The Highway Department & Contractors will be making improvements to the sidewalk along Church St. this week starting Tuesday 10/13 throughout the week (weather dependent) in preparation for final paving. Church St. will remain open, expect delays and use caution in the area.
Town of Merrimac, MA Town Seal
The Town of Merrimac encourages all registered voters to attend the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19.
The meeting will be called to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Sweetsir School, 104 Church St.
Voters will consider 14 articles:
Special Town Meeting documents can be found here.
Mail-In ballots are being sent out this week. Don’t know where to return them? You can mail them back in the postage paid envelope included. You can drop it off at Town Hall during business hours in the ballot bin the main hallway. Or you can drop it in the ballot “mailbox” located in the vestibule of the police station. Remember early voting is at Town Hall:
10/17 and 10/24 10AM-4PM
10/19-10/23 10AM-3PM
10/26-10/30 10AM-3PM
In-person voting will be at the Sweetsir School November 3rd, 2026 7AM-8PM.
Questions? Contact the Town Clerk’s office at 978-346-8013 x2.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced a risk level increase to MODERATE for West Nile virus (WNV) in the above towns. WNV is transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in both urban and rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.
By taking a few precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones until heavy frost:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
• Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
• Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up, and/or wearing repellent.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
• Drain Standing Water – Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly fitted screens on all your windows and doors.
Local Health Departments continue to work closely with the MDPH, other agencies, and locally with the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District (NEMMC) to control mosquitoes in these towns. In response, NEMMC will continue to identify areas in the district that require treatment for larval control.
If you have areas of standing water around your home or any old passenger tires left outside, please Request Service for larviciding site inspection and/or Tire Removal.
Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito
Join the Town Clerk’s office at the Veterans Memorial on Church St 9/10 at 7:30PM for 9/11 Remembered.
In preparation for resurfacing Church Street, the DPW will be completing some drain work scheduled for Tuesday 9/8/26. This work will require a lane closure in the area of Willowdale Road. Please expect delays on Church Street and avoid the area if possible
Merrimac – Residents and visitors are invited to view a local example of early Colonial architecture and to enjoy a look at Colonial life when the Merrimac Town Improvement Society holds their annual fall open house at the Old Sawyer House Saturday September 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Old Sawyer House is located at 20 East Main Street (adjacent to the Merrimac Fire Station) in Merrimac, Ma.
This year, the Town Improvement Society is pleased to announce that the annual open house at the Old Sawyer House will be featured as a cultural event during this year’s Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails and Sails free event series. The Town Improvement Society is excited to participate in this regional program which raises interest and awareness for art and culture in the Essex County.
A 1.5 mile looped trail will also be open for guided walks during the open house. The trails provide visitors with an opportunity to explore some of the woodland and vegetated areas that belong to the Town Improvement Society.
In addition to tours of the Old Sawyer House (circa 1735) and woodland trails, cider and light refreshments will be served around the main fireplace of the Sawyer House.
A charitable organization with a Section 501 (c) (3) status, the Town Improvement Society is seeking funds to repair and restore five of the windows located on the west side of the Old Sawyer House. The front door pediment also requires restoration. Information on the restoration project will be available at the September 19 Open House.
The Old Sawyer House, a classic New England saltbox, was built by John Kendrick and sold to Aaron Sawyer in 1758. It remained in the Sawyer family until 1908 when it was sold, along with 14 acres of woodland, to the Merrimac Town Improvement Society. The house retains much of its original paneling, original upstairs windows and one original fireplace on the second floor. The two downstairs fireplaces were renovated in the mid-19th century. Furnishings and artifacts located in the home reflect the house’s First Period Colonial status.
MERRIMAC — The Town of Merrimac Commission on Disabilities is pleased to share that the Town has received a $10,000 donation from Haverhill Bank to support the new ADA-compliant playground at the Dr. Frederick N. Sweetsir School.
The proposed inclusive playground will ensure that all children, regardless of physical, cognitive, sensory, or developmental abilities, have equal access to safe and engaging outdoor play.
Due to the generosity of local donors, Merrimac has a total of $14,250 that will be used toward the expected new playground, with a total funding goal of $225,000. The Town has contracted Landscape Structures and O’Brien & Sons to assist in the development of the project. The commission has also applied for additional grant funding to support the project.
The current Sweetsir playground is over 30 years old. Parts of the plastic structures have been patched over and need additional repairs; the paint is peeling, and there are limited accessible pathways in the surrounding areas, making it difficult for children with disabilities to use the structure. The current playground is also made of metal components with concrete flooring, making it unusable in warm weather. Due to the current sand-based surface used on the playground, the Town and District have seen a large drainage issue: when it rains, children can’t use the playground because of the large puddles left over from the storm.
In support of the new playground, Sweetsir students were asked what changes they would like to see. Some students asked for treehouses and hot tubs, while others wanted to see swing sets, ramps, and to get rid of the sand base that is there now.
Once funding is finalized, the new ADA-compliant playground will include some of the student-requested elements, including rubber flooring, double swirl slides, wheelchair-accessible swings, an inclusize cycler, a variety of climbing areas, and more.
The Merrimac Commission on Disabilities would like to thank Haverhill Bank, Ripple Fiber, Shea Concrete, TruNorth Bank, Needham Bank, and Eastern Bank for their generous donations to create a safe and inclusive playground for students and children of the Merrimac community.
“On behalf of the Merrimac Commission on Disabilities, I would like to thank all of our stakeholders, donors, and the Pentucket community for their unwavering support of this project. Watching parents, teachers, and students get excited about bringing a new fully inclusive playground to Merrimac is amazing to see. We look forward to watching this project come to fruition,” said Merrimac Commission on Disabilities Chairman Chris Gaudet.
The Commission would also like to thank the following organizations, including Merrimac PTO, Merrimac Select Board, State Sen. Barry Finegold, State Rep. Dawn Shand, Sweetsir Administration and Teachers, and Pentucket Regional School District Administration and Staff for their letters of support for this project.
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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:
· Learning the signs and symptoms of heat related illness
· 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
