Marathon Smooch, Fatal Crash, Nurse Strike: Top Wellesley News of 2015

WELLESLEY, MA — Wellesley in 2015 saw a marathon smooch that took on a life of its own, a tragic crash, and a nurse strike.

These and more were among the 10 most-viewed local stories on Wellesley Patch this year.

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Without further ado:

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10. Wellesley Tops Millionaires Report

Wellesley topped the list, with 75.3 millionaires per square mile and a 2011 income per capita of $138,036.

9. Wellesley Investment Adviser Charged With Stealing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars

The suspect allegedly took $175,000 from one investor to whom he pitched a lucrative investment in Alibaba’s IPO. He didn’t invest the money, said investigators, and instead kept $112,000 and gave $60,000 to another investor who had given him more than $450,000 and was demanding his money.

8. Wellesley Executive Embezzled $1M: Feds

A Wellesley resident and former controller of a technology company was arrested Wednesday and charged with embezzling $1 million. Andy Kim, 43, was charged with wire fraud.

7. Wellesley Football Star, Old School Pizza Owner Joe Perdoni Dies

Joe Perdoni, a Wellesley football star who came back home to open a popular pizza shop, died last week. Perdoni, 38, was married and had two children.

6. Wellesley Student Dies at Field Hockey Practice

A Wellesley student has died after collapsing at field hockey practice. Casey Dunne was 16 years old. She attended the Noble and Greenough High School in Dedham.

5. Wellesley, Needham to Play Thanksgiving Football Game at Fenway

The oldest high school football rivalry in America is coming to the nation’s most beloved ballpark. The Needham Rockets and Wellesley Raiders have been selected to play their annual Thanksgiving Day game at Fenway Park.

4. Newton-Wellesley Nurses Vote to Strike

The registered nurses of Newton Wellesley Hospital, who are negotiating a new contract with Partners HealthCare, cast an overwhelming vote (90 percent voting in favor) Wednesday night to authorize a one-day strike to protest efforts by Partners to boost its multi-million dollar profit margin by cutting patients’ access to appropriate nursing care.

3. Box Truck Knocked Over Median in Wellesley Crash

A box truck was upended over a median during a crash on Route 128 in Wellesley Tuesday afternoon, causing nightmarish traffic delays.

2. Wellesley High Grad Killed in Crash

Connor Darcey, a Wellesley High School lacrosse star who went on to play for Penn State, was killed Friday in a crash in the North End section of Boston.

1. Mysterious Wellesley Man Sought in Marathon Smooch

The challenge stems from a storied Boston Marathon tradition where men steal a smooch from a Wellesley girl along the route. But the Tatges reversed the custom: Barbara had to kiss a Wellesley man. Tatge, a divorced Tennessee woman, accepted the dare and experienced a brief moment of lip-locked glee, but more than a week later, she finds that she wants more of the Wellesley guy who made her foot pop.