Wellesley Renews Warning Over Fake Permit Payment Emails

WELLESLEY — The Town of Wellesley issued a fresh warning this week about phishing emails targeting residents, property owners and contractors with fraudulent permit and licensing payment requests.

TOWN HALL

Town officials on July 16 renewed an alert about scammers impersonating local permitting and licensing offices via email, urging residents, property owners and contractors to be on guard against fraudulent payment requests. The News Flash advisory did not specify how many residents were targeted but asked anyone contacted by such emails to verify requests directly with Town Hall before paying anything.

SCHOOLS

Wellesley Public Schools remains in its summer stretch, with the district's "What's New" page pointing families to Summer Learning and Summer Reading resources ahead of the September 2 start of classes. The district also flagged that registration for the 2026-27 school year is open for new students entering grades K-12, with children turning five on or before August 31, 2026 eligible for kindergarten.

COMMUNITY & ARTS

The Wellesley Free Library has a busy stretch of programming this week. Friday Flowers, an adult program, runs today, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arnold Room at the Main Library, alongside a Sing Along with Matt Heaton for kids at 10:30 a.m. Looking ahead, Crepe Paper Flowers is set for Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and the library will close entirely on Sunday, July 19, as part of its "Summer Sundays" schedule that runs through September 13. Residents should also note the Main Library will close early, at 5 p.m., on July 21 because of parking lot construction, during which the lot and book drop will be inaccessible.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"Overnight Tree Work on Washington Street" was flagged in local coverage; the item concerns diseased tree pits in Wellesley Square requiring removal, a story the town's News Flash also covered this week (read it at https://wellesleyma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2895).

"🌱 Patch AM: What Wellesley's new planning director plans to tackle first" previewed the incoming planning director's early priorities for the town, according to Wellesley Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley).

"🌱 Patch AM: How could new state surplus-land rules reshape MassBay's Oakland Street property?" examined how new state rules on surplus public land could affect the MassBay Community College site on Oakland Street, per Wellesley Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley).

"🌱 Patch AM: How could a new fire station reshape Wellesley's North 40 and gardens?" looked at potential impacts of a proposed fire station project on town land and gardens, according to Wellesley Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley).

"The state has a new housing tracker: Here are Wellesley's numbers" reported on a new Massachusetts tracker showing local progress toward the state's goal of 222,000 new homes by 2035, according to the Swellesley Report (read it at https://theswellesleyreport.com/2026/07/the-state-has-a-new-housing-tracker-here-are-wellesleys-numbers/).

"Serve on the Wetlands Protection Committee" noted the town's Natural Resources Commission is seeking volunteers for the panel, a callout also carried in the town's own News Flash feed (read it at https://wellesleyma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2894).

COMING UP

The Wellesley Free Library hosts Crepe Paper Flowers on Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Main Library. The library will be closed all day Sunday, July 19. Y.A.L.L. (Young Adult Leadership League) meets Monday, July 20, from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by Sci-Fi Book Club that evening from 7 to 8 p.m., both in the Green Room. A Lionel Messi Soccer Craft & Author Visit for kids is scheduled Monday, July 20, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Main Library closes early, at 5 p.m., on Tuesday, July 21, due to parking lot construction, and Trivia Night at Lockheart Restaurant runs that evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A "Get Better Sleep!" program is set for Wednesday, July 22, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Wakelin Room.