Greg Jarboe

A handwritten poster announcing Doris Kearns Goodwin as a speaker at Bull Run Restaurant on June 9, and a picture of the cover of Goodwin's newest book, An Unfinished Love Story.

Silver Unicorn bookstore holds epic four days of events

June 14, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

How does a local business compete with Amazon? Well, the Silver Unicorn Bookstore in West Acton just held an epic four days of events that gave readers the rare opportunity to meet the authors of a variety of new books. The series kicked off Friday evening, June 7.…

A man wearing a button-down shirt with rolled=up sleeves stands in front of the Acton Senior Center Bistro 30 sign. He is speaking to an audience of older citizens.

“Java with John” lets you see over walls and around corners

May 24, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

When I was a kid, I had a toy periscope that enabled me to “see over walls and around corners.” Well, on Friday, May 17, 2024, I had a feeling of déjà vu as I sat in the back of the dining room at the Acton Senior Center…

Five people stand in front of a shop located in an industrial complex. Two people hold a red ribbon and the new owners of Marzae Winery start to cut the ribbon with a very large pair of scissors.You can see large metal tanks and other wine-making parephernelia in the background.

Acton celebrates grand opening of Marzae Wines

May 24, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

If you have seen the movie Bottle Shock, then you will know that no one took Napa Valley wine seriously in 1976. Well, flash forward 48 years and I suspect that it would be hard to find someone who takes Massachusetts wine seriously in 2024. But that’s about…

A decorated room with several tables full of people. At the front table, a woman raises her hand.

Acton Senior Center hosts 90s birthday luncheon

May 16, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the Acton Senior Center hosted a luncheon in honor of Acton seniors who are 90 years old or older. According to the Town census, there are over two hundred fifty residents who are in their 90s and about 50 attended. May is Older…

The auditorium filled with people, viewed from the stage.

Acton sets a new record for Town Meeting participation

May 7, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On Monday, May 6, 2024, a total of 2,579 residents participated in Acton’s Annual Town Meeting. This set a new record for Town Meeting participation. On a percentage basis,16.7% of registered voters – roughly one out of six eligible voters – struggled to find parking and a seat…

a video screen witn a man, trees in the background, and "Expedition Bigfoot" and "Paranormal Caught on Camera" text boxes

Bigfoot hasn’t been sighted in Acton, but Leominster is another story

April 30, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On April 2, 2024, from about 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., I saw Ronny LeBlanc’s presentation at the Acton Senior Center. And I was not alone. About three dozen other people also saw his presentation, “What is Bigfoot?” So, there are a lot of eyewitnesses. The BBC describes Bigfoot,…

Two girls wearing bright clothing with armfuls of books and big smiles.The girl on the right is showing her award for her cover illustration.

Silver Unicorn hosts second annual Kids Graphic Novel Festival

April 27, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

The Silver Unicorn, an independent bookstore that sells new books for all ages, hosted its second annual Kids Graphic Novel Festival on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Three thousand people attended. Even a little rain in the morning couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of young adult readers, who got to…

Man in a blue revolutionary era coat and tricorner hat riding a horse.

Patriots’ Day Spirit celebrated in Acton

April 19, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

The Iron Work Farm celebrated its annual Patriots’ Day Spirit twice on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Patriots’ Day Spirit at the Faulkner House, 5 High The first celebration from 1 to 3:30 p.m. enabled visitors to travel back in time to the Civil War, when the Faulkner House,…

Moon and corona at totality

Heads to the Sky: Acton Catches a Glimpse of the Eclipse

April 12, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the moon cast its shadow on the Earth, creating a partial solar eclipse visible right here in Acton. From classrooms to parks, residents across town took a moment to gaze skyward and witness this celestial spectacle. This story captures the Acton experience, from…

Author Martin Gitlin speaks at the Senior Center. Photo credit: Greg Jarboe.

A funny program about funny programs: The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time

March 14, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

On March 7, 2024, award-winning author and pop culture historian Martin Gitlin hosted a fun and enlightening presentation based on his book, The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time. He is the only author to rank the best of the best, including I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Andy…

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

REVIEW: Why should we care about What Works in Community News?

February 24, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

In partnership with the Acton Exchange, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore will host authors Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy on March 1 to discuss their new book, What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and the Future of the Fourth Estate. Residents can ask questions and engage…

Photo of Electric Vehicle charger at the South Acton Commuter Rail parking lot.

Expedition to Find the Best EV Charging Stations in Acton, MA

February 15, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

Recently, I went on a journey to find the lowest gas prices in Acton, MA. That article triggered questions about the location, price, and charge-speed of public EV charging stations in and near Acton. So, on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, I set out on an expedition to find the…

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…

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…

Badge icon representing Elections and Town Meeting

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…