Action Unlimited
Jeanette's trip to nepal during a revolution!

Nepal: Jeanette's Trip to Nepal During a Revolution!
November 1, 6-8 PM
24 Windsor Ave., Acton, MA 01720

Jeanette Staley, a Vermont-based artist and activist, had just arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal when a revolution broke out! She'll share with us her experience with art-making in Kathmandu, a brief hike in Nargokot, meeting an elephant in Chitwan, her visit to a rural school of the lowest caste on the south eastern plains of Nepal and what happened when a revolution not only broke out near where she was in lock down, but was successful! She'll show us photos and other media and artifacts she collected, and of course, share stories of her wonderful adventures... Sponsored by the Windsor Institute's "(R)Evolutionaries Among Us" program dedicated to educating about how small as well as large acts can help us evolve as a society...

Donations accepted for the school Jeanette visited.
More info on Jeanette's work: https://jeanettestaley-artist.com/
More info on the Nepali revolution:https://www.aljazeera.com/video/the-stream/2025/9/19/why-gen-z-brought-down-the-government-in-nepal
More info about the talk: 978-263-5108, or Windsor@lists.mayfirst.org
Please park in the driveway, in front of the Citizen's Library, or in the Pearl St. parking lot or on Mass. Ave.
Iron work farm open houses and living history program

Iron Work Farm Open Houses and Living History Program
Sunday, October 26, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.


128 Main Street and 5 High Street, Acton
The Iron Work Farm continues our series of combined “4th Sunday” events with museum open houses at Jones Tavern (128 Main Street, 1 to 3 p.m.) and at the Faulkner Homestead (5 High Street, 3 to 5 p.m.), as well as a special program in our year-long living history activities for children and families, “Women, Medicine and Witchcraft.”

At the Faulkner Homestead, from 2 to 5 p.m. we will highlight the Faulkner family’s connection to the Salem witch trials, during which Francis Faulkner’s grandmother and her children were imprisoned.  This will be followed by festive fall activities and celebration. Costumes are welcome.

Members of the Nashoba Valley Weavers Guild will also be on hand at the Faulkner House to demonstrate the important role of colonial women in the making of cloth.
No charge.
Parking on site or nearby.     Check www.ironworkfarm.org for details.
Pumpkin fundraiser at st. john lutheran1

Pumpkin Fundraiser at St. John Lutheran Church in Sudbury

Pumpkins of many sizes, shapes, and colors are now on sale at St. John Lutheran Church, 16 Great Road in Sudbury.

Come by anytime from 11 AM to 6 PM until October 31st. (We may knock off a bit early on Halloween Day itself, though.)

Over the past two years, the pumpkin fundraiser has grown in scale and popularity. The money received goes St. John Youth programs as well as organizations supported by St. John outreach, such as the Boys and Girls Club and Minuteman Arc. In addition, the pumpkins are grown in Farmington, New Mexico, on land leased from the Navajo Nation, providing work during the growing season, the harvest, and the off season.
Please come and visit --  and pick out a pumpkin or two!

ABFN Halloween Spooktacular!
October 25th from 10:00-12:30

 
Register here: 
https://www.abfamily.org/content.aspxpage_id=4091&club_id=802795&item_id=2697246

Join us for our annual Halloween Spooktacular event including a juggling magician! (11am) and other fun activities provided by local preschools and businesses. Entertainment will be from 11:00-11:45.
Come dressed in your best family costume for a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses!

Some of the prizes include:
  • Origins Taekwondo Studio: 1-month trial or birthday party package
  • Bright Horizons: Toys and books
  • CBE: Music set
  • Jam Time: 2 passes
  • The Little Gym: Bag, shirt, water bottle, and passes
  • The Discovery Museum: 4 Passes 
How to enter:
When you arrive, have your picture taken by the registration table and pick up your voting ticket. All contestant photos will be displayed on a special table in the gym, each with a corresponding letter for voting. Don’t forget to cast your vote for Best Family Costume!
Attendance is free for ABFN families. Non-Member Families: $10 per family.

Pre-registration REQUIRED for Non-Member Families. Pre-registration for Non-Member Families closes in the morning on 10/25.

Registration is greatly appreciated and recommended for Member families. Only members may walk-in without registering. This is to ensure a safe event. We appreciate your understanding.

The first 30 minutes of the party (10-10:30am) will be geared for families that desire a more sensory-friendly experience.

We will be collecting items for the Acton Boxborough Food Pantry. Please consider bringing a donation with you! Most needed items are: cereal, healthy snack items, baby food, and larger sized diapers (5, 6, or 4T-5T pullups). We will have a bin/donation area for drop off.

Harvard Lions 35th Annual Citrus Sale Benefits Local Charities

 
The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit and California Navel oranges. Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes for $42 each.  Order online through November 14 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 13. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area we can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 13 in Harvard.

The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here .
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.
 

DONATE A THANKSGIVING DINNER BASKET TO A MAYNARD FOOD PANTRY FAMILY

 
The Maynard Food Pantry will once again be providing Thanksgiving dinner baskets to families in need within our community this holiday season.

In the past, families, organizations, groups and companies have generously donated dinner baskets consisting of a frozen turkey or canned ham together with a combination of bagged potatoes, fresh squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, canned or fresh vegetables, apples, oranges, fruit juice, packaged rolls and packaged desserts. Thinking about a family of 6 when putting together the basket is a good guide.

We would greatly appreciate similar donations this year so that the Maynard Food Pantry can provide these wonderful gifts to our client families.  In previous years, we have been able to provide approximately 85-90 dinner baskets to local families in need.

If you would like to donate a Thanksgiving dinner basket or a quantity of one of the above-referenced items, please contact Mary Brannelly by email at mjtbrannelly@comcast.net  no later than Friday, November 14, 2025 for drop off instructions.  Also feel free to send along a note if you need additional information.

The Maynard Food Pantry is always appreciative of cash donations that are used to purchase food to keep the Food Pantry stocked, especially at this time of the year when we consistently see an increase in the number of families in need of our services.  Checks can be made payable to the "Maynard Food Pantry" and may be sent c/o PO Box 55, Maynard, MA 01754.  Thank you and enjoy your Holiday!
 

43rd Annual Conant Artisan and Craft Fair

Looking for unique, handmade treasures? Don't miss the 4th annual Conant Artisan and Craft Fair! This popular event will take place on Sunday, October 26th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Luther Conant Elementary School grounds at 80 Taylor Road in Acton.
Discover a wide variety of handcrafted items from talented local artisans and crafters. From jewelry and pottery to paintings and textiles, there's something for everyone. Enjoy delicious homemade baked goods while you shop and support a great cause.
Proceeds from the fair will benefit the Acton Conant Elementary PTO, helping to fund important programs and school support initiatives.
Mark your calendars and join us for this wonderful community event!

Financial Focus®
Financial fulfillment starts with discipline, not just desire

 
Many Americans strive for financial fulfillment, which involves confidence, control and purpose in their financial lives.

To achieve this, people are willing to adjust discretionary spending, pay off debt and improve their financial habits, according to research by Edward Jones and Cerulli Associates.

But it takes discipline to help turn intention into reality.

