Acton’s Senior Center was buzzing again on September 26 as residents gathered for Java with John, the monthly coffee-and-conversation program with Town Manager John Mangiaratti and staff members. After a summer break, the forum returned with local updates, ranging from new development projects and public safety initiatives to health programs and community engagement opportunities.
Development and Infrastructure
Residents heard a whirlwind of updates on projects big and small:
- Powdermill Apartments: 230 new housing units are underway across the street from the Senior Center.
- Kelley’s Corner: The long-awaited infrastructure project is taking shape, with paving, sidewalks, and traffic islands nearly complete. Thousands of plantings including more than 100 trees will arrive in the spring.
- River Street Park: Construction is progressing, with an anticipated spring opening.
- Acton Food Pantry: Renovations of its new home near the train station are expected to be finished by Thanksgiving, with doors opening in January.
- McManus Manor: A 41-unit housing development is rising across from the Public Safety Facility.
- Community Center at 17 Woodbury Lane: A modern addition is transforming an aging structure into a grant-funded amenity with a playground, porch, and public bathrooms.
Mangiaratti also confirmed some breaking retail news: Aldi grocery store will move into the old Stop & Shop location in Powder Mill Plaza this winter, with an opening planned for spring.
Public Safety: From Fire Stations to Scams
Public safety dominated much of the conversation. Detective Leo Gower warned seniors to be on the lookout for paving scams, where unmarked trucks offer cheap “extra asphalt” but deliver shoddy work. “If you think it’s a scam, it probably is,” he cautioned.
Mangiaratti reported on the fire department’s ongoing pilot program to test different station configurations for faster response times. The town is also expanding locker room facilities for female officers and installing solar canopies at the Public Safety Facility.
Detective John Stackhouse shared lighter news: Acton will join the national Coffee with a Cop event on October 1, giving residents a chance to meet officers over free coffee. The department is also preparing its annual Trunk or Treat event on October 24 in partnership with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church.
Health and Human Services
Director of Health and Human Services Penny Funaiole urged residents to take advantage of flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall. She also announced a community health needs assessment to better understand barriers to care, particularly around behavioral health and access issues. “We want to hear from people who don’t usually come to town meetings,” she stressed, encouraging broad participation.
Public Health Nurse Susan Sama will continue offering educational presentations, while surveys — both online and in print — will give residents multiple ways to share feedback.
Supporting Seniors: Tax Relief and Exemptions
One of the most detailed updates came from Principal Assessor CJ Carrol, who explained Acton’s wide array of tax exemption programs. In 2025, the town provided more than $550,000 in relief, more than any neighboring community.
Carrol highlighted the “circuit breaker” program, which ensures that property taxes do not exceed 10% of a qualifying senior’s income. On average, residents who applied saved more than $2,000. “Bring your forms to us,” Carrol encouraged. “We’ll help you get the relief you’re entitled to.”
Questions From the Community
The open Q&A session touched on everything from road design to weeds along sidewalks. One resident praised the Department of Public Works for its responsiveness, while others expressed concerns about narrow traffic lanes at Prospect Street.
Mangiaratti explained that traffic engineers intentionally design narrower lanes to slow vehicles and improve safety, but acknowledged the frustration. He also promised vigilance in maintaining the landscaping at Kelley’s Corner once the state hands over responsibility.
Other topics included the long-vacant McDonald’s building at Kelley’s Corner (“once this project is complete, restaurants will be banging down the door,” Mangiaratti predicted), the regional budget process through the Acton Leadership Group, and the rising cost of retiree health insurance — a challenge shared across Massachusetts.
Looking Ahead
From new housing and retail to roads, parks, and public services, the updates emphasized Acton’s continued growth and community spirit. Mangiaratti closed by inviting residents back for the next Java with John on October 17, promising fresh updates on the town budget and other initiatives.
As one attendee put it after complimenting the IT department for swiftly restoring Town email systems which had been down, “I’m very thrilled to live in Acton.”
That sentiment summed up the morning well: challenges remain, but residents left with a clearer sense of progress — and a stronger connection to the people making it happen.
To watch the entire 55-minute-long session on ActonTV, click on “Java with John – September 26th, 2025,”
Greg Jarboe is the Acton Exchange beat reporter for the Senior Center and Council on Aging.
