Action Unlimited

Planning Board Approves Fence Between Lombardo Loam and Gravel and Liberty Fields

At its meeting on June 3, the Planning Board heard and approved a proposal by Mark Lombardo of Lombardo Loam and Gravel Co. Inc at 1160 Liberty Square Road for a fence as required by a condition of a 2018 Site Plan Approval Decision.  
  The 2018 Decision requires a fence “prior to use of material screener at the property” and instructs the applicant to “work with the Planning Board to finalize the details of the fence location and material and the screening plantings…”
  The applicant proposed a seven-foot chain-link fence with a black wind screen to be built along the southeast and southwest property lines, with plantings along the fence.
  After discussion of the purpose and optimal location of the fence, Planning Board members and the applicant agreed on a slightly revised location of the fence and the plantings, which Town Planner Alec Wade memorialized before the Board voted to approve Lombardo’s proposal as amended.
    The Lombardo Loam and Gravel Co. property is adjacent to town-owned Liberty Fields, which has a variety of fields, courts, and a new playground. 
  The Board then re-opened a public hearing on an application recently submitted by Stamski & McNary, Inc., on behalf of property owner French Brothers Boxborough, for site plan approval for a three-unit trade shop building at 100 Codman Hill Road.
  The applicant presented an updated application intended to respond to the Board’s questions and requests made at their last meeting on May 20. The applicant also made a verbal request for an exemption from the Earth Removal bylaw. The applicant was asked to make a formal waiver request in writing and the hearing was continued to June 17.
  The Planning Board then moved into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation per MGL Ch. 30A §21(a)(3) (Appeal of Subdivision, Special Permit, and Site Plan Review decisions, 242/244 Adams Place). 

Boxborough Prepares to Address MBTA Communities Zoning Requirements

On Thursday, May 30, Town Planner Alec Wade opened the first of the 2024 Boxborough Summer Forum Series, a public information session about the MBTA Communities Act with Lily Linke, the MBTA Communities Engagement Manager at Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), a nonprofit housing advocacy organization.
  Wade opened the meeting and gave some details about how he is preparing Boxborough to address the MBTA Communities Act by engaging with the public to “develop a district that best meets the character and feel of Boxborough.”
  The MBTA Communities Act was passed by the State Legislature in 2020 as part of an Economic Development Bond Bill. It requires that the 177 communities served by the MBTA create a zoning district where multifamily housing is allowed as of right, which means there is a more streamlined permitting process compared to the special permit process. 
  The zoning district created by each town must allow 15 units per acre and must be of a “reasonable size” and without age restrictions. Furthermore, there are no location requirements for the district other than certain excluded land (publicly owned land, wetland resource areas, protected open space, etc.), and the zoning can include mandatory mixed use as an option. The zoning district would still be subject to site plan review and is still subject to the regular permitting process. 
  More than 160 MBTA Communities are actively working toward compliance or are already there, and as an “adjacent small town,” Boxborough must comply by December 31, 2025.
  Several members of the public asked questions about the impact on schools, whether establishing an overlay district in existing high-density housing areas would qualify under the zoning requirements, and whether an affordability requirement could be a part of the bylaw. 
  Wade concluded the meeting by thanking Linke and those present at the meeting. He announced that there will be two MBTA Communities Act engagement sessions, one in July and another in September ,”where people will be able to visualize and almost construct this district in the town of Boxborough in a way they see fit.” Sessions will be publicized on the town website. 
  To watch the recording of the MBTA Communities Act forum, visit: https://tinyurl.com/BoxboroughMBTA
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version at BoxboroughNews.org.

 Building Committee To Be Dissolved, Town Administrator Drafting RFQ for Fire Station OPM

On May 29, the Building Committee held its first meeting since Annual Town Meeting approved Article 42, which asked voters to appropriate $500,000 from free cash to procure “professional design and owner’s project manager services related to the construction of a new fire station.”
  Building Committee Chair Kristin Hilberg, who is also Chair of the Select Board, informed the members of the Building Committee that the Select Board intends to dissolve the current Building Committee and create a new “Fire Station Building Committee” to oversee the fire station project going forward.
  Hilberg said that the Select Board will discuss the structure of the new Fire Station Building Committee at its next meeting on June 10 and then seek interested residents, especially those who may have relevant experience, to serve as members. Hilberg said she expects to have the Fire Station Building Committee in place by July 1. 
  Members of the current Building Committee and members of the public reacted to Hilberg’s announcement and shared opinions about how the new committee should be structured.
  In the meantime, Hilberg reported, Town Administrator Michael Johns is drafting a “Request for Qualifications” (RFQ) for an “owner’s project manager” (OPM) for the fire station project. 
  TA Johns explained that he is drafting the RFQ document with input from several Boxborough residents who have relevant professional experience and intends to get the RFQ out quickly in order to move the OPM hiring process forward. 
  Hilberg clarified that the current Building Committee will not have a role in reviewing the draft RFQ. Once the town receives responses to the RFQ, the new Fire Station Building Committee will be tasked with reviewing the responses, making a recommendation to the Select Board (who will hire the OPM), and overseeing the OPM.
  The Building Committee also discussed the importance of transparency and communication with the public as the fire station project moves forward.

Planning Board Candidate Than Stuntz Files Recount Petition with Town Clerk, Recount Scheduled
for June 14

  On Monday, June 3, Town Clerk and Board of Registrars Chair Rebecca Harris called to order a meeting of the Boxborough Board of Registrars regarding the recount petition submitted by Nathaniel “Than” Stuntz for a recount of votes in the Planning Board race. 
  Town Clerk Harris reported that Stuntz’s recount petition, which must be signed by at least ten voters and notarized, met the State’s requirements and that she had certified the signatures on the petition. 
  All Registrars present voted in favor of setting the recount date at Friday, June 14, at 3 p.m. in the Grange Room at Town Hall, 29 Middle Road. Board of Registrar members Nancy Brown and Heather Fleming, in addition to Chair Harris, were present for the meeting. 
  Town Clerk Harris also gave an overview of the petition and explained the process for the recount. The recount will be conducted by election workers (likely seven) hired by the Town Clerk. The election workers will conduct a hand count of all 679 ballots. 
  On election day, Town Clerk Harris reported that Stuntz lost the election to incumbent Rebecca Verner by only three votes. According to the Town Clerk’s election results, available at bit.ly/4brBJLK, incumbent Verner received 336 votes and challenger Stuntz received 333 votes. Stuntz submitted his petition for a recount on May 30. 
  More information about election recounts can be found at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/getting-on-the-ballot/Election-Recounts.pdf
  This article has been condensed for print. Read the full version at BoxboroughNews.org.

