• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

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

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • School
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Camp
  • Kids
  • Environment/Sustainability
  • Events
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Natick Report
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • 2021 Town Election
  • Bulletin Board
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Boston Sports Institute, Wellesley

Beyond Wellesley: Swellesley goes to Eastie

April 16, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The goal of the Boston Harbor Now is lofty. The group, dedicated to keeping Boston’s waterfront open and accessible to all through its Harborwalk initiative says on its website, “First and foremost, Harborpark is designed to guarantee public access to the unique environment along the Boston Harbor, while encouraging balanced growth along the entire waterfront.”

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
The must photo-stop from Piers Park in East Boston. Along the harbor walk there are several remnants of old piers, left in the water as urban reef safety spots for underwater wildlife.

For over thirty years they’ve worked to establish a 43-mile linear, uninterrupted walkway along Boston’s shoreline, connecting Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods to Boston Harbor and each other. Extending from Charlestown to South Boston, the park is a mostly-connected path system that is still a work in progress in a few parts.

We’d heard about the spectacular views of downtown Boston from Piers Park in East Boston (known as Eastie by many). Our sources were right. Piers Park in the East Boston Shipyard area could be the best-kept secret of the Boston Harborwalk area. We put Piers Park into our GPS, about a 15-mile, 45-minute drive from Wellesley Square, and headed out on an early spring afternoon. We found parking without too much trouble, but be warned that the signs that say 2-hour parking only are serious about it. Tow lots are aplenty in East Boston, and seemingly all full.

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
The Zakim Bridge.

We walked out to the end of the pier and took in the amazing view of the city. Sailing teams buzzed about against a backdrop of skyscrapers, while cargo-handling ships moved in and out of the harbor. Looking up, we saw not only airplane traffic as it flew toward or away from nearby Logan Airport, but the stunning number of luxury condos that are going up, up, up along the waterfront. Piers Park may be a little-known gem, but Eastie has been discovered by young people who can hop a water shuttle for a quick ride into Boston, or access the nearby MBTA Maverick stop as a first leg to pretty much wherever they want to go. Empty nesters from the suburbs have caught on as well, and we saw what looked like a few potential transplants wearing hardhats and examining blueprints as they toured the latest from-the-ground-up project. Gentrification of this working-class area is in full swing.

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
Some of the streets in Eastie are literally being rebuilt. The new construction bears no resemblance to the brownstones of Back Bay or the wood-framed triple deckers common up and down the hills here. We’re already planning our return visit to the area just so we can track the changes and say we remember what it looked like back when.

As we walked along the pathway (here’s a handy map of the entire Harborwalk)  we found LoPresti Park, a beautiful spot with  a playground, a very cool ping pong table (bring your own paddles and ping pong balls), a summertime splash park for the kids, and an amphitheater area for concerts and other performances. And the sights kept on coming. The untrammeled views of  the Financial District, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, the Zakim Bridge, and more, right from the water’s edge, were stunning.

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
Serious soccer players practice drills at LoPresti Park.

 

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
We walked along as far as we could and eventually bumped up against a reminder that the area is still very much a working harbor front.

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston

Beyond Wellesley, East Boston
The Trustees of the Reservation operates the Eagle Hill Community Garden, one of its 56 community gardens across eight Boston neighborhoods.

Because we’re kind of nosy, we did a full exploration of the neighborhood and found shopping districts, pocket parks, memorials to the area’s military heroes, libraries and schools, the famous Santarpio’s Pizza restaurant, as well as a neighborhood controversy hot-spot, the planned site of an Eversource Substation to be located at the edge of Eagle Hill (just below the Eagle Hill garden pictured above). Residents have voiced objections to the project due to safety concerns because the area is subject to frequent flooding. WBUR has excellent coverage of the story.

We left Eastie wondering where we’d been all its life, feeling like we’d barely scratched the surface of this neighborhood we’ve flown over so many times but never parachuted in on. What about lunch at The Reel House? Or an authentic Peruvian meal at Ricon Limeno? How about a visit to the Madonna Queen of the Universe shrine?

We’ll be back to enjoy this part of Boston that felt welcoming and vibrant.


  • Subscribe to Swellesley’s daily email
  • Please consider contributing to Swellesley to sustain our independent journalism venture
Share

Filed Under: Beyond Wellesley, Construction

Linden Square, Wellesley
Fran's Flowers
Clearhaven Recovery

Wellesley Community Bulletin Board

April 14, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Check out the Community Bulletin Board section on The Swellesley Report, a place to find out about exciting events going on in the area.

