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Photo courtesy of the Boxborough Police Dept.

A Devastating Fire and “the Best of Boxborough” - Remembering the Swanson Road Fire Relief Five Years Later

(12-FEB-26) Just after sunset on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 the residents of 101 Swanson Road (Leverett House Condominium) heard the fire alarm sound in their building. Many were cooking dinner, doing homework, or relaxing after a day’s work. Over a foot of snow covered the ground, and temperatures hovered around the freezing mark. Some residents fled the building with open-toed shoes and no coats.

According to a February 11, 2021 report from news source WickedLocal, Boxborough Police and Fire arrived on the scene first and entered the building, going door to door to evacuate residents who had not already fled when they heard the alarm. Shortly after all 24 units were evacuated, the roof collapsed, and firefighters from several towns, including Acton, Bolton, Concord, Maynard, and Westford, were on the scene to help extinguish the fire. There was no loss of life and no injuries.

In the report obtained by current Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan, “the fire was in the attic and after an extensive investigation by the State Police investigators assigned to the Department of Fire Services, the cause was undetermined.”

The building was deemed unsafe to enter, so residents were not allowed back in to retrieve their belongings. But the day after the fire, the Boxborough Fire Chief, then Paul Fillebrown, and the Boxborough Police Chief, then Warren Ryder, met with the residents and asked them if there was anything in the apartment that they really wanted. Some residents provided a list of valuable and/or sentimental items, and Fillebrown and Ryder retrieved what they could. It was not until months later, in May 2021, that residents were allowed back into the building. According to Barbara Birt, a resident of the building, “anything that was not metal, ceramic or glass was pretty much destroyed by water damage.”

The Swanson Road fire was devastating and left thirty people homeless.

But the Boxborough community rallied like never before.

As quickly as the fire raged, word spread throughout town. Now, five years later, Boxborough News spoke with several people who were involved with assisting Leverett House residents. The story of how Boxborough residents, the United Church of Christ (UCC) Boxborough, Town government, local businesses and organizations formed a “fire relief team” to assist the building residents exemplifies the caring nature and strength of the Boxborough community.

After their evacuation from the building, the Swanson Road residents were transported to the Boxboro Regency hotel. The Regency became a sort of “headquarters” for fire relief efforts in the first few days after the fire and housed many of the residents for weeks until they could secure housing. Hotel management provided rooms and food at greatly reduced rates.

Former UCC Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry heard about the fire while she was at home several miles away; she felt the call to be there and drove to the Regency, where she met with residents and started to learn what their needs were.

Worthington-Berry explained to Boxborough News that the Town had been without a social worker for some time during the pandemic, so the church was helping local residents through a “Community Support Fund that folks in town were donating to to help other Boxborough folks…It was all about helping neighbors during Covid.” At that time, the Town did not have the capacity to accept gift cards and money donations.

Worthington-Berry remembers sitting in the Regency lobby seeing Leverett House “residents in flip-flops,” feeling overwhelmed, and thinking “who is going to help these people?” Using money from the Community Support Fund, she went to TJ Maxx and bought gift cards to distribute to the residents.

Meanwhile, Acton-Boxborough United Way (ABUW), now Acton-Boxborough Community Compass (ABCC), staff members reached out to Boxborough residents Becky Neville and Heather Fleming and organized a Zoom call with Worthington-Berry. Neville and Fleming agreed to help, and according to Worthington-Berry, “that was the turning point.”

ABUW also set up a fund for the residents. According to Katie Neville, Executive Director of ABCC, the fund “served as a non-religious option through which people could donate…raising over $65,000 which was then given directly to the families who had been living in the building.”

From the beginning, there was an outpouring of support on social media. Town residents were bringing ready-to-eat food, pajamas, and toothbrushes to the residents staying at the Regency, but the relief was not organized.

Meeting by Zoom, Fleming, (Becky) Neville, and Worthington-Berry began building a “Fire Relief Team” of volunteers. They had to figure out what individuals needed, so they established a structure that would ensure that efforts were not duplicated. They recruited over 40 volunteers within a couple of weeks and created specific roles. It was “the best of Boxborough,” said Neville.

