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
Greater Gardner MA Shoppers Benefit from Discounted Turkeys Nationally, the price of a 15 pound turkey this year is about $35.40, or an average of $2.36 per pound. In the State of Hawaii, it runs about $52.85. In the Greater Gardner area, grocery stores are continuing their habit of substantiallyContinue Reading
Exciting Board of Assessors Meeting Has Assessor Smiling over DOR Approval Beaming from ear to ear, Gardner MA Assessor Christine Kumar reported that the Department of Revenue did not have a single question on the values submitted – Values and New growth were approved. In the words of one ofContinue Reading
Single Decision of Gardner MA Mayor Nicholson has potential to save households Millions The electric contract Mayor Nicholson signed on May 1, 2023 (known as Municipal Electric Aggregation) at a rate of just over 14 cents per kilowatt hour goes into effect on November 1, 2023 and goes through OctoberContinue Reading
Gardner MA Finance Committee Meets on October 2, 2023 The Mayor spoke to the Finance Committee regarding the recent certification by the State of Free Cash and retained earnings of Enterprise Funds. He detailed the various accounts and amounts. Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY. Passage ofContinue Reading
Gardner Mayor Nicholson has been called one of America’s most effective Small City Mayors, even being invited to the White House to speak about Gardner’s success. We asked him about everything in detail. We came away from the interview realizing that it was hard to document all that has beenContinue Reading
City of Gardner negotiated Electric Rate drops to 14.18 as of November 1, 2023. Options for Electric Rates in Gardner MA As of November 1, 2023, the new negotiated rate drops to 14.18 per kWH. See letter from Mayor Michael Nicholson to Gardner City Council, CLICK HERE. The City ofContinue Reading
Sales Tax Holiday in Greater Gardner MA 2023 On the weekend of Saturday August 12, 2023 and Sunday August 13, 2023, individuals will skip the Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax on items for personal use priced less than $2500. For Complete details from the State of MA, CLICK HERE. All retailersContinue Reading
Gardner MA Fall City Wide Yard Sale to be Saturday September 23, 2023 The Gardner Massachusetts Fall City Wide Yard Sale date has been announced as the first Saturday of Fall, September 23, 2023. That day is in fact the first day of Fall this year! This event will beContinue Reading
Impact of Minimum Wage in Massachusetts – 4th Highest in U.S. A decade ago in 2013, the Federal Minimum Wage was $7.25, having been raised in 2009. As of 2023, it is still $7.25. In 2013, it was $8 in Massachusetts. Today in 2023, it’s $15. Graphic shows every StateContinue Reading
USPS Might as well call it Route 66 in Greater Gardner MA First-class mail goes up to 66 cents on Sunday July 9, 2023 from the current 63 cents. The United States Postal Service, like many private companies, has had rising costs due to inflation. Other USPS prices are alsoContinue Reading
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