Blizzard prompts school, town closures and parking ban in Winchester
Regional forecasters predict up to two feet of accumulation and wind gusts approaching 70 mph, with the most dangerous travel conditions expected late Sunday night through Monday.
Will Dowd | Staff Writer
Blizzard warning for Winchester as heavy snow and fierce winds converge
Forecasters predict up to two feet of accumulation and wind gusts near 60 mph, a combination likely to produce whiteout conditions and scattered power outages across Middlesex County.
Michelle Bergstrom steps away from Winchester School Committee to focus on full-time teaching
Michelle Bergstrom, a nine-year member of the Winchester School Committee, announced she will not seek re-election, citing her return to full-time elementary classroom teaching as the reason for stepping down. “At my core, I am an educator. I have returned full time to the elementary classroom, a
A first test for CPA: What Winchester learned from its pilot funding round
The Winchester Committee on Community Preservation approved $1,036,000 across nine projects in the town’s pilot funding round, a slate that fell well short of the $3.27 million requested but exceeded the committee’s original pilot target of $800,000. The recommendations, approved by Town Meeting in
Winchester Select Board settles on $11.5M override after marathon negotiation
Winchester Select Board members reached consensus Feb. 12 on an $11.5 million Proposition 2½ override after nearly three hours of tense negotiation, splitting the ask between $9 million for operations and $2.5 million for capital projects. The override would increase the average single-family tax bill by approximately
Winchester Select Board forms working group to draft human rights commission bylaw
The Winchester Select Board voted to create a working group charged with drafting a bylaw to establish a Human Rights Commission for the town, with the goal of bringing a warrant article to the 2026 Spring Town Meeting. The board approved the working group during its meeting the week of
Winchester Special Town Meeting sharpens override debate as Select Board weighs final price tag
Debate revealed split over dollar range, duration horizon, affordability pressures shown rising human services requests, housing cost burdens.
2026 Town Election Guide now live, designed as ongoing civic information hub
The 2026 Town Election Guide is now live, offering Winchester residents a comprehensive, nonpartisan resource ahead of this year’s annual town election. Produced as a collaboration between the League of Women Voters of Winchester and Winchester News, the digital guide is intended to serve not as a one-time
Incumbents, newcomers appear on certified list after nomination deadline
Several incumbents and first-time candidates appear on the Town Clerk’s posted list of certified nomination papers for the 2026 Winchester town election following the Jan. 30 filing deadline, according to a document displayed at Town Hall. The list reflects nomination papers that were pulled, returned and later certified,
Winchester town manager’s contract sets $230,000 salary, ties renewal to performance review
Christopher Senior will earn $230,000 in his first year as Winchester’s town manager under a contract that ties a potential second year to a performance evaluation the Select Board must complete by September. The employment agreement, signed Jan. 9 by Senior and Select Board Chair Michelle Prior, covers
Select Board debates Winchester property tax override, members split on amount
The Select Board continued its deliberations on a Proposition 2½ vote on Jan. 26, but it left unresolved how large it should be and how long it should last — with members split between a cautious three-year plan and a more ambitious four-year approach. The discussion came with barely
Who has pulled nomination papers so far for 2026 Winchester town election?
Several candidates have pulled nomination papers for the Winchester annual town election on March 21, according to a list posted at Town Hall. Incumbents are listed for all offices on the ballot, whether or not they have pulled papers to date. For town moderator, incumbent Philip Frattaroli has pulled papers
Winchester orders vehicles off streets by 3 p.m. Sunday, no school Monday
Forecasters project totals reaching 12 to 18 inches, with the worst conditions overnight and a difficult commute expected early Monday.
Rep. Christine Barber seeks Senate seat with progressive record, health policy expertise
Her legislative work includes drug cost caps for chronic illness, immigrant driver licensing and pay transparency measures passed with bipartisan support.
Winchester Select Board schedules Special Town Meeting on fiscal challenges
A Feb. 9 session will brief residents and representatives about a multiyear budget outlook, including reserve erosion, rising health insurance costs and potential property tax increases.
Christopher Senior sworn in as new Winchester town manager on first day
Christopher Senior took the oath of office Tuesday, Jan. 14, officially beginning his tenure as Winchester’s town manager after a months-long search for permanent leadership. The ceremony took place in the Select Board room at Town Hall, with all five select Board members present alongside Town Clerk MaryEllen