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Wednesday, April 08, 2026 03:35:18 AM | FREE Weekly Online & Print Editions | 27°F clear sky

Goats to Go Upcoming Events

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...

David Scott Thibodeau

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...

Robert Brooks Johnson

Robert Brooks Johnson

It is with sadness that the family of Robert Brooks Johnson announces his passing after a very brief illness. He was born in Somerville, Mass. on...

Winter Class Registration

NEWBURYPORT – Winter class registration is now open: art, music, paleontology, writing, gardening, world languages, yoga, tai chi, dancing, SAT...

Newbury Water Bills (Past) Due!

A Message from the Newbury Water Department The Water Department sent out the fall bills October 1st and they were due December 1st. If you have not...

West Newbury Library Pies!

Cortland Apple Pie, Apple Crisp, Pecan Pie, Blueberry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Key Lime Pie, Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Pie, Gluten Free Crisp,...

Salisbury Annual Lighting of the Tree

SALISBURY – All are encouraged to join in on Tuesday, December 2, from 4 to 7 pm, at the annual Salisbury Lighting of the Tree on the Town Common....

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

by

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 additional information, notices of endorsements, etc., if desired.) Please also include one or more photographs which we can use with your column and any subsequent publication, and also please include how potential supporters can contact you to...

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

by

NEWBURYPORT – If you are looking for a cozy coffee and baked goods shop in downtown Newburyport, you may want to try Kimberly Dillon’s Changing Tides Café on Pleasant Street. Despite being a few steps off the well-trodden sidewalks of State and Pleasant streets, the popular cafe caters to a cadre of locals who gather daily, particularly on Fridays – donut day. Some out-of-towners from as far away as Ipswich and Haverhill have found Kim’s shop, drawn by word that she is the only place on the North Shore that brews...

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

by

Join local author, Julie Masis, for a reading and discussion of her new book, How My Grandfather Stole a Shoe and Survived the Holocaust in Ukraine on Wednesday April 8th at 6pm. This very personal and accessible collection of rich stories is about her relationship with her Moldovan-born Grandpa Shlomo and their tender conversations about his daily life in the Obodovka ghetto under Romanian occupation and Nazi rule. Fighting to stay alive while watching many around him die of starvation and unlivable conditions,...

Trucks at Zibell Farm Again

by

GEORGETOWN – To the shock of neighbors, who thought their years-long nightmare was over, excavation of Zibell Farm at 214 North St. started again last week with the town permitting the removal of asphalt millings. Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco and Town Planner Frank O’Connor visited the site last week, and O’Connor said the excavation of asphalt – possibly a non-earth material – was allowed under the district court order that shut down the sand mining operation last year. The Lawrence Superior Court ordered...

Of Flags, Open Meeting Law, Process

by

Notes and Tidbits By Lonnie Brennan GEORGETOWN ‒ Just a few additional notes from the recent Georgetown Selectboard’s meeting: Flag: The board met in a meeting room on the second floor. As there was no American flag to be found in the room, the members rose for the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag displayed on one member’s cell phone. Unlike the school committee in Amesbury, it’s nice to see all the members of a board rise to the Pledge of Allegiance, even if they had to make a last-minute scramble to locate a...

Pink House Legacy Lives On

Pink House Legacy Lives On

by

PLUM ISLAND TURNPIKE – Sandy Tilton captured a photograph of the Pink House on its last day standing in the morning fog; flowers, a wreath and a pink heart attached to a utility pole next to this highway; the pickup trucks of the demolition workers barely visible as they made ready to tear down the 100-year-old beloved icon. That was March 11, a year ago, but for most of the Pink House supporters - the painters, photographers, writers and those who found solace just in its being there -- the house’s still...

