Wellesley COVID-19 vax stats: Quarter of town at least partially vaccinated; police, fire numbers high

March 22, 2021 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

About one in four Wellesley residents have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 14% of residents have been fully vaccinated, according to the latest Massachusetts Department of Public Health data.

More than 1 million Massachusetts residents have now been fully vaccinated, according to the state, and Wellesley is home to more than 4,000 of those people.

According to the state’s latest vaccine numbers, 24% of Wellesley residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine (this includes first doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 1 shot of the single-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine).

The state also shares information on partially vaccinated individuals, and Wellesley has 11% of its population in that category.

The Natick Mall mass vaccination site, along CVS and other locations, has allowed residents to get shots close to home. Wellesley Health Department officials wish they could play a bigger role in dispensing vaccines, but the state has largely handed that role over to mass vaccination sites and commercial operators such as CVS.

Police, fire department vaccine numbers high

We wondered, after reading the Boston Globe‘s report about 30% of the Massachusetts State Police not getting vaccinated at department-run clinics, what share of Wellesley Police Department and Fire Department members got vaccinated through the town.

Wellesley promoted its vaccination clinics for first responders in January, with firefighters Joanie Cullinan and Brian Hester, both of whom have faced serious health situations, up first.

In light of Hester’s serious case of COVID-19, it’s not surprising that the fire department had nearly 100% compliance according to data supplied by the Wellesley Health Department.

Police had 100% of dispatch staff and 82% of sworn officers (full-time and special officers) receive the vaccine as of March 17. Note that medical or other issues could be behind officers not receiving the vaccine; it’s not that they necessarily outright refused the vaccine.

As for the state police, the Globe points out that its numbers are based on department clinic vaccinations, and some members of the force may have been vaccinated through other sites or not been vaccinated for medical or other situations.

While teachers have had to go through the general state vaccination sign-up program, Wellesley Public Schools Supt. Dr. David Lussier says progress is good with WPS faculty and staff getting vaccinated. As of Monday, 62% have had at least one dose, he said during the Board of Health meeting.

Shingles vaccinations

A Swellesley reader shares a reminder that while you’re in vaccine mode, CVS advises those of you over 60 should to consider getting the shingles vaccine, which is available at CVS minute clinics and is covered by most insurance plans. Some doctors say those 50-plus should consider the vaccine. You’ll need to space out your shingles and COVID-19 vaccines.

Wellesley Fire Dept. responds to Natick Community Organic Farm barn fire

March 17, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Fire Department joined those from Natick and Framingham on Wednesday morning to contain a 3-alarm fire that destroyed Natick Community Organic Farm’s 200-plus-year-old barn and killed a total of 16 pigs and piglets. On site caretakers were able to evacuate and call 9-1-1 after a farm dog awoke them to the fire at about 4:30am.

The devastating fire has generated a huge outpouring from the community, which frequents the farm for volunteer opportunities, to visit the animals, buy maple syrup and vegetables, and more.

We were on site to interview farm staff.

Wellesley Fire awarded nearly $8K in safety education grants

February 13, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Fire Department has been awarded Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E) and Senior SAFE grants from the Commonwealth totaling almost $8,000.

Wellesley has been awarded $5,281 for Student SAFE and $2,680 for Senior SAFE.

Overall, about $2M in grants are being awarded to 239 municipal fire departments to support student and senior fire education in collaboration with teachers and senior centers.

Pre pandemic, Wellesley Fire Department Lt. Paul Delaney says he used grant money to go into the schools—Pre-K to high school— to teach fire safety. The money was also used for middle school Fire Rescue Camp, which was canceled last summer (unclear how that will be handled this year), and senior Thanksgiving dinner.

“During the pandemic I have been doing some fire safety via zoom with the schools and the senior citizens,” Delaney says.

Educational efforts across the state have been seen as having tangible results: No children died in fires in Massachusetts last year, and the average number of children dying in fires has dropped by nearly 80% annually since the Student SAFE program began.

Senior education typically involves home visits for smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installations as well as for presentations at senior facilities.

List of FY21 S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE Program Grant Awards.

Thank you Swellesley Report supporters & on to Year Sweet 16

Wellesley vaccinates first responders against COVID-19

January 11, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley’s Health Department, armed with doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, set up shop on Monday at Fire Department Headquarters on Route 9 to vaccinate first responders.

