The Acton Exchange

Energize Acton Home Tour: A 1793 Farmhouse Goes Energy Efficient
2025-05-10 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Provided after registration
How we use energy matters. But what if you live in a colonial home? How does one honor historic inheritance and yet create energy upgrades that honor the future? The homeowners of this iconic Acton property are eager to share their efforts. You will see major insulation updates, solar, air source heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, and more.
What could work for you?
Sponsored by EnergizeActon.org. Info and registration at https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/1937.
Address sent after registration.

Lucky Stiff Musical
2025-05-10 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-05-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Theatre III, 250 Central St., Acton, 01720
Theater III in Acton presents Lucky Stiff, the Musical!
Synopsis: Tony Award-winning writing team Ahrens and Flaherty’s first produced show, Lucky Stiff, is an offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair.
Performance dates: May 3, 8, 9, 10, 2025 at 8 p.m., May 4, 11, 2025 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $27.00 Adult; $24.00 Student (thru high school); $24.00 Senior (65+); $10.00 MCC Card to Culture Program

COA presents: Exploring Improvisation with Poornima Kirby
2025-05-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road Rear, Acton, MA, 01720
Open to out-of-town seniors for $20, free for Acton seniors.
Come unlock your sense of humor, play and discovery with this 8-week class on the art and fun of improvisation at the Acton Council on Aging (COA)! We’ll play simple improv games, explore short-form and long-form scenarios, and gain tools for building characters on the fly. We’ll also sharpen our listening skills, use our imaginations, and learn how to say “yes, and . . .!” to our fellow improvisors. We’ll even learn how to apply improvisation skills in everyday life to solve problems, increase confidence, and gain insights into human relationships. People with any level of experience are welcome to join! Her classes at the Senior Center are educational and great fun!
No class May 26th

ACT Spring Bird Walk
2025-05-13 07:00 - 09:00 | MA
Join Acton Conservation Trust for a Spring Bird Walk. This is a great time to get up early and go bird watching, as according to BirdCast, more than 1,430,400 birds crossed Middlesex County after sunset on May 13 in 2024. This is peak spring migration time! Register for the Spring Bird Walk here. Once registered, you’ll get an email a few days before the event with location and parking information.

Library: Yarn & Needle Club
2025-05-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Acton Memorial Library Meeting Room (1st floor), 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, and sewers, join the library to work on your project and socialize! We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.

Housing Legal Clinics
2025-05-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Acton Community Services office, 30 Sudbury Road Rear, Acton, MA, 01720
The Acton Community Services Office within the Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with MetroWest Legal Services, will host a monthly housing legal clinic beginning in January.
Housing Legal Clinic appointments will begin on Jan. 14 and will be held on the second Tuesday of each month from 4-6 p.m. at the Human Service and Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road Rear.
Before you attend a session, you must complete the following registration form, which can be found here.
The program, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, will run until Dec. 31, 2026.

Library: Virtual - Inspired Garden Design Lessons from Magnificent Gardens and Gardeners with Kerry Ann Mende
2025-05-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Stunning gardens will be our classroom for emphasizing striking design essentials that elevate gardens from ordinary to sublime, regardless of the hardiness zone or sunlight conditions. We will consider texture, movement, color, repetition, focal points, vertical elements and more. This is a virtual event.

Registration required, click here to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/yawe4jes

Green Acton monthly meeting
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:45 | Zoom
Green Acton works to protect and enhance Acton’s natural environment and resources for present and future generations, and to help resolve the urgent environmental issues that transcend Acton’s boundaries. The group meets monthly (except for August) on the second Tuesday of the month, usually by zoom but occasionally in person. To learn more about Green Acton’s mission, accomplishments, and ongoing work, visit https://greenacton.org/
To get the agenda and zoom link for the upcoming monthly meeting, email info@greenacton.org
In addition to the all-topics monthly meeting, the individual committees hold more specialized meetings; topical committees are Biodiversity, Energy, Materials (e.g plastics, toxics, recycling), Land Use (e.g. zoning), and Water. To find the dates for committee meetings visit the Green Acton Upcoming Events page at: https://greenacton.org/calendar/

Library: Tech Help at West Acton Citizens' Library
2025-05-14 13:30 - 14:30 | West Acton Citizens’ Library, 21 Windsor Avenue, Acton, 01720
West Acton Citizens’ LibraryWest Acton Citizens’ Library21 Windsor Avenue, Acton, MA, 01720

