North Middlesex Teams Eye November Playoff Berths

TOWNSEND --

HIGH SCHOOL -- Speaking at the North Middlesex Regional School Committee meeting on Oct. 20, student representative Sophia reported that field hockey, girls soccer and girls volleyball are "on track for qualifying for playoffs this November." She said the field hockey team is adjusting to a new coach and rebuilding after a season last year that was "not particularly amazing," while performing well this fall. The week also included the school's homecoming festivities, with a pep rally, block party, tailgate and parade leading into the season's first home football game. A second home football game is scheduled for Oct. 30.

TOWN -- The Townsend Finance Committee voted Oct. 20 to grant the Recreation Department a hiring-freeze exemption, allowing it to post up to four additional recreation counselor positions for its RecKids program. Recreation Director Emmy told the committee the department currently has four staff members on the books but only two to three actively working at any time because of outside commitments such as school sports, drama productions and other jobs. One current staffer is tied up with a lead role in a school play through the holidays. The added hires would bring total staffing capacity to eight, which Emmy said is needed to safely cover vacation-week programming when enrollment spikes. The committee also voted to remove two outdated summer RecKids counselor job postings that had remained on the town website. Separately, the Recreation Center is planning a Halloween event as part of RecKids programming, with photos, candy and flyers for families.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.