Environment - Page 4

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 an Acton Center backyard. Jan. 20: A BOBCAT pauses in a snowy W. Acton backyard, ears and eyes cocked forward. Jan. 24: Nearly two feet (60 cm) of dry snow covers the town with fluffy snow. Persistent severe cold and strong winds challenge wildlife to stay warm enough. Jan. 27: WHITE-TAILED DEER…

Revision to Massport charter includes climate objectives in Hanscom planning

July 26, 2024

by Kim Kastens

In a press release dated July 17, 2024, one of Acton’s state representatives, Simon Cataldo, wrote: “The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted favorably on omnibus energy and climate legislation that incorporates Representative Simon Cataldo’s…amendment to enact a landmark change to Massport’s charter. The amendment, filed with [representatives of…

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…

Another booth -- the awning says Acton Water District. There are people behind the table talking to a group of fair attendees.

Festival offers opportunity to learn about and celebrate climate action in Acton

June 14, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Acton’s Sustainability Office, with funding from the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program grant program, organized a Climate Resilience Festival that was held on Saturday, June 8 at the Gardner Playground in West Acton. Participating organizations included Green Acton, Acton Boxborough Farmers Market, Acton Water District, Acton Conservation Trust (ACT),…

A small waterfall cascades over moss-covered rocks on a sunny day.

Dawn’s Pond commemoration at the Acton Arboretum

May 16, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Under a bright blue sky, in the afternoon on Monday, May 13, 2024 a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to dedicate the fish pond installed in July of 2023 at the Acton Arboretum on Taylor Road. “Dawn’s Pond” is a dream manifested, a dream of the late Dawn…

A man wearing a suit and a yarmulke talks with a very tall woman wearing a jacket and flowered dress. They are on the patio of a building (Congregation Beth Elohim) and there is a trellis in the background.

Representative Lori Trahan presents SUNNY Award to Congregation Beth Elohim

May 16, 2024

by Karen Root Watkins

U.S. Representative Lori Trahan visited Acton’s Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) on Sunday, May 5th, to present the U.S. Department of Energy SUNNY Award for CBE’s solar carport arrays project. The $12,500 SUNNY Award, one of only five in the nation, celebrates community solar projects deploying “best practices that…

A green and black sign that says "It's garlic mustard pull season!"

Garlic mustard – time to pull

May 16, 2024

by Ann Marie Testarmata

Do you have this pretty plant with lovely white flowers blooming in your woods, garden, compost pile or even lawn or garden? Look for it. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it. It’s garlic mustard! It is a nonnative invasive plant from Europe that takes over, disturbs…

A multi-colored sky shows behind houses and trees.

Eyes on the (solar) storm

May 16, 2024

Franny OsmanandKim Kastens

In the May 11 issue of the Acton Exchange, we asked for your photos and stories about from last weekend’s rare local view of the aurora borealis. Lauren Rosenzweig caught the lights on camera on Marshall Path in north Acton, though her experience was the same as many.…

A bald, bearded, man stands in front of a podium. He is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, as befits a gardening expert.

“Gardening for Resilience” with Trevor Smith: Shirley Towle Lecture

May 7, 2024

by Ann Marie Testarmata

Trevor Smith of Weston Nurseries wowed the one hundred-person audience at the Acton Town Hall (and on Zoom) on April 24 as he shared his wisdom in “Gardening for Resilience”. He helped audience members understand how we each can make an impact on climate change in our own…

The sky with the northern lights in full bloom. The sky is purple and green with a few stars showing.

Did you see the northern lights this weekend?

May 7, 2024

by Franny Osman

Acton night owls are enjoying a rare view of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, this weekend thanks to a geomagnetic storm resulting from an unusually large sunspot . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wrote on their website, “For many people, the aurora is a beautiful…

Acton Water District Prepares for New Federal Limits on PFAS

May 7, 2024

by Ron Parenti

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced the first federal enforceable drinking water regulations for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and placed concentration limits on some of these chemicals at 4 parts-per-trillion (ppt). The EPA predicts that significant health benefits will result from this action; however, managers of…

A garden with several different kinds of plants and flowers. Peonies are coming up in the foreground and a beautiful weeping tree with pink flowers is in the background.

May Gardening Tips from the Acton Garden Club

May 7, 2024

by Judy Dembsey

Adapted from The Dirt, the newsletter of the Acton Garden Club. Garden advice for May in Acton: Do not plant annuals too early. They do not like nighttime temperatures below 40 degrees. The general rule is to plant them around Memorial Day, but if plants are purchased earlier,…

Two people standing next to each other. One is holding an instrument and showing the other person how to use it. A third person is looking over the shoulder of the first person.

