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Acton/Boxborough

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Current Edition -10/16/26

Acton/Boxborough

Just click below on the paper you want to read. You can read life-size by clicking on the four corner box bottom right, then turn pages with mouse at corners just like you would if paper!

Previous Edition - 10/09/26

HEADLINES

Harvard lions

Harvard Lions 36th Annual Citrus Sale Benefits Local Charities


The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer

Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit -- Sweet, thin-skinned and seedless, the flavor is reminiscent of refreshing red grapes and sweet nectarines.
California Navel oranges – Easy peeling with the perfect balance between sweet and tart. Seedless and packed with Vitamin C.
Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes ($42) or 10 lb. boxes ($22) each.  Order online through November 13 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 12. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area, we welcome your order and can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 12 in Harvard.
The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here: https://lions-citrus-sale-109284.square.site/.
We are also offering gift boxes that will ship anywhere in the Continental US. Here is the order site: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.
Speech and language1

Speech & Language Development: Ages 1 thru 4

The public is invited to join Katherine Hass, M.Ed., CCC/SLP, on Tuesday, November 10, 12:00-1:00 pm for an informative live webinar with a pediatric speech & language pathologist from Emerson Health. She will share strategies to help make playtime and everyday activities, such as dressing and mealtime, perfect opportunities for stimulating speech and language in toddlers and preschoolers in addition to reading to them every day. She will also highlight the typical speech and communication milestones for children this age, and review when a more formal evaluation might be useful. This is a free program, open to all, through First Connections. To receive the Zoom link, email lmatthews@jri.org. Funded by a grant from the Mass. Dept. of Early Education and Care.
Nashoba symphonic

Nashoba Symphonic Band Presents “Masquerade”


The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey, will present its first concert of the 2026-27 Season “Masquerade” on Sunday, November 1st at 2 pm in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 (12 Green Road GPS), Bolton MA. The concert is free and open to the public – the hall is accessible to one and all.

The concert is (still) in the Halloween mood and opens a Waltz, a Mazurka , and a Galop from the Masquerade Suite, by Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian, followed by the chilling Dance of the Skeletons, the soundtrack of a 1901 silent cartoon. The featured work on the first half will be a remarkable work by Barbara York, Encountering Baba Yaga, with alto saxophone soloist, Andy Kern. It will be remembered that the Baba Yaga was a witch in Slavic and Russian folklore who live in a house built on fowl's legs, and flew about in a giant mortar.

The second half of the concert opens with Night On Bald Mountain by Modeste Moussorgsky which many will recognize from the Disney film Fantasia. The program will conclude with a setting of themes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Friends of Music and supported in part by grants from the Ashby, Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster. And Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.
Tricon antiques show

Trinitarian Congregational Church 55th Annual Antiques Show

The Trinitarian Congregational Church will be hosting its 55th annual Antiques Show on Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th, at the TriCon Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, from 10-5 on Friday and 10 - 4 on Saturday.

The Antiques Show raises monies to support mission and outreach efforts. All proceeds to the church, from entry fees, dealer rents, and café sales, are given away to outreach organizations that support hunger initiatives, domestic violence agencies, preschool and early education scholarships, veterans' needs, and the LGBTQ+ community.  Offering fine antiques, furniture, glassware, prints, jewelry, art work, and more(!), 3 floors of quality dealers are on hand to greet the over 800 customers who come back year after year. Our building is fully accessible.

The TriCon Café is a hit every year, offering freshly made sandwiches and soups and a place to sit so you can make a day of shopping and lunch.  We also sell many homemade desserts, including pies (sliced and whole), cookies, and other yummy baked treats.

The entrance fee is $10 per person (children free).  Look for our $1 off coupon/ad on social media, some area stores, and in local papers.

The Northborough Art Guild Presents Marcia Gleason
A Demonstration of Mono Printing on
October 27 at 7PM

This mono printing method is exciting and intuitive, sometimes with surprising results. The surface
is a Gelli printing plate (18”x24”) and I use acrylics to paint directly on the silicone, making several
strokes with each pull/print, and sometimes creating layers. There are many ways to use this process—
I will share some that I have done.

The public is invited to attend this free program. Northborough Historical Society, 52 Main Street
parking available on School St.

Boutwell House Celebration & Annual Meeting

 
Join us at the Gov. George S. Boutwell House on Sunday October 25th at 2 PM for the Groton Historical Society's Annual Meeting and Program.

We talk a lot about who lived in the Boutwell House and about what artifacts and papers are stored there. But how often do we think of the house itself? Its present-day architecture is well-documented. But why was it built that way? How was it used? How did it fit into the community?

Brian Bixby will start to try to answer some of those question, or at least raise more detailed questions. As the Boutwell House turns 175 years old, it is time we looked into the house that plays such an important role in our activities.

Brian grew up in Groton and holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Massachusetts. Now living in Cambridge, he’s been supporting the Groton History Center’s work on Boutwell ever since helping to catalogue some rediscovered Boutwell papers back in 2001. He teaches a variety of history courses at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

This program will follow the Groton Historical Society’s brief annual business meeting where members may vote on the slate of Officers & Directors. Free and open to the public.

Cake and sparkling cider will be served. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Since 2010, October has been dedicated as National Bullying Prevention Month. According to PACER Center, one out of five students report they’ve been bullied. Bullying can happen to anyone at any time, and it can be recurring or a one off. There are multiple ways people can be bullied. Verbal, physical, and cyberbullying (online) tend to be the most common forms.
      Cyberbullying has increased, in part, because of the perceived anonymity that can accompany harassment, threats, humiliation, or torment directed at a peer. Some of these accounts are anonymous, but not all. Sometimes, private messages, comments, and posts are made by someone who isn't afraid to share their identity.
      The CDC recognizes bullying as an Adverse Childhood Experience, commonly referred to as ACEs. It also recognizes that bullying has a broader impact than solely the victim but also the perpetrators and bystanders are negatively affected. In its report “The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools,” the CDC states that while bullying does not cause suicide, it is closely linked to suicidal behaviors. The report found that youth who report any connections to bullying are more likely to report suicidal behavior than their peers who do not claim to be impacted by bullying.
       If you know someone who is or has been bullied and want to learn more about suicide prevention and awareness, The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a valuable resource. The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth and young adult suicide through education. Its website, www.jasonfoundation.com, offers resources, trainings, materials, a list of warning signs and risk factors, as well as a tool to find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office to you. It is important to be educated so that you can recognize when someone may be struggling and help them get the support they need.