One such role was that of “advocate.” Fleming said that she remembers “thinking…what would be needed was direct care. Individuals seemed like they needed to be paired with someone” who could help them find resources. Not all residents wanted an advocate, but many took advantage of the resource. And each advocate customized their role, depending on what the resident needed.

Boxborough resident Mary Pavlik served as an advocate for a young man and his roommate. Pavlik told Boxborough News, “there were so many available resources that the community contributed, the role of the advocate was to simplify and find what was more useful for each person/family. For these two, it was housing, moving, a little furniture and information about other things available.”

In addition to the financial support provided by the community, the Fire Relief Team was flooded with donation offers of household items and clothing. They organized a one-day thrift shopping event in the library meeting room where Leverett House residents could come and take whatever they needed. Everything was free.

A local “glean team” of volunteers who rescued surplus and soon-to-be expired food from local grocery stores coordinated with Worthington-Berry and Fleming to offer free food to the resident shoppers at the event, as well. A few weeks later, another “shopping day” for residents was held in the UCC Gathering Room, and in May, the market moved outdoors and was open to all as the “FreeBee Market,” which continues to exist and expand five years later. FreeBee “never would have happened without the fire. It needed the opportunity, awareness of gleaning, and the combination of the pandemic and need,” Fleming said.

When asked how she thought the fire impacted Boxborough, Mary Pavlik stated, “I think it was a real catalyst that showed the difference that a small group of people can make for their neighbors. Margaret Mead's quote became reality. ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.’”

Recreation Commission and Craft Food Halls Partner for Flerra Playground Fundraiser

(12-FEB-26) For the month of February, the Boxborough Recreation Commission (Rec Com) is partnering with Craft Food Halls at 500 Beaver Brook Road in Boxborough to raise money towards renovating the playground at Flerra Meadows.

On its website, Craft Food Halls promotes their “Your meal builds your playground” initiative: “When you dine with us in February, we’ll match your donations dollar for dollar. Use our Kiosk to order your meal, and you’ll be prompted for a donation of $1, $3, or $5. We will match all donations made, doubling your impact! Our goal is to help raise $15,000, making a significant impact towards the town’s fundraising goal.”

“We are excited for Craft Food Halls taking interest in the Flerra Playground renovation and grateful for their commitment to fundraising,” said Rec Com Chair Hilary Greven. “It’s wonderful to have a local business involved in the community.”

The Flerra playground renovation will include replacing the main playground structure and installing an ADA-compliant surface. The total cost of the project, including a contingency, is expected to be $300,000.

Rec Com is also seeking Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for the renovation project. On January 8, the Community Preservation Committee approved $300,000 in FY2027 CPA funds for “replacement of the main structure and installation of an ADA-compliant surface at the children’s playground at Flerra Field.” This and other CPA-funded projects will be on the warrant for Boxborough’s May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

“Over the years, the current large structure has seen a lot of wear and tear,” Greven told Boxborough News last year, when first seeking CPA funding. “So we are looking to install a new large structure to complete the improvements to the playground, providing a safe and exciting playground for residents and the hundreds of children who attend Flerra Summer Playground.”

“It is the same playground that has been there since 1999, so improvements are much needed,” said Brian Picca, Director of the Flerra Summer Playground program.

If the funding for this project is approved at Annual Town Meeting in May 2026, the Rec Com plans to begin installation in August 2026, after this year’s Flerra Summer Playground program has ended.

More information about the Craft Food Halls fundraiser is available at https://www.craftfoodhalls.com/boxborough.

Where Policy Meets Imagination: Boxborough’s Right to Farm Signs

(12-FEB-26) At every road that crosses into Boxborough, just past the welcome sign and the shift in pavement, there is another marker that visitors might miss if they blink: “Right to Farm.”

The words are official, rooted in a bylaw adopted at Boxborough’s Annual Town Meeting in May 2012. But the images surrounding those words, with bright cows, red barns, tractors, bees hovering over oversized flowers, and horses mid-gallop, are anything but bureaucratic. Each sign carries a different drawing, created by a student at Blanchard Memorial School.

