Peabody Issues Water Restrictions, Heat Warning as Drought Deepens
PEABODY — A downtown coffee shop that built its identity around employing people with disabilities is closing after nine years, drawing coverage from two outlets even as City Hall pushed out a mandatory water-use order and honored three student essay winners.
TOWN HALL Mayor Ted Bettencourt issued a heat warning and confirmed the city has moved to mandatory outdoor water-use restrictions after the state issued a critical drought declaration, according to the city's official News Flash bulletins. The city also flagged ongoing detours and travel impacts tied to the Central Street construction project as work continues downtown.
Separately, Bettencourt recognized three Peabody high school students at a City Hall ceremony for their entries in the America 250 student essay contest. The ceremony coincided with a viewing of a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence the city recently received.
SCHOOLS Peabody Public Schools opened registration for the 2026-2027 kindergarten class, encouraging families to enroll ahead of the fall. The district also posted a message to families as the 2025-2026 school year wrapped up, thanking the community for what it called a "productive and rewarding" year.
COMMUNITY & ARTS Peabody Institute Library's South and West branches moved to new hours effective July 6, closing Fridays and adjusting weekday schedules at both locations, library officials said.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS "North Shore Coffee Shop With Inspired Mission To Close After 9 Years" — Breaking Grounds Cafe, the downtown Peabody coffee shop that trained and employed people with disabilities, is shutting down, according to Peabody Patch. CBS News also reported on the closure, describing it as a difficult decision for the shop's operators (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/north-shore-coffee-shop-inspired-mission-close-after-9-years).
"Multi-Restaurant-Style Eatery To Open On North Shore With Ribbon Cutting" — A new Wonder food hall location in Peabody plans a ribbon-cutting and grand opening on July 23 with samples, discounts and giveaways, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/multi-restaurant-style-eatery-open-north-shore-giveaways).
"Peabody Honors 3 Students In America 250 Essay Contest At City Hall" — Peabody Patch reported on the same ceremony the city's News Flash also covered today, in which Mayor Bettencourt recognized three students for their essay contest entries (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/peabody-honors-3-students-america-250-essay-contest-city-hall).
COMING UP "Dead to the Core - July Show" is set for July 17, followed by "Zane Christopher & The Alchemists" on July 18, per the Peabody Patch community calendar. Also July 18: Military Service Day at Patton Homestead and a free Tai Chi & Qigong class at Red Rock Park. On July 19, the calendar lists a Colonial Dance and a performance by DVinci Soul.