Good morning, Medford, Tuesday, July 28
Happy Tuesday, everybody. We've got a shout-out today for someone who has worked for the Medford Police Department for many decades, almost seven, in fact.
Congratulations are in order for Alva Erickson, who is Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley's administrative assistant. Erickson reached a milestone that is uncommon these days. She has worked for one organization for many decades.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2024, the median number of years wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 3.9. Alva Erickson, however, has been with the MPD for just shy of seven decades.
On the occasion of Erickson's 85th birthday, which was July 27, the Medford Police Department posted the following to Facebook:
"Please join us in wishing the Chief's Administrative Assistant, Alva Erickson, a very happy 85th birthday today!
"Alva has dedicated an incredible 67 years to the Medford Police Department. During that time, she has worked in three different police stations and served under eight Chiefs of Police. We are grateful to her remarkable dedication, professionalism, and service to our department and community.
"Earlier this month, Alva was honored with a well-deserved recognition of her commitment: her very own reserved parking space in the station lot.
"Happy Birthday, Alva! Thank you for your decades of unwavering service, the countless lives you've touched, and everything you've done for the Medford Police Department. We hope you have a wonderful day celebrating this incredible milestone!"
Happening today in Medford
If you have an event you would like to have included in our calendar, send the information to us at gottaknowmedford@gmail.com.
Senior Center events and activities: Chairfit Rhythyms at 9:30 a.m.; knit and crochet at 10 a.m.; core and balance at 10:30 a.m.; international culture at 1 p.m.
- Medford Senior Work-Off Abatement Program information session at 1 p.m. Seniors 60 and older, who own and live in their home, can lower their real estate tax bill by temporarily working for the city.
"Arnold J. Kemp: Not One thing" exhibit opens today at the Aidekman Arts Center at Tufts University and focuses on the Chicago-based artist's "performative and material tendencies of masking, traced through his sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography, and plays from the last decade. Since the late 1990s, Kemp has created art objects that reference dualisms and multiplicities in the psyche, relating often to Blackness and the profound influence of West African aesthetics on modernism."
Guided Nature Walk at Bellevue Pond from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. with naturalist Jeff Adams to identify native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, and a few non-natives. Register ahead of time. Meet at the Bellevue Pond parking lot.
Playgroups at the Park from 9 to 11 a.m. at Carr Park. Hosted by Medford Family Network, the event features art, music, and movement activities, parachute play, bubbles, balls, and storytelling.
Baby Lapsit at 9:30 a.m. at Medford Public Library. Drop-in storytime with songs, rhymes, and gentle movement activities for babies up to 24 months old and parents and caregivers.
Maternal Journaling Workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Arts Collaborative Medford. Midwife, artist and mother Nerida Ackland hosts this weekly group to provide a creative outlet for some of the new feelings and challenges experienced in pregnancy and new parenthood. Registration is required.
Welcome to my MEDTalk at 3:30 p.m. at Medford Public Library for kids ages 8-12 to create a 2- to 5-minute TedTalk on the topic of their choice. They will have an opportunity to create an accompanying slide deck to go with their presentation. Registration required.
T-Shirt Stamping at 3:30 p.m. at Medford Public Library for teens in middle school and high school to decorate one of their own t-shirts with an assortment of stamps that will be provided by the library. A limited supply of t-shirts will also be available.
MFN children's concert and activities from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wright's Pond. Activities run 5-6 p.m. "Esther Gomez - Spanish Fun!" concert begins at 6 p.m. Bring a blanket and pack a picnic. If inclement weather, visit Medford Recreation Department's website - https://medfordma.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
Investing in Real Estate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Medford Public Library with a licensed Realtor and a licensed loan officer. The workshop will cover tools and information about buying investment property in Massachusetts and what it means to be a landlord in this state. Registration is required.
Veteran and First Responder Recovery Group meets at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Medford. All veterans and first responders are welcome on a drop-in basis.
Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. at Medford Brewing. Teams of 2 to 6 players will compete in a traditional 6-round trivia quiz.
Collect Pond, Honey Bucket, and Snax on Wax perform beginning at 7 p.m. at Deep Cuts.
Mah Jongg from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Temple Shalom. Current and prospective members welcome to join for a friendly game, or two, of mah jongg. Send an email to mahjongg@templeshalommedford.org to be added to the email list.
In case you missed it
Will Dowd takes a look at the nine questions that will be on the ballot in November.
Will Dowd
