Hello Concord! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Sudbury PMC Kids Ride (all riders welcome!) and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the bartender say to the jumper cables when they walked in? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. A new year begins: Your back-to-school photos (concordbridge.org) — Concord families just sent their kids back to school, with students starting at Thoreau, Alcott, Willard, Concord-Carlisle High School, and several local preschools and Montessori programs. A wide range of ages, from preschoolers to high school seniors, are featured as they begin the 2026–27 academic year across Concord's schools.
2. Best high schools in Massachusetts (boston25news.com) — Two Concord schools, Middlesex School and Concord Academy, both earn top-10 spots in a new ranking of Massachusetts high schools based on academics, activities, and community feedback. Local families can see how these Concord options compare with other elite schools statewide, including details on enrollment, student-teacher ratios, and overall Niche grades.
3. Locals Say This Massachusetts Swimming Hole Is Perfect For Late Summer (takingthekids.com) — Walden Pond in Concord offers late-summer swimming, gentle beaches, and an easy shoreline loop trail just a short drive from town. The piece highlights Thoreau's historic cabin site, parking tips, safety rules, and options for paddling or walking before exploring downtown Concord's shops and museums afterward.
4. Carolyn 'Carol' Parks Bernhardt, 90 (concordbridge.org) — Longtime Concord resident Carolyn "Carol" Parks Bernhardt, who helped run the local Howard Johnson's and raised her family here after attending Concord Academy, has died at 90. Her life is remembered for deep ties to the Concord community, years on Cape Cod, and a large, loving family who cherish her warmth, humor, and enduring traditions.
5. Massport mulling advisers' ICE camera proposal for Hanscom (concordbridge.org) — Concord's representative on the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission is backing a proposal for webcams to better document ICE detainee flights using the nearby airport, pressing Massport to allow more public oversight. Local advocates say clearer footage could help families and lawyers track detainees, while state police and Governor Healey's office respond cautiously as Massport reviews the request.
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Ok Concord! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Don't you 2 start anything (Thank you Mary L. for sending it in!)
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