MOVING SALE/GARAGE SALE SAT. MAY 16th
RAIN OR SHINE: 10 AM THRU 3 PM, 3 Larkspurk Circle, GEORGETOWN What are we selling? If it's not listed here "we probably don't got it." We do have a good variety of "stuff." BEDROOM STUFF: A one-year-old DELUXE KING SIZE BED (sadly we must part with it because we are...
Invitation to Local Candidates
The Town Common invites local candidates for town positions to introduce themselves - in their own words - to our readers. Please limit submissions to approximately 400 words so that we may fit in all candidates. (Candidates can always purchase advertising space for...
Donald Francis Crosby, who lived a life marked by humor, courage, and creativity, was born on May 21, 1933, in Brookline, Massachusetts, and passed away on March 21, 2026, only 61 days shy of his 93rd birthday, in Griffin, Georgia, leaving behind a legacy that...
Nancy McElroy Gormley
Nancy McElroy Gormley, 67, of Rowley, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026, her birthday, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on March 31, 1959, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Nancy lived a life defined by warmth, humor, and deep devotion to...
New IRS Data: More Than 150,000 Residents Left Massachusetts
BOSTON – The Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA) highlighted the findings of the latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “Statistics of Income” data, which shows steep taxes continue to fuel the state’s outmigration crisis. Released last week, the report provides...
Goats to Go Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS https://goatstogo.farm Georgetown, Mass. Winter Hike with Little Goats & Alpaca Greetings Sunday, February 22 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Winter Goat Hike & Alpaca Greetings Sunday, February 22 · 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Winter Adventure: Guided Farm...
David Scott Thibodeau
David Scott Thibodeau, a man of profound kindness, intelligence, and gentle spirit, left this world on February 4, 2026, in Rowley, MA, leaving behind a legacy of love, and unwavering dedication to his family and passions. Born on June 1, 1958, in Millinocket, ME,...
The Salisbury Democratic Town Committee is pleased to announce the 17th Annual Lou Masiello Leadership Scholarship for Salisbury seniors attending Triton Regional High School.
The Salisbury Democratic Town Committee is pleased to announce the 17th Annual Lou Masiello Leadership Scholarship for Salisbury seniors attending Triton Regional High School. Criteria for the scholarship are completion of an essay, possibly participating in an...
Upcoming Agricultural Committee Events
Upcoming Agricultural Committee Events Essex County Greenbelt, Farm Bureau, and American Farmland Trust are hosting a joint meeting on March 4th, 2026 from 6-8pm at the Topsfield Fair Grounds on Planning for the Future of Your Farm. Register Here (Planning for the...
Get a Sneak Peek of America’s 250th Exhibit at Old North Church Historic Site This February School Vacation
Get a Sneak Peek of America’s 250th Exhibit at Old North Church Historic Site This February School Vacation Opens Saturday, Feb. 14 to Saturday, Feb. 21. BOSTON – Step into the story that launched a revolution. During February School Vacation Week, Old North Church...
WE HONOR TROOPER KEVIN TRAINOR
Like so many churches, businesses, and residents, The Town Common and the extended Town Common contributors pause to honor the life and service of Mass. State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor. May his family find comfort.
Georgetown TA’s Extensive Outside Work Questioned
GEORGETOWN – For years, some visitors to town hall and present and past town employees have recounted incidents where they heard Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco brag that he used his salary as what they called his “play money.” This week, the SelectBoard was scheduled to meet at Town Hall to consider accusations that Pacheco has violated terms of his Georgetown contract by working for the town of Shirley and possibly a private employer, Inovis Energy. The SelectBoard is also being asked to review the...
The Friends of the Newbury Town Library in Byfield Plant Sale, Sat. May 16
BYFIELD − The Friends of the Newbury Town Library is hosting a Plant Sale on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the library, 0 Lunt St., Byfield. The fundraiser typically attract hundreds of plant enthusiasts and gardeners. Drop by to check out the hundreds of plants that are available for sale - and support the library at the same time. For those rearranging or thinning out gardens for the spring, please consider donating plants to the sale. The Friends are looking for donations of perennials,...
