Stay out of pond until toxicity testing is complete
Once again, the no-swimming advisory for Bare Hill Pond has been renewed at the town beach and the beach at Thurston’s Cove due to unsafe levels of cyanobacteria in the water and visibility throughout the pond of less than 23 inches. The Board of Health, which issued the advisory, reminds people and pets to stay out of the water until testing shows it’s safe to return.
Be aware that clear water is not necessarily safe: Algal blooms sometimes create more toxins as they die off. According to Board of Health Chair Libby Levison, cyanotoxin testing is likely to take place this week. (Weekly cyanobacteria testing was scheduled to end Sept. 15.) Watch this space and harvard-ma.gov/board-health for updates.
Introducing ‘dump dollars’
It is no longer necessary to buy punch cards ahead of time to dispose of larger items at the Transfer Station. Visit harvard.ma.us/dumpdollars to set up an account, make a purchase, or learn more; or buy ‘dump dollars’ via smartphone at the Transfer Station in denominations of $1, $5, $10, and $20. Traditional punch cards are still available if preferred. Dump dollars and punch cards are good only in the fiscal year they are purchased.
Climate Action Plan kickoff is next Thursday
The Community Resilience Working Group announces the kickoff of its Climate Action Plan at a public meeting to be held as a Zoom webinar, Thursday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. In its efforts to help prepare Harvard for a positive and sustainable future, the CRWG will share background on the project, talk about its vision for a planning process, and solicit feedback. Webinar login information is: ID 827 7590 9176 and passcode 414835.
BOH says ‘Wear masks in all indoor public places’
The Board of Health recommends that residents wear masks in all indoor public places and all private places open to the public in Harvard. This applies to those who are over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. The board also “strongly recommends that all who are eligible to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, do so “and urges anyone due for a second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to get it. The advisory cites CDC statistics showing that the delta variant now accounts for 85% of positive cases in Massachusetts and is “almost twice as contagious as previous variants.” View the advisory at https://bit.ly/3EfRPIl.
Fort Devens noise report
- Sept. 1-30: multiple small arms ranges
- Sept. 22 and 29: demolitions
Expect traffic delays in town center Saturday
During the firefighters’ truck muster on the Common scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18, police will be directing car traffic through the center of town to accommodate the festivities between 10:30 a.m. and about 4 p.m. Spectators should park at the Bromfield School Parking lot. The following roads adjacent to the Common will be closed or restricted during the event, with limited access allowed to town center residents: Elm Street, Lovers Lane, Still River Road (from Elm Street to Fairbank Street), and Ayer Road from Town Hall to the flashing light. Portions of Fairbank Street will be restricted to one lane along the Common.
Food pantry open for drive-thru pickup
The Loaves & Fishes food pantry, 234 Barnum Road, Devens, serves residents of Harvard, Ayer, Dunstable, Devens, Groton, Littleton, and Shirley. It will be open for drive-thru access from 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 18, 22, 24, and 29.