The FUTURE of NUCLEAR FUSION is on DEVENS

When: Wednesday, June 12, 7pm to 8pm
Where: The Harvard Senior Center, 16 Lancaster Country Road, Harvard, MA
Harvard: Come listen to a fascinating talk on nuclear fusion, the safe clean unlimited power source.  Hear what Commonwealth Fusion Systems is doing to make history by providing commercial fusion energy to the world, right here in our backyard.  There will be a Q&A session after the talk so bring your best questions!  Refreshments provided by the Harvard Republican Town Committee who is hosting the event.  All are welcome.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION, JULY 4TH AT NARA PARK, ACTON

 
The Town of Acton is proud to announce a fun-filled Independence Day Celebration on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The activities begin at 7:00 P.M. with a free concert featuring Best Friends Girl - #1 Tribute to The Cars at 7:00 P.M. Immediately following the concert, enjoy a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 P.M. Complimentary shuttle buses will begin at 5:00 P.M. that will take guests to and from NARA from designated off-site parking lots with bus stops located along Nagog Park Drive. Food Vendors will also be onsite starting at 5:00 P.M. It is highly recommended that guests opt to take the 10-minute lighted Town Forest Trail located at the end of Nagog Park Drive to access the park entrance. This is the best way to enter and exit the park during high-traffic times. This event is open to the general public and there is no admission fee. Donations are greatly appreciated and are needed to help cover defray overhead expenses. Upon entry, please note that all bags are subject to search. Entrance to the park will take place at two locations: the lower bus drop-off area on Ledge Rock Way and the other entry via the Town Forest footpath onto Quarry Road/NARA upper parking lot. On the other end at Nagog Park Drive, there will be designated bus stops along Nagog Park Drive for pick-up and drop-off. There will be a variety of food vendors including food trucks with traditional BBQ, Thai, Italian, Indian Cuisine, ice cream, carnival food, and more. No alcohol or outside grills will be permitted on park grounds or tailgating in any parking areas within Nagog Park. NARA picnic areas are not available on this day for gatherings. On July 4, the beach parking lot will be open for beach season passholders, handicap parking, and special permit parking. Beginning at 5 P.M. all cars will be directed to park at Nagog Park Drive. The free concert from 7:00-9:30 P.M. features Best Friends Girl – The #1 Cars Experience! Best Friends Girl recreates the timeless hits of The Cars spanning a 35-year career, with over 23 million albums sold and more than 22 songs on the Billboard Top 100.” A spectacular fireworks show will be shot off by Pyrotechnico at 9:30 P.M. The fireworks can be viewed from all areas of the 40+ acre NARA site. The Town of Acton is honored to support the exciting fireworks display and celebratory event, and our many local business sponsors who made this great concert happen. If you get hungry or thirsty starting at 5 P.M. there will be plenty of food choices. Vendors accept cash and most accept credit cards or Venmo. The Town of Acton would like to thank our many event supporters as of May 24th who make all our summer events including July 4th possible. Please visit www.acton-ma.gov/events for more information on this event or other upcoming events all summer long! NARA Park is located off Rt. 27 at 25 Ledge Rock Way in Acton. Handicap parking is available onsite for all events. Please follow event parking signs for off-site parking on Nagog Park Drive located on Route 2A/119 near Nagog Pond as parking is limited at NARA. You can easily access the park by taking the 10-minute trail walk through the Town Forest Trail located at the cul de sac near 125 Nagog Park Drive. This trail will enter the upper sports fields at NARA Park. There is no fee to park for these events. We are proud to promote in 2024 Leave No Trash Events and promote being eco-friendly. There is no rain date for this event. For more information, visit: www.acton-ma.gov/events.

ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING

The Acton Memorial Library Foundation will hold its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Acton Memorial Library at 486 Main St in Acton. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, please see http://www.actonmemoriallibraryfoundation.org/ or contact Beth or Sampada at  info@actonmemoriallibraryfoundation.org.

COMMUNITY of SUPPORT HELPED COMMENCEMENT STUDENT SPEAKER FIND HER PATH

 
For Jennifer Laing, from Venezuela and now living in Maynard, the people of Middlesex Community College made a positive impact on her college experience. A Liberal Arts and Sciences major, Laing is one of two graduation speakers representing the class of 2024 at MCC’s Commencement held on Thursday, May 23 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. “I am incredibly delighted to represent the student body at graduation,” Laing said. “The MCC community of faculty, students and staff members have made my experience here enriching, exciting and exalting. I hope I can deliver a message that can reciprocate their care and support.” Laing is honored to have been asked to speak at graduation. From classmates to professors, she sees her speech as an opportunity to give back to the people who inspired her. Calling the MCC community “generous, resourceful and very special,” she appreciated taking advantage of all of the opportunities available to her at Middlesex in and outside of the classroom. “I could not have anticipated the support I have received from faculty, peers and staff over the past two years,” Laing said. “I chose MCC because the school offers a great variety of online classes, but I stayed at MCC because every single human I have interacted with has impacted my journey in inspiring and encouraging ways.” The support Laing found at Middlesex started with her first ever professor, Dr. Denise Marchionda. By experiencing a welcoming environment, Laing felt more comfortable beginning her academic journey. With Dr. Marchionda’s guidance, Laing also pushed herself harder to “reach my fullest potential.” “She believed I could do great things here at MCC, and made me believe it too,” Laing said. “She continues to be a mentor as well as a source of motivation to keep going after my academic goals.” When Laing first started at Middlesex, her goal was to earn a college education. Unsure of what she wanted to study or pursue for a career, Laing’s husband recommended she start with general education courses. Exploring a variety of subjects helped her find her passion. She also gained a “well-rounded foundation” to help her develop goals and a plan for the future. An active community member at Middlesex, Laing enjoyed attending campus events and working as a writing tutor for MCC’s Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE). Graduating with highest honors, she is a member of MCC’s Commonwealth Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa, the honors society for two-year schools. As she looks forward to transferring to a four-year institution, Laing hopes to continue to use the knowledge, skills and confidence she found at Middlesex. At her new school, she plans to major in English and minor in Psychology. Laing emphasizes the value of having a community of supportive employees and classmates dedicated to her growth and development. As she graduates and continues on with her education and into the workforce, she hopes to take what she has learned from the college and apply it to her new endeavors. “Being a student at MCC has been a fantastic experience,” she said. “I have grown as a scholar, friend, mother and thinker because of my experiences and education here.”

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

National PTSD Awareness Month, which takes place each June, ushers in an array of awareness campaigns run for the benefit of PTSD Survivors. PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs in people after they have experienced a particularly traumatic event like war, violent physical/sexual/verbal assault, accidents, and so forth. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, nightmares, paranoia, insomnia, disturbing thoughts, and much more. Many people recover from PTSD after a few days, weeks, or months. Yet, for others, the recovery road might mean one year or more. This mental disorder is treatable, but due to the lack of knowledge about it, as well as the stigma attached to seeking mental help, many choose to ignore the problem and suffer through it.
Some studies suggest that suicide risk is higher among those who experienced trauma due to the symptoms of PTSD. A study from the National Comorbidity Survey, a national representative sample, showed that PTSD alone was significantly associated with suicidal ideation or attempts. A later study by the Canadian Community Health Survey data also found that respondents with PTSD were at a higher risk for suicide attempts. Among people who have had a diagnosis of PTSD at some point in their lifetime, approximately 27% have also attempted suicide. Another large-scale survey found that 24% of military personnel diagnosed with PTSD had experienced suicidal thinking within the past year.
According to the Journal of Emergency Services, a silent crisis is happening worldwide. First responders are quietly suffering because of the stigma surrounding the utilization of mental health services. First responders are approximately ten times more likely to have suicidal ideations and/or attempt suicide compared to the CDC national average.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free resource, available 24 hours a day for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 988 offers a free 24/7 text line where trained counselors support individuals in crisis.
The Jason Foundation is another available resource. The Jason Foundation offers the First Responders Training Module: Addressing Suicide with Youth in the Community and Within the Profession. The goal of this training is to provide First Responders with the knowledge, skills, and resources to enable them to be better able to recognize the signs of concern and elevated risk factors for suicidal ideation in youth within their community, as well as in co-workers and fellow first responders. The training is free and can be found online at www.jasonfoundation.com under the How To Get Involved tab.

