City relaunches school supply and haircut drive for students
MEDFORD — A longtime Italian restaurant in Medford Square has closed, and the city has kicked off its annual back-to-school supply and haircut drive for local students.
TOWN HALL
The city has relaunched its annual effort to help students prepare for the upcoming school year, collecting school supplies and recruiting volunteers to provide free haircuts ahead of the fall term, according to a Patch report also circulated via Google Alert distribution. Details on donation drop-off points and volunteer sign-ups were not included in the available materials, but the program has been a recurring community effort in past years.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Real Italian Gusto, an Italian restaurant that had operated in Medford Square for more than a decade at 24 High St., has closed its doors, per a Patch report circulated through Google Alerts. No reason for the closure was given in the available reporting.
Tufts University announced that Medford-based cross country and track athlete Hampson has earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors, part of the organization's 2026 men's Academic All-American recognitions for cross country and track and field, according to a Tufts Athletics release.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Italian Restaurant Suddenly Shutters In Medford" — A decade-plus-old Italian eatery in Medford Square, Real Italian Gusto, has closed, per Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/medford/italian-restaurant-suddenly-shutters-medford).
"Medford Working To Supply Students With Supplies And Haircuts For The Upcoming School Year" — The city is again gathering school supplies and volunteers to help students get ready for the new school year, per Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/medford/medford-working-supply-students-supplies-haircuts-upcoming-school-year).
"Hampson Earns College Sports Communicators Academic All-American Honors" — A Tufts men's cross country and track student-athlete from Medford was named to the CSC's 2026 Academic All-American team, according to Tufts Athletics (read it at https://gotuftsjumbos.com/news/2026/7/15/mens-cross-country-hampson-earns-college-sports-communicators-academic-all-american-honors.aspx).