Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Medford’s search for a new police chief means for residents

And on the Medford Patch calendar - Oktoberfest at the Great American Beer Hall

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Saturday September 19th Patch AM
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Hello Medford! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Medford's search for a new police chief means for residents
  • Why Medford's board rejected a proposed car wash special permit
  • High-paying Tufts privacy job just opened in Medford

Also on today's calendar: Oktoberfest at the Great American Beer Hall and 17 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call cows dancing in the dark 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Cooler with clouds and sun, with a high of 65 and low of 48 degrees.
  • Sunday: Cloudy, afternoon rain, temps: high: 64, low: 52.
  • Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 67 and low of 48 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Medford Police Chief retiring after nearly thirty years in the department (tuftsdaily.com) — Medford's longtime police chief Jack Buckley will retire Dec. 19, and the city is already searching for his successor under new rules that remove the chief's job from civil service. Local leaders say this change lets Medford recruit more experienced candidates, even from outside the department, while hoping the next chief will mentor younger officers into future leadership.
   

2. Real property – Encroachment (masslawyersweekly.com) — A recent Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly roundup notes that Medford's Community Development Board denied a special permit for a proposed car wash, a decision that has now been the subject of legal review. While the main article focuses on a Rockport encroachment case, the Medford snippet signals how tightly the city is scrutinizing new development and special permit requests, which could affect future commercial projects around town.
   

3. Compliance Jobs Report: Sept. 18 (radicalcompliance.com) — Local job seekers should know Tufts University is hiring a privacy program manager based in Medford, with a listed salary range of $108,000 to $162,000. The broader report also tracks major ethics and compliance hires and promotions at companies worldwide, offering a snapshot of career trends in this growing field.
   

4. The Explainer: Waltham's City Charter is nearly 40 years old. How could it change? (walthamtimes.org) — Medford recently overhauled its city charter, extending the mayor's term to four years and shifting the City Council to mostly ward-based seats, similar to changes in Waltham now under discussion. This explainer walks through how Massachusetts communities can rewrite their local "constitutions," comparing Medford's 1986 and 2025 charters and outlining the Home Rule and special act paths residents might see used again.
   

5. Federal Transit Administration ends years-long review of MBTA safety oversight - Boston News, Weather, Sports (whdh.com) — State oversight of MBTA safety has been restored after federal regulators concluded a four-year review sparked partly by the 2022 Orange Line train fire over the Mystic River in Medford. Officials say staffing and training improvements at the Department of Public Utilities met federal requirements, but riders should still watch how these changes affect day-to-day safety on the T.
   

📸 Around Medford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Medford

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★ Featured events ★

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📣 Medford Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I recently posted about my terrible experience at the Cambridge Hospital ER.
    That experience still stands, but I had the greatest experience at 1 Cabot Road, the new CHA building. I saw my Podiatry Surgeon prior to having… (Nextdoor South Medford)
  • Two Maids posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Medford. Apply here.
  • Whole Foods posted a job opening for Whole Body Team Member (Body Care, Makeup, Vitamins, Nutrition - Stocker, Inventory, Floor Service) - Full Time in Medford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Medford here.

Ok Medford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Night Moo-s (Thank you John S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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