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Nashoba Park Celebrates Halloween with Costumes & Treats

AYER: Residents of Nashoba Park Assisted Living in Ayer proved that you’re never too old to enjoy a little Halloween fun, partaking in a community celebration complete with costumes and, of course, plenty of sweet treats. Staff at the Assisted Living community went all out for the day’s celebrations, donning fun and festive costumes. Residents were encouraged to dress up and take part in the festivities, many finding creative ways to incorporate their face coverings into their costumes. The community also enjoyed a visit from therapy dogs who also dressed up for the occasion!

PHOTO: Nashoba Park associates don costumes for Halloween festivities (left to right: Kim Gagnon, Noella Vautour, Kathy Davidson, Kerry Jumper, Stephanie Conley, Sarah McMahon, Tiffany Jimenez, Linda McMahon, Shelby Thomas, Christine Masci front)
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Ayer West Main Street Infrastructure Project

AYER: UPDATE as of 11/1/22: The Contractor will be paving Sculley Road on Friday, November 4, weather permitting. The work extends from West Main Street to the Molumco Park entrance. The road will be open to one lane of travel during the work; however, expect delays. During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution. Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (978) 772-8240
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UPDATE as of 10/11/22: The Contractor will be paving Sculley Road and West Main Street beginning Thursday, October 13, 2022 (weather permitting). The work is anticipated to take 2 days.
Work Location:
 
  • West Main Street - from the Verbeck Gate to Sculley Road
  • Sculley Road - from West Main Street to Molumco Park

The roads will be open to one lane of travel during the work; however, expect delays. Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place. During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-772-8240.
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UPDATE as of 10/6/22: The Contractor will be milling Sculley Road on Friday, October 7, 2022. The work extends from West Main Street to the Molumco Park entrance. The process involves a pavement milling machine that grinds the existing asphalt down to a lower depth. The road will be open to one lane of travel during the work; however, expect delays. During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution. Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (978) 772-8240.
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The Ayer West Main Street Infrastructure Project is continuing. Below is an update of work completed to date. Completed-to-date:
 
  • Water infrastructure replacement
  • Drainage infrastructure replacement
  • Roadway milling
  • Sidewalk and curb removal

Upcoming Work this Fall:
 
  • Shared-Use Path Construction
  • Verbeck Gate Improvements
  • Binder course pavement of Sculley Road and West Main Street
  • Winterize project (e.g. adjust structures, secure area (driveway aprons, hydrants, etc.)

Unfortunately, they did not receive the curbing that was secured for the project. The curbing supply company had issues and was unable to fulfill their project orders. This has impacted several projects across the region, including this project. They have secured curbing from another source, but it will not be delivered until early next year. Curbing for the project will be installed first thing in the Spring, followed by sidewalks and road top course.

When paving work is scheduled, advance notice of any traffic impacts will be given.
The Town appreciates your cooperation during this important infrastructure project. If you have any questions, please call the Ayer DPW at (978) 772-8240 (7:30am-3:30pm) or email DPW@ayer.ma.us.

Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Fundraising Weekend November 5 & 6

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AMHERST, NH: Mark your calendars! Treasures Antiques, Collectables & MORE!, located at 106 Ponemah Road will be hosting their 32nd Annual Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Fundraising weekend on November 5 and 6. Festivities for the weekend will run both days from 10am-4pm and include Holiday inspired shopping, raffles and entertainment. This annual event has been a mainstay in the community since 1991 and features Kitty Angels, Inc. along with several live musical entertainers, including: Wildwood, Jeff Damon, North Sound Duo, Jensing and Sunset Rhythm!

This Holiday and Fundraiser event is pet and kid friendly and will offer special sales for all, inside and out. B’s Grumman Grub offers a unique array of hot and cold food, as well as several beverages. A petting zoo with horse and pony rides will be provided by Mapledell Farms of Townsend. and Trading Faces, LLC, a face painting, body art and airbrushing professional with their remarkable “Transformation Station.” The weekend will also showcase some artists and artisans, crafters, professionals and specialty food vendors. Look for artist Lori-Ellen Budenas of Respect the Wood!, a creator of abstract paintings, coasters, trivets and more, Baboosic Lake Gourds, Heart’s Design Jewelry, Happy Cat Creations, Vinyl Revival, Dusty Finds, SoGo Metal Art, Anthony Acres, Damsel in Defense, Color Street, Baby Snuggz, Heavenly Goddess, Fudge & Stuff, Fiber Art by Eve Huston, Custom Care Designs, Gubbies Boutique and many more.

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 Hotel get-a-way weekend at Homewood Suites by Hilton/Nashua, a “Chain-sawed” green frog carving, created by Sara of NorthStar Sculptures/Chainsaw Chix, an ARUBACAT cat tree and other cat and dog related items, jewelry, specialty food packages, and an assortment of other fun and exciting prizes.

Kitty Angels, Inc., a no-kill cat shelter is made up of all unpaid volunteers and is 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.

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

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Avoid Becoming a ‘Burden’ on Grown Children

October 24, 2022
 
Here’s an interesting statistic: Some 72% of retirees say one of their biggest fears is becoming a burden on their families, according to a 2021 survey by Age Wave and Edward Jones. Both before and during retirement, what steps can you take to avoid burdening your loved ones in the future? Here are a few suggestions:
 
  • Build your retirement savings. The greater your financial resources, the less likely it becomes that you’d ever have to count on your grown children for financial support. You may have access to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, so take advantage of it. Even with an employer-sponsored plan, you also may be eligible to contribute to an IRA. In addition to offering a variety of investment options, a 401(k) and IRA provide potential tax advantages. And once you do retire, be careful about how much you withdraw each year from your retirement plans and other investments.
  • Plan for health care costs. Once you are retired, health care costs will be a significant expense. You may have Medicare, but you'll also want to consider your need for supplemental health insurance to cover traditional medical costs. And you’ll want to consider another potential health-related expense: long-term care. You may never need the services of a home health aide or a stay in a nursing home, but no one can predict the future.
Medicare does not cover most costs for long-term care, which can be quite high. In 2021, the annual national median cost for a private room in a nursing home was over $108,000, while the median cost for a full-time home health aide was nearly $62,000, according to a survey by Genworth, an insurance company. You may want to consult with a financial professional on strategies for protecting yourself from these costs.
 
  • Create necessary legal documents. If something were to happen to you, and you didn’t have the appropriate legal documents in place, your loved ones could be placed in a bind, both financially and emotionally. That’s why it’s a good idea to create documents such as a durable financial power of attorney, which lets you name someone to manage your finances if you became incapacitated, and a durable power of attorney for health care, which allows someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make them yourself. You’ll want to work with a legal professional to develop the documents appropriate for your needs.
  • Evaluate your housing needs. As you enter retirement, you may want to evaluate your living situation. Could you downsize to a smaller home, or perhaps a condominium or apartment? Not only might you save money with such a move, but you could also end up relieving your grown children of the responsibilities and hassles involved in clearing out and selling your home should you become unable to do so yourself during the later years of your retirement.

By taking these measures, along with others, you can go a long way toward maintaining your independence and putting yourself in a place where you won’t burden your grown children.  And that’s a good  place to be.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Alan Bell, AAMS ® - (978) 486-1059. Edward Jones, Member SIPC
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ShirleyArts! Presents "Bah Humbug"

SHIRLEY: Community theater is great for families, and this group of six are all related and are all part of the ShirleyArts! upcoming production of "Bah Humbug!" Grandfather Roy Ellis (far right) plays Ebenezer Scrooge. His wife Kathy (in the center) is stage manager. Samantha Ellis Sickorez (in the brown vest) appears as Bob Cratchit. Zach Sickorez (far left) is the Ghost of Christmas Present and Jay Sickorez (with the long blue jacket) is Nephew Fred. Donovan is the smallest Sickorez and is appearing as Tiny Tim. Other families participating in the show  include husband and wife, Bob and Marga Marchetti, mother and daughter Lyn and Emily Lambert, mother and daughter Mary and Hannah Cooper, and the whole Matthew Fowler family appearing on stage and helping backstage. Also part of the cast are Angie Edmonds, Diane King, Donna King, Victoria Landry, Jen Pacheco, Asia Sanford and Nancy Sawyer.
Director/ Producer Meredith Marcinkewicz is assisted by her daughter Laurie Marcinkewicz.

