Gardner MA

Gardner MA Local News and Community Information

Visit the Gardner MA Complete History page with infographics, Deep Dive, Narratives, Debate, and so much more….CLICK HERE — Complete Gardner Telephone Guide to Various Departments

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• Gardner Graham St. Fire

  

  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 to the third and attic. Crews made an aggressive interior attack to knock down the fire in the upper stories. Flying embers started a small fire between two garages on Vernon St. that was quickly handled. Cover companies responded to several calls , including a small brush fire at Pearly Brook Reservoir. All companies cleared the scene at 17:12 hours.”

  Mutual aid to the scene: Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Templeton, Westminster, Winchendon, Athol, Fitchburg and Leominster. Devens, Rutland and Sterling covered Gardner HQ.

  
  All building occupants made it out safely without injury. However, 2 pet cats were not located. Cause of fire is under investigation and was not immediately determined.

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• MWCC HS Art 40th

  

  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 celebrate the work of high school students and recognize the dedication of their teachers, families, and supporters.“

  The 40th Annual Regional Exhibition of High School Art held in the East Wing Gallery showcased exceptional student work from eight area high schools, highlighting the creativity, dedication, and artistic achievement of young artists across the region. The exhibition featured a diverse collection of two- and three-dimensional works, including ceramics, painting, drawing, and mixed media.

  
  Participating schools included Athol High School, Contoocook Valley Regional High School, Fitchburg High School, Leominster High School, Quabbin Regional High School, Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School, Shepherd Hill Regional High School, and Wachusett Regional High School.

  During the exhibition’s awards ceremony, ten students received cash awards for outstanding artistic achievement. Works were evaluated based on originality, technical skill, and creative expression.

  2026 Award Winners: Aidan Marony, ConVal Regional High School — Wheel-thrown ceramic bottle — Lucy Morris, ConVal Regional High School — Ceramic lidded vessel —Erin Sargent, Leominster High School — Narrative watercolor illustration — Brynn Dunphy, Quabbin Regional High School — Geometric assemblage wall piece — Romelle Romey, Shepherd Hill Regional High School — Still life painting — Alaiza Wijangco, Shepherd Hill Regional High School — Collage (grizzly bear and salmon) —Julia Daly, Wachusett Regional High School — Carved ceramic vase — Bianka Mazierkowski, Wachusett Regional High School — Portrait — Dahlia Vargas, Wachusett Regional High School — Charcoal drawing — Allison DeLeire, Wachusett Regional High School — Painting (girl in pink dress) — The MWCC Art Club also selected Alaiza Wijangco for its special Art Club Award.

  MWCC extended its appreciation to Chrystal Voorheis, administrative assistant, and Kevin Oxford, gallery assistant and MWCC alum, for their contributions to organizing and installing the exhibition. “The quality of work in this year’s show was exceptional,” Miller added. “We are continually inspired by what students and educators accomplish, often with limited resources. We hope this experience encourages students to continue pursuing their artistic passions.”

  

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• Crabby Old Man Syndrome

  

  How Councilor Calvin Brook’s Crabby Old Man Syndrome Melted Away

  These are the comments of Councilor Brooks during the City Council meeting of May 4, 2026. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  Thank you, Mr. President. I’m just thinking that there’s a lot going on in the world today. We’ve got wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, dysfunctional Congress, gas prices, sports. We can talk about the Bruins, the Celtics, and the Red Sox. Personally, the construction on Elm Street that seems to be all happening at the end of my driveway. And all these thoughts were going through my head a week ago, Saturday, while picking up beer cans and bottles, Dunkin’ Coffee cups and nips on about 100 yards on West Street next to the transfer station. I kept thinking, why do people from Templeton have to throw their trash out their car windows? As a kid, I remembered the public service campaign against litter. Litter bug, litter bug, shame on you. My crabby old man syndrome was kicking in.

  So as I drove away from the cleanup day at the transfer station, I began to think about why I was there. Not the why answer of my picking up litter, but the why answer of someone in this community who thought the litter should be picked up and so organized the event. They did it to make this community better. A couple of days later, I saw a story in the Gardner News about the efforts to bring back the baseball diamond at Stone Field for Babe Ruth play. I remember the years of care that Steve Zoldack gave to that field, and I started to feel good about my community. Tonight we shared, in the kickoff for the Relay for Life, another locally organized event that is successful because of the hard work of the organizers and the participants. Here in this room are people spearheading things like the downtown flower pot program, assisting with overdose awareness in August, and helping youth sports programs in the city. The more I thought about all this volunteer work, all the people who stepped forward to fill a need, the more my crabby old man syndrome melted away.

