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The Swellesley Report

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

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Schofield principal search is on
Bank headed into former E.A. Davis space
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Down Under Wellesley

Wellesley looking to automate vehicle gate controllers at Morses Pond entrance

February 10, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The town of Wellesley has sent out a request for bids to furnish and install a pair of automated vehicle gates at the entrance to the Town’s Morses Pond property, located at 100 Turner Road. This automated gate system will have a pedestrian warning light and an audible alarm while in operation. The system will be programmable to open and close at designated times, days and dates, including the ability to have programmed automatic exiting to prevent drivers from being locked in. A remote mobile app will be part of the project, so that the gate may be operated remotely, as needed.

The app system will come in handy particularly once the Pond is officially closed for the season, yet warm weather continues, and people still want to access the trails, or hang out on the beach. (Swimming is “at your own risk” after the lifeguards finish their summertime work). Over the years, neighbors have asked the town to give people access to the Morses Pond parking lot, citing times when the Woodlands neighborhood has been overrun with vehicles parking on-street, and sometimes even blocking gate access/emergency access.

Turner Road gate, Morses Pond, WellesleyThe yellow metal Turner Road currently is locked and unlocked manually, typically by town staff, or the Wellesley Police.


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Filed Under: Morses Pond

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Construction

Wellesley Council on Aging closed Wednesday due to water shutoff

February 10, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Council on Aging at the Tolles Parsons Center will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The Water Department will be digging up Washington Street in front of the building and will have to shut off the water to the building, located at 500 Washington St. All COA activities and events are cancelled for Wednesday.

If you are registered for an art class, exercise class, or lunch, you will receive a refund (though the Waterclass may be rescheduled).

Tolles Parsons Center COA

More: Here’s what the Council on Aging-funded study about senior needs discovered


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Filed Under: Seniors

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Don’t be alarmed by this fiery sunrise over Wellesley Middle School

February 10, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley’s Chelsea Sebastian, who has quite the artistic eye, shared this video of a sunrise seen through the boiler steam at Wellesley Middle School.

“As my slang-slinging 7 grader says ‘the middle school is fire, brah’,” she writes.


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Filed Under: Wellesley Middle School

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Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2025

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2026

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2025

Arts roundup—free tours at the Davis; Art Wellesley makers night; Acastock coming soon; a few Beyond Wellesley offerings

February 10, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley College, Davis Museum
Wellesley College, Davis Museum

Free art tour at Davis Museum, Wellesley College

EVENT: Drop-in public tour at the Davis Museum
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 14, 2pm
LOCATION: Davis Museum at Wellesley College
PARKING: at the Davis Parking Facility, 106 Central St, Wellesley
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: Drop-in public tour: “The Immortal Magu: A Sixteenth-Century Painting Up Close.” Thematic tour designed by Wellesley students from a range of academic majors.


Colossal Collage community event with Art Wellesley

DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 25
TIME: 6:30pm-8:30pm
LOCATION: St. Paul Church, Parish Hall, 502 Washington Street (parking next to rear building)
COST: Free
REGISTER here
DESCRIPTION: During Art Wellesley’s community maker night, participants will use found papers to cut, glue, and assemble a botanical-themed collage. Art Wellesley will provide all material. Participants are welcome to bring additional collage materials.. When it comes to this project, think big. As in colossally big. No art experience required. The completed Colossal Collage will be hung at the Wellesley Free Library through June.


WHS Performing Arts: Acastock Concert

DATE/TIME: Fri Mar 6, 7pm–9pm
LOCATION: Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Auditorium, Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St.
DESCRIPTION: This always-popular annual a cappella show is presented by Wellesley High School Performing Arts. Special guest stars contribute to the talent overload the WHS students already bring. Led by WHS director of choral music, Dr. Kevin McDonald.


