Chelmsford Fire Under Investigation + Weekend Weather & Events

Up and at 'em, Chelmsford! It's Saturday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in Chelmsford.

First, today's weather:

Colder; a little p.m. snow. High: 36 Low: 33.

Here are the top stories in Chelmsford today:

1. Dracut raises pay for substitute teachers and nurses (Lowell Sun)
2. Restaurant owner to open Acton Asian Market in coming weeks as (Wicked Local)
3. Four juniors at Nashoba Tech earn credentials as nannies (Lowell Sun)
4. Groton set to interview five potential cannabis retailers in January (Lowell Sun)
5. Ayer Shirley Regional School District principal proposes policy to discourage meeting disruptions (Lowell Sun)
6. Rings stolen from another Massachusetts store by smash-and-grab robbers (WCVB Boston)
7. COVID-19 case counts on the rise in 295 of Massachusetts' 351 communities (WCVB Boston)
8. Sun Santa Fund receives $10,000 boost from Tyngsboro company (Lowell Sun)
9. Black and Hispanic Mass. residents face disparities with health care access, report finds (wgbh.org)
10. Conservation Project That Almost Didn't Happen Crosses Finish Line (grotonherald.com)
11. Fire at Chelmsford Holiday Inn Express under investigation (Lowell Sun)
12. Whitney Well Environmental Review | Groton Herald (grotonherald.com)
13. Whitney WellEnvironmental Review | Groton Herald (grotonherald.com)
14. UMass Lowell Scientist Pioneers New Class of Semiconductors (UMass Lowell)
15. Chelmsford Weekend Weather Forecast (Chelmsford Patch)
16. Chelmsford Area Events: See What's Coming Up This Weekend (Chelmsford Patch)
17. Lowell to distribute at-home COVID tests Saturday (Lowell Sun)
18. VIDEO: Billerica Access Television and the Billerica Minuteman send a holiday message (Wicked Local)
19. 5 Things To Do In Wilmington On Friday, December 17, 2021: Holiday Drive-Thru Luncheon At Senior Center Sponsored By Kiwanis Club (wilmingtonapple.com)
20. NOW HIRING: Town Of Wilmington Seeks Assistant Treasurer (wilmingtonapple.com)
21. Wilmington Police & Front Line Initiative To Provide Online Support To Anyone Struggling This Christmas (wilmingtonapple.com)
22. Wilmington High’s Soundscape To Carol Around Town On December 22 — Hire Them! (wilmingtonapple.com)
23. 2 New Chelmsford Area Houses For Sale (Chelmsford Patch)
24. Merrimack Repertory returns with ‘Holly Fudge’ (Lowell Sun)
25. The 2016 - 2019 Genesis G90 Is Crowned 2021 WheelsTV POV of the Year (Woburn Daily Times)
26. Chelmsford Resident Wins Spot In 2022 World Photographic Cup (Chelmsford Patch)

Today in Chelmsford:

• Maxwell's Winter Farmers Market (9:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Chelmsford Public Library: "The week after Christmas, kids will be off from school and we have some fun activities for all ages! Some are drop in but others require registration - be sure to check the calendar! https://chelmsfordlibrary.libcal.com/calendar/library?..." (Facebook)
• Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce: "Mask up and support The Old Court and Lowell’s other great businesses!" (Facebook)
• Chelmsford Hockey Association: "Update: the Forum is still experiencing issues there is no practice tonight - 12/16" (Facebook)
• Chelmsford TV: "Dean Contover of The Current Buzz talks with Simon Cataldo, Candidate for State Representative, 14th Middlesex District." (Facebook)
• Communications Director Phillip Geoffroy, City of Lowell Government: "Emergency Alert - The City of Lowell will distribute free at-home COVID-19 test kits to residents on Saturday, December 18 from 8 AM - 12 PM at the following locations: Robinson Middle School, 110 June Street Lowell Department of Public..." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Westlands Center: "Hello Neighbors, please check this out. - We are offering Kung Fu classes at The Roudenbush CC for kids between 5-17 years old!. Come and join us!" (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Luciana Calvin Photography — (Visit website)
• Code Wiz - Westford — (Visit Website)
• Heavey Quinn Academy of Irish Dance — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Good Pickin' Farm's Festival of Lights! (December 18)
• Fiesta Melon at Millyard Brewery in Nashua (December 18)
• Outdoor Live Nativity at UMC Westford (December 19)
• Donate Blood DONATE LIFE * Community Blood Drive (December 20)
• Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD’s Sunniest Blooms (December 21)
• STAINED GLASS CLASSES- 3 Jan – 11 Feb 2022 WINTER 2022 SESSION (January 3)
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Announcements:

• Beginner Spanish for Adults starting in January (Details)
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Job listings:

• Manager (Details)
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Loving the Chelmsford Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at annie.sandoli@patch.com

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday. I'll see you back in your inbox Tuesday with a new update!

— Annie Sandoli

About me: Annie has been a Boston-based writer since 2018, after graduating with her BA in Social Thought and Political Economy from UMass Amherst and ALM in journalism from Harvard University. She has worked as a freelancer throughout Massachusetts and as part of an editorial team in London, UK. Her interests include music and the arts, creative writing and literature, and topics of social and political justice. Annie covers Brookline, Newton, Waltham, Chelmsford and Westford. Email news tips to annie.sandoli@patch.com.