Here are a few ways to help strengthen your own financial discipline:
  • Start by breaking big financial goals into smaller milestones. Instead of a goal to pay off all debt immediately, plan to pay a certain amount toward your credit cards each month.
 
  • Be sure to track your monthly spending. You can use budgeting apps, spreadsheets or even a notebook.
 
  • And reward yourself for meeting milestones. Positive reinforcement helps build long-term habits.


A financial advisor can help you maintain the discipline to set goals and stay focused.

When it comes to financial fulfillment, motivation may spark the journey, but discipline is what helps carry it forward.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Tristan Bezzant your local Edward Jones financial advisor at (978) 841-5800.
Edward Jones|Member SIPC.       

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

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

Celebrate the Season at the Annual Scandinavian Fair – Nov 8 in Concord

Join us for the Annual Scandinavian Fair 2025 on Saturday, November 8th from 10 AM to 3 PM at Concord Middle School, 923 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA.
This community tradition is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!
Shop & Explore
Find hand-crafted Scandinavian gifts, jewelry, books, linens, ornaments, and stocking stuffers — perfect for early holiday shopping.
Taste the North
Visit the Nordic Café for open-faced sandwiches, waffles, lefse, and our famous cream cake. Plus, browse gourmet cheeses, baked goods, chocolates, and seafood at great prices.
Enjoy Live Scandinavian Music
Immerse yourself in the sounds and spirit of the Nordic countries while you shop and sample delicious treats.
Bring your family, meet a Viking, and experience the warmth and charm of Nordic holiday traditions!
Admission:
Adults – $5 | Children under 16 – Free
Sponsored by Norumbega Lodge, Sons of Norway.
All proceeds support the Lodge’s fraternal and charitable activities.

“Fill a Truck” Saturday, November 1st

 
Your extra could be someone’s only.
The public is invited to donate good quality new and used household goods on Saturday, November 1st from 9 am to 1 pm at the Pompositticut Community Center, 509 Great Road,  Stow, MA 01775.
Donations will be collected on-site in a moving truck generously provided by Mark’s Moving & Storage and delivered to Household Goods, Inc. Household Goods provides a full range of donated furniture and household items, free of charge, to help people in need make a home.
The event is organized and sponsored by Mark’s Moving & Storage, the official mover of Household Goods. In addition, Mark’s Moving & Storage is providing a driver, support staff and surplus storage if needed.

The following items will be gratefully accepted:
  • Dressers, tables, chairs, couches and bookcases
  • Like-new mattresses, box springs and bed frames
  • Dishes, flatware, pots and pans, bakeware, sheets, towels, blankets, lamps, microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and vacuum cleaners


Only items that are clean, complete and in good working order will be accepted. We cannot take upholstered items that are stained or torn, food, clothing, toys, books or any items not listed above.

About Household Goods, Inc.
Since 1990, Household Goods has furnished 60,000 homes across Massachusetts. Located at 530 Main Street, Acton, MA, Household Goods furnishes over 3,000 homes with 90,000 household items every year. This is made possible by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who contribute tens of thousands of hours. For more information about Household Goods visit https://householdgoods.org

About Mark's Moving & Storage
Mark’s Moving and Storage’s non-profit division Mark’s Northeastern Furniture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and was established to re-purpose discarded furniture and provide for charities and individuals in need. Since 2011, the foundation and its partners have distributed thousands of pieces of re-purposed furniture. More than 1,000,000 pounds of furniture have been given to individuals and local charities, such as the United Way of Tri-County, Welcome Home and Household Goods, Inc.  For more information, visit the firm’s website, www.marksmoving.com.
Mark’s Moving and Storage, 111 Milk St., Westborough, offers a wide range of moving and storage services, including commercial on demand warehouse storage local and long-distance residential and corporate moving, air freight, container shipping, record storage management, disposal, packing and unpacking services, portable storage containers, warehousing and fire and flood remediation.
Nashoba symphonic band opens season

NASHOBA SYMPHONIC BAND OPENS SEASON

The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey will open its 10th Anniversary season on Sunday, November 2nd at 3 pm in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 in Bolton MA (GPS says Green Road). The concert includes the Overture to Colas Breugnon by Dmitri Kabalevsky, Variations on a Korean Folk Song by John Barnes Chance and the Symphonic Songs for Band by the legendary Robert Russell Bennett as well as marches by Karl L. King.

The NSB continues it season on February 7th with Arutunian's Rhapsody for Trumpet and Winds with soloist Joe Cosgrove and the Symphonic Dances from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The May 3rd Tenth Anniversary Concert will feature the brilliant Earles/Fennell transcription for symphonic band of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919 version).
Also look for some new additions this season: On December 7th , April 4th, and May 2nd, NSB Players will be presenting a series of chamber concerts featuring our Chamber Players and Clarinet, Brass, Trombone, and Saxophone ensembles.
For further information, contact David Bailey (baileydavidwayne@gmail.com),
Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Regional High School. It is supported in part by grants from Ashby, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster, Lunenberg and Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.
All Nashoba Symphonic Band events are free and open to the public. 
Sweet dreams strong foundations

Sweet Dreams, Strong Foundations: Helping Young Children (and Parents) Rest Well

Thursday, November 13, 7-8:00 p.m. Live Webinar
Sleep can be one of the trickiest subjects for families with young children. First Connections invites you to join the experienced Concord Children's Center early childhood educators - who have supported infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through every stage of growth - for a practical, encouraging workshop in creating healthy sleep routines. We'll share research on why good sleep is essential for children's learning, behavior, and overall development, and provide simple, effective strategies to make naptime calmer and bedtimes smoother. From setting up routines that work for your family, to handling common challenges like night waking and transitions, our teachers will offer real-life tips and best practices rooted in both science and years of hands-on classroom experience. Parents will leave with concrete strategies, reassurance, and new ideas to help their children (and themselves!) get the rest they need. To receive the zoom link, email lmatthews@jri.org. This free program is funded by the Mass. Dept. of Early Education and Care.

Council on Aging Events

 
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-4:00pm, Tues 8:00am-6:00pm, and Fri 8:00am-12noon

Monday Movie Matinee
The Thursday Murder Club
October 20th, 1:00-3:00pm
(2025, PG-13) Four British retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they have a real whodunit on their hands. Stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and David Tennant. Based on the book by Richard Osman.

Relaxing Reiki Appointments with Monica     
Monday, October 20th, 8:30-11:30am                                                                              
Acton 60+ only
Reservations for appointments open at 8:30 am on Tuesday, Oct. 7th: 978-929-6652 (no voicemails please)
Reiki is an ancient Japanese holistic therapy used to nurture and heal the body, mind, heart, and spirit. It is a gentle, non-invasive treatment where the practitioner uses a light, gentle touch to balance energy in the receiver. When the body is in balance, it is better able to heal and support itself. Reiki is a great form of self-care! Appointments are 30 minutes in length. Make sure to call the COA if you need to cancel an appointment so we can call someone from the waitlist. Monica Forrest is a certified Usui Reiki Master practitioner with a private practice in Acton, blackirisreiki.com.