TOPSFIELD: Essex National Heritage Spring Meeting

by

Join us for a morning of networking and regional engagement! The meeting will be held at Topsfield Town Hall (8 West Common Street, Topsfield) on Thursday, April 16 from 9:00 – 10:00 am. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 8:30 am for networking and coffee. The agenda will include announcing our 2026 Partnership Grant recipients, voting in new Commissioners, regional updates, and more! Many thanks to the Town of Topsfield for hosting and to Zumi’s for providing coffee! Register at:...

What are You Taking? Reviewing the Arts & STEM Electives at Triton

What are You Taking? Reviewing the Arts & STEM Electives at Triton

by

by Nathan Rettkowski Triton Voice Staff Writer On March 15 in the high school library, many eighth graders flooded in, ready to learn of the electives they may choose in their future high school career. On March 5, another two events, Future Freshman Night and the Electives Fair were held. Eighth graders were able to see the high school courses Triton has to offer, including electives, which are an essential for high school courses. Overall, electives allow students to express their creativity as well as pursue...

SALISBURY: Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

SALISBURY: Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

by

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack will meet on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30pm at the Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette Rd (Rte 1), Salisbury, MA. We welcome the return of historian and author, Chuck Veit, who'll discuss, "On the Verge of the Great War." As Chuck says, "it is an international perspective on the Rebellion and how very close we came to starting a world war in 1866." The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack is a non-profit history minded group founded in 1995. We welcome anyone with an...

Amesbury and Salisbury Police K-9 Officers and Dogs to Visit Newbury Town Library, April 8th at 3:30 p.m.

Amesbury and Salisbury Police K-9 Officers and Dogs to Visit Newbury Town Library, April 8th at 3:30 p.m.

by

Submitted by Katherine Szuplat Assistant Director Newbury Town Library, Byfield, Mass. On Wednesday April 8th at 3:30pm, the Amesbury and Salisbury Police Departments will visit the Newbury Town Library with their K-9 officers and dogs.  Meet Officer Thomas Nichols and Meatball from Amesbury PD and Officer Michael Tullercash and Chapo from Salisbury PD and learn about the many ways they protect their communities.  There will also be a demonstration.  This event is appropriate for ages 7 through 18.  As with all...

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Named One of Newsweek America’s Most Charitable Companies

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Named One of Newsweek America’s Most Charitable Companies

by

NORTH ANDOVER – Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions, was named as one of Newsweek’s 2026 Most Charitable Companies. This recognition demonstrates measurable impact of the company’s philanthropic efforts in the communities it serves. Newsweek, in partnership with Statista, conducted a multi-layered process to score eligible companies, with the top 2,000...

Should Georgetown Explore a New Charter?

by

GEORGETOWN – The SelectBoard is considering whether this town should be governed under a different charter than the one it has and will be looking for nine volunteers to form an exploratory committee and prepare a final report to help the BoS decide what if it’s worth further looking into. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve your community and make a real long-lasting difference,” wrote SelectBoard Chair Robert Hoover. The goal, he said, is to “find the best form of government that best fits our...

The Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 Presents Check to People Helping People

The Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 Presents Check to People Helping People

by

GEORGETOWN - The shelves were getting low, stock dwindling, then a call went out for help, "and, a miracle occurred." People Helping People, based at Saint Mary’s Church on Andover Street provides a vital food pantry for the greater Rowley, Georgetown, Boxford, and Byfield communities. Recently, members of the Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 again visited the pantry, housed in the lower level of St. Mary's Rectory, where they presented a check to Jeanne Soucy and Debbie Parisi, co-directors of...

Town to Review ConCom Agent Abrupt Firing

by

CORRECTION In last week's paper, we referenced and repeated in error, without quotation, from a letter by the Georgetown town administrator citing a March 3rd continued meeting date. The actual continued meeting was that of February 26.     GEORGETOWN – The SelectBoard voted unanimously last week to consider whether Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco followed proper procedure in firing Conservation Commission Director Michele Grenier. Chair Robert Hoover said the board will review the firing in...

