City and Town Budgets Focus of Hotline Radio Show of May 9, 2026 Listen to the entire show on any device, CLICK PLAY. First up on the show: Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson. Topics covered: School Budget is finalized, public hearing Monday 6pm in City Council Chambers. The Mayor noted thatContinue Reading

The Gardner CAC – Lessons From a Week of Dedicated Community Compassion In the quiet corners of Gardner MA, a rhythm of service often hums along unnoticed until the week’s end when the tally is finally taken. This past week at the Gardner Community Action Committee was far from routine;Continue Reading

Gardner School Budget Review – Timetable for the Week Ahead The Gardner School Committee will meet on Monday May 11, 2026 at 6pm in the City Council Chambers. There is open time for the General Public to speak and a Public Hearing on the FY2027 School Budget. Public Comments areContinue Reading

Budget Discussions Dominate Public Service Committee Meeting The Gardner Public Service Committee met on May 7, 2026 and spent a considerable amount of time discussing DPW and infrastructure. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The focus was on preliminary FY2027 department budgets and infrastructure updates. Committee membersContinue Reading

Next Meeting is Tuesday, May 12th at 8am to finalize the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk job descriptions. Recruitment to Replace Outgoing Gardner City Clerk Underway The Gardner City Clerk Recruitment Committee met on May 7, 2026. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. On May 7,Continue Reading

Administrative Disputes, Projects, Agreements, Finances, and Maintenance Topics of Airport Commission The Gardner Airport Commission met on May 6, 2026. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Magazine Wildlife Cartoon is presented here due to some very real wildlife sightings on or near the airfield. TheContinue Reading

Gardner Police Department Adds Team Member – Mayor and Other Officers Show Support. The newest member of the Gardner Police Department is Officer Derek Wright. Both Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene, Deputy Chief Nicholaus Maroni, and other officers were on hand for the swearing in which took place at GardnerContinue Reading

Fire Crews Spent Just Under 5 Hours at Graham Street Fire A fire shortly after noontime on May 5, 2026 caused considerable damage to a building at 45 Graham Street in Gardner. According to the Gardner Fire Department, “Crews arrived to find heavy fire on the second floor, extending toContinue Reading

MWCC Hosts 40th Annual Exhibition of High School Art at the East Wing Gallery According to Joyce Miller, Chair of the Art Department and Gallery Director at MWCC, “This exhibition is one of our most popular and meaningful community events. For 40 years, it has provided an opportunity to celebrateContinue Reading

Transitions, Planning, and Oversight Focus of Gardner City Council The Gardner City Council met on May 4, 2026. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner City Council meeting held on May 4, 2026, focused on critical administrative transitions, budgetary planning for Fiscal Year 2027, andContinue Reading

Senior Center Budget and Preparation for the Summer Move to Waterford The Gardner Council on Aging met on May 4, 2026. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The budget was discussed during this lengthy Council on Aging meeting on May 4th and our infographic below provides someContinue Reading

Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson Explains the 1.2 cent Electric Increase to Residents We have a Press Release from the Mayor and a spreadsheet which explains and illustrates the issue even further. We thank the Mayor for his usual transparency. CLICK FOR SPREADSHEET. This is a follow up to a relatedContinue Reading

Gardner Magazine is publishing a very complete set of information here in this article regarding the reasons for the electric rate increase in Gardner despite a plan which runs through 2028. Electric Rates Up in Gardner MA Despite 3 Year Plan – Here’s Why… First Point Power Rate Adjustment –Continue Reading

Both Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson and Council President George Tyros appear on WGAW Hotline Radio Listen to the WGAW Hotline Radio Show of 5-2-26 on any device, CLICK PLAY. Mayor Michael Nicholson: A discussion of the Gardner City budget and how the school portion is funded primarily by Chapter 70Continue Reading

The infographic below illustrates some data, includes a comprehensive safety analysis, the project framework, and various factors. Gardner’s Safety Action Plan Discussed at April 29th Meeting Listen to the entire meeting on any device. There’s a presentation along with citizen comments. This public meeting was both a presentation of theContinue Reading

From the President’s Desk – April 2026 with Gardner City Council President George Tyros. In an April 2026 update, CLICK HERE FOR PDF, Gardner City Council President George Tyros outlines several legislative measures aimed at improving city operations and local governance. A major highlight includes the establishment of a standardizedContinue Reading

A Hypothetical and Ridiculous Question for the Mayor of Gardner Gardner Magazine has postulated the following question to Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson. What would be most exciting? 1. Meeting space aliens at the Gardner Dog Park 2. Meeting with Donald Trump at the White House regarding Gardner as the “ModelContinue Reading

Improvements, Updates, Transitions and Future Plans Focus of Economic and Community Development Session. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Economic and Community Development Committee met to discuss several key urban improvements and organizational shifts. A major focus is the Waterford Community Center, where aContinue Reading

Personnel and Administrative Matters – Resignation of Titi Siriphan, City Clerk, Focus of Appointments Committee Meeting Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Appointments Committee met on April 28, 2026, to manage various personnel and administrative matters for the city. During the session, members reviewedContinue Reading

Updates, Challenges, Costs, and Negotiations Discussed at Finance Committee Meeting Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Finance Committee met on April 27, 2026, to discuss various municipal updates, starting with the City Clerk’s positive report on the successful implementation of electronic poll pads duringContinue Reading