Wayland Cultural Council awards $10,825, denies four grant applications

WAYLAND — December 10, 2025 — Wayland Cultural Council finalizes $10,825 in cultural grants and denies four applications. Chair Pallavi Nagesha, joining remotely from India, led members through a line-by-line reconciliation after treasurer Naresh Mysore confirmed $11,860 in available funds minus $1,035 reserved for council programming. The council denied a $1,410 anti-bullying request from Dennis Weiss after associate Iniyan Gandhi said outside speakers leave "the overwhelming majority" of students unaffected, and rejected applications from the Acton Community Center, the Sudbury Savoyards and a Willie Nelson tribute act. A tied vote on a $450 Henry the Juggler library show flipped to approval after Marie Isenburg noted it was the cycle's only children's offering. The MetroWest Visitors Bureau World Cup fan zone received $320 of $500 and the Acton Scottish festival received $820 of $1,000 to balance the budget.