The bylaw itself is straightforward. It “encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Boxborough by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies.” Section 4 of the law requires that signage be posted at town borders declaring Boxborough a “Right to Farm” community.

However, what the bylaw does not require is whimsy. That part came from the kids.

Rather than install identical, standard-issue signs, the Agricultural Commission turned the mandate into a community project. They organized a contest at Blanchard Elementary School, inviting students to imagine what “Right to Farm” meant. Each border sign features a different student’s artwork, transforming a legal declaration into a gallery of childhood interpretations of agriculture.

Farming in Boxborough is not only a matter of statutes and protections. It is part of the town’s identity, something residents want children to see, draw, and claim as their own. By asking elementary students to design the signs, the Agricultural Commission wove the next generation into the story of local agriculture. The signs do not just warn newcomers that tractors may share the road, but they announce that farming is valued enough to be celebrated by the youngest members of the community.

The bylaw emphasizes that farming benefits “the neighborhood, community, and society in general,” even if it brings noise, dust, or odors. A child’s drawing softens what might otherwise read as a defensive statement. Instead of a stern notice about legal rights, drivers encounter bright colors and playful lines.

More than a decade after the bylaw’s adoption, the signs remain small landmarks. For local residents, they are familiar indications marking the threshold of home. For visitors, they are an introduction to a town that sees agriculture as a living practice worth protecting.

In Boxborough, the Right to Farm is written into law. Nevertheless, it is also drawn in crayon and paint and posted at every edge of town, where policy meets imagination.

Well-Being Committee’s Morning Movement Series To Finish with Line-Dancing and Mindfulness

(12-FEB-26) The Boxborough Well-Being Committee’s “Morning Movement Series” at Sargent Memorial Library has two sessions remaining: a line-dancing class on Saturday, February 21 and a mindfulness class on Saturday, February 28. Both classes will begin at 10 a.m.

The Morning Movement Series, with five free classes in all, is organized and overseen by the Boxborough Well-Being Committee. Each session is free and open to all, but registration is required.

The series is made possible by an Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council grant secured by Boxborough Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks.

The first two sessions in January featured Jazzercise and Yoga. The third session took place on February 7, when 18 hardy individuals braved the snow and cold to join a Hip Hop and Zumba class taught by Gina and Nicole Flaherty from Gina’s dance studio located at 629 Massachusetts Avenue in Boxborough. This Zumba/Hip Hop class, set to upbeat music and choreographed routines, had everyone moving their feet to the beat and feeling energized, engaged, and inspired.

On February 21, Donna Shea, a line dance instructor for over 30 years, will teach basic steps and dance to a variety of genres including pop, country, and oldies. On February 28, Erin Loporto, IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, will lead mindfulness and meditation practices.

Registration for line dancing is at https://boxlib.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/morning-movement-series-11/ and registration for mindfulness is at https://boxlib.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/morning-movement-series-13/.

Boxborough Celebrates Another Snowy Winterfest at Steele Farm

(5-FEB-26) On Saturday, January 31, Boxborough residents and friends gathered at Steele Farm on a cold but sunny afternoon to celebrate the town’s annual Winterfest with a bonfire, music, food, drink, and sledding. The event was organized by the Boxborough Recreation Commission.

For the second year in a row (after many years without) there was plenty of snow on the ground for Winterfest sledding. All afternoon, kids bundled in snow gear sailed down the hill on sleds, snow tubes, and snowboards - only stopping to grab their complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn.

“Thank you to all the local businesses and groups who participated in Winterfest! It was wonderful to see so many people come out and enjoy the afternoon with us,” said Hilary Greven, Chair of the Boxborough Recreation Commission. Greven estimated that around 125 people attended the event over the course of the afternoon despite the cold temperatures.

Visitors enjoyed catching up with friends and neighbors around the bonfire, eating treats from Boxborough small businesses Two Friends Chocolate and Thinking Flower, and perusing the tables of local groups, including the Boxborough Minutemen, Boxborough Conservation Trust, Boxborough News, and the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee.

