Scarecrow Contest & Jack O’ Lanterns
(From NAMI of Central Middlesex)
Vote for your favorite at the “Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest at Cucurbit Farm at 32 Parker St. in Acton. Proceeds benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Middlesex. The scarecrows will be on display for the month of October. There is still time to build your scarecrow creation or plan to enter a carved Jack O’ Lantern in the Glow By event on the weekend before Halloween. There’s a corn maze too! Our goal is 100 scarecrows along the fence and many conversations about mental health! Additional info at https://www.namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/scarecrow-contest2024vote.
Thrifty Thursdays
(From West Acton Baptist Church)
Thursdays, 3:00-6:00 pm
West Acton Baptist Church Coatroom,
592 Massachusetts Ave., Acton.
Entrance next to Mini FoodPantry.
Pop-up thrift shop featuring vintage clothing and accessories. New items added weekly.
Presented by West Acton Baptist Church.
Questions? Email West Acton Baptist Church
AB Farmers Market
(From AB Farmers Market)
Sundays through October 13, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Elm Street Playground, Acton.
Stock up on local produce and artisanal goods while you enjoy music, artisan offerings, our community table, friends and neighbors. Free yoga classes. SNAP match for EBT cardholders.
Latest updates available at https://abfarmersmarket.org/
Acton Raas Garba & India Mela
Saturday, October 12, 5:00-11:00 pm
McCarthy-Towne Elementary School, Parker Damon Building, 11 Charter Road, Acton.
Tickets: Kids ages 5-10 years $5; Adults $15. Limited spots available.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms and colorful traditions of Garba music and dancing, a joyous Indian dance form. Event highlights include live Garba music, Indian fashion clothing/accessories, artifacts and jewelry shopping, Mehndi and face painting, and delicious Indian food. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed and best dancer. The funds raised on this occasion will be used for the Autistic Foundation Center, Boston.
Tickets at this website and this website.
Questions? Contact 774-330-9872.
Protecting What Matters: Estate Planning for Parents of Tweens and Teens
(From Danny’s Place)
Tuesday, October 15, 7:00 pm
Danny’s Place, 543 Massachusetts Ave., Acton.
Event is free. Register here.
David Feakes will lead this insightful workshop and equip you with essential strategies to ensure your children are cared for by the people you choose. Get answers to your questions and gain the confidence to secure your family’s future.
Presented by Danny’s Place and The Parents Estate Planning Law Firm, PC
Information at the website.
Ancient Winters at the Flagg Swamp Rockshelter
(From Friends of Pine Hawk)
Tuesday, October 15, 7-8:30 p.m.
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Eric Johnson of UMass-Amherst provides a retrospective on the excavation of this remarkable 4,000-year-old site in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com.
Friends of the Acton Libraries Used Book Sale
(From Friends of the Acton Libraries)
Preview sale for members Friday, October 18, 7:00-9:00 pm
Sale day for everyone Saturday, October 19, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Half price day for everyone Sunday, October 20, 1:00-4:00 pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
The Friends have been collecting and sorting books since the last sale. Now is your chance to come to stock up on good books in good condition to cozy up with this autumn. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the sale. If you aren’t yet a member, you can join on Friday night or at the Friends website. The Friends of the Acton Libraries is a 100% volunteer organization that has a unique remit; they donate funds to Acton’s 8 elementary, middle-school and high-school libraries, as well as the 2 town libraries. The book sales and other activities raise money to distribute to these 10 entities. The funds given to the elementary school libraries represent almost 50% of their book buying budget.
For more information, email the Friends.
Open House with Free Yoga Classes
Saturday, October 19
Alchemy Yoga, 138 Main St. Acton.
Pre-registration is not required.
Come celebrate 11 years of the yoga community at Alchemy Yoga. All attendees receive a raffle ticket. Raffle prizes include 5-class passes and private yoga sessions with one of our seasoned teachers. Drawing will take place at 12:45 pm on 10/19. Winners need not be present to win.
Classes are 60 minutes.
Class schedule:
9:00 am with Rawley
10:15 am with Justina
11:30 am with Janine (this class is suitable for beginners)
Information at the website.
Adult Archaeology Walk
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to noon
In-person only. Limited to 20, ages 17 and up.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Bettina Abe, Acton trail volunteer and retired member of Acton’s Conservation division, will lead a brisk hike along the Nashoba Brook Trail, with stops at the stone chamber and Native American ceremonial sites. Trail conditions can be rocky, uneven, and often wet, and thus participation is limited. Registrants will receive a detailed email several days before the walk.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Acton Conservation Trust Fall Community Service Day
Sunday, October 20, 1:00-3:00 pm (Rain date: Sunday, October 27).
176 Central Street Conservation Restriction, Mount Hope Cemetery, 166 Central St., Acton
Register here.
Acton Conservation Trust (ACT) will be working in one of the conservation restrictions held by ACT. Family groups, scout groups, students and everyone else are welcome. No experience needed; you will be shown what needs to be done.
Presented by Acton Conservation Trust.
Information at the website.
