The algae bloom that began in late August is officially over, according to the results of the Board of Health’s water samples collected Sept. 26 and Oct. 1. Swimming is once again safe in Bare Hill Pond.

With inflation gradually declining, the Personnel Board voted unanimously last week to recommend a cost-of-living increase of 3.19% for the town’s nonunion employees in fiscal 2026. 

The Healey-Driscoll administration has opened a $15 million grant program for communities that are certified as compliant with the MBTA Communities Act, and Harvard is eligible.

Some Harvard residents may cringe at the thought of crowds and lines, so the office of the town clerk is inviting those folks (along with other early birds) to cast their votes for the 2024 general election, in person and early.

The Select Board voted unanimously at its Oct. 15 meeting to approve using most of the town’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy a pickup truck for the Department of Public Works director and to pay for final design work on the Ayer Road project.

The Water Commission is struggling to find the cheapest way to provide a state-required restroom in the small pump station that will be built as part of the Devens water connection project.

What happens when only listeners attend a listening session? Such was the case Oct. 7 at the Board of Health’s first community listening session, intended to gather residents’ feedback on the use of the town’s opioid settlement funds.