Upcoming Voter Activities
(from Town Clerk)
If you haven’t yet registered to vote and otherwise qualify or wish to change your party enrollment, please make note of the voter registration deadline below.
To vote in November 5, 2024: Presidential Election
Register to vote before 5:00pm on 10/26/2024
Acton Restaurant Week
(From Acton Economic Development Office)
Date: October 20 to October 27
Location: All over town!
Get ready foodies, because Acton’s Restaurant Week is back and better than ever! From Sun, Oct. 20 through Sun, Oct. 27, the charming town of Acton will be buzzing with excitement as local restaurants offer special prix fixe menus and exclusive deals to showcase their delicious cuisine. Gather your friends and family, and enjoy Acton Restaurant Week specials!
Use the links below for more information about our participating restaurants! For a complete list of offerings, see the Economic Development webpage.
Atlantic Sea Grill Restaurant – Bar – Fish Market
- OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY— EMAIL: eliot@marzaewine.com
Scarecrow Contest & Jack O’ Lanterns
(From NAMI of Central Middlesex)
Vote for your favorite at the “Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest at Cucurbit Farm at 32 Parker St. in Acton. Proceeds benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Middlesex. The scarecrows will be on display for the month of October. There is still time to build your scarecrow creation or plan to enter a carved Jack O’ Lantern in the Glow By event on the weekend before Halloween. There’s a corn maze too! Our goal is 100 scarecrows along the fence and many conversations about mental health! Additional info at https://www.namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/scarecrow-contest2024vote.
Sip ‘n’ Shop – Haunted Home
(From HOME)
Thursday October 24th
5-8 p.m.
Location: HOME, 525 Mass Ave Unit 100 (blue house next to coffee shop), a small woman-owned store offering furniture, home decor, art, and unique gifts for your home.
Details: Light snacks + beverages will be served. Come sip, shop, snack and socialize with us! Lots of Fall + Holiday Decor will be available!
Thrifty Thursdays
(From West Acton Baptist Church)
Thursdays, 3:00-6:00 pm
West Acton Baptist Church Coatroom,
592 Massachusetts Ave., Acton.
Entrance next to Mini FoodPantry.
Pop-up thrift shop featuring vintage clothing and accessories. New items added weekly.
Presented by West Acton Baptist Church.
Questions? Email West Acton Baptist Church
Clean Energy Home Tour – Focus on Heat Pumps
(from EnergizeActon.org)
Saturday, October 26, 11am and 1pm
Address sent upon registration.
Now, more than ever, how we use energy matters for the natural world and for future generations. Visit a home where the owners have switched to an air source heat pump, then a heat pump hydronic system and other clean technologies. Feel the comfort level for yourself! The homeowner is one of Acton’s Clean Energy Coaches and he looks forward to your questions about transitioning off fossil fuels. There will be two free sessions, one at 11am and one at 1pm. The address will be sent upon registration. For info and registration, click HERE.
Apple Pie Baking Contest
(From Friends of Acton Libraries)
Pies to be delivered on Saturday, October 26 by 2:00 pm.
Limited to 20 entrants. Contestants should pre-register online here.
Prize ceremony on Sunday, October 27, 2:00 pm.
Open to the public to enjoy pies with cheese, cider and more.
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Bakers of all ages are invited to submit an apple pie. Prizes will be awarded for the winner of best under-15 baker and best adult baker. So that the judges can compare apples to apples (so to speak) there are a few guidelines: Pies are to be homemade including crust. Filling is to be just apples and spices (no other fruits). Your recipe should be submitted, including the type of apple(s) used. Pies should be in a 9-inch pie plate/pan. Non-edible materials/decoration are not permitted. Judging will be conducted by library staff, last year’s competition winners, and a volunteer from the Acton Woman’s Club.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Acton Memorial Library.
Questions? Contact Friends of Acton Libraries.
