Lexington Recreation Director Battite Named Fellow by National Academy
DATELINE — LEXINGTON
Recreation and Community Programs Director Melissa Battite has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, one of the field's top professional honors, the Town announced this week.
TOWN HALL
Battite's election as an AAPRA Fellow recognizes sustained leadership in the parks and recreation field and adds to a run of Town Hall announcements this week. The Town also opened bookings for its new Energy Advocate program: residents can schedule a 20-minute session with Yahan Hua to look for ways to lower their energy bills.
Separately, the Town is accepting applications through Monday, Aug. 31, from residents interested in serving on current and upcoming Town board and committee openings. And Lexington has partnered with Bay State Textiles to place collection bins around town dedicated to clothing, shoes and household linens, part of an effort to keep textiles out of the regular trash stream.
Looking further ahead, the Department of Public Works is preparing a modernized townwide waste collection program set to launch in summer 2027, aimed at controlling rising costs and cutting waste. The Town is asking residents to attend upcoming public meetings to weigh in on which collection option they prefer.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"These Are The Best Public High Schools In MA For 2026-27: U.S. News": the rankings are based on six different school performance measures, and at least one area school made the list, per Lexington Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/lexington).
"🌱 Patch AM: Who's behind Lexington's mysterious 'Robots Right Lane Only' bike-path sign?": Lexington Patch's morning roundup flags an unexplained sign along a town bike path that has residents guessing at its origin, according to Lexington Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/lexington).
COMING UP
Wednesday, Aug. 19: the Planning Board holds a remote public hearing on 5-7 Spring St., and the Historical Commission holds remote hearings on 3 Franklin Rd. and 19 Peacock Farm Rd.
Thursday, Aug. 20: the School Committee's Policy Subcommittee meets remotely, per an agenda revised the morning of Aug. 18.
Friday, Aug. 21: the 2026 Summer Concert Series continues with a performance by Mojo Ride.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.