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Current Edition - 9/22/23
Previous Edition - 09/15/22
Emerson Health Wellness Fall Classes

HEADLINES

0923 non profit 2x2
Click HERE to vote for September's featured!

Congratulations to August's winner, Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program of Lincoln
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Run a Food Drive to Spread More Love, Less Hunger

Did you know that 24% of the food Open Table distributes comes from community food donations?  Your assistance is vital to Open Table.  Please consider running a food drive this autumn if you are hungry to help neighbors experiencing food insecurity.  It's an easy, feel-good community service that is a great activity for neighborhoods, businesses, schools, scouts, clubs, teams, and faith-based organizations.  All size food drives are welcome.  Sandwich boards and other signs are available to help you spread the word.  Go to www.opentable.org/donation-activities/ for information.   Stay up-to-date on our changing needs and news on Instagram and Twitter @opentablema and Facebook.com/opentablema.  
 
Open Table is the local food pantry supporting those in-need in Concord, Bedford, Carlisle, and 18 other surrounding areas.  If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, email info@opentable.org or call (978) 369-2275. 
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Public Input and Informational Meeting:  Flannagan Pond Public Access Feasibility Study

AYER: On October 4 at 6pm, the Ayer Department of Public Works (DPW) will host a public input and informational meeting related to a feasibility study for public access to Flannagan Pond. The meeting will be held in the Select Board meeting room on the first floor of Town Hall and will include a presentation, followed by questions and input from meeting attendees.

In 2021, Town Meeting committed Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the Feasibility Study. The Study has resulted in the analysis of several potential sites around Flannagan Pond for public access. Public input is needed to help determine the preferred location.
The DPW appreciates your questions and input for this project. If you have questions, please call DPW at 978-772-8240 (7:30 to 3:30) or email dvanschalkwyk@ayer.ma.us.
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Autumnal Equinox Celebration with GPL

GROTON: The Groton Conservation Trust and the Groton Public Library invite you to join a free family event, September 21 (6:30pm) at The General Field on Farmers Row to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox and the coming of fall with fire pits, s’mores, hot chocolate and good company. BYO camp chairs and dress for the weather. Bring a picnic dinner too if you would like! Rain date: September 28. Registration is required for this event through the GPL website.
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Mark Your Calendar: 2023 Groton Traverse

GROTON: The 2023 Groton Traverse will take place October 15 beginning at 10am. Pass over the new Casella Conservation Land and its brand new trails, and as you get closer to the village, revisit some of the original traverse course including Scarlett and Gibbet Hills. As is tradition, plan on pot luck food and drink to celebrate the finish. This is a free event. Registration is required for all participants. For more information, visit the Groton Conservation Trust at www.gctrust.org.
Some of what's happening at Groton Public Library...
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Life & Work of Impressionist Edmund Tarbell at GHC's Open House

GROTON: “The Groton History Center will celebrate the 19th-century Impressionist painter and West Groton native Edmund Tarbell (1862-1938) at its Open House on September 30 (rain date: October 1).  All are invited to stop by the Boutwell House, at 172 Main Street, from 11am-3pm for a stroll through the first floor of this historic 1851 Italianate home of the state’s 21st Governor.

On display will be a sneak preview of Tarbell’s artistic career, three of his paintings, on long loan from the Tarbell Charitable Trust, and select artifacts donated by the family. A more extensive exhibit will follow in 2024. Edmund Tarbell is associated with fellow art students Frank Benson, Childe Hansom, and Robert Reid at the Boston Museum School, at the Académie Julian in Paris, and as members of the select artistic circle known as The Ten, exhibiting their work here and abroad. An influential figure in Boston’s arts scene, Tarbell taught at the Museum School for many years, and served as head of the Corcoran School of Art in D.C. His work hangs in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery, among others

For those headed to Grotonfest and with less time to spare, the GHC will be serving cider and doughnuts outside. The theme will be agricultural, with vintage milk bottles from a few of Groton’s once-thriving dairy farms, and a take-home art project for the kids.

The GHC’s Open House is free to all, thanks to the Groton Commissioners of Trust Funds, and private and corporate donations. For more information, visit grotonhistory.org, email info@grotonhistory.org, call (978) 448-0092, or find GHC on Facebook.
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Support LUK, Inc. in the Rodman Ride for Kids

FITCHBURG/LEOMINSTER: LUK, Inc. is proud to announce their 13 th consecutive year participating in the Rodman Ride for Kids.  The event is run by Rodman for Kids, a nonprofit that raises funds for social service organizations supporting positive youth development. The Ride for Kids serves as a fundraising and convening platform for youth-focused initiatives and helps support thousands of kids in Massachusetts each year. This year’s Ride is being held on September 23 in Foxboro, MA.

LUK’s Mentoring program is enthusiastic to be joining the Rodman Ride again this year. Through the Ride, LUK Mentoring is able to support kids throughout Worcester County with formal mentoring. Mentoring provides youth age 6-17 with the opportunity to learn new skills, partake in new activities and experiences, and to have a caring, listening ear from a positive role model outside their immediate family and network.

“LUK’s Mentoring Program provides children and youth with an adult who sees beyond their struggles and into their heart,” said CEO of LUK, Beth Barto, who will be setting aside her running shoes to cycle 25 miles in the Ride. “The bond Mentors make with young people travel with them in the future.”

