Since 2006,  Community Christmas Chorus has been presenting a Christmas concert to collect food and raise money for the Westford open food pantry.  The chorus is comprised of singers from Westford and many area towns.  The chorus will hold a “Meet and Greet” on Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m. at First Parish Church, 48 Main St., Westford, when singers can socialize and pick up music.  New members are invited to join us.  The program this year will include works by John Rutter, Kim Andre Arnesen, Brian Trant and Karl Jenkins.  Dues are $30 a person, $50 a couple. The group will meet at the church every Sunday evening at 7:00, except for Nov. 17 and 24.  Rehearsals for those weekends are moved to Saturday Nov. 16 and 23.  The concert will be held at the church on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7:00 p.m.
The chorus is directed by René Minalga-Rheault.  René has directed the group since 2019.  An organist, conductor and soprano, she holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from University of Mass. at Lowell, and a Graduate Performance Degree and a Master’s in Piano Performance from Longy School of Music.  She also directs the Paul Madore Chorale in Salem, and is music director at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chelmsford.
Community Christmas Chorus is open, without audition, to teens as well as adults.  For further information, please call Jeanne Masterman at 978-692-8416.

Many people get a boost from singing, whether by yourself in the shower, bringing down the house at karaoke, singing at school, or singing the anthem at a game. Singing in a chorus is a great way to engage your body and mind, all while having a good time with friends and engaging with your community. To these ends, we hope you will try out the Acton Community Chorus, now in its forty-first season, under the leadership of the fun and gregarious music director, Lisa Cooper, accompanied on the piano by the talented Ed Rosser. This fall we will prepare a concert called “This Land Was Made for You and Me,” songs of unity, equality, and finding common ground. Songs will include a new arrangement of “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Adam Podd, “Equality is in the Air We Breathe” by Gwyneth Walker, “America, the Beautiful” by Samuel A. Ward, and “Give Me Your Tired Your Poor” by Jay Rouse. Experience how music can unite us despite our differences and inspire us to move toward a more equitable future. No audition is required. Rehearsals are every Monday night, with a performance in January. Our first open rehearsal is on September 9th, 2024, at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 54 Hosmer Street, Acton (the chorus is not affiliated with the church). For more details, please visit our website at www.ActonCommunityChorus.org. We hope to see you there!
About Acton Community Chorus:
The Acton Community Chorus (ACC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing beautiful choral music to area communities since 1984. We have singers from Acton, Bedford, Boxboro, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Framingham, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Leominster, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Marlboro, Maynard, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, Westford, and other nearby towns. Acton Community Chorus is a proud member of the Central Massachusetts Choral Consortium: ​http://masschoral.org/

 

The Gallery at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts will present an exhibit of photographs of America by Anthony J. Attardo, Brian Hunter, and Bruce Magnuson.  American Landscapes: From Sea to Shining Sea displays their idiosyncratic views of our country from North to South, East to West, through their camera lenses.
The exhibit will be in the CCA Gallery September 6 through October 16, with a public reception on Friday, September 6 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  Works will be available for purchase and sales will benefit the CCA Gallery. 
The CCA art collection includes works on permanent exhibition throughout the building and on the grounds of the CCA where sculptures by James Glinos which were a gift of the artist may be viewed year-round.  The CCA, located at 1A North Road, in Chelmsford is the Commonwealth’s only public arts institution.  For more information visit our website www.chelmsfordarts.org.

The Chelmsford Military Community Covenant Task Force invites the local community to attend a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, September 7th, 2024 at 9 am at the 9/11 Memorial located at the Chelmsford Town Hall and Fire Station at 50 Billerica Rd. Please join us to honor those who perished that day and those who risked their lives responding.  We must never forget their sacrifices.  Parking is available behind the Town Hall and Fire Station.

Starting in September 2024, the Senior Center will be under major construction to replace our HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) units! At this time, our main hall will be closed but our building will remain OPEN during construction. Lunch will still be available. Meals on Wheels WILL be delivered and Transportation services WILL run (call 978-251-0533 for a ride, based on availability.)
Please note that there may be disruptions along the way, including noise, room changes (check calendar), possible cancellations and temperature changes.
We thank you in advance for your patience!

