The Boxborough Minutemen, with help from the Boxborough DPW, will be collecting and chipping Christmas trees from Boxborough residents this year on Saturday, January 4.  In late December, look for the sign-up forms on the Boxborough Minuteman website: https://boxboroughminutemen.org.   The cost for pickup is $15; deadline for all payments is January 1st.
If you prefer not to sign up for tree pickup, you can also deliver your tree for disposal to the “old” Boxborough DPW facility located at 577 Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111) on Saturday, January 4th between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A disposal fee of $10 will be collected on site when you drop off your tree. For questions email captain@boxboroughminutemen.org

On Sunday, December 8 at 6 p.m., The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division will be presenting its 9th annual Sounds of Christmas Concert. The free event at The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center (650 Dudley Street, Dorchester) will feature festive music and holiday refreshments. Featured performances include music from The Salvation Army’s 40-piece brass band, the Massachusetts Divisional Chorus, and nearly 100 young people from Salvation Army centers across Massachusetts showcasing dance, timbrel and vocal talents.
The Salvation Army is one of the largest music providers in the world. The nonprofit’s music programs teach people, regardless of age, how to sing and play instruments at no cost. These skills are utilized in a myriad of ways such as playing in a Salvation Army band, singing in a choir, performing in dance and arts, or playing an instrument at one of The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettles during the holidays.
For more information about The Salvation Army’s music program and Sounds of Christmas Concert, visit: salvationarmyma.org.

 

Telephone: 978-929-6652          
Email: seniorcenter@actonma.gov     
Website: www.actoncoa.com/
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/actoncoa​
Hours: Mon, Wed & Thurs: 8:00am-5:00pm, Tues 8:00am-7:30pm, and Fri 8:00am-12noon

Monday Movie Matinee
From Time to Time
Monday, December 9th, 1:00-2:35pm
(PG-2009) In 1940s England, a boy spends Christmas with his grandmother at her country estate while waiting for news on his father who is missing in action. He soon finds he can pass through time to witness family stories. Julian Fellowes film stars Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Dominic West, and Timothy Spall. This film is shown in collaboration with the Acton Memorial Library.
Tech Help with Student Matthew Liu
Tuesday, December 10th, 4:00-6:00pm                                                                  
Acton seniors only
ABRHS student Matthew will be available to answer your tech questions. Do you have questions about using your smart phone, tablet, or computer? If possible, bring your device with you. Matthew speaks English and Mandarin.
Computer Club
Wednesday, December 11th, 1:30-3:00pm                                                    
Open to all seniors/free
All seniors are welcome to participate in Computer Club.  Bring your computer and hardware questions, problems and related issues. If possible bring the problem hardware to the meeting. This is a club with no formally planned instruction. Several regulars are there willing to share their experiences, and work one-on-one, to resolve any computer issues, from Windows system difficulties, email setups/usage, networking issues, upgrades and assistance with “how do I” frustrations. MAC and Chrome/Android users are welcome. If you are unable to attend in person and would like to talk with a club member via Zoom or phone, please contact the COA and we will forward your information.
Technology Help Appointments with Acton Memorial Library
Thursday, December 12th, 10:00-11:00am                                                             
Acton seniors only
Need help with common smartphone (iPhone or Android), tablet or laptop functions? Join Heather Murray, Acton Memorial Library Reference Librarian, at the Senior Center for one-on-one help with your device! Bring your fully charge device and your questions, and Heather will troubleshoot technology problems alongside you. If Heather can’t help with a specific problem you are having, she will do her best to find the right resources that can help you. Call the COA to reserve a 15-minute appointment.
Holiday Music of the 50s & 60s with John Clark
Thursday, December 12th, 1:00-2:00pm                                                        
Open to all seniors/free
Sit back and enjoy this multimedia presentation filled with familiar and cherished holiday songs from the 1950s and 1960s. You’ll hear the stories behind It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Broadway composer Meredith Willson and Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper. Did you know that the prolific Johnny Marks had three hits during these years? Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee), A Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives) and Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry)?  And there were holiday novelty songs galore like The Chipmunk Song, I’m Getting’ Nuttin’ for Christmas and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. You’ll also see performance clips featuring Perry Como, Brook Benton, Andy Williams, and Jose Feliciano. Get into the spirit of the season with these classic holiday favorites! Prior to a career as a high school and adult education teacher, John Clark worked in music publishing in Nashville. He enjoys sharing his passion for music with senior centers and senior residences.
Nutrition Presentation on Gut Health
Thursday, December 12th, 3:00-4:00pm             
Open to all seniors/free
Join Reshma Nair of Volunteering for Seniors for a discussion on the role fiber, hydration, and probiotics play in a healthy gut. Reshma Nair is an executive director with Bridges by EPOCH and a volunteer with Volunteering for Seniors, an organization that curates a calendar of activities designed to suit the various interests and abilities of older adults. VFS is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and companionship and takes pride in bringing smiles, laughter, and a renewed sense of purpose to the lives of seniors
Laugh for Your Health with Susan Phillips                   
Thursdays, 11:00am-12:00noon                                                                    
Open to all seniors/free
Laughter is an instant vacation! 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 Elder Affairs grant. Susan Phillips, M.Ed. is an Integrative Health Coach and Laughter Yoga Teacher. Her workshops promote laughter as a tool to build joy, resilience, connection, and collaboration.