BOXBOROUGH FIFER’S DAY FOUR MILE ROAD RACE JUNE 15

The Annual Boxborough Fifer's Day Four Mile Road Race will take place on Saturday June 15 at Flerra Meadows in Boxborough.  The Race will start at 9:30 a.m. at the entrance to Flerra Meadows which is located on Stow Road in Boxborough one half mile south of the intersection of Stow Road and Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111).  The wheel measured course will cover a four mile flat run through Boxborough. Trophies will be awarded to female and male runners in each of seven divisions: up to 19 years old; 20-29; 30-39; 40-59; 50-59; 60-69 and 70 years and older.  A free Fifer’s Day T-shirt will be given to the first 100 entrants.
Individual registration fee is $25 by June 12. Registration fee after that date and on the day of race is $30. The maximum payment per family is $60. For information and an entry form, please go to www.fifersday.org or e-mail roadrace@boxboroughminutemen.org.

BOXBOROUGH SCHOOLHOUSE #2 OPEN JUNE 9

Boxborough’s School House #2 will be open to the public on Sunday, June 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. With kind permission of Nancy (Robinson) Morrison, who co-owns the property with her sister Jane Sawisch, you will be able to visit Schoolhouse #2 at 339 Picnic Street (corner of Hill Road), tour the 1857 building, and see exhibits specific to this building. You will receive a one-page history of the Schoolhouse.
The Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road will be open also from 2 to 4 p.m. and you can see some of Boxborough’s other treasures. This will also  provide an alternative to the outhouses behind the Schoolhouse!
Reservations are not needed and there is no charge for either venue.

METROWEST FAMILY THEATER Presents: "SEUSSICAL"

"Oh, the things you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper!
Metrowest Family Theater (MFT), based in Sudbury, is ecstatic to announce its highly anticipated production of "Seussical," a vibrant musical that will delight audiences of all ages with the whimsical and imaginative world of Dr. Seuss. Prepare to embark on a fantastical journey filled with heartwarming themes of friendship and community.
Performance Dates:
Friday, June 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM
Location:
Maynard High School 1 Tiger Drive, Maynard, MA
Tickets for "Seussical" are available now. Don't miss this enchanting theatrical experience! For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.mftsudbury.org.
About Metrowest Family Theater:
Founded in 2000 by Samantha Bower (Hammel), Metrowest Family Theater is dedicated to bringing quality plays and musicals to the Metrowest community. Our mission is to unite children and families in a thrilling and educational theater environment. Our award-winning productions feature a diverse cast, from seasoned actors to enthusiastic newcomers, creating a welcoming and professional atmosphere for all.

CONCORD LIBRARY BOOK SALE

Concord Library book sale on the lawn, 129 Main St. Concord. The annual sale is back on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the library Friends. Proceeds help pay for programming, music, children’s events and more. Cash and cards accepted. Rain date June 9.

“TRANSFORMATION” at FPC STOW

On Sunday, June 2, First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) will hold a service on “Transformation.” Summer is a time of shifting, as school and church years end and begin. Right now, much of our society is also transforming, with new models emerging, and church life is no exception. During this service, FPC Minster Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum will talk about how we learn to embrace transformation and change. The service will also mark the completion of FPC’s first "First Chalice" class, for children in grades 2 to 4. Music will be provided by special guest Joe Jencks, a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, award winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. The service will take place both in person and virtually at 10 a.m. Masking is optional. Child care is available for ages 3 and under, and children over 3 are welcome to join religious education classes. For information about those classes, contact FPC Director of Religious Education Rayla D. Baldwin-Mattson at dre@fpc-stow-acton.org. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc. FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

SECOND EVENT IN THE ACTON 250 SERIES

The second event in the Acton 250 series “Still Here: Houses of Our Patriots” will be a presentation about the Nathaniel Edwards House, 328 Pope Road, on Monday, June 10 at 7PM. at the Acton Memorial Library. The speaker will be the house’s co-owner, David Hardt, who has done extensive research on this mid-18th century center-chimney building. The three-part series features four pre-revolutionary Acton houses owned by local Acton leaders during the Revolutionary War. The others were the homes of Col. Francis Faulkner, Jonathan Hosmer, and tavern-keeper Samuel Jones. Together the group represents several different house types of the time, displaying a variety of distinct colonial features. The interior of the Edwards House, a center-chimney “saltbox,” displays some of the most stylish 18th -century Georgian elements in Acton. The stories of the houses’ ownership are different, too. Several generations of the Edwards family lived at what is now “Spring Hill Farm” over more than 70 years, farming, building houses, and making tall clocks, with time off to fight in the Revolutionary War. Original owner Nathaniel Edwards, a housewright, served on important town committees, and his eldest son Ebenezer marched to Concord with the Acton Minutemen in April, 1775. Another son, Nathaniel Edwards, Jr., born in 1770, became widely known as a clockmaker, presumably using the ell at the east end of the house for his shop. In later years there were multiple owners, often reflecting regional immigration patterns – first English, then Irish, then Norwegian, until the 1960’s. All were farmers, who cultivated the land and raised livestock at the border between Acton and Concord. The farm also played a significant role in the creation of conservation lands in Acton, when the farm was up for development and neighbors acted to start the Spring Hill Conservation area. Most recently it returned to farm use, this time for the keeping of horses.

The ACTON COMMUNITY CHORUS is CELEBRATING its 40th SEASON!

Celebrate with us as we perform hits from the last 40 years on Saturday, June 1 at 7pm and Sunday, June 2 at 4 pm at the Nashoba Brooks School, Tucker Auditorium, 200 Strawberry Hill Road, Concord, MA. Tickets can be purchased on our website www.ActonCommunityChorus.org or at the door. This season, we are excited to partner with Open Table’s Food Pantry to collect 40 bottles of cooking oil at our concerts. This is a high demand item, so please help by bringing a bottle to donate. Don’t miss this wonderful community event!

