News - Page 44

Photo of D K Halley

An Interview with Acton’s New Assistant Town Manager

February 15, 2024

by D.K. Halley

On November 20, 2023, Thomas (Thom) Begin started his new job as Acton’s Assistant Town Manager. He had previously worked in the Framingham School system as Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds. He achieved a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government in 2006 and a master’s degree…

Photo of an Acton Select Board meeting.

Select Board Meeting, February 5, 2024: Finance in a Time of Overrides

February 15, 2024

by Tom Beals

The February 5, 2024 Select Board meeting led off with finance and budget talk. Select Board chair Jim Snyder-Grant reported that the Acton Leadership Group had reached a consensus on a $6.6M override amount; he emphasized that the division of override funds between schools and town had not…

Cold water plunge tank with onlookers.

Brrrr-ave Supporters of Special Olympics Participate in Acton’s Second Annual Polar Plunge

February 7, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Police Department partnered with The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to host the second annual Polar Plunge at NARA Park on a sunny, but nippy, Saturday, February 3. At last year’s inaugural event, plungers supported Special Olympics by running into the lake at NARA beach. This…

Trackers examining evidence on the ground and on a fallen tree of otter visits.

Winter Tracking Walk

February 7, 2024

by Jody Harris

Adapted by Franny Osman from an article by Jody Harris written for Acton Conservation Trust The last snowfall had been a week before, but as temps all week were low and skies gray, the woods still held plenty of snow for tracking the animals who make their home…

Photo of Acton 250 presentation and presentors.

A Revolution in the News with Historian Joseph Adelman

February 7, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

Looking forward to next year’s 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, the Acton 250 Committee is hosting a series of lectures by historians, looking back at what the community was like when our nation was born. The third lecture in the series, by Professor Joseph…

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Override Talks and Economic Development Plans: Finance Committee and Acton Leadership Group Meetings

February 7, 2024

by Tom Beals

The upcoming budget override, its amount, and how it would be split between the town and schools, were the primary topics of discussion at the January 23, 2024 Finance Committee and January 29, 2024 Acton Leadership Group meetings. Of note at the Finance Committee meeting was a presentation…

Acton Town Hall facade on a snow covered day.

It Takes a Village – Revitalization of the Oval Garden

February 5, 2024

Cathy FochtmanandLinda O’Neil

with commentary by Ann Marie Testarmata The Acton Garden Club, with the support of the Town of Acton, the Acton Historic District Commission, Club members, volunteers, members of the Acton community, and grants, is celebrating its 90th birthday with a revitalization of the Oval Garden in its very…

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January 22, 2024 Select Board Meeting Notes

February 1, 2024

by Tom Beals

Finances update At the January 8 Select Board meeting the Board asked Town Manager John Mangiaratti to prepare a budget that reduced the level services budget by $1 million. Before presenting the revised budget, Mr. Mangiaratti gave a brief update on health insurance, saying that a hiring freeze and other…

photo of sign showing gasoline prices

A Journey to Find the Lowest Gas Prices in Acton, MA

February 1, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

If you live in Acton, MA, and search for the “lowest gas prices near me,” then you may want to go beyond the website that currently ranks #1 in Google’s search engine results page. It’s GasBuddy. Now, they do list the “Top 9 Gas Stations & Cheap Fuel Prices…

AWD Commissioners vote a 50% increase in water rates for FY25

February 1, 2024

by Kim Kastens

At a joint meeting of the Acton Water District (AWD) Commissioners and the AWD Finance Committee (FinCom) on January 22, the Commissioners voted for a 50% increase in water rates beginning in July 2024. The water rate increase will be applied evenly across residential, municipal, and commercial water…

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Acton-Boxborough School Committee January News Update

January 29, 2024

by Diane Baum

At their January 2024 business meetings, the School Committee voted on the following programs, policies and initiatives. IMAGE HERE Screen shot from video of January 18, 2024 School Committee meeting. New Policy on Student Use of Personal Electronic Communication Devices The Committee voted unanimously at their January 4…

Original front entrance to the Acton Memorial Libray, the older brick building part.

A Historical Walk in Acton’s Center

January 17, 2024

by Kimberly E. B. Hurwitz

The Acton 250 Committee organized its third community event on December 17, a historical walk through the heart of Acton Center. Amy Cole, a local tour guide, historian, and Acton resident, led the walk that explored significant landmarks and shared the rich history embedded in the town center…

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Acton Facing Prop 2 1/2 Operational Override Vote

January 17, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

The Acton Leadership Group, which is made up representatives of the Select Board, the Finance Committee, and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee, has its own version of “hot stove season.” But instead of gathering around an antique wood stove at a general store to discuss their favorite baseball…

a group seated behind desks

January 8 Select Board Meeting: Concerns on Resident Concerns, Budget Issues, and Town Meeting Warrant

January 17, 2024

by Tom Beals

The January 8, 2024 Acton Select Board meeting opened as usual with “Resident Concerns”, a forum for brief remarks from residents to the Board. A resident spoke regarding the use of a “Point of Order” to interrupt residents’ remarks at previous meetings, reminding the Board of the Supreme…

Person at a lecturn microphone

Boston Civil Rights Pioneer Jean McGuire Speaks at 22nd Acton Martin Luther King Breakfast

January 17, 2024

by Bob Van Meter

Congregation Beth Elohim and its social justice committee Na’aseh hosted Acton’s 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast on Monday morning for over one hundred participants in person and over forty more via zoom.…

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Backgrounder: Lessons from History: Acton’s 2005 Override

January 8, 2024

by Tom Beals

A tax limit override that, if approved by Acton voters, would raise property taxes beyond the Proposition 2½ statutory limits has recently been discussed at the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Acton Leadership Group meetings. It seems likely, following those discussions, that an override will be on the…

person's hands holding a wood turtle

Zoo New England Proposes to Improve Habitat for Wood Turtles in Acton

January 8, 2024

by Bettina Abe

In the fall of 2023, Zoo New England and the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program contacted the Acton Conservation Department with a plan to enhance the habitat for Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) along Nashoba Brook in Acton. The enhancements are designed to protect overwintering turtles from…

Entrance to Acton Water District office

Acton Water District Finance Committee Discusses Financial Policy and Fiscal Year ’25 Budget and Water Rates

January 8, 2024

by Kim Kastens

The Finance Committee (FinCom) of the Acton Water District (AWD), along with the District Treasurer and Manager, met on January 4 to continue crafting the District Financial Policy, review the draft Fiscal Year ‘25 (FY25) budget and Annual Meeting warrant articles, and discuss water rates for FY25. FY25…

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State Approves Acton’s Participation in Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project

January 3, 2024

by Jim Snyder-Grant

On December 22, 2023, the Town of Acton received approval from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) approving the Town’s participation in the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project. This approval means that beginning March 22, 2024, new buildings and major rehabilitation projects in…

Car in motion heading towards the new Pedestrian Traffic Light

Pedestrian-friendly Traffic Signal Installed at Great Road and Brook Street

January 3, 2024

by Kim Kastens

On December 29, workers and a pair of bucket trucks were observed setting up a new traffic signal on Great Road, near the intersection with Brook Street. This intersection was the site of a fatal accident in October 2022. At several meetings in the fall of 2022, the…

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