Acton/Maynard

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Current Edition - 4/26/24

Boxborough

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Current Edition - 4/26/24

Acton/Maynard

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Previous Edition - 4/19/24

Boxborough

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Previous Edition - 4/19/24

HEADLINES

Groton Garden Club Plant Sale

May 11th, 9:00-NOON, Legion Common
75 Hollis St., Groton, MA
Cash or Checks Only
*Native Plants
*Perennials
*Shrubs
*And More...
www.grotongardenclub.org

Littleton Country Gardeners Plant Sale

Town Common, Saturday, May 11, 2024, 9am-2pm
Perennial • Fairie Gardens • Herbs & Veggies• Pollinator and Native Plants
Ask a Master Gardener and Membership booths!
Keeping Littleton Beautiful
Littleton Country Gardeners maintain 13 civic sites in town with seasonal plantings.
Cash or Check only!

Memory Lane Café at the
Acton Senior Center

May 28, 2024, 12:00-1:30 pm at the Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road, Rear, Acton. A Memory Café is a welcoming place for people with memory impairment and their care partners /caregivers. Cafés are a place to talk with others, enjoy lunch and an activity or entertainment together. We do ask attendees to bring their care partners. Lunch will be provided. Sponsored by Concord Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community and Cooperative Elder Services, Inc. RSVP by calling 978-929-6652. Groups will be held on the last Tuesday of each month.
Concord Park Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support is a project of the nonprofit Volunteers of America Massachusetts, which has supported local seniors with specialized services for over 75 years.

Hearts, Hugs & Hope: A Virtual Alzheimer’s Support Group Offered by Concord Park

May 9, 2024, 12:00 pm, hosted by Concord Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 68 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. Please call 978-369-4728 or email mking@concordpark.org for the details and a Zoom invite.
Concord Park Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support is a project of the nonprofit Volunteers of America Massachusetts, which has supported local seniors with specialized services for over 75 years.

Heritage Chorale 2024 Spring Concert:
Hold Fast to Dreams

Please join us for our Spring Concert, “Hold Fast to Dreams,” to be held on Sunday, May 19 at 4 pm at the Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham. We’ll be presenting Roland Carter’s “Hold Fast to Dreams,” based on a poem by Langston Hughes, Florence Price’s “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight,” based on a poem by Vachel Lindsay, and Margaret Bonds’s “Simon Bore the Cross,” based on a poem again by Langston Hughes. The concert will also feature baritone soloist Philip Lima. The Heritage Chorale, an auditioned mixed chorus, brings the joy of music to Metrowest communities. Visit heritagechorale.org for more details and to purchase advance tickets online, saving $5 per ticket versus the price at the door.

Mark Your Calendar!
Maynard Community Gardeners
Annual Plant Sale on May 18th

(Wanted: Your Surplus Plants!)
The Maynard Community Gardeners’ Annual Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 18th in the Maynard Elks Lodge parking lot at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.  This is a great opportunity to choose from a wide variety of plants that flourish locally, at bargain prices!  Flowers, vegetables, hanging plants, perennials, annuals, herbs, and shrubs will all be available in an assortment of heights, types, and colors. We will also feature a small flea market of deeply discounted garden-related tools and objects. Come early for the best selection!
All plants at the sale are either donated by members/non-members who want to share their abundance or provided by Stow Garden Center. If you have surplus plants that you would like to donate to the plant sale, please email Loretta West at lorettawest3@aol.com for the drop off-site and times. If you need help digging up the plants you are donating, please contact Steve Smith at stevensmith@kw.com to make arrangements. We are especially interested in perennials that are native to our region and/or pollinator friendly.
Maynard Community Gardeners is an organization comprised of seasoned and novice gardeners who make it their mission to beautify our small town. All funds raised at the plant sale go directly to MCG’s ongoing efforts, including the many flower planters along the sidewalks and in public spaces downtown, the beautiful flower-filled alleyway off Nason Street, the seasonally changing downtown triangle, and Maplebrook Park. Your plant donations are what make the MCG Annual Plant Sale and its proceeds possible, bringing beauty and joy to all who live in and visit Maynard!

Joy Bible Study Spring Luncheon

Joy Bible Study invites area women to attend our annual Spring Luncheon
Date: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 9:45-11:45
Acton Joy Bible Study is a friendly community of women from different denominations who  desire to study the Bible, share laughter, develop lasting friendships, and share personal  insights. It has been meeting for 41 years.
The Spring Luncheon includes personal testimonies from two of our members, worship through  music, and announcement of our next study beginning September 2024. The morning  concludes with a complimentary luncheon provided by our members. Come see what we are all  about!
We meet at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 54 Hosmer St, Acton, MA  www.joybiblestudy.com

Ministry as Improv – FPC Sunday Service

Stow, Mass., April 28 – So much is changing in our world, faith, and congregational lives. As we engage this changing reality, we need tools to help us meet the needs of this liminal time. First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) is pleased to welcome the Rev. Darrick Jackson, ministerial credentialing director for the Unitarian Universalist Association, to lead the Sunday service on April 28 at 10 a.m. Rev. Jackson will show us how improvisation can provide us with a framework for ministry in these times. He will show us how to add some “Yes, and…” to our lives and as part of FPC’s congregation – and how “Yes, and…” can help us to better accept and understand others, create new possibilities, and more.
The service will take place both in person and virtually. Masking is optional. Child care is available for ages 3 and under, and children over 3 are welcome to join religious education classes. For information about those classes, contact FPC Director of Religious Education Rayla D. Baldwin-Mattson at dre@fpc-stow-acton.org. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc.
FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 978-897-8149 or visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow.