  In many communities, members are only too willing to step back, take it easy, and to complain. We here in Gardner are all extremely fortunate to live in a community like this one, where members are willing to step forward, to do some work, and to give back. That spirit of giving back, of looking out for each other, is what makes this community so special. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to do just that. I applaud your work and am proud to live in Gardner. Thank you. – Gardner City Councilor Calvin Brooks

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• City Council 5-4-26

  

  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, and the ongoing oversight of municipal services.

  Key developments include the formal initiation of a search for a new City Clerk following the resignation of City Clerk Titi Siriphan and the approval of a preliminary City Council budget that introduces a dedicated technology replacement fund of $2000 to ensure equipment remains up to date. City Clerk Titi Siriphan was formally acknowledged for her dedicated service to the community.

  A significant portion of the session was dedicated to reviewing the Lifeline Services program, which, while projected to yield a surplus by the end of the fiscal year, remains under scrutiny regarding staff bandwidth and the fact that only 20% of subscribers are Gardner residents. Monthly revenue is $2500 against $1400 in expenses, currently carrying a light deficit due to billing backlog. Total subscribers: 69, 16 of which are Gardner residents.

  Additionally, the Council addressed a jurisdictional debate concerning the supervision of specific department heads (Clerk, Auditor, and Treasurer/Collector), emphasizing the City Charter’s role in maintaining checks and balances regarding executive authority. Council President George Tyros reported on a consultation with the DLR. The conversation raised “technicalities” and concerns regarding actions taken—and not taken—by the city’s legal team. Further discussions, possibly in executive session, are anticipated.

  There was an update on the Gardner Community Youth Center which had unique monthly visitors increase from 35 in January to 55 in March and the hiring of an Assistant Director. Additional state funding for the next year was secured through the efforts of State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik.

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• Council on Aging 5-4-26

  

  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 some detail

  The logistics of relocating to the Waterford Community Center was discussed. It will be a 90 day relocation plan and include choosing neutral color palettes and hiring specialized movers for the pool tables. The Council has contacted seven moving contractors and received four quotes. Selection will be based on qualifications and past experience rather than just the lowest bid. Workspace: The new “bullpen” for staff and volunteers is a 36×20 room, providing significantly more space than the current cramped quarters at Pleasant Street.

  Duration of Move to Waterford Community Center: Movers estimate the physical move will take two to three days. The Senior Center expects to be closed for a total of two weeks to facilitate packing and unpacking.

  Specialized Handling: Pool Tables: A specialized company will be hired to move, level, and re-felt the tables, as standard movers do not provide this service. IT and High-Tech Equipment: The City IT department will handle the move of computers and production equipment. Liquids: City staff must move all liquids (paints, waxes, degreasers), as commercial movers refuse to transport flammable or potentially damaging fluids.

  A color palette has been selected by a committee, focusing on “age-friendly” and inviting tones.

  • Palettes: The design utilizes dark gray trim and light gray lower walls for durability. Upper walls will likely feature beiges, yellows, or “off-white” (tan) to maximize natural light.
  • Debate over Blue: While some members suggested blue, the Director argued against it, citing it as too dark and uninviting for the space.
  • Natural Light: The new facility has numerous windows and skylights. The Council intends to remove plastic window tints installed by the previous school tenants to embrace natural illumination.
  • Furniture: The Council is modernizing its footprint by replacing “1930 vintage” cabinets with newer models.

  Also provided were updates on community programming including memory cafes, caregiver support workshops, and upcoming seasonal outings.

  

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• Model City – Global

  

  Gardner’s Model City Distinction Going Global

  It was only a matter of time when search engines across the globe would pick up on the City of Gardner’s “Model City for America” status. Gardner Magazine has previously outlined via the Fiscal6.com Project, CLICK HERE, the various strategic initiatives put forth by Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson and his team to excel in so many different areas to cumulatively achieve this distinction. We provide as evidence PDFs of searches on google, bing, and yahoo to show the national recognition of Gardner as the “Model City for America.” Going further we know that even the Russians recognize the achievement as demonstrated by the Yandex search attached. The only holdout right now is Baidu-China with over 1 billion people still in the dark about Gardner MA and its status.

