Saint Patrick’s Day:  Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday this year but Stony Brook Fish and Game will be cooking and serving corned beef meals and sandwiches on Sunday March 16th starting at noon.  Make a note of this early bird special and stop on by!  Stony Brook Fish and Game is located at: 128 Lowell Road, Westford MA

Save A Dog of Sudbury and Wag N’ Wash at 1173 Main Street, West Concord, are teaming up again to host another in-store “Meet & Greet” adoption event on Saturday, March 22, 10 am – 12 pm.
“This is always a fantastic opportunity to have several of our amazing, deserving pups meet their potential forever person or family in a fun and welcoming setting,” says Julie Bolio, Save A Dog’s Shelter Manager. “Adoptions all over the country have slowed, leading to longer stays in the shelter, so we especially appreciate the opportunity to give our pups extra exposure... and past in-store “Meet & Greets” have proven very successful!”
While Save A Dog adopters often hail from all over New England and Massachusetts, the “Meet & Greet” events are particularly popular with residents from surrounding communities including Acton, Marlborough, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Stow, Harvard, Westford and Littleton.
Vibe, pictured here, is one of the Save A Dog pups looking for his special family. A happy-go-lucky, 9-month-old Bully/Heeler mix, Vibe is a typical puppy who loves to run and play, rides well in the car, and enjoys outdoor adventures... but also settles down nicely inside the home. He’s already crate-trained, housetrained, knows several commands, and gently takes treats. As a people-focused pup, he’s smart and learns quickly.
More information about Save A Dog’s adoptable dogs (and cats!) can be found on the Save A Dog website: www.saveadog.org. Potential adopters are encouraged to fill out an online adoption application beforehand at www.saveadog.org/applytoadopt.asp
Now celebrating more than 25 years of rescuing abandoned dogs and cats through its Sudbury shelter and network of dedicated foster homes, Save A Dog has found loving families for more than 8,

On Saturday, March 22nd 10am to 4pm and Sunday, March 23rd 12 noon to 4pm the Spring Equinox Art Fair will be held at the First Parish Church, 353 Great Road, in Stow.  Sponsored by SAGA and the FPC Arts Committee, over 20 local artists have works for sale including paintings, pottery, fabric art, photography, greeting cards and much more.  Admission and Parking is Free and the show is accessible to people of all abilities including wheelchair users. More info can be found on the FPC website www.fpc-stow-acton.org

To honor Concord’s 250th celebration, this talk will dive into Concord’s past, when everyone living here was British until we became Americans. It wasn’t that sudden, of course. Let’s explore
together who the early settlers were, how they lived, and what they believed in. What did the town, their houses, and their farms look like? Barbara Forman, a Town and local museum guide in
Concord for 30 years, will take you on a trip through time. There is no charge. Please call the COA office to sign up at 978-318-3020.

If you love discovering unique treasures, handcrafted goods, and supporting local artisans, this is the event for you! Join us at the West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Mass Ave., Acton, on May 10, 2025, from 12-3 PM for an afternoon of shopping, community, and fun. Hosted in partnership with the West Acton Village Merchants Association, this event is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts and goodies.
Interested in selling your creations or household items? Vendor spaces are available for a small fee—limited tables, so don’t wait! Contact the church office at 978-263-5902 or wabcadmin@verizon.net.

Are you curious about what Concord is doing for the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and Lexington? Do you want to know how you can participate? The Concord250 Committee
has been busy scheduling lots of events leading to the big parade in Concord Center on April 19th. We are fortunate to have the leaders of this initiative coming to the COA on March 18th at
11:00 AM to answer your questions and give you tips for the celebration, including information about road closures. The panel for the presentation includes Gary Clayton, Co-Chair Concord250 Executive Committee, Joe Palumbo, Concord250 Events Sub-Committee Chairperson, and Fred Ryan, Concord250 Public Safety Sub Committee Chairperson. Please come with your questions and remember to call the COA office to sign up at 978-318-3020.

Location:  Chelmsford Town Offices’ Gym, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA
The book sale will be Friday, April 11,  9am-7:30pm and Saturday, April 12, 9am -2pm
We’ll have plenty of fiction, children’s books, biography, history, cookbooks, sciences, social sciences, DVDs and CDs.  All proceeds help support library programs and services.  We hope to see you there!

