On June 19, 2026, residents, community leaders, elected officials, and visitors gathered at Baldwin Park for the City of Everett’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and honoring the history, resilience, and contributions of…
Author: Special to the Independent
$800,000 Cummings Grant to fuel
As hunger reaches new heights across Massachusetts, Project Bread has secured a major investment to connect households with food. The leading statewide food security organization has been selected as one of 150 nonprofits to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual…
Everett Public Schools concludes Strategic Planning process
The Everett Public Schools (EPS) held its sixth and final Strategic Planning meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, as the district moves closer to formalizing the document that will establish its priorities and create its vision for the next three…
Healey-Driscoll administration launches 2026 Park Passport Challenge
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced the return of its Park Passport Challenge, inviting all residents and visitors to explore the state’s parks, forests, playgrounds, watersheds and more through a free statewide scavenger hunt. Participants can…
NeighborHealth holds Art of Health Care event
NeighborHealth held its 2026 Art of Health Care event last week. The generosity of area residents and businesses helped make the evening a meaningful celebration of health, healing, and community. President & CEO of NeighborHealth, Jamie Hazard, found the evening…
Middlesex Sheriff’s Office welcomes 18 new correction officers
18 New correction officers formally joined the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office on Friday, May 22, following the completion of 13 weeks of training. A ceremony honoring the graduates of the 54th Basic Training Academy (BTA) was held at historic Winchester Town…
Mass Legislature passes DiDomenico’s bill strengthening early literacy instruction
The Massachusetts Legislature passed Senator Sal N. DiDomenico’s landmark literacy legislation that will transform how the Commonwealth teaches children to read to ensure every student learns this essential skill. As co-chair of the conference committee reconciling the differences between the…
Everett Police force achieves major state certification milestone
The Everett Police Department has earned Certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC), marking a significant milestone in the department’s ongoing commitment to professionalism, accountability, and excellence in law enforcement. Certification is the first of two levels in MPAC’s…
City hosts EHS for Student Government Day
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the City of Everett welcomed students from Everett High School to City Hall for its first Student Government Day in almost ten years. Sophomores and juniors began the day by hearing from local and state…
Guest Op-Ed: Building a strong foundation for Everett
By Mayor Robert Van Campen Over the past several weeks, the City of Everett undertook one of the most important responsibilities in local government: building, reviewing, and approving an annual budget. A city budget is more than a set of…