Peabody Bans Non-Essential Outdoor Water Use Under Critical Drought Declaration
A city-wide ban on non-essential outdoor water use is now in effect as Peabody responds to what officials have characterized as a critical drought, while the Police Department this week secured a new three-year state accreditation.
TOWN HALL
No new News Flash items from the town were available in this cycle.
SCHOOLS
The 2025-2026 school year is officially in the books. The district posted a message from leadership congratulating families on a successful year and looking ahead to summer. The next school calendar milestone is a Building & Grounds Subcommittee Meeting on June 30; the School Committee Retreat is scheduled for Aug. 13, with the first regular School Committee meeting of the new year set for Aug. 25 and new teacher orientation on Aug. 26.
Families with children entering kindergarten in 2026-2027 are reminded that registration is open. The district's 2026 Summer Reading program, Peabody PROMISE, is also underway.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Peabody Institute Library's South and West Branch locations will shift to updated summer hours beginning July 6. Both branches will be open Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday, 1 to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Sundays will be closed at those locations. The Main Library at 82 Main Street continues its regular hours through the summer.
Teens in grades nine through 12 can join the library's "100 Books Before Graduation" challenge, logging reading on Beanstack to earn free books and a prize goodie bag upon completing 100 titles.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Peabody Patch is leading today's local coverage with the water ban. Its summary newsletter asked "🌱 Patch AM: What Peabody residents can and can't do under the new water ban" — the follow-up to yesterday's breaking story on the drought restrictions. The ban covers sprinklers, lawn watering, and car washing, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
Patch also reported "Peabody Bans All Non-Essential Outdoor Water Use Amid 'Critical' Drought" yesterday, providing the initial details on the scope of restrictions now affecting residents across the city, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
On a positive note for public safety, Patch reported "Peabody Police Department Awarded 3-Year State Accreditation" — the department received recognition reflecting its standards of service, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
In infrastructure news, Patch reported "Peabody Gets $20K Traffic Study For Margin Street Stretch To Salem Line" — state supplemental budget funding will support a study of Margin Street from the Danvers line to the Salem boundary, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, Patch published "2026 July 4 Fireworks Guide For Peabody Area," rounding up fireworks, parades, and celebrations tied to America's 250th anniversary in and around the city, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
COMING UP
- **Saturday, June 27:** "ALL THAT GLITTERS" band returns to Capone's, 9 p.m. - **Tuesday, June 30:** Building & Grounds Subcommittee Meeting and Executive Session (Peabody Public Schools) - **July 4 weekend:** Fireworks and parade events in and around Peabody (see Patch guide linked above) - **Thursday, July 1:** Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (area venue; see Patch events listing) - **Sunday, June 28:** Paint on Stage! for Kids (area event) - **Sunday, July 6:** Updated South and West Branch Library hours take effect