March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, with March 1 recognized as Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). It is a global event whose purpose is to remove the stigma attached to self-injury and to encourage parents, family members, educators, and healthcare professionals to recognize the signs of self-harm.
According to the book Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones, by Janis Whitlock and Elizabeth E Lloyd-Richardson, it is not unusual for young people to engage in self-injury such as cutting, burning, or scratching themselves until they bleed. This is upsetting to parents, and many worry that self-injury is a sign their child is suicidal.
The relationship between self-injury and suicidal ideation can look similar, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Self-injury is almost always used to feel better rather than an attempt to end one’s life. This is why the technical term for self-injury is non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI.
Symptoms of self-injury may include scars, often in patterns; fresh cuts and bruises; excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn; wearing long sleeves or long pants to hide injuries; frequent reports of accidental injury; and talk of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. According to an excerpt from the book, young people who self-injure are at an increased risk for suicidal ideation. Sixty-five percent of youth who self-injure will also be suicidal at some point. While NSSI does not cause suicide, Whitlock and Lloyd-Richardson note that engaging in self-injury can lower inhibitions toward suicidal ideation.
Factors that may increase the risk of progressing from self-injury to suicide include family conflict, more than 20 NSSI incidents, emotional or sexual trauma, feelings of hopelessness, substance abuse, engaging in risky behaviors, and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) or PTSD.
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is a national leader in youth suicide prevention through educational and awareness programs. One of the many programs offered by JFI is a 1-Hour training module entitled Non-Suicide Self-Injury. This training discusses the issue of NSSI and how it relates to suicidal ideation. Examples of NSSI, contributing factors, and signs associated with the behavior are studied. Also, recommendations on how to respond to a young person who may be struggling with self-injury are provided. This training, along with many others, is available to stream at no cost on the JFI website www.jasonfoundation.com

Dance a jingle – Sing & mingle – A Century of Music
     1920s – 2020s
   Saturday, April 5th
         from 1:00 – 4:30 PM in The Hall
        at the Chelmsford Senior Center
                          75 Groton Rd, North Chelmsford, MA

Dance and sing your way through a century of music with DJ Dan of DJ Event Specialists!  Dan, our DJ and emcee, will begin the event playing Boogie Woogie Blues music and traveling the decades with songs you grew up listening to, up to your grandkids modern-day music.  Tickets are $15 each and available for purchase starting Monday, March 3rd in the Chelmsford Senior Center Treasure Shop, open daily from 9am-2pm. Tickets are limited and will not be sold at the door on the day of the fundraiser. All are welcome to enjoy this fun fundraiser which is sponsored by The Friends of the Senior Center.

Popular music from each decade will be played; Boogie Woogie, Foxtrot, the Charleston, the Twist and Disco to name a few. Costumes of any decade are highly encouraged! Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, baked goodies and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. There will be eleven raffle gift baskets & a 50/50 raffle. Winners need not be present to claim their prize. This will be a fun-filled fundraising event and 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Chelmsford Senior Center to support and fund programs and activities that enrich the lives and benefit the health and enjoyment of seniors.  If you would like to volunteer to help with this fundraiser, please contact friendssrctr@aol.ocm or 978-251-1123.

Devens, MA: The Cannon Theatre is proud to Enchanted April. This production, directed by Maren Caulfield, is the fourth in The Cannon Theatre’s 2024-25 season line-up, which also includes upcoming productions of: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and a 10-Minute Play Festival.
Enchanted April is a play about two unhappy London housewives who, feeling lost in their marriages, pool their savings to rent a villa in Italy for a women-only holiday, recruiting two other, more upper-class women to share the cost; as the four women spend time together under the Italian sun, they initially clash but eventually bond and rediscover themselves, with their newfound happiness sometimes threatened by the return of the men in their lives.
The show runs for 3 weekends. Show times are March 21, 22, 28, 29 and April 4, and 5 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are taking place on March 30 and April 2 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.thecannontheatre.org, and are $25 for adults, and $20 for students/seniors.
The cast hails from the following towns: Arlington, Tyngsboro, Lexington, Waltham, Sudbury, and Sterling.
The Production Team includes:
Directed by Maren Caulfield
Produced by Bob Amici
Stage Management by Meredith Brummer
Set Design by Shawn Cannon and Maren Caulfield

A free course, offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), for parents of children and adolescents with mental health challenges is meeting weekly Tues March 11th - April 15th,, 6:15 – 8:45pm at the Tewksbury library. The teachers are trained by NAMI and are parents who have lived experience themselves and the course is evidenced-based. The participants will learn communication tips, how to problem-solve and skills to help cope with the emotional impact of caring for their child. Learning current treatments, overview of the public mental health care, school, and resources to navigate challenges they present. This small group (10-12) setting provides support and shared positive impact. Family education programs at NAMI are powerful! To enroll, or for answers to questions please email one of our teachers. Brian at brian.sarr19@gmail.com or Dee at deefebba@comcast.net.

