News

Obituary: Janis Ossmann

January 27, 2026

by Family

Janis Louise Bestul Ossmann of Acton, Massachusetts died peacefully on January 23, 2026 following a year-long battle with cancer. She was 71 years old. Janis Louise Bestul was born in Washington, D.C. on June 15, 1954 to Alden Bestul, a scientist at the National Bureau of standards (now…

William Harlan Dickerson II speaks at 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in Acton

January 24, 2026

by Bob Van Meter

On Monday, January 19, more than one hundred thirty people gathered on a bright snowy morning at Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) in Acton for the 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast to honor the memory of Dr. King. Twenty or thirty more audience members watched on…

School Committee votes to transition to a grade-banded model this fall, ending open enrollment

January 24, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

At an emotion-laden meeting of the Acton Boxborough Regional School Committee on January 22, a decision-making process that began in May 2025, known as AB Forward, reached its conclusion. Over many months, and utilizing a structured process which prioritized community input and engaged a 19-member Steering Committee to…

Miss Sherlock brings mystery with a twist to Acton

January 24, 2026

by Grace Blaufuss

Theater III’s dress rehearsal of Miss Holmes showed great promise for the upcoming production. Despite the expected level of technical issues being ironed out, the actors powered through and delivered without any interruptions. Their feat is all the more impressive considering the complexity of the show. Sherlock Holmes…

Emerson: Flu patients fill E.R., but a bigger one is in the works

January 24, 2026

by James Conboy

Jan. 14, Emerson Hospital Emergency Department: On a tour of the hospital’s Emergency Department, the Exchange found fifteen of the total sixteen critical care rooms filled, mostly due to the surge of the flu virus (see the Jan. 18 Acton Exchange article that shows the increase in flu…

The Bulletin Board: January 24, 2026

January 24, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

What’s happening today in Acton? Tomorrow? —––––––––> See the Calendar. <–––––––––– 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…

Acton’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission announces co-chairs

January 24, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

The Town of Acton Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC, the Commission) is pleased to announce that Melissa Kaplan Morse and Suravi Bhatia will serve as co-chairs of the Commission. Both are dedicated volunteers who bring valuable and thoughtful experience, passion, and leadership to advancing diversity, equity, and…

Obituary: Marvin D. Pope

January 24, 2026

by Family

Marvin Delford Pope of Acton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the age of 93. Marvin was born in 1932 in Hill City, Minnesota, during the Great Depression. The son of Kenneth Frances Pope and Azalba Merle Stengel Pope, he grew up…

Coffee, clocks, and community choices: What Acton learned at “Java with John”

January 24, 2026

by Greg Jarboe

On a cold January morning at the Acton Senior Center, the coffee was hot, the conversation was candid, and the stakes, while not revolutionary, were unmistakably civic. “Java with John,” now in its eighth year, has become one of those small but telling rituals of local democracy. Town…

The Codfather makes an offer that the Acton Woman’s Club can’t refuse

January 24, 2026

by Franny Osman

The Acton Woman’s Club holds a monthly lunch and includes a speaker or performance of interest to the members and anyone from the public who wants to attend to learn more about the group. This month, the luncheon was held at Acton TV and was prepared by the…

Acton Nature Watch: Wolf Moon (December 19, 2025 – January 17, 2026)

January 24, 2026

by Rob Gogan

November Nov. 30: A COYOTE family yips, whines, and howls in N. Acton woods (thanks for this and all trail cam videos monitored by Rebecca Harvey). We don’t have wolves in Acton anymore, but our healthy population of coyotes has moved up the food chain to the top.…

Obituary: Earl C. Van Horn, Jr.

January 21, 2026

by Family

Earl C. Van Horn, Jr., aged 86, of Acton, MA passed away peacefully at Tufts Medical Center on Jan. 15, 2026, with his step-children, Mark and Lia Spitzer, by his side. Earl was born on January 24, 1939 in Cincinnati, OH, to Earl Sr. and Agnes Van Horn.…

Lottery open for affordable rental units in new McManus Manor

January 18, 2026

by Franny Osman

People who have lived in Acton a long time remember when Kennedy and Company Landscaping and Garden Center raised plants in greenhouses and sold trees and garden plants at their property on Main St. near Route 2 in Acton. Kennedy relocated to Harvard, MA in April 2023, as…

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AB Forward Update: School Committee heads into a final vote on school reorganization

January 18, 2026

by Diane Baum

On January 8, the School Committee hosted their final informational session on school reorganization. The four-hour meeting included a 75-minute public listening session that drew a record crowd as community members continued to weigh in on the two reorganization options under consideration and the proposed options for school…

Flu season is upon us. Not vaccinated yet? You can fix that!

January 18, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

The Town of Acton has seen an increase in reported flu cases this winter. These numbers reflect only residents who were tested in a doctor’s office, which means the actual spread of flu in the community is likely much higher. Often, one family member may test positive after…

“Common Sense” at 250: A timely reflection on independence

January 18, 2026

by Ann Marie Testarmata

On Jan. 10, 2026, residents from Acton and beyond gathered at the Acton Memorial Library to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Thomas Paine’s groundbreaking pamphlet, “Common Sense.” The meeting room was full, although many had sent their regrets as they set out to join protests. The timing felt…

The Bulletin Board: January 17, 2025

January 18, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

What’s happening today in Acton? Tomorrow? —––––––––> See the Calendar. <–––––––––– 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…

Domestic Violence Services Network offers Volunteer Advocate Training

January 18, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN) is offering a free Volunteer Advocate Training program in March for interested community members. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment, and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in our 13 partner communities. The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize volunteers with…

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Select Board Notes: January 12, 2026

January 18, 2026

by Tom Beals

Opening remarks: Glenn Cote, School Committee liaison to the Select Board, called attention to the School Committee’s January 8 meeting and its discussion of district restructuring. The final vote on elementary school reorganization is scheduled for January 22, and public comments will continue to be reviewed until that…

Acton now in Level 2: Significant Drought status

January 18, 2026

by Kim Kastens

On January 12, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared that the Northeast Drought Management Region, which includes Acton, has worsened to a Level 2 – Significant Drought. “Continued snow and rainfall are needed to alleviate the drought that many regions in our state are…

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