Windborne A Cappella Quartet
to Perform in Stow

Stow, Mass., April 27 – The critically acclaimed a cappella quartet Windborne will perform songs drawn from centuries of world music, from labor and civil rights struggles as well as modern folk compositions, at the New Revival Coffeehouse in Stow on Saturday, April 27. NPR called them “The best musical discovery of the year…stunningly powerful. Windborne sets a new bar for harmony singing today!”
Tickets are $20 in advance at tinyurl.com/WindborneMusic and $25 at the door. Doors open at 7pm. and the concert begins at 7:30pm. Masks are optional. The New Revival Coffeehouse is located at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, 353 Great Road, Stow. For questions, call 978-274-2593 or email coffeehouse@fpc-stow-acton.org.

Nashobah Praying Indians:
A Living People, A Living Landscape

Boxborough (and Littleton) was originally the Praying Indian Village of Nashobah, a place of spirit and vision.   On Sunday May 5, the Boxborough Historical Society will present Sagamore Strong Bear Medicine of the Nashobah Praying Indians and local historian Daniel V. Boudillion at the Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, starting at 2 p.m. They will discuss the Nashobah people, their spirit, their journey of survival, the village, and the sacred landscape that is all around us.
Strong Bear Medicine is Sagamore of the Nashobah Praying Indians and the founder of the Friends of the Nashobah Praying Indians.  Daniel V. Boudillion is an avid historian and author with a wide knowledge of early Nashobah history and has recently published “History of the Nashobah Praying Indians: Doings, Sufferings, Survival and Triumph”.
The event is free and registration is not required

Mt. Calvary Community Supper’s
12th Birthday

On April 10th Mt. Calvary Community Supper Acton celebrated its 12th birthday. Since our founding in April 2012, by Mike Tobia, Betty Andrews, Carol Graton, Pastor Tim Knapp and a core group of church members, in partnership with Acton-Boxborough United Way, we have now served over 55,000 meals to neighbors who have joined us every Wednesday throughout the years. As the only active community supper in Acton, it is evident that our mission to help alleviate food insecurity and social isolation is so very important and necessary in our communities. The success of Mt. Calvary Community Supper has been remarkable. Through the transitions of inside dining, to a “drive-thru parking lot supper” necessary during the pandemic, to the return to Fellowship Hall, it has filled a great void for all our guests. For some, it is a time to have a warm prepared meal that is not from a microwave. For others it is a time to be welcomed by our volunteers and join other guests, rather than be alone at home. Food and friendship are in abundance at our Supper. We strive to help all who join us to feel a sense of belonging to our community – “our family”.
Each week, families with children, singles, groups of friends and neighbors of all ages, sit down to enjoy a nutritious meal in the light, airy Fellowship Hall of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church at 472 Mass Avenue in Acton. Individual guests come from a unique background, but all come for a moment in their day when they can be treated with dignity and respect. It is gratifying for all the volunteers to see everyone enjoy the meal and engage in conversation and laughter. This is especially notable during holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations when everyone is treated to special decorations, singing and musical presentations, and recognition of birthdays and milestones.
The preparation and organization of Mt. Calvary Community Supper requires the dedication of many individuals. Throughout each year, over 100 compassionate, rotating volunteers offer their time and energy to make certain all runs smoothly. Every week preparations for the 3-course meal begin on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, our cooking team creates a delicious dinner. Students come in to assist with setting up Fellowship Hall and greeting guests. Teams of volunteers arrive to welcome each diner and serve the meal. Of course, all would not be possible without those who arrive later to tackle the clean-up of the dining room and the kitchen.  Many hands make light work.
In addition to wonderful volunteers, Mt. Calvary Community Supper is indebted to the generosity of our sponsors, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church members, civic, business and community organizations, fellow churches, and wonderful individuals who give from their heart with their time, gifts, and monetary donations. We are very blessed to have this support. It instills in us our commitment to our guests and provides each volunteer with the reward of knowing we are making a positive difference in their lives. As so well stated by one of our guests:
“While food is necessary to sustain the body, food and a community supper serve a much greater purpose of nourishing the entire human spirit as we dine and communicate with our friends and neighbors.”
In the words of our former Chairman Mike Tobia who passed away in November 2020:
We are “Always Grateful for Another Wednesday.”
Should you wish to learn more about our journey and weekly happenings, follow these links:
Https://MtCalvaryacton.org/community-Supper
https://wwwfacebook.comCommunitySupperofActonMA

Town of Acton, Massachusetts residents Rooting for a Greener Tomorrow!