“Thanks to Boxborough Recreation Services Coordinator Ami Scheen, Boxborough DPW, Fire, and Police, and the folks running the [Boxborough Connects] shuttle,” added Greven.

Flerra Summer Playground Camper Registration Now Open

(5-FEB-26) Camper registration for the Boxborough Recreation Commission’s Flerra Summer Playground has opened.

Flerra Summer Playground is a half-day summer program held outdoors at Flerra Meadows in Boxborough during the month of July. It is open to children who are entering kindergarten through seventh grade. This year, Flerra Summer Playground will run for four consecutive weeks: July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, and July 27-31. The cost is $150 per week.

Campers are organized by grade and participate in arts & crafts, games, and sports. The campers also enjoy visits from local visitors. Last year, visitors included a local author, the Youth Services librarian from the Sargent Memorial Library, and Boxborough Police K9 Koda.

The Flerra Summer Playground program will be run by longtime director Brian Picca and returning director Courtney Stevens, along with a paid staff of high school and college students and junior high volunteers.

Applications for Counselor and Counselor-in-Training paid positions, as well as volunteer positions, will open March 1.

Campers can be registered through the Boxborough Recreation MyRec page at https://boxboroughma.myrec.com/. Questions about Flerra Summer Playground or the camper registration process can be directed to flerrasp@gmail.com.

Meditations with Ann: February Breathing

(5-FEB-26) February. Need I say more? It always seems like the longest month of the year and yet there is a bit of new promise in each day. This year, the temperatures have stayed below normal and we still have a couple of feet of snow outside. Even though it looks like full winter out there, the birds are singing their spring songs. This begins the break-up of their cooperative flocking behavior, and marks the beginning of creating distance between themselves to find territory to defend. That territory must have plenty of nesting options and be large enough to feed a new family. The spring territories of many species will revolve around a bird feeder though so we still see “OUR” birds interacting there.

With all of these warmer weather changes coming our way, and the feeling of transitions in the air, I like to focus on breathing. The average person breathes between 12-20 breaths a minute at rest. One cycle includes breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. Each breath involves the brainstem, brain, lungs, chest muscles, abdominal muscles, airways and blood vessels. From there, the exchange needs to infuse all parts of our body.

Many issues can interfere with this natural process. Fitness level, daily habits, posture, illness, medications and simple aging can decrease our lung elasticity and capacity and put stress on our organs. This stress can influence our quality of life so now is the time to create new habits that will benefit us going forward.

There are numerous breathing exercises out there. Yoga practices utilize many of them, therapists utilize a couple of them, social media utilizes a few of them and I have tried them all. The one that I land on for everyone, beginners and seasoned practitioners alike, is a timed breath.

Find a clock that you can easily see from a comfortable position. Sitting up or laying down is up to you but comfort is the key. Throw a blanket over your shoulders or body to add one more level of comfort. Look at the clock and breathe in for 5 seconds and breathe out for 5 seconds. As you settle into the rhythm, keep the 5 second rule but think of filling the lungs to capacity plus some. Feel the stretch around the side ribs, the collar bones, the back ribs. Feel the abdomen move as you deepen your breath. You are increasing volume but not speed so watching the clock helps keep us on task and regulated. Stay here breathing deeply and evenly for 2-5 minutes if you are just starting out.

Exercises like this influence all systems in our body and are available regardless of fitness level or age. The important part is to try it and to feel more awake, aware, energized and emotionally more regulated in the end. Enjoy.

Boxborough “Open Mike” Tradition Continues on Monday, February 2

(29-JAN-26) On Monday, February 2, the long-running acoustic music and poetry/spoken word “Open Mike” series, known as “Ellen Schmidt’s Open Mike,” will be held in the Meeting Room of the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough at 7 p.m. and on Zoom.

The monthly event is organized by Boxborough resident and musician Dan Tappan and is “open to all as performers or listeners.”