Sign up for a 15-minute 1:1 tech help session.
Please bring your device and any questions you might have!
Registration is required!
1:30 slot: https://actonmemoriallibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/tech-help-at-west-acton-citizens-library-1-30pm-slot-36/
1:45 slot: https://actonmemoriallibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/tech-help-at-west-acton-citizens-library-1-45pm-slot-48/

2:00 slot: https://actonmemoriallibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/tech-help-at-west-acton-citizens-library-2-00pm-slot-12/
2:15 slot: https://actonmemoriallibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/tech-help-at-west-acton-citizens-library-2-15pm-slot-48/

I Hiked Acton’s Trails!
2025-05-14 14:30 - 16:00 | MA
Walk the trails in Acton’s conservation areas with the goal of earning a sticker and a sew-on patch! These weekly walks are a joint effort between Acton Conservation Trust and Acton Conservation Division. We’ll walk a different conservation area weekly, on Wednesdays from April 9 to June 11. The location of each hike will be sent out each Sunday before the walk. Once registered, you can join us whenever it suits you.

REGISTER HERE

Library: Drum Away the Blues with Craig Harris
2025-05-14 16:00 - 17:30 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Location: Meeting Room, Acton Memorial Library | 486 Main Street, Acton MA 01720

Calling all high school and college students!
Are you stressed about finals, exams, or end of term projects? Do you feel yourself getting tired just thinking about studying? It’s time to give yourself a break! Come Drum Away the Blues with this interactive musical experience!
Funded by the Acton Memorial Library Foundation

Acton Community Supper: May
2025-05-14 16:30 - 17:45 | Mt Cavalry Lutheran Church, 472 Massachusetts Ave., Acton, MA, 01720
Spring has arrived. Mother Nature always returns us to many colors and warmer temps in May. Please, join neighbors and friends at the tables in Fellowship Hall. We look forward to sharing a meal and friendship with you.
May 2025 menu:
May 7 — Cinco de Mayo – Mexican burrito bake
Sponsored by United Church of Christ Congregational, Boxborough
May 14 — Amish casserole (burger and pasta with cheese)
Sponsored by the Acton Lions Club
May 21 –Pork chops with pasta salad
Sponsored by Friends of Mt. Calvary Community Supper
May 28 — Ravioli and meatballs
Sponsored by Kate Zhong and Friends
** Please note that the meals we serve may contain gluten, nuts, seeds, or dairy.
Doors open at 4:15pm. Please, do not enter prior so our volunteers can prepare your Supper.
Parking: Park your car in the back parking lot and enter from the walkway to the church door.

First Connections: Helping parents understand and manage challenging behaviors in young children
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
A free live webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
Our speakers will be Lynn St. Germaine, an Infant-Toddler teacher for 37 years, and Patricia Collins, a preschool teacher for 25 years, from Concord Children’s Center.
Young children often act out for various reasons such as hunger, tiredness, frustration, confusion, or difficulty transitioning between activities. At times, they may not have the words to express what they need, leading to outbursts and meltdowns. These behaviors are not random-they signal underlying needs or developmental challenges, like unmet emotional needs, underdeveloped communication skills or lack of self-regulation. By understanding the root causes of challenging behaviors, parents can respond more effectively and support their children’s emotional and social development. By attending this program, you will gain an understanding of why children act out, and learn strategies that might include creating predictable routines, reinforcing positive behaviors, and using calm and consistent responses to guide the children through emotional ups and downs.
To receive the Zoom link for this FREE program email First Connections: lmatthews@jri.org.

Acton Exchange All-Hands Meeting
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | ActonTV offices, 16a Craig Road, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
The Acton Exchange team holds monthly meetings that are open to our active volunteers and anyone who might want to become a volunteer. If you have an Acton connection and want to contribute to independent community journalism in our town, it is likely that the AE has a role for you, whatever your skill sets and interests might be. Each meeting begins with an opportunity to learn what has been going on at the Acton Exchange, followed by an opportunity to improve our journalism skills. Meetings are either hybrid (in-person or zoom) or zoom-only. For this month’s venue and topic, email info@actonexchange.org

Library: Adult Writing Group
2025-05-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Location: Meeting Room, Acton Memorial Library | 486 Main Street, Acton MA 01720