"Bah, Humbug!" will be performed at the Ayer Shirley Middle School on November 4, 5 and 6. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 for children ages 2-12, with a 10% discount for members of ShirleyArts!. Tickets will be on sale for cash or check at the door or can be ordered in advance using paypal at www.shirleyarts.info. Seating is open with the suggestion that spaces be left between parties. Masking is optional. Assistive listening devices will be available on request.
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2023 Transfer Station Stickers

AYER: Transfer Station Stickers for 2023 will be available mid to late November. Please stay tuned to the Town of Ayer website and sign up for E-Alert updates at www.ayer.ma.us/subscribe.
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Pre-lien Notification - Water & Sewer Customers

AYER: IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Every Fall, the Department of Public Works removes past due water and sewer charges that are six months old or older from the accounts at the D.P.W. and the delinquent amount is added to the resident’s third quarter real estate tax bill. If this applies to you,  the lien process can be avoided by paying your past due water and/or sewer balance now. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Public Works office at (978) 772-8240.

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Here’s Your ‘Recession Survival’ Checklist

October 17, 2022

It’s unfortunate, but recessions are a fairly normal part of the economic landscape. When a recession occurs, how might you be affected? The answer depends on your individual situation, but regardless of your circumstances, you might want to consider the items in this recession survival checklist:
 
  • Assess your income stability. If your employment remains steady, you may not have to do anything different during a recession. But if you think your income could be threatened or disrupted, you might want to consider joining the “gig economy” or looking for freelance or consulting opportunities.
  • Review your spending. Look for ways to trim your spending, such as canceling subscription services you don’t use, eating out less often, and so on.
  • Pay down your debts. Try to reduce your debts, especially those with high interest rates. 
  • Plan your emergency fund. If you haven’t already built one, try to create an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account. 
  • Review your protection plan. If your health or life insurance is tied to your work, a change in your employment status could jeopardize this coverage. Review all your options for replacing these types of protection. Also, look for ways to lower premiums on home or auto insurance, without significantly sacrificing coverage, to free up money that could be used for health/life insurance. 
  • Keep your long-term goals in mind. Even if you adjust your portfolio during times of volatility, don’t lose sight of your long-term goals. Trying to “outsmart” the market with short-term strategies can often lead to missteps and missed opportunities.  
  • Don’t stop investing. If you can afford it, try to continue investing. Coming out of a recession, stock prices tend to bottom out and then rebound, so if you had headed to the investment “sidelines,” you would have missed the opportunity to benefit from a market rally.  
  • Revisit your performance expectations. During a bear market, you will constantly be reminded of the decline of a particular market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But instead of focusing on these short-term numbers, look instead at the long-term performance of your portfolio to determine if you’re still on track toward meeting your goals. 
  • Assess your risk tolerance. If you find yourself worrying excessively about declines in your investment statements, you may want to reevaluate your tolerance for risk. One’s risk tolerance can change over time — and it’s important you feel comfortable with the amount of risk you take when investing. 
  • Keep diversifying. Diversification is always important for investors — by having a mix of stocks, mutual funds and bonds, you can reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. To cite one example: Higher-quality bonds, such as Treasuries, often move in the opposite direction of stocks, so the presence of these bonds in your portfolio, if appropriate for your goals, can be valuable when market conditions are worsening. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification cannot guarantee profits or protect against all losses in a declining market.) 

A recession accompanied by a bear market is not pleasant. But by taking the appropriate steps, you can boost your chances of getting through a difficult period and staying on track toward your important financial goals. 

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Mandy Calouro, Chelmsford, MA  - EdwardJones.com/Mandy-Calouro, Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Transfer Station Notice - Mattresses, Box Springs & Textiles No Longer Accepted as Trash Starting November 1st

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AYER: As of November 1, revisions to the MassDEP waste ban will go into effect that no longer allow mattresses/box springs and textiles in the waste stream (i.e., as trash). The items have to be recycled.
Why is the State Banning Mattresses/Box Springs and Textiles from the Waste Stream?

MassDEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan establishes goals to reduce trash disposal statewide by 30 percent (from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030) over the next decade. Among its strategies for reaching these objectives, MassDEP will expand its current waste disposal bans by adding mattresses to the list of materials banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.

The State’s landfills and combustion facilities have limited and diminishing capacity and the State is targeting textiles and mattresses because of the impact they will have when taken out of the waste stream. Mattresses are bulky and hard to dispose of and the State estimates approximately 17,000 tons per year can be removed from the waste stream from the ban. Similarly, approximately 95% of the 230,000 tons of textiles disposed of per year could be reused or recycled. This will reduce the waste burden on landfills and combustion facilities.

How does this impact the Ayer Transfer Station? Currently, the Ayer Transfer Station accepts mattresses/box springs and textiles. Mattresses/Box Springs are accepted as a bulk item and disposed of as trash. Textiles are accepted in donation containers. Due to the new Waste Ban, the Transfer Station will no longer accept mattresses/box springs on and after November 1, 2022. The final day to dispose of a mattress/box spring at the Transfer Station will be Sunday, October 30, 2022. The Transfer Station will continue accepting textiles in the donation containers.
 
Current Options to Recycle Mattresses / Box Springs after November 1, 2022: When purchasing a new mattress, ask the retailer to collect your old one. If you do not have a mattress purchase or if the retailer does not provide this service, schedule drop off with a Mattress Recycling Vendor, some vendors also offer pickup. The nearest facilities are:
 
Additional Transfer Station information is available at www.ayer.ma.us/transfer-station. If you have any questions, please call the DPW at (978) 772-8240.

Cannon Theatre Proudly Presents "Boeing Boeing"

DEVENS: The Cannon Theatre is pleased to present Boeing Boeing, a hilarious 1960s French farce drenched in fast-paced physical comedy and uproarious chaos. This production, directed by Martha Brooks, is the first in The Cannon Theatre’s 2022-23 season line-up, and only the fourth show to be staged in their new performance space at 28 Andrews Parkway. Show times are October 28, 29, November 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30pm, with matinees on November 6 and 13 at 2pm. Tickets,  $25 for adults; $20 for students/seniors are available at www.thecannontheatre.org.

Boeing Boeing follows the antics and escapades of Bernard Lawrence, an American architect living in Paris. As long as flight schedules remain the same, he is safe juggling three fiancées who are airline stewardesses; each is from a different airline and doesn't know about the other two! Life is grand until the new Boeing jet arrives and shortens flight times. Now the fun begins as Bernard and his maid juggle the ladies and their schedules. In addition, a friend discovers Bernard's deceit and decides to get in on the action. Life for Bernard is suddenly very complicated. Come see how the plot unfolds! In the cast are Lee Pallotta (Acton); Glenn Wakeley (Tewksbury); Sally Reid (Concord); Maren Caulfield (Harvard); Lexi Rock (Littleton); and Liz Chirico (Leominster).

The Cannon Theatre moved from Littleton to Devens while live theater was not possible during the pandemic. The new theater construction was made possible by very generous funding from The Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation, as well as donated work by Studio J2 (architect) and Frank Harrigan (structural engineer). Additional support is provided by the Community Foundation for North Central Massachusetts, and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton-Boxborough, Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Lunenburg, Townsend, and Shirley - local agencies which are supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
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Nashoba Symphonic Band Opens Season

BOLTON: The Nashoba Symphonic Band will present its first concert of the 2022-23 season on Sunday, October 30th at 3:00 p.m. In the auditorium of the Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 (Green Road GPS). With the theme “Brilliant Expositions,” the concert is the first in the season's “Joy in Form” series, exploring the ways various parts are combined to form a musical whole. The concert includes the brilliant Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovitch and Candide Suite, a set of songs from Leonard Bernstein's Broadway musical, adapted for concert band by veteran arranger, Clare Grundman. The program's featured number is the Symphony No.3 for Band by Vittorio Giannini. This four-movement piece is one of the first major works composed for the symphonic band medium. The concert will conclude with Karl King's rousing circus tune, Broadway One-Step.
 
Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey, is a program of the Nashoba Regional High School Friends of Music, and grateful for the support of its followers and fans. For more information, visit them at https://nashobamusic.wordpress.com/nashoba-symphonic-band or on Facebook.
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Pre-lien Notification - Water & Sewer Customers

AYER: Every fall the Department of Public Works removes past due water and sewer charges that are six months old or older from the accounts at the D.P.W. and the delinquent amount is added to the resident’s third quarter real estate tax bill. If this applies to you, the lien process can be avoided by paying your past due water and/or sewer balance now. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Public Works office at (978) 772-8240.
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Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes are Due November 1, 2022

AYER: A friendly reminder that the Fiscal 2023 second quarter Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills are coming due on November 1, 2022. You can pay or lookup your taxes online by clicking here.  The fee to pay a bill using an e-check is $.50.  This is less than a postage stamp and you get an instant receipt.
 