The Middlesex Conservation District will be holding its annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday May 2 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM and Saturday May 3 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Farrington Nature Linc. The address is 291 Cambridge Turnpike in Lincoln, MA.
All items can be pre-ordered through April 21st and picked up on the sale days – we encourage early ordering as all items are sold on a first come, first served basis.  To place an order, you can go to our website at https://middlesexconservationdistrict.org/spring-sale-ordering/, go to the Spring Sale page, and order the plants you are interested in online, or email admin@middlesexconservationdistrict.org to request a paper brochure. The order form is also available to view online here.  Offerings will include native shrub seedlings, wildflowers, ferns, grasses, fruits, seeds, and hardgoods such as composted cow manure, and root bags.  All plants are straight, native species that benefit our native pollinators, wildlife, and local ecosystem. We will also be selling excess first quality stock on the days listed above.
The Middlesex Conservation District is a not-for-profit environmental agency whose purpose is conservation of natural resources of Middlesex County.  Proceeds from our biannual plant sales provide educational programs and other activities which aim to protect our soil and water resources. For more information about our sale or programs please visit https://middlesexconservationdistrict.org/.

Surround yourself with art. The Princeton Arts Society’s Annual Spring Show & Sale is the perfect opportunity to view inspiring works of art and perhaps add a piece to your personal collection.
The Show and Opening Reception are free and open to the public:
Friday, May 2, 6 to 8 PM – Opening Reception
Saturday, May 3, 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday, May 4, 10 AM to 4 PM
Princeton Community Center, 206 Worcester Rd. (Post Office Place) Princeton MA.
All work is by the Society’s members, many of whom are award winning artists widely recognized in their fields. The show includes works in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, and more, including three-dimensional works, with subject matter as varied as our artists.
The Princeton Arts Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization encouraging and supporting area visual, musical, literary and performing artists.
www.princetonarts.org
Facebook: Princeton Arts Society

Middlesex Community College has partnered with JED Campus Initiative to increase and strengthen student wellness services on campus. The nonprofit organization works with Middlesex to provide evidence-based practices and resources to help MCC improve their support and response to students’ mental health challenges.
“This partnership with JED Campus creates a more connected environment for students of all types to have a sense of safety and belonging on campus,” said Leonard Russ, MCC’s Dean of Students. “It will and should provide more understanding for the college on how we view our students. They are individuals who have a myriad of different needs that we’re here to support. We want to make sure we’re giving students the best version of MCC, as well as the resources they can use and tap into outside of the college.”
In 2023, MCC conducted the Healthy Minds Survey through Michigan University to get a better understanding of the student experience. In addition, MCC completed the JED Campus Baseline Self-assessment of services and supports on campus. Departments collegewide contributed to a list of over 250 questions related to the support of students’ mental health, including financial aid, facilities and more.
The organization then helped MCC develop a strategic plan focused on seven areas of support. This includes developing life skills, promoting social connectedness, identifying students at risk, increasing help-seeking behavior, providing mental health and substance abuse services, following crisis management procedures, and restricting access to potentially lethal means.
With the data, Middlesex formed subcommittees to implement necessary changes to policies and expand services. JED’s comprehensive approach is part of a shared mission with MCC to support students and make sure “no one falls through the cracks,” according to Amy Mahoney, MCC’s Wellness Counselor.
“Our goal is to reduce stigma and talk about mental health, making it something we don’t shy away from,” Mahoney said. “Students will have access to trainings, so they feel empowered to help themselves and each other. Identifying ourselves as a JED Campus means we have gone through this process to make sure we’re doing everything to prioritize students’ mental health.”
Mahoney believes MCC will be better able to support the whole student so they can reach their academic goals. Through these efforts, MCC strives to assist students in staying at the college, graduating, and transferring to a four-year school or entering the workforce.
One of the survey results that stood out to the college was an issue of loneliness for students. In addition to providing online toolkits and trainings through JED, MCC will host more events and activities throughout the year. Students can better connect to classmates and the community, as well as learn social and life skills.
As a JED campus, MCC is also now part of a network of universities and colleges nationwide who share the same core principles of supporting students’ mental health, according to Russ. With this more well-rounded approach in all areas, Russ believes Middlesex is the “best version of ourselves to deal with challenges and be proactive.”
“We used the data to get the results we need to have more mental health support on both campuses, available to help students, faculty and staff,” Russ said. “The institution is taking a strong stance and has followed the appropriate steps to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support the community as a whole.”