Featured this week:

Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills

PreK & Preschool openings for 2021-2022
[email protected]
781-237-9137


Wellesley Square salon news

Spacious, bright, and sunny hair salon overlooking the village in Wellesley Square has one chair available for the right stylist …. interested parties please call or text 781-223-8558

Little Arnie’s Cleaning Service

Old-fashioned, white-glove service
[email protected]
617-420-5579


“Quick Sketch” pencil portraits

Pencil portraits from life.
Ready-to-frame standard size of 11″ x 14″
617-721-5330


Wellesley Youth Lacrosse

Spring season will run through mid-June
All ability levels welcome!
Go Raiders!


The Concord Review History Camp

Seminar for middle school students
Promotes a love for history by allowing students to conduct in-depth  research into their chosen historical topic.
[email protected]


Summer Programs at the Rivers School Conservatory

Unique summer programs for students of every interest, age, and level.
Jazz and contemporary music; jazz ensembles
Percussion workshop; orchestra.


Here’s how to have your business or non-profit’s flyer appear on The Swellesley Report’s Community Bulletin Board at a nominal rate

Share

Filed Under: Business, Camp, Careers/jobs

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley Business Buzz: Poppin In at Linden Square; Chase Bank site becomes sign central; Women-owned businesses; Forklift enters Wellesley meal-delivery scene

April 12, 2021 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Our round-up of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Poppin In at Linden Square

We popped into Poppin In, a new trendy fashion shop in Linden Square with a California vibe at a laid-back price point. Owners Rachel and John Gilli have deep roots in the area. They live in Weston, along with their three teenage daughters who must be the envy of every kid in school right now. When mom and dad open up a clothing store stocked with literally everything you’d actually want to wear to school, that tends to happen.

Poppin In, Wellesley

There’s plenty of fashion for everybody with brands like Billabong, Amuse Society, Sisstrevolution, and more, as well as swim suits and resort wear.

“Everything is roughly 30% off the price tag,” Rachel, a past president of Boston Children’s Hospital League said of the pop-up shop. “We have mostly women’s clothes, and a small men’s section. We want people to come in and have a fun time shopping.”

Store hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm & Sun., noon-5pm


Chase Bank site becomes sign central

Chase Bank, which is filling the space at 9 Central St. in Wellesley Square recently vacated by Peet’s Coffee, has filled windows of the building with colorful signs heralding is pending arrival.

chase bank coming to wellesley
Chase Bank… coming soon

 

Those not so enamored with JPMorgan Chase’s investment record turned out on Saturday with signs of their own. More than 50 protesters, including a contingent of high school and college students, were among the demonstrators.

“A new Chase Bank branch will be moving into where Peet’s Coffee was and we felt we would use this opportunity to raise awareness about the fact that JPMorgan Chase Bank provides far more overall funding worldwide for both current and new fossil fuel projects than any other bank in the world,” said Sydney Stearns, a Wellesley College sophomore. “Even though the fossil fuel sector is only a small percentage of Chase’s portfolio, any funding to this industry is problematic for the future of our planet.”

chase group shot

The demonstration, which encourages bank customers to cut up credit cards and close accounts at offending institutions, is part of a national effort to bring attention to fossil fuel’s financial backers. Among their targets are those funding the company extending the Line 3 pipeline across Native American lands.

Chase shared the following statement with us regarding its efforts to support sustainability:

“The commitments we announced in February 2020 reflect our ongoing efforts to help address climate change and promote more sustainable development. This includes financing to support climate action and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, backing market-based policy solutions to reduce carbon emissions, expanding restrictions on financing for coal mining and coal-fired power, and prohibiting project financing for new oil and gas development in the Arctic. We’re building capacity within our business to tackle these challenges and look forward to working with our clients and other stakeholders on ways to grow our impact over time.” (More on JPMorgan Chase’s February 2020 commitments.)

Demonstrators, organized via 350 Metrowest and Northern 350, will be back in town on April 17 and 24 from 10:30am-noon. They’ll be found at the intersection of Rte. 135 and 16 in Wellesley Square.


