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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....

Whittier Caution

HAVERHILL – They're back! Whittier Regional Vocational School has re-grouped to begin pushing a new tax increase on towns to fund a new school. The...

Harvey Mades

Harvey Mades

Harvey Mades of Newburyport, formerly of Georgetown, Massachusetts died peacefully on October 26, 2025, at the age of 93 surrounded by the love and...

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day  Georgetown residents will be receiving a special invitation in their February electric bills from the Friends of the Georgetown Peabody Library. It’s an invitation to participate in the Friends’ Annual Appeal, the yearly outreach to the town for donations to support the Georgetown Peabody Library. According to the letter, every donor who supports the Library is a Friend, someone who can make a difference for one of the most important resources in the community....

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack TONIGHT! FEB 11th!

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack Wednesday, February 11 Doors open at 7:00 | Meeting begins at 7:30 Hilton Senior Center, Salisbury, MA This month's meeting will feature a talk by John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos entitled: "Shoes and Beans" A history of jelly beans and shoes in the Civil War. Where they were made and how they were vital to victory. Free and open to the public.

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

NEWBURYPORT – Banter Barber and Clothier, a popular shop on upper State Street, has for several years catered to men, cutting their hair, trimming beards and offering upscale clothing. But it has become so much more. Its feel, which owner Eric Eramo strived for, is that of a men’s social club where the males of the species can gather to see old friends and make new ones. And true to its name, it is a place to talk. Now owner Eric Eramo has added high-end whiskeys and specialty cocktails to the menu, as well as...

The Town Common 2026 Calendars

The Town Common 2026 Calendars

NEWBURYPORT – Andrew Granger holds the 2026 The Town Common calendar at Illume Books in Newburyport.   The store at 10 Market Square opened three years ago and offers books and book clubs, games, including Majhong groups and classes, and art by local painters. Display your calendar, and send a photo of you and the calendar that we can share with our readers: editor@thetowncommon.com

Whittier Attendance Lottery Sees Big Increases – 400+ Students Will Be Turned Away

HAVERHILL – In its first year of using a lottery for admissions, all 11 municipalities served by the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School saw an increase in the number of student applications for next year. Some cities and towns – Georgetown, Ipswich, Newburyport, Rowley and West Newbury – saw double-digit increases in their percentage of applications over last year. Whittier Superintendent Maureen Lynch attributed the increase to the excitement of the lottery selection method. “I think some of the...

3rd Annual Rowley Public Library Puzzle Race!

3rd Annual Rowley Public Library Puzzle Race! Sat. Feb. 15, 2026 It’s time for the Rowley Public Library third annual Puzzle Race! All ages welcome. Registration can be for a whole team of two to four people or just one person. Single sign-ups will be assigned to a team. Teams will compete in a 90-minute timed race to see who can finish first. All teams will get a copy of the same puzzle. If no team finishes, the team with the most pieces together wins! Prizes will be awarded to the winning team. To sign up,...

Low Housing Inventory  Drives Up Prices

Low Housing Inventory Drives Up Prices

REGIONAL – In the hunt for a scapegoat for the high and rising prices of homes in this area, look no further than the current inventory of homeowners who are not putting their homes on the market because: - People like living here on the North Shore and don’t want to leave, - Although they could make a bundle in selling their house, with rising prices, many fear they can’t afford to buy another home here. Nationally, the Northeast showed the lowest gain last year among the other regions in housing inventory at...

The Firehouse Enjoys Strong Leadership

The Firehouse Enjoys Strong Leadership

By Allan Haley NEWBURYPORT – When Shauna Pieniazek, president of the Board of Directors at the Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts, came to Newburyport from Boston 30 years ago with her husband, Matt, she brought a love and understanding of theater. “My marketing team (for Marriott hotels) worked on partnerships with the Broadway theaters.That’s where I fell in love with the theater,” she said. The Pieniazeks became regulars at Firehouse performances. and today she is the spirit of a dedicated director....

West Newbury: Upcoming GAR Library Program: Tackling Invasive Plants in the Backyard

West Newbury: Upcoming GAR Library Program: Tackling Invasive Plants in the Backyard Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7pm Joinnative plant advocate and invasive plant removal specialist, Nate Whitmer, as he discusses the threats from invasive plants, tips for identification and remvoal, and how to garden with native plants which support a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. Held via ZOOM at 7 pm. Register at westnewburylibrary.org. Hosted by the West Newbury Wild & Native Group.