To begin observing the Lenten season, please join us for an Ash Wednesday worship service at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. The service will include participants from Aldersgate UMC and West Chelmsford United Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend. The service will also be livestreamed on Aldersgate’s YouTube channel and recorded for later viewing from our website or Facebook page.
Starting Wednesday, March 12, Aldersgate will offer a weekly series of soup suppers followed by worship services based on the theme of Jesus’ means of grace. Suppers begin at 6:00 p.m., and worship services are at 7:00 p.m.
Aldersgate UMC is located at 242 Boston Road (Rt. 4), Chelmsford. For more information, contact the church office at (978)256-9400 or aldersgatechelmsford@verizon.net, or visit us online at www.aldersgatechelmsford.com or www.facebook.com/aldersgateumc.chelms.

Serving everyone because financial difficulties and hunger have no boundary lines.
Please consider donating the following items to the Chelmsford Food Pantry.
Cooking Oil
Ramen Noodles
Soup
Spaghetti Sauce
Mac’n cheese
Canned fruit or vegetables
Boxed Cereal and Oatmeal
Shelf Stable Milk
Condiments
Donations can be dropped off at the pantry located at:
50 Rear Billerica Road
Chelmsford, MA
(beige trailer behind town hall)
Thursdays: 10:30-1:00pm and 6:30-7:45pm
As well as donation boxes located inside Market Basket, Stop & Shop and the Chelmsford Public Library
For more ways to help the pantry and your community visit:
chelmsfordfoodpantry.org

Fitchburg — LUK, Inc. has recently received funding from the Reliant Foundation to expand their Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention trainings. This is Reliant Foundation’s fourth year funding these trainings for LUK.
LUK shares Reliant Foundation’s goal to reduce stigma around mental health and substance use disorders. By raising awareness, the agency hopes to strengthen mental/behavioral health services for youth and adults, encourage individuals to strive for recovery, or support a loved one in their recovery journey.
With last year’s funding from Reliant Foundation, LUK met and surpassed their goal of training 900 individuals in mental health and suicide prevention through their ongoing partnerships with schools, PTOs, community organizations, and civic groups.
This funding from Reliant Foundation will allow LUK to continue offering a variety of trainings that vary in length, intensity, and scope, allowing training partners to select the most appropriate curriculum for their setting. The overall goal of the project is to raise awareness of mental health challenges, prevent suicide, and connect people in need to supportive services.
“LUK would like to send our gratitude to the Reliant Foundation for their continued support of our mental health training program. This program provides essential education to the community on understanding mental health symptoms in order to intervene both early and effectively,” adds LUK President & CEO Beth Barto. “This funding from Reliant Foundation helps LUK towards creating safe, healthy and resilient communities.”
LUK is thankful for Reliant Foundation’s support and looks forward to another year of offering these important trainings to the Central MA community.
LUK, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, health, and well-being of youth, families, and adults in Central Massachusetts. As a community-based organization, LUK’s mission is to challenge and inspire youth, adults, and families to realize their unique potential through community-based prevention, intervention, education, and support services.
For more information about LUK, Inc., visit www.LUK.org, call (800) 579-0000, or find us on Facebook (@LetUsKnowINC). Join us in building communities, family by family!

Dance a jingle – Sing & mingle – A Century of Music
     1920s – 2020s
   Saturday, April 5th
         from 1:00 – 4:30 PM in The Hall
        at the Chelmsford Senior Center
        75 Groton Rd, North Chelmsford, MA
Dance and sing your way through a century of music with DJ Dan of DJ Event Specialists!  Dan, our DJ and emcee, will begin the event playing Boogie Woogie Blues music and traveling the decades with songs you grew up listening to, up to your grandkids modern-day music.  Tickets are $15 each and available for purchase starting Monday, March 3rd in the Chelmsford Senior Center Treasure Shop, open daily from 9am-2pm. Tickets are limited and will not be sold at the door on the day of the fundraiser. All are welcome to enjoy this fun fundraiser which is sponsored by The Friends of the Senior Center.
Popular music from each decade will be played; Boogie Woogie, Foxtrot, the Charleston, the Twist and Disco to name a few. Costumes of any decade are highly encouraged! Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, baked goodies and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. There will be eleven raffle gift baskets & a 50/50 raffle. Winners need not be present to claim their prize. This will be a fun-filled fundraising event and 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Chelmsford Senior Center to support and fund programs and activities that enrich the lives and benefit the health and enjoyment of seniors.  If you would like to volunteer to help with this fundraiser, please contact friendssrctr@aol.ocm or 978-251-1123.