And a shout-out to some women who make Wellesley go round

We are still celebrating Women’s History Month with a nod of respect to some of the town’s women-owned businesses. Fun fact: Swellesley’s a women-owned business, too. Here’s a partial list below, with more to follow in our next Business Buzz:

Comina

Owner: Amy Nicholas
Elegant and contemporary high-end furnishings and accessories
566 Washington Street, Wellesley Square

Crepeberry

Owner: Amelia Childs
Accessibly vegetarian fare
352 Washington Street

Magic Beans

Owner: Sheri Gurock
Toys, baby gear, strollers, and more.
Linden Square

Scalliwags

Owner: Lorraine Cronin
Infant Toddler Childcare
445 Washington St.

Wellesley Books

Owner: Gillian Kohli
A destination for readers
82 Central Street, Wellesley Square


Forklift enters Wellesley meal-delivery scene

ForkliftThe team behind Forklift Catering has launched  Forklift Provisions, geared toward those looking for help hosting small gatherings, a more special meal than one might normally make, and an opportunity to have fresh, easy meals at home throughout the week without ordering multiple takeout dishes or spending hours at the stove each night. Dishes are available a la carte, and in full meals, and are each meant to serve four people. The company now delivers to Wellesley.


Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]

Also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.

Share

Filed Under: Business

Little Arnie's

Wellesley Community Bulletin Board

April 8, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Check out the Community Bulletin Board section on The Swellesley Report, a place to find out about exciting events going on in the area.

Featured this week:

TEDx Babson College

An independently organized TED event
Bridging the Gap: Breaking the Norms
April 10, 2021—Virtual, register on Eventbrite


Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills

PreK & Preschool openings for 2021-2022
[email protected]
781-237-9137


Wellesley Square salon news

Spacious, bright, and sunny hair salon overlooking the village in Wellesley Square has one chair available for the right stylist …. interested parties please call or text 781-223-8558

Little Arnie’s Cleaning Service

Old-fashioned, white-glove service
[email protected]
617-420-5579


“Quick Sketch” pencil portraits

Pencil portraits from life.
Ready-to-frame standard size of 11″ x 14″
617-721-5330.


Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic Walk-in

No appointment necessary
978 Worcester St., Wellesley, MA
617-219-1280


Here’s how to have your business or non-profit’s flyer appear on The Swellesley Report’s Community Bulletin Board at a nominal rate

Share

Filed Under: Art, Business, Education, Entertainment, Health

Wellesley Business Buzz: Bank branch to close; New bank coming to town, sort of; Celebrating women-owned businesses

April 7, 2021 by Deborah Brown 5 Comments

Bank branch to close in Wellesley

In an unusual twist for a town that boasts banks galore, a branch is actually leaving Wellesley Square. Cambridge Trust execs have notified account holders that as of July 12 the 40 Central Street branch will close for good. A branch in Portsmouth, NH will also be shuttered. Both the Linden Square and Lower Falls offices will remain open, along with the rest of the bank’s approximately two dozen locations.

Cambridge Trust
Cambridge Trust in Wellesley Square

Cambridge Trust came to Wellesley Square last June as the result of a merger with Wellesley Bank. As a Central Street fixture for 45 years, many in town will recall Wellesley Bank as a place where the candy flowed freely and friendly tellers were always ready to update a young person’s passbook savings account. Many of the Wellesley Bank staff stayed on once the merger went through and became Cambridge Trust employees. So now what?

Senior VP Kerri Mooney in a letter said, “I am pleased to let you know that our Wellesley Square team will continue to serve your banking needs from other locations within our banking office network.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post made mention of safe deposit boxes at 40 Central St. That branch, in fact, does not have safe deposit boxes. We apologize for the error.

When one bank door closes, another one opens

Peet's Coffee & Tea, WellesleyAs we reported late last year Chase Bank, which burst onto the Wellesley scene in 2019 at 294 Washington St. (which used to house a Santander ATM), will be expanding its presence in town when it moves into the recently closed Peet’s Coffee & Tea location.

In the interest of balance or karma or something like that, we’re thinking a coffee and tea house would be just perfect in the Cambridge Trust spot.

 

 

 

 

Bank deal of the Century

century bank wellesley hills
Century Bank in Wellesley Hills

 

Century Bank, which has a location on Washington Street in Wellesley Hills, has agreed to be acquired for $642M by Eastern Bank, which has clearly been feeling left out without a Wellesley presence. Expect to see the signs change on the family-owned Century Bank branch in Wellesley and be replaced with Eastern Bank signs once this deal is finalized.

