(17-Oct-24) At the meeting of the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) at Town Hall on October 9, topics included estate planning for owners of affordable units, preparation of an updated Housing Production Plan (HPP), the Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP), and resale of affordable homes. 

The BHB and the Boxborough Planning Office are working with several current homeowners to remove their affordable homes from trust ownership, which is not permitted. The BHB decided to seek legal guidance on estate planning for owners of affordable homes...

(17-Oct-24) The Boxborough Police Department is investigating vandalism to a “Rainbow Fish” symbol hanging below a street sign for The Episcopal Church / The Church of the Good Shepherd. The “Rainbow Fish” image appears to have been covered with white spray paint. The Church of the Good Shepherd is located on Newtown Road in Acton, but the damaged sign is located on Central Street in Boxborough. 

According to the police report from the Boxborough Police Department, the department was made aware of the incident on October 14 by the Acton Police Department, who received a report from an Acton resident who saw “a video posted [on] Reddit, a social media platform, of a party who appeared to be spray painting ‘The Rainbow Fish’ attached to a church sign.”..

(16-Oct-24) At its meeting on October 8, Assistant Town Administrator (ATA) Rajon Hudson updated the Personnel Board about a number of the town’s human resource initiatives. Hudson is working with Guardian Information Technologies to develop townwide cybersecurity awareness training for both staff and volunteers. He expects the training will commence within the next two months.

The town has put together a negotiating team that includes the town administrator, assistant town administrator, chief of police, fire chief, DPW (Department of Public Works) director, and the Finance Committee chair to begin the negotiation process with the three collective bargaining units: police, fire and DPW...

(16-Oct-24) At their October 10 meeting, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) voted to drop further study of the 975 Massachusetts Avenue site primarily due to the cost of purchasing the land. Town Administrator Michael Johns reported to the committee that he had a second meeting with the owner of 975 Massachusetts Avenue, who stated that the price of the land would be $3.5 million. 

After discussion, the FSBC voted 6 to 1 to take the property off the table and not invest further time and resources into studying it. This leaves three remaining potential fire station sites: 502 Massachusetts Avenue (the current fire station location), 72 Stow Road, and 700 Massachusetts Avenue...

(15-Oct-24) At their October 10 meeting, the School Committee heard a presentation from Superintendent Peter Light about the “Vision of a Graduate” project.

The “Vision of a Graduate” project is intended to address a “big picture” question about what the community and other stakeholders want the school district to do for students. In particular, the “Vision” will define the “knowledge, skills, and habits of mind” that students should have by the time they graduate high school...

(15-OCt-24) At its meeting on Tuesday, October 1, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously (5 - 0) to grant a special permit for a change of use in a nonconforming structure at 60 Codman Hill Road, changing the use of the property from “Professional Office Use” to “Assembly Group A-3 Use” for purposes of religious worship, which is an allowed and protected use within the zoning district. 

Travis Snell, the owner of 60 Codman Hill Road, outlined the history of his efforts to lease the space, noting that the building has been vacant since he purchased it in 2021. According to Snell, the changing market has limited the interest in office space on Interstate 495...

(16-Oct-24) The Town of Boxborough has announced the several “ways and dates” to vote in the upcoming November 2024 election. More information can be found on the town’s announcement here: https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=386

Residents can vote early on one of ten in-person early voting days. Early in-person voting will take place at Town Hall on Saturday, October 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, October 21 through Thursday, October 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m...

(16-Oct-24) FreeBee Market, the food sharing and gleaning event held on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UCC Boxborough church at 30 Middle Road, will wrap up its season with a final community market on Saturday, October 19. 

FreeBee Market is Boxborough’s volunteer-driven free food network and market. “Food rescue” days, held every Saturday through the summer, are focused only on sharing extra food collected from local supermarkets and farms. The “community markets” have rescued food plus community booths and kids’ activities...

(15-Oct-24) On Sunday, October 27, Boxborough Fire Department and Police Departments will host their fourth annual “Truck or Treat” at the fire station from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  As in past years, kids are encouraged to wear their costumes (no toy weapons please) and trick-or-treat at each of the town’s fire trucks, a police cruiser, and other guest vehicles, which will be parked in the fire station parking lot. 

Public safety personnel will greet the kids and give out candy and have a few activities planned...

(15-Oct-24) Now that we have reached mid-October, it is time to prepare for another very busy garden season: fall clean-up.

I like to consider the birds and pollinators when making my clean-up plans. These days I try to leave some plants for the birds, some for the native bees which nest in the hollow stems of plants, and some for the butterflies which pupate and winter over in plants. Important plants to leave standing are coneflowers, sedums, black-eyed susans and joe pye weed.

However, there are some plants that ought to be cut down in the fall: peonies, iris and lilies...

(9-OCT-24) Boxborough Community Services Coordinator (CSC) Wendy Trinks will, again, serve as a co-signer for “Beacon Santa” applications this year. The Beacon Santa Fund provides gift cards for holiday gifts for children 1 to 18 years old across twelve area towns. 

The Beacon Santa Fund is managed by three volunteers from Maynard who are committed to making sure the “Beacon Santa” program continues to serve those in need. The program used to be administered by the now-defunct local newspaper, The Acton-Boxborough Beacon...

(9-OCT-24) The Acton Boxborough Resource Center (ABRC) has become a lifeline for Acton and Boxborough families who have come through its doors since it opened in September 2023. Almost 350 local families have been helped, including more than 500 children. 

Run by Acton-Boxborough United Way (ABUW) staff and volunteers, the ABRC is centrally located at the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District Administration Building thanks to a partnership with the district. The ABRC is open to all residents of Acton and Boxborough.

“Thanks to the generosity of the community, we’re able to provide free clothing for all ages. This tangible draw has been key to bringing in residents who might not have otherwise sought out help. So many people in our community are struggling to get by, and the needs are growing every day,” says Katie Neville, ABUW Executive Director...

(8-Oct-24) The Boxborough Birders, with funding from the Friends of Sargent Memorial Library and the Boxborough Well-Being Committee, will present an “Eyes on Owls” program on Thursday, October 24 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Sargent Memorial Library. The program is free but requires registration in advance.

The program will be run by teacher/naturalist Marcia Wilson and author/photographer/naturalist Mark Wilson...

(8-Oct-24) The Town of Boxborough purchased Steele Farm in the fall of 1994. The Steele Farm Committee will host a 30th anniversary celebration on the property at 484 Middle Road on Saturday October 19 between 2 and 4 p.m. 

The event will feature seasonal refreshments and tours of the barn and Boxborough’s only remaining ice house. There will also be displays of various farm implements. While the public cannot tour the 1784 Levi Wetherbee farmhouse, there will be a “look in,” and pictures of the interior will be available...

(1-OCT-24) On Sunday October 13, the Boxborough Historical Society will present Ted Reinstein speaking on his book “New England Notebook: One Reporter, Six States, Uncommon Stories”. 

The presentation will be in the Grange Room at Boxborough Town Hall (29 Middle Road) starting at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, all are welcome, and registration is not required...