The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Local government

Public Works-heavy Wellesley Town Meeting begins this week

by Leave a Comment

Wellesley’s Annual Town Meeting starts on Monday, March 30 at 7pm at the Wellesley High School, and hopes are for the lighter-than-usual warrant of articles to be discussed and voted over just a few nights. Wellesley Media will be live streaming and recording the sessions; anyone can also attend the meetings, even if not a Town Meeting member (you need to sit in the back if you’re not a member).

The final list of motions has been published, and indicates that a bunch of motions are either now under the consent agenda or won’t be brought forward after all. Motions are the items within articles on the warrant that Town Meeting votes on. Representative Town Meeting is Wellesley’s legislative branch.

The appointed Advisory Committee, which has been vetting articles and making recommendations on motions in recent months, has issued its report to the town.

The warrant this year is heavy on Board of Public Works-sponsored articles, including one about a feasibility study (costing $858k from free cash) for an overhaul of the Department of Public Works and Municipal Light Plant campuses. (Wellesley Town Meeting is something of a Super Bowl for consulting firms bidding on study contracts.)

Weston Road/Linden Street intersection redesign, Hunnewell Field irrigation improvements, and more are on the public works list for Town Meeting.

All eyes will also be on Article 8, with motions split out this year for town and school budgets. This approach was raised at last year’s Annual Town Meeting, with one argument for it being that the omnibus budget is just too darn for Town Meeting members to get their heads around. The Select Board got behind taking the split approach for 2026.

To get perhaps a sneak preview of discussion of this topic at Town Meeting, turn to the March 11 Advisory Committee session, about 35 minutes into Wellesley Media’s recording. Advisory recommended for favorable action on Article 8, Motion 2 (town budget) by a 12-0 count (with one abstention), but only 9-3 (with an abstention) for the roughly $97m public school system budget, a level services budget that met the Select Board’s increase guideline of 3%. Issues such as administrative vs. student facing positions, rising costs vs. falling enrollment, school performance, the continued need or not of neighborhood elementary schools, and general transparency were discussed. (See Advisory report to Town Meeting and in particular the “Executive Summary – Wellesley Public Schools’ Financial Model Overview and Context” document for more background.)

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

Please support your local online news source with a tax-deductible donation by scanning the QR code or by clicking on it.

QR Code

image_print
     

Advertisements

black & blue, Wellesley
Olive Tree Medical, Wellesley
St. Andrews, Wellesley
taste of wellesley gif

Save the date—annual Plunge for Elodie is Saturday, April 4

by Leave a Comment

Plunge for Elodie, WellesleyThe annual Plunge for Elodie is BACK!

This 9th annual event to help fight Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disorder, will include music (including live music from students at Wellesley’s Bach to Rock music school); Chick-fil-A; and of course, the big plunge into the refreshing waters of Morses Pond.

WHERE: Morses Pond, Turner Rd., Wellesley, MA

WHEN: Saturday, April 4th @10:30am, rain or shine

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: For all those taking the Plunge, please complete this waiver online prior to the event. Arrive ready to take the plunge with your plunge suit under the clothes you wear to the event. Don’t forget to bring towels, a warm change of clothes, a plastic bag for wet clothing, and comfy shoes that are easy to slip on. Swim caps will be provided! ALL ages are welcome, there is no fee to Plunge, and it’s a wonderful event for families to participate in on Easter weekend.

Meet Elodie

Plunge for Elodie, Wellesley
Elodie and supporters pump up for The Plunge

On July 15, 2016, Elodie was born with a rare genetic disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). This disease means that Elodie is missing a critical protein that helps bind the layers of the skin together, making her skin extremely fragile. Her skin will break or blister frequently, with everyday contact. There are no cures for this disease right now.

Despite all of this and the resulting pain and discomfort from her disease, Elodie remains a happy, well-adjusted kid—she thrives at school, loves all things princess, has a burgeoning sense of humor, and is the best older sister to her brother Gus.

In short, she is the sweetest little girl in the world. We could all learn so much from this beautiful 9-year-old warrior. She inspires everyone around her to fight every day for much-needed treatment, and ultimately a cure. Please donate to the cause. All donations benefit the EB Research Partnership, the largest non-profit dedicated to funding research aimed at treating and ultimately curing EB.

image_print
Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Paul Macrina Electrical
Wellesley Wonderful Weekend

Wellesley town government meetings for week of March 30, 2026

by Leave a Comment

A sampling of Wellesley, Mass., meetings and agenda items for the week of March 30, 2026.

With Annual Town Meeting this week, the line-up of regular meetings is much lighter than usual. Some town bodies have pre-Town Meeting sessions to prep or make decisions.

Annual Town Meeting Night #1  (March 30, 7pm, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street).

Annual Town Meeting Night #2  (March 31, 7pm, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street).

Affordable Housing Trust (April 2, 8am)

Agenda to come

Natural Resources Commission (April 2, 7pm, town hall)

Agenda to come

Climate Action Committee (April 3, 8am, town hall)

Agenda to come

YES, sign me up for Swellesley’s free weekday email newsletter

image_print

Advertisements

Longfellow, Wellesley
Wellesley Repertory Theatre
Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour
Wellesley Village Church, Easter
Seniors

Wellesley Council on Aging Board takes another shot at hiring a director

by Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Council on Aging (COA) Board held a special meeting on March 26 to conduct a public interview with a candidate for COA director, and by the end had voted unanimously to make an offer (see Wellesley Media recording).

Sehar Kiani, assistant director for the Dedham Council on Aging, impressed the COA Board with her energy and potential. While she lacked the experience of a recent COA Board selection who declined to take the job, the board voted unanimously to make Kiani an offer, acknowledging that it will need to put in place a support system to mentor her in the new role.

