The Harvard Press

10/04/2026

As Bromfield adopts SmartPass program, parents ask: Is Big Brother watching?

This fall, the Bromfield School instituted a new digital hall pass system called SmartPass to track student movement during the school day, but concerns from students and the community are surfacing. Last year, the middle school piloted the program, and the high school used it during the flex block, an afternoon period where students often visit teachers for extra help or hold meetings.

https://harvardpress.com/2026/10/as-bromfield-adopts-smartpass-program-parents-ask-is-big-brother-watching/

10/01/2026

Girls U19 quad takes gold at season opener

Bromfield Acton-Boxborough rowing is back in action and wasting no time. The girls varsity coxed quad—four rowers, with two oars each—won their event at the Community Rowing Fall Classic in Brighton on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Photo: From left: Alicia Tang, Annabelle Purcell, Ellery Thomas, Piper Candon, and coxswain Yuvika Rao race to sixth place in a field of 19 in the U19 4+ on the Charles River Sept. 20.
(Courtesy photo)

https://harvardpress.com/2026/09/girls-u19-quad-takes-gold-at-season-opener/

09/30/2026

Citing data, pond committee votes for 6.5-foot drawdown despite push for 4 feet

The Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee voted Sept. 10 to move forward with a 6.5-foot winter drawdown of the pond, supported by data from Aquatic Restoration Consulting. The Ashburnham-based firm specializes in lake and watershed management, water quality monitoring, and aquatic plant surveys.

09/29/2026

Unlikely allies: Hunters and conservationists share a meal and a mission

Last Friday evening saw the unexpected joining of two groups in Harvard—deer hunters and conservationists. And it was around a good meal and for a good reason that the groups convened.

Deer hunting season begins Oct. 5 in Massachusetts, and to prepare, the Conservation Commission and the Deer Management Subcommittee held their yearly meeting to discuss safety, rules, and the impact of the hunt.

09/28/2026

Nonprofit chosen to build 65 affordable apartments in Devens

ImageMassDevelopment has selected a nonprofit developer to build 65 affordable apartments on a vacant 6.6-acre parcel at Adams Circle in Devens, the state agency announced Wednesday, Sept. 23.

https://harvardpress.com/2026/09/nonprofit-chosen-to-build-65-affordable-apartments-in-devens-2/

09/24/2026

Cross-country Bromfield teams prep for season at MSTCA Relays

The Bromfield School boys and girls cross-country teams launched their 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Cross-Country Relays at Highland Park in Attleboro. Each relay team consisted of three runners, with the first two legs covering 1.5 miles each and the anchor running 1.6 miles for a total race distance of 4.6 miles. Bromfield fielded four boys teams and five girls teams across the freshman-sophomore and junior-senior divisions.

https://harvardpress.com/2026/09/cross-country-bromfield-teams-prep-for-season-at-mstca-relays/

09/23/2026

Bromfield opens season with 7-0 win

The Bromfield girls varsity soccer team made a comeback after last season’s rocky road, kicking off their first home game against West Boylston with an outstanding 7-0 win.

Sports NewsBromfield opens season with 7-0 win September 18, 2026 by Harvard Pressby Princess YeboahThe Bromfield girls varsity soccer team made a comeback after last season’s rocky road, kicking off their first home game against West Boylston with an outstanding 7-0 win. Senior captain Aubrie Rey...

09/23/2026

Select Board to draft town budget, cap FY28 growth

The Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to change how Harvard develops its annual budget, putting the board in charge of the town’s spending plan before it goes to the Finance Committee and replacing previous calls for level-funded or level-service budgets with a percentage-increase target.

Finance·NewsSelect Board to draft town budget, cap FY28 growth September 18, 2026 by John OsbornThe Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to change how Harvard develops its annual budget, putting the board in charge of the town’s spending plan before it goes to the Finance Committee and replacin...

09/22/2026

Longstanding and dependable town employee is retiring to Florida

You’ve seen him around town, sweeping at the Town Hall, cleaning up at the fire station wearing his Harvard Fire hat, carrying out trash from Hildreth House, vacuuming at the Public Safety Building, or shoveling snow at 7 Fairbank Street. For 32 years, Eddie Stoffel has been a fixture of Harvard life. But at the end of this month, he is retiring and moving with his mother to Florida, where his married sister already lives. On his last day, Wednesday, Sept. 30, Eddie will be celebrated by other town employees at the fire station with pizza and cake, and he’ll be driven home to Littleton by Capt. Andrew Perry in the ladder truck—lights on and sirens blaring.

https://harvardpress.com/2026/09/longstanding-and-dependable-town-employee-is-retiring-to-florida/

09/19/2026

Harvard Park rounds into form, as track, bicycling loop take shape

According to Recreation Director Anne McWaters, the McCurdy Track renovation is close to completion, and the beginner loop of the bicycle pump track has been constructed and is open, as reported at the Sept. 14 Park and Recreation Commission meeting.

Photo: Opening day at the Harvard Pump Track had a large turnout and lots of smiles for miles. Trail one is complete and open to the public. From left to right: Roger Cameron, Todd Currie, Chris Fitzgerald. (Courtesy photo)

https://harvardpress.com/2026/09/harvard-park-rounds-into-form-as-track-bicycling-loop-take-shape/