State of the town: COVID-19 closings, cancellations and postponements

by the staff of the Harvard Press · Friday, March 13, 2020

Updated March 14, 2020, 11:15 a.m., 1:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m.

The federal government and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have declared states of emergency and published advice on how to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable members of our community. Locally, town officials and business owners are asking that you not enter town buildings or businesses if you have recently traveled outside the country, have come in contact with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19, or are experiencing respiratory symptoms or a fever. As an extra precaution, some facilities have closed and events around town have been cancelled or postponed.

The situation seems to change hourly, so the Press has compiled this bulletin to provide readers with a single source of verified information on what’s open, what’s not, and what may lie ahead. We will update this page regularly; please send additions, updates, and corrections to editor@harvardpress.net.

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.

Please register for MyConnect on the town website to receive town-wide announcements as either a phone call, email, or text message. 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.

Town Hall
No change. Open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Town committee and board meetings
No change. Scheduled meetings are posted at the town website: https://www.harvard.ma.us/calendar-by-event-type/16

Transfer Station
No change. Open at regularly scheduled hours.

Schools

The Bromfield School and Hildreth Elementary School are closed from Friday, March 13, through Tuesday, March 17. According to a letter sent to families from Superintendent of Schools Linda Dwight, families will be notified Tuesday morning as to whether schools will reopen on Wednesday, March 18, or remain closed. In the case of a lengthier closure, plans for “distance learning” will be implemented. (See our story “Local schools close for three days” on this site.)
Parker Charter School: No classes or activities the weeks of March 16 and March 23.
Immaculate Heart of Mary School: No changes at this time.
Village Nursery School: Closed through March 20.

Council on Aging
All events, programs, classes (including offsite fitness classes) and group meals are canceled until April 17. Hildreth House will remain open, and meals will be packaged and delivered to those who want them via Meals on Wheels. Social services will also remain available. The MART van will continue to offer rides for medical appointments, and Meals on Wheels will be delivered.

Library
The Harvard Public Library will be closed effective Monday, March 16, until further notice. Check harvardpubliclibrary.org for further updates.

Churches

Congregational Church: Services are canceled for March 15; future plans for services and programs are to be decided.
Harvard Unitarian Church: Services and programs are canceled for Sunday, March 15. Virtual services are scheduled to start March 22.
St. Theresa Catholic Church: The sacrament of Confirmation scheduled for March 14 at St. John’s in Clinton is postponed. The senior brunch scheduled for March 15 is cancelled.
St. Benedict’s Catholic Church: No changes at this time.
Seeds of Faith Community Church: TBD

Fivesparks
Closed until the end of March.

Fruitlands
All programs are canceled through the end of March. The museum is closed, but the grounds remain open.

General Store
All March 14 and March 15 events canceled. Store open during regularly scheduled time. See https://www.harvardgeneralstore.com/.

Other regularly scheduled meetings