Exploring Improvisation Workshop with Poornima Kirby
Mondays, October 20th through November 24th, 10:00-11:00am
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $20 starting October 14th
Come unlock your sense of humor, play and discovery with this class on the art and fun of improvisation!  Building on the recent introductory class, we’ll continue to play improv games, explore short-form and long-form scenarios, and gain tools for building characters on the fly. We’ll also sharpen our listening skills, use our imaginations, and learn how to say “yes, and . . .!” to our fellow improvisors. We’ll even learn how to apply improvisation skills in everyday life to solve problems, increase confidence, and gain insights into human relationships. While this class is building on a previous one, new students are also welcome and the class will be tailored to the experience level of the group.

Acton Songsters Concert: Best Loved Songs from Movies & TV Shows
Tuesday, October 21st, 1:00-1:30pm                            
Open to all/free
The Acton Songsters, the Senior Center’s singing group of folks age 60+, led by Dr. Ed Knights, will perform some of the best-loved songs from movies and television shows. New members are always welcome to join the Songsters group! If you’re attending the luncheon beforehand, make sure to sign up for that with the Council on Aging.

Energy Bingo with Acton’s Sustainability Office
Tuesday, October 21st, 2:00-3:00pm                                                
Open to all age 60+/free
Come join us at the Senior Center for Energy Bingo! It’s just like regular bingo—only a bit more electric (get it?). Learn how to save money with state and local energy efficiency programs, while enjoying a fun afternoon of bingo hosted by the Acton Sustainability Office. Topics will include the Acton Clean Energy Coaching Program, Home Energy Assessments, heat pumps, renewable energy, weatherization, subsidized appliances, electric vehicles, and more! No prior knowledge is needed—just come ready to learn and have fun. Members of the Sustainability Office will be available for questions after the game until 3:30, and take-home resources will also be provided.
And of course, there will be prizes!

Friends Jewelry Sale
Wednesday, October 22nd and Thursday, October 23rd, 9:00am-2:00pm                 
All are welcome
The Friends of the COA have been collecting vintage costume and designer jewelry all summer long. Your opportunity to purchase some gifts, a fashion accessory, or a special occasion memento at remarkable prices. Don’t miss it!! Bistro 30 will be cooking on both Wednesday and Thursday for this.

Words Galore via Zoom                                                           
Thursdays, October 23rd through November 13th, 9:00-9:55am 
Open to all age 60+/free

Val Walker’s fall session of Words Galore will meet for four weeks via Zoom for an hour of fun and lively word play and brain twisters—a logophile’s paradise! Learn new words, explore the history of old words, and delve into the origins of words. Enjoy limericks, riddles, famous quotes, puns, and fascinating trivia about trendy words. Play guessing games with the dictionary and words-within-word games. Contact the COA at seniorcenter@actonma.gov to receive the Zoom link.

The Music of Leonard Cohen with John Clark
Thursday, October 23rd, 1:00-2:00pm                                     
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
Even more than his contemporaries Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen’s Jewish heritage informs his music. Both of Cohen’s grandfathers were prominent figures in Jewish leadership and scholarship in Europe and America. Bible references abound in his work—a strongly biblically prophetic strain runs through his album The Future. In Who By Fire (his variation on Unetaneh Tokef ), If It Be Your Will and the title track of his final album, You Want It Darker, he addresses deity through language and form familiar to Jewish worshippers (“hineni, hineni”). Dance Me to the End of Love lends itself beautifully to klezmer band performance. These are just a few of the highlights of this hour of the exploration of the Jewish roots of Leonard Cohen’s art, which includes a brief discussion of the meaning of Leonard’s most famous song, the much-celebrated Hallelujah.

DONATE A THANKSGIVING DINNER BASKET TO A MAYNARD FOOD PANTRY FAMILY

The Maynard Food Pantry will once again be providing Thanksgiving dinner baskets to families in need within our community this holiday season.

In the past, families, organizations, groups and companies have generously donated dinner baskets consisting of a frozen turkey or canned ham together with a combination of bagged potatoes, fresh squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, canned or fresh vegetables, apples, oranges, fruit juice, packaged rolls and packaged desserts. Thinking about a family of 6 when putting together the basket is a good guide.

We would greatly appreciate similar donations this year so that the Maynard Food Pantry can provide these wonderful gifts to our client families.  In previous years, we have been able to provide approximately 85-90 dinner baskets to local families in need.

If you would like to donate a Thanksgiving dinner basket or a quantity of one of the above-referenced items, please contact Mary Brannelly by email at mjtbrannelly@comcast.net  no later than Friday, November 14, 2025 for drop off instructions.  Also feel free to send along a note if you need additional information.

The Maynard Food Pantry is always appreciative of cash donations that are used to purchase food to keep the Food Pantry stocked, especially at this time of the year when we consistently see an increase in the number of families in need of our services.  Checks can be made payable to the "Maynard Food Pantry" and may be sent c/o PO Box 55, Maynard, MA 01754.  Thank you and enjoy your Holiday!

DON’T MISS THE 10th MAYNARD HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
BANQUET & INDUCTION CEREMONY

 
The Maynard High School Athletic Hall of Fame (MHSAHOF) Board is excited to announce its 10th Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 29, 2025, 6 PM to 11 PM at the Maynard~Clinton Lodge of Elks, 34 Powder Mill Road, Maynard.  The past nine events have been huge successes and have sold out!

We are proud to announce the 10th set of inductees to the Maynard High School Hall of Fame: Amanda Allen (1997), Wihlo Frigard (1930), Kelsee Howes Giorgio (2012), Robert Hastry (2003), Joseph Loynd Jr. (2001), Michael Marshall (2012), Edward Mullin (1959), Sean Peterson (2014) and Nana Yankson (1998)

The team that will also be inducted is the 2009~2010 Boys Basketball Team.

It is always a great evening of celebration and a great opportunity to see friends and classmates of Maynard High School.  The festivities will include a cocktail hour (with cash bar), followed by a buffet dinner from 6:30 PM to 8 PM, followed by the Induction Ceremony and ending with a social.

This Banquet is open to all!  Tickets are available for $50/ea until Friday, November 7th (or until sold out) by calling (978) 764-5279 or by emailing mjtbrannelly@comcast.net, jenerbadams@gmail.com or charlotte.murray4116@gmail.com. Board members of MHSAHOF also have tickets for sale.  Feel free to contact Jennifer Adams, Mary Brannelly, Steve Curry, Ted Donnelly, Tim Lawton, Gail Lucas, Charlotte Murray or Barry McNulty.  Tables of 10 may also be reserved.  Whether you are young or older, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to celebrate the great achievements of Maynard’s past student athletes! View our website at http://mhsahof.wixsite.com/athletes to see the list of past years’ inductees.