From 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.!
The Jolly fellow will ride in a vintage 1936 REO fire truck, escorted by the Acton Fire Department. Come one, come all! Be sure to bring your wish list. Santa’s helpers will also collect non-perishable food items for the Acton Food Pantry.
* Santa’s Itinerary *
9:00 A.M. Oakwood Road and Fernwood Road
9:15 A.M. 32 Parker Street, Cucurbit Farm
9:35 A.M. 15 Hillcrest Road
9:50 A.M. Faulkner Hill Road at High Street
10:10 A.M. Robbins Street at Heron View Road
10:30 A.M. Lothrup Road at Spencer
10:45 A.M. Joseph Reed Lane at Capt. Forbush Lane
11:05 A.M. Ethan Allen Drive at Black Horse Drive
11:20 A.M. Duggan Road at Townsend Road
12:00 A.M. Nashoba Road at Huron Road
12:15 A.M. Seneca Road at Seminole Road
12:30 A.M. 29 Jackson Drive
12:50 A.M. Musket Drive at Fife & Drum Road
1:10 P.M. Acton Memorial Library, lower lot
1:30 P.M. Acorn Park Drive at Walnut Street
1:50 P.M. 47 Nonset Path (Nagog Woods Post Office)
2:10 P.M. NARA PARK  25 Ledge Rock Way (Bathhouse)
2:30 P.M. Bayberry Road at Magnolia Drive
2:45 P.M. Alcott Street at Longfellow park
Look for us on Facebook @Santaride Santa
Times are subject to change.

Lights are going up, families are unpacking Christmas decorations, children are writing letters to Santa – it seems signs of Christmas can be seen just about everywhere.
But for those struggling to make ends meet, not sure whether to use their last remaining dollars to pay the electric bill or put food on the table, the holidays can bring stress, rather than joy.
Every year, hundreds of applicants in the 12 communities of Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford, turn to the Beacon Santa.
This year, over 275 families asked for help for 625 children from the Beacon Santa to provide a few things for their children for Christmas.
The Beacon Santa is run by three Maynard women, who volunteer their time because they are determined to provide a little holiday joy to families in need. But the Beacon Santa would not exist without generous donations from readers like you.
We know it’s a big ask – it seems everyone’s been struggling the last few years, what with the high prices of everything from eggs to gasoline.  But if everyone reading this donated as little as $5, the Beacon Santa would be able to help those 625 children find a little joy this Christmas.
So please, consider donating today.
Founded in 1965, the Beacon Santa raises funds to provide holiday gift cards to families living in the 12 communities it serves.
Donations can be sent by mail to Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 7 Digital Way. Maynard, MA 01754 OR Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643. Maynard, MA 01754.
Donations can also be made online through PayPal: paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809 – you do not need a PayPal account to donate.