Acton-Boxborough Family Network Spooktacular Halloween Party
(From Acton-Boxborough Family Network)
Saturday, October 26, 10:00 am-12:30 pm
RJ Grey Junior High School Gym, 16 Charter Road, Acton.
Open to the public. Members: Free. Non-members: $10 per family, must pre-register at www.abfamily.org
Halloween Spooktacular event includes a magician and other fun activities provided by local preschools and businesses. The magic show will be from 11:00-11:45 am. There will also be a family costume contest, so come dressed for a chance to take home cool prizes donated by local businesses.
Presented by Acton-Boxborough Family Network.
Questions? Email Acton-Boxborough Family Network.
Open Houses at Iron Work Farm
(From Iron Work Farm)
Sunday, October 27
Jones Tavern, 128 Main St., Acton. 1:00-3:00 pm
Jones-Faulkner Homestead, 5 High St., Acton. 3:00-5:00 pm
Event is free.
Both buildings played important roles at the start of the Revolutionary War. Jones Tavern was first built in 1732 and operated by Samuel Jones as a tavern by 1750. At the Jones-Faulkner Homestead, visitors can explore the restored rooms of this 1707 architectural gem, the oldest house in Acton and home of the owners of the longtime fulling and grist mills on Fort Pond Brook. It was from this house that Acton’s West Militia marched to Concord on April 19, 1775, under Capt. Simon Hunt, while Capt. Francis Faulkner assumed the leadership (as Colonel) of the 3rd Middlesex Massachusetts Regiment. Parking is available on-site or nearby.
Presented by Iron Work Farm.
More information is available at the website.
Congregation Beth Elohim Brotherhood Breakfast and Speaker
Sunday, October 27, 2024,
9:00 AM – 11:00 a.m
Congregation Beth Elohim 133 Prospect St. Acton
Join us for this Brotherhood Breakfast. Daniel Osborn, Ed.D. will speak about “Teaching About the Diversity of Jewish Peoplehood”.
Breakfast will start at 9:00 AM and the speaker will begin about 9:30 AM. There is no charge for Brotherhood members. Non-Brotherhood members pay $10.
Isaac Davis Toastmasters Club Open House
Monday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:30
Acton Public Safety Facility EOC Room, 371 Main Street Acton, MA
Become an Effective Speaker
Do you want to advocate new activities at meetings?
Do you want to make an effective presentation at a Town Meeting or Public Hearing?
Do you want to effectively share your experience and knowledge with professional organizations of various community clubs?
Did you know that joining and participating in Toastmasters will enable you to succeed in any or all of these situations?
The Isaac Davis Toastmasters Club invites you to attend an open house meeting on Monday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Acton Public Safety Facility EOC, 371 Main Street Acton.. Members will host a meeting to show you Toastmasters in action. Isaac Davis Toastmasters has been serving Acton and the surrounding towns for 52 years. For more information, email Daniel Livingston, VP Membership.
Ancient Light: A tour of the night sky with Acton astrophotographer
Monday, October 28, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Online at https://ccace.asapconnected.com/#CourseGroupID=28924
Astrophotographer Marsha Wilcox and friends will take us on a journey into the night sky, looking at nebulae and star clusters within our own galaxy and galaxies beyond our own. Many of Wilcox’ extraordinary telescope images are captured from her Acton driveway. See Acton Exchange article about Wilcox’ images.
Talk is sponsored by Concord-Carlisle Adult Education Armchair Travel series. Free and open to the public.
Changes in the Land: Book Discussion
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Tuesday, October 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Join a group discussion of this landmark environmental history by William Cronon, which offers an original and profound explanation of the effects European colonists’ sense of property and their pursuit of capitalism had upon the ecosystems of New England.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Na’aseh Forum: Immigration and Resettlement in Massachusetts and the Country
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Congregation Beth Elohim and Zoom
Join us for this informative and timely forum brought to us by the Na’aseh (We will do and we will hear/understand) committee. Na’aseh takes specific actions of repairing the world and social justice in the realms of basic human rights, civil rights, social justice, and environmental protection.