If you know an athlete who you feel deserves to be inducted into the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame at a future Induction Ceremony, please go to the website and complete a nomination form.  Additionally, donations are always greatly appreciated and may be forwarded to the MHSAHOF, PO Box 56, Maynard, MA 01754. 
Scarecrow contest in acton 2

SCARECROW CONTEST IN ACTON

Enter the annual “Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Middlesex. Bring your $25 donation to Cucurbit Farm at 32 Parker St. in Acton and pick up your scarecrow starter frame. Then drop off your family friendly scarecrow at the farm stand. Individuals, organizations, and businesses are invited to participate. The scarecrows will be on display for the month of October, and the public is invited to cast their vote for the winning entry. Our goal is 100 scarecrows along the fence and many conversations about mental health! It’s the 10th anniversary of the event! Additional info at namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/scarecrow-contest2025
Clean energy home of the month

Clean Energy Home of the Month – Focus on Dual Fuel & Solar

When: Saturday, October 25, 11am or 1pm
Where: Acton, MA (Address sent upon registration.)
ACTON: Are you thinking about heat pumps but worried about electricity costs? Do you have one room that needs a heating or AC boost? Energize Acton continues its series on how energy use matters for future generations with an October home tour that features a multi-systems house. The homeowners have moved one step at a time, from insulation to an air source heat pump for part of their energy load, while maintaining their gas connection. Most recently, when their tree canopy changed, they installed rooftop solar. Come ask questions and hear about their journey to decrease the carbon footprint of their home. Coffee and munchies, along with the latest news on Mass Save rebates and the winter heat pump discount electricity rate. There will be two free sessions, one at 11am and one at 1pm. The address will be sent upon registration. For info and registration, go to https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/2026.
Harvard lions 35th annual citrus sale

Harvard Lions 35th Annual Citrus Sale Benefits Local Charities

The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit and California Navel oranges. Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes for $42 each.  Order online through November 14 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 13. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area we can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 13 in Harvard.

The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here .
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.

FABULOUS FABRIC, YARN, & NOTIONS SALE: OCT. 18 in ACTON

Miss your favorite quilting shop and JoAnn’s fabric store? Find bargains galore on Sat., October 18 from 9am-2pm at the Concord Piecemakers guild sale. Location: St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 435 Central St., Acton.
Featuring high quality quilting fabrics ($5/yard) and bins full of yarn ($2/skein) for your knitting projects. Huge selection of sewing notions – zippers, scissors, rotary cutters, full packets of pins, excellent thread, hemming tape, etc. Pick up bundles of 5” nickel squares all cut and ready to become your next quilt top. Useful quilting books and patterns at rock bottom prices. Everything’s priced to sell and sell fast.
Learn more about our guild: https://concordpiecemakers.org/

Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club, Celebrating 60 Years – Welcomes you to our Halloween Potluck Fall Game Night

Looking for friendship and good conversation?  The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club would like to invite you to connect with our members on Saturday October 25th at our Halloween Potluck Fall Game Night in Acton.  We will meet at the Village of Nagog Woods Clubhouse, 102 Nonset Path, Acton from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM to enjoy friends, games, food, and beverages.  Everyone is bringing a favorite appetizer, meal, or dessert to share. Costumes are encouraged.  If you would like more information, or to join us, please RSVP to info@nashobavalleyneighbors.org.
Our ongoing public events are Lunch Bunch, Movie Night, Book Club, Dinner Group, Trivia Nights, Summer Picnic, Wine Tastings, as well as Men's and Ladies Night events.
The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club is a non-profit social organization open to new and established residents from Acton, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Westford, Maynard, and Harvard.  Originally called the Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club of Acton, and then the Acton-Boxborough Newcomers & Neighbors Club, in 2014, we became the Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club to reflect our current members and their interests.  Our club welcomes any residents in the surrounding communities that are looking to explore new interests and to make connections with new friends.
Find us on Facebook or visit the Club’s website at http://www.nashobavalleyneighbors.org for more information, as well as information on how to become a member of the Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club.  We look forward to seeing you!
Halloween brown bag concert

Halloween Brown Bag Organ Concert
October 29th, 2025 – 11:30am

Location:  Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Road, Acton, MA 01720
Join the ACC organist, Liz Carley, for a free concert and lecture on some of the spooky music associated with Halloween and All Hallows Day.  Bring a brown bag lunch and have lunch with us after the concert in our fellowship hall.  You bring the interest and the sandwiches, and we'll provide the music.
Mark your calendars to kick off your holiday shopping

Mark Your Calendars to Kick Off Your Holiday Shopping – November 1st!

Kick off your holiday shopping at our First Annual Handmade Harvest Market! We're bringing together a variety of professional artisans and enthusiastic shoppers for a wonderful day of creativity and community.
Proceeds benefit the local Missions and Outreach activities of ACC.
Date: Saturday, November 1st, 10am-3pm
Where: Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Rd, Acton
Admission: $3 adults, Free for students and children
**Image: Mark Your Calendars to Kick Off Your Holiday Shopping

Boxborough Fall Library Used Book Sale

The Friends of the Boxborough Library Fall used book sale will start with a Preview Sale for members on Friday, November 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Memberships will be available at the door).
The main public sale will take place on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Everything Must Go sale will be held on Sunday November 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Standard size bags will be provided; pay $5 to fill each bag however you like.
The sale will take place in the meeting room of the Sargent Memorial Library, 427 Massachusetts Avenue. Proceeds from the sale will go toward additional library programs and museum passes. Cash and checks only.
 
Please support this sale by attending and by donating your gently used hard covers, paperbacks, music, and audiovisual items, and also puzzles and board games in complete and as new condition. Donations will be accepted from Monday November 3 through Thursday November 6 at the library during regular library hours. Please no VCR tapes or magazines or any material in really poor condition.

Theatre III Presentation of “Women in Jeopardy!”

ACTON — Theatre III, 250 Central St., West Acton, will kick off its 2025-2026 season with the presentation of “Women in Jeopardy!”, by Wendy MacLeod, from Oct. 18th through Oct. 26th.

Performances at the theatre will be at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 18th and Oct. 24th-25th, and at 2pm on Oct.19th and Oct. 26th.  Tickets are $25 for general admission and $22 for seniors and students, when purchased in advance.

Thelma and Louise meets The First Wives Club in this fun and flirtatious comedy.   Divorcées Mary and Jo are suspicious of their friend Liz's new dentist boyfriend.  Trading their wine glasses for spy glasses, imaginations run wild as the ladies try to discover the truth and save their friend in a hilarious off-road adventure.

The play is directed by S Columbus, produced by Linda Minkoff, and stage managed by Emily Lambert.  It stars Kristin Gillett, Karla Lang, Nancy Lynne Albertson, Colleen Eccles, Rosemary Oullet, and Glenn Arthur Pierce. 
For information, email publicity@theatre3.org, and to buy tickets, visit https://www.theatre3.org.

Maynard Hosts DarkSky Massachusetts’
Annual Meeting

 
For the past year, Green Maynard has been working on a lighting bylaw that we hope to present at the Spring or Fall 2026 Town Meeting. We have been working with experts from DarkSky Massachusetts—part of DarkSky International, an organization that works to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities from the harmful effects of light pollution. Towns such as Acton, Concord, and Boxborough already have some form of lighting bylaw, and we will propose a bylaw recommended by DarkSky Mass that has been fully implemented in communities such as Becket, Gloucester, Nantucket, Northampton, and Pelham. Other towns, like Chelmsford, are preparing similar proposals for upcoming town meetings. Additionally, two statewide bills on this issue are currently in committee.

Because of the active involvement of Green Maynard in developing Maynard’s lighting bylaw, DarkSky Mass has decided to hold their annual in-person meeting here as a way of offering support and increasing visibility.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. Here are the details:

Place: Maynard Fire House, 30 Sudbury St.
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 1:30PM – 4:30PM (check-in starts at 1PM)
Light refreshments provided
Stargazing (weather permitting) optional after the meeting

Speakers:
  • Debbie Moran is an advocate with DarkSky International who specializes in police education around glare and safety.
  • Vick Mohanka is executive director of Sierra Club Mass and an expert on policy and advocacy.


