🌱 Patch AM: How big is Winchester’s budget gap—and what happens next?

Morning Winchester! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How big is Winchester's budget gap—and what happens next?
• Why a six-year-old McCall banner is suddenly under attack

Also on today's calendar: Coins, Stamps & Collectibles: Free Appraisal Day at the Spellman Museum and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: An afternoon shower or two, with a high of 85 and low of 53 degrees.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 71, low: 46.
• Sunday: Periods of sun, with a high of 64 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Town continues to seek alternative funding sources for budget (homenewshere.com) — Winchester's Long Range Financial Planning Committee is digging into revenues and fees as the town heads toward budget season and another likely override vote next spring. Members are analyzing predictable costs, recent fee hikes, and examples from other communities to map out the next five years and clarify the size of Winchester's structural deficit before Town Meeting.
   

• Old banner creates new controversy for Winchester middle school (winchesternews.org) — Winchester's McCall Middle School is at the center of a social-media firestorm over a student-created LGBTQIA+ banner, prompting online attacks on staff and calls for investigations. School Committee Chair Tim Matthews is urging town leaders to publicly oppose intolerance, and plans to introduce a resolution at Monday's School Committee meeting to reaffirm support for targeted students and families.
   

📸 Around Winchester

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Winchester

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 3
• Coins, Stamps & Collectibles: Free Appraisal Day at the Spellman Museum →
  Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History, 241 Wellesley St, Weston
  10:00 am
• Cider Tasting →
  The Great American Beer Hall, 142 Mystic Ave, Medford
  11:00 am
Tuesday October 6
• Intro to ADUs →
  111 High St, Medford
  6:30 pm
• Commonwealth School Virtual Open House →
  Virtual,
  6:30 pm
Sunday October 18
• Austin Prep: Fall Open House →
  Austin Preparatory School, 101 Willow St, Reading
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday October 2
• "Boston: Know Your Number" Enneagram Workshop →
  The Parish of the Epiphany, Episcopal Church, 70 Church St, Winchester
  6:00 pm
• Ripley Presents: Kathleen Parks Band →
  First Congregational Church in Winchester, 21 Church St, Winchester
  7:30 pm
Saturday October 3
• Winchester Youth Hockey Learn To Play Registration! →
  Holland Arena, 270 Salem St, Woburn
  9:00 am
• Create Your Own Spooky Cauldron Planter at Mahoney's Winchester →
  Mahoney's Garden Center, 242 Cambridge St, Winchester
  11:00 am
• Lion Dance & Traditional Martial Classes now enrolling →
  50 Cross St, Winchester
  4:30 pm
Sunday October 4
• Blessing of the Animals →
  The Parish of the Epiphany, Episcopal Church, 70 Church St, Winchester
  2:00 pm
Monday October 5
• Learn Traditional Martials Arts & Lion Dance - Now Open →
  50 Cross St, Winchester
  8:03 pm
• Intro to Traditional Martial Arts & Lion Dance →
  70 Cross St, Winchester, MA, 01890
  8:30 pm

📣 Winchester Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Winchester PatchAM possible:

• FIXER — (781) 218-9426
• J & J Homecare LLC — (978) 569-8050
• All Sport Skills Training — (781) 268-8970
• Boston Construct, LLC — (617) 697-1719
• Bloch Performing Arts — (941) 400-4580
• Creative Corner School — (781) 721-5566
• VNA Senior Living — (617) 776-9800
• Stage Music Center — (781) 570-2556

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• New Castle Hotels posted a job opening for Dishwasher/Kitchen Steward in Woburn. Apply here.
• Stop & Shop posted a job opening for PT Clerk - Grocery - 0433 in Medford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Winchester here.

🗞 Nearby News

Arlington

• Arlington, MA Conservation Commission — October 1, 2026 (meetingwatch.org)
• Franklin and Brentwood rank among the best small cities in America (theleafchronicle.com)
• 'Please help my child learn': Six tips to help parents navigate an IEP meeting (bostonglobe.com)

Medford

• A Beloved Medford Burger Spot Just Served Its Last Patty After 14 Years (whatnow.com)

Melrose

• Melrose School Waiting To Open New Playground To Students Months After Tragedy (patch.com)

Ok Winchester! 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: "Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig?" — Because he was such a boar! (Thank you Theresa H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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