Harvard Lions – Mail Order Holiday Gift Boxes

The Harvard Lions are offering mail order gift boxes that can be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the continental United States. There are a number of different gift box options with fruit, nuts, candy, cake and soup mixes. This offers an option to send a gift for the Thanksgiving or December holidays while supporting our local charities.
Place your order by November 4 for Thanksgiving delivery and between November 5 and December 11 for Christmas delivery.
The direct link to purchase gift boxes is here: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.org.

Wreaths Across America 2026

Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and the Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 will host Wreaths Across America on December 19, 2026 at12:00 noon.

The Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and The Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 are beginning fundraising to support the Wreaths Across America being held in Northborough for the third time this year. We are hosting an event at the Howard Street Cemetery to bring awareness to the yearlong mission of the organization, which is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which was begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

The wreaths are $17 each! If you would like to order one or more wreaths please go to: www/wreathsacrossamerica.org/MA0219.
Toa sb tax

Boxborough Library Used Book Sale

Due to popular demand, the Friends of the Boxborough Library used book sale will continue as a three-day event. The weekend begins with a Preview Sale for members on Friday, November 6th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Memberships will be available at the door). The main public sale takes place on Saturday, November 7th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The "Everything Must Go" sale will be held on Sunday, November 8th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standard size bags will be provided; pay $5 to fill each bag however you like.
The sale will be held in the meeting room of the Sargent Memorial Library, 427 Massachusetts Avenue, Boxborough, MA 01719. Proceeds will support additional library programs and museum passes. Cash and checks only.
Please support this sale by donating your gently used hardcovers, paperbacks, music, and audiovisual items, and by attending the sale. Puzzles and board games must be complete and in like-new condition. Donations will be accepted from Monday, Nov 2nd through Thursday, Nov 5th, during regular library hours. Please no VCR tapes, magazines, or materials in very poor condition.

SOME NEWS ABOUT A FRIEND IN NEED

A Friend in Need is happy to announce that after a 10-month hiatus, our tax-exempt nonprofit status has been retroactively reinstated. This means any donations made during that period are now fully tax-deductible! We are grateful for all the support we have received during this time.

Our mission is to provide immediate assistance until the individual in need can receive more substantial aid from other agencies. Much of our funding comes from pleas published in our local newspapers and from generous community residents. We are generally able to provide up to $600 in support at a time.

The past couple of months have been very busy for A Friend in Need. Rising utility bills are starting to catch up with everyone, which means that those living on a fixed budget may have difficulty covering these larger charges. Several of the individuals we have helped would have had their power cut off or would not have been able to fill their heating oil tanks. A Friend in Need can help, but only with help from people like you.

AFIN will consider helping anyone recommended by clergy or social professionals affiliated with a local agency. Anyone in urgent need can be considered for financial assistance by contacting a member of the clergy or a social service representative to ask them to contact A Friend in Need on their behalf. We do not discriminate and will try to help anyone with a genuine need. We can also be contacted at afriendinneedacton@gmail.com.

We are also announcing our new mailing address.
Mail should now be sent to 15 Charter rd., Acton, MA 10720
Or  DONATE AT:  abccompass.org/a-friend-in-need.

Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club, Celebrating 60+ Years – Welcomes You to Our Fall Potluck Dinner and Game Night

Looking for friendship and good conversation?  The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club would like to invite you to connect with our members on Saturday November 7th at our Fall Potluck Dinner and Game Night in Acton.  We will meet at the Village of Nagog Woods Clubhouse, 102 Nonset Path, Acton from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM to enjoy friends, games, food, and beverages.  Everyone is bringing a favorite appetizer, meal, or dessert to share. If you would like more information, or to join us, please RSVP to info@nashobavalleyneighbors.org.

Our ongoing public events are Lunch Bunch, Movie Night, Book Club, Dinner Group, Trivia Nights, Summer Picnic, Wine Tastings, as well as Men's and Ladies Night events.

The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club is a non-profit social organization open to new and established residents from Acton, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Westford, Maynard, and Harvard.  Originally called the Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club of Acton, and then the Acton-Boxborough Newcomers & Neighbors Club, in 2014, we became the Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club to reflect our current members and their interests.  Our club welcomes any residents in the surrounding communities that are looking to explore new interests and to make connections with new friends.

Find us on Facebook or visit the Club’s website at http://www.nashobavalleyneighbors.org for more information, as well as information on how to become a member of the Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club.  We look forward to seeing you!

HANDMADE HARVEST MARKET TO START YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

aWhen: Saturday, November 7th, 10am until 3pm
Where: Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Road, Acton, MA

Kick off your holiday shopping at the Second Annual Handmade Harvest Market!
This event brings together professional artisans and community crafters to provide a unique opportunity for gifts and holiday decorations.

New this year, The Harvest Cafe will serve lunch, snacks and desserts to make this an enjoyable outing for you and your friends!

Sponsored by the Missions and Outreach Committee, the proceeds will be distributed to meet the many needs in our community and beyond.

For more information contact: HHMACC2025@gmail.com
Acton garden club 2

Acton Garden Club Lecture - Tool Talk - November 3, 2026


Date Nov 3, 2026
Time 10:30am
Location Acton Town Hall. In person only; No zoom
Speaker Jack Russell, Russell’s Garden Center Wayland
Topic Tool Talk
Summary Jack will discuss choosing, using and maintaining garden tools. What each tool is used for and how to select the right pruner. He will also cover Adaptive Garden Tools.

The Friends of Pine Hawk 2026 Fall Program Series November 5-10

For more than 24 years the Friends of Pine Hawk have offered a variety of programs designed to foster an appreciation of Indigenous cultural traditions, history, and archaeology. These free programs are made possible with support from the Acton Memorial Library and in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area and celebrate  Massachusetts Archaeology Month (October) and Native American Heritage Month (November).

