Gardner Magazine has a complete analysis of this meeting with a “Deep Dive” from the Chair Man and Chair Lady who go over the meeting and explain Gardner’s strategic move to keep talent. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. Non-Union Salaries Topic of 93 Minute City Council Meeting The GardnerContinue Reading
Fiscal 6 – The Interview with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson Fiscal 6 is the 6th Fiscal Year Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson has been in office and that started on July 1, 2025. We spoke with the Mayor about various needs and issues, and how things have changed over the lastContinue Reading
Gardner Finance Committee Has Discussions on Impactful Matters Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Finance Committee met on May 14, 2025 to consider various requests and financial matters. The Committee is recommending that the Gardner Community Action Committee be allowed to proceed with a modificationContinue Reading
Details of Federal and 3rd party AUDITS in the packet for the May 5th City Council meeting, CLICK HERE. They did it again! – 4 years running! In a communication to the Gardner City Council for the May 5th meeting, Mayor Michael Nicholson thanked his financial team of Auditor JohnContinue Reading
Complete information about the Winchendon budget and the proposed override is available on the Town of Winchendon website, CLICK HERE. Interview with Town Manager Bill McKinney on the Winchendon Budget challenges and the override. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY. Open Letter from Winchendon Library Director, CLICK for article PublisherContinue Reading
Bill McKinney on Running Winchendon Lean – Prop 2/12 Not Keeping Up with Inflation Winchendon’s Town Manager has taken a sharp pencil to Winchendon’s budget and informed the community last year that the upcoming budget would need an override. Coming up in Winchendon this year is a vote at theContinue Reading
Gardner Capital Improvement Committee Looks to Future While some major items are being covered by the $8 million from the GES Surplus going towards projects with lives of 30+ years, there’s still plenty of capital need for the years 2026-2030. See the $8 million list The Capital Improvement Committee metContinue Reading
Projects – Events – Veterans – Budgets – Pets Focus of WGAW Hotline Radio Show The WGAW Hotline Radio Show of March 22, 2025 was filled with great interviews. Listen to the entire show on any device, CLICK PLAY. 1st Hour: Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson on projects in Gardner includingContinue Reading
Gardner Mayor Nicholson using new role to Advocate for Greater Gardner area residents Gardner residents have expressed frustration with high electricity and gas bills and Mayor Michael Nicholson is taking the fight to Boston. As President of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, Nicholson signed a letter on February 28, 2025 whichContinue Reading
Gardner Finance Committee Discusses Various Matters for the New Year Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. Complete Agenda, CLICK HERE. The Finance Committee spoke about an Ordinance proposed by Councilor George Tyros which would require the Community Development Block Grant Steering Committee to meet monthly. Other itemsContinue Reading
How diligently are they working to get grants for the City? The Mayor stated, “There have been $158 million worth of applications currently pending for the city right now. We’re not going to get half of those, but at least we tried. Maybe we get half, maybe we get three-quarters,Continue Reading
Two Days to Beat the Tax Man in Greater Gardner MA On Saturday August 10th and Sunday August 11th, most items under $2500 purchased for personal use in Massachusetts will be exempt from the 6.25% sales tax. Great time to buy that TV you don’t need or that new washerContinue Reading
Many Electric Customers in Ashburnham to see Lower Rates Effective September 1, 2024, the Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant is separating the Customer Charge, Distribution Charge, and Purchased Power Charge. The result creates a small decrease in the monthly bill for many customers. For example the total bill for a residentialContinue Reading
Capital Improvement Committee Discusses How to Spend $8 million Faced with the good news that Gardner Elementary School is about $8 million under budget, the Capital Improvement Committee discussed how to spend the money. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. Committee was generally in agreement that $4Continue Reading
CDBG Grants Announced in Front of School Street School School Street School has been vacant for almost 40 years, has fallen in to disrepair, often has vandals and police calls. Gardner applied for a Community Development Block Grant to demolish the building and received it along with others to benefitContinue Reading
Which Cities and Towns Have Opted for Local .75% Option In the City of Gardner as of July 1, 2024, here is the accurate information regarding how your cost of a meal and/or takeout has been impacted by the adoption of the .75% option. A $40.00 tab used to costContinue Reading
No Huge Crowd at Exciting Board of Assessors Meeting in Gardner MA Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY. Sometimes the shortest meetings are the most exciting and the most revealing about how efficient a City is run. In this meeting, learn why Chair Chuck Leblanc has aContinue Reading
MART Free Rides Extended Through August 2024 in Greater Gardner MA The following is from MART “MART is pleased to announce that our Fare Free transit services have been extended through the summer to August 31st, 2024. Ride MART buses and ADA service FREE. No Fares, No Passes – JustContinue Reading
Gardner MA City Council Scrutinizes Budget Line by Line in Informal Meeting Council President Kazinskas presided over an informal City Council meeting on June 3, 2024 for the purpose of going over the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. The City Council took a methodicalContinue Reading
To be a guest on Hotline email SteveWendell@WGAW1340.com or call (978) 632-1340. It’s beamed to planet EARTH! WGAW HOTLINE RADIO brings local guests to planet March 9, 2024 Steve Wendell hosts Hotline Radio, Saturdays from noon to 2pm on AM 1340, 98.1 FM, and streaming to anywhere on planet earth.Continue Reading
Website has current statistics which are updated continuously, CLICK HERE. Unique website keeps track of U.S. National Debt in Real Time We took a snapshot at about 8pm on March 3, 2024. The United States National Debt is approaching $34.5 trillion, over $100k per citizen, over $250k per taxpayer. ToContinue Reading
Show Me the Checkbook – Gardner MA Has for Awhile How much has Gardner paid for various expenses in the last decade? Show me the exact expense and the check number? And I want it now. Sounds like a request not easily achieved right? —- And you would be wrong.Continue Reading
Budget Dog for Greater Gardner MA – Saving Money in 2024 Budgets are tight in every household, or, if not now, at some time your budget might be tight. The advice of Budget Dog will help you save money so you have a greater cushion in an emergency. Here areContinue Reading
With Grinch Banner in background, Gardner MA Board of Assessors has Exciting Meeting. Assessor Christine Kumar reported tax rate of $16.13 for 2023 is down for this year with a rate of $14.99 for 2024 certified by the State. City Council once again recently approved a single tax rate forContinue Reading
State of MA Holding more than $3 Billion in Unclaimed Property It could be a cable deposit or an insurance refund, but it’s yours so why not claim it. Fill out the appropriate form on the State’s website and the Treasurer’s office will send you a check. Don’t think youContinue Reading
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