  The Evidence on PDF “What City is Recognized as the “Model City for America” in MA?

  Google Search — Bing Search — Yahoo Search — Yandex Search (Russia) — Baidu Search (China)

  Gardner Magazine’s congratulates the various Gardner teams which have contributed to this high honor (and we apologize in advance if we’ve left out anyone) The Mayor of Gardner Michael Nicholson for his outstanding leadership, the Gardner City Council for its insistence on transparency and excellence in Government, the Gardner DPW for being at the top of its game regarding water, sewer, and other infrastructure under its purview, Economic Development for its attention to buildings and land whether it be public or private, the Gardner Police Department which has helped to reduce crime by almost half through various initiatives smartly executed, and the Gardner Fire Department for proactively focusing on safety, and the Gardner Public Schools under the leadership of Dr. Mark Pellegrino for lifting each student up to their highest level of possible achievement through individual efforts like the Gardner Academy, English as a 2^nd language efforts for non-native speakers, and providing college opportunities for higher achievers. All the efforts of these municipal heroes have combined to create the scenario resulting in Gardner’s recognition globally as the “Model City for America.”

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• Mayor on Electric

  

  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 related article, CLICK HERE.

  Press Release from Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson on May 4, 2026: “Good Morning, Over the weekend the City received questions regarding the City’s electrical aggregation program and a change in rate that was reflected on several rate payer’s bills. This was looked into this morning and the information is found in below in this email.

  As you are likely aware, the City of Gardner signed a municipal electrical aggregation contract with “First Point Power” that is in effect until November 2028.

  This contract locks in electrical rates for those in the City who participate in the electrical aggregation program, but contains one clause that allows for variability in costs due to a new regulatory requirement to account for the Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Initiative (DASI) program.

  DASI is a new program created by ISO‑New England, the independent/private organization that manages the electric grid for our region. Its purpose is to make sure the grid has enough backup resources ready one day in advance to keep electricity reliable. To put this into relatable terms, this can be compared to the grid setting aside emergency supplies ahead of time instead of scrambling at the last minute during times of emergency or high usage. As the grid changes due to more fluctuations in supply, it becomes more important to plan ahead. DASI intended purpose is to help ensure the grid can respond quickly if demand goes up or a generator goes offline.

  Since this program is still new, the City’s contract with First Point Power had a clause requiring any DASI Cost Recovery Fees to be variable. Since DASI costs are based on the previous month’s cost data, it can fluctuate depending on how much energy is being used by the grid. Due to the extreme cold days we saw in January, the DASI costs increased exponentially as people were using more electricity to heat their locations. As a result, those cold days triggered the clause in the City’s contract that required rates to increase to recover the DASI costs expended by First Point Power for the City. This led to an increase in electrical rates in the City’s municipal aggregation plan from $0.13931/kWh to $0.15152/kWh for the remainder of the City’s current electrical aggregation contract- an increase of $0.01221/kWh. All other companies that bid on the City’s electrical aggregation service for this contract also included this clause as a requirement in their proposals as well.

  This increase is being reflect in the latest round of electrical bills that many are seeing now.

  As always, the City’s electrical aggregation contract has provisions that allow unlimited free opt-in/opt-out if rate payers find a cheaper provider with a different carrier. The only requirement with the City’s electrical supplier is to provide 5-days notice. It is worth noting however, that while the City’s electrical aggregation contract allows for an unlimited free opt-in/opt-out, other suppliers may have clauses in their contracts that create fees on that supplier end if someone wants to leave their program for the City’s program.

  Even with the increase, the City’s electrical aggregation rate still falls under the average electrical provider rate currently available. The attached spreadsheet is the latest quarterly report the City has received relating to our electrical aggregation program. The first tab, “Gardner Aggregation Report” provides a breakdown in information for the third quarter of 2025. The second tab, “Gardner Detail,” provides a  full description of cost and usage since the City’s electrical aggregation program began in November 2017. From November 1, 2017 through September 30, 2025 (latest data we have from DPU and our Energy Consultants) Gardner rate payers have saved $4,596,739 through the City’s electrical aggregation program compared to the average private supplier rates during the same period.

