Save the dates: Town Meeting, election
- Town Meeting will be held Saturday, May 3, noon, at the Bromfield School’s Cronin Auditorium. The last day to register to vote at Town Meeting is Wednesday, April 23.
- Town Election will be held Tuesday, May 6, at the Hildreth Elementary School. The last day to register to vote in this local election is Wednesday, April 23.
- Voting by mail is available. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is April 3. For more information, call the town clerk’s office at 978-456-4100, ext. 319.
Last call for candidates
Nomination papers are available for people seeking to run for election to open seats on the Select Board, School Committee, and trustees for the Harvard Public Library and Warner Free Lecture Fund. Papers and information on the nominating process are available at the town clerk’s office at Town Hall. Papers must be pulled by Friday, March 14; the town clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon that day. Completed papers must be returned to Town Hall Tuesday, March 18, by 5 p.m.
Winter Fest 5K road race rescheduled
The Lions Club Winter Fest 5K road race, postponed from February, has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m., at the Bromfield School at 14 Mass. Ave. On-site registration remains open.
Ginny Thurston Scholarship
The Select Board will again offer financial assistance to Bromfield seniors through the Ginny Thurston Scholarship fund. Interested students should visit the Select Board page on the town website for more details, or contact Julie Doucet at jdoucet@harvard-ma.gov in the Select Board office. Letters of interest are due no later than Friday, April 18.
Boat storage lottery now open
Harvard Park and Recreation offers boat storage at Bare Hill Pond for Harvard residents and taxpayers. There are storage racks for canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards; boat moorings in the cove and near the picnic area; and boat slips. Demand is high, and spots are awarded annually by lottery. The lottery is open through March 31, and winners will be announced in April. For more information and to register, visit harvardma.myrec.com, select “Programs,” then
Boating: Boat Storage/Lottery.”
Watch for amphibians on the road
Residents are reminded to watch for amphibians as they emerge from their winter retreats and travel to breeding sites. As they move across the landscape, they often cross roads. Avoid traveling on small roads near wetlands and vernal pools on warm, rainy nights.
Mud season underway
With mud season starting and the ground vulnerable to potholes, rutting, and erosion, the Conservation Commission asks residents to exercise care on town trails. Minimize trail damage by following these rules:
- Horseback riders and bicyclists should avoid trails until they firm up.
- Vehicles must keep to gravel parking areas and off muddy edges.
- Trail walkers and runners should avoid widening wet trail areas by keeping to existing trails or rock-hopping.
- The running track through the woods at Harvard Park is built with drainage and a compacted surface; it is a good option at this time of year.
Attention high school seniors
Each spring, the Harvard Woman’s Club gives scholar awards to high school seniors graduating from the Bromfield School, or Harvard residents who are graduating from the Parker Charter School; Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School; the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science; the Advanced Math and Science Academy; or other public secondary schools. The club encourages seniors from the town of Harvard who are actively involved in community service to apply. Applications must be received by the Harvard Woman’s Club no later than March 28.
Complete information and applications are available through school counselors (NAVIANCE) and on the Harvard Woman’s Club website at harvardwomansclub.wordpress.com/scholarship.
Use rodenticide wisely
According to Friends of Worcester Wildlife, rodenticide is killing more than just rats and mice: A 2020 study at Tufts Veterinary School found that 100% of red-tailed hawks coming to their facility had anticoagulants in their systems. Anyone using anticoagulant rodenticide—even in bait boxes designed to be “safe” for pets and children—should know that alternatives can be effective without killing birds of prey, such as hawks, owls, and bald eagles, and predators, such as foxes and coyotes. Pets can also be at risk.
To learn about safer rodenticides, go to the storymaps site at bit.ly/3AMWZyC and click on “How you can help.”
Loaves & Fishes
The Loaves & Fishes food pantry, 234 Barnum Road, Devens, serves food to people in need who reside in Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley. Pantry hours are Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon; first Tuesday, 4 to 7 p.m.; third Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon; last Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon. Visit loavesfishespantry.org for more information.
Devens noise report
- Throughout March, small arms fire
- March 23-26, grenades, mortars, machine guns.
