🌱 Patch AM: What surprising numbers are buried in Wellesley’s 400-page FY25 report?

Hi Wellesley! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What surprising numbers are buried in Wellesley’s 400-page FY25 report?
• How new Guernsey Sanctuary boardwalks will change your favorite muddy trails
• How a Wellesley club is changing the stakes in youth sports

Also on today's calendar: 2026 Discover Boating New England Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Breezy and not as cold, with a high of 33 and low of 26 degrees.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 30, low: 10. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Sun mixing with clouds; cold, with a high of 25 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Wellesley FY25 Town Annual Report: Fun & not so fun facts (theswellesleyreport.com) — Wellesley’s newly released FY25 Annual Town Report lays out how town government operated from July 2024 through June 2025, from department highlights to employee salaries and major vendors. Residents can see everything from zero foreclosure deeds filed to rising field usage, livestock permits, and big-ticket consulting work on projects like Morses Pond. It’s a dense but revealing snapshot of how local tax dollars were spent.
   

2. New boardwalk at Guernsey Sanctuary in Wellesley under (snow)cover for now (theswellesleyreport.com) — New boardwalks are being installed along over 300 feet of Guernsey Sanctuary’s muddiest trails, improving access while protecting sensitive wetlands on the Wellesley-Needham border. The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust’s nearly finished structures are currently hidden under fresh snow, with a more formal unveiling expected later this year. Residents can even “adopt a board” and be recognized with a plaque.
   

3. Club sports are reshaping youth athletics—at what cost? (wcvb.com) — A major youth basketball club based in Wellesley, Middlesex Magic, is spotlighted as an example of how club sports are transforming youth athletics, from year-round training to college recruiting. The piece explores big benefits like scholarships alongside steep financial and time costs for families, and raises questions about whether elite club play is becoming a necessity for aspiring college athletes.
   

4. Holiday Cheer At Mass General Brigham NICU With Festive Baby Photo Sessions (949whom.com) — Families with babies in the Newton-Wellesley Hospital NICU joined those at Mass General and Brigham and Women’s in celebrating first holidays with carefully staged, festive photo sessions. Nurses dressed infants in tiny seasonal outfits and set up safe, cozy backdrops to bring some normalcy and joy to an otherwise stressful time. The images highlight both the cuteness and the deep emotional support NICU teams provide.
   

📸 Around Wellesley

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Wellesley

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 1

• Library Closed
  Wellesley Free Library , 530 Washington St , Wellesley

Friday January 2

• LEGO Winter Village Leaves
  Main Library

Saturday January 3

• Baby Storytime
  Tootsie-Roll Storytime Room , Main Library , Wellesley
  9:30 am
• Big Blue Blocks
  Tootsie-Roll Storytime Room , Main Library , Wellesley
  11:30 am

Sunday January 4

• Fiber Craft Club : 4th - 8th
  Wakelin Room , Main Library , Wellesley
  3:15 pm

Monday January 5

• Sprouts Storybook Theater
  Church of Our Saviour , 25 Monmouth St , Brookline
  3:00 pm
• Horsin' Around Improv
  Church of Our Saviour , 25 Monmouth St , Brookline
  4:45 pm
• Stitch Club
  Commons , Main Library , Wellesley
  5:00 pm

Wednesday January 7

• 2026 Discover Boating New England Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive
  415 Summer St , Boston
  12:00 pm

Friday January 9

• 2026 New England Stamp Expo (Friday and Saturday Jan 9-10)
  The Verve Hotel Boston Natick, Tapestry Collection by Hilton , 1360 Worcester St , Natick
  9:00 am

📣 Wellesley Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• Noon Year's Eve
  Wayland Free Public Library , 5 Concord Rd. , Wayland
  11:00 am
• Library Closes Early
  Children's Room Wayland Free Public Library , 5 Concord Rd. , Wayland
  3:00 pm
• New Year's Eve on the CRT
  Natick, MA Calendar , Cochituate Rail Trail (from Mechanic Street to Chrysler Road) , Natick
  4:30 pm
• Ringing in the New Year
  Hearth Pizzeria , 974 Great Plain Ave , Needham
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Wellesley PatchAM possible:

• Kumon Math and Reading, Natick — (508) 433-6655
  Stronger skills in Math and Reading, one step at a time!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Dependable Cleaners — (617) 471-1900
  Discover the Dependable Difference!
• Dogtopia of Dedham — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Sweetgreen, Inc. posted a job opening for Wellesley - Sweetgreen Team Member in Wellesley. Apply here.
• SAS Retail Services posted a job opening for Retail Merchandiser in Wellesley. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wellesley here.

Ok Wellesley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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