“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.

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.

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

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

 

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.

 

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.

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.

 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 

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.

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.

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.”

 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’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.

 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.

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 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.

 

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.

atrons of the Sargent Memorial Library can now begin to enjoy a new layout of the library building, as the town finishes installing new study “pods” and rearranging spaces.
  The redesign includes a new Young Adult lounge area in the middle of the main hall. This area will be open to the general public during school hours and reserved for young adults during the after-school period. The area will be framed by a three-sided cabana, to be installed in March.
  In the former Young Adult Room, now a Study Room, two study “pods” have been installed. The pods are small, enclosed study areas that provide quiet zones for individual or small group work. The Study Room will also feature a copier corner and reading corner. The current printer and copier area will be transformed into a new reading nook with freshly reupholstered chairs and laptop tables.
  The library expects the pods to be ready for public use by the end of January.
  The project also included rearranging the reference shelves, multimedia shelves, and newspaper shelves, and adding new shelving in the Children’s Room. In addition, the library will now offer laptops for in-building use instead of desktop computers. 
    The redesign was funded by multiple sources. The Sargent Memorial Library Foundation pledged $200,000, the Friends of the Boxborough Library sponsored $7,500, and the Town approved $50,000 at the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
    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’s annual Winterfest, sponsored by the Boxborough Recreation Commission, will be held on Saturday, January 31 at Steele Farm, 484 Middle Road from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  Winterfest has been a Boxborough tradition for at least twenty years. What began as an afternoon of neighborhood sledding has progressed to an annual community party. Last year, for the first time in eleven years, Winterfest actually looked like winter, with plenty of snow for sledding on Steele Farm’s iconic hill. This year, the Recreation Commission is “hoping for sledding conditions” again, says Recreation Commission Chair Hilary Greven.
  This year’s celebration will include a bonfire, live music, face-painting, and a “human foosball” game courtesy of the Harvard Lions Club.There will be complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate, and food and beer will be available for purchase from Craft Food Halls of Boxborough and Dirigible Brewing Company of Littleton. Two Friends Chocolate, Thinking Flower, and local Girl Scouts will be selling their goodies as well, and a number of local organizations will be sharing information about events and happenings around town. 
  “Come join your friends and neighbors around the bonfire,” said Greven.
  Winterfest attendees are encouraged to park at Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, and use the Boxborough Connects MART shuttle for a ride to and from Steele Farm. The rain/snow date for the event is the next day, Sunday February 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  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 Finance Committee (FinCom), in collaboration with Town Administrator Michael Johns, the town finance team, and the Select Board, has concluded that the town will have an excess levy capacity estimated at $1.1 million and will not need an operational “override” of Proposition 2 ½ in the upcoming fiscal year. 
  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. This amount is known as the annual levy limit. An “override” increases the amount of the property tax revenue a community may raise and becomes part of the base for calculating future years’ levy limits. The result is a permanent increase in taxing authority. 
  FinCom Chair Tony Newton said that in addition to efforts to control increases in the operating budget, there are several factors that led to this conclusion. First, revenues from Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) came in at almost $900,000 higher than budgeted due in large part to an increase in state aid and local receipts. Local receipts include motor vehicle excise taxes, investment income, hotel taxes, fees, licenses/permits, rentals, and charges. As a result, FinCom has asked the town finance team to adjust projections for revenues in line with actuals for FY2025.
  Additionally, the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) will not include funding for the “overlay reserve,” which is used to fund potential property tax abatements, exemptions, and uncollected taxes for the fiscal year. Newton said there are currently sufficient funds in the “overlay reserve” and additional funds are not necessary. 
  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.

 On Monday January 12, the Boxborough Planning Board unanimously approved the renewal of an Open Space Commercial Development (OSCD) Special Permit Application received from Campanelli-Trigate LLC for the buildout of The Park at Beaver Brook (former Cisco campus).
  Campanelli’s Special Permit application, which was submitted on January 28, 2025, outlines their “Master Plan” to construct five new buildings, totalling 667,500 square feet. According to the application, the development “will consist of Research & Development/Light Manufacturing/Office uses.”
  The proposal also includes the donation of approximately five acres (Lot 100) to the Town of Boxborough for open space and passive recreation purposes and puts an additional 94 acres into conservation/open space restriction.
  The public hearing for the application first opened on June 2, 2025 and had been continued eight times. Throughout the hearings, Campanelli representatives addressed Planning Board members’ and the public’s questions on issues that included parking, wastewater, traffic, and the screening of buildings from the neighboring Trail Ridge Condominiums in Harvard.
  Planning Board members and attorneys representing the town and Campanelli worked through a decision document with mutually agreed upon conditions, including traffic management measures, sustainable building practices, and the ban of chemical fertilizers. 
  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:

• School Committee Discusses AB Forward and Enrollment, Vote Expected on January 22
• Community Preservation Committee Votes to Approve Six CPA Projects
• Boxborough to Host Annual Winterfest on January 31
• Mark Your Calendars, Boxborough Voters: Two Town Meetings and Two Town Elections
• Select Board Discusses Property Tax Bill Error, Special Town Meeting & Special Town Election
• Town of Boxborough Concludes No Operational “Override” Needed
• Finance Committee Votes Warrant Articles for Special Town Meeting
• Planning Board Unanimously Approves OSCD Special Permit for The Park at Beaver Brook
• Holocaust Remembrance Day Speaker Coming to Sargent Memorial Library

 

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:

• A Conversation with Barbara Shapokas, Fine Artist
• Select Board December Meeting Recap: Town Meeting “Clickers” and Police Department Staffing
• Meditations with Ann: The New Year
• Finance Committee and Select Board Meet for “Budget Saturday”
• New Year Resolutions: Help Us Make Boxborough News Better
• Annual Census (Street Listing) Sent to All Boxborough Residents
• Housing Board Discusses Status of Affordable Unit on Summer Road
• Finance Committee Addresses Property Tax Bill Error
• Sustainability Committee Discusses Climate Action Plan, 2026 Priorities
• FSBC Recommends 984 Mass Ave for Fire Station, Town To Vote in March

 If you live or work in Boxborough, it’s likely that you’ve driven through the intersection of
Massachusetts Ave and Stow Road. There, on the second floor of the 1832 brick building on the
corner, is The Art Studio – the gallery and workspace of fine artist Barbara Shapokas.
  Many of Shapokas’ paintings on display against the building’s historic beams will look familiar to Boxborough residents: “Ice House, Steele Farm: February Light,” “Boxborough Town Line,”
“Barn on Stow Road,” and “Steele Farm: Late August.”
  Originally a self-described “city girl” from New York, Shapokas has lived in and painted
Boxborough for the past two decades.
  Flagg Hill Conservation Area is Shapokas’ favorite place to go for inspiration. “I’ll go…with my
colors and sketch book,” she explains. “I’ll photograph and sketch… I’ll sit in my car if it rains or
snows and watch the beauty of the landscape happen.” She paints, usually with pastels, in her
studio.
  About ten years ago, Shapokas began renting the second floor at 25A Stow Road. She opened The Art Studio and taught painting classes before the Covid pandemic, then closed for several years until its end.
  Now, she teaches private classes to high school students as well as “mature artists.” She is
considering teaching remote painting classes and potentially hosting an “art talk” group session
for artists to talk through artistic challenges. 
  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 January 6, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) addressed a citizen’s concern regarding an error in the recent property tax bills showing past due balances from the second quarter.  
  FinCom members asked Boxborough Finance Director Hoghoa Le to explain how the error could have occurred. Le said she believed that while property taxes were paid by residents, the Treasurer/Collector’s office failed to post payments in Vadar, a software program used by the town to track revenues and expenses. Digging deeper, FinCom members asked what methods are used to reconcile taxes collected in each quarter versus revenues recorded in Vadar and suggested that the town consider an audit of the Treasurer/Collector’s office to level set the department. 
  Boxborough News followed up with the Treasurer/Collector’s office and learned that the only residents affected were those that mailed their property tax payments to the lockbox facility used by the town. 
  The lockbox is a bank-operated facility that receives payments through the mail and deposits the funds in the town’s bank account. An electronic file is then sent to the town and uploaded into Vadar by town employees. The second quarter property taxes were not uploaded to the town’s software and, consequently, when the tax bills went out in December, it showed a balance due for the second quarter added into the third quarter tax bill.
  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 January 8, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) voted to recommend 984 Mass Ave as the best location to build the town’s new fire station.
  The Committee voted unanimously to ask the Boxborough Select Board to place two articles on the March 9, 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant. 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. These two funding requests will also require a separate ballot vote, scheduled for March 17.
  The FSBC met twice in one week, on January 5 and 8, to compare the three remaining sites under consideration: 984 Mass Ave, 1300 Mass Ave, and 72 Stow Road.
  At the end of the January 5 meeting, the FSBC voted unanimously to remove 1300 Mass Ave from consideration. On January 8, the Committee reconvened to decide between the remaining properties – 984 Mass Ave and 72 Stow Road.
  Although the conceptual cost of building a fire station at the 72 Stow Road property is estimated to be $2.6 million cheaper than building at 984 Mass Ave, all committee members were in favor of recommending 984 Mass Ave. The stated reasons for choosing 984 Mass Ave included the fact that it is closer to areas of town that are more densely populated; that it is the Fire Chief’s preferred site; and that it is located on Mass Ave and thus would be more “visible.”
  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:

• Finance Committee Reports Actual FY26 Tax Rate “Slightly Higher” Than Estimated
• Zoning Board Approves Special Permit Application for “Building Trade” Use at 975 Mass Ave.
• Boxborough Board Briefs: Planning Board and Housing Board
• Land Stewards and Boy Scouts Preserve Access on Have Not Pond Trail
• Community Preservation Committee Holds Public Hearing on Six Final CPA Fund Requests
• School Committee Begins Discussion on Final Four AB Forward Options
• Select Board Discusses FY2027 Budget and “Clickers” for Town Meeting
• Town Hosts Back-to-Back Holiday Celebrations, Invites Volunteers to Light Town Menorah December 15-22
• Sustainability Matters: Wrapping It Up

 

  At its meeting on December 8, the Boxborough Select Board heard a preliminary budget presentation by town administration and discussed whether the town will need to pursue a Proposition 2 ½  override.
  At its last meeting on November 24, the Board had discussed the likelihood that Boxborough would need a Proposition 2 ½ override next year and voted unanimously to direct the Town Administrator to prepare two draft budgets, one assuming that the override vote passes and one as a contingency in case the override vote were to fail.
  After hearing the town’s budget presentation, Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg opined that because the preliminary “A Budget” appears to come in under the levy limit, the town may not need to pursue a Proposition 2 ½ override and may not need an alternative “B Budget.”
  Finance Committee (FinCom) Chair Tony Newton cautioned that there are “a lot of unknowns” at this point in the budget process and that it is too early to conclude that an override is not needed. The budget process will continue with the town’s “Budget Saturday” meeting on Saturday, January 3.
  The Board also heard a presentation from Town Clerk Becky Harris about potentially implementing an electronic voting system (also known as “clickers”) for a future Town Meeting. Harris, on behalf of herself and Town Moderator Dennis Reip, recommended that the town not pursue electronic voting at this time due to the financial and logistical costs not outweighing the potential benefits.
  However, several Board members expressed their support for electronic voting, noting that it may make proceedings more efficient and may decrease the “peer pressure” of public voting, allowing voters to “vote their true preference.” The Board asked Harris for additional information, which she is expected to bring to the Board’s next meeting on December 22.
  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.

 

On Saturday, December 6, the Boxborough Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee (PCCC) hosted the town’s annual tree lighting at the Boxborough fire station. An estimated 350 people came out to join the countdown, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and listen to the Blanchard BrassWind Ensemble and Blanchard Chorus. Kids made ornaments, got their faces painted, and rushed to get a candy cane from Santa Claus when he arrived by fire truck.
  “It was a great event,” PCCC Chair Jennette Kollman reported at the Select Board meeting on the following Monday. “We had 40 gallons of hot chocolate and none left over.”
  On Sunday, December 14, the PCCC will kick off the second annual town menorah lighting, also at the fire station. On the first night, the PCCC will light the menorah at 5 p.m. with complimentary refreshments and a craft table for kids.
   “I'm excited to see this celebration grow in our second year of hosting a town menorah lighting,” said Kollman. It's a great opportunity to bring the entire Boxborough community together to celebrate this festive holiday.” The town’s menorah was designed, built, and donated to the town last year by the Kollmann-Klein family.
  On subsequent nights, from December 15-22, local families will lead the lighting at 6 p.m. each night. To help light the menorah, email the PCCC at pccc@boxborough-ma.gov.
  “It's a fantastic way to share your Hanukkah traditions with our Boxborough community,” said Kollman. “It's also a giant menorah that is a lot of fun to light with your neighbors!”
     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.