To register for the event or for more information, visit DarkSkyMass.org. Recordings of the speakers will be available at a later date.
 

The Friends of the Acton Libraries To Host Used Book Sale October 25-26, 2025

 
The Friends have been collecting and sorting a lot of books since the last sale! Now is your chance to come to stock up on good books in good condition to prepare for cozy fall reading by the fire!

The Friends of the Acton Libraries will hold a live and in person used book sale on Saturday October 25 at the Acton Memorial Library from 9 am until 4 pm. Members of the Friends are invited to a preview of the sale on Friday, October 24 from 7 pm until 9 pm. Sunday October 26 will be half price day for all, from 1 pm to 4 pm. While not required, face coverings while inside at the sale are encouraged.

Both cash and credit cards are accepted!

Be sure your membership is up to date before the big Friends Used Book Sale so you can have first crack at the great selection of used books at the sale preview. If you aren’t yet a member, you can join on Friday night.

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

The Friends of the Acton Libraries is a 100% volunteer organization that has a unique remit; we donate funds to Acton's 8 elementary middle-school and high-school libraries, as well as the 2 town libraries. Our book sales and other activities raise money which we then distribute to these 10 entities. The funds we give to the elementary school libraries represent almost 50% of their book buying budget.

For more information, contact The Friends at friendsofactonlibraries@gmail.com
Join us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/friendsactonlib. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/friendsactonlib or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/friendsactonlib
 

43rd Annual Conant Artisan and Craft Fair

Looking for unique, handmade treasures? Don't miss the 4th annual Conant Artisan and Craft Fair! This popular event will take place on Sunday, October 26th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Luther Conant Elementary School grounds at 80 Taylor Road in Acton.
Discover a wide variety of handcrafted items from talented local artisans and crafters. From jewelry and pottery to paintings and textiles, there's something for everyone. Enjoy delicious homemade baked goods while you shop and support a great cause.
Proceeds from the fair will benefit the Acton Conant Elementary PTO, helping to fund important programs and school support initiatives.
Mark your calendars and join us for this wonderful community event!

FINANCIAL FOCUS®
Financial tips for first-time college students

 
Sending your child to college is an exciting milestone. It may also be the first time your student will manage their own money.

Don’t worry. With a few simple strategies, you can help them avoid pitfalls:

Start with a budget. Many people use the “50/30/20” rule, which calls for 50% of income toward needs, 30% for wants and 20% toward savings and financial goals.

Guide them toward smart credit habits. That first credit card in college can be scary. The key is helping them understand how to use it wisely, ideally not overspending, so your child is paying off the card balance on time, every month.

Pay attention to everyday expenses. College life doesn’t have to break the bank. For example, remind your child to take advantage of student discounts available at restaurants, clothing and grocery stores and entertainment venues.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Tristan Bezzant, your local Edward Jones financial advisor at (978) 841-5800.
Annual holiday open house kitty angels weekend

Annual Holiday Open House & Kitty Angels Weekend

Amherst, NH – Treasures Antiques, Collectables & MORE!, located at 106 Ponemah Road in Amherst, NH will be hosting their 35th Annual Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Fundraising weekend on November 1st and 2nd. Festivities for the weekend will run both days, rain or shine, from 9AM till 4PM and includes Holiday inspired shopping, raffles and entertainment.
   
     This annual event has been a mainstay in the community since 1991 and features Kitty Angels, Inc., a no-kill cat shelter that is made up of all unpaid volunteers, dedicated to rescuing stray and abandoned cats and furnishing them with treatment for injuries or other health issues. These cats are then placed into life-long, loving “forever homes” with compatible owners. All necessary steps are taken to ensure the wellbeing of the cats, including spaying and neutering and providing rabies, distemper and other necessary vaccinations. They are a non-profit, charitable corporation and all donations are fully tax-deductible with every penny of each donation going directly to the care of these cats.

The weekend will also showcase some artists and artisans, crafters, professionals and specialty food vendors. Some participants include; artist Lori-Ellen Budenas of Respect the Wood!, a creator of abstract paintings, coasters, trivets and more, Seasonal Creations by Laurianne, Terrariums By Stephanie, The Glass Bottle, LuLaRoe, Heart’s Design Jewelry, Cam’s Shop, Ink 3-D, 2 Good 2 Be Baked, offering home baked breads and pies, Lime on the Loose, Tupperware, Karen Files Unique Designs, The Damsel Safety Chick, Expressional Gems, “Color Street” Darci’s Purple Passion Nails, Sparkles & Stitches, Cute Little Creations, Eclectic Touches, Scentsy, Crystal X Clear Collection, Oak Hill Designs, Midnight Kitty Creations, Angela and Miss Cat, Sassy Stitches, Just A Bunch Of Knots, SoGo Metal Art, Custom Care Designs, Gabe’s Creations, Moonshadow Designs, Mugwort & Mint Studio and so many more, along with live musical entertainers; Joey Peavey, Jeff Damon, Roosta Gulla, Sunset Rhythm, ‘9 Strings’ with Dick Spencer and Dan Rodd, Side Effects and Ken McAdams!

     This Holiday and Fundraiser event is pet and kid friendly and will offer exceptional sales for all, inside and out. Along with the food truck "B's Grumman Grub," a petting zoo with horse and pony rides will be provided by "Mapledell Farms" and "Trading Faces, LLC/Central Birch Art Studio" is offering face painting, body art and air brushing and, featuring a ‘paint and take’ activity for kids and adults alike.

     Treasures will also be offering a number of fun and exciting raffles, with prizes donated by local and national businesses. These prizes will include a “2 day get-a-way,” from HOMEWOOD SUITES, Nashua, an awesome chainsawed “Bald Eagle” head carving by Aya Blaine of the CHAINSAW CHIX,  a “2 tier cat tree” by ARUBACAT as well as many other cat and dog related items, jewelry, specialty food packages, and a variety of extra cool and exciting prizes.

