Fewer rainy days, flowers starting to bloom, and warmer weather are all signs that May is here. It’s a time to stop and look at your surroundings, appreciate the beauty of nature. Take time this month to also check in on yourself and others. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While progress has been made over the years in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, there is still more work to be done.
It is important to take care of your mental health as it can affect everything you do. If you’re constantly stressed with no outlet to release it, you may find yourself consistently on edge, where even minor issues have major impacts. If all you do is care for others and neglect yourself, you could burnout. You can’t pour your energy into others without also taking time to replenish your own. These are just a few examples of how neglecting our mental health can affect our well-being.
There are multiple things you can do to take care of your mental health. It can be small, like getting 10-15 minutes of sunlight daily to help boost your mood, decreasing your social media consumption, or giving yourself a few minutes to relax instead of going from one task to another whenever possible. Just how the mind affects the body, the body also impacts your mind. Drinking more water, getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients from your food, and moving your body — whether it’s a walk down the street or time at the gym — all help your brain function. There are also bigger things you can do, like planning a getaway, trying something new, or talking to a friend or a mental health professional when needed.
Mental health is often a silent battle; however, the signs that someone is struggling can be loud once you know what to look for. It’s important to look out for others who may be struggling but don’t know how to express what they’re experiencing. We can never know exactly what is going on inside someone else’s mind, so take the time to be prepared for any situation. For instance, someone experiencing suicidal ideation may not openly share the depth of their thoughts. However, there are warning signs for suicide. These may include sudden changes in appearance and eating habits, a loss of interest in things normally loved, increased anger and irritability, giving away prized possessions, and more. For a more extensive list of suicide warning signs, visit www.jasonfoundation.com. There you will find risk factors, additional warning signs, resources, and a list of their locations across the country to find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office to help you or someone you know. The Jason Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the education and prevention of youth suicide. They offer free trainings and materials to educate the public on youth suicide.
This month, check in on those around you, and on yourself. Everyone can benefit from someone asking how they’re really doing. Give someone the opportunity to recognize the struggle they’re facing, so it can be overcome.

June 12, 2025, 12:00 pm, hosted by Concord Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 68 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. Please contact Amanda Spinale, Compass Memory Care Director, at 978-369-4728 or aspinale@concordpark.org for more information and the Zoom link. This group is free and open to the public.
Concord Park Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support is a project of the nonprofit Volunteers of America Massachusetts, which has supported local seniors with specialized services for over 75 years.

When: Wednesday, May 28, 7:00-8:15pm
Where: Zoom
ACTON: Was Mass Save the main driver behind last winter’s high utility bills? Energy efficiency expert Mark Dyen argues that, rather than being the culprit, Mass Save is actually our path away from high energy bills and fuels that endanger the biosphere. Join us as he explores the mission of Mass Save, its funding, and the actual dynamics behind the winter’s steep bills. Sponsored by EnergizeActon.org. Info and registration at https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/1971.

When: Tuesday, May 20, 7:00-8:00pm
Where: Zoom
ACTON: Bob Zogg, co-founder of the HeatSmart Alliance, will give the audience a clear and comprehensive overview of recent advances in heat pump technology, with time for homeowner experiences and questions. How we use energy matters! Sponsored by MassEnergize, with support from EnergizeActon.org. Info/Sign-Up at https://community.massenergize.org/ActonMA/events/1825.