Belleville Brings Back Cecilia
NEWBURYPORT − If you are looking for an evening of Celtic music that lifts you with its blend of jazz, swing and classical influences, plan now to spend Saturday night with Cécilia at the Belleville Congregational Church for its next roots concert. Recognized as three of Canada's finest musicians, Cécilia’s Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy and Louis Schryer honor their shared heritage with high-spirited sound. “It is a delight to witness how much joy they take in playing together. It’s a sound that feels both deeply...
Newbury Historic Home Damaged by Fire
NEWBURY – A few days before the town of Newbury designated the small neighborhood surrounding the Lower Green as a historic district, the back rooms of one of the new district’s most prominent historic homes were damaged by a fire. On April 30, the Newbury Fire Department, assisted by several North Shore fire crews, extinguished the fire quickly in the 18th century home at 7 Lower Green. The state Fire Marshall is not expected to rule the official cause of the fire for another week, but Newbury Chief Dave Evans...
Amesbury Student Earns Bishop Fenwick Student-Athlete Award
Congratulations are extended to Bishop Fenwick High School Student-Athlete of the Month for March: Senior Brittney Figulski, Basketball from Amesbury. Brittney is a Senior three-sport athlete and a captain of Fenwick’s 2026 State Championship basketball team. Starting all 25 games this season, Brittney established herself as one of the top defenders in the state while serving as a steady and respected leader. In the classroom, she has earned either President’s or Principal’s List honors every marking period since...
Store Shout-Out: Cumberland Farms Ipswich
Store Shout-Out: Cumberland Farms Ipswich Johnathan Jodoin (L) and Andy Homas (R), manager of Cumberland Farms Ipswich display a recent copy of The Town Common which they make available to customers. Drop by say "Hey, I saw you in The Town Common!" (Photo by Julianne DeSantis)
Ipswich Fire Dept. Receives $9,326 Grant
IPSWICH − The Ipswich Fire Department will provide proven fire safety lessons and resources to both students and seniors this year thanks to $9,326 in state grant funding. Ipswich Fire will receive a $6,381 grant to fund the SAFE program, and a $2,945 grant to fund the Senior SAFE program from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SAFE program teaches students fire and life safety, with protection education lessons that increase in complexity with each grade level. The program teaches students to recognize the...
Our Neighbor’s Table Opens New Food Bank in Georgetown
GEORGETOWN − Our Neighbors’ Table (ONT) has opened its fourth free integrated market in partnership with the Georgetown Council on Aging, providing more healthy food for residents struggling with food insecurity. The Georgetown market is open Mondays and Wednesdays and is available to anyone in Georgetown and neighboring communities, not just seniors. The partnership with ONT allows the pantry to source its food directly from it through the Greater Boston Food Bank with weekly deliveries. “To make sure no one is...
Calvin E. Cockman
Calvin E. Cockman, 79, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026. He was the husband of Suzanne (Stankus) Cockman. Calvin was born in Salina, Kansas on March 18, 1947. He was the son of the late Willie and Eva (Goens) Cockman. He was employed as a line worker in the food service industry. Calvin was also a supervisor of the Recycling Center in Rowley. He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. Calvin enjoyed fishing and attending Red Sox games with his granddaughter. Besides his wife, he is survived...
Groveland Garden Club – Plant Sale Sat. May 16
GROVELAND − The Groveland Garden Club invites you to their Annual Plant Sale to be held at The Little Red Schoolhouse, located at the corner of Broad and Main Street in Groveland, on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon!
