A community driven source for information
ACM Affordable Housing CACHE City Council Candidate Condon Shell Deep Cuts Events Calendar Friends of the Medford Public Library Podcast fundraiser George Scarpelli Gotta Know Medford independent candidates Jonathan Fagen Medford Brewing Company Medford Charter Medford City Counci Medford Farmers Market Medford Happenings Medford Historical Society Medford Jazz Festival Medford Public Library Medford School Committee Candidate Medford Soap Company Melanie Tringali Milva McDonald Mrs. Murphys Mystic Players Revival Nate Merritt Nick Giurleo Oktoberfest Page Buldini Patrick Clerkin Paul Donato Jr. Pilot Program Rick Caraviello Sam Sednek Terry Carter The Ford Tavern Things to do Tufts Community Day Tufts University Week Ahead West Medford Community Center yART Sale Zoning
Jonathan Fagen, director of the Jazz festival and CACHE board member proudly presents the Medford Jazz Festival which will be held August 15th through August 17th. To get more information, volunteer or help support with your donations, please visit their website – https://www.medfordjazzfestival.com/
We had the pleasure meeting with Page a couple of weeks ago and we have posted that interview below. In the mean time consider joining Page for her campaign part today Sunday Aug 10! We look forward to seeing you all there!
Page’s website – https://www.electpagebuldini.com/
To check out the other candidates running in this election please checkout our youtube page – youtube.com/@medfordhappenings.
August 10th, Nick Giurleo will be hosting a fundraising event for his campaign. You’ll remember Nick was our guest a couple of weeks ago and of course we’ve posted the video below. It is important to help out the independent candidates who need your support. Nick hopes to bring his legal expertise to the city council if elected, more information about Nick can be found on his website – https://www.nickgformedford.com/home
While items on this site has been a little politics heavy, we will be making some changes in the upcoming weeks. We will create a page dedicated to the candidates running for both the city council and the school committee. This will allow a one stop shop for the folks interested in learning about these candidates. If you are looking for local news from actual news reporters please check out – GOTTA KNOW MEDFORD. We are a site that tries to present information and capture the very best that Medford has to offer. Thank you for visiting our site!
Below we have an email from one of our viewers, we can’t tell you how much this means to us to hear this feedback. We took out the last names to respect their privacy. Thank you Alexis and Rob!
Dear John,
First, my husband and I want to express my sincere gratitude to you and your team for your podcast and website. Nobody else is doing what you’re doing, and without your work, we honestly wouldn’t know anything about what’s going on in the city — nor would we be aware of the current candidates coming up for election.
This is a huge endeavor you’ve taken on, and your work is not only good — it’s deeply appreciated. So thank you, thank you, thank you.
My husband and I were both born and raised here in Medford, and we still live and own our home here. Your show reflects the soul and life of Medford, and that’s why it resonates so deeply. I know there’s this dichotomy people talk about — “old Medford” versus “new Medford” — and frankly, I think that’s a silly divide. What matters is what’s real, what has a pulse, and your work strikes at the heart of that reality. It’s authentic, and it speaks to everyone who truly cares about this city.
We write emails all the time in response to city council meetings, and most go unanswered — probably unread, I would imagine. It’s really a shame what’s happened to Medford, but we’re lucky to have people like you who care and work hard to keep the public informed. It takes time, energy, and commitment — and most people don’t have the will to initiate that kind of effort.
If you ever need contributing opinions, please let me know. We try to stay in tune with what’s going on in meetings, and we are highly analytical and civically literate. As I said, that literacy often feels ignored — maybe on purpose, maybe out of laziness. Who knows. There is no soul at city hall – it’s just an empty shell of “zombies” or maybe better said “robots”.
Thanks again, John. It’s people like you who make a difference — not because you have to, but because you choose to. That means everything.
Warmly,
Alexis and Rob
In light of last night’s city council meeting that extended until 12:15am, it bears reposting Nick Giurleo’s post from a couple weeks back. The city needs real changes in which it does business.
The following is a repost from Nick’s facebook account.
Many residents have become distrustful of the Council and do not feel heard. From reducing public speaking time to very late running meetings and last-minute agenda changes, there are good reasons for this. Here are 6 solutions Nick proposes to improve transparency between the Council and members of the public:
1. Increase Public Speaking Time: Under the current Council, public speaking time was reduced last year to only 3 minutes per speaker. When Nick is elected, the very first resolution he will propose will be to increase public speaking time to 5 minutes per speaker. Residents should not feel rushed at the podium and deserve an adequate amount of time to express their thoughts.
2. Reduce Councilor Speaking Time: Councilors often deliver lengthy, verbose speeches that flatter, grandstand, and do not get to the point. This causes Council meetings to drag on at length before public comment is opened, often discouraging residents from staying and voicing what they have to say. Nick supports limiting their remarks to no more than 10 minutes per paper and calling on the Council President to strictly enforce this limit. The less councilors are speaking, and the more members of the public are, the better.
