July 2025

Acton’s Marion Maxwell: Creating community for fifty years

July 12, 2025

by Martha Rounds

Long time Acton resident Marion Maxwell is probably best known for the Senior Citizens Newsletter, a weekly email that, until recently, went out to over 800 Acton seniors and “pre-seniors.” After a successful 10-year run, Marion recently brought the newsletter to an end. The Acton Exchange sat down…

All’s well that ends well: DPW services include cat rescue

July 12, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

The Acton Department of Public Works (DPW) keeps our town plowed, swept, trimmed, painted, and both safe and beautiful in many ways, both seen and unseen. Earlier this week, Tree Warden Ryan Hunt responded to a slightly different request. A resident on Hillcrest Road called saying that their…

Acton fetes Fourth with food, fireworks, and Thirty6 Red

July 12, 2025

by James Conboy

July 4, NARA Park, Acton. Whether fans arrived early for the music of Thirty6 Red, or later for just the fireworks, they were rewarded with perfect weather for Acton’s annual patriotic bash. But many might have found it to be worth the trip just for the food truck…

Music review: Diamond’s music sparkles

July 12, 2025

by Meg Stafford

Pianist Molly Flannery, long time performer at the Acton Jazz Cafe, hosted a house concert at her Littleton home for Harvey Diamond, her teacher, mentor, and jazz icon, along with New York-based double bassist Cameron Brown, and Cuban-born drummer Francisco Mela. On a sweltering Sunday at the end…

The Bulletin Board – July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

Reminder to readers: Our front page can’t hold all the news. To see all of this week’s new articles, go to the All News page. The Acton Exchange Bulletin Board is for volunteer opportunities and other announcements not tied to a single specific time and date. Please send…

Open Door Theater and Think Outside the Vox celebrate Disability Pride Month and present the fourth Ask Me Fair

July 12, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

Open Door Theater of Acton and Think Outside the Vox (Vox) are proud to present the fourth annual Ask Me Fair, a living library experience designed for families and open to all. This is a free event on Saturday, July 19 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Sargent Memorial Library…

Rewriting history from the other side of the bridge: Don Hagist brings the redcoats to life in Acton

July 12, 2025

by Greg Jarboe

As the Acton 250 Lecture Series continues its commemorative journey through the events of April 19, 1775, the community gathered once again on June 23, 2025 — this time to shift the lens. With the flicker of historic memory still fresh from this year’s Patriots’ Day celebrations, the…

Simple line drawing of swimmers in a wavy lake, some just heads peeking out, some with feet or hands. Clouds in the background, and a sun at the top left.

Ahh, a summer vacation for the Acton Exchange Team

July 12, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

The Acton Exchange volunteers are taking a week off next week. We won’t publish a new issue on the weekend of July 19. While we vacate…you write? Also, if you have stories or photos of summer activities around Acton, including fireworks photos, please send them to info@actonexchange.org. The…

Upcoming Powder Mill Road (Rt. 62) detour

July 12, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

As part of the ongoing Route 62 sewer upgrade project (described in this June 21 article), a temporary road closure and detour are required on Monday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 15, during construction hours (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) to install the sewer piping across the eastbound…

Anyone out there? Ham radio operators participate in nationwide field day

July 5, 2025

by Alissa Nicol

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) hosted its annual Field Day over the June 28-29 weekend at the Concord Rod and Gun Club on Strawberry Hill Road, within handheld radio broadcasting distance from the Acton town line. Around 40,000 amateur radio operators, also known as “hams,” participate each…

Juneteenth: Acton commemoration brings speakers and crowds

July 5, 2025

Greg JarboeandMiriam Lezak

Juneteenth: Acton commemoration brings speakers and crowds On June 19, Acton’sDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission held its first official commemoration of Juneteenth. The multi-part event started at the Acton Congregational Church with a presentation by local authorRay Anthony Shepard, who explored the history of Juneteenth and its connection…

OARS’ annual meeting: Elections, volunteers honored, Acton scientist speaks, and a new use for beet juice?

July 5, 2025

by James Conboy

June 23, Pompositticut Community Center, Stow: A new slate of board members was elected tonight at the OARS annual meeting, emceed by Executive Director Matt Brown, and five members were honored for their volunteer work during the past year. (OARS is the Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury, and…

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Governor signs budget with education increases, School Committee lowers FY26 assessments to the Towns but raises the overall budget

July 5, 2025

by Diane Baum

School may be out for the summer, but the Massachusetts state legislature has been busy finalizing the state budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 (approved on June 30) with significant increases in education spending. The $60.9 billion budget was signed by Governor Maura Healey on July 4. According…

The Bulletin Board – July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

Reminder to readers: Our front page can’t hold all the news. To see all of this week’s new articles, go to the All News page. The Acton Exchange Bulletin Board is for volunteer opportunities and other announcements not tied to a single specific time and date. Please send…

Advice on keeping a green lawn and an eye on the environment

July 5, 2025

by Bettina Abe

Loving green grass is a common sentiment. It’s lush and alive, smells good, invites whiffle ball games, allows one to lie back and stare at the clouds floating by in the sky… or the stars at night. Green lawns are often appreciated for their aesthetic and recreational value.…

Obituary: Nancy Gerhardt

July 5, 2025

by Family

Nancy K. (Rasmussen) Gerhardt, a longtime resident of Acton, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025. She was 95 years old. She was the beloved wife of the late Leslie H. Gerhardt, who passed away in 2009. Nancy was born in Mobridge, South Dakota, daughter of the late…

Business Briefs, July 1, 2025

July 5, 2025

by Jeff Brown

J.Crew Factory Store J.Crew opened a factory store in The Brookside Shopping Mall on July 2. Kate Connolly, district manager for J.Crew, said that the remodeling of the store was completed on June 26 and merchandise began arriving the next day. The J. Crew Factory Store sells discounted…

Sincere Foundation awards work by local organizations

July 5, 2025

by The Acton Exchange Team

Last year, Sincere Foundation (www.sincere.com) awarded grants to Household Goods and Boston Area Gleaners, as described in Sincere Foundation awards $35K to Acton nonprofits. Recently, Sincere announced that it has awarded $175,000 in new grants to 13 Massachusetts nonprofit organizations that address the basic needs of a community…

MassDOT designing Piper-Taylor intersection with Route 2

July 5, 2025

by David D. Martin

While construction is still years away, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is working on a concept to redesign the intersection of Piper and Taylor Roads with Route 2 — notorious in town for serious accidents, often due to Route 2 drivers running the red light at high…