Author: Danielle Krantz

  • Winchester Chamber of Commerce debuts successful first health and wellness fair

    Winchester residents try out the pickleball court on stage at the Winchester Chamber of Commerce’s first health and wellness fair in Town Hall. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    Hundreds of Winchester residents gathered at Town Hall Saturday for the Winchester Chamber of Commerce’s first health and wellness fair.

    Spring Into Wellness featured interactive demonstrations and activities, including pickleball, a trampoline workout, a presentation on avoiding scams and Winchester Community Music School performances.

    Attendees could also participate in giveaways and sample goods from local businesses.

    The event kicked off with a performance from the Pineapple Posse Ukulele Ensemble, the music school’s new adult ukulele group.

    Winchester residents check out the Chamber of Commerce’s health and wellness fair. Many local businesses participated in the event. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ 

    Dana Garmey, executive director of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce, said the idea for the fair came from neighboring chambers organizing similar events.

    “I think Winchester residents want to support local businesses,” Garmey said. “They might not know these small businesses are here in Winchester. So it’s a great opportunity for everyone to know each other.”

    The fair featured local businesses, health professionals and wellness advocates, all offering resources to help community members lead healthier lives. Thirty-three vendors attended, including Elite Freestyle Karate, PDA Dental Group, Friends of Winchester Recreation, Winchester Meals on Wheels and Turbo CrossFit.

    Lauren Herrmann, a Friends of Winchester Recreation member, said her organization joined the fair after hearing about it from Garmey.

    “We attend the same gym in town, which is Turbo CrossFit,” she said. “And she pulled me aside and just said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this great event coming up. Your mission and vision, you know, fit perfectly within it.’ And that was how we got involved.”

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    The pickleball demonstration, organized by Friends of Winchester Recreation, gave attendees tips and tricks and instructions on how to sign up. The group is trying to raise money to build dedicated pickleball courts.

    Music therapist Shayla McDermott, representing the Winchester Community Music School, discussed the therapeutic benefits of music.

    “One of my goals is just to allow more people to know about music therapy to build awareness,” said McDermott, whose school serves about 900 adults and children. “And I think music, whether it’s through music therapy or music education, brings so much wellness to people’s lives and also to the community as a whole.”

    The fair featured a variety of healthful food vendors. Playa Bowls offered free smoothie bowls, Nourish Your Soul had cold-pressed juice, while the Winchester Savings Bank provided bagels from The Bagel Bar.

    The fair included options for people interested in holistic approaches, including free massages, herbal tea and aromatherapy. Acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Lisa Jensen treats people with acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping and other forms of eastern medicine.

    A look at the Chamber of Commerce spring wellness fair. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ 

    “It’s been really fun, sort of getting acquainted with neighbors and friends and also just growing my business,” Jensen said. “I think it really is just forming connections and getting to know people.”

    Henry Rolfe, an instructor at Elite Freestyle Karate, said the fair was great for the community to get to know local businesses.

    “I think it helps with showing just how much versatility there is in the community, as well as a place to bring not only friends and family but children as well, and give them something to look forward to,” Rolfe said.

    Garmey said the chamber hopes to make the fair an annual event.

    “What I’ve seen here today is that the businesses are networking with each other, and I think that is really important,” Garmey said. “And they’re making connections, and they’re going to follow up after the fair, which I think is really cool.”

    This story is part of a partnership between Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • Winchester rekindles WADIA to protest threats to democracy

    A passionate group of residents in the quiet town of Winchester is rekindling a grassroots movement in defense of democracy.

    Winchester Area Democracy in Action (WADIA) was born in 2001 during a period of unrest, sparked by opposition to the impending Iraq War. Though the organization faded over time, its name and spirit have been revived by residents alarmed by growing threats to American democratic institutions.

    A group of Winchester residents restarted WADIA in March in response to the Trump administration’s “war on democracy,” group member Alan Field said.

    “Given what the new administration in Washington is doing, there’s just a lot of people feeling upset in various ways, discouraged or energized or all kinds of things,” Field said. 

