Acton has 5,797 residents who are 60 or older, according to U.S. Census data. The Acton Council on Aging (COA) newsletter already reaches a large share of them: more than 2,500 paper copies go out every month to Acton households with a resident 60 or older listed on the census, covering roughly 4,500 individuals, while another 690 individuals and couples subscribe online for the electronic edition. Forty or more residents pick up a copy in person at the Senior Center, and others read it directly at actoncoa.com. But with nearly 5,800 eligible residents in town, there’s always someone who hasn’t found it yet.
The COA is a Town of Acton department that runs the Senior Center at 30 Sudbury Road. It serves residents aged 60 and over with programs, activities, transportation, legal consultations, technology help, and much more, most of it free. The monthly newsletter is the single best guide to everything the COA offers. And the April 2026 edition is a perfect example of why every eligible Acton resident should be reading it.
Why the newsletter matters
Journalists sometimes call this kind of content “service journalism” — reporting that doesn’t just tell you what happened, but tells you what you can do about it. The COA newsletter is a monthly compendium of exactly that: actionable information about programs, events, and resources that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
If you’re 60 or older and living in Acton, this newsletter is written for you. And if you’re younger but have a parent, neighbor, or friend who qualifies, passing along this information could be one of the most useful things you do this month.
Here’s a look at a dozen highlights from the April 2026 edition:
- Planning for Medicare: Tuesday, April 14, 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Free
If you’re approaching Medicare eligibility, whether you’re planning to retire or continue working, this seminar could save you real money. Missing Medicare enrollment deadlines can trigger costly penalties. A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts representative will walk through Parts A, B, C, and D; Medigap supplemental plans; Medicare Advantage options; and plans for early retirees.
- Home Energy Q&A with Sophia Darsch: Wednesday, April 15, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Free, Open to All Acton Residents
Wondering about heat pumps, weatherization, or Mass Save rebates? Sophia Darsch from Acton’s Sustainability Office will hold drop-in office hours at the Senior Center. Bring your utility bills and your questions. This is open to all Acton residents, not just seniors.
- DPW Building Update: Thursday, April 16, 11:00 a.m. | Open to All Acton Residents
Dean Charter, chair of the Select Board, will present revised plans for the proposed DPW building. Full disclosure: I serve on the Public Works Facility Building Committee. But this is civic information that affects every taxpayer in town.
- Estate Planning Seminar: Thursday, April 16, 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Free for Ages 60+
Attorney Cathleen Summers of Generations Law Group and Heather Murphy of Keller Williams Realty are partnering to help you spot gaps in your estate plan. Whether you plan to sell your home, age in place, or simply want a clear plan your family can follow, this seminar brings together legal and real estate expertise in one room.
- Exercising the Brain Workshop: Thursday, April 16, 2:00–3:15 p.m. | Free for Ages 60+
Edward Alessi, a retired geriatric social worker and current Sociology instructor at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, leads this workshop on slowing cognitive decline through brain exercise. Research supports the idea that mental challenges can delay the onset of dementia. Bring a pen and paper, or a device to take notes.
- Java with John: Friday, April 17, 9:45 a.m. | Open to All Acton Residents
Town Manager John Mangiaratti comes to the Senior Center monthly to give updates, take questions, and hear residents’ concerns. Acton TV broadcasts it live. If you can’t make it in person, you can email your questions to manager@actonma.gov. And here’s an insider tip from the newsletter: arrive at 9:00 a.m. for the Monthly Breakfast of French toast, eggs, fruit, and bacon or sausage prepared by Veterans Services Officer James MacRae, all for just $3.00. Sign-up required, and the early birds get the best seats.
- Finance Committee Presentation: Wednesday, April 22, 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Open to All Acton Residents
Finance Committee Chair Scott Sullivan will cover the FinCom’s positions on Town Meeting articles and answer questions from the public. With Town Meeting approaching, this is one of the best opportunities to understand what Acton’s budget actually means for residents. Disclosure: I serve on the Finance Committee, but I can’t make this event. And despite the rumors, I won’t be on a cruise.
- Technology Assistance Clinic: Wednesday, April 22, 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Free for Ages 60+
Bring your laptop, phone, or tablet — and your frustrations. A group of experienced volunteers offers one-on-one help with Windows, email, networking, and general “how do I” mysteries. Windows, Mac, Chrome, and Android users are all welcome. I’ll confess: my wife and I attended one of these sessions, and Leo Fochtman fixed a problem that had stumped me for weeks — and I spent 45 years working in the high-tech industry.
- Live Folk Music Hootenanny: Tuesday, April 21, 2:00 p.m. | Free
Musicians Howie Rashba and Mel Green bring the spirit of Peter, Paul and Mary to the Senior Center for an afternoon of participatory folk music. Their hootenanny last fall was a standout hit, and this follow-up promises more of the same warmth and singalong energy. The word “hootenanny” has Scotch-Irish roots that traveled through Appalachian tradition before Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger made it a folk institution. Come ready to sing along, clap, and stomp your feet. Refreshments served at intermission.
- Merriam School Community Day — Tuesday, April 28, 9:15–10:45 a.m. | Volunteer Opportunity
Here’s a chance to give back to Acton’s youngest residents. Merriam School is inviting Senior Center volunteers to participate in its Community Day by reading a story or helping with an art project alongside mixed K–6 student groups. It’s a meaningful way to connect across generations, and the kids tend to be the highlight of the morning. Sign up at the Senior Center if you’d like to participate.
- Senator Eldridge’s Senior Conference: Thursday, April 23 | Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough
The Friends of the Acton COA are arranging van transportation for this annual conference. If you’d like a seat in the van, sign up with the COA by Thursday, April 16.
- “History Made by Hand” with Sculptor Meredith Bergmann: Thursday, April 30, 1:00 p.m.
Acton resident and nationally renowned sculptor Meredith Bergmann will discuss her process of creating monuments to iconic Americans – FDR, Sojourner Truth, Abigail Adams, Marian Anderson, Susan B. Anthony, and others. She’ll trace the full journey from historical research through bronze casting and installation. This program is presented by the Friends of the Acton COA’s Honoring Excellence series. Out-of-town seniors should call after April 23. (See Acton Exchange article about an earlier talk by Bergmann in the Acton 250 series.)
There’s much more where that came from
Those ten programs are just a sample of what’s in this month’s newsletter. The COA also offers free elder law consultations, wheelchair-accessible van transportation Monday through Friday, a volunteer handyman program, SNAP nutrition assistance enrollment, fuel assistance, and an emergency contact registry for seniors who visit the Center.
The mission of the Acton COA Board is to “advocate for services and programs to enhance the well-being of our older adults in an inclusive and welcoming environment” – and to reach out specifically to seniors who have not yet discovered the COA.
How to subscribe
If you are an Acton resident aged 60 or older and don’t currently receive the COA newsletter, there are two ways to get it:
• Subscribe online at actoncoa.com/list.aspx
• Call the Senior Center directly at 978-929-6652 and ask to be added to the mailing list.
You can also visit the Senior Center in person at 30 Sudbury Rd. (rear entrance), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to either 4 or 6 p.m.
For more information, visit https://actoncoa.com/ online.
The newsletter is already finding thousands of your neighbors every month. Make sure it’s finding you.
Greg Jaboe is the Acton Exchange beat reporter for the Council on Aging and Senior Center.
