss enough for 5 milk jugs and 5 packets of local native perennial seeds. Bring: 5 one-gallon translucent milk or water jugs, gloves, sturdy scissors, a small hand trowel, and a box to carry your mini-greenhouses home. To Register: For the 10 a.m. Council on Aging session, contact the COA at coa@wayland.ma.us or 508-358-2990. For all other sessions, email Shelley Trucksis at <a href="mailto:mtrucksis@gmail.com">mtrucksis@gmail.com</a>. Maximum: 24 hands-on participants at each session. Fee: $10.00 per person. Bring cash for the Donation Box. No credit cards.

Wayland Town Building

Holiday Pop-Up Sale and Kids’ Shop!

First Parish in Wayland will host its annual Holiday Sale on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy giving with a purpose! We’ll feature Fair Trade giftable food items, unique items from nonprofits promoting social justice, gently used holiday décor, and our popular Kids’ Shop, where kids can shop for low-cost items for their loved ones. (Cash sales please.) We’ll offer handmade items (jewelry, scarves, purses, ornaments, home décor, etc.) from organizations supporting marginalized women and children, including: &nbsp; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Project Have Hope – empowering women artisans and their families in Uganda ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sewing Seeds for Hope – supporting Afghan women artisans in the New England Area ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Under the Same Moon – investing in a nonprofit school and community development organization in Guatemala ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Let’s Save the Strays – focusing on population control and animal welfare ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Equal Exchange – fair trade foods supporting farmers around the world Join us to purchase unique, handmade gifts and food items and to help families break the cycle of poverty. &nbsp; First Parish in Wayland is located at 225 Boston Post Rd., at the intersection of Routes 20 and 27. Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

First Parish in Wayland

Where Did the Snow Go? Climate Change in New England

Join MetroWest Climate Solutions on June 5 at 7 p.m. for the second program in our series on the effects of climate change. &nbsp; New England is currently warming faster than the global average. As a result, southern New England is now a global hot spot of decreasing snow cover and throughout New England, annual precipitation has increased along with severe rainstorms. &nbsp; Join&nbsp;<a href="http://dgl.salemstate.edu/geography/profs/young/" target="_blank">Professor Stephen Young</a>&nbsp;from Salem State University as he explains the science behind New England's warming and what impacts this warming is already creating and will create in the future. &nbsp; Three of his recent publications provide an insight into climate change in New England: “<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/12/176" target="_blank">Overall Warming with Reduced Seasonality: Temperature Change in New England, USA, 1900–2020</a>” in the journal&nbsp;Climate. “<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/11/8/162" target="_blank">Global and Regional Snow Cover Decline: 2000–2022</a>” in the journal&nbsp;Climate. “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01431161.2020.1779379" target="_blank">Snow cover change and its relationship with land surface temperature and vegetation in northeastern North America from 2000 to 2017</a>” in the&nbsp;International Journal of Remote Sensing.&nbsp; &nbsp; To register for this free webinar, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org. &nbsp; Dr. Young has been teaching in the Geography and Sustainability department at Salem State University for over 28 years. His specialty is in the use of satellites and drones to study environmental changes on Earth. He has over 50 scientific publications as well as over 20 art and science exhibitions, which explain various aspects of science. He received his Ph.D. in geography at Clark University and a Masters in environmental science from Yale University and a BA in environmental studies from the University of Vermont.&nbsp; Photo by Azzurra Visaggio on Unsplash

Yard Sale – First Parish in Wayland – June 1

Yard Sale – First Parish in Wayland – June 1 &nbsp; Please join First Parish in Wayland for a fun and kid-friendly yard sale on June 1, 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. The church is located at 225 Boston Post Rd., at the intersections of Routes 20, 27, and 126. &nbsp; You’ll find antiques, books, costume jewelry, native plants, home goods, craft supplies, and other useful or fascinating items. We’ll also be hosting several non-profits based in our community. Please plan to pay with cash. Kindly bring your own bags. &nbsp; Ten percent of sale proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in response to humanitarian crises. World Central Kitchen has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating – four stars. &nbsp; Parking: Parking in the First Parish lot is very limited. Please park at the Town Building across the street. For more information, visit uuwayland.org. &nbsp; &nbsp;

What’s the State House Doing About Climate Change? 

Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve these goals, the State Legislature must now pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality. Join MetroWest Climate Solutions on May 30 at 7 p.m. for an update on this topic. &nbsp; Many bills that would support efforts to decarbonize and enhance resilience are making their way through the State Legislature. Legislators hope to pass a major climate and energy bill, which would address the electrification of many carbon-intensive sectors such as transportation, support the use of renewable energy, update and expand the grid, reduce the use of single-use plastics, and expand the bottle bill, among other initiatives. &nbsp; <a href="https://www.environmentalleague.org/staff/casey-bowers/" target="_blank">Casey Bowers</a>, Action Fund Executive Director for the Environmental League of Mass., is responsible for creating and executing the strategy to ensure the policy priorities we need pass the legislature. She will discuss some of the most significant bills before the Legislature, their potential impact, and why you should support them. &nbsp; The Legislative Session ends on July 31. This is the perfect timeframe to reach out to your elected representatives to encourage their support for critical climate bills. &nbsp; To register for this free webinar, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org. &nbsp; Casey Bowers joined ELM in 2018. For nearly four years she served as the Assistant Vice President for Government Relations, developing and achieving ELM’s policy goals across state, federal, and local government. In January 2022, she assumed the role of Action Fund Executive Director. She previously served as the American Lung Association of the Northeast’s Massachusetts Director of Public Policy, where her portfolio included work on renewable energy, lung diseases, and air quality. Casey earned a Bachelor’s Degree in economics and history from the College of the Holy Cross.

We May Need a Bigger Boat: Is Massachusetts Ready for Climate Change?

Join us on May 1 at 7 p.m. (via Zoom) for a free discussion on what Massachusetts should be doing to prepare for the predicted impacts of climate change. MetroWest Climate Solutions is pleased to host Dr. Edwin Sumargo, a Climate Scientist on the Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Climate Team. The team includes climate hazards, mitigation, adaptation, and policy experts as well as staff to support local communities. Dr. Sumargo will discuss the latest climate projections and how his team supports state agencies and municipalities to prepare for the inevitable challenges they will be facing.   Dr. Sumargo has over eight years of experience in geospatial and statistical data analyses, with domain expertise in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology. Before coming to the EEA in 2023, Edwin was a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He earned his PhD in Climate Science from UC San Diego.   To register, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org.   Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Lydia Maria Child: A Radical American Life with author Lydia Moland

On Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m., author Lydia Moland will talk about Lydia Maria Child, one of Wayland’s most renowned citizens and a courageous abolitionist who lived on Old Sudbury Road in the mid-19th century. The discussion will be available in person in the Sanctuary at First Parish in Wayland or via Zoom. You can register for this free talk <a href="https://bit.ly/LydiaMariaChildWayland">here</a>.   Child shocked her readers by publishing the first book-length argument against slavery – so radical that friends abandoned Child and her book sales plummeted.    Ms. Moland, author of the soon-to-be-released Lydia Maria Child: A Radical American Life, conducted some of her research at the Wayland Museum &amp; Historical Society, where she reviewed letters written by Child as well as other documents owned by the Historical Society. Moland is a professor of philosophy at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.    This session will be presented by the Wayland Museum &amp; Historical Society, the First Parish in Wayland, and the Wayland Free Public Library.

Holiday Kids’ Shop and Pop-Up Sale!

First Parish in Wayland will host a Holiday Pop-Up Sale on Nov. 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Do you remember how exciting it was as a child to give your parents a gift for the holidays? Something you had picked out yourself? Our kids’ room will give children an opportunity to do just that.    In addition, the Pop-Up Sale will feature Fair Trade giftable items (chocolates, coffee, tea, and nuts) and gently used holiday décor at bargain prices. We’ll also feature handmade items (jewelry, scarves, purses, ornaments, etc.) from two nonprofits: <a href="https://projecthavehope.org/">Project Have Hope</a> and <a href="http://www.underthesamemoon.org/">Under the Same Moon</a>. Project Have Hope works in Uganda to provide educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. Under the Same Moon supports a school and community development organization in Guatemala, educating about 500 children per year. First Parish in located at 225 Boston Post Rd. in Wayland, at the intersection of Routes 20 and 27. Overflow parking is available at the Trinitarian Congregational Church across the street. Cash sales only please. Kindly bring your own bags.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.