By Dave Watkins in News — 23 Sep 2026

Zoning board weighs historic mansion cafe bid

Zoning board weighs historic church's cafe bid. Gardner's Zoning Board granted a deck variance at 623 West Street, then spent most of its meeting on a first-of-its-kind historic-preservation bid to turn the 1860s Henry Haywood House into a 38-seat cafe and counseling center, with site visits set for October 1 and 3.Gardner News
Finance Committee raises golf assistant pay to $1,000. Mayor Michael J. Nicholson warned Gardner's Finance Committee the city closed fiscal 2026 with a small deficit as health insurance and special education costs outpace revenue, and members revisited how the golf course assistant has been paid without a Golf Commission vote.Gardner News

Moose wanders through downtown Gardner, snarls traffic. A roughly seven-foot moose wandered through a Gardner home and downtown streets Tuesday, causing morning traffic delays, WCVB and Hoodline reported; the sighting also circulated on Yahoo News.WCVB
Household hazardous waste collection set for Nov. 7. Gardner will host a household hazardous waste collection event Nov. 7 at the landfill, The Gardner News reports. Residents can call City Hall at 978-632-1900 or visit gardner-ma.gov for details.The Gardner News
October yard waste pickup set for week of Oct. 6. The city's October yard waste pickup will run the week of October 6-9 for Gardner residents, according to a City Hall announcement.City of Gardner

Tomorrow, 10:00 a.m.: Retirement Board meets Thursday morning. Gardner's Retirement Board holds its regular meeting Thursday at 10 a.m. at 95 Pleasant Street.City of Gardner
Tomorrow, 7:00 p.m.: Gardner Museum lecture covers 20th century storms. The Gardner Museum hosts a talk on great Southern New England storms of the 20th century Thursday at 7 p.m. at 28 Pearl Street.Gardner Museum
Fri, Sep 25, 9:45 a.m.: Housing Authority board meets Friday morning. The Gardner Housing Authority board meets Friday at 9:45 a.m. at 116 Church Street.City of Gardner
Mon, Sep 28, 1:00 p.m.: Housing Authority holds regular meeting Monday. The Gardner Housing Authority holds its regular meeting Monday at 1 p.m. at 116 Church Street.City of Gardner
Mon, Sep 28, 6:30 p.m.: Conservation Commission holds public hearing Monday. Gardner's Conservation Commission holds a public hearing and meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. at 115 Pleasant Street.City of Gardner
Tue, Sep 29: Gardner girls soccer hosts Clinton Tuesday. Gardner's girls varsity soccer team hosts Clinton in a conference match Tuesday, Sept. 29, according to MaxPreps.MaxPreps

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