Events are free but require registration at https://tinyurl.com/2026-Pinehawk

Ceremonial Landscapes and the Algonquian Calendar
Thursday, November 5, 7 PM at the Acton Memorial Library, in person only
Ceremonial Landscapes mark key events such as annual fish-runs, planting and harvesting corn,
storytelling, and maple syrup gathering. The nighttime sky's celestial patterns are encoded in stone
features. Cathy Taylor, a former member of the Upton Historical Commision will talk about these
features.

Community Service Day
Sunday, November 8, 1-3 PM, in person only
Help us remove invasive plant species and clean up the trail at Nashoba Brook
Conservation Land. Local Scout troops are also invited to join. The Town of Acton will
supply all tools needed. There will also be an optional brunch beforehand at 11:30 AM.
Event details are emailed to registrants a few days before. Limited to 25, ages 13+.

The Algonquin Atlantic
Tuesday, November 10, 7 PM-Acton Memorial Library
Ted Timreck will present the early phase of a research project which will highlight new
developments in the discovery of Native American Ceremonial Landscapes in the Northeast.
Rather than offering definitive conclusions, he will present multiple lines of evidence that
suggest promising directions for further investigation.

Acton’s Great Road Stroll

 Sunday Oct. 18th from 10:00 to 200pm    (rain date Oct. 25th )on Great Road from Dunkin to Northwood Builders.
The stroll is a community initiative designed to encourage walking, biking and connections among local businesses and community partners along Great Rd. There will be access from the Freeman Trail. Support Great Rd. Storefronts, Farmers Market Vendors, flea market, ribbon cutting & pet food drive. Games for everyone, Dance, Martial Arts Workshops. Make connections with your community. Parking in the Concord Rd parking area and the area close to the stroll.  See you there!

Treasurer Goldberg Announces $975,554 in Unclaimed Property Returned at The Big E
Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Team Continues Efforts to Put Money Back in the Hands of Residents

 
Boston- State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg announced today that the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division (UCP) team returned $975,554 in unclaimed property to Massachusetts residents while at The Big E in Springfield. Throughout the 17-day event, UCP connected with attendees, helped people search for unclaimed funds, and assisted individuals in taking the steps needed to claim money that belongs to them. The $975,554 returned at The Big E is almost double what was returned last year at the same event, highlighting the Treasurer’s ongoing commitment to making sure unclaimed property is reunited with its rightful owners.

“We use every avenue possible to help Massachusetts residents find the money that belongs to them,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “Returning almost a million dollars at the Big E is a perfect example, and it was great to see so many people connect with our team to help them claim what is rightfully theirs.”

The Treasurer and the UCP team are constantly working across Massachusetts to return unclaimed money to residents. Through outreach events like The Big E and the team’s year-round efforts, the program continues to help people discover and recover funds they may not have known were waiting for them. In FY 2026, Treasury processed over 118,000 claims and returned over $226 million in property to its rightful owners, the most ever returned.

Treasurer Goldberg urges all citizens to check www.findmassmoney.gov for a complete list of over 10 million properties or call the live call center at 1-888-344-MASS (6277). There is no time limit for a person to claim this property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest.

Unclaimed property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and the contents of unattended safe deposit boxes. Most accounts are considered abandoned and are turned over to the state after three years of inactivity.

Worcester Chamber Music Society Presents
“Exuberant Voices” November 8 in Worcester

October 7, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 21st Season with a concert titled “Exuberant Voices” at Assumption University in Worcester on November 8.  A reception will follow the concert.

Martinů’s Three Madrigals are a complex blend of the English madrigals and energetic Bohemian and Moravian folk music that he loved. Notable 20th century Czech composer Martinů fled the German invasion of France in 1941 by moving to the United States, eventually spending influential time in Massachusetts and teaching at the Berkshire Music School. Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 5, written after a three-year hiatus from composition, marked a radical stylistic departure from his earlier works and ushered in his late style. Marking the beginning of his late creative period, this piece was written in a most challenging time for Beethoven, largely characterized by profound deafness. Saint- Saëns’ Quartet No. 2 is rhythmically dynamic, jaunty in tone, energetic, and exuberant; the composer wrote this during a particularly banner year of personal highs, which included his marriage and the birth of his son, André.

Sunday, November 8 @4:00PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30PM
Program

Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/exuberant-voices/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

This concert will also be presented by the Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton at 7:00PM on November 6. Tickets and information are available at iconmuseum.org.
All venues are handicapped accessible.

Red Cross Offers Ways to Help Keep Loved Ones Safe and Reduce Your Risk of a Home Fire

 
During Fire Prevention Week ─ October 4-10 ─ the American Red Cross of Massachusetts offers steps you can take to help prevent a fire in your home and keep your loved ones safe.

“Across the country, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year and most of these are home fires. Here in Massachusetts, our disaster teams have responded to 567 fires since the beginning of 2026,” said Holly Grant, regional executive for the Red Cross of Massachusetts. “These fires are devastating for the people involved. But there are steps everyone can take which will help not only help prevent a fire from starting but also help keep everyone safe should an emergency occur.”
STEPS TO HELP PREVENT A FIRE ─ focus on things you can do to lessen the chance of a fire in your home:
BE SAFE IN THE KITCHEN Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. Follow these five steps to help you avoid a cooking fire:
  • Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
  • Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
  • Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet around the stove.
  • Keep anything that can catch on fire ─ pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains ─ away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
  • Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.
HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires. As the time of year nears when people turn the heat back on, take these five steps to heat your home safely:
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
  • Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
  • Space heaters: It's critical to keep at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended. 
  • If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. And keep children and pets away from the heater.
  • Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never an extension cord. Turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

RAISE A GLASS. RAISE SOME HOPE.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts Announces A Toast to Hope 2026

