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Readers have reached out to GKM about the ballot questions. So, we'll start there. Plus, we have a little of this and a little of that: early voting, a public hearing about Wellington Greenway construction, winter clothing drives, municipal meetings, and all the happenings that are fit to post.
Guides to the ballot questions
There are nine questions, and the best thing to do is be prepared when you vote. There are several non-partisan, online guides that break down the ballot questions:
- Gotta Know Medford Correspondent Will Dowd: Massachusetts sets record-tying nine-question ballot for Nov. 3
- Secretary of State Bill Galvin: Information for Voters - 2026 Ballot Questions
- Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis: Voters' Guide to 2026 Massachusetts Ballot Questions
- CommonWealth Beacon: Ballot Questions, Explained
In-person, early voting hours
In-person, early voting for the Nov. 3 general election is taking place on the 2nd floor of Medford City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive.
Here are the days and hours:
Mon., Oct. 19 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue., Oct. 20 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wed., Oct. 21 – 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Thu., Oct. 22 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fri., Oct. 23 – 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Sat., Oct. 24 – 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Sun., Oct. 25 – 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon., Oct. 26 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue., Oct. 27 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wed., Oct. 28 – 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Thu., Oct. 29 – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fri., Oct. 30 – 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Wellington Greenway construction public hearing
A virtual public hearing about the Wellington Greenway construction project will be hosted on the MassDOT website Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required.
The proposed project consists of creating a shared-use path to connect the existing Wellington Greenway segments between Wellington Station to the south and Revere Beach Parkway to the north.
Winter clothing drives
There are two winter clothing drives happening now:
City of Medford: The city is holding a winter clothing drive to collect new or gently used coats, jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves in all sizes to be distributed at a winter preparedness event taking place at City Hall on November 19. Donations are being accepted until November 13, and here are the locations:
Delta Upsilon at Tufts: This drive benefits the Greater Somerville Homeless Coalition and donations are being accepted until Nov. 1. Items most needed include winter clothing and accessories and toiletries. Drop donations in the green bin at 114 Professors Row on the Somerville/Medford line.
Municipal meetings
- Medford School Committee at 6 p.m. in City Hall and via Zoom, TV, and streaming channels. Agenda includes: approval of bills, payrolls, donations, and meeting minutes; reports of subcommittees; Mustang Moment; before- and after-school programs; Missituk feasibility study; Roberts ARP project; quarterly finance update; presentations by Student Advisory Council.
- Historical Commission at 7 p.m. via Zoom and streaming channels. Agenda includes: a "preferably preserved" hearing regarding 73 Surrey St.; determination of significance for 141 Grant Ave.; demolition application for 360-362 Salem St.; 321 Winthrop St. project update; survey and planning grant.
Happening today in Medford
If you have an event that you would like to have listed in our calendar, send the information to gottaknowmedford@gmail.com.
Senior Center Activities – When sign-up is required, call 781-396-6010:
- dominoes/cribbage at 10 a.m.
- gentle yoga at 10 a.m.
- poetry with Carol at 10:30 a.m.
- Al-anon support group at 10:30 a.m.
- chair yoga at 11 a.m.
- whist for all levels at 12:30 p.m.
- My Life, My Health at 1 p.m. Series with Mystic Valley Aging Services. Sign-up required.
- country line dancing at 12:45 p.m.
- chair volleyball at 2 p.m.
Sisters-in-Sweat Exercise Group at 9:30 a.m. at West Medford Community Center. Walking and other self-led, low-impact activities for seniors.
- Home: 6/7/8th girls softball; middle school girls softball vs. Somerville; JV and varsity girls volleyball vs. Chelsea High; Freshman boys soccer vs. Somerville High
- Away: No away games today
- Costume Swap: At MFN Family Center during drop-in play times, Medford residents can drop off costumes, accessories, and dress-up clothes their kids no longer use and pick up "new" items.
- Circle Time Story Time sessions taking place at Medford Public Library: 9:30 a.m. for children up to 2 years old; 11 a.m. for children ages 2-5. Registration is required.
- Creative Coping at 11:30 a.m. requires registration.
- Drop-in Playtime is from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the MFN Family Center.
- Advisory Board Meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MFN Family Center.
Drop-in programs:
- Chair and Standing Yoga at 11 a.m.
- Notary Hours at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Bilingual Arabic Story Time (ages 3-6) at 3:30 p.m.
- MakerSpace from 6 to 8 p.m.
- STEM Skill Share (for adults) from 6 to 8 p.m.
Registration required:
- Intro to Python (and coding in general) for Teens at 3:30 p.m.
- Paws to Read with Dottie from 6 to 7 p.m. Register for a 15-minute slot.
- Registration for Family Costume Maker Night has closed.
HNRCA Monday Seminar Series from 12 to 1 p.m. via Zoom through Tufts. The Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts hosts virtual seminars on a variety of topics at the intersection of aging and nutrition research each Monday at noon. RSVP.
Party at the (Early & By Mail) Polls! from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Academic Quad at Tufts. A celebration of voting and a nonpartisan voting resources event to help people with their ballots (either absentee or mail-in) and to provide rides to early voting locations in Medford or Somerville. A notary will be available for ballots that require notarization. There will be food, music, arts and crafts, comfort pups and more.
In case you missed it
- Chris and Wendall wrote about election security and whether voters should be worried.
- From CommonWealth Beacon, an explainer about the nine ballot questions:
Special to Gotta Know Medford
