Acton Names Douglas Sturniolo New Police Chief
ACTON — Town officials this week announced Douglas Sturniolo has been appointed Chief of the Acton Police Department, while the town issued guidance for residents ahead of extreme heat in the forecast.
TOWN HALL
The Town of Acton announced the appointment of Douglas Sturniolo as Chief of the Acton Police Department, according to a notice posted to the town's official website. Details of the appointment process were not included in the announcement beyond the confirmation itself.
Separately, the town issued an advisory titled "Extreme Heat in the Forecast," outlining resources available to residents as hot conditions move into the region. The town also posted a corrected update on Independence Day weekend service hours, noting that town offices and non-emergency services were closed for the holiday while Acton Memorial Library and the Transfer Station kept modified hours. The town's July 2026 Municipal Monthly newsletter is also now available for download.
Residents can also look ahead to a Central Street "Complete Street" preliminary design effort from the Department of Public Works, examining road improvements between Main Street and Martin Street.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Acton Public Library's Peace Crane Folding program continues weekly, inviting residents to fold origami peace cranes together, with a goal of donating 1,000 completed cranes to a charity chosen by the group; the next session is Thursday, July 9, from 1 to 2 p.m., open to all ages with no experience required.
The library is also hosting Tech Time with librarian Rebecca G. on July 9 from 1 to 4 p.m., offering free 20-minute one-on-one sessions for residents needing help with laptops, iPads, Kindles, or other devices. Teens can drop in for Drop-In Games Day & Teen Crafts the same afternoon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to grades 5-12.
At NARA Park, the town's Independence Day Celebration drew residents for food vendors, inflatables, games, live music, and a laser light show, per the town's News Flash listing. The NARA Summer Concert Series continues this week with an "Animals — The Maroon 5 Tribute" show on Friday, July 10, followed by a Kids Night show featuring Ben Rudnick & Friends on Tuesday, July 14.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"60+ MA Beaches Closed Following Torrential Rain, Merrimack River Sewage Overflow" — Patch reports that dozens of beaches across Massachusetts, including some in the region, are closed to swimming this weekend following heavy rain and a sewage overflow into the Merrimack River, affecting summer beachgoers statewide (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"Patch AM: Discover how two major rail trails link directly through Acton" — Per Patch's daily roundup, two regional rail trails connect through Acton, a detail highlighted alongside other local events on the outlet's community calendar (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"Patch AM: How an Acton factory ended up in a national Omnipod lawsuit" — Patch flags a local manufacturing facility's connection to a national lawsuit involving the Omnipod insulin device, according to the outlet's morning brief (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"Patch AM: Acton's senator joins push to avert UMass Memorial nurses' strike" — According to Patch, a state senator representing Acton has joined efforts aimed at preventing a nurses' strike at UMass Memorial, per the outlet's reporting (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
COMING UP
The NARA Summer Concert Series presents "Animals — The Maroon 5 Tribute" on Friday, July 10, and Kids Night featuring Ben Rudnick & Friends on Tuesday, July 14. The Select Board meets Monday, July 13, alongside the Acton Nursing Services Advisory Committee. The Open Space Committee and Economic Development Committee both meet Friday, July 10. At the library, Meet-up Mondays and an evidential medium event with Patricia Griffin are both scheduled for Monday, July 13, and the Lunch Bunch free summer meal program for children continues Tuesdays and Wednesdays through July 29.