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(May 5, 2026) – The Main Street TIP project, which was programmed for FFY 2029, has to be moved back in the regional schedule to FFY 2030 and FFY 2031, according to the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) recent letter to the town. This project would reconstruct Main Street, from Columbia Street to Park Street….

Nashoba Valley Technical High School has received a $3.25 million grant through the state’s FY2026 CTE Expansion Grant Program. With this grant, the school can now renovate and expand instructional space to establish two new Chapter 74 programs in HVAC and Facilities Management. These programs will serve both high school students and adult learners. On…

(April 28, 2026) – Ayer Family Pharmacy is seeking site plan approval to add 10 additional parking spaces for the business. The pharmacy currently operates on Park Street and the owner wants to add new parking spaces at 7 Park Street, a neighboring property it has acquired, according to the site plan review materials. Combined,…

(April 28, 2026) – The Town of Ayer shared the next glimpse of the senior center project at the Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night. The Ayer Planning Board opened the site plan approval and stormwater public hearings – just a day after Annual Town Meeting approved two related articles (easement, conservation and deed restrictions)….

ASHBY, MA — More than 230 years after his death, John Fitch — the colonial settler whose courage and civic vision gave the city of Fitchburg its name — will finally receive a proper grave marker. The Ashby Historical Society will hold a headstone dedication ceremony on Saturday,
May 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Old Burial Ground at the First Parish Church in Ashby, the small town that was also shaped by Fitch’s life and where he spent his final years.

(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 22, 2026) – Ayer, Devens and the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge hosted the Open Street and Greenway Event for Earth Day on Wednesday. Vendor tables were set up on the grassy area where Bishop and MacPherson roads meet, including for the Friends of the Ayer Senior Center, the Devens Climate Resiliency Project (MVP 2.0),…

Whether you run, bike, hike, roll, scoot, or stroll this is your dedicated, safe space for Earth Day play in a beautiful natural area! Ayer, Devens, and the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge will again host the Open Street and Greenway Earth Day Event on Wednesday, April 22nd, from 2pm-6pm on MacPherson Road. This will be the 5th annual open streets event, celebrating Earth Day by opening the streets to people for recreational activities and the opportunity to experience the beautiful Wild and Scenic Nashua River and Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge in a safe and peaceful manner.

On April 7th, the Select Board voted 3-0 to approve the April 27th Annual Town Meeting warrant which includes 28 articles and a citizens petition. The Finance Committee voted to recommend all the articles with a financial impact. For additional information related to the articles and Budget Book, visit www.ayer.ma.us/townmeeting. The town will share its…

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…