     Please join Treasures and Kitty Angels, in friendship and the spirit of giving and sharing at the Holidays. For more information, visit www.TreasuresNH.com and www.KittyAngels.org   

Paranormal Talk & Fundraiser with Joe Rainone

Join us at the Massachusetts National Guard Museum Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 5PM for a fascinating evening with EVP specialist and New England Paranormal lead investigator Joe Rainone. In 2024, Joe led a two-team ghost hunt at the Museum, uncovering intriguing evidence and stories from the Armory. During this one-hour presentation, he will share his findings, personal experiences exploring unexplained phenomena, and some of the evidence captured right here in the historic building.
Following the talk, the Armory will remain open for visitors to explore. This special event is part of a fundraiser to support the Museum’s programs and preservation efforts. The Museum is located at 91 Everett St, Concord, MA 01742. Go to https://friendsmangmuseum.org/events/ to register for the event.
Save a dog adoption event

Save A Dog Adoption Event
Meet your Perfect Match!
Saturday, October 25, 10am – 12 pm
at MetroWest Subaru


Looking to add a canine member to your family?
Join Save A Dog on Saturday, October 25, from 10 am to 12 pm at MetroWest Subaru, Route 9 East, Natick, for our “Meet & Greet” adoption event! Meet the adorable dogs and puppies looking for their forever homes and speak directly with staff who can introduce you and tell you more!
Monthly “Meet & Greet” events have been key to the success of hundreds of Save A Dog’s adoptions.
“This is always a fantastic opportunity for so many of our amazing, deserving pups to meet their potential forever person or family in a fun and welcoming setting,” says Julie Bolio, Save A Dog’s Shelter Manager. “Adoptions all over the country have slowed, leading to longer stays in shelters, so we especially appreciate the opportunity to give our pups extra exposure during 'Subaru Loves Pets Month!'
While Save A Dog adopters hail from all over New England and Massachusetts, “Meet & Greet” events are particularly popular with residents from surrounding communities including Acton, Maynard, Marlborough, Hudson, Stow, Carlisle, Westford and Littleton.
More information about Save A Dog’s adoptable dogs (and cats) can be found at www.saveadog.org.
Interested adopters are encouraged to complete an online application beforehand (www.saveadog.org/applytoadopt.asp) to help streamline the adoption process and find the best match for their household.
Now celebrating 27 years of rescuing homeless dogs and cats through its Sudbury shelter and network of dedicated foster homes, Save A Dog has found loving families for nearly 9,000 companion animals.
See you Saturday, October 25! 

JOIN NO KINGS RALLIES THIS SATURDAY

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) has joined No Kings 2 as a national partner this Saturday, October 18. For more than a century, the League has stood firm in defending democracy and confronting threats to freedom and equality.
No Kings 2 offers an opportunity for people across the nation – and in Massachusetts – to come together in solidarity with allies and take a united stand against hate and authoritarianism.
There are several local rallies planned for this Saturday:
Acton, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., 472 Main Street
Chelmsford, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., Town Common, corner between North Road and Westford Street
Groton, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Groton Town Hall, 173 Main Street
Littleton, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Littleton Common, Stevens Street
Lowell, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Click on this link for location: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/846848/
Tyngsboro, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Tyngsboro Bridge, Middlesex Road and Kendall Road
Those unable to attend a local event can still take part. This map lists hundreds of rallies taking place across the country: https://www.nokings.org/#map
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, issues-oriented organization – open to all – that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. For more information about the organization, go to lwv.westford.org.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

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

Worcester Chamber Music Society Presents “The Joy of Youth” November 7 in Harvard and November 9 in Worcester


Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 20th Season with a concert titled “The Joy of Youth” at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Harvard on November 7 and at Assumption University in Worcester on November 9.  A reception will follow each concert.
Youthful joy and sweetness shine through music written when these composers were still young. The ephemeral nature of youth was heightened for Boulanger, who composed D’un matin de printemps on her deathbed at age twenty-four. Despite chronic illness, Boulanger’s robust musical lineage was noticeably influential from as early on as the age of two, when she learned to read music before learning the alphabet and could sing melodies just by hearing them. Mozart, who died less than ten years after completing the “Spring” Piano Trio, was so renowned for his wunderkind abilities that he toured Europe as a six year old, and continued composing and performing for courts and royalty through his teen years. Brahms wrote the Piano Quartet early in his career, while his course was still being charted. Like Boulanger and Mozart, Brahms was born into a musical family and began composing and learning to play violin, cello, and piano as a young boy, though he published his earliest works under a pseudonym, perhaps due to sharp self-criticism and artistic perfectionism.
Friday, November 7 @7:30PM Sunday, November 9 @4PM
Unitarian Universalist Church Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
9 Ayer Road, Harvard 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @7 PM Pre-concert talk @3:30 PM
Program
Lili Boulanger | D’un matins de printemps
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | String Quartet K387 G major
Johannes Brahms | Piano Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 26
Worcester Chamber Music Society Musicians:
Krista Buckland Reisner and Rohan Gregory, violin
Peter Sulski, viola
David Russell, cello
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
With guest  Tracy Kraus, flute
All venues are handicapped accessible.
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/the-joy-of-youth/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624
The american chestnut story an orchard tour

The American Chestnut Story: An Orchard Tour
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm

On October 26, 1-3 pm, take a walk to learn about American Chestnut Trees with the Westborough Community Land Trust!

Did you know there is an American Chestnut tree breeding orchard in Westborough? These trees once dominated North American forests. With their huge size and their ability to produce many bushels of tasty nuts per tree each year, they were a cornerstone of ecosystems and livelihoods. Chestnut blight, a fungal disease, killed most of these trees in the decades following its introduction from Asia in 1901, but exciting efforts are being made to bring this tree back to its former glory.
Learn the fascinating story behind the work that is being done on this tour of the American Chestnut orchard and the surrounding property! Led by Bill Davis of the American Chestnut Foundation.

Meet at the Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road (off North Drive) in Westborough. Park at the “P” near the lower left corner of the map linked below.

Free, open to the public, no reservation needed. Less than 1 mile of walking on easy woodland trails with one moderate hill.
Before leaving check https://westboroughlandtrust.org/ for cancellations.
For questions contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org
Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/WMA

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

 

     Maybe it’s the season but it seems that a lot of people are “cleaning out” their homes or their relatives’ homes and bringing donations to the furniture bank.  Saturday (10/11)started slowly with the furniture donations, in spite of the beautiful weather.  One frequent donor from Hopkinton arrived before we opened and she waited patiently as we set up to unload her car full of donations that she got from the Hopkinton free site.  When donors began to arrive they mentioned traffic problems from an accident on Rt. 62 and another on Rt. 495.  We had a new volunteer who worked with us and she asked good questions and was a quick learner of our procedures.  Donors with household items (not furniture)continued to arrive until we closed at noon.  All in all it was a good morning at Fresh Start.
     We still need things for our client and you can help!  Check our website and our facebook page for most needed items.  At present we are low on serving utensils, can openers, serving dishes, cookware, small appliances, dishes (plates, cups, bowls), queen size sheets, towels, bath rugs, throws for kids & adults, lamps and coffee tables.
     Thank you for helping us to help others!  We give new and gently used furniture and furnishings to pre-qualified clients at no charge to help them set up their homes.
 

Council on Aging Events

 
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-4:00pm, Tues 8:00am-6:00pm, and Fri 8:00am-12noon

The Town of Acton Human Services and Senior Center will be closed on October 13 in observance of Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day.

Book Discussion Group                
Tuesday, October 14th, 10:00-11:00am                                                   
Open to out-of-town 60+/free
The discussion for October’s meeting will be around the book The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. If you would like to read ahead, the discussion for November’s meeting is around the book Table for Two by Amor Towles. Copies of the books are on hold for the group at Acton Memorial Library. You may also check availability at Citizen’s Library (978-929-6654). Ann Kulsick facilitates the gatherings.

Introduction to Breathwork Part 2
Tuesday, October 14th, 1:00-2:00pm                                 
Open to all aged 60+/free
Join Gauri Tandon of Neurovana Health is returning for a second workshop on breathing exercises that are rooted in the centuries old practice of pranayama. This practice is known to help with better sleep, improved digestion, and reducing stress. Also discussed will be concepts of self-awareness through breathwork and strategies to include in our daily lives to help us feel better. You can participate whether or not you attended Gauri’s first workshop in June. Space is limited – registration required.