DISCOVERY MUSEUM RECOGNIZED as a 2024 RECIPIENT of the NATION’S HIGHEST MUSEUM and LIBRARY HONOR

 
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced Discovery Museum of Acton, MA today as one of 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Over the past 30 years, the award has celebrated institutions that are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
“IMLS is delighted to announce the 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service,” said IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum. “These institutions and their dedicated staff are stepping up to anticipate and meet the needs of their individual communities. From New York to Arizona, these 10 recipients are unparalleled sources of education, health, jobs, and cultural resources, bridging the gaps of distance, resources, and experience for community members. We look forward to honoring their accomplishments in Washington, DC, this summer!”
Discovery Museum’s mission is to “spark delight in learning by igniting curiosity and creativity in children and adults as they discover together the joys of science, nature, and play.” Throughout its 42-year history, the Museum has used a hands-on, low-tech approach to provide meaningful, playful, STEM-based learning experiences for kids, families, and students. A strong focus on removing economic, physical, developmental, and other barriers to participation provides for a series of access programs that result in 25% of the Museum’s annual audience being served for free or nearly free.
Discovery Museum’s fully accessible Discovery Woods nature playscape and treehouse serve as a focal point for outdoor, nature-based, environmental experiences, encouraging kids and families to reap the benefits of spending time in nature. The entire Museum campus is accessible, with facilities, grounds, and exhibits all reimagined and redeveloped to be made inclusive in every way. For school students, Discovery Museum’s engaging, materials-rich, hands-on STEM workshops in school classrooms served more than 53,000 students in 116 towns in 2023, the largest STEM-focused museum outreach program in Massachusetts. Discovery Museum is the first children’s museum in the country to produce all its own electricity onsite and unique in its role as one of the largest nonprofit community solar providers in the state, with four nonprofits and 11 low-income homes operating on discounted clean energy thanks to the Museum’s production.
Selected from 30 national finalists, the 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and helps communities thrive.
“We are deeply honored and proud to be recognized with a 2024 IMLS National Medal for our work, and very grateful to the broad community of visitors, supporters, donors, and community partners who make that work possible,” said CEO Marie Beam. “For our board and staff, this national recognition both reinforces the value of our work to support children and families and will serve as a platform from which to expand our reach and depth of impact in meaningful ways. Along with our operational and educational priorities around environmental sustainability, we will work to find more ways to make our science, nature, and playful learning experiences accessible to all kids, families, and students—despite barriers such as cost, developmental differences, sensory sensitivities, physical abilities, parental incarceration, refugee status, cultural approaches, or learning styles.”
The award will be presented at a ceremony this summer in Washington, DC. For a complete list of 2024 recipients and to learn more about the National Medal awardees, visit the IMLS website.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE COUNCIL ON AGING, ACTON

 
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​
Hours: Mon, Wed & Thurs: 8:00am-5:00pm, Tues 8:00am-7:30pm, and Fri 8:00am-12noon

Shredding Event       
Monday, June 3rd, 9:30-11:30am                                                                     
Acton seniors only                                         
A1 shredding company will be on site at 30 Sudbury Rd. to destroy personal documents. Limit of 5 grocery-sized bags per person. Any questions please contact us at 978-929-6652.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Acton Council on Aging. A $1 donation per bag is requested. Please do not arrive early.
Monday Movie Matinee
Falling for Figaro
June 3rd, 1:00-2:45pm
(2020) A brilliant young fund manager (Danielle Macdonald) leaves her lucrative but unfulfilling job to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands with a strict voice coach (Joanna Lumley). Light romantic drama with lots of opera music!
Community Resources for Caregivers: Caring for Loved Ones Living with Dementia
Tuesday, June 4th, 11:30-1:30pm                                                                       
Open to all                                                                                       
Join us for a lunch and learn. Find about local community resources and hear from a panel of experts about a variety of topics related to caring for someone with dementia. We will end with a Q&A session so come prepared to share your questions! Sponsored by the Liberty Alzheimer’s Partnership group.
Decluttering and Organizing Your Home Before Selling
Tuesday, June 4th, 1:00-2:00pm                                                           
Open to all seniors/free
Join us for a special seminar that will guide you through the process of decluttering and organizing your home to make it ready for sale. Whether you plan to move in one year or five, this seminar is designed to provide you with invaluable information from two experts in the field—Amy Roberts, the owner of Out of The Box Moves, and Heather Murphy, a local Realtor® with over 20 years of experience. You'll learn valuable tips and tricks and great resources that will help make the overwhelming process of downsizing manageable. Don't miss this opportunity to gain priceless knowledge to help you achieve your home-selling goals.
Live Elvis Tribute with Calvin Benelli
Tuesday, June 4th, 4:00-4:45pm                                                                       
Open to all/free                                                                        
Acton’s own Calvin Benelli will sing, dance, and speak in true Elvis character. A fun performance not to be missed, this special event is sure to bring back fond memories of the King of Rock & Roll! Calvin Benelli was involved in theater at Acton Boxborough Regional High School and is the son of our fitness instructor Yvonne. His performances at the Senior Center are always a big hit!
Free Narcan Training
Tuesday, June 4th, 5:30pm 
Open to all
Since 2000, the annual number of overdose deaths from any kind of drug in the U.S. has multiplied nearly six times. This training is an essential part of overdose prevention education. Learn what an overdose looks like and what can be done to reverse an overdose. Free Narcan rescue kits will be provided.
Acton Songsters with Ed Knights
Wednesdays, June 5th and 26th, 1:00-1:45pm                                                                     
Open to all seniors/free
Join Ed Knights to sing along to familiar popular songs. Don’t worry about your level of singing; this class is open to anyone interested in singing. Lyrics provided. Ed also covers the mechanics of singing. Only people new to the group need to sign up. Some of you may remember Ed from his career as an internal medicine physician at Acton Medical Associates, but he also has a love of music and singing that he enjoys sharing with everyone. He has studied voice at the Boston Conservatory and performs in musicals and operas.
Wedding Day Traditions
Thursday, June 6th, 1:00-2:00pm                                      
Open to all seniors/free
June has long been a popular month for weddings. The first recorded evidence of marriage ceremonies uniting two people dates from about 2350 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Over the next several hundred years wedding day traditions evolved, and many old customs continue despite most people not understanding the history behind them. We’ll explore many facets of “tying the knot,” from wedding dress fashions and the addition of bridesmaids and groomsmen to serving cake and tossing the bouquet. Come join the discussion and share memories of your own big day! Dawn Gomez, Reminiscing Round Table founder, provides topic-based programs for seniors at several local assisted living and senior center communities.
Heal the Healer Book Study Group        
Fridays, June 7th through September 6th, 10:00-11:00am
No group on 7/5    
Open to all/free
Join Tracy Woods for a 12-week group studying the book Heal the Healer: A Self-Care Guide for Wellness Workers and Caregivers by Joshua Rosenthal. It is a survival guide for givers filling an ever-widening care gap left by our healthcare system—who are often chronically stressed, exhausted, and undervalued. The book is available from Amazon and other booksellers. The group will read and discuss one chapter each week, so read the first chapter before the first class. Tracy Woods is a certified Older Adult Peer Specialist. All are welcome to this joint venture between the Acton Council on Aging and the Northeast Independent Living Program.

THIRD ANNUAL MAYNARD JAZZ FEST, JUNE 15th

Join us for the third annual Maynard Jazz Fest on Saturday, June 15th between 1-6 PM!  Make your way to Maynard’s lively downtown and enjoy an afternoon of live jazz in the Cultural District! The concert will take place on the main stage in Memorial Park right in the center of town.  This Maynard Cultural District event is FREE and “open air” allowing you to come and go as you please while you experience the buzzing life that surrounds Maynard’s downtown storefronts and restaurants. Be sure to bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and come early to reserve your spot!
Listeners will be entertained by a wide variety of talent on the main stage featuring Portrait  in  Jazz, The Gravel Project, Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, and headlining this year: Latin  Logic salsa band! Between the mainstage sets, enjoy musical performances by the MHS Jazz Band, JazzHers, Interlude Music and other local student musicians on the adjacent Education Stage on Summer St.
Mark your calendars, and expect to experience the best that Maynard has to offer this summer on June 15th from 1-6 PM! If you have any questions, feel free to email us at maynardjazzfest@gmail.com. For updates, follow us on facebook.com/maynardjazzfest or check the Events Calendar on discovermaynard.com.
In case of inclement weather, this event will be held indoors and the venue will be announced closer to the date.