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. Feel free to join in person or on Zoom, all writing levels welcome!
Optional Prompt: Write 500 words or one long-hand page about a topic you’re passionate about as if no one will ever read it (You of course, are not required to share what you write during the club meeting)
Zoom Link: https://actonma.zoom.us/j/87699206993
Zoom Meeting ID: 876 9920 6993

Road Safety Audit Forum: School Street
2025-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720
A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is a formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection, conducted by an independent, multidisciplinary team. It qualitatively assesses and reports on potential road safety issues and identifies opportunities to improve safety for all road users.
The aim of an RSA is to answer the following questions:

What elements of the road may present a safety concern— to what extent, to which road users, and under what circumstances?
What opportunities exist to eliminate or mitigate identified safety concerns?

Please join us for a Public Forum to discuss School Street. We’d like to hear your input on road safety issues and potential opportunities for improvement along the roadway.

AB Community Band: Poetry in Motion concert
2025-05-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Dragonfly Theater (RJ Grey Jr HS), 16 Charter Road, Acton, MA, 01720
The Acton-Boxborough Community Band will present a concert based on the theme “Poetry in Motion” on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in the R. J. Grey School Auditorium. The 7pm concert is free and open to the public.
Always delivering audience-friendly shows based on themes, this concert features music inspired by poetry. “Korobushka” is based on an energetic Russian story about a traveling salesman. Other works include von Suppe’s “Poet and Peasant Overture,” “Der Erlkonig” based on Goethe’s gothic poem and the world premiere of Rigda Vacadi’s “Reflections on Four Latvian Poets.” Of course, the band will also perform Johnny Tillotson’s “Poetry in Motion!”
Director: David Manuel Garcia, https://www.davidmanuelgarcia.com/
The R. J. Grey School is located on Charter Road in Acton. For more information, contact Kimberly O’Shaughnessy, Community Education Program Administrator at koshaughnessy@abschools.org

Maynard Community Gardeners Plant Sale
2025-05-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Maynard Elks Club, 34 Powder Mill Road, Maynard, MA, 01754
Come to the Maynard Community Gardeners annual plant sale to browse among a unique assortment of annuals and perennials to find the perfect addition to your flower, vegetable, or herb garden. Decorate your porch with hanging baskets and other annuals. Find that perfect “something” at the small flea market of deeply-discounted garden-related tools and objects.
Please join us at the Maynard/Clinton Elks Parking Lot in Maynard.
Click for more information about the Maynard Community Gardeners.

Acton Garden Club Plant Sale
2025-05-17 09:00 - 13:00 | The Red House, 468 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720
The Acton Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale rain or shine.
Come early for the best selections of Annuals, Perennials, Native Plants, House Plants and locally grown herbs, vegetables, shrubs, and trees. Take advantage of our Master Gardeners for answers to all your gardening questions. Visit our Resource Table for information on topics ranging from Ticks, Garlic Mustard and Managing Invasive to Natives, Gardening Tips and Membership.
Proceeds of the Annual Garden Sale support our community, through scholarships for graduating ABHS seniors, maintenance of town gardens and planters, and educational programs for the community and club members.

Acton DPW polystyrene (styrofoam) collection
2025-05-17 10:00 - 13:00 | DPW, 14 Forest Rd, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
On the third Saturday of every month (except June, which is 2nd Saturday), you can recycle your clean styrofoam containers.
For details about the 2025 schedule, and what you can recycle, see https://actonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10278/Polystyrene-collection-days-and-guide-2025.

First Annual Paul Revere’s Bike Ride
2025-05-17 10:00 - 14:00 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Tpke, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Join us in marking the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride on a bike ride through the historic towns of Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Bedford and Carlisle. Starting at the Concord Museum near the historic town center, cyclists can choose to ride a 21.3 or 32.4 mile loop on paved roads, passing many Revolutionary landmarks like the North Bridge, the Lexington Green, the Paul Revere Capture Site, and much more!
All registrants will receive:

Paul Revere’s Bike Ride T-shirt
On-course mechanical support and additional neutral road support
Free admission to the Concord Museum on Ride Day
Access to the Post-Ride Party with beer, music, and food trucks

The Ride kicks off at 10:00 am. The Post-Ride Party with food trucks, beer, and music begins at 11:30 am at the Concord Museum. All are welcome!
All net proceeds from the events will support the Museum’s educational programs, making it possible for more than 14,000 school children to learn from the Museum’s unique collection and expert educators.