    “There was a need for an organization to kind of give a place for people to get together on those issues. And so we, myself and a couple friends, decided to revive WADIA because it had a good name.”

    Field set up a Google group, where participants can share ideas. Some ideas proposed include letter-writing campaigns, protests and donating money to organizations fighting for democracy.

    The group now has about 25 members. Field sends out weekly reports that summarize the new ideas from each week. The group also holds monthly meetings via Zoom.

    Although WADIA’s mission has evolved since its anti-war roots, Field said, its main pro-democracy stance has stayed the same.

    “This is more a pro-democracy movement, you could say, where people feel that our democracy is threatened, to say the least, or maybe it’s already somewhat disassembled and great concern about that,” Field said.

    Field said he spends a lot of time communicating with people about climate issues. WADIA is pushing back on policies that harm the climate, such as encouraging increased use of oil and coal, and attempting to block offshore wind development in Massachusetts. One way Field helps combat climate change on a local level is by clearing invasive plants.

    WADIA members met up at local “Hands Off” protests April 5, part of a nationwide mobilization opposing what organizers describe as a coordinated power grab by political and corporate elites, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

    Winchester resident Gloria Legvold was a key member of the original group.

    In early 2001, a small group of concerned residents began gathering in the basement of the Winchester Unitarian Society. They were part of a broader movement, United for Justice with Peace, and shared a conviction that war was not the answer.

    “As the potential of a war increased, several of us decided that we needed to be more politically active and really make a statement specifically about the war,” Legvold said. 

    “And so we sort of moved out of United for Justice With Peace movement into this separate Winchester Area Democracy in Action.”

    One of its first actions was publishing a full-page ad in the Winchester Star opposing the war, signed by residents, Legvold said. Later they launched a recurring feature in the paper called “The Progressive Perspective,” led by resident Kim Whittaker. Whittaker led the Boston women’s march in 2017 and was on the finance committee for Sen. Ed Markey’s campaign.

    Legvold organized a silent vigil, planting wooden stakes bearing the names and photos of fallen U.S. soldiers near the town’s war memorial, on the second anniversary of the Iraq War in 2005.

    WADIA dissolved as members went on to other political jobs and volunteer activities, such as the Network for Social Justice and the Winchester League of Women Voters. Legvold became campaign chair for state Sen. Jason Lewis.

    For Legvold, who has remained civically active since WADIA’s early days, activism is about more than political outcomes.

    “The most important activist activity is creating a broad community of like-minded individuals,” she says, “people who are willing to be public, to speak with curiosity and civility—even with those they disagree with.”

    Field echoed this, encouraging residents, especially youth, to get involved.

    “I’ve been surprised that a number of people that I know are so overwhelmed by the daily rush of bad news and daily outrages that they just can’t take it anymore, and they kind of are checking out,” Field said. “I think it’s easier for one’s mental health to actually be active and engaged and busy and feel like you’re doing even a small bit.”

    This story is part of a partnership between the Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • Winchester teen founds online nonprofit Islamic arts competition

    During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 11-year-old Sofia Chaudrey began entering online art competitions and noticed a lack of opportunities centered around Islamic themes. So she created one.

    She launched a website with the help of her parents and a web developer. Her idea eventually evolved into Islamic Art Expressions, a nonprofit organization that holds annual art competitions centered on Islamic themes. 

    “Since then, each year we’ve been able to do our art competition, which is open to all students, not just Muslim kids,” said Chaudrey, now 16. “I was really able to give other kids out there the opportunity that I never had, which in its way is more rewarding for me.”

    Winchester resident Sofia Chaudrey launched her own online nonprofit arts competition called Islamic Art Expressions. COURTESY PHOTO/SOFIA CHAUDREY

    Chaudrey, who lives in Winchester and is a junior at Phillips Exeter Academy, decided to align the contest with Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is considered the holiest month in Islam, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, reflection and acts of charity.

    “Each of our competitions does happen during the month of Ramadan,” Chaudrey said. “That’s a time when Muslims really make an effort to reflect on our religion, reflect on our community, reflect on our history. We really made an effort to give kids the opportunity to do that while they’re fasting and spending time with their families and learning more about their religion during this whole month.”