LINCOLN SUDBURY CIVIC ORCHESTRA presents “SYMPHONIC POTPOURRI”

On Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM, the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO) presents its spring concert of its 51 st season, “Symphonic Potpourri” at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. The concert is indeed a potpourri – a collage of great music, opening with two concertos with soloists Emil Altschuler, violin, and Dave McLellan, guitar. Works by two great Englishmen whose lives spanned the 19th and 20th centuries, Ralph Vaughan-Williams and Edward Elgar, are featured. The program’s biggest work is Antoin Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony. A special treat of tango by Astor Piazzolla will be performed by the soloists together. Completing his second season, Alfonso Piacentini, a charismatic, young conductor and percussionist leads the all-volunteer community orchestra. In an unusual programming twist, Piacentini is joined by two soloists: Violinist Emil Altschuler returns for his fourth performance with LSCO, and guitarist Dave McLellan – normally LSCO’s timpanist -- for his third. Altschuler will perform Niccolo Paganini’s Concerto #1 for violin, and McLellan will offer the Concerto #1 for Guitar by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Altschuler and McLellan will also perform together in selected movements of Astor Piazzolla’s History of the Tango. The second half of the program highlights two great masterworks of the English orchestral repertoire: Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, the Norfolk Rhapsody #1, by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. The program will close with Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony #9, known as The New World Symphony. Acclaimed violinist, Emil Altschuler, performs with incredible technique, magnificent expression and a profound artistry across a wide-ranging repertoire. The Boston Globe writes “top notch” of Altschuler’s performance. The Strad praises “Passion and portamento from a young American violinist”, and The Whole Note writes “There’s a decidedly old-style feel to…very reminiscent of Heifetz.” Erick Friedman, master violinist and protégé of the legendary Jascha Heifetz, wrote “…a truly outstanding violinist of his generation…and sound and accuracy of intonation that are truly extraordinary.” Dave McLellan has performed in the U.S., South America, Great Britain, and Europe since 1976, including debut and chamber appearances in Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Wigmore Hall (London). Beginning in 1981, he lived a double life as software engineer and concert guitarist with duo partner Neil Anderson. The Anderson-McLellan Duo gave several hundred concerts throughout the 1980’s, including two concert tours of Great Britain, and festival performances in the US and South America. Mr. McLellan’s collaborators include the late guitarist/composer Frank Wallace, the Serata Quartet, soprano Rebecca Grimes, soprano Rebekah Alexander, contralto Emily Marvosh (Handel & Haydn Society, Lorelei), flutist Tracy Kraus, violinist Judith Eissenberg, and guitarist Edward Flower.
Duke ellington tribute

DUKE ELLINGTON TRIBUTE with AIDAN SCRIMGEOUR

WESTFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts will be offering an 11th hour addition to its 2023-24 season when favorite Aidan Scrimgeour returns with a Duke Ellington event on June 8 at 7:30pm! Kids of all ages are welcome. Tickets range from $10 to
$25.  Seating will be cafe-style (tables). BYO food and drink. Doors open at 7pm. For more information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.
Everyone loves Aidan Scrimgeour’s annual “Charlie Brown Christmas Jazz Concert,” but Aidan is back with a Duke Ellington tribute concert to ring in the summer! The Mostly Aidans Trio, featuring Aidan Scrimgeour on piano and Aidan Cafferty on bass. Scrimgeour is a musician, composer and educator from Salem, MA based in Brooklyn, NY. After studying piano performance in the Contemporary Improvisation Program at New England Conservatory with Ran Blake and Hankus Netsky, he graduated with a B.A. in Performance & Representation from Tufts University. In 2020, Aidan co-founded Brooklyn Porch Music, an educational and performance collective that emerged from daily ritualistic concerts throughout the early months of the pandemic. This program provides free music lessons,ensembles and writing workshops for teens in South Brooklyn communities.
Aidan’s musical projects and collaborations incorporate elements of jazz, country, and Irish traditional music, among others. He has performed throughout the country with a variety of groups, playing piano, organ and accordion. In the words of Roy Nathanson of the Jazz Passengers, “the gentle and generous spirit of Aidan’s piano playing leaves you underestimating his remarkable attention to detail and the complexity of his melodic and harmonic ideas. I have been lucky to have played with some amazing players and composers in my 70 years and I can say that Aidan Scrimgeour is a very, very special musician.”
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/pca-jazz-cafe
Facebook:  facebook.com/ParishCenterfortheArts Twitter: twitter.com/PCAWestford Instagram:instagram.com/pcawestford

JUNE 8 WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF ELLEN GARRISON: SCENES FROM AN ACTIVIST’S LIFE

 
Concord 250, Tufts University, Robbins House and The Umbrella Arts Center Team Up to Spotlight Little-Known Story of “Concord’s Rosa Parks” for Semiquincentennial Half the History Project.
In 1835, 12-year-old Ellen Garrison marched in the Concord bicentennial parade, the only person of color to participate, launching her into a life of civil rights activism. Ellen Garrison: Scenes from an Activist Life, the latest Half the History film from Five Sisters Productions and Tufts University, highlights key moments in Garrison’s career, from the parade to her teaching in the South after the Civil War, to her challenging segregation in a Baltimore trail station waiting room in 1866, a century before Rosa Parks. The film emerges as the town’s Concord 250 committee has sought to plan an expansive and inclusive commemoration of its history and role at the start of the American Revolution, and the semiquincentennial of “the shot heard round the world” coming up on April 19, 2025. Garrison was born and raised in The Robbins House in 1823, granddaughter and daughter of formerly enslaved men including grandfather, Caesar Robbins, a farmer and Revolutionary War veteran, and father, Jack Garrison, who escaped slavery in New Jersey. A Town proclamation marking her 200th birthday on April 14, 2023, became the first formal Concord 250 event, followed in 2024 with a celebratory event with film preview at the historic Concord Armory. This June 8, 2024, The Umbrella Arts Center will host the world premiere screening of Ellen Garrison: Scenes from an Activist Life, directed by Jennifer Burton and Ursula Burton and produced by Five Sisters Productions and Julie Dobrow, with the Tufts Production Team. The short film will be followed by a behind-the-scenes
mini-documentary and an interactive discussion with members of the filmmaking team, Concord 250, and The Robbins House. This event is free and open to the public, but with limited capacity, so RSVP in advance is requested at https://TheUmbrellaArts.org/Ellen. The Umbrella is ADA accessible, and provides free parking and free admission to its visual arts galleries.

FIRST PARISH OF BOLTON MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE

 
10 AM, Sunday, May 26th. We will begin with a procession led by Scouts of America Troop 1 from the church, 673 Main St, Bolton, to the War Memorial on Wattaquadock Hill Road. In case of bad weather, the service will be held in the church sanctuary. Those who cannot join the procession can drive over and meet us at the Memorial (ball field). Reverends Ginger Bove and Bea Manning officiating.  All are welcome to Coffee Hour following the moving service.  Any questions, please reach out to us at (978)779-6427 or admin@firstparishofbolton.org.

NASHOBA VALLEY PRIDE FESTIVAL

THE FIRST PARISH OF BOLTON, 673 Main St, Bolton, will be on the Bolton Common, Saturday, June 1st from 1-5 PM to celebrate the Nashoba Valley Pride Festival.  Please stop by our booth and meet us, including our two ministers, ask questions and learn about the services of our congregation. Specifically, we are actively engaged in an educational and policy process that will allow us to be designated as an Open and Affirming congregation, already living as "an ecumenical congregation". If you have any questions, please call us at (978)779-6427 or email us at admin@firstparishofbolton.org.

