by the staff of the Harvard Press ·
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Updated March 21, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Harvard Press reporters are tracking Harvard’s town government, businesses, schools, and other organizations as they adjust to state and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. We’ve created State of the Town to provide readers with a single source of verified information on what’s open, what’s not, and what may lie ahead. We review this information daily and will update the page as needed; please send additions, updates, and corrections to editor@harvardpress.net.
On Friday, the town closed all parks, the town beach, and the McCurdy Track, having already closed Harvard’s athletic fields. Public and private elementary and secondary schools in the state are closed, gatherings of more than 25 people are banned, and on-premises consumption in any establishment that offers food or drink is banned until at least April 6.
Harvard’s emergency management team also blitzed residents with phone and email messages reminding everyone to not flush disinfecting wipes down toilets. They could cause septic systems or the town sewer system to fail, and repairs at this time could be delayed, causing a public health issue.
Need help or want to help?
The Harvard Council on Aging is setting up an “Adopt a Senior” program to make trips for groceries and supplies for homebound seniors. Volunteers must be willing to get a CORI, be trained in and use proper safety procedures, and be available to help one or two seniors. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, call the COA at 978-456-4120 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and ask to speak with COA Director Debbie Thompson. If you are a senior who is in need, call the COA and they will match you with a volunteer.
Nextdoor Harvard now has a Help Map feature, which allows residents to sign up to help neighbors or to get help from a neighbor who has signed up. Nextdoor Harvard leader Robert Curran posted that residents who sign up to help will be warned to take precautions when offering assistance, such as performing common-sense decontamination, and initiating noncontact interactions (leaving items on doorsteps, and arranging for remote reimbursement, for example). The Help Map appears on computer browsers on the Nextdoor homepage in a box to the right of the main column. On the Nextdoor mobile app or in a mobile browser, it will be a choice in the “More” selection of the main dropdown window
Town Hall
The building is closed to the public until further notice. Town personnel will continue to report to work and are available by phone or email during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, at 978-456-4100 or harvard.ma.us. For information on how to access the town administration, the town clerk’s office, land use offices, finance department (Includes treasurer/tax collector and assessor), or inspectional services (building, electric, gas, plumbing), go to https://www.harvard.ma.us/home/urgent-alerts/access-town-departments-during-town-hall-closure.
Public Safety Building
Open hours have not changed, but all business will be conducted at the window only. Hours are Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Council on Aging
Hildreth House is closed, but staff will be available by phone and email. All events, programs, classes (including offsite fitness classes), and group meals are canceled until at least April 17. The COA will provide delivery of prepackaged lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays to any senior in town who signs up for lunch delivery while Hildreth House is closed. Call the COA at 978-456-4120 to put your name on the list. Deliveries will be placed outside the door; there will be no contact between the delivery person and the recipient. COA vans will continue to offer rides for medical appointments and grocery shopping, and Meals on Wheels will continue to be delivered.
Library
The Harvard Public Library is closed until further notice. Please do not return items while the library is closed. All items that were recently checked out will be renewed automatically, and all fines for overdue items will be waived. Library staff will be present to answer reference questions and other queries by email or telephone. The library has a variety of online resources for both adults and children, including eBooks and eAudiobooks. It has also created virtual versions of some children’s programs, including the Lego Expo and the Edible Books Contest. Check harvardpubliclibrary.org for further updates.
Transfer Station
Open at regularly scheduled hours, but with restrictions. Starting Wednesday, March 18, and until further notice, punch card items will not be accepted; town officials are working on a policy for extending card expirations. People are asked to keep 6 feet apart from others, drop their trash and recyclables, and leave. Fundraising, campaigning, and other gatherings are prohibited. The “take it or leave it” section is closed.
Schools
All public and private elementary and public schools in the state are closed until at least Monday, April 6.
Village Nursery School
Closed at least until Monday, April 6.
School athletics
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association (MIAA) has postponed the start of spring season until March 30. As that date approaches, the MIAA board will revisit its decision.
Town playing fields, parks, beach, and Conservation Trust trails
All playing fields, parks, playgrounds, the town beach, the Common, and the McCurdy Track in Harvard are closed until further notice. The 28 trails of the Harvard Conservation Trust remain open. (For trail descriptions and maps go to https://harvardconservationtrust.org/trails/)
Summer beach programs
No change; registration is open. See beach webpage at www.harvard.ma.us/node/34/news for more information.
Town committee and board meetings
In-person meetings of town committees and boards are canceled. All future meetings will be virtual, implemented by Zoom conferencing software, the choice of several neighboring towns. Participants will be able to join posted meetings via the Zoom meeting information posted at the top of each board or committee’s agenda. (See link below.)
Beginning next week, when a committee chair posts an agenda, Town Clerk Marlene Kenney will assign the group one of four virtual rooms. Residents will be provided an easy means to join a meeting as a participant or watch the proceeding on the Harvard Cable TV Facebook page. Because they will no longer be held in a physical room, meetings will not be broadcast live on cable. However, a recording and a transcript will be posted soon after on the HCTV Facebook page, as is currently done. Assistant Town Administrator Marie Sobalvarro is expected to provide details on or before Monday, March 23.
For the agendas and times of upcoming meetings, go to https://www.harvard.ma.us/calendar-by-event-type/16.
Town Caucus and Town Election
The March 23 Town Caucus is rescheduled to May 11. The Town Election has been moved to June 23. The delay of caucus delays the nomination of candidates for several open seats on the Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustees, and Warner Free Lecture Trustees.
Special 37th Middlesex State Election
The Town of Harvard has joined the five other towns in the district—Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Lunenburg, and Shirley—in seeking a court order by the Superior Court to delay the election. No alternative date has been proposed.
