Tewksbury Health Department

11/24/2025

🦃 Keep your turkey safe during “the big thaw”!
Frozen turkeys are safe indefinitely — but once they start to thaw, any bacteria present can begin growing again.

🚗➡️🏡 After checkout, head straight home and put your turkey in the freezer.
❌ Don’t leave it in the car, on the porch, in the basement, or anywhere temperatures can’t be monitored.

⚠️ A turkey left on the counter for more than 2 hours enters the Danger Zone (40–140°F) where bacteria multiply quickly.

🧊 Bottom line: Always thaw your turkey safely in the refrigerator!

For more information: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/turkey-basics-safe-thawing

11/24/2025

This holiday season, Tewksbury Public Library is introducing the "TPL Little Free Food Pantry". It's kind of like our Little Free Library, but with food! It's open to anyone who needs food for whatever reason. Want to help? Drop off non-perishable, unexpired, pre-packaged goods at the little free pantry for others to take. The pantry is located near the circulation desk on the first floor.

As always, you can also donate to the Tewksbury Community Pantry at the donation bin near the front door of the library, or on their website here: https://tewksburypantry.org/donate-food-goods/ Together we can make sure no one in Tewksbury goes hungry!

11/03/2025

🧥 Because of YOU, 55 people will be warmer this winter! 💙

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far to our Tewksbury Health Department Coat Drive — your generosity is making a real difference!

There’s still time to spread the warmth — we’re collecting new or gently used coats through December 15.
📍 Drop-off location: Lower Level of Town Hall

Let’s see how many more coats we can collect together! ❄️✨

11/03/2025

Join us Monday, November 10th for our Monday night speaker series as Donna White walks us through Substance Use Disorders. Learn commonly used and misused substances. Learn how therapeutic communication strategies might be useful with affected individuals. Register for this free program on Zoom. 💜💜

10/31/2025

Tewksbury Community Food Drive!

🍂 Tewksbury Community Food Drive 🍂

The Tewksbury Police, Fire, DPW, Town Hall, and Public Library are teaming up with the Tewksbury Community Pantry to help support families in need this season!

🗓 October 31 – November 15

We’re asking residents to donate non-perishable food items to help local families right here in Tewksbury.

📍Donation boxes can be found at:
Tewksbury Police Dept. – 918 Main St.
Tewksbury Fire Dept. – 984 Main St.
Tewksbury Town Hall – 1009 Main St.
Tewksbury DPW – 999 Whipple Rd.
Tewksbury Public Library – 300 Chandler St.

Let’s come together as a community to make a difference this fall. 💙

For more information: tewksburypantry.org
📞 (978) 858-2273

-TPD121

10/31/2025

The Town of Tewksbury has been notified that there has been a release of untreated or partially treated wastewater at the Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility. As mandated by 314 CMR 16.09, the public is advised of the following:

Location: Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility
Receiving Waters: Merrimack River
Date: Oct. 30 & 31, 2025
Time: Between 8:56 PM and 5:16 AM

The Commonwealth recommends that the public avoid contact with the affected water body for at least 48 hours after a sewerage discharge or overflow due to increased health risks from bacteria or other pollutants associated with urban stormwater runoff and discharges of untreated and partially treated wastewater.

10/30/2025

📣 Final Reminder: Community Survey — Deadline Tomorrow!
The Town of Tewksbury and UMass Lowell’s Center for Program Evaluation (CPE) are wrapping up community feedback collection to better understand the needs and barriers to care related to opioid use disorder (OUD).

🎁 Don’t miss your chance to enter the raffle for a $25 Amazon gift card — four winners will be chosen!
💬 Responses are anonymous, and your input helps guide future local programs and funding decisions.

👉 Take the survey by tomorrow: https://umasslowell.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9HnLp6Y7c8foUsK?fbclid=IwY2xjawNwdZtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhQFxAksKVrtf5GB4MOlm4yaTEaF74OAprAqGtZonAeLpolNvNC8KHt0EDdR_aem_d_805rsqENy_o9fqESyNOg

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

10/30/2025

🌟 In an ever-evolving time, we’re streamlining resources to make things easier for our community!
We’ve created a Tewksbury Food Resources Page to keep everything in one easy-to-access place. 🍎
This page will be updated regularly as new programs and services become available. For additions or corrections to this list, please email slafreniere@tewksbury-ma.gov!

Check it out and share to help spread the word! 💛

10/29/2025

💙 Tackling substance abuse with compassion, collaboration, and community!

Tewksbury’s own nurse Ashley Pavlakos and Prevention Program Manager Maria Ruggiero share the important work happening in Tyngsborough — from Narcan access and mental health support to breaking stigma and building hope. Tewksbury is grateful to have them on our team!

Watch the full conversation here! 🎥

Tyngsborough is taking action against substance abuse and doing it with compassion, collaboration, and community.In this episode, host Rony Camille speaks w...

10/27/2025

🛒 Need help navigating uncertainty over SNAP benefits? Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in Massachusetts, or chat with us now at: mass211.org/

10/22/2025

The Town of Tewksbury has been notified that there has been a release of untreated or partially treated wastewater at the Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility. As mandated by 314 CMR 16.09, the public is advised of the following:

Location: Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility
Receiving Waters: Merrimack River
Date: October 22, 2025 at 7:45 AM to 12:30 PM

The Commonwealth recommends that the public avoid contact with the Merrimack River for at least 48 hours after a sewerage discharge or overflow due to increased health risks from bacteria or other pollutants associated with urban storm water runoff and discharges of untreated and partially treated wastewater.

10/21/2025

The Town of Tewksbury has been notified that there has been a release of untreated or partially treated wastewater at the Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility. As mandated by 314 CMR 16.09, the public is advised of the following:

Location: Lowell Wastewater Treatment Facility
Receiving Waters: Merrimack River
Date: October 20, 2025 at 10:59 AM to 4:52 PM

The Commonwealth recommends that the public avoid contact with the Merrimack River for at least 48 hours after a sewerage discharge or overflow due to increased health risks from bacteria or other pollutants associated with urban storm water runoff and discharges of untreated and partially treated wastewater.