THRIFTY THURSDAYS

Join us for Thrifty Thursdays every Thursday from 3-6pm at the West Acton Baptist Church. This Pop-Up Thrift Shop is sure to have a little something for everyone. We are located at 592 Massachusetts Ave in West Acton and the Pop-Up Thrift Shop is in our coatroom, entrance next to the elevator & Mini Food Pantry.

A CELTIC CELEBRATION

Join the Sounds of Stow Chorus at 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 2, at the First Parish Church in Stow, for a trip to the British Isles. Under the direction of Christina Kennedy, the chorus and instrumentalists will present songs of love and laughter inspired by Celtic musical traditions. The chorus will be joined by Karen Burciaga, fiddle, and Matthew Wright, guitar and other instruments. Both are members of Ulster Landing, a Boston-based band specializing in folk music of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Cornwall. Other special guests include the Artemis Circle Choral Project, a project-based chorus for sopranos and altos in the Rt. 495 corridor of Massachusetts from North Andover to Stow and beyond, as well as David Cymbala, bodhrán, and Polly Oliver, piano. Please support our effort to help local food pantries by bringing a non-perishable food item to the concert. All donations collected at the concert will go to the Stow Food Pantry. The church is located at 353 Great Road in Stow, MA. Seating at the church is limited and will be first come, first served. For tickets and further information, please visit www.soundsofstow.org. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural
Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Littleton, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton, and Hudson.
Iron works farms

IRON WORK FARMS EVENT

On Sunday, May 26, the Iron Work Farm begins the 2024 season of “4th Sunday'' open houses at our two South Acton house museums with the first installment of the Acton 250th celebration of homes of the 1770s titled “Still Here: Houses of Our Patriots.” The homes of both Col. Francis Faulkner and innkeeper Samuel Jones played important roles at the start of the Revolutionary War. Please come visit to find out more about them. Jones Tavern, 128 Main Street, will be open from 1 to 3:00. The building exemplifies the architecture of several eras, including the original 1732 center-chimney farmhouse and the 1750 leanto taproom. The 1707 Jones-Faulkner Homestead, 5 High Street, open from 3 to 5:00 p.m., is the oldest building in Acton, and the only local example of a First Period “long” house of a distinct English plan. On view there is a Freedom’s Way “Hidden Treasure”—a new wall display funded by the Mass. Cultural Council through the Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council about the Jones and Faulkner mills that formed the origin of Acton’s first settled village, “Mill Corner”. Parking is available on site or on nearby public lots. www.ironworkfarm.org.

MAYNARD’S RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT - New Location!

Maynard's Relay for Life event will take place on Friday, May 31st at the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 pm.  We have many family events planned including kids crafts, games (including the Wheel of Fortune!), movie, music from WAVM, possibly a scavenger hunt led with kazoos! Throughout the night there will be make your own sundaes, pizza and water for sale.  We will of course have many great raffles to take chances on, including a Kobalt 40-watt cordless lawn mower!
Relay is a time to honor cancer survivors to show them they're not alone.  We invite all cancer survivors to register at www.relayforlife.org/maynardma
Our opening ceremony will begin around 6:30 pm. A dinner will follow for all survivors and caregivers. A luminaria ceremony will be around 9:00 pm, where we remember those we've lost and those we support with lit luminaria bags around the parking lot.  You may purchase a luminaria bag at Relay, to honor and/or remember a loved one.

It's not too late to participate in our Relay as a team or an individual.  If you have any questions, please call Kim at 978-897-9907. See our Facebook Page - Maynard Relay for Life - for updates and photos of our beautiful raffles!

All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for research, Hope Lodges and more.  Help us help people celebrate more birthdays!

CONCORD LIBRARY BOOK SALE

Concord Library book sale on the lawn, 129 Main St. Concord. The annual sale is back on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the library Friends. Proceeds help pay for programming, music, children’s events and more. Cash and cards accepted. Rain date June 9.

ACTON COMMUNITY CHORUS EVENT

The Acton Community Chorus is celebrating its 40th season! Celebrate with us as we perform hits from the last 40 years on Saturday, June 1 at 7pm and Sunday, June 2 at 4 pm at the Nashoba Brooks School, Tucker Auditorium, 200 Strawberry Hill Road, Concord, MA. Tickets can be purchased on our website www.ActonCommunityChorus.org or at the door. This season, we are excited to partner with Open Table’s Food Pantry to collect 40 bottles of cooking oil at our concerts. This is a high demand item, so please help by bringing a bottle to donate. Don’t miss this wonderful community event!

BEDFORD'S 2024 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES
(MONDAY, MAY 27)

Join us in honoring our veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. Bedford's Memorial Day events begin at: 8:30am American Legion/VFW Memorial & Shawsheen Cemetery:  Ceremonies begin at the American Legion Post on the Great Road
10:00am Old Burying Ground Ceremony
10:45am BHS Fallen Veterans Memorial Tribute by Bedford HS JROTC cadets
11:00am Town Parade - Great Road parade route. Starts from Mudge Way with brief stop at
WWI Memorial on Town Common
11:15 Veterans Memorial Park (next to Bedford Funeral Home): Town Ceremonies

Contact Chair Peter Ricci for more information: 781-838-1253 (C)
Note: In case of heavy rains, outside activities will be canceled. Veterans Memorial Park ceremonies will be moved to Bedford High School Auditorium starting at 11am.

Visit Bodacious the Therapy Dog Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12 noon

Open to all seniors/free
Visit with Bodacious, a handsome golden-doodle, and his handler Dick each Wednesday at the Senior Center. Bodacious and Dick are members of Therapy Dogs International, a non-profit volunteer group whose tagline is “Paws Awhile for Love.” Bodacious is gentle, affectionate, and hypo-allergenic. Visiting with a therapy dog is known to increase emotional well-being…and it’s free!

Ice Cream Outing at Kimball Farm in Westford

Thursday, May 30th, 1:30-2:30 pm
Acton, Littleton, Boxboro seniors age 60+ only
Who says ice cream is for kids?! Join in for a free small ice cream in a cone or cup as well as some conversation! To receive your voucher, meet at the silo near the cow at Kimball’s at 400 Littleton Road, Westford. RSVP required no later than May 23rd to the Council on Aging at seniorcenter@actonma.gov or 978-929-6652. This outing is a collaboration between the towns of Acton, Boxborough, and Littleton and is administered by the Acton Health Division. It is funded by a grant from CHNA (Community Health Network Area) through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s determination of need process.

ABRHS Student Musical Performance

Tuesday, May 28th, 6:00 pm
Open to all/free
Lina, Erin, and Hyunho, Acton Boxborough Regional High School students, will perform a selection of classical and other genres of music on piano, cello, and flute. Please support these young, talented performers by coming out to enjoy an evening of beautiful music.