The Town Now Offers Autopay!  To sign up for AutoPay, add your bill to the cart and select “Set Up Automatic Payments.” You will be prompted to follow a one-time enrollment Wizard. Please be mindful not to enroll more than once. AutoPay only needs to be set up once.  You can edit your transactions at any time up to the day before payment is due.

The balance shown online will only reflect the payments you made online.  You are responsible for stopping any automatic payments if you no longer own the property. If you have any questions or concerns, please email tax@ayer.ma.us
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Rushad Eggleston at Fivesparks

HARVARD: Rushad Eggleston, a.k.a. Rushadicus will be presented by notloB Parlour Concerts at Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank Street on October 18 at 7:30pm. Eggleston is a mystical realm-hopping jester of infinite glee, whose unprecedented extremely fast bouncy cello style blows minds of all kinds.  A charming entertainer with unbridled passion, his joy is so contagious that many showgoers complain of sore facial muscles afterwards (the name Rushad means “joyful soul”).

A whimsically adventurous sense of melody shines through in all shades and styles on any of the many instruments Rushad bejicks “to keep it fresh”. Sometimes he reads mystical poetry in his own language, speaks in tongues, channels aliens, throat-sings, beat-boxes, or does skits as different characters such as Negative Ralph, Country Bob, The Goblin, or Guru Fafa which he has a right to embody because of his half-indian heritage.

Somewhat of an acrobat, Rushad can spin on one leg, hang upside down, do splits, play in plough pose, and catch flying fruits in his mouth while playing fast intricate cello rhythms.  A distinguished flatpicker, his innovation and skill are admired by many guitar luminaries. Although some of his music is avant garde and experimental (he has an amazing deathmetal cat-voice), he is an expert at making personal anthems to those for which he is playing.

Admission is by free-will offering, with a suggested cash donation of $15-20 for adults; teens and seniors $10; children $5. 100% of patron donations go to the artist.To reserve your seat, visit http://notlobmusic.eventbrite.com.  For more informaiton about Rushad, visit https://fliartists.com/artists/american-traditions/rushad-eggleston.
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Fall Paving Update

AYER: UPDATE as of 10/5/22:
 
  • Central Avenue and Pleasant Street: Due to today’s rainy weather, the final top course pavement on Central Avenue and Pleasant Street is rescheduled for Thursday, October 6th. Detours will be in place during the work, but local traffic will be permitted access. Expect delays. No on-street parking will be allowed during the paving operation (approximately 7am-4pm).
  • Westford Road: Paving work associated with Westford Road, from Willow Road to New England Way, will begin on Monday, October 10th. The work will begin with milling the roadway. One-way alternating traffic will be maintained during the Westford Road paving work.

During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution. Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (978) 772-8240.
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UPDATE: The Ayer DPW will be installing final top course pavement on the following streets and schedule, weather permitting:
 
  • October 4 - School Street (from Prospect Street to Pirone Park), Page Street
  • October 5 - Central Avenue (from Columbia Street to approximately 60 Central Ave), Pleasant Street (from 62 Pleasant Street to Howard Street)

The work consists of installing the top layer of pavement on one-half of the road at a time. Detours will be in place during the work, but local traffic will be permitted access. Expect delays. Please see attached images for anticipated details for Pleasant Street and Central Ave.

No on-street parking will be allowed during the paving operation (approximately 7am-4pm). During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution.
Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-772-8240.

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UPDATE: The Ayer DPW is continuing Fall road paving. Work that has been completed and work anticipated during the week of September 26th are outlined below. Note, the work schedule below is subject to change and is dependent on weather.
 
  • Central Avenue (from Columbia Street to approximately 60 Central Ave). Completed: milling, leveling course, asphalt berm, adjusting structures. Anticipated during the week of September 26th: begin sidewalk installation.
  • Pleasant Street (from 62 Pleasant Street to Howard Street). Completed: reclaim, binder course. Anticipated during the week of September 26th: asphalt berm, adjusting structures.
  • School Street (from Prospect Street to Pirone Park). Completed: milling, berm. Anticipated during the week of September 26th: none.
  • Page StreetCompleted: reclaim, binder course. Anticipated during the week of September 26th: asphalt berm, adjusting structures.
  • Westford Road (from New England Way to Willow Road). Completed: none. Anticipated during the week of September 26th: none.

Police details will be onsite to direct traffic. There will be varying road conditions, please travel with caution. Traffic flow will be maintained as much as possible. Notification will be given in advance of any required detours. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (978) 772-8240.

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The Ayer DPW will be reclaiming the following streets beginning Monday September 19: Pleasant Street – from 62 Pleasant Street to Howard Street; Page Street – from Groton Harvard Road to East Main Street. The process involves a pavement reclaiming machine that creates a new base material by grinding the existing asphalt and mixing it with the existing base material. The reclaiming is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 19, weather permitting. The work on Pleasant Street is anticipated to take two days and work on Page Street one day.

A detour will be in place on Pleasant Street during work hours, but the road will be open to local traffic. The detour for Pleasant Street will divert traffic to Jackson Street. Please see attached image of the detour. Page Street will be closed to through traffic but open to local traffic.
No on-street parking will be allowed during the reclaiming operation (approximately 7am-4pm). During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution.

Police details will be onsite to direct traffic and construction signage will be in place.

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The Ayer DPW will be conducting road paving this Fall. Work will commence the week of September 12 and is anticipated to continue through the week of October 17. The following streets are included in the paving schedule, in accordance with the Town’s pavement management plan. Central Avenue (from Columbia Street to approximately 60 Central Ave)  Mill and Overlay, Sidewalks Pleasant Street (from 62 Pleasant Street to Howard Street) Reclamation, Sidewalk School Street (from Prospect Street to Pirone Park)  Mill and Overlay Page Street  Reclamation Westford Road (from New England Way to Willow Road) Mill and Overlay. The tentative work schedule for the next two weeks is as follows and is subject to change:

Week of 9/12, starting on the 13th:
 
  • Excavating sidewalks on Central Ave followed by Pleasant Street
  • Milling on School Street and Central Ave

Week of 9/19:
 
  • Reclaim and pave binder on Pleasant and Page Streets
  • Adjusting structures on Central Ave and School Street
  • Overlay paving on School Street

Please seek alternative routes. Police details will be onsite to direct traffic.
During construction, there will be varying road conditions. Please travel with caution.

DPW will provide regular construction updates as the work progresses. Traffic flow will be maintained as much as possible. Notification will be given in advance of any required detours.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at (978) 772-8240.

FINANCIAL FOCUS : How Should You Pay for Short-term Financial Goals?

October 3, 2022

As you go through life, you will likely have long- and short-term financial goals. But how will your strategies for meeting your long-term goals differ from those needed for your short-term ones?

If you’re like most people, your biggest long-term goal is achieving a comfortable retirement. And for this goal, a common strategy is putting away money in tax-advantaged retirement vehicles, such as your 401(k) and IRA.

So, how should you go about preparing for shorter-term goals, such as a family vacation, home renovation, wedding or major purchase?

For starters, determine what your goal is, how much you can spend on it and when you’ll need the money. Even if you can’t pinpoint a precise amount, you can develop a good estimate. Of course, the sooner you start this process, the better off you’ll be, because you’ll have more time to save.

Your next decision involves the manner in which you save for your short-term goal. Specifically, what savings or investment vehicles should you use? The answer will be different for everyone, but you need to make sure that your investments align with your risk tolerance and time horizon. And you’ll want to ensure, as much as possible, that a certain amount of money is available for you at the specific time you’ll need it.

If you aren’t able to save enough to reach a short-term goal, you have other options — you can borrow what you need, or you can potentially sell investments to cover the cost. How can you decide which choice is best?

To help make up your mind, you’ll first want to consider some of the most common borrowing options: credit cards, home equity loans, personal loans and margin loans. (A margin loan lets you borrow against the value of investments you already own). How might each of these loans fit into your overall financial strategy? Will the repayment schedule work with your cash flow and budget?

You’ll then want to compare the costs and benefits of borrowing, in whatever form, against selling investments. For example, if you can borrow at a lower interest rate compared to the return you think you can get from your investments, borrowing might be a reasonable choice. You’ll also need to consider other factors, such as your credit score, taxes, fees associated with selling investments and time needed to repay debts. If, for instance, selling investments will trigger a large amount of taxes, borrowing might be preferable. You’ll also want to consider whether there’s a penalty or high costs associated with selling investments. In addition, if you have a long time horizon for a loan, you may want to sell investments to avoid paying interest for a longer period of time, and thus driving up the overall cost of borrowing.          Finally, keep in mind that you may have built an investment mix designed to align with your goals and risk tolerance. If you were to sell any of these investments to meet short-term needs, you would want to consider the need to rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.
As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to paying for short-term goals. But by carefully evaluating your options, you can make the choices that are right for your needs.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Alan Bell, Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

“Margaret Fuller and Elizabeth Bishop:  Two Women of Central Massachusetts,” a talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Megan Marshall

Megan marshall by gail samuelson
WEST GROTON: Pulitzer-Prize winning biographer Megan Marshall will present “Margaret Fuller and Elizabeth Bishop: Two Women of Central Massachusetts,” on October 23 at the Groton Center, 163 Main Street. The public is invited to attend this lively exploration that inspired Marshall’s immersive and prize-winning biographies, Margaret Fuller: A New American Life and Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast.

