With the end of the Punic Wars in the second century BCE, Rome dominated the Western Mediterranean and was poised to expand eastward. Yet the tremendous growth of Roman power caused social turmoil in Rome itself. The result was civil war, dictatorship, and the eventual collapse of the Roman Republic. This illustrated lecture will look at the forces that caused the transformation from Roman Republic to Roman Empire. Open to out-of-towners 60+ for $5

Are you experiencing grief from the death of an older loved one and finding it hard to cope with everyday life? If so, please join us in a new grief support group that will meet once a month for one hour via Zoom to discuss ways of coping with grief. Listening to others’ experiences can help you to better understand your own experience and may provide you with new insight in more constructive ways of dealing with this stage of life. This group will be led by Julie Norstrand, PhD, an experienced eldercare consultant who has worked with older adults

Register on the program page on our website. Writing Club is a free group for prose, poetry and non-fiction writers to come together, connect, share and create in a welcoming environment. Join the conversation, work on optional weekly prompts or use the time to work on an existing project that your passionate about. All writing levels welcome! Optional Prompt: Write 1-3 paragraphs about a book, film, or tv show you enjoy and why you enjoy it. Do the same on a piece of media you do not enjoy and explain why you don't enjoy it. Then write at least one

Join this engaging presentation to learn about black bear biology and behavior and get tips on how communities can take proactive steps to prevent conflict with bears. The program will be presented by Meghan Crawford, Community Engagement Biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Hosted by Acton Conservation, Littleton Conservation, Westford Conservation, and the Littleton Conservation Trust. A hybrid attendance option via zoom is also available. To attend in person, please register at Co-existing with black bears in Massachusetts. Zoom link: https://bit.ly/BlackBearsinMA

DiscoverSTEM 2025 is an interactive career discovery for teens and others. Come explore this free, hands-on AB STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) event! Perfect for students in grades 7–12, families, and the whole community. DiscoverSTEM shows how science, technology, engineering, art (creativity + innovation) and math connect to everyday life. Experience about 50 interactive exhibits featuring Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog, Pedal Power E-bikes, EcoQuiet Lawn Care green tech, EnergizeActon.org on the future of sustainability, Haartz advance materials, Solidworks 3D design and engineering, Open Door Theater digital accessibility, Acton Police and Fire Tech, s’mores made with induction cooking & more! Presented by AB STEAM (ABSTEAM.org) in partnership with ABRHS. Made possible by AB STEAM volunteers, the AB School District, and Boston-area

The Pumpkin Smash is BACK! 💥🎃 Don’t toss your jack-o'-lanterns—SMASH them! Join us on Saturday, Nov 8 at the NARA lower parking lot for some smashing fun! Bring your leftover pumpkins and help us turn them into compost, not landfill waste. For more information, see actonma.gov/sustainability or contact sustainability@actonma.gov.

Nashoba Praying Indian Grand Chief Quiet Storm will talk about how we as a community can be good stewards of the land in all spaces. She will also highlight how we can better support the pollinators and biodiversity that we rely on to sustain our life on Mother Earth. Friends of Pine Hawk events are free but for talks like this registration is strongly encouraged at https://tinyurl.com/2025-Pinehawk.

Eating more plant-based meals is important for our health and for our environment, so please join Energize Acton for this informal outdoor “tailgate” potluck. Instead of coming together for a sporting event, we are gathering to celebrate our wonderful plant world, share recipes, and eat delicious food! EnergizeActon will provide vegetarian chili, cornbread, and hot cider and we ask you to bring a vegetarian or vegan “nibble” to share. Please dress for the weather! The address will be sent upon registration. Info and registration at https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/2075.

The Friends of Pine Hawk annual fall community service day is planned for the afternoon of Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 1pm. This year the event will again focus on the Trail Through Time, a heritage trail through town-owned conservation lands in North Acton. The Trail includes sites and stone structures representative of two distinct cultures, the colonial and the Native American, that existed both serially and concurrently within a relatively small geographical area. The focus will be on trail maintenance and Ian Bergemann, Acton’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, will be there to help guide our efforts. All ages welcome. If