“An Open Mike is a community of people sharing their art,” Tappan told Boxborough News.

“If you have never attended an Open Mike before, you will find it to be a non-competitive, welcoming community. Each performer is introduced by the host and is given a 5 or 10 minute (depending on how many people sign up) time slot at the microphone. Performers can range from professionals trying out new material, to people who want to work on their performing skills in a supportive environment, to people who have never performed in public before.”

The audience can expect a wide variety of performances. “Some people play songs they've written, others may play songs by their favorite contemporary performers, covers of 60's hits, selections from the Great American Songbook, Blues, or even Classical instrumental pieces,” explains Tappan. “Other performers may read poetry, essays or short stories. We've even had standup comedians. Basically anything that fits in the allotted time is acceptable.”

The event also includes a “Featured Performer” who is given a longer performance slot. The Featured Performer on February 2 will be Acton musician Eric Kilburn. The Featured Performer at the next Open Mike on March 2 will be folk duo Ergo Canto.

The monthly event is a continuation of Boston-area open mikes run by singer/songwriter Ellen Schmidt over several decades. Schmidt was “a force in the local music scene” and the open mike series lives on after her passing two years ago.

Boxborough resident and musician Tom Horsky has been performing at Ellen Schmidt’s Open Mike at the Sargent Memorial Library “since its inception.” Horsky is a blues and American folk guitarist and singer. He also composes guitar instrumentals; his 2018 release, “Origins,” consists of eleven original compositions for guitar. Horsky also has a YouTube channel, @tomhorsky9568.

“This event attracts a community of musicians and poets from not only our neighborhoods, but also from locations across the country, who participate through a video link,” Horsky told Boxborough News.

Horsky plans to perform a gospel song, “A Little More Faith,” at the Open Mike night on February 2.

The event is free for performers and free to attend. Although Tappan tries to accommodate walk-in performers, participants are encouraged to preregister at https://dantappanmusic.com/open-mike-signup. Audience members do not need to register to attend.

The Open Mike is open to performers on Zoom, and audience members can also watch on livestream at https://youtube.com/dantappan/live.

More information on the Open Mike can be found at https://dantappanmusic.com/open-mike.

Boxborough to Host Another Snowy Winterfest This Saturday, January 31

(29-Jan-26) Boxborough’s annual Winterfest, sponsored by the Boxborough Recreation Commission, will be held on Saturday, January 31 at Steele Farm, 484 Middle Road from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For the second year in a row, Steele Farm will be covered in snow for Winterfest sledding. Last year was the first time in eleven years that Winterfest looked like winter. The recent snowfall on January 25 and 26, dumping more than a foot of snow on Boxborough, will allow for plenty of action on Steele Farm’s iconic sledding hill.

This year’s celebration will include a bonfire, live music, and face-painting. There will be complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate, and food and beer will be available for purchase from Craft Food Halls of Boxborough and Dirigible Brewing Company of Littleton. Two Friends Chocolate, Thinking Flower, and local Girl Scouts will be selling their goodies as well, and a number of local organizations will be sharing information about events and happenings around town.

“Enjoy some sledding and warm up by the bonfire after with some tasty treats from our local vendors,” said Recreation Commission Chair Hilary Greven.

Winterfest attendees are encouraged to park at Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, and use the Boxborough Connects MART shuttle for a ride to and from Steele Farm. The rain/snow date for the event is the next day, Sunday February 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Boxborough’s 2025 Holiday Gift Drive Assists 46 Families

(29-JAN-26) The generosity of Boxborough residents and local organizations allowed Boxborough Community Services Coordinator (CSC) Wendy Trinks to assist 145 individuals across 46 families during the 2025 holiday season. This represents a 46% increase in residents assisted compared to the prior year.

“I’m grateful for all the contributions and being able to make the holidays brighter for a lot of families in Boxborough,” said Trinks.

Trinks reported that she collected $8,370 in gift cards from the United Church of Christ Boxborough, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Acton/Boxborough, Keller Williams Boston Northwest, A Friend in Need, the Rotary Club of Acton-Boxborough, and the generosity of Boxborough residents. Trinks delivered holiday gift bags and visited with individuals who were isolated and housebound.