 
DEVENS, MA — October 7, 2026 — Get ready to sip, savor, socialize, and support a great cause! Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts will host its annual A Toast to Hope fundraising event on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, Massachusetts.
A Toast to Hope is one of Habitat NCM’s most anticipated fundraising events of the year, bringing together local restaurants, breweries, distilleries, beverage companies, businesses, community supporters, and Habitat friends for an unforgettable evening of food, drinks, fun, and fundraising.
“A Toast to Hope is about so much more than food and beverages,” said Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts Community Outreach Coordinator Diana Sinkus. “It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate the difference we can make when we all raise a glass—and raise some hope—for local families.”
Guests will have the opportunity to sample an exciting variety of food and beverages from local restaurants, caterers, breweries, distilleries, wineries, beverage companies, and specialty vendors, while enjoying an evening of networking, laughter, and community spirit. From savory bites and sweet treats to craft beverages and cocktails, there will be something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
More Than an Evening Out - Proceeds from A Toast to Hope directly support Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts’ mission to provide affordable homeownership opportunities and Critical Home Repairs for local families and homeowners.
Habitat NCM serves 30 communities from Acton to Athol, working alongside families and volunteers to build affordable homes and complete critical repairs that help homeowners remain safe, secure, and able to stay in their homes.
The organization’s work is made possible through a combination of volunteers, donors, community partners, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events like A Toast to Hope.
“Every ticket, every sponsorship, every donated product, and every volunteer hour helps us continue building homes and repairing homes right here in our own communities,” said Sinkus. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helps make this event—and our mission—possible.”
EVENT DETAILS
A Toast to Hope 2026
📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m. –9:00 p.m.
📍 Devens Common Center
31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA
🎟️Tickets: $35 advance / $40 at the door
Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or additional information, contact:
Diana Sinkus, Community Outreach Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts
978-348-2749           diana@ncmhabitat.org
Free nature walk

Family Nature Hike and Scavenger Hunt

On Sunday, November 15, at 1:00, come on a kid-length hike where youngsters will explore nature with the Westborough Community Land Trust, followed by a fun scavenger hunt for ages 6 and up to practice what you have learned. Prizes will be awarded! Parents/Guardians must supervise their children; this is not a drop-off event. Pencil or pen, camera/phone, long pants, closed shoes, and insect repellent recommended.

Location: Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area. Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Take the last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Go toward the lake, and where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot and meet at the yellow gate.

Free, open to the public.
Trail map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA
Before leaving check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for cancellations.
Contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org with questions.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.

A Cuba Benefit Concert with Sol Y Canto

A fundraiser for desperately needed aid for the Cuban people.

The United Church of Christ of Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Ave., is sponsoring a benefit concert for the people of Cuba, featuring the Pan-Latin ensemble, Sol y Canto. The concert will take place on Sunday, October 25th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with doors opening at 3:30 PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregations of the Second Baptist Church in Santiago de Cuba, the Baptist Church of Mariana in Baracoa, and neighboring communities. Tickets are $30 per person, $10 for youth/students, plus a small ticketing fee ($35 at the door).

To make a donation or to purchase tickets, go to: 2026 Cuba Benefit Concert: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cuba-benefit-concert-with-sol-y-canto-tickets-1991776395817

What's happening in Cuba?
Cuba is facing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in its modern history. Longstanding U.S. sanctions, compounded by recent restrictions on fuel imports, have severely strained the country's economy. Across the island, residents endure power outages lasting up to 20–22 hours a day, disrupting nearly every aspect of daily life. The prolonged blackouts have paralyzed public transportation, suspended garbage collection, and forced the closure of schools and businesses, while inflation and chronic shortages have left many families struggling to obtain basic necessities, including food, medicine, and other essential household goods.

Sol y Canto, an award-winning Pan-Latin ensemble known for its vibrant concerts and critically acclaimed music that blends diverse Latin American styles. Come and enjoy the sounds of this exhilarating band while helping the people of Cuba.

Boston MetroWest Mid-Autumn Festival Draws About 700

The third annual Boston MetroWest Mid-Autumn Festival brought together approximately 700 attendees for an afternoon cultural fair and evening performances celebrating Chinese culture and community connections across MetroWest.
The festival was founded in 2024 by Yvette Fang, Chair of the Concord Carlisle Chinese Club Board of Directors. What began with more than 300 attendees has grown into a regional collaboration among six community organizations: Acton Chinese American Civic Society, Concord Carlisle Chinese Club, Chinese American Association of Sudbury, Weston Westar, Jasmine Cultural Arts Foundation, and Wayland Chinese American Association.
This year’s celebration featured food, crafts, family activities and more than 100 performers presenting music, dance and other cultural programs.
State and local leaders also participated, including Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Simon Cataldo, Massachusetts AAPI Commissioner Gary Yu, Acton Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol and Vice Chair David Martin, Qian Ge, Co-President of the New England Chinese American Alliance, Lu Lai, Producer at EATV, and Shaw Yang, a board member of the Concord Carlisle Chinese Club.
Several guests, including Jamie Eldridge, Simon Cataldo, Gary Yu, Alissa Nicol, David Martin, Qian Ge and Shaw Yang, joined a traditional Chinese dragon dance.
One lighthearted cultural quiz also connected Chinese legend with American history. Guests were asked whether the Apollo 11 astronauts had actually been told to look for Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit when humans first landed on the moon in 1969. Most guessed false. The answer was true.
The festival continues to grow as a shared MetroWest tradition, bringing together families, community organizations and local leaders through culture, music and celebration.
Looking ahead, four additional community organizations have already expressed interest in joining next year’s celebration. The 2027 festival is expected to take place around the Mid-Autumn Festival, in September or October, with details to be announced. Community members are invited to stay tuned and join the celebration. Opportunities will also be available for sponsors, performers and volunteers.

DVSN’s Candlelight Vigil

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) will host its annual Light in the Darkness Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Fairbank Community Center, 40 Fairbank Rd., Sudbury. Held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month each October, the Vigil commemorates the lives lost in Massachusetts to domestic violence in the past year.

Community members will read each victim's story as their lives are represented by the reader, a rose, and a candle that is lit in their memory. This year's keynote speaker will be District Attorney Marian
Ryan, who has created multiple best-in-class crime prevention programs and is a leader in domestic violence prevention and prosecution.

"While the Vigil is a solemn occasion," says DVSN Executive Director Jacquelin Apsler, "It is also a night of hope. By publicly standing together to witness and commemorate, we build awareness and show the survivors in our communities that we believe their stories and support their journeys."