Goats to Go Georgetown Upcoming Events:

  Be My Valentine Hike with Little Goats: Friday, February 13 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Valentine’s Goat Hike & Alpaca Greetings: Friday, February 13 · 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Goat Yoga & Red Wine: Chocolate Bliss — A Valentine’s Celebration Friday, February 13 · 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Winter Break Alpaca Meet & Greet Wednesday, February 18 & Thursday, February 19 · 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Info at www.GoatstoGo.farm.  

West Newbury Summer Recreation Registration

West Newbury Summer Recreation Registration Summer Recreation Program registration Registration for residents is open now. Non-residents opens Monday, February 16th at 7:00 A.M. To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/westnewburysummer. Field Trips include (subject to change): Week 1: Canobie Lake *extended hours to 3:30 for field trip Week 2: Cedarland Haverhill (Amazement and Ice Cream) Week 3: Launch Trampoline Park Week 4: Bowling & Pizza Week 5: WN Fire Department, Picnic & Action Cove Week 6:...

M. Cacao Offers Culinary Chocolates

M. Cacao Offers Culinary Chocolates

NEWBURYPORT – Michael Nichols, owner of M. Cacao, the new chocolate shop on Market Square, said he is often told by customers that they cannot bring themselves to eat the chocolates he sells, particularly the art bars. “They’re too pretty,” they say.  “But they are meant to be eaten,” responds Nichols, a mechanical engineer, who opened the shop here, fulfilling a dream that started in a cinderblock building on the edge of a Peruvian jungle. The art bars, paintings by Andover artist Michele Bourgeau, are recreated...

Georgetown SelectBoard May Consider Yet Another Donahue Complaint

GEORGETOWN – Selectboard member Michael Donahue has sent to each member of the board a package of 195 pages of emails and police reports that he wants the board to consider at an upcoming meeting in hopes it will vote to remove board member Rachel Therrien from the board she was elected to by the voters. Most of Donahue’s allegations, going back eight years, have been presented previously in complaints by him and have been reviewed by state agencies and town counsel KP Law, which concluded they are simply his...

Historic Baker-Tozer House on the Market

Historic Baker-Tozer House on the Market

by Stewart Lytle, Sr. Reporter IPSWICH – Few homes in this town that has many First Period homes are more imbued with New England history than the Baker-Tozer House at 16 Elm Street. Built in 1835, this four-bedroom, 2,750-square-foot home within walking distance of downtown and the Ipswich River can trace its history to the Salem Witch Trials and the Civil War. And its sister house, which stood across Elm Street where the Police Department parking lot is, was disassembled and is now an exhibit in the Smithsonian...

Hayley Reardon Performing at Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts

Hayley Reardon Performing at Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts

Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. Arakelian Theater, Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA Tickets at HayleyReardon.com A native of coastal Massachusetts, folk-pop singer and songwriter Hayley Reardon has played many memorable shows for audiences in Newburyport and nearby communities. But her most unexpected performance took place last March about 11 miles down the road in Ipswich, at a pop-up pub called “The Old Phone.” Reardon was just finishing her set when in walked international...

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack February Meeting Wednesday, February 11

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack February Meeting Wednesday, February 11 Doors open at 7:00. Meeting begins at 7:30. Hilton Senior Center, Salisbury, MA This month's meeting will feature a talk by John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos entitled: "Shoes and Beans" A history of jelly beans and shoes in the Civil War. Where they were made and how they were vital to victory. Free and open to the public.

Joaquim De Almeida III

Joaquim De Almeida III

Joaquim De Almeida III, affectionately known as “Jackie D” to his friends and family, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, at home in Rowley, Massachusetts. Born on March 17, 1955, in Salem, Massachusetts, Jackie was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew him. Jackie's early years were spent on the family farm on Boxford Road, where he developed a profound appreciation for the outdoors and the value of hard work, a trait...

