Override Defeat Already Having a Negative Public Safety Effect in Templeton As predicted by this publication and others, the Town of Templeton desperately needs to send a different signal that Templeton is protected from crooks. Commit a crime in Templeton and they’ll catch you. The Templeton PD put out aContinue Reading

Winchendon Police Arrest Two Individuals on Numerous Charges Relating to Self-Storage Break-ins The Winchendon PD issued this Press Release on September 24, 2026: “On 9/12/2026 between 0023-0145hrs and, again, on 9/14/2026 between 0844-1022hrs., several self-storage units located on the property of Winchendon Self Storage (67 Gardner Rd.) were broken intoContinue Reading

Publisher’s Note: Gardner Magazine research has found that in communities which have substantially cut public safety funding the following consequences have occurred: 1. Property values have decreased 10 to 15% which in Templeton is $40,000 to $60,000 on the average home (compared to average annual cost of $439 of YESContinue Reading

Gardner MA Temporary Tap Water Changes – COMPLETE COVERAGE Beginning September 21, 2026, the City of Gardner Water Department will implement a temporary change in its water disinfection process, transitioning from chloramines to free chlorine. This shift is a proactive measures designed to address low chloramine residuals caused by nitrificationContinue Reading

Motorcyclist Sustains Serious Injuries in Collision with Bear A 71-year old male Orange MA resident sustained serious injuries in a collision with a 160 pound bear while traveling on Route 122 in Petersham. The man was flown via Life Flight to U-Mass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The bear wasContinue Reading

CVS Back open after Facade Collapse The Gardner MA CVS is back open after contractors took needed action. From the Gardner Fire Department: “Yesterday, Group 2 responded to CVS on Main Street for a reported building collapse. Firefighters arrived to find a large portion of the façade that had brokenContinue Reading

Publisher’s Note: City Council meetings are often dismissed as dry, procedural affairs, but the decisions reached during the Public Safety Committee meeting on September 15th represent a significant “hardware update” for Gardner’s infrastructure. To the casual observer, parking ordinances and speed limit adjustments might seem like minor clerical shifts. However,Continue Reading

Traffic Commission Addresses Signs, Speed Cushions, Accessibility, Visibility, and Funding Needs Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Traffic Commission met on September 8, 2026, to address various public safety and infrastructure concerns throughout the city. The members discussed the need for a pedestrian crosswalkContinue Reading

Gardner’s upcoming festival season represents a strategic opportunity for local economic stimulation and community engagement. The Gardner License Commission reviewed a diverse slate of applications, prioritizing logistical feasibility and public safety. Gardner License Commission Decisions Affecting Community Events The Gardner License Commission met on September 8, 2026, to review and authorize several specialContinue Reading

Gardner Magazine Special Report – 9-11: — 25 Years Later Listen to a special Gardner Magazine podcast on 9-11 featuring AUDIO from that day including witnesses to the tragic event. CLICK PLAY. The morning of September 11, 2001, dawned “temperate and nearly cloudless” across the eastern United States. From aContinue Reading

Pictured are Police Chief Matthew LeMay, Drone Operator Officer Travis Heath, Detective David LeBlanc, Karen and Davin Fors, and Fire Chief Kyle Butterfield. Westminster PD Launches New Drone Program The Town of Westminster MA Police Department has launched a new drone program through a partnership between the Tom Fors MemorialContinue Reading

View the complete Press Release on PDF, CLICK HERE. Safekeep Program Helps State and Local Police by Housing Prisoners – Has Saved a Million Bucks The Chair Man and the Chair Lady discuss the program in this podcast. CLICK PLAY. Since its inception in 2021, the Worcester County Sheriff’s OfficeContinue Reading

Petersham PD Mourns K-9 Lucy and Honors Her Service From the Petersham MA Police Department: “The member’s of the Petersham Police Department extend our deepest condolences to Ret. Corporal Bob Legare as his partner K-9 Lucy was laid to rest earlier today. K-9 Lucy served with Cpl. Legare for manyContinue Reading

Got $2 – MART “North Central Mass Rides” to be a Game Changer For only $2 per ride, people can travel between communities from 7am to 7pm. The on-demand service area covers a wide expanse from Gardner to Fitchburg-Leominster. See Map for details. Any questions, call MART at (978) 345-7711Continue Reading

Gardner Magazine has prepared this short video covering this subject. Watch right out of the page or full screen through YouTube. Gardner Magazine has provided 3 separate infographics below: The $38 million Shield, Analyzing the Evolution of Marketplace Risk, and a Behavioral Analysis Guide. CLICK any Image for larger view.Continue Reading

Please watch this short video prepared by Gardner Magazine which illustrates the importance of this override and avoiding catastrophic Public Safety cuts. The Chair Man and the Chair Lady explain and discuss the issue in this podcast. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. Templeton Town Administrator James Ryan Explains UpcomingContinue Reading

Update and Interview with Gardner Mayor Nicholson – Templeton Override – Pennington Murder – on Hotline Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. The WGAW Hotline Radio Show on Saturday, August 22, 2026 featured and update and interview with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson with topics including budgets, funding formulas, and governmentContinue Reading

A section of the Uptown Rotary is Getting a Redo After dozens of accidents have occurred, the State of Massachusetts is footing the bill to reconfigure the Uptown Rotary section where traffic intersects with Elm Street and Pearl Street. About 2 years ago, Gardner Magazine Publisher Werner Poegel (not anContinue Reading

City Council Briefing on Vision Zero Expected in September – Public Engagement Event Planned for October It is probably the only project where having NOTHING for a goal is actually a good thing. And the goal of Vision Zero is exactly that – to reduce traffic fatalities in Gardner toContinue Reading

Flash Flooding Causes Problems in North Central MA Rain on the morning of August 3, 2026 has caused flash flooding in the Fitchburg – Leominster – Lunenburg area. Notable areas included some sections of Route 2, the John Fitch Highway in Fitchburg, and Route 13 in Lunenburg. Please exercise cautionContinue Reading