Westford DESE Report Cards + 79% Vaccinated In Middlesex County

Happy Friday, Westford! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locallytoday.

First, today's weather:

A morning shower; breezy. High: 57 Low: 19.

Here are the top stories today in Westford:

1. Fatal shooting under investigation in Methuen (WCVB Boston)
2. Person killed after Thursday morning shooting in Methuen (Boston 25 News)
3. Person in critical condition after shooting in Methuen (Boston 25 News)
4. Marlborough schools increase pay rates for substitutes (Community Advocate)
5. Police Investigating Shooting in Methuen (NBC10 Boston)
6. Burlington Sculpture Park seeking artists for summer 2022 installation (Wicked Local)
7. Andover Dems to host caucus | News (Eagle-Tribune)
8. Two proposed recreational marijuana dispensaries get thumbs up from Groton Select Board (Lowell Sun)
9. For Hudson couple, curling has been more than a sport. It's a ray of hope (MetroWest Daily News)
10. Richard 'Ricky' Fenton | News, Sports, Jobs (Nashua Telegraph)
11. Funding for Lawrence's new Leahy School wins council approval (Eagle-Tribune)
12. Free library in Massachusetts target of thefts for offering LGBTQ books, curators say (WCVB Boston)
13. Nashua teacher reports man in vehicle who approached child he didn't know (WMUR Manchester)
14. Man Dies Despite Neighbor Rushing In To Drag Him From Burning Pepperell Home (CBS Boston)
15. Massachusetts GOP office intruder to face clerk magistrate as police seek charges (Boston Herald)
16. Nashua superintendent announcement expected Monday | Nashua (The Union Leader)
17. Endangered Sturgeon Washes Up on Revere Beach (NBC10 Boston)
18. Snowdaes in Lowell, Massachuetts is serving up shaved snow (WCVB Boston)
19. Nashua man accused of firing gun in Lowell held without bail (Lowell Sun)
20. Arciero presents COVID funds to Westford (Lowell Sun)
21. The Five Minute Read (Lowell Sun)
22. CommonWealth Magazine (CommonWealth magazine)
23. Westford School Committee Resolution Regarding The Incident On January 28 Adopted Monday February 14 (Press Release Desk)
24. Middlesex County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 79% of people fully vaccinated (MetroWest Daily News)
25. ‘They failed big time’: Family suing Woburn school district after son allegedly assaulted in locker room| (Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News)
26. Greater Lawrence Tech School Committee Votes to Make Masking Optional For Students Starting March 7 (The Valley Patriot)
27. Westford Public Schools 2021 DESE Report Cards Now Available (Westford Patch)
28. Town Of Westford: Select Board Response To Racial Incident (Press Release Desk)
29. Town Of Westford: Town Offers NEW COVID Relief Assistance For Qualifying Low To Moderate Income Households (Press Release Desk)

Today's Westford Daily is brought to you in part 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:

• Deans Council - Westford Academy (7:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Pure Barre: "This past weekend Mariette stopped by the studio to sign the 1250, 1500, and 2000 bar!! 😱 Amazing work in our live-streamed classes, Mariette! At the speed you’ve hit all these milestones, we know you’ll be back celebrating another very..." (Facebook)
• Pure Barre: "February 27th & 28th are Open House Weekend! Bring all your friends to try a FREE class using the link below! https://lp.purebarre.com/free-barre-class?offer_id=try-an-intro-class-for-free&booking=1&clubready_referraltypeid=105159&locati..." (Facebook)
• Pure Barre: "We’re supporting Kerri Pietragallo’s Boston Marathon fundraiser! She’s running to raise money for Mass Eye & Ear! Click the link below to donate 👇🏽 https://www.givengain.com/activist/499883/projects/43213/" (Facebook)
• Town of Westford, MA: "Town Offers NEW COVID Relief Assistance for Qualifying Low to Moderate Income Households" (Facebook)
• Town of Westford, MA: "School Committee Resolution Regarding the Incident on Jan 28" (Facebook)
• Westford Recycling Commission: "From Recycle Smart MA Pizza Boxes – Yes or No? Pizza boxes are IN. We promise! You can put your EMPTY pizza box in the recycling. Grease is okay. Helpful suggestion: Fold the box inside out before you put it in the recycling. This will m..." (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Forge Village/Main: "Hi everyone! - I hope this is OK here, I’m just so thrilled to join the PowerHouse Properties team at KW Realty Merrimack Valley - #1 in Westford home sales! Reach out for any Real Estate needs! 781-606-5155" (Nextdoor)
• Joseph from Nextdoor's Community Team, Nextdoor Massachusetts: "Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day in the neighborhood this Thursday - Neighbors, did you know performing small, random acts of kindness for neighbors can reduce loneliness? 

Nextdoor’s global study examining how acts of kindness i..." (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• CoWorks at Vita Therapia.com — (Visit website)
• Fun World Language Academy — (Visit Website)
• Code Wiz - Westford — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• MA Wills and Living Trusts: Free 5-Day Email Course (in Plain English) (February 19)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Summer Camp at Acton Stage Music Center! (Details)
• Add your announcement

Loving the Westford 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

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning 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.