Concord Sets Aug. 22 Deadline For Primary Voter Registration
DATELINE — CONCORD
Concord voters have until Saturday to register for the Sept. 1 state primary, one of several deadlines the town is highlighting this week, as crews prepare to close the tennis and basketball courts at Rideout Park for a multi-week reconstruction project.
TOWN HALL
Saturday, Aug. 22, is the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 1 primary, and early in-person voting and election equipment testing also begin that day, the town says. Vote by mail applications are due Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.
The town also confirmed that the Rideout Park courts project at 61 Laws Brook Road in West Concord begins Monday, Aug. 24, at 7 a.m., closing the courts to public use while construction is underway.
Town officials unveiled a new FY26 Grants Dashboard meant to show residents how Concord is using grant funding to support community programs. Separately, the Health Department flagged a national health advisory on cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness, and is urging residents to stay alert even though the Massachusetts case count remains typical for this time of year.
SCHOOLS
The Concord-Carlisle Regional School District has a Joint School Committee Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by two professional development days for staff on Aug. 27 and 28 ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 31.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Concord Free Public Library's Main Library is hosting "Celebrating the Art of Edward Waldo Emerson" through Sept. 10, an exhibition of works by Ralph Waldo Emerson's son that includes pieces on loan from private collections shown publicly for the first time, alongside paintings, sketchbooks and a palette from the library's William Munroe Special Collections.
The library also kicked off "Great Reads from Great Places," joining communities statewide to read Joseph Lee's "Nothing More of this Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity." Copies are available at the Fowler Library, with September book club discussions, partner events and a watch party Q&A with the author planned.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"🌱 Patch AM: Concord and Swampscott communities remember Bernard "Bitzy" Bitman, age 100." Concord and Swampscott residents marked Bitman's 100th birthday this week, per Concord Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
"Markey, Moulton Deliver Parting Shots In Final MA Senate Primary Debate." Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton clashed over age, transgender rights and progressive credentials in their last debate before the Sept. 1 primary, Patch reports (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.