4th of July art contest
The Harvard 4th of July Committee is accepting entries for its art contest. Students age 18 and under who live or attend school in Harvard may submit one or more original entries incorporating this year’s theme, “100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote.” Entries are due by Monday, March 9. They may be dropped off at the Hildreth Elementary School office or emailed (as a PDF or JPG file not to exceed 5MB in size) to harvard4th@gmail.com. Student name and parent contact information must be included. Artwork should be scaled to fit on an 8.5”x11” sheet of paper. Use only black ink. The line thickness should be equivalent to a fine-point Sharpie so the drawing may be reproduced for printing.
The winning entry will be featured on the 2020 Harvard 4th of July T-shirts, and the winner will receive a prize valued at approximately $100. Email Connie Barton at harvard4th@gmail.com with any questions.
Youth track clinic registration opens
Registration is open for the Harvard Parks and Recreation Commission's track and field clinic for boys and girls in grades 3 through 6. The emphasis is on participating, learning, improving, and doing one’s best. The clinic is organized by David Bell with assistance from current and former Bromfield track team members. Track events include the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter races, the 50-meter dash for third- and fourth-graders, and the 800-meter and 1-mile for fifth- and sixth-graders. Field events include the softball throw and the running long jump. There is also the 4×100-meter relay. Go to harvard.ma.us/parks&rec for more information.
Boat storage lottery; rental kiosk registration
Registration is open until March 31 for Harvard’s boat storage lottery. Registration is also open to use the new boat rental kiosk for rental of canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and a pedal boat. If you don’t win the lottery or don’t want to haul your boat to the pond, consider renting. Annual and day passes are available. Go to harvard.ma.us/parks&rec to register and for more information.
Kindergarten enrollment
Hildreth Elementary School will be mailing kindergarten enrollment information packets to eligible students in Devens and Harvard. Children turning five years old on or before Aug. 31, 2020, with proof of residency, are eligible. If your family was listed on your community’s census, you will receive a packet in the mail. If you did not fill out a census form, please notify the Hildreth Elementary School no later than March 27. The packet will also inform us of whether your child will participate in a full or half- day program. Screening and registration are scheduled for Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1. For more information, email Lorelei Galeski at lgaleski@psharvard.org or call 978-456-4145.
Drivers warned to proceed with caution on ‘Big Nights’
If you’re out at night on wet back roads in the next few weeks, proceed with curiosity—and caution. A soaking rain on a night close to 50 degrees will prompt multitudes of amphibians, among them spring peepers, wood frogs, and spotted salamanders, to leave their winter hibernation and travel to breed at the vernal pools of their birth. If a roadway now cuts across their ancient route, slow-moving salamanders, looking like small wet twigs if visible at all, are easy victims to motorists. Look for yellow amphibian-crossing signs posted at known sites and plan alternative routes for rainy evenings in this brief period of migration. These sites include Littleton County Road near the intersections with Oak Hill and Cleaves Hill Roads and Old Schoolhouse Road, Littleton Road near Cruft Lane, and East Bare Hill Road near Partridge Hill Road. There are other, less concentrated crossing areas near wetlands throughout town. Unlike the salamanders, little hopping frogs are visible in headlights, so drive slowly and keep your eyes peeled on rainy nights.
American Red Cross urges blood donation
The American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages as concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, rise in the U.S.
Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply. As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the U.S., the number of people eligible to give blood for patients in need could decrease further.
Make an appointment to donate blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767, or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood donors with type O blood and all platelet donors are especially needed right now.
