Through The Swellesley Report, I write to announce that I am not seeking re- election to the Natural Resources Commission in the March 2026 Annual Town Election. It has been a great honor to serve our Town and advocate for its natural resources since 2022. As I approach my mid-30s, other professional and personal goals leave me without the time necessary to continue service on the NRC.

In the past three and a half years, the NRC has undertaken many important initiatives for Wellesley: a line-by-line review of and update to the regulations governing Town parkland; new playgrounds for Wellesley’s children, including a marquee facility to be installed this year at Warren Park; installation of new tennis courts and a light and sound system at Hunnewell Field; increased collaboration with neighbors relative to special events on NRC property; a new beach and bathhouse at Morses Pond; and, particularly special to me, a first-ever Land Conservation Plan charting the future of land conservation in Wellesley.

None of these projects were without controversy, but open disagreement ultimately produces better results. Feedback from the public frequently changed the direction of NRC initiatives. This is a feature and not a flaw of Wellesley’s decentralized, intensely democratic system of local government. I encourage the public to continue to advocate before our boards, committees, and commissions as well as at Town Meeting. I also encourage those entrusted with pulling the levers of government to continue to listen earnestly and with open ears. As Thomas Jefferson aptly observed, “government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.”

I have full confidence the NRC will continue to prosper under the direction of Director Brandon Schmitt and our small but mighty staff. (Thank you Brandon, Julie, Lisa, and Stephanie!) Key to this success are the exceptional colleagues I have worked with over my tenure: Bea Bezmalinovic, Jay McHale, Lisa Collins, Laura Robert, Steve Park, and Tom Hammond. They deserve our thanks, and I am grateful for their friendship.

When my grandfather emigrated from a small village in Abruzzo, Italy to Rice Street in 1949, he could not have dreamed that the move to Wellesley would create such wonderful opportunities for our family. I continue to be grateful for the sheer fortune and dumb luck that led Wellesley to be the village I call home. I am indebted to the voters for giving me a chance to serve and to the members of the community who have supported me since I first pulled papers to run for Town Meeting in 2009. To all of them and to each of you: Thank you.

Michael D’Ortenzio Jr.
Wellesley resident

To my friends, neighbors, and longtime supporters,

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has stood with me over the years. Your encouragement, trust, and belief in my work have meant more than words can express.

I am writing to share that I am running in 2026, solely to renew my seat on the Wellesley Housing Authority Board, where I am currently serving, and I am doing so unopposed. My commitment to fair, stable, and dignified housing has never wavered, and my mission remains exactly the same as when I first began this work: to serve our community with integrity, care, and persistence.

At this time, I am intentionally stepping back from the intensity of full-scale campaigning. This pause allows me to refocus my energy where it is most needed—continuing my work on the many committees I am deeply involved with, and spending meaningful time with my grandson, which is both a joy and a grounding priority in my life.

This is not a step away from service, but a shift toward balance and sustainability. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you through our shared community-centered projects and initiatives. There is still much important work to be done, and I welcome my supporters to stay engaged, collaborate, and join me in these efforts that strengthen our neighborhoods and uplift our residents.

Thank you again for your unwavering support, your confidence in my leadership, and your continued partnership. I am grateful, I remain committed, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together.

If you would like to support my continued service on the WHA Board, I kindly ask that you sign my nomination sheet when you see me around town. I wish you all a wonderful, well-rested holiday season and a safe, peaceful, and healthy New Year.

With appreciation and resolve,

Odessa Sanchez
Wellesley Housing Authority Board Member
Town Meeting Member – Precinct E
Wellesley Historical Commission Alternate
Rio Task Force Member
DEI Task Force Member
Metro West Comm. on Status of Women- Chair
League of Women Voters Wellesley – Nom.Chair
Wellesley Historical Plaque Sub Committee

To the editor:

The Wellesley Food Pantry would like to thank the Wellesley community for its immediate, unsolicited, and generous support of the Pantry during the SNAP benefits delay.

Because of your generosity—in both spirit and donations—we were able to keep our shelves stocked and provide additional grocery gift cards to clients during a very uncertain and anxiety-inducing time. It takes a village, and this one came through. Thank you.

Keri Boyle
Wellesley Food Pantry Communications

Dear Editor,

For those who have been invested in the Morses Pond (MoPo) bathhouse replacement project since 2018, you know it’s been a long journey despite overwhelming popularity for the project. For those just tuning in, it may seem confusing why some want to suddenly change fundamental aspects of the plan after seven years of consensus. As a resident who has watched just about every public meeting on the topic, I am strongly encouraging our boards, especially the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), to respect the collective wisdom of the community and once and for all move forward with the vision for the site.

Beginning in 2018 and over the course of several years, we were led through a community-centered process which confirmed an overwhelming consensus for a plan to relocate the building to the south. It proves to be the best way to maximize the accessibility of the building while optimizing the natural character and open space capacity of the overall site. The only reason the existing 90-year old building sits on the north of the beach today is a relic of a time when the beach was on the other side of the building. The proposed south site was shown twice to Town Meeting, and both times it voted over 96% in favor of advancing such a plan. No one raised a concern with the proposal to relocate the building.

In 2024, the NRC took primary control of the project as the board who controls the land at Morses Pond. Town Meeting had recently approved funding for the design of the building on the south, but the NRC paused its progression, not to reopen questions about the location, but to resolve specific environmental and permitting questions that they felt had not been adequately addressed in the prior studies.