Trinks shared that she also worked to connect Boxborough residents to the Acton-Boxborough Community Compass (formerly the AB United Way) gift drive.

The Boxborough Children’s Center (BCC) donated gifts to families in need for the third year in a row. The gift drive held at BCC is in memory of Director Amy Paakki’s brother, Scott Paakki. Like last year, the BCC children came to Town Hall carrying bags of gifts.

The Boxborough Minuteman Company again donated $2,000 to the Community Services Gift Account to support the holiday assistance effort, as well as other emergency needs.

“The Boxborough community continually steps up; individuals, groups and businesses are willing to help quickly and generously,” said Mary Pavlik, Chair of the Boxborough Well-Being Committee. “Wendy had done a tremendous job with her outreach to those in need and those ready to help.”

As the Community Services Coordinator, Trinks supports people in Boxborough all year round. The CSC “monitors the social service needs of residents of all ages in the areas of housing, emergency assistance, and mental health. Work includes outreach and communication of locally available resources to Boxborough residents as well as assessing specific client needs and connecting those clients to resources for assistance with follow up as needed.”

The Community Services Gift Account, established in 2024, “enables residents and organizations to support Boxborough residents experiencing financial crises.” To donate, checks can be made payable to the Town of Boxborough and include “Community Services Gift Account” in the memo line.

Trinks has served as Boxborough’s CSC since August 2022. Trinks can be reached at wtrinks@boxborough-ma.gov.

Library Interior Redesign Project Nears Completion

(22-JAN-26) Patrons of the Sargent Memorial Library can now begin to enjoy a new layout of the library building, as the town finishes installing new study “pods” and rearranging spaces.

The redesign includes a new Young Adult lounge area in the middle of the main hall. This area will be open to the general public during school hours and reserved for young adults during the after-school period. The area will be framed by a three-sided cabana, to be installed in March.

In the former Young Adult Room, now a Study Room, two study “pods” have been installed. The pods are small, enclosed study areas that provide quiet zones for individual or small group work. The Study Room will also feature a copier corner and reading corner. The current printer and copier area will be transformed into a new reading nook with freshly reupholstered chairs and laptop tables.

The library expects the pods to be ready for public use by the end of January.

The project also included rearranging the reference shelves, multimedia shelves, and newspaper shelves, and adding new shelving in the Children’s Room. In addition, the library will now offer laptops for in-building use instead of desktop computers.

“I would like to especially thank Fran Flynn [Building and Grounds Maintenance Team Leader] for his assistance, recommendations, and support of this project,” said Library Director Peishan Bartley. “I would also like to ask visitors to be patient with us as we continue to finish the project.”

The redesign was funded by multiple sources. The Sargent Memorial Library Foundation pledged $200,000, the Friends of the Boxborough Library sponsored $7,500, and the Town approved $50,000 at the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

The Sargent Memorial Library Foundation, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit that was established in 2003 to provide support for the Sargent Memorial Library. The Friends of the Boxborough Library is also a 501c(3) organization that raises funds through semi-annual book sales and corporate donations and sponsorships.

In a statement provided to Boxborough News, the Friends of the Boxborough Library shared, “[w]ith so many moving pieces, Peishan and her team of wonderful librarians have put them all together to make a beautiful, functional interior. Very impressive job of reimagining the building for the next 25 years.”

The project began back in July 2023, when the town hired Stefura Associates to design a new layout for the library. The initial plan, which included moving interior walls at a cost of $650,000, was deemed too expensive. In 2024, a second design using pods to create new spaces came in at $250,000. The redesign project was initiated in response to repeated community feedback about the need for private meeting spaces within the library.

Boxborough to Host Annual Winterfest on January 31

(15-Jan-26) Boxborough’s annual Winterfest, sponsored by the Boxborough Recreation Commission, will be held on Saturday, January 31 at Steele Farm, 484 Middle Road from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Winterfest has been a Boxborough tradition for at least twenty years. What began as an afternoon of neighborhood sledding has progressed to an annual community party. Over the years, the Recreation Commission has added to the festivities with music, food and drink, local vendors, and activities for kids. While the event has grown bigger over time, it has always taken place at Steele Farm.

