Weather causes issues in town

Townsend suffered significant power outages as a result of Monday's ice storm and Tuesday's cold weather.

Town officials opened an emergency shelter at Hawthorne Brook Middle School on Brookline Road. The winter weather that came in with a bang on Jan. 15 and 16 shocked New Englanders including local residents.

Town officials decided that the severe cold weather combined with lingering power outages was enough to have the town set up cots and blankets at the middle school, which also provided heat, running water and toilet facilities to residents that had been going without power.

There were more than 1,000 homes in Ashby, Fitchburg and Townsend still out of power on Tuesday night.

North Middlesex Regional School District used its first snow day, canceling classes on Tuesday because of road conditions and power issues that plagued the communities.

The Board of Selectmen cancelled their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. It will be rescheduled for later this month. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 30 but a special meeting may be scheduled.