 

 

And a shout-out to some women who make Wellesley go round

We are still celebrating Women’s History Month with a nod of respect to some of the town’s women-owned businesses. Fun fact: Swellesley’s a women-owned business, too. Here’s a partial list below, with more to follow in our next Business Buzz:

Gretta Luxe and Grettacole Salon & Day Spa

Owner: Gretta Monahan
Fashion and beauty.
94 Central Street, Wellesley Square

Joel Bagnal Goldsmiths & Jewelers

Owner: Jill Sudman
101 Central Street, Wellesley Square

Lash L’Amour

Owner: Cynthia Tsang
576 Washington St., Wellesley Square

Skinscapes

Owner: Mary Marie Barrett
Clinic. Laser. Skincare.
31 Central Street, Wellesley Square

Kenzie & Hope

Owner: Shani Defina
200 Linden Street, Linden Square


Got tips on business openings, closings or whatever, feel free to email us here: [email protected]

Also email us if you’re interested in sponsoring our weekly Wellesley Business Buzz roundup.

Share

Filed Under: Business

Deadline for student art show submissions is April 9

April 2, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Calling all high school artists: Page Waterman Gallery is accepting submissions for its annual 2021 juried art exhibition. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 9.
Page Waterman Gallery, Wellesley

CATEGORIES:

1. Painting, Drawing and Printmaking

2. Photography

3. Sculpture

No fees apply.

MORE:

Pandemic can’t stop creativity at Page Waterman 2020 Next Up exhibit
Share

Filed Under: Art

Five beautiful Wellesley homes recognized by Wellesley Historical Commission

April 1, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Historical Commission (WHC) has presented its annual awards to homeowners who have completed successful historically sensitive renovations of five of the town’s beautiful older homes. Part of the WHC’s mission is to seek out projects—both renovations and historically appropriate new construction—that honor and respect Wellesley’s architectural history.

Board member Rise Shepsle conferred to each family a framed certificate commending them for their outstanding home renovation and expressing the WHC’s appreciation for their efforts in preserving the town’s historic character. In presenting the awards she said, “The WHC each year seeks to identify recent projects—both renovations and historically appropriate new construction—that honor and respect the architectural history of our Town. We consider your recent project to be indicative of the excellence to which we hope all projects can aspire.”

We had the opportunity to be present as a couple of the awards were conferred on the homes that boasted the advantages of having great bones, in great neighborhoods, owned by those with a stewardship mindset. In years past homeowners have flung open the front doors and welcomed us in to explore every nook and cranny. With the pandemic, such hospitality wasn’t possible, but the reception on the front doorsteps couldn’t have been warmer.

Given the appetite for teardown/rebuild in town, life as a Wellesley grand dame structure is precarious. So congratulations to the following homes, and phew—with the kind of spa treatments they received, they’ve most likely dodged a teardown fate for at least another hundred years:

  • 30 Old Farm Road (year built: 1934)
  • 68 Crest Road (year built: 1895)
  • 49 Woodlawn Avenue (year built: 1879)
  • 65 Prospect Street (year built: 1898)
  • 15 Ordway Road (year built: 1933)

Here are a few pics:

Wellesley Historical Commission
Wellesley Historical Commission award-winning home, 68 Crest Rd.
Wellesley Historical Commission
The Joshua Goodman and Nathalia Rivarola family of 68 Crest Road now live the “modern farmhouse” dream in a home that was once an actual farmhouse, with all the historical bragging rights paired with the conveniences of how families live today (hello, open floor plan and central AC). Top step from left: Gabe, Sebastian, and Nathalia. Next step, from left: Alexandra, Josie, and Joshua.
Wellesley Historical Commission
Wellesley Historical Commission award-winning home, 30 Old Farm Rd. This 1934 center-entrance colonial designed by Royal Barry Willis received a significant upgrade from the Patrick Ahearn firm under the direction of architect Michael Tartamella.
Wellesley Historical Commission
Eric and Kim Lussier—of the landscape and construction Lussiers, “Not of the snow-day Lussier,” says Eric—are here to stay now that the house has plenty of good flow to accommodate their adult children when they come and visit.

About the Wellesley Historical Commission

The Wellesley Historical Commission is a seven-member volunteer board of Town government and the primary advocate for the protection of Wellesley’s historic properties, both public and private. Their primary mission is to ensure that the historic structures and spaces that define the character of Wellesley are not lost for future generations. The WHC frequently collaborates with Town boards and departments, builders, realtors, and residents, to provide expert advice on projects involving historic resources to ensure that growth can coincide with preservation. The WHC also advocates for public bylaws and private actions that encourage the preservation, restoration, and innovative reuse of historic properties.

