5 Things To Know the Week of Oct. 18: Pretty Pumpkins, Assessor Listening Session, TPD Drug Dropoff

Tewksbury is taking on Wilmington for the The Reading Cup in the towns’ first annual “Reading Rivals” Competition. Residents can win weekly $25 gift cards along the way and be entered into the grand prize raffle for completing a minimum of three hours of reading. Sign up soon, because the competition got underway on Oct. 12. Use your existing Beanstack account, or sign up for one here.

The Housing Authority meets Monday at 4 p.m. at Saunders Circle. On the agenda are a budget review, vacancies in Tewksbury’s affordable units and a report on occupancy. That meeting is in person only.

Also on Monday the Tewksbury Library presents a virtual workshop on “Relationship-Building Keys That Give You An Edge.” The presenter, Janet Parnes, is a social conversation and etiquette expert who equips people with the skills to build their careers and businesses. The session will provide strategies for starting, maintaining and ending a conversation; tips for virtual networking; gestures that tell a story; words that create an instant connection; and solutions to common conversation and networking conundrums.

Register here for this session, and see more programming for kids, teens and adults at the library this week here.

Tuesday sees the Select Board meeting at Town Hall. Residents can attend in person or watch the meeting on Tewksbury TV’s YouTube channel or Channel 99 (Comcast) or 33 (Verizon). The agenda includes a license change for Deli King, a report by the Town Clerk on Tewksbury’s redistricting plan, discussion of the letter to MassHousing in regard to the proposed Ames Pond 40B project and formalization of Halloween trick or treating hours.

On Wednesday starting at 3:30 p.m. at Town Hall Annex (the building across from Town Hall, next to the Center Fire Station) the Board of Assessors will hold an open forum for residents who wish to speak to the board. Topics could be the assessed value of a property, but this board can also field questions on the ownership of various lots. Besides determining values, the assessor’s office is tasked with administering senior and veteran tax relief programs and maintaining all property-tax-related records.

Residents may see the assessed value, sales history and many more details of any property online. If you check your home and something seems off, this is an opportunity to ask about it.

Fall weather making you hungry? On Thursday, when you order from Papa Gino’s at Oakdale (1900 Main St.) online or at 978-851-6100 and mention promo code “LIBRARY,” Papa Gino’s will donate 20% to the Friends of the Library.

While you eat you can tune into the Board of Health meeting at 6 p.m. on Tewksbury TV’s YouTube channel or Channel 99 (Comcast) or 33 (Verizon); residents may also attend in person. The board will hear an update on the situation on Oliveira farm and discuss the keeping of chickens, a new contact tracer and town Covid rates.

Or, head down to Town Hall to sit in on the Elementary School Building Committee as they address a long list of matters in regard to the newly christened Center Elementary School starting at 6 p.m., and stay for the Public Events Committee at 7 p.m. to hear about plans for this year’s tree lighting event on the Common.

Earlier on Thursday, the town’s Tree Warden will hold an open hearing on a request by National Grid to remove nine trees located between 931 and 1015 South St. That hearing will be held at 10 a.m. at the DPW on Whipple. Any resident wishing to weigh in on the removals may attend and speak.

There are lots of options in town on Saturday, Oct. 23.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Tewksbury Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to Police Headquarters at 918 Main Street. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Residents are asked to remove pills from the prescription bottles and seal them in a plastic “Ziploc” type bag before arriving at Police Headquarters. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original containers. Please ensure the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage. NO SHARPS will be allowed to be disposed. For more information on how or where to dispose of sharps, please contact the Board of Health at (978) 640-4473.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at THMS, the National Honor Society and Class of 2022 will host a “Trunk or Treat” event for elementary-age kids. There will be a costume contest and parade.

Also this weekend, residents can get a jump on holiday shopping at the Castleberry Fall Craft Festival, taking place at the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Besides crafters, there will be specialty foods including cannolis, pickles, candied nuts and more. Adult admission is $7, with kids under 14 admitted free. Admission is good for both days, parking is free and you can find a discount coupon on the Castleberry website.