The public is invited to attend this free event. A light supper will be served following the ceremony. For more information regarding DVSN’s Candlelight Vigil, visit DVSN.org/Vigil or call 978-318-3421

Concord Band Presents Fall Concert Program: “Scenes”

The Concord Band will perform its Fall Concert on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 7pm, at the Performing Arts Center, 51 Walden Street in Concord. MA. Music Director James O’Dell will lead the Concord Band in its program presentation of “Scenes”, named after the suite, Scenes from "The Louvre", written for band by composer Norman Dello Joio. Dello Joio adapted his original score from a television documentary, depicting five classic artworks from the museum's famous collection. In keeping with this theme, the Concord Band will also perform composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Additional featured pieces include Of Sailors and Whales by W. Francis McBeth, inspired by Herman Melville's iconic novel, Moby Dick; Iditarod by Robert Buckley, which evokes the epic adventure of the Alaskan dog sled race; and Ireland: Of Legend and Lore by Robert W. Smith. A multimedia presentation will accompany the music.  The Concord Band invites concert-goers of all ages to hear the music inspired by the art, and to see the art that inspired the music.
Admission is free and open to the public.  A $20 per person donation is requested.  Complimentary light refreshments will be served at a reception following the concert.  To learn more about the Concord Band, visit www.concordband.org and on Facebook.
Concord Band’s 2026-2027 Concert Season dates, 51 Walden Performing Arts Center:
§  Saturday, November 7, 1pm – Bandemonium!  Children’s Concert
§  Saturday, December 12, 7pm – Holiday Pops
§  Saturday, March 6, 7pm – Winter Concert
§  Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10, 7pm – Two evenings of Swing Dance
§  Wednesdays, June and July, 7:15pm – Summer Concerts at 51 Walden and outdoors at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA

Jewelry Sale to Benefit the Acton Senior Center

A Jewelry Sale will be held at the Acton Senior Center, located at 30 Sudbury Road Rear, on Wednesday October 21st, 9 am - 2 pm, and Thursday October 22nd, 9 am - noon.
A wide variety of jewelry, including designer, boutique, and costume jewelry, will be available. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Acton Council on Aging. Proceeds from sales will be used to fund programs and events at the Acton Senior Center.
Open mic

October 24 Open Mic 5-9 pm, with Featured Performer: Chris Snell


24W is excited to present Chris Snell as the featured performer in our upcoming Open Mic on October 24. Chris Snell has been singing for most of his life.  He has performed
many musicals With Acton’s Theatre III, as well as shows with The Actorsingers of
Nashua, Sudbury Light Opera Company, and Actors' Circle Theatre in Peterborough, NH.  He especially enjoys singing old classics made famous by Sinatra, Perry Como, Paul Anka, and the like, as well as Broadway gems. He is preparing about a 1/2 hour of songs to perform for us. Rounding out the evening will be an Open Mic where people are welcome to read poetry, tell a story, and/or perform a song/tune or two. The house will open at 5 for mingling, board games, potluck. Open Mic performances will start at 6.

24W is an arts-based social justice community, funded by the Windsor Institute which is a non-profit dedicated to helping us all learn and share. More info, and physical location at the website: 24w.org. If you want to be on our announcement email list, please go to the website for the link to sign up.

Acton Library Hosts Fifth Annual Apple Pie Baking Competition
by Joan Milnes 

October 3 was a beautiful Autumn day! Bakers delivered their carefully crafted and fragrant apple pies to the Acton Memorial Library for the fifth annual apple pie baking competition. Some were still warm. Mmmmm!

The judges waited patiently in an upstairs conference room as the pies were anonymously displayed by James Fox, President of the Friends of the Acton Libraries and the annual competition’s organizer. The only information given to the judges was the recipe that included the types of apples used in each pie.

Each pie was sampled and rated on appearance, crust, filling, taste and mouth feel. Discussion among the judges occurred for each pie and then again after all pies were sampled. Additional tastings were made as necessary. (We know it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.)

The public was invited to the renovated 1860 Greek Revival Asa Parlin House at 17 Woodbury Lane located behind the library at 2 o’clock to sample all the pies entered into the competition. Other Autumn treats included yummy cider doughnuts from Idylwilde Farm and chunks of creamy cheddar cut from a large block of cheese.

Friends Treasurer Pat Clifford served up the goodies. Fox received help in running the event from Teen Friends Board Member Bella Matthews. Copies of excerpts from Thoreau’s “Wild Apples” were available for attendees to take home.

A fun aspect of this pie baking competition is having the winners from the previous year serve as judges the following year. Therefore, the 2025 winners, Henry Martyn and his mother Jessica Martyn, joined Joan Milnes on the judging panel. Milnes serves as a volunteer from the Acton Woman’s Club.

Pies are entered into one of two categories: under 15 baker or adult baker. This year’s winners are (a drum roll please…..)
Mackenzie Grasse (under 15 baker) and Heather Arthur (adult baker). Congratulations!! We welcome Mackenzie and Heather as judges to the 2027 apple pie baking competition!

Joan Milnes is a member of the Acton Woman’s Club, a retired director of internships and career services in higher education on the North Shore, and a former food columnist for the Beverly Citizen. She lives with her husband in Acton. 

Discovery Museum Will Host “Bessie’s Closet,” a Free Pop-up Clothing Shop, November 6, 7, 8

Donations accepted through November 1
            
ACTON, MA – Discovery Museum will host a free-of-charge pop-up clothing shop, called “Bessie’s Closet,” November 6 - 8, 2026. Donations of new or gently used clean clothing in any size are being collected through November 1. A collection box is located in the Museum’s lobby.

Bessie’s Closet will be open to all on Friday, November 6, 3:30pm – 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, 10:00am – 3:00pm.

Museum admission is not required to shop but is also not included.

Bessie’s Closet began as a staff-led initiative in 2022. More than 17,000lbs of clothing have been collected and redistributed since then.

Volunteer opportunities are available through the Museum’s website at https://www.discoveryacton.org/

ABFN Halloween Spooktacular

 
Join us for our annual Halloween Spooktacular event including a magician (11am) and other fun activities provided by local preschools and businesses. Entertainment will be from 11:00-11:45. The first 30 minutes of the party (10-10:30am) will be geared for families that desire a more sensory-friendly experience.

Come dressed in your best family costume for a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses!

Attendance is free for ABFN families. Non-Member Families: $15 per family.

Pre-registration REQUIRED for Non-Member Families. Pre-registration for Non-Member Families closes the morning of 10/24.
Register Here
We will be collecting items for the Acton Boxborough Food Pantry. Please consider bringing a donation with you! Most needed items are: cereal, healthy snack items, baby food, and larger sized diapers (5, 6, or 4T-5T pullups). We will have a bin/donation area for drop off.

Date and Time:
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM Eastern Time

Location:
RJ Grey Jr. High Gymnasium
16 Charter Road
Acton, MA  01720

The Boxborough Minutemen Company Wants You!

The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday October 18 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8 p.m. For information please contact Captain Rich Grady at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org or Lieutenant Tim Blankenship at lieutenant@boxboroughminutemen.org.
  The Boxborough Minutemen Company is open to anyone of least 18 years of age, regardless of gender or town of residence, who is interested in service to the Town and/or perpetuating the memory of the Minutemen of 1775.  You do not need to be a marcher or revolutionary war re-enactor to join the Company.
  Our members may participate in any number of the Company's activities including marching in parades and town celebrations, organizing the annual Fifer's Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to the FreeBee Market, community supper, and other service organizations, and participating in our various social functions. The Company also provides financial support to a variety of service organizations and sponsors a number of annual scholarships to Boxborough students who are continuing their education after high school.
  All are welcome to come and make new connections with others.
  For more information visit www.boxboroughminutemen.org.
Acton woman's club

Acton Woman’s Club Visits the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University
by Joan Milnes 

Members of the Acton Woman’s Club enjoyed a private tour at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University on October 1st. Yasmine Vera, Museum Educator and Student Docent Program Administrator, led the 90-minute tour that included two of the current exhibits of contemporary art: ChromaForm and EN/LIGHTEN.
ChromaForm includes several large pieces displayed in the room just beyond the entrance. The works might at first appear to be decorative wall hangings, but before explaining the artist’s intent, Vera invited the group to say what they think the pieces represent. It was interesting to hear everyone’s first impressions, but they were always different from the artist’s intent, which made sense after hearing the explanation from Vera.
“If you don’t know a lot about contemporary or modern art, you probably will appreciate an explanation of what the artist is trying to express,” explained Audrey Stuart, member of the woman’s club who arranged the tour at the Rose for the “Antiques and Museum Goers” interest group. “We are not all art historians,” Stuart added. “In modern art, it is not easy to see what the piece is supposed to be.”
In the EN/LIGHTEN exhibit downstairs, Vera asked the group to say what they were seeing in Nam June Paik’s, “Charlotte Moorman II.” The work before the group consisted of a cello, a viola, several repurposed Motorola receivers, and embedded television screens, among other things. Everyone agreed that it is a representation of a woman because of the curves in the cello and its obvious bustline.
Vera explained that the work is an homage to Charlotte Moorman, who was a close friend and roommate of Yoko Ono in New York. Moorman, who had been a prominent figure in the 1970’s Women’s Liberation Movement, died from breast cancer.
Also viewed by the group was a large exhibit of contemporary art by living artist Jenna Gribbon, and the permanent installation “Mark Dion: The Undisciplined Collector.” The latter is a wood paneled room containing a variety of collectibles from 1961, the year the Rose opened.
When the Rose opened in 1961, there was not a lot of money to start an art collection for a museum, so pieces of modern art by lesser-known artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol were purchased. Today, those are some of the famous artists with pieces in the Rose’s permanent collection.
Yasmine Vera explained that the permanent collection of the Rose is so large now that most of it is stored elsewhere and only a fraction of it is housed on site. Also, she explained that contemporary art pieces, which are becoming more popular, seem to be getting bigger and bigger, which is a challenge for the Rose in terms of exhibition space. Indeed, the pieces in ChromaForm are quite large, taking up most of the space beyond the entrance.
In 2009, it was announced that the Rose Art Museum would be closing due to loss of funding by its supporters who had been swindled by Bernie Madoff. Many thought they had missed their chance to visit the place. Fortunately, there were swift protests and strong efforts that were successful in reopening the Rose at Brandeis.
Joan Milnes is a member of the Acton Woman’s Club, a retired director of internships and career services in higher education on the North Shore, and a former food columnist for the Beverly Citizen. She lives with her husband in Acton.
Monsterbash

Join Us for Spooky Fun at Monsterbash!


