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News Around Greater Gardner MA
- Fictional 9
Gardner Magazine Fictional Theater Episode 9 – Don and Joe Go to Mars
This time, Joe and Don are on their way to Planet Mars. Will Joe and Don need replacements on the ballot or will Don’s Space Time Derivative work? Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Also Listen to Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on our Fictional Fun page. CLICK HERE.
This is a work of fiction. No actual politicians participated in this series. And they did not actually travel to Mars.
Upcoming Episodes: Joe and Don Form a Rock Band, Joe and Don at the Junkyard, Joe and Don Meet the Aliens, Joe and Don Travel U.S. by Train.
- Zoning 3-27-24
Zoning Board of Appeals With Spirited Discussions at Recent Meeting
During the meeting of March 27, 2024, there were discussions, explanations, and information presented.
Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.
- Yard 2024
Gardner Residents Gear Up for First Yard Waste Pickup of 2024
Gardner MA residents will be putting out yard waste on their regular trash pickup day during the week of April 2nd through April 5th. This will be the only yard waste pickup until the next one during the first week of May. Yard Waste pickup is the first week of every month from April through October, with 2 pickup weeks in November.
What you can put out: Grass clippings and leaves may be placed in paper yard waste bags or loose in open barrels with no lid. EL Harvey has asked that residents no longer use cardboard boxes. There is no limit to how many containers or bags of yard waste you can put out. Sticks less than 2 inches thick and up to 3 feet long may be place out in bundles. All bundles and containers must weigh less than 50 pounds each.
What is a prohibited NO NO: Yard waste may not include rocks, gravel, sod or dirt.
The City of Gardner issued this reminder: “If your yard waste is not removed by the end of your scheduled day, please call EL Harvey Call Center within 48 hours to report at 1-800-321-3002.”
- Conservation 3-25-24
Various Properties Focus of Conservation Commission in Gardner MA
The Gardner Conservation Commission Took up Various Matters on March 25, 2024. Complete Agenda, CLICK HERE.
Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Matters concerned vegetation management on Kendall Pond, property located on Wampanoag Road South, 130 Crystal Lake Drive for the North Central Pathway Nature Trail Connector, All Purpose Storage LLC regarding buffer zones of a bordering Vegetated Wetland, contractor building and associated site improvements at 170 Mill Street Gardner
- Golf 3-25-24
Season of Golf to Begin in Gardner MA at Municipal Golf Course
The Golf Commission met on March 25, 2024. Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY.
There was a discussion of promoting the Veterans Discount at the Golf Course through a free program.
The computer system is ready to go. Staff has been training on it. It is cloud-based. There was a discussion on when the Golf Course will open. “We’re going to see next week if we can get people walking around….It will be way too wet for golf carts.” They will try next week to see if they can roll some greens.
Right now, receipts are $515,000 and expenses are $725,000 so Golf Course is in the red. However, “As memberships pick up and the golf course opens, that should turn around.”
- Welfare 3-26-24
Complete Agenda and Packet with Monty Tech Budget Information. Budget shows assessments for all participating communities. CLICK HERE.
Gardner Public Schools MVP Academy and Monty Tech FY 25 Budget Take Up Public Welfare Meeting
The Public Welfare Committee chaired by Councilor Judy Mack met on March 26, 2024. Presentations at the meeting included: Gardner Public Schools MVP Academy, Monty Tech Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation, and a discussion on Ordinance to create an Agricultural Commission. Complete Agenda and Monty Tech FY 25 Complete Budget information is included, CLICK HERE. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY
Agricultural Commission item is in separate short 2 minute AUDIO matching short 2 minute video posted by City of Gardner. It was agreed that more time that was needed before a recommendation was rendered. Listen to the exciting 2 minute meeting conclusion on any device, CLICK PLAY.
- Council 3-25-24
Council President Kazinskas stated, “The Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG Program, provides funding and technical support for projects that achieve the city’s development objectives while principally benefiting low- and moderate-income persons and or addressing slum and blight conditions. Funding for the CDBG Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the guidelines of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.”
Director Trevor Beauregard responded by describing some funding being held up by the need for an environmental review and indicated that his Department did respond to an audit for the 2021 grant. Hear his opening comment, CLICK PLAY
Other Councilors asked questions of the Director. (Best to listen to entire meeting) Councilor Judy Mack alleges Gross Negligence by a Former Development Department Employee. CLICK PLAY.
Gardner City Council Meets on CDBG Grants and Goes over Issues
Various State Reviews of prior year CDBG Grants are taking place and Director of Development and Planning Trevor Beauregard was on hand to answer Councilor questions. Councilor George Tyros (the City Council designee to the Steering Committee) had requested the meeting to review the City’s management of the Community Development Block Grant Program. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Councilor Tyros stated, “In preparation for the first CDBG meeting of this year, I reached out to the Director in February to request an update on previous block grant projects, specifically the demolition of the Greenwood indoor pool, construction of a new pavilion in its place, and the construction of Maki Park downtown. The Director informed me that the Block Grant 2022-2023 funds have not yet been released, so no project could be initiated. And in a follow-up question, he informed me that all work related to the Block Grant 2022-2023 grant would need to be completed by the Assistant Director after he starts. The reason why we’re here this evening is because at that meeting, the Director shared with me and the committee that as a part of regular monitoring and review by the State of the program, issues were found in the administration of both construction and public social services aspects of the Block Grant program. Issues that, as I’ve said before, are not detrimental, but are holding up funding for important projects and opportunities that we have to action on if we want to continue moving Gardner in the right direction and keep this important funding.” Tyros stated his objective was to have a discussion about the challenges being faced, to make sure changes are being made, and to prevent future issues that could threaten the source of funding. Listen to Councilor Tyros’ full remarks on any device. CLICK PLAY.
We reached out for further comment to a number of people and Councilor Judy Mack responded, “The grant audit list of errors is a direct result of someone not doing their job of which they were responsible for which was why I said it was a gross negligence on the person who was responsible.”
We did reach out to the former Assistant Director, current Director Trevor Beauregard, Councilor George Tyros, and Mayor Michael Nicholson. We will post their comments here if they choose to add something.
- Transportation Survey
How to provide Transportation Input: (1) Fill Out the Survey CLICK HERE. (2) If you have further thoughts, email Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson via Mayor@Gardner-MA.gov or call his office at (978) 630-1490. To view a larger version of the image above, just click on it.
Take a FREE, 1 Minute, Easy Transportation Survey and Help Yourself and other Commuters
Gardner Mayor Nicholson stated, “The City and Wood’s Ambulance are conducting a transportation survey for the City to gauge the demand for residents looking for transportation from Gardner to the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station for both work or entertainment/travel purposes.”
- Service 3-25-24
Gardner MA Public Service Committee Gains Intel on City Progress
Chair Councilor Paul Tassone along with Councilor George Tyros and Councilor Thibeault-Munoz met on March 25, 2024. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Chair Paul Tassone recounted a Zoning problem and is asking that a committee or something be put together to study it. Tassone spoke to a business which is zoned commercial 2 but was erroneously told he was in industrial 2 due to a defect in the Zoning database. City Engineer Rob Oliva stated, “So historically, the GIS survey department has maintained the zoning map. And for some reason, the zoning change had been made. Everybody started looking at the zoning map. It didn’t reflect the change that was made back in the early 2000s at this particular site. When the building department started looking into it, they were having trouble finding the vote of the city council on the issue. So it kind of compounded. But long story short, it was found. Everybody agreed it zoned correctly. The zoning map just never got changed.“
DPW Director Dane Arnold informed about several old pieces of equipment which need to be declared surplus to “at least recoup some of the money.” Arnold reported on staffing and the effect on the last storm, “We have 12 vacancies in the entire DPW, including two retirees that will be retired by the end of this month. On top of that, we have one on medical leave and one on the Family Medical Leave Act, so that leaves us with 14 vacancies currently that we had over the weekend in this last storm. There were seven routes that didn’t have anyone in it, so that just means our guys worked one and a half times longer to get out to cover these routes.” The Director reported that they had received offers from both unions, “hopefully if the salaries increase, we can get some more employees in here.”
Bid was opened last Thursday regarding the transmission line for the water main. Low bid was almost $1,065,000, “anything over $1 million, we’re going to have to pay out of the water enterprise account.” Director Arnold spoke of various paving plans.” I can only authorize for the water department what was excavated up. Obviously, I’m going to talk to the mayor and see if we can incorporate not only James but Highland and Reservoir and just try to get the whole neighborhood together. So I’ll put together a proposal, and hopefully we can get funding for it. We are looking at, the mayor and I, we’ve put together what we’re going to be paving as far as when that rotary project is done, Elm Street, Green Street, Pearl Street, and see what it’s going to cost. We’re also thinking about trying to tie in Chestnut Street, if we can afford it. So we are looking at doing that when that project is done.So that transmission line, we’re hoping to get started probably late June to July and get it wrapped up either by fall or spring of next year.” Regarding the James Street Pump Station, “On top of that, we have been verbally told that we have received a grant for the James Street pump station, which is up on top of the hill. That pumps water from the tanks over to the elevated storage tank, which is on the other side of 140, which feeds the elevated system. That plan has only been touched since the 80s, so we’re looking at like a million and a half bucks to upgrade that plant as well. Grant for Summit Pumps: We’re also looking for a grant for the Summit pumps, which is a sewer pump station, which is down in Industrial Park off of Suffolk Lane. We’ve been receiving more and more flow from Ashburnham to the point where the pumps actually need to be upgraded, so we’ve asked for a grant to redo that pump station, which I think is 1989, 1986, somewhere in that year. So hopefully we can get grants for that.” The Director stated that any disruptions to service would be several hours when they do that. Regarding a possible Wastewater Plant upgrade, “The other thing we’re looking at is we have to do another upgrade at the wastewater plant, which we have, again, been talking about for years. We’re working on a scope and a project cost. We’re looking at the sewer rates and what we can afford, and it’s somewhere in the $4 million range that we can afford to do down there. A lot of the mechanisms on the tanks, those large tanks.”