LUK is collaborating with the Leominster Texas Roadhouse to hold a fundraiser on September 21 from 3-9:30pm to support their participation in the Rodman Ride. Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of the proceeds of food sales to LUK Mentoring when guests present the fundraiser flyer that can be found on LUK Mentoring’s Facebook Event page, or online at bit.ly/LUK-TR-Fundraiser.

You can help support LUK Mentoring’s involvement in the Ride not only by joining them at the Texas Roadhouse fundraising event, but by riding with them, sponsoring a team, or making a donation. Learn more at LUK’s website: bit.ly/LUKRodmanRide23 or the Facebook Event “Ride with LUK Mentoring at the Rodman Ride for Kids 2023.”

LUK, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, health, and well-being of youth, families, and adults in Central Massachusetts. As a community-based organization, LUK’s mission is to challenge and inspire youth, adults, and families to realize their unique potential through community-based prevention, intervention, education, and support services. For more information, visit www.LUK.org, call (800) 579-0000, or find them on Facebook (@LetUsKnowINC).
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Sy Montgomery on “Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World Shell by Shattered Shell”

SHIRLEY: On October 22 at 10am, visit with nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery to discuss her researching articles, films, and her 31 books for adults and children. This fundraising event will be held at The Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road. Proceeds will benefit both the Ayer Library and Hazen Memorial Library.

Montgomery has been all around the world studying our relationships with animals. “It’s an important time to be writing about the connections we share with our fellow creatures,” she says. “It’s a great time to be alive.”

For tickets, please visit tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com/symontgomery
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St. Andrew’s Church Hosts Blessing of the Animals to Mark the Feast of St. Francis

AYER: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is excited to invite parishioners and the greater community to bring their pet to Church on October 1 at 9:30am for the Blessing of the Animals Service. Everyone is invited to bring their beloved pets and stuffed animals alike for a Blessing. To accommodate special friends, the service will be a little shorter than usual.  For their safety, all pets should be crated or leashed. After the Service coffee and treats will be served on the lawn. 
 
St. Andrew’s is located at 7 Faulkner Street in Ayer. The Sunday Celebration of Holy Communion is at 9:30am, in-person or livestreamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/standrewsayer. Children are always welcome in church. For information, please visit www.standrewsayer.org.
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Don White Goes to Harvard Again!

HARVARD: notloB Parlour Concerts at Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank Street, is bringing Don White to town, October 20 at 7:30pm. Don White is equal parts storyteller-comedian-author-troubadour-folk singer-songwriter, and has been bringing audiences to laughter and tears for 30 years. White’s arc as an award-winning songwriter and performer has taken him from his industrial hometown of Lynn (MA) across the country as hitchhiker, through Boston’s comedy clubs and coffeehouses, and onto the stage with greats like Arlo Guthrie, Taj Mahal, Ritchie Havens, Patty Larkin, Bill Morrissey, Tom Rush, Louden Wainright III, and Christine Lavin, with whom he toured for 8 years all across North America in a co-bill called The Funny Side of the Street. At every point, White has been the ultimate observer, infusing his work with his experiences as a husband, a father, a seeker, and a joker.
 
As a storyteller, White has been featured at festivals around the country including the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Utah and Cave Run Storytelling Festival in Kentucky. Since 2015, he has joined master storytellers Bil Lepp and Bill Harley in Father’s Daze, a hilarious three-man storytelling show about the triumphs and tribulations of fatherhood. White is hilariously funny, but his humor always comes from his big heart.
 
White has released ten CDs, three live DVDs, and two books: "Memoirs of a C Student" and the just released "The Hitchhiking Years and 4 Other Stories." His latest album is "Live at the Guthrie Center." In 2011, White won the Jerry Christen Memorial Award, given out by Boston Area Coffeehouse Association, for his work with the community and that same year was given a key to the city in his hometown.
 
Admission by free-will offering, suggested amounts: Adults $25, teens and seniors $15-$20.100% of patron donations go to the artist. Cash or Venmo.  For information and reservations, visit http://notlobmusic.eventbrite.com.
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2023 Fall Special Town Meeting in Ayer

AYER: The 2023 Fall Special Town Meeting (STM) will be held on October 23rd at 7pm in the auditorium of the Ayer Shirley Regional High School, 141 Washington Street. Voters will check-in with poll workers before entering the auditorium. Copies of the Warrant, and other supporting documents will be available. The Council on Aging will offer complimentary van service to Town Meeting for those without transportation or just uncomfortable driving after dark. Please contact the Senior Center at (978) 772-8260 to reserve your ride. For questions on the Rules and Procedures of Town Meeting contact the Moderator, Geoffrey Tillotson, by emailing gtillotson@ayer.ma.us or calling (617) 448-0503.

Public Notification: Governor’s Homelessness State of Emergency - Migrant Shelter in the Town of Ayer

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AYER: On September 8, the Town was made aware that due to the recently declared State of Emergency by Governor Maura Healey and as part of the State’s “Right to Shelter” law, a motel in Ayer will be used to house up to 35+ migrant families, equaling approximately 150 people.  The “Right to Shelter” law obligates the State to provide housing for families with children and pregnant women who are homeless, and the State’s policy is to place these families in motels in cities and towns through the State without the need for local approval and in many instances, without prior notice.
 
