Alissa Nicol

8 hatchling wood turtles on a person's open hands

Wood Turtles Get a Head Start

March 23, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

On March 6, six volunteers joined Acton’s Land Stewardship Coordinator Ian Bergemann and Zoo New England (ZNE) Field Biologist Jimmy Welch to create habitat for threatened wood turtles, Glyptemys insculpta, along a brook in Acton. ZNE’s website describes the species as “once the most common freshwater turtle in…

The author lends a hand to a Wood Frog crossing Fort Pond Road in Acton.

Big Night for Amphibian Helpers

March 14, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

After the sun went down on February 28, a wet and unseasonably warm evening, several local residents put on rain gear, head lamps, and reflective vests to report for Amphibian Crossing Brigade duty. This was the earliest such night of assisting road crossings of frogs and salamanders seen…

Cover of Clegg and Kennedy’s book on local journalism.

On Local News: Silver Unicorn Bookstore Event

March 6, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

A standing-room-only crowd of more than forty was packed into The Silver Unicorn Bookstore for “Community News Night” on the evening of Friday, March 1. In partnership with this publication, Acton Exchange, the small indy bookseller in West Acton hosted veteran journalists Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy to discuss…

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…

A man adjusts an item while another man appears to hold a cell phone

Fix-It Clinic

November 28, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

A Fix-It Clinic was held at the Acton Memorial Library on Saturday, November 25 from 10:00 – 1:00 PM. The event attracted seventeen individuals and families with a variety of items in need of repair. These items included a clock, handbag, lighted tree, wheelchair, miniature sewing machine, miniature…

Aman holds an early American flag; a speakar at a podium and other flag-holders stand behind him

Veterans Day Observance in Acton

November 13, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

A crowd gathered on the Acton Town Common Saturday morning, November 11 at 11:00 AM to observe the 2023 Veterans Day. Organized by the Veterans Services Office and Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee, the observance opened with a welcome and invocation by Gail Sawyer, Deputy Director-Emergency Management. Town Manager…

A group of people gathered around an old-style school desk

“Acton’s Schools Then and Now” at the Hosmer House

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Historical Society (AHS) hosted its monthly Open House at the Hosmer House Museum on Saturday afternoon, October 21, and visitors had a chance to view the new exhibit, “Acton’s Schools, Then and Now.” Also on display was a poster project by two 2023 Acton Boxborough Regional…

A group of people behind a table, on which there are a variety of apple pies

Friends of the Acton Libraries’ Apple Pie Contest

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Friends of the Acton Libraries’ second annual Apple Pie Contest drew 7 entries from Acton residents, and winners were announced in the Meeting Room on the first floor of the Memorial Library on Sunday afternoon, October 29. The judging of the pies had taken place the day…

a group of people views an exibit

After Hours Archaeology Tour for Pine Hawk Friends

October 23, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

On Sunday, October 15, seven Friends of Pine Hawk members traveled to the Robbins Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Middleborough, home of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society and a collection of 200,000+ cultural items. This after-hours tour of the museum was led by Greg Lott and Judi Macioci.…

Sculptures of poets framed by tall trees

“Talking Statues” Premieres at Acton Sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s Boston Women’s Memorial

October 9, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

Acton sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s “Boston Women’s Memorial” is twenty years old this year. The City dedicated the sculpture on October 25, 2003. In celebration of this anniversary, the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail is hosting a premiere of “The Talking Statues” on Saturday, October 21 at 11:00 AM, co-sponsored…

A speaker behind a podium and an aerial terrain map on a video screen.

Friends of Pine Hawk Kick Off Archaeology Month

October 9, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

On Thursday, October 5, more than thirty residents gathered in the Meeting Room of the Acton Memorial Library and online for the first event honoring this year’s Archaeology Month, hosted by Friends of Pine Hawk. The speaker, former Town of Acton Health Director, Doug Halley, presented “From Pine…

Sunbeams illuminate a crowd of colorfully dressed people.

Acton, Boxborough, and Littleton Celebrate DiwaliFest Together

October 9, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

A perfect fall day with blue skies and sunshine was delivered on Sunday, October 8, to draw as many as 2,000 people to the second annual DiwaliFest on the lawn of the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough. The spark that initiated the event planning was the desire of…

Woodlawn Cemetery Revolutionary War era tombstones

Revolutionary Gravestones Get a Facelift

October 2, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

Work is almost complete on the renovation of the Revolutionary War section of Woodlawn Cemetery in Acton. MKai Nalenz, President and Chief Conservator at Gravestone Services of New England, reports that he expects the work to be finished in mid-October. You might be lucky enough to see him…

Revolutionary War era cannon aimed towards a field

From Crown Tensions to Tea Parties: The Role of Massachusetts in Shaping the Revolution

September 23, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

Acton’s inaugural event commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Commencement of the American Revolution took place at Town Hall on the evening of Thursday, September 21. Organized by the Acton 250 Committee, created by the Select Board in August of last year to plan community events to mark…

children, goats, and goatkeepers on a grassy lawn

Goats and Giggles at the Acton Memorial Library

September 22, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Memorial Library (AML) hosted a “Goats and Giggles” program on Wednesday, September 20 by Farmer’s Helpers, a community farm education program based at Chip-In Farm in Bedford that aims to cultivate “connections between people, food and farms.” The young goats are Fainting/Nigerian Dwarf crosses, small and…

Four women stand in a room with plastic tubs in the background.

Acton Boxborough Resource Center powered by Acton Boxborough United Way

September 11, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

On Wednesday, September 6, a volunteer orientation was held at the newly opened Acton Boxborough Resource Center (ABRC), located in the regional school district’s Administration Building at 15 Charter Road in Acton. The space became available when the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program moved to the new Boardwalk…

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