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Boxborough News: ABRSD Acquires Electric School Buses and Chargers

 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. 
Last Week in Boxborough News
 
  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

Boxborough News: Oscar’s Burritos Expands to Offer “Breakfast Cafe” and Ice Cream

 
  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.

Boxborough News: Town of Boxborough to Revise MBTA Communities Bylaw Due to Density Miscalculation

 
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.

Boxborough News: Acton-Boxborough School Committee Votes New Enrollment System for Elementary Schools

 
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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

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

Boxborough News: Select Board and Finance Committee Hold Joint Meeting on FY25 Audit Concerns

  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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

 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

Boxborough News: Danny’s Place to Celebrate 20 Years of “Belonging” for Boxborough and Acton Youth

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.

Boxborough News: Housing Board Seeks Funds to Update Housing Production Plan, Weighs Options for Stow Road Property

  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.

Boxborough News: Blanchard’s Margie Callaghan Receives Top General Music Teacher Award

 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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Finance Committee Votes FY27 Final Operating Budget, Recommendations for Warrant Articles

 
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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Select Board Revisits Town Hall Hours, Rearranges Annual Town Meeting Warrant

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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

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

Boxborough News: Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program Grant Funding Available

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.

Boxborough News: Fourth Annual RunBXB To Raise Money for Flerra Playground Renovations

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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

 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

Boxborough News: Boxborough Voters Approve Fire Station Debt Exclusion in Special Election

 
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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

 
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

Boxborough News: Fire Consumes Old Orchard Lane Home

 
  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.

Boxborough News: School Committee Continues to Discuss New Geographic Boundaries for Elementary Enrollment

 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.

Boxborough News: All Three Firehouse Articles Pass at Boxborough Special Town Meeting, Funding Contingent on March 17 Special Election

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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

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

Boxborough News: Planning Board Votes to Recommend Three Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Annual Town Meeting 

 
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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Frog Brigade Prepares for a “Big Night”

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.

Boxborough News: Select Board Members Disagree About Decision to Open Town Hall on Fridays

At their meeting on March 3, the Boxborough Select Board discussed the January 2026 decision to open Town Hall on Friday mornings. After discussion and disagreement among members, the Board agreed to consult with town counsel before taking any further action regarding Town Hall hours of operation.
  Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg began the discussion by acknowledging public feedback about the Friday hours but told the Board that “at this point… I’m uncomfortable addressing it because we are now entering union negotiations, so, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Select Board at this point to take this up as a discussion point…we need to move forward with the process of unionizing.”
  Town employees decided to unionize earlier this year. In February, the Select Board voted to voluntarily recognize the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as the exclusive representative for the purpose of collective bargaining for most town hall and library employees, as well as the administrative assistants for the police and fire departments.
  Board member Sam Anderson asked whether town management could make any changes to the hours of operation before union negotiations are completed. “Is it a Board decision or a management decision?” he asked. “I want to understand whose call this is. Are we locked into this policy…because we are part of the bargaining body? …There is no clarity here for who is making this call.”
    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.

59th Annual Ham & Turkey Raffle
At Stony Brook Fish & Game

(128 Lowell Road – Westford) Sunday March 29th – 1PM
20 Easter Hams and 20 Turkeys raffled on a spin wheel
*Sirloin Strips, Prime Ribs and others are also being raffled off. Raffle tickets on sale at the event! $1500 Cash drawing as well! (Drawing tickets on sale now – see any Stony Brook member) Open to the public.
Food and beverages will also be available.

