Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

As campers continue to register for Boxborough’s Flerra Summer Playground, Directors Brian Picca, Laura Spurling, and Courtney Stevens are busy preparing for the program’s 2026 season.
  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.  
  As in past years, the program directors are looking to the community for support and enrichment for the campers.
  Cleaning out the basement? The program directors would welcome donations of board games and craft supplies for this year’s campers.
  Interested in stopping by as a visitor? The directors welcome community members who have a talent, skill, or ability to share with the campers. Any residents interested in being a visitor can contact the directors at flerrasp@gmail.com.
  “As always, a push for big community support and participation is what we are all about,” said Director Brian Picca. “We love meeting new members of the community, helping each other out, and making FSP not just a summer camp but a real point of town pride in providing for the children.”
  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.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

Have you read the warrant for Boxborough's 2026 Annual Town Meeting (ATM)? Are you prepared to vote on this year's fifty articles? Whether you're a veteran of Annual Town Meeting or this will be your first time and you're not sure what to expect, the Town has put together several resources to help you prepare.
  For a basic, eight-minute overview of ATM, the town has released the “2026 Annual Town Meeting Preview Show,” featuring Town Administrator Michael Johns and Town Moderator Dennis Reip. The video gives an overview of what to expect at Town Meeting and briefly walks through this year’s warrant articles. The video is available on the town website.
  The Boxborough Finance Committee has also created and shared a video specifically about the budget. The town’s FY27 operating budget is Article 5 on the ATM warrant.
  The “FY 2027 Boxborough Budget Preview” video, featuring Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton and Select Board member Bob Stemple, walks through the town’s operating expenses and other elements of the budget. In the video, Newton also explains the town’s overall budget development approach and explains municipal finance vocabulary like “levy,” “levy limit,” and the different types of “overrides.” The video is available on the town website.
  On Thursday, May 14, the Town of Boxborough will again hold a Town Meeting “information session” at the Sargent Memorial Library from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to drop in and learn about topics and issues related to the ATM warrant articles. Tables will be set up around the library meeting room, and town staff and volunteers will be present to speak with residents and answer questions. The event will also include activities for kids – an effort to make it more accessible to caregivers.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe. 

  “Thank you to the candidates who stepped up to run for office; we appreciate your willingness to stimulate important conversations and energize voters to come to the polls. After all, democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Acton-Area League of Women Voters (LWV) co-chair Susan Bak at the Boxborough Candidate Forum on Wednesday, May 6.
  The LWV hosted the Candidate Forum to allow Boxborough residents to hear from the candidates in the town’s three contested races for Select Board, Planning Board, and School Committee.
  The evening began with the Select Board candidates. Incumbents Kristin Hilberg and Priya Sundaram and challenger Patrick Kyle are running for two seats on the Select Board.
  First, the forum moderator read a prepared statement from Hilberg, who was out of state on business. Sundaram and Kyle then answered a series of questions on economic development, town hall accessibility, budget challenges, and future challenges.
  Planning Board candidates were next up to the table. Incumbents Rich Guzzardi and Cindy Markowitz and challenger Gary Kushner are running for two open seats on the Planning Board. The candidates offered different perspectives on the pace and process of site plan review; strategies for revitalization of office parks; MBTA communities compliance; scenic road protections; and a “gateway” business district.
  Finally, the audience heard from the three candidates for School Committee. Andrew Boncoddo, Hilary Greven, and Felicia Knihtila are running for two open seats on the ABRSD School Committee. The candidates answered questions about their experience, the upcoming Superintendent search, the AB Forward elementary school reorganization, and budget challenges.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe. 

  During their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 28, the Housing Board continued their discussion on the disposition of the Stow Road property. Housing Board members formed two working groups at their March meeting: one group to explore selling (monetizing) the Stow Road property to fund affordable housing programs, and the other to explore ways to develop affordable housing on the property. Each group was expected to return (to the April meeting) with their findings to help guide the board’s decision.
  Chair Murphy, a member of the “development” subgroup, shared an illustration of a possible development of 10 duplex town houses (20 units), similar in size to those at Boxborough Meadows, superimposed on a map of the Stow Road property. Murphy said he had not contacted any developers. Member Phyn Vermin, also part of the “development” group, indicated that she was corresponding with a co-housing advocate, but did not have specific information to share. The “monetize” subgroup members were not present to share their findings.
  Member Joe Ferguson opined that the decision was not binary—that there are several options available to the board. “If we sell it, we don’t control what happens,” Ferguson said. He emphasized that the board could meet their “monetization goals through a sale while (also) meeting housing goals.” The board agreed to a special meeting on May 12 when Ferguson will present his “hybrid” options.
     This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