DPW Director Dane Arnold also spoke of progress with the Disc Golf Course going up off of Leo Drive. He spoke of the planter built twice at Monument Park – the first one lasted 16 hours before a motor vehicle had an accident and drove right through it. “Fortunately, no one was up there working on it at the time.” The whole thing was built again the next day.
City Engineer Rob Oliva reported that the Uptown Rotary Project is slated to start back up in the middle of April with a fall finish date. Regarding the Sludge Landfill Project: “The sludge landfill project, we’re still moving forward with that. Our consultant is still working on it. We recently met with a consultant and state officials from DEP and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs regarding our upcoming submittal to MEPA for our draft environmental impact report. As part of that, they recommended we have some public outreach, so there was some discussion on how to do that and what would work. So our consultant’s putting together a plan for our public outreach to have MEPA review and say, yes, this is what we’re looking for. So we’ll keep you updated on that. At some point, we’ll have some sort of public meeting to discuss the project.” Regarding Flood Control, ” South Gardner Flood Control Project sees an annual inspection from the Army Corps of Engineers. They’re coming April 3rd to do that, so I’ll go out with them. We drive to all the sites. They do their inspections and produce a report every year.”
Conservation Agent Doug Dillon reported on the dam, ” At one of my meetings, I had received some concerns from the commission members, you know, regarding the condition of the dam, so I reached out to the Office of Dam Safety and they sent out an engineer to view the area, you know, as far as the rain this month. They noted no change in condition from the last report, which I think was April, May of 23. So, you know, for the time being, it’s stable, I guess.” On the North Central Trail Connector, “which is going to be running, you know, along Crystal Lake and connecting to the old rail bed. Some of the concerns that I have with that was the wetland area crossing with a culvert that holds a wetland replication area. And I’ve been working with the applicant, which is the city, and their consultant, Ty Vaughn, to hopefully, you know, create a resilient and worthy project of, you know, the funds it’s receiving and the people that will be using it.” Dillon indicated it would be a pretty substantial project as it will be 10 to 12 feet wide with an additional 5 feet cleared out at the sides.
- Health 3-25-24
Gardner Health Director Micah Blondeau Updates City at Board of Health Meeting
Gardner Board of Health met on March 25, 2024. Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Abandoned Housing – The Director has a plan in place for handling abandoned housing with the ACO’s office of the State, “Whenever we identify a new house that we think they would find suitable, we’re going to refer that to them.”
Landfill – Director Blondeau stated, “I’m going to be meeting with our environmental consultants at the landfill so we can get a clear view of the sort of work that we need to do. And then we’ll start getting close and working on figuring out how to pay for those projects. …We did get a quote to install some precast concrete steps where the residents throw the trash into the bagel containers. So that was about $3,000 for pre-made steps. And then we would be able to install them. And we probably need railings. So we’re still exploring our options with that.”
E.L. Harvey – No complaints “since the last meeting, we haven’t had any complaints regarding E.L. Harvey and co-handling trash recycling or anything like that.”
Norovirus at a restaurant – “We did get one complaint about potential food borne illness, but we don’t have a lot of details on it other than two different people ate at a restaurant at two different times, and they both had norovirus, but we don’t know what they ate or when they ate. We did do a preliminary inspection today and just went with it as far as making sure they’re following the procedures for restricting or excluding employees, hand-washing, educating about norovirus, all that good stuff. So we will keep working on that as much as we can.” What is norovirus? Here’s the detail from the CDC, CLICK HERE.
Vaccine Clinics – “We are still waiting on a schedule for the next clinics, where the vaccinations go.”
Health and Wellness Fair – So far, there are 54 vendors for April 17th.
Gardner Health Department on Facebook:
- Homeless Help
Report: Research Finds at Least 4 Successful Examples of Tiny House Villages for Homeless
The Concept is to provide a small shelter to a homeless person with other needed services on-site. There might be 20 or more such tiny shelters on the same parcel of land. We found 4 successful examples from Oregon, Washington, and Texas – links are included below. With appropriate zoning, this could be done on City or town-owned property of as little as 1 acre in size which could be leased to a non-profit for a nominal $1 a year. In the links below, you will be able to read in detail about what has worked, what associated services are provided to help with some of the challenges the homeless face, and what details are involved. The pending MA housing bill and other grant opportunities might provide startup funding.
Square One Villages —- Community First —- Quixotec Communities —- Dignity Village.
- Tassone 3-24-24
Listen to the Complete Interview on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Gardner’s No Nonsense Councilor Is “No Boloney Tassone“
We spoke with Gardner MA City Councilor Paul Tassone on March 24, 2023 and again on March 24, 2024. We’re calling our conversation, the “No Boloney Tassone” Interview. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.
The Councilor filled an unexpired term and is now serving a full 2 year term after being re-elected in November 2023. We asked about improvements in the past year and Tassone responded, “We’ve done quite a bit of infrastructure work with the roads and sidewalks. And coming this summer, we’ll be doing more work both on Reagan, Moran, and I believe Greenwood. And there’s several other streets that we’ll be working on.”
Councilor Tassone is earning the trust of his ward through some hard work. “I’ve had the honor of speaking with many of the residents in Ward 3, whether it be about trees being dead or being removed on their particular street or whether or not, they’re having issues from a property perspective. I’ve made house visits. I’ve listened to what people had to say. Anytime someone gives me a call on the phone, I answer the call. And I’m always good to follow up and follow through.”
No Boloney: Tassone stated he’s had fairly good success in working with City Departments including DPW, Building, or Health. “I am a straight shooter, Werner, 100%. What comes out of my mouth is I’m going to come straight at it and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” We asked, “Is that why some constituents are calling you No Boloney Tassone?” and the Councilor said, ” I love it, from time to time, I guess that’s OK.”
Tassone complimented the Mayor on his transparency. He understands why a new salt shed was needed, but wants the City Council to do its due diligence to get the money back in to the stabilization account. Tassone also complimented the City Council President on the job she does.
Regarding Downtown Gardner: “It’s very easy to drive through the downtown and see the major improvements that we’ve done to our downtown and much more to come with rear Main Street as well. Businesses continue to open up housing, rental housing available in the downtown area. More prevalent now than in years past. Millions of dollars have been spent in our downtown to improve the look, the feel, and the overall community, to be quite honest with you, I’m proud of what I see moving forward and moving in the downtown area.”
Tassone had much more to say which you can hear in the complete AUDIO of the interview above. He concluded, “I would just say I appreciate my constituents in Ward 3 having confidence in me, and voting me in for two more years this past November. I do appreciate that. I’m going to continue to work hard, and we’ll continue to see Gardner improve over the next year. I’m sure we’ll talk before then, Werner, but I think we will have even more exciting things happening in the next year, for sure.”
- Power 3-24-24
Power Outages Affecting MA on Sunday March 24, 2024
Of over 1.35 million customers, National Grid reports that just over 900 were without power on Sunday March 24, 2024. In Franklin County, 371 customers were expected to have power by 4:30pm. Worcester County, 506 customers were expected to have power back by 8:30pm, and 40 customers in Middlesex County were expected to have power back by 3:45pm.
Is winter finally over? That we will only know in hindsight a month or two from now. However, weather beginning midweek is expected to be 50 degrees or higher and any precipitation is expected to be rain.
- Week 3-24-24
Gardner MAgazine THIS WEEK – March 24, 2024 with the “Chair Man”
Charles Henry Allen Irwin Rogers, the “Chair Man”. voices Gardner MAgazine This week. In this periodic AUDIO magazine, you’ll hear about various events in the City of Gardner and the surrounding area. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.
More information about the news stories mentioned and links to further resources can be found in various articles on our home page.
Thank you for listening to Gardner Magazine This week. If you hear of news you think we should cover, please email News@GardnerMagazine.com
- Happy Puppy
Editorial: A Salute to Dogs on National Puppy Day in Greater Gardner MA
Dog owners know the joy of having a dog. “Man’s best friend” – as dogs are often called, provide companionship, comfort, and service. There are the public examples of Comfort Dog Sully who works with the Gardner Fire Department and K-9 Rocky who assists the Gardner Police Department and caught a burglar on his first day.