Boxford Select Board Seeks Resident Input on Future of Stiles Pond Beach Operations

BOXFORD –The Boxford Select Board is inviting residents to share their feedback on the future operations of Stiles Pond Beach as the Town plans for the 2026 beach season. For many years, Stiles Pond Beach was operated by the Boxford Athletic Association (BAA), a volunteer-run organization that provided lifeguards, managed concessions, and oversaw daily operations on behalf of the Town. The Select Board extends their sincere thanks to the BAA and its dedicated volunteers for their many years of service to this...

Rowley’s Clark School Presents  Lila the Werewolf

Rowley’s Clark School Presents Lila the Werewolf

ROWLEY — The Clark’s School’s Theatre at the Bell will present a seriocomic play, Lila the Werewolf, that is adapted from the short story by acclaimed fantasy author Peter S. Beagle, author of the beloved novel and film The Last Unicorn. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Fri., Feb. 6 and Sat., Feb. 7 at the Clark School’s Theatre at the Bell, 14 Forest Ridge Dr., Rowley. Lila the Werewolf follows Farrell, a laid-back New Yorker whose life and relationship with his girlfriend, Lila, a shy and self-conscious young...

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day  Georgetown residents will be receiving a special invitation in their February electric bills from the Friends of the Georgetown Peabody Library. It’s an invitation to participate in the Friends’ Annual Appeal, the yearly outreach to the town for donations to support the Georgetown Peabody Library. According to the letter, every donor who supports the Library is a Friend, someone who can make a difference for one of the most important resources in the community....

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack TONIGHT! FEB 11th!

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack Wednesday, February 11 Doors open at 7:00 | Meeting begins at 7:30 Hilton Senior Center, Salisbury, MA This month's meeting will feature a talk by John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos entitled: "Shoes and Beans" A history of jelly beans and shoes in the Civil War. Where they were made and how they were vital to victory. Free and open to the public.

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

NEWBURYPORT – Banter Barber and Clothier, a popular shop on upper State Street, has for several years catered to men, cutting their hair, trimming beards and offering upscale clothing. But it has become so much more. Its feel, which owner Eric Eramo strived for, is that of a men’s social club where the males of the species can gather to see old friends and make new ones. And true to its name, it is a place to talk. Now owner Eric Eramo has added high-end whiskeys and specialty cocktails to the menu, as well as...

The Town Common 2026 Calendars

The Town Common 2026 Calendars

NEWBURYPORT – Andrew Granger holds the 2026 The Town Common calendar at Illume Books in Newburyport.   The store at 10 Market Square opened three years ago and offers books and book clubs, games, including Majhong groups and classes, and art by local painters. Display your calendar, and send a photo of you and the calendar that we can share with our readers: editor@thetowncommon.com

Whittier Attendance Lottery Sees Big Increases – 400+ Students Will Be Turned Away

HAVERHILL – In its first year of using a lottery for admissions, all 11 municipalities served by the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School saw an increase in the number of student applications for next year. Some cities and towns – Georgetown, Ipswich, Newburyport, Rowley and West Newbury – saw double-digit increases in their percentage of applications over last year. Whittier Superintendent Maureen Lynch attributed the increase to the excitement of the lottery selection method. “I think some of the...

3rd Annual Rowley Public Library Puzzle Race!

3rd Annual Rowley Public Library Puzzle Race! Sat. Feb. 15, 2026 It’s time for the Rowley Public Library third annual Puzzle Race! All ages welcome. Registration can be for a whole team of two to four people or just one person. Single sign-ups will be assigned to a team. Teams will compete in a 90-minute timed race to see who can finish first. All teams will get a copy of the same puzzle. If no team finishes, the team with the most pieces together wins! Prizes will be awarded to the winning team. To sign up,...

Low Housing Inventory  Drives Up Prices

Low Housing Inventory Drives Up Prices

REGIONAL – In the hunt for a scapegoat for the high and rising prices of homes in this area, look no further than the current inventory of homeowners who are not putting their homes on the market because: - People like living here on the North Shore and don’t want to leave, - Although they could make a bundle in selling their house, with rising prices, many fear they can’t afford to buy another home here. Nationally, the Northeast showed the lowest gain last year among the other regions in housing inventory at...