Boxborough News: FSBC Hears Fire Chief Presentation on Apparatus Needs 

At its meeting on Thursday, February 26, the Fire Station Building Committee heard a presentation from Fire Chief John Kivlan outlining the fire department’s apparatus needs.
  Kivlan began by acknowledging that apparatus occupies a large percentage of the fire station space. He described each vehicle in the fleet, outlined its function, and explained why it is necessary for Boxborough to have these pieces of apparatus in the fleet. “Every apparatus and staff vehicle operated by the Boxborough Fire Department exists to fill a defined need…Together, they ensure life safety, property protection, system reliability, operational safety, and community readiness,” said Kivlan.
  FSBC members commended Kivlan on his presentation and plan to use it as a tool to educate residents about the fire department's programming and space needs, noting that they have heard from some residents that the proposed building is too large and expensive.
  Looking ahead to the design phase of the fire station, FSBC Chair Mary Brolin said that “part of our work in the design phase is pulling out the (code) requirements and making it clear that there are standards…(we’re going to) design as efficiently as we can within those requirements.” Member Larry Grossman added, “this program is based on needs and code requirements (necessary to) protect residents.”
  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.


Boxborough News: ABRSD School Committee Reacts to Draft Geographic Boundaries and Discusses AB Forward Implementation

 
 In a three-and-a-half-hour meeting on February 26, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee tackled several different aspects of the AB Forward elementary school reorganization.
  First, the Committee heard a presentation from Nick Stellitano of Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”), a consultant that the district has hired to help facilitate the transition from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment” for elementary school students.
  Dillinger is tasked with creating geographic boundaries to determine which schools Acton and
Boxborough’s elementary students will attend, as well as planning the transition to the new geography-based system.
  Stellitano reviewed the results of Dillinger’s “Geographic Boundaries Survey;” shared a draft list of possible priorities for School Committee feedback; and presented three initial draft scenarios for geographic zones – which he emphasized were just the first step in an “iterative process.”
  With respect to Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough, Stellitano reported “overwhelming support” among survey respondents for “ensuring that Boxborough students are able to attend Blanchard,” and a majority of the School Committee agreed that Boxborough students should be assigned to Blanchard. Acton students, however, will not all be able to attend school in Acton due to space constraints; some Acton residents will need to be assigned to Blanchard.
  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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Historical Society Collecting Stories for 2026 “Snapshot”

 
When Boxborough Historical Society member Michelle Ryan moved into her home in Boxborough, she encountered a unique gift from the prior owner, a “whole binder of how to enjoy and maintain” the garden on the property. Between this “gesture of kindness” and the warm greetings she received from her new neighbors, Ryan soon realized that she had moved into a town with a strong sense of community.
  Now, Ryan and the Boxborough Historical Society (BHS) have launched a project to capture these stories of community. The BHS is asking all Boxborough residents to consider submitting a story for publication in an anthology that captures “how everyday connections are shaping the identity of the town,” said Ryan. All types of stories - of neighbors, connections, events, peoples, and places, are welcome.
  The Boxborough Historical Society is an all-volunteer non-profit organization, with the mission to “preserve the past for the future.” Now, the BHS is focused on capturing the present - to create a “portrait” of what it’s like to live in Boxborough right now. 
  Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2026. They can be sent to BoxboroughHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or can be given in person at the Boxborough Museum, 575 Middle Road, on Sunday, March 8 or Sunday, April 12 from 2-4 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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

  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 Select Board Reviews Town Meeting Warrant, Hears Update on Town Employee Unionization
  • Water Resource Committee Discusses New BOH Water Quality Regulations, Next Steps for Continuing Water Study
  • Personnel Board Recommends 3% COLA for Non-Union Employees
  • Town Redesigning Website – Looking for Volunteers and Feedback
  • Planning Board Opens and Continues Public Hearing for Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments, Recommends Than Stuntz as Associate Member
  • Boxborough Historical Society Collecting Stories for 2026 “Snapshot”
  • Meditations with Ann: FROGS!
  • FSBC Hears Fire Chief Presentation on Apparatus Needs
  • ABRSD School Committee Reacts to Draft Geographic Boundaries and Discusses AB Forward Implementation
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Boxborough News: FSBC Prepares for March 9 Special Town Meeting