The private examples are the millions of dogs who have brought joy to the lives of so many people. But all dogs, like people, start off as small dogs. That is why we want to properly honor National Puppy Day on March 23, 2024. There’s is no love like Puppy Love. And the adult dogs they will soon become, one of God’s greatest gifts to our world.
Often, dogs in the area share much joy in socializing with each other at the Dog Park located at Pulaski Park off either Wright Street or Charbonneau Street in Gardner.
- Hotline 3-23-24
Paul Topolski on Hotline Radio – We’re Getting Back 336 grand
Gardner Emergency Management Director Paul Topolski appeared on WGAW’s Hotline Radio on Saturday, March 23, 2024 for an interview with host Steve Wendell. He announced that FEMA has approved a $336,000 reimbursement to the City for expenses incurred during Covid.
The reimbursement will cover expenses of the mailings, advertising, Covid Call Center, items purchased, huge number of materials and more. “But originally submitted for about a half a million, and then FEMA came back and were telling us that some of those expenses weren’t valid. I’ll give you one example. We had to run the internet into Perry Auditorium, but because that was considered a permanent fixture, that wouldn’t be reimbursable. So there were certain things that they wouldn’t allow, some overtime at the fire department, for example. But $336,000, that’s still a good hunk of change. “
WGAW is heard on AM 1340, 98.1 FM, and streaming to anywhere in the world.
Persistence pays off: Gardner almost didn’t get reimbursed for the Call Center, but Topolski and others pressed the issue and the City is getting the money. “FEMA originally looked at it and said, well, no, we’re not going to pay for any of that. And they made a very strong argument with them that, you know, we needed the call center because we had such a population that didn’t have access to smartphones or the internet. So we told them that at our peak, we had 300 available appointments at the call center, and that day we received 57,000 calls for people trying to get in because they heard that Gardner had vaccines. So once they understood the importance of it, they capitulated, and the call center, all of the labor for the call center, and all of the hardware that we had to buy, and the online services, the internet services that it required were all paid for.”
Mohawk Radio Club
Topolski welcomed the WGAW audience to be a guest of the Mohawk Radio Club which holds a meeting Monday March 25th at 7pm at the Gardner Police Station. If you can’t make that just send Director Topolski an email and he’ll get you in touch with folks at the club. paul.topolski@comcast.net
Solar Flares
Topolski spoke about solar flares: “The other part of what’s going on is the part of the solar cycle. And we’re approaching the peak, which should be around December of this year, before it starts sliding down again on that 11-year cycle. In my shack here, I monitor the solar conditions. And right now we’re in the process of having a radio blackout in portions of the world because of solar flares that are happening on the sun. So it’s very much a natural effect that happens to affect our atmosphere….We had a very large solar flare, what they call an X-Class, on December 31st. And it killed 40 of those new Starlink satellites that are going up. It just killed the satellites altogether.”
- Phone Scam
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Recent Phone Scam
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is issuing a warning to residents regarding a recent phone scam involving the Sheriff’s Office. The phone scammer poses as an employee of the Sheriff’s Office and informs the victim that they have an arrest warrant or charges filed in their name or that of a loved one. The scammer then demands payment of a fine to avoid being arrested and serving jail time. Another common phone scam involves telling individuals they have missed jury duty, which also results in a fine.
“Unfortunately, we recently received a report of an individual who was scammed out of over $20,000,” commented Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. “With the amount of information sharing and readily available data on consumer habits, scammers may know where you bank, the products you buy, or the names of your loved ones. Scam artists will go to any length to trick you into sharing personal information or issuing irreversible payments.”
According to the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, this type of scam is called spoofing. Spoofing is when a scammer deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust.
In the case of the Sheriff’s Office scam, the scammers use the names of actual officers and “spoof” the department’s phone number. The scammer asks for money to clear up a non-existent warrant. In some instances, the caller requests that payments be made in the form of gift certificates or via apps such as Venmo or Cash App. The scammer will then have the victim remain on the line until the victim purchases the gift certificates or relays specific financial information to the scammer.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office encourages people to be aware of calls like this and to never give personal or financial information over the phone to anyone whom you didn’t call yourself.
“Our department does not contact residents and demand payment or ask for credit card information. Today’s scam artists are always testing new tactics. Residents need to beware of any unsolicited calls that ask for their personal or financial information,” commented Sheriff Evangelidis. “These callers can sound convincing, may be aggressive, and try to intimidate you with threats of jail time or steep fines. We encourage anyone who gets a suspicious call to hang up and contact their associated institutions directly to verify any requests.”
- Update 3-22-24
Mayor Nicholson Addresses the Chair City with a “Jam-Packed” Update
Listen to the Update on any device, CLICK PLAY
Correction: Mayor Nicholson accidentally gave out incorrect yard waste info last week. Here’s the correct information – Yard Waste collection takes place the first full week of the month from April through October and the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in November only.
Business News – Blue Spire Property Management had their ribbon cutting at Central Park Building —- Tanguay Jewelers had grand reopening —- Hometown Barbers grand reopening is March 30th — Aldi is opening on April 4th at Timpany Plaza —- Joint Operations opens April 20th at Timpany Crossroads —- In the works: Chipotle, Five Below, and Jersey Mike’s. Brilla Coffee will open at 25 Main Street in late Summer or early Fall.
Reminders – Fire Hazard: Gardner Fire Department reminds people that extra fire hazards happen when we have windy conditions like this . —- Gardner Police Department is accepting applications for the annual Citizens Police Academy, it’ll be held Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm from May 1st through June 19th. Cost is FREE. —- K-9s Rocky or Sully may be able to make it to your event. Just ask PD or Fire Chief —- One week left to get your dog license which is due April 1st. —- Permit is needed for a yard sale. However it is FREE. —- Johnny Appleseed Trail Association Books available at City Hall.
DPW News – A new planter was built by DPW at Monument Park twice this week as a car hit the first one.
Events: Friday, March 29th is Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day to be celebrated on the front steps of City Hall at 10am. —- Holy Family Academy is having their annual gala on April 6th
Personnel: Human Resources Director Debra Pond has decided to leave her job of 20+ years. On December 4, 2023, Pond’s re-appointment was confirmed on a 9 to 2 vote by the Gardner City Council. The Appointments Committee had recommended against her re-appointment. Listen to both meetings and view the article, CLICK HERE.
- Zlotnik 3-21-24
Positive on Business – Interview with Jonathan Zlotnik
State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik is Positive on Business in general, and especially positive on Gardner’s newest furniture factory, Wood You Build It. Listen to the Interview on any device, CLICK PLAY
Jon Zlotnik posted about the visit to Wood You Build It, “Last Friday we toured Wood You Build It, a new furniture factory in the City of Gardner. This business moved from Etsy to a 25,000 square foot factory with the help of the Wachusett Business Incubator. I’m very proud of the work the incubator is doing to help local start up businesses. Wood You Build It specializes in kitchen islands. Their products are hand made and custom made to order by expert craftsmen and artisans.” According to their website, the company makes kitchen islands, trash bins, stools & chairs, pet furniture, storage benches, and miscellaneous furniture. They write, “If you dream it, we can build it.”
“Wood You Build It is trying to bring the notation of handcrafted, heirloom furniture back to the City of Gardner, MA for which it belongs, one home at a time.”What started out with a makeshift basement workshop, has now become an endeavor of over a dozen employees. We now manufacture out of a 25,000 sqft facility.”
Economic Development Zlotnik’s Top Priority for the last 12 Years
Representative Zlotnik spoke of his priorities, “The number one need in this region, and certainly in my district: The creation of jobs, the creation of opportunity, the revitalization of vacant or underused properties is so important, not just for the,… community at large, but also really for the local tax base, to make sure that the municipalities out here can provide the services that their residents need and expect, and make sure that, the community can grow, prosper, be safe, and have all those opportunities.” Ten years ago, Jon Zlotnik and some business leaders were instrumental in starting the Wachusett Business Incubator. “The one that has become really a standout success is Would You Build It.”
Other Sections of Gardner
Jon Zlotnik spoke of the changes in Downtown Gardner and the conversion of manufacturing buildings to housing. He spoke of the possibility of another industrial park in Gardner. Zlotnik spoke of another ribbon cutting ceremony on West Lynde Street and celebrating the grand re-opening of Tanguay Jewelers being passed from the next generation to the next. He spoke of “investments from the state, federal, and local government into water and sewer infrastructure to make sure that those capacities are up to snuff for a growing population and a growing business community, as well.” We spoke of the Route 68 area, the tenants in Timpany Plaza, and the former Garbose metal property which is still up for grabs. “along Route 68 is, I think, one of the prime areas for significant economic development.”
On Politics
Zlotnik concurred that moving forward regardless of party is the way he thinks. We asked, “How about everybody just cooperate on ideas, forget the party, and just move forward, ” Zlotnik’s response: “I couldn’t agree more...” He pointed out the of 12 State budgets he’s worked on, 11 have been passed with unanimous or near unanimous support. “Despite the lopsided nature of the partisan balance in Massachusetts, there’s still a lot of effort to make sure that we can come together.” He also stated, “Political bickering and partisan fighting serves almost no one.”
- The Twenty
A wonderful human lesson shared by City Councilor Paul Tassone
You are all special. Listen to this short story passed along on Facebook by Gardner MA City Councilor Paul Tassone. Listen on any Device. CLICK PLAY.
