Strawberry Social and Band Concert
First Congregational Church Georgetown Tuesday, June 23rd 6 - 8 P.M.
History of Merrimac with Larry Fisher
History of Merrimac with Larry Fisher Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 P.M. Merrimac Public Library 86 West Main Street All are welcome. Scan QR code or sign up at the library.
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...
Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington and Barrett Planning Group Work to Finalize Master Plan
SALISBURY − The Town of Salisbury is forging ahead with completion of its Master plan following the Salisbury Planning Board's adoption of Phase 2 last month. The town has been working with the Barrett Planning Group, a planning and community development firm providing strategic, community-focused solutions across New England. With Phase 2 now adopted, the Master Plan moves into its completion phase as Barrett Planning Group prepares the full document incorporating both Phase 1 and Phase 2 recommendations. Once...
LOCAL EVENTS
Amesbury June 25th - Block Party at Heritage Park, Water Street, 5 - 8 pm June 27th - City Wide Yard Sale/Sidewalk Sales 8 am. - 3 p.m. June 28th: Pancakes at the Pines at Town Park Pines, 8 - 11 am June 29th: Line Dancing at Upper Millyard, 6-7 pm June 30th: Cruise Night at Gametime Lanes, 5 - 8 pm July 2nd: Live Music - Ryan Fitzsimmons @ Upper Millyard 6 - 8 pm Juy 4: Fireworks at Woodsom Farm 5:30- 10pm Boxford June 30th at Noon: Taco Tuesday at Council on Aging. Sign up by THURS. JUNE 25th. No exception to...
Note/Recap re. Firing of ConCom Agent
In last week's edition we mistakenly printed the word "council" instead of "counsel" in reference to a law firm. The article concerned the refusal on the part four out of five members of the Georgetown SelectBoard to review the "process" by which Town Administrator Orlando Pacheo - without prior notification to the board, and apparently in conflict with the town's bylaws - fired the town's conservation agent. Pacheco engaged an outside law firm to provide him with an opinion regarding his authority to hire and...
Philippa Dunn Exhibits Her Art at Illume – Newburyport
NEWBURYPORT – From the classroom at the Immaculate Conception School to the art gallery at Illume Bookstore on Market Square, Philippa Dunn brings her natural realistic paintings for all to enjoy. The latest featured artist at Jen Perry’s Illume, Dunn is inspired by the time she spends by the sea. One of her larger paintings in this exhibition is of a battered and rusting metal buoy floating off the coast of Maine. To capture the scene, she paddle-boarded out to Buoy No. 7, fascinated by the sunlight on the water...
Georgetown Selectman Sues for Defamation
GEORGETOWN – SelectBoard member Mike Donahue is suing at least two and possibly three town residents for calling him a “homophobe,” which he believes cost him the 2023 election to serve on the school board. Donahue ran third in the three-candidate race for a seat on the school committee, losing by about 188 votes. The issue was Donahue’s perceived opposition to displaying the Gay Pride flags in the Georgetown Middle School. He is suing Kimberly Fair for $50,000 in Salem Superior Court for “defaming” him. The...
Newburyport Police Re-Accreditation
submitted by Marshal Mathew Simons Newburyport Police Department NEWBURYPORT − City Marshal Matthew Simons is pleased to share that the Newburyport Police Department has been awarded re-accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC). The department received the distinction during MPAC's meeting on June 11 in Marlborough. The department was first accredited in 2003, and this award marks the 8th time Newburyport Police has received re-accreditation. Accreditation is a self-initiated,...
Newburyport Celebrated Juneteenth with Speeches, Poetry and Song, Organized by the YWCA
Arkida Saiwa wows the Juneteenth crowd at City Hall with her rendition of I Know Where I've Been. From left, Dr. Kenann McKenzie DeFranza, Newburyport High Students Milla Baptiste, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon, state Rep. Dawne Shand, and YWCA CEO Kate Slater. (Photo by Stewart Lytle)
Local Business Spotlight: Instant Replays
by Kay Lee Ogden This week’s "spotlight" business is Instant Replays, a sports equipment - gently used - resale shop owned and operated by Todd Newton. Instant Replays is located under the Post Office building in Georgetown, at 64 Central Street. Phone: 978.352.8800. Summer hours: Tues, Wed, Fri: 10 am - 5 pm Sat: 9am -2 pm. ‘It makes cents,’ to shop there, and Todd will save you a ton of $'s when you shop there, because he specializes in previously owned athletic equipment. He also takes pride in cleaning and...
West Newbury 2-Alarm Garage Fire
WEST NEWBURY − Fire Chief Michael Dwyer reports that the West Newbury Fire Department, with assistance from numerous mutual aid partners, extinguished a two-alarm fire in a detached garage on Sunday morning. At approximately 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, the West Newbury Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a garage fire at 79 Church St. Upon arrival, firefighters found a detached garage fully involved in fire, with flames also extending to a vehicle outside the structure. Firefighters...