Friday, August 23 at 6:00pm
Kimball Farm, 400 Littleton Road (Rt. 110) Westford
All shows are 6-8pm and take place on the outdoor stage behind the batting cages. There is no admission fee and space is limited and first come, first served. Snacks and cold drinks (including craft beer) available at the Outdoor Tap Shack!

Wednesday, September 4, 4pm — 5:30pm, Rm. B07 Got too much stuff? If your house is becoming too cluttered, consider joining our Buried in Treasures Workshop. Information night including questions and answers will be on Wednesday, September 4. The workshop begins on Wednesday, September 11 at 3:30pm. Cost is just $10 – includes the 15-week course, handouts and workbook. Please call or email April Hunt with any questions or to register at 978-788-6174 or ahunt@chelmsfordma.gov.

Start the new season off on a high note. Sit down for some epic stand-up comedy. On Friday night September 6, a trio of comedians will entertain you at the Congregational Church of Littleton, 330 King St. First up: Mark Shea and John Kelly, who will likely share their experiences with road trips gone wrong, social commentary, relatable medical experiences, and personal foibles that will make you laugh at them and, gently, at yourself. Both are experienced performers at clubs, on campuses, and at community events. The headliner is Frank O’Donnell, who was inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. The honor finds him in stellar company, including his close friend, writer Danny Smith of “Family Guy.” Frank has written for comics like Bob Hope and Jay Leno. Frank’s passion, besides comedy, is a foundation he started, The Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund. The foundation commemorates his daughter Keri, a dancer and performer, who died in an auto accident. It provides scholarships for students of performance who need a financial hand up. You never know what Frank will talk about: weight loss (and gain), shows gone very, very wrong, and maybe what it is like to be the quiet kid who made everybody laugh. There may be an extra treat: the church’s pastor is Reverend Jen Munroe Nathans, a friend of Frank’s and a seasoned comic herself with experience at Chicago’s famous Second City in her resume. Tickets are $15 until September and $20 thereafter, including at the door if the event isn’t sold out. Get your tickets by calling the church office at 978 486 3245. The fun begins at 7 pm; doors open at 6:30. This is a great way to kick off the fall school-and-overwhelming-calendars season with good hearty laughs, which are actually healthy. Imagine that: something fun that’s actually good for you. Join us!

Middlesex Community College is excited to kick off the Fall 2024 “A World of Music” concert series with a performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO). Conducted by MCC Music faculty member Orlando Cela, the concert will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell. “We are delighted to be opening the season with the LCO and our MCC faculty member Orlando Cela who will present a program illustrating music for reflection,” said Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta, MCC’s Chair of Music. “Our Fall 2024 ‘World of Music’ concert series will feature a variety of events, including orchestral music, faculty performances, a lecture recital, a silent film with music, and our end of semester student recital.” The LCO concert will feature works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cory Brodack, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and the world premiere of “La Balena” by Betsy Schramm will be performed. “It is pure joy to be serving as concertmaster in LCO, assisting our conductor's musical visions come to reality and experiencing the tremendous dedication from all colleagues involved,” said Katharina Radlberger, Concertmaster of the LCO and soloist in the Mozart violin concerto. “It is rare to have a small ensemble with this quality of musicianship and sense of togetherness at the same time. Being able to play the Mozart violin concerto at the beginning of Season 6 is a great honor, and I am looking forward to sharing this divine music with my colleagues and the audience.” The LCO will perform a second time at the Academic Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23. The Phantom of the Opera with Live Music will also be held in Lowell at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 17 “A World of Music” will also hold performances at MCC’s Concert Hall on the Bedford Campus, including Duos and Trios Featuring Cello, Piano and Flute at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 6; Afro-Brazilian Music with Marcus Santos at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 22, co-sponsored by MCC’s Commonwealth Honors Program; and a Student Recital at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 2. All concerts are free and open to the public. MCC’s Academic Arts Center is located at 240 Central Street in Lowell. With parking not available on site, the nearest public parking facility is the Early Garage on 135 Middlesex St. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/worldofmusic/ for more information.

Location:  Chelmsford Town Offices' Gym, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford
The book sale will be Friday, Sept. 27,  9am-7:30pm, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9am -5pm, & Sunday Sept. 29, 9am -1pm.
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!