Born a century apart, Fuller and Bishop’s lives and passions converge in fascinating ways. They had their important differences: Margaret Fuller was a public figure, a social reformist, and essayist. The author of Woman of the Nineteenth Century, she was the first female war correspondent and full-time book reviewer. A poet (and painter), Elizabeth Bishop confined her eloquence to the page. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her collection: North & South/A Cold Spring  (1955), taught at Harvard, and has been called by the New York Times critic, Larry Rohter, “one of the most important American poets” of the 20th century. Fuller received a carefully cultivated intellectual upbringing (part of which was in Groton); she associated with many of the best minds of her day. Bishop’s family background was less fortunate. Both struggled from childhood with questions of identity, and purpose. Each led off-beat, colorful lives of outstanding accomplishment and distinction.

Megan Marshall, award-winning scholar and Emerson College professor, brilliantly recreates the lives and times of these remarkable women. Her presentation is cosponsored by the Groton History Center and the Groton Public Library, with thanks to funding from the Groton Commissioners of Trust Funds. The program follows a brief business meeting of the Groton Historical Society. Space is limited; please register to attend by selecting the event from the GPL calendar at gpl.org. For more information, visit www.grotonhistory.org or email info@grotonhistory.org
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October WWII Program at Fort Devens Museum

DEVENS: On October 15 there will be a presentation by WWII militaria collector Bill Shea. He will bring various items from his own collection and highlight their fascinating stories which give these pieces a unique place in history.
 
Bill is a retired history teacher from Hubbardston. He and his son, Patrick, are currently the proprietors of "The Ruptured Duck" which specializes in original WWII military memorabilia. He works with area auction houses and serves as a consultant for a number of museums. Bill has contributed to more than 50 reference books dealing with WWII artifacts and has written a four volume series of books entitled THE STORIES BEHIND THE TREASURES OF WORLD WAR II “The Making of a Collectorholic." Bill is on the Board of Directors for The World War II Foundation in Rhode Island and was a Trustee for The International Museum of World War II in Natick, MA. He has appeared on the American Heroes Channel for a special edition of “Secrets of the Arsenal.”
 
This program is free and open to the public. So, if names and places like Iwo Jima, Mount Suribachi, the B-17 Liberator airplane or “30 Seconds Over Tokyo” mean something to you, please be sure to join in on October 15 at 1pm. The Fort Devens Museum is located on the 3rd floor of 94 Jackson Road. The museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information please email info@fortdevensmuseum.org.

PHOTO: "Papa Rufus" was a belly gunner on a B-17...What an incredible story he had to tell! Credit: Bill Shea
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Nashoba Park Celebrates National Assisted Living Week with Joyful Moments

AYER: Nashoba Park did not hold back for this year’s National Assisted Living Week. The Volunteers of America Massachusetts senior community used the occasion as an opportunity to bring some fun to the community’s residents and families, and to show their appreciation to their dedicated team of associates. This year’s theme for National Assisted Living Week was “Joyful Moments,” and Nashoba Park celebrated by creating their own new joyful moments and sharing special gifts with residents and staff. The week-long celebration kicked off with a special Grandparents Day celebration, followed by themed days including Sports Day, Twin Day, Wacky Wednesday and Western Day. The community also enjoyed a special visit from Lifting Spirits Miniature Horses (pictured herein with resident Mary Fell). 

Nashoba Park Assisted Living, a Volunteers of America Massachusetts Senior Community, offers local seniors service-enriched assisted living. The community was recently renovated, ushering in modern, stylish updates to its common spaces. Learn more and book a tour online at www.NashobaPark.com.
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St. Andrew’s Church Hosts Blessing of the Animals with Morning Prayer to Mark the Feast of St. Francis

AYER: On October 2, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located at 7 Faulkner Street, is excited to welcome parishioners and the greater community for a Blessing of the Animals. A joyful way to recognize the Feast of St. Francis, worship will be held on the lawn at St. Andrew’s Church. Everyone is invited to bring beloved pets and stuffed animals alike for a Blessing. The service begins at 9:30am. St. Andrew’s is a welcoming and family friendly church. 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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Over 150 Booths at 50th Anniversary Harvard Flea Market

HARVARD: The League of Women Voters of Harvard and the Harvard Schools Trust are pleased to announce the 50th Annual Harvard Flea Market, to be held on October 8 from 9am-4pm on the grounds of the Bromfield School (Rain date: October 9). Cash admission is $3 per person for adults and seniors; $1 per child ages 6 to 12; and $10 for early birds (7:30am-9am).

Bargain hunters will descend upon Harvard for the 50th year to attend the largest one-day outdoor flea market northwest of Boston. Shoppers come with bags and carts in tow to visit over 160 booths filled with antiques and collectibles – toys, games, jewelry and vintage clothing, seasonal décor, artwork and paintings, pottery and glassware, and so much more.  The market boasts a popular food court area with both traditional favorites and ethnic cuisines including Thai food and specialty desserts.  The Harvard Lions Club serves up hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken strips, meatball subs, veggie burgers, hotdogs, fries, breakfast sandwiches, funnel cakes and fresh squeezed lemonade and drinks. The Congregational Church of Harvard will hold its Apple Festival “Pies on the Common,” selling homemade apples pies fresh from local ovens. A limited number of booths are still available. To check availability please visit  www.harvardfleamarket.com
 
There will be parking and restrooms available with handicap access. Please do not block private driveways - parking restrictions will be strictly enforced, including ticketing and towing. Emergency staff will be onsite to assist with any medical emergencies. The Harvard Flea Market gatekeepers will accept cash only (no checks or credit/debit cards) for admission. Some booth vendors may accept credit card payments via Square® or other apps.  Most accept cash only. Dogs are permitted at the flea market provided they are on a leash and their owners pick up after them.

For more information on the flea market, including directions, visit the website at www.harvardfleamarket.com. For questions email: fleamarket@lwvharvard.org. To learn whether the flea market has been postponed a day due to inclement weather, call the Harvard Schools Trust message line at (978) 456-5085.
 
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Stackmusic Trio at P.C.A.

WESTFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts is excited to host the Stackmusic Trio on October 1 at 7:30pm, featuring David "Stack" Stackhouse on vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul Pampinella on guitars and vocals, and Dave Sacco on percussion, playing an eclectic mix of rock and pop hits stripped from your favorite playlist (e.g., Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, etc), plus a few originals. It began with Stack & Paul, who met at Berklee College of Music in the late 80s, and whose other projects together led to tours spanning three continents, including appearances on VH-1, America’s Got Talent, with The Boston Pops, and singing our National Anthem for the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, and the NFL Hall of Fame. Nowadays they’re local family guys (Stack and Dave live in Westford, MA, and Paul is from Shirley, MA) playing with a chemistry and comfort that comes from a lifetime of jamming on stage!

Tickets are available in advance at pcawestford.org - Ticket prices are $15/person; $40/family; $12/members, seniors, and 18 & under. Attendees are permitted to bring their own food and beverages. Free Street Parking is available along Lincoln Street, at the former fire station parking lot on the right, and across the street in JV Fletcher library parking lot (in rear of library).
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Construction Update - Ayer West Main Street Infrastructure Project

AYER: The Ayer West Main Street Infrastructure Project is continuing. Below is an update of work completed to date. Completed-to-date:
 
  • Water infrastructure replacement
  • Drainage infrastructure replacement
  • Roadway milling
  • Sidewalk and curb removal

Upcoming Work this Fall:
 
  • Shared-Use Path Construction
  • Verbeck Gate Improvements
  • Binder course pavement of Sculley Road and West Main Street
  • Winterize project (e.g. adjust structures, secure area (driveway aprons, hydrants, etc.)

Unfortunately, they did not receive the curbing that was secured for the project. The curbing supply company had issues and was unable to fulfill their project orders. This has impacted several projects across the region, including this project. They have secured curbing from another source, but it will not be delivered until early next year. Curbing for the project will be installed first thing in the Spring, followed by sidewalks and road top course.

