The Swellesley Report

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

Wellesley Service League Men’s Group Speaker Series to welcome Social Entrepreneur

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EVENT: Wellesley Service League Men’s Group Speaker Series
SPEAKER: Paul Derrickson, Social Entrepreneur
TOPIC: Healthy Brain Plan
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, Oct 13, 2pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Friendly Aid, 219 Washington St., Wellesley
SPONSOR: Wellesley Service League

DESCRIPTION: Paul Derrickson is a social entrepreneur who has founded several companies focused on supporting healthy living, healthy aging, and brain health. Paul’s latest venture, HealthyBrainPlan.com, translates the most current brain health research into structured lifestyle interventions that help individuals boost cognitive performance today, such as focus, memory and mood, while reducing the risk of future dementia.

Paul volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association, where he provides community education on brain health and dementia prevention strategies.

Paul holds a B.A. from Boston College and an MBA from Babson College. Outside of work, Paul enjoys skiing, hiking, meditation, and foraging wild mushrooms, often transforming his finds into delicious, home-cooked meals.

Senior Men from Wellesley and surrounding communities are invited for refreshments and conversation. Guests welcome.

Please email Julie Barron or Jennifer Scheer Lieberman for more information juliefbarron@gmail.com or scheerdecor@comcast.net

Wellesley Friendly Aid
Wellesley Friendly Aid building.
     

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black & blue, Wellesley
Olive Tree Medical, Wellesley
Haskins Automotive, Wellesley
MIT Museum, Cambridge

Community invited to Wellesley Cub Scout model rocket build & launch event

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Wellesley Cub Scout Pack 185 on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 4-6pm will be building and launching model rockets, and invites community members to check out this fun family event and cheer on the scouts. The event will take place at Kelly Field at Bates Elementary School.

Cub Scouts in Wellesley is open to boys and girls in grades K–5 and offers opportunities for fun, friendship, and hands-on adventures, including hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, community service, and the Pinewood Derby.

More: Read of one family’s experience from its first year with Pack 185 in “Our Family’s First Year with Wellesley Cub Scout Pack 185” (published on The Swellesley Report in June, 2026).

Page Waterman, Natick
London Harness, Wellesley
Dedham Country Day School

Wellesley Neighbors—a full schedule of upcoming activities and events

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Wellesley Neighbors, parade
Wonderful Wellesley parade, 2026

Wellesley Neighbors has a full roster of events and activities designed to take area seniors through summer and into fall. The membership-based non-profit organization brings neighbors together to build lasting friendships, foster lifelong learning, and provide the mutual support necessary for continued independent living.

Here are just a few upcoming calendar items

EVENT: Cape Ann Museum & Manchester-by-the-Sea
DATE: Thursday, Aug. 13
DESCRIPTION: Docent-led visit of “Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea” followed by seaside lunch and more art, at Cape Ann Museum & Manchester-by-the-Sea

EVENT: Dinner at Fiorella’s Trattoria
DATE: Wednesday, Aug. 19.
DESCRIPTION: Fiorella’s is a casual Italian restaurant where you place your order at the counter and relax at a table until your order is brought to you.

EVENT: Healthy Feet, Active Life: A Zoom Conversation with Podiatrist Jonathan Kaplan
DATE: Friday, Sept. 18
LOCATION: Zoom
DESCRIPTION: An informative and practical Zoom presentation on understanding and navigating foot issues.

Full schedule here.

Join anytime

Wellesley Neighbors helps create a vibrant social network through a wide variety of gatherings that bring members together in meaningful and enjoyable ways. From monthly men’s luncheons and women’s dinners to neighborhood cluster gatherings and concerts hosted in members’ homes, there are plenty of opportunities to connect. Wellness lectures and workshops, meetings at local libraries and community centers, and more provide ways to stay active and engaged.

Executive Director Joan Minklei says, “At its heart, Wellesley Neighbors remains a community built on connection, friendship, generosity, and mutual support. Our members continue to create the welcoming and caring community that has defined Wellesley Neighbors from the beginning.”

Expand your reach (and support local news) by advertising on Swellesley.

Wellesley Youth Basketball
Longfellow, Wellesley

National Charity League to run summer food drives for Wellesley Food Pantry

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The National Charity League is hosting its annual summer food drives at Roche Bros. to benefit the Wellesley Food Pantry:

DATES: July 25, August 8, August 22
TIME: 10am–2pm
LOCATION: Roche Bros., 184 Linden St, Wellesley

Food Pantry priority needs

  • Unsweetened applesauce cups
  • Canned fruit in fruit juice
  • Pasta sauce
  • Coffee & herbal teas
  • Dinty Moore beef stew
  • Cookies & crackers
  • Honey & nuts

Roche Bros., WellesleyEvery item helps a Wellesley family put food on the table. If you’re shopping at Roche Bros on these dates, please consider picking up a few extra items and dropping them off with volunteers at the National Charity League’s table on your way out.

