• Sign up for free email newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Donate to support our work
  • Events calendar
  • About Us
Boston Medical Center, Wellesley
 
Pinnacle, Douglas Elliman, Wellesley
 
Wellesley Hills Dental

The Swellesley Report

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

  • Restaurants, sponsored by black & blue
  • Camps, sponsored by NEOC
  • Wellesley Square
  • Private Schools, sponsored by Prepped and Polished
  • Public Schools, sponsored by Sexton
  • Preschools, sponsored by Longfellow, Wellesley
  • School news
  • Kid stuff
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Business news
  • Worship
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Live gov’t meetings
  • Sports schedules & results
  • Deland, Gibson’s Athlete of the Week
  • Deaths
  • Housing
  • Medical providers—sponsored by FIXT Dental
  • Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
 

Top Stories

Temple Beth Elohim launches theatre company
Schofield Elementary principal named
Town gov't meetings this week

Advertisements

Needham bank ad
FIXT
Down Under, Wellesley

What drought? Wellesley rescinds outdoor watering restrictions

April 16, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The drought status for the southeast region of the state that includes Wellesley has been decreased from a Level 2 “significant drought” designation by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to normal conditions. As a result, Wellesley’s Board of Public Works has rescinded one-day per week outdoor watering restrictions that had been in effect since February.

“I’m surprised, I did not see that coming,” Department of Public Works Director Dave Cohen said during the Board of Public Works meeting on April 13.  “I thought that perhaps we would get to a Level 1 [mild drought] but they brought us all the way back to a Level 0.”

drought status

Despite the improved drought status, the Wellesley Water Department still discourages business and property owners from going wild with their water, both for conservation purposes as well as for lawn health. They’re recommending a voluntary conservation program of two outdoor watering days per week, and to irrigate before 9 am and after 5 pm to reduce water loss from evaporation.

You can track your water use via the Water Customer Portal. 

Contact the DPW Water & Sewer Division with questions at (781) 235-7600 extension 3355.


Expand your reach by advertising on Swellesley.

Filed Under: Government, Weather

     

Advertisements

black & blue, Wellesley
Olive Tree Medical, Wellesley
taste of wellesley gif

Public service announcement—Are you or someone you know having trouble heating your home?

March 18, 2026 by admin

Mass.govIn the final weeks of the winter season, Massachusetts residents are finding it increasingly more difficult to heat their homes, as a colder-than-average season continues and fuel costs rise due to global turmoil.

But there is still time to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a critical resource that helps eligible households pay for winter heating costs.

The free statewide program assists eligible residents with covering heating costs, providing supplemental funding that allows eligible renters and homeowners to keep their homes safe and warm.

Bay Staters can learn more about eligibility and apply for HEAP by visiting mass.gov/heat.

Filed Under: Health, Weather

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Winter weather

Blizzard in Wellesley by the numbers

February 24, 2026 by Bob Brown

blizzard
Photo courtesy of Hans Fischmann

 
We asked Wellesley’s Department of Public Works to share some numbers from this week’s blizzard. Jeff Azano-Brown, assistant director of the DPW, followed up:

Snowfall Accumulation: 14 inches

Peak snowfall rate (inches/hour):  3”/hr

Peak wind: 45 MPH

Duration of storm: 18 hours

Duration of response: 26 hours initially; continuing on sidewalks/lots all week

Salt used: 244 tons

Emergency issues: 1 pole down from accident

Tree-related issues: 2 trees down

Resident John Maccini had a front row seat to watch the town impressively restore power in his neighborhood within a few hours after a plow truck crashed into a utility pole and snapped it on Monday during the blizzard.

blizzard truck pole
Photo courtesy of John Maccini

 


More: Won’t you adopt an adorable Wellesley hydrant?

 


Looking out at the blizzard (photo courtesy of Jill Fischmann)
Looking out at the blizzard (photo courtesy of Jill Fischmann)

Filed Under: Weather

Advertisements

Longfellow, Wellesley
Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2026
Weather

Wellesley Public Schools closed again on Tuesday due to snowstorm; Town Hall to re-open

February 23, 2026 by admin

Wellesley Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 24 as a result of the winter storm. It was closed on Feb. 23 as well (along with just about everything else).

“The winter storm that arrived last night will continue to affect our area into this evening,” Supt. David Lussier wrote to the community. “After consulting with our Department of Public Works and other Town leaders, I don’t believe we can safely open schools tomorrow, as we all continue to dig out from the storm.  As such, the Wellesley Public Schools will remain closed for classes and all operations on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. All WPS buildings will be closed throughout the day and all afternoon and evening activities are also canceled…”

Town Hall will reopen for regular hours. Residents are asked to hold off on heading to the Recycling & Disposal Facility if possible to allow staff to handle other duties.

