Lifeguards reported a possible missing swimmer at Town Beach at 1:44 p.m. Wednesday, July 10. Two lifeguards had been watching a man swim laps away from shore and back. At some point, both saw the man swim out, but a few minutes later both realized that neither saw him swim back.

Once again, the Fourth of July Committee pulled off two of the town’s biggest events back-to- back with nary a hitch. Weather for the fireworks and concert July 3 and the parade and events July 4 was perfect, although a bit toasty with temperatures hovering near 90 degrees both days.

Wednesday, July 3, was the first day at the Transfer Station for both the new yearly stickers and the new requirement that people use specially purchased green bags for their nonrecyclable trash. A half-dozen cars were already waiting at the gate as opening time rolled around.

A new gas station is currently under construction in Ayer just across the Ayer-Harvard town line. The new Alltown station will be located on Ayer Road, directly opposite the current Mr. Mike’s Market refueling station, and on the site of the former Maxant Industries building.

At a June 19 water quality forum held in Town Hall, the only thing that was clear was that Harvard’s PFAS story is still being written. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection officials revealed new test results on three public water supplies in Harvard that showed PFAS levels in the Ayer Road Properties water are significantly higher than those from previous tests, and two new PFAS compounds were detected.

Director of Community and Economic Development Chris Ryan has unveiled an ambitious plan to increase commercial activity in the Ayer Road commercial district without disrupting Harvard’s village character. After months of fine-tuning, the Planning Board gave him the green light to make the plan publicly available.

A chance measurement of the slope of the newly installed ramp at the old library last week revealed that it was over the 8.3% limit dictated by Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. The ramp will have to be adjusted to meet code before the concrete is poured for the walkway and landings.

A second development firm met with the Housing at Hildreth Committee Monday, July 1, to discuss plans for a senior housing development on the town-owned land between the fire station and Hildreth House, and the firm’s conclusion had a familiar ring: The complexities of the site make the project financially impractical.

The first meeting between DiGiorgio Architects (DAI) and the Hildreth House Phase 2 Subcommittee finally took place June 28, and architects gave the committee the news it hoped to hear: DAI believes it will have detailed drawings and preliminary cost estimates by Oct. 1.

Excavators have uncovered literally tons of large boulders under what was the soccer field on the north side of the existing Hildreth Elementary School. The boulders must be removed, and, depending on how many are found, removal will cost an additional estimated $490,000 to $650,000 and will delay the project.

For the first time in many years, a parking space at or near Fruitlands won’t be required to enjoy Harvard’s annual concert and fireworks display.

Harvard will soon have a new drinking establishment—news that is welcome to some and unwelcome to others. On Monday, the Select Board gave Carlson Orchards the go-ahead on two licenses the company needs to open a tasting room or taproom in a newly constructed building on Oak Hill Road.

After two years as associate principal at Hildreth Elementary School, Scott Mulcahy announced earlier this week that he is leaving.

The School Building Committee thought it received some good news at its June 20 meeting when NV5 project manager Tom Murphy said that with preliminary bid results for the nontrades in hand, the budget overage had shrunk.

The Select Board returned briefly this week to the question of allowing “picking” at the Transfer Station metal pile—a topic that has generated a long string of commentary both online and in conversations around town.

Earlier this month, the School Committee voted unanimously—but a little reluctantly—to approve a three-year contract with Dee Bus Service of Westford.

The Select Board came away from its June 12 annual strategic planning meeting with a hefty list of to-do items for the coming year, although much of the work on that list will fall to other boards and committees or town employees.

Three of the 13 trade bids received May 21 for the new elementary school project were rejected last week, adding about $322,000 to the amount by which the trade bids exceed the estimates.

Residents are dumping everything from stuffed bears as big as a small child to full sets of golf clubs into the trash compactors at the Transfer Station these days as the switch to the SMART program draws nearl.