In celebration of Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari’s Birth Centennial, Acton residents joined hands as dedicated volunteers of the non-profit organization Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan (DSNDP), undertaking a nationwide Tree Plantation and Conservation drive at NARA garden, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, MA 01720 on 7 April 2024.
DSNDP aims to foster a brighter future by advocating for environmental sustainability and cultivating a greener and healthier planet for all. The organization is advocating tree plantation and conservation in collaboration with the US government to address the demand for afforestation, aid carbon sequestration, regulate environmental temperature, prevent soil erosion, and promote biodiversity.
During the 3-hour conservation drive at Acton, 12 dedicated DSNDP volunteers performed weeding around 194.33 yards and collected 33 large bags of weed.  This initiative is an integral part of DSNDP’s Nationwide Tree Plantation and Conservation Drive, reaching across 14 states and 27 cities. The joint effort between the Town of Acton - Acton Recreation Department and DSNDP volunteers signifies their shared commitment to enhancing the Town of Acton, progressing one mile at a time.
In alignment with DSNDP’s motto “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family), the organization is also involved in other initiatives such as Nationwide Cleanliness drives, Women’s Cancer Awareness Conference, Blood and Plasma donation campaigns among many others.


Discovery Museum To Hold Online Auction Fundraiser April 29 – May 8

ACTON, MA - Discovery Museum will kick off its annual Bid for Kids online auction fundraiser on Monday, April 29 at 8:00am at https://www.biddingforgood.com/discoveryacton and close on Wednesday, May 8 at 8:00pm.
Many individuals and local businesses have come together to support the Museum, donating popular and hard-to-get items to be auctioned off. The catalog will have more than 150 items, including a Red Sox VIP Package for 4 including scoreboard message, fly casting lessons, a Blackjack card-counting demonstration and lesson, theatre tickets, a create-your-own ice cream experience, gift certificates for local services and restaurants, and much more.
Proceeds from the auction will support the Museum’s Open Door Connections programs which serve to make the Museum affordable and accessible to all through programs such as Especially for Me, supporting free visits for families with children on the autism spectrum, are deaf or hard of hearing, or are blind or low-vision, and free Friday night admission year-round. Shoppers and museum supporters alike can visit the auction at https://www.biddingforgood.com/discoveryacton.

How You Can Get More  Election
Information In Acton.

The Acton Exchange has launched its newly re-designed website and is off and running. An article in the local online news source can tell you all about the upcoming elections and meetings. Don’t miss other articles that include interviews with candidates. There will be plenty of letters as well in this week’s edition of the Exchange as we debut that section. Join our cadre of volunteer writers, editors, and tech specialists working together to bring local news to Acton. Write to info@actonexchange.org if you want to get involved.

Flea Market

West Acton Baptist Church will be holding a Flea Market May 11th from 12 noon to 3:00 in the parking lot, 592 Mass Ave. during the West Acton Merchants Village Association Spring Fling.  Spaces available for a small donation. Limited number of tables, first come, first served.
Slated to date: Acton Police Dept with Zane their comfort dog! Handmade Greeting cards, Vintage used jewelry & the church membership will be offering vintage teacups for sale. Contact church office 978-263-5902 or wabcadmin@verizon.net.

Green News From Green Maynard

OK, so this one’s personal. Last night I had a dream that I was living in a sort of dormitory and discovered that the Assabet River had risen to the level of my second story floor and that with one more rainfall it would in fact be covering the floor. Fortunately, I’ll be dead before that ever happens, though with the melting of the polar ice caps, the dream is not far-fetched. The ground seems pretty saturated these days and perhaps (but I don’t know for sure) our aquifers are replenishing themselves. But looks can be deceiving. Younger readers will not recall or maybe even know, that only about 35 years ago there were spring floods so severe that parts of 117 at Nine Acre Corner, and Rt. 27 through Wayland were closed due to the kind of flooding that could stall your car and perhaps float you off. These were not floods caused by rain, but by the melting of snow. Yes! Not that long ago one would have to shovel many times a winter and not just your driveway, but your roof as well, lest it collapse under the weight of all that snow.
So, yes, there’s a lot of water now, but the very cause of rain as opposed to snow, is likely to give us a drought filled summer of record breaking heat. Remember to follow your town’s watering regulations, hand water your plants, and let your grass go brown when nature calls for it to do so.
There’s a sign at the Park Street stop on the Red line that says “Shower Tomorrow”. Good advice. Every time you shower you remove your body’s protective microbiome. For more on this please read “Clean: The New Science of Skin” by James Hamblin. Perhaps experiment with showering every other day. Speaking of over-washing, it’s pretty well established now that washing your clothes too often is a sure way to shorten their life, not to mention the issue of all the microfibers that end up in our waterways and back into our lives in unexpected and harmful ways.  On that note, sweet dreams!

Goward Playground Celebrates 10th Year Birthday!

Acton, MA – Join us to celebrate the  Goward Playground 10th Birthday on May 11, 2024, from 3-5 PM at Goward Playground, adjacent to the Acton Memorial Library parking lot.  We will have music, games, prizes, face painting, and a very large birthday cake!
The Goward Playground, adjacent to the Acton Memorial Library, was reopened on May 17th, 2014, after a major renovation.  A group of local parents formed the Friends of the Playground Committee to renovate the original wooden playground which was installed in 1995.  The group raised $80K from the community and local businesses while the balance came from town appropriations working closely with the Acton Recreation Department.   “While many of our kids who we planned the playground for are now off to college, it is great to see so many new families and kids enjoying the playground,” said co-founder and Acton parent Steve Leo. Join us as we commemorate this milestone anniversary with a party!
Many Acton residents don’t know that the Goward Playground was named for Clarence N. Goward. Before the land was a playground, according to Harold R. Phalen’s ‘History of the Town of Acton,’ it was the site of the Acton Fair. The Acton Fair, which started in 1917, was a popular event for many years and was run by the Acton Agricultural Association. Mr. Goward served as president of the Acton Agricultural Association intermittently from 1920 until 1932. In 1941, the town bought the land and built the first playground in 1944. It became known as the Goward Playground.

