What do we think...2028 opening?

https://medfordenergy.org/gogreen/wellington-underpass/

I figured this may be of interest in medford (sorry if I'm invading) ~neighbor from somerville

I noticed recently that a building is under construction on the northeast corner of Salem & Park, which was a vacant lot with a pit for years (and the subject of a contentious zoning showdown).

Anyone know what's being built there? Would love to see some ground level retail.

Are they taking these 3 huge trees down? I’ve never seen trees get marked with an x in Medford before removal.

Instead of a recap, you get a summer-y. As always, observations and opinions are solely my own and do not speak for anyone else on the committee. 

Agenda | Recording

1. Before I get into this week’s meeting, I will note that we had a special meeting earlier this month to approve updates to the Chapter 74 (Career and Technical Education) portion of the educational plan for a new Medford High School. Updates came in several categories: enrollment, expansion of current programs (automotive tech, cosmetology, electrical, health assisting), and new program timelines (dental assisting, criminal justice/protective services, plumbing/HVAC, information services). You can watch that (all 9 minutes and 46 seconds of it) on YouTube or read the transcript. 

All right. On to the regular meeting.

1. Introduction of new districtwide staff - Kaytie Dowcett, Managing Director for Before/After School, and Ryan Pike, Director of Facilities. Dr. Galusi shared their backgrounds and they each spoke briefly about their experience and enthusiasm for working in Medford.

2. Update from grade configuration task force - committee composition (educators/caregivers/admin), the work thus far (enrollment trends, building walk-through, data review, creation of internal working groups), and steps forward to continue exploring the viability of a 5/6, 7/8 model. After some back and forth about the financial impacts and timeline, the school committee approved the task force’s request to delay implementation of the model until the 2028-29 school year at the earliest. Further updates will follow the working groups’ findings and recommendations in the fall.

3. MSBA/new high school update - After a quick walkthrough by the project team of the new building rendering, Dr. Galusi and the project team provided an overview of the project’s status in three areas—rental space and community partnerships, teen health center, and sustainability options—and solicited guidance from the school committee to be relayed to the building committee and sustainability working group, respectively. In brief:

a. Rental space - The committee voted 6-0 to eliminate 2,760 non-reimbursable square feet (~$4.5 million) of space currently being used to store materials for groups who rent and use the space on a regular basis (mostly churches and the Japanese Language School, which has been using the space for the past 50 years), and advised district leadership to engage in further conversation with JLS about what a future partnership would look like in the new building. [There was a lot of conversation about what it means to be a community partner and DESE’s guidance on storage in general, but ultimately for me, it came down to prioritizing spaces that provide direct benefit to Medford students and an unwillingness to provide renters with more storage than teachers themselves will receive.]

b. Teen health center - Dr. Galusi presented the rationale and anticipated benefits of this potential add-on (832 non-reimbursable square feet, costing just under $2.4 million) along with the likely fiscal liabilities and avenues for outside financial support (grants, Medicaid reimbursement, etc.) and walked us through potential layouts. Member Mastrobuoni jumped in with a very enthusiastic endorsement of the initiative and the impact it could have, informed by his experience with a similar facility in Somerville, and we quickly voted 5-0 with 1 abstention to maintain its inclusion in the schematic design. [I don’t have a lot to add to Member Mastrobuoni’s comments except to say that this is an example of a space that has direct links to improved student outcomes, optimization of the educational experience, and reduction of burden on the wider community.]

c. Sustainability - The central questions for the committee were whether we wanted to pursue LEED v4 or LEED v5 certification, and for whichever level we chose, whether we wanted to achieve silver, gold, or platinum status. The secondary questions were around various construction options (photovoltaic panels, HVAC, and mass timber/material usage). The architects (SMMA) walked us through the details of points, reimbursability, and cost for these levels and options and after some question and answer, Member Parks introduced a resolution to define sustainability goals with a LEED v4 silver minimum as follows: as close to net-zero energy as possible; healthy building materials to maximize indoor air quality; water efficiency and stewardship; reducing energy, water, and maintenance costs; and decision-making with long-term operating and maintenance costs at the forefront. This also passed 5-0 with 1 abstention. 

1. We tabled Member Ruseau’s resolution to review changes to the school committee rules.

2. We passed a resolution (6-0) to convene the Curriculum subcommittee to hear from Assistant Superintendent Talbot about Medford’s approach to the governor’s recommended changes to the graduation requirements following the voters’ decision that MCAS should not be a graduation requirement.

3. We passed a resolution (6-0) thanking our state delegation of Reps. Barber, Donato, and Garballey, and Sen. Jehlen for securing $630,000 of appropriations for MPS in the FY2027 and supplemental budgets.

4. We passed a resolution (6-0) outlining MPS’s response to the federal government’s termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria. [It should be noted here that while the resolution is framed to direct the administration to take action, the administration has actually been working on these things for quite a while, with increased urgency as the landscape around TPS has shifted.]

5. We passed an ad hoc resolution (6-0) that the Facilities subcommittee would meet to discuss the current storage options for renters at both the high school and McGlynn Middle.