    The contest is split into age categories, with different themes each year. The theme for kindergarten to second grade is birds from the Quran. Students in third to fifth grade are invited to draw a scene outside the Cave of Thawr (Ghar-e-Soor), depicting spider webs and pigeon nests. This story in the Quran depicts the Prophet Muhammad hiding in a cave, with the help of animals. 

    “Art really is a universal medium, and it can be really powerful to see how each of the kids interprets it,” Chaudrey said. “We want to keep it based on the theme of reflection and expression during Ramadan, but also something that can be grounded and really expressed through art.”

    This year, the theme for sixth through eighth grade is to draw yourself practicing a Sunnah — an action or tradition of the Prophet, such as helping others, praying, showing kindness or caring for the environment. The theme for 9th through 12th grade is to draw a depiction of Jannah, or Heaven.

    Humzah Farooq, a junior at Hershey High School in Pennsylvania, has been participating in the contest since 2020. He said making time for his faith, which is a deeply personal part of his life, is very important to him. 

    “Being able to participate in this competition, it allows me to kind of reflect on my religion itself, the beauty of it, what it means to me, and how I can further apply it into my life,” Farooq said.

    Fatimah Tarik contributed this work to Islamic Art Expressions. The medium is arteza real brush pens for watercolor painting with flexible nylon brush tips. COURTESY PHOTO/ISLAMIC ART EXPRESSIONS

    After placing second in his age category last year, Farooq said he is excited to finish his piece on Jannah.

    “In Islam, we are taught that our physical life, on earth here, it is only a minute part of our existence,” Farooq said. “And life in the hereafter, Jannah, that is gonna be infinitely longer than what we have now. And I think trying to represent that and its magnitude will be very difficult for me, but it’ll put life, I guess, or the concept I would say, into more perspective.”

    In 2020, the U.S. Census estimated there are approximately 4.5 million Muslims
    living in America — a diverse population that continues to grow. Islam is now the third largest religion in the U.S.  after Christianity and Judaism.

    Haroon Chaudrey, Sophia’s father and president of IAE, said he was skeptical about the idea at first, but is incredibly proud of what the organization has grown into. He said his title is honorary, since Sophia is under 18.

    “The competition has grown in the sense that we have seen maturity in the art and the drawings,” he said. “Each year, we have seen that it’s becoming a little bit serious, the competition. Kids are doing more and more, better and better work.” 

    Internationally renowned British Pakistani calligraphist Sonia Nisa will be joining Islamic Art Expressions judges’ panel. To purchase her artwork and learn more about her, visit her website. COURTESY PHOTO/ISLAMIC ART EXPRESSIONS

    Chaudrey said she hopes to expand the organization globally and create more contest categories, like music and calligraphy.

    “We have also been discussing the possibility of opening it up beyond the U.S., because right now, when I was just starting out, I wasn’t really sure how this would be received or how far I’d be able to take it,” she said. “I’m really proud of how far it’s come, and I’m really happy with the support that’s been received.”

    All entries can be submitted online at submit@islamicexpressions.org. The deadline for entries is April 30, and winners will be announced May 14. Prizes include art supplies, gift cards and other gifts. More information can be found on IAE’s website.

    This story is part of a partnership between The Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • Winchester’s Wright-Locke Farm largely insulated from Trump agricultural cuts

    The Trump administration is gutting funding for farms and agricultural programs across the country, but Winchester’s Wright-Locke Farm is largely insulated from those cuts, because it relies almost exclusively on sales and donations.

    With federal funding freezes and mass layoffs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, local farms face an uncertain future. Town-owned Wright-Locke is unlikely to be hurt by federal cuts, though, as long as people keep donating, shopping and volunteering there, said the farm’s manager, Adrienne Altstatt.

    The interior of the barn. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    “We rely a lot on the community for all of the offerings we give the community, which is a lot,” said Tracy Kinsey, Wright-Locke’s communications and outreach coordinator. “We also rely on the community to support us, through donations, through volunteering, to keep the farm sustainable and running and not going into the red. We are really proud of the fact that we are able to sustain ourselves with our programs that we run with the funds that we raise.”

