Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
This week’s blizzard has Wellesley Public Safety departments working non-stop, with the police sharing updates on social media about visibility, downed trees, and power outages.
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Meanwhile, at Wellesley College, student Iris Zhan has shared with us photos from inside dorm windows.
Feel free to share some of our own: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
A sampling of Wellesley, Mass., meetings and agenda items for the week of Feb. 23, 2026:
Planning Board (including joint meeting with RIO Task Force): Feb. 23, 6:30pm, online
Joint Meeting with R.I.O. Task Force: Discussion and Potential Vote on Amendments to Planning Board Recommendation for ATM Article 32 Motion Language; Zoning Public Hearing -2026 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) a. RIO Task Force Update/Amendment to Zoning Bylaw Section 3.2 Residential Incentive Overlay (RIO) District; Project of Significant Impact (PSI) a. PSI-25-04 – 592 Washington Street condo project
Natural Resources Commission (Feb. 24, 7pm, town hall)
Discuss Morses Pond Beach Project Supplemental Feasibility Study Report -Confirm design meets Article 97, Appoint PBC liaison ▪ Project Update: Land Conservation Plan ▪ Permit Requests: Permanent sound system for Diane Warren Field.
The Town Clerk’s Office will be testing the voting machines for the elections to be held on March 3, 2026 per MA 950 CMR 54.02. The testing is open to the public.
School Committee (Feb. 24, 6:30pm, online)
Discussion/Vote: School Wellness Policy; Discussion/Vote: Advanced Placement Draft Proposal; Discussion/Vote: Program of Studies – Evolutions; Discussion: Mid-Year District Goals Report; Discussion: FY’26 Quarterly Financial Report (Quarter 2); Discussion: Policy Subcommittee Policies: JBB – Educational Equity (New); Discussion: Proposed School Facilities Master Plan Task Force; Discussion: Sprague Fields Update and Scoreboard Proposal
Advisory Committee (Feb. 25, 6:30 pm, town hall)
Town Wide Financial Plan Presentation – Select Board; Select Board FY27 Budget requests; Open Public Hearing on 2025 Annual Town Meeting Warrant; Select Board ATM Articles • Article 3 – Consent Agenda • Article 7 – FY26 Supplemental Appropriations • Article 9 – Revolving Funds • Article 10 – Stabilization Funds • Article 14 – Wellesley Media Contribution • Article 27 – Authorization Use of Uber/Lyft Funds • Article 33 – Rescind or Transfer Debt, Appropriate Premiums • Article 36 – Appoint Fire Engineers
Housing Authority (Feb. 26, 9am, Washington Street Community Room – 503 Washington St.)
Financial reports, vacancy report, capital projects update
Board of Health (Feb. 26, 9am, online)
Chair, director, and nurse reports.
The rink, located on one of the basketball courts at the Hunnewell Field Complex off Rice Street, opened for the first time last week. Community members can sign up to receive information about the rink in a newsletter from the Wellesley Recreation Department. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. while the weather allows (obviously, this week’s blizzard will be an issue…).
Matt Chin, the town’s Recreation Director, said the rink first opened about 10 years ago and lasted for a handful of years before shutting down. This year’s launch was organized in collaboration with Wellesley Parks, Water, and Fire Departments, as well as DPW.
Vishal Kuchaculla, a local parent, got together with other residents to clear the snow off the ice, noting that the snowfall had pushed the opening back a week or so. He said maintenance is “the only thing that the township asked” of the community.
There was also an issue with vandalism, which caused the opening to be delayed another few weeks. Kuchaculla said that someone threw a parking cone and tree branches onto the ice, where it then got lodged, and people were “walking and stomping on the ice” before it was fully frozen. In the future, Chin wants to make sure that they secure the site better while waiting for the rink to freeze.
Chin said he thinks the rink is important because it “provides a safe place for ice skating,” as the town “does not check local ponds” to see if they’re safe.
Kolea Zimmerman, another resident, said he heard about the rink through an email from the Recreation Department. He was there skating with his two young kids, but was otherwise alone. He said that the parking was confusing and inaccessible, with the lot near the rink being gated off (parking is available at the high school).
“It’s a little rough, but, you know, fun,” he said.
Kuchaculla said it’s important for kids to have spaces where they can get outside, create memories and skate with friends. He said that the rink provides a place that will allow for that for the community.
“There is nothing more special than skating outside,” he said. “I’d like this to be an annual thing, and it’s something that can be organic.”
This story was produced in partnership with the Boston University Department of Journalism.
