Here are some brief items from our community partners. Got news or an announcement for residents? Send the info to TewksburyCarnation@gmail.com.

Water shutdown: The town reports that there is a planned water shutdown on Tuesday, June 28 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. This shutdown will impact all residents at the following locations: the Gettysburg Common Condominiums, the Roper Estate Condominiums and from 97 Pleasant Street to 144 Pleasant Street. Residents at these locations will not have access to Town water during the shutdown. This timeframe could be extended if the crew encounters unforeseen conditions.

When water services are restored, residents are asked to open their faucets and allow the recharged water pressure to force any remaining pockets of air out of the piping.

Mortgage assistance available: CTI reports that the Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund (Mass HAF) is now available for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments by at least three months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal of HAF is to prevent foreclosures and displacements. Mass HAF is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). You may qualify for Mass HAF if:

You own and live in a condominium, single-family home, or a 2-, 3- or 4-family property in Massachusetts
You are behind on your mortgage payments by at least three months
You or someone in your household had their income go down, or living expenses go up, after January 21, 2020 because of the pandemic. This includes job loss, fewer work hours, paying more for childcare, illness or being unable to work because you had to take care of a family member
You meet the program’s income limits

Mass HAF assistance is for overdue mortgage payments and, if you qualify, your mortgage servicer would be paid directly. The assistance is a grant, not a loan. You do not have to pay it back. Learn if you qualify at massmortgagehelp.org. If you have questions and to learn how to apply, you can call 978-459-0551.

Covid tests available: Tewksbury public health nurse Ashley Pavlakos reports that the town recently received a shipment of rapid Covid-19 test kits from the Commonwealth. In an effort to support residents with the tools to manage Covid, the town will distribute these test kits at the Community Market on June 30, from 4 – 7 p.m.

“We are limiting one test kit per household, and these test kits will be available while supplies last,” said Pavlakos.

Mosquito spraying is ongoing: The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project personnel will be in Tewksbury to respond to residents’ concerns about mosquitos in their area on or about the following dates:

July 7
July 13
July 19
July 25
July 28

Note that mosquito spraying is done only when certain criteria have been met: Mosquitoes are active at that time, temperatures are above 55 degrees and winds are less than 10 mph. If any of these conditions are not present, the service will be rescheduled to a later date.

To see the 2022 monthly spray schedule, click this link: https://www.cmmcp.org/home/pages/2022-spray-schedules

For information on the products we use, click this link: https://www.cmmcp.org/pesticide-information/pages/products-we-use

To opt out of truck spraying, click this link: https://www.cmmcp.org/pesticide-information/pages/pesticide-exclusion