When paving work is scheduled, advance notice of any traffic impacts will be given.
The Town appreciates your cooperation during this important infrastructure project. If you have any questions, please call the Ayer DPW at (978) 772-8240 (7:30am-3:30pm) or email DPW@ayer.ma.us.

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Should you Stick with Index-based Investments? 

September 21, 2022
 
You may have heard that you can simplify your investment strategy just by owning index-based or passive investments. But is this a good idea? You’ll want to consider the different aspects of this type of investment style. 
 
To begin with, an index-based investment is a vehicle such as a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that mimics the performance of a market benchmark, or index — the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and so on. (An ETF is similar to a mutual fund in that it holds a variety of investments but differs in that it is traded like a common stock.) You can also invest in index funds that track the bond market. 
 
Index investing does offer some benefits. Most notably, it’s a buy-and-hold strategy, which is typically more effective than a market-timing approach, in which individuals try to buy investments when their prices are down and sell them when the prices rise. Attempts to time the market this way are usually futile because nobody can really predict when high and low points will be reached. Plus, the very act of constantly buying and selling investments can generate commissions and fees, which can lower your overall rate of return. Thus, index investing generally involves lower fees and is considered more tax efficient than a more active investing style. Also, when the financial markets are soaring, which happened for several years until this year’s downturn, index-based investments can certainly look pretty good — after all, when the major indexes go up, index funds will do the same.
 
Conversely, during a correction, when the market drops at least 10% from recent highs, or during a bear market, when prices fall 20% or more, index-based investments will likely follow the same downward path. 
 
And there are also other issues to consider with index-based investments. For one thing, if you’re investing with the objective of matching an index, you may be overlooking the key factors that should be driving your investment decisions — your goals and your risk tolerance. An index is a completely impersonal benchmark measuring the performance of a specific set of investments — but it can’t be a measuring stick of your own progress.
 
Furthermore, a single index, by definition, can’t be as diversified as the type of portfolio you might need to achieve your objectives. For example, the S&P 500 may track a lot of companies, but they’re predominantly large ones. And to achieve your objectives, you may need a portfolio consisting of large- and small-company stocks, bonds, government securities and other investments. (Keep in mind, though, that while diversification can give you more opportunities for success and can reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio, it can’t guarantee profits or prevent all losses.)

Ultimately, diversifying across different types of investments that align with your risk tolerance and goals — regardless of whether they track an index — is the most important consideration for your investment portfolio. Use this idea as your guiding principle as you journey through the investment world. 
 
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Marshall-Ben Tisdale,Westford, MA  - www.EdwardJones.com/Marshall-Ben-Tisdale, Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
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Clear Path for Veterans New England Journey Home 5K/10K Run

DEVENS: Mark your Calendars - Clear Path for Veterans New England Journey Home 5K/10K Run will take place November 13 starting at 8am at 84 Antietam Street. Each year around Veterans Day, gather in Fort Devens, to help toe the line in support of Veterans and First-Responders. Run or walk a beautiful 5K/10K course and honor the bravest among us!  Run and walk together, and then celebrate at the finish line in honor of that that gave so much. Post-race celebration hosted by our friends at Columbia Tavern (Leominster) and Yuengling! For more information or to sign up, please go to www.Journeyhomerace.com.
 

Friends of Thayer Memorial Library Host Annual Book Sale

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LANCASTER: The Friends of the Thayer Memorial Library  will hold their Annual Book Sale September 30-October 2, as well as Columbus Day weekend, October 8 & 9 at Old Lancaster Town Hall, 695 Main Street. Friday hours are 3-7pm, Saturdays are 9am-4pm, Sundays 12-4pm. ‘Fill a bag’ is being offered throughout the event. All proceeds benefit books, programs and events at the library. This event is held annually in conjunction with the Horseshed Fair. Here’s your chance to help support your community library and take home some needed books for the cold months. Friends Members receive $5 off per bag the first weekend so if you are not already a member, you may become one at the sale. Credit cards are again accepted this year. Over 600 boxes of books, DVDs and CDs are available and sorted into categories. September 30 is $25/bag; October 1 $20/bag; October 2 $15/bag; October 8 $10/bag; & October 9 $5/bag. Otherwise, hardcover books are $2, trade softcovers $1.50 and standard paperbacks $0.50. Volunteers from the Friends provide staffing during the sale and help sort the books prior to the sale. If you would like to volunteer or to donate, email FriendsofTML@gmail.com.
 
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10th Annual Craft Festival at Fruitlands Museum is Back

HARVARD: The 10th Annual Craft Festival at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard is back September 24 & 25, after a 2-year Covid-19 hiatus! Fruitlands Museum picturesque grounds, overlooking the Nashoba Valley and the New Hampshire mountains, will come alive with two 140’ x 40’ festival tents featuring 48 juried New England Artisans. The show’s quality of handmade craft, museum offerings, and stunning views has made the festival a popular September destination. It is the perfect event for a fall outing to plan your holiday gifts for family and friends. Admission to the Festival includes entry to Fruitlands Museum galleries, historic structures, exhibits, and trails. Transportation via golf cart is available from the parking field to the festival enclosures if needed. Food is available from local food vendors, ice cream, coffee trucks and The Hyve at the Fruitlands Café. Under the cover of tents, this event is rain or shine! See the full list of participating artists and artisans and register online at https://thetrustees.org/program/2022-fruitlands-craft-festival.
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Nashoba Park Celebrates Grandparents Day

AYER: At Nashoba Park Assisted Living in Ayer, they had a great time kicking off National Assisted Living Week with a Grandparents Day celebration on September 11! Family and friends of residents visited while enjoying the entertainment of musical duo Rivers Between. Pictured herein is Nashoba Park resident Lila Ansbacher with daughter Karen Liljegren and granddaughter Annika Liljegren.

Established by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995, National Assisted Living Week® provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding communities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. The annual observance encourages assisted living communities around the country to offer a variety of events and activities to celebrate the individuals they serve, as well as to help educate members of the public about this distinctive aspect of long term care.
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Take a Tour of Shaker Road in Shirley Village

SHIRLEY: Shaker Road in Shirley Village leads to the site of the former Shaker Village. Believers in Christ lived, worked, and worshipped together here from 1794 – 1908, erecting buildings and farming the land.  Then the Shaker property was sold to the state of Massachusetts and for over 100 years it was used first as a reform school for boys and then as a state prison.

The Department of Corrections allows the Shirley Historical Society to lead tours of the site on specific days. The two hour tours in 2022 will be held on Sundays  September 18, October 9 and October 23 starting at 12:30pm. There must be a minimum of 8 people in order to run each tour.  Private tours may be arranged for groups of 8 or more on an agreed-upon Sunday afternoon.

The tour begins inside a Shaker building with an illustrated lecture on the history of the Shakers and the Shirley Shaker Village. Visitors go inside two other Shaker buildings and travel by prison van to various locations around the property.

Reservations must be made in advance for a cost of $20 per person, or $15 for Historical Society members. Mail payment and contact information to Shirley Historical Society, PO Box 217, Shirley, MA 01464. Email mail@shirleyhistory.org with any questions.

Groton Hill Music Center is Now Open; Public Free Class Day Event

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GROTON: For the past several years, residents of Groton and surrounding towns just west of I-495 have watched something new and exciting growing on the horizon. The architecturally stunning, 126,000 square foot Groton Hill Music Center, now open for music lessons, invites the community to explore free classes for all ages in abilities during its Free Class Day event on October 1 and 2, from 9am-4pm. Participate in free classes and ensembles, explore the school and its offerings, and enjoy refreshments and arts and crafts activities for kids. Registration is required for this event, located at Groton Hill Music Center, 122 Old Ayer Road.  Learn more about Free Class Day, view classes, and register at grotonhill.org/freeclassday.
 
Explore a wide range of programs for all ages and abilities, including the popular Music for Aardvarks and Drum Buddies early childhood classes, the regional youth chorus, beginner instrument classes for young learners or adults, theory and songwriting classes, ensembles in all styles for teens and adults, and more. Motivated young classical musicians can attend an open rehearsal with Groton Hill’s high-level regional Youth Orchestras and Youth Wind Ensembles. All ages can explore instruments with Groton Hill’s vendor partners: David French Music, Bridges & Bows, M. Steinert & Sons, and NUVO instruments.
 
“We are thrilled to finally be open in Groton, and to be expanding the breadth and depth of the educational programming we’ve provided in the area for over 35 years,” said Pete Robbins, the Center’s Director of Education and Non-Orchestral Performance Programming. “To be able to invite the community to participate in our vision for music education in this incredible space is an absolute dream come true,” he said.
 