Challenges for people coming to our neighborhoods and for those wishing to welcome them are great. Come learn from our speakers who have been working directly with people newly arrived to our country. Step beyond political rhetoric to help inform how we might help.
This event is free and open to all – the CBE community and the public. If you are unable to join us in person, we welcome you to join us via Zoom.
For our planning purposes and/or to receive the Zoom link, please sign up below to let us know you are coming!
Questions? Email socialaction@bethelohim.org.
Self-Defense Workshop
(From Danny’s Place)
Wednesday, October 30, 7:00 pm
Danny’s Place, 543 Massachusetts Ave., Acton.
$50 per person, ages 13+. Register here.
This workshop is perfect for teens and young adults (ages 13+), women, parents, fitness enthusiasts, and high-risk professionals who want to build confidence and learn practical, life-saving techniques. This transformative self-defense workshop will be taught by internationally certified 5th Degree Black Belt instructors from Concord Self-Defense Academy. You’ll walk away with skills that can help you protect yourself in dangerous situations.
Presented by Danny’s Place and Concord Self-Defense Academy.
Information at the website.
Encore Dance Ensemble Concert Celebrates Women Over 40
Performances are Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, November 3 at 7:00 PM.
Dance Complex in Cambridge
Encore Dance Ensemble, a company of women ages 40+ founded in Acton presents “Undercurrents” at the Dance Complex in Cambridge. The evening-length program presents modern, jazz, and improvisational choreography exploring love, loss, nature, memories, and the powerful ways relationships sustain us. Encore members draw on their life experience as inspiration for their work. They share a passion for the art of dance and the fulfillment that comes with building community through outreach and performance.
Performances are Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, November 3 at 7:00 PM.
Tickets are $30, general admission. To buy tickets, visit www.dancecomplex.org/events.
For more information about Encore, visit www.encoredanceensemble.com
The Dance Complex is located at 536 Mass Ave in Central Square, Cambridge. The theater is
located on the second floor. The building does not have an elevator, but a motorized lift is
available.
Hidden History of Black Boston
(From Acton 250 Committee)
Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Discover Boston’s rich 400-year African American history with Joel Mackall. Many vibrant Black communities flourished in Boston stretching back to early colonial times.
Presented by Acton 250 Committee.
More information at the website.
Community Service Day at Trail Through Time
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Sunday, November 10, 1-3 p.m.
In person. Limited to 25, ages 13 and up.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Assist with trail and site maintenance on the Nashoba Brook Conservation Land’s Trail Through Time, a multicultural heritage trail in North Acton. The focus of this annual effort will be trail and site maintenance as well as cleaning trail kiosks. Rain date is Sunday, November 17.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
NAMI Mental Health Course, in Person in Boxborough
(From National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Middlesex)
Family to Family is a free, evidence-based, eight-session, weekly course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. Topics include understanding the symptoms of mental health conditions, learning about treatments & therapies, practicing communication & problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care. Importantly, the course offers family members the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support in a stigma-free environment. The course will meet in person in Boxborough Mondays, November 11 to January 13, excluding holiday weeks, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Additional information and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/family-to-family-fall2024-boxborough.
WR Grace Superfund Site Open House
Tuesday, November 12, evening, more information to come.
Acton Town Hall.
EPA, along with MassDEP and W.R. Grace, will be holding an Open House for the WR Grace Superfund Site on the evening of Tuesday November 12th at Acton Town Hall, Acton, MA. More information to come.
“One for the Revolutionary Road: Taverns and the American Revolution”
(From Acton 250 Committee)
Tuesday, November 12, 7:00 pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Malcolm Purinton will show there were few places more important in Colonial and Revolutionary America than local taverns. Taverns were the gathering spot to discuss the news and politics of the day.
Presented by Acton 250 Committee.
More information at the website.