Did you know cooking with gas might be making your kitchen air worse than outdoor pollution? Gas stoves release harmful stuff like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which can even increase asthma risk in kids. And ventilation only helps if your exhaust fan is strong and you actually use it.
When it’s time to replace your stove, consider going electric or induction. Induction stoves heat faster than gas and are super efficient—plus, they’re safer (you can’t burn your hand on the stove!). And with new rebates and tax credits, switching to induction is more affordable than ever.
Join us for an online webinar on March 18th from 7-8pm! Andee Krasner (Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and co-author with Rocky Mountain Institute of a report on gas stoves) will share the facts about gas stove risks and the benefits of induction cooking. We’ll also hear from neighbors using induction cooktops, plus plenty of time for Q&A.
Register here: https://bit.ly/sudbury-march-webinar
Learn more about heat pumps and solar here  and other actions with https://bit.ly/plugINSudburyMA1
This event is sponsored by plugIN MetroWest, in partnership with MassEnergize. The Town of Sudbury and Sustainable Sudbury are excited to be a part of this seven-town effort to empower residents to transform their homes into sustainable, energy-efficient, and comfortable living spaces!

Support for caregivers of adults - a Q&A with Rabbi Judith Kummer and the Congregation Beth Elohim clergy and shared stories from community members.
Join us for a discussion of the joys and challenges in caring for ourselves while caring for our loved ones. We will be exploring this topic through a Jewish lens.
This event will be held at CBE and available via Zoom. Light refreshments and informal sharing to follow the program.
Please sign up below for our planning purposes.
You will have the opportunity, when you sign up, to, optionally, to donate to the CBE Chesed Committee.  Donations are appreciated.
Rabbi Kummer Bio
Rabbi Judy Kummer is a board certified chaplain who delights in her work with individuals and groups in a variety of settings throughout the Greater Boston area.  She earned her BA at Barnard College and her Rabbinic Ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. A Boston native, she has served congregations in the New York area and in Washington DC.  For 18 years she served as Executive Director of the Jewish Chaplaincy Council of Massachusetts.
Rabbi Kummer has recently opened a spiritual care private practice, “Spiritual Support for Life’s Journey,” where she offers skilled spiritual care visits, eldercare programming, bereavement support and lifecycle officiation.

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

Free courses from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could prove helpful. Family to Family, starting March 20th in Boxborough, is an eight-session weekly course for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. NAMI’s Basics course, a six-session weekly class starting March 11th in Tewksbury, is for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents showing signs of behavioral health concerns. Topics for both courses include understanding the symptoms of mental illness, learning about treatments and therapies, practicing communication and problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care, plus the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support. The Basics class also includes information about advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings. Details and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/educational-courses. Offered by NAMI Central Middlesex. Basics co-sponsored by Northeast Public Health Alliance.

Who: Worcester Chamber Music Society
What: “Voices Rising”
Program Allison Loggins-Hull | Homeland Carlos Simon | An Elegy: A Cry From the Grave Carlos Simon | Warmth from Other Suns Jessie Montgomery | Strum James Lee III | Abraham’s Sons, In Memory of Trayvon Martin Adolphus Hailstork | String Quartet No. 2, “Variations on Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
When & Where: Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 PM **UPDATED VENUE** Mechanics Hall, Washburn 321 Main Street, Worcester Pre-concert talk ½ hour prior to the performance Post-concert dessert reception for all
How: Adults $45, Seniors $42, College Students $10 w/ID EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare $5, Youth 17 and under free
Information and tickets for these concerts are available on the ensemble’s website, www.worcesterchambermusic.org, or by calling the office at (508) 926-8624.

Free courses from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could prove helpful. Family to Family, starting March 20th in Boxborough, is an eight-session weekly course for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. NAMI’s Basics course, a six-session weekly class starting March 11th in Tewksbury, is for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents showing signs of behavioral health concerns. Topics for both courses include understanding the symptoms of mental illness, learning about treatments and therapies, practicing communication and problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care, plus the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support. The Basics class also includes information about advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings. Details and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/educational-courses. Offered by NAMI Central Middlesex. Basics co-sponsored by Northeast Public Health Alliance.