At its meeting on April 27, the Boxborough Select Board reviewed a series of proposals from Town Administrator (TA) Mike Johns to increase municipal fees in order to raise revenues, most of which related to the Boxborough Transfer Station.
  The Board declined to make any changes to Transfer Station sticker fees for FY 2027 but approved one change to the municipal inspection fee structure.
  TA Johns presented two proposals for sticker fee increases that would “take [the transfer station] off the tax rolls” and instead have the Transfer Station “sustained by the users.”
  One proposal continued to provide free stickers to seniors and increased the non-senior sticker fee to $250 in FY 2027 (with two more increases in later years). The other proposal charged seniors a $25 fee and increased the non-senior sticker fee to $250 in FY 2027 (with one more increase in later years).
  After public comment and discussion – and disagreement – between members, the Board voted 3 to 2 that the town will continue to provide seniors with a free Transfer Station sticker in Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028. Members Wes Fowlks and Sam Anderson voted against these motions.
  Member Sam Anderson then moved to keep Transfer Station sticker fees as they currently are for Fiscal Year 2027. Anderson explained that he “wouldn’t support any fee proposal that kept [senior citizens] at zero [dollars]” but noted that he would like to continue discussing potential fee changes for FY 2028. The motion passed 4 to 1, with Chair Kristin Hilberg opposing the motion and stating “I do think we are missing an opportunity [to raise revenue].”
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe. 

  Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Town Seeks New Member for Fire Station Building Committee After Resignation
• Spring Updates from the Sargent Memorial Library
• Select Board Members Disagree About Transfer Station Fees, Make No Changes
• Water Resources Committee Continues to Discuss Water Quality Testing
• Boxborough Weed Warriors To Host First “Work Party” at Patch Hill on May 2
• Finance Committee Continues to Probe Audit Results
• Local Naturalists Invite Residents to Help Document Biodiversity in Boxborough and Acton
• Housing Board Schedules Special Meeting to Review Stow Road Property Options 

When voters pick up their pen and ballot for this year’s town election on June 2, they will have choices to make. There are three candidates running in each race for Select Board, Planning Board, and School Committee, but only two open seats on each. This means that voters will have to choose two of three candidates for each race.
  The Select Board candidates are Kristin Hilberg (incumbent), Priya Sundaram (incumbent), and Patrick Kyle. The Planning Board candidates are Rich Guzzardi (incumbent), Cindy Markowitz (incumbent), and Gary Kushner. The School Committee candidates are Andrew Boncoddo, Hilary Greven, and Felicia Knihtila.
  How to choose? On Wednesday, May 6, the Acton-Area League of Women Voters (LWV) will host a Candidate Forum for Boxborough residents to hear from the candidates in the contested races. The forum will take place at Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, at 7 p.m. It will be televised live on BXB-TV and a recording will be available for later viewing.
  Tara Zantow, League member and co-chair for the Boxborough Candidates Forum, confirmed that all candidates in contested races, except for one who will be out of town that day, have confirmed their attendance. The candidates will be asked a series of questions by moderator Sue Flicop, a member of the Wayland Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Flicop may also take questions from the floor if time allows.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe. 

