State Primary Election this Tuesday, September 6

The Massachusetts State Primary will be Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Polls will be open from 7 AM through 8 PM.

You can also view sample ballots for your precinct.

Trash Delay; Town Offices Closed Sept. 5 for Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, the following building closures and service delays will be in place on Monday, September 5:

All non-emergency Town offices will be closed and no public meetings will be held

Curbside trash/recycling collection will be on a 1 day delay. If your normal collection day is Monday, it will be Tuesday, etc. If your normal day is Friday, it will be Saturday

Cary Library will be closed

The Community Center will be closed

September is Food Safety Education Month

September is Food Safety Education Month! Did you know that in the United States 1 in 6 people get sick from foodborne illnesses? Here are some steps in order to prevent food borne illnesses:

Food safety begins at the source. Purchase food from reputable vendors. When purchasing, receiving, and storing these items, confirm they are within proper temperature ranges.
Clean and sanitize all food contact surfaces and equipment. Be aware of any cross contamination that may occur.
Don’t forget to switch out the cutting boards between different types of food!
While cooking any food, verify that it is reaching the correct temperature to decrease risk of contamination.
And most importantly, remember to WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY whenever you are handling any type of food.

Following these tips can help you prepare a safe meal in your own home. Visit our website for more information about food safety!

Sustainability Day at the Lexington Farmers Market, Sept. 20

The Town's Sustainability and Resilience Officer has teamed up with the Lexington Farmers Market to host a Sustainability Day at the market. In addition to the regular vendors, there will be representatives from a host of organizations sharing resources to help you adopt more sustainable habits.

September 20

2:00 - 6:30 pm

Worthen Road Practice Field

Organizations will include:

Black Earth Compost
HomeWorks Energy
LexCAN
Lexington Community Farm
Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative
Revision Energy
Town of Lexington's Conservation, Sustainability & Resilience, and Transportation Services departments
Lexington Community Choice program

From the Town Archives: Theodore Parker Teaches School, 1829

Lexington native Theodore Parker (1810-1860) became widely famed as a Unitarian theologian, transcendentalist, and abolitionist, but in 1829 he was merely a teenaged schoolteacher in his hometown. He would not enroll in Harvard College until 1830.

This order for payment from the Lexington Town Archives reads, "The Town of Lexington to Theodore Parker Dr [debtor] to keeping school 16 weeks at 25 $ per month = 90 $, March 7th 1829 [signed] Oliver Winship." It does not name the school where Parker did his teaching.

Mindful Walk and Sit, Willard’s Woods on September 17

Join the Citizens for Lexington Conservation for the first fall walk of the season.

Saturday September 17, 9:00-10:30 am

Meet at the rear Diamond Middle School parking lot off Hancock St.

This walk combines a mindful meander with a meditative sit-spot in Willards Woods. With nearly 3 miles of trails, Willard’s Woods provides an opportunity to explore a variety of areas, including a former farm pond and a peaceful pine grove. After a brief introduction to mindfulness and mindful breathing, we will proceed slowly along the northern section of the property and will stop at a suitable spot for a 10-to-15-minute quiet meditation.

Wear comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather along with sturdy footwear. Foam blocks will be provided for sitting. More than light rain will cancel. Limit 10; registration is required. Email walk leader to register.

Walk Leader: Barbara Tarrh

Upcoming Roadway Work in Lexington Center

There has been significant progress on the Center Streetscape so far this year, and we're approaching the part of the project involving work on the roadway.

Next week, significant work will be taking place in the roadway as milling operations will take place Wednesday through Friday. Disruptions will include:

No on-street parking on Massachusetts Avenue
Vehicular traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction

The milling process will leave a coarse surface for traffic to travel on. When roadway milling takes place, please drive with additional caution in the area. Utility structures will be raised above the grade of the milled surface in order to meet the final pavement surface, which is scheduled for the week of September 12. Final paving of the area is tentatively scheduled for the week of September 19. All of these dates are weather dependent.

Visit LexingtonMA.gov/CenterStreetscape for more information.

Council for the Arts Grant Cycle Begins; Deadline is October 17

The 2022-2023 grant cycle for the Lexington Council for the Arts has begun. Individuals, agencies, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations may apply for grants that enhance the cultural vitality of the Lexington community.

Applications are evaluated in terms of

artistic or creative merit
benefit to the cultural life of Lexington
project design
qualifications, dedication and accomplishments of the individuals and organizations involved
accessibility of the program and of facilities being used
community involvement
financial need

All applications must be submitted online through the Massachusetts Cultural Council website by October 17.

COVID-19 Data; Test Kits Available at Town Buildings

The Lexington Office of Public Health will update weekly COVID-19 case numbers each Friday. The data represented on the dashboard DOES NOT include at-home test results. The data only represents results of PCR and antigen tests verified through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

View Lexington’s case numbers

View the State’s COVID-19 dashboard

Test Kits Available

Free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits are available at Town buildings across Lexington.

You can pick up a test at the following locations:

Town Office Building (Health Office) - 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Fire Department - 45 Bedford Street
Police Department - 173 Bedford Street
Community Center - 39 Marrett Road
Visitors Center - 1875 Massachusetts Avenue
Public Services Building - 201 Bedford Street

Test kits are available during regular business hours (Police Dept. open 24/7) while supplies last.

For questions, contact the Office of Public Health at 781-698-4533.

SCHOOL NEWS

Staying connected to the Lexington Public Schools (LPS)

To stay connected to the Lexington Public Schools, you can read School Superintendent Dr. Julie Hackett's report that was presented at the School Committee meeting on August 30.

Topics from her report include: