Westford Library Opens as Cooling Center Ahead of Extreme July Fourth Heat
With a dangerous heat wave bearing down on the region through the Fourth of July weekend, the J.V. Fletcher Library is opening its doors as an official cooling center, and town hall is reminding residents that bow hunting permit applications open Wednesday.
TOWN HALL
Residents who hunt should mark their calendars: bow hunting season begins September 1, 2026, and the town is accepting permit applications from July 1 through August 7. Permits will be issued by August 14. The application and release form is available on the town's website at https://www.westfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1035/Hunting-Lottery-Application-and-Release-Form-PDF.
Separately, the town's homepage flags an excessive heat advisory running Wednesday, July 1 through Friday, July 3, a timely notice ahead of the holiday weekend.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
J.V. Fletcher Library is stepping up as a cooling center on Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. The library, currently operating out of its temporary location at 515 Groton Road while its historic Main Street building undergoes renovation, will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of the 250th Anniversary of Independence Day.
Also ahead at the library: a "ZMakesBeads with Zangar" children and tween/teen program runs Tuesday, June 30, at the Roudenbush Community Center third floor; a Craft Lounge session for tweens and teens meets Wednesday, July 1; and the library's 2026 Summer Reading Program, themed "Plant a Seed, Read!", is underway for all ages. On Wednesday, July 8, the library hosts a "Farm on the Go" outing at Good Pickin' Farm, 5 Gould Road, for families and children.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"🌱 Patch AM: How a lifelong Westford resident earned the inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award", Westford Patch reports that a local resident received a newly established statewide honor, with details on the recognition in the full story. Per Westford Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
"'Extreme' Heat Will Feel Like 110+ Degrees, Bring Severe Storm Risk To MA: See Latest Forecast", A dangerous stretch of heat and humidity is forecast to peak Wednesday through Friday across Massachusetts, with conditions approaching or exceeding 110 degrees when humidity is factored in, a development that makes the library's cooling center hours especially relevant for Westford residents this week. Per Westford Patch, citing Patch state coverage (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford).
COMING UP
- Tuesday, June 30, ZMakesBeads with Zangar, children/tween program, Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor - Wednesday, July 1, J.V. Fletcher Library open as cooling center, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., 515 Groton Road; Craft Lounge (tween/teen), Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor - Thursday, July 2, J.V. Fletcher Library open as cooling center, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., 515 Groton Road - Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4, J.V. Fletcher Library closed (Independence Day observance / 250th Anniversary) - Wednesday, July 8, Farm on the Go with Good Pickin' Farm, 5 Gould Road; Middle Grade Book Club, 515 Groton Road (tween/teen) - Thursday, July 9, Adult Book Club, 515 Groton Road - Monday, July 13, Virtual Library Board of Trustees and PTBC Meeting, Westford Zoom account - Bow hunting applications: July 1–August 7; permits issued by August 14