Caregiver Support Group via Zoom

Tuesday, May 28th, 3:00-4:30 pm
Open to all caregivers of older adults/free
Join Julie Norstrand for this group that meets twice a month via Zoom. New participants are always welcome! Being a caregiver can be very challenging. You may feel stretched thin with the many demands you face, including work and family life, which can leave you feeling physically exhausted, isolated and alone. Julie has found caregiver groups provide tremendous practical and emotional support to the members. If you are new to the group, please sign up with the Council on Aging at seniorcenter@actonma.gov or call 978-929-6652

Genealogy Group

Tuesday, May 28th, 1:00-2:30 pm
Open to all seniors/free
Our first meeting of the month uses online/computer tools to find answers to family history questions. This month's online focus will be on software for recording ancestor data, charting, and generating family narratives. This month’s second meeting topic is about identifying, labeling, and preserving old family photographs (June: Focus on Novice Genealogists).

Memory Lane Café

Tuesday, May 28th, 12:00-1:30pm
Open to all/free
A Memory Café is a welcoming place for people with memory impairment and their care partners /caregivers. Cafés are a place to talk with others, enjoy lunch and an activity or entertainment together. We do ask attendees to bring their care partners. Lunch will be provided. Sponsored by Acton COA, Concord Park and Cooperative Elder Services. Please let us know if you plan to attend by May 21st.

First Parish Church Is Donating 3 Birthday Parties
for Children in Need Stow, MA

Many families struggle to offer their children the joyful birthday celebrations they deserve. First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) and FPC volunteer staff are offering 3 free parties, to occur between July 2024 and June 2025, to families that might not otherwise be able to have a party for a child. The youth at FPC have helped build a party “escape room” chest that’s available for birthday rentals. The parties are best suited for children and youth between 8 and 17. This includes the use of FPC’s Vestry, including tables and chairs for up to 20 people (though the escape adventure is recommended for 5 to 10 participants), and access to a small kitchen. The parties also include an FPC volunteer who will open and close the building and act as “games master” for the escape adventure. Pirate-themed Escape Room in a Chest: ● 12 puzzles to solve (suited to ages 8 to adult) ● A 60- to 90-minute adventure (approximately) ● Teams of 5 to 10 people Typical Party ● 2 hours total ● Up to 90 min in Escape Game ● Remainder of time in Vestry Cafe for any food, cake and beverages you bring The value of the party is $300 ($250 rent and $50 sexton fee). Low-income families and foster families are encouraged to apply using the URL below. At least one adult must be present throughout the party. Tinyurl.com/FPCpiratebday. Applications will be reviewed by FPC’s minister. Requests will be accepted until May 30. Recipients of the parties will be contacted by June 10, 2024. FPC is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

First Parish Church Is Donating 3 Birthday Parties
for Children in Need Stow, MA

Many families struggle to offer their children the joyful birthday celebrations they deserve. First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) and FPC volunteer staff are offering 3 free parties, to occur between July 2024 and June 2025, to families that might not otherwise be able to have a party for a child. The youth at FPC have helped build a party “escape room” chest that’s available for birthday rentals. The parties are best suited for children and youth between 8 and 17. This includes the use of FPC’s Vestry, including tables and chairs for up to 20 people (though the escape adventure is recommended for 5 to 10 participants), and access to a small kitchen. The parties also include an FPC volunteer who will open and close the building and act as “games master” for the escape adventure. Pirate-themed Escape Room in a Chest: ● 12 puzzles to solve (suited to ages 8 to adult) ● A 60- to 90-minute adventure (approximately) ● Teams of 5 to 10 people Typical Party ● 2 hours total ● Up to 90 min in Escape Game ● Remainder of time in Vestry Cafe for any food, cake and beverages you bring The value of the party is $300 ($250 rent and $50 sexton fee). Low-income families and foster families are encouraged to apply using the URL below. At least one adult must be present throughout the party. Tinyurl.com/FPCpiratebday. Applications will be reviewed by FPC’s minister. Requests will be accepted until May 30. Recipients of the parties will be contacted by June 10, 2024. FPC is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN MASSACHUSETTS
FPC Sunday Service Stow, MA, May 26

UU Mass Action is a statewide social justice organization for Unitarian Universalists (UUs). Its first directors were members of First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). On Sunday, May 26, FPC welcomes the Rev. Jo Murphy, Executive Director of UU Mass Action, to tell us more about its ongoing campaigns. The nonprofit organizing and advocacy group has been working since 2006 to help organize and mobilize the 142 congregations in Massachusetts, consisting of some 20,000 UUs, to address social justice issues at the state level. UU Mass Action has five primary campaigns: Climate & Environmental Justice; Decarceration & End Solitary; Economic & Housing Justice; Immigrant Justice; and Indigenous Justice. All are welcome to this service to learn more about these social justice campaigns in our state. The service will take place both in person and virtually on May 26 at 10 a.m. Masking is optional. Child care is available for ages 3 and under, and children over 3 are welcome to join religious education classes. For information about those classes, contact FPC Director of Religious Education Rayla D. Baldwin-Mattson at dre@fpc-stow-acton.org. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc. FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY CLOSED

Acton Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday, May 26, for carpet cleaning and Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day.
The library will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IN MAYNARD

The Memorial Day Parade Maynard this year will take place on Monday, May 27th. It will be forming in the Town Hall parking at 10:30 am, stepping off at 11:00. It will stop at the Main Street bridge to honor those lost at sea. Then continue to Memorial Park for the main ceremony. After the ceremony, it will reform and continue back to the Town Hall. Come out and remember the sacrifices our veterans made for our freedom.

Town of Acton Invites Community Members to Honor Veterans at
Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27th

ACTON — Town Manager John Mangiaratti, Health & Family Services Director Penelope Funaiole, the District Director of Veterans Services for Acton and Boxborough James MacRae, the Celebrations Committee and Master of Ceremonies Gail Sawyer would like to invite members of the community to join the Town of Acton for its Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies on Monday, May 27.

This year's parade will take place in West Acton, leaving the Gates School promptly at 10 a.m. and proceeding along the following route: Spruce Street to Massachusetts Avenue, then onto Windsor Avenue, and into Mt. Hope Cemetery.

To honor our nation's heroes, the Town of Acton will host a ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 166 Central St., starting at 10:40 a.m. The ceremony will include speeches by the Town’s Veterans’ Service Officer James MacRae and others, the raising of the flag, and more.

The Town will also recognize this year's Grand Marshal, who will be announced at the ceremony.

Attendees are welcome to bring their own folding chairs, as there will be limited seating provided.

After the main ceremony, the procession will continue down Central Street and conclude with an abbreviated ceremony on the West Acton Common on Massachusetts Avenue.

Maps detailing the West Acton Parade route, as well as pick-up and drop-off procedures for parade participants, are included below.

Youth groups that wish to participate should reach out to Gail Sawyer at 978-621-2308 or glsawyer374@gmail.com.

Those with questions regarding veterans and surviving spouse benefits should contact Veterans' Service Officer MacRae at 978-929-6614 or vso@acton-ma.gov.