Stow, Mass., Dec. 8 – On Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC), Unitarian Universalist, will hold a service on “Unpacking Christmas.” At Christmas time, many UU’s feel we have to love or hate Christmas. Hating it is a reaction to the extremes in Christian theology and the perpetuation in the media of the “war on Christmas” myth. FPC Minister Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum will unpack the Christian story and the cultural trappings around it and find space for a truly Unitarian Universalist celebration of the holiday.
The service takes place in person in the sanctuary and also virtually. Masking is optional. Childcare during the service only is available for ages 3 and under, and children over 3 are welcome to join religious education classes. For information about those classes, contact FPC Director of Religious Education Rayla D. Baldwin-Mattson at dre@fpc-stow-acton.org. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc.
FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

Stow, Mass., Dec. 13 - Guest Table is a community dinner that takes place on the second Friday of each month at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). The next dinner will take place on Dec. 13. It will begin at 5:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. All are welcome! There’s no charge for dinner, but donations are gratefully accepted. FPC is a nut-free location.
FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. When parking, please keep a clear path for emergency vehicles; do not block the driveway around the front of the sanctuary; park only on the 117 side of Commons Rd.; and do not block access to the back of the building. Thank you!
This program is supported in part by grants from the Stow Community Chest, Nashoba Valley Rotary, and the Acton-Boxborough United Way. Guest Table is also grateful for the consistent support it receives from the Stow Council on Aging and the Stow Food Pantry, as well as the support from so many individuals who donate and volunteer.

Join us at our Sit-Down Supper! The month of Holiday Celebrations is here. Please, take time to join us for a dinner with new and familiar friends. Join us as we bring cheer into your lives.  We look forward to sharing a meal and friendship with you every Wednesday.
Where: Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church of Acton     472 Massachusetts Ave. Acton MA 01720
Time: Dinner is served 4:30pm – 5:45pm 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.
December 2024 Menu

12/4 Meatloaf that we all love.
          Sponsored by Thrivent Finacial
12/11  Zatar Chicken
  Sponsored by Congregation Beth Elohim

12/18  Our Holiday Turkey Dinner with all the Fix’ns
  Sponsored by Boston Metro West Bible Church
12/25  Closed – May this month of many Holidays bring you peace!

** Please note that the meals we serve may contain gluten, nuts, seeds, or dairy.
As 2024 comes to an end, we wish to express how grateful we are for the support and dedication of so many individuals, community organizations, church members and the team of our Supper volunteers. Together we hope that each meal we share will bring us closer together.
http://www.mtcalvaryacton.org/Community-Supper               http://www.facebook.com/CommunitySupperofActonMA

UCC Boxborough, Congregational,  723 Massachusetts Ave.
The early church chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus against the backdrop of the winter solstice when the darkness lengthens, and the cold deepens. Even so, Christmas has become not just commercialized but a projection of life perfected – brimming with satisfaction, bursting with more, and always teeming with promise.  This is a service for those for whom this may not be “the most wonderful time of the year,” those for whom pain, loss, isolation, or grief is acute.
During this service, we acknowledge our suffering and the suffering of the world while affirming the dawning light of God’s love.  Organist Joe Camara will be playing and Sounds of Peace, directed by Gloria Roe, will be singing. You will have an opportunity to express your faith by requesting healing prayer or by lighting a candle.  Following the service, you are invited to stay for cider and cookies.

  The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday December 15 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8 p.m. For information please contact Captain Chad Childers at captain@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, organizing the annual Fifer’s Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to town 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.