Our next meetings will be August 24 (Zoom only) and September 14. Stay cool, everyone, and try not to spend too much time on social media!

is this a joke lol

On the drive to work today; Medford center. Does anyone know what happened?

Hello! My standup comedy show is back in the Somerville Theater this Thursday, and I'd love to see you there! We run the show in the 30-seat "microcinema" in the theater's basement.

Our headliner is the hilarious Ray Harrington. He's appeared on Conan, Hulu, Don't Tell Comedy, ABC, FOX, and Sirius XM. Ray's material is really inventive, and he is a master at improvising and riffing in the moment. No two of his performances are the same!

We screen classic Looney Tunes cartoons before the show, and the theater sells beer, wine, ice cream, and snacks.

You can get $3 off tickets with the code REDDIT. I hope you can make it!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/popcorn-comedy-with-ray-harrington-conan-hulu-tickets-1993354783818?aff=rddt

Trying to meet more people who enjoy nonfiction?

We'll be discussing The Wager by David Grann, a gripping true story that raises big questions about courage, leadership, and whose version of history survives.

📍 Bloc Cafe, 11 Bow St., Somerville
🗓 Saturday, August 22
🕙 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Registration details are in the comments.

This is an independent community event. Bloc Cafe does not endorse or sponsor this event.

Does anyone have details? Curiousity is getting the better of me. MBTA commuter rail app says service has been suspended between Anderson/Woburn and North Station due to police activity and are predicting the next available train will be at 9:20. Husband drove through and an Amtrak train was stopped and transit police were there.

M29. I’m looking for a casual pickup soccer group or other beginners who would like to play regularly around Melrose, Winchester, Malden, or the Greater Boston area.

I’m active and play tennis, but I have basically no soccer experience. I’m hoping to find a friendly group that welcomes beginners—or a few people who would like to start playing together. I’m generally available on weekends, and my weekday schedule is fairly flexible.

Please comment or message me if you know of a group, or if you’d like to organize something together!

I am a Medford resident, but my friend is not. Can I buy the vehicle sticker onsite, and bring him in? Do they check everyone’s ID?

This morning a little blue parakeet was at my bird feeder with all my other morning regulars. It had a silver band on its ankle. It seemed pretty friendly but wouldn’t get on my hand to be able to put it in a box! Going to keep an eye out today on my feeders but hoping someone knows this little friend’s home!

Last seen on Mayberry Ave in Medford!!

I’m p sure the answer is no, but does anyone happen to know of a relatively solid mechanic that’s open on Sundays? having a hopefully-minor car emergency coupled with a weird work schedule this week and crossing my fingers that i can in fact find someone who can take a look at my car tomorrow so I don’t have to call out multiple days in a row lol

According to their IG, they’re closed for good. Sad for the neighborhood but looks like we get Ebisuya back! I’m just glad it’s not another bank 🙃

I've been pretty surprised as a candidate how easy it is to run for office without facing any tough questions (or an opponent, sometimes).

I have a plan to fix that: https://csindie.com/running-for-office-convinced-me-massachusetts-has-a-democracy-problem/

Full list - and there's probably many more ideas, but I kept it to ten:

1. Move the state primary to mid-June.
2. Make the general election what matters via two ways the top four candidates in the primary go to the general election, as in Alaska or multi-member districts with proportional representation.
3. Allow fusion voting. .
4. Increase the salaries of legislators and remove stipends.
5. Guarantee qualifying candidates access to voters. Candidates who demonstrate substantial district support through a high signature threshold should receive a page in an official district-wide voter guide, similar to the information Massachusetts distributes about ballot questions.
6. Create voluntary public financing.
7. Limit the permanent accumulation of campaign money. Massachusetts should examine reasonable limits on how long candidates may carry large campaign balances from one election to another.
8. Establish a Legislative Debate Commission.
9. Encourage monthly open office hours.
10. Term limits in each chamber. I have never liked the concept term limits, but I have come to the conclusion that they are preferable to uncontested elections. Legislators could serve up to 12 years in the House and 12 years in the Senate, for 24 years in total in the legislature.

This has never happened before but I woke up and couldn’t find trash bin in front of my house after the trash truck picked it up.

How can I order a new one? It’s the trash one, not recycle bin.

Thank you!

Did anyone hear all the sirens and multiple banging sounds which could've been falling objects and hopefully not shots fired around 6:00? Does anyone know what that was? Between route 16 and Boston Ave, west of Medford sq

👚Clothes!
☕️ Household items!
🦩 Home decor!
🖼️ Art!
🎨 Art supplies!
🪎 Knick-knacks and collectibles!
🕰️ Vintage!

There will be lots of items priced at $1. Also great deals on gently-used, vintage, and some new items. Stop by and check it out!

We're having a yard sale this Saturday, July 18th! Address is 23 Bonner Ave, Medford. We have all sorts of stuff like kitchen utensils, some furniture, cat supplies/accessories, games, shoes, stationery, art supplies, plants & plant pots, lamps, and cables and extension cords! We also have some stuff for free!