 At their meeting on April 9, the Boxborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) discussed Article 7 of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, a “plastic bag, polystyrene and disposable plastic reduction” amendment to Boxborough’s General Bylaw.
  After several members of the EDC agreed that the language in Article 7 was “too restrictive,” the EDC agreed to propose a revision to Article 7 that would limit the scope to only plastic bags.
  According to the current text of the proposed amendment, “The purpose of this bylaw is to regulate the retail use of single-use plastic checkout bags, polystyrene, and disposable plastics, promoting the use of reusable and/or recyclable alternatives.”
  Town Planner Alec Wade explained that, at the request of the EDC, he and Boxborough’s Building Commissioner worked on a “test case” with Boxborough business Two Friends Chocolates, which uses two types of packaging that contain polystyrene.
  EDC Chair Abby Reip suggested that the EDC propose a revision to Article 7 that would ban plastic bags but not ban polystyrene more broadly. EDC members agreed that it would be more effective to bring the proposed revision directly to the Planning Board in advance of Town Meeting instead of trying to make the change on Town Meeting floor.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 If you have driven past the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School campus on Hayward Road, you may have noticed three electric school buses plugged into chargers and wondered how the school district acquired them and how they are used.
  According to Kate Crosby, Sustainability Director for the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, the buses and the bi-directional charging stations were paid for through a combination of state and federal grants. They will be used to reduce strain on the electric grid at times of high demand, in addition to transporting students.
  The initial grant for $200,000 was received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Inflation Reduction Act, through a program intended to improve air quality for students. Combined with a $1.4 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a state agency focused on the growth of the clean energy sector, the district was able to acquire the school buses and charging stations. None of the funds used to acquire the buses or chargers came from the school budget.
  The chargers received by the school district are bidirectional, meaning they can allow power to flow from the grid to the buses and also allow the buses to discharge from the buses’ batteries to power a building or return energy to the grid for compensation at times of high demand. In the summertime, when daytime electricity demand is higher, the buses will charge at night and return energy to the grid during the day. 
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe. 

  Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• ABRSD Acquires Electric School Buses and Chargers
• Who Will You Vote For in June? Residents Encouraged to Submit Questions for Candidate Forum
• Boxborough Publishes 2025 Annual Town Report
• Economic Development Committee to Offer Revision to Planning Board’s Proposed Polystyrene Ban
• Finance Committee Previews Annual Town Meeting Presentation
• FSBC Selects Context Architecture As Top Choice For Fire Station Design Firm
• Town Election Update: Three Contested, Three Uncontested Races on the Ballot

 

  On Friday, April 10, Oscar and Dalia Garcia, owners of Oscar’s Burritos (34 Mass Ave), cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of their new breakfast cafe, which will operate in the expanded space inside their much-loved Mexican grill. The cafe will offer coffee, fresh pastries, and ice cream.
  Town officials, members of the Boxborough Economic Development Committee (EDC), Senator Jamie Eldridge, Representative Dan Sena, and a representative from Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s office shared in the excitement and congratulated Oscar and Dalia on their success.
  In 2024, Garcia was awarded $20,000 from the EDC’s Boxborough Business Improvement Grant Program. In his remarks at the opening, Oscar expressed his gratitude for the support he has received. “None of this would have been possible without the support of the Town of Boxborough and the Economic Development Committee. The Town believed in us. They provided a $20,000 grant through federal ARPA funds — money set aside to help small businesses like ours grow and serve this community…”
  For over a decade, Oscar’s Burritos has operated as a Mexican grill, offering lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Currently, the cafe menu will be available on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, the Mexican grill is closed, but the cafe will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering breakfast burritos, sandwiches, take-out salads, pastries, and ice cream.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 

During their meeting on Monday, April 6, the Boxborough Planning Board heard a report from Town Planner Alec Wade regarding the town’s MBTA Communities Act compliance status. Wade informed the Board that the town’s MBTA Communities Zoning Bylaw passed in October 2025 must be revised in order to comply with the law.
  Wade began by saying, “I don’t have good news…”  and then recounted his meeting with a state official and the town’s consultant from the Metro Area Planning Council (MAPC), the organization that provided technical assistance to the town in its creation of an MBTA Communities “overlay district.” According to Wade, the compliance tool used by MAPC miscalculated the district’s “gross density numbers,” and both the “state official and MAPC consultant acknowledged that it was a flaw in the tool that was being used…”
  It’s “just a hurdle…we are not out of compliance, but we do have to…make some revisions to our bylaw,” Wade told Planning Board members. He then walked them through some options for revising the district to bring it into compliance. Board members asked that Wade prepare some alternatives to consider at their next meeting.
  In response to an inquiry from Boxborough News, Wade stated, “I want to emphasize that state officials have assured me the Town remains in interim compliance and will for the foreseeable future. This hiccup poses no immediate risk to our existing grants or eligibility for new grants, and I am confident we can resolve this quickly.” 
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 

