News
The Groton Water Company was established in 1897, at a time when New England towns were beginning to recognize that reliable drinking water and fire protection were no longer optional public goods but essential civic infrastructure.
Created by an act of the Massachusetts General Court, the...
Annual HOLIDAY Pause– No Paper December 26
As part of our long-standing tradition, The Groton Herald will take a brief winter pause for one week only; there will be no edition published on December 26. We resume publication with the January 2, 2026 edition.
We extend our warmest wishes for a...
Shorty: Did you know that Groton’s fire-hydrant system ranks in the top five percent nationally? Did you know that a single dry summer—or a single wet one—can upend the town’s water budget in a matter of weeks?
What about the fact that Groton’s water system has more than doubled in size over the...
Shorty: Is a big sign enough to turn a residential-agricultural parcel into “commercial” land—at least in the public imagination? A highly visible Route 119 property is being marketed that way despite repeated warnings from town officials that no rezoning has occurred. How long can a zoning...
Groton’s ongoing struggle to balance rising costs against limited revenue is not unusual. According to new analyses released this fall by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), communities across the Commonwealth—urban, suburban, and rural alike—are confronting similar fiscal pressures,...
Political scientist Ardeth Thawnghmung, whose internationally recognized work has shaped global understanding of governance and conflict in Myanmar, has been named UMass Lowell’s 2025 Distinguished University Professor.
The award is presented annually to a tenured full professor for outstanding...
Local and regional leaders celebrated the launch the Nashoba Health Equity Partnership on December 4, a multi-year partnership between the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Massachusetts (CHNA 9) and The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, made possible by a three-year $250,000...
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the Commonwealth’s designated not-for-profit joint action agency for municipal utilities, is entering into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with two Maine onshore wind projects.
MMWEC’s Board of Directors has authorized the organization...
How local forests function more like water treatment plants and mental health clinics than distant global air purifiers
by Russ Harris
We’ve all heard forests called “the lungs of the earth.” It’s a beautiful metaphor—but it may be the least interesting thing about them. In New England, forests...
by Staff
Groton is preparing for a major decision this spring—one that could unlock up to $1 million in state climate grants and reshape how future homes are built in town. The Sustainability Commission plans to bring the specialized stretch energy code before the Select Board on December 15,...