Councilors consistently referenced risks, concerns about items not addressed completely, and opposition of most constituents contacting them. Gardner City Council Votes Unanimously Against the Horse Racetrack Gardner City Council voted 11 to 0 against the Horse Racetrack proposal by BayState Racing LLC. The City Council discussed the matter before theContinue Reading

Copy of actual email sent to City of Gardner. At least 1 signer of Xeroxed Open Meeting Law Complaints verifies she did not know what she was signing. At Least One of OML Xerox Complaint Signers Retracts, DID NOT KNOW WHAT SHE WAS SIGNING. Kayla Halfrey wrote: “So also pleaseContinue Reading

The late, famous newscaster Walter C. voiced this editorial for us. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY. Editorial Commentary – Path from Here – the Racetrack BayState Racing LLC submitted a revised Host Community Agreement in which it substantially increased the financial rewards for Gardner. It answered every citizen andContinue Reading

Plans – Projects – Possibilities – Interview with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson Only July 29, 2024, we had the honor of speaking with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson about various BIG NEWS of the Chair City. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY. Some Highlights: We spoke to Mayor Nicholson about theContinue Reading

CDBG Grants Announced in Front of School Street School School Street School has been vacant for almost 40 years, has fallen in to disrepair, often has vandals and police calls. Gardner applied for a Community Development Block Grant to demolish the building and received it along with others to benefitContinue Reading

We publish Scott Graves statement so our readers can hear for themselves what Graves actually said and what actually happened. A City Councilor raised a point of order as Scott Graves spoke off topic regarding the Sludge Landfill at the public hearing regarding the Racetrack. Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas askedContinue Reading

Chair City Mourns as Beloved Reverend David Cote Passes On Upon hearing the news, the Gardner Fire Department posted on July 24, 2024 , “The Gardner Fire Department regrets to announce the passing of Reverend David Cote. Reverend Cote has served as the Chaplain for the Gardner Fire Department forContinue Reading

Horse Racetrack Page on Gardner Magazine Our Horse Racetrack page attempts to have all the information in one place. Gardner Magazine Interviews and Articles —- WGAW Hotline Radio Interviews —- Mayor’s Updates —- City Council Meetings —- Committee Meetings. —- Supporting Documents and Resource Materials. Website links We will continueContinue Reading

Horse Racetrack Page – Greater Gardner MA 2024 This page is intended to provide complete information regarding the proposal for a Horse Racetrack at 827 Green Street in Gardner MA. There are numerous interviews, City Council Meetings, and various materials which are available here. The Gardner City Council scheduled anContinue Reading

WGAW Radio Focuses on Racetrack Proposal on Saturday, July 13, 2024 Listen to the entire program on any device. It will stream instantly from the WGAW website. CLICK PLAY Mayor Michael Nicholson spoke LIVE from the Gardner Food Truck Festival and also on the subject of proposed Racetrack. Host SteveContinue Reading

The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, MART, is proposing to amend Gardner’s bus routes to shorten the full loop time from about 1 hour 10 minutes to approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Hearing Reminder: MART Proposing Shortening Route Travel Time by About Half Gardner Mayor Nicholson reminded residents, “MART Montachusett RegionalContinue Reading

Poll Regarding Racetrack Reveals Wide Differences of Opinion A poll on Gardner Facebook Group “Gardner MA: Uncensored” received responses from 68 members, or 1 percent of membership in about a day. As most Facebook Groups are visited by about 3 percent of members in a day, it is reasonable toContinue Reading

WGAW Hotline Radio Delayed for a Day by Power Outage A power outage disrupted equipment at the WGAW Studios so Hotline Radio did not make its usual airing on Saturday, July 6th. However the show is available on the WGAW website, CLICK HERE. (Past shows also available) You can alsoContinue Reading

Paul DeMeo made this statement “Mike Nicholson’s Fan Club parked outside Gardner Massachusetts City Hall.” He also falsely stated, “The publication that keeps attacking residents and doing Nicholson’s dirty work while praising Nicholson. Sad to say, Steve Wendell, WGAW is part of this scheme who bad mouthed Kimberly Blake” GardnerContinue Reading

MART Proposing Shortening Route Travel Time by About Half The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, MART, is proposing to amend Gardner’s bus routes to shorten the full loop time from about 1 hour 10 minutes to approximately 35 to 40 minutes. How Would This Be Accomplished? Current Routes 1 and 2Continue Reading

WGAW’s Hit Show “Hotline Radio” with Great Guests on 6-22-24 Hotline Radio Show of June 22, 2024 features Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson speaking from Small Business Saturday in Downtown Gardner, sound from the Downtown Gardner Festival, City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, a commentary by Werner Poegel, and an update withContinue Reading

Fiduciary Responsibility – An Interview with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson – The Challenges of Waterford, the Whole Story and Racetrack Details Gardner Magazine Publisher Werner Poegel spoke with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson about various efforts on behalf of the public. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. Text of the entireContinue Reading