3. No More Late Running Meetings: Members of the public have to work, attend school, and commit to other obligations the day after meetings and cannot wait all night to speak for a few minutes on an item. Nick supports a hard cap of 11 PM for all meetings (subject to rules suspension). Any outstanding agenda items are automatically tabled to the next meeting or a special meeting. When elected, Nick will move to table papers on significant community issues that do not get to public comment before 10 PM.
4. No More Last Minute Agenda Changes: Nick supports requiring the Council agenda to be finalized no later than the morning of the day of a meeting. Members of the public should have adequate notice of agenda items so they can come to meetings prepared to voice their thoughts on them. When elected, Nick will call out efforts to “sneak in” papers to the agenda the public was not given sufficient advanced notice of, such as hours before the start of a meeting.
5. Direct Responses to Public Comments: Councilors serving on the current Council too often totally ignore public comments because they are in opposition to their preexisting beliefs. Nick will directly respond to public comments, including by answering questions asked for the record, affirming that concerns that should be investigated will be investigated, and following up at subsequent public meetings on the results of investigations. Nick will call out councilors who do not adhere to their democratic duty to address what the public has to say.
6. Compliance with Massachusetts Public Records Law: Members of the public have a right under the Massachusetts Public Records Law to request public records from the Council. Nick will ensure the Council complies in good faith with the law and responds fully to all lawful requests for public records. He will ensure members of the public who feel records requests have not been fully and adequately responded to have an opportunity to be heard before having to seek legal recourse with the courts.
You can find his facebook page – Nick Giurleo for Medford City Council
Link – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575246882228
Last year the city got a Federal grant of $850,000, however the building still sits in disrepair a year later. There is no further information about where the money is or when this building will be developed. This in turns begs the question where does this money sit?
National Night Out is a city wide event that was held at Hormel Stadium in Medford. This is billed as a community event but it offers so much more. All the city’s essential services were represented tonight. Services aside, it was also a place where the residents of Medford could bring the entire family and enjoy games, food, demos and information. Police, Fire, services such as Medford Connects and the Medford Family Network were also in attendance.
Kiwanis celebrates 100 years this year!
City council candidate Nate Merritt showed up with his family
Just about everything you could imagine was here. Circling back to Medford Connects, their table had vital information for residents in need. This can be anything from seeking help regarding your mental health, seeking assistance if you are having issues with meeting your rent or worse if you are going through an eviction, don’t wait to seek help, Medford Connects is there to help. For much more information please visit their website – https://www.medfordma.org/departments/health-department/medford-connects Even if you don’t need their services, you may know someone who does. We are hoping to have Jason join us on the Medford Happenings show.
Another super supportive group is the Medford Family Network. They have an outstanding reach out program focusing on contacting families that are new to Medford and to provide assistance with but not limited to:
This is such a short list of what they provide, for more information check out their site – https://www.mps02155.org/students-families/medford-family-network
If you missed National Night out this time around, they will be back again next year!
Saturday August 2nd kicked off the first of a months long popup on Riverside drive right across the street from the Council on Aging. As this started promptly at 1pm, the attendance was sparse, however within another hour it was SRO, standing room only. The place was packed with residents looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon with the whole family. There were cornhole games, live music, great food and drinks. The Medford Brewing Company setup shop and were selling their craft beers. The fine folks from Simple Fare provided the food, for $6 you got a slider (pork or chicken) and a half basket of chips, it was outstanding!
Music was courtesy of The Pomps. They gave you song covers with a touch of reggae/ska feel. It was a fun band and they were the perfect compliment to a great afternoon. The party didn’t really get started until about 3pm when the mayor and other residents showed up like School Committee member John Intoppa. There are three more Saturdays scheduled for August, if you’re looking for something to do or even just to hang out in the square make this one of your stops. While you are at it, if you happen to be in the area consider crossing the street to check out the resurrected/repaired Krystal Campbell fountain!
The rest of the afternoons photos are below.
CALL FOR ART:
The goal of the show is to showcase artists of all ages (and levels) across the City of Medford, and/or works about the city in general.
The reception will coincide with our campaign kickoff on August 12, 2025, at the American Legion from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Accepted pieces are welcome to be put on display in the space as folks gather for the kickoff!
There is no entry fee for this virtual gallery.
At least one work will be accepted from each artist, as long as it meets the below criteria. Up to three pieces may be submitted.
Works must be Safe for Work (SFW) and be created by an artist from Medford, an artist currently residing/working in Medford, or about Medford in some way. Artists must not have used Generative AI to develop the works.
If you plan on having your work featured at the reception/campaign kickoff, please note the max is 2’x2′. If you work large, and want the opportunity to still make that piece able to be displayed, scaled down prints (or documentation of 3D work) are okay to bring on it’s behalf.
Please note works should be ready to be displayed as is. We are not able to hang work on the walls, so it will be placed on tables in the round.
Questions? intoppa4medford@gmail.com
More information on John and his campaign for the Medford School Committee can be found here – Intoppa for Medford
We had the pleasure meeting with Page yesterday and we hope to have that interview on our youtube site and this one shortly. In the mean time please set aside next Sunday Aug 10 for Page’s campaign party! We look forward to seeing you all there!
Page’s website – https://www.electpagebuldini.com/
Medford Happenings 