Business buzz: free Open House at My Gym; Celtics legend Robert Parish coming to town; thanks to Wellesley Counseling & Wellness

March 11, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

My Gym, open house events

REMAINING DATES: March 12-14
LOCATION: 34 Central St., Wellesley
REGISTRATION required
COST: free

DESCRIPTION: Stop by My Gym’s Open House for activities, to meet new friends, and to learn about sign-up deals. Offerings in the former Rock the Spectrum space will include foundational mobility, gymnastics, dance, Gym Ninjas, camps, and special events, all age-appropriate, all with the goal of supporting healthy childhood development.

Wellesley Books to welcome Celtics legend Robert Parish

The famously reserved Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish opens up for the first time about the full scope of his life in his new book, “The Chief.” From attending a predominantly white high school during the uneasy years of integration to becoming the anchor of one of the greatest teams in NBA history, Parish has stories to tell.

DATE/TIME/LOCATION: Friday, March 20 @ 4–5:30pm, Wellesley Books, 82 Central St.

Ticketed event. Your $34 ticket includes a copy of the book.

Know of Wellesley businesses opening or closing? Fill us in: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Welcome to new Swellesley sponsor Wellesley Counseling & Wellness

Thank you to Wellesley Counseling & Wellness, which offers complete mental health care, for signing on as a Swellesley sponsor. Learn more about the practice.

Turkeys window shop in Wellesley Square

March 11, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

A rafter of wild turkeys was seen by a reader over the weekend at the Crest Road door for Faber Rug in Wellesley Square.

Perhaps the birds were looking for a runner or carpet square to accentuate a nest?

They had to be content with window shopping: The store is closed on Sundays…

More:

Wellesley RDF turkeys get their beauty sleep

A Wellesley Lower Falls Adventure for Bob the Turkey

See something? Send something: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley Board of Public Works highlights: Extended vacay for sprinkler systems; Water, sewer rates headed higher; Leaner Town Meeting line-up

March 11, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Board of Public Works at its March 9 meeting (see Wellesley Media recording) covered everything from drought status to projected water and sewer rate hikes to Annual Town Meeting prep.

Department of Public Works Director David Cohen said two Massachusetts regions adjacent to the one Wellesley is part of—Southeast—have been upgraded to Level 3 drought status by the Department of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA), while Wellesley’s region remains at Level 2. The drought upgrades, Cohen said, are “shocking to me, but that’s what the data tells them.” Wellesley property owners remain limited to one day of outdoor watering per week, and handheld watering at that. We might not quite be at outdoor watering season anyway, but spring’s coming fast. “I’m hoping by the time we come to April something changes, but I’m not terribly optimistic that’s what we’re going to see,” he said. EEA issues monthly updates on drought status.

Getting into the habit of reduced water usage could pay off for Wellesley property owners anyway with sharp rate hikes anticipated for water (20% for FY27 and perhaps 15% for FY28) and sewer (6% for FY27)—this could mean an average increase of about $213 in the coming fiscal year that begins in July. The good news is that stormwater management fees are holding steady.

Planned capital expenses for PFAS (aka, forever chemicals) treatment for the public water supply and establishing a second connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) are mainly behind the expected rate increases. “Our revenue’s not going to be enough to cover the cost of the ongoing program,” Cohen said, adding that more details will be forthcoming at a future board meeting, where different options will be presented. Receipt of additional PFAS settlement funds with manufacturers responsible for the spread of PFAS could whittle down Wellesley rate increases a bit.

The Board also heard updates on contracts, including for automated gates at the entrance to Morses Pond on Turner Road and for the Warren Park playground revamp. The bids received for the gates were competitive, and the board approved the lowest one. Automating the gates will give the town the ability to keep the gates open more often, though remotely close them at the end of the day (there will be protocols for getting people out whose vehicles might get locked in). Municipal vehicles will be equipped with chips that allow them to go in and out. “What we really are trying to do is provide access when the beach isn’t open,” said Cohen, who noted that both the Recreation Department and Natural Resources Commission have requested more public access. The thinking also is that the gates being open more often could alleviate some neighbors’ parking concerns on Turner Road.

The board also approved a contract with Green Acres Landscaping, one of six bidders for the renovation of the Warren Park playground (90 Washington St., adjacent to the Recreation Center). This led to some reminiscing about the old “Green Acres” TV show, and the Gabor sisters…

The playground will feature a poured-in-place rubber surface, largely for accessibility reasons, though the Natural Resources Commission is looking to use natural materials where possible for other playground projects.

Cohen and the board touched on prep for Annual Town Meeting, which includes a handful of Public Works warrant articles, including for a feasibility study regarding a DPW campus redevelopment. Though Town Meeting will deal with fewer Public Works warrant articles that looked to be the case a few weeks back. Cohen said that articles getting pulled relate to Great Plain Avenue work, additional MWRA connectivity, and PFAS treatment. “We’re doing our part to shorten up Town Meeting,” he said.