    One funding source that could be threatened is an $18,000 federal grant Wright-Locke was promised for a high tunnel greenhouse the farm recently built.  The structure, made of metal hoops and covered with plastic, helps farmers extend the growing season by providing protection from extreme weather, improving soil conditions and increasing crop yields. 

    “We have spent $18,000 on it already, but have not yet been reimbursed,” said the farm’s executive director, Erika Gorgenyi. “And therefore we are at risk of them not fulfilling this agreement and losing this funding.”

    Spring work at Wright-Locke Farm. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    In 2023, 18% of the farm’s revenue came from donations, 81% from program services and the other percent from investment income. Gorgenyi said the farm receives a small grant from the Department of Education.

    “One of the biggest challenges that small farms like ours always face, obviously, is funding,” Kinsey said. “It’s not cheap to run an operation like this, so we have to do a lot of fundraising.”

    One of the farm’s most significant sources of revenue is Farm to Go, a store that sells local produce, meat, eggs and other grocery items.

    Donna von Halle, a Farm to Go regular, shops weekly.

    “I know where the food’s coming from, that it hasn’t traveled potentially thousands of miles to get there,” von Halle said. “I think that the food is more nutrient-dense because of that.”

    Old farm machinery. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    Von Halle orders online at the beginning of the week and picks up the order on Thursdays. She said the convenience of the shop has made grocery shopping easier. On occasion, she asks for recipes to accompany produce.

    “They’re so accommodating,” von Halle said. “There’s been times when I’ve even asked for ideas. I remember I said, ‘I don’t really know what I’m gonna do with fennel.’ And you know, Sarah, the one working there, said, ‘Oh, you can do this with it.’ And so those are just experiences that you wouldn’t have at a grocery store.”

    The land there has been farmed since 1638. It was originally home to the Indigenous Massachusett Tribe and Pawtucket people, who actively managed the environment by cultivating crops like maize, beans and squash.

    After colonization led to the displacement of the Indigenous tribes, John Wright purchased the farm. Over time, it passed through the Locke and Wright families. The farm grew blue hubbard squash until it became a raspberry farm under the Hamilton family. 

    The land was targeted for development in 2007, following the death of owner Curtis Hamilton. In response, the residents of Winchester voted to acquire the entire 20 acres for $14 million, blocking a developer’s plan to build 260 housing units there. The town set aside 7.5 acres for preservation and 12.5 acres for potential development. 

    Fresh eggs right from the source. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTOS/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    Community members created the nonprofit Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy to manage the property. Efforts shifted toward fundraising to secure the preservation of the remaining 12.5 acres, leading to an $8.6 million campaign to purchase the property. The Conservancy has a 30-year lease on the land that expires in 2041.

    “It was mainly community members that really stepped up and said, ‘Hey, now, Wright-Locke Farm’s doing such great things with their education programs and all these other things. We need to protect that and give them more bandwidth,” said Kim Kneeland, the farm’s associate director. “And so, a couple years later, we were able to buy the land.”

    The newest addition to Wright-Locke Farms is All-Seasons Barn, an indoor event space designed to support the farm’s programming, which broke ground in 2021. According to Kneeland, the building cost around $3.5 million.

    One of the goats enjoys the sun. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    The farm also contributes to the larger New England food chain. Farm to Go, which accepts SNAP and EBT, sells food from other small farms and vendors around New England. 

    “From Needham to Maine to Vermont to Connecticut, we have other small farms that are looking to get their products out to people in the region,” Kinsey said. “And we sort of help act as a local food hub to distribute that.”

    The farm participates in “Grow-a-Row,” which allocates a row of fresh produce to local food pantries for donation, Kinsey said.

    “Core to our mission is supporting other small farms and small businesses, sort of getting away from the industrial food chain and more turning back time a little bit and going back to local, fresh food,” Kinsey said.

