Monday Essentials: Relay for Life Details, Pre-School Tours and a Food Drive

1. Relay for Life of Acton Boxborough Kick-Off: The Relay for Life of AB, an American Cancer Society sponsored event, has been held for the past 10 years during the spring at NARA Park. This year, they're planning to completely re-do the event, and you can find out more during a meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 16 at RJ Grey Junior High. Get the details here. 

2. Public Meetings Preview: According to the town website, here's the week's lineup of public meetings: 

• Monday, Jan. 13: the Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council at 7:30 p.m., the Board of Health at 7:30 p.m., the Green Advisory Board at 6:30 p.m. and the Volunteer Coordinating Committee at 7 p.m. 
• Tuesday: Jan. 14: the Finance Committee at 7:30 p.m., the Historic District Commission at 7:30 p.m. and the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committees' Negotations Subcommittee at 8 a.m. 
• Wednesday: Jan. 15: the Conservation Commission at 7 p.m., the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committees' Negotiations Subcommittee at 4 p.m. and the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional and Acton-Boxborough Transitional School Committee at 7:30 p.m. 
• Thursday: Jan. 16: the Acton/Acton-Boxborough School Commitees' Policy Subcomittee at 9 a.m. 
• Friday: Jan. 17: 

3. Preschool Tours in January: Drop by Mt. Cavalry at 9:30 a.m. this Tuesday, Jan. 14 for a tour, and to meet some of the teachers and see how children learn developmentally appropriate curriculum through play, songs, and fun activities. Get the details here. 

4. Movie at the Gleason Library: This one's in Carlisle, but worth a mention. At 1:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Jan. 15, Carlisle's Gleason Library will show "American Nations," a film by Colin Woodard, a classic musical comedy in which -- according to the event posting -- the Founding Fathers work out their regional differences to sign the Declaration of Independence. Get the details here. 

5. Food Drive: This Saturday, Jan. 18, the Acton and Boxborough Democratic Town Committees will be conducting a food drive for the AB Community Supper and Food Pantry at both Roche Brothers Supermarket and Donelan’s Supermarket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get the details here.