The Family to Family course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could prove helpful to you. This is a free, evidence-based, eight-session, weekly course for family members and friends of individuals living with mental health conditions. Topics include understanding the symptoms of mental health conditions, learning about treatments and therapies, practicing communication and problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care. Importantly, the course offers family members the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support in a stigma-free environment. The class is taught by NAMI trained family members. The NAMI Central Middlesex local affiliate will host two sessions of the course this fall. The first will meet in person in Winchester on Saturdays from 9:00-11:30 am, starting September 14th. The second course will be available via Zoom, meeting on Tuesdays from 6:30-9:00 pm, starting September 24th. Learn more and register at: namicentralmiddlesex.org/educational-courses.

 

Parish Center for the Arts is located at 10 Lincoln Street, Westford
9/1: Monthly Sunday Jazz Jams
A community event open to the public. All are welcome! Bring your instrument and sit and play with other jazz musicians, 3:30-5:30pm. A safe space to practice, play and listen, or just hang out with friends. Each month, a few tunes will be posted to work on before the jam. Email host Joe Virga to get on the Jam email list. $5 suggested cover. Future Dates: 10/6, 11/3, 12/1.

9/8: Open Mic Night with John Ferullo
A community event open to the public. Held on 2nd & 4th Sundays in a month at 6:30pm, Open Mic Night is for all ages and levels of experience. Sing a song, play a tune, or speak your truth. The microphone is on and all are welcome. Special guests also stop by for some added fun. Email host John Ferullo to be notified when sign-up lists go live. $5 suggested cover. Future Dates: 9/22, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/22.

 

 

Westford PCA is located at 10 Lincoln Street.
8/16: 3rd Friday Bluegrass Jam
A community event open to the public. All are welcome, 7-10pm. You can bring your banjo, fiddle, voice, or just come to watch every 3rd Friday in a month! Everyone has a great time. Future Dates: 9/20, 10/18, 11/15, 12/20

9/1: Monthly Sunday Jazz Jams
A community event open to the public. All are welcome! Bring your instrument and sit and play with other jazz musicians, 3:30-5:30pm. A safe space to practice, play and listen, or just hang out with friends. Each month, a few tunes will be posted to work on before the jam. Email host Joe Virga to get on the Jam email list. $5 suggested cover. Future Dates: 10/6, 11/3, 12/1

9/8: Open Mic Night with John Ferullo
A community event open to the public. Held on 2nd & 4th Sundays in a month at 6:30pm, Open Mic Night is for all ages and levels of experience. Sing a song, play a tune, or speak your truth. The microphone is on and all are welcome. Special guests also stop by for some added fun. Email host John Ferullo to be notified when sign-up lists go live. $5 suggested cover. Future Dates: 9/22, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/22

MONDAY:  8/19 @ 7pm
The Playground at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts is holding auditions for
"The 39 Steps" (Abridged) by Patrick Barlow, directed by Aspen Marshall.
This fast paced, one act comedy is filled with Spies, Murder and Romance!
- Walk-in auditions, only
- Audition readings will be from  the script
Hope to see you there!
Chelmsford Center for the Arts, located at 1A North Road

Guest Table is a community dinner that takes place on the second Friday of each month at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). The next dinner will take place on Aug. 9. It will begin at 5:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. All are welcome! There’s no charge for dinner, but donations are gratefully accepted.
This month’s menu is chili. There will be salad, watermelon, and corn bread, with ice cream for dessert. Options made with vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free ingredients will be available. All meals are nut-free.
FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. When parking, please keep a clear path for emergency vehicles; do not block the driveway around the front of the sanctuary; park only on the 117 side of Commons Rd.; and do not block access to the back of the building. Thank you!
This program is supported in part by grants from the Stow Community Chest, Nashoba Valley Rotary, and the Acton-Boxborough United Way. Guest Table is also grateful for the consistent support it receives from the Stow Council on Aging and the Stow Food Pantry, as well as the support from so many individuals who donate and volunteer.