Burying the Trowel: A History of Controversy and Innovation in New England’s Cultural Stone Features Debate
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Tuesday, October 22, 7-8:30 p.m.
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024.
Unusual stone features dot the woodlands and hillsides of New England and their provenance has been subject to many theories and debate. Cultural anthropologist Caitlin O’Riordan will give an overview of the changing way these features have been understood over time and the friction this has caused between avocational researchers and professional archaeologists.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Acton’s and Concord’s Roads to Revolution
(From Acton 250 Committee)
Wednesday, October 23, 7:00-8:30 pm
Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St., Acton.
Robert Gross, renowned author of The Minutemen and their World, will share the unique conflicts and changes Acton and Concord citizens experienced in their economic and social lives that led up to the dramatic events of 250 years ago.
Presented by Acton 250 Committee.
More information at the website.
Apple Pie Baking Contest
(From Friends of Acton Libraries)
Pies to be delivered on Saturday, October 26 by 2:00 pm.
Limited to 20 entrants. Contestants should pre-register online here.
Prize ceremony on Sunday, October 27, 2:00 pm.
Open to the public to enjoy pies with cheese, cider and more.
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Bakers of all ages are invited to submit an apple pie. Prizes will be awarded for the winner of best under-15 baker and best adult baker. So that the judges can compare apples to apples (so to speak) there are a few guidelines: Pies are to be homemade including crust. Filling is to be just apples and spices (no other fruits). Your recipe should be submitted, including the type of apple(s) used. Pies should be in a 9-inch pie plate/pan. Non-edible materials/decoration are not permitted. Judging will be conducted by library staff, last year’s competition winners, and a volunteer from the Acton Woman’s Club.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Acton Memorial Library.
Questions? Contact Friends of Acton Libraries.
Acton-Boxborough Family Network Spooktacular Halloween Party
(From Acton-Boxborough Family Network)
Saturday, October 26, 10:00 am-12:30 pm
RJ Grey Junior High School Gym, 16 Charter Road, Acton.
Open to the public. Members: Free. Non-members: $10 per family, must pre-register at www.abfamily.org
Halloween Spooktacular event includes a magician and other fun activities provided by local preschools and businesses. The magic show will be from 11:00-11:45 am. There will also be a family costume contest, so come dressed for a chance to take home cool prizes donated by local businesses.
Presented by Acton-Boxborough Family Network.
Questions? Email Acton-Boxborough Family Network.
Open Houses at Iron Work Farm
(From Iron Work Farm)
Sunday, October 27
Jones Tavern, 128 Main St., Acton. 1:00-3:00 pm
Jones-Faulkner Homestead, 5 High St., Acton. 3:00-5:00 pm
Event is free.
Both buildings played important roles at the start of the Revolutionary War. Jones Tavern was first built in 1732 and operated by Samuel Jones as a tavern by 1750. At the Jones-Faulkner Homestead, visitors can explore the restored rooms of this 1707 architectural gem, the oldest house in Acton and home of the owners of the longtime fulling and grist mills on Fort Pond Brook. It was from this house that Acton’s West Militia marched to Concord on April 19, 1775, under Capt. Simon Hunt, while Capt. Francis Faulkner assumed the leadership (as Colonel) of the 3rd Middlesex Massachusetts Regiment. Parking is available on-site or nearby.
Presented by Iron Work Farm.
More information is available at the website.
Isaac Davis Toastmasters Club Open House
Monday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:30
Acton Public Safety Facility EOC, 371 Main Street Acton, MA
Become an Effective Speaker
Do you want to advocate new activities at meetings?
Do you want to make an effective presentation at a Town Meeting or Public Hearing?
Do you want to effectively share your experience and knowledge with professional organizations of various community clubs?
Did you know that joining and participating in Toastmasters will enable you to succeed in any or all of these situations?
The Isaac Davis Toastmasters Club invites you to attend an open house meeting on Monday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Acton Public Safety Facility EOC, 371 Main Street Acton, MA. Members will host a meeting to show you Toastmasters in action. Isaac Davis Toastmasters has been serving Acton and the surrounding towns for 52 years. For more information, contact Daniel Livingston, VP Membership.
Changes in the Land: Book Discussion
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Tuesday, October 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Join a group discussion of this landmark environmental history by William Cronon, which offers an original and profound explanation of the effects European colonists’ sense of property and their pursuit of capitalism had upon the ecosystems of New England.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Na’aseh Forum: Immigration and Resettlement in Massachusetts and the Country
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Congregation Beth Elohim and Zoom
Join us for this informative and timely forum brought to us by the Na’aseh (We will do and we will hear/understand) committee. Na’aseh takes specific actions of repairing the world and social justice in the realms of basic human rights, civil rights, social justice, and environmental protection.
Challenges for people coming to our neighborhoods and for those wishing to welcome them are great. Come learn from our speakers who have been working directly with people newly arrived to our country. Step beyond political rhetoric to help inform how we might help.
This event is free and open to all – the CBE community and the public. If you are unable to join us in person, we welcome you to join us via Zoom.
For our planning purposes and/or to receive the Zoom link, please sign up below to let us know you are coming!
Questions? Email socialaction@bethelohim.org.
