Features

(April 21, 2026) – Police Chief Brian Gill shared a story of a young life saved at this week’s Select Board meeting. On Monday April 6th, a 911 call came into the Ayer-Shirley regional dispatch center around 1:30 p.m. The dispatch center is located at the Ayer Police Station on Park Street, but receives calls…

(April 11, 2026) – A group of residents gathered at Pirone Park on Saturday for the Ayer-Shirley Baseball & Softball Cleanup Day to get ready for Opening Day in a few weeks. This is an annual event. With a blue sky and a little breeze off Grove Pond, the volunteers raked the fields and hung…

(April 7, 2026) – Three residents appeared at the Select Board meeting on Tuesday night, asking the board to consider establishing an elected town ombudsman position. The residents submitted a written proposal before the meeting. This was signed by 22 residents directly impacted by the Lincoln Hill development. Last October, the Planning Board approved a…

Over the next five years, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts plans a new $500,000 investment to help local students and families navigate the complex financial aid process for higher education and access more affordable pathways. This investment will make our region the first in Massachusetts where every high school has coordinated access to…

(March 19, 2026) – The Ayer Police Department presented its FY2027 budget to the Finance Committee, which represents a 2.57 percent increase over 2026 (or about $81,000). More important than the numbers, we think it’s a good opportunity for residents to watch as the public safety departments present to the Finance Committee. You can learn about…

The Town of Ayer plans to start the West Main Street Bridge replacement soon. Take a mental snapshot now because the bridge and road are about to take on a different appearance in years to come. First, we are writing about the West Main Street Bridge over Nonacoicus Brook, which stands near the billboard, about…

There is a joyful Christmas tradition taking place at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Parish Hall this weekend. A parishioner has set up her collection of beautiful managers for the public to come and see for the 23rd year. We walked through and it’s stunning to see how many nativity sets are set up and how…

The Town of Ayer hosted its 10th annual holiday tree lighting and stroll yesterday. From young children to Santa, all ages came out for the special tradition. Residents collected their candles and the stroll began around 5 p.m. Together, all the candles created a beautiful white glow as the group walked down Main Street, then…

There’s a unique holiday display outside a West Main Street home, featuring 25 animal decorations across the front lawn. The owners affectionally call these their “tinselmals.” While these are outdoor decorations, when you drive by you take away the feeling of looking into a department store’s holiday window, from days past with penguins, reindeer, snowmen…

The Christmas Light Show begins tonight at an East Main Street home near the Ayer Rotary. As in past years, the home is decorated in a beautiful light display that flashes a spread of colors to a musical lineup. One minute you’re in everyday Ayer and the next, it’s just, “Wow.” The light display shows…