The Bedford Citizen - Community-supported news for Bedford, Massachusetts since 2012

Superintendent’s Update on Reopening the Bedford Schools ~ August 3, 2020

By Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad | 12 hours ago

Hello Bedford School Community,

As I mentioned in my Friday letter I am letting you know that we have placed our Bedford Public Schools Draft Reopening Plan Fall 2020 on our website.

Click this link to read the Draft Reopening Plan for Fall 2020

This draft is nearly 50 pages long and answers many questions about the All Remote, the Hybrid, and the All In-Person models we have developed for the fall. It also includes information about the Learning Management System (LMS) that will be offered by the state of Massachusetts, although we are still awaiting more clarity on this option. Please note that this document is a draft and we will continue to add to it as new information becomes available. I hope that you will have a chance to review the document.

Town of Bedford ~ Update on Covid-19 ~ Monday, 3 August 2020

Editor’s Note: In addition to the current case count, read important information about adjustments to Bedford’s Food Bank now being held on Thursday afternoons.

Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Monday, August 3, 2020

Bedford Arts and Crafts Society Awards its 2020 Scholarship to Michelle Voong

Michelle Voong is the recipient of the 2020 art scholarship from the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society (BACS). Michelle graduated this year from Bedford High School and works primarily with ceramics and sculpture. She will attend the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and plans to study graphic arts and marketing.

Letter to the Editor: Parent Concerns about Bedford’s Draft Reopening Plan for Fall 2020

A letter of concern written with the help of a small group of concerned parents was posted on Facebook last night. Click this link to read it.

If interested individuals wish to sign the letter, we ask the following:

In a Pickle ~ When Will the Effects of Isaias Reach Bedford?

In mid-July, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency shared hurricane preparedness tips, click this link to refresh your memory. While the center of Isaias is expected to track toward Central Massachusetts, strong winds could remain a factor for Bedford.
Summer Thrift Shopping Event at First Church of Christ

The First Church of Christ “Sumer Thrift Shopping Event” has transformed Upper Fellowship Hall into a safe and fun "Thrift Shop" open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in August, from 10 am to 2 pm. The first shopping time slot each day (10 to 10:30 am) reserved for seniors over the age of 60. Unlike the annual Rummage Sale that usually takes place in May, the Thrift Event is smaller in scale, with better items available. “Church members and friends have been bringing in beautiful things, from entire ‘Christmas Villages’ to crystal, cut glass dishes, and fancy teacups” said Becky Mantz, chair of the event. “There are also plenty of games and toys for kids, DVDs and books, sports equipment, and a whole lot more!”

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Government

Town of Bedford ~ Update on Covid-19 ~ Thursday, 30 July 2020

In addition to the current case count, today's update includes the following information: Diapers and Personal Items Available for Residents In Need Hand Sanitizer Recall Governor's COVID-19 Travel Order Need a COVID-19 Test? Food Bank-New Location and New Time!
Town of Bedford ~ Update on Covid-19 ~ Monday, 27 July 2020

In addition to today's current case counts, today’s update from Colleen Doyle and the Covid 19 Task Force includes details about the COVID-19 Travel Order that will go into effect on August 1; Check on Your Mental Health; When “Stay at Home” Isn’t Safe; Food Bank is planning for a new location and day/time; “Stop the Spread” Testing Sites Open in 8 Communities Click this link to read the Town's full update for Monday, July 27, 2020

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Schools

Gordon, Barrett Announce Agreement to Boost FY21 Local Aid

Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) and Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington) announced today that an agreement between the Legislature and the Governor will ensure increases to local aid and Chapter 70 education funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The agreement will allow cities and towns to avoid significant budget cuts despite the uncertain conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Agreement Includes Education Funding Increase for Bedford
Childcare Providers and Preschools Find Innovation Among Strict Regulations

As businesses around the state continue to reopen, parents face the challenge of finding childcare. Governor Baker's executive order closed all but essential child care programs as of March 22, 2020. Childcare agencies were able to open in late June but face strict regulations as they reopen.