At its meeting on February 12, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) discussed its preparation for the Boxborough Special Town Meeting (STM) on March 9.
  All three articles on the March 9 STM warrant are related to the construction of a new fire station. The first article asks voters to approve the town’s purchase of 984 Mass Ave for $2.4 million. The second article asks voters to approve $2.8 million in funding for the next step of the fire station project, the “design and bid” phase. The third article asks voters to approve other costs related to the land purchase.
  The first two articles also require a separate ballot vote at a Special Election scheduled for March 17. The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½  “debt exclusion” in connection with fire station funding. A “debt exclusion” is a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing.
  If the fire station project funding does not pass at STM, the Special Election will still go forward. If the ballot questions pass after the warrant articles fail, the town would have the option of bringing the funding to another Town Meeting later this year; it is not necessary for the Town Meeting approval to occur before the ballot approval.
  However, some FSBC members cautioned that the land at 984 Mass Ave may not remain available for the town to purchase if the March 9 STM vote fails. 
  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.
 

Boxborough News: Holocaust Survivor Tells Audience to Speak Out Against Antisemitism

 “Get involved..You can’t sit by and let this happen. It happens so fast,” was Werner Salinger’s answer to the question, “What message do you want to leave us with and what do you want people to take forward?”
  Salinger, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor and U.S. Veteran, spoke to a packed meeting room at the Sargent Memorial Library on the evening of Tuesday, January 27, which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event was organized by Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk in partnership with the Lappin Foundation.
  Recounting his earliest memories of growing up in Berlin and life as a boy in the U.S., Salinger drew parallels to what is currently happening in the U.S. (“book banning…the militarization of our cities…people being shot and killed…”) and the political climate in Germany in the 1930s that led to the Holocaust.
  Salinger was born in Berlin in April 1932, just nine months before Hitler came to power. He explained how Hitler rose to power (he was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg) and how the Nuremberg Race Laws stripped “anyone who had a drop of Jewish blood” of their German citizenship.
  “Did that affect me? Overnight!” Salinger said emphatically. His mother was an orthodontist, and his father was a lawyer. “Overnight,” his parents could no longer work or have business partners who were not Jewish. Asking the audience a rhetorical question, “Can you imagine that? One day you’re a citizen, and the next day you’re not?”
  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.

Boxborough News: Will Boxborough Students Continue to be Guaranteed a Seat at Blanchard Elementary?


On February 12, Acton-Boxborough Regional School District consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”) released a “Geographic Boundaries Survey” soliciting public feedback on various aspects of the transition from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment” for the district’s elementary schools in connection with the AB Forward initiative.
  The survey states, “The district is considering to continue the preference for Boxborough residents to attend the Blanchard Memorial School” and asks respondents, “Do you support this geographic priority?”
  Currently, in the “open enrollment” system, Boxborough residents have a “hometown guarantee.” This means that incoming elementary school students living in Boxborough are guaranteed a spot at Blanchard Memorial School, the district’s only elementary school located in Boxborough, if they so choose (and as long as the student’s specific schooling/program requirements allow).
  Now, as part of the AB Forward elementary school reorganization process, the School Committee has voted to transition from open enrollment to a geography-based enrollment system where students will be assigned to elementary schools based on their residential address.
  To date, the School Committee has not explicitly stated whether and how the current “hometown guarantee” for Boxborough residents may or may not continue to exist in the new geography-based enrollment system.
  Boxborough families have been left wondering: Will Boxborough residency continue to guarantee placement at Blanchard? Or will students in some Boxborough neighborhoods be assigned to an elementary school in Acton?
  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.

Last Week in Boxborough News


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:
  • Meet Boxborough’s New Treasurer/Collector: Emily Roux
  • Holocaust Survivor Tells Audience to Speak Out Against Antisemitism
  • FSBC Prepares for March 9 Special Town Meeting
  • Will Boxborough Students Continue to be Guaranteed a Seat at Blanchard Elementary? School Committee Considers the Future of the “Hometown Guarantee”
  • Select Board Voluntarily Recognizes Union Representing Town Employees
  • The Year of the Fire Horse: Local Families Celebrate Lunar New Year

