Library Walking Club
2026-06-08 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-06-15 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-06-22 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-06-29 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-06 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-13 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-20 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-27 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates | Bruce Freeman Rail Trail parking lot (behind MBTA Commuter Rail Station), 50 Beharrell St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Let’s move together! Join Concord Free Public Library staff to start your week with a walk along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, starting on Monday, April 27. Friends from Concord Recreation will join us to lead light stretching at the start and to walk with us. Wear your sneakers, grab your walking poles, and bring a friend. All walking paces welcome.
We will meet at the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail parking lot, near 50 Beharrell St, just beyond the Poetry Phone and the Minuteman Bike Share. So that we know to wait for you and to provide any weather-related updates, please register: cfpl.info/events.
Questions? Email: fowler@concordlibrary.org or call 978-318-3350.

Reimagine MCI Concord Master Plan Design Charrette Week
2026-06-08 17:45 - 2026-06-11 19:30
The Town of Concord is holding a multi-day Design Charrette Week for the redevelopment of the former MCI-Concord property. The interactive public workshops will help develop a master plan and draft zoning for the 83-acre site and the adjacent Junction Village parcel.
Public events that week will be held Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-7:30pm. Drop-in open studio sessions will be from 2-4pm Tuesday and 10:30am-12:30 pm Wednesday.
June 8-11, 2026 | Times and locations vary, see flyer or visit the MCI-Concord website for details.

GECA - Wind Turbine Tour
2026-06-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Narragansett Bay Commission, 1 Service Road, Providence, RI, 02905, United States
If you’re interested in green energy and stustainably powering our grid, join the Green Energy Consumers Alliance for a tour of the wind turbine that powers Rhode Island’s Community Choice Electricity program. The tour on Wednesday, June 10th at 10am is a great place to see green energy in action. Visit the GECA website for more details about the event and to register.

Acton Emergency Preparedness Fair
2026-06-16 17:00 - 19:00 | NARA Park Bathhouse Pavilion, 75 Quarry Rd, Acton, US
Be More Resilient in the Face of Emergencies!
Acton’s Emergency Preparedness Fair is an opportunity to learn a few basics about preparedness, including the types of emergencies we might expect in our area. Explore how residents can be ready for power outages and how to be more resilient in the face of weather extremes, such as windstorms, rain “training” and flash floods, heat waves, and even fire or hurricanes. Find out how to build a ‘go kit’, what supplies you might need to have on hand for different situations, and what extra preparations are needed for kids, pets, and older adults. Please come and share your questions with Town employees and local preparedness organizations.

The event features demonstrations, giveaway items, and preparation resources, along with free food and fun activities for the kids. Find us under the eaves at the NARA Park Bathhouse Pavilion, next to the beach.

In the aftermath of an emergency, access to critical supplies may be limited. Find out how we can be better prepared, not just as individuals and families, but as a community. Indeed, as other United States and international emergencies have shown, our changing climate means that we must learn to rely on each other in new ways. The Acton Emergency Preparedness Fair is way to strengthen communication and cooperation as we move forward.
This event is sponsored by various Acton Town departments–the Sustainability Office, the Fire Department, and the Health & Human Services Department. Come by rain or shine.

The NARA Park Bathhouse is located at the first parking lot next to the pond.
Please join us! Drop in any time!

From Canopy to Ground Layer - Building Soft Landings with Keystone Plants for Pollinators
2026-06-16 19:00 - 20:00
Building Soft Landings with Keystone Plants for Pollinators
This presentation explores the powerful connection between keystone plants and the insects that depend on them. You’ll learn how to implement “Soft Landings” in landscapes of all scales from home gardens to larger managed sites. This innovative habitat design and management strategy focuses on creating lush, drought-tolerant mini ecosystems beneath native trees to support pollinators throughout their life cycles. Participants will learn what defines a pollen specialist, discover examples of these fascinating bee-plant relationships, and understand how keystone plants function as foundational species in our ecosystems.
You’ll benefit from practical strategies on site preparation methods, herbicide considerations, and building a resilient plant matrix of sedges, cool-season grasses, and flowering keystone species. By the end of the presentation, participants will be equipped to design and install a Soft Landings planting that transforms conventional landscapes into thriving sanctuaries for bees, caterpillars, and other beneficial insects.
Our Speaker: Heather Holm is a pollinator conservationist and award-winning author of four books: Pollinators of Native Plants (2014), Bees (2017), Wasps (2021), and Common Native Bees of the Eastern United States (2022). Both Bees and Wasps have won multiple book awards including the American Horticultural Society Book Award (2018 and 2022 respectively). Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and many local publications. Heather is also an accomplished photographer and her pollinator photos are frequently featured in print and electronic publications.
Click here to register for this free webinar

