Fall walks attract Waylanders to the woods

Hamlen Woods and Mainstone Farm Trail. (Photo by Lisa Vernegaard of the Sudbury Valley Trustees)
With the cooler weather and the prospect of the foliage changing colors, more residents are hiking. The Conservation Commission maintains 19 major Wayland Conservation areas with hiking trails. They are Castle Hill & Trout Brook, Cow Common, the Greenways, Hamlen Woods, Heard Farm, Lincoln Road, Loker, Lower Snake Brook & Dudley Brook, Mill Brook, Mainstone Farms & Reeves Hill, Mainstone Hills (Turkey Hill and Wayland Hills), Pine Brook, Pod Meadow, Rowan Hill and Sedge Meadow.
Trail maps are available at https://tinyurl.com/wayland-trailmaps.
One of the most popular conservation areas is The Hamlen Woods. With its extensive trails, it can be used to form a variety of loops, both long and short. Color-blazed trails navigate visitors past old reservoirs along Snake Brook, alive with ducks and herons, and through forests. According to Sudbury Valley Trustees, if you can keep an eye and ear open for signs, you may see pileated woodpeckers. Stone walls offer a view of the underlying geology. The trail along the fields near the upper parking area offers a setting for bird watching. This trail can be accessed from a pair of parking areas on Rice Road.
Brensley announces run for state office

Wayland Select Board member Anne Brensley announced this week her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts as a Republican.
Brensley is a graduate of Suffolk Law School and has been a member of the Select Board for two and a half years. Her term expires on April 30, 2026. Brensley is the Director of Investments, Devco North America, LP CEO, and Co-Founder of FX WiseRisk. The company specializes in the investment management of real estate assets and projects. This past week, she campaigned in Medway, Worcester, Fitchburg, Pembroke, and Fall River.
Volleyballers dig their new home

September 12 was the first open play night at Boston United’s new volleyball facility at Town Center. Boys and girls aged 15 and up played. Open play is available to Boston United members. Non-members can play too for $20. The teens playing are from Sudbury, Marlborough, Quincy, and Milford. The new location opened at the beginning of September.
15 from Wayland to take part in Jimmy Fund Walk
Fifteen residents from Wayland will participate in the 2025 Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Ella Johnson, Courtney Marzilli, Elizabeth Garcia, Caroline Davis, Lauren Grant, Blair Ramsey, Amanda Griffin, Annie Matthews, Bonnie Gossels, Becca Lahue and five other Wayland residents, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event that will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk aims to raise $9.5 million this year in the effort to prevent, treat and defy cancer.
Two residents recognized for academic accomplishments
Jane Gargano was named to the College of the Holy Cross Spring 2025 Dean’s List.
Eanny Yang was named to Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) Summer 2025 President’s List.