Self-Defense Workshop
(From Danny’s Place)
Wednesday, October 30, 7:00 pm
Danny’s Place, 543 Massachusetts Ave., Acton.
$50 per person, ages 13+. Register here.
This workshop is perfect for teens and young adults (ages 13+), women, parents, fitness enthusiasts, and high-risk professionals who want to build confidence and learn practical, life-saving techniques. This transformative self-defense workshop will be taught by internationally certified 5th Degree Black Belt instructors from Concord Self-Defense Academy. You’ll walk away with skills that can help you protect yourself in dangerous situations.
Presented by Danny’s Place and Concord Self-Defense Academy.
Information at the website.
Hidden History of Black Boston
(From Acton 250 Committee)
Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Discover Boston’s rich 400-year African American history with Joel Mackall. Many vibrant Black communities flourished in Boston stretching back to early colonial times.
Presented by Acton 250 Committee.
More information at the website.
Community Service Day at Trail Through Time
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Sunday, November 10, 1-3 p.m.
In person. Limited to 25, ages 13 and up.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Assist with trail and site maintenance on the Nashoba Brook Conservation Land’s Trail Through Time, a multicultural heritage trail in North Acton. The focus of this annual effort will be trail and site maintenance as well as cleaning trail kiosks. Rain date is Sunday, November 17.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
NAMI Mental Health Course, in Person in Boxborough
(From National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Middlesex)
Family to Family is a free, evidence-based, eight-session, weekly course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. Topics include understanding the symptoms of mental health conditions, learning about treatments & therapies, practicing communication & problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care. Importantly, the course offers family members the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support in a stigma-free environment. The course will meet in person in Boxborough Mondays, November 11 to January 13, excluding holiday weeks, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Additional information and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/family-to-family-fall2024-boxborough.
WR Grace Superfund Site Open House
Tuesday, November 12, evening, more information to come.
Acton Town Hall.
EPA, along with MassDEP and W.R. Grace, will be holding an Open House for the WR Grace Superfund Site on the evening of Tuesday November 12th at Acton Town Hall, Acton, MA. More information to come.
“One for the Revolutionary Road: Taverns and the American Revolution”
(From Acton 250 Committee)
Tuesday, November 12, 7:00 pm
Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton.
Malcolm Purinton will show there were few places more important in Colonial and Revolutionary America than local taverns. Taverns were the gathering spot to discuss the news and politics of the day.
Presented by Acton 250 Committee.
More information at the website.
Acton Arboretum Walk
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Saturday, November 16, 9:30-11:00 am
Acton Arboretum, 2 Taylor Rd., Acton. Limited to 12, adults only.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
Join Friends of the Nashobah Indians members Kevin Gallant and Bettina Abe for a walk through the Acton Arboretum to observe what may be Native American Ceremonial Stone Landscapes (CSLs). Many cultural structures have been destroyed by development but some may still exist. The walk will be on and off the trail over uneven ground.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Acton-Boxborough United Way’s Casino Royale Fundraiser
Saturday evening, November 16
Wedgewood Pines Country Club, Stow
Casino Royale, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Acton-Boxborough United Way (ABUW), will be held on Saturday evening on November 16 at the beautiful Wedgewood Pines Country Club, Stow.
Last year’s Casino Royale fundraiser and silent auction raised over $40,000, which helped to underwrite the vital community support A-B United Way and its grantees provide to residents throughout the A/B community. Organizers anticipate this year’s event will be even bigger and better. For more information and tickets, go to abuw.org/casino.
Business leaders: ABUW’s Casino Royale is a great way to spotlight area businesses while making a meaningful contribution to people in our community who need it most. For more information, Contact ABUW Executive Director Katie Neville at 978-254-2806 or abuw.org/sponsor.
A Day in the Life of a Local Archaeologist
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 pm
In person at the Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
David Gutbrod, professional archaeologist and chair of Westford’s Historical Commission, conducted research in North Acton, the first application of Acton’s new Archaeological Protection bylaw. He will share significant highlights from the Acton project as well as remote sensing projects conducted in Tampa Bay’s lost cemetery and the hidden remains of Ethel, Florida.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.
Native Americans and the Revolution: The Times are Exceedingly Altered
(From The Friends of Pine Hawk)
Thursday, December 5, 7:00-8:30 pm
In person at the Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St., Acton and via Zoom.
Event is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024
At the end of the 1780s, a group of Mohegans bemoaned that “[t]he times are exceedingly altered, yea the Times have turned everything topside down.” That was true for indigenous peoples in southern New England who survived the devastations of King Philip’s War a century earlier, as well as those between the Appalachians and the Great Lakes who were subject to a half-century of displacement and wars between European powers. Daniel Mandell, Professor of History Emeritus, Truman State University, and author of Tribe, Race, History: Native Americans in Southern New England, 1780-1880, will present information on how thousands of Native people were involved in and impacted by the Revolution, and how they sought to secure their rights in different ways.
Presented by The Friends of Pine Hawk. Funded by Freedom’s Way and cosponsored with Acton 250.
Questions? Email Friends of Pine Hawk.