The Council on Aging at the Human Services & Senior Center is located at 30 Sudbury Rd, Rear.
Telephone: 978-929-6652            
Email: seniorcenter@actonma.gov       
Website: www.actoncoa.com/  
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/actoncoa​

Opening Hours: 
Monday: 8:00am-4:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00am-6:00 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8:00am-4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00am-12 noon

Monday Movie Matinee
Midwinter Break
Monday, November 2nd, 1:00-2:30 pm
(2026, PG-13) In this poignant drama, a retired couple’s trip to Amsterdam reveals the cracks in their marriage and past trauma. Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds co-star.

O.W.L. (Older Wiser Lesbians) Chats
Monday, November 2nd, 1:00-2:30pm                                                    
Open to all 60+/free
Please join us for our monthly OWL chat! This is an informal chat group for OWLs to gather in a welcoming space to chat, reminisce, and discuss topics of interest relevant to our unique experiences. Group typically meets the first Monday of each month. Yummy snacks provided!

Finger Knitting Class
Tuesday, November 3rd, 12:30-2:00 pm                                                                   
Acton age 60+ only
Join high school student Angel Huang to learn the basics of finger knitting! Everyone will go home with a completed coaster, a great introduction to this method of knitting which does not use needles which can be difficult for some older adults to use. It is fun, great for your brain, improves dexterity, and can boost your mood! Yarn will be provided. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan –
Songs & Stories with Matt York
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2:00-3:00 pm                                 
Open to out-of-town 60+ for $5
Longtime musician/author Matt York performs songs and tells stories about these two musical icons and the important role their friendship played in the trajectory of folk and country music, creating a new lane of music that we now think of as Americana music that merged two very different audiences. York has twice been nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist, recently released his second book, The Words and Wisdom of Willie Nelson, and is popular at the Senior Center! 

Building Brain Healthy Habits
Wednesday, November 4th, 11:00am to 12:00 pm                                                        
Open to all/free
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, what better time to learn practical tips that research shows reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia including diet, exercise, and cognitive engagement. This educational program is offered by a representative of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Acton Songsters with Susan Minor
Wednesdays, November 4th and 18th, 1:00-1:45 pm                                    
Open to all age 60+/free
Join Susan Minor for this group that sings familiar popular songs and learns the mechanics of singing. Don’t worry about your level of singing, the group is open to anyone interested in singing. Lyrics provided. Sign up with the COA if you are new to the group. Susan Minor, pianist, has been the accompanist for many local choruses and instrumental groups including the Concord Chorus, the Harvard Pro Musica, and the New England Conservatory Chorus. She also plays with the Concord Orchestra and the Carlisle Chamber Orchestra and was the music director and pianist for several Concord Players productions. An alumna of The New England Conservatory with a Master’s in Piano Performance, Susan taught at the Nashoba Brooks School as well as private piano students. She is retired from teaching but makes music with other instrumentalists as often as she can!

Laugh for Your Health with Susan Phillips
Thursdays, November 5th & 19th, 11:00am-12:00 noon                                          
Open to all 60+/free
Come join us as we do easy and fun seated laughter exercises to shift our mood, relieve stress, relax our whole body, positively connect with others, and infuse our whole being with joy! In this interactive program, we learn how to generate our own laughter without relying on jokes. This worldwide practice is called Laughter Yoga, but there are no mats or yoga poses. We add yoga breaths, which are deep belly breaths, for soothing breaks between exercises. Come enjoy all the health benefits the power of giggles has to offer and leave feeling relaxed and refreshed! Funded by an Executive Office of Aging & Independence grant. Susan Phillips, M.Ed., is an Integrative Health Coach and Laughter Yoga Teacher.

Housing Options for Older Adults with Attorney Dale Tamburro
Thursday, November 5th, 1:00-2:30 pm                                                         
Open to all age 60+/free
Join Attorney Dale Tamburro to explore ways estate planning can help you stay in your home and the financial/legal ramifications of the housing choices you make. He will discuss what to do if you want to age in place, how to protect your home from creditors and nursing homes, whether staying at home is the right option, how you should/could own your home, determining if you have enough money (liquidity) to age in place, the financial and personal benefits of staying at home, tying your home options into an estate plan, pulling equity from your home, and long-term care protections of your home. Bring your questions!