Acton, MA: Get ready for a hauntingly good time at Monsterbash, the exciting Halloween celebration geared for elementary aged children promises thrills, chills, and unforgettable memories! This spooktacular event will transform the amphitheater stage into a whimsical wonderland filled with Halloween-themed games, lively entertainment by Crystal Entertainment (DJ Blacklight Dance Party!), and plenty of opportunities for festive fun. Whether you or your child is wearing the most creative costume, indulging in tasty treats, or participating in exciting activities like the mummy wrap or flashlight candy hunt, Monsterbash has something for everyone. Join us for a night of eerie excitement and create lasting memories as we celebrate all things Halloween!
Mark your calendars for this not-so-scary frightfully fun evening on Friday, October 16, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Thomas E. Tidman Amphitheater at NARA Park.  “This event has been going strong since it started 20 years ago” said Maura Haberman, the event and program coordinator at Acton Parks and Recreation.
Grab your broomsticks and prepare for a variety of spine-tingling entertainment! Enjoy the fun music and Halloween themed games like our signature activity: the mummy wrap. We promise there won’t be any “boos” in the audience (unless they're from the ghouls on stage)!
Wear your best Halloween gear for our epic costume contest! Categories include “Best Classic Monster,” “Funniest Getup,” and “Most Creative Costume.” Winners will snag a prize and a certificate and the ever-coveted title of Monsterbash Costume Champion! Our panel of esteemed (and slightly spooky) judges will be looking for originality, creativity, and how well your costume fits the theme. Bonus points if you can make the judges chuckle—or scream in delight!
Indulge in complimentary light refreshments and cauldron punch while it lasts. Boston Event Specialist will have a variety of treats available for purchase. Trust us, there’s no trick when it comes to these treats!
Calling all ghouls, kids and families!  Monsterbash loves a good crowd so we have tickets that can be purchased in advance on EventBrite.  The admission to this good time is $10 per person for all in attendance over age 2 not including any credit card fees. The more attendees, the merrier—and that includes all the little monsters who love to trick or treat! Don’t forget to bring your flashlight and loot bag for our flashlight candy hunt!
If you have any questions or need to clarify something, don’t hesitate to reach out! You can contact our friendly Monsterbash team via email at recreation@actonma.gov or call us at (978) 929-6640. We’re here to help, and we promise to respond faster than a ghost at a haunted house! We can’t wait to see you at Monsterbash for a night filled with frightful fun and festive cheer! Whether you come for the costumes, the entertainment, or simply to enjoy the spooky atmosphere, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t forget to grab your tickets early and invite your friends and family to join in on the celebration. Let’s make this Monsterbash one to remember!
The Thomas E. Tidman Amphitheater at NARA Park is located at 71 Quarry Road.  Parking is free.  Admission is $10 per person for all ages over 2 and can be purchased in advance via EventBrite or you may purchase at the gate (credit card only). Gates will open at 5:30 P.M. for the 6:00 P.M. event start time. This event is hosted by the Acton Parks and Recreation Department. Visit us at: actonma.gov/events

VOTING OPENS FOR MASSACHUSETTS TEEN CHOICE 
BOOK AWARD, OCT. 1-16, 2026

MASSACHUSETTS (September 30, 2026) - Hey MA Teens! Voting will open for the MA Teen Choice Book Award (MTCBA) on October 1!  Young people from across Massachusetts are invited to vote for their top teen book from a list of nominees until Oct. 16. This is the only award in the Bay State that invites students in grades 7-12 to vote for their top new books.
The list of nominees has been curated by a committee of public librarians, school library media specialists and educators. The top teen choices will be announced at the end of October.

“There are two ways for teens to cast their votes - they can vote directly using our digital ballot (available at https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/home) or they can cast a paper ballot at any participating library or bookstore,” said Suzanne Larson, committee chair and high school library media specialist at Seekonk High School in Seekonk, MA.  “We encourage school and public libraries interested in participating to create displays and ballot boxes by using MTCBA resources, also available on the award website.” (https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/home)

The Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award is a cooperative project between the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) and the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) with support from Salem State University. For more information on the selected titles and how to participate and vote, please visit www.mateenchoicebook.org

GLCF President + CEO Announces Celebration of Lowell Designation as
City of Learning

Learning has always been part of Lowell’s story.

From its roots in the American Industrial Revolution to generations of newcomers who have shaped the city, Lowell has continually evolved as a place where knowledge, opportunity, and community come together. Necessitated by change, Lowell progressed from its textile manufacturing heritage into a diverse center of higher education, technology and the arts. Its vibrant immigrant communities shape its cultural identity, while the college, university, libraries, national park, civic and cultural institutions drove innovation and community renewal.

Today, the Lowell City of Learning https://www.lowellcityoflearning.org/ partnership is building on that legacy by strengthening lifelong learning opportunities and connecting the people and organizations that make them possible. Developing Lowell as a City of Learning promotes community engagement, long-term sustainability, economic development, resiliency, and the city’s national and global reputation as a place where education, in all its forms, is the key to a vibrant, and equitable community. Today, this development is more important than ever as we live in a complex, fast-changing world where social, economic and political norms are constantly changing.

In December 2025, this work was internationally recognized as the City’s application was accepted thereby becoming the first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO https://www.uil.unesco.org/en) designated Learning City in the United States. This designation is an amazing milestone affirming Lowell as a city of lifelong learning. Moreover, Lowell is now a partner in a global network with some 425 other such cities striving to facilitate the tenets of lifelong learning for a more connected, resilient, and equitable future.

This is a proud achievement for the City and the region as such accomplishments lift us all up. The work of lifelong learning, by definition, never stops because neither does the need for continuous improvement and growth. Together we make this happen.

On October 10th at 10:30 the City will recognize this proud achievement with a flag-raising at City Hall. Come join in the celebration.

Fire Prevention Week:
Red Cross Offers Ways to Help Keep Loved Ones Safe and Reduce Your Risk of a Home Fire

BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2026 — During Fire Prevention Week ─ October 4-10 ─ the American Red Cross of Massachusetts offers steps you can take to help prevent a fire in your home and keep your loved ones safe.

“Across the country, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year and most of these are home fires. Here in Massachusetts, our disaster teams have responded to 567 fires since the beginning of 2026,” said Holly Grant, regional executive for the Red Cross of Massachusetts. “These fires are devastating for the people involved. But there are steps everyone can take which will help not only help prevent a fire from starting but also help keep everyone safe should an emergency occur.”

FIRST: STEPS TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE ─ check out the 10 steps below to learn what you should do:
HAVE A PLAN You may have less than two minutes to escape from a burning home. Draw up a household fire escape plan and practice it twice a year. Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home. Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet. Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things. Time your fire drill and find out how long it took everyone to get out. If a fire starts in your home, get out safely, then dial 911.
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES Smoke alarms can cut your risk of dying in a fire nearly in half.  Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Identify two exits from every room. Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. 

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

 
Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.

Gleason Public Library Announces Online "Treasures" Auction

 
CARLISLE, MA — The Gleason Public Library Endowment Trustees and a dedicated team of community volunteers are excited to announce the upcoming Gleason Public Library Endowment Treasures Auction.
This event features a spectacular array of items, including original paintings, prints, professional photography, unique textile art, sports items, and exclusive service offerings. Whether you are shopping for a unique holiday, wedding, shower, anniversary, or birthday gift—or looking to discover a new treasure for your own home—there is truly something for everyone.
Bidding opens online on Sunday, October 11th and runs through Sunday, October 18th.
To complement the online bidding, the community is invited to a free, festive in-person event on Sunday, October 18th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The celebration will take place at the white building at Clark Farm, 185 Concord Street, Carlisle.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view the auction items live while enjoying a performance by a live jazz band, complimentary refreshments (while they last), and fun family activities (weather permitting).
All proceeds support the Gleason Public Library Endowment, helping ensure the library remains a vibrant, well-resourced hub for the community.
Help support our beloved library by sharing this event with family, friends, and neighbors! For more information, to preview items, or to register to bid, please visit www.gleasonlibrary.org.