At its much anticipated four-hour meeting on Thursday, April 9, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee voted on the district’s new system for elementary school enrollment. The new system includes three geographic zones corresponding to the three elementary campuses; “flex zones” for balancing enrollment in future years; and “transition policies” for current students.
  First, the School Committee voted 7-1 for geographic zone “Scenario 7.” Scenario 7 assigns all of Boxborough, plus a contiguous “Blanchard Expansion Zone” along the western edge of Acton, to the Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough. The remainder of Acton is split in two, with the students in the western half assigned to the Boardwalk Campus and students in the eastern half assigned to the Parker-Damon Building.
  Second, the School Committee voted unanimously on the “flex zone” locations and associated policies. The “flex zones” are four designated areas (one in Boxborough and three in Acton) that have a second alternate school assignment in addition to their primary geographic assignment. If the district needs to balance enrollment in future years, they can assign incoming students (and siblings) living in flex zones to the alternate school instead of the primary geographic assignment.  
  Third, the School Committee voted on transitional enrollment policies. These policies are a series of school placement adjustments for current students through a system of “grandfathering” and district discretion. They are also temporary; they will only be used to place current K-5 students and will no longer be used after the 2026-27 school year.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns. 

  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Boxborough Swap Shed at Transfer Station Will Reopen April 22
• Final Day to Pull Nomination Papers for June 2026 Boxborough Town Election
• Being Well in Boxborough: Spring 2026
• Town to Revise MBTA Communities Bylaw Due to Density Miscalculation
• Oscar’s Burritos Expands to Offer “Breakfast Cafe” and Ice Cream
• FSBC Chooses Three Design Firms to Interview on April 15
• Acton-Boxborough School Committee Votes New Enrollment System for Elementary Schools

  At their March 31 meeting, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) was joined by members of the Boxborough Select Board and several members of Town administration and staff to discuss the results of the town’s FY2025 audit.
  The FY2025 audit was a regularly scheduled annual audit that was completed several weeks ago. The town received the final signed audit results this week.
  The town has also hired a consultant to do a “special audit” regarding the town’s cash reconciliation. The special audit was initiated by Town Administrator (TA) Mike Johns in late November 2025 based on preliminary findings and recommendations from the firm conducting the annual audit. The special audit is still in progress.
  FinCom Chair Tony Newton opened the meeting by explaining that FinCom had “a number of concerns about what we’re seeing, particularly some things which have been recurring every year for the last few years....”
  Newton told the town representatives present, including TA Johns, Finance Director Honghoa Le, and Treasurer/Collector Emily Roux, that FinCom wants to understand “what these issues really are… how they occurred, why they haven’t been resolved, and particularly what’s our plan going forward… what’s the accountability here for each of these items….”
  The group then walked through seven issues identified in the FY25 audit, asking town administration to explain the issue, if/why the issue has occurred for more than one year, and what the plans are to resolve the issue. FinCom members also asked about the impact of some of the issues on the town’s free cash.
  Johns agreed to provide further detail to FinCom on several of the unresolved issues and follow up on any potential impact on the town’s free cash. He also agreed to prepare an executive summary of the audit results and action plans moving forward.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Boxborough Recreation Commission Approves Croquet League
• Select Board Closes Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Discusses Town Goals
• Town To Launch Communication Improvement Project
• Select Board and Finance Committee Hold Joint Meeting on FY25 Audit Concerns
• Blanchard Band Receives 16th Consecutive Gold Medal at Music Festival
• BC Trust’s Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker Encourages “ReWilding”
• Danny’s Place to Celebrate 20 Years of “Belonging” for Boxborough and Acton Youth
• Housing Board Seeks Funds to Update Housing Production Plan, Weighs Options for Stow Road Property