 

Join us at our All-Sit-Down Supper! We welcome all our guests inside to join neighbors and friends at the tables in Fellowship Hall. Welcome Fall! We look forward to sharing a meal and friendship with you.

Where: Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church of Acton     472 Massachusetts Ave. Acton MA 01720
Time: Dinner is served 4:30pm – 5:30pm Doors will open at 4:15pm. Please, do not enter prior so our volunteers can prepare your Supper.
Parking: Park your car in the back parking lot and enter from the walkway to the church door.

November 2026 Menu

11/4 Spaghetti and Meatballs - Sponsored By St John Lutheran Church of Sudbury
11/11 Chicken Chili with Cornbread - Sponsored By Acton Lions Club
11/18 Our Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner with all the Fix'ins - Sponsored By our Head Cook, Rose Saia on her 70th Birthday
11/25 Closed: May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

** Please note that the meals we serve may contain gluten, nuts, seeds, or dairy.

We are forever grateful for our dedicated volunteers who welcome all who join us.
https;//www.mtcalvaryacton.org/Community-Supper
https://www.facebook.com/CommunitySupperofActonMA

The Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road will be open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday November 8.  Come see Boxborough’s historic treasures including the 1850’s scale which is sensitive enough to weigh a penny and strong enough to calibrate a 50 pound weight, the “new” hearse built in 1881, and the “old” hearse (come and see how old is old).  Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information or if anyone wishes to arrange a private tour for a small group at a different time please call John Fallon at 978-264-0069.

Join us for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner you don't have to prepare! Our annual Harvest Supper includes turkey and fixings, vegetables, potatoes and gravy, topped off by assorted homemade pies. Choose from two seating times: 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the dinner (proceeds will support missions): Adults ($14.00), Children 3-12 ($7.00), and Children Under 3 (Free). The United Methodist Church of Westford is handicap accessible and is located at 10 Church Street in Westford. Parking is available at the church, and the supper will be downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, call the church office at 978-692-4176, visit www.umcw.org or Facebook.com/UMCWestford. We're building community—all are welcome!

Stow, Mass., Oct 30 – The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley (UUCAV) will hold a Samhain Circle on Friday, October 30, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. entitled “Descent into the Underworld.”  Explore your inner depths as we journey into the spirit realm to discover what death and rebirth hold for us this year. Visit with ancestors and guides, let go of what no longer feeds you, and make room for new growth. Part of the ritual will take place outdoors, weather permitting; a warm layer is recommended.

The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the ritual will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to familiarize themselves with the instructions for the evening. A potluck feast in the Vestry will follow the ritual; please bring a dish to share.

UUCAV is a nut-free facility with accessible parking and entry, located at 353 Great Rd, Stow

 

Felixology: books, gifts, and art for the magical mind at 2 Walnut St in Maynard is holding a Thanksgiving-themed Grief Cafe on Sunday, November 22nd from 6-8pm. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, can be particularly difficult for grieving families and this event seeks to acknowledge that feeling of loss. Participants are invited to bring a food or drink that reminds them of a deceased loved one to share. If comfortable, they may share why the food or drink is meaningful. The featured book will be After Taste by Daria Lavelle. It is not necessary to bring a food or drink item to attend the Grief Cafe.

Felixology opened in late 2024 to honor the memory of the owner's late son Felix, who passed away at age 29 from Mesothelioma. Felix was a creative, enchanted soul who grew up in nearby Concord amongst nature and the spirits of his ancestors. He had a profound love of nature, history, literature, and art. He grew up to be an artist and designer for theatre, opera, film and top fashion designers.

Felixology is committed to being more than just a retail location, but a safe, welcoming, community space that harkens back to the carefree, magical days of childhood. It is a bookshop for all ages, but caters to the inner child in all of us. Felixology holds monthly Grief Cafes and Death Cafes to normalize discussions on grief, death, and dying.

For more information on Felixology or the Grief Cafe please visit the website at felixology.com, email felixology8@gmail.com, call 978-298-5716, or visit social media on Facebook or Instagram (@felixologybookshop)

 

For 50 years, Concord Prison Outreach’s Holiday Gift Bag Project has carried a simple but meaningful message to incarcerated people during the holiday season: you are not forgotten. This year, our volunteers, faith partners, and community partners will come together to assemble and distribute 2,300 Holiday Gift Bags to incarcerated men and women at MCI-Shirley, MCI-Framingham, North Central Correctional Institution in Gardner, and Northeastern Correctional Center in Concord. Each bag contains simple, useful items and a holiday card that serves as a reminder to our incarcerated neighbors that they remain valued members of our community. This message is especially important during the holidays, which can be an incredibly difficult and isolating time for those separated from their families, friends,and communities.
The Holiday Gift Bag Project is just one of the many ways CPO works to restore dignity and
build hope throughout the year. At the heart of our work is the belief that people can heal and grow, families can remain connected despite incarceration, and every person deserves opportunities to move forward with dignity, purpose, and hope. CPO delivers more than 60 programs across nine prison and jail sites, reaching 1,000+ program participants with the support of more than 430 program-based volunteers and over 2,000 volunteer hours.
At MCI-Framingham, our work with incarcerated women continues to grow. CPO is now
delivering programming directly to women living in the Reintegration House, a 12-bed, minimum-security pre-release residence designed to support their transition back into their families and communities. Our Reentry Readiness Program provides practical preparation for life after incarceration, addressing areas such as personal and family reintegration, financial literacy, emotional wellness and recovery, technology, employment readiness, healthy relationships, and community resources.
Our Restorative Justice programming continues to create opportunities for accountability,
healing, recovery, and personal growth. In 2025, CPO provided 722 hours of Restorative Justice programming, engaging 556 incarcerated participants through 32 programs across seven prison and jail sites. We also expanded our work to include Recovery Circles, designed to address addiction, trauma, grief, and cycles of harm within correctional facilities.
Across all of these efforts, CPO is reaching more people and offering more programming than
ever before. In 2025, we engaged more than 3,500 individuals through volunteer and program participation and supported more than 5,000 additional individuals and families through seasonal service initiatives and community outreach.
But growth is not simply about numbers. Each number represents a person. Another participant
has access to a program that can help them heal and grow. Another woman preparing for reentry knows she is supported. Another child feels remembered. Another family has an opportunity to reconnect.
Restoring dignity means recognizing the humanity and potential in every person. Building hope
means creating real opportunities for healing, connection, recovery, education, and a path forward. Together, we can build a community where incarceration does not mean isolation, where recovery and second chances are possible, and where every person has reason to be hopeful about the future.
As we work to meet our annual budget and continue providing the Holiday Gift Bag Project and
our growing programs throughout the year, we ask you to consider making a financial contribution to CPO. Your support allows us to sustain and expand this work, reach more incarcerated people and families, and continue showing up for our neighbors across Massachusetts.
Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us restore dignity and build hope.
Show Your Support. Donate today at donorbox.org/hgb.

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 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.

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.

 

October 21, 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. 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. Saint- Saëns’ Quartet No. 2 is rhythmically dynamic, jaunty in tone, energetic, and exuberant.
Sunday, November 8 @4:00PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30PM
Program
Bohuslav Martinů | Three Madrigals, H.313 
Ludwig van Beethoven | Cello Sonata in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
Camille Saint-Saëns  | Piano Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 41
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. 

 

A turkey drive can fill one table for one night. But a family that just lost SNAP benefits, or a patient managing diabetes without a working stove, needs something that lasts longer than a holiday meal. As you plan your holiday giving coverage, please consider including Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts, which works year-round to help residents afford and access healthy food with dignity.

The need is steepening. In 2025, 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank, including approximately 1 in 2 Black and Latino/a households. Massachusetts SNAP enrollment has already fallen by 196,000 people, including nearly 70,000 children, under new federal rules and another round of changes took effect Oct. 1.

Rather than handing out a single meal, Project Bread connects people with resources to buy their own food or find reliable no-cost food nearby:

-A phone call. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333) is the only comprehensive food assistance information and referral service in Massachusetts. In 2025, the Hotline received 20,383 calls, with counselors assisting in more than 180 languages, and completed 3,779 SNAP pre-screens and 510 SNAP applications over the phone.
-A prescription. Through the nonprofit’s Health Care Partnerships program, Project Bread works with MassHealth and health care providers to treat food insecurity as a health issue. Since its 2020 pilot, the program has connected more than 25,000 patients with grocery store gift cards, nutrition counseling, cooking classes and the kitchen essentials holiday food drives often overlook. In 2025 alone, that support included more than $3.4 million in grocery store gift cards and nearly $1.2 million in kitchen supplies and appliances. A new five-year report found 93% of participants reported improved health, along with lower A1C (blood sugar) levels and fewer emergency room visits. One health care partner reported $10.35 million in annual savings across 1,600 patients.
-A lunch tray. Since Project Bread led the Feed Kids Coalition’s successful push for permanent School Meals for All in Massachusetts, it continues to support school and summer meal programs statewide. On an average day in October 2025, 588,669 kids ate school lunch.
-A seat at the table. Through the Make Hunger History Coalition, Project Bread is uniting more than 700 partners to make Massachusetts the first state to permanently end hunger. Its Council of Experts with Lived Experience helps shape that work.

“The holidays put food at the center of our lives, which is why this season can be so hard for families struggling to afford groceries,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. “With federal cuts reaching Massachusetts households now, a gift to Project Bread does more than fill a plate for one night. It helps a parent connect to SNAP, a patient get the food their doctor prescribes and a child eat at school every day. That’s how we move from getting people through the holidays to ending hunger for good.”

Donate. Readers can learn more and donate at www.ProjectBread.org.

Get help. Residents who need help affording food can call the FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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.

From special Boston Bruins experiences for young fans to flight lessons, a Vermont getaway, and more, the Buck Off Cancer online silent auction offers something special for everyone while continuing Jessica Halliday’s legacy.

Hockey fans won’t want to miss two special Bruins-related prizes, including an opportunity to watch the Boston Bruins play and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for children ages 6–12 to high-five the players as they head onto the ice!

The auction also features a wonderful variety of prizes, including professional teeth whitening, a charming Vermont house stay, flight lessons, dance lessons with Fox Ballroom Dance, and much more.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if they were unable to attend the fundraising event. By placing a bid, participants can enjoy the chance to win a memorable experience while supporting a meaningful cause.

Online bidding closes Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.
To view the prizes and place your bids, visit:
https://givebutter.com/c/BOC-2026/auction

Buck Off Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer research, cancer care, and equestrians with cancer. Through this mission, Jessica Halliday’s family continues her legacy of helping others facing cancer and making a difference in the lives of those who need support.

WBN hosts our "She Means Business" event on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm at St. Theresa Church (Holy Trinity Parish), 17 Still River Road in Harvard. Guests welcome! Members will sell their wares and share their business stories. Members may set up a table display starting at 5:30 pm and must RSVP if setting up a display. Guests welcome, but only members may set up a display. Contact Deb Oliva at dboliva@charter.net to RSVP and for more information. WBN is a local, volunteer run networking group of women in small businesses, professional practices, non-profits and the arts who meet monthly for mutual support, education & networking.

Sounds of Stow’s 48th season under the direction of Barbara Jones focuses on music of “Connections”– past to present, culture to culture, voice to voice. The opening concert –2:00 pm, Sunday Nov. 22, connects an early Baroque motet by Padre Martini with the major feature, Maurice
Durufle’s “Requiem” (1947). Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA provides the appropriately beautiful space for this belovedand moving setting of the requiem text, which draws on traditional chant melodies, flavored by harmonies that evoke music by compatriots Debussy and Faure.

Our season continues with further exploration of Christopher Tin’s exciting works, with “The Drop that Contained the Sea”, on Sunday, April 11, 2027 at Littleton High School. New singers are welcome to join us for an amazing adventure into evocative and joyous music that connects the water cycle to music rooted in many cultures. (see website for details.) The season concludes with “Hearts Full of Hope," a program about the courage to hope, the strength we find in one another, and the possibility of creating a more compassionate world, on June 6, 2027, in Stow.

For further information and tickets, visit www.soundsofstow.or or email info@soundsofstow.org. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton, Carlisle and Hudson.