Native Seedling Transplant at Fowler
2026-06-17 11:00 - 13:00 | Fowler Branch Library, 1322 Main Street, Concord, MA, US
How did your native plants grow in your winter seed sow milk jugs? Drop by the Fowler Library backyard anytime between 11am and 1 pm to separate our seedlings into plantable clumps. Bring your jugs! Trade, compare, and share! Register at cfpl.info/events if you wish to receive updates for this and other pollinator week programs, but all are welcome!

From Gas Pumps to Charging Stations: EV Basics for Everyday Drivers
2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Now Is the Time to Go Electric!
With local gas prices climbing toward $4.50 a gallon, the financial case for making the switch to an electric vehicle has never been stronger. Charging an EV at home on Eversource East costs the equivalent of just $2.80 per gallon – saving drivers roughly 38% per mile. And the savings don’t stop at the pump. Because EVs eliminate oil changes, spark plugs, and complex exhaust systems, they cost 30–50% less to maintain over their lifespan than gas-powered cars. All told, drivers can expect around $4,000 in total cost-of-ownership savings over the first five years.
Although the supply of new EV models is a bit unpredictable at the moment, there are still great options out there. And do not forget the used EV market, where most vehicles are also eligible for the Massachusetts MOR-EV incentives ($3500). The volunteer inputting this information just turned in a 2023 Kia EV6 with only 17,000 miles. A wonderful vehicle at a HUGE savings. We bought a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to replace the leased car and got a very good deal on the new vehicle. Please do not let our topsy-turvy market circumstances prevent you from finding a vehicle that you will love!
Whether you’re looking to purchase or lease, now is a great time to lock in immediate, predictable savings. Hear directly from EV drivers, get your questions answered, and take the next step to going electric. Register for the MassEnergize online webinar on June 17, 2026, 7–8pm: www.bit.ly/EV-101.
And stay tuned for the EnergizeActon.org EV Petting Zoo coming up in July. This is a wonderful yearly event for EV drives to meet up, plus potential EV drivers can check out the cars and ask lots of questions!

Fowler in Fact: A Nonfiction Book Club
2026-06-24 11:30 - 12:30 | Fowler Branch Library, 1322 Main Street, Concord, MA, US
Join us at Fowler Library to discuss environmentalist Bill McKibben’s latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization. Sun and wind are now the cheapest power on the planet and growing faster than any energy source in history. Join us to talk about his call to action. Copies of the book are available to borrow at Fowler Branch and both the eBook and eAudiobook can be downloaded on Libby. Please register at cfpl.info/events.

It's Electric! EVs, Your Home & More
2026-07-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Acton Memorial Library, 586 Main Street, Room Main Meeting Room, Acton, US
Apologies, this event is POSTPONED due to the heat emergency. Please stay tuned for a new date!
Electric vehicle ownership is surging internationally. Talk with local EV drives about why!
Worldwide, households are going electric. Visit the Eversource “Energy Efficiency Experience” truck and find out how electric home heating, cooling, and appliances are healthier, more efficient, and more renewable.
OK, a lot of EV hype has disappeared from the U.S. marketplace, but electric vehicle owners still love their vehicles! With zero emissions, high performance, and low maintenance costs, EVs are fun to own. And, of course, they are critical to the effort to address our warming climate. Here in Massachusetts, there are good rebates for both new and used electric cars and trucks, plus the new managed home charging saves folks even more money compared to the gas pumps.
And this year, our EV Meet-Up will be joined by the Eversource “Energy Efficiency Experience” truck, where you can learn about other electric advances that can save you money at home, from smart thermostats to battery storage.
This celebration of EVs and all things electric is a chance for you to talk with local EV drivers and other experts, see a variety of electric vehicles—passenger models from Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, and more–along with electric vehicles purchased by the Town of Acton. We welcome all of you who are thinking about an electric vehicle. Plus, we welcome current EV drivers and folks who have recently purchased an EV. Please come and share your experiences. You can sign up to join us or simply come by!
Register HERE.
Resources will also be available addressing the following topics.

