Boxborough News is committed to independent, neutral reporting of town news and information
Note From the Boxborough News Editors
(5-DEC-24) The Boxborough News editors have been informed by the Action Unlimited publisher that Boxborough residents will now receive a combined “Acton/Maynard/Boxborough Edition” of the Action Unlimited instead of the “Boxborough Edition.” Action Unlimited will no longer publish a “Boxborough Edition” specifically for Boxborough residents.
Boxborough News will still publish in the combined “Acton/Maynard/Boxborough Edition” of the Action Unlimited, but many articles will be abbreviated. We encourage readers to visit this website for our full, weekly publication.
Next Week at Town Hall
On Thursday December 12, at 7:15 p.m., the Recreation Commission will meet virtually. Some items on the agenda include Liberty Field, Winterfest, and RunBXB updates, and future plans for Flerra Field.
Click here for a list of all agendas for the upcoming week, including Zoom links.
Visit boxborough-ma.gov for other calendar and agenda items.
This Week's News
(5-DEC-24) At a short meeting on November 25, the Boxborough Select Board voted unanimously to change the date of the Special Town Meeting (STM) from February 10, 2025 to March 18, 2025...
(5-DEC-24) On Tuesday, November 26 the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) held a public information meeting on the replacement of the Massachusetts Avenue/Route 111 bridge across Interstate 495. About 30 people, both in person at the Grange Room at Town Hall and on Zoom, heard from representatives of MassDOT, the construction contractor MAS, and the design firm WSP...
(5-DEC-24) At its meeting on November 26, the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) discussed roof replacements at Boxborough Meadows, the Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP), community education on affordable housing, and a Housing Production Plan (HPP) update. The board also discussed its plan to publicize the need for new members...
(5-DEC-24) At its meeting on November 14, Steele Farm Committee Chair Christopher Hydak reported that a contract has been signed with Unicorn Contracting for Phase III of the effort to preserve the envelope of the 1784 Levi Wetherbee farmhouse at Steele Farm in Boxborough...
(3-DEC-24) Two years have passed since Town Administrator Mike Johns took the reins at Town Hall in November 2022. Boxborough News asked T.A. Johns four questions about his second year on the job – and the years ahead.
Boxborough News: How, if at all, was your second year in Boxborough different from your first year?
Johns: In year two we were able to concentrate more on improving public service delivery effectiveness and efficiency, whereas year one was putting out a lot of fires, and creating stability, as well as addressing the problem of the revolving door syndrome with staff turnover.
Boxborough News: What was the biggest accomplishment of your second year?
Johns: Total team collaboration throughout all the professional staff and cadre of volunteers who make Boxborough a wonderful community. Part of this included the continued recruitment and high retention rate of top notch professionals...
(3-DEC-24) At its meeting on November 21, the Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) voted unanimously to move forward two of the three potential fire station sites for a “Phase Two” analysis: 502 Massachusetts Avenue (the current location of the fire station) and 72 Stow Road.
The FSBC made its decision after comparing the three sites using a site selection matrix designed by Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Vertex. The committee reviewed and discussed Vertex’s recommended ratings and made some changes to the scoring. By the end of the exercise, the weighted scores for the three properties were 371 for 502 Mass Ave, 362 for 72 Stow Road, and 297 for 700 Mass Ave...
(3-DEC-24) At its meeting on November 21, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee unanimously approved FY2026 budget guidelines with language incorporating a request from the Boxborough Finance Committee that the FY26 assessment to Boxborough should not increase by more than 6% from last year’s assessment.
The budget guidelines, developed by the School Committee’s budget subcommittee, originally asked the district for a budget with an “increase of no greater than 3%.” The second draft voted at the November 21 meeting asked the district for a budget with an “increase of no greater than 3% [and] a Boxborough assessment of less than 6%....”
(20-NOV-24) On Saturday, December 7, the Boxborough Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee (PCCC) will host Boxborough’s annual tree lighting celebration, as well as the unveiling of the town’s new menorah, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The celebration will take place at a new location this year. Instead of lighting the evergreen tree at the corner of Hill and Middle Roads, the town will light the evergreen tree in front of the Boxborough fire station at 502 Massachusetts Avenue...
Community
(5-DEC-24) The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday December 15 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8 p.m. For information please contact Captain Chad Childers at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org...
(5-DEC-24) The Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road will be open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday December 8. Come see Boxborough’s historic treasures including the 1850’s scale which is sensitive enough to weigh a penny and strong enough to calibrate a 50 pound weight...
(5-DEC-24) Santa Claus is returning to Boxborough on Sunday, December 15 to collect food items for the Acton Food Pantry. He will be escorted around town by the Boxborough Fire and Police departments.
Santa will spend two hours in Boxborough starting at 9 a.m. before heading back to the North Pole to make final preparations for the big day. His exact route is still in the planning stages...
[Editors’ Note: Obituary provided by the family and printed with permission]
(5-DEC-24) Born in Lynn MA to John "Boyd" and Marguerite Byers. Virginia was born and raised in the Acton/Boxboro area making many long-life friends. She graduated from Acton High School. She continued her schooling at Bryant & Stratton College in Boston, MA. She married Clyde Richardson in 1951 and together they had six children. Wayne, Kenneth (deceased), David (deceased), Sheryl, Donna, Judy. She is survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren...
Outside the Box
Looking for more local news? Curious about issues and events outside of our ten square miles? Our new “Outside the Box” page points you to community newspapers in surrounding towns:
The Acton Exchange
The Harvard Press
The Stow Independent
The Westford CAT
The Concord Bridge
Carlisle Mosquito
The Groton Herald
We look forward to connecting and collaborating more with these publications in the coming year!