You can also make a cash donation to the Food Pantry by using this link or by mailing a check payable to the Wellesley Food Pantry to Wellesley Food Pantry, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. The Pantry is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations/contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax ID number is 45-0941804.

About the National Charity League

NCL, Inc., Wellesley Chapter is a group of mothers and daughters who come together in a commitment to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. The Wellesley chapter has a membership of over 325 moms and daughters. The chapter works with up to 26 local philanthropies, contributing almost 4,000 hours of community service and philanthropic work per year. This considerable charitable effort instills compassion and civic responsibility in our young women.

Interested in joining the chapter? More information here.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Wellesley Marketplace 2026

Wellesley scouts in action: Taking aim at water pollution; Collecting books for people in prison

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The latest Wellesley scouting news:
 

Eagle Scout candidate takes aim at water pollution

 
Eagle Scout project From Christian Keiper, a Troop 185 Life Scout:

There is an ongoing need within the Wellesley community to prevent water pollution in the town. This need was recently highlighted by the Charles River Watershed Association’s downgrading of its report card on water health in the Charles River from an “A” rating to a “B”. As a future Eagle Scout, my service project aimed to address this problem in Wellesley by labeling storm drains throughout town with “No Dumping” signs and by including an educational poster for my volunteers to show to passersby during the project. Specifically, I was targeting 400 storm drains around the town to inform passersby that the drains lead to waterways, not the sewer system. Many homeowners do not realize that any paint washed in their driveway, or fertilizer used on their front yards, washes down due to runoff and into the storm drains, contaminating bodies of water like the Charles River. Creating more of these labels around Wellesley will help increase awareness of the sources of water pollution and ways to mitigate it. With that, I am pleased to share with you that my Eagle Service Project on Friday, June 19th, and Saturday, June 20, was a success. I led a group of 40 people over both days in groups of two to five to label a total of 643 storm drains with spray paint or medallions, for a total of 126 hours of work, including preparation time. Specifically, on Friday, we completed 273 storm drains in the Hunnewell area, and on Saturday, we completed 370 storm drains in the St. John’s area.

I would not be surprised if, as you go about your summer, you see some of the Charles River Watershed Association’s stencils near the storm drains in the project areas. If you do, please know that it was thanks to many Scout volunteers from Troop 185 in Wellesley who helped apply all of these labels, and that we would greatly appreciate your efforts in spreading our message about mitigating water pollution from storm drains!

Eagle Scout project
Photos courtesy of Christian Keiper

 
Eagle Scout project

Eagle Scout project

 

 

Girl Scouts launch Prison Book Drive

 
Wellesley High School Girl Scouts Hadley Grover and Elise McDonough this past spring launched a Prison Book Drive as part of their community service initiative “Take Action Award.”

Recognizing the profound impact of literacy and the severe shortage of reading materials in correctional facilities, the duo mobilized their local community to collect books spanning various genres, from educational texts to fiction.

Through planning, local outreach, and donation bins placed across town, Grover and McDonough not only gathered literature to fuel minds and offer solace behind bars but also raised vital awareness about rehabilitation and educational equity.

Their dedication embodied the true spirit of the Girl Scouts, proving that passionate young leaders can create meaningful, widespread change from their own backyards.

Hadley and Elise - Prison Books
Scouts Hadley Grover & Elise McDonough

 

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

Wellesley, Health Dept., Menopause movie

Wellesley Club releases 2026-2027 meeting and speaker schedule

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The Wellesley Club, a civic organization started in 1889, has released its dinner meeting schedule for the 2026-2027 season, which begins in November.

Meetings are held at 6 p.m. at the Wellesley Country Club.

  • Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Ambassador Nicholas Burns (Wellesley native, Harvard University professor, and distinguished diplomat)
  • Wednesday, January 13, 2027: Catherine Simpson Bueker (Wellesley resident, Emmanuel College professor, and author of Beyond White Picket Fences: Evolution of an American Town)
  • Monday, March 15, 2027: Town Affairs Night

Learn about how to become a member.

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Guest post

Our Family’s First Year with Wellesley Cub Scout Pack 185

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Special to The Swellesley Report by Bo Yan.