On Saturday, April 11, Danny’s Place will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a party for the entire community. “Whether you grew up here, raised a kid here, volunteered here, supported us from day one, or have never stepped inside, this party is for you,” says the Danny’s Place team.
  The event will take place at their space at 543 Massachusetts Avenue in Acton from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and feature live music from Sons of Businessmen (Acton-Boxborough Regional High School alumni) and food and drink from True West Brewery. All ages are welcome.
  For the past twenty years, Danny’s Place has offered after-school programs, creative workshops, leadership development, and “a space where kids ages 3 to 18 can show up exactly as they are.”  
  Afterschool programs range from “caregiver-and-child” programs for 3- to 5-year-olds, “Storybook Club” for first- and second-graders; “Penguin Club” to build social skills and emotional intelligence; arts, crafts, and gaming programs for junior high students; and peer support groups and financial literacy programs for high school students. They also offer programming on school half-days and holidays, and throughout the summer months.  
  Danny’s Place values and fosters community leadership as well. Students in seventh and eighth grades can participate in the Junior Youth Leadership Council, where they can contribute to the work of Danny’s Place and serve the larger community. High School students can join the “U-Project” and receive support from Danny’s Place staff as they develop “community-passion projects.”
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  In a brief, special meeting on Monday, March 30, the Boxborough Housing Board met and voted unanimously to recommend an Annual Town Meeting warrant article seeking $15,000 to serve as “matching funds” for a state grant application to complete a housing production plan (HPP).
  During their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 24, Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson informed housing board members that their grant application for $15,000 in technical assistance funds from the Metro Area Planning Council (MAPC) had been “deferred,” leaving the board without a source of matching funds to apply for a state-funded grant that would cover the majority cost for the HPP, which was last updated in 2015.   
  According to the Housing Board’s warrant article recommendation narrative, “recent proposals for new growth have been met with opposition…with an outdated housing production plan cited as a primary reason.” The warrant article states that an HPP “will allow the board to plan for areas of thoughtful growth, new housing that meets the needs of the community, and consider strategies to best support existing affordable housing.”
  At the March 24 meeting, the Housing Board also spent considerable time discussing the disposition of the property at 70-72 Stow Road, which was purchased by the Town in 2010 to build an affordable housing project, but has remained undeveloped.
  Housing Board Chair Al Murphy told Boxborough News, “The Town should decide upon the future of the Stow Road land…the Board is beginning this process by examining the options…as being “grouped into two large categories, either (1) selling it and using the proceeds to promote affordable housing or (2) building affordable housing upon it.” 
      This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 Margie Callaghan, the music teacher at Blanchard Memorial School, has been awarded the Donna Nagle Excellence in General Music Award. This award is presented annually by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) to one outstanding general music teacher.
  Callaghan received the award on March 19 at an award ceremony during the MMEA conference at the DCU Center in Worcester, and she will also be listed in the MMEA journal and on their website.
  During the award ceremony, the presenter read a quote from Christina Whittlesey, who nominated Callaghan, saying “students don't just learn music, they fall in love with it. That's the Margie effect.”
  The criteria for the award include being employed by a public or private school in Massachusetts for a minimum of 10 years, demonstrating outstanding leadership and dedication in the general music field, and making important contributions to the general music field.
  Every child at Blanchard takes general music classes, so Callaghan teaches approximately 400 students a year. She also directs the extra-curricular choral program there. Her teaching uses the Kodály methodology, which is focused on singing.
  Callaghan, who has been teaching at Blanchard since 2002, told Boxborough News that she enjoys working with elementary-aged children rather than junior high age or older. She loves seeing the growth in children between kindergarten and 6th grade, and said she wants “to get them hooked on music forever.”
  Her favorite quote, which she often uses while teaching, is from Ella Fitzgerald: “The only thing better than singing is more singing.”
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 

At its meeting on Tuesday, March 24, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) voted on the final fiscal year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget for the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) warrant: $31,144,981.
  FinCom unanimously voted (6-0) on all budget lines, except for the Police Department and Department of Public Works (DPW). Both votes were 3-3. FinCom members expressed concern with the large $20,000 pay raises awarded to the Police Chief and DPW Director. According to Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton, “Town management and the Select Board agreed to these raises without FinCom input. We can't change these as they are now contracted, but we wanted to flag our concern and disapproval in a tight budget year.”
  Fire Chief John Kivlan presented a list of outstanding fire vehicle maintenance and repair issues. Noting that there are insufficient funds in the fiscal year 2026 budget to cover these costs, FinCom authorized spending up to $38,000, which will be covered by a reserve fund transfer, and increased the FY27 budget for vehicle maintenance by $10,000. Newton remarked, “We felt this was a high priority.”
  FinCom also discussed the ATM warrant articles and voted their recommendations on each. According to Newton, the committee voted favorably on all ATM articles, except two: OpenGov online permitting software and Design Review Bylaw expansion.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