Businesses Showcase The Town Common

by

SPECIAL SHOUTOUT! We want to send a special shout-out to the hundreds of businesses that welcome The Town Common and especially those who request more and more copies to share with their customers and clients. We continue to deploy racks to businesses, museums, senior centers, and other locations as requested, and will be showcasing this year as many businesses as we can, to say thank you!  

Protest Pictures

Protest Pictures

by

REGIONAL – Hundreds of residents in North Shore towns gathered Saturday in Newburyport, Ipswich , on the I-95 bridge in Georgetown and Boxford to express their opposition to the Trump Administration and President Donald Trump himself. The protesters carrying signs that expressed angry and humorous comments, lined major streets. They were peaceful and in general joyful as music played, including live drumming in Ipswich and recorded protest songs from the Vietnam War era in Newburyport. Photos by Stewart Lytle....

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

by

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack will meet on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30pm at the Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette Rd (Rte 1), Salisbury, MA. The special guest is TBD due to a last minute issue. The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack was founded October 1995 and is a non-profit group that promotes historic programs and discussion. We meet ten times a year on the 2nd Wednesday. FREE and open to the public, more information and speaker updates can be found at: www.cwrtmerrimack.org.  ♦...

BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   | AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE

BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   | AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE

by

    TOWN OF BOXFORD  MASSACHUSETTS 01921 BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE   You are hereby notified that a Public Discussion will be held via Zoom videoconference on Thursday April 9, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or such other time when posted to discuss   Agricultural Fields Available for License   Three fields will be offered by the Conservation Commission to one or more persons interested in preserving the agricultural use of the fields through active...

Local Forecast

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

by

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 additional information, notices of endorsements, etc., if desired.) Please also include one or more photographs which we can use with your column and any subsequent publication, and also please include how potential supporters can contact you to...

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

by

NEWBURYPORT – If you are looking for a cozy coffee and baked goods shop in downtown Newburyport, you may want to try Kimberly Dillon’s Changing Tides Café on Pleasant Street. Despite being a few steps off the well-trodden sidewalks of State and Pleasant streets, the popular cafe caters to a cadre of locals who gather daily, particularly on Fridays – donut day. Some out-of-towners from as far away as Ipswich and Haverhill have found Kim’s shop, drawn by word that she is the only place on the North Shore that brews...

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

by

Join local author, Julie Masis, for a reading and discussion of her new book, How My Grandfather Stole a Shoe and Survived the Holocaust in Ukraine on Wednesday April 8th at 6pm. This very personal and accessible collection of rich stories is about her relationship with her Moldovan-born Grandpa Shlomo and their tender conversations about his daily life in the Obodovka ghetto under Romanian occupation and Nazi rule. Fighting to stay alive while watching many around him die of starvation and unlivable conditions,...

Trucks at Zibell Farm Again

by

GEORGETOWN – To the shock of neighbors, who thought their years-long nightmare was over, excavation of Zibell Farm at 214 North St. started again last week with the town permitting the removal of asphalt millings. Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco and Town Planner Frank O’Connor visited the site last week, and O’Connor said the excavation of asphalt – possibly a non-earth material – was allowed under the district court order that shut down the sand mining operation last year. The Lawrence Superior Court ordered...

Of Flags, Open Meeting Law, Process

by

Notes and Tidbits By Lonnie Brennan GEORGETOWN ‒ Just a few additional notes from the recent Georgetown Selectboard’s meeting: Flag: The board met in a meeting room on the second floor. As there was no American flag to be found in the room, the members rose for the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag displayed on one member’s cell phone. Unlike the school committee in Amesbury, it’s nice to see all the members of a board rise to the Pledge of Allegiance, even if they had to make a last-minute scramble to locate a...

Pink House Legacy Lives On

Pink House Legacy Lives On

by

PLUM ISLAND TURNPIKE – Sandy Tilton captured a photograph of the Pink House on its last day standing in the morning fog; flowers, a wreath and a pink heart attached to a utility pole next to this highway; the pickup trucks of the demolition workers barely visible as they made ready to tear down the 100-year-old beloved icon. That was March 11, a year ago, but for most of the Pink House supporters - the painters, photographers, writers and those who found solace just in its being there -- the house’s still...