  Best, Mike Nicholson”

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• Electric Rates Up – Gardner

  

  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 – Electric Rates up 1.2 cents per kilowatt hour – Average bill up about $7.33. Rate increase notice on PDF, click here.

  Effective with the March 2026 meter reads, the City of Gardner provider implemented a rate adjustment to its municipal electricity aggregation program. The rate will increase from $0.13931 per kWh to $0.15152 per kWh, an increase of $0.01221 per kWh. This adjustment is the direct result of a “regulatory event” involving the ISO-NE Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Initiative (DASI), a market restructuring approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

  The adjustment is necessitated by actual DASI costs significantly exceeding the initial projections provided by ISO-NE. While the City’s Electric Service Agreement (ESA) included a cost estimate of $6/MWh for these services, actual market costs reached as high as $48/Mwh (just under 5 cents per kilowatt hour) in January 2026. Despite this increase, the program continues to offer competitive rates compared to National Grid’s Basic Service and has saved residents and small businesses over $4.5 million since its inception in 2017.

  Overview of Rate Adjustments: The rate change is scheduled to remain in effect for the duration of the current contract term, which concludes in November 2028.

  Financial Impact on Consumers: Based on an average monthly usage of 600 kWh, the rate adjustment will result in a monthly increase of approximately $7.33 for typical residential customers.

  Competitive Market Comparison: The new aggregation rate remains lower than the National Grid Basic Service rates fixed for the period of February 1 through July 31, 2026:

  Service Type	Adjusted Aggregation Rate	National Grid Basic Service
  Residential	$0.15152 per kWh	$0.15372 per kWh
  Commercial	$0.15152 per kWh	$0.14493 per kWh

  The Regulatory Catalyst: ISO-NE DASI: A “regulatory event” is defined as an action or change by a regulatory authority that causes a direct, material shift in costs during the term of a power supply contract. In this instance, the event is the implementation of the ISO-NE Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Initiative (DASI), also referred to as DAAS.

  Purpose and Function of DASI: DASI was designed to improve grid reliability, particularly as renewable energy sources become more integrated into the power system. Key features include:

  • Co-optimized Market: It introduces a day-ahead market that simultaneously evaluates energy and ancillary services, replacing the former Forward Reserve Market.
  • Targeted Compensation: It ensures resources providing essential services, such as operating reserves, are adequately compensated and financially obligated to perform.
  • Efficiency: FERC approved the initiative to improve operating reserve resource readiness and day-ahead price formation.

  Market Dynamics and Variability: DASI alters the market by reducing the reliance on fast-start generation assets and diminishing loads settled on the real-time market over time. However, it introduces a new component to the ancillary market designed to bridge the gap between supplier bids and expected demand. Because this component is set on the real-time market, it creates price volatility and increased costs during periods of high uncertainty, such as extreme weather events.

  Analysis of Cost Discrepancies: The primary driver for the rate increase is the massive divergence between ISO-NE’s projected costs and the actual costs realized following the program’s implementation in March 2025.

  Projected vs. Actual Costs : ISO-NE originally estimated DASI costs to range between $120 million and 150 million annually, which translates to approximately 1.00 to 1.25 per Mwh. The City of Gardner’s ESA factored in a more conservative estimate of 6.00 per MWh ($0.006 per kWh).

  Actual market data revealed that these projections were insufficient: December 2025: Costs reached approximately $17/MWh. January 2026: Costs climbed to approximately $48/MWh.

  Impact of Extreme Weather

  The financial volatility of the new DASI structure was demonstrated during a severe cold snap in early 2026. On January 26 and January 27, the market incurred costs equivalent to two years of expected expenditures in only two days.

  Contractual Authority and Program History

  The rate adjustment is being implemented pursuant to a specific provision in the Electric Service Agreement (ESA).

  • Hedgeability: Because DASI was a new program, the costs were initially “unhedgeable,” forcing suppliers to rely on ISO-NE guidance for estimates.
  • Reconcilable Provision: The ESA included a fully reconcilable provision allowing for adjustments once actual costs were confirmed.
  • Historical Performance: Since its launch in November 2017, the City’s electricity program has demonstrated significant value. Through September 2025, it has provided a cumulative savings of more than $4.5 million compared to National Grid Basic Service.