This fall, a team of local scouts partnered with the Boxborough Land Stewards to reinforce one of the wettest sections of the Have Not Pond trail, installing new boardwalks that will improve access for hikers year-round. The collaboration brought together community volunteers of different ages with a shared goal to preserve access to Boxborough's natural spaces.
  Land Steward Dave Barnett explained that the site had long struggled with flooding. "Both sides of the board were flooded, so it was clear that work had to be done," he said. When water levels finally receded, scout Will Mucci, his father, and another scout used wood from Steele Farm to build new boardwalk sections and stabilized them with rocks gathered on site. "Will worked on the biggest, the wettest spot I know of," Barnett added.
  The collaboration began when the scouts reached out for service hours connected to conservation. Barnett, a retired ecologist, sees these partnerships as essential to keeping trails accessible. "Boardwalks are key to preserving the public's ability to enjoy the meadows and wetlands," he said. He also noted that climate change and invasive species are increasing the workload for stewards and volunteers.
     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:

• Water Resource Committee Considers Further Studies of Water Quality
• Recreation Commission to Explore Cricket Field at Flerra Field
• School Committee Votes FY27 Budget Guidelines, Hears Enrollment Report
• Select Board Discusses Town Budget Policy, Override
• Meditations with Ann: “Pick Up Leaves” Exercise
• Local Students To Compete in FIRST LEGO League Challenge
• Planning Board, Select Board Receive Updates on Boxborough2030 Master Plan, Climate Action Plan
• AB Forward Steering Committee Advances Four Reorganization Options to School Committee
• Emergency Generator to be Installed at Sargent Memorial Library
• FSBC Begins Drafting Warrant Articles While Waiting for Site Study Results

 

On December 2, the AB Forward Steering Committee, with an audience of roughly 60 people, voted to send four district reorganization options to the School Committee for further consideration: Options 3v2 (close Merriam school, maintain five K-6 schools), Option 4 (merge Merriam and McCarthy-Towne schools, maintain five K-6 schools), Option 5v2 (partial grade-band model), and Option 6 (consolidate to three K-6 schools).
  These four options were chosen from a list of thirteen possible district reorganization options developed by the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District’s consultant DM Group in connection with the “AB Forward” strategic planning and reorganization initiative.
  The AB Forward Steering Committee includes administrators, school committee members, educators, and parents and is charged with guiding the district’s work with the consultant.
  Notably for the Boxborough community, Option 5v1 will not move forward to the School Committee. Option 5v1, the “full grade-band” model, would have converted Blanchard Memorial School, the district’s only elementary school located in Boxborough, into a school for only Pre-K and Kindergarten students – with students moving to other schools for grades 1-3 and 4-6. Steering Committee members noted that they had heard significant opposition to Option 5v1 from the Boxborough and Blachard communities.
  Throughout their discussion, committee members grappled with the concept of student disruption and debated whether to prioritize minimal student disruption at the risk of inequitable impact or prioritize equity at the risk of more widespread disruption.
    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 early November, Town Administrator Mike Johns received the news that $100,000 in state funds have been earmarked for the purchase and installation of an emergency generator at the Sargent Memorial Library.
  A team from the Town, including Library Director Peishan Bartley, DPW Director Ed Kukkula, DPW Building and Grounds Team Leader Fran Flynn, Police Chief John Szewczyk and Fire Chief John Kivlan worked with State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Representative Dan Sena for over a year to secure the funding for the emergency generator.
  In response to a request for comment, Johns stated that the emergency generator is needed to establish the library as a “continuity of operations location to run municipal government and a cooling/warming center, as well as a place where families can gather and charge personal devices in case of emergency during Town power loss.” 
  “The only other municipal facilities with backup generators are the police and fire departments, but they are not large enough to serve as an emergency operations center (EOC) for public safety,” Johns said. “...the “library, as the more modern facility, is much better suited for the generator than Town Hall.”
  Planning has been underway since 2024, when the town used $10,000 of “American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA) funds to do the electrical design work for the generator. According to Johns, the $100,000 earmark will completely cover the acquisition and installation of the generator. Johns said that the town is beginning work on the request for proposal (RFP) and will bid the work “as soon as possible.” Installation will “hopefully be complete by spring.”
      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 joint meeting of the Boxborough Select Board and the Boxborough Planning Board on Monday, December 1, Town Planner Alec Wade and Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson presented on the Boxborough 2030 Master Plan progress and the Boxborough Climate Action Priority Plan, respectively.
  Wade began by defining what a master plan is, giving a brief history of Boxborough’s Master Plan, and outlining the progress that has been achieved to date. A master plan, Wade said, “is the comprehensive roadmap that every community sets forth to become what it wishes to be…Boxborough is committed to being a rural and engaged community–that means maintaining the rural character that we always talk about, while continuing to provide a community that’s engaging for a diverse range of populations.”
  Originally written in 2002 and updated in 2015 as “Boxborough2030”, the town’s vision for 2030, Wade explained that the Master Plan sets both aspirational and tangible goals for the community and proposes actions and timelines to implement those goals.
  According to the 2026 Annual Progress Report, currently in development and scheduled to be published in early 2026, the success of a Master Plan can be measured by the number of actions completed and in progress. Wade explained that a total of 125 action items were developed in 2015, and he noted that 86% of the Plan has been “engaged,” meaning that goals have either been “completed” or are “in progress.” He then highlighted “2025 Areas of Success,” which included actions by the Economic Development Committee, the Sustainability Committee, and the Sargent Memorial Library.
  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 Will Honor Boxboro Regency at Annual Tree Lighting Celebration December 6
• Town Administrator Michael Johns Reflects on Three Years in Boxborough
• AB Forward Steering Committee Votes to Eliminate Five Reorganization Options
• Finance Committee: Town Will Seek Operational Override of Proposition 2 ½ for Fiscal Year 2027
• FSBC Receives Site Reports, Awaits Further Site Study Results
• Blanchard Principal Mike Votto Sleeps on School Roof
• Library Revives Cookbook Club for Potluck Gatherings
• Planning Board Approves 975 Mass Ave Contractor Storage Facility

