Scituate residents will lose access to the Hoopla digital streaming platform this Wednesday as the town library grapples with electronic resource costs that have surged to triple the price of physical materials. Select Board Clerk Jamie Gilmore announced the suspension of the movie, music, and ebook service during Monday’s town update, citing the unsustainable financial burden of digital licensing. Gilmore explained that the library is suspending the service due to excessive costs, as e-resources are often two to three times more expensive than their physical counterparts. The change coincides with a broader transition for the Old Colony Library Network, which will migrate to new catalog software in late April to enhance patron services.

Infrastructure and water quality also took center stage as Town Administrator James Boudreau addressed a recent exceedance of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) in the municipal water supply. Residents received public notices last week following a February 25th sample that showed elevated levels of the disinfection byproduct, which occurs when chlorine interacts with natural organic matter. Boudreau reported that targeted flushing has since reduced those levels, but he pointed to the incident as a primary justification for the town’s ongoing water treatment plant project. This is something that we get every year unfortunately, and one of the reasons we're building a new water treatment plant is to help make sure that these things don't happen in the future, Boudreau said, noting that organic interactions are a persistent challenge for the current system.

The town is also preparing for a pivotal discussion regarding the North Scituate sewer expansion. A joint remote meeting between the Select Board, Advisory Committee, and Capital Planning Committee is scheduled for Wednesday evening to finalize a new article for the April 13th Town Meeting warrant. Gilmore urged residents to attend, labeling the expansion project as important for the town’s long-term planning. The April 13th Town Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium, where several high-impact articles will be decided by voters.

In the Glades area, residents received assurance that the ongoing seawall revetment repairs will not interfere with the upcoming summer season. Boudreau confirmed that contractors are working from the Glades entrance southward and expect to have all large stones cleared from the beach before the sand is needed for public recreation. Meanwhile, administrative deadlines are looming for residents; transfer station stickers expire tomorrow, March 31st, and the final day for seniors, veterans, and blind persons to apply for tax exemptions is April 1st.

School Committee member Janice Lindblom provided updates on the district's shifting landscape as the town moves toward a three-building elementary model in 2027. A critical public meeting regarding redistricting is scheduled for April 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the Gates Commons. Lindblom noted that the next redistricting public meeting will be held April 6th at 6:00 in the Gates Commons, encouraging parents to participate via Zoom or in person. This comes as the district prepares for the long-term transition involving the Hatherly Cushing project, which remains a central focus of the committee’s planning efforts.

Seasonal traditions are returning to the calendar, though with some schedule adjustments. The annual Easter Egg Hunt is set for this Saturday, April 4th, at Central Field beginning at 9:30 a.m. Additionally, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was postponed due to winter weather, is now officially scheduled for Sunday, April 12th. Boudreau also signaled the unofficial start of spring by announcing that Widow’s Walk Golf Course will officially open for the season this Friday, coinciding with the Red Sox home opener.