The popularity of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) is on the rise across the country. A new law in Massachusetts will not only make it easier for residents to build, but supersede parts of a Winchester bylaw passed in November 2022. Gov. Maura Healey on Aug. 6 signed the Affordable Homes
The following was submitted by the Office of Sen. Jason Lewis: State Sens. Jason Lewis and Pat Jehlen and Reps. Michael Day and Michelle Ciccolo joined colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass the Affordable Homes Act, the largest investment in housing in Massachusetts history and a powerful step in
The following was submitted by Cummings Properties: Six years after first publishing his self-written memoir, longtime Winchester resident Bill Cummings has released a much changed and updated new edition. The local entrepreneur and philanthropist is inviting owners of any previous version to make a no-cost swap for the hot-off-the-press seventh
The following was submitted by Winchester Hospital: Winchester Hospital has received accreditation under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States after skin cancers. Programs accredited by the NAPBC follow a
The following was submitted by the League of Women Voters in Winchester: Important elections are coming up on Sept. 3 and Nov. 5. Are you sure you are registered to vote? Has it been a while since the last time you made it to the polls, or have you moved
The following information was provided by the Town Clerk’s office: The State Primary is on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early Voting for the Sept. 3 State Primary will be held in the Winchester Room, 1st floor, Town Hall. The
If you were planning to pick raspberries this summer, you’ll be disappointed. The Wright-Locke Farm newsletter has announced the farm will no longer allow the activity. “While change isn’t always easy, it is critical to improve,” the newsletter says. “U-Pick raspberries have been a staple of Wright-Locke Farm
It’s official. Winchester’s new MBTA 3A Overlay District has passed muster with the state and is open for business. On Aug. 12, the town received a letter from the Attorney General’s Office that confirms Winchester’s new zoning bylaw. Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly on April 29 to
Winchester Police were on the scene at Spring Street this morning, Aug. 15, after a Federal Express truck struck a utility pole. The truck also took out a tree. Early speculation is that the truck was trying to avoid Nelson Street, which is closed off for construction. Eversource responded to
The following was submitted by the office of Sen. Pat Jehlen: Gov. Maura Healey in early August signed into law an act relative to salary range transparency, which increases equity and transparency in pay by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges and protecting an employee’s right to ask for
The following was submitted by the office of Sen. Jason Lewis: State Sens. Jason Lewis and Pat Jehlen and state Reps. Michael Day and Michelle Ciccolo are pleased to announce they secured $150,000 for various local priorities in Winchester as part of the final Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Massachusetts
A downtown improvement plan has been designed and most of the Select Board agrees it has merit — but its implementation is in question. The largest problem with the plan seems to be that there is no construction funding currently to move it forward, but Town Manager Beth Rudolph said she
The town seems to be on the right track with the update of its Housing Production Plan (HPP), but it seems as Select Board member Bill McGonigle said, “There is no one silver magic bullet,” to solve the problems of housing in Winchester. The town is required to update its
The Winchester Health Department is offering free Narcan kits. Residents can pick them up anonymously. The kits can save lives that could be lost to opioid or fentanyl overdoses. Each kit contains: 2 Narcan nasal spray, Fentayl test strips, substance use and mental health help lines and resources. For more
The following was submitted by the Network for Social Justice: The Network for Social Justice Board of Directors is delighted to announce Rebecca Slisz as its permanent executive director. The decision followed an extensive recruitment and interview process this spring. Slisz has served as the interim executive director since February
by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon A QUIRK OF BEACON HILL was recently on display as senators readied to approve their version of Gov. Maura Healey’s housing bill in late June. Sen. Pat Jehlen, a Somerville Democrat, rose to speak on an amendment to bring back rent control for cities