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 world-class 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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Harmful Algae Bloom Present at Sandy Pond

AYER: IMPORTANT NOTICE: Sandy Pond (including the Town Beach) is CLOSED effective immediately for all swimming and recreational activities due to the presence of a harmful algae bloom known as cyanobacteria per an inspection by the Board of Health and confirmed by the State.  Sandy Pond (including the Town Beach) is closed until further notice.  For questions or concerns please contact Bridgette Braley, Health Agent at 978-772-3335 ext. 303.  Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
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Ayer Road Detour: September 11 & 12

HARVARD/AYER: IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Town of Harvard will be milling Ayer Road from the Ayer Town Line to Route 2 beginning at 6:30pm on September 11. Milling of Ayer Road from the Ayer town line to Route 2 will start on Sunday (9/11/22) 6:30pm to Monday 5:30am and Monday (9/12/22) 6:30pm to Tuesday 5:30am.  A detour will be in place for the traffic SOUTHBOUND but to allow the NORTHBOUND traffic to Ayer to travel through.  Please expect delays. Paving will take place at a later date.
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UPDATED 9/8/22: Ayer Water Supply Reaching Critical Levels: State of Water Supply Conservation

AYER: Mandatory Water Use Restrictions are in place.  Town of Ayer Water Customers are required to adhere to Mandatory Water Restrictions.  Even with receiving 3.1 inches of rain the last few days, the drought is not over, and the Town’s declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation is still in place and in accordance with the Town Water Use Restriction Regulation.

Effective August 4th Non-essential outdoor water uses are prohibited.

Exceptions mean those uses that are:
 
  • For health or safety reasons;
  • By regulation;
  • For the production of food and fiber;
  • For the maintenance of livestock; or
  • To meet the core functions of a business.
  • Watering by hand is discouraged but not restricted.

These water restrictions are for all day, every day.  There are no permissible times or days that you may outdoor water except as noted above.

All Town employees are the enforcement agents authorized to implement the water ban.  Enforcement of the Outdoor Water Restrictions is as follows:
 
  • 1st Violation – Written Warning
  • 2nd Violation - $50 fine
  • 3rd Violation - $200 fine
  • 4th Violation - $300 fine and reduction in water availability to allow for basic water needs

Please do your part to maintain this valuable resource.  If you have questions about this notice or about the water restrictions, please contact the DPW office at 978-772-8240.

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Look Closely at Open Enrollment Choices

September 6, 2022

Once again, it’s the season for football games and back-to-school activities. And if you work for a medium-size or large employer, it will soon be open enrollment season – the time of year when you can review your employee benefits and make changes as needed. What areas should you focus on?

Actually, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to all your benefits. Some of the offerings may have changed from last year — and you might have experienced changes in your own life, too, which might lead you to look for something different from your existing benefits package.

You may want to start with your health insurance. If you’re satisfied with your coverage, and it’s essentially the same as it’s been, you may well want to stick with what you have. However, many employers are increasingly offering high-deductible health plans, which, as the name suggests, could entail more out-of-pocket costs for you. But high-deductible plans may also offer something of benefit: the ability to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). Your HSA contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, so they can reduce your taxable income for the year. Also, your earnings grow tax-free, and your withdrawals are tax-free, provided the money is used for qualified medical expenses. (Withdrawals taken before age 65 that aren’t used for qualified medical expenses are taxable and subject to a 20% penalty; once you reach 65, the penalty no longer applies, although withdrawals are still taxable as income if not used for a qualified expense.)

Your next benefit to consider: Life insurance. Your employer may offer a group life insurance plan, but you’ll want to evaluate whether it’s sufficient for your needs, especially if you’ve experienced changes in your personal situation over the past year, such as getting married or adding a new child. There’s no magic formula for how much life insurance you need — you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, such as your income, family size, mortgage and so on — but it may be necessary to supplement your employer’s coverage with a private policy.

Your employer may also offer disability insurance as a benefit. Some employers’ disability policies are fairly limited, covering only short periods of time, so you may want to consider a private policy. 

Beyond the various insurance policies your employer may offer, you’ll also want to closely look at your 401(k) or similar retirement plan. Typically, you can make changes to your 401(k) throughout the year, but it’s important to make sure your investment selections and contribution amounts are still aligned with your risk tolerance and goals. Also, are you contributing enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is offered? And if you’ve already receiving the match, can you still afford to put in more to your plan if such a move makes sense for you? 

Your employee benefits package can be a valuable part of your overall financial strategy. So, as open enrollment season proceeds, take a close look at what you already have, what’s being offered, and what changes you need to make. It will be time well spent.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor 
Financial Advisor, Alan Bell, Littleton, MA
Edwardjones.com/Alan-Bell
Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
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Town of Ayer & Devens Community Awarded $282,640

Climate-Change Mitigation Grant to Bring “Pocket Forests” to Most Vulnerable Neighborhoods
 
AYER: The Ayer Office of Community & Economic Development (AOCED) announces that the Town of Ayer and the Devens Enterprise Commission have been awarded a 2022 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant through the MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (MVP) Program in the amount of $282,624 to fund the innovative “Ayer-Devens Neighborhood Pocket Forest Planting Pilot Project”.  
The BSC Group, Regenerative Design Group and Linnean Solutions have been engaged by Ayer and Devens to provide professional urban/environmental/design consulting services in formulating, facilitating, conducting and administering the Pocket Forest Pilot Project and grant process in coordination with various municipal departments, boards, commissions and local organizations.
As one of New England’s earliest freight and passenger railroad townships (1846-current), many of Ayer’s oldest working-class urban neighborhoods were built along the heavy freight railroad lines, which continue to this day to be exceedingly active freight rail-lines and heavy tractor trailers routes.

Through the decades, and in the face of accelerating climate-change, Ayer’s less advantaged working-class neighborhoods have been covered-over in expansive asphalt surfaces, have been deprived of health-supporting trees/tree canopies, green-space and shaded streets, are at high risk of storm-water/flood damage which brings dangerous mold and associated respiratory health risks, and are subject to constant locomotive engine diesel exhaust cascading over their neighborhoods.

These most vulnerable of Ayer’s neighborhoods are deserving of a reduction in adverse heat-island impacts, improved air quality, reduced stormwater street flooding, and the fundamental physical and mental health advantage and value of a more “tree covered” urban neighborhood.

The $282,624 MVP Action Grant will fund a Pilot Project that will engage the residents of these Ayer/Devens neighborhoods to guide, plan, design and plant “Neighborhood Pocket Forests”. Starting in October, through a series of neighborhood walking tours & neighborhood meetings, youth & student design/planning events, neighborhood “Pocket Forest” design charrettes, resident natural science/community volunteer training sessions, neighborhood “Tree Planting Days”, and additional community engagement forums, appropriate tree species will be selected to maximize carbon sequestration, absorption of particulate matter, nitrogen, sulfur, and ozone. As a green infrastructure tool, the Ayer/Devens Pocket Forests will be located and designed to reduce urban neighborhood impervious surface area, to naturally filter stormwater runoff, and aid in reducing peak flows leading to better micro-climate conditions, improved water quality, and reduced street flooding in Ayer’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

This grant and community-participatory pilot program will be the first step in an incremental and generational design, planning, development and maintenance process, in preparation for ongoing climate-change, in order to establish a more healthy, resilient, sustainable and valued quality of life in the less advantaged neighborhoods of the Town of Ayer & Devens Community.

Both the Town of Ayer & the Devens Community have adopted Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Plans which favorably positioned the communities to be awarded this important climate-change sustainability grant.

For additional information on the grant award and “Ayer-Devens Neighborhood Pocket Forest Planting Pilot Project” please contact Director of Community & Economic Development Alan S. Manoian at Ayer Town Hall at 978.772.8220 X141 and/or amanoian@ayer.ma.us
 
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Senior Citizen Water & Sewer Bill Discount

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% 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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Thrilling Natural Scenes to Grace Solo Show Opening in Shirley

SHIRLEY: Painter Susan Wadsworth has created beautiful images of Mother Nature in all her glory in recent paintings of scenes witnessed and studied in Maine, Vermont, and Ontario. She travels with a sketchpad that takes in the tiny, the gigantic, and everything in between. She has employed her eye for the telling details that an insightful artist can pick out of immense expanses, as well as the majestic sweep of those big vistas. These subjects of study and celebration are “Mountains, Trees, Rocks, and Seas: Small to Mighty.” 

The work is mostly very recent, and features Wadsworth’s latest interests, including the challenge of executing huge pastel murals, capturing stunning sunsets at sea, and employing a new freedom with ink in the landscapes of mountains and trees. This is the artist’s first solo show at a commercial gallery, and she is very excited to be exhibiting so much new work. 
The big “show piece” in the exhibition is Quoddy I. It was inspired by the Quoddy Head State Park in downeast Maine, near the Canadian border. It is the fifth very large piece (42″ x 108″) that Wadsworth has completed since April 2020, in addition to three “smaller” pieces — each a mere six feet wide.
 
