National Grid Work Closes Central Street Lanes Through August 21
WELLESLEY — Utility work closes lanes on Central Street and Route 135 in Wellesley Square through August 21, per the town's website, snarling weekday travel through the center of town as the week gets underway.
SCHOOLS
Wellesley Public Schools opens its PowerSchool Parent Portal on August 19, running through September 9, so families can confirm emergency contacts, directory information and other permissions ahead of the new school year, according to the district's website. Classes begin September 2. Registration for the 2026-27 school year also remains open for new students in kindergarten through grade 12; children turning five by August 31 are eligible for kindergarten.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Wellesley Free Library continues work on its Hills Branch renovation, posting construction updates for residents tracking the branch's transformation, according to the library. The Main Library also wraps up its summer reading season with an End of Summer Ice Cream Party on August 22, from 1 to 3:30 pm, part of a packed slate of adult, teen and children's programming on the calendar this week.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"High School Track and Field Teams Room | Wellesley, MA": A new modular team room building for Wellesley High School's track and field program is scheduled for delivery the week of August 23, with work continuing on-site, according to a posting on the town's website (read it at https://wellesleyma.gov/2673/High-School-Track-and-Field-Teams-Room).
"Patch AM: Why Wellesley just ranked among America's most beautiful college towns": Wellesley Patch's morning newsletter pointed to a national ranking placing Wellesley among the country's most beautiful college towns, citing its Wellesley College campus, per Wellesley Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley).
COMING UP
Trivia Night at Lockheart Restaurant, Tuesday, August 18, 7 to 8:30 pm. Digital Sunset Photography With Your Smart Device, Wednesday, August 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Main Library. Painting in the Garden: Watercolor Sunset, Wednesday, August 19, 7 to 8:30 pm on the Main Library terrace. Mobile Movie Night featuring "Tron: Ares," Wednesday, August 19, 8 to 11 pm, off-site. Flower Arranging with Land's Sake Farm, Thursday, August 20, 11 am to 12:30 pm. Friday Morning Book Group, August 21, 10 to 11 am. Hills Book Chat, meeting at the Main Library, Saturday, August 22, 11 am to noon.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.