    The farm offers educational opportunities, including a year-round, nature-based preschool. Community members can participate in workshops in the historic 1827 Barn or the All Seasons Barn. The farm also hosts free “Farm Talks” on agriculture, environmental, and health topics.

    Educational programs take place at Wright-Locke Farm. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/DANIELLE KRANTZ

    Visitors can plan educational or volunteer group visits from April to October, or arrange off-site enrichment programs on farm-related subjects. The farm also partnered with the Winchester High School environmental science department to cultivate and track a portion of the land. 

    The farm is open to the public year-round.

    “We are open to the public, dawn until dusk, 365 days a year,” Kinsey said. “If you want to come here and take a walk, if you want to come here and listen to a podcast, you can do that. And a lot of people don’t know that.”

    This story is part of a partnership between The Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • ‘Chronicle’ reporter Ted Reinstein to discuss new book at Medford Public Library

    Journalist Ted Reinstein has met a lot of colorful characters in his more than 25 years of reporting across New England for the TV show “Chronicle.” His new book collects and retells some of their stories.

    “Travels Through the Heart and Soul of New England” explores the narratives of people Reinstein interviewed over the past quarter century. He will discuss the book Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Medford Public Library, 111 High St.

    Tickets are free and can be reserved through the library’s online calendar. 

    “I really wanted to simply share some of the extraordinary stories I had covered over my nearly 30 years of reporting around every corner of New England,” said Reinstein, 68, who has been a reporter for WCVB-TV’s “Chronicle,” America’s longest-running locally produced television newsmagazine, since 1997. “But in particular, it was in some way to also honor the most memorable people I’ve met in my travels.” 

    Ted Reinstein has been a reporter for WCVB-TV’s ‘Chronicle,’ America’s longest-running locally produced television newsmagazine, since 1997. COURTESY PHOTO/TED REINSTEIN

    The 45 stories range from a dedicated surfer braving the cold New Hampshire waters year-round to Maine’s “Slim” Andrews, co-founder of the Maine Country Hall of Fame. Reinstein chronicles the story of a person who constructs unique treehouses in Vermont, a couple in Massachusetts who founded the James Weldon Johnson Foundation after buying his former house and a cartoonist in Rhode Island who started the local tradition “Good Night Lights.”

    Reinstein said one of his most memorable stories was in Gloucester with Captain Joe Sanfilippo, who started fishing at 12 but had to give it up because of financial struggles. Several men walked by as they stood on a decaying dock, and Sanfilippo told Reinstein they were former fishermen. 

    “It hit me just how widespread the decline of fishing has been in Gloucester, and how deep the loss is on a human level,” Reinstein said.

    Reinstein is often out in the field, finding stories all over New England. He regularly contributes to WCVB’s political roundtable show, “On the Record,” and has served on the station’s editorial board since 2010. He also hosted specials for the Discovery Channel and HGTV. 

    Aside from reporting, Reinstein is the author of five books, including “A New England Notebook: One Reporter, Six States, Uncommon Stories,” “Wicked Pissed: New England’s Most Famous Feuds” and “Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier.” He co-authored “New England’s General Stores: Exploring an American Classic” with his wife, Anne-Marie Dorning.  

    With his latest book, “Travels Through the Heart and Soul of New England,” Reinstein aimed to tell the stories of impressive New England residents and how they’ve impacted their communities.

    “I just hope readers will have a better understanding, a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this place we call home, New England,” Reinstein said. “The sites we love—the mountains, the water, the inns, the beaches, the little shops and eateries—are all

    wonderful. But ultimately it’s the region’s people, and their stories, that make it the endlessly colorful and memorable place that it is.”

  • Winchester, Medford businesses cope with soaring egg prices

    As bird flu outbreaks send egg prices climbing, local restaurants and bakeries must cope with shortages and decide when to raise prices.

    “We had to do a price increase on our breakfast menu, especially since it’s all based off of eggs,” said Jennifer Lemus-Flores, manager of Swanton Street Diner in Winchester. “The French toast has eggs, pancakes has eggs, omelets, benedicts, all of that.”