The medium for all of these is pastel and ink on paper. Formerly the artist always began with pencil, later going over these lines with India ink. Now she finds she can do smaller studies applying the ink directly. But with very large pieces, she still relies on some underlying graphite lines to work out the overall structure of the composition. Further on in the process, she adds pastels in multi-colored layers — as many as 20 such layers! These she rubs by hand to achieve a smooth finish. The ink is the final ingredient, contrasting very energetically and solidifying the entire work. 

In May of this year, the artist “escaped” to Maine for 10 days, “knowing only that I wanted to draw rocks.” She found plenty of inspiration at Bailey Island, Pemaquid, Schoodic, and Quoddy, this last location nestled beside Quoddy Head State Park. From her base in Lubec, she hiked, stopping to sketch when she found a view that was especially beautiful and inspiring. She produced 10 studies and took numerous photographs. From these, she pieced together the vistas now that appear in Quoddy I. The large pieces might appear to be from one point of view, but in fact they are meticulously constructed combinations of at least five different viewpoints. She compares these to some landscapes well known to admirers of Cubism. The difference between her own work and those cubist paintings, says the artist, is that her vision is more “organically connected.” 

Wadsworth’s understanding of her own work tends to change and develop over time. This process is reflected in the relationship between different artistic schools and even across national borders. An admirer of Chinese and Japanese art, she has long studied the rocks depicted in Chinese scrolls, perhaps once imagining bearded sages strolling in the hills at a leisurely pace, surrounded by the natural beauty of the exotic rock formations looming over the river below. (Well, exotic for North Americans, perhaps. Obviously, the Chinese, accustomed to their surreal, bulging rock cliffs on the banks of the Yang-tze, may find the mesas of Monument Valley quite exotic indeed.) The rocks that she draws from life in New England and in Canada, do not exude peace of mind. “These rocks suggest trouble,” she says, “but one that is negotiable. And the light, I hope, suggests spiritual hope.” In other words, the images drawn straight from nature are often quite beyond words, but they conjure up powerful thoughts and feelings when she takes another look at one of her landscapes months or years afterward.

“The inner content of my work,” she muses, “sometimes evolves with the work itself or becomes evident later on.” 
The artist directs viewers to the kanji — Japanese characters — that she sometimes includes along with the images. These can be imperfectly translated as “transform…transcend…eternity…breath…true…be,” among others. The use of kanji is purposeful in terms of meaning and the graceful, decorative emphasis on planes that we see in Japanese screens. The kanji create a kind of “pictorial tension — a play of planes and flatness” — in place of traditional perspective. 

This Sitka show, opening with a reception on September 9 from 4:30-6:30pm and on display throughout the month of September and into October, also has small tableaux of unframed pieces, of a size (c. 10.5″ x 13.5″) that fit comfortably into the artist’s drawing backpack. She executed many of these as “walk and draws.” She hikes until she is tired — or inspired. Then she sits down and begins to draw. 

Another new section for the show will be Wadsworth’s sunsets. These were completed on two different cruises — one through the Panama Canal in late 2021, and the other in March 2022 from Brazil to Barbados. The artist intensely studied these spectacular sunsets, taking as many as a hundred photos, in the process catching many subtle changes in the color and composition of the sky, the sea, and the sun in the course of one shoot. The artist created drawings from those photos. “I tried to create a focused essence of each sunset,” she observes, “without all the encircling details that are possible but often distracting.” 

The last bank of drawings at Sitka will be “mountains and trees” done on walks near the Vermont border and at Lake Temagami in Ontario. Here the artist plays with color and layered lines, seeing them more as “energy lines.” She maintains: “There is always something else going on that is more than just a mechanical reproduction of reality.” 

Susan Wadsworth earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree at Cranbrook Academy of the Arts near Detroit, and an MA in Art History at Tufts University in Medford.

For more information, visit www.sitkacreations.com.
Some of what's happening in September at Lawrence Library in Pepperell (https://lawrencelibrary.org/)...
North sea gas sept 23
Forage and harvest1
Open mic returns (flyer (landscape))

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Prepare Yourself for a Long Retirement

August 29, 2022

We all want to live long lives. We all expect to live long lives. But are we financially prepared for this longevity?  Before we get to the issue of preparation, let’s look at a couple of interesting findings from a 2022 survey by Age Wave and Edward Jones:
 
  • The surveyed retirees said, on average, they expect to live to 89, and they said the ideal length of retirement is 29 years.
  • When asked if they want to live to 100, nearly 70% of the respondents said “yes.” The main reason for this desire for long life? To spend more years with their family and friends.

Of course, none of us can see into the future and know how long we’ll be around. But with advances in medical care and a greater awareness of healthy lifestyles, these aspirations have a real basis in reality.

However, if you’re going to enjoy a longer lifespan, and the extra years with your loved ones, you need to ensure your finances are also in good shape. How can you make this happen?  Here are some basic steps to follow:
 
  • Save and invest early and often. This may be the oldest piece of financial advice, but it’s still valid. The earlier you start saving and investing for your retirement, the greater your potential accumulation. Consider this: If you began saving just $5,000 per year at age 25, and earned a hypothetical 6.5% annual rate of return, and didn’t take any early withdrawals, you’d end up with $935,000 by the time you reached 65. But if you waited until 35 to start saving and investing, and you earned the same hypothetical 6.5% return – again with no early withdrawals – you’d only end up with $460,000. And if you didn’t start saving until 45, you’d end up with just over $200,000, again given the same 6.5% return. 
  • Be mindful of debt. You may not  want to be burdened with certain debts when you enter retirement. So, while you’re still working, try to reduce unwanted debts, particularly those that don’t offer the financial benefits of tax-deductible interest payments. The lower your debt load, the more you can save and invest for the future.
  • Keep reviewing your progress. It’s important to monitor the progress you need to make toward achieving your goal of a comfortable retirement. Over the short term, your investment balances may fluctuate, especially in volatile financial markets such as we’ve seen in the early part of this year. But you’ll get a clearer picture of your situation if you look at long-term results. For example, have your accounts grown over the past 10 years as much as you had planned? And going forward, do you think you’re in good shape, or will you need to make some changes to your investment strategy? Keep in mind that, if you’re 50 or older, you can make “catch-up” contributions to your IRA and 401(k) that allow you to exceed the regular limits. You may also want to adjust your investment mix as you near retirement to potentially lower your risk exposure.

Hopefully, you will enjoy many years of a healthy, happy retirement. And you can help support this vision by carefully considering your financial moves and making the ones that are right for you. 

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor, Mandy Calouro, Chelmsford, MA
Edwardjones.com/Mandy-Calouro, Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Grant invite
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News from the Friends of the Ayer Library

AYER: At their final 2022 board meeting on October 12 (5:30-8pm), the Friends of the Ayer Library will elect officers for 2023. Interested newcomers are welcome by nominating themselves or someone else (with their consent, of course) by emailing friendsoftheayerlibrary@gmail.com. Nominations will also be taken at the meeting.
 
When considering, you can check off one question you might have right now:

Q) I'd love to volunteer but I don't have much extra time. 
A) Board members spend a range of time on Friends business, from two hours a month on up. Other than attending 2.5-hour quarterly meetings, the time commitment can be minimal and is dependent on the amount of time you can afford.

Board job descriptions (including contact info for those currently in the position should you wish to talk to them directly) can be found at:  tinyurl.com/FALboardmemberdescriptions. 
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Free Covid-19 Home Test Kits Available

AYER: Covid-19 home test kits are available for free to residents of Ayer, while supplies last - limit 2 boxes per household. Kits are at the following locations during normal business hours: Ayer Board of Health, 3rd Floor Town Hall; Ayer Fire Department; Ayer Police Department and Ayer Senior Center.

Drinking Water Notice - Updated August 18

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AYER: UPDATE: Customers of the Ayer DPW Water Division were notified on August 11, 2022 of a problem with drinking water. The problem has been corrected. Additional sampling confirmed that no further action is needed. As always, you may contact Kimberly Abraham, Water and Sewer Superintendent, at 978-772-8240 or kabraham@ayer.ma.us with any comments or questions.

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August 11, 2022 - To all users of the Ayer DPW Water Division - Ayer's water is routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On August 10, the water system was notified that a water sample collected on August 8 from Spectacle Pond Well #2A tested positive for enterococci, which is a fecal indicator.  Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria.
 
The water delivered to your taps through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including enterococci.  It is important to note that samples collected on August 8 in the distribution system did NOT detect any fecal contaminants.