On September 11, Town Manager Robert A. Pontbriand and Assistant Town Manager Carly M. Antonellis convened a meeting of all relevant Town Departments, including the Ayer Shirley Regional School District, to discuss the impact of this decision made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

As the Town understands it, the State has partnered with Making Opportunities Count, Inc. (MOC), a Fitchburg Non-Profit, to run the shelter. Information coming from the State to the Town of Ayer has been non-existent to date.  Town Social Worker, Brittany Beaudry has been on the ground seeking information from both the owner of the motel and MOC.  The Town has also reached out to State Senator Jamie Eldridge’s Office to convey the Town’s concerns with the lack of communication from the Governor’s Office. Additionally, many cities and towns across the Commonwealth are dealing with the same situation; we have reached out to our counterparts across the State to seek information so that we are most effectively prepared.

The Town of Ayer is preparing to comply with the State’s decision by meeting with MOC and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in the next several days to coordinate logistics and open lines of communication.  These preparations include planning by the Ayer Shirley Regional School District with respect to enrolling students in accordance with the State’s “Right to Shelter” law. The Town will be seeking State and Federal support to provide the additional Town resources needed to address impacts at the school level and deliver appropriate levels of public safety resources. The Town will be working with the Governor and her staff, our State delegation on Beacon Hill, and our Federal delegation in Washington to ensure these resources are delivered.

For more information or questions regarding the State’s “Right to Shelter” law and the Governor’s State of Emergency, contact the Governor’s Office at (617) 725-4005. 
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Make Authentic Sushi Hand Rolls with Nami

GROTON: On October 14, 3-5pm, make sushi and hand rolls with your favorite ingredients (no raw fish) and enjoy your yummy culinary creations together afterward! Nami, born in Japan and now living in Groton, will show us how to prepare the ingredients and roll them up to make perfect sushi and hand rolls! Fun for everyone! We will then enjoy it with miso soup and a cup of hot tea together! This class is great for adults, families with kids, and teenagers! Each participant will make at least three sushi rolls and learn the skills to share with others. The instructor will prepare the food material before the class. The students will bring the items on the material list to mix, roll, and make sushi. All children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Prescott Community Center is located at 145 Main Street.  For more information, call (978) 877-6933, email
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What Will YOUR Kids Do on 1/2 Days?

GROTON: Grades 1-5 can enjoy a new offering from Prescott Arts Center on half-day Fridays.  Mixed Media Design for Kids runs Fridays 1-3:30pm September 15, 22, October 20, 27, December 8 and December 15, as well as on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday November 21. Students can choose to bring and eat their lunch at Prescott at 12:30pm before the start of class.
 
Join Ms. Maryanne for a fun afternoon exploring and creating seasonal and nature-based art projects like collage art and foldable books. The students will experiment with a wide range of materials, like paints, magazines, colored paper, fabric scraps, stamps, stencils, washi tape, and more, to create their artwork. They don’t have to know how to draw or have good fine art skills - just a curious mind! Tuition is $40/class.  For more information, visit prescottscc.org.
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Fun Activities Ahead at the Lunenburg Public Library!

LUNENBURG: Visit Lunenburg Public Library on September 25 from 4-5pm for Sock Puppets Drop-In Craft! Join Miss Joslyn in the Story Craft Room to make your own puppets! Decorate them however you choose and take them home for a puppet show! Stop by any time between 4–5. Please bring your own long socks (adult socks are best, but any long sock – whether it’s plain white or fuzzy green – will work!) Registration in encouraged to ensure there's enough supplies for all puppet friends! For more information or to register, visit https://lunenburglibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/sock-puppets-drop-in-craft-with-miss-joslyn.
 
On September 28 from 3:30-5pm, enjoy Super Snacks! Cooking Program with Food Explorers, a delicious cooking program! Learn how to make two recipes: BBQ Chickpea Wraps and Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cups. You’ll create a tasty filling for your own wrap and then learn how to dice apples, make a crust and cheesecake layer for your dessert cups. All recipes are nut free and vegetarian but will contain eggs and/or dairy. This event is for children ages 9-12, and will be filmed and broadcast on our local news station. There will be waivers to sign upon arrival. Registration is required (await approval email after filling out registration form).  For more information or to register, visit https://lunenburglibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/super-snacks-cooking-program-with-food-explorers-2.
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Groton Grange Hosts Concert with Trusting Fate

GROTON: Groton Grange #7 is celebrating its 150th year anniversary with a concert by Trusting Fate on October 7 at 6pm at the Groton Grange, 80 Champney Street. For Trusting Fate, it's the DNA. Twenty plus years, hundreds of tunes, both original and cover, multiple instruments apiece, three lead vocalists with effortless harmony, always a parade through the genres, and more fun than the law should allow. For more information about the band, visit trustingfate.com. Please park on the Grange side of Champney Street only. This concert is free, although donations are appreciated.
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Groton Community Christmas Choir Seeks Singers

GROTON: The Groton Community Christmas Choir is looking for singers of all ages! It’s been three years since their last performance and they’re hoping to see new members singing at the 46th annual Groton Community Christmas Concert. Timothy Goliger is the new director with Dan Dudka as the new accompanist. Founder Edie Tompkins is retiring along with long time accompanist Yvonne Gobis.
New members are welcome and there are no auditions, so please share this with your friends and family members who may want to join the choir. The first rehearsal is on Sunday evening, October 1 in the rehearsal space on the lower level of the Gray Building at Lawrence Academy. You may notice that this year’s rehearsal schedule, number of concerts and concert length are being shortened as they transition back to this annual tradition.
 