(Leominster, MA) February 13, 2025 –Habitat for Humanity North Central MA has the pleasure to announce the 2025 Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of our new board officers for the upcoming year, along with the addition of a new board member, Jamie Conaghan
The newly appointed officers are:
Curt Logee, Board President
Tim Smith, Board Treasurer
Jamie Conaghan, Board Member
“We are thrilled to welcome these dynamic leaders to our board,” said Carolyn Read, Executive Director. “Their passion for Habitat for Humanity NCM and expertise will undoubtedly guide us as we continue to grow and make a meaningful impact in our community. We are excited about the fresh perspectives and energy Jamie will bring to the board,” said Executive Director. “Her background in marketing and strategic communication will be an asset to our team as we continue to grow and advocate for affordable housing.”
In addition to our new officers, we are also honored to introduce Jamie Conahan, SVP Marketing & Digital at Main Street Bank as our newest board member. With years of experience in marketing, Jamie brings a wealth of knowledge and skills that will be invaluable to our organization. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with her expertise join our board and help us enhance our outreach and engagement efforts. Her experience will play a pivotal role in helping us connect with new audiences and amplify our mission.
“I am honored to play a role in the longstanding, significant work that Habitat for Humanity NCM does in our community,” says Jamie. “As a community banker, I have always been passionate about accessible and affordable housing and resources for all to strengthen our local economy and community.
“We look forward to the positive impact our new board officers and Jamie’s contributions will have on Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts. We look forward to the positive impact our new board officers and Jamie’s contributions will have on Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts

Serving everyone because financial difficulties and hunger have no boundary lines.
Please consider donating the following items to the Chelmsford Food Pantry.
Cooking Oil
Ramen Noodles, Soup
Spaghetti Sauce
Mac’n cheese
Canned fruit or vegetables
Boxed Cereal and Oatmeal
Shelf Stable Milk
Condiments
Donations can be dropped off at the pantry located at:
50 Rear Billerica Road
Chelmsford, MA
(beige trailer behind town hall)
Thursdays: 10:30-1:00pm and 6:30-7:45pm
As well as donation boxes located inside Market Basket, Stop & Shop and the Chelmsford Public Library
For more ways to help the pantry and your community visit:
chelmsfordfoodpantry.org

LEGO® Discovery Center Boston is starting their biggest mini LEGO® competition yet, as kids across New England can build their way to be crowned Boston’s 2025 Mini Master Model Builder and also vie for the title of 2025 Global Mini Master Model Builder!
The epic building competition is part of the Creativity Academy event held at LEGO Discovery Center Boston, operated by Merlin Entertainments, now through March 3rd. Kids can build a LEGO creation to compete for the honor while at the attraction and then one builder will be crowned Boston’s Mini Master Model Builder in March once the event concludes. More info about the Mini
Each of the winning local Mini Master Model Builders will be tasked to create another LEGO® build to be displayed at the one and only Home of the Brick, LEGO® House, in Billund, Denmark to vie for the title of the first-ever Global Mini Master Model Builder!
LEGO House comprises over 25 million LEGO bricks spread across four immersive Experience Zones, a Masterpiece Gallery of fan creations, and a multi-sensory LEGO museum. Also, LEGO House is home to some of the world’s largest LEGO models including the Tree of Creativity, giant dinosaurs, waterfalls and more.
Last year, Tara, age 11, won the title of Boston’s 2024 Mini Master Model Builder by building Derby the LEGO® Horse that won the judges over, and even got to spend a few days shadowing actual LEGO Master Model Builders in the attraction! Tara created a video calling all local Mini Builders to enter the Global Mini Master Model Builder Competition.

President Abe Lincoln and President Ron Reagan
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Brad Wyatt, Mass GOP National Committeeman
WHEN:     Saturday, February 22, 2025
WHERE:   American Legion Post 313
                 90 Groton Rd., N. Chelmsford
TIME:       6:30PM to 10:00PM
                 Appetizers, Dinner & Dessert (Cash Bar)
Cost:        $35.00/person
RSVP AND CHECK(S) BY: FEBRURAY 13, 2025
Checks payable to   CRTC
                                15 Jessie Rd
                                Chelmsford, MA  01824
RSVP to:  Marygail.leonard@aol.com
                 978.918.8261