Flea Market

Flea market spring fling (2)
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Mark Your Calendar! MCGs' Annual Plant Sale
(Wanted: Your Surplus Plants!)

MAYNARD: The Maynard Community Gardeners’ Annual Plant Sale will be held on May 18 in the Maynard Elks Lodge parking lot at 34 Powdermill Road from 9am-12pm. This is a great opportunity to choose from a wide variety of plants that flourish locally, at bargain prices!  Flowers, vegetables, hanging plants, perennials, annuals, herbs, and shrubs will all be available in an assortment of heights, types, and colors. Get there early for the best selection!

All plants at the sale are either donated by members/non-members who want to share their abundance or provided by Stow Garden Center. If you would like to donate excess or unwanted plants of any kind or quantity, please contact Steve Smith at stevensmith@kw.com with your name, address, and times that are convenient for an MCG member to come and pick up the plants. If you need assistance with digging the plants, please let us know in your email. We are especially interested in perennials that are native to our region and/or pollinator friendly.

Maynard Community Gardeners is an organization comprised of seasoned and novice gardeners who make it their mission to beautify our small town. All funds raised at the plant sale go directly to MCG’s ongoing efforts, including the many flower planters along the sidewalks and in public spaces downtown, the beautiful flower-filled alleyway off Nason Street, the seasonally changing downtown triangle, and Maplebrook Park. Your plant donations are what make the MCG Plant Sale and its proceeds possible, bringing beauty and joy to all who live in and visit Maynard!

Town of Acton Announces Shares Information on Economic Development in Series of Videos

ACTON: Town Manager John Mangiaratti and Economic and Community Development Director Julie Pierce announce that the Town of Acton is highlighting its recent Economic Development initiatives through a series of videos. 

Each of the four videos pertains to an initiative that aims to assist the business community or seeks to connect residents with available goods and services.
 
  • Acton's Vacant Storefront Program is held with support from the state to aid small businesses in occupying vacant storefronts in the community. 
  • The Acton Business Directory was designed to make it easy for residents and visitors to explore what businesses the Town has to offer. To learn more about the Business Directory, watch the video here. 
  • The Acton Business Guide provides a variety of useful information for those running a business or wish to start a business. To view the video on the Business Guide, click here. 
  • Acton's Public Art Initiative aims to bring a sense of unity and community to the Town. To view the video on Public Art, click here. 
For an overview of all four initiatives, please view the Economic Development in Acton video here.

"Our hope is that this series of videos will help our residents and community members to learn about all of the important economic development initiatives we are supporting here in Acton," said Town Manager Mangiaratti.

"We have been working continuously to help support our small business owners and increase our overall economic development here in Acton," said Pierce. "These initiatives are just some examples of the progress we have made, and we hope that these videos will help bring light to the steps we have taken."
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Acton Fire Department Welcomes Member from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

ACTON: Fire Chief Anita Arnum reports that the Acton Fire Department is welcoming a member who just graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Firefighter/Paramedic Emil Hristache graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's Career Recruit program with Class 319 on March 29.

Hristache has worked in the fire service since he was 18, previously working as a full-time firefighter and EMT for the Peterborough Fire and Rescue department. He graduated from the New Hampshire Technical Institute in 2023 with an associates degree in paramedicine. Emil joined the Acton Fire Department in July 2023 and spent the last 10 weeks attending the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Graduates are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

"I'm pleased to welcome Firefighter/Paramedic Hristache back from the Fire Academy" said Chief Arnum. "The training he has received at the academy has prepared him well for a career here in Acton, and we look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish here."

PHOTO CAPTION: Acton Firefighters stand with Firefighter/Paramedic Emil Hristache after his graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. From left are Chief Anita Arnum, Firefighter/Paramedic Emil Hristache, Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Bernardini, Acting Captain/Paramedic Dave Sukerman, Deputy Chief Chris Sammet, and Acting Lieutenant/EMT Brent Carter. (Courtesy Acton Fire Department)
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Annual Spring ArtWalk Hosted by the Maynard Business Alliance

MAYNARD: Join the Maynard Business Alliance for their Annual Spring ArtWalk on May 4 from 4-7:30pm. Experience an evening of art, music and culture hosted by businesses throughout downtown Maynard.  Enjoy activities, exhibits and musical performances as you stroll along the streets in the heart of the Maynard Cultural District.

From 4-5pm. Blueprint Jazz Club & Friends will kick off the evening with another exceptional performance. Then from 5-7:30pm, all are invited to enjoy activities, art and performances at participating Maynard businesses.

For up-to-date information, follow the MBA on facebook.com/maynardbusinessalliance/or visit maynardbusinessalliance.org.

This event is made possible in part by the Mass Cultural Council and Maynard Cultural Council.
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“Horizons” Paintings by Gail Erwin

MAYNARD: 6 Bridges Gallery presents “Horizons” - paintings by Gail Erwin, on view at 6 Bridges Gallery, 77 Main Street from April 10-May 18. It will also be hosted online at 6Bridges.Gallery. A reception will be held on April 20 from 5-7pm. For more information about the exhibit, please visit 6Bridges.Gallery, Facebook, and Instagram.