 

On Saturday, December 6, the Boxborough Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee (PCCC) will host Boxborough’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration starting at 4 p.m.
  For the second year in a row, the town will light the evergreen green in front of the Boxborough Fire Station, 502 Mass Ave.
  This year, the PCCC has invited representatives from the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center (242 Adams Place) to flip the switch and light the tree.
  “We are lucky to be part of Boxborough’s tight knit community,” said Boxboro Regency General Manager Christina Phanord in response to a request for comment. “Over the years our team at the Boxboro Regency has worked with the community through good and difficult times, and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship.  We are honored to be asked to light the tree at Boxborough’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration this year.  We are thankful to be part of this supportive community, and we are excited to be lighting the tree to kick off the holiday season!”
  After the tree is lit, students from Blanchard Memorial School will perform holiday tunes and student volunteers from a “Destination Imagination” STEM team will host a face painting table and a craft table, where kids will be invited to decorate wooden ornaments. Cookies and hot chocolate will also be provided.
  Once the music concludes, Santa Claus will make his way down Mass Ave by fire truck and arrive at the station to greet children and give out candy canes.
  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.

 

Three years ago, Town Administrator Michael Johns arrived in Boxborough with a firm belief in an “open door policy.” Three years later, he still stands by it. “Any resident, business owner, staff member, or board or committee member can call or stop by any time…it’s important to maintain communication.”
  So how often does he get an unexpected knock at the door? “Every day” says Johns, “and I welcome that… I welcome any and all interaction. It does come with a price, and that’s ‘time’ – the weeks spill over into the weekend. But that’s okay… it comes back to passion… and the passion I have for this job.”
  Johns lives in Wrentham; he commutes 50 minutes to Boxborough and 50 minutes back home each day. But Boxborough’s “community culture” drew him in.
  Boxborough is “welcoming and collaborative” said Johns. The Town Hall staff have collaborative relationships with the volunteer boards, and the boards have collaborative relationships with the many engaged residents. The Boxborough community “knows what it values and knows what it wants to be,” even if the community “sometimes disagrees on how to get there,” Johns observed.
  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.