  Future Outlook: The cost increases associated with DASI are not unique to the City of Gardner. All electricity suppliers in Massachusetts, including National Grid, are subject to this new market structure. Consequently, all ratepayers in the state are expected to experience impacts. Projections indicate that Winter Basic Service rates (effective August 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027) will likely remain elevated due to the ongoing influence of the DASI regulatory framework.

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• Weekly Briefing 5-3-26

  

  A Weekly Briefing from Gardner Magazine – May 3, 2026

  The Chair Man and the Chair Lady discuss the news of the week including Greater Gardner MA, North Central MA, the State of Massachusetts, National News, and World News. They tie it all together in a great podcast. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  Gardner Magazine has 4 separate additional sections covering North Central MA News, a Massachusetts News Roundup, U.S. National News, and World News.

  JUMP TO SECTION: North Central MA News — State News of the Week —- National News of the Week — World News of the Week

  The 5 Most Surprising Shifts Shaping Our World: A Week in Review (May 3, 2026)

  1. Introduction: The Complexity of Now

  The global news cycle of early May 2026 has reached a state of dizzying fragmentation, yet beneath the surface, a singular narrative of institutional erosion and systemic volatility is beginning to coalesce. This week, the public consciousness was asked to bridge the impossible gap between the mundane and the existential: from Gardner’s localized “Pothole Patrols” to the high-stakes geopolitical brinkmanship of the War Powers Resolution in Washington and Tehran. While these events appear disconnected—a municipal budget deficit here, a historic horse race there, a grounded airline everywhere—they are, in fact, the jagged edges of a rapidly reconfiguring reality. To look closely at this week is to see a world where the 20th-century social contract is being rewritten in real-time, signaling a shift from a society of mass accessibility to one defined by an “operational cliff.”

  2. The War That “Ended” (But Didn’t)

  We are currently witnessing a profound legal fiction intended to mask a kinetic reality. President Trump has officially declared that hostilities with Iran have “terminated,” a calculated maneuver timed precisely to coincide with the 60-day deadline of the War Powers Resolution. This declaration seeks to bypass the necessity for formal Congressional authorization, even as the administration pushes for a multibillion-dollar Pentagon funding infusion.

  The friction between this “terminated” status and the ground truth is stark. While the White House signals an end to the war period, the Senate remains paralyzed, recently rejecting a resolution to remove U.S. forces. The global ripple effects are already devastating: Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) production has been suspended following drone attacks, and the U.S. has greenlit $8.6 billion in emergency arms sales to Middle Eastern allies. Perhaps most telling of the fracturing Western alliance is the President’s suggestion to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany and potentially pull forces from Spain and Italy as punishment for their vocal criticism of the conflict. Amidst the administration’s claims of peace, the sentiment from Tehran remains chillingly pragmatic; as one senior Iranian officer noted, “Renewed fighting is likely.”

  3. The Sudden Grounding of the “Ultra-Low-Cost” Dream

  The era of cheap, accessible air travel—an anomaly of the 2010s and early 2020s—effectively died this week with the total cessation of operations by Spirit Airlines. The collapse followed a failed $500 million White House bailout, leaving travelers at Logan International and regional hubs in a state of logistical paralysis.

  Spirit’s demise is a direct casualty of a global energy crisis that has pushed Massachusetts gas prices to a staggering $4.15 per gallon. This “global supply crunch,” exacerbated by the ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, has rendered the low-cost carrier model a relic of a bygone era. This is not merely a corporate failure; it is the re-stratification of class mobility. We are returning to a “pre-jet-set” era where travel is once again a marker of elite status rather than a middle-class expectation. The dream of the ultra-low-cost flight has been grounded by the hard reality of 2026’s energy economics.

  4. A Landmark Verdict for the Digital Generation

  In a decision that likely signals the twilight of tech platform immunity, a jury has awarded $6 million in damages against Meta and YouTube. This landmark verdict was not about content moderation, but about the fundamental architecture of the digital world. The case, brought by a 20-year-old plaintiff, successfully argued that “social-media addiction” among adolescents is the result of deliberate design choices rather than accidental byproducts.

  By focusing on the “product” itself, the court has signaled that the era of Section 230 serving as a total shield for Silicon Valley is ending. This ruling suggests that tech giants will now be held to the same safety standards as manufacturers of physical goods. The “signal” here is clear: the digital frontier is being forcibly tamed, and the cost of doing business in the attention economy is about to skyrocket.

