Safety Action Plan Announced in Gardner MA The City of Gardner has announced the creation of a comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries on local roads. Complete Press Release, CLICK HERE. Supported by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, this initiativeContinue Reading

Infrastructure and Community Improvements Focus of March 25, 2026 1 hour+ Meeting of Economic and Community Development Committee Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson provided a detailed status report on the Waterford Community Center, noting nearly completed electrical and plumbing upgrades aimedContinue Reading

The Gardner Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Steering Committee -Fund Reallocations, Project Updates, Social Services, and Application Timeline Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Gardner Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Steering Committee meeting held on March 24, 2026, focused on the reallocation of prior-year funds,Continue Reading

Exciting 69 second Board of Assessors Meeting There were no drum rolls. There was no orchestra. There was City Assessor Christine Kumar and Member Paulette Burns during the Gardner Board of Assessors meeting of March 24, 2026. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. The session began in the early afternoonContinue Reading

Construction Affecting the Entrance to Gardner MA City Hall Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson released the following statement: City Hall Entrance Construction Notice Beginning Monday, March 23, the City will begin the construction at City Hall which will affect the accessibility ramp and front entrance. Phase 1: Accessibility Ramp WorkConstruction onContinue Reading

WGAW Hotline Radio 3-21-26 Listen to the entire broadcast on any device, CLICK PLAY. Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson kicked off the broadcast with a cautious “Vision for the Future” because “this is going to be a rough budget year for us in the City.” Mayor Nicholson explained that healthcare costsContinue Reading

Weekly News Magazine – This Week in the Chair City – March 20, 2026 This Week in the Chair City is our “News Magazine” recapping the week and has an upbeat musical theme. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. This Week’s Edition: In Gardner, Massachusetts, the City’s identity is forgedContinue Reading

Lengthy Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Has Full Complement of Board Members Listen to the entire ZBA meeting of March 17, 2026 on any device, CLICK PLAY. The board introduced its first full five-member panel and established procedural ground rules. The session primarily focused on three specific property cases involvingContinue Reading

Grant Bringing Advanced Ultrasound to Heywood Hospital The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has announced a $150,000 grant to Heywood Hospital to fund the purchase of advanced ultrasound technology. This investment aims to modernize the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities, allowing for faster and more precise medical evaluations for patients inContinue Reading

The choice of the next permanent Health Director for Gardner MA is a big decision and we are providing complete coverage with the AUDIO of the 2 interviews, an explanation podcast discussing the issues, a debate with Max and Maxine Rogers each picking one candidate over the other, and anContinue Reading

The Gardner City Council authorized the Council President to seek legal clarification regarding its ability to participate in contract talks when individuals who report to the City Council are involved. While George Tyros’ remarks are included in the meeting AUDIO, we highlight them here. Despite Absence of 3 Councilors –Continue Reading

Rozanna Penney, CEO of Heywood Healthcare stated: “We are encouraged to see a federal judge recognize that these survey practices can be misleading. Our community knows the quality of care delivered at Heywood Healthcare, but ratings that assign failing grades to hospitals that did not participate in a survey riskContinue Reading

WGAW Hotline Radio – Daylight Savings Time Edition Spring officially begins on Friday, March 20th at 10:46am. This is the first Hotline Radio Show with Daylight Savings Time for 2026. Listen to the entire show on any device, CLICK PLAY. Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson was up first on the showContinue Reading

Summary: Car crash resulted in no injuries. Building sustained damage, but Burger King expected to be open later today, March 13th, or at the latest, the morning of March 14th. Car Crashes into Gardner MA Burger King On the afternoon of March 13, 2026, the Gardner Fire Department received aContinue Reading

Efforts of Historical Commission highlights Public Welfare Meeting The Gardner Public Welfare Committee met on March 12, 2026 and primarily focused on updates from Chris Pera, chair of the Historical Commission. Highlighted were recent efforts to restore a local cemetery and the necessity to secure additional funding for long-term preservation.Continue Reading

Disability Commission Discusses Improving Citywide Accessibility in Gardner MA. Listen to the March 11, 2026 meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. DPW Director Dane Arnold addressed the challenges of snow removal and the ongoing efforts to install compliant sidewalk ramps. The commission also examined a state notice regarding accessibility issuesContinue Reading

Economic Community Development Committee Reviews Progress on Infrastructure and Social Service Initiatives. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. Director Jason Stevens explained a significant 300% cost overrun for the Rear Main project, attributed to a three-year delay in receiving electrical back-charge estimates from National Grid. ToContinue Reading

Finance Committee Hears Extensive Operational Updates at March Meeting Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. The Assessor’s Office reported on tax rates, property abatements, and a troubling increase in aggressive public behavior toward staff, prompting a committee discussion on implementing new safety protocols. Human Resources detailedContinue Reading