Alissa Nicol

Five women posing in the sun. Four of the women are wearing Helen Roper costumes -- Curly red wigs, bright kaftans, and chunky jewelry. The 5th woman is wearing a straw hat and sunglasses, as befits the perfect weather.

Acton can be proud of this well-attended Pride Fest

June 21, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

On Saturday June 15, at NARA Park in North Acton, rainbows were in abundance despite the clear blue sky with nary a single cloud. The second annual Pride Fest, organized by the Acton Recreation Department, welcomed the Town of Westford this year to join in the family-friendly celebration…

Another booth -- the awning says Acton Water District. There are people behind the table talking to a group of fair attendees.

Festival offers opportunity to learn about and celebrate climate action in Acton

June 14, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Acton’s Sustainability Office, with funding from the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program grant program, organized a Climate Resilience Festival that was held on Saturday, June 8 at the Gardner Playground in West Acton. Participating organizations included Green Acton, Acton Boxborough Farmers Market, Acton Water District, Acton Conservation Trust (ACT),…

A smiling woman in a purple coat sits in a chair outdoors. She is wearing a large purple and gold ribbon rosette that says "Meredith Bergmann, Sculptor."

Acton sculptor honors women through Lexington monument

May 16, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Acton sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s “Something is Being Done” was unveiled at the Lexington Green on Wednesday, May 15. A crowd of hundreds gathered to celebrate the monument, installed on a granite plaza, as well as the work of dozens of women “to make women visible and honor their…

A small waterfall cascades over moss-covered rocks on a sunny day.

Dawn’s Pond commemoration at the Acton Arboretum

May 16, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Under a bright blue sky, in the afternoon on Monday, May 13, 2024 a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to dedicate the fish pond installed in July of 2023 at the Acton Arboretum on Taylor Road. “Dawn’s Pond” is a dream manifested, a dream of the late Dawn…

A cheery flowerbed with a wooden sign that says "Planted and maintained by the Acton Garden Club."

Oval Garden is Dedicated

May 7, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

The Oval Garden in front of Town Hall, newly planted by the Acton Garden Club to commemorate the club’s 90th Anniversary, was dedicated on the morning of May 1. The 20’x18’ perennial garden was designed with plantings that will withstand, with little maintenance or watering, the harsh sun,…

A man stands at a lectern with a video screen in the background

Community Solar Forum at Congregation Beth Elohim

April 19, 2024

Alissa NicolandMatthew Liebman

A Community Solar Forum was held on Sunday, April 9, at Acton’s Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE). After a breakfast organized and served by the CBE Brotherhood, several speakers described the congregation’s parking lot solar array project that recently won a Sunny Award from the US Department of Energy.…

people in colorful dress on stage

There’s No Place Like our Hometown’s Open Door Theater

March 23, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Open Door Theater’s 2024 production, The Wizard of Oz, opened on Friday, March 15 at the Dragonfly Theater located at the RJ Grey Junior High School on Charter Road. The matinees on both Saturday and Sunday were sold out, with groups attending from the Perkins School, The Learning…

8 hatchling wood turtles on a person's open hands

Wood Turtles Get a Head Start

March 23, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

On March 6, six volunteers joined Acton’s Land Stewardship Coordinator Ian Bergemann and Zoo New England (ZNE) Field Biologist Jimmy Welch to create habitat for threatened wood turtles, Glyptemys insculpta, along a brook in Acton. ZNE’s website describes the species as “once the most common freshwater turtle in…

The author lends a hand to a Wood Frog crossing Fort Pond Road in Acton.

Big Night for Amphibian Helpers

March 14, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

After the sun went down on February 28, a wet and unseasonably warm evening, several local residents put on rain gear, head lamps, and reflective vests to report for Amphibian Crossing Brigade duty. This was the earliest such night of assisting road crossings of frogs and salamanders seen…

Cover of Clegg and Kennedy’s book on local journalism.

On Local News: Silver Unicorn Bookstore Event

March 6, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

A standing-room-only crowd of more than forty was packed into The Silver Unicorn Bookstore for “Community News Night” on the evening of Friday, March 1. In partnership with this publication, Acton Exchange, the small indy bookseller in West Acton hosted veteran journalists Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy to discuss…

Cold water plunge tank with onlookers.

Brrrr-ave Supporters of Special Olympics Participate in Acton’s Second Annual Polar Plunge

February 7, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Police Department partnered with The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to host the second annual Polar Plunge at NARA Park on a sunny, but nippy, Saturday, February 3. At last year’s inaugural event, plungers supported Special Olympics by running into the lake at NARA beach. This…

A man adjusts an item while another man appears to hold a cell phone

Fix-It Clinic

November 28, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

A Fix-It Clinic was held at the Acton Memorial Library on Saturday, November 25 from 10:00 – 1:00 PM. The event attracted seventeen individuals and families with a variety of items in need of repair. These items included a clock, handbag, lighted tree, wheelchair, miniature sewing machine, miniature…

Aman holds an early American flag; a speakar at a podium and other flag-holders stand behind him

Veterans Day Observance in Acton

November 13, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

A crowd gathered on the Acton Town Common Saturday morning, November 11 at 11:00 AM to observe the 2023 Veterans Day. Organized by the Veterans Services Office and Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee, the observance opened with a welcome and invocation by Gail Sawyer, Deputy Director-Emergency Management. Town Manager…

A group of people gathered around an old-style school desk

“Acton’s Schools Then and Now” at the Hosmer House

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Historical Society (AHS) hosted its monthly Open House at the Hosmer House Museum on Saturday afternoon, October 21, and visitors had a chance to view the new exhibit, “Acton’s Schools, Then and Now.” Also on display was a poster project by two 2023 Acton Boxborough Regional…

A group of people behind a table, on which there are a variety of apple pies

Friends of the Acton Libraries’ Apple Pie Contest

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Friends of the Acton Libraries’ second annual Apple Pie Contest drew 7 entries from Acton residents, and winners were announced in the Meeting Room on the first floor of the Memorial Library on Sunday afternoon, October 29. The judging of the pies had taken place the day…

a group of people views an exibit

After Hours Archaeology Tour for Pine Hawk Friends

October 23, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

On Sunday, October 15, seven Friends of Pine Hawk members traveled to the Robbins Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Middleborough, home of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society and a collection of 200,000+ cultural items. This after-hours tour of the museum was led by Greg Lott and Judi Macioci.…

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