Nancy Knoblock Hunton

A revolutionary roaster

April 4, 2026

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

For decades, George Howell has been at the forefront of a revolution to transform coffee from a commodity into a craft. Today, his influence stretches from his small roastery on School Street in Acton to coffee farms around the world. Howell’s search for the best beans has taken…

Acton Police Chief James Cogan retires

April 4, 2026

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

A roomful of well-wishers praised and applauded Acton Police Chief James Cogan, as he officially retired on Friday, March 27, after 42 years with the Town’s Police Department. Fellow Acton police officers, retired and present-day, as well as firefighters, legislators, and family members were on hand for the…

Student employee appreciated by Idylwilde Farm

February 7, 2026

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Sarah Keefe, a native of Acton and 2023 ABRHS graduate, is a familiar face to customers at Idylwilde Farm. She began working part-time at age 16 as a cashier at the upscale farm market. Getting a job there, her parents had suggested, would be good practice for the…

Left in the lurch by a store closing? Advice for consumers

January 10, 2026

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

As described in Circle Furniture closes abruptly, customers, employees, and furniture makers all over the country were caught by surprise when the business closed. If you ordered and paid for furniture from Circle Furniture, and it was not delivered to you, this could be considered a case of…

Household Goods celebrates milestone and kicks off “Furnish the Future” fundraising

November 1, 2025

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Household Goods of Acton celebrated 35 years of furnishing homes for people in need with an Oktoberfest party on October 22. The event, held at its headquarters at 530 Main Street, recognized volunteers, staff, and donors for their contributions to the nonprofit’s success. Over 200 people turned out…

Community water fluoridation movie screened at library

August 30, 2025

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Controversy has swirled around the fluoridation of public water ever since it was first introduced in 1945 as a way to help prevent tooth decay, especially for those who could not afford dental care. In the 1950s, opponents claimed adding fluoride—a mineral that naturally occurs in water—was a…

Local company a leader in diabetes care

June 7, 2025

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Lured by the opportunity to bring a new diabetes insulin pump to market, physician-scientist Trang Ly joined the Insulet Corporation in Acton in 2016. She helped oversee successful clinical trials in both children and adults that led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of “Omnipod 5” for…

“Countdown to April 19” approaches culmination

April 5, 2025

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

To commemorate the start of the American Revolution and Acton’s role in the fight for independence, the town established the Acton 250 Committee. Starting in 2023, this group of a dozen volunteers has presented talks, walks, and other events for residents to learn about Acton’s past. “We’ve been…

Acton’s Town Clerk files her last official form

September 27, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

On Friday, September 27, Eva Szkaradek retired after serving twenty years as Acton’s town clerk and a total of more than 30 years in Acton town government. In her role as town clerk, she has been the community’s official record keeper—tracking births, marriages, and deaths as well as…

At the Heart of Haartz

September 7, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Eric Haartz was starting graduate school in 1977 when his father John C. Haartz Jr., president of the Haartz Corporation, died unexpectedly. At a family meeting following the funeral, young Eric was asked if he would be interested in taking over the business. He said he was but…

Municipal workers take on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution

July 19, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Three young, energetic environmental professionals are working in local government to cut down Acton’s carbon emissions, protect our open spaces, and clean our drinking water: Lauren West, in the Town Sustainability Office; Ian Bergemann, in the Town’s Conservation Division; and Alex Wahlstrom, at the Acton Water District. The…

A woman with black hair, big pink glasses, and wearing a purple dress holds an award (the Black Excellence on the Hill Award).

Julie Pierce promotes a vibrant Acton

April 30, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Julie Pierce, Acton’s Economic and Community Development Director, was completely surprised and honored when she recently won a “Black Excellence on the Hill” award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Unbeknownst to her, State Representative Simon Cataldo, who represents parts of Acton, had nominated her for…

Artist Kay Hartung by the entrance to her exhibit at the Acton Memorial Library.

Local Artist Kay Hartung Featured in Library Exhibit

April 1, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

It’s often said that stripes and plaids don’t mix, but artist Kay Hartung thinks they can. In her artwork, now on display at the Acton Memorial Library until the end of April, she explores how colors and patterns interact. Entitled “Layers,” the exhibit features monotypes, one-of-a-kind prints. Hartung…

Marie Beam, new CEO of Acton Discovery Museum

Discovery Museum: Advancing Learning Experiences

March 14, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

When Neil Gordon, the long-time CEO of Acton’s Discovery Museum, announced he intended to retire at the end of 2023, the Board of Directors of the children’s museum launched a six-month, intensive search for his replacement. But like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” they found their “heart’s…

Fire Chief Anita Arnum

Acton’s Fire Department to the Rescue

February 24, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Fire Chief Anita Arnum and recently appointed Deputy Chief Chris Sammet have amassed 60 years of experience serving the Acton Fire Department. Through those years, they have not only fought fires but have helped people facing a variety of crises, ranging from injuries from a car accident to…

A man leans on a wooden rail. Photo credit: Discovery Museum.

Discovery Museum CEO to Retire

December 5, 2023

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Many people’s first introduction to Acton is through its Discovery Museum. This year, the children’s museum is on target to have more than 200,000 visitors—90 percent of them from out of town. In addition, approximately 54,000 students will take part in the museum’s hands-on “Traveling Science Workshops,” which…

A smiling woman wearing a bush hat

Acton Conservation Trust’s Susan Mitchell-Hardt Receives Life-Time Achievement Award

October 30, 2023

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

In the 1600s, Concord farmers used the land now known as Acton as a grazing pasture for their cows and other animals. Today the community of Acton has more than 24,000 residents and depends on conservation lands to preserve open space for present and future generations. Susan Mitchell-Hardt,…

Original front entrance to the Acton Memorial Libray, the older brick building part.

Joining the Conversation

August 14, 2023

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Each week people from literally all over the world meet in the Acton library to practice speaking and listening to English in a “conversation group.” This small, supportive group gives newcomers to the United States a chance to become more fluent in English and learn about American culture.…