- Cleanout Kings
Spring Means Clean Out – These Guys are the Kings
We keep seeing information about Cleanout Kings on Facebook, so our curiosity got the best of us. We interviewed Eric Olson, the Cleanout King at Cleanout Kings. Apparently, they do small jobs to big jobs. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY
Olson explained how empathy is important in his business as sometimes he deals with hoarders. Olson stated, “I started my business three years ago. We do junk removal, everything from single item pickup all the way up to commercial cleanouts. We also specialize in hoarding situations and deal with estate sale or estate cleanouts.” All of his reviews on Google are 5 star, the best you can get. This may be why as he stated, ” We try to be as understanding as we can and try to guide people and work with them even if it takes a while and we have to really be patient.“
Contact information: Facebook, CLICK HERE. Telephone: (978) 790-5081 SPRING FLYER, CLICK HERE.
- Freebies 2024
Instruction on Being a Greater Gardner MA FREEBIE “King” or “Queen” in 2024
Publisher Werner Poegel with an informative commentary on things which are FREE and how to save on the rest. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY
Earn FREE TVs just by saving on coffee. Get your cell service for half. Save on electricity and water. Enjoy FREE local amenities, FREE transportation, FREE concerts, FREE car washes. Borrow all sorts of media for FREE and take advantage of FREE radio.
Will you give yourself the title of FREEBIE “King” or “Queen”? Listen to our commentary and save thousands every year without giving up anything!
- The Pumps
DPW Dane Arnold on the Main water line to be replaced – first installed 136 years ago!
Main Water Pipe Project to Start After Bids Opened, Pumps Next
Gardner MA DPW Director Dane Arnold provided us with more detail on the badly needed $1 million main water line. “We open the Bid today at 1: pm. It will consist of a new 16” Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe to run from Crystal Lake Treatment Facility up to the Tanks up on Reservoir Hill. This line will replace a 16” line that was installed in 1888 and a portion in 1903! Construction should commence this summer and be completed by spring 2025. The City applied for and received $1 million in Grant Funds. Any additional funds to offset the cost of the project will need to come from the Water Enterprise Fund which I would need Mayor and Council approval for once we know the bid cost of the project.” Recently, the City of Gardner was also awarded a grant for new pumps at James Street – over $900k.
Arnold says he has really enjoyed working for the City of Gardner for almost 23 years: “and think we have accomplished a lot, but more is to come. I couldn’t do any of it without the great crew we have at the DPW. They are the best in the State, and I mean every word of that. They are the most dedicated and committed group and I am blessed to work with them every day. From the foremen, the crew, and the clerical staff , Gardner is very lucky to have them and so am I.”
- Appointments 3-18-24
Two Gardner Directors Speak at Appointments Committee Meeting
Both DPW Director Dane Arnold and Senior Center Director Mike Ellis were confirmed again by the Gardner City Council on March 18, 2024. The real story is the overwhelming praise given to both men by Mayor Nicholson and the Councilors at an earlier Appointments Committee meeting and the information shared by both Directors. Listen to the Appointments Committee meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY.
DPW Director Dane Arnold was praised for doing an excellent job. He began the job in 2001 after having been appointed by then Mayor Kelly. He has served the City for over 2 decades. Arnold provided details about work at the DPW.
Senior Center Director Mike Ellis was praised for his work during the past 3 years. He was appointed to the position by Mayor Michael Nicholson. Ellis provided details about the Senior Center.
DPW Director Dane Arnold praised his staff and the City, “I love working for the city. I have a great crew.I couldn’t do anything without the DPW staff that I have and the crew that I have in the administration office, including right down at Clerical. Just a great staff and a great city to work for…. So the wastewater upgrades, the water upgrades between the distribution system. Right down to the parks and playgrounds that we’ve worked on and continually try to work on. I’m very proud of my staff. I can’t reiterate how happy I am with the crew that I have, the DPW staff that I have.” Arnold spoke of the million dollar grant paving the way for work on the new water transmission line by early Summer and the $900k+ grant recently awarded for the James Street pump station. He also spoke of planned work on paving, potholes, and sidewalks.
Senior Center Director Mike Ellis provided some statistics on the people who come to the Center in a given year. “1,600 people come into the center. 784 of them were between the ages of 60 and 78. 567 are 75 and older, and under 59 were 99, and then we have an unknown 147. I think the important thing there to note, though, is we get about 50% of people who sign in or swipe into our system. So if you look at the numbers, it’s about 3,100 people served. But more importantly, we had, and this is an amazing stat, we had 640 VIP hours at the Senior Center. We had 405 volunteers that gave 10,500 hours to the Gardner Senior Center. If you do the math, at $20 an hour, because we have nurses and case managers and social workers who make certainly more than $20, and then we have folks that just help move tables. The minimum value of that to the citizens of Gardner and the Senior Center is about $206,000 in volunteer work.” Ellis related more details about the staff, volunteers, services, and programs at the Senior Center.
- Council 3-18-24
Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas Invokes Section 24 at Gardner City Council Meeting
Based on Section 24 of the City Charter (shown in graphic here) Council President Kazinskas clarified that a majority of City Council is required for 1st printing, thus the vote of 7-3 at meeting of March 4, 2024 was sufficient to get Marijuana Zoning Article to next step. For convenience, here is her explanation and apology from the March 18, 2024 meeting. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. (Entire meeting AUDIO is further below)
While the CDBG Block Grant Resolution was approved, Councilor George Tyros objected to the lack of the informal meeting which had been scheduled but was subsequently canceled. —- Cyber Security item and Grant writer item were sent to Finance Committee for study and report —- The $625,000 request for a new salt shed was approved by a unanimous vote. —- Adopted and sent to 2nd printing were the Two Zoning Articles: adding Sports Betting to the table of uses and increasing the quota of Marijuana Establishments to 35% of the total liquor licenses allowed. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
The Complete Gardner MA City Charter on pdf from which the above screenshot was made, CLICK HERE. —- Massachusetts Law Relating to Zoning Changes, CLICK HERE. —- Gardner City Code, CLICK HERE.
- Transformer Shortage
Listen to the Transformer Special Report on any device. CLICK PLAY.
The “Shocking” Story of the Transformer Shortage in Greater Gardner MA and the United States
Publisher Werner Poegel speaks to our AI, Charles Henry Allen Irwin Rogers about various reports on this issue. Listen to the report on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Key Impacts of the Transformer Shortage Completed homes sit empty as builders wait for distribution transformers. Delays connection of wind and solar farms to the grid. Delays grid expansion and impacts grid reliability. Negatively impacts national security due to reliance on overseas suppliers. Grid resilience hinges on securing a consistent, secure, and reliable supply chain. There are concerns that a coordinated assault on the American grid would not only affect civilians but would also critically harm essential military installations. The cascading effects could jeopardize homeland defense missions, posing a grave threat to national security.
- Bombaci 3-18-24
Progress in Downtown Gardner – Interview with Jon Bombaci on March 18, 2024
We had the honor of speaking with Jon Bombaci of Candor Realty on March 18, 2024. The reason was some big news happening in the Bull Nose Building at 25 Main Street, the arrival this summer or fall of a brand new Coffee Shop, Restaurant, and Bakery. It will be the third location for Brilla who currently operate in Holden and Northborough. The spot will be about 3500 – 4000 square feet upon completion is planned to be by October or sooner. Listen to the complete interview on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Bombaci stated, “They’re a great, great established coffee shop, but they’re going to be launching a full-scale restaurant in the building, complete with a whole bunch of other things that they’re experimenting with down in their Holden location. So we’re excited…. so I think they’re going to go from breakfast all the way through dinner. They’re planning to serve alcohol. They’re planning to kind of be open for whatever it is you want, and having a changing menu from breakfast, lunch, to dinner. They’re already experimenting with this in Holden, and they found some success at it, and so we’re kind of looking forward to helping them launch full service, three meals a day type of a space.”
Other plans for the 25 Main Street building include setting aside 800 square feet for Candor Realty offices. The second and third floor are going to be apartments with a total of 14 units of mostly two bedroom units. Press Release from Candor Realty regarding Brilla.
The Garbose Building
Bombaci spoke about progress on the building. “ We’re working on a couple of leases, but should have announcement over a business moving into what is 8 Parker. That will kind of complete the ground floor. Upstairs, the framing is going on, but we’re kind of at a little bit of a stop where the buildings require a tremendous amount of electricity, which makes sense. And so the holdup at the moment is we’re working with National Grid on sourcing power.” The issue is that with using more electricity to heat and cool, National Grid needs to provide a new transformer. There’s actually a shortage of transformers nationwide which is holding up building. Aside from rough framing and inspections, they will wait “until we can get a firm timeline from National Grid on when we’ll be able to energize the building.” We found an excellent article from Builder on this Nationwide issue, CLICK HERE. Apparently, the shortage of transformers has even slowed down the completion of single family homes.
Other Buildings
82-84 Main Street, a vacant commercial building. “There’s two spaces there that we’re working on filling, and then there’s a basement with a walkout to the back, which is kind of cool.” 88 Main Street is where they have their current offices. Work was wrapped up in 2023 at 104 Parker Street where the Buffer Zone hair salon is.
Real Estate Forecast
Jon Bombaci was very honest in that it is hard to predict the direction of the Real Estate market, but “The real estate market in 2024 is ramping up…There’s a lot of people out looking at houses. The buyer demand is there. Rates haven’t come down yet. So that’s kind of kept people in check a little bit.”
Mission of the Company
Jon Bombaci spoke about his company: “Historically, what our focus is value-add multifamily. We like buying two to 50-unit type buildings, fixing some operational problems, increasing the building, make them safer, update them, make them more comfortable for everybody, and then either pass them off to our investors or refinance them and do those types of things. We have a full service team where we do in-house construction, we do in-house property management, and we’re getting to the point that we’re offering those services to other people. So we’ve historically only helped our clients, but now we’re kind of getting to the point that we can help people we don’t know. And so part of our goal is, you know, our mission is to help people reach financial independence to real estate.” Candor Realty website, CLICK HERE.
- Cyber Secure
Under Bob O’Keefe’s IT Leadership, Gardner, MA is setting another Gold Standard for Excellence, this time in how it handles Cyber Security and attempts to be ahead of the curve and ahead of the threats.
Publisher’s Note; With threats from hackers within the United States and concerns about possible cyber attacks from other countries such as China or Russia, being proactive now saves money later.
Gardner’s IT Director O’Keefe is Proactive Cyber Protector
Gardner Magazine recently visited Gardner MA IT Director Bob O’Keefe at Gardner City Hall. O’Keefe didn’t have much time to talk because they were in the middle of doing proactive security updates on City-owned computers. In the few short minutes we were there, another 4 machines were patched. O’Keefe explained that he occasionally gets calls from other communities regarding their security needs. And as Gardner is the model for doing it right (our words, not his) he is able to steer them in the right direction. O’Keefe’s goal when operating system updates come out is to update machines as soon as possible. This has kept the City’s data safe. We were amazed at how O’Keefe was able to tell just how many machines had already been secured. While other communities were just getting started, Gardner was already 85% done.
On Monday, March 18, 2024, there is a request going before the City Council for just over $77k for a cloud storage appliance and about 3 years of support, as well as a few other related Cyber Security items. The equipment features 36 terrabytes of storage and can handle 10 gigabytes of bandwidth. The firm O’Keefe proposes using just built a new 10 million dollar facility in the last year. WCA Solutions was started in 1979 and employs 140 computer professionals at its location in Southwick, MA. The provider states it was rated recently by VarBusiness magazine as being a high level engineering firm in the largest 1% of all Solution Providers in North America. In the past, the Gardner City Council has approved these requests expeditiously. Bob O’Keefe has an office in Gardner City Hall and in the past year saw the City get a $200,000 fiber grant which allows for greater connectivity and security among City Buildings and Schools.
- Fictional 7
Gardner Magazine Fictional Theater Episode 7 Shopping Shenanigans – Joe and Don Grocery Shopping
Joe and Don are back with a visit to the grocery store to get food for a meal with the ladies. As usual, they trade barbs back and forth. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.
In a world that often feels divided, Joe and Don serve as a reminder that unity and enjoyment can be found in the most unexpected places. Their story is a testament to the power of friendship and the importance of cherishing the moments of connection that bring us closer together. If Joe and Don can get along, so can the rest of us.
This was a work of fiction presented by Gardner Magazine. Episodes 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 are also available on Fictional Fun page, CLICK HERE.
- Clearing Record
Listen to the explanation Council President Kazinskas gave on WGAW Hotline Radio on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.
WGAW Hotline Radio is heard every Saturday from 12:10 to 2pm on AM 1340, 98.1 FM, and live streamed to anywhere in the world. CLICK HERE for the 24/7 live stream.
Council President Kazinskas Clears Up Record – Marijuana Article Passed After All
In an interview heard on WGAW Hotline Radio on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Gardner MA City Council President Kazinskas announced she was correcting an error – Marijuana Quota Article only needed simple majority to pass for first printing, not 2/3 of Council as previously stated, so she’s clearing up the record and the item passed. At the previous City Council Meeting of March 4, 2024, she had announced that 8 votes out of 11 were required and that the measure did not pass because it received only 7 votes. The item will be on the agenda for 2nd Printing on Monday March 18th. Kazinskas says that will need 8 votes to be finalized. See complete agenda and packet, CLICK HERE.
The Council President stated, “And then we also have one regarding the quota of marijuana establishments in the city. And I do want to take the time now to clear something up on that. There’s a process for these type of ordinance amendments and there is an initial printing. and then there is a second and final printing that these amendments have to go through. And at our previous meeting, I had announced for both of these that there’s a two-thirds vote that is required for them. And so the motion that was taken on both of these amendments was to go to first printing. And the sports betting ordinance amendment had received more than two-thirds vote so that passed the first printing. And then the marijuana establishment quota ordinance amendment had received seven votes, eight votes of the two-thirds vote. So I had announced that it did not go to first printing because it didn’t receive the two-thirds vote that’s required. “
“Well directly after the meeting, I’m speaking with the clerk, and we did go back and look at it where for initial printing, there actually no vote is required by the general laws of the commonwealth. And in Gardner, we require a vote for an initial printing, which is first printing. But it actually is only a majority vote for six votes. And in the case of that particular item, it would have passed because it received seven votes. So what’s important is that people may not be expecting this item to be on our agenda again at the next meeting because I had announced that it needed a two-thirds vote for that initial printing or first printing. But that’s actually incorrect. It actually doesn’t require a vote at all. But in Gardner, because our rules are a little bit more stringent, then that rule gets followed and it really only requires a majority vote, which is six votes. So I will be clearing that up at the meeting on Monday. I wanted to mention it because these have been on our agenda for a very long time. They’re important items. This is a zoning ordinance amendment, which has a state process that it follows. This is the very last kind of stage of it. And so, again, it’s important to people. We don’t do them very often … We haven’t had them in front of us very often. So that is the process. And I did notify the council about that. I will be clearing it up at the next meeting. And the second and final printing vote that will be taken on both of these items, that requires a two-thirds vote, and that is by state statute, which the city also has as well. So those final printings, which would pass them, require eight votes. So we’ll see what happens on Monday’s meeting, but I did want to take some time to acknowledge that.”
- Brilla Coffee
Construction is expected to begin shortly and approvals from the City have been obtained.
Mayor Nicholson stated he has worked directly with Mr. and Mrs. Vallejos for several years to bring them to Gardner, “When I was first sworn in as Mayor in July of 2020, I invited Alexis and Osiris to attend the ceremony and spoke when them about looking at downtown for a new storefront…”
Brilla Coffee to open Coffee Shop and Bakery at 25 Main Street in Gardner MA
In a Press Release sent out on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Gardner Mayor Nicholson stated, “They have a really strong business model and a great product, and I’m excited to welcome them here to the Chair City.” View Press Release, CLICK HERE.
Brilla Coffee currently has locations in Holden and Northborough, Massachusetts. Owners Alexis and Osiris Vallejos say “We are third generation farmers from Nicaragua, Coffee Roasters, and professional baristas which allows us to know and control our Coffee quality very well from the Farm to your Cup.”
Planned offerings include a full menu ranging from breakfast to dinner with meals and sandwiches and “more unique and healthy options such as granola bowls.” Pastries and desserts will be baked in-house at the new 25 Main Street, Gardner location.
- Update 3-15-24
Mayor Nicholson spoke of various City events and also had a big announcement: The City has been awarded a $920,000 grant by the Federal government to replace the James Street pump station. “that gets the water from the storage tanks on top of James Street and Reservoir Hill out into the north section of the City.” Last year, the City was awarded a $1 million grant to replace the City’s main water transmission line.
Publisher’s note: The plural of flyer is either “fliers” or “flyers”
With Event Fliers on Display and Sporting St. Patrick’s Day Attire, Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson Updates the Chair City
In his March 15, 2024 Update, Mayor Nicholson spoke of various events, provided some reminders, updates, and announcements. Listen to the update on any device. CLICK PLAY
The Fliers: AED Foundation- website – First Annual Everyone Wins Tournament Taking Place on March 23rd at Golf RX, 109 Main Street. $75 per person or $300 per team FLYER, CLICK HERE Purple Paws – 2nd Annual Event takes place on Saturday April 27th from 9:30am to noon at Pulaski Park – FLYER, CLICK HERE. Health and Wellness Fair– April 17th 5pm to 7pm at Gardner City Hall Perry Auditorium. FLYER, CLICK HERE. FREE MART transportation available at City Hall is a bus stop.
Reminders: Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony March 29th at 10am in front of Gardner City Hall —Keep America Beautiful Cleanup taking place on Saturday, May 4th. More Info —- During the first week of April, April 2nd through the 5th, the annual yard waste collection cycle starts. —- Pick up your dog waste, Mayor’s been getting calls about you. —- Gardner Food Truck Festival is Saturday July 13, 2024 from noon to 7pm. ARTICLE CLICK HERE —- VIPS Program is accepting applications – Gardner residents can work hours at City Hall and get a discount on property taxes. More info from city of Gardner, CLICK HERE.
