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LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF GROTON PUBLIC HEARING
The Select Board has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:20 P.M., Groton Town Hall, Select Board’s Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, 173 Main Street, Groton, MA. The purpose of this hearing will be to discuss laying out Monarch Path/Noble Path, as a public way as contained in the October 5, 2024 Fall Town Meeting Warrant. Copies of the plans are on file in the Land Use Department at the Groton Town Hall.
Mass. Gov. Healey: UMass could take over part of shuttered Steward hospital
UMass Memorial Health could convert the emergency room at the shuttered Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer into an urgent care facility, according to the Healey administration. The Steward-owned facility was one of two that closed its doors permanently on Saturday, even as the bankrupt, Dallas-based health care provider reaches,...
Massachusetts towns on lockdown to prevent spread of deadly mosquito-borne disease EEE
As many as four Massachusetts towns are under voluntary lockdowns with evening curfews after the mosquito-borne disease Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was detected in local insects
With Steward hospitals about to close, two Mass. communities brace for the worst
In a state that prides itself on having some of the best health care in the world, two communities are bracing for the closure this weekend of community hospitals that serve hundreds of thousands of people -- though activists said they’re not giving up on getting them to reopen their doors.
State's top health official: No savior for Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Correction: An earlier version of this story inaccurately reported when the hospital will close its doors to patients. WORCESTER — Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer will close at midnight Saturday, and don’t expect a buyer to enter the picture at the last minute to save it. ...
Sterling selectmen lift cease-and-desist order at site of fatal rock collapse
STERLING ― The Board of Selectmen has rescinded a cease-and-desist order that it issued last week in an emergency meeting hours after a fatal collapse at Onyx Corporation, a sand and gravel business on Chocksett Road. The collapse occurred about 8 a.m. August 22. ...
Affordable housing project pitched to Westminster as a "friendly 40B:" Where it will be
The Normandin Group LLC proposed building a 48-unit rental apartment complex at 5 Adams St., off of Main St. in Westminster. The proposal has been submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and MassHousing. The two state agencies will determine whether the housing project is eligible for the 40B Comprehensive Permit process. ...
Gardner school officials unveil new cellphone policy - what you need to know
A new policy is aiming to drastically cut down on cellphone use at Gardner public schools. Students will be prohibited from using cellphones and earbuds or headphones while class is in session, according to the district's 2024-2025 student handbook. "As we continue to strive to provide our students with the best possible learning environment,...
Ex-Massachusetts special ed director accused of embezzling $37 million loses his pension appeal
The disgraced former special ed director who was accused of misusing more than $37 million in taxpayer dollars has lost his pension appeal in front of a state appeals court. John Barranco — who was the executive director of both the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative and Merrimack Education Center — brought this appeal after he was forced to give back more than $800,000 in excess pension payments to the state.
State says money will be available to upgrade emergency services impacted by Nashoba hospital closure; acknowledges administration is in talks with UMass Memorial
With Nashoba Valley Medical Center scheduled to close in less than 24 hours, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced a series of steps this afternoon to reduce the impact of the closing on affected communities and prepare for the future. In an afternoon press release, the administration said the Department of Public...
National Night Out with local first responders
On Tuesday, August 6, the Town of Acton hosted another well-attended National Night Out event at the Public Safety Facility on Main Street. The annual event is held in municipalities across the country and aims to foster awareness of the services provided by law enforcement and an opportunity for residents to get to know the first responders who work in their community, including, in Acton, K-9 Officer Zane.
Bromfield has a new look, new faces in 2024–25 school year
Note: This article reports new staff members at Bromfield. For new personnel at HES, see "New faces at Hildreth Elementary" When students returned to classes at the Bromfield School on Wednesday this week, they found changes to the building and also met several new teachers. On Monday before school began,...
School Committee considers approval of cell tower for Charter Road campus
Cellular coverage may greatly improve on Charter Road this coming year with the expected installation of a cellular communication tower. The school district is proposing to lease a 50-by-50-foot space behind the district’s Administration Building at 23 Charter Road to TowerCo, one of the largest privately-owned companies in the United States that builds, owns, and maintains wireless communication infrastructure.
Notice Board: August 30, 2024
New location: Hildreth Elementary School gymnasium. Location: Bromfield School Cronin Auditorium. New location: Hildreth Elementary School gymnasium. Last day to register for the state election: Saturday, Oct. 26. In-person early voting: Saturday, Oct. 19, to Thursday, Oct. 31, upstairs at Town Hall. No swimming at pond; fishing, boating not recommended.
Editorial: Nashoba’s new wing a blueprint for other tech schools to follow
Absent the construction of additional vocational technical high schools, state education officials should put a priority on expanding the footprint of existing ones, especially those that can’t accommodate their demand. That’s exactly what happened at Nashoba Valley Technical High School. The Westford-based district officially opened its new wing...
Assistant town administrator seeks to collaborate and balance needs of departments, committees, citizens
The office of Allyson Mitchell, the new assistant town administrator, is off the hallway by the back entrance of Town Hall. She said she appreciates the location: “I like to be found. It’s easier for people when I’m easy to find.” She likes looking out the window, seeing people coming to the building and into the hall, waving to people at their mail cubbies. Being physically in the middle of things seems to reflect Mitchell’s vision for her new job, which is, along with Town Administrator Dan Nason, to collaborate with all departments and committees and make sure things are working for the good of everyone in town.
WEMO to hold annual Leadership Conference on Sept. 27
With the theme “Growing Trust in Local Government,” Women Elected Municipal Officials will hold its sixth annual Leadership Conference on Sept. 27 in Devens. The half-day conference will include a keynote presentation by Dana LeWinter, chief of Public and Community Engagement at the Massachusetts Housing Partnership. Her presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities for engaging community members on local housing issues.
Town Manager’s Report – August 28, 2024
Subscribe to our mailing list and consider following WestfordCAT on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for daily updates from Westford's hometown source for news. WESTFORD — Welcome back to Westford Town Hall and the August Town Manager Update from Town Manager Kristen Las. There are a number of civic events coming down the pipeline for residents to keep an eye on, including committee surveys seeking resident’s input. A quick reminder that the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Police Courtyard at 9:00 AM, and Special Town Meeting is fast approaching on Monday, October 21st. That, and so much more!
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