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Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Soccer’s Cooper Munro & Grace Sullivan

October 17, 2025 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Athlete of the Week is made possible with sponsorship support from Deland, Gibson Insurance. The family-owned and operated business has carried on this Wellesley tradition for over 30 years.


Athlete of the Week: Cooper Munro

 

Cooper Munro
Photo by @kianfpics

 
Sport/position: Boys Soccer, forward

When & how you got involved in soccer:  When I was like 6 or 7, during my first year of elementary school my parents signed me up.

What you love most about soccer:  I love hanging out with all my friends who I’ve played soccer with my whole life.

Pre-game routine: Before every game I always listen to “Pop Out” by Big Boogie.

Top goal for this season: I want to have a great time and be so happy.

Thoughts about this year’s team: I think we are doing spectacular! Such great wins and everybody’s so happy and content I could not be more satisfied with the season right now, but as Kobe says “Job’s not finished.”

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I am so proud of scoring a goal in 3 of my games, they were pretty random goals but it is such a great feeling.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement with this team: On the soccer team there was this guy named C-Ports. The ball was coming at him and instead of kicking the ball he turned around and cleared the ball with his behind.

Interests outside of soccer: I like to clean things, it so great when things are clean.

What other sports do you play, if any? Skiing and Lacrosse

Coach Chris Howard on Cooper Munro: “Cooper has worked hard to change the momentum in our games and has contributed significantly to the team’s current run of games. He is a great kid with an infectious personality.”

 


 

Athlete of the Week: Grace Sullivan

 
Grace Sullivan soccer
 
Sport/position: Soccer, defense

When & how you got involved in soccer:  I started playing when I was in first grade, because many of friends did soccer as well, and once I was in fourth grade I started to played club soccer.

What you love most about soccer: I love the community and friendships that come along with the sport. Not only am I able to be a part of an amazing team, but it has allowed me to make so many amazing friends. I also love the outlet that it gives me to get a break from school.

Pre-game routine: I always listen to music on my way to games.

Top goal for this season: Our top goal for this season is to keep improving and getting better every day so we can reach our goal of winning again. That means holding ourselves to a high standard, pushing each other in practice, and focusing on the details that matter. If we stay consistent, work together, and keep building, the results will take care of themselves.

Thoughts about this year’s team: Because our team is so young, we’ve faced a lot of obstacles this year. We’ve had to grow up quickly, learn from every challenge, and push through in hard moments. But those experiences have only made us stronger. Instead of letting these challenges set us back, we came together, supported one another, and turned them into opportunities to improve.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud of getting honorable mention my freshmen year.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement with this team: We gave up a goal in the last minute, but we stayed focused and managed to come back with a win to advance to the state championship game.

Interests outside of soccer: Traveling, hiking, hanging out with my family and friends.

What other sports do you play, if any? Basketball

Coach Dave Wainwright on Grace Sullivan: “Grace has been a steadfast player for our program since day one of her freshman year! Grace has consistently proven that she’s one of the best defensive players in the league and continues to impress every match.” 
 


 
Athletes of the Week are nominated by their coaches.)

Past Athlete of the Week profiles

 


 
Deland, Gibson, Wellesley

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Filed Under: Athlete of the Week, Sports, Wellesley High School

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Wellesley town truck engine ignites, no injuries reported

October 17, 2025 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley fire crews on Friday at 8:17am responded to Lowell Road for a report of a possible truck fire. Indeed, when crews arrived they found a fire showing from the engine compartment of a town Park & Tree pick-up truck with all occupants out of the vehicle.

Fire Chief Steve Mortarelli explained that crews “extinguished the fire with water and then overhauled with foam to prevent re-ignition. Crews prevented extension into the cab, but unfortunately the engine compartment was a total loss.  No injuries were reported to the crews or occupants.”

DPW Director Dave Cohen said the “Fire Department provided an amazing response”

An investigation for a fire cause is underway.

Lowell Road fire
Photo courtesy of Javid Muhammedali

 
Lowell Road fire

Thank you to readers who called our attention to this and shared photos.


See something? Send something: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

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Friday is letters to the editor day on The Swellesley Report

October 17, 2025 by admin

The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted and encouraged. For example, a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received.

In letter to the editor this week, a resident implores the community to “once and for all move forward with the vision” for the Morses Pond site.

See past letters here.

How to submit your letter to the editor

The deadline is Wednesday at noon for letters to appear that week, or a week further out. Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Submitting a letter to the editor does not guarantee that your letter will be posted on The Swellesley Report.

Letters must be written for The Swellesley Report only—we do not accept form-type letters sent to multiple news agencies.

Please review detailed guidelines for letters to the editor here.

You can see all letters to the editor here.


Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

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Weekend round-up—things to do in and near Wellesley

October 16, 2025 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

There’s lots going on in Wellesley (and slightly beyond) this weekend. Get to as many of these great events as your schedule allows.

Thursday stuff

 

EVENT: Heat Pump Pizza Party & Info Session
DATE/TIME: Oct. 16, 6:30pm-8:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library
DESCRIPTION: Hear from neighbors, town staff, and heat pump experts and installers about heat pump technology, performance, and financial incentives.
HOSTED BY: Wellesley Municipal Light Plant in partnership with Wellesley Climate Action Committee


Friday and beyond stuff

 

EVENT: Wellesley High School Choral Department concert, “Acatober”
DATES: Friday, Oct. 17 & Saturday, Oct. 18
TIME: 7pm-9pm
LOCATION: Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St., Katherine L. Babson Jr., Auditorium
TICKET SALES: Available now. Reserve or buy at door.

