Concord Flags Rising Cyclosporiasis Cases as FDA Clears MA Lettuce

CONCORD — Smoke drifting south from wildfires in Ontario returned to Massachusetts skies this week, closing more than 30 beaches statewide and prompting Concord Town Hall to remind residents that hot-weather lawn-watering restrictions remain in effect.

TOWN HALL

Town Hall reissued its hot-weather reminder this week, telling residents that lawn-watering restrictions remain in effect as the region deals with a stretch of heat and hazy, smoke-tinged air.

Road crews stayed busy across town. Maple Street work got underway July 15, the same day crews began an extension of the Old Bedford Road project, which will run from Lexington Road to the Bedford town line. Both follow paving and curb work completed at the MBTA parking lot and a broader slate of streets — including Stow Street, Sudbury Road and Lexington Road — the week before.

The town also launched its FY26 Grants Dashboard, a new online tool meant to give residents a clearer picture of how Concord is putting outside grant funding to work.

COMMUNITY & ARTS

Two exhibitions remain on view at the Main Library. "A Celebration of the Declaration: An Exhibition of Rare 1776 Documents" continues through July 26, and the Munroe Gallery's "Summer Memories," a solo show of landscapes by Massachusetts artist Lucinda Hamilton, runs through July 30.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"30+ MA Beaches Closed As Smoky Haze Makes Comeback: See Latest Forecast" — Patch staff writer Scott Souza reported that skies over Massachusetts cleared briefly Thursday morning before more wildfire smoke moved in from Ontario, prompting a new round of beach closures statewide (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).

"🌱 Patch AM: How dangerous is today's wildfire smoke for Concord residents?" — Concord Patch's morning newsletter flagged the smoky air as a local health question worth watching alongside the statewide closures (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).

"Concord native Ty Andrews sets new record for ascending Mount Everest" — Wicked Local reports that Andrews, a Concord native, notched the fastest known ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental means, according to the outlet's account (read it at https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/news/local/2026/07/17/concord-ma-native-ty-andrews-sets-new-record-for-ascending-mount-everest/90517488007/).

"🌱 Patch AM: Why your Concord trash bill just jumped 9% this year" — Patch's newsletter pointed to a nine percent increase in residential trash bills this year as a story drawing resident attention, though details await the full report (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).

"🌱 Patch AM: Will the Red Line really come all the way to Concord?" — The newsletter revisited the long-running local debate over whether MBTA Red Line service will ever be extended to Concord (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord).

COMING UP

The Select Board meets Monday, July 20; an agenda posted to the town website includes a Zoom link for remote viewing. Spencer Brook Road is scheduled to close that same day, July 20, for construction. The Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct a site visit at 448 Sudbury Road on Tuesday, July 21.