The DPW of course has been doing its part as well with winter road treatments and clean-ups, with higher numbers this winter than in recent years. One impact of the snowier season is that the DPW’s Park & Tree personnel won’t be able to get out in front of spring prep outside as much as they have in recent years.

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2026 application deadlines coming up for Wellesley-eligible scholarships

March 11, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

You don’t need us to tell you that an education beyond high school is expensive. Here are a few organizations that are looking to defray the costs for eligible students.

The below 2026 scholarship-granting organizations are ready for applicants. Please note that not all scholarship applications support graduating seniors—a couple of project-based grants for younger students are included.

Lots of organizations don’t have their updated information ready yet. We will refresh this story frequently as groups send us their current information.

Don’t see your group’s scholarship information listed here? Contact theswellesleyreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

Want to sponsor this story? Well, that would be swell. Contact theswellesleyreport@gmail.com for information

Professional Women in Construction (PWC) app deadline: March 13, 2026

Scholarship award program for undergraduate and graduate students planning to study/work in the construction-related industry: Construction, Construction Management, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Design, Construction trades, or Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Electrical Engineering. Gender is not a factor in the scholarship award decision.

Note: Although the PWC chapter offering the scholarship is based in Connecticut, applicants do not need to reside in CT. Students who attend schools in New England and NY will be given preference, but their current residence does not need to be New England or NY.

The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation scholarship—deadline: March 15, 2026

The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation scholarship was created to help deserving young men and women excel in their quest to improve themselves, their school or their community.

The scholarship is available to any high school student in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is awarded on the basis of need, and is not academically based. In addition, the Foundation will give more serious consideration to those students who have made efforts to make a difference in their communities and/or have shown leadership qualities within their school or community.

Journalism Education Foundation of New England—deadline: March 27, 2026

Up to $2,000 scholarships are available to high school seniors and college students pursuing a career in journalism. Must be residents of a New England state. Application here.

Wellesley Service League app. deadline: March 20, 2026

The Wellesley Service League introduced the annual Centennial Youth Service Award in 1981, as the town celebrated its 100th birthday. This award is given by the League to recognize outstanding volunteer service among our youth and to encourage the spirit of volunteerism in our community. Wellesley Service League will name one recipient of a $3,000 award this year.

To be eligible, applicants must have demonstrated exceptional dedication and selflessness in a volunteer capacity AND be completing their senior year of high school as a Wellesley resident or as a student at Wellesley High School. Ideally, the volunteer service will have been performed in the local community. Children of active League members or the WSL Executive Board are not eligible.

Application here.

Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts application deadline: April 1, 2026

The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. offers scholarships for undergraduate students (including high school seniors who will be freshmen in the fall), and graduate students who will be attending accredited colleges and universities.

Applications are due April 1, 2026

Scholarships are available for students majoring in: Horticulture; Floriculture; Landscape design or architecture; Conservation; Forestry, agronomy; City planning; Environmental studies; Land management; Botany; Biology; and allied subjects

Charles River Regional Chamber app. deadline: April 9, 2026

Charles River Chamber Scholarship are now available. The application deadline is April 9, 2026

The Charles River Regional Chamber is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to up to four students from Needham, Newton, Watertown, and Wellesley who plan to enroll full- time in an accredited post-secondary program, trade school, community college, college, or university in the 2026–27 academic year.

The scholarship award, approximately $2,000, will be sent directly to each recipient’s institution after the student successfully completes their first semester. The Chamber encourages all eligible students to apply, including those who may not have a high GPA. While transcripts are required, grades are not the deciding factor in the selection process. A volunteer panel of local leaders reviews applications holistically, considering financial need, personal statements, community or work involvement, recommendation letters, and each applicant’s overall potential and determination.

This scholarship supports a wide range of educational pathways, recognizing that students pursue many different routes toward meaningful careers, including trade programs, community colleges, and four-year institutions.

Applications must be submitted by Thursday, April 9 at 5pm. For full criteria and to apply, visit: www.charlesriverchamber.com/scholarship

Wellesley Educators Association applications—due May 1, 2026

Future Educators Scholarship (For WHS Seniors Only)

Samuel M. Graves Scholarship (For WHS Seniors Only)

Peebles Scholarship (For Children of WEA Members)

Jennifer Rainey Memorial Scholarship—all ELL/FELL students considered
This scholarship does not have an application.

Gina Condon Memorial Scholarship
The Wellesley Educators Association Gina Condon Memorial Scholarship benefits one Wellesley High School student who pushes themselves to meet high academic standards, treats others with respect and kindness, and stands up for what they feel is right. This scholarship does not have an application.

