The Swellesley Report

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

How to vote early in Wellesley for the November 6 State Election (and get a flu shot while you’re at it)

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The Board of Selectmen have signed the warrant for the upcoming November 6, 2018 State Election. In an effort to encourage voter turn-out, Wellesley will be offering early voting at three locations in town for Wellesley registered voters.

Here are all the important dates, times, and places for voting early, getting a flu shot while you’re at it, and registering to vote.

Vote early at the Warren Recreation Building

Early voting will be offered at the Warren Recreation Building, 90 Washington St., from October 22, 2018 through November 2, 2018:

  • Monday through Friday from 8am – to 5pm
  • Special extended hours
  • Thursdays 5pm to 8pm
  • Saturday October 27, 8am to 2pmGet your flu shot at the Rec Building while you’re at it. The Wellesley Department of Health will release times soon.

    Vote early at the Elizabeth Seton Hall Residence

    Early Voting will also be offered at the Elizabeth Seton Residence at 125 Oakland Street on Sunday October 28, 2018 from 2pm – 4pm.

    Vote early at Waterstone

    Early Voting will also be offered at Waterstone at 27 Washington Street on Monday October 29, 2018 at 5pm to 8pm.

    View our Early Voting document for more information.

    Register to vote

    The last day to register to vote in the November 6th election is Wednesday October 17, 2018.  Register online or by mail.  To register to vote in person, stop by the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.  The Town Clerk’s office will have special hours on October 17 from 8am to 8pm to register to vote.

    Vote absentee

    Absentee ballots are available for registered voters who will be unable to vote Early or at the Polls due to:

    • absence from the Town of Wellesley during normal polling hours; or
    • physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
    • religious beliefs

      Your precinct

      How to find out which precinct you’re in

      Mass.gov has a nifty page where you can plug in your address and it will tell you not only where to vote, but who our Town Clerk is (that would be KC Kato), the names of our elected officials and district representatives and links to their pages that include their phone numbers, emails, and other information.

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Computer scientist speaking in Wellesley about election hacking

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The League of Women Voters of Wellesley has invited computer scientist Barbara Simons to speak at its opening meeting, where she will share thoughts in a speech called Election Security: Threats and Solutions. Simons is Board Chair of Verified Voting, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for legislation and regulation that promotes accuracy, transparency and verifiability of elections, and has co-authored the book Broken Ballots: Will Your Vote Count? She has a Ph.D in computer science from U.C. Berkeley.

This event is open to the public, and will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Wellesley Free Library’s Wakelin Room for light
refreshments, followed by the talk which will begin at 7 p.m.

More information can be found at https://my.lwv.org/massachusetts/wellesley.

League of Women Voters of Wellesley

Phone: (781) 235-1961
Email: [email protected]

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Longtime official Meghan Jop leaving Wellesley after many night meetings, many accomplishments & many memories

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Cites mentors, women leadership and projects such as Linden Square as highlights of her Wellesley career

 

Meghan Jop
Meghan Jop

Wellesley Assistant Executive Director Meghan Jop, who has spent the past 16 years working for the town, is leaving at the end of October for a new job as Deputy Town Manager in North Andover. We’ve appreciated all that Meghan’s done for the town and for all the help she’s given to us over the years with Swellesley. I shot her a handful of questions to answer before she heads off…

Where are you going, and why?

I am going to North Andover to be the Deputy Town Manager. North Andover is close to my home in Tewksbury. Working in North Andover will introduce me to a Town Manager form of government, eliminate my long commute and allow me more time with my family. My three sons are more active in extracurricular activities and sports and my husband can only be in one place at a time – although many a nights I am working he magically makes it to 2 or 3.

How long have you worked for the town, and can you run me through your jobs?

I started with the Town a little over 16 years ago as the Town Planner fresh out of graduate school. I saw Wellesley was hiring, and put in. The rest is history. I was in Planning for 11 years in total and have been a planner,  Assistant Planning Director, Planning Director (4 years), and then moved upstairs to the Deputy Executive Director of General Gov’t Services. The title was changed 2 years ago to Assistant Executive Director – but have been in the Selectmen’s office for just over 5 years.

What’s something about working at Town Hall that most residents would be surprised by?

I don’t think people would be surprised, but the people working for the Town are, simply put, amazing. We have staff that are leaders in their fields. The expertise that resides in Town Hall, DPW, Schools, Library, MLP, Facilities, Police and Fire is exceptional. I have learned something new every single day for the past 16 years from the people that work here. I have also truly been fortunate to work with exceptional elected and appointed officials and have enjoyed meeting many residents. One thing also worth noting is many communities do not have the type of woman leadership found in Wellesley. The women I have worked with over the years, particularly in Planning and the Board of Selectmen, have had a tremendous impact on me and all have taken time to answer any question I have had on work, life, politics, career ambitions, or balancing family.