This source is one of five active sources that supplies drinking water to our system.  Even though none of the chlorinated samples tested positive for a fecal indicator, our chlorine disinfection system at this source has not been certified by MassDEP as 4-log compliant for 99.99% virus inactivation.  In accordance with federal Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This is not an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.
The USEPA requires the DPW to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators: “Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.  Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.  They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.”  These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water.  If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor.  General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-...

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and Businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?
The DPW continues to maintain chlorine levels throughout the system and monitor for the presence of fecal contaminants in the sources and distribution system to ensure the safety of the water supply. The system is undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to determine if the current level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply.

The Town is in contact with MassDEP during this process who will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required.  If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any corrective actions.  This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.
For more information and further updates, please contact Kimberly Abraham, Water and Sewer Superintendent, at 978-772-8240 or visit www.ayer.ma.us/water.
Shirleyarts

ShirleyArts Invites Interested Performers from Grade 2 thru Adult for Holiday Show

SHIRLEY: ShirleyArts! invites interested performers from grades 2 through adult to audition for their fall family musical, “Bah Humbug” by Rebecca Ryland and Bill Francoeur. Shirley residency and prior experience is NOT required. Auditions are September 6 at 6:30pm. Rehearsals are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm, the first of which being September 8. The youngest actors will be dismissed by 8:30pm for most rehearsals. Teens and adults will often stay until 9:30pm.  Performances are November 4 and 5 at 7:30pm, November 6 at 2pm, all at the Ayer/Shirley Middle School Auditorium, 1 Hospital Road. 
 
“Bah Humbug” is a musical re-telling of the familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge, with Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family, singing and dancing townspeople, carolers, street urchins, ghosts, and even a few elves. This production will be directed by Meredith Marcinkewicz and choreographed by Emily Lambert.
 
For everyone’s safety and comfort, participants must show proof of COVID vaccination in order to participate. To find more details and the registration form, go to www.shirleyarts.info.
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UCC of Groton Hosts Community-wide Service Sunday

GROTON: Union Congregational Church of Groton is hosting a community-wide Service Sunday event, with free and games for kids, on August 28 from 12pm to 2pm. Service Sunday begins with the ‘Blessing of the Backpacks’ during the Sunday morning 10am worship service. All are welcome. Filled with school supplies, these backpacks will be distributed at the church which is located at 218 Main Street.
 
Organizer, Stefanie Lempp says, “We have been distributing free backpacks with school supplies for many years now. This year we wanted to expand our outreach even more in light of the economic challenges so many families are facing.” Lempp says the yearly backpack drive usually helps around 300-400 families. In order to receive a free backpack on Service Sunday, people must contact the church office to sign up. 
 
“Our friends at NVIDIA in Westford have been a huge help with the backpack donations,” says Rev. Corey Sanderson. “We have really enjoyed our long-running partnership with them and are so grateful for their generosity and compassion.”
The public is invited to stop by for a free lunch (hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetarian options), enjoy some simple fun games for kids, make some new friends, and learn more about the two stellar local organizations that we support.
 
Donations are being collected for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and Catie’s Closet. Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry helps people who are facing food insecurity in supportive and dignified ways. They serve the people of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley. Catie’s Closet provides clothes, toiletries, and other essentials to teens living in poverty, homelessness, or difficult home situations. 
 
More information, including lists of items being collected, can be found online at www.uccgroton.net/servicesunday, or on the church’s Facebook page. People can contact the church office if they have other questions - (978) 448-2091; unioncc@uccgroton.org.

Nashoba Park Assisted Living Unveils New Community Renovations

AYER: Nashoba Park Assisted Living has unveiled new community renovations, ushering in modern, stylish updates to its common spaces. The Volunteers of America Massachusetts community, professionally managed by Senior Living Residences of Braintree, has been a pillar of the Nashoba Valley community for more than fifteen years and launched this expansion project in 2021. The project focused on updates to some of the residents’ favorite spaces, including their Lounge, Library, Sun Room, Game Room and more. 

When you now enter Nashoba Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you feel like you are entering a brand new Assisted Living community. Renovations are complete with new carpeting and furnishings, paint and accent wallpaper throughout the first floor, as well as updated upholstery fabrics, accessories, and light fixtures. As a whole, the project incorporated contemporary design elements and put a modern twist on the site’s history as a major railroad junction.

While the Assisted Living community is unveiling these major updates, their commitment to enhancing each resident’s quality of life remains unchanged. Nashoba Park is known to families and area eldercare professionals for their integrity, commitment to valuing their associates, and an innovative programming and research-based approach to senior living.

“We know that Nashoba Park is our residents’ home, and this project shows how much we want to invest in them and make our community as comfortable as possible,” said Executive Director Kimberly Gagnon. “If you haven’t been inside Nashoba Park in some time, I encourage you to come for a visit; it’s truly a transformation.”

Nashoba Park Assisted Living, a Volunteers of America Massachusetts Senior Community, offers local seniors service-enriched assisted living. Residents enjoy a meaningful, supportive lifestyle with personalized services, innovative EnrichedLIFE programming, and restaurant-style dining featuring their award-winning Brain Healthy Cooking Program. The Assisted Living community has formed a close-knit group of seniors who engage in fun and educational activities, helping them to remain social and independent for as long as possible. Learn more online and schedule a tour at www.NashobaPark.com.
Sun room
Community room
Lounge
Library
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Nashoba Symphonic Band Announces 2022-2023 Season

BOLTON: The Nashoba Symphonic Band is pleased to announce its concert schedule for the 2022-2023 season. All concerts will take place in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 (12 Green Road GPS), about a mile west of the center of town. Admission is free and open to the public. The theme for the season is “Joy in Form,” exploring the ways in which various elements are combined to create a complete musical work.
 
  • October 30, 3pm - “Brilliant Expositions!” includes Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovitch, Suite from Candide, Clare Grundman's setting of music from the Broadway show by Leonard Bernstein, and the glorious Symphony No.3 by Vittorio Giannini.
  • February 4, 2023, 2pm - “Unexpected Developments!” features Variations for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughan Williams with Arthur Fracknpohl's Celebration Overture and the Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn by Norman Dello-Joio, plus marches by Kenneth J. Alford and Leon Jessel.
  • May 7, 2023, 3pm “Fiendish Finales!” includes a complete performance of Robert W. Smith's Symphony No.1 The Divine Comedy, based on the writings of Dante: Inferno, Purgatorio, Ascension, and Paradiso. The work is aptly framed by the Rakoczy March from Berlioz's Damnation of Faust, and March “Gloria” by Frank Hoyt Losey.
  • June 15, 2023, 7:30pm - “Fitting Codas!” features classics of concert band repertoire, including Symphonic Dance No.3 “Fiesta” by Clifton Williams, Pines of the Appian Way by Ottorino Respighi, and selections from the musical, Man of LaMancha, as well as music performed by graduating members of the Nashoba Symphonic Band.


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 clarinets and trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba and percussion. Rehearsals of Nashoba Symphonic Band are held on Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. on the stage of the Nashoba Regional High School. Those wishing to become members, or needing further information should contact the conductor/music director, David Bailey at baileydavidwayne@gmail.com OR Joe McCarthy, Nashoba Regional High School Instrumental Director at jmccarthy@nrsd.net.
Quilt detail

Antique Quilts and Tarbell Paintings on View at the Groton History Center’s Open House

GROTON: A selection of quilts, ranging from antique to the early 1990s, each of distinct pattern, palette, and interest, will be on view at the Groton History Center’s Boutwell House, at 172 Main Street, open to the public on August 20, from 11am to 2pm. 

Faithfully restored and reopened in 2014, the 1851 Italianate home, built for then Governor George S. Boutwell and his family, is rich in original detail and period décor. Visitors are invited to tour the house, enjoy it’s cool, high-ceilinged rooms filled with exhibits to delight antiquarians and artists alike, and take a stroll in the gardens.

Among the many objects d’art on view are paintings by the famous American Impressionist and Groton native Edmund Charles Tarbell (1862 – 1938) on loan from the Tarbell Charitable Trust. Tarbell was a leading member of the Boston School of artists, and a prominent teacher. His luminous oil paintings hang in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and other notable public collections. 
Of equal interest are Groton resident Harvey Sargisson’s (1902-1987) exquisite wood carvings of piping plovers and other shorebirds. Sargisson’s career included a thirty-year stint teaching woodworking at the Groton School. He was an artist in his own right, with an ardent following among connoisseurs, designers, and bird lovers.

All are invited to tour the Boutwell House and grounds free of charge (donations appreciated).  For more information, visit grotonhistory.org or call 978-448-0092.