Last Week in Boxborough News

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 Leadership Discusses Warrant Articles for May Annual Town Meeting
  • A-B School Committee Hears Superintendent Personal Announcement and Geography Enrollment Presentation, Votes Preliminary Budget
  • Town to Host Drop-In “Special Town Meeting” Info Night
  • Select Board Approves Ballot Questions for March 17 Special Election
  • Boxborough Private Well Regulations Now Require Water Quality Testing prior to Property Transfer
  • Finance Committee Reviews Recreation Commission Budget, Hears Police Chief’s Plan for New Command Structure
  • Recreation Commission and Craft Food Halls Partner for Flerra Playground Fundraiser
  • A Devastating Fire and “the Best of Boxborough” - Remembering the Swanson Road Fire Relief Five Years Later
  • Where Policy Meets Imagination: Boxborough’s Right to Farm Signs

Boxborough News: A-B School Committee Hears Superintendent Personal Announcement and Geography Enrollment Presentation, Votes Preliminary Budget

 
The Acton-Boxborough School Committee tackled a packed agenda on Monday, February 9. Before turning to the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget, the Committee first heard a personal announcement from Superintendent Peter Light and a presentation from consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design about the district’s transition to a new elementary enrollment model.
Superintendent Peter Light began the meeting by announcing that he has accepted a position, starting July 2027, as Superintendent at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi. Light emphasized that the position does not start for another 18 months, and he is “fully committed to doing the work we’re doing now in this district.”
The Committee then heard a presentation from Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”), a consultant that the district has hired to help facilitate the transition from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment” for elementary school students.
Moving on to the FY27 budget, the School Committee heard budget-related presentations from Superintendent Light and other administrative personnel. The primary cost drivers for the FY27 budget were identified as health insurance and special education costs.
The Committee voted a preliminary budget of $122.6 million, a 4.75% increase from last year. This would result in an assessment to Acton of $82.8 million (a 3.75% increase from last year) and an assessment to Boxborough of $17.7 million (a 5.57% increase from last 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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Private Well Regulations Now Require Water Quality Testing Prior To Property Transfer

 
At their meeting on Wednesday, February 11, the Boxborough Board of Health announced that they have amended the town’s Well Regulations. Boxborough Well Regulations now require private wells to undergo water quality testing prior to a property transfer, as well as upon construction.
Beginning May 1, 2026, Boxborough property owners selling property with a private well will be required to have their water collected by an approved water sampler and tested for a specific list of “primary” and “secondary” quality metrics (at the cost of the seller or buyer, as negotiated).
The water quality results will be transmitted to the Board of Health and will become a public record. If the water does not meet one or more of the required standards, remediation and retesting will be required.
The previous Well Regulations, last amended in March 2004, did not require property owners to test private wells prior to the transfer of their property.
The language for the revised regulation comes from a model regulation for private wells developed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Board of Health Agent Jim Garreffi noted that the Board of Health will put together a procedure document to guide homeowners through the new requirements.
More information is available on the Boxborough Board of Health website, at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/292/Board-of-Health.

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.

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


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.

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.

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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

 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’s 2026 Burn Season Has Begun
  • ZBA Approves Special Permit for Sign on Liberty Square Road, Moves to Publish Meetings on BXB-TV
  • Female Jogger Reports Suspicious Activity on Old Harvard Road
  • Flerra Summer Playground Camper Registration Now Open
  • Boxborough Celebrates Another Snowy Winterfest at Steele Farm
  • Boxborough Board of Health To Hold Public Hearing on New Requirements for Private Well Testing
  • Planning Board Begins Work on Zoning Bylaw Changes for Annual Town Meeting, Schedules Public Hearing
  • Acton-Boxborough Begins to Implement Elementary Reorganization, Hosts Parent Webinars
  • Meditations with Ann: February Breathing
  • Finance Committee Reviews Updated Financial Model, Hears Presentation from Personnel Board 

Boxborough News: Acton-Boxborough Begins to Implement Elementary Reorganization, Hosts Parent Webinars