The Wellesley Free Library Main Branch will open two hours late at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and will close at 9:00 p.m. Other branches will be closed, as will the Tolles Parsons Center

Filed Under: Education, Weather

Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour

Blizzard taking its toll on Wellesley

February 23, 2026 by Bob Brown

This week’s blizzard has Wellesley Public Safety departments working non-stop, with the police sharing updates on social media about visibility, downed trees, and power outages.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wellesley Police Department (@wellesleypolice)

Meanwhile, at Wellesley College, student Iris Zhan has shared with us photos from inside dorm windows.

Feel free to share some of our own:  theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

blizzard at Wellesley College
Photos by Iris Zhan

blizzard at Wellesley College

blizzard at Wellesley College

blizzard at Wellesley College

Filed Under: Weather

Rotary Club, Taste of Wellesley
Weather

Wellesley Public Schools, Town Hall closed Monday due to expected winter storm

February 22, 2026 by admin

Wellesley Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 23, due to the expected winter storm. So February vacation week lasts a little bit longer.

All afternoon and evening activities are off as well.

Wellesley Town Hall and all non-emergency municipal buildings will be closed all day on Feb. 23. This includes the Recycling and Disposal Facility, Tolles Parsons Center/Council on Aging, the Warren Health & Recreation Building, and Wellesley Free Library. All afternoon and evening activities are also canceled.

Town staff will be working remotely where feasible.

Assorted local businesses have been announcing plans to close for the day as well.


Sign up for Swellesley’s free weekday email newsletter

Filed Under: Education, Weather

Weather

Frosty Wellesley photos

January 29, 2026 by Bob Brown

Just a smattering of snowy Wellesley photos… and good to see those Patriots flags flying.

Wellesley snowstorm tree at post officePost office snow winter wellesley squareWellesley snowstorm

Patriots flag snowstorm winterPatriots flag snowstorm winter


More: The making of a Wellesley igloo


See something? Send something: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Weather

The making of a Wellesley igloo

January 27, 2026 by admin

This weekend’s snowstorm might have made it hard to get in and out of some Wellesley homes, but it also helped one family make an igloo.

Igloo from big snowstorm
Photos courtesy of Kristin Der

 
Igloo from big snowstorm

Igloo from big snowstorm

Igloo from big snowstorm

Igloo from big snowstorm

Igloo from big snowstorm


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

Filed Under: Weather

Next Page »

Tip us off…

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

Please support your local online news source with a tax-deductible donation by scanning the QR code
or by clicking on it.

QR Code

Advertisements

Wellesley Square Merchants
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Fay School, Southborough
Sexton test prep, Wellesley
Feldman Law
Wellesley Theatre Project
Prepped and Polished Boston Tutoring and Test Prep
Perdocere, Wellesley
Center for Life Transition
Natural Resources Commission, Wetlands, Wellesley
Admit Fit, Wellesley
Human Powered Health, Wellesley
charles river chamber
entering-swellesley-1
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Subscribe to our free weekday email newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Swellesley on Google News Showcase

The Swellesley Report has been selected to be highlighted on Google News Showcase. Please follow us there.

Most Read Posts

  • Great spring running events in Wellesley (and beyond)
  • What drought? Wellesley rescinds outdoor watering restrictions
  • Wellesley Athlete of the Week: Boys' volleyball's Paxton Lee
  • Today, April 9, is Local News Day in Wellesley & beyond
  • Wellesley Select Board to call for Special Town Meeting that will address MassBay land's future

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Recent Comments

  • Michael R Cave on Wellesley kicks off Affordable Housing Trust 5-year action plan process
  • Herb Gliick on Wellesley kicks off Affordable Housing Trust 5-year action plan process
  • Mary Crowley on Reflecting on the Wellesley Inn’s demolition 20 years ago
  • Jodie Zinna on Reflecting on the Wellesley Inn’s demolition 20 years ago
  • Fred Wright on Reflecting on the Wellesley Inn’s demolition 20 years ago

Calendar

Upcoming Wellesley events

Upcoming Events

Apr 16
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Wellesley Select Board office hours with Tom Ulfelder

Apr 16
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Opening night: The Babson Players Present  Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella 

Apr 16
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Wellesley Theatre Project presents “Come from Away”

Apr 17
8:45 am - 9:45 am

Walk with a Doc, sponsored by Olive Tree Medical

Apr 17
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Wellesley Theatre Project presents: “Come From Away”

View Calendar

Links we like

  • Danny's Place
  • Great Runs
  • Tech-Tamer
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Wellesley in Bloom starts May 2!

Wellesley in Bloom starts May 2!

© 2026 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login