Environment

UPDATED: Water District Commissioners set April 22 for Special District Meeting to vote on budget — probably with a higher price tag

April 11, 2026

UPDATE April 15, 2026: At a joint meeting of the AWD Commissioners and FinCom on April 13, the Commissioners finalized the budget to be voted on at the Special District Meeting on April 22. The bottom line of the expenses budget is $9,568,431, and the details of the expense and revenue budgets are available here. At an April 3 joint meeting of the Acton Water District (AWD, the District) Commissioners and Finance Committee (FinCom), the commissioners set the date for a Special District Meeting for Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m., at the AWD Headquarters, 693 Massachusetts Ave. The warrant…

Acton Garden Club Horticultural Hints, April 2026

April 18, 2026

Judy DembseyandAnn Marie Testarmata

It’s been quite a winter and quite a spring! We thought spring would never come, with snowflakes a week ago and now, a week later, 70 degrees and a taste of summer. The daffodils and forsythia have finally decided to emerge. Stop and visit the Daffodil Hill and…

Acton wins Community Climate Impact Award

April 18, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

During the MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Conference in early April, Acton was recognized as a “community, team, or organization whose leadership has made a meaningful difference in advancing climate action at the local level.” MassEnergize said that “through dedication, collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to their community, the…

Acton Nature Watch: Pink Moon March 19-April 16, 2026

April 18, 2026

by Rob Gogan

March Mar. 16: On Acton’s first “Big Night,” a YELLOW SPOTTED SALAMANDER safely crosses Fort Pond Road under escort by an Amphibian Crossing Brigade volunteer. Mar. 24: A CEDAR WAXWING flock of 25 birds swarms CRABAPPLE trees between the Silver Unicorn and the Mobil gas station. Mar. 25:…

Nuclear Metals Inc. superfund site update: restoration and remediation

April 11, 2026

by Ron Parenti

At an evening meeting on April 2 held virtually and at Concord Town House, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Project Manager Kara Nierenberg, EPA’s community involvement coordinator Charlotte Gray, and the de maximis project coordinator Bruce Thompson, provided a 90-minute progress update on the Nuclear Metals…

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…

Conservation Trust members honor Terry Maitland and pet the softest animal in the world

April 4, 2026

by Leona Burgess

On Sunday, March 15, the Acton Conservation Trust (ACT) drew over one hundred conservation enthusiasts and animal lovers to Acton Town Hall for their 2026 annual meeting. Each year ACT provides a recap of recent activities, conducts a brief members’ meeting that elects new officers, awards the annual…

Acton Sustainability Office outlines cost-saving energy and waste options for renters

April 4, 2026

by Susan Greene

The Town of Acton Sustainability Office hosted a virtual information session for renters on March 26, outlining ways to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability, and access local resources. Andrea Becerra, sustainability director for the Town of Acton, described renter-friendly options for advancing environmental sustainability in Acton. She said…

Q&A with 2026 candidates for Water District Commissioner

April 4, 2026

by Kim Kastens

This year, there are two candidates running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD, the District): John Petersen and Stephen Stuntz. This post contains the candidates’ answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee. The Acton Water District is an independent government…

History of an historic park at 53 River Street

March 28, 2026

by David D. Martin

The historic park at 53 River Street, along Fort Pond Brook, will open this year. The decade-long story of its creation involves a number of monkey wrenches. At a special town meeting in October 2016, the Town of Acton acquired the 7-acre site at 53 River Street. To…

Acton Nature Watch: Worm Moon (February 19 – March 18, 2026)

March 28, 2026

by Rob Gogan

February Feb. 19 : RIVER OTTER trio scampers through light snow atop a frozen brook in N. Acton, leaving broad skid marks. See Rebecca Harvey’s trail cam video here. Feb. 27: A large RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perches on one leg in a SOURWOOD tree in a S. Acton back…

The spring equinox walk provided proof that spring is coming

March 28, 2026

by Alissa Nicol

Spring arrived on Friday, March 20 at precisely 10:46 a.m. Acton’s Community Conservation Specialist, Ian Bergmann, led a group of 14 walkers, young and old, on a spring equinox hike at the Acton Arboretum. Bergmann noted that while the equinox marks the start of spring celestially, in the…

Voters narrowly reject Water District budget, twice

March 21, 2026

by Kim Kastens

Voters packed the meeting room at the Public Safety Facility on March 18 for the Annual District Meeting for the Water Supply District of Acton (AWD, “District”). After praise for long-serving AWD official Ron Parenti and the recent completion of PFAS treatment facilities, the meeting took up an…

A yellow lab dog is lying down with his face between his paws.