TOPSFIELD: Essex National Heritage Spring Meeting

by

Join us for a morning of networking and regional engagement! The meeting will be held at Topsfield Town Hall (8 West Common Street, Topsfield) on Thursday, April 16 from 9:00 – 10:00 am. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 8:30 am for networking and coffee. The agenda will include announcing our 2026 Partnership Grant recipients, voting in new Commissioners, regional updates, and more! Many thanks to the Town of Topsfield for hosting and to Zumi’s for providing coffee! Register at:...

What are You Taking? Reviewing the Arts & STEM Electives at Triton

What are You Taking? Reviewing the Arts & STEM Electives at Triton

by

by Nathan Rettkowski Triton Voice Staff Writer On March 15 in the high school library, many eighth graders flooded in, ready to learn of the electives they may choose in their future high school career. On March 5, another two events, Future Freshman Night and the Electives Fair were held. Eighth graders were able to see the high school courses Triton has to offer, including electives, which are an essential for high school courses. Overall, electives allow students to express their creativity as well as pursue...

SALISBURY: Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

SALISBURY: Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

by

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack will meet on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30pm at the Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette Rd (Rte 1), Salisbury, MA. We welcome the return of historian and author, Chuck Veit, who'll discuss, "On the Verge of the Great War." As Chuck says, "it is an international perspective on the Rebellion and how very close we came to starting a world war in 1866." The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack is a non-profit history minded group founded in 1995. We welcome anyone with an...

Amesbury and Salisbury Police K-9 Officers and Dogs to Visit Newbury Town Library, April 8th at 3:30 p.m.

Amesbury and Salisbury Police K-9 Officers and Dogs to Visit Newbury Town Library, April 8th at 3:30 p.m.

by

Submitted by Katherine Szuplat Assistant Director Newbury Town Library, Byfield, Mass. On Wednesday April 8th at 3:30pm, the Amesbury and Salisbury Police Departments will visit the Newbury Town Library with their K-9 officers and dogs.  Meet Officer Thomas Nichols and Meatball from Amesbury PD and Officer Michael Tullercash and Chapo from Salisbury PD and learn about the many ways they protect their communities.  There will also be a demonstration.  This event is appropriate for ages 7 through 18.  As with all...

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Named One of Newsweek America’s Most Charitable Companies

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Named One of Newsweek America’s Most Charitable Companies

by

NORTH ANDOVER – Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions, was named as one of Newsweek’s 2026 Most Charitable Companies. This recognition demonstrates measurable impact of the company’s philanthropic efforts in the communities it serves. Newsweek, in partnership with Statista, conducted a multi-layered process to score eligible companies, with the top 2,000...

Should Georgetown Explore a New Charter?

by

GEORGETOWN – The SelectBoard is considering whether this town should be governed under a different charter than the one it has and will be looking for nine volunteers to form an exploratory committee and prepare a final report to help the BoS decide what if it’s worth further looking into. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve your community and make a real long-lasting difference,” wrote SelectBoard Chair Robert Hoover. The goal, he said, is to “find the best form of government that best fits our...

The Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 Presents Check to People Helping People

The Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 Presents Check to People Helping People

by

GEORGETOWN - The shelves were getting low, stock dwindling, then a call went out for help, "and, a miracle occurred." People Helping People, based at Saint Mary’s Church on Andover Street provides a vital food pantry for the greater Rowley, Georgetown, Boxford, and Byfield communities. Recently, members of the Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post 211 again visited the pantry, housed in the lower level of St. Mary's Rectory, where they presented a check to Jeanne Soucy and Debbie Parisi, co-directors of...

