Senior Center Entrance Closes For Ramp Work Through August
The Grafton Senior Center's front entrance closed for construction this week, and town officials are recruiting residents for two newly formed volunteer roles, according to updates posted to the town website.
TOWN HALL
The front entrance of the Grafton Senior Center, along with its associated parking spots, closed beginning July 27 for ramp construction, the town said. The closure is expected to last through the end of August, meaning senior center visitors will need to use an alternate entrance for roughly a month.
Town officials are also seeking residents to serve as "Community Liaisons," a volunteer role aimed at connecting with community members and advocating for neighborhood needs, per the town's website. Separately, the town continues to seek applicants for its new Grafton Common Traffic Study Committee, which will develop a strategic plan for traffic changes at the Common — a recruitment effort first announced in recent days.
The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project confirmed it will spray in Grafton on August 6, 13, 20 and 27, weather permitting, to respond to resident concerns about mosquito activity.
Riders on the MBTA's Worcester Commuter Rail Line should also expect a temporary construction schedule beginning at the end of July and running through September, the MBTA and Keolis announced.
SCHOOLS
Grafton Public Schools continues preparing for the 2026-27 school year, with the district streamlining and centralizing supply lists for elementary and middle school students to give families clearer guidance ahead of the fall. The district has also scheduled 6th-grade Chromebook pickup sessions this summer and iPad deployment sessions for new Grafton High School students and incoming ninth graders.
Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year remains open, and the district is directing families to its Year-Round Update process in the PowerSchool Parent Portal to keep contact and emergency information current. The first day of school for grades K-12 is set for August 26, preceded by two professional development days on August 24 and 25.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Grafton Public Library's summer reading program, themed "Plant a Seed — Read!," continues for patrons of all ages, alongside the Massachusetts Center for the Book's July reading challenge. The library also hosts a drop-in cribbage game every Friday for residents looking for a casual weekly gathering.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"E-Bike Safety Concerns Grow In MA As Crashes, Injuries Rise" — Police, doctors and state officials are working to update Massachusetts e-bike regulations as the vehicles' popularity increases statewide, according to Grafton Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton)
"More Than 40 Restaurants Joining Worcester Restaurant Week Next Month" — The annual summer dining event will offer discounted three-course meals at dozens of participating restaurants next month, per Grafton Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton)
COMING UP
The Grafton Senior Center's front entrance is expected to remain closed for ramp construction through the end of August. Mosquito spraying is tentatively scheduled across town on August 6, 13, 20 and 27. The Grafton Public Schools' first professional development days fall on August 24 and 25, ahead of the first day of school on August 26.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.