At their meeting on March 23, the Boxborough Select Board continued the ongoing discussion about Town Hall hours of operation, culminating in an announcement by the Town Administrator that Town Hall will no longer be open on Friday mornings, starting Friday March 27.
  On January 9, the Town Hall changed its hours of operation to include Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, in addition to Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  At their last meeting on March 3, Board members disagreed with each other about the pros and cons of expanded hours and some expressed concerns about the rollout process. The Board asked Johns to consult with town counsel before taking any further action. 
  At Monday’s meeting, Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg began by apologizing for the way the new Friday hours were rolled out back in January, emphasizing that she “thought the sentiment of the Board was behind” expanding town hall hours and that “no harm was meant.”
  Johns reported town counsel’s advice that town hall hours are “a management decision,” not a Board decision, and that the unionization of town employees does not prevent any changes to town hall hours. Johns also noted that the new union is not formed or recognized yet, and that the town is still weeks away from beginning union negotiations. Johns noted that as he “reassesses” the hours policies, he will be gathering information about “what the community needs and wants.”
  The Board then turned to the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant and voted unanimously to rearrange the warrant articles so that the articles proposed by the Planning Board will be articles 7-12, not articles 44-49. The Board cited the historical trend of fewer voters attending the second and third nights of Town Meeting, when the Planning Board articles are typically taken up, as the reason for the change.
      This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Potential Candidates Pull Nomination Papers for June 2026 Boxborough Town Election
• Boxborough Rowers Fundraise for Record-Breaking “Ergathon,” Prepare for Spring Season
• “‘Love Your Neighbor’ is Still Alive and Well” – Old Orchard Lane Residents Thank First Responders and Community After Fire
• Blanchard’s Margie Callaghan Receives Top General Music Teacher Award
• Did You Step In It? “Poop Patrol” Cleans Up at Steele Farm and Flerra Field
• Boxborough Select Board Revisits Town Hall Hours, Rearranges Annual Town Meeting Warrant
• Finance Committee Votes FY27 Final Operating Budget, Recommendations for Warrant Articles
• Fire Station Building Committee Hears Updates on Designer Selection Process

The Town of Boxborough’s “Modified Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program” (MBEAP) is a one-time grant available for residents with emergency needs. The MBEAP program is overseen by the Town of Boxborough’s Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks.
  Residents in need of emergency financial assistance can apply for a one-time grant of $500. Residents must meet certain income and asset limits to be eligible. Subject to criteria set forth in the application, grant funds may be used towards emergency expenses related to housing and utility payments, as well as emergency car repairs or child care that enables residents to continue employment. The funds are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
  Current funding for the MBEAP program was approved by voters at Boxborough’s last Annual Town Meeting in May 2025. The MBEAP warrant article for $20,000, initiated by Trinks, was passed with overwhelming support.
  “The generosity to earmark funds to help those with emergency needs such as rent, mortgage, and utility payments is a testament to Boxborough neighbors helping neighbors,” said Trinks.
  Current funds remaining in the MBEAP program must be used by June 30, 2026, the end of the current fiscal year.  
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

The Boxborough Recreation Commission will host the fourth annual Run BXB, a community 5K race on Sunday, April 12 at 11:00 AM.
  The race will begin outside Craft Food Halls at 500 Beaver Brook Road and follow a scenic route to Fifer's Field. Runners will then complete two loops on a paved path through the field and surrounding conservation area before returning back to the starting point.
  This year's race will serve as a fundraiser to support renovations for the playground at Flerra Meadows, with $5 from each registration going directly toward the project. 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.
   “Over the years, the current large structure has seen a lot of wear and tear,” Greven told Boxborough News last year, when first seeking Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for the project. “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.”
  On January 8, the Community Preservation Committee approved $300,000 in FY2027 CPA funds. This and other CPA-funded projects will be on the warrant for Boxborough’s May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program Grant Funding Available
• Boxborough Voters Approve Fire Station Debt Exclusion in Special Election
• Fourth Annual RunBXB To Raise Money for Flerra Playground Renovations
• A “Big Night” in Boxborough
• Planning Board Withdraws Mass Ave Zoning Article for ATM
• School Committee Works Toward April 9 Decision on New Geographic Boundaries for Elementary Enrollment

 

