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Acton BoS Seeks Volunteers

ACTON: Acton Residents:  Are you curious about how much work is done by town volunteers?  The Board of Selectmen seeks volunteers to serve on the Volunteer Coordinating Committee.  This is your chance to make a difference!  This committee is responsible for assisting the Selectmen in recruiting and screening potential volunteers for the nearly four dozen boards, committees, and commissions with members appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

You can file a volunteer application directly from the town website at http://www.acton-ma.gov/formcenter/town-managers-office-5/volunteer-application-43.  There is no better way to give back to your community than volunteering.
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Culturally and Climatically Forward Through Maynard’s Downtown Arboretum

MAYNARD: Neil Pederson, a member of the Maynard Tree Corps, will lead a walk to officially welcome new trees to downtown Maynard on July 10 at 4pm.  The walk will begin at Memorial Park and amble down Nason Street and then east on Main Street over the course of 1 1/2 hours.  We will visit each tree and each tree will be given a tag noting its name and size when planted.  The tags and tour are supported by a grant from the Maynard Cultural Council and the MA Cultural Council.

Life for trees in cities can be very hard and yet, when they are given conditions in which they can thrive, they beautify the landscape, cleanse the air and water, create an environment that literally enhances people’s lives and the businesses and neighborhoods in which they inhabit. We celebrate Maynard’s Sesquicentennial Year with high hopes for the Town and its tree canopy.  

An old proverb states, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” This understanding is a partial driver of the philosophy within the Maynard Tree Corps. We aim to preserve, maintain, and enhance the trees of Maynard for all of us today, yes. But, we keep our eyes on the future, a future that brings many challenges. Our choices of a diversity of mostly trees home to eastern North America reflect both the growing ecological culture in our society and challenges for trees and forests moving forward.

Over the course of our hike, Neil will introduce attendees to each tree, talk about their ecology and unique values, while also talking about the benefits of trees to people and businesses that live in cities.
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Acton Community Dog Park Plans Pass

ACTON: A note from Tom Gillispie for the Acton Dog Park Committee: "On behalf of the Acton Dog Park Committee, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all who supported  our efforts to bring this much-needed project to our Town by attending and voting (at a very late hour)  at the June 21 Town Meeting. A big shout-out goes to the awesome members of the Friends of Acton Community Dog Park who worked tirelessly on signs, articles, letters, and publications to raise  awareness of the facts at issue. Several local businesses provided products and services with some  donating part of costs including Minuteman Press, Loyal Companion and Roche Bros. Town leaders – Select Board Members, our Town Manager and countless committees provided support all along the  way, with special thanks and recognition to our (retiring) liaison Joan Gardner.

The $21K funds for the  required 10% Town Match of the Stanton construction Grant which enables us to afford this project was  passed with an overwhelming majority, and the non-binding Citizen’s Petition from the neighbors  seeking to have the Select Board remove that funding and somehow find a better site was defeated 130  to 74. While a lot of work, we were glad to participate in this valuable process of town debate and town  participation. 

Next steps are to continue to work with all in town, including neighbors, on concerns and ideas about  this project, to apply for a Stanton Design grant, select a design firm, and to hold a series of public  forums to get to a final design. A preliminary design will be used to start the Stanton construction grant  process, and upon receiving that grant, construction bids can be sought and work finally begin. 
Please watch for updates on this project through the Acton Community Dog Park’s Facebook page and  through our website at www.actondogpark.weebly.com. Again, THANK YOU!"
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Boxborough Democrats To Hold Caucus, Elect Delegates to State Convention

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough Democrats will hold their annual caucus on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 7 p.m. to elect three delegates (plus one ex-officio) and three alternates to the 2021 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. The caucus will be held virtually via Zoom. To obtain the link, please visit www.boxboroughdems.org.

All Boxborough registered and pre-registered Democrats are eligible to participate. Pre-registered Democrats who are 16 by June15th are eligible to run and be elected as delegates. Those not elected as a Delegate or Alternate, but who meet the qualifications, may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority, disabled.

Delegates and alternates from across the state will gather at the convention for the purpose of adopting a party platform. The Convention will be held on Saturday, September 25th at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. Elected delegates will be divided equally between men and women. Candidates whose gender identity is non-binary are able to run without needing to classify as either male or female.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic identity, economic status, or disability in the conduct of the caucus is strictly prohibited. Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 11 Beacon Street, Suite 410, Boston, MA 02108 no later than ten days after the caucus  date.

For additional information, please contact Abby Reip, Chair of the Boxborough Democratic Town Committee at abbyreip@gmail.com or 978-490-5343.
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Pastor Brad Johnson Retires from Acton Church

ACTON: On Sunday, June 13, members and friends of Faith Evangelical Free Church in Acton honored their Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Bradley Johnson, and his wife Kathy, for over 33 years of service to the church and community. Pastor Brad will be retiring from full-time pastoral service on July 31.

For the rest of 2021 Pastor Brad will remain on staff as a part-time associate pastor to help provide a smooth transition for the new senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ryan Fields, who will be moving from Chicago, Illinois. In January 2022, Pastor Brad and Kathy will begin a new part-time ministry of caring for pastors and their spouses within the New England District of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA).

Brad and Kathy joined Faith EFC in February 1988 when he was called as Pastor of Youth and Family Life, serving in that capacity until 2004, when he became Associate Pastor. Upon the resignation of Rev. Doug Welch in 2005, Brad stepped into the role of Interim Pastor, until September 2006, when he accepted the call to become Senior Pastor. Since coming to Acton, he has been active in the New England District of the EFCA, serving on the ministerial board, the Camp Spofford board of directors, and various positions including chairman of the New England District board of directors.

Faith Evangelical Free Church has its roots in the Norwegian immigrant communities in Concord and Acton.  It was founded as the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church of Concord in 1920 and affiliated with the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association. In 1974 the church changed its name to Faith Evangelical Chapel and began meeting at the Conant School in Acton, until the completion in 1976 of the current building at 54 Hosmer Street. In 1993 the church changed its name to Faith Evangelical Free Church to highlight its affiliation with the Evangelical Free Church of America. A large addition to the building was dedicated for service in 2014, including a large multi-purpose room that is used for a number of community activities.

Remembering their own heritage as an immigrant church, Faith EFC is committed to immigrant communities, currently hosting Acton Korean Church, as well as Hope Chapel in Acton, a Brazilian church plant.  A daughter church called Life Church in Ayer currently meets at Devens.
Since 2002 Faith has hosted the Journey to Bethlehem – A Living Nativity each year as a Christmas gift to Acton and surrounding communities. Although the Journey had to be canceled last year because of Covid-19, they are hoping to resume the tradition this fall. For information, go to www.faithevfree.org.
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FPC Begins Lay-led Summer Services

STOW: Sunday, June 20, marks the beginning of lay-led summer services at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, Unitarian Universalist (FPC). In the shadow of the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, members of the Racial Justice Task Force will reflect on what the past year has brought us and taught us during this service, entitled “A Long and Winding Road: The Ongoing Quest for Racial Justice.” The service will begin at 10am.
 
For more information about each individual service, call 978-897-8149 or visit http://fpc-stow-acton.org/services. Details about all upcoming summer services are listed on that page, including details about both the subject of each service and how to access it. To prevent disruptive intrusions, the virtual room will be locked about 15 minutes after a service begins. FPC apologizes for any inconvenience this causes.
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Read to Luna the Dog Live! at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library invites children to Read to Luna the Dog on the Main Library lawn the second Friday of each month beginning in June between 11:30am-12:30pm. Luna is a certified therapy dog through Pets & People Foundation, Inc. Did you know that reading to dogs boosts reading skills and emotional and social skills for children? This event is for children ages 5+. Children are invited to register for their own individual 15 minute session with Luna. Register in advance by visiting the library's events calendar online at www.concordlibrary.org.
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Boxborough Rental Assistance Program Accepting New Applications

BOXBOROUGH: The Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) is accepting new applications. The BRAP is funded by the Community Preservation Act and managed by the Boxborough Housing Board, together with Rose Gage, Boxborough’s Community Services Coordinator. The program provides $250 a month in rental assistance to qualifying households for up to three years. Monthly checks are mailed directly to landlords.  An applicant must identify an intended Boxborough rental unit and anticipated move-in date at the time of application. Participants must live in a rental unit in the Town of Boxborough while receiving assistance from the program. Income and other eligibility requirements apply. 
Applications can be found on the Town’s website: www.boxborough-ma.gov/167/Rental-Assistance-Program. For more information or for assistance completing the application, contact Rose Gage, Boxborough’s Community Services Coordinator, at 978-264-1719 or rgage@boxborough-ma.gov.
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Local Residents Receive Academic Honors

ACTON: Northeastern University is pleased to recognize those students who distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school year. The following students were recently named to the University's dean's list for the Spring semester, which ended in May 2021.

In addition to achieving distinction through the dean's list, these students are members of the University Honors Program, which offers high caliber students the chance to further hone their studies and interests, live in special interest residential communities, participate in enriched, interdisciplinary courses, and engage in research and creative endeavors, service, and global experiences. Invitation into the University Honors Program is highly competitive and students must maintain a high GPA to maintain membership.

To achieve the dean's list distinction, students must carry a full program of at least four courses, have a quality point average of 3.5 or greater out of a possible 4.0 and carry no single grade lower than a C- during the course of their college career. Each student receives a letter of commendation and congratulation from their college dean.

* Acton (01720) resident Christina Pathrose, majoring in computer science

* Acton (01720) resident Iris Wang, majoring in electrical and computer engr

* Acton (01720) resident Summer Weidman, majoring in environmtl studies/political science

* Acton (01720) resident Joshua Chun, majoring in undeclared

* Concord (01742) resident Kasey Lee, majoring in comp sci/mathematics
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June is PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month. Though most often associated with veterans who experienced atrocities of war, anyone, including children and teens, can suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children typically recover quickly from stressful events, but when it comes to severe stress, especially serious injuries, the death of a close family member or friend, sexual assault, living through a disaster, or witnessing a violent act such as a school shooting, children can often suffer the long-term effects of PTSD.
The National Center for PTSD estimates that 7-8% of people will experience PTSD during their lives. Worse yet, over 65% of children who are exposed to a traumatic event will, at some point, attempt to take their own lives.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the symptoms of PTSD are different for young children than those of older teens and adults. Children younger than 6 will often wet the bed, forget how or refuse to talk, act out the traumatic event during routine play, or become unusually clingy with a parent or other adult.

Research shows that depression rates increase after a trauma and tend to be especially high among children with PTSD. If your child or someone you love is struggling with depression or thinking about suicide, get help now. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is a free resource, available 24 hours a day for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text line where trained crisis counselors support individuals in crisis. Text “Jason” to 741741 to speak with a compassionate, trained Crisis Counselor. Confidential support 24/7, for free.

The Jason Foundation is another available resource.  The Jason Foundation is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide through educational programs that equip youth, parents, educators, and the community with the tools and resources to identify and assist at-risk youth. Many times, a young person will exhibit clear warnings signs prior to an attempt. By knowing the warning signs, and knowing how to help, you could save a life.  Visit The Jason Foundation’s website to learn more about youth suicide, the warning signs, and how you can help make a difference.  The Jason Foundation has never charged a school, community, or individual for the use of their programs or resources.  http://www.jasonfoundation.com
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Emerson Hospital & IMPACT Melanoma Team Up to Protect the Public

CONCORD: Emerson Hospital and IMPACT Melanoma, a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of melanoma, have teamed for the third consecutive year to protect residents from skin cancer. The organizations have deployed touchless, automatic sunscreen dispensers at 16 high-traffic locations, including parks and recreation facilities, beaches, rail trails, and athletic fields throughout Concord and the greater area. The dispensers provide complementary sunscreen throughout Acton (at The Discovery Museum), Bedford, Chelmsford, Concord, Harvard, Hudson, Maynard and Westford.
Jen Melanson, Community Service Coordinator for the town of Chelmsford, reported after the 2020 season, “The program was so well received, we had positive feedback on social media and from citizens who were very excited and appreciative. We are grateful to Emerson Hospital for providing the dispensers and are excited to support the program again this year.”
 
“We are pleased to work with Emerson Hospital on this invaluable initiative for the third year,” said Deb Girard, IMPACT’s Executive Director. “It is imperative to educate communities at all levels – residents, government, employees, and visitors – to create a broad sense of sun-safe practices aimed at healthier lifestyle choices for our skin. With this initiative in motion, we can achieve exactly that with the fleet of free sunscreen dispensers, and educational messaging. We are excited and hope that neighboring towns take notice. Together we can make a great IMPACT and practice of safe skin.”
Emerson Hospital is sponsoring bright yellow sunscreen dispensers that are filled with SPF 30 sunscreen. The dispensers are monitored regularly and replenished as needed, ensuring that everyone in the area who needs sunscreen has easy access to it. SPF 30 or higher sunscreen is rated and recommended for use by children ages six-months and up, and adults. All sunscreen ingredients are safe and approved by the FDA.
 
“Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in our service area, according to our latest Community Health Assessment,” notes Christine Gallery, Senior Vice President, Planning and Chief Strategy Officer, Emerson Hospital. “We are proud to support IMPACT Melanoma again this year, so that people throughout our towns can have fun this summer, while easily protecting themselves from skin cancer. We anticipate the community will use the sunscreen often and it will become a routine part of their summer safety regimen. We encourage the community to be in touch with a physician with any questions or concerns about their skin.”
To learn more about the importance of sunscreen and where the complimentary sunscreen dispensers are located, please visit www.emersonhospital.org/sunscreen.