Reminder to readers: Our front page can’t hold all the news. To see all of this week’s new articles, go to the All News page.
The Acton Exchange Bulletin Board is for volunteer opportunities and other announcements not tied to a single specific time and date. Please send your Bulletin Board announcements to editors@actonexchange.org. (Calendar events are submitted separately to calendar@actonexchange.org.)
AB Community: Share Your Vision for Our Schools!
From Acton-Boxborough Regional School District Superintendent Peter Light:
We are partnering with DMGroup to develop our strategic plan for the next 5-7 years, and we need your help.
Our steering committee, AB Forward, is asking the entire community for feedback on our strengths, opportunities, and challenges. Your insights are vital to this process.
Take our Strategic Planning Survey today! It only takes 5-10 minutes, and your input will directly impact the future of our schools.
The survey closes on July 11.
See more information in an article by Peter Light in the June 14, 2025 issue of the Acton Exchange.
Stay Informed:
Visit the AB Forward Webpage for comprehensive information about the planning process, its connection to reorganization options this fall, and to review meeting materials. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram too!
Your input requested on how Acton should handle stormwater and flooding
The Town of Acton Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) requests your input on questions of how future repairs to Acton’s stormwater system should be funded, how much should be spent annually, and who should be responsible for managing the necessary repairs. Failure to properly maintain the stormwater system can result in flooded basements, flooded roads, and collapsed culverts.
WRAC invites anyone who lives, works, or owns a business or property in Acton to fill out an online survey. A summary of Acton’s stormwater situation and options, prepared by WRAC, is here. A technical assessment of the state of Acton’s stormwater infrastructure, prepared by a consulting company, is here.
Acton-Boxborough Food and Nutrition Services launches free Summer Eats Program to keep kids nourished and thriving
As summer break begins, Acton-Boxborough Food and Nutrition Services is proud to launch the Summer Eats Program, a free meal initiative ensuring that children and teens across the region have access to healthy, nutritious meals while school is out.
Beginning June 30 and running through August 8, the Summer Eats Program offers free lunches to those 18 and under with no registration, paperwork, or ID required. The program aims to bridge the nutrition gap that many families face during the summer months, when school-provided meals are unavailable.
“Every child deserves access to healthy food year-round,” said Kirsten Nelson, Acton Boxborough Director of Food Services. “The Summer Eats Program is about more than just meals — it’s about community, dignity, and helping kids return to school ready to learn.”
Lunches will be available at the Acton Coach Estates 53-55 Brook St. Acton, MA, daily Monday through Friday from June 30 through August 8 at 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.. (There are no meals provided on July 4.)
Program Highlights:
• Free meals for all those 18 and under.
• No ID, registration, or paperwork required. You do not need to live in Acton or Boxborough.
• Family-friendly activities and events.
For further information and to see the daily activity and lunch menu, visit us at www.abschoools.org/district/food_services/summeats.
Free admission on summer Friday nights returns June 20 at Discovery Museum
Museum open 7 days a week for the summer, beginning Monday, June 16
Discovery Museum announced their popular Summer Friday Nights Free events will return beginning Friday, June 20, 2025. Visitors can enjoy the Museum and the Discovery Woods outdoor nature playscape and treehouse with free admission from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Friday night from June 20 until Labor Day. Reservations are no longer required nor accepted.
The Museum will gratefully accept non-perishable food items for Open Table and Acton Food Pantry in lieu of admission, though a food donation is not required for admission.
Discovery Museum kicks off summer hours on Monday, June 16, open 7 days a week until Labor Day.
Thank you to the following local businesses that made this summer’s free admission Friday nights possible:
June 20 – Dube Construction Management
June 27 – Enterprise Bank
July 4 ** Closed for Independence Day **
July 18 – Enterprise Bank
July 25 – Enterprise Bank
August 1 – Heffernan Build & Remodel, Inc.
August 8 – Not Your Average Joe’s
August 15 – Swymfit
August 29 – Sutherland Realty Group/Keller Williams Realty Boston NW
Free admission on Friday nights — every Friday during the summer, and the first Friday night of each month October through June — is part of the Discovery Museum’s Open Door Connections program to provide opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers to experience the museum.
Discovery Museum has more information.
Middlesex County 4-H Fife and Drum Corps
The Middlesex County 4-H Fife and Drum Corps was founded in 1972 in order to pass on New England’s fife and drum tradition to young musicians. The group’s repertoire consists of fife and drum music dating from the American Colonial Period to modern pieces written in the traditional style. Comprising youth ages 8 to 18, the corps is led by its members, who elect their leaders and determine their own events and repertoire each season. Some Acton kids participate and the organization invites new members to join.
The corps performs in parades and at historical commemorations throughout New England during the year. Locally, the corps will perform on Saturday, June 21 in Boxborough’s Fifer’s Day Festival. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Blanchard School to the Town Hall and ends at Flerra Field, where a festival takes place.