Last year, for the first time in eleven years, Winterfest actually looked like winter, with plenty of snow for sledding on Steele Farm’s iconic hill. This year, the Recreation Commission is “hoping for sledding conditions” again, says Recreation Commission Chair Hilary Greven.

This year’s celebration will include a bonfire, live music, face-painting, and a “human foosball” game courtesy of the Harvard Lions Club.

There will be complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate, and food and beer will be available for purchase from Craft Food Halls of Boxborough and Dirigible Brewing Company of Littleton. Two Friends Chocolate, Thinking Flower, and local Girl Scouts will be selling their goodies as well, and a number of local organizations will be sharing information about events and happenings around town.

“Come join your friends and neighbors around the bonfire,” said Greven.

Winterfest attendees are encouraged to park at Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, and use the Boxborough Connects MART shuttle for a ride to and from Steele Farm.

The rain/snow date for the event is the next day, Sunday February 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Speaker Coming to Sargent Memorial Library

(15-Jan-26) On January 27, Holocaust survivor and celebrated speaker Werner Salinger will be speaking at Boxborough’s Sargent Memorial Library at 7 p.m. in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Salinger’s visit is a rare opportunity for community members to speak with someone who experienced the horror of the Holocaust. Salinger personally experienced Kristallnacht as a child, emigrated to the United States with his family where he was a neighbor of Albert Einstein, and then returned to Germany as a U.S. soldier post-World War II. Now retired, he tours the country sharing his life story.

Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk helped arrange the event as a community-building exercise, in collaboration with the Lappin Foundation, which seeks to educate youth about Jewish identity. The Lappin Foundation did a presentation for students at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in the Fall, and the foundation has also helped police officers visit Holocaust museums to provide them with cultural training on the Jewish experience.

When announcing the event in November 2025, Chief Szewczyk explained that he felt the community and police officers could benefit from a discussion with a Holocaust survivor. "We are excited to continue to strengthen the bond between the police department and the community as we grow and learn together with those we serve," he said. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

New Year Resolutions: Help Us Make Boxborough News Better

(8-JAN-26) Happy New Year, Boxborough! How are your “new year” resolutions going? New year resolutions aren’t just about starting diet and exercise programs; they can be about trying or learning something new or spending more time doing something you enjoy.

Are you pursuing a new hobby or interest? Do you have a passion or expertise that you’re ready to share with others?

Boxborough News will mark its third anniversary this April. With a small team of dedicated volunteers, we have provided neutral, independent reporting on town news and events, and stories on Boxborough residents.

Our “new year” resolution is to expand both the breadth and depth of Boxborough News. We want our publication to reflect the lighter side of life in Boxborough, alongside deep dives on the more complex issues. We want to capture stories and entertainment from all corners of our town. We want to offer something for everyone.

Do you have a resolution that might align with ours?

We’re seeking ideas and volunteers for hobby columns and other fun content this year. Perhaps 2026 is the year we introduce an advice column, a cooking column, a weather column, guest essays, or school sports coverage.

No journalism background is required. Whether you can contribute occasionally or on a regular schedule – or if you’re just curious and want to learn more about the Boxborough News project – we want to hear from you! Email us at info@boxboroughnews.org.

A Conversation with Barbara Shapokas, Fine Artist

(8-JAN-26) If you live or work in Boxborough, it’s likely that you’ve driven through the intersection of Massachusetts Ave and Stow Road. There, on the second floor of the 1832 brick building on the corner, is The Art Studio – the gallery and workspace of fine artist Barbara Shapokas.

Many of Shapokas’ paintings on display against the building’s historic beams will look familiar to Boxborough residents: “Ice House, Steele Farm: February Light,” “Boxborough Town Line,” “Barn on Stow Road,” and “Steele Farm: Late August.”

