People - Page 5

Acton Woman’s Club to host fire chief

August 30, 2024

Acton’s first and only woman Fire Chief Anita Arnum will be speaker at the Acton Woman’s Club’s Wednesday, September 10 meeting. Club members will enjoy a light lunch at 11:30am, followed by a short business meeting before Chief Arnum takes the floor. Chief Arnum was appointed Fire Chief in October 2023. As Deputy, Arnum was already the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Acton Fire Department, and is the first female to serve as Chief. According to a Town announcement, “Arnum began her career with the Acton Fire Department as a full-time firefighter in 1989. She was promoted to…

Office entrance of The Minuteman Inn Shelter

Acton’s Minuteman Inn to Shelter 33 Migrant Families

October 23, 2023

by Marion Maxwell

On August 8, 2023, Governor Maura Healey declared that a state of emergency exists in Massachusetts due to rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts in need of shelter and services and a severe lack of shelter availability in the state. According to the Governor’s office…

The Walk Against Hate Rally

October 17, 2023

by Bob and Janet Furey

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” With this quotation from Elie Wiesel, Sen. Jamie Eldridge opened the…

A group of volunteers stands behind a table that holds a variety of award trophies.

Interview with Acton’s Children’s Business Fair Teenage Organizer, and Competition Results

October 16, 2023

by Avantika Nautiyal

The Acton Children’s Business Fair was held on Sunday October 8 at Nara Park pavilion after rains forced organizers to reschedule it from the original date of October 7th. Fortunately, eighty of the registered 85 businesses, enthusiastic volunteers, and all the judges were able to accommodate this change.…

Sculptures of poets framed by tall trees

“Talking Statues” Premieres at Acton Sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s Boston Women’s Memorial

October 9, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

Acton sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s “Boston Women’s Memorial” is twenty years old this year. The City dedicated the sculpture on October 25, 2003. In celebration of this anniversary, the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail is hosting a premiere of “The Talking Statues” on Saturday, October 21 at 11:00 AM, co-sponsored…

Sign at alternate entrance to Dannys Place in Acton

20 Year Reflection on Danny’s Place

September 24, 2023

by Katie Gorczyca

This reflection shares the events that took place on the day that Danny McCarthy died. Some information may be emotional to read. The names of those involved have been changed to protect their privacy. It was April 10th, 2003. I couldn’t tell you what I did earlier that…

Commission on Disabilities Annual Picnic Returns

September 17, 2023

by Joan Burrows

The Acton Commission on Disabilities (COD) held their picnic on Sunday, September 10, and had both rain and shine… luckily mostly shine. There was a good turn out in spite of weather reports and blocked off roads. Old connections were renewed and new ones were made. The need…

Space image with stars in foreground, Horsehead shadow.

Local Astrophotographer Marsha Wilcox Exhibits at the Griffin Museum of Photography

July 17, 2023

by Kim Kastens

The Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester is currently featuring Ancient Light, an online exhibit of nine spectacular celestial images created by Acton photographer Marsha Wilcox. The exhibit runs from July 10 through October 8, 2023, and can be accessed via https://griffinmuseum.org/show/marsha-wilcox-ancient-light/. [Editor’s note: As of October 29,…

Two children putting on a puppet show for other children. One puppet is in a wheelchair and the other has a white cane such as used by some blind people.

Volunteers Use Puppets to Teach about People with Disabilities

June 28, 2023

by Joan Burrows

The Acton Commission on Disabilities (COD), now in its 36th year, was made a Commission by state law in 1987. The first group of seven members got to work right away. All agreed on parking as the first issue we would address. We did! And we have been…

New Leadership at the Acton Water District Finance Committee

June 19, 2023

by Kim Kastens

Laboring in relative obscurity, the Acton Water District Finance Committee (AWD FinCom) grapples with tough problems and big price tags. Their work is becoming more complicated and possibly more consequential as the Water District faces escalating capital and operational costs to remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and…

Concord Players Recognizes RJ Grey Junior High Student’s Essay on Little Women

May 9, 2023

by Franny Osman

Every ten years, the Concord Players produces Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. This year, for the first time, they put on the musical version, based on the 2005 Broadway musical. To accompany the show, which closes May 13, there was a Birthday Bash kick-off in November, a film…

Photograph of bronze statue of a woman, with live woman placing purple flowers into statue's hand.

Acton Sculptor’s Boston Women’s Memorial is Celebrated

May 8, 2023