Billerica Church Closes + Spike In Hate-Related Incidents

Happy Friday, Westford! Let's get this day started. Here's what's going on in Westford today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny; breezy, colder. High: 39 Low: 26.

Here are the top stories in Westford today:

1. Neighbors on alert over potential Brewster’s Woods development plans (Wicked Local)
2. Hightower Facilitates Lexington Wealth Management's Third Sub-Acquisition This Year (Woburn Daily Times)
3. Malden police mourning loss of sergeant who passed away following battle with ‘devastating illness’| (Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News)
4. Sculpture park is illuminated thanks to local business donation (Wicked Local)
5. Here comes Teriyaki Madness, another lunch option for Burlington (Wicked Local)
6. Waltham rallies around WHS cafeteria worker struck by vehicle (Wicked Local)
7. Eye on Art: ‘Winter Lights’ bring joy to dark days at Lowell’s Loading Dock Gallery (Sentinel & Enterprise)
8. Leominster City Council approves special permit for city’s first recreational marijuana dispensary (Sentinel & Enterprise)
9. The Eagle-Tribune | Newspaper Ads | Classifieds | Real Estate for Sale (Eagle-Tribune)
10. 1A Auto hosts North Middlesex’s Gateway Program (Lowell Sun)
11. Gil Elected to the Board of Directors of the New England Employee Benefits Council (Charlestown Patriot Bridge)
12. Elder Services Now Known as AgeSpan, Reflecting Agency's Evolution Since 1974 (WHAV News)
13. Salem discussion could green-light Kelly's Roast Beef (The Daily News of Newburyport)
14. Expanding Cloud Computing Company, SkyTerra Technologies Adds Two Additional Team Members (Conway Daily Sun)
15. Chelmsford sets tax rate for fiscal 2022 (Lowell Sun)
16. Dracut college student’s love of rare cars helps feed those in need (Boston 25 News)
17. Ellen “Rusty” Belliveau | News, Sports, Jobs (Nashua Telegraph)
18. St. Mary’s Church in Billerica closes (Lowell Sun)
19. Seven students named to Greater Lowell Tech’s SkillsUSA Executive Council (Lowell Sun)
20. Middlesex DA's office reports 39% spike in hate-related incidents in one month (wgbh.org)
21. Cuteness alert! Meet 'Waffles' Tewksbury's comfort dog (WCVB Boston)
22. Sudbury Recycling & Energy Drive at Curtis Middle Saturday – Framingham SOURCE (framinghamsource.com)
23. City Council reviews Lupoli Companies' downtown redevelopment proposal (Eagle-Tribune)
24. Benefit livestream concert planned at The Healing Garden Cancer Support Center this Sunday (Lowell Sun)
25. A.R.T. Allergy Release Technique announces Burlington Office (Wicked Local)
26. DA investigating unattended death in Dracut (Lowell Sun)

Today's Westford Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Westford!

Today in Westford:

• Capital Planning Comimittee - Town of Westford (8:30 AM)

Westford Patch Notebook

• Westford Veterinary Emergency & Referral Center, LLC: "Wishing a very Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate. 🤍💙" (Facebook)
• Parish Center for the Arts: "“Inside & Out,” an exhibit of paintings by Jill Crossman Anderson, will be at the Westford, MA Parish Center for the Arts from Dec. 5 – 30. The opening wine and cheese reception will be held Sunday, Dec. 5 from 12 noon to 2:30 pm. The ex..." (Facebook)
• Westford Conservation Trust: "Hope you can join us for our First Saturday of the month guided hike with Rich Strazdas coming up on December 4th!" (Facebook)
• Westford East Boston Camps: "Two more days to purchase a unisex or woman's T-shirt or sweatshirt to support Friends of East Boston Camps!" (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Events:

• Squash Club Open House, 9am-11am (December 4)
• Gingerbread Village 2021 Love & Care (December 4)
• MA Wills and Trusts: Free 5-Day Email Course (December 4)
• How to Talk to Your Parents About Estate Planning (December 9)
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Job listings:

• Modern Barre Instructor (Details)
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That's it for today! See you tomorrow for your next update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Westford Daily? You can email me at annie.sandoli@patch.com.