On the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, with temperatures near freezing, Blanchard Memorial Principal Mike Votto climbed a shaky extension ladder to the roof of the school where a nylon tent and sleeping bag awaited him. True to his word, Principal Votto slept overnight on the roof of the school to fulfill his promise to the students, who raised over $25,000 for the Blanchard PTF’s “Fun Run” fundraiser to benefit the school.
  And while the kids had a pleasant 60-degree day in October for the Fun Run, it was mid-November by the time Votto had a clear spot on his calendar to complete the task. The days were getting short, the nights were getting cold, and Votto wanted to fulfill his promise while it was still fresh in the students’ minds. Winter was coming. Finally, last week, Votto cleared his schedule and set up the overnight adventure.
  Were there any surprises? “Yes,” Principal Votto recalls, “first there was the media coverage!  Channel 5 came out the night of the event, Channel 7 was there in the morning when I waved to the buses from the roof, and the Boston Globe even covered it.  Then there was the flaky WiFi coverage. I set up a Read Aloud over Zoom with over 100 students joining, but the connection up there was so bad the kids couldn’t see the pictures.  And there was wildlife, too.” At least one bat knocked on the tent during the night, inspecting the rooftop stranger.
  In all, Votto, who has never camped out in freezing weather before, said the event was exciting and fulfilling.  The principal clearly gets a charge out of interacting with and challenging the students, and has loved every moment of his six years at Blanchard so far. 
  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:

• FSBC Identifies 984 Mass Ave as Potential Site, Narrows List to Three Sites
• A Sweet Grand Opening for Thinking Flower
• Boxborough Celebrates Veterans Day
• School Committee Discusses “AB Forward,” Encourages More Community Feedback 
• Select Board Accepts Food Security Program Donations, Holds Civic Academy Graduation
• Boxborough Police Chief Szewczyk Announces Holocaust Remembrance Day Speaker
• Thirteenth Annual Veterans Day Breakfast Held at AB High School
• SPCP Explores Communication between Boxborough Police, Community 

At their meeting on November 13, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) voted unanimously to move forward on only three potential fire station sites: 984 Mass Avenue, 1300 Mass Avenue, and 72 Stow Road.
  Other sites that the FSBC has studied and now “dropped” are 502 Mass Ave (current fire station) and 700-832 Mass Ave. The committee also briefly discussed 296 Middle Road and 276 Middle Road as potential sites but agreed that neither are worth exploring this late in the process.
  The FSBC decided to narrow their focus due to the committee’s dwindling time and resources. The committee has roughly $65,000 left in their budget and is working towards a March 2026 Special Town Meeting.
  With not enough money and time to continue studying all sites, the committee asked Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan his opinion on how he would rank the sites. Chief Kivlan responded that his first choice would be 984 Mass Ave, followed by 1300 Mass Ave, followed by 72 Stow Road. Chief Kivlan explained that he has concerns about sightlines at the 700-832 Mass Ave site and believes that the “program” (operational needs) will not fit at the 502 Mass Ave site.
  Committee members agreed that Chief Kivlan’s three preferred properties are the most promising based on all the information gathered to date and voted unanimously to proceed with only those three sites.
  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 the November 10 Select Board meeting, Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk announced that Holocaust survivor Werner Salinger will visit Boxborough in January to meet with the public and share his story in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
  Salinger personally experienced Kristallnacht as a child, emigrated to the United States with his family, where he was a neighbor of Albert Einstein, and then returned to Germany as a U.S. soldier post-World War II. Salinger’s visit is a rare opportunity for community members to speak with someone who experienced the horror of the Holocaust.
  Chief Szewczyk felt the community and police officers could benefit from a discussion with a Holocaust survivor. "We are excited to continue to strengthen the bond between the police department and the community as we grow and learn together with those we serve," stated Szewczyk.
  For this event, the chief is collaborating with the Lappin Foundation, which seeks to educate youth about Jewish identity and is helping to arrange this opportunity to meet with Mr. Salinger. The Lappin Foundation recently did a presentation for students at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, and the foundation has also helped police officers visit Holocaust museums to provide them with cultural training on the Jewish experience.
  The event will be held at 7 p.m. on January 27, 2026 at the Sargent Memorial Library. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. More details will be released in the coming months.
  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 November 6, the ABRSD School Committee continued to discuss the “AB Forward” initiative. District Management Group consultant Joe Costello and Superintendent Peter Light answered a series of questions submitted in advance by School Committee members.
  “AB Forward” is a strategic planning and reorganization initiative to “create an updated strategic plan as well as a set of 3-5 actionable options for district reorganization that could guide district operations for the next 5-10 years.” The nine reorganization options involve different combinations of closing or merging elementary schools and/or buildings; reconfiguring schools and/or buildings by “grade bands”; and shifting sixth and/or eighth graders to different schools.
  With respect to questions about the costs and savings of the various reorganization options, Costello emphasized that AB Forward is not intended to “fix” the district’s budget challenges. Instead, the initiative is intended “to create opportunities for more flexible organization of schools and programs.” Costello noted that his team is working on additional financial and staffing details about the reorganization options, which will be presented at the next AB Forward Steering Committee meeting.
  There were also several questions directed toward the school committee members about their role in the AB Forward process. In January, the School Committee will vote to decide how the schools will be reorganized, but members have thus far refrained from explicitly advocating for or against the options currently on the table.
  One question asked why Committee members are not speaking out for or against any options. Another queried as to how the members plan to use the public feedback that has been collected.
  Committee members explained that – at this point in the process – they want to be unbiased, keep an open mind, and hear feedback from the community so that they can consider all perspectives and opinions as they move towards an eventual vote.
  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:

• Housing Board Finalizes HOPE Program and Supports Changes in State Regulation
• Meditations with Ann: What Can I Do About Foot Pain?
• Planning Board Continues Public Hearing for The Park at Beaver Brook
• Boxborough Police Officer Teaches Women’s Self Defense Class
• Boxborough Moms and Daughters Support Girls Sports with “Own Your Game” Apparel
• Eyeing Override, Finance Committee Discusses Two Budgets for FY2027
• Thinking Flower Bakery and Coffee Shop Will Open its Doors on November 10
• Food Security Program Helps Boxborough Residents in Need

 Motivate and inspire athletes. Build confidence. Keep girls in sports. These are the goals of “Own Your Game,” a Boxborough apparel start-up run by a team of two mother-daughter duos: Magda and Kiley Lyons and Christina and Alyssa Mazzone.
  The moms have been friends since before their daughters were born; their daughters have grown up together. They teamed up to launch Own Your Game (OYG) about a year ago.
  “During our usual daily catch-up we discussed how cool it would be to do something that we were passionate about,” said Christina. “That led us to our kids and how sports has been such a positive part of their lives, in particular for our girls. We also discussed how fortunate they are to play sports at a competitive level and not all kids are afforded that luxury.” 
  Magda and Christina wanted to create a clothing brand that was affordable, fun to wear, and would inspire girls to stick with sports. They and their daughters “brainstormed in Magda’s living room,” coming up with a name, a logo, and product ideas. Professionally, the two moms are in chemical engineering and cybersecurity, but they quickly jumped into the world of sourcing apparel, designing logos, and building a business.
  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 November 4, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) continued to discuss the town’s fiscal year 2027 (FY27) operating budget in broad terms. 
  Using an historical 10-year average increase in the levy (taxation) of 5.5% and the levy limit of 4.3%, the town has projected a shortfall in the operating budget for FY27. Under the circumstances, the town will seek an operational “override” of Proposition 2 ½ for FY27 at Annual Town Meeting in Spring 2026 and at the ballot. 
  Proposition 2½, 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. This amount is known as the annual levy limit.  An “override” increases the amount of property tax revenue a community may raise and becomes part of the base for calculating future years' levy limits. The result is a permanent increase in taxing authority.
 Given the uncertainty of the outcome of an override vote, FinCom plans to develop two separate operating budgets for FY27: Budget “A” if the operational override is approved by voters, and Budget “B” if the operational override is not approved by voters.
  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, Town Administrator Michael Johns and Assistant Town Administration Rajon Hudson brought together town officials and volunteers to launch a “Neighbors Feeding Neighbors” Boxborough Food Security Program in response to nationwide uncertainty surrounding access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. According to town administration, Boxborough has more than 150 households (representing more than 250 individuals) who rely on SNAP benefits.
  The program encouraged Boxborough residents to donate gift cards and food, or make a contribution to the Boxborough Community Services Gift Account.
   In just one week since the program was launched, many donations have been received. In a widely circulated email that included town officials and local groups, Boxborough Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks noted that as of Thursday, November 6, $1,750 has been donated to Boxborough’s Community Services Gift Account and more than $5,000 worth of gift cards were donated from generous Boxborough residents and the UCC Boxborough church.
  Trinks stated that in the last few days, she has provided gift cards and food vouchers to residents totaling $1,575. She also reported that the food donation bins at Town Hall, UCC Boxborough, and the library have been full and that the Acton Food Pantry has asked the town to store the donations until they (AFP) have space to receive donations again.
  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:

• School Committee Wades into 2026-27 Budget Challenges, “AB Forward” Details
• Blanchard PTF “Fun Run” Brings in More Than $26,000, Popsicles, and Rooftop Camping
• “AB Forward” Conversation Continues at Blanchard Community Forum
• UCCB Hosts Successful Fundraiser for Cuban Families
• Select Board Discusses Transfer Station Stickers, Approves Coffee Shop Liquor License
• With SNAP Uncertainty, Town Launches Food Security Program
• DiscoverSTEM Event Returns to ABRHS on November 7

 At their meeting on October 27, the Boxborough Select Board began a discussion about transfer station sticker enforcement and potentially increasing the cost of a transfer station sticker.
  Boxborough Department of Public Works Director Ed Kukkula reported to the Board that his department has recently increased enforcement of (and education about) the town’s transfer station sticker policies. Residents who wish to use the Boxborough transfer station must purchase a transfer station sticker each year. The cost of the sticker is $150 or $180 per year, depending on when it is purchased. The sticker is free for senior citizens and those with an Affordable Housing Trust Waiver.
  Kukkula explained to the Board that the transfer station is currently “in the red” and the deficit is increasing each year. He noted that while the town’s total tonnage stays roughly the same each year, the town’s costs to dispose of the waste is increasing.
  Chair Hilberg stated, “I think we should raise the cost of the sticker; private hauling has gone up substantially and we haven’t.” She then clarified that she is not in favor of charging a fee to seniors for a sticker. Hilberg indicated that the conversation about both enforcement and sticker fees will continue at a future meeting.
  The Board also approved an On-Premises Restaurant All-Alcoholic Beverages License for Thinking Flower Coffee Shop, Inc. of 629 Mass Ave, Suite C, after a brief public hearing. During the hearing, Thinking Flower owner Divya Suryaprasad, a pastry chef, described the pastries and coffee she will offer in her “small-scale coffee shop and bakery” and explained how having a liquor license will help make her business “more sustainable.” Suryaprasad expects to open Thinking Flower in early November once she receives her final permits from the 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.

 

At their meeting on October 23, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee held two separate but intertwined discussions about the AB Forward reorganization initiative and the 2026-2027 school budget.
  The Committee first heard a presentation on AB Forward from Joe Costello, a representative of ABRSD’s consultant District Management Group.
  “AB Forward” is a strategic planning and reorganization initiative to “create an updated strategic plan as well as a set of 3-5 actionable options for district reorganization that could guide district operations for the next 5-10 years.” The nine reorganization options, released earlier this month, involve different combinations of closing or merging elementary schools and/or buildings; reconfiguring schools and/or buildings by “grade bands”; and shifting sixth and/or eighth graders to different schools.
  The Committee then moved on to preliminary discussions about the district’s 2026-2027 budget. The district’s multiyear projection model shows that the biggest budget drivers are salary and benefits, including health insurance costs. Superintendent Peter Light emphasized that no matter which AB Forward reorganization option is ultimately chosen, the AB Forward initiative “may not fully solve the problem,” given the budget gaps shown in the model.
  Next, the Committee discussed draft Budget Guidelines for the 2026-27 school year. The budget guidelines are the School Committee’s instruction to the administration about how to develop the budget. School Committee Vice Chair for Boxborough and Chair of the Budget Subcommittee Adam Klein stated that although there is a desire for a “level services” budget, that is, a budget that maintains the current services, the towns of Acton and Boxborough have indicated that they cannot provide the funding that would be necessary for a level services budget.
  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.

On Tuesday, November 11 at 11 a.m., Boxborough veterans and supporters will gather at the Veterans’ Tribute Memorial on the grounds of the Sargent Memorial Library, 427 Massachusetts Avenue for the town’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony.
  The ceremony will honor those who have served in the Armed Forces and recognize Boxborough veterans for their service.
  Boxborough resident and veteran Ron Vogel has served as the master of ceremonies for the town’s Veterans Day ceremony since 2021, when the Veterans Tribute Memorial was completed and the town held its first Veterans Day observance there.
  Vogel served in the United States Navy on active duty from 1966-1968 and “served aboard the destroyer USS Forrest Sherman, destroyer number 931.”
  “I hope that when people come out for the Veterans Day ceremony they will reflect upon the sacrifices of veterans and their families throughout the years and appreciate what they’ve accomplished and given us,” said Vogel.
  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.