All are welcome to a multigenerational game night that takes place on the third Friday of the month at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy free parking, free snacks, and free fun!
The next Game Night will take place on Friday, Aug 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. FPC is a nut-free location. It’s located at 353 Great Rd, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

A new tradition is being inaugurated at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) of the Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum repeating an earlier popular sermon for a summer service! This service from Nov. 2018, “Starstuff,” explores the theology of Carl Sagan, who explained that we are all made of starstuff.
The service will take place both in person and virtually on Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. Masking is optional. Child care is available for all in-person summer services. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc.
FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

Military Music During the Age of Reason
Saturday August 17, 1 PM
Fort Devens Museum, 94 Jackson Road, Devens, MA

As we gear up for the Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution...
After enlisting as a fifer in the Continental Army at just 13 years old, Thomas Nixon Jr. of Framingham marched on Lexington and Concord in April 1775. He, and thousands of young boys and teenagers, joined the fife and drum corps as both his father and uncle shouldered the call. While fifing was Nixon’s introduction to war, it appealed to him and became a true skill. Join us as founding member of the Middlesex County Volunteer Fifes & Drums, Steven Taskovics, discusses the significance of the music and the fifers’ role in directing the Revolutionary War.
The Fort Devens Museum is located at 94 Jackson Road, Devens, MA, on the third floor and is wheelchair accessible. This event is free and open to the public with donations gratefully accepted. Thanks to the Harvard Cultural Council.

Do you have a small business where you build, bake, create beautiful items from scratch?
Here's a place to be seen and sell your creations!  St. Nicholas' Annual Christmas Craft Fair (formerly St. Anthony's) will take place at Derosier Hall at 33 Chapel Street in Shirley, across from St. Anthony Church on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 9am-4pm.
This is the 19th year of this well-loved craft fair and we'd love to have you participate.
Deadline for applications is October 6.  A registration form to apply for one or more spots and other information can be found at www.nashobacatholic.org/annual-craft-fair .  For more information, email Marianne Cooper at faithformation@nashobacatholic.org or call 978-772-0727.

 

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is looking for interested community members to participate in their FREE September 2024 Volunteer Advocate Training program at the Lexington Police Department.
The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize the volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at the Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.
The September 2024 training will be held over three weeks from September 9th to September 27th on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:15 PM and Friday days 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM. For those who wish to activate as Advocates, an additional 10 to 12 hours of individual field training will take place after successful completion of the classroom segment.
The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.
Those interested in more information about the training or who want to request an application should call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Monday, August 26, 2024.

Nashoba Valley Technical High School Foundation 12th Annual Craft Fair will be held Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 10 AM - 3PM (Set up 8AM - 9:30AM)
Nashoba Valley Technical High School, 100 Littleton Road (Rt. 110), Westford, MA
Register now for this well-attended event - only 100 spots available!
Vendor fee is $75 (includes an 8 foot spot, and 2 chairs bring your own table or display).
For more information and to complete the online registration/payment please visit  https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjA5MTYz
Any questions, email NVTHSFoundation@nashobatech.net

 

Monday, September, 23 @6:30 p.m. at Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant St, Westford.
Enjoy an array of salads and sweet treats while getting to know women of different ages and backgrounds who are active in Westford and the surrounding communities. Learn about upcoming social activities, service projects, and community outreach events. Find out how you can become involved. Free. Please R.S.V.P. and receive more info, contact: westfordwomensclub@gmail.com.  Visit us on Facebook or stop by our table at the Annual Townwide Yard Sale on September 28 at Abbot School. WWC is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) www.GFWC.org and GFWC Massachusetts (GFWC MA) www.GFWCMA.org.

 

CRITICAL NEED FOR BLOOD AND PLATELETS!
Please help!
Cornerstone Congregational Church is proud to sponsor our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on Tuesday August 13th from 9AM to 2PM. Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country. An estimated 38 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood or platelets, but of those, less than 10 percent actually donate each year. If you are healthy and eligible, please come out to donate. Most donations take about an hour, so book your appointment, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.
Thank you!!
Cornerstone Congregational Church
32 Graniteville Road
Westford, MA 01886
For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org
Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 

The Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library Inc. will hold a book sale on September 6, 7 and 8 in the library’s Meeting Room, 50 Main Street, Westford. Friday September 6 is a Friends Members Only preview sale, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. If you’re not yet a member, consider joining now so you can be the first to shop the huge selection. You may also join at the door. It’s $10 for students/seniors, $15 for and individual, or $30 for a family. Memberships support the Friends and are good for a whole year. Saturday September 7 is the Public Sale, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most items are $1 or $2. Sunday September 8 is a Bag Sale, from 2 to 4 p.m. Attendees must purchase a reusable bag for $10 to enter, and can then fill it with items. Scanners may not be used on Friday, September 6, but are welcome on Saturday and Sunday. The sale will include thousands of gently used books plus CDs, audio books, blu-ray discs, and DVDs. We accept credit card payments in addition to checks and cash. This sale is a fundraiser. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Friends of the JV Fletcher Library. The Friends support the library by running innovative programs for all Page 1 of 2 ages, providing museum passes for discounted entrance fees, supplementing the library’s digital and hard copy collections, and updating furnishings and décor. We are still accepting items for the September sale. Please consider giving us your unwanted books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs. These materials can be dropped off at the left-hand door just inside the library’s rear entrance. If the library is closed, just drop your donations in the collection box that is located near the back door of the library. Tax deduction forms are available at the library’s main desk. The Friends of the J.V Fletcher Library appreciate your support.

 

The Chelmsford Military Community Covenant Task Force is sponsoring a free cookout in appreciation of active, reserve, National Guard, veterans and their families on Tuesday, August 13th. The event will take place from 5 to 7pm at the Pavilion behind the Chelmsford Elks Lodge at 300 Littleton Road. The general public is invited to attend to meet and support our local military members.
We will serve cheeseburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, chips, and soft drinks. A cash bar will be available.
The Chelmsford Military Community Covenant was established by the Chelmsford Board of Selectmen (now Select Board) in 2009 in partnership with Hanscom Air Force Base as a formal effort to support military families living in Chelmsford. The primary purpose of the program is to make Chelmsford feel more welcoming for military families and veterans by drawing upon a support network of volunteers and contributions from the local business community. For more information or to volunteer with the Task Force, please visit https://www.townofchelmsford.us/292/Military-Community-Covenant-Task-Force.

The Food Pantry is located behind the Town Offices on 50 Billerica Rd., adjacent to the ball fields. Hours: Wednesday: 5pm — 8pm; Thursday: 2pm — 4pm; Friday: 6:30pm — 8pm

FREE sit-down meal for all ages.

Tuesdays from 5pm — 6pm at the Chelmsford Senior Center. For the weekly menu, call 978-710-8328 (recording) or go to https://www.facebook.com/tableofplenty.

(An intimate support group for Mothers in the loss of a child)
Saturday August 17th
10:30am-12:30pm
Community Room at the Avidia Financial Center
17 Pope Street, Hudson, MA

Saturday August 24th
10:30am-12:30pm
Duffy Properties
135 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA

A community event open to the public and all are welcome, 7-10pm. Bring your banjo, fiddle, voice, or just come to watch every 3rd Friday in a month!  Come have a great time. Coming up…9/20, 10/18, 11/15, 12/20…
Parish Center for the Arts is located at 10 Lincoln Street, Westford

Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, August 11 on the church grounds at 180 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford, 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m. The picnic menu will include lamb and chicken shish-kebabs and Armenian hamburger dinners, rice pilaf, salad and Armenian desserts such as baklava and kadaif. Armenian and Middle East dance music will be provided by the Jason Naroian ensemble.  For further information, go to www.stsvartanantz.com.

Renew Thrift Shop of Littleton is having an early 50% off Summer sale that will last 2 weeks, starting on Thursday August 1st.
Renew is located in the First Baptist Church on 461 King St, although supported by Friends of the Littleton Council on Aging, which is a nonprofit 501c. All proceeds, after expenses are paid, benefit the seniors of Littleton. In-season donations of mens and women’s clothing can be made during shop hours. Monetary donations can also be made and are tax deductible, and help defray the cost of rent. What we don’t sell, we donate to others in need. Our hours are Thursday and Friday from 11-4, and Saturday 10-1. We hope you stop by.

