The Melrose Messenger

Melrose Arts Festival Drew Crowds Last Weekend

Last Saturday and Sunday, the Melrose Arts Festival returned to Memorial Hall this weekend for its 18th consecutive year.

School Committee Clashes Over Budget Vote

After heated discussion on Tuesday night, the School Committee voted on a $47.65 million budget for the Melrose Public Schools (MPS) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which begins in July.

This week’s budget deliberations began with a proposal from School Committee Chair Dorie Withey and Vice Chair Jen McAndrew to move $270,000 into the elementary and middle school budget areas.

Melrose Public Library Reopens After Renovation

On Tuesday, the Melrose Public Library reopened to the public after two-and-a-half years of renovation. City and state officials, library staff, and volunteers gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the library welcomed the public to explore the renovated building.

Melrose Running Club Welcomes Runners of All Kinds

With good weather finally here to stay (we hope!) and the Boston Marathon coming up on Monday, Melrosians who have been stuck inside throughout the long, cold winter might feel inspired to get in shape by running outside.

Melrose Little League Opens a New Baseball Season

On Saturday, April 5th, the Melrose Little League opened its 2025 season with its traditional parade and ceremony. Despite the wet weather, Little Leaguers and their coaches marched from City Hall to the Lewis Monk field on Tremont Street, where ceremonies were held to kick off the new season.

Upstairs Downstairs at Follow Your Art Shows Off Local Artists

On Sunday afternoon, members of the public came to Follow Your Art Community Studios (FYACS) to visit pop-up displays from local artists on the first floor, and open studios on the second and third floors.

School Committee Discusses Impact of Budget Cuts on Middle and High School

On Tuesday evening, the School Committee heard from Melrose High School (MHS) Principal Jason Merrill about how budget cuts for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which starts in July, are likely to impact students at MHS and at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS).

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Melrose Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Baseball in Family Concert

On Sunday afternoon, the Melrose Symphony Orchestra played to a packed crowd of families and young children who had gathered in Memorial Hall for the symphony’s annual family concert.

Creative Alliance and Chamber of Commerce Host 4th Annual Arts Summit

On Saturday morning, members of Melrose’s arts community and supporters in business, government, and the nonprofit sphere met at the Knights of Columbus for the Melrose Creative Alliance and Melrose Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual joint summit.

Rotary Club Contributes to Memorial Hall Restoration

On March 6th, the Melrose Rotary Club approved a donation of $20,000 to The Friends of Memorial Hall. These funds will help pay for the ongoing renovations to the Memorial Hall building on Main Street.

Financial Task Force Hears Resident Opinions on Potential Override Vote

Last week, the city’s Financial Task Force hosted a Public Budget Forum where residents could share their opinions about what they believe the city should prioritize in its spending, and on potential override questions the city might put on the ballot in November.

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School Committee Dives Deeper into Budget Details for Next Year

The School Committee examined in more detail this week several aspects of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which begins in July.

One of the most surprising cuts to come out of this budget cycle is the elimination of the middle school principal position - a decision that Superintendent Adam Deleidi explained in more detail this week.

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YMCA's LiveSTRONG Program Promotes Fitness for Cancer Survivors

The Melrose Family YMCA, with its historic building in the center of downtown, is a mainstay of community life. The YMCA provides a wide range of programs and services to people of all ages and needs. One of those is the LiveSTRONG program for cancer survivors, which offers support to individuals who have survived cancer and are looking to return to an active and healthy life.

City Council Looks at Road Safety Concerns on Franklin Street and Citywide

This week, the City Council heard from city officials about what the city is doing to address road safety concerns, particularly on Franklin Street. The Franklin Street corridor, from Main Street down into Stoneham, is an area of concern for many residents and has seen multiple crashes in the last few months.

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Melrose Family Room Finds a New Home at Melrose Highlands

In December, the Melrose Family Room, which has been a resource for young families in Melrose and surrounding communities for over 35 years, moved from its longtime home in the Green Street Baptist Church to a new space at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church.

Local Writers Find Community at Follow Your Art Writers Studio

For the last five years, writers in Melrose have enjoyed a place to write and a community of fellow writers at the Writers Studio at Follow Your Art Community Studios (FYACS). Members of the Writers Studio include published authors and aspiring writers, and they represent a range of genres.

Mayor Discusses Potential Impact of Federal Funding on Melrose

On Tuesday, Mayor Jen Grigoraitis, along with other mayors and town administrators from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council Metro Mayors Coalition, met at the Massachusetts State House with House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz to discuss how changes to federal funding over the next months and years could impact cities and towns across the state.

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