Water Quality Volunteers Train at the Acton Canoe Launch

April 30, 2024

by Kim Kastens

On Friday evening April 26, twelve volunteers gathered at the canoe launch on the Assabet River in the southernmost corner of Acton. We were there to learn, or re-learn, how to sample and measure the quality of the water in the river, continuing the program of pollution monitoring…

Concord Town Meeting Warrant Requests Funding for Nagog Pond Treatment Plant

April 27, 2024

by Kim Kastens

Concord Town Meeting Warrant Article 17 requests $50 million debt authorization for “Nagog Pond Improvements and PFAS Mitigation.” This article has three potential impacts for Acton: the possibility that a new water main would be installed under Great Road across the full width of Acton, the possibility that…

Charging Your Electric Vehicle at Home in Acton

April 27, 2024

by David D. Martin

Any electric car makes an ideal second vehicle for local use. Electric cars can be used intermittently or frequently. Their mileage is not hurt by short trips. If you can charge at home, it’ll be filled up when you start the day. Stopping to fill-up is a thing…

Q&A with candidate for Acton Water District Commissioner

April 19, 2024

by Kim Kastens

This article is adapted from the website of Green Acton. This year, there is one candidate running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD): Erika Amir-Lin. This post contains Ms. Amir-Lin’s answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee, with the goal…

A man stands at a lectern with a video screen in the background

Community Solar Forum at Congregation Beth Elohim

April 19, 2024

Alissa NicolandMatthew Liebman

A Community Solar Forum was held on Sunday, April 9, at Acton’s Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE). After a breakfast organized and served by the CBE Brotherhood, several speakers described the congregation’s parking lot solar array project that recently won a Sunny Award from the US Department of Energy.…

Board of Health Hearing on Battery Storage at Boardwalk Campus, March 26

April 19, 2024

by D.K. Halley

Mohamad Kassamili and Ariel Kondiles of Nexamp appeared before the Board of Health representing Acton-Boxborough Regional School District in their plans to integrate battery storage with solar photovoltaic panels at the Boardwalk Campus building. Meeting materials can be found at 3-26-2024 (actonma.gov) The Board had lengthy discussion regarding…

Heads to the Sky: Acton Catches a Glimpse of the Eclipse

April 12, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the moon cast its shadow on the Earth, creating a partial solar eclipse visible right here in Acton. From classrooms to parks, residents across town took a moment to gaze skyward and witness this celestial spectacle. This story captures the Acton experience, from…

Gardening tips from the Acton Garden Club: April 2024

April 12, 2024

by Judy Dembsey

Spring is here and our gardens need attention. Shear perennials left standing last fall. Cut back ornamental grass, sedum and carex. Give them a hard trim to the ground. Remove old Hellebore leaves, trim Epimedium and last year’s fern fronds before new growth begins. Cut back any vinca…

Woodcock Watch

April 12, 2024

by Jody Harris

If you were driving on Littlefield Road in Boxborough on Monday, April 1st, you may have noticed twenty or so people sitting in the Rolling Meadows field. Not an April Fool’s Day joke, but an Acton Conservation Trust (ACT) woodcock watch! What happens on a “woodcock watch”? Around…

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Environment - Page 4

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

Revision to Massport charter includes climate objectives in Hanscom planning

Municipal workers take on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution

Festival offers opportunity to learn about and celebrate climate action in Acton

Dawn’s Pond commemoration at the Acton Arboretum

Representative Lori Trahan presents SUNNY Award to Congregation Beth Elohim

Garlic mustard – time to pull

Eyes on the (solar) storm

“Gardening for Resilience” with Trevor Smith: Shirley Towle Lecture

Did you see the northern lights this weekend?

Acton Water District Prepares for New Federal Limits on PFAS

May Gardening Tips from the Acton Garden Club

Water Quality Volunteers Train at the Acton Canoe Launch

Concord Town Meeting Warrant Requests Funding for Nagog Pond Treatment Plant

Charging Your Electric Vehicle at Home in Acton

Q&A with candidate for Acton Water District Commissioner

Community Solar Forum at Congregation Beth Elohim

Board of Health Hearing on Battery Storage at Boardwalk Campus, March 26

Heads to the Sky: Acton Catches a Glimpse of the Eclipse

Gardening tips from the Acton Garden Club: April 2024

Woodcock Watch

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