Acton

Acton's 2012 Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection and an unwanted medication and sharps collection will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the public works garage at 14 Forest Road. The collection is for Acton residents only. For more information, contact the Health Department at 978-929-6632. Jennifer Lefferts

ACTON — It is a Friday afternoon and the door to a small dark classroom is cracked open just enough to keep the sticky air flowing, as roughly 20 players from the Acton-Boxborough Regional High boys' lacrosse squad are seated in small blue chairs. Voices can be heard as two girls walk by in the hallway outside. One says, "I think he likes you. " The other seems as if she already knew that, though she giggles and gives the modest response: "Really? You think so?" It's the type of weekend gossip many teenage boys would immediately attend to, but no one inside the...

The Acton-Boxborough Community Education program is organizing a day trip to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain on May 9. The trip includes transportation by motor coach, a self-guided tour and lunch at the Chateau restaurant in Waltham. The deadline to register for the trip is May 1. The bus leaves Acton at 10 a.m. and will return at about 3:30 p.m. The cost is $55. For more information, visit the group's website, comed.ab.mec.edu.

MATHCOUNTS Executive Director Lou DiGioia (left) and Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson (right). The team is comprised of (from left to right) Matt Lipman of Lexington, James Lin of Winchester, Alec Sun of Lexington, Niket Gowravaram of Acton and coach Josh Frost of Lexington. Submitted Photo. A Massachusetts team including two Lexington kids and their coach won the National Team Champion title at the 2012 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition last week.

A DUCKY ADDITION: Larry Smith said he will always appreciate having been welcomed "like part of a big family" when he and his fiancé, Karen Drake, moved into the Minuteman Ridge neighborhood in Acton last December. In an effort to give back, he resolved to replace the local pond's aging duck house, which sank during heavy spring rains. According to Smith, the original floating duck house was built by Minuteman Ridge's late developer, Porter Jenks, in the mid-1960s.

Le Lyonnais 416 Great Road (Route 2A), Acton Dinner, Tuesday to Thursday 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Lunch, Friday noon to 2 p.m. and some Sundays. Call ahead. Major credit cards accepted 978-263-9068; lelyonnaisacton.com In 1971, Americans were discovering Hamburger Helper and the Crock Pot and a new sandwich by McDonald's called the Quarter Pounder. Although French food had begun to show up on dinner tables, thanks to Julia Child, you had to drive to Boston to eat at a French restaurant.

MATHCOUNTS Executive Director Lou DiGioia (left) and Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson (right). The team is comprised of (from left to right) Matt Lipman of Lexington, James Lin of Winchester, Alec Sun of Lexington, Niket Gowravaram of Acton and coach Josh Frost of Lexington. Submitted Photo. A Massachusetts team including two Lexington kids and their coach won the National Team Champion title at the 2012 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition last week.

BOXBOROUGH — Leslie Ma swings the bat. And misses the ball. It happens again. And again. “We don’t know how far she can see,’’ says her mother, Yuh-Feei Guo. “Maybe she’ll hit the ball by chance.’’ Leslie, 16, is legally blind. On the fifth pitch, Leslie makes contact. As Leslie, breaking into full smile, negotiates her way around the bases, the people at the Blanchard Memorial School field applaud and shout out her name. “This means a lot to her,’’ says her mother, meaning this place, these Saturday mornings when the Miracle League of Massachusetts lets...

at Zesiger Sports Center, MIT Division 1 200 Medley Relay - 1. Andover, 1:49.76; 2. Framingham, 1:54.31; 3. Acton-Boxboro, 1:54.43; 4. Chelmsford, 1:55.13; 5. Haverhill, 1:55.41; 6. Walpole, 1:56.21. 200 freestyle - 1. Ashlee Korsberg, Andover, 1:51.69; 2. Caitlin Klockner, Acton-Boxboro, 1:54.62; 3. Jennifer Day, Chelmsford, 1:56.18; 4. Soojin Kim, Andover, 1:56.24; 5. Alison Murtagh, Andover, 1:57.88; 6. Jessica Sauve, Walpole, 1:59.26. 200 IM - 1. Maggie D'Innocenzo, Andover, 2:02.53; 2. Caitlin Sheridan, Chelmsford, 2:04.46; 3. Alexa...

One day last month, Acton third graders ate Salvadoran pupusas (stuffed tortillas), while more than 2,000 miles away, their buddies from Ilobasco, El Salvador, had US-style hamburgers to celebrate the end of a school year of cultural and scientific exchange aided by digital cameras, computers, and old-fashioned letters. The simultaneous parties - one in Tin Marin Children’s Museum in San Salvador, about 30 miles from Ilobasco, and the other in Acton’s Discovery Museums - culminated with a Skype call.