  • Senior Choir, for adults including high school ages meets on Sundays from 6:30-8pm through December 3 (no October 8). Additional rehearsal for the Senior Choir on December 5.
  • Treble Choir, for children 3rd-8th grade meets on Sundays from 4:30-6pm through December 3 (no October 8). Additional rehearsal for the treble choir on December 8
  • Final Rehearsal will be December 9 with a performance at the Union Congregational Church, Groton on December 10 at 2pm  and December 11 at 7:30pm. 
 
Membership dues are $65 per person and a family’s total dues will not exceed $175. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, as it saves so much time during the first rehearsals. If the fee causes a hardship, you are still welcome. Contact any committee member to request a waiver. 
If you have any questions, please contact Kristen von Campe at kristen@von-campe.com. If registering for multiple family members, please complete one registration for each person at https://bit.ly/GrotonCommunityChristmasChoir.
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Harvard Author Publishes Fiction Novel

HARVARD: "What Will His Life Come To When Everything Starts To Go Wrong?"  This question is asked in Boiling Point, a new book by Harvard's J.W. Boynton, released by Dorrance Publishing.  Sometimes life is too much to bear. When a 1990’s recession sucks his business into bankruptcy and his wife hires an aggressive divorce lawyer determined to fleece him out of what’s left, Jack Cross reaches his Boiling Point. Angry and disillusioned, he climbs into his car and drives away, hoping to leave all his misery in the rearview mirror. He confronts carjackers and other criminal low-lives on his impulsive journey, even becomes a fugitive himself forced to flee the law onto an island in Florida, where he is drawn into a delicious affair with a beautiful psychic. Back at home, Jack’s wife, missing him and suffering regrets, discovers the hard way that her unsavory attorney is a sexual predator. Learning of this, Jack returns for an ill-advised act of violent revenge.
 
Comments from J.W. Boynton readers include:
 
  • "…an easy writing style and a nice way of weaving your characters and plots together."
  • “…a writer of intrigue. Great story, great pace, great surprises!”
  • “...I am not normally a fiction reader, but his book is a barn burner!”
 
J.W. Boynton is a retired real estate executive. His other novels are The World of Bliss; Trafficked!; and Cash Cargo, A Ruthless Game.
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Wurlitzer Pops Presents Clark Wilson and "Girl Shy"

GROTON:On September 24, WurlitzerPops will present organist Clark Wilson (pictured) accompanying the silent file "Girl Shy," a 1924 romantic comedy silent film starring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston. The movie was written by Sam Taylor, Tim Whelan and Ted Wilde and was directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Taylor. In 2020, the film entered the public domain The performance begins at 2:30pm in the Shanklin Music Hall.  Tickets are $20; $10 for youth.

Along with a busy concert schedule, Clark Wilson runs his own pipe organ business and is heavily in demand as a tonal consultant and finisher of both theatre and classical pipe organs; he has been given the singular honor of being brought to England multiple times for tonal finishing and consulting. He has received both the Technician of the Year and Organist of the Year awards from the American Theatre Organ Society, the only person to have done so, and his time is now nearly equally divided between concert and technical work. He has been professionally involved with more than 100 organ installations throughout North America and England and has provided consulting and voicing expertise for several different organ companies.

WurlitzerPops is a concert series curated by EMCATOS (The Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society). Formed in 1956, our mission is to preserve and promote the theatre organ and its art form. For more information, visit them online at wurlitzerpops.org.

Ayer Residents Needed for Senior Center Site Selection and Building Committee

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Application Deadline:  September 28, 2023

AYER: The Ayer Select Board has formed a public Senior Center Site Selection and Building Committee charged with identifying and recommending to the Select Board a viable site in the Town of Ayer for the development of a Senior Center.  In addition to identifying and recommending a viable site for the Senior Center, the Committee will oversee and administer the necessary due diligence and conceptual design for the purposes of recommending the site to the Select Board for consideration by Town Meeting for the acquisition of the recommended site.  The Committee will oversee and conduct the necessary public outreach and participation with the site selection process and conceptual design; identify and secure funding for the land acquisition and design for the project to include Town Meeting approval; oversee the final design of the project; develop, oversee, and administer a construction budget for the project to include Town Meeting approval; and oversee the construction of the project.  The Committee will conduct all meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law (publicly posted meetings) and in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Law (maintain and public post meeting minutes).
 
The composition of the Committee will be nine (9) members appointed by the Select Board to include one member of the Council on Aging; the COA/Senior Center Director; one member of the Planning Board; the DPW Director; and five (5) Ayer Residents.

Ayer Residents that are interested in serving on this public Committee should submit a letter of intent to the Assistant Town Manager at atm@ayer.ma.us or to 1 Main Street, Ayer, MA 01432 by the deadline of September 28, 2023.  Applicants will be interviewed and appointed by the Select Board at a Select Board Meeting on October 3, 2023 at 6pm.  For more information, please contact the Town Manager’s Office at (978) 772-8220 x100 or by email at atm@ayer.ma.us.
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Ayer DPW to Host Public Input Meeting

AYER: The Ayer Department of Public Works (DPW) will host a public input meeting to discuss proposed improvements to Sandy Pond Road on September 13 at Ayer Town Hall from 6–7:30pm. The meeting will be held in the Select Board meeting room on the first floor, and will include a presentation by the DPW, followed by questions and input from meeting attendees. For more information: www.ayer.ma.us/home/events/289266
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Check for a Lead Service Line

AYER: Do you know if you have a lead service line connecting the water main in the street to your home? If you are uncertain, take the following two steps:
 
Step 1 is Identification using EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead. Use this site www.epa.gov/.../protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead-0 to walk you through identifying your service material.
 