I have learned something new every single day for the past 16 years from the people that work here.

Aside from dealing with us, what’s been the highlight?

I am proud of so many projects. I am proud of my role in the Linden Square Development, which was a huge project for the Town and really reshaped Linden Street. I am also proud of 900 Worcester Street, which was a 12-year project of planning studies and committees before becoming a realization. Work on acquiring the North 40 was great as well. That was [Read more…]

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How to vote early in Wellesley for the Nov. 6 State Election (& get a flu shot while you’re at it)

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Vote, WellesleyThe Wellesley Board of Selectmen has signed the warrant for the Nov. 6 State Election. In an effort to encourage voter turn-out, town will offer early voting at three locations for Wellesley registered voters.

Here are all the important dates, times, and places for voting early and getting that flu shot. First things first, though…

Register to vote by October 17

The last day to register to vote in the November 6th election is Wednesday October 17, 2018.  Register online or by mail.  To register to vote in person, stop by the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.  The Town Clerk’s office will have special hours on October 17 from 8am to 8pm to register to vote.

Vote early at the Warren Recreation Building

Early voting will be offered at the Warren Recreation Building, 90 Washington St., from October 22, 2018 through November 2, 2018:

Monday through Friday from 8am – to 5pm

Special extended hours:
Thursdays 5pm to 8pm
Saturday October 27, 8am to 2pm

Get your flu shot at the Rec Building while you’re at it. The Wellesley Department of Health will release times soon.

Vote early at the Elizabeth Seton Residence

Early voting will also be offered at the Elizabeth Seton Residence at 125 Oakland St. on Sunday, October 28, 2pm – 4pm.

Vote early at Waterstone

Early Voting will also be offered at Waterstone at 27 Washington Street on Monday October 29, 2018 at 5pm to 8pm.

View this Early Voting document for more information.

Vote absentee

Absentee ballots are available for registered voters who will be unable to vote Early or at the Polls due to: absence from the Town of Wellesley during normal polling hours; or physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or religious beliefs.

Vote on the official voting day of November 6

November 6, 2018 is the voting date for the State Election. Polling places will open at 7am – 8pm. Voters actually in line at 8pm will be allowed to vote.

Your precinct

Precinct A: Bates School- Cafeteria, 116 Elmwood Road
Precinct B: Sprague School- Gym, 401 School Street
Precinct C: Upham School- Gym, 35 Wynnewood Road
Precinct D: Schofield School- Gym, 27 Cedar Street
Precinct E: Fiske School- Gym, 45 Hastings Street
Precinct F: Dana Hall School, Shipley Center, 142 Grove Street
Precinct G: Wellesley Free Library- Wakelin Room, 530 Washington Street (enter from rear parking lot)
Precinct H: Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St.

How to find out which precinct you’re in

Mass.gov has a nifty page where you can plug in your address and it will tell you not only where to vote, but who our Town Clerk is (that would be KC Kato), the names of our elected officials and district representatives and links to their pages that include their phone numbers, emails, and other information

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Former Wellesley College President Barbara Newell to Discuss Founding of Wellesley Centers for Women

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Lulu Wang Center, WellesleyFrom the Wellesley Centers for Women:

The Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College will kick off its biannual Lunchtime Seminar Series on Thursday, September 27, with, “WCW in Retrospect: A Conversation with Barbara Newell, Wellesley College President (1972-1980).” The program will run from 12:30 to 1:30pm in room 413 of the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center at Wellesley College.

Barbara Newell, Ph.D., served as president of Wellesley College from 1972-1980. An economist and ardent advocate for women’s education and economic equity, she founded the Center for Research on Women in Higher Education and the Professions, which soon became known as the Center for Research on Women. In 1995, the Center for Research on Women and the Stone Center for Development Services and Studies at Wellesley College merged to form the Wellesley Centers for Women.

The Lunchtime Seminar Series is free and open to the public. Guests are invited to bring their lunches, and the Centers will provide tea and coffee. For accessibility questions, contact Disability Services at Wellesley College at [email protected]edu or call 781.283.2434. The Lunchtime Seminar Series schedule is subject to change. To confirm program lineup and location, call 781.283.2500 or visit wcwonline.org/calendar.

[Read more…]

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