“The Ammo Dump: A Taking of Heritage” Saturday, May 18

What if you received a knock on your door tonight and were told you had to leave? You had no more than a month to do so, and you could only take what was not nailed down. Eighty Massachusetts families faced that predicament on March 25, 1942. The Ammo Dump: A Taking of Heritage tells their story.
Join us at 1:00 on May 18 at the Fort Devens Museum for an afternoon of local lore and history with the authors of The Ammo Dump. Co-authored by Maynard historian Paul Boothroyd and his sons Paul Boothroyd, Jr. and Todd Boothroyd, the book explores the U.S. Army's seizure by eminent domain of some 3,100 acres of land spanning Maynard, Stow, Sudbury and Hudson in the spring of 1942. At the breakout of World War II, the U.S. government required four square miles to create an ammunition depot. The purpose was to create this munitions storage at a distance from Boston harbor, so that if German battleships appeared off the Massachusetts coast, the munitions facility would be too far inland to be shelled from the sea. An extensive network of railroad tracks and widely spaced 'bunkers' (earth-covered warehouse buildings) would hold munitions until ships docked at harbor to take on supplies for transportation to Europe. Eminent domain was ordered, and the land taken, forever. However, that's only the surface of the tale...
Explore the who, how, and why. Learn about close-knit families in Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Hudson, Massachusetts, who lost their farms, their livelihoods. They not only had to find new places to live and work, they had to deal with the loss of all they had built.
The Fort Devens Museum is located at 94 Jackson Road, Devens, MA, on the third floor and is wheelchair accessible. The museum is open on May 18 from 10 AM to 3 PM with the program at 1:00.  This event is free and open to the public with donations gratefully accepted. Thanks to the Harvard Cultural Council. More information at www.fortdevensmuseum.org.

Chelmsford Quilters Host Quilt Show

Excitement is in the air for this upcoming Quilt Show! And what could be more beautiful than a room filled with hand crafted quilts?! Catch the enthusiasm and attend this local Quilt Show being held May 18 & 19 at Chelmsford Senior Center, 75 Groton Road (route 40) in North
Chelmsford, MA. Show hours are Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The show features over 100 Traditional, Modern, and Art quilts made by members, a Members Boutique, Silent Auction of Mini Quilts, Themed Raffle Baskets, Quilting Demonstrations, and More! Show Vendors are Bits ‘n Pieces Quilt Shop of Pelham NH and blade sharpener National Sharpening Company. This year, our Charity Quilt Raffle will benefit Lowell Transitional Living Center.
Admission is $10 and free for children under 12; cash or check only as we are unable to accept credit or debit cards. Building is wheelchair accessible with plenty of free parking.
The group's Quilt Shows are held every two years and are always a highlight of Guild programming. If you are in the area, this show is a “must see” event!
For more information, visit  www.chelmsfordquiltguild.com

“Formations: Clay, Stone, Time” Art Exhibit opens at 6 Bridges Gallery on May 22, 2024

6 Bridges Gallery presents “Formations: Clay, Stone, Time,” an exhibit of ceramics by Jeanne D’Amico, photographs by Julie L’Heureux, and sketches by Natalie MacKnight.
The exhibit will be on view at 6 Bridges Gallery, 77 Main Street, Maynard, from May 22 through June 22, 2024. It will also be hosted online at 6 Bridges Gallery. A reception will be held on June 8, 5:00–7:00 PM.
Ceramic artist, Jeanne D’Amico, makes functional pieces: tea bowls, mugs, bowls, vases and plates for everyday use. Working with clay on the wheel requires being present with continuous movements and decisions. Occasionally, while throwing one piece, suddenly the clay veers off in another direction. The change could be caused by an unintended hand movement or a change in the consistency of the clay. By choosing to continue in the new direction, a bowl might instead become a vase or a platter. Most times, Jeanne finds that the new piece is infinitely better than the one she had in mind. In addition, the piece often leads to ideas for new functional work.
Digital photographer Julie L’Heureux specializes in still life, landscapes, and portraits. She has a profound fascination for the enduring presence of rock formations and the enigmatic Petrified Forest. Her photography transcends mere representation, capturing fleeting moments set against the timeless backdrop of nature’s sculptures. Each image she creates is more than meets the eye; it is a canvas where light, shadows, color, and clarity are orchestrated to craft an illusion that stirs the realms of our imagination. Utilizing her camera, expert lighting, and the transformative powers of digital tools like Lightroom and Photoshop, L’Heureux invites viewers to explore the juxtaposition of the fleeting and the eternal which is central to her thematic focus on the Petrified Forest and the rock formations, while still capturing the artistic process and vision.
Natalie MacKnight is known for her energetic black and white gouache paintings of boulders and stone walls. In this exhibit, she presents a series of sketches in graphite, charcoal and pencil. MacKnight is one of the many artists displaced when her previous studio building shut down. Working in her home studio, she decided to set aside painting for a bit and focus on sketching. Sketching became an exploration of stone vs. the elusive nature of time:  Boulders and stone walls sit in the forest, patiently and determinedly waiting, while ever-shifting light and foliage flutter around them. MacKnight hopes these sketches will prompt the viewer to embrace the lightness in their own world.
For more information about the exhibit, please visit 6 Bridges Gallery, Facebook, and Instagram.

Gorgeous Iris Show!

On Monday May 27 (Memorial Day) the Iris Society of Massachusetts invites you to an iris show – ‘Dancing with Irises’ – at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main St., West Concord. You will see irises that society members grow in their local gardens and bring to the show to compete for awards. Admission is free, and the show is open to the public from 1-4 pm. The center is accessible and has easy parking. In addition to the array of beautiful, scented irises to which the judges have given awards, there will be tables of companion plants as well as floral arrangements that use irises and that reflect the show’s theme of ‘Dancing with Irises.’ You are encouraged to vote on your favorite iris in the show as well as your favorite companion plant. Rhizomes of spring blooming bearded irises and potted siberian irises will be on sale. They usually sell quickly. Society members will be on hand to answer general questions about irises as well as more specific horticultural queries. To find out more about the show and about the iris society, go to the website: massirises.org.

Lucie Hager: Poet and Chronicler of Boxborough’s Early History

Lucie Hager was a remarkable woman of the 19th Century.  Though she was largely self-taught, she was a successful school teacher, bookkeeper and a prolific writer of poetry.
Late in the nineteenth century Lucie wrote the Boxborough section in a comprehensive history of Middlesex County containing histories of every city and town in the county. At that time Boxborough with its 325 inhabitants was one of the smallest towns in the County . Encouraged by this work and by her friends, she wrote a separate history of Boxborough alone. That book was published in 1891 as “Boxborough: A New England Town and its People”. The book is a treasure trove of lore of the Town and of its notable families.
Come hear Alan Rohwer of the Boxborough Historical Commission discuss the life and labors of this pioneering woman in the meeting room of the Sargent Memorial Library at 427 Massachusetts Avenue (route 111) on Thursday May 23 at 7 p.m.  The event is free and registration is not required.

Religious Education Sunday and Bridging – FPC Sunday Service Stow, Mass., May 19

First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) will hold a special Sunday service celebrating its religious education program, to include recognition of graduating high school seniors “bridging” to adulthood. The service will also feature our annual “RE Extravaganza”! The service will take place both in person and virtually on May 19 at 10 a.m. Masking is optional. 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.

FPC Plant and Jewelry Sale Stow, MA, May 18

A jewelry sale will take place during the annual plant sale at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). The jewelry will be available indoors and will include everything from fun costume bracelets and necklaces to vintage treasures, such as silver earrings and chains, signed pins, and more. The plant sale will include a selection of perennials, ground cover, herbs, annuals, shrubs, small trees, and garden-related items. The plant and jewelry sales will take place on Saturday, May 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., rain or shine, in the church parking lot and Community Room, respectively. To get to the Community Room, go through the main entrance (not the sanctuary entrance), take a left, and go through the second door on the right. Proceeds
benefit the church. FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.