Step 2 is to Snap a picture and Upload it to MassDEP using this site https://app.smartsheet.com/.../f9ee39b7972f443ca63e8b936c....
 
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Open Mic at Harvard General Store

HARVARD: It's once again time for open mic night at the Harvard General Store from 6-9pm on September 8. Play some songs, read a poem, tell some jokes, do a dance routine or whatever else you're inspired to do! All ages, all genres. Don't worry if you think your act is too weird, we're totally down with that. Typically everyone gets around 10 minutes, depending on how many people show up.
Pizza, beer and wine are available upstairs in the performance space, along with a whole assortment of non alcoholic beverages, coffee and espresso drinks, sandwiches, salads, snacks and desserts in the store downstairs.
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FREE Mass Save Seminar
 

BOLTON: Mass Save is NEW and IMPROVED! Are you ready to take control of your energy bills and make your home more eco-friendly? Join the Kotlarz Group for an enlightening and informative Mass Save Seminar that will empower you with the knowledge and tools on how you can save 25% on your home energy bills by creating a more energy efficient living space.  The event is taking place at the Bolton Bean, 626 Main Street.  For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/mass-save-seminar-tickets-705372747877.
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16th Annual Holdenwood Trail Run September 24

AYER: The Ayer Shirley Education Foundation (ASEF) will be holding it's first fundraising event of the 2023-2024 school year! The 16th Annual Holdenwood Trail Run 2K/5K/10K will be held on September 24.  Funds raised by the run support the Ayer-Shirley Education Foundation which provides grants to enhance education in the Ayer-Shirley Regional School District.
Scenic, challenging, and satisfying the Holdenwood Trail Run has been delighting walkers, joggers and runners for over a decade.  The course flows through mown grass fields, dirt trails, cool forests, cobblestone bridges and rural roads.
The Holden family and the Shirley community invite all ages to join them on the trails. Walkers, joggers and runners are all welcome.  Your entry entitles you to a beautiful race and a free beer or ice cream at the Bull Run Restaurant at the post-race party. Register at www.holdenwoodtrailrun.org today!
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3rd Annual Downtown Ayer Newton Street Folk & Arts Festival

AYER: The Town of Ayer, in partnership with generous Festival sponsors, Main Street Bank (Gold Sponsor) and Catania Oils (Silver Sponsor), are excited to announce the 3rd Annual Downtown Ayer “Newton Street Folk & Arts Festival”, scheduled for October 7 from 11am-5pm in the Heart of Downtown Ayer on Newton Street! Ayer families, neighbors, friends, and visitors will joyfully join together for a beautiful Autumn afternoon of live musical performance on the grand Main Stage, featuring romping street-dancing Cajun/Zydeco music by “The Squeezebox Stompers”, and driving/soulful Irish & Celtic Heritage music by “Irish Wispa”. Thrill to live dance performances and exhibitions throughout the day by Maria’s School of Dance, The Dance Garden, and Francis Floyd Ballroom Dancing, and more, under the “Dance/Theatrical Tent Venue”. Wonder to the amazing “festival street magic” of Magician-Stephanie Beach also under the “Dance/Theatrical Tent Venue”, and in/around the Festival crowd.The awesome Little Bee Book Shop of Downtown Ayer will create a wondrous “Kids Story-Telling, Reading & Discovery Venue” with a number of children book authors and story-telling performers on the greenspace surrounding beautiful Ayer Town Hall; and we are hopeful the “Professor Bugman’s Insect Petting Zoo” will make a return to the Festival again this year!

The Newton Street Festival now boasts one of the highest-quality “Artists/Artisans/Craftspeople Festival Venues” in the region! It is with pride that all our exceptionally creative, authentic, original, and quality “Artists/Artisans/Craftspeople” are all Ayer and Shirley residents. The concentration of artistic & artisan talent in our local communities is joyfully featured and discovered at the Newton Street Festival. And the Festival food! This year Ayer’s Alltown Fresh will be joining the Festival with their delectable “Festival Grilling Set-Up” and the impressive “Alltown Fresh Coffee Trailer”. Another great new foodie addition will be the delicious “Tacos & Burritos Panchito Food Truck”. Of course, our great Ayer restaurants & eateries, including Lucia’s/Markoh’s on Main, The Nashoba Club Taproom & Pizza, Ruby Donuts  will be serving-up the best of Festival edibles and beverages – and everyone's looking forward to Uncle Joey’s Cannoli Festival Truck!

The best part of the Newton Street Folk & Arts Festival is the great gathering of Ayer’s local organizations, groups, clubs, councils, troops, places of worship, and more, at their Festival Booths for all our festival-goers to visit, connect, re-connect, learn, and support their good local civic and community work. For additional information contact Alan S. Manoian at (978) 772-8220 x141 and/or amanoian@ayer.ma.us.
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Ayer Cultural Council Grant Applications Now Open

AYER: Ayer Cultural Council (ACC) is accepting applications for grants to fund programs and events that showcase arts, humanities and interpretive sciences that benefit our community. If you have a program you believe would be eligible for consideration for funding, we invite you to apply through October 15, 2023. Guidelines for eligibility and online applications can be found on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website at massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp.  For more information or assistance submitting an online grant application, please email CulturalCouncil@ayer.ma.us.
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First Connections Offers Fall Play Groups

ACTON: First Connections has two free playgroups with openings for Fall. Groups are open to residents of Acton, Bedford, Boxboro, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury and Westford. Our Fall session will run from the week of September 11 to the week of December 11. Our playgroups are funded by a grant from the Mass. Dept of Early Education and Care and led by our Early Childhood Teacher. Caregivers and children attend the groups together.

