Ashburnham Library Wins $20,000 Federal Grant for Food-Literacy Programs
Ashburnham Town Hall is closed Thursday in observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday, while Stevens Memorial Library marks a significant win: a provisional $20,000 federal grant to build food-literacy programs for the community.
**TOWN HALL**
Town offices at 32 Main Street are shuttered all day Thursday, June 18, for Juneteenth. Normal hours — Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. — resume Friday is not a Town Hall day; residents should plan for Monday, June 22, for in-person business.
The town also posted a reminder this week that several boards and committees have openings that remain unfilled. The notice, posted June 15, lists vacancies across multiple appointed bodies; residents interested in serving can find details on the town website. The application period stays open until positions are filled.
The 2025 Annual Water Quality Report — the Consumer Confidence Report for Ashburnham's municipal drinking water — is now available on the town website for residents who want to review last year's test results. Separately, the town's seasonal odd/even outdoor-watering restrictions remain in effect through September 30.
**COMMUNITY & ARTS**
Stevens Memorial Library has been provisionally awarded a $20,000 Library Services and Technology Act grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The program, titled "At the Table: Food Literacy from the Ground Up," will fund library programs and resources aimed at helping community members develop practical food-literacy skills — everything from understanding nutrition labels to growing and preparing food. Library Director Jess Mynes leads the library, which serves more than 6,000 Ashburnham residents and has positioned itself as a community hub under its new FY2026–2029 Strategic Plan. Additional program details are available on the library's website at ashburnhamlibrary.org.
Note: Stevens Memorial Library is open today (Thursday) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Town Hall's closure does not affect library hours.
**ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS**
No new coverage from Patch, MetroWest Daily News, or The Boston Globe in this cycle.