Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) will provide an introductory presentation to the Planning Board at their meeting on August 19th at 7 PM at Town Hall pertaining to the elements of the Commonwealth’s voluntary zoning law (Chapter 40Y) that allows cities and towns to create a local “Starter Home Zoning District”. The Town is working with MVPC to investigate the possibility of creating a Starter Home Zoning District in Town. All are welcome to attend this public meeting.
A heat wave is expected in Massachusetts over the next seven days.
Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness to help prepare your patients and communities at higher risk of heat-related illness.
Extreme heat can be dangerous and even life-threatening if precautions are not taken. During prolonged periods of very hot weather, the body must work harder to stay cool, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
Did you know?
· Signs of heat-related illness include feeling dizzy, dehydration, headaches, muscle cramps, difficulty focusing, increased irritability and more.
· Heat-related illnesses range from mild to life-threatening and can worsen common conditions affecting the heart, lungs, mind, and kidneys.
· While anyone can be affected, older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, workers exposed to excessive heat, and people with chronic medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
Encouraging preventive steps—like staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity, and seeking cooler environments—can help protect your patients and community members during periods of extreme heat.
Encourage your patients and communities to be heat helpers by:
· Checking on neighbors, older adults, people living alone, and anyone without air conditioning
· Helping friends and family get to a cooler space
· Sharing heat alerts with their community
· Encouraging people to drink water regularly, even if they don’t feel thirsty
Below is a collection of links and resources, available in multiple languages, focused on high-risk populations, health hazards associated with extreme heat, response strategies, and tools to support effective planning and communication.
H.E.A.T. Resources
Extreme Heat: A central hub for resources, tools, and guidance to stay safe during periods of extreme heat.
Unhealthy Heat Forecast:Track upcoming heat conditions in your community with a 7-day forecast and color-coded risk levels.
Community Heat Resources:Find heat safety tips, shareable multilingual outreach materials, and key state resources to help residents and communities prepare for extreme heat and stay safe.
Unhealthy Heat Action Toolkit:A downloadable toolkit with ready-to-use social media posts, messages, and other resources to help organizations share heat safety information and promote action during periods of unhealthy heat.
Air Quality Alert Effective: Now through 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026 Location: Statewide
Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires impacting Massachusetts, MassDEP has issued a statewide Air Quality Alert. Elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are expected to result in unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.
Sensitive groups include:
People with heart or lung disease (including asthma)
Older adults
Children and teenagers
People who are active outdoors
Individuals in these groups should:
Reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor activity.
Take more frequent breaks and choose less strenuous activities.
Follow asthma action plans and keep quick-relief medication readily available.
Monitor for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting MassAir Online, where you can view current air quality conditions, forecasts, and real-time monitoring data.
Please take appropriate precautions and check on family members, neighbors, and others who may be more vulnerable to poor air.
On 7/14 & 7/15, weather permitting, the Town’s paving contractor will continue work on Liberty, Mechanic, Judkins Court, Railroad Ave & Locust Street.
No Parking will be permitted on these streets while work is underway. Motorists should expect temporary road closures, detours, and limited access throughout the workday. Local traffic will be accommodated whenever it is safe to do so.
Beginning tomorrow morning, Thursday, July 9, the Town’s paving contractor will begin grinding the existing pavement in preparation for final paving. Work will begin on Liberty Street and Mechanic Street, followed by Judkins Court, Railroad Avenue, and Locust Street. Grinding operations are expected to be completed on Thursday and Friday, weather permitting.
No Parking will be permitted on these streets while work is underway. Motorists should expect temporary road closures, detours, and limited access throughout the workday. Local traffic will be accommodated whenever it is safe to do so.
The Merrimac Public Library is in the process of developing a strategic plan, aimed at providing the very best service to our community. A critical component of the process is gathering information and ideas from the community members to establish priorities and create goals for the library. The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and they are due by August 3, 2026. Thank you for your participation.
💧 Why are we still in a drought despite recent rainfall?
The North Shore remains in a Level 3 Drought. While recent rain has helped, months of below-average precipitation have left groundwater levels below normal. Because groundwater helps replenish streams, wetlands, and drinking water reservoirs, recovery can take weeks or even months.
Swipe through to learn why drought recovery takes time and how you can help conserve water at home.