Me, You, We Playgroup for Ages 3-5 is based on a Boston Children's Museum curriculum where children practice social-emotional skills such as taking turns, using words to negotiate conflict, and labeling feelings. Families receive at-home learning materials. Younger siblings welcome. Meets outdoors (weather permitting) at Boxborough Library. Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am.
 
Language & Literacy Playgroup for Multilingual Families for Ages 1 1/2-5 is for families who speak a language other than or in addition to English as part of their daily life. This group will help foster a love of books in your child and share tips for how to make the most of your shared reading at home. In addition to free play, there will be circle time and activities related to each week's story. Infant siblings in carriers welcome. Held at First Connections in Acton. Wednesdays, 10-11am.

If you are interested in either of these groups, email Linda to register: lmatthews@jri.org.
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Shirley Historical Offers Shaker Village Site Tours

SHIRLEY: This lovely wooden building was built in the early 19th century by the Believers in the Second Coming of Christ, commonly known as the Shakers. Until 1908, they had a village in the southern part of Shirley where they lived, worked, and worshipped together. The Shirley group was known for the quality of their seeds, herbs, mops, and brooms. They were respected for their kindness to all people and animals. When the community closed in 1908, their property was sold to the state of Massachusetts to be used as an Industrial School for Boys which evolved into a state prison.

This Fall, the Shirley Historical Society, with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, will lead three guided tours of the historic Shaker Village site on September 17, October 8 and October 22. Starting at 12:30pm, visitors meet inside this building for an introductory talk about the Shaker lifestyle and the founding of the Shirley community. They then board a prison van for a tour of the property and go inside two more Shaker buildings. Reservations must be made and the $20 fee paid in advance.  Contact mail@shirleyhistory.org for more details.
Some of what's happening at Lawrence Library in Pepperell...
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Senior Citizen Water & Sewer Bill Discount Program

AYER: The Senior Citizen Water and Sewer Bill Discount entitles seniors aged 65 or over, residing in their own residence with separate metered water service for that residential unit, a 10 percent discount on the Town of Ayer water  and sewer bill. This discount provides substantial savings to seniors.
 
The discount is available on your quarterly bill for water and sewer use for the first 3000 cubic feet. Usage over 3000 cubic feet and usage on an irrigation meter is not eligible for the discount.

To be eligible for the discount you must meet the following criteria:
 
  • You must be 65 years of age or older
  • You must be the owner of the property
  • You must occupy the property as your principal place of residence
  • The property must have a separate water meter
  • The property must be classified as a single-family dwelling or condominium
  • Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must not exceed $50,000
  • All Town accounts, including taxes,  must be current

If you meet all the above criteria and wish to apply, you must submit a Senior Water & Sewer Bill Discount Application. The form must be completed in its entirety and submitted with all supporting documentation. Applications will be accepted from September 1 Through September 15 and the discount will become effective on October 1.  The application must be renewed on an annual basis.

If your application for the discount is denied due to ineligible property classification, you may appeal this decision by re-submitting your application along with documentary proof that the property is a single-family dwelling or condominium. When such documentation is received, your account will be updated to reflect the correct classification.

If the conditions under which you submit your application change, you are required to make the DPW aware of these changes to determine if the discount still applies.  If it is determined that the discount was approved under false pretenses, you may be liable for any previously waived charges as well as any applicable penalties or fines. The Town of Ayer reserves the right to request recertification of the discount periodically.

For more information on the Senior Water & Sewer Bill Discount program, please contact the Ayer Department of Public Works, 25 Brook Street, (978) 772-8240.
Download the Printable Application Form
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Water Chestnut Pulls Continues

AYER: Volunteers are still being sought to help with final invasive water chestnut removals at Grove Pond. The end of the summer is upon us, and there's just a few more water chestnut pulls planned thru September 10. Help is needed along the shoreline and in boats.  PACE (People of Ayer Concerned About the Environment) provides all of the gear needed, including canoes. You may prefer to bring your own kayak, which is also very helpful in getting into tight spots. Every single plant you pull out prevents the growth of up to 22 new plants next summer!  To sign up, please go to:  www.tinyurl.com/23AyerPULL
 
Remaining Dates:
 
  • August 31,  9am-12:30pm
  • September 2, 9am-1pm
  • September 3, 3-7pm
  • September 10, 2-7pm.  (Stay for 2-3 hours you can! )
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Looking for a Book Club?  Try LPL!

LUNENBURG: If you're looking for a book club, the Lunenburg Public Library offers a wide variety for all ages! Each book club is handled slightly differently in format and registration requirements, so make sure to check out their event calendar at lunenburglibrary.org to learn more about each one.
 
* "100 Books Bucket List" meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month from 11am-Noon and will help knock off some of those titles on your bucket list of books to read.
 
* Armchair Travel meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:30-7:30pm and will take you around the world through books.
 
* (Not So) Young Adult meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 11am-Noon and focuses on YA literature. This is a hybrid book club so you can join us online or in person.
 
* A New Chapter is a brand-new book club that meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 4-5pm for grades 5-8. This book club is will run September-May.
 
* LPL Kids has moved to a new day of the week and will now be meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 4-5pm for grades 3-5. This book club is will run September-May as well.
 
