Concord Crews Begin Road Work on Old Bedford Road, Maple Street
CONCORD — Concord native Ty Andrews set a new record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest, according to a Wicked Local report, giving the town an unexpected moment in the international spotlight this week. Closer to home, town crews began work Wednesday on both Old Bedford Road and Maple Street, and the Concord Free Public Library set today as the application deadline for its prestigious Writer-in-Residence program.
TOWN HALL
Road crews moved onto Old Bedford Road on Wednesday to begin an extension project running from Lexington Road to the Bedford town line, the town confirmed in an updated News Flash posted Tuesday. Work also began the same day on Maple Street, part of a broader stretch of paving and utility work that has kept crews busy across town this week.
The town on Tuesday also issued a closure notice for Spencer Brook Road, warning residents that the road is scheduled to shut down beginning July 20. Drivers who rely on Spencer Brook, Old Bedford or Maple should expect detours and plan alternate routes in the coming days, according to the town's alerts.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Today is the application deadline for the Concord Free Public Library's 2027 Writer-in-Residence Program, which places a writer at the library for a six-month residency running January through June 2027. The library says the program is meant to continue Concord's literary heritage by offering new ways to celebrate diverse voices through literary arts programming.
Two exhibitions remain on view at the Main Library this month. "Summer Memories," a solo show by Massachusetts artist Lucinda Hamilton at the Munroe Gallery, runs through July 30 and explores the landscapes and moments that shape personal memory. "A Celebration of the Declaration: An Exhibition of Rare 1776 Documents" continues through July 26.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"🌱 Patch AM: How dangerous is today's wildfire smoke for Concord residents?" Patch's morning briefing flagged air-quality concerns from wildfire haze drifting into the region, a story a companion Patch report tied to beach closures statewide (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
"30+ MA Beaches Closed As Smoky Haze Makes Comeback: See Latest Forecast," per Patch reporter Scott Souza. More than 30 Massachusetts beaches closed as smoke returned to the region's skies this week, though conditions had begun clearing by Thursday morning (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
"🌱 Patch AM: Why your Concord trash bill just jumped 9 percent this year," Patch reports. The Patch AM briefing flagged a nine percent increase in residents' trash bills this year as a topic drawing local attention (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
"🌱 Patch AM: Will the Red Line really come all the way to Concord?" per Patch. The outlet's morning briefing raised the long-running question of whether MBTA Red Line service could eventually extend to Concord (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
"🌱 Patch AM: How will CCHS's new assistant principal shape the coming school year?" Patch reports. The briefing previewed how a newly hired assistant principal at Concord-Carlisle High School could influence the district heading into the new school year (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
COMING UP
The Select Board meets Monday, July 20, with a Zoom link available on the posted agenda. The Zoning Board of Appeals has a site visit scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, at 448 Sudbury Road. Spencer Brook Road's closure is set to begin the same week, on July 20.