    Lemus-Flores said keeping menu prices low has become increasingly difficult with the price surge. She said a case of 30 dozen eggs used to cost around $72 and is now over $100. As a result, the diner has had to raise menu prices by anywhere from 25 cents to $1.

    While rising egg prices are causing local diners, like the Paul Revere Restaurant in West Medford, to raise the prices of dishes on their menus, owners say customers have been understanding. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/NELL ESCOBAR COAKLEY

    She said customers have been understanding.

    “They understand what, you know, what we’re going through,” she said. “Even for them, buying eggs at the supermarket is expensive as well.”

    The U.S. Agriculture Department predicts egg prices could jump 41% this year. The main reason prices have soared — hitting an average of $4.95 per dozen last month, an all-time high — is highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. According to USDA data, over 166 million birds have been killed to limit the virus’ spread.

    The virus has also infected 70 people, including one who died. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, humans can contract avian flu if the virus gets into their eyes, nose or mouth. Although rare, this can happen when the flu is in the air or by touching something contaminated. Avian flu can cause redness in the eyes, flu-like symptoms and fever.

    Farms in Massachusetts are taking precautions to keep their birds healthy.

    Tracy Kinsey, communications and outreach director of Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester, said only trained volunteers and farmers are now allowed in the chicken coop, and they must wash their feet before entering. Customers are also limited to purchasing half a dozen eggs.

    “When it first happened, the shortage, people were trying to stock up, but that has sort of leveled off, and people are just back to their regular orders,” Kinsey said. “We do have access, if not from our own hens, from our partner farms that we partner with.”

    A look at the surge in egg prices due to avian flu. COURTESY PHOTO/METALYTIC

    Fred Moscaritolo, owner of La Cascia’s Bakery in Medford, said his costs have increased since he uses a lot of eggs. Last week, he paid $8 a dozen.

    “I deal with a variety of vendors, so they all have eggs. It’s just that they’re limiting how much you can buy,” he said. “It’s just costing double what it was.”

    Although he has not had to increase prices yet, Moscaritolo said he will if the cost of eggs does not come down.

    Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins laid out a plan Wednesday to combat the egg shortage. She said the USDA will invest $1 billion in addition to the roughly $2 billion already spent on dealing with bird flu.

    The federal government plans to spend $500 million to help farmers increase biosecurity measures, $400 million to assist farmers who have lost flocks in the outbreak, and $100 million on vaccine research.

    “I just hope it doesn’t get any worse,” Moscaritola said. “Hopefully, we can get those egg prices back under control.”

    Joseph Schanda Sr, owner and head chef at Paul Revere Restaurant in Medford, said the high prices hurt the restaurant.

    “It kills us on prices because eggs are so expensive, and you can only get two cases everywhere you go,” he said.

    Schanda said although he hasn’t raised prices yet, he may have to eventually.

    “We can only eat so much of the loss,” he said. “We’re thinking about putting a surcharge on market value, you know, extra eggs and stuff like that.”

    At La Cascia’s in South Medford, owner Fred Moscaritolo says he paid $8 a dozen for eggs. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/NELL ESCOBAR COAKLEY

    Smaller businesses are feeling the strain of the shortage. Lemus-Flores said that because Swanton Street Diner is a family-owned business, it does not have the same resources as a larger company.

    “TGI Fridays or Texas Roadhouse or Capital Grille, we don’t get as much help as they do,” she said. “We would have to find our own resources, how we can find things and what’s best for us to, you know, to accommodate ourselves with the prices and all of that.”

    Lemus-Flores also said the most important thing is to stay hopeful.

    “We just got to stay positive, keep our head straight, and hope all this shortage ends quick,” she said. “We’re just trying to bring in new ideas, try to make it as good as possible, even as possible for everybody.”

    This story is part of a partnership between Winchester News, Gotta Know Medford and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • Sen. Jason Lewis reveals legislative survey results during virtual town hall

    Danielle Krantz

    Sen. Jason Lewis, right, speaks to colleagues about tobacco legislation. Lewis recently held a virtual town hall meeting to discuss a survey asking constituents in his district what their legislative priorities are. COURTESY PHOTO/OFFICE OF SEN. JASON LEWIS

    Residents of the 5th Middlesex District are concerned about government transparency, health care costs, the environment, mental health treatment, housing affordability and state education aid, according to a new survey.