A prior feasibility study by Town consultants had already confirmed the south site as feasible, and as recently as November 2023, the Town’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) sitting with the consultants presented the project to our Permanent Building Committee as ready for the design phase. However, FMD later advised NRC that it had reversed that judgment, claiming that the environmental questions raised by the NRC would require further review before design should commence. This led to yet another consultant-led study, whose core purpose was to evaluate the south plan’s viability in light of the NRC’s environmental and permitting questions. Assurances were given to the public and Rec Commission that the point of this study was to get technical site and permitting data and confirm the environmental feasibility, not to reopen the location question unless the environmental data revealed some major obstacle. The results are in, and with some modifications the south site is environmentally feasible and can adequately meet the NRC’s environmental and permitting criteria. No disqualifying surprises were found. And in the process we got good news that we can reduce the scale of the building by 30% but still achieve our core objectives. This will also help in driving down the projected cost of the project.

The plan for the south location reflects a commitment to critical long-term benefits that go far beyond the basic utility of the building. For instance, improving accessibility and inclusion has been a priority criteria from the outset in 2018, and the south location is immediately adjacent to the ADA parking, making the site significantly more welcoming for the mobility impaired. Furthermore, relocating the building south is the only way to reclaim over 4,000 square feet of invaluable open space directly on the waterfront, which significantly increases passive recreation capacity at the site. Environmentally, the south site is outside the flood zone, a key consideration since updated flood maps show the north location completely inside it. This plan also demonstrates environmental sensitivity by moving the building further away from the waterfront buffer and reducing impervious surface. Finally, the south location provides superior operational benefits, offering better sight lines for beach supervision and faster emergency access via the adjacent vehicle turnaround.

In any large-scale town project, reasonable people can disagree on a project like this. That is precisely why we relied on an extensive public process from 2018 to 2024 to build consensus and resolve competing views. Now is not the time for the NRC to effectively veto the community’s consensus vision when the data it said it needed proves that vision is viable. Let’s not engage in such a drastic change; let’s trust our process and finally move this project forward for the benefit of future generations.

Sincerely,

Joe Schott
Wellesley resident

To the editor:

On behalf of the Charles River Center, I’d like to thank the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club for a $3,500 grant that will help to underwrite a popular program we offer to ease the stress of flying for children with autism.

The grant will offset expenses Charles River incurs for our Wings for Autism® program, which is offered free of charge to participating children and their families. Held twice yearly at Logan Airport and annually at Worcester Regional Airport, Wings simulates the experience of navigating an airport, going through security, and boarding a plane. We offer the program in conjunction with Massport, TSA, and our airline partners. Charles River has hosted more than 11,000 children and family members at Wings events since we launched Wings for Autism® in 2011.

The generosity of the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club will help with the costs of a typical Wings for Autism® event. This valuable program opens the world of travel to families so they can create lifelong memories with their children. As a non-for-profit human service agency, we’re deeply grateful for the financial support of the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club.

Hilary Ryan
Vice President of Development, Charles River Center
Needham

To the editor:

In June of this year an assassination attempt targeted four people in Minnesota.  The Speaker of the Minnesota House, as well as her husband were murdered in their beds. The same perpetrator also attempted to murder another Minnesota House representative, and his wife. The murders, and attempted murders reflected the most heinous and dangerous behavior that can occur in a democracy: killing elected officials to deny the electorate their democratically chosen representation.

While the assassination attempts were both dangerous to our democracy, and frightening to all citizens fearing gun violence, the story garnered remarkably little news coverage. Coverage diminished quickly, and in two days the story had mostly vanished.  Despite the bloody and lawless attempt to disrupt the democratic institutions of Minnesota.

Now, in wake of the Charlie Kirk slaying, it is hard not to notice the radically different levels of coverage, not to mention administration threats against those offering any opinion, or even facts, to provide context on who Charlie Kirk was, and what he said. I didn’t know who he was… he wasn’t an elected official.

There were no threats to fire or suspend people reporting the Minnesota assassinations because the officials who were shot had spotless records of public service. I will offer no opinions on Charlie Kirk, but it is undoubtedly true that many found his statements divisive and, for some, offensive. Yet Kirk has been glorified, which is fine. Obviously a subjective subject. But the coverage of two elected officials being shot, with their spouses in the same day, went virtually uncovered by comparison. It’s impossible not to recognize that coverage of the two events is radically different, and we must ask why if we value our democracy.

A free press is of critical importance to our society. The fact that political violence only now seems to be an issue for some is a serious warning that our free press is melting away, as is respect for 1st Amendment rights. All political violence is evil and should be condemned. Not just the violence that impacts one side of the political spectrum. My condolences to the Hortman and Hoffman families, who continue to struggle with the nightmare of politically motived gun violence.

Robert Soderholm
Wellesley

To the editor:

Wellesley Raider Cheer is proud to be a 2025 grant recipient from the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club. This generous support helps ensure every cheerleader is equipped with the resources they need to succeed—on and off the field. WHJWC has been a supporter of Raider Cheer since its founding in 2015, and their continued commitment to empowering youth and building community spirit is deeply appreciated.

We thank the WHJWC for supporting the most visible athletes in town! We appreciate the support to keep the cheer squads outfitted with competitive tools to help them look and perform at their best.

As a team we look forward to giving back by volunteering at this year’s Wellesley Marketplace and celebrating the impactful work WHJWC does across our community.

Odessa Sanchez
Wellesley resident
Head Coach—Wellesley Cheer