News
A Different Starting Question
The second part of our news analysis series begins with a simple but unfamiliar question: is Groton’s tax challenge really about tax rates being too high—or about too few taxpayers sharing the cost of running the town?
For years, debates about growth focused on...
An extended 48-minute discussion at the December 23, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting highlighted ongoing challenges with municipal permitting processes, culminating in rare public apologies from multiple board members who acknowledged they "screwed up" their handling of a stone wall...
by Connie Sartini
Facing growing pressure to fund both municipal services and the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, Town Manager Mark Haddad warned the Select Board last week that balancing the FY2027 budget under current guidance could require staffing reductions and service cuts.
At...
Shorty: Did you know that Groton’s financial squeeze may have as much to do with a gathering crisis as with a set of assumptions that have quietly stopped working?
For years, large homes on large lots were treated as the prudent, low-risk option — higher tax bills, fewer school-aged kids, steady...
The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District is launching a new suicide prevention initiative aimed at identifying concerns earlier and supporting students before they reach a crisis point, district officials said at Tuesday’s School Committee meeting.
The effort brings together professional...
While few Massachusetts communities have outright rejected the state's specialized stretch energy code, the slow pace of adoption reflects unresolved questions about construction costs, infrastructure needs, and who will pay for the transition to all-electric buildings.
Of the state's 351 cities...
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts announces the James and Christine Laggis Wood Education Foundation, a new endowed fund created by local philanthropists and Ayer High School alumni James and Christine Wood. The fund will make annual distributions to the Ayer Shirley...
by Beacon Hill Roll Call
TAX RELIEF FOR PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS (PCAs)
Gov. Healey announced that an estimated 18,000 of the state’s 60,000 of live-in PCAs who take care of MassHealth members will no longer pay state or federal income taxes on their wages, under a new IRS ruling that was sought...
On this day, December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens released a story that was far more than a festive tale; it was a biting social manifesto. In October 1843, Dickens witnessed the “industrial heartland” of Manchester. While politicians like Disraeli and Cobden debated economics at the Manchester...
By Kathy Register
Artist Andrea Wilson welcomed the chance to make art with young teenagers at Groton’s Prescott Community Center – especially with the goal of improving youth wellness through creative engagement.
“I just love middle school, it’s this unique little moment in time with big changes...