State awards $3.6 million in grants

From Pepperell News

• Ag panel finalizes Open Farm Day push. Pepperell's Agricultural Commission tallied strong turnout for its Open Farm Day push while two members clashed over zoning language that could be read as endorsing chemical-dependent hydroponic farms.Pepperell News
• Board advances cemetery bylaw, sewer district plan. Pepperell's Board of Public Works moved toward asking Town Meeting for standing authority to extend sewer service beyond the district line, as the DPW director warned erosion problems at the 40 Bemis Solar site could force a referral to state regulators.Pepperell News
• CPC closes FY27 hearing, sets application calendar. Pepperell's Community Preservation Committee closed its fiscal 2027 hearing, projecting about $494,000 available for grants, with applications opening October 1 and due October 23 ahead of December presentations.Pepperell News
• Senior board drafts first-ever bylaws. Pepperell's Council on Aging began drafting the senior center's first formal bylaws, opening debate over term limits, annual officer elections and unexcused-absence rules the board has never had to enforce before.Pepperell News
• Select Board OKs $2.5M water project bond. Pepperell's Select Board took up financing for the town's wastewater upgrade and split over whether to formally oppose a proposed Ashby charter school, with one member citing a $400,000 town deficit as reason to hold off.Pepperell News
• ZBA continues 81 Main Street variance hearing. Pepperell's Zoning Board continued a nine-unit Main Street variance hearing to October 21, after the Historical Commission recommended denial of changes to the town's oldest surviving house and the chair questioned a possible self-created hardship.Pepperell News
• Trust weighs Pebble Meadows expansion, new RFP. Pepperell's Affordable Housing Trust explored adding 20 to 40 units to the Pebble Meadows senior complex, pending USDA approval, while weighing a consultant-led rewrite of a Nashua Road affordable-housing proposal that collapsed years ago after a developer sought $1 million from the town.Pepperell News
• Climate panel reelects Cataldo, weighs energy fee. Pepperell's Climate Change Committee reelected Bob Cataldo as chair and heard a consultant warn that paying extra for renewable energy certificates is increasingly failing to spur new regional projects, as several other towns have already dropped the premium tier.Pepperell News
• Ag panel presses zoning fixes for farms. Pepperell's Agricultural Commission confirmed Sunday's self-guided farm tour and Grange Hall dinner while a member revises a memo urging the Planning Board to classify riding stables and therapeutic riding as by-right agricultural uses ahead of the November 7 Fall Town Meeting.Pepperell News

Pepperell on Fri, Oct 2

• Pepperell lands $3.6 million in state grants. The Healey administration announced October 1 that Pepperell received two state grants, $850,000 and $2,718,000, for housing and economic development projects.Town of Pepperell
• Longtime resident Dana Woodward Parker dies. McGaffigan Family Funeral Home announced the death of longtime Pepperell resident Dana Woodward Parker, survived by family including a daughter in Nashua, New Hampshire, according to Legacy.com.Legacy.com (McGaffigan Family Funeral Home)

Coming up

• Mon, Oct 5, 6:30 p.m.: Planning Board meets, holds public hearing. Pepperell's Planning Board holds its regular meeting and a separate public hearing Monday evening at 1 Main Street.Town of Pepperell
• Tue, Oct 6, 9:30 a.m.: Senior center hosts health, resource fair. The Albert Harris Senior Center holds its annual Health and Resource Fair Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 37 Nashua Road.Town of Pepperell
• Tue, Oct 6, 1:00 p.m.: Council on Aging board meets Tuesday. Pepperell's Council on Aging board meets Tuesday afternoon at the Nashua Road senior center.Town of Pepperell
• Tue, Oct 6, 6:00 p.m.: Conservation Commission meets Tuesday night. Pepperell's Conservation Commission meets Tuesday evening, with the agenda posted on the town calendar.Town of Pepperell
• Wed, Oct 7, 7:00 p.m.: Zoning Board meets Wednesday night. Pepperell's Zoning Board of Appeals meets Wednesday evening at 1 Main Street.Town of Pepperell
• Wed, Oct 7, 7:00 p.m.: Finance Committee returns Wednesday night. Pepperell's Finance Committee meets again Wednesday evening at 1 Main Street.Town of Pepperell
• Thu, Oct 8, 6:00 p.m.: Housing trust holds Pebble Meadows follow-up. Pepperell's Affordable Housing Trust holds an October 8 follow-up meeting on the proposed Pebble Meadows expansion at 1 Main Street.Town of Pepperell

More events and things to do →

Browse this week: Government & development · Events & things to do
Every past edition

Know a newsletter, official, or group we should be reading? Reply to this email and name it.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.