Wellesley Police warn of phone scammers impersonating cops

November 9, 2024 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Police Department has alerted the public of a phone scam in which a caller from the number 781-235-1212 informs residents that they missed jury duty and must pay a bunch of money.

“This is a SCAM!” wrote the police, using rather spammy ALL CAPITAL LETTERS and an exclamation point in a post on its Facebook page.

The scammers have spoofed the police business line and use officers’ names to make the calls seem more believable.

Those receiving such calls should just hang up, say the police, who have received several reports of the calls.

Please send tips, photos, ideas (but no SCAMS!) to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Obituary—Jon N. Bonsall, former President of Wellesley Little League

November 9, 2024 by admin Leave a Comment

Jon N. Bonsall (1948-2024), of Wellesley, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, attorney, and coach, died peacefully on October 26, 2024.

Cherished husband of 51 years to Kathleen M. Bonsall (Martineau) and loving father and father-in-law to Matthew and Megan Bonsall, Daniel Bonsall and Michelle Smith, and Katherine (Bonsall) and Daniel Hakansson.

Please read the entire remembrance here.

Veterans Day ceremony in Wellesley & what’s open and closed

November 9, 2024 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The community is invited to attend a ceremony honoring all veterans on Monday, Nov. 11, 11am, in front of the War Memorial at Wellesley Town Hall on Washington Street. Rain location is across the street at the Wellesley Free Library.

The Veterans Day ceremony will recognize retired military personnel, and includes guest speakers, the Wellesley Police and Fire Department honor guards, members of American Legion Post 72, and a special POW ceremony.

Please attend in supporting veterans and recognizing everyone in the community who is serving our country.

Veterans.Day.Wellesley — Veterans Day 2023, Wellesley. From left: Colonel Bill Sinnott (Marines veteran), Select Board member Beth Sullivan Woods, Sgt. Lorelei King (Army veteran); Sgt Royall Switzler (Army veteran); Navy veteran and Wellesley Middle School teacher Ken Johnson

What is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day is observed annually, and always on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The US Department of Veterans Affairs website says the day “is a time to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

What’s open and closed on Veterans Day

Most Wellesley municipal buildings and departments will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, November 12 for all town departments. Please check department webpages for specific times.

The Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF)

OPEN regular hours on Sunday, November 10 (1oam-3pm), and Tuesday, Nov. 12 (7am-noon)
CLOSED on Monday, November 11

Wellesley Free Library (main, Hills, and Fells)

The Main Library will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024 in observation of Veteran’s Day.
Main Library hours are Monday through Thursday 9am – 9pm
Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm

Hills Branch hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 8pm, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm

Fells Branch hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm

Wellesley arts roundup—theater performances, concerts, art reception, film screening

November 8, 2024 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or film this month. Here are just a few events happening soon.

Dana Hall Upper School fall play, “Radium Girls,” Nov. 8 & 9

The Dana Hall Upper School presents its fall play, “Radium Girls,” on Friday, Nov. 8, and Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30pm, in Bardwell Auditorium, 37 Cameron Street. Both performances are free and open to the public. The auditorium is not wheelchair accessible.

“Radium Girls” is D.W. Gregory’s gripping drama based on the true story of female laborers who were poisoned and killed by their factory’s radium-based paint. The play highlights Grace, Irene and Kathryn who paint dials in the U.S. Radium Plant and are instructed to finely point their brushes by molding the bristles with their mouths while painting. But soon many of the girls begin to notice disturbing health issues, and when one of their co-workers dies, her death is disregarded.

Wellesley Choral Society, fall opening concert, Nov. 17

The Wellesley Choral Society under the direction of Edward Whalen, with Hisako Hiratsuka as accompanist, has announced its 2023-2024 season opener.

PROGRAM: Vivaldi’s Virtuosic Venice
DATE: November 17
TIME: 2pm
LOCATION: St. Andrew’s Church, Wellesley

Selections from Vivaldi’s catalog of choral music, including his well-known “Gloria”

Film Screening and Community Conversation, Nov. 19

Join the MetroWest Nonprofit Network for a screening and discussion of the highly-acclaimed film: UnCharitable.

DATE: Nov. 19
TIME: 5:30pm-8:30pm
LOCATION: MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland St., Wellesley

DETAILS: The film, based on Dan Pallota’s influential book and powerful Ted Talk, challenges our conventional wisdom on giving and invites us to envision a new future for philanthropy. There are lessons to be learned & discussed for nonprofits of all sizes, community advocates, funders, and businesses alike. How can we better support the causes that are important to our communities and to us as individuals?