Furnishing Hope Walkto

 
Join us for the inaugural Furnishing Hope Walk presented in partnership with Avidia Bank! A community celebration of hope, generosity, and the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
Since 2013, Fresh Start Furniture Bank has been proud to serve as the longest-running furniture bank in the Hudson and Marlborough area, helping thousands of individuals and families transform empty spaces into homes. Thanks to the incredible support of our community, volunteers, donors, and partners, we've been able to provide beds for children, tables for family meals, dressers, couches, kitchen essentials, and so much more, all at no cost to our neighbors facing difficult circumstances.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, October 18. Rain or shine.
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Hudson Rail Trail: 157 Washington Street, Hudson, MA 01749
Route: Enjoy a scenic 5K out-and-back walk along the Hudson Rail Trail. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Refreshments: Water and light snacks will be available following the walk.
T-Shirt Deadline: Raise $100 or more by September 20 to earn your Furnishing Hope Walk T-shirt.
Fundraising Prizes: Awards will be presented to the top three individual fundraisers and the top team.
Here is a link to the event page for online registration: https://givebutter.com/furnishinghopewalk2026

A Cuba Benefit Concert with Sol Y Canto

A fundraiser for desperately needed aid for the Cuban people.

The United Church of Christ of Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Ave., is sponsoring a benefit concert for the people of Cuba, featuring the Pan-Latin ensemble, Sol y Canto. The concert will take place on Sunday, October 25th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with doors opening at 3:30 PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregations of the Second Baptist Church in Santiago de Cuba, the Baptist Church of Mariana in Baracoa, and neighboring communities. Tickets are $30 per person, $10 for youth/students, plus a small ticketing fee ($35 at the door).

To make a donation or to purchase tickets, go to: 2026 Cuba Benefit Concert: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cuba-benefit-concert-with-sol-y-canto-tickets-1991776395817

What's happening in Cuba?
Cuba is facing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in its modern history. Longstanding U.S. sanctions, compounded by recent restrictions on fuel imports, have severely strained the country's economy. Across the island, residents endure power outages lasting up to 20–22 hours a day, disrupting nearly every aspect of daily life. The prolonged blackouts have paralyzed public transportation, suspended garbage collection, and forced the closure of schools and businesses, while inflation and chronic shortages have left many families struggling to obtain basic necessities, including food, medicine, and other essential household goods.

Sol y Canto, an award-winning Pan-Latin ensemble known for its vibrant concerts and critically acclaimed music that blends diverse Latin American styles. Come and enjoy the sounds of this exhilarating band while helping the people of Cuba.
Operation elf

Meet Operation ELF! Helping Kids in Need this Holiday Season

Operation ELF (Everyone Loves Families) has delivered hope at the holidays for at-risk children for over 25 years. Last year, over 1,800 children, who otherwise wouldn’t receive any gifts, had their personal wishlists answered by neighbors across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The need continues to grow. Some of our 18 trusted agency partners have already asked if we can increase the number of children we sponsor - and we need help to make sure each child’s wish is granted.

To make the holiday season a time of surprise for children and help parents make ends meet, Operation ELF matches children’s lists with people who find joy in the holiday season by sponsoring a child or children. Every child’s wish list is unique. The shelters and agencies we work with ask for the wishes of the children in their programs, ranging from infants to teens. While the identities are entirely confidential, sponsors receive age, gender, sizes, favorite colors, even the characters that delight them - Spiderman, Bluey, and Lilo & Stitch are always popular. Older kids may hope for the latest trending accessory, a soccer ball or basketball, or a clothing brand that seems out of reach. Requests always include warm winter clothing.

Operation Elf makes it easy to help. Sign up to sponsor one or more children and drop off unwrapped gifts at an Operation Elf host location, including:
Andover, Ashland, Bolton, Bourne, Canton, Framingham, Natick, Needham, Reading, Rockland, Saugus, Shrewsbury, Stow, Sudbury, Wakefield, Watertown, Westford, and Worcester, and Dunbarton NH.  We are seeking volunteers to be drop-off hosts, especially in Acton, Chelmsford, Concord, Carlisle, and Watertown.

Operation ELF also accepts financial donations.  Every dollar is spent on gifts. In mid-December, neighbors from across Massachusetts come together to pack up and deliver all the gifts to the agency partners who deliver them with dignity.

To be a sponsor and learn about donating and vounteering, please visit operationelf.org or write info@operationelf.org

Skylight Astronomical Society, Inc.
Presents: The Deep Sky Extravaganza Star Watch!

Where: at the Stow Minute Man Airfield in Stow
When:   Friday, October 9th from 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM
             Rain date: Saturday, October 10th

Come join us beneath the dark October sky for an evening of stargazing and telescope viewing! With the Moon nearly absent from the sky, October 9th offers excellent conditions for exploring dark sky objects of the heavens. Take in diverse objects like galaxies, globular clusters, planetary nebulae and remnants of exploding stars! See the distant Andromeda Galaxy, colorful double stars, and Saturn with its magnificent rings! The Draconids Meteor Shower will be peaking that night, so keep an eye overhead for an occasional bright meteor or dramatic fireball streaking across the sky! Whether you’re an experienced skywatcher or have never looked through a telescope before, come see for yourself just how much of the universe is available to you overhead. In conjunction with our usual visual scopes, check out our newest digital imaging system, a Seestar 50, which may even let us see a real live supernova!  Clear Skies and hope to see you there!
Our rain date will be the next evening, October 10th just in case!
Here is a link to the SAS website and more information on the Star Watch: https://skylight.kantbelievemyeyes.com/star-night-minute-man-airfield/
If you have COVID-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone ill, we ask that you refrain from attending.