On March 17, Boxborough voters went to the polls for a Special Election and passed two debt exclusion questions related to the building of a new fire station on Massachusetts Avenue. 
  With the passage of these ballot questions, the funding that the town approved at the March 9 Special Town Meeting for the fire station building project can move forward.
  Ballot Question #1 asked if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to purchase 984 Massachusetts Avenue for public safety purposes. Ballot Question #1 passed 470 to 52.
  Ballot Question #2 asked if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to fund the “design and bid” phase of the fire station project. Ballot Question #2 passed 462 to 60.
  A “debt exclusion” is a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing. Proposition 2 ½, approved by Massachusetts voters in 1980, limits the amount of revenue a city or town may raise from local property taxes each year to fund municipal operations. A debt exclusion is not the same as an override. A debt exclusion is a temporary increase; an override is a permanent increase.
  At the March 9 Special Town Meeting, more than 330 voters in attendance passed by overwhelming margins the three articles on the warrant – all related to the construction of the new firehouse.
  A few days after the Special Town Meeting, the town’s Fire Station Building Committee met and began preparing to hire a design firm, subject to the outcome of the Special Election.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 

Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• Winter Movement Series a Success, Spring Sessions on the Horizon
• Boxborough Dog License Renewals Due April 1
• Potential Candidates Pull Nomination Papers for June 2026 Boxborough Town Election
• Boxborough By The Numbers: 2025 Data
• All Three Firehouse Articles Pass at Boxborough Special Town Meeting, Funding Contingent on March 17 Special Election
• School Committee Continues to Discuss New Geographic Boundaries for Elementary Enrollment
• All About the Friends of the Boxborough Library: Q&A with Outgoing President Anne McNeece
• Fire Consumes Old Orchard Lane Home
• Fire Station Building Committee Prepares for Designer Selection Process

 

  On Tuesday, March 10, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a fire at 49 Old Orchard Lane, Boxborough was reported through a 9-1-1 call to the regional dispatch center.
  The Boxborough Fire Department (BFD) was the first to arrive on the scene, but according to Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan, “based on the volume of fire and conditions observed from Middle Road prior to arrival, the Captain quickly requested a second alarm to bring additional personnel to the scene.”
  “When Boxborough firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire showing from the structure…The fire extended within the structure and had spread beyond a single room. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack to try to limit extension.”
  Chief Kivlan told Boxborough News that “mutual aid companies were requested primarily to increase available firefighting personnel and staffing, which is critical during extended operations…(Other fire) departments also assisted with water supply and provided station coverage for Boxborough while crews were committed to the scene.”
  Approximately 50 firefighters from all communities involved operated on the scene, and there were no reported firefighter injuries. The BFD was on the scene for approximately six hours.
        This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

 At its meeting on March 5, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee continued to discuss AB Forward implementation, including the drawing of new geographic zones to determine how students will be assigned to the district’s newly reorganized elementary schools.
  One of the key decision points is which areas(s) of Acton will be assigned to Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough in order to have reasonable “utilization” rates across all the elementary schools.
  The consultant explained that there is not enough space in the Acton elementary schools to fit all current Acton students; some students from Acton will have to attend Blanchard. The consultant noted that even if all Acton students currently attending Blanchard were allowed to stay there, additional Acton students would also need to move to Blanchard.
  The School Committee grappled with the idea that Boxborough students will not be “forced” to attend an elementary school in a different town, but some Acton students will need to attend school in Boxborough. The Committee looked at several different options for Blanchard “extension” zones in Acton.
  At their next meeting on March 19, the School Committee is expected to discuss the “Blanchard zone” in Acton, “flex zones,”and  “grandfathering/legacy” policies so that consultant  Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”) has the guidance it needs to bring a final plan to the School Committee meeting on April 9. The School Committee is expected to vote at the April 9 meeting.
      This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