Flipping the switch on Wellesley’s big battery energy storage system

November 8, 2024 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley and visiting officials celebrated the cutover of the Municipal Light Plant’s new battery energy storage system (BESS) on Thursday, Nov. 7, by flipping the switch on the strategic setup.

In October, we previewed the launch of the BESS (“Wellesley MLP to celebrate giant battery storage system”).

Joe Kennedy & Marybeth Martello flip the switch to power up the BESS. — Joe Kennedy & Marybeth Martello flip the switch to power up the BESS (courtesy photo)

Wellesley has partnered with a non-profit outfit founded by Joseph P. Kennedy II called Citizens Energy Corp. (his son, Joe Kennedy II, now leads the outfit). Citizens is footing the upfront bill for the BESS and its operations. The setup includes a six-pack of lithium ion battery storage systems and complementary inverter containers. The gear is located on nearly 4 acres of MLP property on Municipal Way (off Rte. 9 west) adjacent to its main building.

BESS is a nearly 5 megawatt system designed to help reduce the town’s peak electricity usage—a calculation that the operator of New England’s electrical grid uses to determine its capacity charge to customers like the town of Wellesley. The idea is that Wellesley would rely on battery power during the hottest of hottest periods of summer to reduce its use of the grid during that time, and thus lessen the amount it will be charged by ISO New England.

The system is expected to save the MLP $8 million over 20 years, and that could pay off for customers.

From left to right: Ellen Korpi, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant board member; Chris Chan, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant Assistant Director; Ned Hall, Wellesley Municipal Light Plan board chair; Paul Criswell, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant board secretary; Joe Kennedy III, Citizens Energy president; and Marybeth Martello, Wellesley Sustainability Director. — From left to right: Ellen Korpi, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant board member; Chris Chan, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant Assistant Director; Ned Hall, Wellesley Municipal Light Plan board chair; Paul Criswell, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant board secretary; Joe Kennedy II, Citizens Energy president; and Marybeth Martello, Wellesley Sustainability Director.

WMLP staff with Joe Kennedy, second from right (Courtesy photo)

Friday is letters to the editor day on The Swellesley Report

November 8, 2024 by admin

The Swellesley Report accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be of general local community interest and must be signed. Community shout-outs are also accepted and encouraged. For example, a non-profit may thank an organization for a donation received.

In a letter this week, a resident and Marine Corps veteran comments on American flag placement in Wellesley.

Some previous letters to the editor

A parent says, “Let’s implement an evidence-based accelerated math policy for our WMS students.”

A writer offers up thoughts on the American flag.

You can see all letters to the editor here.

How to submit your letter to the editor

The deadline is Wednesday at noon for letters to appear that week, or a week further out. Send letters to the editor to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Submitting a letter to the editor does not guarantee that your letter will be posted on The Swellesley Report.

Letters must be written for The Swellesley Report only—we do not accept form-type letters sent to multiple news agencies.

Please review detailed guidelines for letters to the editor here.

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

[Read more…]

Help tend a town treasure with Wellesley Conservation Land Trust

November 8, 2024 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Pitch in with the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust (WCLT) to help out with an invasive plant removal project and light raking at Cronk’s Rocky Woodland on Sunday, Nov. 10, 11am-1pm, 10 Crown Ridge Road.

The WCLT is beginning a multi-phase restoration of plantings at Cronk’s to restore this beautiful neighborhood treasure. Phase 1 will be the removal of invasive plants on Sunday. Phase 2 marks the fun part—planting natural wildflowers and shrubs in Spring 2025.

Cronk's Rocky Woodland, Wellesley — Cronk’s Rocky Woodland cottage.

Reply to info@wellesleylandtrust.org with how many in your party (or just show up). Bring gloves and water bottle.

Hot cider and donuts at Cronk’s

Over 75 people gathered at Cronk’s Rocky Woodland in late October for cider and donuts, and to explore the woodland preserve during the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust’s annual community gathering.

The Hansel and Gretel cottage was open for visitors, and surprise guest Caspar Cronk, of “Cronk’s Rocky Woodland” fame, was coincidentally visiting Wellesley from his home in England and mingled with the crowd. Caspar’s mother, Gertrude Cronk, in 1977 donated this parcel next to their family home in memory of her husband, Corydon P. Cronk. Caspar told us how he helped build “the retreat” (cabin) in the 1940’s with his father using reclaimed items from the town’s dump.

Caspar Cronk, Wellesley — Caspar Cronk. Photo by Wellesley Conservation Land Trust

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