Erwin writes of this body of work: "Expansive and unbound horizons engender feelings of unlimited possibilities and opportunities. It’s an invitation to dream and see beyond now. With reflections on water, banks of clouds—shimmering or threatening—one confronts the sublime. Light can be a kaleidoscope of colors constantly changing mood-bright, somber, atmospheric. Or does the horizon give the sense of too much space. Comfort disappears. Is there is fear of the unknown. What happens when the horizon is interrupted. Safety or imperiled dreams? An island of safe harbor or thwarted ambition.
Horizons can be a mirror of our hopes and dreams."  

6 Bridges Gallery was established in 2014 by a group of artists to create a retail and display gallery in the heart of downtown Maynard. The ever-changing work in the gallery includes a diverse range of media and artistic styles. All artisans are local. The gallery is owned and operated by the artists, so there is a unique opportunity to meet one or more of them on any given day.
Upcoming at Acton Memorial Library...
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Art and Civic Engagement in Kids: A Week-long Public Art Project & a Speaker Event

ACTON: Discovery Museum will host its Inaugural Artist-in-Residence, artist + educator Chanel Thervil, for a week-long public art program during April school vacation week to build a community art installation entitled Communal Gifts. Thervil will also deliver a Discovery Museum Speaker Series event at 7pm on April 25, “How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement in Kids.” The public art program is free with Museum admission; the evening speaker event is free with pre-registration.

Thervil’s public art program, “Creating Communal Gifts,” will engage Museum visitors to create a gift for a community space. Thervil will bring these individual creations together to build a one-of-a-kind art installation that will remain on display at Discovery Museum. The program will be offered April 15-19, 10am-12pm and again at 1-3pm (drop-in). Advanced reservations are required to visit the Museum and can be made at www.discoveryacton.org.

Thervil’s Discovery Museum Speaker Series event, “How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement in Kids,” will be held virtually via Zoom webinar on April 25 from 7-8pm. The event is free and advance registration is required at http://bit.ly/DMSpeakerSeries. Thervil will speak about her experience helping children consider what they love about their communities, so they see a place for themselves in making their communities better. She will share her expertise on how the creative process and experience of artmaking is a powerful tool in giving kids the space to connect, share ideas, and be present for others—all important steps in becoming active civic participants.

These Artist-in-Residence events are made possible by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. The 2024 Discovery Museum Speaker Series remains free thanks to the support of Enterprise Bank and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Additional support is provided by Sutherland Realty Group/Keller Williams Realty Boston NW.
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Acton Police Department Appoints New School Resource Officer

ACTON: Chief James Cogan is pleased to announce that Detective Ana Dapkas has been appointed as the department's newest school resource officer (SRO). Detective Dapkas will be assigned to the elementary schools along with two collaborative schools.  Detective Dapkas is very excited to start in her new role this week.

Detective Dapkas brings 11 years of patrol service and over five years of experience working as a caseworker for the Department of Child and Family Services (DCF).  As SRO, Detective Dapkas will maintain a safe and secure environment at the schools and during special events, provide counsel and guidance to school administrators regarding school safety, build positive relationships with students and staff, and provide safety presentations and programs.

"I am pleased to appoint Detective Dapkas to this position," said Chief Cogan. "Ana will be a tremendous asset to the unit with her training, experience, and bilingual background."

Detective Dapkas holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology with a minor in women’s studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
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Discovery Museum Welcomes New Board Member Samira Lawande

ACTON: Discovery Museum is pleased to welcome Samira Lawande to its Board of Directors. Lawande brings a broad range of global leadership experience in science and technology, product development, and business development in the medical technology industry. Currently Samira serves as a Senior Advisor at Global Health Labs, developing health technology portfolio solutions and partnerships that address unmet healthcare needs and reduce health disparities in low and middle-income settings around the world. Before partnering with Global Health Labs, Samira served as the Vice President, Global Program Management at Fresenius Medical Care and Chief Product Officer at WatchRx, Inc. Samira has held progressing leadership roles at Draeger Medical and Siemens Healthineers and continues to provide advisories on strategy and portfolio development, business development and deal structuring to various manufacturers worldwide.

Samira is a Founding Member of the Massachusetts Chapter of Chief, a private network and think tank serving more than 5,000 VP & C Level women executives in the United States. Previously, Samira has also served as a Board Member at Education Through Music - Massachusetts, a non-profit startup that partners with under-resourced schools to utilize music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school, and self-confidence.

Samira holds an Executive MBA from Babson College, and a Degree in Engineering from Goa University, India. She lives in Acton, MA with her family.

“Samira brings valuable and varied experience and perspective to our Board as we undertake our leadership transition and work to continue to expand our support for kids and families,” said Board President Xuan Kong. “We are very happy to welcome Samira to the Museum community.”
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Church of the Good Shepherd Holy Week Schedule

ACTON: The Church of the Good Shepherd invites all to join services for Holy Week (including the Triduum) and Easter.  Holy Week Schedule:
 
  • Palm Sunday, March 24 at 8am and 10am. 10am service begins in the Courtyard for the blessing of palms and a festive procession into the church.
  • Triduum (Latin for Three Days) Services each evening at 7pm.  All designed to be an hour or less in length with opportunity for extended quiet reflection at the end.
  • Holy Thursday, March 28, 7pm Worship includes Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar; 8pm-10pm Church open for silent vigil and Labyrinth.
  • Good Friday, March 29, from noon-3pm the Church will be open for Quiet Prayer & Labyrinth; 7pm Worship.
  • Holy Saturday, March 30, 9am Prayer Service to mark Christ's time in the tomb; 7pm Worship (Great Vigil of Easter) followed by champagne and chocolate covered strawberries!
  • Easter Sunday, March 31, 8am Holy Eucharist & Easter Hymns; 10am Festival Holy Eucharist with choir and special music; Easter Egg Hunt follows the 10am service; 7pm Outdoor Bonfire Service followed by refreshments.

The Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) is a caring and inclusive community of faith located at 164 Newtown Road. They are situated in tranquil woods on a lovely piece of land at the junction of Newtown Road and Arlington Street. There is ample parking. For more information, visit goodshepherdacton.org.
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The Town of Acton Swap Shop Seeks Volunteers

ACTON: Did you love to visit the Swap Shop? Are you a people person? Will you have a few hours this year to volunteer doing something fun? The Town of Acton Swap Shop is looking for volunteers for the 2024 season!

The Swap Shop opened in 2015 at the Acton Transfer Station and Recycling center. Anyone with a recycling or trash sticker can use the Swap Shop, which is next to the textile recycling trailer, just downhill from the main recycling area. The idea is that gently used items can be left for free, and any of these items can be picked up for free. The purpose of the Swap Shop is to keep more objects out of the trash area, and put perfectly usable items into the hands of those that can use them. The Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday. Volunteers pick their own hours as the schedule is very flexible. For more information, visit www.acton-ma.gov/507/Swap-Shop or contact Debby Andell if you would like more information about volunteering at debbyandell@gmail.com.
 
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Bluebird7 Seeks Bluebird/Swallow Nesting Volunteers

MAYNARD: The "Bluebird 7" are looking for helpers to assist them taking care of and monitoring some of 75 Bluebird/ Swallow nesting boxes in the Maynard area. The boxes are all installed at eye level in quiet areas around town. Care includes a weekly check on their progress and wellbeing. These birds are very rare and badly need assisting during their nesting season from March to August.  Regrettably, current participants cannot do this by themselves any longer. If you like to get out for fresh air and exercise this would be ideal with added satisfaction in helping wildlife. If interested, please email 25bloo_brd@toast or eganvay@gmail.com.
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The Cannon Theater Proudly Presents “Blackadder (Returns)”

DEVENS: The Cannon Theatre is pleased to present Blackadder (Returns), combining episodes, “Potato,” “Ink and Incapability,” and “Corporal Punishment” from the amazing British series of Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, and Blackadder Goes Forth. This hilarious show, directed by Aydan Bahe, is fast paced and frenetic; you won’t want to miss it! Show times are March 22, 23, 29, 30 and April 5, 6 at 7:30pm; with matinees on March 24 and April 7 at 2pm. Tickets are available at www.thecannontheatre.org, and are $25 for adults, and $20 for students/seniors.

Blackadder is a rollicking romp through British history, finding the funny in every age. Blackadder and his faithful companion, Baldrick, get into scrapes as they try to either make money, be famous, or just get ahead in their worlds. Hilarious antics always ensue, as this duo have you laughing out loud time and time again. Created for Rowan Atkinson in the 80s, this show is a must-see for all that love British humor. In the cast are: Jerry McMahon (Littleton) as Blackadder; Matt Foster (Tyngsboro) as Baldrick; Andrew Harrington (Newton) as Percy, Prince George, George; Simon Jensen-Fellows (Acton) as Melchett, Dr. Johnson, General Melchett; Meredith Jones (Ayer) as Queenie, Mrs. Miggins; Maren Caulfield (Harvard) as Nursey, Byron, Robinson; Ben Martin (Dracut) as Sir Walter Raleigh, Coleridge, Captain Darling; Kendra Sweitzer (Leominster) as Redbeard Rum, Sergeant Jones; Carolyn Mitchell (Bolton) as Shelley, Tipplewick; Rachel Cieslik (Littleton) as Background, Perkins and Brian Francis (Littleton) as Poet/Background, Fraser.

The Cannon Theatre is an intimate, non-profit community theater newly installed at 28 Andrews Parkway. The theater’s 2022 move from Littleton and interior space renovation was made possible by very generous funding from The Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation, as well as donated work by Studio J2 (architect) and Frank Harrigan (structural engineer). Additional support is provided by the Community Foundation for North Central Massachusetts, and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton-Boxborough, Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Townsend, Templeton, and Shirley - local agencies which are supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

25th Annual AB Community Skate FUNdraiser
is March 3

25th Annual Skate Party – Ice Skating, DJ, refreshments.  Sunday, March 3, 2:30pm-4:30pm at Nashoba Valley Olympia (rink #3), Boxborough.  All ages & skating abilities welcome + non-skater supporters too. Come learn about AB PIP STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) & our new STEAM (+ ART) vision!
 
Suggested donation is $5/pp, $20/family. Bring food pantry donations & items for Acton Housing families. ALL proceeds benefit Acton area causes: local food pantries, AB STEAM, wellness & eco causes thanks to the generous support of Nashoba Valley Olympia for ice rink time. Colonial Figure Skating Club (CFSC) members & teen volunteers will guide newbie skaters too! NEW this year One27 Photographer Lou Genovese will take professional 25th Annual event skate photos!
 