43 Newfield St, North Chelmsford
In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the Senior Center.
Wednesday, August 7, 6:30 pm Joe Leary – Plays Acoustic Classic Rock and Folk Music Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 pm Rolie Polie Guacamole – Lively 90s-inspired music for kids and families
Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 pm Jumpin’ Juba – Blues, Roots, Folk, and Rock & Roll

 

Tuesdays, August 6, 13, 20, 7pm, Town Common
The Chelmsford Community Jazz Ensemble, led by Art Bakopolus, invites you to join them on the town green. Spread your blanket or set up your chairs on the grass for some lively jazz charts as the stars come out. Having recently celebrated its golden anniversary, the Chelmsford Community Band is a 501(c)3 nonprofit consisting of a 65-piece concert band and a 20-piece jazz ensemble made of dedicated local volunteer musicians with a proud tradition of bringing live musical performances to the Chelmsford community since 1972. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X, and find them on the web at www.chelmsfordcommunityband.com

Wednesday, August 7, 10:30am, Rm. B07
Come learn about relatively inexpensive steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and start to heal the planet. There are many things we can do to reduce our impact on Earth’s changing climate. Members of the Chelmsford Climate Action Team and the Chelmsford Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee will present ideas for sustainable living and describe actions the town of Chelmsford is taking to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Refreshments will be provided. Call 978-251-0533 or email ndussault@chelmsfordma.gov to register.

 

The Littleton Historical Society on 4 Rogers Street will be open on Thursday nights from 6-8 during the months of July and August. Stop by and pay us a visit! We’re also open our regular hours: Wednesdays 1-4 and the second Sunday of the month from 2-4.

The Chelmsford Historical Society, in collaboration with Goonz Car Club Massachusetts, will be holding a classic car show on Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 1-4pm.
All pre-1970 cars and trucks are welcome at the event. The show will feature the 1959 Raven, a custom car designed and built by Arthur Bentas in Chelmsford from 1950-1959. It has won numerous awards and was bought by Joe Germann in 2007 and restored in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary of winning the 1959 NHRA National Championship Custom Car Show Trophy.
The car show will be held rain or shine at the Barrett-Byam Homestead, located at 40 Byam Road, Chelmsford, MA. There will be food for purchase, music, games, a 50/50 raffle, and tours of the house.

 

TOASTMASTERS WILL HELP YOU:
· Speak and present compellingly
· Think clearly and quickly on your feet
· Become an effective leader
· Gain confidence
Westford Expressions is your local Toastmaster club, with weekly hybrid meetings. You are most welcome to join us at the Cameron Senior Center in Westford (20 Pleasant St.), or via Zoom. We are a non-profit community club, part of the world-wide Toastmaster International organization. You will learn communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment. You set the pace and attend meetings according to your schedule.
Join us at a meeting, any Monday evening at 7 pm except on holidays. For additional information about the club, contact us at: vpm-4690@toastmastersclubs.org To attend a meeting go to our web site, westfordexpressions.toastmastersclubs.org

 

