Concord Renews Water Conservation Call as Drought Persists
Concord Public Works renewed its call for water conservation as fall begins, citing continuing drought conditions across the town's water supply. The Sept. 18 notice asks residents to turn off irrigation or limit outdoor watering to the bare minimum, as the town's contractor continues Route 117 reconstruction work on Sudbury Road and Fitchburg Turnpike through Sept. 25.
TOWN HALL
Concord Water customers are being asked to hold off on irrigation and outdoor watering as drought conditions persist into the fall and water supplies remain under significant demand, according to a Sept. 18 Town of Concord News Flash.
Also this week, the town's roadway contractor resumed reconstruction work along Route 117, and the town is advising drivers to seek alternate routes through Sept. 25 to avoid delays from ongoing detours. Concord Public Works also opened preregistration for its Fall DropOff/SwapOff Event, set for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 133/135 Keyes Road; residents must reserve a specific drop-off time and prepay online. Separately, the town rolled out an FY26 Grants Dashboard intended to show residents how Concord is putting grant funding to work for the community.
SCHOOLS
Concord Public Schools and the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District posted several practical updates for families this week. Bus routes for the 2026-2027 school year are now available online, the 2026-2027 academic calendar has been posted to the district website, and the district released its CCHS Year in Review, a quality report covering the 2024-2025 school year at Concord-Carlisle High School. The Concord School Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Concord Free Public Library is joining communities across Massachusetts in a shared read of "Nothing More of this Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity" by Joseph Lee. Copies are available at the Fowler Library, the title is featured in September book clubs, and the library is planning partner events along with a watch-party Q&A with the author.
On the first floor of the Main Library, the exhibition "Celebrating the Art of Edward Waldo Emerson," featuring works by Ralph Waldo Emerson's son including pieces on loan from private collections, remains on view through Sept. 30. The library is also preparing its first Sustainable Boo!Tique, a costume swap-and-craft event with Alex Makes Art, set for Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Why Estabrook Trail access is still dividing Concord neighbors and officials," per Concord Patch. The outlet reports the long-running dispute over access to the Estabrook Trail network remains unresolved between neighbors and town officials (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord/patch-am-why-estabrook-trail-access-still-dividing-concord-nei-nodx-20260919).
COMING UP
Sept. 21, 1-2 p.m.: Musical Quiz Show, Council on Aging, 1276 Main St. (https://concordma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=29601)
Sept. 23, 5-6:30 p.m.: Financial Audit Advisory Committee, 22 Monument Square (https://concordma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=29915)
Sept. 25, noon-2 p.m.: COA Cinema, 1276 Main St. (https://concordma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=26993)
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.