Acton’s poop problem

March 21, 2026

by Tom Wolf

On a recent walk around NARA park, the paved path around the pond was fouled with at least 15 piles of dog poop. Since this is a common walking path, many had been squished by the shoe of an innocent walker. The problem is not limited to this…

March 2026 Horticulture Hints

March 14, 2026

by Judy Dembsey

As the daylight increases, days become warmer, and the snow and ice melt, we look for the coming of spring. There are some things that can be done this month, weather permitting. Bring color indoors To bring color indoors at this time of year, force branches of any…

Water District posts warrant for Mar. 18 Annual District Meeting

March 7, 2026

Kim KastensandGreg Jarboe

Update: March 17, 2026. The Acton Water District has announced on their website that at the March 18 Annual District meeting, only Warrant articles 1-6 and 15-18 will be taken up. As explained in the main article below, articles 7-14 deal with transfers of surplus revenues (aka “free cash”). As the free cash certification…

Energize Acton open house

March 7, 2026

by Jeff Brown

By the time the afternoon open house began, the morning’s light snow had melted off the roof of David Martin’s home on High St. Now the black tiles that covered the entire roof of the garrison colonial were visible. Each tile was a mini solar panel. Connected together,…

Acton Nature Watch: Snow Moon (January 18 – February 18, 2026)

February 28, 2026

by Rob Gogan

January Jan.18: Two male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [possibly over-wintering] pause at a backyard bird feeder in Indian Village. A male and female red-winged were also seen on a feeder during the February northeaster, but no migrants have returned so far. Jan.19: A male WHITE-TAILED DEER forages the greenery in…

Acton gets a foot, lends a hand

February 28, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

Mother nature has assisted in the digging out from Monday’s blizzard, by raising the temperature a bit. But for a while there, the winds were whipping up and so were the communications about closures from Town government and local entities such as Acton TV, trash pick-up services, and…

Special Select Board public hearing for purchasing 46 Taylor Road

February 21, 2026

by Tom Wolf

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Select Board held a special meeting to hear from citizens on the option of the Town purchasing 46 Taylor Road. On February 3, the owner of the 5.8 acre parcel notified the town boards of their intent to sell to a local developer…

Student teams present sustainable flood-resilience solutions at Hackathon showcase

February 14, 2026

by Susan Greene

February 5, 2026: Four student teams — two junior high school teams and two high school teams — presented creative, sustainability-focused solutions to local flooding challenges at Danny’s Place in West Acton, marking the culmination of the Acton Flood Solutions Hackathon. Hosted by AB STEAM (Acton Boxborough Science…

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Environment

UPDATED: Water District Commissioners set April 22 for Special District Meeting to vote on budget — probably with a higher price tag

Acton Garden Club Horticultural Hints, April 2026

Acton wins Community Climate Impact Award

Acton Nature Watch: Pink Moon March 19-April 16, 2026

Nuclear Metals Inc. superfund site update: restoration and remediation

A revolutionary roaster

Conservation Trust members honor Terry Maitland and pet the softest animal in the world

Acton Sustainability Office outlines cost-saving energy and waste options for renters

Q&A with 2026 candidates for Water District Commissioner

History of an historic park at 53 River Street

Acton Nature Watch: Worm Moon (February 19 – March 18, 2026)

The spring equinox walk provided proof that spring is coming

Voters narrowly reject Water District budget, twice

Acton’s poop problem

March 2026 Horticulture Hints

Water District posts warrant for Mar. 18 Annual District Meeting

Energize Acton open house

Acton Nature Watch: Snow Moon (January 18 – February 18, 2026)

Acton gets a foot, lends a hand

Special Select Board public hearing for purchasing 46 Taylor Road

Student teams present sustainable flood-resilience solutions at Hackathon showcase

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