The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) administration has begun the process of implementing the School Committee’s January 22 decision to reorganize the district’s elementary schools and switch from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment.”
  One component of implementation is the launch of a “twice-monthly family webinar” series hosted by the ABRSD Superintendent Peter Light. The webinars will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. and will be recorded and available at https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan. The next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24.
  The most recent webinar, held February 3, included a short presentation and Q&A with Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”), a consultant that the district has hired to help facilitate the change from “open enrollment” (in which families were able to rank their preferred elementary schools) to “geography-based enrollment” for elementary school students.
  Dillinger is tasked with creating the geographic boundaries that will determine where Acton and Boxborough’s elementary students will attend school and planning the transition to the new geography-based system.
  The district is expecting to share student (and educator) school placement decisions in late April. According to the timeline published on the AB Forward website, families will be surveyed in May regarding “peer groups” to inform student placement into classrooms. By June, the district expects to share student classroom placements.
  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.

Boxborough News: Flerra Summer Playground Camper Registration Now Open

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.
  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.

Boxborough News: Female Jogger Reports Suspicious Activity on Old Harvard Road

On Monday, February 2, Boxborough Police received a report of a suspicious person in the area of Old Harvard Road and Pierce Lane.
  According to Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk, the incident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. and involved a female jogger who “was approached by a passing male motorist in a dark sedan and found his behavior to be concerning.” Szewczyk noted that “possible suspect and vehicle information is extremely limited…It is still unclear if any crime has occurred.” 
  Chief Szewczyk reported that the Boxborough Police “are actively attempting to identify the possible suspect as the investigation is ongoing.”
  He also added a message to the public: “Please always contact the Boxborough Police Department immediately if you are ever concerned for your safety or need assistance.”

Last Week in Boxborough News 

 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 Historical Commission Recommends Two CPC Articles for May Town Meeting
  • Boxborough’s 2025 Holiday Gift Drive Assists 46 Families
  • Boxborough Select Board Discusses Police Department Staffing, Appoints Board of Assessors
  • Boxborough Town Hall Now Open Friday Mornings, Town Administrator Collecting Feedback
  • Boxborough to Host Another Snowy Winterfest This Saturday, January 31
  • Boxborough Rolls Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System
  • Boxborough “Open Mike” Tradition Continues on Monday, February 2

Boxborough News: Boxborough Rolls Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System 

 
Boxborough’s Rave Alert, a “reverse 911 system,” is now available to the public for registration at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=boxboroughma. 
  Rave Alert is a leading mass notification system that enables governments, organizations, institutions, and schools to quickly and reliably send messages, including desktop notifications.
  Developed in 2015 by Rave Mobile Safety, a software company currently based in Framingham, Massachusetts, the system was designed to provide emergency information directly to the mobile devices of a large group of people instantaneously. The Rave Alert system is now a Motorola product that delivers billions of messages annually.
  Since July 2024, Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan has been looking for a method of notifying the public of emergency situations in a quick and efficient way. After much research, the Motorola Rave system stood out to him as the best solution because it gives the town more control over messaging, instead of having to rely on a third party to send out alerts.
  In Boxborough, Rave Alert is an “opt in” voluntary system. By providing an email address and phone number, users are able to receive email, automated phone calls, and/or text messages when emergencies are announced. The registration is flexible, allowing each user to select one or more methods of receiving the alerts. If a resident does not register, they will not be contacted.
  The system will be used to notify the community of emergency road closures, major accidents, weather emergencies, and other urgent situations, with real-time updates.
    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.

Boxborough News: Boxborough Town Hall Now Open Friday Mornings, Town Administrator Collecting Feedback


