Westford Promotes Steven Clark to Chief Assessor
WESTFORD — The town has promoted Steven Clark to chief assessor, a personnel move Patch's local edition says could affect how Westford calculates residents' future tax bills, as the town also lowered flags to half-staff this week to mark the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
TOWN HALL
Flags at all state buildings, including in Westford, were ordered to half-staff beginning immediately and continuing until 6 p.m. on July 18, honoring Graham, according to a town notice posted July 14.
The town also announced Clark's promotion to chief assessor, a change in the Assessing Department that Patch's follow-up coverage ties to how property is valued going forward (see Elsewhere in the News, below).
Westford's Pay-As-You-Throw trash billing program is now in effect, and the town has been posting reminders as the change takes hold for haulers and residents. Separately, the Water Department is treating Nabnasset Lake on Thursday, July 16, for nuisance algae, and is asking residents not to swim there until July 17. The Recreation Department also promoted its lineup of summer youth programs, including Impact Speed and Agility, Skyhawks Field Hockey, Brazilian Soccer and Marcus Lewis Tennis.
SCHOOLS
The Robinson School Building Committee has scheduled a joint meeting with the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee for Tuesday, July 21, continuing the town's collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to modernize, rebuild or replace the Colonel John Robinson Elementary School.
Separately, the playground at Nabnasset Elementary School is temporarily closed while construction work continues there over the summer.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The J.V. Fletcher Library kicked off its 2026 Summer Reading Program, "Plant a Seed, Read," open to all ages at the library's temporary Groton Road location during the ongoing Main Street building project. On Thursday, July 16, from 6:30 to 7 p.m., bestselling author Kristan Higgins joins the library virtually for a women's-fiction book recommendation session.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"30+ MA Beaches Closed As Smoky Haze Makes Comeback: See Latest Forecast" — Patch reports that wildfire smoke drifting in from Ontario is prompting fresh beach closures and hazy skies across Massachusetts after briefly clearing Thursday morning (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"Patch AM: How Westford's new Chief Assessor could impact your future tax bill" — Patch's morning roundup examines what Clark's new post could mean for how the town values property, a story the town's News Flash also covered today (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"Patch AM: How one Westford resident earned statewide recognition for decades of service" — Patch highlights a longtime local volunteer who received statewide honors, according to the outlet's morning digest (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"Patch AM: What a new Blue Star license plate could mean for Westford families" — Patch reports on a new state license-plate option and what it could mean for military families in town (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
COMING UP
The library hosts City Beet StoryWalk for all ages Monday, July 20, at the Westford Community Gardens. On Tuesday, July 21, the library offers Farm Tales Storytime at the Recreation Department's Roudenbush Community Center and a Grow Your Own Grass Head program at the Community Gardens.