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The Five Minute Read

Santa Claus is coming to Dracut

DRACUT — Santa Claus is coming to town — before he delivers your presents.

The Dracut Fire Department is inviting local children to meet Santa at the department headquarters, located at 488 Pleasant St., on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

And Saint Nick won’t be traveling by sleigh, but rather on Engine 6, the department’s “classic” 1948 Diamond-T fire engine, according to a press release. Kids can take photos with Santa, who will be passing out free snacks and drinks.

Residents are also welcome to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the nonprofit Toys for Local Children, benefitting families in Middlesex and Essex counties.

Chelmsford Police hold annual Toys for Tots fundraiser

CHELMSFORD — The Police Department plans to hold its 10th annual Fill-A-Cruiser event for Toys for Tots on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Walmart, located at 66 Parkhurst Road.

The department aims to have enough new, unwrapped toys to fill one of its cruisers — or at least 3,500 toys. They’ll then gift those toys to Toys for Tots, who will distribute them to in-need children, from infants to 16-year-olds.

Sgt. Stephen Fredericks has organized the toy drive for the last 10 years, and the department received more than 3,000 gifts last year. Chief James Spinney said the program has been a success.

“I’m pleased that our department has made a tradition of collecting toys for children in need for a decade now,” Spinney said. “I want to thank Sgt. Fredericks for his tireless work organizing this event each year, and I want to thank the Chelmsford community for its continued generosity.”

The Chelmsford Police Athletic League and Best Fitness will hand out hot chocolate, free of charge.

Toy donations will also be accepted in the lobby of the Chelmsford Police Department, 2 Olde North Road. If interested in making a larger donation, contact Fredericks at sfredericks@chelmsfordma.gov to schedule a drop-off.

Massachusetts Retirees United to hold quarterly meeting

LOWELL — The Massachusetts Retirees United will host its quarterly board of directors meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Kitty’s Restaurant in North Reading.

Jim Lucia, president of the MRU and a Lowell resident, will preside over the meeting.

The MRU is composed of 2,500 retired educators passionate about supporting retirees, advocating for legislation that benefits them and ensuring seniors are financially protected. The group is currently working to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which they feel “unfairly penalizes state pension recipients and their surviving spouses,” according to a press release.

The meeting will include information from the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System and the Alliance for Retired Americans and on ways to strengthen your Social Security. Marie Ardito, the MRU information director, will also share proposed bills from the commonwealth’s next legislative session.