  5. The History-Maker at the 152nd Kentucky Derby

  The sports world provided a rare moment of historic progress this weekend, though it was framed by the shadows of a restless labor force. Golden Tempo’s 23-1 longshot victory at the Kentucky Derby was a masterclass in performance, but the true story was in the winner’s circle: Cherie DeVaux became the first woman in history to train a Derby winner.

  However, this cultural milestone stands in jarring contrast to the “May Day Strong” protests rippling through the nation. As DeVaux celebrated, thousands of workers took to the streets to protest the increasing use of AI algorithms to dictate unstable schedules for hourly employees—a technological grievance that is becoming the new front line of labor rights. This juxtaposition reveals the duality of 2026: pockets of historic individual achievement occurring against a backdrop of widespread institutional instability and a workforce increasingly at odds with the very technology supposed to optimize their lives.

  6. The Invisible Crisis: The Healthcare “Operational Cliff”

  While the headlines are dominated by drone strikes and airline collapses, the most impactful shift for the average citizen is the quiet transition of healthcare from a service to a luxury. In Gardner, Massachusetts, the school system is navigating a $1.5 million deficit—a crisis driven almost entirely by a 12.5% spike in health insurance costs. To balance the books, the city is now forced to consider significant staff reductions, a move that sacrifices the future of education to pay for the present costs of survival.

  This local struggle mirrors a national “operational cliff” where insurance costs have doubled for those without subsidies, leading to a 26% drop in enrollment among those in their 50s and early 60s. There is a bitter irony in the math: while towns like Templeton face a $4 million override to keep their libraries and senior centers from shuttering, the nation approves $8.6 billion for emergency arms sales. The economic oxygen is being sucked out of our local infrastructure to fuel global kinetic energy, leaving communities to decide between fixing a pothole or funding a teacher’s health plan.

  7. Conclusion: The View from the 2,000th Day

  Recently, Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson marked his 2,000th day in office, a milestone Gardner Magazine has used to champion the “Model City” status of his administration. Yet, just a few miles away, the “operational cliff” remains a literal threat to the survival of municipal services. The contrast is sharp: we are creating islands of stability within a sea of crumbling infrastructure.

  As we look at the world through the lens of May 2026, we must ask if the “Model City” is a sustainable future or merely a temporary fortress. The events of this week—the legal maneuvers to extend war, the grounding of mass travel, and the prioritization of arms over insurance—suggest we are not in a temporary crisis. Instead, we are witnessing a permanent restructuring of society. The “new normal” is not coming; it is already here, and it is defined by a world where the 20th-century luxuries of mobility and security are being repossessed by the realities of a volatile new age.

  Werner Poegel, Publisher

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• WGAW Hotline Radio 5-2-26

  

  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 70 from the State of MA with the School budget hearing coming up on May 11th. Nicholson gave “kudos to Council President George Tyros and Disability Commission Chair Anne Hurst” for the new seating arrangement in the City Council Chambers. Other discussions: Maki Park, pedestrian and bike bridge over Route 140, the Mayor’s campaign for State Rep, the MBTA and other transportation, and the 90th Anniversary of the Gardner Municipal Golf Course. Mayor Nicholson hit a golf ball at 9:15am on Saturday May 2nd just as Mayor Timpany did 90 years ago.

  Council President George Tyros: Tyros spoke about the Municipal salary scale which is now structured and more transparent saying that it is better for City employees, helps retain talent, and aids in recruitment. “We have a comprehensive pay ordinance now.” The Council President spoke of changes to the signage ordinance which now makes it easier for businesses to put up signs. “We want to encourage businesses to come to town.” Other topics discussed included appointments, Monument Park, the City Council Chamber layout, the budget, “It’s going to be a tough year.”, the resignation of City Clerk Titi Siriphan effective July 2nd. Tyros praised Director Brandon Hughey of the City’s popular new Youth Center stating, “I thank Director Hughey for his hard work.”

  Host Steve Wendell commented on the listeners who tune to the live stream from various countries around the world. Werner Poegel gave a comprehensive report on Gardner’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces. Wendell gave an update on the Urban Terrorist attack on the station. Mike Urban commented on the waste in State government.

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