There are also various book subscriptions for kids in 1st-12th grades if participating in a book discussion doesn't interest you! Book subscriptions will require an active library card in good standing as they will include library books to be borrowed in order to participate.
 
* Book in a Bag and Popcorn and a Book have different monthly themes and can be picked up from the Children's Room at the beginning of each month while supplies last, no registration required. Both book subscriptions run September - May.
 
* Random Reads is for grades 5-12 and includes a book hand selected by Teen Librarian Susan based on a reader's survey. Random Reads runs October - May.
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Groton Historical Walking Tour with Joshua Vollmar

GROTON: On September 9 from 10:30am-noon, hear the story of Groton’s time as a destination in the early 1800s. This walking tour with Joshua Vollmar will travel from Prescott Community Center down Main Street to Old Ayer Road and back, focusing on Groton’s prominence during the stagecoach days, and the legacy those times left in the town, including Lawrence Academy. Register online at https://tce.me/ity557.  You must register prior to showing up for the walk. Admission is $20 for those 15 and up; children under 15 are free but must be accompanied by at least one paying adult.
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Nashoba Symphonic Band Announces 2023-24 Season

BOLTON: The Nashoba Symphonic Band is pleased to announce its concert schedule for the 2023-2024 season. All concerts will take place in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School. Admission is free and open to the public.

October 29, 3pm: “Vive la France” including Scenes from “The Louvre” by Norman Dello Joio, Johann de Meij's setting of Ravel's Pavane Pour Infante Defunte, and the glittering Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby, as well as music by Paul Dukas and Louis Ganne, and perhaps a Can-Can.

February 10, 2pm: “On Land and Sea” featuring Variations on a Shaker Tune by Aaron Copland, Morton Gould's classic Jericho Rhapsody, and Of Sailors and Whaling, a suite of tone poems based on themes from Melvilles's Moby Dick, by W. Francis McBeth, as well as marches by Henry Fillmore and John Klohr.

May 5, 3pm: “Symphonic Band Originals” including Vincent Persichetti's Symphony No.6 and the suite of Symphonic Songs by Robert Russell Bennett, as well as music by Robert Sheldon and W.P. English.

June 13, 7:30pm: “Across the Pond” featuring Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1, English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates, and solos by our graduation Senior members.

The Nashoba Symphonic Band welcomes new players at the beginning of each season and at the rehearsal following each concert. There are no auditions, but adult membership is limited to a certain number within each section. Students (grade 8 and above) are required to present a recommendation from their school music director or private instructor. The band currently has openings for section horn, 1 tuba and percussionist with strong snare skills. Those wishing to become members on these or other instruments, or needing further information should contact the conductor/music director, David Bailey (baileydavidwayne@gmail.com) OR Joe McCarthy, Nashoba Regional High School Instrumental Director (jmccarthy@nrsd.net).

Rehearsals of Nashoba Symphonic Band are held on Thursdays from 7-9pm on the stage of the Nashoba Regional High School, about a mile west of town center. First rehearsal will take place on August 31 at 7pm with annual registration beginning at 6pm.
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Free Class Day at Groton Hill Music Center

GROTON: Registration is now open for Free Class Day at Groton Hill Music Center, the architecturally stunning, 126,000 square foot music education and performance center at 122 Old Ayer Road. Choose from over 30 classes for all ages and abilities during the free event on Saturday, Saturday, September 16 from 9am-5pm. Registration is required. Learn more, view classes, and register at grotonhill.org/freeclassday.

“We are thrilled to be expanding the breadth and depth of our educational programming for all ages,” said Pete Robbins, the Center’s Director of Education and Performance Programming. “We’re looking forward to inviting the community to this incredible space to explore music,” he said. 

Now in its 39th year, Groton Hill Music Center is a gathering place for all to experience the highest quality music education, with private lessons, classes, ensembles, and supplemental learning programs for all ages and abilities; impactful outreach programs that share the transformative power of music throughout the community with a focus on the underserved; and professional performances of all genres - from jazz, global roots, folk, rock, country, and contemporary music to classical masterworks and chamber music - in its two world-class performance halls. The building is designed to be a connected environment that creates opportunities for musicians, educators, students, and audience members to encounter, engage with, and inspire one another as a singular music community. 

Learn more about music education programs, performances, and community engagement programs at grotonhill.org or call (978) 486-9524.
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Dave Gaudet on Shirley Common

SHIRLEY: Dave Gaudet, a multi instrumentalist, is in his home studio cooking up something special to share with on August 20. He will be singing and playing some old favorites as well as a few of his original songs. Dave enjoys using his creative talents making music tracks with bass, piano, drums, as well as background vocals. 

Dave grew up in Ayer  and has performed around the area as primarily a soloist. His biggest influence was James Taylor but he was also inspired by Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills and Nash as well as much of the music performed by artists in the early 70’s. Bring a blanket, chair and picnic basket, sit down on the Common, and enjoy an afternoon of music. 

Rain or Shine! If there is rain, this event will move into the Meeting House. 2023 is a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Shirley Meeting House. As part of our celebration all 2023 events are free of charge but donations are welcome and appreciated. The Shirley Meeting House programs are sponsored in part by a grant from the Shirley Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
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Seven Bridge Writers' Collaborative Opens Registrations

LANCASTER: The wait is over! We are thrilled to announce that the fall session of Seven Bridge Writers' Collaborative is officially open for registration, with classes starting on September 11, 2023. Get ready for a season filled with inspiration, creativity, and growth.