    Some 1,644 people from the district — which includes Winchester, Malden, Melrose, Reading, Wakefield and Stoneham — responded to a survey conducted by state Sen. Jason Lewis, who lives in Winchester. The survey asked them to rank issues based on importance on a scale from one to 10.

    Lewis, a Democrat, held a virtual town hall meeting Feb. 18  to discuss the survey results with constituents.

    The top six issues constituents are concerned about are: improving state government transparency, responsiveness, and accountability; reducing health care costs and wait times for treatment; protecting the environment; improving mental health treatment; reducing the cost of housing; and increasing state aid for public schools.

    “As a reminder of what our goals are in doing the survey, we obviously want to gather input and feedback from constituents and that helps us, especially at the beginning of a new legislative session,” Lewis said.

    People 17 and younger said their top priority is reducing the cost of college and lowering student debt. The top concern for people 18 to 34 is reducing the cost of renting and owning housing. For people 35 to 64, it is improving infrastructure. The main priority for people 65 and older is improving state government transparency and responsiveness.

    Lewis said the Senate began updating its rules in order to bring more transparency. He said a new rule will make all Senate votes available online. He also said all bill summaries will be available online and notice about public hearings will increase.

    “I believe in making government transparent,” Lewis said. “I believe that that’s critical to people’s understanding and trust in government.”

    The survey was conducted in December and January using a Google form. It was publicized through social media, local media outlets, community organizations, high schools and email.

    The town hall was hosted on YouTube, with 42 attendees who could ask questions via chat.

    Lewis conducted a similar survey in 2023 and said its results contributed to his support of several bills that passed, including new laws that require 1% of the state budget to be spent on environmental initiatives, provide more funding for youth violence prevention, restrict firearms possession on school buses and government buildings, cap co-pays for prescription drugs, and expand access to maternal health.

    “I heard you loud and clear. I know these were also issues that my colleagues in the Legislature heard from their constituents,” Lewis said.

    Voters question Lewis

    After discussing the results of the survey, Lewis answered questions from constituents who asked them in the forum’s chat.

    Browyn Della-Volpe wrote, “Please have a Town Hall session in person/hybrid to address the ongoing coup and to inform us what you have been doing about it, and how we can better focus our energies on resisting.”

    Lewis reaffirmed Massachusetts leaders’ commitment to standing against the Trump administration’s policies with which they disagree. He cited a lawsuit that Attorney General Andrea Campbell and 21 other attorneys general filed against the National Institutes of Health, the Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services over an executive order lowering a cap on overhead costs associated with NIH grants.

    He said the state would continue efforts to protect reproductive, LGBTQ, and other rights while acknowledging the need for a broader discussion on Trump’s policies.

    Lorna Garey asked, “Will you support reporting the MA Indigenous Agenda out of committee promptly and vote for its passage?”

    The Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda advocates for policies that remove offensive mascots, establish Indigenous Peoples Day, implement Native history education, protect cultural heritage and support Indigenous youth.

    Lewis reaffirmed his commitment.

    “I’ve been an advocate at the local level where we’ve made changes in Winchester and Melrose, in Wakefield and other communities,” he said. “But we still have a ways to go.”

    Maureen Meister asked, “Could you please take the lead in addressing and controlling teardowns? We have lost literally hundreds of houses in my town, and they were affordable.”

    Lewis said the housing crisis is exacerbated by the demolition of affordable homes to build larger, expensive ones. He said that solutions need to start at the local and state levels.

    Della-Volpe also asked, “How do you plan to implement this public input into an actionable plan?”

    “We’ve read through a lot of the open-ended comments that people shared,” Lewis said. “I’ve been pulling together my legislation for this session. I mentioned that we just filed bills in January. I filed almost 100 bills. But not every single one of those is going to be a high priority. I will continue to share with you all, you know, our efforts.”

    This story is part of a partnership between the Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.