Kindergarten enrollment
Hildreth Elementary School has mailed kindergarten enrollment information packets to eligible students in Devens and Harvard. Children turning 5 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 for 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.
2020 town beach schedule
Registration is now open for swimming, sailing, and paddling lessons at the town beach.
- Session 1: July 6 to July 17
- Session 2: July 20 to 31
- Session 3: Aug. 3 to 14
New this year are weekend lessons on consecutive Saturdays, July 11 to Aug. 8.
- Youth swimming (water tots to level 4) 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Adult Sailing, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Learn more about swimming, sailing, and paddling lessons at www.harvard.ma.us/parks-recreation-commission.
Public review of hunt plan for the Oxbow
The Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge is proposing to expand opportunities for big game, upland game, and migratory bird hunting on refuge lands and to open 128 additional acres to hunting. A draft document is available at www.fws.gov/refuge/oxbow. Similar changes are proposed for the Great Meadows and Assabet River National Wildlife Refuges.
There will be an open house Wednesday, April 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (680 Hudson Road, Sudbury). This is an opportunity to discuss the proposed changes and to provide your comments on the draft plans.
A virtual Great Food Walk
This year’s Great Food Walk, scheduled for Friday, April 10, has been canceled. In the spirit of community action to help address needs—especially now—the organizers are asking participants to take up either a virtual walk or a walk on their own time at a safe place of their choosing between now and April 10.
With this energy harnessed we can all still make a difference. Go to gfalk.org and download a virtual walk sheet, or make a donation at gfwalk.org/donate.
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.
Absentee voting for March 31 election
The town clerk's office is awaiting the outcome of the town’s appeal to the Superior Court to delay this election, but as of Wednesday, March 18, the March 31 Special State Election to fill the seat vacated by Jen Benson in the 37th Middlesex District is still scheduled to be held at the Bromfield School cafeteria. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If coronavirus health concerns prevent voters from attending the polls to vote, they may apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed to their home. Visit www.harvard.ma.us/town-clerk for the application.
Call the town clerk's office at 978-456-4100 or email mkenney@harvard.ma.us for more information or with any questions.