Acton Arboretum Walk
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Saturday, November 16, 9:30-11:00 am
Acton Arboretum, 2 Taylor Rd., Acton. Limited to 12, adults only.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Join Friends of the Nashobah Indians members Kevin Gallant and Bettina Abe for a walk through the Acton Arboretum to observe what may be Native American Ceremonial Stone Landscapes (CSLs). Many cultural structures have been destroyed by development but some may still exist. The walk will be on and off the trail over uneven ground.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Jewish Book Month with Joan Leegant
Sunday, November 17, 2024
7:00 PM – 9:00 p.m.
Congregation Beth Elohim
With the Sisterhood, Adult Ed will host author Joan Leegant for the Jewish Book month Author event. The book is called Displaced Persons, and it was selected by Hadassah as its “One Book, One Hadassah” choice for August.
To RSVP https://www.bethelohim.org/event/jewish-book-month-with-joan-legant.html
You can get your books from the Congregation Beth Elohim office. Please make checks out to the CBE Adult Education Fund. Cost is $18.
Acton-Boxborough United Way’s Casino Royale Fundraiser
Saturday evening, November 16
Wedgewood Pines Country Club, Stow
Casino Royale, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Acton-Boxborough United Way (ABUW), will be held on Saturday evening on November 16 at the beautiful Wedgewood Pines Country Club, Stow.
Last year’s Casino Royale fundraiser and silent auction raised over $40,000, which helped to underwrite the vital community support A-B United Way and its grantees provide to residents throughout the A/B community. Organizers anticipate this year’s event will be even bigger and better. For more information and tickets, go to abuw.org/casino.
Business leaders: ABUW’s Casino Royale is a great way to spotlight area businesses while making a meaningful contribution to people in our community who need it most. For more information, Contact ABUW Executive Director Katie Neville at 978-254-2806 or abuw.org/sponsor.
“Does Parenting Have to Be This Hard? What Can Babies Teach Us”
(from Discovery Museum)
Tuesday, November 19
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST
Live, via Zoom webinar
“Does Parenting Have to Be This Hard? What Can Babies Teach Us,” a free Discovery Museum 2024 Speaker Series event: Dr. J. Kevin Nugent, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Brazelton Institute in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital
Free with advance registration, which is required, at http://bit.ly/DMSpeakerSeries.
A Day in the Life of a Local Archaeologist
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 pm
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
David Gutbrod, professional archaeologist and chair of Westford’s Historical Commission, conducted research in North Acton, the first application of Acton’s new Archaeological Protection bylaw. He will share significant highlights from the Acton project as well as remote sensing projects conducted in Tampa Bay’s lost cemetery and the hidden remains of Ethel, Florida.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Sip ‘n’ Shop – Pink Friday
Friday, November 22nd
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: West Acton
Details: Multiple Small Businesses in West Acton participating!! HOME, Wish, Silver Unicorn, E. Drumm Designs, Smudge Ink, Bees Knees, Eve and Murray’s.
Pink Friday is the Friday BEFORE Black Friday, and the idea is to get people to #shopsmallfirst. Before shopping at all the big retailers, don’t forget your small local retailers for your holiday shopping!
Native Americans and the Revolution: The Times are Exceedingly Altered
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Thursday, December 5, 7:00-8:30 pm
In person at the Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
At the end of the 1780s, a group of Mohegans bemoaned that “[t]he times are exceedingly altered, yea the Times have turned everything topside down.” That was true for indigenous peoples in southern New England who survived the devastations of King Philip’s War a century earlier, as well as those between the Appalachians and the Great Lakes who were subject to a half-century of displacement and wars between European powers. Daniel Mandell, Professor of History Emeritus, Truman State University, and author of Tribe, Race, History: Native Americans in Southern New England, 1780-1880, will present information on how thousands of Native people were involved in and impacted by the Revolution, and how they sought to secure their rights in different ways.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk. Funded by Freedom’s Way and cosponsored with Acton 250.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.