WGAW’s Hit Show “Hotline Radio” Hits It “Out of the Park” on Saturday, June 15, 2024 So you’re wondering what’s up with the possible Horse Racing Track. You want to know what’s going on with various City projects. Host Steve Wendell of WGAW’s Hotline Radio had a hugely informative programContinue Reading

Council President Kazinskas with Valuable Information on Citizen Participation – Hotline Radio Interview Gardner MA City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas appeared on WGAW Hotline Radio with host Steve Wendell on Saturday, June 8, 2024. We thank WGAW for making it available to Gardner Magazine. Listen to the interview on anyContinue Reading

This editorial on pdf, CLICK HERE. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. Social Media Hits new Low in Gardner MA This week I published an accurate report on the disruptive conduct of Kimberly Blake and others which occurred the night of the Gardner City Council meeting. Earlier in May, IContinue Reading

Gardner City Council Passes Fiscal Year 2025 Budget The Gardner City Council held the regular meeting and passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY. Zoning Board of Appeals will now have 5 members, 4 must be from Gardner. The Complete Budget as submitted by MayorContinue Reading

Gardner MA City Council Scrutinizes Budget Line by Line in Informal Meeting Council President Kazinskas presided over an informal City Council meeting on June 3, 2024 for the purpose of going over the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY. The City Council took a methodicalContinue Reading

Admission is FREE. HUGE OPPORTUNITY: FREE Concert Series Featuring 40 piece band Winchendon Winds will play in Winchendon at the Unitarian Universalist Church of 4 consecutive Sundays in June: June 9, June 16, June 23, and June 30, all at 2pm. Under direction of Dr. Lindasy Bronnenkant, who is aContinue Reading

Gardner MA Library to Feature Live Country Music Renowned New England singer-songwriter Matt York will perform “Willie Nelson: Songs and Stories” Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 6pm on the lawn of the Levi Heywood Memorial Library in Gardner MA. ADMISSION is FREE. Listen to Matt York introducing himself on anyContinue Reading

Editorial Commentary – Excellence in Gardner Government and Schools I want to tell you very specifically why I am so proud and honored to report on the City of Gardner and its dedicated Team. Gardner has changed for the better in the last 4 years. The Gardner City Council doesContinue Reading

Investment in Gardner Music Pays Off in Form of Gold Medal Youngsters with musical talent were congratulated after winning a GOLD MEDAL. Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson wrote about the honor stating” Congratulations to the 4th Grade Band at Gardner Elementary School for earning a Gold Medal at the Great EastContinue Reading

View the entire proposed budget in pdf format with all of the details the Mayor speaks about in this interview, CLICK HERE. Funding the City in Challenging Times – Interview with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson It’s budget season and Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson spoke to us about how he isContinue Reading

Massachusett Law, click here. Food Pantry liability, click here. Gardner CAC has a Food Pantry located at 294 Pleasant Street in Gardner and would love your donations. Website with secure donation ability, CLICK HERE. Open a Food Pantry at Your House – NO, you can’t do that… A Gardner residentContinue Reading

Gardner School Committee Met on Monday May 13, 2024 The Gardner MA School Committee Met on Monday May 13, 2024. Complete Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY. Robert Swartz detailed progress relating to various projects in the schools. pointing out that someContinue Reading

From the Publisher: Gardner Magazine has been publicly criticized on Social Media for its positive reporting on Mayor Nicholson, the Gardner City Council, and the Gardner Team of great municipal and school employees. Our response is simple: It’s not our fault they’re doing a good job. But it is somewhatContinue Reading

Public Service Committee in Gardner Hears from Citizens and Department Heads The Gardner Public Service Committee chaired by Councilor Paul Tassone hears water and sewer appeals by ratepayers in Gardner. It also hears reports from Conservation, DPW, and Engineering. Listen to the May 6, 2024 meeting on any device, CLICKContinue Reading

Beautification of Gardner is Underway – Difference is Easily Apparent Top view is the fencing obscuring land which became the Park Street Park. Originally an electrical substation, the substation was abandoned in favor of another site, but the fence and barbed wire remained. Gardner Mayor Nicholson proposed the expenditure ofContinue Reading

Article on the April School Committee Budget Meeting, CLICK HERE. School Committee OK doing Voice Vote on Budget In our article about the last School Committee meeting, we questioned the vote as it was not a roll call vote as the Mayor did last year. However, Mayor Nicholson has kindlyContinue Reading

Informal City Council Agenda for May 6, 2024, CLICK HERE. What Could a Quarter Mean in Gardner MA? Gardner Mayor Nicholson is proposing the City adopt a .75% tax on lodging and meals. This would mean a $30.00 restaurant bill would increase by 23 cents to $31.23, a minimal increaseContinue Reading