The Yankee Xpress and Blackstone Valley Xpress

04/30/2026

On Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m. Booklovers' Gourmet, 72 East Main Street, Webster will host a free public local history talk and book signing event with Jeff Stefanik, author of the newly released "Beside Blue Waters: a History of Webster Lake."
Jeff Stefaniak is a Webster native an has been a land surveyor thorughout the region for nearly 50 years. He uses his interest in history and his professional backgound to write the history of the lake from the coming of the Europeans to the present day,
To RSVP, call 508-949-6232 or email [email protected]

03/07/2026

02/25/2026

The Oxford Community Theater presents Peter Pan at Oxford High School, 100 Carbuncle Drive on March 20 and 21.
This (non-flying) production is directed by Tamara Beland. the show is free, but donations are most welcome.

02/04/2026

Update on the Spencer shooting
Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday evening in Spencer.

Spencer police were first called shortly after 5 p.m. Feb. 3 to the area of 20 Main Street, where officers found a person suffering from a gunshot wound who was transported to UMass Medical Center. About 12 minutes later, officers located a suspect nearby on West Main Street. Police said the suspect produced a firearm, prompting an exchange of gunfire before fleeing into a Family Dollar store.

After evacuating the store and surrounding businesses, police requested additional resources, including CEMLEC SWAT. Authorities said the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Patrick Madison, was found in a bathroom inside the store, where another exchange of gunfire occurred. Madison was killed, and a Millbury police officer was injured and transported to the hospital, where the officer is reported to be in stable condition.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Massachusetts State Police Detectives at 508-453-7536.

02/04/2026

A Millbury police officer was shot Tuesday (Feb. 3) night while responding to a barricaded suspect at a shopping plaza in Spencer. This instigated a large police response and the temporary closure of Route 9.
Millbury Police Chief Brian S. Lewos said the officer, a member of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team, sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the incident at about 7:40 p.m. on Feb. 3 and was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
The suspect died multiple outlets were reporting on Wednesday morning.

02/02/2026

Dismissal was early today for Millbury Junior/Senior High School due to a burst water pipe.

01/12/2026

01/09/2026

Visiting hours for Officer Stephen LaPorta will be held Wednesday, January 14 from 2-6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 1 Church Square, Franklin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church. Relatives and friends are invited.
Arrangements are under the care of Alexander Thomas & Sons Funeral Home of Walpole, MA.

01/08/2026

The Uxbridge community mourns Officer Steve LaPorta who was killed in the line of duty in the early hours of Wed., January 7. He had stopped to assist at a motor vehicle accident on Route 146 Northbound when a tractor-trailer struck Officer LaPorta and his cruiser. Efforts to treat him at the scene were to no avail. Police Chief Marc Montminy spoke briefly but movingly at a press conference yesterday.
“Officer LaPorta gave his life and service to this community. A sacrifice that we will never forget,” he said. “In our eyes, he was a hero. This is a devastating loss to our department and our community.”
Officer LaPorta began his career in Uxbridge as a public safety dispatcher. He worked part-time patrols and was welcomed onto the police force in June 2024. He leaves a wife and 13 year old son.

01/06/2026

At the Pearle L. Crawford Library, 40 Schofield Ave., Dudley