2026 EV pricing
Massachusetts incentives for new and used EVs
Increasing range of electric vehicles
Battery updates
Cost and incentives for home charging
Maintenance savings
Regenerative breaking
Vehicle handling

Look for special tips about the growing used EV market and other helpful organizations, such as the Drive Green program.
One Michigan car aficionado and EV driver, Jamie Racklyeft, wrote earlier this year, “I’m on my fourth EV now and I’m not going back: A 2025 international survey of 27,000+ EV drivers found 93% would choose another battery-electric EV, while only 1% would return to gas or diesel. . . So yes, 2026 may feel quieter than the hype years. But quieter isn’t weaker. It’s steadier. And steadiness is how lasting change actually takes hold.”
Thank you so much for your interest and expertise!
This event is part of our 2026 Climate Café summer series. The Climate Cafés aim to be an informal, helpful gathering place where Acton residents can discuss a fossil fuel free future, share experiences with clean energy technologies, and look at lifestyle choices that make a difference for our planet. Our next Climate Café is the “Celebration of Plant-Based Foods” community potluck picnic at the NARA Park Picnic Pavilion on Wednesday, July 22nd, from 6:00-8:00pm.
EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office. Interested in lending a skill? Contact us HERE. We meet the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Celebration of Plant-Based Meals!
2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:00 | NARA Park Pavilions, Acton, NARA Park Pavilions, Unit 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, US
You can do something about our climate!
Eat more plant-based meals!

We all share one activity that can have a significant impact on climate change—the food we eat! Eating more plant-based meals is an immediate and DELICIOUS way to put less CO2 into the atmosphere. Making changes to your eating habits can be done at your own pace and with little financial investment. Plus, you get to celebrate the amazing bounty of the plant world!
Please join Energize Acton and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office for our 4th Annual Celebration of Plant-Based Meals. Everyone is asked to contribute to this potluck picnic, so please bring a dish based on veggies, fruit, grains, beans, or nuts. Your contribution can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Are you on the run between soccer games? Bring a bag of cashews! Are you a vegan chef? We look forward to a non-dairy extravaganza! Any vegetarian or vegan dish is welcome. The idea is to sample favorite plant-based recipes from across the community and to give thanks for the miracle of plants.
Besides food, if possible, we ask you might bring a few other items.

Two copies of your recipe;
Your favorite veggie cookbook or name of a favorite cooking website (just to share for the evening);
A napkin and cup.

We are trying to make this a low-waste event and the Church of the Good Shepherd has generously offered to let us borrow plates and cutlery from their plastics-free kitchen. We will have back-up cups and napkins, so no worries, but we thank you for helping keep trash to a minimum.
We hope to have at least one food demo to entertain us. Plus, inspired by the book, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, our theme will be “Plants as Teachers.” We will have 2-3 special displays about edible plants that make a difference in the world today.
Registration is helpful but not required.
Register HERE.

EnergizeActon.org is a joint effort of the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.

Energy Bill Check-Up Webinar
2026-08-19 19:00 - 20:00
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
Whether you’re looking to better understand your own bill or to help others in your community navigate their energy costs, this webinar will provide useful information and practical resources. While helpful for all residents, this presentation is designed for energy coaches and community leaders who desire a better grasp of the details of utility billing and of the special programs––whether seasonal, income-related, or equipment-based––that can help ratepayers get savvy with their bills.
The speaker is Sierra Moll, Energy Consumer Liaison for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Her job is to connect residents, community organizations, and local leaders with state resources and advocacy on utility and energy issues. Here are some of the questions she will address.

