Health Department Issues Tick Warnings as Summer Begins in Wayland
WAYLAND — The Health Department on Tuesday issued back-to-back reminders about tick-borne illness and the town's tick-testing subsidy as summer kicks in, while officials separately put out a call for residents to fill vacancies on a long list of town boards. Wayland's boys volleyball team, meanwhile, punched a ticket to a third straight state final.
TOWN HALL
The Wayland Health Department on Tuesday afternoon urged residents to take precautions against ticks as summer activity ramps up, posting fresh guidance on reducing exposure and the risk of tick-borne illness. The notice followed a Monday post running through six basic protections — repellent, long sleeves, tick checks and the like — for residents heading outdoors.
The department also re-upped its Tick Testing Subsidy Program, which helps Wayland residents get ticks identified and screened for pathogens through a partner laboratory. Details on both items are posted to the town's News Flash at wayland.ma.us.
Separately, town officials are recruiting residents to serve on a wide range of boards and committees, with vacancies spanning finance, conservation, housing, history, arts, aging and zoning, according to Wayland Patch (see ELSEWHERE).
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Vokes Players and the Wayland 250 Committee, in partnership with the Wayland High School theater department, will stage a concert version of "1776" at Wayland High School on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, both nights at 7:30 p.m. The production is being mounted outside Vokes' regular season as part of the town's semiquincentennial celebration.
Vokes has also announced its summer mainstage: Joe DiPietro's "Over the River and Through the Woods," directed by David Berti, runs July 24 through Aug. 8 at Beatrice Herford's Vokes Theatre on Route 20. The cast includes Susan Gilbert, Nolan Dupont Love, Doug Sanders, Bill Novakowski, Deanna Swan and Allison Rollings.
The Wayland Museum & Historical Society's "Tracing Liberty" series continues this month with a Walk, Wonder, and Discover hike at Dudley Woods Trail on Sunday, June 28, at 9 a.m. The museum is also previewing a new exhibit, "Little Liberties," with a free opening reception on June 21.
The Council on Aging has published its June newsletter and is promoting its 15th Annual Summer Concert Series at the Community Center on Andrew Avenue, alongside a one-year anniversary celebration for the new COA building.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Wayland Seeks Volunteers For Town Boards, Committees" — Wayland Patch reports the town is recruiting residents for openings across finance, conservation, housing, historical, arts, aging and zoning bodies, among others, per Wayland Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wayland/wayland-seeks-volunteers-town-boards-committees).
"Wayland downs Milford, reaches third consecutive boys volleyball final" — The Warriors swept Milford in a Division 2 state semifinal at Hopkinton High School on June 9 and will face Westfield for the title, according to the MetroWest Daily News (read it at https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/sports/high-school/volleyball/2026/06/09/wayland-boys-volleyball-reaches-state-final-for-third-year-in-a-row/90436078007/).
"Wayland's Dylan Engelhardt's two-handed spike on match point vs. Milford" — Engelhardt closed out the semifinal sweep with his sixth kill of the night, per the Milford Daily News (read it at https://www.milforddailynews.com/videos/sports/high-school/volleyball/2026/06/09/waylands-dylan-engelhardts-two-handed-spike-on-match-point-vs-milford/90484690007/).
"Vehicle Found Submerged In Lake Cochituate In Wayland" — A fisherman flagged the partially submerged pickup Saturday afternoon, drawing in Wayland police and a state police dive team that found the Maryland-plated Nissan Frontier unoccupied, per Wayland Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wayland/vehicle-found-submerged-lake-cochituate-wayland).
"Former Wayland Administrator Urges Andover Not To Hire Superintendent Finalist" — A former Wayland school administrator who previously won a federal whistleblower suit against Wayland Public Schools spoke out against an Andover superintendent finalist, according to Andover News (read it at https://andovermanews.com/former-wayland-administrator-urges-andover-not-to-hire-superintendent-finalist/).
"Regan sisters shine bright as Cohasset breezes past Wayland" — Wayland's girls lacrosse team fell to Cohasset in a Division 3 semifinal, according to the Boston Herald (read it at https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/06/08/regan-sisters-shine-bright-as-cohasset-breezes-past-wayland/).
"A hidden Wayland hangout and a tiny South Natick sandwich shop are winning fans" — WCVB profiles the Dudley Chateau, a longtime spot near Dudley Pond that traces its roots to the 1920s (read it at https://www.wcvb.com/article/wayland-dudley-chateau-south-natick-lunch-on-the-charles/71524335).
COMING UP
- June 12-13, 7:30 p.m.: Vokes Players, Wayland 250 and WHS theater present "1776 In Concert" at Wayland High School. - June 13: Sudbury Art Association Spring Art Fair (regional, listed on Wayland Patch calendar). - TBD this month: Boys volleyball state final vs. Westfield (date and venue per MIAA).