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 meetings had been every Thursday evening at 7 pm at the South Acton Congregational Church. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 1:30 pm
Westford Museum
2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA
The Essex Junta: Newburyport and the 3 World Wars is the 19th book in Brody’s “Templars in America” series, which focuses on American history during the 1800s. While the Templars play a part in the narrative, this novel centers more on a powerful cabal of Massachusetts shipping families known as the Essex Junto (Brody uses the modern spelling “Junta”). These families amassed wealth through the opium trade and sought to have New England secede from the Union.
The story, though remarkable, is based on actual events. These families collaborated with agents they embedded in the South, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. Documentary evidence suggests they may also have been involved in plans that led to World Wars I and II. Additionally, these families had close ties to Freemasonry, particularly with the influential Masonic figurehead Albert Pike, and they were founders of Yale’s exclusive Skull and Bones Society.
David S. Brody, an attorney turned fiction writer, currently focuses his writings on sites and artifacts that provide evidence of pre-Columbian exploration of America. He refers to this as the “Templars in America” series, as much of this exploration seems connected to the medieval Knights Templar. Brody incorporates artifacts and historical sites into his books to create modern-day suspense plots.
His journey began with the Westford Knight, and he remains captivated by the hidden history of North America and the genuine possibility that waves of European explorers arrived on our shores long before Columbus. He hopes that his readers share in his fascination.
Suggested Donation: $10 per person
Your contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum.

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

The Christmas holiday shopping season has once again arrived, and it is an important time to shop in our local communities. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, not solely in terms of jobs and powering our economy, but in the character, value, and charm they bring to our Main Streets.
There are far too many empty storefronts, quiet downtowns, and struggling small businesses across Massachusetts. Main Street is still grappling with elevated inflation, high utility costs, changing consumer habits, and other economic pressures. But there is a way consumers can help – by shopping and dining at local, independently-owned businesses right where we live and work. Sixty-seven cents of every dollar spent at a local small business is reinvested in the community, and small businesses support our local tax base, governments, and schools, while also enriching our communities. A staggering 90% of small business owners have financially supported community or civic groups, including youth sports leagues, community events, charities, and school programs. Small businesses support us, and we need to support them.
During this busy time of year, there is a temptation to order online from retail giants and big box stores for the sake of convenience, but we cannot and should not forget about our neighbors, friends, and family who own small businesses. The 15th annual Small Business Saturday is on November 30th, and it serves as a reminder for all of us to visit our Main Street businesses for great deals and first-class service. Shop small and local this Saturday and throughout the entire holiday season, or even better, the year ahead.
Christopher Carlozzi is the Massachusetts Director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

  The Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road will be open from  2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday December 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.

Organization(s): Emerson Health, Auxiliary of Emerson Health
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Emerson Health, 133 Old Rd to Nine Acre Corner, Main Building, Concord, MA 01742
Description: Over thirty years ago, Tree of Lights began to remember and celebrate those whom we loved and were inspirational to our community. We continue that to this day. Join us for the Tree of Lights Open House! For our 36th year, we’re expanding this beloved tradition into a family-friendly event, and we invite you to be a part of it. Free admission, bring your family and friends! Celebrate the season with activities for all ages: create greeting cards for patients, enjoy performances by talented local youth musicians, experience our art exhibit by local artists dedicated to remembrance, light, hope, and love, and visit our contemplation area to honor loved ones who continue to touch our lives. Support Pediatric and Adolescent Care at Emerson Health by dedicating a Light ($10) or a Star ($25) in memory or honor of someone special. Tribute names submitted by December 4 will be included on our Tribute Wall at the event. Let’s light up the season with love and remembrance! For more information and to make a dedication, visit emersonhealth.org/treeoflights.
Cost: $0
Website: http://emersonhealth.org/treeoflights

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks will be selling Christmas trees again this year beginning Friday, November 29th.  Hours are:
Friday, 11/29: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Mondays-Fridays: 4:00 PM -8:00 PM
Saturdays: and Sundays: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
The Maynard-Clinton Elks is located at 34 Powder Mill Rd, Maynard, MA  01754.
If you have any questions, please call 978-897-9892.

Stow : For the month of December the Give Back Where It Counts reusable bag program At Shaw’s 155 Great Road Stow will benefit the Friends of Maynard Seniors. For every reusable bag purchased for $3.00 a donation of $1.00 will be given to the Friends of Maynard to help Senior Citizens when help is needed. These reusable bags are wonderful to carry groceries and items for holiday gatherings. Why not purchase several for yourself and to give as gifts to other people. The money we receive will be put into an emergency fund to help Maynard Seniors. Thank you for your generous donation.