Franny Osman

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

A favorite spring event: The Madrigals Dinner returns

June 6, 2026

Franny OsmanandMiriam Lezak

The annual dinner-theatre evening of the Acton Boxborough Regional High School Madrigals singing group attracted not only parents and friends of present performers and alumni who used to be in the group, but fans of the angelic voices and people who just happened to hear about the dinner.…

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Town Meeting wrapup: Overview

May 9, 2026

by Franny Osman

Acton residents enjoyed a smooth two-night Town Meeting this year. After months of committee and forum discussion of issues such as the Department of Public Works building, school budget, Taylor Rd. land purchase, and electrification of Town Hall heating, it seems the voters were talked out. For most…

Patriots Day commemorations 251 years later

April 25, 2026

by Franny Osman

Acton history students of all ages are lucky to live “on location” for commemorations of the start of the American Revolution. This year, “Revolutionary April” events drew re-enactors in full costume, some on horseback, marchers who accompanied them, and onlookers. On Sunday, April 19, early risers hiked the…

Falling tree wreaks havoc in West Acton

April 11, 2026

by Franny Osman

When the lights flickered and the electricity went out for some residents and businesses in West Acton at about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning April 9, it was common for people to assume that the outage was confined to their own house and that they were responsible. One…

Acton fife and drummers join Roxbury 250 commemoration

March 14, 2026

by Franny Osman

On Saturday, March 7, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office hosted “The 250th Anniversary of Henry Knox and Roxbury’s Legacy of Liberty.” Acton area re-enactors and musicians participated. The Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie, including two members from Acton, Stephanie Smoot and Dale Wilson, joined the traditional horse…

The Codfather makes an offer that the Acton Woman’s Club can’t refuse

January 24, 2026

by Franny Osman

The Acton Woman’s Club holds a monthly lunch and includes a speaker or performance of interest to the members and anyone from the public who wants to attend to learn more about the group. This month, the luncheon was held at Acton TV and was prepared by the…

Lottery open for affordable rental units in new McManus Manor

January 18, 2026

by Franny Osman

People who have lived in Acton a long time remember when Kennedy and Company Landscaping and Garden Center raised plants in greenhouses and sold trees and garden plants at their property on Main St. near Route 2 in Acton. Kennedy relocated to Harvard, MA in April 2023, as…

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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…