December 2024

South Acton Congregational Church to close

December 21, 2024
A fixture of South Acton for 148 years, the South Acton Congregational Church (SACC) will permanently close its doors this year on December 31. SACC’s worshiping congregation has been welcomed by the West Concord Union Church and will move there permanently in January. The building has been listed…

Stop & Shop grand opening

December 21, 2024
After over two years of planning, the new Stop & Shop opened on Friday, December 13, at 252 Main St. at the former location of K-Mart. A ribbon cutting ceremony in the produce section capped off the morning’s activities, which included several speeches by Stop & Shop personnel,…

Santa comes to Acton… on a 1936 fire truck

December 21, 2024
It’s 9:50 a.m. on Saturday morning and sirens are wailing! Lights are flashing! And lo! It’s Santa and his firefighting contingent coming to visit kids (and their adults) all over Acton. In an annual event stretching back to somewhere around 1999, the Acton firefighters make the rounds with…

Acton Nature Watch

December 21, 2024
The Acton Nature Watch is a compendium of sights seen by folks around town. The nature watch notes are not always complete sentences – they just give you, the reader, an idea of some of the residents in town that we only see if we stop and look.…
A line drawing of a bed under a window, with an inviting stack of books and a teacup. The window has pine trees in the background.

Holiday hiatus

December 21, 2024
The Acton Exchange all-volunteer staff will be resting and rejoicing and reuniting with far-flung family for the next two weeks. We will therefore not publish an issue on Dec. 28 or Jan. 4, nor distribute the Weekly Newsletter. Look for the first issue of the new year on…

The Bulletin Board

December 21, 2024
The Acton Exchange team is working towards a new calendar function that allows more flexible and powerful access to Acton-relevant calendar information. In the meantime, short notices of upcoming events are published in the Bulletin Board. For now, email your Acton-relevant calendar notice (<150 words) to calendar@actonexchange.org. Next…

Changes in AB youth behavior: Youth Risk Behavior Survey

December 21, 2024
Survey results from the 2024 Emerson Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were released earlier this fall and shared with the School Committee at their December 5 business meeting. The presentation was made by Heather Stouch, Acton-Boxborough’s Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning and Mental and Behavioral Health, and relates…

A double shot of espresso at Java with John

December 21, 2024
The monthly Java with John event at the Acton Senior Center featured a double shot of espresso. Both John Mangiaratti, Acton’s Town Manager, and Peter Light, the Superintendent of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, shared updates and expressed gratitude to the community. Mangiaratti opened the meeting with thanks…

Local housing priorities addressed at regional meeting

December 21, 2024
No town (in Massachusetts) is an island (except Nantucket). Every town is a piece of the Commonwealth. And Acton is part of the 495/MetroWest region, which stretches along the interstate highway from Westford in the North to Foxborough in the South. So, it wasn’t unexpected for Acton’s Economic…

Have you taken Acton’s Housing Production Plan survey?

December 21, 2024
The Town’s Planning Division is inviting residents to share their perspectives on “housing solutions that contribute toward a healthy, equitable, and prosperous Acton” by taking a Housing Production Plan survey. What is a Housing Production Plan? A Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a proactive strategy aimed at planning…

A-B girl hoopsters press, prevail in season opener

December 21, 2024
Nov. 16, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School: It took the Revs a while to find their offense but, until then, they bided their time, using a full-court press to keep the visiting Bay Path Regional Minutemen in check. After trailing by two at halftime, Jesus Rodriquez’ squad used their…

Suburban transportation forum hosted by Lexington

December 21, 2024
Two of Acton’s Select Board members – David Martin and Alissa Nicol – were among almost 100 participants in a “Beyond the Core” transportation forum on Monday, November 9, at the Lexington Community Center, organized by Lexington’s Transportation Director, Susan Barrett. Representative Michelle Ciccolo of the 15th Middlesex…
Badge icon representing Boards and Committees

Select Board Notes: 16 December 2024

December 21, 2024
Opening remarks: A resident made detailed comments concerning the proposed Department of Public Works (DPW) building, pursuant to a request for sidewalk construction on Forest Road. Select Board Chair Fran Arsenault noted the pinning and swearing in of three new, and the promotion of four, Acton firefighters. Town…

Feast & Fettle acquires WECO

December 13, 2024
Feast & Fettle has acquired WECO, the food preparation and delivery service that began in 2020 at the start of the Covid epidemic. For a time, WECO was headquartered on Arlington Street in West Acton, before moving to Salem, New Hampshire earlier this year. The building they used…

Pizza + Heat Pumps in Acton

December 13, 2024
On Wednesday, December 4, the Town of Acton Sustainability Office, in collaboration with Energize Acton, hosted a Heat Pump Pizza Party in Room 204 of Acton Town Hall to educate residents about the benefits of heat pumps as a sustainable alternative for home heating and cooling. (Yes, heat…

Acton Housing Authority supports residents

December 13, 2024
The mission of the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) is to “ensure an adequate supply of safe and decent housing for low and moderate income individuals and families where they can live without substantial disturbance or interference by others and to provide such housing without discrimination as to race,…

Coach has high hopes for girl hoopsters

December 13, 2024
When this reporter reached out to the Acton-Boxborough winter sports coaches for a season preview, girls basketball coach Jesus Rodriguez was the first to respond. In a phone conversation today, Mr. Rodriguez said his young squad will benefit from the experience of one returning senior, plus junior Claire…

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