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks invites the community to an evening of fun, music, and giving back at a charity Music Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, November 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Lodge, located at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard.
Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Admission includes one bingo card for each of the four rounds of Music Bingo. Additional cards will be available for purchase at the event.
Guests can also try their luck with an assortment of raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees who bring items to donate will receive a free raffle ticket as a thank-you for their generosity. Suggested donations include full-sized toiletries, new socks, new washcloths, and coffee gift cards just to name a few.
All proceeds will benefit Veteran Pathways of New England, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans on their journey toward stability, healing, and independent living. Through this fundraiser, the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.
Advance admission can be prepaid through Venmo at @blproia. For verification, the last four digits of the associated phone number are 0060.
Gather your friends, enjoy a fun night of music bingo, and help make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country.
For more information, please contact Barbara Proia, Loyal Knight and Veterans Committee Chairperson, at 978-337-0060

 

The Council on Aging at the Human Services & Senior Center is located at 30 Sudbury Rd, Rear.
Telephone: 978-929-6652            
Email: seniorcenter@actonma.gov       
Website: www.actoncoa.com/  
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/actoncoa​

Opening Hours: 
Monday: 8:00am-4:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00am-6:00 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8:00am-4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00am-12 noon

Poet of the Month: Sarah Orne Jewett via Zoom
Monday, October 26th, 10:30-11:30 am              
Open to out-of-towners age 60+/free
Join Val Walker for a program on the life and poems of Sarah Orne Jewett who is famous for her book, The White Heron, yet her exquisite poems also express her passion for the Maine landscape. Register to receive the Zoom link: seniorcenter@actonma.gov or 978-929-6652. Val Walker, MS, is an author, educator, blogger for Psychology Today, and a frequent teacher/speaker at the Acton Senior Center.

Monday Movie Matinee
Sudden Fear
Monday, October 26th, 1:00-2:50 pm
(1952) A successful playwright marries a mediocre actor, only to discover that not only did he marry her for her money but that he plans to murder her. Stars Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, and Gloria Grahame. Crawford and Palance received Oscar nominations for their performances. Enjoy this frightfully good Film Noir for Halloween! This film is shown with the support of the Acton Memorial Library.

Hearing Screening Appointments with Audiologist Megan Ford
Tuesday, October 27th, 9:30 to 11:45 am                                         
Acton age 60+ only
Megan Ford Au.D., a licensed audiologist in practice since 1998, will provide hearing screenings, ear wax checks, and basic hearing aid checks. Please allow 15 minutes for your appointment. Dr. Ford has worked at several major medical centers in Boston, Cleveland and Worcester. In 2013 she opened her private practice, HearSmart Audiology, in Littleton. There has been such a high demand for Dr. Ford’s appointments, she offers monthly screenings at the Senior Center!

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Seminar
Tuesday, October 27th, 1:00-2:00 pm                                     
Open to all/free
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment is October 15th through December 7th, the time to review your Medicare coverage to make sure it is still the right fit for you. This seminar, presented by Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselor Leslie Madge, will help you compare benefits and premiums and make changes based on your current health, medications, and finances. In addition to this seminar, Minuteman Senior Services state certified SHINE counselors offer individual appointments at the Senior Center to review your coverage; see page 13 for more information. SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone) is a free service administered by Minuteman Senior Services and funded, in part, by the Executive Office of Aging and Independence.

Halloween Party
Tuesday, October 27th, 2:00-3:00 pm                                       
Open to all age 60+/free                                                                                                                                           
 Join us for a Boo-tiful Halloween get together in the lounge. Costumes are encouraged! Come to the Senior Center to eat, drink and be scary! NO TRICKS ALL TREATS.

LitLovers Study Group/Masterpieces of Short Fiction
Tuesday, October 27th, 2:30-4:00 pm                                                                
Open to all age 60+/free
The group views a 30-minute lecture from The Great Courses: Masterpieces of Short Fiction, followed by a vibrant discussion on the lecture, the featured story and the author. This month’s story is The Jewbird by Bernard Malamud. Short stories have the unique ability to deliver a powerful emotional impact within a concise format, and we are studying some of the best! Our monthly discussions are always lively and thought-provoking. Upcoming authors include James Baldwin, John Updike, and Margaret Atwood. You can pick up a copy of the story at reception or contact facilitator Chris Chirokas at cchirokas@actonma.gov to have it emailed.

Bodacious the Therapy Dog Visit
Wednesdays, 10:00am to 12 noon                                                    
Open to all 60+/free
Visit with Bodacious, a sweet golden-doodle, and his handler Dick at the Senior Center. Bodacious and Dick are members of Dog B.O.N.E.S. [Building Opportunities for Nurturing & Emotional Support) Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts. Bodacious is gentle, friendly, affectionate, and hypo-allergenic. Visiting with a therapy dog is known to increase emotional well-being…drop in for a visit!