The countdown began on a sunny afternoon at Kelly Field. Dozens of scouts and their invited guests clutched the rockets they had built, eyes fixed on the sky. “Three… two… one!” Our son’s face with pure excitement told me everything I needed to know about our family’s first day with Cub Scout Pack 185.

When our older son joined Cub Scout Pack 185 last fall, we honestly did not know what to expect, other than strong recommendations from my neighbors. Our older son had just started kindergarten and joined the Lion Den, while his younger brother, only three years old at the time, tagged along to many activities. Looking back now, as we just participated in the parade during the Wonderful Wellesley Weekend as a Pack, almost a full school year later, scouting turned out to be far more than an extracurricular activity for us. It became a way for our family to explore the outdoors, build friendships, and create memories together.

Camping was a major milestone for us. We attended both the fall and spring campouts, our very first camping trips with the kids. Going in, we were uncertain whether we could manage sleeping outdoors with young children, and we built detailed packing checklists just to make sure we did not forget anything important. Once we arrived, though, we discovered just how supportive the scouting community is. Experienced families helped newcomers, the kids played together nonstop, and evenings around the campfire with plenty of S'more became highlights of the weekend. The night hike was very adventures/scouty, and I feel the completion as a family is something that would surprise the grandparents.

The scouts quickly built real friendships. Scouts who first met at den meetings soon recognized each other at soccer games, school events, and around town. Over time, scouting helped create a stronger sense of connection, not just for the kids, but for parents as well.

cub scouts
The writer’s two boys at the camping site.

 
Of all the activities this year, fishing was our older son’s favorite. Before joining scouting, he had never really had the chance to fish. Pack 185 organized a fishing derby at Morses Pond and provided rods, instruction, and plenty of encouragement for beginners. What could have been intimidating for first-time families instead felt relaxed. Watching the kids “patiently” wait for a bite and simply enjoy being outdoors together made for a wonderful morning.

My most memorable adventure was the Battleship overnight visit. Our pack joined other packs with about 300 scouts from the Mayflower Council. I didn’t bring my younger son as I was not sure how well a four year old would behave during the night, but this trip became a great bonding event for me and my older son. I hope to bring both boys to the Battleship again.

A photo of the sunset taken on USS Massachusetts Battleship. cub scouts
Sunset from the USS Massachusetts Battleship (photo by Bo Yan)

 
I appreciate how naturally the Lion Den activities combined fun with practical life lessons guided by the Scout handbook. Den meetings included hikes, a beach cleanup at Morses Pond, a visit to the police station, and even a trip to the Davis Museum at Wellesley College. Along the way, the scouts learned outdoor essentials, hiking preparedness, and safety principles such as “Stay, Answer, Whistle,” as well as lessons about protecting themselves and others.

Service to the community turned out to be one of the most meaningful threads of the year. Our older son took part in the pack’s popcorn fundraiser, which supports both the national Scouting program and our local pack’s activities. My son’s grandma stopped by and bought two bags to show her support, along with many lovely neighbors.

I still remember walking the neighborhood with my boys on a quiet weekend morning, dropping off Roche Bros. bags on doorsteps for the Wellesley Food Pantry drive. A week later, we walked the same route to pick the bags up. From our small corner of the neighborhood alone, we collected about a dozen bags of donations; across the whole pack, scouts brought in hundreds of bags for the food pantry. We were grateful for living in such a generous and supportive community.

Our family found something refreshingly different in scouting: opportunities for children to explore, learn practical skills, gain confidence, give back, and simply enjoy being kids outdoors.

If you have a child entering grades K-5 and you have ever wondered what Cub Scouting in Wellesley looks like, I would warmly encourage you to come check out Cub Scout Wellesley Pack 185.

Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour 2026 showcases the best in design and architecture

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The Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour 2026, one of the year’s major fundraisers put on by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, was a huge success on Saturday. Special congratulations to Co-Chairs Meg, Julia and Emily for organizing the event, and to the homeowners for welcoming the masses into their beautiful homes.

Funds raised from Kitchen and Home Tour ticket sales, along with the Club’s other events, allow Juniors to give over $170k in grants and scholarships every year.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club Kitchen and Home Tour 2026
Party barn. Yes, it’s heated. Yes, there’s a bathroom
Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club Kitchen and Home Tour 2026
The Sprague moms know how to do the Kitchen and Home Tour. Champagne all around, traveling in style with Accent Limousine.

 

What’s next for Juniors

    • The 5K Wonder Run, May 17th. The fun community tradition attracts runners and walkers of all ages.

Interested in joining the WHJWC? Learn more about the Club here.