Acton Names Douglas Sturniolo New Police Chief
Acton has a new police chief, and Town Hall spent the past day squaring away holiday-weekend logistics and heat advisories as summer programming continues at the library.
TOWN HALL
The town announced that Douglas Sturniolo has been appointed Chief of the Acton Police Department, according to a release posted to the town's News Flash feed. Details of the appointment were limited to the announcement itself, but the move fills a top public-safety post for the town.
Separately, officials issued a corrected update on town services for the Independence Day weekend, noting that town offices and non-emergency services were closed while the Acton Memorial Library and the Transfer Station remained open. The town also circulated information for residents on coping with extreme heat, urging caution as hot conditions moved through the region.
Town committees have a busy week ahead: the Select Board, the Acton Nursing Services Advisory Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, the Acton Community Housing Corporation, and the Historic District Commission all have meetings scheduled for the coming days, per the town calendar.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Acton Memorial Library's summer slate continues with a run of family and teen programming. Friday brought "Sing & Stomp," a free song-and-dance session for children and caregivers, along with the library's weekly Grab & Go craft kits available while supplies last.
Looking ahead, the library has added a new Sensory Storytime program designed for children ages 3 to 11, including those on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing needs, featuring softer lighting and reduced noise. The session will be led by inclusive-programming consultant Shanon Stevens and was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County; registration is limited to six children.
Teens can take part in a Dungeons and Dragons Summer Club session and a LEGO Happy Plants craft, while the library's "Lunch Bunch" free summer meal program for children and teens continues on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through July 29.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"🌱 Patch AM: How an Acton factory ended up in a national Omnipod lawsuit" — Patch's morning roundup flagged a local manufacturing tie to a national product-liability case without detailing the underlying allegations, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"🌱 Patch AM: Acton's senator joins push to avert UMass Memorial nurses' strike" — Patch reported that a state senator representing Acton is involved in efforts to head off a nurses' strike at UMass Memorial, per Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"Hungry Kids In MA May Not Be Getting Enough To Eat This Summer" — Patch cited a Feeding America estimate that more than 177,000 Massachusetts children face food insecurity, a statewide concern relevant to local summer meal programs like the library's Lunch Bunch, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
"Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak: 7 Things To Know And What To Do In Massachusetts" — Patch reported that the CDC has confirmed outbreak cases across 17 states, offering guidance for residents, per Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/acton).
COMING UP
The Select Board meets Monday, July 13, alongside the Acton Nursing Services Advisory Committee. The Community Preservation Committee, Acton Community Housing Corporation, and Historic District Commission all meet Tuesday, July 14, per the town calendar. The NARA Summer Concert Series continues Tuesday, July 14, with a Kids Night performance by Ben Rudnick & Friends. The library's Sensory Storytime debuts Monday, July 13, and its D&D Summer Club and LEGO Happy Plants programs run July 14-15. Worship services featuring soloist Tom Ryder are set for Sunday, July 12, at Acton Congregational Church, per Patch.