Grafton Wins Grant For Beach Wheelchair At Silver Lake
GRAFTON — Grafton has been awarded a state grant to purchase a floating beach wheelchair for Silver Lake Beach, one of just six New England communities selected, as town officials also issued a round of summer safety reminders about swimming in pools and lakes.
TOWN HALL
The Town of Grafton has been named one of six New England communities to receive a 2026 SMILE Mass Floating Beach Wheelchair Grant, which will fund a floating beach wheelchair to improve accessibility at Silver Lake Beach, according to the town's News Flash feed. The award is aimed at making the town-owned lake beach usable for residents with mobility limitations.
Separately, the town issued a trio of public-safety notices this week tied to the summer season: a "Summer Swim Safety Pools and Lakes" advisory, a general "Swim Safety" reminder, and a UV Safety Month notice urging sun protection, all posted to the town's civic alerts system. The Select Board also continues to seek residents interested in filling vacancies on several boards and committees, and the town has confirmed that the increased Pay-As-You-Throw trash bag pricing took effect July 1 to fund solid waste operations through user fees rather than tax support.
SCHOOLS
Grafton Public Schools is preparing for the return of the academic year, with the district's site flagging summer logistics including sixth-grade Chromebook pickup and iPad deployment sessions for new Grafton High School students and incoming ninth-graders. Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year remains open, and the district's 2026 Summer Enrichment Program is underway, combining hands-on learning, arts, and STEAM activities for students during the break.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Grafton Public Library's summer reading program, "Plant a Seed — Read!," continues for all ages, alongside the Massachusetts Center for the Book's July reading challenge. The library also holds a standing drop-in cribbage session every Friday for residents looking for a casual weekly gathering.
Looking toward mid-July, the Grafton Farmers Market returns to the town common on July 15, with additional market dates set for July 22 and 29, and the Grafton Rec Concert Series is scheduled to hold an event on the Common on July 30.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Popular Chinese Restaurant Celebrates Grand Reopening In Grafton" — a local Chinese restaurant held a ribbon-cutting and grand reopening celebration, marking a business milestone for the establishment, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton).
"🌱 Patch AM: Which Grafton lacrosse standouts made this year's Hometeam all-star list?" — Patch's daily roundup highlighted local lacrosse honorees alongside a plug for upcoming Summer Preview Days events in town, per Grafton Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton).
"🌱 Patch AM: Grafton police probe deadly Route 122 crash killing off-duty trooper" — an earlier Patch roundup referenced an ongoing investigation into a fatal Route 122 crash involving an off-duty state trooper, according to Grafton Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton).
COMING UP
The Zoning Board of Appeals holds a revised public meeting on Thursday, July 9, the same day the Charter Review Committee meets to review Section 3 and holds a separate general meeting, and the Affordable Housing Trust convenes as well. The Public Works Advisory Committee meets Monday, July 13, followed by the Planning Board's meeting and public hearings that same evening. The Grafton Farmers Market runs Wednesday, July 15, on the town common, and Grafton Middle School's School Council meets July 15 as well.