The difference between supply and delivery charges
Different supply options (basic, municipal aggregation, competitive supply)
When and why rates change, plus why rate changes may not affect everyone at the same time
How infrastructure maintenance and renewable projects may affect utility bills

This program is sponsored by the Metrowest PlugIN effort of MassEnergize.org, in which EnergizeActon.org and other regional community groups participate.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IpwtfBoMTTGH5gGoP383Eg
Wed., August 19th
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom
🎤 Speaker: Sierra Moll, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office

Thoreau and the Language of Trees - Illustrated Talk by Richard Higgins
2026-08-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main St, Concord, MA
Trees were central to Henry David Thoreau’s creativity as a writer, his work as a naturalist, and his inner life. Author of ‘Thoreau and the Language of Trees’ and a photographer, Richard Higgins examines Thoreau’s deep connections to trees using Thoreau’s words and his own photographs of trees. Higgins lives in Concord and is a writer, editor, and author of several books. Please call the COA office to sign up at 978-318-3020.

Ticks & Mosquitos - How To Stay Safe This Summer
2026-08-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Concord Free Public Library, 129 Main St, Room Goodwin Forum, Concord, Massachusetts, US
The Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative and Concord Health Department will be bringing you an informational session about ticks and mosquitos and how you can stay safe this summer. It is an all-ages, interactive talk with live bugs and demonstrations. Register Here!
Kayleigh Watson will be joined by entomologist Tony Kiszewski, who will cover tick and mosquito biology, why they are so prevalent during the summer months, and different ways you can protect yourselves from them.
Kayleigh Watson is the shared services coordinator and regional epidemiologist for the Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative, serving Sudbury, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Weston, and Wayland. She has a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Clark University. Before working in this role, she was a clinical microbiologist for Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Saint Vincent’s Hospital. In her undergraduate work, she did wet and dry lab research on cyanobacteria in bodies of water in Worcester and at Walden Pond in Concord, MA.
Anthony Kiszewski is a public health entomologist specializing in sustainable and appropriate interventions against malaria and other vector-borne diseases in the developing world. He is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Institutional Review Board of Natural and Applied Sciences at Bentley University. He is a Research Fellow at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and a Visiting Scientist at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and the T.W. Chan Harvard School of Public Health. He received his doctorate in Tropical Public Health from Harvard University and his Master of Science in Medical Entomology from Cornell University.
The Concord Free Public Library is committed to providing everyone with unimpeded access to our resources, programs, and services. Learn more about accessibility at our libraries. You can also email our administration team or give us a call at either of our libraries to request additional accommodations.
The Concord Free Public Library’s programs are free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation.

Conservation & Climate Coffee
2026-09-08 07:30 - 08:30 | Community Development Building, 141 Keyes Rd., Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Join Concord’s Natural Resources department for community discussions at their monthly climate coffee gathering.

Reimagine MCI Concord - Framework Plan Presentation
2026-09-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Concord Carlisle High School, 500 Walden Street, Concord, MA
The revised illustrative master plan will be shared along with supporting information. More details to come.
Background:
After the successful completion in 2025 of the Vision Plan for the former Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Concord (MCI-Concord) site, the Town of Concord is embarking on the next phase of planning work. Starting in Spring 2026, the Town will develop a long-term master plan and new zoning for the MCI-Concord site and the adjacent Junction Village parcel. This process will build on the Vision Plan and include additional public engagement to shape a master plan that is informed by the community. The master plan and draft zoning is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.
The Master Plan and Rezoning Project is a rare opportunity to shape more than 50 acres of land near West Concord’s village center. The Town of Concord’s Community Development Department will guide this project with support from a consultant team and the MCI Concord Master Plan Committee. The project will be planned in partnership with the property owner, the Commonwealth’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).
For more information: visit: https://www.mci-concord.org/

Concord's Annual Ag Day Farmers Market
2026-09-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Main Street, Concord, Main Street, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Concord Ag Day is a once a year farmers’ market celebrating local agriculture organized by the Concord Agriculture Committee to showcase Concord farms and local produce. This unique market showcases the bounty of Concord’s many farm businesses at the height of the growing season. Come join us on Main Street!