MORE:

Past award-winning Wellesley Historical Commission homes 

Wellesley Historic Commission works to slow down tear downs


  • Subscribe to Swellesley’s daily email
  • Please consider contributing to Swellesley to sustain our independent journalism venture
Share

Filed Under: History, Houses

Next Page »

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]
Wellesley Square ad
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Admit Fit, Wellesley
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Fay School, Southborough
Wellesley Theatre Project
The Moving-Pictures Company
image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
covid vaccine
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click here to read our Natick Report

Natick Report

Most Read Posts

  • Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic Walk-In—no appointment needed
  • Wellesley summer camp listings 2021 — find the experience of a lifetime
  • Wellesley Business Buzz: Poppin In at Linden Square; Chase Bank site becomes sign central; Women-owned businesses; Forklift enters Wellesley meal-delivery scene
  • WHS senior scavenger hunt to blanket Wellesley
  • Wellesley's Lee Delaney, CEO of BJ's Wholesale, passes away at age 49

Events Calendar

« April 2021 » loading...
S M T W T F S
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
Thu 22

Ben Franklin, The Early Years: Wellesley Historical Society online lecture

April 22 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mon 26

Virtual lab tour, pooled COVID testing

April 26 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Wed 28

Fay School virtual information session

April 28 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Pages

  • Guidelines for Letters to the Editor
  • How to submit your flyer for the Community Bulletin Board page
  • Wellesley Community Bulletin Board
  • Wellesley coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads
  • Wellesley, Mass., fishing spots
  • Wellesley Choral Society
  • Wellesley College Notable Alumnae
  • Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
  • Wellesley outdoor art gallery
  • Wellesley restaurants offering take-out and delivery
  • Wellesley, Massachusetts restaurant — Amarin of Thailand

Recent Comments

  • Haihong Li on Wellesley Give & Take update
  • bob McGrath on Wellesley Police log: Sneaking into stables; pricey check scheme; neighbor throwdown
  • Erica Johnson on Wellesley Police log: Sneaking into stables; pricey check scheme; neighbor throwdown
  • Jean Ann Schulte on Babson to the rescue: Survey seeks to get to bottom of Wellesley Square issues
  • Rick DEVEREUX on Wellesley Business Buzz: Poppin In at Linden Square; Chase Bank site becomes sign central; Women-owned businesses; Forklift enters Wellesley meal-delivery scene

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (21)
  • Animals (387)
  • Antiques (48)
  • Art (544)
  • Beyond Wellesley (31)
  • Books (345)
  • Business (1,382)
  • Camp (2)
  • Careers/jobs (46)
  • Churches (73)
  • Clubs (211)
  • Construction (282)
  • Dump (114)
  • Education (2,919)
    • Babson College (244)
    • Bates Elementary School (14)
    • Dana Hall School (29)
    • Fiske Elementary School (6)
    • Hardy Elementary School (33)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (34)
    • MassBay (49)
    • Schofield Elementary School (20)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (1)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (9)
    • Upham Elementary School (30)
    • Wellesley College (600)
    • Wellesley High School (895)
    • Wellesley Middle School (195)
  • Embracing diversity (52)
  • Entertainment (728)
  • Environment (680)
  • Fashion (134)
  • Finance (13)
  • Fire (144)
  • Food (328)
  • Fundraising (565)
  • Gardens (137)
  • Government (425)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
  • Health (760)
    • COVID-19 (152)
  • History (360)
  • Holidays (367)
  • Houses (121)
  • Humor (45)
  • Kids (820)
  • Law (3)
  • Letters to the Editor (12)
  • Media (63)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (3)
  • Morses Pond (97)
  • Music (545)
  • Natick Report (28)
  • Neighbors (252)
  • Obituaries (62)
  • Outdoors (588)
  • Parenting (60)
  • Police (703)
    • Crime (357)
  • Politics (545)
  • Real estate (294)
  • Religion (127)
  • Restaurants (306)
  • Safety (143)
  • Scouts (1)
  • Senior citizens (111)
  • Shopping (123)
  • Sports (906)
  • STEM (107)
  • Technology (158)
  • Theatre (383)
  • Town Meeting (22)
  • Transportation (212)
  • Travel (12)
  • Uncategorized (1,212)
  • Volunteering (319)
  • Weather (168)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (259)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (5)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed

© 2021 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login