When Gerry Dunleavy was growing up near the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland, he probably never thought he’d be a successful builder in America. But he came to Winchester in 1978 because his job for an electrical engineering company transferred him to the U.S. for work. While visiting
When Maaike Biemans was 4 years old, she had open heart surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. Now she’s giving back with entertainment bags for young patients. The Brookside Avenue resident is a Northeastern University student and for her senior project, she’s creating these bags for the hospital’
Every Sunday, six or seven Winchester High School students conduct English language classes at Vinson-Owen Elementary School. They call their program, “Teaching English to Elderly Immigrants.” Amberwood Drive resident Nicole Han started the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Social isolation was a big problem then,” says Han. “There was no
If you’ve ever had a pen pal, you know how much fun it can be, and Karen Fullerton is helping Winchester seniors get them. They’re McCall students, and Fullerton’s project is called Letters Trellis. “We’ve got 15 pairs,” Fullerton says. “These letters feed the spirit and
This past holiday season, downtown trees were covered in lights and many residents might have thought the town pays for them. But in fact, Squire Road resident Lucille Murray raised funds and bought them in 2004 to cheer up Winchester’s children. “My 10-year-old daughter Marie Camille died from cystic
Cupcakes for fire victims? Yes! Doing it as a fundraiser? Yes! That’s right, Winchester High School junior Alanna Lee is making Valentine’s Day cupcakes and donating the money to the World Central Kitchen to help those dealing with the effects of the California wildfires. Lee has been baking
Emi Kazak loves animals and she loves baking. She also loves combining both those loves into a way to help charities. In December, she made pies and fancy cookies to sell on Facebook and Instagram to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston and made over $300. Last
If you’ve ever been a patient or visitor at Winchester Hospital, you’ve probably run into a Winton Club volunteer. They staff the gift shop and give every newborn a book. Meg Pickelhaupt helps the club raise money, which they use to run A Caring Place at 620 Washington
Perhaps the most senior and most experienced helper in Winchester is Jenks volunteer Marge Labedz. She’s been helping out since 1978 when the Jenks Center opened, and has stayed through 10 directors’ terms. The Olive Street resident is almost 99, sharp as a tack and very active. “I walk
Pilgrim Drive resident Lulu Tian is building a library in a Ugandan refugee camp. The Winchester High School graduate got involved when she was an MIT undergraduate. She went to Uganda as part of an MIT project, MIT-D lab, and saw for herself how hungry residents are for books — and
Berkshire Drive resident Barry Star was delighted when his daughter wanted to visit him in his office back in 2019. “I thought she just wanted to see me, but it was so she could steal stuff from my company’s supply closet for things she could use in her Newton
The following was submitted by Winchester Hospital: The staff at Winchester Hospital gathered and donated Thanksgiving dinner for families in the area in coordination with the Woburn Council of Social Concern. They are brightening the holidays for 51 families in the community with the baskets and an additional $1,030
Does it seem like Unite with Light has been happening in Winchester for a long time? Well, it’s only been few years and this might be the last year — unless other kids take it on. Winchester High School senior Mairin Norton started it with her brother, Colin, after they
Bobby Atchinson is a bibliophile for sure. At the age of 8, he was wondering what to do with them all. “I wanted to donate them, but then I decided to help kids who don’t have homes,” he says. And on Nov. 9, he set up shop outside Book
Some folks love to run and among them are those who love marathons, but how many of them want to run a marathon in Antarctica? Washington Street resident Georgia McGaughey has done it and she’s determined to run one on every continent. “I love to run,” she says, “and
Wei Han somehow fits his many volunteer positions in with his full-time job in database management. The Amberwood Drive resident was the first Chinese immigrant to be elected to Town Meeting in 2012. “When I learned about Town Meeting,” he says, “and that the town is run entirely by volunteers,
