The following was submitted by the Office of Sen. Jason Lewis: State Sen. Jason Lewis joined colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass the PETS Act, animal welfare legislation to end the inhumane puppy-mill-to-pet-shop pipeline, strengthen animal cruelty protections, and make responsible pet ownership possible for
The Winchester Select Board voted unanimously to approve a draft warrant for the town’s April 27 Spring Town Meeting, finalizing a slate of more than 40 articles after an evening spent adding co-sponsorships, debating governance proposals and removing one solar energy alternative. The March 16 session effectively closed
The following was submitted by Winchester Hospital: Stephen Chandler, MBA, has joined Winchester Hospital as its new president. Chandler is an accomplished health care leader with extensive experience in executive leadership across complex hospital organizations. “We are pleased to welcome Stephen to Winchester Hospital, where he will lead the hospital
The biggest shakeup came in Precinct 7, where two officeholders lost in an 11-person contest, matching Precinct 4 for the busiest race.
The pattern broke. For seven straight votes stretching back to 2017, Winchester voters had said yes to every Proposition 2½ question put before them — school buildings, operating budgets, capital needs. The Lynch Elementary School project passed in 2023 with 82.4% support, the highest for any school ballot question in
A Somerville progressive launched a campaign for the Second Middlesex seat.
The expansion would mark a significant leap for a town that has built its solar portfolio incrementally.
The Winchester Select Board signaled support March 16 for a 7% increase in water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2027, with a formal vote expected at a public hearing scheduled for March 30. Consultant Mark Abrahams of the Abrahams Group presented three rate options to the board during a
Editor’s note: An interactive visualization of all 33 Proposition 2½ ballot questions in Winchester from 1988 through 2023, including results by decade, override type and individual vote, is available here. From November 1988 through January 2023, Winchester voters went to the polls 25 times to decide 33 Proposition 2½
The following was submitted by the Office of Rep. Michael Day: Rep. Michael S. Day recently nominated Winchester’s Dr. Karen Abdool M.D, PhD for recognition at the Massachusetts State House, where the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus honored her with the Black Excellence on the Hill Award.
The following was submitted by the Mystic River Watershed Association: The Horn Pond Fish Passage project received final funding needed for construction with an anticipated construction start in summer/fall 2026, aiming to be complete before the river herring migration begins in spring 2027. Funding for this new fish passage
The contest highlights competing governing styles, one emphasizing consensus and process, the other urging faster action and visible dissent.
Whether to legalize short-term rentals or Air Bed and Breakfast (AirBnBs) or Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBOs) was the subject of conversation during a recent Planning Board meeting. Some exist in Winchester, although how many is vague. Legalization would involve possible changes to the bylaws and zoning bylaws to
A volunteer campaign called Yes for Winchester is working to build community support for an $11.5 million override on the town’s March 21 election ballot, relying primarily on house parties, lawn signs and neighbor-to-neighbor outreach rather than traditional political infrastructure. The campaign began preliminary planning before
The following was submitted by Ryan O’Malley: To the residents of Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, Stoneham, Reading, and Winchester: Over the last few weeks, I have met with many residents across our district to learn about the issues that are important to you. Based on those conversations, I am excited
The river restoration plan for the Aberjona River in Davidson Park has been revised using nature based techniques that can be installed with minimal disturbance to wetland resources. It will include rock weirs to create step-like increases in the water level during typical flow conditions to counteract cascades resulting