Masconomet Regional Scholarship Foundation Awarded $228,000 in Scholarships to 110 Graduates
BOXFORD − The Masconomet Regional Scholarship Foundation proudly announced the distribution of 110 scholarships totaling $228,000 to graduating seniors of Masconomet Regional High School at its recent annual awards ceremony. The scholarships, awarded during a heartfelt celebration of academic achievement and community spirit, will support Masco graduates in their pursuit of higher education at colleges, universities, and vocational institutions across the country. Funded by generous contributions from local...
Local Austin Prep Students Win Harvard Medical Competition
REGIONAL – Someday in the near future, heart patients with a genetic hole in their heart that needs to be repaired, may have their heart surgery done by a robot – thanks to the creativity, tenacity and hard work of four female students at Austin Preparatory School. Working with Harvard University Medical School, Georgetown resident Kaitlyn Riordan and Ava Pazzia of Burlington, both seniors, teamed with juniors Ellie Underwood of Lynnfield and Jordyn Petitjean of Peabody as the HeartBridge team. They won this...
Store Shout-Out: Subway Ipswich
Store Shout-Out: Subway Ipswich Sal, manager of the Ipswich Subway, displays a copy of The Town Common. He looks forward to receiving The Town Common newspaper for his customers each week, he is nice to the kids in town. - Drop by and say "Hey Sal, I saw you in The Town Common!" (Photo and write-up by Julianne DeSantis.)
REAL ESTATE: For Sale: Carriage Industry Founder’s Home
AMESBURY – If you have dreamed of owning a home overlooking the Merrimack River, built by the man who nurtured the American carriage and car industries, Erica Puorro with Lamacchia Realty can fulfill that dream with the nine-bedroom mansion at 372 Main St. Built by William Biddle in 1912, just down river from the Marina at Amesbury Point, the home features mahogany box beams above hardwood flooring and leaded glass bookcases and windows. The current owners have made improvements, including a dumbwaiter that adds...
Vita Bella Hair Studio and Design
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT AND EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT by Kay Lee Ogden This is a new weekly series of local businesses, to encourage the community to shop local and make consumers aware of services and talents within the community. This week’s spotlight focuses on "Vita Bella Hair Studio and Design," located at 37 West Main Street, Georgetown (The Eagle Building). Featuring owner Ronda Servizio and her daughter and partner, Amelia Carducci, the studio is designed with a friendly Italian flare and a warm, welcoming...
Attorney General to Review: Did Request to Review Process of Pacheco’s Firing of Grenier Against the Law
GEORGETOWN – A simmering feud over the last few weeks at the top of town government has been kicked upstairs to the state Attorney General. The issue is whether Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco exceeded his authority in his abrupt firing of conservation agent Michele Grenier without asking the approval of the SelectBoard. Selectman Mike Donahue filed an Open Meeting Law complaint with the Attorney General when the SelectBoard, headed first by Robert Hoover and last week by Doug Dawes, refused to hold a meeting...
Custom House Has Second Copy of Independence Declaration
NEWBURYPORT – The Custom House Maritime Museum, which has been awarded $150,000 over three years by the prestigious Cummings Foundation, has added a second historical copy of the Declaration of Independence for display during the 250th national anniversary this July. A rare 1833 copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on display at the museum for one month in celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation. Printed on fine rice paper, the highly prized early American artifact, one a few hundred that...
Georgetown Water Warning – Reminder Health
Elevated Disinfection Byproducts at Georgetown Water Department (We periodically re-run this reminder.) GEORGETOWN – Last Fall, residents received a detailed double-sided notice in the mail advising them the water they have been drinking has been “in violation,” on-going, since May 2025. Under the headline of “What should you do?" the letter states: “You can choose to limit the amount of tap water used if you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are giving water to young children. For example, you can use water...
West Newbury Lunch and Learn
Please join us on Thursday, June 25th at 11:30 am for the Lunch and Learn Speaker Series! Dr. Bobby Kelly will be speaking on substance use awareness, risks and resources—particularly as they relate to older adults and families. A triple-board certified physician in Family Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Dr. Kelly is currently Medical Director of Addictions Treatment Services at Beth Israel Lahey Health. The session will feature a brief presentation followed by discussion, focusing on...
Newburyport Public Library – Adult Summer Reading Challenge
submitted by Elise Galvansson Newburyport Public Library The Newburyport Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Challenge is back! Come play BINGO with us and track your reading progress for a chance to win a prize! The first-place winner will receive a 6" Kindle and the second and third place winners will each receive a $30 gift card to Jabberwocky Bookshop! Use the online form to view the BINGO card and submit what you’ve read. Each submission will enter you into the raffle (even if you don’t hit BINGO), but you...
Wetlands Commission Looking for New Agent – Agrees to Hire Temp for One Month
GEORGETOWN – The town’s Conservation Commission (ConCom) is looking for an agent to replace Michele Grenier, who was fired in April in a disputed action by Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco. The ConCom formed a hiring subcommittee to recruit and interview candidates for the conservation agent position before Pacheco, with questionable authority under state and town law, hired John Lopez, a conservation agent for the town of Rockport, as an interim consultant. This month the ConCom met in a special meeting, made...