Thank you to Annual AB Community Skate supporters: NVO, Colonial Figure Skating Club, Cookes Skate Rentals, Acton Coffee, Legend Café, Edible Arrangements of Westford, Oscar's Burrito in Boxborough, Eve & Murray's Farm to Table, Bee's Knees British Imports & All Things Spiced Acton for hospitality donations + acanthi.com, Market Dynamics, UPS Store Acton, One27 Photo and Action Unlimited for event media & communications!
 
See you on March 3 for this AB Community FUNdraising event! More info at actonpip.org.
 

Q&A with BA-B’s new program director: What’s new with crew?

by Jill Maxwell

ACTON/BOXBOROUGH: The winter days are short and dark. The pond is frozen. To stay fit and have fun, the Bromfield Acton-Boxborough rowing team has to get creative. BA-B parent Jill Maxwell sat down with the team’s new program director, CB Sands-Bohrer, to hear about what they’ve been up to. 
Sands-Bohrer, who lives in Concord, rowed for the U.S. national team for eight years and is a two-time world champion. After working at Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) for 17 years, Sands-Bohrer said, “I felt like I really wanted to be  on a team again.” When she heard about the position at BA-B, she jumped at the chance to work with Olympians Holly Hatton and Gary Piantedosi, who coach the varsity girls and boys. She knows Hatton well through the national team, and she ran a charity regatta for Access Sports America with Piantedosi for 10 years. “I felt like I knew before I came in that it would be a good fit and a good challenge. And high school kids are super fun.”

Congratulations and welcome, CB. You are new here, but BA-B recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. 
Yes. We had an anniversary party with several alums and former board members. Some were from as far back as when the program started at the Bromfield School prior to it becoming BHRA in 1993. A few of the recent grads spoke to the group about the different college rowing programs they are competing on now. It was a great way to get to know the history and hard work that went into making this program tick.

Rowing is all the rage these days, thanks to George Clooney’s “Boys in the Boat” movie. Tell us about the team’s special screening. 
In December, before the movie came out, we were able to rent a theater in Burlington. We got everyone together, the younger kids and the older kids, the boys and the girls. We just wanted to do something fun that was consistent with our team values of working hard and challenging yourself. It was a good message about somebody who starts rowing in college and works through adversity and makes it to the Olympic final and wins a gold medal. Kids might not be doing that, but they can understand the challenge of taking up a totally new sport, getting strong, and challenging yourself against yourself and your friends. 

How are the kids challenging themselves this winter? 
For the past four years the team has been lifting weights and working out on the ergometers (rowing machines, or “ergs”) in empty stores at the Gould’s shopping plaza in Acton. We work on strength, endurance, and technique. We can really work one-on-one with athletes more than we can in a launch on a pond where we can’t use megaphones. This year we did a “meters challenge” in January. We had 26 kids and two coaches row 3 ½ million meters. We had a lot of kids get over a quarter of a million meters. And now, over February break, some of the kids are going to Florida to train there for a week–some of our most competitive athletes and our seniors. Kids that are here will spend the week at the indoor rowing tanks at Holy Cross in Worcester. 
Another thing we did, for the first time, was an MLK Day of Service food drive. USRowing encouraged people to do some kind of service on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Donelan’s in Acton was very welcoming and supportive, and the kids just jumped right in. They handed out a little card to the shoppers. We didn’t want to interrupt them; we just wanted them to know they could pick something up while they shopped. We donated half the food to the Acton Food Pantry and half to Loaves & Fishes in Devens. We weighed it at Devens–we collected 810 pounds of food! It’s definitely something we want to do again. We thought we’d challenge another team at the high schools to do it with us. 

Excellent! When do they get to compete in rowing again? 
Sunday, March 3, is Ergzilla, which is an indoor race on the ergs that we run at Bromfield for our kids and the other local teams. And we have six or seven races on the water in April and May. In rowing, everyone races. No one sits on the sidelines. So it’s always a big, fun, team event.

What goals do you have for the team for this upcoming racing season? 
From a competitive point of view, part of our goal is always going to be to have a robust number of kids do well. Last year we took three boats to nationals. We’d like to do that again–to make it to nationals and be relevant. The kids can feel confident that they can make it through the heats make it through the semis. We have had boats finish in the  top 10 in the country. That’s pretty good for a little public school program. So we want to keep that high level of performance. 

What would you say to someone who wants to give rowing a try?
Rowing is not like hockey or football, where you have to start young. You can try it for the first time in high school and go on to row in college. We have had kids who started rowing with us, worked hard, and then got recruited. You can start as a sophomore or junior and progress to varsity your senior year. It is a great sport for somebody who is looking to stay in shape for whatever winter sport they are doing. It’s also a great sport for someone trying to change or learn a new sport. If you’re someone who is 13, 14, 15, 16, and you’re looking for something different to do, to build strength and endurance, meet new people, and make new friends, this is fun. You’re outside, you’re on the water. It’s really a wonderful experience for kids to get out on the water five days a week. When I was at CRI, we did athlete feedback four times a year, and now we are doing it at BA-B. And whether it was middle school, high school, learn-to-row, or masters or pararowers, people always said, “I just love being outside on the water.”

