New federal stimulus money for local police and fire departments will help Fitchburg avoid closing two fire stations and allow other communities to rehire police and firefighters lost during the recession.

Is joining a regional hazardous-waste program still in the formative stages better than a town-operated program, or forcing residents to drive 45 minutes to Lexington now that the Lunenburg regional program is going away? The majority of Special Town Meeting voters were willing to take the chance this week, against the recommendation of the Board ...

At her age, no one could blame her for needing some sprucing up. The First Church of Christ Unitarian, known as the Fifth Meeting House or the Bulfinch Church, has been in use since 1816.

Local residents cheered and waved at veterans who marched down Main Street Sunday for the American Legion Post 189 Veterans Day ceremonies.

Dance2Swing: Swingin' Sundays at Leominster Elks, 134 N. Main St. Featuring Compaq Big Band With Britt and Ed Scheer of the Love Dogs.

Selectmen were in agreement last week that the proposed memorandum of understanding, that would allow the Clinton Police Department to hold training and qualifying shooting sessions at the Brandli parcel, was not stringent enough.

I was never really a pet lover, but I know how attached people get to their pet cats or dogs.

After hearing complaints from residents, selectmen said last night they want a much more restrictive agreement with Clinton than the one proposed for the use of the former rifle range by the Clinton police.

Benjamin and Christine Ware, and their son Shawn, proudly announce the birth of Shawn's brother, Shane Arthur Ware.

Last week, Gov. Deval Patrick announced budget cuts to close a projected $600 million revenue gap.

By Lynne Klaft CORRESPONDENT and Karen Nugent TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF LANCASTER - Clinton and Lancaster are two board votes away from setting ground rules allowing the Clinton Police Department to use the former firing range as a training and shooting qualification gun range.

If Orlando Pacheco is selected Rockport's next town administrator, he would strive to improve the community's information technology systems, aggressively pursue grants - and aim to keep politics out of the chief executive's daily decision-making processes.

Numbers for next year are already causing fiscal headaches for town officials. Selectmen last week discussed with the Advisory Committee the town's budget planning and issues, with concerns already high about next year's budget.

It's home, sort of. A large stone watering trough that once offered welcome respite to thirsty horses along Harvard Road, is again along that Lancaster roadway, although a little farther south.

Tuesday, Sept. 15 Judge Martha Brennan Ronald Kemski , 52, of 43B Cook Lane, Marlboro, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, dismissed upon payment of $100 in court costs; uninsured, dismissed; unregistered, not responsible.

A broken hip led to unintended consequences of the positive kind recently for William Thomas of Lancaster and his mother, Bertha Thomas.

In the winter of 1778, Town Meeting voted to "supply the families of the continental soldiers of this town." In 1946, the entire town gathered to welcome veterans of World War II home with a daylong celebration and dinner.

Pepperell could soon join Ayer, Harvard, Lancaster, Shirley and Groton, in signing the Army Community Covenant.

Last Sunday's Third Annual Day of Play at the Shirley Middle School started off with a blast -- literally.

Local apple farmers are hailing this season's crop as one of the best in many years thanks to ideal weather conditions during portions of the spring and summer.