5+ Things for the Week of Sept. 13: TMHS Voter Drive, Free Meditation, Boards Meet

1. This week marks the beginning of a Student Voter Registration Drive at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Time is of the essence for students who wish to participate in Special Town Meeting this October — the deadline to be registered to vote is Sept. 24, by 8:00 p.m.

Special Town Meeting convenes Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. at TMHS.

As part of a student-led initiative, students will have the opportunity to register and pre-register to vote starting Monday, Sept. 13 during lunch, using a voter registration portal. Students will need either a driver’s license or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

Students who are 18 years old may register.  Students who are 16 or 17 years of age may fill out a voter preregistration form and will automatically be registered to vote on their 18^th birthdays, regardless of driver’s license status. Registrants will be notified of approval by the town clerk’s office in two to three weeks. Students who are Tewksbury residents but are not at the high school are welcome to register or pre-register at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/ or by stopping by town hall.

2. Stressed out? Mindfulness and meditation teacher Lauren Masse, founder of “Mindful Minis Boston,” will lead a series of virtual meditation classes from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. over three consecutive Mondays — Sept. 13, Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 — via Zoom.

Participants will practice a different type of meditation at each class: Deep Breathing & Muscle Relaxation on Sept. 13, Movement Meditation on Sept. 20 and Loving Kindness Meditation on Sept. 27. Register for all three weeks here. Registrants are expected to commit to attending all three classes.

Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library and presented in partnership with the Memorial Hall Library in Andover.

More keen on in-person instruction? Chris Connolly, RN, BSN, owner of “Living My Dream Yoga,” will lead a series of outdoor meditation classes on the Library back lawn from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. over six consecutive Fridays — Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15. If you’d like to register, please do so here. Again, registrants are expected to commit to all classes in the series and are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat, beach towel, blanket or cushion to sit/lay on. Sponsored by the Tewksbury Police Department and The Front-Line Initiative as part of its “wellness” initiative during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

Other highlights this week at our Library: A walking tour of the Tewksbury State Hospital campus, an information session for veterans interested in the affordable home at 1047 South St. and the Friday Virtual Fright Night series! See a full lineup and get registration links here.

3. If your stress stems from a desire to connect with other local professionals, on Tuesday the Wilmington/Tewksbury Chamber of Commerce will cosponsor a multi-chamber structured networking event at the Scoreboard, 15 Middlesex Canal Park Drive, Woburn. Join local business professionals from the Wilmington/Tewksbury, Reading/North Reading and Woburn Chambers for an evening of networking exercises, appetizers and a cash bar. The structured networking includes questions that foster discussion and cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” The goal: Discover connections and commonalities with local professionals from a diverse range of skills and backgrounds and walk away with new ideas and relationships.

The event will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Register here.

Or, if you can’t make this event, pencil in a more informal Chamber networking event at Tremezzo in Wilmington on Thursday, Sept. 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. While the meet and greet is free, space is limited. Register here.

The Chamber is also looking forward to a fun-filled day on the links at the Tewksbury Country Club at the annual Chamber Golf Classic on Monday, Sept. 20. While the event is full, with 72 players, the Chamber is still seeking raffle and swag bag items. Email Nancy Vallee if you can donate.

4. There’s a full slate of meetings this week for Tewksbury’s elected boards and appointed committees. All are open, so anyone may attend. That does not, however, mean there is always an opportunity to speak.

On Monday, the Tewksbury Planning Board will hear a report from the Town Planner, consider a number of special permits and discuss the Zoning Bylaw amendment. Note that a majority of the Planning Board must support the Zoning Bylaw for it to come before Town Meeting in May 2022. Here’s why.

This meeting will be televised beginning at 7 p.m. on Comcast Channel 99 or Verizon Channel 33 or on Tewksbury TV’s YouTube channel.

Also on Monday, the Tewksbury Housing Authority convenes in person at 4:00 p.m. at the Saunders Circle Community Building with unit vacancies on the agenda, while the Beautification Committee meets at Tewksbury Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will discuss Fall town clean-up day. No virtual option for these meetings.

5. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen meet beginning at 7 p.m., with a number of board and committee appointments on the agenda. Watch the BoS meeting page on the town website to see if we might get a first look at the warrant for October Special Town Meeting.

This meeting will also be televised beginning at 7 p.m. on Comcast Channel 99 or Verizon Channel 33 or on Tewksbury TV’s YouTube channel.

The Upper Middlesex Commission on the Status of Women also meets on Tuesday, virtually, beginning at 6:30. This group covers more than 30 cities and towns, from Ashby to Lowell and Tewksbury to Medford. It’s organized under the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, a state-established body charged with reviewing the status of women in Massachusetts and offering recommendations regarding policy that would improve access to opportunities and equality. Here’s the Zoom link — find the login/password and agenda here.

6. On Wednesday, the Finance Committee convenes in person at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. A highlight is a presentation by the Town Manager on the warrant article for October Town Meeting, but the committee will also hear reports from its representatives to the Elementary School Building Committee, Green Committee and Economic Development Committee. No option to watch remotely.

Note that there is a vacancy on the Finance Committee. If you have a knack for numbers and want to get involved, you can apply here. This vacancy will be filled by appointment by the chair of the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee chair and the town Moderator — also a currently open position.