Once again, The World’s A Stage Players, Concord Players’ Shakespeare Troupe, will stage a free production on the lawn of the Concord Free Public Library. The Merry Wives of Windsor will be presented on consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, July 20-27 at 5 PM.
One of Shakespeare’s funniest and most accessible comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is, in many ways, a thoroughly modern production. “I think of Merry Wives as a contemporary soap opera,” says Director Jim Porter. “Everything is just pitched a little higher, everything is a bit more over the top, it’s all very dramatic … which, of course, makes for great comedy.”
The two Merry Wives, played by Hannah Clifford (Mistress Ford) and Jacey Lynn Rutledge (Mistress Page) are simultaneously wooed by the arrogant yet oblivious Falstaff (played by Mike Haddad). Once they discover his brazen pursuit, they decide to have a little fun at his expense and go to extensive lengths to make him look like a fool.
“Hannah and I have several scenes where we team up to undermine Falstaff’s egotism and self-importance,” says Jacey. “Our characters know what’s going on. The audience knows what’s going on. But Falstaff has no idea, which is a lot of fun.”
Mike Haddad, a frequent performer and director with The World’s A Stage Players, turns Falstaff’s foibles into comic gold. “His cluelessness is what makes him fun,” says Mike. “He thinks he’s God’s gift to humanity, and assumes everyone else thinks so too. It’s a great role to play and a funny one to watch.”
The show features some of Shakespeare’s best wordplay. Shakespeare creates several hilarious characters with non-traditional and/or non-English accents – the French Doctor Caius (played by Andrew Harrington) struggles mightily with his English, while the Welsh parson Sir Hugh Evans’ (played by John Small, making his World’s A Stage Players’ debut) malapropisms add to the humor. Andrew’s real-life wife, Jasmine Yong Hall, plays the inn-keeper Mistress Quickly with a full-on cockney accent.
Merry Wives also features strong women characters, which creates a sense of female empowerment that feels distinctly feminist.
“One of the best things about the show is that the women are firmly in charge,” notes Director Jim Porter. “The men range from jovial to profoundly jealous to utterly moronic, but the women are smart, clever and very funny.”
As always, The World’s A Stage Players draws on a cast of both regulars, occasional returnees and newcomers. Returnees from last summer include Ava Enoch, Michael Jay, Darin Kimball and AJ Gaudreau, along with newcomer Cherry Lynn Zinger and Rutledge. Other familiar faces include Katie Speed, Mike Lague, Julian Willard, Kathleen O’Connor (who is also producing the show) and Ed Bernard. Ed and Andrew Harrington are the only two performers who have
appeared in every World’s A Stage Players’ production. “This is the first time in several years where my character is both alive and married at the end of the show,” says Ed, a Concord resident. “Usually, I’m either dead or alone or both.”
Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 5 PM on the lawn of the Concord Free Public Library, with a rain venue at 51 Walden Street. There is also an indoor air-conditioned performance on Friday, July 26 at 7 PM.
Patrons are invited to bring blankets or chairs and sit on the lawn; a limited number of chairs will be provided. For more information, visit www.concordplayers.org.

Many people are looking forward to fun festivals this summer. As usual, scammers are taking advantage of the building excitement. This time, they are cashing in with phony tickets—and even fake events.
How the scam works:
You see a fantastic deal on tickets to a summer festival in your area, usually through a link on social media. The event promises live music, all-you-can-eat meals, craft beer or wine, or other fun activities.
When you click the social media link, it takes you to a professional website with fantastic pictures. You enter your credit card information to buy tickets and think you are all set. But before you buy, do a little research. Whether the event is non-existent, merely disappointing, or you just bought phony tickets, the result is the same: someone pockets your hard-earned money!
BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous reports from people who purchased fake tickets to actual events or events that have yet to materialize.
A customer in Memphis reported buying tickets for $220 for a concert: "I saw an offer for presale tickets for the group Khruangbin for a concert in May. I clicked on the links and it lead me to what looked like a legit site until I realized that they are a resellers site and had marked up the ticket prices tremendously. The prices were also in USD and the service charge was astounding. I contacted the company right away but they just dismiss and ignore. They are SCAMMERS and need to be off the market. They have scammed lots of people and it is very humiliating and stressful."
One consumer who purchased tickets to a fake beer crawl reported: “Reviews across multiple platforms make it clear that these events are at best extremely misleading or at worst canceled. No refunds are given, even when their inconsistent and mostly-unreachable customer service email address responds to confirm a refund will be provided.”
How to spot a fake festival:
*Research before you buy. Search online for the festival's name and ensure the name advertised matches the website. Scammers often use names that sound similar to those of real festivals.
*Check for (working) contact information. The festival website should have a real phone number and email address.
*Watch out for prices that sound too good to be true. There is no way a festival can offer tickets at extremely low prices without losing money. If the prices are much lower than elsewhere, it's likely a scam.
What can you do?
*Pay with a credit card. You can dispute the charges if the business doesn't come through. Be wary of online sellers that don’t accept credit cards.
*Look for secure sites. The website should begin with HTTPS (the extra “s” is for security) and have a lock symbol on the address bar.
*Avoid tickets sold on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other free online listings.  Scammers are skilled at providing realistic tickets and fake receipts. Check out third-party ticket sites at BBB.org before making purchases.
For more information:
Read BBB's tips for buying tickets to an event. For general information on how to avoid scams, visit BBB.org/AvoidScams