Metrowest Educational Foundation scholarships—application deadlines May 1, 2026

Each year the MetroWest Educational Foundation awards both STEM and Arcadius, Emma & Robert Lemieux scholarships to students in the MetroWest Chamber’s member towns. In 2020, the Chamber added the following scholarship categories: the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Scholarship, the Inclusion Scholarship, and the Arthur ‘Ted’ Welte Community Service Scholarship. Scholarship links can be found here.

The applicants must be residents of one of the following towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin,Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milford, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston or Westborough.

The Friends of Natick Drama Workshop— application deadline, May 1, 2026

The Friends of Natick Drama Workshop offers scholarships to high school seniors applying in the spring of their senior year. Seniors at all area high schools are eligible to apply provided they have taken part in at least two Natick Drama Workshop productions while in middle school and are planning to attend college or other formal training that fall. Scholarship amounts depend on funding, the number of applicants, and the extent of their participation in Natick Drama Workshop. Scholarship amounts may change from year to year. Applications must be completed fully and received by May 1, 2026 to be considered.

Applications can be completed online or emailed to board@natickdramaworkschop.org

The below scholarship application deadlines have passed:

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The Wellesley Club gets history lesson at January meeting, readies for Town Affairs Night in March

March 10, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Don Ryan, Wellesley Club — Author Don Ryan speaking at The Wellesley Club

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Courtesy of Sharon Gray

The Wellesley Club is the town’s oldest civic club, established in 1889 for men from all over the still-new town to gather and discuss issues important to the life of residents. Well over a century later, the Club is still bringing together civic-minded Wellesley residents three times a year, hosting speakers who highlight current events, challenging topics, and fascinating history.

The upcoming 250th birthday of the United States inspired the Club’s most recent meeting on January 22, featuring Don Ryan, author of “Colonel William Prescott: Heroic Commander of the Battle of Bunker Hill.” A former economic analyst and consultant, Ryan began volunteering in 2018 for the National Park Service at Bunker Hill National Monument Park. He quickly became fascinated with the under-reported life of Colonel William Prescott and dived deeply into research, eventually turning his new hobby into a book.

Wellesley Club members always love a tale well told, and were lured in by Ryan’s descriptions of Prescott’s heroics on the battlefield against a far more formidable British military, and his service under George Washington until the British were ultimately driven out of Boston in 1776. Ryan also outlined Prescott’s participation in a series of major events during the Revolutionary Era leading to the establishment of the United States Constitution.

Town issues will be the focus of the next meeting of the Wellesley Club, the annual Town Affairs Night on March 16. This annual tradition will recognize members of Town staff and highlight the work of town boards including the Select Board, School Committee, and Advisory Committee.

Interested in exploring membership in the Wellesley Club? Please email info@wellesleyclub.org for more information.

‘How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance’ book debuts at Wellesley College

March 9, 2026 by Iris Zhan Leave a Comment

Petra Rivera-Rideau, left, Vanessa Díaz — Petra Rivera-Rideau, left, and Vanessa Díaz, right (Photo by Iris Zhan)

On Monday March 2, Wellesley College Professor Petra Rivera-Rideau and Loyola Marymount University Professor Vanessa Díaz debuted their book P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance in Wellesley College’s Alumnae Ballroom.

The authors developed the first and second courses about Bad Bunny in the United States respectively. In 2023, they created the Bad Bunny syllabus, a website with resources that contextualize Bad Bunny success in relation to Puerto Rican politics. They selected a few chapters from their book to talk about how Puerto Rican resistance has shown up in every stage of Bad Bunny’s career, with each chapter assigned to a Bad Bunny song that represents that theme.

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They shared a clip of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where Bad Bunny reacts to himself being a subject of college courses. Professor Díaz shared how one of her student’s connections in LA is how Bad Bunny learned about the courses being taught about him.

“‘Send me your syllabus right now. I’m about to meet Bad Bunny.’ I was so weirded out, and I was like, ‘Do you mean the website or the PDF, but are you joking?’ I think to myself, it’s April 1, this is an April Fool’s joke. Students are playing a practical joke on me. She wrote back to me ‘No, I’m serious.’ And then the next thing you know, I get a video of her having Bad Bunny scroll through the Bad Bunny syllabus website and going, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’”

Bad Bunny on Tonight Show — (Photo by Iris Zhan)

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Díaz and Rivera-Rideau were inspired to use Bad Bunny as a vehicle for teaching the subject because they believe you can’t understand his evolution as an artist at all if you don’t understand Puerto Rican history. Their book “P FKN R” is a tool to motivate people to learn more about Puerto Rican history, and the role of youth and art in resistance movements on the island.