In the absence of a court order, the election will proceed as planned at the Bromfield School Cafeteria on Tuesday, March 31, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Town Clerk Kenney has encouraged voters to ask for absentee ballots and to mail them to Town Hall rather than risk coronavirus exposure by venturing out to the polls. To apply, visit the town clerk's webpage at https://www.harvard.ma.us/town-clerk. Contact the town clerk's office at (978) 456-4100 or by email at mkenney@harvard.ma.us for more information or with any questions.
MassDevelopment
The offices at 33 Andrews Parkway in Devens are closed to the public. The Devens Fire Department, Department of Public Works & Recreation, and Devens Utilities will continue providing essential services to the community.
Churches
- St. Theresa’s Catholic Church: Masses are canceled on Sundays, weekdays, and Holy Days of Obligation until further notice.
- Harvard Unitarian Church: Worship services and programs are canceled until further notice. Virtual services are scheduled to begin March 22.
- Congregational Church: Services for March 22 and 29 will be held online; see the church’s Facebook page for instructions.
General Store
Closed Sunday, March 22, to regroup and order inventory. Will open for its regular (reduced) hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on March 23. Kitchen hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All service will be conducted via order-ahead, curbside pickup; no customers will be allowed in the store. This includes Harvard trash bag sales. Online orders can be placed for coffees, breakfast, lunch, and pastries at www.harvardgeneralstore.com/order-food-online. Phone orders can be placed (978-430-0062) for coffees, breakfast, lunch, pastries, beer, wine, packaged fresh food to go, and small/urgent grocery orders. Email orders will be accepted for larger grocery and store orders if you can wait for confirmed availability and a time window for pickup. Email orders to office@harvardgeneralstore.com. The parking spaces directly in front of the store are reserved for curbside pickup. For the latest information see https://www.harvardgeneralstore.com/service-announcements.
Fivesparks
Closed until at least April 6.
Fruitlands Museum
All programs are canceled through the end of March. The museum is closed. The grounds remain open, but dogs must be leashed and physical distancing maintained.
Eateries
- Dunkin’ Donuts: Drive-through and take-out services only; no mug refills. Reduced hours are 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Siam Pepper Thai Cuisine: Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 8:45 p.m. Take-out services only; DoorDash delivery available.
- Sorrento's Pizzeria: Hours unchanged; take-out service only, online and text ordering available.
- Many restaurants in our area are currently offering takeout, and many are also offering delivery. Check websites for details.
Supermarkets:
All supermarkets have closed in-store dining areas, and most have closed salad bars and other self-serve food areas.
- Market Basket: Open regular hours, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shopping hours for those 60 years and older are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Effective Monday, March 23, regular hours will be reduced to 7 a.m to 6 p.m. Senior hours will remain the same.
- Roche Brothers: Curbside pickup service and online ordering are suspended until further notice. Reduced store hours are 8 a.m to to 8 p.m. The butcher counter is closed. The deli is open, but many deli items are available, packaged, in refrigerated cases.
- Donelan’s Supermarket: Open regular hours, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. No designated senior hours yet. Online orders are suspended for now.
- Ayer Shop ‘n Save: Open regular hours, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shopping hours for seniors and disabled people are 7 to 8 a.m.
- Whole Foods Market: Reduced hours for the Westford store are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Shopping hours for customers 60 and older are 8 to 9 a.m. daily. As for online shopping, the store’s website states, “Inventory and delivery may be temporarily unavailable due to increased demand. Confirm availability at checkout.”
Loaves & Fishes
The pantry is open as a drive-through service only; recorded message at 978-772-4627. Volunteers must sign up in advance by email, volunteer@loavesfishespantry.org
Pharmacies
Ayer Family Pharmacy, Acton Pharmacy (in West Acton), and CVS Pharmacy in Acton are all offering free delivery to Harvard. CVS also offers video MinuteClinic visits, see the website for details.
Banks
Rollstone Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank, and Main Street Bank are now conducting service at drive-through windows only. Call to access safety deposit boxes or conduct in-bank transactions.
Other businesses
- The Fiber Loft: Closed until further notice.
- Bodylines Pilates: Studio is closed. Offering virtual classes, see the website for more information.
- Kitchen Outfitters in Acton: Closed to in-store shopping until further notice; phone orders and curbside pickup available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
- Harvard Cleaners: Closing at 3 p.m. this week.
- Z Drycleaners: Closing at 5 p.m. this week.
- The Grape Vine: Hours unchanged.
- Indian Hill Music School: No on-site activities through at least April 5; online instruction available.
Miscellaneous
- Garden Club: March meetings of the Garden Club and Garden Club Board are canceled.
- Alcoholic Anonymous at the Congregational Church on Wednesday nights is canceled until further notice.
- Firefighter training/classes: Fire academy training has been suspended. Only career recruit classes have been deemed essential; all call/volunteer classes have been suspended.
- Nashoba Nursing Service & Hospice: All Well-Adult Clinics are canceled until the end of April. Updated schedules are available at www.nashoba.org at www.nashoba.org.
For updates on scheduled happenings around town, go to our online Current Events page at https://www.harvardpress.com/Happenings/Current-Events
Up-to-date information on COVID-19 is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov and at mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19. The nonprofit mass211.org provides free, confidential information in several languages, both on its website and for callers who dial 211; callers may experience delays because of the high volume of calls.
Please register for MyConnect on the town website to receive townwide announcements as either a phone call, email, or text message. To sign up, click the “One-Step Notification Sign Up Now” button on the town website home page. All announcements will also be posted on the town website. Questions regarding town operations during the COVID-19 emergency may be emailed to asktheTA@Harvard.ma.us. The town website also has a COVID-19 page with various updates from the Town Administrator at https://www.harvard.ma.us/home/news/coronavirus-covid-19.