Daigaku Imo Cooking Demonstration & Chinese Characters
Tuesday, October 14th, 2:00-3:00pm                                                                        
Acton age 60+ only
Join Asako Judson to enjoy a sweet taste of autumn with a cooking demonstration of Daigaku Imo, a glazed sweet potato treat popular in Japan, served with tea. We will also explore the meaning of a few simple Chinese characters and write them for a fun, hands-on experience. Spend a relaxing hour welcoming the cooler season. Registration is required; if you find you cannot attend, please inform the COA. Asako Judson, who lives in Acton, has worked at several restaurants and as a private chef and caterer.

Reflexology Appointments with Rebecca Howard
Tuesday, October 14th, 3:00-4:30pm                                                          
Acton age 60+ only
Reflexology is a complementary health therapy involving applying gentle pressure to specific points on the hands, feet, and ears to promote relaxation, healing, and balance in other parts of the body Curious how reflexology can help you? Contact the Council on Aging to make an appointment with reflexologist Rebecca Howard. See p.3 about Rebecca’s talk.

Lunch/Tour at Concord Park Assisted Living
Wednesday, October 15th, 11:30am                                                                       
Acton age 60+ only
Join us for a special lunch at Concord Park Assisted Living, 68 Commonwealth Ave, Concord. Meet at Concord Park by 11:30, park along the left front of the building, inside the white fence. Featuring resident favorites from the Brain Healthy menu as well as menu options from the grill, garden, and deli. Following lunch, you can explore the community. Get an inside look into what programs are offered and meet some of the residents who call Concord Park home. Space is limited signup is required.

The Robber Barons: Money, Power & Greed in the Gilded Age with Paolo Di Gregorio
Thursday, October 16th, 1:00-2:00pm   
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
During the second half of the 19th century, new American elites emerged and changed the shape of business and society. The Carnegies, Vanderbilts, Morgans, and Rockefellers amassed mind-boggling fortunes through skill, ambition, and ruthlessness. These “Titans of Industry” created an American aristocracy where position and privilege were based solely on wealth and where power and influence were freely wielded.

Java with John
Friday, October 17th, 9:45pm                                                                         
Open to Acton residents
Town Manager John Mangiaratti will be here to give updates from the Town, answer your questions, and listen to your suggestions and concerns. Acton TV will be filming it live.
“grain elevators” art exhibit old hemlock elevator
“Grain Elevators” Art Exhibit opens at 6 Bridges Gallery on October 15, 2025
6 Bridges Gallery presents “Grain Elevators” , an exhibit of watercolor paintings by Joyce McJilton Dwyer.

The exhibit will be on view at 6 Bridges Gallery, 77 Main Street, Maynard, from October 15 to November 15, 2025.  It will also be hosted online at 6Bridges.gallery. A reception will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, 5:00–7:00 PM.

In this exhibit, watercolorist Joyce McJilton Dwyer turns her focus to grain elevators, a prominent fixture of the farmland in the Midwest. She writes:

“Grain Elevators are a piece of agricultural architecture scattered across the midwestern landscape from the Great Lakes to the Northwest Upper Peninsula into Canada, often sticking up into the sky from tiny towns on the open prairie where one can see unobstructed across the landscape.

I grew up in Michigan on a family farm and our harvest went to our local grain elevator—to be dried, recorded and transported from there after my father decided, from the morning crop price report on the radio, that it was time to sell part of that crop. It was always a guess if the price would later go up or retreat. We’ve grown corn, navy beans, pinto beans, black beans, soybeans, wheat, oats and sugar beets. We also grew alfalfa when we had a dairy herd.

The elevators were busy at harvest time because all the farmers were trying to get their crops harvested when the weather was dry and the crops were dry and ripe. My grandfather would take a slow ride with a tractor and wagon full of the crop and wait in a long line for his turn to dump his load and return for another load. My father would stay at our farm to continue harvesting, sometimes into the night, to take other loads to the elevator or to back them into our large shed so no rain or dew would add to their moisture—or to put the wheat and oats into our own bins in our shed. We would put our corn harvest into long, tall, thin corncribs to dry out from the wind for animal food. It was always a relief to get all the crops harvested in September and October, securing our crop income for the year. 

These structures have a lot of meaning for me, as I have traveled locally and further west. In preparation for this show, I started to look at them more closely and learn more about the progression of crop storage in the US and the changes in storage architecture over time—as well as the changes in agriculture with small farms disappearing and giving way to huge industrial agriculture, not the best answer for small farmers.

My question is, where do we think our food comes from?”

For more information, please visit 6 Bridges.Gallery, Facebook, and Instagram.
Toastmasters flyer

Acton Memorial Library closed for Columbus Day

Acton Memorial Library | 486 Main St. | Acton, MA

Acton Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, October 13, for Columbus Day. The library will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14.  
Join the maynard community band

Join the MAYNARD COMMUNITY BAND

Bring your old Instrument – Come to Play
Enjoy the Music and Meet New Friends

If you’ve ever enjoyed playing an instrument, performing music in a 50 piece band, with an ensemble of friends, the Maynard Community Band (MCB) invites you to join them for their 80th year of sharing the gift of music.  Find that instrument in your closet, clean it off and rekindle that enjoyment.  We’re particularly looking to recruit drummers and percussionist to add to that section.

The MCB, is a local volunteer organization established in 1947.  Having a regional membership with a long proud musical history, the MCB performs a variety of musical numbers from Patriotic, to show tunes, to concert pieces and many of the latest up-tempo arrangements.

The band has been performing FREE concerts to the local towns’ people every Wednesday from mid-June into September since 1947.  With support from the Maynard Cultural Arts Council, town officials and others, the band is presently preparing for our 2025 Holiday Pops Concert with a variety of new material.

If interested, we’d love to have you join us at a rehearsal on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:45 pm at the Fowler Middle School, 3 Tiger Drive, off of Route 117 (Great Road) in Maynard, MA.

At MCB you’ll play without audition in a relaxed setting without criticism. All you’ll need is your instrument and the ability to read music.

As we’re always looking to grow the group in all sections, we especially have openings on Flute, Sax, Clarinet, French Horn and Percussion.   Here’s your opportunity to join other like-minded folks, young and old, who find pleasure in making music and presenting it to others during our public performances.

Visit our website at http://www.maynardcommunityband.com, check us out on Facebook, or contact Michael , our conductor, at mkarp143@verizon.net for more information.

We are a very welcoming group, play a wide variety of both traditional and contemporary music and would love to have you be a part of our musical family.

October 18th Maynard Fall Ball
The Official Fundraiser for the Maynard Holiday Parade

As the leaves begin to fall and the weather shifts to cooler days, the 3rd Annual Maynard Fall Ball is on the horizon.

The Fall Ball helps to fund the rising cost of the Maynard Holiday Parade. The Halloween costume themed party is on Saturday, October 18th at the Maynard Elks from 7-11pm. All ages are welcome.
Costumes are encouraged, but not required. The fun includes live band Westwood Junction, raffles, and KBK Sports will be providing a silent sports, movie and music memorabilia auction. Kids will enjoy the free face painting and cookie decorating. Appetizers and desserts will be served. Cash bar.
Come dance the night away for a wonderful cause! You’ll be supporting our highly anticipated Dec. 7 (rain/snow date of Dec. 14) holiday parade and village.