Beyond Wellesley events:

EVENT: Theater performance, “Penelope”
DATES: Feb. 11 – March 1
LOCATION: Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon St., Boston
TICKETS here
DESCRIPTION: A musical. His Odyssey. Her Story. The story you thought you knew, told by the woman who lived it. Based on Homer’s Odyssey. A generous glass of bourbon, a five-piece band, and ninety minutes is all Penelope needs to tell her side of the story as she embraces her heartache, loneliness, and resolve during the wait for her husband Odysseus to return from a seemingly endless war. Her son has disappeared. Relentless suitors prance before her. Days drone on as she is left to wonder who she is if she is alone. From jazz to folk to indie rock, Penelope dishes the dirt in a captivating cacophony of emotions that redefines what we might know of her through a modern lens. Directed by Courtney O’Connor.


EVENT: King Tut exhibit
DATES: opens Feb. 13
LOCATION: The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza, 130 Columbus Avenue, Boston, 02116
TICKETS here
ALL AGES, Children 3 and under enter for free.
DESCRIPTION: An unforgettable adventure into the tomb of Tutahkkham. Walk through ancient chambers and uncover the secrets of Egypt’s most iconic pharaoh, from breathtaking golden artifacts to a state-of-the-art VR journey into the pharaoh’s tomb. If your kids aren’t obsessed with King Tut already, there will be after this experience.


EVENT: Theater performance, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
DATES: Feb. 27 – Mar. 22
LOCATION: Umbrella Arts Center, 40 Stow St., Concord, MA
TICKETS: here
DESCRIPTION: Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird opens in a sleepy Alabama town in the midst of the Great Depression, where Scout and her brother, Jem, live with their widowed father, lawyer Atticus Finch. While the children act out stories and muse about their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, the facade of their seemingly peaceful town begins to crack when a young Black man is accused of a terrible crime. Based on the book by Harper Lee. Directed by Scott Edmiston


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Filed Under: Art, Music, Theatre

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Music

Wellesley High School Rock Band: Hear all the bangers from 1st gig of ’26

February 10, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley High School Rock Band recently performed a standing-room only show at the WHS Little Theatre, with numbers from Third Eye Blind, the Strokes, Radiohead, the Doors, and more. The concert featured a variety of voices, plus some serious string and percussion instruments.

Missed the show live? Wellesley Media recorded it.

Also, look for some of the students performing at the Lockheart restaurant in Wellesley Square on Feb. 27.


More music coverage:

  • Boston Calling 2025
  • Levitate Music & Arts Festival: Celebrating local bands, newcomers & the sun
    Ripe rebounds to bring the funk
  • TCAN preview: ‘Guitar fanatic’ James Mastro to make Natick debut opening for Marshall Crenshaw (Natick Report)
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Filed Under: Music, Wellesley High School

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Obituary: Jameson O’Neil, age 26, of Wellesley

February 9, 2026 by admin 6 Comments

Jameson O’Neil, beloved son, brother, and dear friend to many, passed away at age 26 on February 6, 2026, after being unexpectedly diagnosed last year with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Jameson’s life was characterized by his kind and clever spirit, his dedication to his many interests, and the relationships he built through his warmth and authenticity.

Jameson O'NeilJameson grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, attending Upham Elementary School, Wellesley Middle School, and graduated from Wellesley High School. While at WHS, Jameson – or “Jame-o,” as affectionately chanted by his friends—was an active member and three-season captain of the cross-country and track teams. Outside of athletics, Jameson enjoyed academics (particularly English and Film classes), and his involvement in the school newspaper –which included both factual journalism and the occasional satirical piece.

Jameson attended college at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, where he studied English and Journalism with a minor in Screen Writing. He built communities all over campus, from being Asst. Sports Editor of the campus newspaper, to working in the university Athletic Dept., and to joining a fraternity that he claimed was “normal and not obnoxious”. He loved exploring new parts of LA with friends, going on hikes and runs along the water, and tracking down the best street tacos around LA.

Upon graduating in 2022, he continued his love of athletics and media by working in college sports broadcasting. He started his career in the athletic dept. at CalTech in Pasadena and up until recently was working for the Los Angeles Lakers. While Jameson was grateful for any opportunity to work in the sports world, working on the court with the Lakers was truly a dream.