Tolles Parsons Center COA
COA headquarters: Tolles Parsons Center

Kiani’s interview started off a bit on the stilted side, as she referred to notes on her phone in introducing herself, but she loosened up as COA Board members asked questions to get at whether the job might be too big for her or how she might respond to being in a true leadership role. “At some point I’m going to need to fly,” she said.

The candidate won points for sharing that “I feel like I have a good day every day at the senior center,” when asked to give an example of what a really good day at the center might be like.

Kiani pointed to 9-plus years in state and municipal government, including previous experience in human resources and taking responsibility for running the Dedham COA when her supervisor is off. She cited working closely with other departments across Dedham and a desire to do likewise in Wellesley if she gets the job here.

In Dedham, Kiani has dealt with some of the same challenges Wellesley’s COA has, such as making more people aware of programs and figuring out how to best use a commercial kitchen.

In vetting candidates, the board’s director search subcommittee interviewed Kiani previously, as did a group including members of other town bodies such as the Select Board and Health Department.

The COA Board had been considering hiring a recruiter to help it identify director candidates, but if Kiani accepts, it will get to avoid going that route.

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.

Thousands of people—including lots of seniors—visit The Swellesley Report daily to keep current on Wellesley:

image_print
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
Rotary Club, Taste of Wellesley

2026 Easter services in Wellesley

by 2 Comments

Easter falls on Sunday, April 5 this year, and a happy one to those who celebrate the holiday. Wellesley has many houses of worship that observe Easter, as well as the solemn holy days leading up to what is considered the most important, fundamental holiday in Christianity.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

St. Andrews, Wellesley

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church
2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Wellesley Village Church, Easter

First Church of Christ, Scientist
8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114

MetroWest Baptist Church
42 Elmwood Rd.    781-235-6025

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)
9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)
502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills
309 Washington St., 781-235-9423

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church
2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)
26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268

MORE:

Where to Worship in Wellesley

image_print
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2026

Obituary: Ann Carter Jameson of Wellesley, 69

by Leave a Comment

Ann Carter Jameson (AKA Ann Carter) of Wellesley, 69, passed away peacefully at home on March 23, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. Ann was the beloved wife of Philip, devoted mother of Alexandra and Elizabeth (husband Brian Civale), best friends to her twin brother Edward, sister Emilee (husband Stephen) Crowell, and sister Susan (husband Scott) Mega, and idolized aunt to ten nieces and nephews, six grandnephews, and two grandnieces. She was predeceased by her parents, Dora (Dischino) and Paul Carter, who were the major influences in her life.

Ann Carter Jameson
Ann Carter Jameson

Ann’s most cherished possession in life was the love of her family and friends. The love she shared and received back was overflowing. She also enjoyed her jewelry, handbags, and shoes as accessories to her stylish clothes, which she wore with a creative flair that seldom went unnoticed (“it was on sale!”). That creativity spilled over to her painting on canvas as well as through decorating shells as gifts, making floral arrangements, and sharing new recipes.

Professionally, she was known as Ann Carter, consultant for years with Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, and more recently she built her own business as AC Communication Partners. Her clients benefitted from her wisdom, insight, judgment, creative problem-solving, and understanding of people and how they work together. She had a real talent for helping organizations distill their values and share their message clearly to the outside world.

Her dedicated nonprofit and Board trustee work highlighted her selfless, caring nature – always thinking of others. Her life made a real difference. As a successful woman in business and working mother, her success achieved with humility and grace, she set a shining example and was celebrated as a mentor by many colleagues and others with whom she crossed paths. The outpouring of love and admiration for Ann both personally and professionally during this difficult time has been overwhelming, and her family is beyond grateful.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, March 29th, from 2-6pm at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley, MA. Her funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 30th, at 11am at St. Paul Catholic Church, 502 Washington Street, Wellesley. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ann’s memory to William James College or Conservatory Lab Charter School. And always feel free to put on that piece that’s been sitting in your closet, that you haven’t found the right time to wear!

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

image_print
Education

Commencement speakers revealed for Babson, MassBay & Wellesley College

by Leave a Comment

All three Wellesley college—Babson College, MassBay Community College, and Wellesley College—have revealed this spring’s commencement speakers for the classes of ’26.

Babson of course is going with a couple of entrepreneurial leaders for its May 16 ceremony.

C. Dean Metropoulos, Babson ’67, MBA’68, is executive chairman and CEO of the family-owned investment firm Metropoulos & Co. and minority owner of the New England Patriots. He’ll speak at the undergraduate ceremony, recognizing more than 740 students.

metropoulos-c-dean-450x450
C. Dean Metropoulos

Adriana Cisneros, CEO of global enterprise Cisneros, will speak at the graduate ceremony, where 540 students will receive their diplomas. The Cisneros business spans media and entertainment, consumer goods, digital innovation, global connectivity, and real estate.

cisneros-adriana-450x450
Adriana Cisneros

MassBay, the state-owned school with a Wellesley campus, has tapped Lt. Gov. Kimberly Driscoll as its commencement speaker for the May 28 ceremony.

Lt Gov Kimberly Driscoll
Lt .Gov. Kimberly Driscoll

Wellesley College has invited Rice University distinguished fellow Ruth J. Simmons to speak at its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. Simmons has served as president of Smith College, Brown University, and historically Black university Prairie View A&M.

Ruth J. Simmons
Ruth J. Simmons

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

Please support your local online news source with a tax-deductible donation by scanning the QR code or by clicking on it.

QR Code

image_print