Franny Osman

Franny Osman is an Acton News Initiative founding editor and author.

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Planning Board notes: December 16, 2025

December 20, 2025

by Franny Osman

Habitat for All: Updates to Subdivision Rules and Regulations The Planning Board met in a hybrid meeting on Dec. 16, some members at Town Hall and others on zoom. They reviewed the Subdivision Rules and Regulations informed by the vote at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting to make…

Makes U Wanna makes Acton residents wanna dance

December 13, 2025

by Franny Osman

Acton-based band Makes U Wanna drew a full house at Dirigible Brewing in Littleton Saturday afternoon, December 6. Except for the cars lining the otherwise empty office park lot, you wouldn’t guess a rock and roll concert was underway inside, just beyond the hand-painted Dirigible sign. Makes U…

A composite of eight people, all standing in front of the microphone telling their stories.

“Moth”-style storytelling at Community Compass

November 22, 2025

by Franny Osman

The Moth-style story night last week at Acton Boxborough Community Compass (ABCC) was one of many storytelling events over the past many years organized as fundraisers for the ABCC (formerly Acton-Boxborough United Way), produced by Acton resident David Gerratt’s Fugitive Productions. On Wednesday, November 12, a full house…

Puppets wake up after quiet time

September 20, 2025

by Franny Osman

The “Kids on the Block” puppets have lived for many years in Joan Burrows’ hall closet in her apartment on Elm Street. Labels sewn onto cloth storage bags indicate each puppet’s name. Some of the puppets have disabilities, visible or invisible; others are neurotypical friends who join conversations…

Cofounder of Boxborough FreeBee market explains how they offer food, fun, and resources

September 20, 2025

by Franny Osman

The Boxborough FreeBee market offers a venue where people from Boxborough, Acton and surrounding towns can give and receive necessities of life: food, ideas, news, books, and companionship. After FreeBee’s Harvest Fair on Sept. 13, the Acton Exchange interviewed cofounder Heather Fleming about how the market came to…

Sorrento’s employee released from detention

September 13, 2025

by Franny Osman

Lucas Ribeiro Dos Passos, the Ayer resident detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 1 while working at his full-time job at Sorrento’s Pizzeria in Acton, was released from detention on Tuesday, Sept. 9, State Senator Jamie Eldridge told the Acton Exchange. Eldridge said he and…

Car crash on Willow Street takes out utility pole, leaves neighborhood in the dark

August 30, 2025

by Franny Osman

At 2:38 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, Acton Police were called to a one-vehicle crash on Willow St. at Marian Rd. The driver and passenger were standing near the car when emergency responders arrived. The driver, a Hudson man aged 85, could not remember what had happened and…

ICE agents take employee from Sorrento’s Pizzeria

August 9, 2025

Franny OsmanandMiriam Lezak

At lunchtime on Friday, August 1, an employee at Sorrento’s Pizzeria in Acton was taken by four masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The employee, Lucas Ribeiro Dos Passos, lives in Ayer, within State Representative Danillo Sena’s and State Senator Jamie Eldridge’s districts. The Brazilian native is…

Planning Director Kristin Guichard moves up to regional role

August 2, 2025

by Franny Osman

Current and former Town employees and committee members who have worked with outgoing Planning Director Kristin Guichard honored her with a goodbye party in the yard behind the Town’s “Red House,” across from Town Hall at 458 Main St. on July 21. Guichard has been appointed Executive Director…

Acton’s Memorial Day Parade honors those who gave their lives

May 31, 2025

Sharon GruetandFranny Osman

Memorial Day in Acton kicked off with a march from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (ABRHS) to the Isaac Davis monument. In this 250th celebratory year, where better to be than to be the site of the revolution’s first veteran – Isaac Davis. The Minutemen reenactors led the march…

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Town Meeting Article 11: Home rule petition concerning Acton Memorial Library trustees

May 10, 2025

by Franny Osman

Article 11 asked the Town to petition the state legislature to increase the size of the Acton Memorial Library Board of Trustees from nine to 12. The added three trustees would be the Citizens’ Library Trustees, elected at Town Meeting as usual. In her presentation, Select Board Member…

Acton 250: Acton Minutemen and followers march to Concord

April 26, 2025

by Franny Osman

The annual reenactment of the Acton Minutemen’s march from the Isaac Davis home site at 39 Hayward Rd in Acton to the Old North Bridge in Concord, took place earlier than usual this year, on Friday, April 18. One longtime veteran of the walk commented that the mild…

Acton seeks creative development proposals for 3 and 13 School St.

April 12, 2025

by Franny Osman

A dozen or so participants, including local developers, neighbors, and a historian, attended a site walk on April 8 of two non-adjacent properties Acton is selling: 3 and 13 School St. Number 3 School St., built in 1927, has served as a fire station until 1961, civil defense…

Wednesdays at Bistro 30

March 22, 2025

by Franny Osman

I happened to be very hungry on Wednesday this week as I picked up some loaner medical equipment for a family member at the Acton Nursing Service at the Senior and Social Service Center, 30 Sudbury Road. It was pure serendipity that the weekly Bistro 30 was about…

A League of Women Voters Vote Tuesday sign in the grass.

Run for something!

March 1, 2025

by Franny Osman

It’s that time of year when we might look inward and ponder, “Is it my time to step up? Shall I run for local office?” According to Acton Town Clerk Leo Mercado, there are eight positions on the town election ballot this year: “Remember, there is no requirement…

Filming begins in Acton on Pointing Fingers, murder mystery and love story with autism theme

January 25, 2025

by Franny Osman

“Magical.” That is how Acton’s Michael Bergmann described the first week of filming Pointing Fingers, the movie his son Dan Bergmann wrote and stars in. Michael, an experienced film maker, is directing the movie, and his wife, sculptor Meredith Bergmann, is director of photography. The first shoot happened…

Suburban transportation forum hosted by Lexington

December 21, 2024

by Franny Osman

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…

A collage of four pictures, each with two people. Clockwise from bottom: - Two men, one wearing an Acton FD fleece, the other wearing an 18th century red jacket, knickers, and a tri-corner hat. - A couple wearing street clothes. - Another couple wearing street clothes. - A pair of people wearing street clothes, but from the 18th Century. The man is wearing a red jacket with brass buttons, the woman wears a dress, apron, and straw bonnet.

Veterans honored on town common

November 17, 2024

by Franny Osman

Veteran Services Director James MacRae and Chair of the Acton Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee Gail Sawyer led the 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony on the Town Common. The program, taped by Acton TV, included speeches, the laying of wreaths, a three volley salute by the Acton Minutemen, and…

Plaque on a brick wall with a picture of Marion Stoddart over an image of kayakers on the Nashua River. The plaque also includes the following quote, "All you need to do to make a difference in the world is commit and you will find a way." A brief history of Stoddarts work and a note indicating that Marion Stoddart Building of the Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School was namedon May 22, 2024.

Celebrating Marion Stoddart and the Nashua River cleanup

November 2, 2024

by Franny Osman

Two hundred movers, shakers, and river-lovers gathered in the auditorium of the newly renamed Marion Stoddart Building at the Groton-Dunstable Middle School on Friday, October 25, to celebrate Stoddart’s legacy, watch Susan Edwards’ film about her, “Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1000,” and hear from Stoddart herself. A…

Best ’fest ever

October 4, 2024

by Franny Osman

West Acton business owners have celebrated Oktoberfest for a couple of decades* and this year’s event was as large and lively as ever. Participants of all ages found activities to draw them in. “I think it was the best attendance we’ve had so far,” said organizer Annette Lochrie,…