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Features

Dot’s Reading Room: Steve Coll in The New Yorker ~ The US Postal Service and the Upcoming Election

Is the Postal Service Being Manipulated to Help Trump Get Reëlected? By Steve Coll in The New Yorker, July 29, 2020. Read Coll’s New Yorker article here: https://tinyurl.com/y3wtz2za The headline may be alarmist but many of us have genuine concerns about mail-in ballots in the coming election. As Steve Coll (Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University) points out in this article, different states have different dates for accepting and counting mail-in ballots.
An Appreciation: Jeff Hoyland

Several Bedford High School seniors and their family members took a detour on the way home from Sunday morning’s outdoor graduation to personally salute Jeff Hoyland, whose declining health precluded his covering the event with his camera – a ubiquitous feature on the students’ landscape for several years. And there he was at his front door, acknowledging his admirers with a wave and a flicker of the outside light. A few hours later, he succumbed to an 11-year battle with cancer. Hoyland, who during his illness reinvented himself into an authentic local folk hero, was 59. He is survived by his wife Randi, children Alec and Sienna, his parents, and six brothers and sisters. His death engendered a massive outpouring of sadness, admiration and gratitude, primarily on social media, which was Hoyland’s constant communication vehicle. Click here to read more

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Life Events

Life Events ~ July 24 ~ Simoneau Recognized for Music Skills and Bedford Students Shine at UConn

Simoneau Recognized for Music Skills Julia Simoneau is Sacred Heart University's 2020 Trumpet section leader. Julia is a sophomore from Bedford, Massachusetts majoring in Math on a 4+1 Secondary Education track.Her favorite part about the SHU Band Program is “how the SHU band feels like a family.
Life Events ~ July 10, 2020 ~ Awards for McCulloch, Clark, and Vakamalla; Holley Graduates from CSW

A compilation of recent news about local graduates in the Class of 2020: John McCulloch, Lauren Abraham, Grace Clark, Raaga Vakamalla, and Tatum Holley. Garden Club Awards Scholarships to Abraham, McCulloch, and Clark The Bedford Garden Club and the Bedford Garden Club Judith R. Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 scholarships.

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Sports

Draw the Line – Pickleball Players want respect (and some lines)

An online petition has been started by the rapidly growing number of Bedford pickleball players for the town to paint the lines for a pickleball court on the existing tennis courts at the John Glenn Middle School.
We’re Outta Here!! – Summit Fitness Rolls Out Outside Fitness Classes

As Massachusetts begins its reopening plan, I had a chance to try one of the first businesses to return to the “new normal.” Summit Health and Fitness on Wiggins Avenue this week started rolling out outdoor group fitness classes. They converted their parking lot into a spin cycling “room” and a CrossFit workout space. The classes were limited to 10 people, all 12 feet apart. Masks are required and everything is wiped down with disinfectant before and after use. The owners, Jane Karpovsky and Denis Mezhertskiy, of Bedford bought Summit on January 23 of this year. They consulted with the Bedford Board of Health to make sure all the protocols were met.

All Sports

The Bedford Citizen - Community-supported news for Bedford, Massachusetts since 2012

Superintendent’s Update on Reopening the Bedford Schools ~ August 3, 2020

By Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad | 12 hours ago

Town of Bedford ~ Update on Covid-19 ~ Monday, 3 August 2020

Bedford Arts and Crafts Society Awards its 2020 Scholarship to Michelle Voong

Letter to the Editor: Parent Concerns about Bedford’s Draft Reopening Plan for Fall 2020

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Superintendent’s Update on Reopening the Bedford Schools ~ July 31, 2020

Learning About the Bedford Police Department ~ Part III of IV

Household Hazardous Waste Collection ~ Saturday, August 15 ~ Online Registration Required

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By Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad | 12 hours ago

Related: Town of Bedford ~ Update on Covid-19 ~ Monday, 3 August 2020

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