J.V. Fletcher Library Renovation Hits One-Year Groundbreaking Mark
One year ago today, J.V. Fletcher Library broke ground on its long-planned renovation and expansion at 50 Main Street — a milestone worth marking as the library, still operating from its temporary home at 515 Groton Road, heads into a busy summer programming season.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The library's construction project, backed by a $7,851,994 state grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and approved by Westford voters in late 2022, hit its one-year groundbreaking anniversary on June 23. The historic facade on the Common will be preserved while the rear of the building gets a full 21st-century overhaul. A Community Preservation Act grant of $60,000, approved at Annual Town Meeting in March 2026, is also part of the project's funding picture.
Meanwhile, the library's 2026 Summer Reading Program — themed "Plant a Seed, Read!" — is underway for all ages. Two events are coming up this week: a **Strega Mama Storytime: Strega Nona** for children and families takes place Thursday, June 25, at Roudenbush Community Center, Room 105; and a **YA Summer Reading Kickoff Party** for tweens and teens is also set for Thursday, June 25, at Forge Pond Beach on Forge Beach Road.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Westford Patch's morning newsletter highlights a regional human-interest angle: "🌱 Patch AM: How a beloved LRTA driver remembers the Chelmsford–Westford ice cream run." The piece looks back at a longtime Lowell Regional Transit Authority driver's memories of the cross-town route, per Westford Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
Separately, statewide beach conditions are relevant for Westford families heading to Forge Pond this week: "MA Beach Closures Rise To 28 As Downpours Cause Flash Flooding, Stormwater Runoff." Tuesday's heavy rain sent stormwater runoff into coastal and inland water bodies across Massachusetts, pushing beach closure numbers higher, according to Westford Patch/Patch Massachusetts (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
COMING UP
- **Thursday, June 25** — Strega Mama Storytime: Strega Nona, Roudenbush Community Center, Room 105 (children/family) - **Thursday, June 25** — YA Summer Reading Kickoff Party, Forge Pond Beach (tweens/teens) - **Wednesday, June 24** — Health Insurance Trust Fund meeting, Conservation Commission meeting, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee meeting (town hall) - **Thursday, June 25** — Board of Water Commissioners monthly meeting; Lowell Regional Transit Authority meeting (town hall) - **Monday, June 29** — Monday Mystery Book Club, Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor (adult) - **Tuesday, June 30** — ZMakesBeads with Zangar, Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor (children/tweens) - **Monday, June 30** — Run/Walk for Nature and Kids Fun Run — 5K and 10K (community event) - **Wednesday, July 1** — Craft Lounge drop-in, Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor (teens) - **Wednesday, July 8** — Farm on the Go with Good Pickin' Farm, 5 Gould Road (children/family) - **Note:** J.V. Fletcher Library will be **closed Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4** in observance of Independence Day.