Ashby
Ashby, MA · LATEST NEWS
actonexchange.org
Years in the making, Shoddy Mill Park opens
When Town Manager John Mangiaratti started his job eight years ago, he took a walking tour of the land at 53 River St. that the Town had bought two years earlier, in 2016, when Town Meeting voters approved the purchase of the land. “I heard, ‘We bought a paving company’s...
The Gardner News
Festival of Trees returns to Gardner Museum Nov. 11
The Gardner Museum's Festival of Trees returns Nov. 11 with decorated trees, raffles and a seasonal exhibit at 28 Pearl St. in Gardner. The annual event runs through Dec. 5, according to a community announcement. The 2026 Festival of Trees Flyer lists hours of 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1-7 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors can buy raffle tickets during the Festival of Trees, with ticket sales ending at 2 p.m. on the final date and the drawing beginning at 3 p.m., according to the event flyer. Cash or check will be accepted. Veterans and members of police and fire departments also can enter a Veterans' Appreciation Door Prize drawing for a festive gift basket. That drawing is scheduled for Nov. 15, according to the announcement. Visitors also can see the museum's vintage toy display during the festival. The flyer identifies the seasonal exhibit as "Toys Past and Present." Winter coat drive will benefit Gardner families The museum is also collecting donations for its annual Winter Coat Drive during the festival. Collection boxes are in the Lower Lobby, which can be accessed from the parking lot, according to the announcement. Donations being accepted include gently
bigredhawks.com
Joshua Martinez Hits the Ground Running at Hudson High
HUDSON— Joshua Martinez is bringing his love, ideas, and passion for fitness and health into the classroom at Hudson High this fall. Martinez prioritizes fitness inside and outside of school, teaching his students how important it is to keep their bodies healthy. “A strong work ethic can help your...
nenc.news
Mass. farmers are aging. One family farm looks to the next generation
For the last 45 years, the Mong family has run Applefield Farm in Stow, about 30 miles west of Boston. The charming farm grows everything from corn and kale to scallions and pumpkins. Husband and wife Steven and Kirsten Mong first opened the farm in the 1980s, starting with just...
hoodline.com
Dracut Faces Third Vote on MBTA Zoning Monday, With Grant Money on the Line
Tennis Plaza Rd. — Approximate Site of Proposed Multifamily Zoning. Dracut voters head back to Town Meeting Monday night to decide, for the third time in two years, whether to adopt the state's MBTA Communities Act zoning rules — a measure they have already voted down twice. The session starts at 7 p.m. at Dracut High School, where residents will weigh a proposal that identifies two specific condominium complexes as potential sites for multifamily housing.
insidelowell.com
Popeyes and Chipotle Coming to Lowell
LOWELL – The former VFW Lodge and parking lot on Plain Street is the site of an under-construction Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and a proposed Chipotle Mexican Grill. A third parcel is an as yet unidentified restaurant. All three businesses will offer dine-in and take-out service, as well as drive-through windows.
whdh.com
insidelowell.com
Underused Downtown Lot Transformed into Community Gathering Space for PupFest
An unused parking lot in the heart of downtown Lowell came alive this past Halloween, as hundreds of people and their four-legged companions gathered for the second annual Lowell PupFest, organized by local nonprofit Project Merrimack. Held Saturday, October 31, at 40 Market Street, the free festival transformed the space...
waghostwriter.com
Willow and Hearth
Seniors Trying To Downsize In Central Massachusetts Are Fighting Younger Buyers For Scarce Starter Homes While 10,000 Elderly Applicants Wait Years For Housing
Plenty of older homeowners dream of trading a big house for something smaller, simpler and easier on the budget. In Central Massachusetts, though, they are running into a problem: so […]
actonexchange.org
Acton Housing Authority receives statewide award for McManus Manor
The Acton Housing Authority (AHA) received the Outstanding Small Agency Award at the Massachusetts National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (MassNAHRO) 2026 Awards Gala on Thursday, October 29, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood. The award recognized AHA’s work in developing McManus Manor, a new 41-unit affordable...
nashobavalleyvoice.com
Pet of the week: Bubba, the smart rat
Let’s hope Bubba meets the person or fur-mily of his dreams, since Thursday is Mouse and Rat Day. Yes, that sounds like a “Looney Tunes” cartoon, but Bubba is a white/tan point standard rat currently at Lowell Humane Society. Domestic rats are known for their intelligence and curiosity, and since these are social creatures, Bubba will need a buddy. This little guy came from a hoarding situation, so he’s a little nervous, but will come along to being “more social and hand friendly,” with patience and care. The Humane Society advises that: “rats need a cage with a minimum of 2.5 cubic feet, with wire siding, ramps, and platforms they can climb on, with enough room for their food, water, toys, and hiding spots. Rats are very intelligent creatures and need toys, puzzles, tunnels, and other enrichment to keep them mentally stimulated.”
bigredhawks.com
Once a Student, Now a Teacher: Percuoco Returns to Hudson High
HUDSON — A 2006 Hudson High graduate, Sarah Percuoco is a familiar face back in Hudson’s hallways as the school’s new geometry teacher. Percuoco first discovered her love for math when she took geometry in high school. She enjoyed the subject so much that she started tutoring other students.