The Boxborough March 2026 Special Town Meeting was called to order by Town Moderator Dennis Reip at 7 p.m. on Monday March 9 in the Blanchard School gymnasium with about 335 voters and 20 nonvoters in attendance. The three articles on the warrant, all related to the construction of a new firehouse on Massachusetts Avenue, passed by overwhelming margins.
  Article 1 proposed borrowing $2.4 million to purchase 4.2 acres of land at 984 Massachusetts Avenue. In her presentation on Article 1, Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) Chair Mary Brolin summarized the deficiencies of the current firehouse, the site selection process, and tax ramifications. After 40 minutes of presentation and debate, Article 1 (which required a two-thirds vote) was passed by an overwhelming margin in a hand count vote called by the moderator.
  Article 2 proposed borrowing slightly under $2.8 million for the “design and bid” phase of the project. The town will use the funds to design, prepare construction drawings, pre-qualify contractors, bid the construction, and determine the lowest responsible general bid for the new firehouse. After 30 minutes of presentation and debate, Article 2 (which also required a two-thirds vote) also passed by an overwhelming margin in a hand vote called by the moderator.
  Articles 1 and 2 are contingent on a separate ballot vote at a Special Election scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½  “debt exclusion” in connection with fire station funding.
   The Special Election will take place at the Boxborough Town Hall on Tuesday, March 17. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

Visit www.BoxboroughNews.org for the latest news stories and community features, as well as calendars and notices about local events in Boxborough and surrounding towns.
  Subscribe to receive a free weekly email newsletter from Boxborough News at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

  Last week’s Boxborough News headlines include:

• UCC Boxborough Pastor Fran Graveson Reflects On Her First Year
• Planning Board Votes to Recommend Three Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Annual Town Meeting, Continues Public Hearing on Others
• Boxborough Will (Again) Vote on Fire Station at Special Town Meeting on March 9
• Flerra Summer Playground Counselor Experience Provides “More Than a Job”
• Finance Committee Hears Budget Presentation from ABRSD Superintendent, Votes Boxborough Police and DPW Budgets
• Select Board Members Disagree About Decision to Open Town Hall on Fridays
• Boxborough Frog Brigade Prepares for a “Big Night”
• Boxborough Democrats Elect Young Delegates to MassDems Convention

 

At its meeting on Monday, March 2, the Boxborough Planning Board reopened the public hearing to consider five proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments for Annual Town Meeting in May 2026. 
  The Board voted unanimously to recommend zoning bylaw amendments that would expand the maximum allowed size of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) from 900 to 1,000 square feet;  revise the Town’s parking calculations; and revise the Town’s definition of a Specialty Food Shop.
  During the first public hearing on February 23, Clerk Rich Guzzardi presented an amendment for the creation of a “gateway business district” (Business 2 or B2) for key parcels on Mass Ave. The new district would convert the targeted parcels currently in the Industrial Commercial (IC) district to the new B2 district to “lower the intensity” and restrict uses like warehouses and self-storage units, which are currently allowed by right on these parcels and allow other uses, like retail and specialty food shops, which current zoning prohibits.
  At the March 2 public hearing, Guzzardi shared his vision for the gateway district and presented a table that outlined the types of uses that would be permitted and/or restricted. The Board discussed each use and determined whether the use should be allowed by right, allowed by Special Permit, or prohibited. Some of the uses that elicited the most discussion were kennels, veterinary services, automobile repair shops, and gas stations.
    This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.

Every year, usually early spring or very late winter, on a wet, rainy evening when ambient temperatures are at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit, wood frogs, spring peepers, and salamanders “wake-up,” emerge from their winter locations, and head to vernal pools to “mate” and lay their eggs. This is usually referred to as a “Big Night.” 
   Vernal pools are critical habitat locations for these species. The pools provide a “safe” transitional water habitat for these species to mate and lay their eggs before they dry up later in the season. However, frogs and salamanders sometimes have to cross a street to get to their vernal pool – and when driving after sunset on a rainy evening, it is almost impossible to see them until it’s too late.
  So, over the last six years, volunteers in Acton, Littleton, and Boxborough have rallied to monitor the roads in an effort to prevent these species from being run over.
  Rita Grossman and Ann Seymour coordinate the “frog brigade” in Boxborough. Seymour first began volunteering with an amphibian crossing group from Acton, and Grossman joined her in 2021 when Depot Road was added as a crossing area.
  When they mobilize for a “Big Night,” usually in March or April, Seymour, Grossman, and other volunteers grab their rain gear and flashlights and head out in search of frogs and salamanders along the roadway.
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version of this article at www.BoxboroughNews.org. Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter from Boxborough News to read all of our articles:  https://www.boxboroughnews.org/subscribe.