Dr. Brian Hainline
Across the country, young people are dropping out of organized sports. The share of kids ages 6 to 17 who participated in a team sport dropped by nearly 5 percentage points between 2017 and 2022. The decline isn’t primarily because kids are losing interest. Rather, what they’re losing is access -- especially as the cost of participation continues to rise.
Reversing this trend is critically important for kids’ mental and physical health. So it’s worth looking at some of the barriers sports have faced, and how tennis is forward-thinking in this matter.
It’s no secret that learning and playing a sport at an early age can prove enormously valuable. Sports participation is associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in young people -- as well as better self-esteem, improved cognition, and heightened physical literacy. Physical activity releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that put you in a better frame of mind and enhances brain connections. It helps kids maintain a healthy weight and sets young people on a path to a lifetime of healthy habits.
Barriers to sport involvement, especially financial ones, have been growing ever more formidable. The average cost of playing youth basketball was over $1,000 a year in 2022. Soccer was almost 20% more expensive, at $1,188 a year on average. No wonder nearly two-thirds of families say the cost of youth sports is a financial strain.
Tennis is one of the few sports to counter the trend of inaccessibility. Since 2019, the number of Americans ages 6 and older playing tennis has increased by 34 percent -- and currently stands at 23.8 million.
Part of this success is tennis’s relatively low barriers to entry, especially compared to more equipment-heavy games like hockey, football, or skiing. All you need to get started is a racquet and a few balls -- maybe $30 worth of equipment in total -- and access to one of the nation’s roughly 270,000 tennis courts, which are typically free to use.
Modest equipment costs are only part of tennis’ growth. The game has found ways to adjust to people of all ages and abilities, including individuals who are too often told they cannot participate in sports because of physical, mental, or age-related challenges.
Tennis recognizes that not everyone needs to play on the same size court and by the same rules.
All the way down to beginner youth (and all the way up to the elderly), adaptations are available, ranging from the speed and size of the ball, the size and weight of the racket, the size of the court, rules of service, scoring, and the length of a match. Importantly, wheelchair tennis has made a major breakthrough and is an exciting variant of the game that’s widely available.
Tennis is also a game young people can play into adulthood. There are leagues and competitions across the country for players 18 and over, 40 and over, and even 95 and over.
Sports remain one of our best tools for combatting the crisis in youth health. All sports need to look for opportunities to expand their reach through custom tailoring to meet players where they are.
Brian Hainline, MD is Chair of the Board and President of the United States Tennis Association and recently transitioned from the NCAA as their Chief Medical Officer. He co-chaired the International Olympic Committee Consensus Meetings on both Pain Management in Elite Athletes and Mental Health in Elite Athletes. Brian is Clinical Professor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. This piece first appeared in the Boston Herald.

Middlesex Community College is excited to announce The Owl Theatre will be coming/returning to the college’s Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center (AAC) in Lowell. With the Luna Theater at nearby Mill No. 5 closing on Sunday, February 2, Middlesex will now honor that theater’s legacy with a new version opening at the AAC hearkening back to the building’s roots.
“The Luna Theater provided a unique space in downtown Lowell for film lovers to gather and share the communal experience of a movie,” said Jim Lichoulas, Mill No. 5 Owner. “Now, I’m happy to pass the baton to Middlesex Community College to carry on many of the Luna traditions with their new venture in the nearby Academic Arts center.  With this news, Greater Lowell will continue to have a theater venue to keep the tradition of film alive downtown.”
“MCC looks forward to continuing the cultural offerings set by the Luna Theater at Mill No. 5,” said Phil Sisson, MCC’s President. “We are thrilled to provide film options and community entertainment to Greater Lowell. Keeping culture in the downtown area, putting films on the big screen, and bringing the community together matches the work we’re already doing by hosting the Lowell Asian American Film Festival and El Encuentro Film Festival at the AAC. Our hope is to carry on this important institution and provide expansive opportunities for our film and communication programs as we move forward.”
Event planning for the Owl Theatre at Middlesex is underway. This includes bringing the Luna’s crescent moon statue over to the AAC and adding an owl to the artwork.
“Built in 1876, the Boston and Maine depot where our AAC now stands was home to one of the original Lowell movie theaters, The Owl Theatre, which opened in 1913 before becoming the Rialto movie theater,” said Patrick Cook, MCC’s Vice President of Administration. “MCC’s new version of The Owl Theatre is a fantastic opportunity to go back to the building and our community’s roots to one of the first uses of the space. Tying in the college’s owl mascot to this original concept is a perfect fit, while maintaining a wonderful community tradition established so successfully by the Luna Theater for so many years.”
MCC will soon be announcing a series of films that will take place on weekends. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about the first slate of films. In the meantime, email John Bachelder, MCC’s AAC Manager at Bachelderj@Middlesex.edu to recommend movies or film genres.
Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/campus/academicartscenter.html for more information on MCC’s AAC.