There are other upcoming events in Bellingham, Andover, Lincoln, Kittery, ME, and Groton, CT.
The corps provides music lessons during weekly Sunday afternoon rehearsals at Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA. The corps is happy to welcome anyone, including those who do not yet play an instrument. Instruments, instruction and most uniform parts are provided without charge. The participation fee is $40 per year. For more information, reach out at mc4hfd@gmail.com or mc4hfd.org.
South Acton Rummage Sale moved to Harvard Thrift Shop
The organizers of the South Acton Rummage sale are continuing their love of rummage, our community, and the environment by partnering with the Congregational Church of Harvard (HCC) to launch a clothes room at their Unique Boutique thrift store.
In addition to being open each Wednesday 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., the new clothes section of the store is open on the first Saturday of every month at 5 Still River Rd, Harvard, MA.
All are welcome. Come to shop or donate! All proceeds from the shop will go to the missions and justice work of the HCC, some of which are Worcester Area Mission, Loaves and Fishes food pantry, and A Friend In Need.
For questions, please email pmkbabcock@gmail.com, subject Thrift Store.
The Swap Shop, located at the Acton Transfer Station, needs more volunteers!
The Swap Shop is open May through October, Tuesday through Saturday, and volunteers pick their own hours.The purpose of the Swap Shop is to reduce trash by putting perfectly good items into the hands of those who can use them.
We’d love to have more volunteers so we can be open for as many hours as possible. Will you have a few hours this year to help keep good things out of the trash?
Here is the Town of Acton link to the Swap Shop Program: http://www.actonma.gov/507/Swap-Shop
All volunteers for the Town of Acton are screened by the Human Resources department and need to complete an online ethics training.
Please contact Debby Andell if you would like the Human Resources forms and/or more information – debbyandell@gmail.com.
Acton Nursing Services offers free loaner equipment
Submitted by Adrian Hancock, Chair, Acton Nursing Services Advisory Committee
Did you know that Acton Nursing Services (ANS) offers a range of home-health equipment on free loan on a first-come-first-served basis for Acton residents? Often we think of our very own home health organization as being focused only on older members of the community, but it can also be very helpful for anyone else. Whether it’s a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice, a sports accident, a motor vehicle incident, or recovery time at home after a hospital procedure, ANS can often offer free equipment like crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, etc.
Recovery can be hard enough; why make it more expensive than it has to be? Call: 978.929.6650 to check availability. These items are also available on loan to residents hosting visitors from out of town who may need them during their stay. Full information about ANS’ year-round services for all Acton residents is available at https://www.actonnursingservice.com.
AB Community Fitness Center is open! AB Regional High School
Summer schedule starts July 7.
The Acton Boxborough Community Fitness Center at ABRHS is a fun, flexible, fitness resource for AB residents! Volunteer led and sponsored by AB Community Education. Starting July 7, the Center is open Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs. 7:30-9 p.m. Closed Saturdays during the summer. New members (ages 16+) are welcome. Check in with an AB Fitness Center volunteer on duty.
Join us! (Enter via upper ABRHS parking lot if ABRHS gazebo entrance is locked). Learn more at Fitness Center – Community Education (abschools.org). Check out the AB Fitness Center discounted punch cards.
Volunteer at Danny’s Place! 543 Mass Ave. West Acton
Volunteer at Danny’s Place after school or on your days off. Calling All High School and Junior High Students. We’re looking for enthusiastic helpers/volunteers to join our team at Danny’s Place! Support our programs, gain valuable administrative skills, and make a difference in your community. Flexible hours & meaningful opportunities await! Email us to apply: info@dannys-place.org.
The Acton Food Pantry volunteering
Ongoing – Volunteers Needed! Current needs include:
- Adults who have flexibility to volunteer for daytime shifts, particularly on Wednesday.
- People who might be interested in helping with the Saturday morning pickups at Stop & Shop or Trader Joe’s.
- Fluent Portuguese speakers to help us better serve our large Brazilian client population.
Although these are specific needs, we welcome any interested potential volunteer, as we always need a large roster of potential substitutes and have a variety of opportunities. If you know of anyone who might be interested in volunteering, please have them complete a preliminary application on the Pantry website here or email Cathy at Cathy@actonfoodpantry.org.
As a fundraiser this year, the Acton Food Pantry is participating in The Ride for Food, which is an annual event organized by Three Squares New England. It returns 100% of the funds raised by participants to the pantry. It includes a 25, 50 mile or 100K bike ride or a 5K walk. It is a no-pressure, fun event.
We encourage people to ride for the Acton food Pantry Team. Registration opens on May 1. For more information about the Acton Food Pantry team, contact the ride captain, Andrew Gruskay.
The Acton Food Pantry has been providing food for residents in need in Acton, Boxborough, and surrounding towns since 1984. They typically serve 350 families per week and rely heavily on volunteers.