Though he loved the life he built in LA, in 2025 Jameson moved back to Wellesley to be with his family after his diagnosis which he faced with remarkable composure, grace, and quiet strength. He never compromised who he was, even as his world changed.

Jameson will be remembered for his clever and imaginative sense of humor, encyclopedic knowledge of basketball, love of running and exploring new places, deep appreciation of films and movies, fascination with maps and geography, but most of all, the authentic relationships he formed with people around him. He built many friendships through his genuine interest in other people, embracing them with empathy and acceptance, and usually lots of shared laughter. He was easy to love.

His memory lives on with his parents—Joe and Jordan O’Neil, siblings Keaton and Avery O’Neil, extended family, and the many friends he made throughout his life.

In the spirit of love, Jameson’s family will be holding a memorial service for him on Saturday, February 14th at 11 a.m. at The Village Church, 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482

Note: Jameson’s family thanks you for your generosity but kindly asks for no flowers/gifts at this time. Instead, they ask you to keep Jameson in your thoughts and share a laugh with someone you love.

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Filed Under: Obituaries & remembrances

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Local government

Big week for Wellesley public office candidates

February 9, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Candidates for Wellesley town-wide government offices this week will have a chance to share their views on hot button issues at forums being held on back-to-back nights at Wellesley Free Library.

Sustainable Wellesley hosts its Conversation with the Candidates on all things green at Wellesley Free Library’s main branch (530 Washington St.) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7pm.

The following night, Thursday, Feb. 12 at 6:30pm, the League of Women Voters of Wellesley hosts its annual Meet the Candidates Night at the library.

Wellesley Media will be airing these discussions and posting recordings later on.

The contested town-wide races for the March 3 election are for Select Board (3 candidates for 2 slots) and School Committee (4 candidates for 2 slots).

The town lists all town-wide candidates (note that Mary Crown is no longer a School Committee candidate) on its web site as well as other election and voting information.

We’ve reached out to candidates in these races and plan to run profiles/Q&As later this week pending receipt of responses.

Separately, the Charles River Regional Chamber has invited Select Board candidates to take part in an online debate on Feb. 27 from 10-11am. The focus will be on issues related to economic development, housing, workforce and the environment.

 

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Filed Under: 2026 Town Election, Government

Open conversation about residents' health needs

What’s Next for Wellesley?

February 9, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

From the Wellesley Health Department:

The Town of Wellesley has been the recipient of Opioid Abatement Funds and expects to continue to receive funds through 2038. To use these funds responsibly, we have solicited feedback from a wide cohort of community stakeholders. The results of that feedback will be used to direct Health Department programming overall as well as the use of Opioid Abatement Funds.

On behalf of the Wellesley Health Department, we would like to invite you to a community forum on February 23rd, 6-7 PM to discuss the results of our recent Community Health Needs Assessment, and how we can best use these results to plan for Opioid Abatement Fund Spending. Please see flyer for full event details. The event is free and open to all.

The full report and related documents are linked below: 

  • Introduction and Executive Summary from the Board of Health.
  • Click this link to read the full report!
  • Quick Data Summary Flipbook
  • Data Dashboard

We value resident input and encourage you to share your thoughts, questions, and perspectives as the Town considers next steps. 

Share your thoughts and provide feedback, or call us at 781-489-4407. You can also email us at health@wellesley.ma.gov.

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Filed Under: Health

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Upcoming Wellesley events

Upcoming Events

Feb 10
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Boston-Area “Plantation” Histories: An Illustrated Talk

Feb 11
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Day at Babson College

Feb 11
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Wellesley author visit/discussion: Kate Price—’This Happened to Me: A Reckoning’

Feb 11
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Conversation With the Candidates—Sustainable Wellesley

Feb 11
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Speaker event: Navigating Agency, Big Feelings, and Resilience with Your Middle Schooler

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