The Acton Exchange team is pleased to announce that calendar events will now be shared in our online calendar. We invite organizations to learn how to enter their own events. Write to calendar@actonexchange.org for more details.
The Acton Exchange Bulletin Board remains your site for volunteer opportunities and other announcements not tied to a specific time and date. Please send your Bulletin Board announcements to editors@actonexchange.org.
2025 Acton-Boxborough Bioblitz, April 18-May 5
We invite you to document and celebrate biodiversity in Acton and Boxborough. Last year 26 participants made almost 1000 observations and identified over 500 species in the Acton and Boxborough area.
To join, first create an account on the iNaturalist website using your phone or computer.
Then, join our Project. You can search for our Project by name on the Community tab on your computer or phone: “Nature of Acton and Boxborough April 2025” or click here.
(Please make sure you are joining the 2025 project, not the 2024 project!)
We are opening the window on April 18 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Samuel Prescott’s ride (and Paul Revere’s Ride) to Acton. But the Boston Area City Nature Challenge will only count observations from April 25 to 28, so it’s important to make observations during that time period as well.For more information about the Boston Area CNC, visit: https://www.bostoncnc.org/
Then snap away at any plant, animal or fungus you see and get it on our list. Can we break 500 species this year? Who can ID the most? Taking observations of wildlife helps advance science too! According to National Geographic, “High quality data uploaded to iNaturalist become part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an open source database used by scientists and policy makers around the world.”
This is a fun activity for your family and to celebrate Earth Week.
This Bioblitz is a collaboration of people from Energize Acton, the Acton Conservation Trust, Green Acton, AB Steam, Acton Men’s Outdoor Club, Acton Discovery Museum, the Boxborough Conservation Trust, and the Town of Acton Sustainability office.
If you have any questions about the activity or how to join the project in iNaturalist, email Matt Liebman.
Water Main Flushing
The Acton Water District will begin its spring water main flushing program on Monday, April 14, 2025, and will continue through the month of April. We will primarily be flushing water mains in North Acton, which is roughly the area northeast of Route 2 in the vicinity of Great Road (Routes 2A/119) and Main Street (Route 27) to the Westford/Carlisle/Littleton town lines, including intersecting streets and neighborhoods.
Discolored water and periods of low pressure may be experienced on, or in the general vicinity of, any of the streets being flushed. We will place road signs in the vicinity prior to initiating flushing on any street. Areas outside of the flushing zone may also experience some of these conditions, although the program is designed to minimize widespread impacts.
Flushing will occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday – Thursday. We will not be flushing on Monday, April 21 due to the Patriots’ Day holiday. At any time during this period, customers may experience discolored water. It is advisable to draw and store some drinking water prior to the flushing. Any customers experiencing discolored water should not launder light-colored clothing, or run their dishwashers, as the minerals in the water may cause staining.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. This process is necessary for improving water quality in our distribution system, exercising valves and hydrants, and to clean mineral deposits from the pipes to minimize future incidents of discolored water.
For updates on areas being flushed, please refer to the Water District web site or call 978-263-9107, Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may also follow us on Twitter @Actonwater.
South Acton Rummage Sale moved to Harvard Thrift Shop
The organizers of the South Acton Rummage sale are continuing their love of rummage, our community, and the environment by partnering with the Congregational Church of Harvard (HCC) to launch a clothes room at their Unique Boutique thrift store.
In addition to being open each Wednesday 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., the new clothes section of the store is open on the first Saturday of every month, at 5 Still River Rd, Harvard, MA.
All are welcome. Come to shop or donate! All proceeds from the shop will go to the missions and justice work of the HCC, some of which are Worcester Area Mission, Loaves and Fishes food pantry, and A Friend In Need.
For questions, please email pmkbabcock@gmail.com, subject Thrift Store.
COA Seeking Event Coordinator for LGTBQ+ Programs for Older Adults
The Acton Council on Aging is seeking someone to coordinate a monthly event at the Senior Center for older adults in the LGBTQ+ community. Gatherings may include entertainment, speakers, socializing with refreshments, and pool and ping pong. It would be ideal if this coordinator could attend Acton COA Rainbow Team meetings (via Zoom or in person) where members discuss ideas for programming and work with the COA’s program manager in planning events. A monthly stipend is available. For more information, please contact Chris Chirokas at the Council on Aging. cchirokas@actonma.gov or 978-929-6652.