Gardner Municipal Golf Course has its artificial grass driving range open. The Golf Course was discussed at a recent Public Welfare Committee Meeting, CLICK HERE.
For previous updates, please visit the Mayor’s Update AUDIO page. We list every update from 2022, 2023, and 2024 with a link to the individual article and the ability to play any update you choose. For the page, CLICK HERE.
- Safety 3-15-24
Public Safety Update on Police – Fire- Traffic – Building – Health in Gardner MA
The Committee met with various individuals of the following departments. Note that the recording started with Chief McAvene already in progress, so our AUDIO starts similarly. Access on any device. CLICK PLAY
Councilors Dana Heath, Karen Hardern, and Craig Cormier heard from various department heads.
Police Department – Police Chief Eric McAvene —- Building Department – Building Commissioner Tom Zuppa —- Public Health – Health Director Micah Blondeau —- Fire Department – Fire Chief Greg Lagoy —- Traffic Commission – Deputy Police Chief Nicholas Maroni
From Police Chief McAvene – The chief reported that the Police headquarters building is starting to have some wear and tear issues. “We replaced the post caps on the front of the building because they were cracking and separating and it must have been just a faulty cap piece when they put it in it was a precast. Didn’t have rebar in or something and as the water got in and froze it would just completely expand..” The police department has been successful in interacting with the community. Examples the Chief gave were the Senior Citizens Academy and another Junior Academy is planned for mid-July and that is grant-funded. Staffing is at 31, they are authorized for 33. “So these next two hires will bring us the full staff.”
From Building Commissioner Tom Zuppa – “We are still Trying to hire a second local inspector in order to provide the proper services and protection to the city.” Zuppa also spoke about City Hall maintenance being a hurdle including an outdated heating system, roofing, front facade columns, and front entry way. The Commissioner also noted that many more items related to building can be completed online and “We’re adding more as we move forward.”
From Health Director Micah Blondeau. 54 Vendors are signed up so far for the Health and Wellness Fair to be held on the 17th of April. A week later there is a Gardner High School Health Fair on April 24th. Other items include an AED Foundation fundraiser, Escape the Vape, Game Changers, and Heal Gardner. Blondeau also spoke about various challenges at the landfill including the pumping systems and erosion control. The Director also informed the Committee that “We finished grinding of the yard waste, the wood, and brush, and trees…. It was last done in 2020.” Blondeau is also hoping for a better structure for where the attendant sits and some real running water, “Currently there’s the only water out there is on spigot on the side of one of the sheds so they don’t have any place to wash their hands.” The restroom there is actually a porta-potty.
From Fire Chief Gregory Lagoy. The Fire Department is “Currently fully staffed, which is definitely good news.” The chief went over the specifics regarding equipment being put into service. “ On the fleet side of things, the new fire apparatus that was ordered with ARPA funds about two years ago, all three units are now well into production, the ambulance is scheduled for delivery here in early May, which we desperately need, and the new engine and heavy rescue, they’re both scheduled for delivery in July. After that, each one of those units will have to have final equipment mounting, radio installation, and then the firefighters will have to train on them and they’ll go in service.” The Chief also informed the Committee that temporary repairs to the roof have been completed and it is weather-tight at this point.
- Fictional 5
Joe and Don at Gardner City Hall – Gardner Magazine Fictional Theater
Our couple goes to Gardner City Hall to do some errands and end up running in to Don and Joe, who don’t get a job but look for a burger place. Our couple meets some really great people at Gardner City Hall and the husband gets a job with DPW. Listen to the adventures of this couple who run in to Don and Joe on any device, CLICK PLAY
The production is entirely fiction. Send suggestions for future episodes and ideas for real news stories to News@GardnerMagazine.com
More Information About City of Gardner
For more information about services available from the City of Gardner and how to reach various departments and various officials, CLICK HERE for the website.
- Break 3-13-24
Water Main Break From City of Gardner 7:57pm 3-13-24: “This is a message from the City of Gardner. Crews are currently responding to a water main break on Union Street in the area of Linwood Street between Winter Street and Timpany Boulevard. Residents in the area may experience water shut off while repairs are being made. Repairs and shut off may last through the night to morning. Thank you for your patience while construction is happening”
Looking for an older story? Or just want to read them? CLICK HERE for more Greater Gardner MA Local News Stories.
News Around Massachusetts – New England – Nation
- Shop Rietta
Rietta Flea Market is now open Sundays beginning at 7AM. Last day of 2022 season is October 30th Rietta is opening Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 and plans to serve you as a Flea Market for the next year and the next one and the next one….. Thank you for your patronage now and in the many years to come.. Website
More News Around Gardner MA
- Community Spotlight
Spotlight on Communities Greater Gardner MA
Gardner MA is known as the Chair City, and the other communities covered by Gardner Magazine all have something special: Ashburnham– Town of Lakes, Ashby – smallest town, Athol-the Tool Town, Barre – Town of Patriots, Gardner – The Chair City, Hardwick – Oldest Fair, Hubbardston -1015 above sea level, New Salem – Home of Quabbin Reservoir, Oakham – Coldbrook Springs, Orange – Home of Peace Statue, Petersham – Conservation, Phillipston – Historic Town Center, Princeton – Mt. Wachusett, Royalston – Forests and Falls, Rutland – Geographic Center of MA, Templeton – Town of 4 Villages, Warwick – Mt. Grace & Forest, Westminster – Historic Places, Winchendon – the Toy Town.
- Check It out
Check It Out!
Check out the pages on Gardner Magazine including Local Area Attractions, the Moving to the Area page, and Fun Photo Galleries. Kiddingly we say, ,Don’t play the fun games too long. Let us know what you like and what you’d like to see on Gardner Magazine.
- Public Meetings
Public Meetings Calendars
Gardner Magazine has a new page highlighting Public Meetings Calendars. Most communities list all upcoming meetings in handy formats. Some communities either have few meetings or are not as comprehensive. Being aware of Public Meetings is a great way to be involved in your community.
- Event Machine
Easily find Greater Gardner Events
Click on the name of a town for an EASY Google Events Search for events taking place in that community. ASHBURNHAM – ASHBY – ATHOL – BARRE – GARDNER – HARDWICK – HUBBARDSTON – NEW SALEM – OAKHAM – ORANGE – PETERSHAM – PHILLIPSTON – PRINCETON – ROYALSTON – RUTLAND – TEMPLETON – WARWICK – WESTMINSTER – WINCHENDON. A great tool to quickly find out what’s going on in the Greater Gardner region.
Massachusetts News This Week
Greater Gardner MA News Extras
- Gardner Tops 21K
Gardner MA Population Statistics
According to the U.S. Census, Gardner has a population of 21,287. Median Household Income is about $50,000. Those with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher is close to 1 in 5. More than half of the population is employed. 98% have health care coverage. There’s 9,411 total housing units with 691 vacant according to the Census Bureau. Gardner’s median estimated age of 41 is slightly above the median age in Massachusetts. One statistic to note: Average Gardner commute time is just under ½ hr. so there’s room for more local employers. For the complete census data, click here.
- Visit Gardner
Visit Downtown Gardner Video Released
To celebrate a great place to shop, Gardner Magazine has released a Downtown Gardner MA video. Watch it in full HD. CLICK HERE.
- Expanded News
Gardner Magazine news pages are generally updated twice per day and contain about 10 news stories per page. Let us know how we are doing. Contact Us.
Announcing Expanded NEWS Coverage
Added News pages include: About the U.S.: Breaking, FDA, Top Showbiz Stories, Top U.S. Stories, U.S. Economy News, U.S. News Alternate Sources: CNN, Fox, BBC. Countries of Interest: Australia, Canada, China, European Union, Mexico. Health: Health, Cancer, CDC, Climate, Covid. Neighboring States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York. Politicians and Politics: Bernie Sanders, Capitol Hill, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, U.S. Politics. Topics: Aliens, Money, Science, Travel, UFOs.
All News pages are listed under the tab LOCAL-STATE-U.S.-WORLD NEWS
News around Boston MA
National News
The Washington Times stories: News The Washington Times stories: News
- Filipino villager to be nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peaceby Jim Gomez on March 29, 2024 at 3:10 am
A Filipino villager plans to be nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ's suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
- Tony Bobulinski, Hunter Biden's ex-business partner, sues Fox News' Jessica Tarlov for $30 millionby Victor Morton on March 29, 2024 at 2:59 am
Hunter Biden's former business partner is suing liberal Fox News Channel commentator Jessica Tarlov over false remarks she made last week on "The Five."
- Ukraine's soccer win provides welcome distraction from tragedy of waron March 29, 2024 at 1:11 am
Ukrainians have expressed pride and gratitude toward their men's national soccer team for qualifying for the European Championship, a rare bit of good news and a welcome distraction from the war with Russia.
- Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45 people; 8-year-old is only survivorby Gerald Imray on March 28, 2024 at 11:58 pm
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
- GOP committee to select Ken Buck's likely replacement, adding challenge to Lauren Boebert's campaignby Jesse Bedayn on March 28, 2024 at 11:56 pm
A panel of Colorado Republicans will select a candidate Thursday who will likely serve out the final months of U.S. Rep. Ken Buck 's term - and could pose a challenge to Rep. Lauren Boebert's bid for another term in Congress.