First up were firefighters Joanie Cullinan and Brian Hester, both of whom have faced serious health situations. Cullinan has recovered from Stage 3 Melanoma and become an effective advocate for occupational cancer awareness. Hester, a firefighter since 2002, became sick with COVID-19 in the spring and did a grand tour of local health facilities over 10 weeks fighting off the respiratory disease. Feeling lucky to be at the vaccine clinic, Hester said he is still dealing with after-effects from COVID-19 but hopes to return to work sooner than later.

ff vaccines wellesley — Firefighter Brian Hester keeps his eye on the needle

This was no private doctor’s office visit. The firefighters, in familiar surroundings at the firehouse, received their vaccinations with bemused expressions as camera crews from local TV news stations captured the whole thing for posterity.

Hester said getting the shot was no problem. “I didn’t feel a thing,” he quipped.

#Wellesley vaccinates first responders against #COVID19 https://t.co/AZ9HcGiz19 #vaccines @moderna_tx @WellesleyFire pic.twitter.com/y0ib8yEqA1

— swellesley (@swellesley) January 12, 2021

Cullinan is still going in for screenings in the aftermath of her cancer treatments, but is back to work and feeling strong. She refers to herself as “a professional patient at this point,” and says getting the vaccine made this a good day, allowing firefighters “to protect our families and keep everyone else safe.”

When asked for her message to other first responders about getting the vaccine, she said “everybody’s got to do what’s right for them,” but that it was the right choice for her, her family, and colleagues. Naturally, some of those colleagues headed out on a call when we were there, sirens blaring upon their departure.

Three other Wellesley firefighters and five Wellesley police officers were also vaccinated, with more set to receive shots later this week.

Health Department Director Lenny Izzo, who was on site, said “we’re prepared, we’re ready for this.” He and the rest of the staff have spent recent weeks working out the various challenges that the town faces in administering the vaccine, including the transport and cold storage of it, as well as scheduling injections. While much has been made of storage challenges, he says the town has had no issue handling that end of things.

Izzo told us during a recent interview that vaccines will be dispensed in a staggered process, to ensure that not too many first responders could potentially suffer bad reactions at once.

For this first round, health officials received 100 vials of the Moderna vaccine and expect another allocation within a week to complete the first responder vaccinations. Ann Marie McCauley, the town’s public health nurse supervisor, said during Monday’s Board of Health meeting that the Health Department plans to use every drop of vaccine during six clinics over the course of this week, and still won’t have enough for all first responders.

First responders, along with healthcare workers and those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are among those designated by the state to be vaccinated at the start.

Thank you Swellesley Report supporters & on to Year Sweet 16

Christmas Night fire in Wellesley

December 26, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley firefighters and police, as well as the Needham Fire Department, responded to a call shortly after 9pm on Christmas Night for a fire on Wildon Road in Wellesley.

Wellesley Fire Chief Rick DeLorie reports that crews contained the fire to a small area, and that residents and firefighters were fine. The house is also able to remain occupied. Deputy Corda and his crews responded quickly and contained the fire, according to DeLorie.

The cause appeared to be a faulty electrical outlet. Further investigation will take place.

WPD is on Wildon Road assisting Wellesley Fire with a working house fire. No injuries reported. The fire is under control. pic.twitter.com/KvKLWrVJVG

— Wellesley Police (@WellesleyPolice) December 26, 2020

Needham, Weston, and Newton Fire Departments covered Wellesley headquarters during the fire.

Last week Wellesley’s Fire Department fought a blaze on Riverdale Road that destroyed a home.

Storm does its damage

Local first responders were busy on Christmas Day. The overnight rain and wind storm on Christmas Eve took its tool around town. Reader PC shared this photo of a downed tree on Hampshire Road near Bristol Road. “No damage to people, property or electricity.”

Wellesley, Dover first responders rescue dog from icy Charles River

December 22, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley and Dover police and firefighters joined forces on Tuesday afternoon to save a dog named Popeye that broke through the ice on the Charles River while on a walk at Elm Bank Reservation.

“Popeye was unable to crawl out of the river due to the build-up of ice along the river bank,” according to a Tweet by Wellesley Police.

Wellesley firefighters pulled the dog from the water and warmed him up, before Popeye was transported to an animal hospital. The dog is expected to be fine.

While dogs are supposed to be leashed at Elm Bank Reservation, they rarely are. Wellesley Animal Control Officer Sue Webb says the dog owner did the right thing in calling for help and not going into the water. She says: “If they are loose, dogs should be under control near such a dangerous river especially in the winter. It puts others at risk trying to save the dog and we don’t want people going under.”