The Firehouse Enjoys Strong Leadership

The Firehouse Enjoys Strong Leadership

By Allan Haley NEWBURYPORT – When Shauna Pieniazek, president of the Board of Directors at the Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts, came to Newburyport from Boston 30 years ago with her husband, Matt, she brought a love and understanding of theater. “My marketing team (for Marriott hotels) worked on partnerships with the Broadway theaters.That’s where I fell in love with the theater,” she said. The Pieniazeks became regulars at Firehouse performances. and today she is the spirit of a dedicated director....

West Newbury: Upcoming GAR Library Program: Tackling Invasive Plants in the Backyard

West Newbury: Upcoming GAR Library Program: Tackling Invasive Plants in the Backyard Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7pm Joinnative plant advocate and invasive plant removal specialist, Nate Whitmer, as he discusses the threats from invasive plants, tips for identification and remvoal, and how to garden with native plants which support a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. Held via ZOOM at 7 pm. Register at westnewburylibrary.org. Hosted by the West Newbury Wild & Native Group.

Goats to Go Georgetown Upcoming Events:

  Be My Valentine Hike with Little Goats: Friday, February 13 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Valentine’s Goat Hike & Alpaca Greetings: Friday, February 13 · 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Goat Yoga & Red Wine: Chocolate Bliss — A Valentine’s Celebration Friday, February 13 · 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Winter Break Alpaca Meet & Greet Wednesday, February 18 & Thursday, February 19 · 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Info at www.GoatstoGo.farm.  

West Newbury Summer Recreation Registration

West Newbury Summer Recreation Registration Summer Recreation Program registration Registration for residents is open now. Non-residents opens Monday, February 16th at 7:00 A.M. To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/westnewburysummer. Field Trips include (subject to change): Week 1: Canobie Lake *extended hours to 3:30 for field trip Week 2: Cedarland Haverhill (Amazement and Ice Cream) Week 3: Launch Trampoline Park Week 4: Bowling & Pizza Week 5: WN Fire Department, Picnic & Action Cove Week 6:...

M. Cacao Offers Culinary Chocolates

M. Cacao Offers Culinary Chocolates

NEWBURYPORT – Michael Nichols, owner of M. Cacao, the new chocolate shop on Market Square, said he is often told by customers that they cannot bring themselves to eat the chocolates he sells, particularly the art bars. “They’re too pretty,” they say.  “But they are meant to be eaten,” responds Nichols, a mechanical engineer, who opened the shop here, fulfilling a dream that started in a cinderblock building on the edge of a Peruvian jungle. The art bars, paintings by Andover artist Michele Bourgeau, are recreated...

Georgetown SelectBoard May Consider Yet Another Donahue Complaint

GEORGETOWN – Selectboard member Michael Donahue has sent to each member of the board a package of 195 pages of emails and police reports that he wants the board to consider at an upcoming meeting in hopes it will vote to remove board member Rachel Therrien from the board she was elected to by the voters. Most of Donahue’s allegations, going back eight years, have been presented previously in complaints by him and have been reviewed by state agencies and town counsel KP Law, which concluded they are simply his...

Historic Baker-Tozer House on the Market

Historic Baker-Tozer House on the Market

by Stewart Lytle, Sr. Reporter IPSWICH – Few homes in this town that has many First Period homes are more imbued with New England history than the Baker-Tozer House at 16 Elm Street. Built in 1835, this four-bedroom, 2,750-square-foot home within walking distance of downtown and the Ipswich River can trace its history to the Salem Witch Trials and the Civil War. And its sister house, which stood across Elm Street where the Police Department parking lot is, was disassembled and is now an exhibit in the Smithsonian...

Hayley Reardon Performing at Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts

Hayley Reardon Performing at Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts

Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. Arakelian Theater, Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA Tickets at HayleyReardon.com A native of coastal Massachusetts, folk-pop singer and songwriter Hayley Reardon has played many memorable shows for audiences in Newburyport and nearby communities. But her most unexpected performance took place last March about 11 miles down the road in Ipswich, at a pop-up pub called “The Old Phone.” Reardon was just finishing her set when in walked international...

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack February Meeting Wednesday, February 11

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack February Meeting Wednesday, February 11 Doors open at 7:00. Meeting begins at 7:30. Hilton Senior Center, Salisbury, MA This month's meeting will feature a talk by John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos entitled: "Shoes and Beans" A history of jelly beans and shoes in the Civil War. Where they were made and how they were vital to victory. Free and open to the public.

