Sharon Confirms First Spotted Lanternfly Infestation
SHARON — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has confirmed Sharon's first known infestation of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that damages trees and crops, town officials said this week.
TOWN HALL The state agency's confirmation, posted to the town's website, marks the first documented presence of the pest within Sharon. Officials did not detail specific treatment or reporting steps in the notice, but residents are typically asked to report sightings to help track the insect's spread.
Separately, the September edition of Sharon Matters, the town's monthly newsletter, is now available on the town website. Results from Tuesday's Sept. 1 state primary, which set the November ballot for governor and U.S. Senate, are also posted on the Town Clerk's page, a story Sharon Patch also covered today.
SCHOOLS The School Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 2, with a related Negotiations Subcommittee executive session on the same day. Superintendent Dr. Peter Botelho leads the district, which is entering the new school year under its 2026-2027 calendar, posted on the district website this week.
COMMUNITY & ARTS The Sharon Public Library will close Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Also on Sept. 7, the Big Labor Day Sports Card & Autograph Show is set to take place, according to the Sharon Patch community calendar.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS "Sharon Police Dog Cleo Graduates Ahead Of School Year": Sharon's K-9 officer completed a new training credential heading into the fall, per Sharon Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/sharon).
"MA State Primary 2026: Markey Repels Moulton, Minogue To Face Healey": Massachusetts voters picked their November candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House in Tuesday's primary, per Sharon Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/sharon).
COMING UP The Lake Massapoag Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, Sept. 2. The Conservation Commission meets Thursday, Sept. 3, alongside a Planning Board executive session. The Human Resources Board meets Friday, Sept. 4.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.