NPR News
NPR Topics: News NPR news, audio, and podcasts. Coverage of breaking stories, national and world news, politics, business, science, technology, and extended coverage of major national and world events.
- The Texas attorney general is investigating a supplier of Boeing 737 partsby Ayana Archie on March 29, 2024 at 5:05 am
In January, a door plug flew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane during a flight, leaving a hole in the fuselage, some of which are produced by Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
- A bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 peopleon March 28, 2024 at 11:29 pm
An 8-year-old child is only survivor. The passengers were headed to an Easter festival before the bus plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames.
- Biden touts a $25M haul from fundraiser featuring Barack Obama and Bill Clintonby Jeongyoon Han on March 28, 2024 at 11:05 pm
A star-studded cast appeared with the former presidents and Biden, including Mindy Kaling, Ben Platt and Stephen Colbert hosting the event.
- 'Green bubble shaming' at play in DOJ suit against Appleby Bobby Allyn on March 28, 2024 at 9:48 pm
Android users have long complained that texting someone with an iPhone on iMessage is an unpleasant experience. The Justice Department argues it is also an example of anti-competitive behavior.
- The Story of an Israeli Man Taken Hostage By Hamas, Now Freeby Daniel Estrin on March 28, 2024 at 9:10 pm
We hear the story of an Israeli man taken captive by Hamas on October 7th. He was freed by Israeli special forces 129 days later and talks about his ordeal. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates
Northeast MA News
- Editorial: Medicare benefit should ease seniors’ health-cost burdenby Editorial on March 29, 2024 at 4:48 am
In an effort to make Massachusetts “a more affordable state to grow older,” the Healey administration recently unveiled a new Medicare program that could help save senior citizens up to $3,000 annually in health-care costs. The new Medicare Saving Program, administered by MassHealth, will pay for some or all of Medicare beneficiaries’ premiums and other
- Arrest logby Staff Report on March 29, 2024 at 2:59 am
The following arrests were made recently by local police departments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- High school roundup: Dracut boys volleyball team opens with marathon winby Staff Report on March 29, 2024 at 1:42 am
The Dracut High boys volleyball team got the 2024 season started off on the right foot with a 3-2 victory over Bellingham.
- Mill City miracle: Draper Labs expands to Lowellby Melanie Gilbert on March 28, 2024 at 10:56 pm
LOWELL — A company that operated the computer guidance system that helped land Apollo 11 on the moon is coming to Lowell, to be an anchor tenant in the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor project that was announced last week.
- Fatal fire in Lowell believed to have been caused by smoking materialsby Aaron Curtis on March 28, 2024 at 9:50 pm
LOWELL — The unsafe disposal of smoking materials is believed to have been the source of the flames that claimed the life of a Lowell man inside his home in the Centralville neighborhood earlier this month.
North County MA News
- Editorial: Medicare benefit should ease seniors’ health-cost burdenby Editorial on March 29, 2024 at 4:48 am
In an effort to make Massachusetts “a more affordable state to grow older,” the Healey administration recently unveiled a new Medicare program that could help save senior citizens up to $3,000 annually in health-care costs. The new Medicare Saving Program, administered by MassHealth, will pay for some or all of Medicare beneficiaries’ premiums and other
- Community Calendarby Cheryl A. Cuddahy on March 29, 2024 at 4:23 am
Friday, March 29 Parent & Me Yoga: 10:15 a.m.; Thayer Memorial Library, 717 Main St., Lancaster. Explore yoga and movement through mindful themes, poses, songs, and a story. Led by Valerie Kacian. 978-368-8928. Little Scientists STEAM Play Group: 10:30 a.m.; Lawrence Library, 15 Main St., Pepperell. Engage in hands-on activities and explore the world around
- Recipe: Here’s why you should serve a turkey dinner in the springby Cathy Thomas on March 28, 2024 at 8:18 pm
A boned turkey breast actually takes up very little of the cook's time, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner or to serve to guests.
- Biden, at risk with young voters, is racing to shift marijuana policyby Tribune News Service on March 28, 2024 at 8:11 pm
The president wants regulators to move marijuana from a Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III.
- Recipe: Chorizo and potato empanadas make a handheld spring mealby Tribune News Service on March 28, 2024 at 7:39 pm
Serve with salsa verde or chimichurri for dipping.
In-Depth Massachusetts News Stories
Massachusetts – NECN The latest news from around the state
- 6 hospitalized after SUV rolls over on I-95 in Wakefieldon March 28, 2024 at 10:54 pm
A crash on Interstate 95 in Wakefield injured six people Thursday night, Massachusetts State Police said. An SUV rolled over near Exit 59, according to police, who were called to the scene around 10:20. All six patients were in the vehicle. There was no word on the extent of the victims’ injuries. No further information was immediately available.
- Mass. launches youth sports betting safety coalitionby Colin A. Young on March 28, 2024 at 8:23 pm
With college sports tournaments taking place at both ends of Massachusetts this week, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell on Thursday announced the launch of a public-private partnership to focus on the risks of sports betting and gambling among young people. The Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition is meant to raise awareness of the laws, risks, and public health harms associated with gambling, and will develop an evidence-based education, training and health curriculum intended for people ages 12 through 20 — roughly from middle school into college and up to the state’s minimum sports betting and casino gambling age of 21. “Because Massachusetts has entered a new era with sports betting now literally available at your fingertips, it is critical that we raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity, particularly for young people,” Campbell said. “This coalition brings together the business, professional sports, nonprofit and responsible gaming communities to best achieve one common goal: better protect and educate young adults across the Commonwealth.” The group’s founding members are Campbell’s office, the Mass. Gaming Commission, the NCAA, Mass. Council on Gaming and Health, Civic Action Project, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots and New England Revolution. Campbell announced the coalition Thursday at TD Garden, where the NCAA men’s basketball tournament plays Sweet 16 games Thursday night. On Thursday afternoon, Springfield’s MassMutual Center hosted the NCAA men’s hockey tournament (including the University of Massachusetts against Denver University). “The NCAA is committed to protecting the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of collegiate competition from the harms of sports betting,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker, Massachusetts’ former governor. “The Association is proud to work with Attorney General Campbell and the Gaming Commission, and Boston’s pro teams to extend our reach and educate more young people about sports betting risks. I am thankful the Attorney General is bringing the right people to the table to work on this issue.” Campbell’s office pointed to national data from the NCAA, which shows that 58% of 18- to 22-year-olds have engaged in at least one sports betting activity. The 2023 NCAA survey also found that print, radio and television advertisements influence, and often reinforce, betting activity, the AG’s office said. About 63% of young people surveyed recalled recently seeing or hearing ads that encourage sports betting and 58% said they are more likely to bet after seeing such ads. More on sports betting NCAA Mar 27 NCAA president urges states to ban prop bets on college athletes March Madness 15 hours ago Betting on March Madness? Don't forget to report your winnings to the IRS
- Parents want answers after armed man arrested at Stoneham elementary schoolby Kirsten Glavin and Jericho Tran on March 28, 2024 at 7:17 pm
Concerned parents met at an elementary school in Stoneham, Massachusetts, Thursday night after police caught an armed man who was previously registered as a sex offender on school grounds. Parents say they weren’t notified about the incident until days after when their superintendent sent out an email. James McCarty was caught with two knives while walking the grounds of the South School in Stoneham, according to police. When asked what he was doing, he allegedly responded “you’ll find out.” Investigators believe McCarty was experiencing a mental health crisis. He never made contact with any kids, but parents say they wish they’d been notified sooner about what happened. Stoneham Police Chief James O’Connor and Superintendent David Ljungberg apologized to parents. Many thanked the chief for the quick police response, but were still angry about how the school administration did not notify parents until five days after the incident. “There is absolutely no doubt that you should have been notified Thursday of what happened,” O’Connor said. “This failure will not happen again.” “I am sorry. I apologize for not having handled the situation differently,” added Ljungberg. Parents voiced their concerns at a school committee meeting. “Mr. Ljungberg, I have absolutely zero faith in your ability to be the superintendent,” Stoneham resident Andrew Dawson said. “I think it’s fair to say he wasn’t there to teach the kids reading, writing and arithmetic. He was an armed pedophile there trying to get entrance into the school.” “I really think you should resign, or go your separate ways, because this isn’t working,” the mother of a student said. NBC10 Boston asked Ljungberg about parents calling for his resignation. “I don’t have a comment on that at this time,” said Ljungberg. “I am processing all of the comments and will need some time to meet with my committee and we will need to de-brief all of the comments that we’ve heard tonight.” “Next time just send us an email right away,” one parent, who asked that her identity be concealed, said earlier Thursday. See the emails sent to parents below. She told NBC10 Boston that an email should’ve been sent out on March 21 when the school’s principal reported seeing someone acting erratic and sitting on the school’s field. Shortly after he called 911, police say they found McCarty walking around school grounds outside the building. McCarty attempted to run away but police were able to arrest him and believe he was experiencing a mental health crisis. They found two knives on the 31-year-old – a folded style knife and a hunting knife. McCarty was once registered as a level one sex offender for dissemination of child pornography after a conviction in 2013. He is no longer required to register. He was also being investigated by the FBI Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force. According to court documents obtained by NBC10 Boston, he’s facing a number of charges including carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds and disorderly conduct. But the superintendent for the school district didn’t notify parents until an email days later. School officials are expected to discuss parents’ frustrations with the communication at Thursday’s meeting. Emails sent to parents The following email was sent to parents on March 26: Dear Parents and Caregivers: The district would like to share the following information about an incident that occurred at South Elementary School last Thursday. On March 21, an adult who was experiencing a mental health crisis entered wandered onto school property but did not come into contact with any students. Per our protocols the Stoneham Police Department was contacted immediately. Officers arrived within minutes. The individual fled, and police took them into custody without incident shortly thereafter. Stoneham Police have connected this person with the appropriate services. We understand that this information may be alarming and may cause feelings of stress for students and families. I would like to assure our community that the safety of our students is our top priority. This incident was handled in a safe and professional manner by school staff and the Stoneham Police Department. I would also like to thank the Stoneham Police Department for their timely response and assistance during this incident. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, David Ljungberg, Superintendent Stoneham Public Schools A followup was sent a day later: Dear Stoneham Public Schools Community, I wish to provide an update on the situation that we announced yesterday in which a man trespassed onto school grounds. First, I wish to apologize that this incident was not communicated to the community sooner. We have discussed this matter internally and with our partners in the Stoneham Police Department. We acknowledge that situations like this, while delicate and involving mental health, nonetheless must be communicated in a timely manner to our community. Second, I want to reiterate that the established policies and procedures of the Stoneham Public Schools were followed in this matter. The safety and security of our school community is of the utmost importance. At no time was any member of our community in danger. In following our school safety procedures, the administrator immediately notified the police department, which responded quickly and ultimately took the individual into custody. Moving forward, it is our sincere pledge that our families, faculty, staff and students will receive more timely updates as is your expectation. Thank you for your patience and understanding and for your continued support of the Stoneham Public Schools Community. Sincerely, Dave Ljungberg, M.Ed. Superintendent Stoneham Public Schools More local news Harvard University 7 hours ago Harvard removes human skin from binding of old book mbta 7 hours ago MBTA approves low-income fare program, slashing prices for thousands of riders car crash 9 hours ago Woman seriously hurt at Legacy Place supermarket parking lot, police say
- MBTA approves low-income fare program, slashing prices for thousands of ridersby Chris Lisinski | State House News Service on March 28, 2024 at 6:55 pm
A big moment at the MBTA on Thursday as a plan for reduced fares for low-income riders was given unanimous approval from the control board. The action makes it so anyone earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level could see their price for riding the T slashed in half by summer. “It just means so much to me that we came together for a good cause,” said Malden resident Debra Allen. “This is everything for me, for my community,” said Roxbury resident Mela Bush. The move was made possible by $45 million set aside in Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget. “It really goes to show that this is about equity, about access and about options for everyone in our community,” said Secretary of Transportation Monica Tibbits-Nutt. But there are still a few hoops to jump through, including passage of a final budget keeping those dollars intact and making sure that money is available for years to come. MBTA officials have estimated the program could cost roughly $25 million in fiscal 2025, then rise to between $52 million and $62 million per year once fully implemented by fiscal 2029. Once demand ramps all the way up, the T projects about 62,000 train, bus and ferry riders will take advantage, plus 28,000 people who use the RIDE paratransit service. “We look to Beacon Hill to ensure ongoing, consistent revenue support for the low-income fares program through the coming years,” said Transportation 4 Massachusetts spokesperson Reggie Ramos. Even if all that falls into place, the push for completely free transit fares is unlikely to lose steam. “We’re really focused on finding revenue streams before talking about any additional services,” Tibbits-Nutt said. Caveats aside, advocates are calling this a victory and hoping the impact will quell any concern. “Any little bit of help is really important,” said Lynn resident Kathy Paul. The program includes all forms of MBTA transit including the RIDE, which allows seniors and those with ADA needs to schedule trips. State House News Service contributed to this report. More on the MBTA mbta Mar 23 MBTA Red Line train derailment delays commuters amid rainy weather milton Mar 19 Massachusetts' highest court to hear Milton housing lawsuit later this year
- Harvard removes human skin from binding of old bookby Mike Pescaro on March 28, 2024 at 6:44 pm
Harvard University says it has removed human skin from the binding of a particularly rare book that has been in its library for about 90 years. In a statement posted online, Harvard Library said it pulled the morbid binding from its copy of “Des destinées de l’âme,” written by Arsène Houssaye in the 1880s. “The volume’s first owner, French physician and bibliophile Dr. Ludovic Bouland (1839–1933), bound the book with skin he took without consent from the body of a deceased female patient in a hospital where he worked,” the library said. “The book has been in the collections of Harvard Library since 1934.” The library says it made the change following recommendations made in the 2022 “Report of the Harvard University Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections.” In a Q&A posted Wednesday to Harvard Library’s website, Tom Hyry, an associate university librarian for archives and special collections, was asked about “the impetus for removing the book’s cover now” despite the human skin being known about for a decade. “We’ve been working towards this for a few years now as part of the University’s larger project of addressing human remains in its collections,” he said. “Based on the [2022] review, Harvard Library and the Harvard Museum Collections Returns Committee concluded that due to the ethically fraught nature of the book’s origins and history, the human remains used in the Houssaye book’s binding no longer belong in the Harvard Library collections.” He added that the review “also made clear that we have fallen short of an ethic of care in stewardship over the years.” The Ivy League university has recently faced another major controversy involving the handling of human remains. Last year, Cedric Lodge, manager of Harvard Medical School’s morgue, and his wife, Denise, were two of several people charged in a conspiracy to steal body parts for sale on the black market. The remains were stolen from donors of the Harvard Anatomical Gift Program. Federal prosecutors accuse Lodge, who’s pleaded not guilty, of letting buyers come into the morgue to select parts from donated cadavers. The morgue scandal was not directly mentioned in the library’s announcement or in its Q&A. The 2022 report specifically excluded “human remains acquired as part of the Harvard Medical School Anatomical Gift Program” from its definition of the “university museum collections” it reviewed. More Harvard news Boston Business Journal Mar 25 Harvard begins listening sessions amid hate-speech controversy Harvard Medical School Mar 7 Man sentenced in human body part case tied to Harvard Medical School
- Murray scores career-high 44 points, makes game-winning shot in OT as Hawks outlast Celtics 123-122by Owen Boss on March 29, 2024 at 3:02 am
TLANTA (AP) — Dejounte Murray scored a career-high 44 points, including a go-ahead jumper in the final second of overtime to power the Atlanta Hawks...
- 7 Investigates: Area dog owners warning of rat poison riskby Owen Boss on March 29, 2024 at 2:46 am
One moment, Greg Sutcliffe’s Golden lab Bucky and his brother-in-law’s puppy, Shep, were running through the neighborhood, the next — they were laying lifeless on...
- North End restaurant owners pack meeting to protest outdoor dining restrictionsby Owen Boss on March 29, 2024 at 2:11 am
More than a dozen North End restaurant owners shut down their businesses for a couple of hours Thursday to protest the city’s outdoor dining restrictions,...
- Parents blast lack of communication following alarming incident at Stoneham elementary schoolby Owen Boss on March 29, 2024 at 1:37 am
It’s been a week since a convicted sex offender tried to gain access to a Stoneham elementary school and community members gathered Thursday to let...
- Trump is selling ‘God Bless the USA’ Bibles for $59.99 as he faces mounting legal billsby Owen Boss on March 28, 2024 at 9:51 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles as he runs to return to the White House. Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier...
Boston Herald Boston news, sports, politics, opinion, entertainment, weather and obituaries
- ‘Godzilla x King Kong’ a hectic, wild rideby Katie Walsh on March 29, 2024 at 4:43 am
About halfway through, one does get the nagging sensation that this has jumped the kaiju shark, as director Adam Wingard slams the gas and doesn’t let up.
- Rory Kennedy turns lens on ‘The Synanon Fix’by Stephen Schaefer on March 29, 2024 at 4:43 am
It began in 1958 as a landmark breakthrough in the treatment of heroin addicts, confrontational therapy they called ‘The Synanon Game.’
- Editorial: Sticking businesses with higher tax bills won’t help Bostonby Boston Herald editorial staff on March 29, 2024 at 4:38 am
Why would a company lease office space in Boston with the specter of higher rents on the horizon because of tax increases?
- ‘The Beautiful Game’ gets by on good vibesby Mark Meszoros on March 29, 2024 at 4:34 am
The sports comedy-drama shines a light on the Homeless World Cup, an annual event in which homeless male and female footballers — soccer players to us — play for their countries.
- Franks: Black women voters are Dems ride-or-dieby Gary Franks on March 29, 2024 at 4:31 am
Will Black women continue to blindly offer their loyalty to Democrats or any Democrat for political office? They are the definition of a “monolithic” group when it comes to politics. If you are a Democrat, then they are voting for you.
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