Wayland Cultural Council elects Pallavi Nagesha vice chair

WAYLAND — October 17, 2023 — Wayland Cultural Council elects Pallavi Nagesha vice chair as 29 grant applications hit the deadline. The Oct. 17 remote meeting saw Chair Rachel Seidman-Kirk, whose term runs through June 2025, secure a successor-in-waiting on a unanimous roll-call vote; Nagesha, a dance teacher and prior grant recipient, told the council "you hold the rope and decide when you want to do it" on any transition to chair. Treasurer Naresh Mysore reported $5,600 of last cycle's $6,700 state allocation was awarded to 13 recipients, with $4,600 claimed so far and a $300 Swaralipi Academy award going unused. Members debated retaining the state-permitted 20 percent for projects including additional painted utility boxes and public benches, and targeted March for a long-postponed grant recipient reception. New member Rahul Ray, a professor of medicine, was introduced and seconded the vice chair motion.