Registration for the spring season is now open at barehillrowing.com. The team will host information sessions at Bromfield High School after school on February 28 and at the Sargent Library in Boxoborough on the evening of February 29. Email Sands-Bohrer at programdirector@barehillrowing.com with questions.
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Snakes of New England & the World with Rick Roth March 17

ACTON: Acton Conservation Trust presents Snakes of New England and the World with Rick Roth at their Annual Meeting on March 17. This will be held at Acton Town Hall, Room 204 from 1-3pm with a short business meeting first.

Rick Roth, local snake expert and Director CAVPT, will share some of his favorite snakes and talk about their lives and habits in this live animal presentation. Fourteen species of snake are native to New England, and Rick will speak to preserving habitat and land and the important role snakes play in our ecosystem. This program is appropriate for families with children aged 5 and older.

John Watlington has been the land steward for the 180 acre Great Hill Conservation Land since 2014 and is currently Steward at Large, working where needed in all Acton conservation lands. He gives informative monthly talks about invasive plants, and is also a sawyer, keeping the trails cleared of downed trees following storms.

For more information and registrations, visit ActonConservationTrust.org.
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Collage Night at the Windsor Institute

WEST ACTON: On February 23 from 7-10pm, you are invited to attend "Collage Night" at the Windsor Institute. Get creative! Make a piece of art or collage a box, bookmark, or gift tag - or just watch! Supplies will be available including lots of interesting paper, cardboard, calendars, magazines, plus glue, scissors, markers, pens, etc. Everything is provided, but feel free to bring anything else that you wish to work with or share... or just bring yourself! Please RSVP.

Park on the even side of Windsor Ave., in the driveway, or in the small parking lot on Pearl St. Let us know if you need to get picked up from the South Acton train station.

Windsor Institute is a non-profit based in Acton, and draws attendees from around the region. The Institute hosts, classes, events and visiting artists and scholars in a private home in West Acton, and
welcomes new people to its community. For more information, email windsor-owner@lists.mayfirst.org or call Karen at (617) 875-1790.
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Acton Garden Club Floral Design Demonstration

ACTON: On March 5, the Acton Garden Club will present a Floral Design Demonstration with judging by Thelma Shoneman and Cathy Fochtman at Acton Town Hall, Room 204. The program and location has been changed, different from how the program was described in the yearbook.

AGC's own Thelma Shoneman will demonstrate winning floral design techniques. Learn what a typical Flower Show theme and categories might be like. As she creates several arrangements, Thelma will explain what the judges look for when they are reviewing a design. Cathy Fochtman will be assisting Thelma and will show slides of arrangements from past shows. A few lucky audience members will take home Thelma's creations.

This is a great opportunity to increase your confidence to participate in a Flower Show, or come to improve your arranging skills for your own enjoyment. The program is open to the public. For more information, visit actongardenclub.org.
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Green News from Green Maynard

MAYNARD: As towns become more dense and lighting options more affordable there is a notable increase in the amount of light pollution. It may surprise you to learn that only 30 years ago, on any clear night one could easily see the Milky Way. This is no longer the case. Light pollution is harmful to many animals, including mammals, birds and insects who rely on natural cycles of light and dark to regulate their behavior. Light pollution also disrupts migration; interferes with reproduction cycles; changes predator-prey dynamics as well as pollination patterns and seed dispersal, therefore affecting plant populations and overall health of ecosystems. Many insects, (which are necessary as food for baby birds), are attracted to lights and expend needless energy, exhausting  themselves, flying  around the lights and become vulnerable to predators. You can help by not having unnecessary lights on at night, and when you must use outdoor lighting, be sure to use a warm (think yellow hued) bulb, as insects are more attracted to blue hued lights. For more information visit
darkskymass.org.
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Maynard Hometown Heroes Banners - Phase 4

MAYNARD: The Maynard Hometown Heroes committee is now accepting applications for all Maynard veterans that would like to purchase a banner. Phase 4 is now open. Any Maynard-based veteran, whether native or a new resident is welcome to be part of the program. If the Veteran, or Active Military person were born and raised in Maynard but does not currently reside in Maynard would also qualify. The deadline for placing your order is March 15, 2024. Applications are available at the Town Hall on the tables upstairs and downstairs, the library, the Council on Aging office, and at the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks, or you can go to: townofmaynard-ma.gov - the Town of Maynard website - and search Maynard Hometown Heroes. If you would like more information, you can email: MaynardHometownHeroes@gmail.com
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“Military Mannequins” Photographs by Roy DiTosti

MAYNARD: 6 Bridges Gallery presents “Military Mannequins,” — photographs by Roy DiTosti. The exhibit will be on view at 6 Bridges Gallery, 77 Main Street from February 28-April 6. It will also be hosted online at 6Bridges.Gallery. (http://6bridges.gallery/6-bridges-gallery-updates.) A reception will be held on March 16 from 5-7pm.

Roy DiTosti has been going to military museums and exhibits for about 20 years. Many of the displays use mannequins to illustrate the lives of service men and women. The photographs in this show are the ones that he finds most intriguing. Some of them make him smile and some have the opposite effect. 
For more information about the exhibit, please visit 6Bridges.Gallery, Facebook, and Instagram.

6 Bridges Gallery was established in 2014 by a group of artists to create a retail and display gallery in the heart of downtown Maynard, Massachusetts. The ever-changing work in our gallery includes a diverse range of media and artistic styles. All of our artisans are local. Our gallery is owned and operated by our artists, so there is a unique opportunity to meet one or more of them on any given day.