Register here: https://www.bikereg.com/paul-reveres-bike-ride?utm_source=concordmuseum.org&utm_medium=site

West Acton Historic Homes Tour
2025-05-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Provided after registration
Step inside historic homes and see and learn about many more as we tour West Acton! Once known simply as the “west part of town,” in 1845 the railroad arrived in this section of Acton, transforming the sleepy hamlet into a vibrant village of new commerce and homes. Today, it retains much of its 19th-century charm, including charming storefronts, workers’ cottages, and storybook Victorians.
Join us for this unique experience to see historic homes, inside and out, and immerse yourself in culture and history. Offered one time only! Space is limited.
This is a guided walking “happy hour” tour, no libations but a lot of fun packed into an hour! (Please note, this is an approximate time, the tour may be slightly longer, but Happy Hour and 15 Minutes doesn’t have the same ring…)

Acton Historical Society Open House
2025-05-18 14:00 - 17:00 | Jonathan Hosmer House, 300 Main St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Please join the Acton Historical Society for an open house at the Hosmer House.
In addition to the many items related to Acton history on display, you will be able to see our new 250th Anniversary exhibit about Acton’s role in the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Medicare Savings Program Enrollment Workshop
2025-05-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road Rear, Acton, MA, 01720
Join Minuteman Senior Services SHINE for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) workshop on Tuesday, May 20th from 2:00-3:00pm. This workshop will be held at the Acton Senior Center. An MSP can help you save $185 monthly in Medicare Part B costs and in some cases, pay for your annual deductibles, co-payments and medication costs.
If you are single and earn $2935 or a couple earning up to $3966 monthly, you qualify for the MSP program and can receive enrollment assistance at this workshop plus other cost savings advice from a state certified Medicare benefits counselor.
Please RSVP by calling 978-929-6652.
For information regarding any Medicare related insurance matter please schedule a SHINE appointment today by calling the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE Program at 781-221-7029.

Silver Unicorn Bookstore: Author dinner at Silver Girl
2025-05-20 18:00 - 22:00 | Silver Unicorn Bookstore, 12 Spruce Street, Acton, MA, 01720
Author Dinner Party is BACK, and it’s going to be right down the street with our new BFFs at Silver Girl Restaurant. We can’t wait to kick off this new partnership with Silver Girl, and our first Author Dinner Party is going to feature three amazing local authors in Mark Cecil, Tova Mirvis, and Ellen Ruppel Shell.
Doors will open at 6 pm on Tuesday, May 20th, and by purchasing a ticket, you get the chance to meet three fascinating authors while enjoying dinner and literary discussion in cozy West Acton Village.
Tickets are $80. Your ticket includes one book and three courses prepared by chef Aya Alexander of Silver Girl. Additional books and cocktails will be available for purchase as well. Space is limited so secure your spot early for this exciting evening of literature and camaraderie right here in West Acton!
Purchase your tickets from the Silver Girl website here.

Library: Acton Memorial Library Book Discussion Group
2025-05-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Conference Room, Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720
Acton Memorial Library Book Discussion Group. Copies available at Acton Memorial Library, first come first serve.

This meeting’s book: The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Click here for a list future meeting’s books and more information about other book groups: https://tinyurl.com/3hd4pfyt

Air Source Heat Pump Webinar
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Bob Zogg, co-founder of the HeatSmart Alliance, will give the audience a clear and comprehensive overview of recent advances in heat pump technology, with time for homeowner experiences and questions. Sponsored by MassEnergize & EnergizeActon.org.
Info/Sign-Up at https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/1825
Sponsored by MassEnergize and EnergizeActon.org.

Introduction to the Pine Hawk Discovery
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Learn about Acton’s most significant archaeological discovery, the Pine Hawk site in South Acton. The site was inhabited by Native Americans for over several thousand years and yielded a treasure trove of artifacts. Doug Halley was the Acton official most involved as the discovery of this site unfolded over 20 years ago. He will describe that process of discovery, its significance, and how the project activated an increased interest in historical preservation, such as the Trail Through Time in North Acton. Doug also created an award-winning exhibit about Pine Hawk, which can be seen today on the ground floor of the Acton Memorial Library. This program is presented with support from Acton Memorial Library and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.
This event is free and does not require registration. It will be recorded for future viewing at https://www.pinehawk.org/videos/. Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com