Seven Bridge is a 501c3 non-profit offering in-person writing sessions and online sessions.  For this session, they've curated an exciting array of classes to cater to all your writing needs. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning your literary journey, there's something for everyone. Offerings include prompt groups, critique groups, fiction classes, memoir classes, non-fiction classes, workshops, and open mics. And there's more - two new classes that promise to elevate your writing skills to new heights:

In "Memoir Writing," led by the talented Dr. Karen Fine, you'll embark on an 8-week journey of introspection and exploration. Uncover the essence of memoir writing as you delve into your personal stories and examine what draws you to this captivating genre. In a safe and supportive environment, you'll analyze your favorite memoirs to identify themes and learn how to tackle the challenges of capturing painful memories. Dr. Karen Fine, a successful veterinarian and writer, will share her expertise and valuable resources to help you pen your own compelling memoir.

If you have a passion for non-fiction and aspire to write a well-researched book, "Writing a Researched Non-fiction Book" with Jayne Wilson is the class for you. In this interactive series of classes, Jayne will guide you through the essential factors involved in crafting a successful non-fiction work. You'll learn how to select a viable subject, incorporate creative and factual writing, utilize visuals, and master the nuts and bolts of producing and marketing your book. Jayne's wealth of experience as a journalist and author of two non-fiction books will be an invaluable resource throughout the course.

Let this fall session be a stepping stone in your writing journey, where your creativity thrives, and your stories come alive. Visit sevenbridges.org for more information on the fall session, class schedules, and registration details.
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Water Safety Reminders

According to the American Red Cross, 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning, and on average two of those deaths are children under age 14. Additionally, drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. To ensure everyone’s safety in the water this summer, the Hudson Fire Department would like to remind residents of the following safety tips for kayakers, paddlers and recreational boaters courtesy of the American Canoe Association:
 
  • Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
  • Children under the age of 12 must always wear a life jacket in a public body of water.
  • Be a competent swimmer with the ability to handle oneself underwater, moving water, surf or current. Keep the craft under control. Do not enter a rapid unless you are reasonably sure you can navigate it or swim the entire rapid in case you capsize.
  • Keep a lookout for hazards and avoid them. Watch for fog, especially on coastal waters.
  • Know your physical limitations.
  • Group members need to constantly assess the behavior of others in their group.

For those swimming in the ocean, lakes, ponds or pools, the Hudson Fire Department also provides the following safety tips from the American Red Cross:
 
  • Never leave children unattended while they are near or in a body of water, and make sure they have an adult to accompany them into the water. Young or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a life jacket or inflatable arm floats.
  • Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children.
  • If a child is missing, always check the body of water that they were near or swimming in first.
  • Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as river currents, ocean rip current, underwater hazards including vegetation and animals, and more.
  • Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or during swimming or diving, or while supervising swimmers.
  • Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they:
    • Are not making forward progress in the water.
    • Are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water.
    • Are motionless and face down in the water.
  • If someone is drowning or experiencing an emergency in the water:
    • Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
    • Ask someone to call emergency medical services (EMS). If alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call EMS.
    • Begin CPR.
    • Use an AED if available and transfer care to advanced life support.
  • Take a CPR course for adults and children to be prepared if an emergency occurs. Update skills regularly.
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Back to Nature Camp for ages 8-12 in Devens

DEVENS: Join a Back to Nature camp at Clear Path for Veterans! An exciting day is planned filled with adventure and learning for children ages 8-12. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of bees and birds native to our surroundings as you explore their habitats and discover their unique behaviors.Get ready to unleash your creativity with a fun patriotic craft that will surely ignite your imagination. And don't worry about going hungry because lunch and snacks are included! This special camp is open free exclusively to the children of Veterans and their families. Space is limited, so mark your calendars for August 23rd from 9am to 3pm for this thrilling journey into nature's wonders! Reserve your spot by contacting arogers@clearpathne.org!
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Equine Program from Clear Path

STOW/DEVENS: Join Clear Path for Veterans of New England at the incredible Equine Program, brought to you by Clear Path in partnership with Kairos Spring Farm! Located in Stow, this program is specifically designed for Veterans and runs every Friday from 10am to 2pm. With a duration of six weeks, it is essential for Veterans to attend all sessions and experience the transformative power of this evidence-based curriculum developed by the Equus Effect Program. Filled with a unique blend of horsemanship and engaging "classroom" time, participants will delve into the depths of emotional agility while enjoying a nutritious lunch provided as well.The Fall schedule begins as follows:
  • Session 2: For six consecutive Fridays, from September 8th to October 13th,
  • Session 3: For six Fridays from October 20th to December 1st (with November 24th off due to Thanksgiving)

For more information, visit https://clearpathnewengland.formstack.com/forms/equine, or contact Clear Patch at 84 Antietam Street in Devens.
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Project Summertime at Devens Museum

DEVENS: On August 19 at 1pm, Fort Devens Museum Executive Director Kara Fossey will present a program on “Project Summertime,” a camp held at Fort Devens in the summer of 1970 for local youth. This program was born out of the examination of a 16 mm reel of film found in the museum’s collection. Through a grant from the Ayer Cultural Council (part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council) digitization of the film was completed. The 29-minute video (no audio) details camp activities and will be shown after an illustrated talk about “Project Summertime.”
 
The Fort Devens Museum is located at 94 Jackson Road (3rd Floor) in Devens. The facility is wheelchair accessible. The museum is open on August 19 from 10am to 3pm. This event is free and open to the public with donations gratefully accepted. More information at www.fortdevensmuseum.org.