Chapters in the book (Photo by Iris Zhan)

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The first chapter they highlight is called “Soy Peor,” a song from his early career days as a SoundCloud rapper. The authors highlight that while it’s a bitter breakup song, there’s political history behind the rise in Latin trap in 2016. They interviewed De La Ghetto, another Latin trap artist, about the growth of Latin trap in the context of a debt crisis Puerto Rico inherited.

Chapter two is called “Estamos Bien” and touches on Bad Bunny’s mainstream rise to fame and how it relates to Hurricane Maria. For Bad Bunny’s first time on American TV on Jimmy Fallon, he made an effort to speak English, which he doesn’t do often, and called out Trump for his negligence of Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, all before performing “Estamos Bien.” The song title roughly means “we will be alright,” focused on community resilience post-Hurricane Maria. The authors elaborated on the significance of this moment at this point in his career.

“He’s not a superstar at this point. The risks he’s willing to take as a new artist really show he is going to be showing up for his homeland,” Rivera-Rideau shared.

Bad Bunny has also made a lot of statements around gender identity and advocating for LGBTQ communities, particularly in Puerto Rico. Following the brutal murder of a Puerto Rican trans woman named Alexa Negron, he shows up on Jimmy Fallon with a T-shirt that says “they killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt,” but in Spanish, cementing his reputation for advocating for LGBTQ communities on the island.

His music video for his 2018 song “Caro” is one of the reasons Rivera-Rideau made her Bad Bunny class, because about 75% of her students wrote a paper about this music video for her Latin music class. This music video starts with him getting his nails painted, a reference to when he was denied entrance into a nail salon in Spain. He swaps places with a model and the pair appear to be an androgynous couple, and the viewer sometimes can’t tell who’s who, on purpose. Later in the video, he gets kissed by a man and by a woman. For a genre like reggaeton that’s hyper masculine, it was a profound moment.

These were just some of the fruitful discussions which concluded with a book signing and celebratory cake eating.

Celebrating with a cake with their book in the frosting — Celebrating with a cake with their book cover in the frosting (Photo by Iris Zhan)

Nearby in Natick: 219 apartments pitched next to train station; Veteran Service Officer retiring; Neighbors against car wash

March 9, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

The latest news from Natick, Mass.:
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219 apartments pitched next to West Natick train station

The Natick Planning Board on March 25 is set to hear from a developer seeking to build a five-story mixed-used complex with 219 apartment units (330 bedrooms) next to the West Natick commuter rail station where the Natick Crossings retail strip has largely emptied out in recent years.

Gables-Natick-Crossing-1000x558 — Envisioned Gables Natick Crossing

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Veterans Service Officer retiring after 16 years on job

Even as he prepares for retirement in late March, Paul Carew always has a moment for veterans stopping in to say hello, or to get assistance with paperwork.
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Natick residents pour cold water on Rte. 9 car wash proposal

Neighbors of a proposed Rte. 9 west car wash pushed back at a late February Natick Planning Board meeting on a project they worry will make their area noisier and less safe.

Obituary: Priscilla M. Messing

March 8, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Priscilla M. (Mullins) Messing Of Wellesley, MA, aged 75 years, passed away this past Monday, March 2, 2026, from late-stage lung cancer.

Priscilla Messing was born in Germantown, PA to Helen Mullins (née Morley) and James Patrick Mullins. The youngest of four, her family moved around quite a bit when she was young. Her mother was a business owner in Dennisport, MA, running the Priscilla Cottages as a bed and breakfast. Priscilla attended Mount St. Joseph Academy and then Temple University in Philadelphia, making lifelong friends and excelling athletically.

Priscilla enjoyed traveling as a young adult before settling in the Boston area, where she worked as a bar manager and met her future husband. She married Robert “Bob” Messing in May 1979, in Wellesley, MA, later making the town their home.

She had a 25-plus year career as a project manager at Fidelity Investments and later at Blue Cross Blue shield; she enjoyed her work immensely. Over the years, she made time for her two children, Julia and Jim and dedicated endless hours to early morning hockey games, trips to Disneyland, the beaches of Cape Cod, baking and gardening.

She retired in 2017, making time to enjoy other interests: European river cruises, the take and leave area at the Wellesley recycling center, golf, going on walks and staying connected with friends and family.

She is survived by her children, Julia Messing of Boulder, CO and James Messing of South Boston; her grandson, Luca Nummy, also of Boulder, CO; and her brother, Chris Mullins of Philadelphia.

Visitation at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellesley, on Tuesday, March 10, from 4-7pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul’s Church, 502 Washington St., Wellesley, on Wednesday, March 11, at 10am. Reception for friends and family will follow at Babson College, 1 Snyder Dr., in Wellesley.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Newton Wellesley Hospital.

For online guestbook, George F. Doherty & Sons Wellesley 781 235 4100

If you’d like us to run a complete obituary of your loved one on Swellesley, please send to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com