Georgetown Peabody Library Events Saturday
SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 10 AM Hands-on Pruning Workshop Join Instructor Jennifer Kettell, consulting arborist from Radiant Leaf Pruning, for a hands-on workshop on pruning using the bushes in the landscape at the library. Flowering shrubs can be a bit more complicated than pruning trees. When shrubs have been improperly pruned or just left to their own devices, they begin to resemble what we refer to as “The Green Helmet.” Learn how to avoid The Green Helmet and maintain shrubs’ natural habits with selective and...
West Newbury GOP Meets Wed. May 20th 7 PM
Please join us at the Merrimac Brewing Company on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 7 PM for a WNRTC Meeting and Social. Please bring your friends. Beer on tap from the best brewer in town. Donations to the West Newbury Republican Town Committee for the room are greatly appreciated. Merrimac Brewing Company, on the second floor of the Carriage House building in the back of 12 Maple Street, West Newbury, MA. For more info, call Rich Baker at 978-257-4101.
Selectman Seeks Discussion on Georgetown Employee’s Apparently Extensive Outside Work During Normal Work Hours
NOTES BETWEEN PRINTED EDITIONS The Town Common's Sr. Reporter Stewart Lytle is working on a story for next week's edition about a member of Georgetown's Select Board questioning in colleagues at their meeting earlier this week regarding an "abundance" of outside work apparently being performed by an employee of the town, while on the clock with Georgetown. An initial executive summary of some e-mail exchanges is included below, provided by Selectman Mike Donahue. Again, we'll update more as documents and persons...
Pink House Touches All Ages
Editor’s Note: Rylee’s last name is being withheld PLUM ISLAND TURNPIKE – At seven years old, Rylee W. remembers calling out a greeting to the Pink House whenever her family drove by it to their Plum Island home. She loved to see the birds on the roof of the 100-year-old house, the most painted and photographed icon on the Great Salt Marsh. Rylee enjoyed hearing the stories her next-door neighbor, Bruce Stott, told about living in the Pink House. Another neighbor, Bob Connors, remembers Rylee asking him every...
Downtown Parade of Georgetown’s 2026 Youth Baseball & Softball Teams
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Groveland Garden Club Annual Plant Sale Sat. May 16
GROVELAND − The Groveland Garden Club invites you to their Annual Plant Sale to be held at The Little Red Schoolhouse, located at the corner of Broad and Main Street in Groveland, on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon!
The Friends of the Newbury Town Library in Byfield Plant Sale, Sat. May 16
The Friends of the Newbury Town Library is hosting a Plant Sale on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the library, 0 Lunt St., Byfield. The fundraiser typically attract hundreds of plant enthusiasts and gardeners. Drop by to check out the hundreds of plants that are available for sale - and support the library at the same time. For those rearranging or thinning out gardens for the spring, please consider donating plants to the sale. The Friends are looking for donations of perennials, annuals,...
Georgetown Peabody Library Event: SAT MAY 16: Hands-on Pruning Workshop
SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 10 AM Hands-on Pruning Workshop Join Instructor Jennifer Kettell, consulting arborist from Radiant Leaf Pruning, for a hands-on workshop on pruning using the bushes in the landscape at the library. Flowering shrubs can be a bit more complicated than pruning trees. When shrubs have been improperly pruned or just left to their own devices, they begin to resemble what we refer to as “The Green Helmet.” Learn how to avoid The Green Helmet and maintain shrubs’ natural habits with selective and...
Monday Night at the Fights: In Historic Move, Chair Cuts Off Public Comment by Critic Mid-Sentence Asks Police Chief to Intervene – Ejects Speaker from Meeting
GEORGETOWN – SelectBoard Chair Robert Hoover called upon Police Chief David Sedgwick who removed resident Kevin Wood, a frequent critic of town officials, boards and commissions, from last Monday night’s meeting, April 27, when Wood criticized Hoover and Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco. Wood said neither Hoover nor Pacheco had the authority, under a town bylaw, to hire a law firm for an opinion on the firing of an employee. He was speaking during the three minutes allotted to each speaker for public comments....
