Stoneham Wins $116,861 MassDOT Grant to Upgrade Oak Street Pedestrian Access
The town announced Tuesday it has been awarded $116,861.25 through the MassDOT Shared Streets & Spaces Program to improve pedestrian mobility in the Oak Street neighborhood, delivering one of the more concrete infrastructure wins the town has posted this month.
TOWN HALL
Stoneham received the MassDOT Shared Streets & Spaces Program grant of $116,861.25, designated for pedestrian mobility improvements in the Oak Street neighborhood. The town's News Flash announcement did not specify a project timeline or construction scope, but the award is a direct infusion of state funding into an active-transportation corridor. The full award document is posted at the town's document center.
Residents should also mark Saturday, June 20, for the annual Stoneham/Melrose Hazardous Waste Collection at Stoneham High School, 149 Franklin Street, running from 8 a.m. to noon. Accepted materials details are available on the town website. One quick scheduling note: the town has confirmed that this week's trash and recycling pickup will proceed on its normal schedule and will not be affected by the Juneteenth holiday on Friday.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Stoneham Public Library has a full slate of programming through the week, much of it timed to the exam season. On Wednesday, June 17, the library hosts a Finals Frenzy Therapy Dog Visit from 2 to 4 p.m. — a drop-in stress-relief session — followed by Film Club from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Residents planning to stop by Wednesday morning should note that the regular Drop-in Tech Support session (10 a.m. to noon) has been canceled for that date.
Thursday, June 18, brings a Ted Page Author Talk at 2 p.m. and, that evening, both the Enchanted Pages Society and Chess Club Drop-In run simultaneously at 7 p.m.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Stoneham Patch's morning digest flagged a local student story: "🌱 Patch AM: Meet the Stoneham junior earning big honors at Bishop Fenwick." A Stoneham High School junior is being recognized for notable academic distinction at Bishop Fenwick, per Stoneham Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham)
"Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate Pass Child Welfare Bill" — The Massachusetts Senate approved new legislation strengthening protections for children in state and foster care, a measure posted under state Senator Jason Lewis's name, according to Stoneham Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham)
COMING UP
**Wednesday, June 17** — Finals Frenzy Therapy Dog Visit, 2–4 p.m., Stoneham Public Library (Drop-in Tech Support that morning is canceled). Film Club, 6:30–8 p.m., Stoneham Public Library.
**Thursday, June 18** — Ted Page Author Talk, 2–3 p.m., Stoneham Public Library. Enchanted Pages Society and Chess Club Drop-In, both at 7 p.m., Stoneham Public Library. Stoneham Board of Appeals Meeting (time TBD per town calendar).
**Saturday, June 20** — Stoneham/Melrose Hazardous Waste Collection, Stoneham High School, 149 Franklin Street, 8 a.m.–noon.
**Monday, June 22** — Stoneham Historical Commission Meeting.
**Tuesday, June 23** — Stoneham Scholarship Committee Meeting. Sana Javeri Kadri & Asha Loupy Author Talk, 2–3 p.m., Stoneham Public Library.