Originally a self-described “city girl” from New York, Shapokas has lived in and painted Boxborough for the past two decades.

Flagg Hill Conservation Area is Shapokas’ favorite place to go for inspiration. “I’ll go…with my colors and sketch book,” she explains. “I’ll photograph and sketch… I’ll sit in my car if it rains or snows and watch the beauty of the landscape happen.” She paints, usually with pastels, in her studio.

Shapokas has been an artist her entire life. Both of her parents had artistic natures – her father renovated churches and her mother was a musician – and Shapokas first began drawing at the early age of three. “I always liked nature and was always drawing,” she says.

After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cooper Union in New York City, Shapokas continued to live there while pursuing a career as a designer in both the publishing and entertainment industries. “I’m a fine artist… but artists have to work,” she laughs.

Shapokas designed book jackets for Simon & Schuster and later held the position of Senior Art Director at NBC, as well as Creative Director for Cardinal Communications and Stark Ltd.

She recalls this time of her life fondly, sharing stories of her work designing the “NBC Sports” logo; receiving a CLIO award for a calendar showcasing NBC archival footage; and creating a jacket commemorating 15 years of “Saturday Night Live” that was given out to famous guests appearing at the anniversary celebration.

At the same time, Shapokas continued to paint. “I had monthly art shows in my apartment; a hundred people would come through in a weekend,” she recalls. “Eventually management said I couldn’t do that anymore.”

In 2004, Shapokas moved to Massachusetts with her husband, settling in Boxborough three years later. At this time she did freelance work for several years, frequently traveling back to New York City, before focusing on painting again.

About ten years ago, Shapokas began renting the second floor at 25A Stow Road. She opened The Art Studio and taught painting classes before the Covid pandemic, then closed for several years until its end.

Now, she teaches private classes to high school students as well as “mature artists.” She is considering teaching remote painting classes and potentially hosting an “art talk” group session for artists to talk through artistic challenges.

Through it all, she continues to paint the landscapes of Boxborough.

She recalls once when leaving the Boxborough transfer station she was drawn to the way the sun lit a swampy area nearby. She parked her car and waded into the mud to get a good photograph to paint from. “And the police stopped and checked on me!” she laughs.

“I paint what I see,” she continues. “When you do landscapes you have tops twenty minutes because the light changes so quickly.”

Barbara Shapokas’ The Art Studio is located at 25A Stow Road. Learn more at https://shapokas.com/.

Meditations with Ann: The New Year

(7-Jan-26) The New Year marks the beginnings of our desire to start over, to make resolutions and to better ourselves in some way. We start off strong with determination and drive. As the weeks go by, we find ourselves falling into old habits and old ways of seeing the world and our place in it. I am here today to show you the value of the OLD information and ways to make it NEW for the New Year.

Our bodies are made up of muscle, bones, connective tissue and organs. The exact blueprint is different for everyone, all bodies are unique and astounding. That said, over time, we experience natural breakdown of these systems. Joints become achy, range of motion is compromised and years of physical habits begin to hurt. This is where true learning begins.

All of us have been in physical therapy at some point in our lives. We have all had overuse injuries or sudden movement that did damage. Chronic discomforts and acute ones. If we pursue these discomforts, a physical therapist has been assigned to access our personal body.

They look at muscle imbalances, genetic or behavioral misalignments of joints and other areas of the body that have responded to years of usage. They make a personal list of exercises that will help bring about better strength, flexibility and balance around the problem area that YOU have and send you on your way.

Most people do those exercises diligently until the pain is gone, then we suddenly feel they are no longer necessary. This is where we are wrong. Those exercises should be included in our weekly exercise routine for the REST OF OUR LIVES. They are curative AND preventative. If you have shoulder pain, chances are the alignment of the joint is off, and your regular PT exercises will help prevent the issue from creeping back into your life as you continue to age.

For me, the most important New Years Resolution is to revisit what I have already been taught, weave the knowledge into my life, correct my habitual posture and do any and all PT exercises that have been assigned to me over my lifetime. It is a doable challenge and your body will thank you in the years to come.

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