ICE CHIPS High 5 ►Shannon Fitzgerald, Newton North: The hero while keeping the Tigers undefeated (6-0-1) in a 20-13 win over Weymouth, the sophomore scored seven goals and assisted on four others. ►Justin Pelletier Watertown: The senior goalie made 15 stops to keep the Raiders alive against Melrose before dropping a 10-9 decision in overtime. ►Ben Newbert, Dover-Sherborn: The senior captain scored twice and dished out a helper as the Raiders knocked out Medfield on Friday night, 7-5. ►Rachel Silveria, Groton-Dunstable: The senior came up big in overtime against Oakmont on Saturday, scoring...

The Acton Memorial Library will present a "Tao and the Garden" workshop at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Participants will learn about Taoism and its expressions. Presenter Li Min Mo will help each participant create a miniature garden with rocks, ponds, bridges, and gazebos and will demonstrate the proper placement of plants, shrubs, moss, and small pebbles. Participants must preregister by calling 978-929-6534. Jennifer Lefferts

Acton's 2012 Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection and an unwanted medication and sharps collection will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the public works garage at 14 Forest Road. The collection is for Acton residents only. For more information, contact the Health Department at 978-929-6632. Jennifer Lefferts

The Acton-Boxborough Community Education program is organizing a day trip to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain on May 9. The trip includes transportation by motor coach, a self-guided tour and lunch at the Chateau restaurant in Waltham. The deadline to register for the trip is May 1. The bus leaves Acton at 10 a.m. and will return at about 3:30 p.m. The cost is $55. For more information, visit the group's website, comed.ab.mec.edu.

Acton-Boxboro's Kara O'Riley took to the hill looking to ride the momentum of the Colonials' first win of the season Wednesday. She did that and then some, tossing a five-inning perfect game in a 19-0 victory at Wayland Friday. "We put a lot of pressure on ourselves," said Acton-Boxboro coach Mary Matthews, referring to the team's three close losses to start the season. "Getting that monkey off our back [Wednesday] helped relax us a bit. " O'Riley struck out the first 11 batters she faced before a ground ball to second ended the fourth inning.

Boxborough residents will decide next month if the town should continue exploring full school regionalization with Acton or be faced with making severe budget cuts. The May 14 Town Meeting warrant includes a nonbinding question on whether a study committee should draft a regional schools agreement between Acton and Boxborough for prekindergarten through 12th grade. If approved, the agreement would go before Town Meeting for a binding vote in spring 2013. Acton residents approved a similar question at Town Meeting earlier this month.

Boxborough residents will decide next month if the town should continue exploring full school regionalization with Acton or be faced with making severe budget cuts. The May 14 Town Meeting warrant includes a nonbinding question on whether a study committee should draft a regional schools agreement between Acton and Boxborough for prekindergarten through 12th grade. If approved, the agreement would go before Town Meeting for a binding vote in spring 2013. Acton residents approved a similar question at Town Meeting earlier this month.

ANDOVER — The Acton-Boxboro boys’ team has long since established itself as one of the pillars of Division 1 track, but the Colonials had to win yesterday’s MIAA championship meet without the man who brought them there. Acton-Boxboro finished with 76 points, 23 more than second-place Brockton. And the Colonials did it all without coach Brian Crossman, who was attending a funeral. “It was a little sad because Crossman would have loved to be here, but unfortunately circumstances came up,’’ said senior captain Curt Owen, who won the 800 meters and was part of the winning 4 x 800...

The Lincoln-Sudbury girls' lacrosse team toppled Westwood, the defending Division 1 State champion, 13-12, Monday in its home opener. Senior midfielder and captain Madison Acton had six goals to propel the Warriors past a Westwood team that finished 25-0-1 last season and appeared nearly unstoppable during its postseason campaign. After falling behind, 7-5, in the first half, the Warriors adjusted their game plan and became increasingly aggressive on the offensive end. "The second half was all about who was going to win the draws and basically we won the draws, that's the...

The Acton-Boxborough Regional High boys' hockey team exchanged handshakes with host Woburn after pulling off a three-goal comeback in the third period for a 4-3 victory in the Division 1 North quarterfinals Monday night. The Colonials were jubilant, exchanging hugs and high-fives as they peeled off the line from their foes and found each other. Collectively, they all skated quickly toward the locker room to bask in their accomplishment. All except for senior defenseman Peter Sikalis, who was more concerned with retrieving the water bottles left behind on...