Joaquim De Almeida III

Joaquim De Almeida III

Joaquim De Almeida III, affectionately known as “Jackie D” to his friends and family, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, at home in Rowley, Massachusetts. Born on March 17, 1955, in Salem, Massachusetts, Jackie was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew him. Jackie's early years were spent on the family farm on Boxford Road, where he developed a profound appreciation for the outdoors and the value of hard work, a trait...

Boxford Select Board Seeks Resident Input on Future of Stiles Pond Beach Operations

BOXFORD –The Boxford Select Board is inviting residents to share their feedback on the future operations of Stiles Pond Beach as the Town plans for the 2026 beach season. For many years, Stiles Pond Beach was operated by the Boxford Athletic Association (BAA), a volunteer-run organization that provided lifeguards, managed concessions, and oversaw daily operations on behalf of the Town. The Select Board extends their sincere thanks to the BAA and its dedicated volunteers for their many years of service to this...

Rowley’s Clark School Presents  Lila the Werewolf

Rowley’s Clark School Presents Lila the Werewolf

ROWLEY — The Clark’s School’s Theatre at the Bell will present a seriocomic play, Lila the Werewolf, that is adapted from the short story by acclaimed fantasy author Peter S. Beagle, author of the beloved novel and film The Last Unicorn. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Fri., Feb. 6 and Sat., Feb. 7 at the Clark School’s Theatre at the Bell, 14 Forest Ridge Dr., Rowley. Lila the Werewolf follows Farrell, a laid-back New Yorker whose life and relationship with his girlfriend, Lila, a shy and self-conscious young...

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day

Show your library some love for Valentine’s Day  Georgetown residents will be receiving a special invitation in their February electric bills from the Friends of the Georgetown Peabody Library. It’s an invitation to participate in the Friends’ Annual Appeal, the yearly outreach to the town for donations to support the Georgetown Peabody Library. According to the letter, every donor who supports the Library is a Friend, someone who can make a difference for one of the most important resources in the community....

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack TONIGHT! FEB 11th!

Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack Wednesday, February 11 Doors open at 7:00 | Meeting begins at 7:30 Hilton Senior Center, Salisbury, MA This month's meeting will feature a talk by John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos entitled: "Shoes and Beans" A history of jelly beans and shoes in the Civil War. Where they were made and how they were vital to victory. Free and open to the public.

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

Get a Haircut, Have a Cocktail, Pick up Valentine Flowers

NEWBURYPORT – Banter Barber and Clothier, a popular shop on upper State Street, has for several years catered to men, cutting their hair, trimming beards and offering upscale clothing. But it has become so much more. Its feel, which owner Eric Eramo strived for, is that of a men’s social club where the males of the species can gather to see old friends and make new ones. And true to its name, it is a place to talk. Now owner Eric Eramo has added high-end whiskeys and specialty cocktails to the menu, as well as...

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

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 Historic Site invites students, families, and history lovers to be among the first to experience new additions to its exhibit celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United...

Georgetown Historical Society Seeking New Members

The Georgetown Historical Society is asking for new members to join the preservation of our museum and help with the education of its history.  The group was created for those interested in asking questions about Georgetown’s history, sharing items and local interest, including images, local stories and events! The members are fascinated about our local history, and we have visitors from all over our country, and the world, interested in our...

Please Contribute to the Georgetown Troop #50 Boys Scouts with Your Returnable Bottles and Cans

I'm asking all you folks if you would be kind enough to donate all your recyclable, returnable bottles and cans for the Boy Scouts of Troop 50 in Georgetown. The boys use this money to do their projects and go on trips during the winter and summer. They also donate scholarships! They could not do this without your support! My name is Kay Lee Ogden, and I am willing to drive around and pick up your recyclables, and cash them in and give the...

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 December 13th, 1937. He was the son of the late Albert Johnson and Adelaide (Small) Johnson. A proud veteran of the US Navy Destroyer fleet, he remained dedicated to those little ships: volunteering for many years with his beloved late brother-in-law Raymond Howell maintaining the museum ship USS...

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