The latest Wellesley, Mass., arrests:
On February 11, 2026, at 2:06 p.m. Officer Carey was dispatched to Babson College to assist their campus police department with an arrest. They had taken a 22-year-old male party into custody. He was transported to the Wellesley Police Department for booking. He was afforded all rights and was later released on personal recognizance.
On February 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Officer Pino was dispatched to Wellesley College to assist their campus police department with an arrest. A 57-year-old male party was transported to the Wellesley Police Department for booking. He was afforded all rights and later transported to Dedham District Court.
On February 8, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. Officer Lopez was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Worcester Street. The officers requested the operator’s driver’s license, and she indicated she could not locate it. She provided her name and date of birth and a query of this information showed there were four active warrants issued for the female part, one issued by Dedham District Court for Larceny Under $1,200, two additional warrants issued by Dedham District Court for Shoplifting and one issued by Peabody District Court for Shoplifting. The suspect was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and held without bail.
On February 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Officer DiCenso was dispatched to a bank in Wellesley for a report of a male party posing as one of their customers. The male party indicated he wanted to open a business account and presented several forged documents to prove the business address was in Wellesley. The male party was later identified. He was uncooperative and resisted when officers placed him in custody. He was transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and held without bail.
On February 6, 2026, at approximately 9:50 p.m. Officer Drapkin was traveling on Worcester Street when he observed a Ford van and conducted a random query of the vehicle’s registration which showed the inspection sticker had expired in January 2025. Officer Drapkin stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested his license and registration. A query of information showed there was a straight warrant for his arrest issued by the Attleboro District Court. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on $100 bail.
On January 23, 2026, at 9:20 p.m. Officer Gaffney was dispatched to Worcester Street westbound for a report of an erratic operator that was swerving between lanes, struck a curb and nearly struck a utility pole. Officer Gaffney located the Infinity SUV and noticed it did not [Read more…]
Wellesley Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 23, due to the expected winter storm. So February vacation week lasts a little bit longer.
All afternoon and evening activities are off as well.
Wellesley Town Hall and all non-emergency municipal buildings will be closed all day on Feb. 23. This includes the Recycling and Disposal Facility, Tolles Parsons Center/Council on Aging, the Warren Health & Recreation Building, and Wellesley Free Library. All afternoon and evening activities are also canceled.
Town staff will be working remotely where feasible.
Assorted local businesses have been announcing plans to close for the day as well.
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After recently coming up short in hiring either of its top choices for director of senior services, the Wellesley Council on Aging Board this week said it is taking a new, more proactive approach to try to fill the important position (see discussion from Feb. 19 Board meeting via Wellesley Media recording, about 42 minutes in).
A new job posting has been distributed, though hasn’t yet elicited resumes with the senior, municipal, and management experience sought.
COA Board Secretary Pat Decker said board members met recently with Select Board member Colette Aufranc to discuss the recruiting challenge, and the idea of going with an executive recruiter was raised. A preliminary meeting was held with a recruiter to understand services offered, and a proposal was requested. The Board would run this through the town’s Human Resources Department before taking any action, such as a Board vote on procuring services, Decker said.
The goal would be for a recruiter to find qualified candidates that the board would interview.
“We’ve been without a director long enough that I feel like we need to be a little more aggressive, proactive in trying to find a suitable candidate,” Decker said.
The Wellesley Council on Aging’s previous director, brought on at the start of 2023 after a challenging hiring process, was placed on leave last April and resigned over the summer.
Board member Barbara Searle said she found it interesting during the recent hiring process that a number of candidates—including current COA directors elsewhere—just didn’t have some of the experience, especially in management and finance, required for the Wellesley job. One candidate indicated such responsibilities are handled by someone else in their community. “We may have a slightly unique position,” she said.
Separate, but related: Board Chair Judy Gertler mentioned having put off doing anything about developing a strategic until a new director was in place. But given the hiring delay, she recommended that the Board go ahead with the strategic plan process, and hire a consultant to help with this. Assuming a consultant can be engaged, the board would hold a retreat-style meeting to brainstorm on the topic.
Thousands of people—including lots of seniors—visit The Swellesley Report daily to keep current on Wellesley:
A convenience store called Liliko is readying to bring Asian snacks, drinks, plus beauty products to Wellesley Hills at 268 Washington St., the former Subway location.
Liliko (they use a lowercase “l” at the start) touts a variety of noodle offerings, bubble teas, and even Pokemon wafers. Brands include Jayone, Meigi, and Kasugai.
It’s unclear how soon Liliko might open, but it is at the stage of seeking signage approval from the town and going through the Health Department process.
We’ve reached out to Liliko for more details.
