The Harvard Press

12/11/2025

The town has been offered the right of first refusal on a 4-acre lot on Madigan Lane. Though now used as a hayfield, the property is a legal building lot in a residential district, and the owners intend to sell it as such. It is listed at $575,000.

https://harvardpress.com/News/News-Articles/town-is-offered-first-refusal-on160madigan-lane-hayfield

12/10/2025

With an estimated $1.51 million to spend and a total of $1.49 million in requests, the committee in charge of disbursing money from the town’s community preservation fund is working on a January deadline to decide which projects to recommend for funding. The 2026 Annual Town Meeting will vote on the projects the committee selects.

With an estimated $1.51 million to spend and a total of $1.49 million in requests, the committee in charge of disbursing money from the town’s...

12/09/2025

In the wake of two conduct violations this year that resulted in the censure of one Select Board member and the early resignation of another, the board has revised the code of conduct for the town’s elected and appointed officials.

In the wake of two conduct violations this year that resulted in the censure of one Select Board member and the early resignation of another, the...

12/07/2025

The odds that voters will be asked to approve another increase in their property taxes beyond the limits set by Proposition 2½ grew this week.

The odds that voters will be asked to approve another increase in their property taxes beyond the limits set by Proposition 2½ grew this...

12/04/2025

Six candidates vie for three seats on Devens Committee

Devens residents are voting this week to fill seats on its two elected advisory committees in one of the most contested elections in the community’s 40-year history.

Devens residents are voting this week to fill seats on its two elected advisory committees in one of the most contested elections in the...

12/02/2025

2025 Charitable Giving Guide

GivingTuesday is Dec. 2. As we turn our attention to giving to local charities during the holiday season, the Press is happy to provide the following list of organizations recommended by townspeople and staff as charities that are doing good work in Harvard and nearby communities. Note that most charities in this list are organized as nonprofits, but questions about tax deductibility should be addressed to each organization.

https://harvardpress.com/Features/Feature-Articles/2025-charitable-giving-guide

12/02/2025

Jamaican orchard workers at Carlson and Westward orchards were left reeling after Hurricane Melissa struck their home country Oct. 28. The hurricane, which had reached a Category 5 intensity by the time it struck land in Jamaica, was one of the most severe Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, leaving a path of destruction and hardship in its wake.

Photo caption: Winston Taylor, one of many Jamaican workers who come to Harvard each year, thins fruit on apple trees at Carlson Orchards during a previous season. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

https://harvardpress.com/Features/Feature-Articles/harvard-orchards-rally-to-help-jamaican-workers-devastated-by-hurricane-melissa

11/30/2025

At a public meeting in the Bromfield School library Monday evening, the School Committee interviewed three finalists—from a pool of 24 applicants—to be Harvard’s next superintendent of schools. After hearing from each candidate, the committee voted unanimously to appoint Dana Labb, the current assistant superintendent, if they reach a contract agreement with him. Labb would succeed Superintendent Linda Dwight when she steps down in July 2026.

At a public meeting in the Bromfield School library Monday evening, the School Committee interviewed three finalists—from a pool of 24...

11/26/2025

A ‘game changer’: Harvard to help fund peer counseling facility for substance use recovery

Harvard’s Addiction Abatement Working Group has a new plan in the works for a portion of the town’s uncommitted opioid settlement funds. In partnership with Riverbend, a Lowell organization that provides addiction recovery services, the group plans to contribute $75,000 to open a peer counseling facility for the seven towns in the Nashoba Opioid Abatement Collaborative: Littleton, Bolton, Shirley, Ayer, Pepperell, Groton, and Harvard. The contribution is contingent upon the collaborative receiving a $96,000 grant from Mosaic RIZE, a nonprofit organization that funds community opioid response efforts in the state.

Harvard’s Addiction Abatement Working Group has a new plan in the works for a portion of the town’s uncommitted opioid settlement funds. In...

11/25/2025

As temperatures hovered a little above freezing on Veterans Day, about 30 people gathered under gray skies on the Common to honor all those who had served in this nation’s armed forces. They stood at the southwest corner of the Common, near the World War I flagpole and memorial.

As temperatures hovered a little above freezing on Veterans Day, about 30 people gathered under gray skies on the Common to honor all those who...

11/24/2025

With last month’s departure of the interim executive vice president for Devens, Meg Delorier, MassDevelopment has named a transitional team to oversee operations as the agency searches for a replacement.

https://harvardpress.com/News/News-Articles/massdevelopment-names-transitional-management-team-for-devens160posts-opening-for-executive-vice-president

11/24/2025

Voting began this week to fill open seats on the Devens Committee and the Devens Educational Advisory Committee, two volunteer boards created in 1994 to advise MassDevelopment—the agency that oversees the development of the former U.S. Army base—on the delivery of municipal services and education to Devens residents.

Voting began this week to fill open seats on the Devens Committee and the Devens Educational Advisory Committee, two volunteer boards created in...