The Swap Shop, located at the Acton Transfer Station, needs more volunteers!
The Swap Shop is open May through October, Tuesday through Saturday, and volunteers pick their own hours.The purpose of the Swap Shop is to reduce trash by putting perfectly good items into the hands of those who can use them.
We’d love to have more volunteers so we can be open for as many hours as possible.Will you have a few hours this year to help keep good things out of the trash?
Here is the Town of Acton link to the Swap Shop Program: http://www.actonma.gov/507/Swap-Shop
All volunteers for the Town of Acton are screened by the Human Resources department and need to complete an online ethics training.
Please contact Debby Andell if you would like the Human Resources forms and/or more information – debbyandell@gmail.com.
Acton Nursing Services offers free loaner equipment
Submitted by Adrian Hancock, Chair, Acton Nursing Services Advisory Committee
Did you know that Acton Nursing Services (ANS) offers a range of home-health equipment on free loan on a first-come-first-served basis for Acton residents? Often we think of our very own home health organization as being focused only on older members of the community, but it can also be very helpful for anyone else. Whether it’s a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice, a sports accident, a motor vehicle incident, or recovery time at home after a hospital procedure, ANS can often offer free equipment like crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, etc.
Recovery can be hard enough; why make it more expensive than it has to be? Call:978.929.6650 to check availability. These items are also available on loan to residents hosting visitors from out of town who may need them during their stay. Full information about ANS’ year-round services for all Acton residents is available at https://www.actonnursingservice.com.
AB Community Fitness Center is open! AB Regional High School
The Acton Boxborough Community Fitness Center at ABRHS is a fun, flexible, fitness resource for AB residents! Volunteer led and sponsored by AB Community Education, the Center is open Mon, Wed, Thurs 7:30-9 p.m. and Sat 9-11 a.m., including most holidays including AB School Vacation week. New members (age 16+) are welcome. Check in with an AB Fitness Center volunteer on duty. Join us! (Enter via upper ABRHS parking lot if ABRHS gazebo entrance is locked). Learn more at Fitness Center – Community Education (abschools.org). Check out the AB Fitness Center discounted punch cards.
Volunteer at Danny’s Place! 543 Mass Ave. West Acton
Volunteer at Danny’s Place after school or on your days off! Calling All High School & Junior High Students. We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our team at Danny’s Place! Support our programs, gain valuable administrative skills, and make a difference in your community. Flexible hours & meaningful opportunities await! Email us to apply: info@dannys-place.org
The Acton Food Pantry volunteering
Ongoing – Volunteers Needed! Current needs include:
- Adults who have flexibility to volunteer for daytime shifts, particularly on Wednesday.
- People who might be interested in helping with the Saturday morning pickups at Stop & Shop or Trader Joe’s.
- Fluent Portuguese speakers to help us better serve our large Brazilian client population.
Although these are specific needs, we welcome any interested potential volunteer as we always need a large roster of potential subs and have a variety of opportunities. If you know of anyone who might be interested in volunteering, please have them complete a preliminary application on the Pantry website here or email Cathy at Cathy@actonfoodpantry.org.
Other notes from the Acton Food Pantry: “We decided not to host the Chef Challenge this year due to lack of volunteers. Because we have been operating in crisis mode (now serving an average of 425 families per week up from 280 pre-covid) we decided to take on a new less labor intensive fundraiser.
The Ride for Food is an annual event organized by Three Squares New England. It returns 100% of the funds raised by participants back to the pantry. It includes a 25, 50 mile or 100K bike ride or a 5K walk. It is a no pressure, fun event.
We are looking to encourage people to ride for the Acton food Pantry Team. I am collecting names and emails of riders (or walkers) as registration will open on May 1.” Look for more information during the next few weeks.
The Acton Food Pantry has been providing food for residents in need in Acton, Boxborough, and surrounding towns since 1984. They typically serve 350 families per week and rely heavily on volunteers.