Team effort saves dog from frigid Charles River earlier this afternoon. Wellesley Fire Fighters conducted a successful ice water rescue with help from Dover Fire and Police at Elm Bank. Popeye was transported to a local animal hospital for treatment, but is expected to be OK! pic.twitter.com/hJ4loh21Pe

— Wellesley Police (@WellesleyPolice) December 22, 2020

Wellesley Police log: Devastating house fire; backyard pool becomes public skating rink; shoplifting from a store & a car

December 21, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley, Mass., police log for the week of Dec. 14-20:

Arrests

On December 18, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Officer DiCenso was dispatched to a residence on Cedar Street for a report of a dispute between two female parties. Officers spoke with the individuals involved and learned that there was an active warrant issued by the Middlesex Superior Court for 1 of the women. She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later transported to court.

On December 19, 2020 at 12:31 p.m. Officer Mankavech was conducting traffic enforcement on Worcester Street when he observed a Nissan sedan with defective brake lights. As he entered traffic to stop the vehicle he saw the vehicle make multiple lane changes as if trying to evade Officer Mankavech. A query of the vehicle’s registration indicated there was an active warrant issued by the Attleboro District Court for motor vehicle related offenses. He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested his license and registration. Officer Mankavech asked if he was trying to evade him. He affirmed he knew he had a warrant and he was trying to get to Interstate 95 to avoid being stopped. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on $100 bail.

Incidents

On December 14, 2020 at 1:50 p.m. Officer Mankavech was conducting traffic enforcement at Fire Headquarters when he was approached by an elderly male party who appeared confused and did not know where he was. While Officer Mankavech was speaking with him the Emergency Communications Center received a phone call from a family member of the male party stating he had wandered away from the home. The family member picked up the male party and safely returned him home. The male party suffers from dementia. The male party’s personal information and a photograph were added to the Wellesley Police Department’s Safewatch list and the Elder Affairs Officers will follow up with the family to see if there are other services available to assist them with preventing the male party from wandering from the residence in the future.

On December 14, 2020 at 6:10 p.m. Officer DeBernardi spoke with a female reporting party regarding vandalism to her motor vehicle. The reporting party stated she went to work on Worcester Street on December 10^th at 7:45 a.m. and left work at 5:45 p.m. She found that her rear driver’s side tire was flat. She took it to be repaired the following day and learned that the tire appeared to have been intentionally slashed. She was unaware of anyone who would want to vandalize her vehicle and requested the incident be document for her insurance company.

On December 15, 2020 at 9:19 a.m. Officer Mankavech was dispatched to the area of Suffolk Road and Bristol Road for a report of a town by-law violation. He learned that a pool company was pumping water from the backyard into the roadway. The water then froze on the sidewalks and roadway causing a hazard. Officer Mankavech asked the male party pumping the water in to the roadway if he had a permit and he indicated he did not. The male party agreed to stop pumping water during the cold temperatures. Officer Mankavech notified the building inspector of the incident.

On December 16, 2020 at 6:15 a.m. Officer Gerard was dispatched to a parking complaint for residents parking in areas that were not designated parking spots. Officer Gerard verified that all vehicles belonged to residents of the apartment complex and issued them warnings for parking in the Fire Lane.

On December 16, 2020 at 8:22 a.m. Officer Kane spoke with a female party regarding a theft from an unlocked vehicle. A gold bracelet valued at $100 had been taken from the glove box. The reporting party stated when viewing her ring doorbell camera, she noticed two male parties enter the vehicle at 1:28 a.m. The incident is under investigation.

On December 19, 2020 at 9:36 a.m. Officer Popovski was dispatched to a business on Central Street for a report of a past theft from the store. The store employee stated that the previous day at 2:26 p.m. an older man and woman entered the store. The male party took a black Tumi crossbody handbag valued at $245 and put it inside his jacket. Both parties then left the store. The reporting party stated they spoke to another store owner and were told that the same couple had taken an item from his store as well. There are no suspects at this time.

On December 19, 2020 at 11:05 a.m. Officer J. Popovski spoke to a female reporting party regarding fraudulent credit card charges. She stated she still has the credit card in her possession and two charges to Napa online in the amount of $470.20 each and 3 additional attempted charges that were declined. Her bank cancelled the card and she will not be held responsible for the charges. No suspects.

On December 20, 2020 at 12:06 a.m. Officer Knapp was dispatched to a residence on Riverdale Road for a report of a house fire (more details). Upon arrival a female party was outside with her 2 children and she stated her husband had gone back into the house to try to locate their family dog. Officer Knapp went into the residence and observed there was heavy smoke. He located the male party on the 2^nd floor and escorted him from the residence. The Wellesley Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. The incident is under investigation by the Wellesley Fire Department and The State Fire Marshall’s Office.