To purchase Maynard Fall Ball tickets, go to lightuptheholidaysmaynard.com. Donations and sponsorship opportunities are available there as well.
A cuba benefit concert with sol y canto

A Cuba Benefit Concert with Sol Y Canto
A fundraiser for desperately needed aid for the Cuban people


The United Church of Christ in Boxborough, https://boxboroughucc.org/,
will be hosting a Cuba Benefit Concert featuring Boston-based Pan-Latin Band, Sol y Canto, on Saturday, October 25th, at 7:30 PM at the United Church of Christ in Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Avenue, Boxborough, MA.
Tickets are $25 per person ($30 at the door), $15 for students. To make a donation or to purchase tickets, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cuba-benefit-concert-with-sol-y-canto-tickets-1611092764829?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

The COVID Pandemic forced Cuba to close its doors to tourism for several years, which severely impacted the economy. Additionally, the main power plant experienced a breakdown last fall, resulting in widespread power outages across the island for several weeks. Since then, electricity has been rationed, and families can expect to have power for only a few hours each day. Food and water are also rationed. The people are struggling to survive.

In an effort to support the Cuban people, the United Church of Christ in Boxborough, MA, will host a benefit concert at UCCB on October 25th, featuring the Boston-based band Sol Y Canto, an award-winning Pan-Latin ensemble known for its vibrant concerts and critically acclaimed music that blends diverse Latin American styles. The Boston Globe and WBUR describe their performances as “exhilarating and moving,” highlighting the duo's poetic lyrics, intricate guitar work, and engaging stage presence. Their music is often described as a "journey" through different rhythms and cultures, making it accessible to both Spanish- and non-Spanish-speaking audiences.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregation of the Second Baptist Church in Santiago de Cuba and neighboring communities.

The event organizer is Cuban-born Maricel Lucero. Her father, Oscar Lucero, played a significant role in the Cuban Revolution of 1959.  Unfortunately, he was captured and killed by Batista’s officers, only months before the triumph of the Revolution.  Today, he is known as “The Martyr of Silence” because he refused to reveal the names of other rebels when he was captured.

Maricel immigrated to the U.S. as a child, leaving behind a significant part of her extended family.  She has journeyed back to Cuba many times to learn about her father's legacy and to reunite with loved ones. Over the years, she has guided groups from the U.S. to Cuba, bringing not only visitors but also vital humanitarian aid.
Vietnamnursetospeak

Vietnam Nurse to Speak at Women’s Alliance Meeting October 11

Gerri Fowler, a former Vietnam nurse, will speak at the First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA Women’s Alliance meeting on Saturday, October 11 at 11AM. She will share her experiences as a nurse during the Vietnam war and briefly touch on the book “The Women” by Kristen Hannah.

“In 1965 there was a series of events that took me as brand new Army nurse on a scary adventure with top secret orders. When your boss says “Get your affairs in order”, what would you think?”--Gerri Fowler

All are welcome to this insightful talk, held in the vestry at 19 Foster Street, Littleton, MA. To be followed by a Bring Your Own Lunch. This meeting will be a hybrid meeting; if you can’t make it in person, contact Rochelle Chambless for a link to the online version of the meeting at rochellecham@gmail.com.
Friends of the acton coa jewelry sale

Friends of the Acton CoA Jewelry Sale: Oct 22-23

Friends of the Acton Council on Aging has expanded their annual jewelry sale to 2 days. Preparations for this special fund raiser have been in progress since March. As usual, jewelry items have been arriving daily, to be sorted, priced and displayed in an eye appealing manner. Patrons have 2 days to make their choices: Wednesday October 22, and Thursday October 23. 9 am to 2 pm in the Program Room at the Acton Senior Center, 20 Sudbury Rd Rear, Acton MA. Acceptable means of payment: cash, check, credit card.

The Boxborough Minutemen Company Wants You!

The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday October 19 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 and town celebrations, organizing the annual Fifer's Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to the FreeBee Market, community supper, and other service organizations, and participating in our various social functions. The Company also provides financial support to a variety of service organizations and sponsors a number of annual scholarships to Boxborough students who are continuing their education after high school.
  All are welcome to come and make new connections with others.
  For more information visit www.boxboroughminutemen.org.

The Birth of Precision Design and Manufacturing in Revolutionary New England: October 19

 
There was a second revolution brewing in New England in the late 1700s, America’s own Industrial Revolution.  On Sunday October 19, the Boxborough Historical Society is proud to present Boxborough’s Jim Gorman discussing the early efforts of New England craftsmen to develop a system of interchangeable parts production that would sweep the world by the late 19th century.  Jim is an Aerospace Engineer with deep interest in precision manufacturing.  While most histories trace New England innovations in firearms, this early manufacturing story is really more about clockmaking and shoemaking, and does not encompass firearms until after 1810.
   The presentation will be in the Boxborough Town Hall (29 Middle Road) starting at 2:00 p.m.  Admission is free, all are welcome, and registration is not required.  It will be followed by a brief annual meeting of the Society.
 

The Friends of the Acton Libraries To Host Used Book Sale October 25-26, 2025

The Friends have been collecting and sorting a lot of books since the last sale! Now is your chance to come to stock up on good books in good condition to prepare for cozy fall reading by the fire!

The Friends of the Acton Libraries will hold a live and in person used book sale on Saturday October 25 at the Acton Memorial Library from 9 am until 4 pm. Members of the Friends are invited to a preview of the sale on Friday, October 24 from 7 pm until 9 pm. Sunday October 26 will be half price day for all, from 1 pm to 4 pm. While not required, face coverings while inside at the sale are encouraged.

Both cash and credit cards are accepted!

Be sure your membership is up to date before the big Friends Used Book Sale so you can have first crack at the great selection of used books at the sale preview. If you aren’t yet a member, you can join on Friday night.

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

The Friends of the Acton Libraries is a 100% volunteer organization that has a unique remit; we donate funds to Acton's 8 elementary middle-school and high-school libraries, as well as the 2 town libraries. Our book sales and other activities raise money which we then distribute to these 10 entities. The funds we give to the elementary school libraries represent almost 50% of their book buying budget.

For more information, contact The Friends at friendsofactonlibraries@gmail.com
Join us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/friendsactonlib. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/friendsactonlib or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/friendsactonlib
 

Songwriter David Dodson in Concert

 
Songwriter David Dodson will open the 2025–26 season at New Revival Coffeehouse on Saturday, October 11. David writes great songs that run the gamut of American styles—folk, rock, blues, jazz and country. His songs cover a variety of topics and range from poignant to hilarious. He plays a mean guitar, tells a good story, sings like a bird, and he’s got rhythm. For more information about David’s music, visit www.daviddodsonmusic.com.

The New Revival Coffeehouse is located at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (353 Great Rd, Stow MA). The building is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. There is plenty of free parking. Doors open at 7 PM, concert begins at 7:30. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show, and are available at eventbrite.com. Email questions to coffeehouse@fpc-stow-acton.org.