Acatober, Wellesley

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church Pumpkin Patch
DATES: through Oct. 31
LOCATION: 207 Washington St., Wellesley
Visually fabulous, and sales support a good cause.


Saturday stuff

 

EVENT: The National Charity League (NCL) is hosting a food drive in conjunction with Roche Bros., Wellesley
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 18, 9m–3pm
LOCATION: Roche Bros., Linden Square
DESCRIPTION: Purchase any wish list items and drop them off with the NCL volunteers on your way out.

EVENT: Wellesley Hills Walking Tour
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 18, 9am
MEETING SPOT: The Tollhouse, 229 Washington StreetWellesley, MA, 02481
SPONSOR: Wellesley Historical Society
COST: free for members and $10 for non-members

EVENT: Natick Farmers Market
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025
TIME: 9am-1pm
LOCATION: vendors will be lined up on Common Street, European style

EVENT: Boulder Brook Reservation Trails Walk—1.8 miles
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct, 18, 10am-11am
MEETING PLACE: Kelly Memorial Park parking lot on Elmwood Road. GPS: 61 Elmwood Road, Wellesley
SPONSOR: Wellesley Trails Committee

EVENT: No Kings Rally
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Town Hall Green

EVENT: Halloween-time fun
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 18, 1pm-3pm
LOCATION: Linden Square Courtyard
COST: FREE Halloween fun for kids ages 3-12! Trick-or-Treating; delicious samples; crafts; and more. Costumes encouraged,


Sunday stuff

 

EVENT: St. John School Open House
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Oct. 19, 10am-11:30am
LOCATION: 9 Ledyard St., Wellesley

EVENT: Wellesley Historical Society Speaker Series
DATE/TIME: Sunday, October 19, 2pm- 4pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library
DESCRIPTION: In A House Restored, woodworker Lee McColgan trades the corporate ladder for a stepladder and takes on the daunting task of saving the 1702 Loring House in Pembroke, Massachusetts, using period materials and methods.

EVENT: Cider and donuts at Cronk’s Rocky Woodlands
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Oct. 19, 3:30pm-5pm (rain or shine)
LOCATION: 20 Crown Ridge Road, Wellesley
SPONSOR: The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust

Cronk's Rocky Woodland, Wellesley
Cronk’s Rocky Woodland

EVENT: Bach Vespers service
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Oct. 19, from 4p.m
LOCATION: Wallace Chapel at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley
COST: Free will offering
DESCRIPTION: Vespers features Bach Cantatas performed with period instruments in the context of a worship service, as well as hymns, a capella choral music, prayer, and a sermon.


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October 16, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Education, Wellesley High School

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Hardy School makes moves to keep rolling balls off busy Weston Road

October 16, 2025 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Although Wellesley’s new Hardy Elementary School has been open for just a little over a year, it’s already time for a tweak. Ever hear the adage, “Where there’s a rolling ball, there’s a running child”? So has the school’s principal Grant Smith, who voiced his concerns about how errant balls have sailed over the 4-ft. high chain link fence separating the playing field from busy Weston Road. Brown, along with assistant Town engineer George Saraceno, appeared before Wellesley’s Design Review Board on Oct. 8, seeking approval to add five feet of netting to the existing fence.

You know how when stuff happens, people sometimes ask in despair, “How did we get here?”

Nobody asked that at the Design Review Board meeting. The 5-member Board saw this one coming a mile away. “We knew this was going to come up,” chair Juann Khoory said, recalling that the Board raised exactly the question of balls escaping from the playing field to busy Weston Road during the Hardy School planning process.

Saraceno laid out the specifics of the ask: to add 200 feet of netting along Weston Road; 40 feet of netting along Hardy Road; and 40 feet of netting along the parking lot. The overall height would come in at 9 feet. Saraceno compared it visually to the netting at Sprague School, albeit on a smaller scale—at Sprague, the netting height is 20 feet because kids up to high school age play there.

Hardy School field, Wellesley
Hardy School field. Wellesley Engineering Division image.

 

Sprague School fields, Wellesley
Sprague School fields. Not sure the Hardy School neighbors are going to love this visual, but safety first. Wellesley Engineering Division image.

The Board unanimously approved the addition of the netting, without even a, “We told ya so.”

“Good luck with the fence. The project looks amazing. We love it,” Khoory said.

Hardy Elementary School, new construction, Wellesley
The 18-classroom Hardy School opened in Aug 2024. The project was a teardown/rebuild of the old Hardy School, which educated students for 100 years.

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Upcoming Wellesley events

Upcoming Events

Oct 17
All day

WSYMCA Welcome Week Open House

Oct 17
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Holiday—Diwali

Oct 17
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

“Acatober,” presented by Wellesley High School Choral Dept.

Oct 18
9:00 am - 9:45 am

Tenacre’s Story Time Saturdays for 3–4-year-olds

Oct 18
9:00 am - 10:30 am

Wellesley Hills Walking Tour

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