Town to Review ConCom Agent Abrupt Firing

by

CORRECTION In last week's paper, we referenced and repeated in error, without quotation, from a letter by the Georgetown town administrator citing a March 3rd continued meeting date. The actual continued meeting was that of February 26.     GEORGETOWN – The SelectBoard voted unanimously last week to consider whether Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco followed proper procedure in firing Conservation Commission Director Michele Grenier. Chair Robert Hoover said the board will review the firing in...

Businesses Showcase The Town Common

by

SPECIAL SHOUTOUT! We want to send a special shout-out to the hundreds of businesses that welcome The Town Common and especially those who request more and more copies to share with their customers and clients. We continue to deploy racks to businesses, museums, senior centers, and other locations as requested, and will be showcasing this year as many businesses as we can, to say thank you!  

Protest Pictures

Protest Pictures

by

REGIONAL – Hundreds of residents in North Shore towns gathered Saturday in Newburyport, Ipswich , on the I-95 bridge in Georgetown and Boxford to express their opposition to the Trump Administration and President Donald Trump himself. The protesters carrying signs that expressed angry and humorous comments, lined major streets. They were peaceful and in general joyful as music played, including live drumming in Ipswich and recorded protest songs from the Vietnam War era in Newburyport. Photos by Stewart Lytle....

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack

by

The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack will meet on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30pm at the Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette Rd (Rte 1), Salisbury, MA. The special guest is TBD due to a last minute issue. The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack was founded October 1995 and is a non-profit group that promotes historic programs and discussion. We meet ten times a year on the 2nd Wednesday. FREE and open to the public, more information and speaker updates can be found at: www.cwrtmerrimack.org.  ♦...

BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   | AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE

BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   | AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE

by

    TOWN OF BOXFORD  MASSACHUSETTS 01921 BOXFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION   AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE   You are hereby notified that a Public Discussion will be held via Zoom videoconference on Thursday April 9, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or such other time when posted to discuss   Agricultural Fields Available for License   Three fields will be offered by the Conservation Commission to one or more persons interested in preserving the agricultural use of the fields through active...

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

Invitation to Local Candidates to Introduce Themselves to our Readers

by

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 additional information, notices of endorsements, etc., if desired.) Please also include one or more photographs which we can use with your column and any subsequent publication, and also please include how potential supporters can contact you to...

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee

by

NEWBURYPORT – If you are looking for a cozy coffee and baked goods shop in downtown Newburyport, you may want to try Kimberly Dillon’s Changing Tides Café on Pleasant Street. Despite being a few steps off the well-trodden sidewalks of State and Pleasant streets, the popular cafe caters to a cadre of locals who gather daily, particularly on Fridays – donut day. Some out-of-towners from as far away as Ipswich and Haverhill have found Kim’s shop, drawn by word that she is the only place on the North Shore that brews...

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

Newbury Library Upcoming Adult Programs This Week

by

Join local author, Julie Masis, for a reading and discussion of her new book, How My Grandfather Stole a Shoe and Survived the Holocaust in Ukraine on Wednesday April 8th at 6pm. This very personal and accessible collection of rich stories is about her relationship with her Moldovan-born Grandpa Shlomo and their tender conversations about his daily life in the Obodovka ghetto under Romanian occupation and Nazi rule. Fighting to stay alive while watching many around him die of starvation and unlivable conditions,...

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 data for 2023, the first year the income surtax – also known as the “millionaire’s tax” – took effect in the commonwealth. The figures include the number of people who moved to and...

Goats to Go Upcoming Events

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 Walk This Week’s Walk Focus: Explore the Great Pines and Parker River Monday, February 23 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM   Winter Afternoon Goat Hike & Alpaca Greetings Wednesday,...

David Scott Thibodeau

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, David's journey through life was marked by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, a deep spiritual connection, and a heart that overflowed with generosity. David's early years...

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 interview with the scholarship committee, and a scholarship committee review of the applicant's official school transcript. Applications are now available from the guidance department at...

Local Forecast

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