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WESTFORD — Welcome to the Sept. 11 edition of Weekend Wrap-Up. Here, we highlight the most important news you may have missed this week in Westford.
‘Near the finish line,’ library inches closer to final approval for expansion project
After securing a provisional state-funded grant a year early, the J.V. Fletcher Library looks to its next steps in its proposed expansion project.
After the project was placed on a waitlist for a $7.85 million grant by the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program in 2017, an increase in state funding allowed the J.V. Fletcher Library to leave the waitlist and receive provisional funding for its expansion project.
Remaining funding will be need to be approved by both a two-thirds vote at Special Town Meeting on Oct. 17 as well as on the Nov. 8 town ballot.
“I compare it to a marathon,” Marianne Fleckner, chair of the J.V. Fletcher Library Board of Trustees told WestfordCAT. “It’s a process that makes sure that the libraries who get this money are deserving.”
She continued, “we’re right there for the finish line, we’re looking for residents to see and learn that this is an awesome project.”
View how Westford voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries.
Democratic ballot results can be found here.
Republican ballot results can be found here.
Westford COVID-19 Update: Millions of Tests Coming to Towns, Cities
The two week case count has decreased to 40 positive cases, down from 48 positive cases reported on Sept. 1.
The positive test rate also decreased to 9.57%, down from 12.36% reported on Sept. 1. 95,209 tests have been administered in Westford so far, with 439 tests administered in the last two weeks.
A total of 4,927 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Westford. As of Sept. 8, the state has reported over 1.85 million total cases of COVID-19. That state has reported 14,934 cases in the last two weeks. 7.57% of the 219,218 tests administered, 16,586 total tests, returned positive.
State officials are sending a fresh supply of rapid antigen tests and personal protective equipment to cities and towns this fall.
“Rapid tests, along with other resources like vaccines, boosters and treatments, provide residents with the tools they need to manage COVID-19,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a news release.
Since Dec. 2021, the administration has distributed over 25 million rapid antigen tests for residents and municipalities.
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