Chelmsford, MA – The Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA) was filled with laughter and goodwill on Saturday, January 25 as “A Night of Comedy” brought together top-notch comedians and generous supporters to benefit the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s Chelmsford Community Fund. The sold out event raised an impressive $8,300 with all proceeds directed toward local community initiatives that improve the quality of life in Chelmsford.
The evening featured a stellar lineup of local comedians, including:
Steve Sweeney, who brought his signature wit and charm to the stage, with credits like Back to School, Me, Myself & Irene, and appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Paul Gilligan, a well-known comedian on NESN’s Dirty Water TV and Charlie Moore Outdoors, who has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy.
Paul Nardizzi, whose performances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Evening at the Improv kept the audience in stitches.

“We’re thrilled to have raised over $8,000 for the Chelmsford Community Fund,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s president and CEO. “The event was not only a night of great comedy but also a powerful reminder of what our community can achieve when we come together to support local causes.”
The success of the event was made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors, who are instrumental in supporting both the event and the ongoing work of the Chelmsford Community Fund. The following sponsors were recognized for their outstanding contributions:
Platinum Sponsors: John and Linda Chemaly; Jack and Terry O’Connor; John and Elaine Thibault
Gold Sponsors: Chelmsford Police Athletic League; Four Oaks Country Club; Pridestar Trinity EMS
Silver Sponsors: Enterprise Bank; Gallant & Ervin, L.L.C.; Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
“We are so grateful to our sponsors and attendees who made this event a success,” said John Chemaly, Chelmsford Community Fund steering committee. “The funds raised will go a long way in supporting nonprofits and community initiatives that make Chelmsford a better place for everyone.”
Established in 2018, the Chelmsford Community Fund raises resources to grant exclusively to Chelmsford-based nonprofits and organizations serving people in our town. Grants are focused on alleviating the effects of poverty, battling addiction, reducing hunger and homelessness, and providing kids with access to healthy after-school activities. For more information on the Chelmsford Community Fund and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

Presented by Groton Grange, 80 Champney St. Groton
Saturday, February 15 at 11:00 AM
Learn how to plan, plant, and care for a garden this season.No waiting!
Questions? We have answers. Interested children welcome. Free to all.

Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society (WCMS) is thrilled to present its Annual Free Family Concert on March 2, 2025, with a performance at 3:00pm at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.  Neighborhood Strings students will perform at the beginning of the concert. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Mechanics Hall comes alive with the voices of a wolf, a boy, a cat, a duck, and a bird in Prokofiev’s beloved story of Peter and the Wolf, followed by delightful depictions of a catalogue of fantastical beasts in Saint-Saën’s Carnival of the Animals. Artwork by students from Abby Kelly Foster School and a meet and greet with the musicians round out the multisensory experience of our always popular Family Concert. Be sure to reserve your seats early because this one-time-only concert will reach capacity soon.
Sunday, March 2 @3PM
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
Generously sponsored by Bay State Savings Bank, Cornerstone Bank, and Karen Amlaw Music. This concert is also funded in part by the Auburn and Shrewsbury Cultural Councils, local agencies funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Program
Peter and the Wolf | Sergei Prokofiev, composer
Carnival of the Animals | Camille Saint-Saëns, composer
With a special performance by Neighborhood Strings
With guests:
Orlando Cela, conductor / William Kirkley, clarinet / Denise Plaza Martin, oboe / Clark Matthews, French horn / Adrian Jojatu, bassoon / Lilit Hartunian, violin / Moisés Carrasco, double bass / Aaron Trant, percussion
Venue is handicapped accessible.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. Reserve early, since this event typically sells out quickly.
Tickets are available at  https://worcesterchambermusic.org/animal-adventures/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

Open to high school juniors and seniors in MA, funds can be used for any educational or developmental experience
Acton, MA – Discovery Museum announced today the 2025 Discovery Museum Scholarship program, which began in 2022 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Museum. The program will award four one-time $1,500 scholarships to high school juniors or seniors in MA who embody the mission and values of the Museum.
“More than 6 million kids and their families have come through our doors over the past four decades to learn about themselves, their abilities, and the world around them, guided by their own creativity and natural curiosity,” said CEO Marie Beam. “The Discovery Museum Scholarship looks to celebrate young learners who embody the mission and values of the Museum by supporting them on next leg of their educational journeys—whatever that might be.”
All high school juniors and seniors residing in MA are eligible to apply. For one of the four awards, preference will be given to current or past employees or volunteers of the Museum. Award money can be used for any educational or developmental experience, such as college or trade school tuition, travel expenses to support an exciting volunteer opportunity, or costs to provide a learning experience for young children.
Video or written applications are being accepted at https://bit.ly/DMScholarship2025 (applicants must log in to Google to apply) and must be received by March 31, 2025. Recipients will be notified in mid-May.