 The Boxborough Town Hall hours of operation have changed: Town Hall is now open every Friday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., in addition to Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  As of Friday, January 9, 2026, Town Hall is staffed on Friday mornings “on a rotating basis, which includes all staff,” said Town Administrator Mike Johns. “So far, we have been able to take care of any questions or drop ins, but it’s still early.”
  According to Johns, the change in hours is “not necessarily permanent and depends on the service needs of the community. … As the Board and Administration do a cost benefit analysis of this change, I think feedback from the community to the Board and Administration would be helpful.”
  When asked about feedback from the community and Town Hall staff thus far, Johns stated, “[f]rom the community, we’ve had about three people stop in each Friday, mostly with questions or correspondence for the Town Clerk’s office, but we haven’t had any direct feedback. From the staff, initially one staff member was in favor, most others were opposed, and some didn’t say one way or another. Since implementation, so far it seems all staff members are opposed.”
  “The most direct feedback has been that Town Hall staff have organized and decided to unionize,” Johns continued. “Reasons I’ve heard [for unionizing] include town official discussions in late 2025 about possible personnel cuts and no cost of living allowance in FY27 for non-union personnel (during planning for the B budget, which has since gone away), and the impacts of changing Town Hall schedule.”
  Town Administrator Johns described the decision to open Town Hall on Fridays as “a policy decision that falls within the authority of the [Select] Board,” while “how that policy decision gets rolled out is within the authority of the T[own] A[dministrator].”
  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.

Last Week in Boxborough News

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 to Roll Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System
  • SPCP at Winterfest to Solicit Feedback on Improving Law Enforcement in Boxborough
  • Town Planner Announces Initiative to Expand BXB-TV Recordings of Board/Committee Meetings
  • ZBA Grants Special Permit to Convert Single-Family Home to Two-Family on Liberty Square Road
  • EDC To Begin Work on Economic Development Plan in February
  • Town Administration Reports that Town Hall Employees Considering Unionizing
  • Library Interior Redesign Project Nears Completion
  • Personnel Board Discusses Regrading Positions
  • A-B School Committee Votes to Reorganize Elementary Schools, End Open Enrollment

Boxborough News: Boxborough to Roll Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System

 
Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan reports that Rave Alert, a “reverse 911 system,” will be available to the Town of Boxborough by the end of January.
  Rave Alert is a leading mass notification system that enables governments, organizations, institutions, and schools to quickly and reliably send messages, including desktop notifications.
  Since taking the office of Fire Chief in July 2024, Kivlan has been looking for a method of notifying the public of emergency situations in a quick and efficient way. After much research, the Motorola Rave system stood out to him as the best solution because it gives the town more control over messaging, instead of having to rely on a third party to send out alerts.
  In Boxborough, Rave Alert will be an “opt in” voluntary system. To receive alerts, community members can register via a website. By providing an email address and phone number, users will be able to receive email, automated phone calls, and/or text messages when emergencies are announced. The registration is flexible, allowing each user to select one or more methods of receiving the alerts. If a resident does not register, they will not be contacted.
  The system can be used to notify the community of emergency road closures, major accidents, weather emergencies, and other urgent situations, with real-time updates.
  In Boxborough, the system will also be configured for other types of notification options. In addition to emergency messages, users can sign up for notifications from other institutions, committees, and groups, for example, the Sargent Memorial Library or the Fire Station Building Committee.
  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.

Boxborough News: A-B School Committee Votes to Reorganize Elementary Schools, End Open Enrollment

 
At their meeting on Thursday, January 22, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee held two much-anticipated votes on the AB Forward initiative to reorganize the district’s elementary schools.
  The Committee voted (9 members in favor and 2 against) to approve reorganization Option 5v2, which will replace the district’s five elementary schools located in Acton with two Grades K-3 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus) and two Grades 4-6 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus). The district’s single elementary school located in Boxborough, Blanchard Memorial School, will remain a K-6 school.
  The other reorganization option being considered, Option 4, would have resulted in the district maintaining five K-6 elementary schools. Proponents of Option 4 advocated to limit the number of students disrupted by the reorganization. Proponents of Option 5v2 advocated for the efficiency and flexibility of having fewer elementary schools, especially in light of ongoing budget challenges.
  The Committee also voted (9 members in favor and 2 against) to end the district’s longstanding “open enrollment” policy effective June 30, 2026 and instead implement geography-based enrollment.
  The specifics of a geography-based enrollment policy, including how maps will be drawn, how the transition from open enrollment to geographic placement will be managed, and whether there will be a mechanism for families to attend a different school than the one assigned to their residence, will be determined in the coming months with the help of a consulting firm.
  The school reorganization and new enrollment policy are expected to be implemented for the 2026-2027 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.