Why the Salem Witch Trials Matter Today with Rick Tulipano
Thursday, October 29th, 1:00-2:00 pm     
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
People come from all over the world to see the town where the infamous American witchcraft trials occurred. But what really happened in Salem, Massachusetts, 332 years ago? In this talk we’ll see why the Salem story is so relevant today. Rick Tulipano holds a master’s degree in education. He is the author of two books and numerous essays on his specialties, the Cold War and the Civil War.

The Friends have been collecting and sorting a lot of books since the last sale. Now is your chance to stock up on good books in good condition before the cold of winter sets in!

The Friends of the Acton Libraries will hold a live and in person used book sale on Saturday October 24 at the Acton Memorial Library from 9 am until 4 pm. Sunday October 25 will be half price day for all, from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Cash, credit, and Apple/Google Pay are accepted!

Members get first crack at the great selection of used books at the sale preview on Friday, October 23 from 7pm to 9pm. If you aren’t yet a member, you can join on Friday night.

But why wait? Go to the Friends of the Acton Libraries website and pay for your membership online! https://friends-of-the-acton-libraries.square.site/

The Friends of the Acton Libraries is a 100% volunteer organization that has a unique remit; we donate funds to Acton's 7 elementary middle-school and high-school libraries, as well as the 2 town libraries. Our book sales and other activities raise money which we then distribute to these entities. The funds we give to the elementary school libraries represent almost 50% of their book buying budget.

For more information, contact The Friends at friendsofactonlibraries@gmail.com
Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/friendsactonlib and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/friendsactonlib

When: 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

Joe Jones, Roomba’s inventor, will recount the robot’s tortured genesis and autograph copies of  his new book, "Dancing with Roomba," at Randall Library.

Date: Saturday, November 7th
Time: 9:00am to 11:00am
Location: NARA Park, lower parking lot (25 Ledgerock Way)
Don’t trash your pumpkins, smash them! Acton’s DPW will compost your leftover pumpkins and turn them into nutrient-rich soil. Bring your friends and family to enjoy snacks, activities and resources from Town departments! For more information on this event, email sustainability@actonma.gov.

Date: Tuesday, October 27th
Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: West Concord MBTA to East Acton Village Green
Join the Minuteman Bike Share for another Trek or Treat! Wear your best costume and bike two miles along the Bruce Freeman from West Concord to East Acton, stopping for treats along the way! Enjoy free rentals from the Minuteman Bike Share and fun activities at the end. For more information on this event, email sustainability@actonma.gov.

On Saturday, October 24th you're invited to Felixology at 2 Walnut St. in Maynard for a Crow Crawl & Rookery Rave. Start at Felixology beginning at noon to pick up your Trinket Trail information and get your starting trinkets. Get creative with your Crow Crawl attire and come dressed as a crow, or in all black gothic, Victorian, Steampunk, dark academia, or fantasy fashion.

From Felixology, form a Scatter and follow the Trinket Trail from 12-4pm to different Crow's Cache locations throughout downtown Maynard. Collect Trinkets at each Crow's Cache, including Secondhand News, Kind Goods, The Sea Cauldron, and Sugar Snap. Trinkets will be free or for a nominal charge, with more expensive trinkets available at some locations. Be sure to snap some selfies at each location and post them on your socials.

Roost back at Felixology to "cache-in" or trade your Trinkets at a rousing, rolicking Rookery Rave from 4-7pm. This Corvid Celebration includes Crow Crafts, discounts and specials, Trinket Trading, refreshments, and entertainment.

For more information contact Felixology at 978-298-5716, felixology8@gmail.com, or visit felixology.com

For over 60 years, outstanding artisans have displayed their products at the Holiday Artisans Fair at First Parish in Concord. This year, the fair is Saturday, November 7, from 10 am to 4 pm. Join us to enjoy great shopping and socializing while browsing juried artists, crafters, artisans, & photographers showcasing their latest creations. You will find gorgeous handmade woodwork, ceramics, jewelry, fine art, cards, and children’s & pet gifts. Don’t miss the popular Boutique featuring jewelry, vintage creative clothing, accessories, and more. Food will be served on-site throughout the day by a local restaurant.  This event is indoors and held rain or shine. The entrance fee is $3.00 per person (children under 10: no charge).

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.

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.

 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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