Deadline to register to vote
The last day to register to vote in the May 2 Annual Town Meeting and the May 5 Town Election is Wednesday, April 22. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, April 28. For more information, call the town clerk’s office at 978-456-4100, ext. 319.
Donations for library book sale
The Friends of the Harvard Public Library is accepting donations of used books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, LPs, and jigsaw puzzles for the annual book sale May 8-10. Email HPLBooksale@gmail.com with questions, or visit tinyurl.com/2026Booksale to volunteer.
Donations will be accepted at the library entrance on the following dates:
- Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to noon
- Sunday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, April 30, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. to noon
- Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m. to noon
Black bears are becoming active
In the next few weeks, bears will begin to emerge from their winter dens and search for food. Residents can help keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods by taking down bird feeders, feeding pets indoors, and securing garbage and compost. Owners of backyard chickens or bees should consider electric fencing. Further recommendations are available at mass.gov/news/take-precautions-black-bears-are-active-and-searching-for-food.
Townwide cleanup
The 2026 roadside cleanup and garlic mustard pull will take place Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26. Individuals and teams collect trash and garlic mustard along short segments of town roads any time during the weekend, and leave bags for DPW pickup Monday morning, April 27. Pick up bags and other supplies at Westward Orchards, 178 Mass. Ave., Wednesday, April 22, 2 to 4 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, 9 to 11 a.m.
Sign up for a road segment at SignUpGenius, bit.ly/2026Cleanup-GM. For questions about the cleanup, email Harvard.Cleanup@gmail.com; for questions about garlic mustard, email garlicmustard.harvard@gmail.com.
Last day for kindergarten enrollment
Kindergarten enrollment at Hildreth Elementary School is now open for Harvard and Devens children turning 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2026. Enrollment is online, and the deadline is April 10. Details are on the enrollment tab at hildreth.psharvard.org. For more information, contact Jessica Reynolds at jreynolds@psharvard.org with any questions.
April is Autism Awareness Month
The Harvard Police Department is proud to offer a limited number of their exclusive Autism Awareness Patches for sale at $10 each. To buy a patch, come to the police station Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.; patches are also available at Town Hall. For questions or additional information, contact Trish Rouvel at prouvel@harvard-ma.gov. Proceeds will be donated to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.
Info session on proposed municipal solar project
The Select Board and the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee will hold a public information session Thursday, April 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., regarding a proposed municipal solar photovoltaic project on town-owned land on Stow Road (the gravel pit site). The session will be held at the Harvard Senior Center, 16 Lancaster County Road, and will include a project overview, financing pathways, anticipated environmental and fiscal considerations, and project timeline. Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in this important conversation.
April break youth soccer clinic
Harvard Park and Recreation will sponsor an indoor soccer clinic during April school break for kids of all skill levels in grades K-6. The clinic will run April 21 to 23 in the Hildreth Elementary School gym. Led by Bromfield varsity boys soccer coach Alex Horne, the program will work on skill-building drills, teamwork, fun mini games, and more. Register at harvardma.myrec.com.
Registration open for youth track clinic
Registration is now open for grades 3-6 for the annual youth track clinic at McCurdy Track. Join this fun introduction to track and field with six weekly sessions in May and June. Find the full schedule and register at harvardma.myrec.com.
Registration open for swimming lessons
Registration is now open for swimming lessons at the town beach at Bare Hill Pond. Visit harvardma.myrec.com/info/activities>>Beach Programs: Learn to Swim 2026 to register. There will be three sessions: June 29-July 10, July 13-24, and July 27-Aug. 7. Spaces can fill quickly.
Devens noise report
- Throughout April, small arms fire
- April 10-12, helicopters
- April 13-15, helicopters, machine guns
- April 16-19, machine guns
- April 19, helicopters
- April 20-21, machine guns, grenades.