Middlesex Community College makes getting an education possible with a combination of affordable and flexible options and free resources and support services. To prepare for the 2025/2026 academic year, Middlesex is offering students assistance in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
“Completing the FAFSA is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success at college and beyond,” said Kimberly Tibbetts, MCC’s Director of Financial Aid. “No need to do it alone – our team of financial aid experts work with you on an individual basis. Customizing each offer for you and your circumstances, we help you graduate from MCC with as little debt as possible, preparing you for your next steps to transfer to a four-year institution and/or enter the workforce.”
During the event, financial aid staff will be on hand to provide direct assistance to students as they complete their application. The college will offer information and support, as well as answer questions as students go through the process of filling out the form.
The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28 in the campus Academic Resource Center Computer Labs, room 107, 108 and 109. Almost 70 students registered for a previous event held on Wednesday, April 23 in Lowell.
MCC also partners with organizations to help students apply for financial aid. uAspire offers personalized, one-on-one assistance with access to a 24/7 help desk. MCC students can attend uAspire’s live workshops at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 and 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 5.
Through MCC’s partnership with the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), students can receive virtual FAFSA assistance. Working one-on-one with an advisor, students go through the completion process, ask questions, learn how to avoid common mistakes, and see what financial aid they qualify for.
Financial aid awards are based on financial need, enrollment status in an eligible program, and availability of funding. Additional forms of financial aid, including student employment, federal work study programs or scholarship opportunities, may be available for those who qualify.
No matter your age or income, community college is now free in Massachusetts! The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow all eligible Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree to attend MCC for free. To qualify, students must complete the FAFSA.
“The FAFSA is free and easy to fill out,” Tibbetts said. “It’s worth completing because students often qualify for more than they think!”
Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/financialaid/fafsaassistance.html for more information.

It will have gift certificates from many local businesses and lots of gifts to make your summer extra sunny, including a beach towel, sunglasses, birding book, ice cream scoop, a mini fan and many more items for summer fun! TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TREASURE SHOP beginning May 19th at 75 Groton Road, North Chelmsford through Tuesday, July 1, 2025. 1 ticket $5.00, 5 tickets $20.00. The drawing will be held Wednesday July 2, 2025.

Composted Cow Manure for sale at the farm. Self-serve all daylight hours. We also deliver- call the farm at 978-371-7083 for delivery! We appreciate your support of our family farm in our 38th year of business. This Black Gold is excellent for all your home gardening & lawn needs.

The Military Family Support Group (MFSG) is a volunteer organization whose mission is to provide support to anyone with an active duty service member serving in the military.  Our goal is to help educate members on military life, customs, and traditions as well as provide outreach, benefit awareness, and social networking opportunities.  In addition, MFSG offers support to family members with a active duty service member transitioning to veteran status.  MFSG hosts events throughout the year and is open to individuals, families,  and friends in the Concord/Carlisle and surrounding communities with an active duty member serving in all branches of the military.  Follow us on Facebook or at  milfamilysg@gmail.com

2025 MFSG Schedule of Events
June 10, 2025-Book Club Event at the Concord Free Public Library, Trustees Room,  Main Library , 129 Main St., Concord, MA. 10 AM. A book discussion about “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a collection of short stories about a platoon of American soldiers fighting on the ground in the Vietnam War.  Copies of the book are available at the Main Library.

July 20,2025- Worcester Woo Sox Game-1:05PM-”Indebt to a Vet “ event.. Tickets are $25/pp Contact 978-618-8525 for ticket info.
November 7, 2025-Lincoln Council on Aging,  Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Rd. Lincoln, MA. 1:00PM.  “Trench Art and Trinkets: What Did They Bring Home>”  A presentation by Lincoln, MA               Veteran’s Services Officer Peter Harvell.  Bring your trench art or militaria piece to be appraised at the event.

November 11, 2025-Vetaran’s Day Flag Retirement Ceremony, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA.  8:00AM. The ceremony will include a prayer, a cannon salute, Taps being played ,          and the National Anthem followed by the flag retirement ceremony. Meet at 7:45 AM at Prichards’s Gate at 34 Bedford Street, Concord, MA to join the MFSG march procession.

For more information about these events or becoming a MFSG member, please contact 978-618-8525. Look for additional military related events in the Boston/Metro West area on our Facebook page.

Design a nature-themed T-shirt and send in your entry by Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm. Entries will be voted on by the staff, and if yours is chosen then it will be printed on the T-shirts.
Rules/Notes:
Entries must be sent via regular mail to PO Box 14, Bolton, MA 01740 and be in the post office box by Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm So please either mail it to get there in time or put a stamp on it/pay when you get there and give it to the people at the counter to put in the box. Do not put in the mailbox outside or the slot inside since all mail gets sent out to the distribution center before coming back to Bolton. The Post Office counter closes from 11:00am-12:00pm on weekdays, so don’t go during those times.
Entries must be on a regular 8.5″x11″ white piece of paper that has not been folded.
Entries must be drawn in black pen ink or Sharpie.
Entries must be signed by the artist (write clearly so we can read your name).
Do not write anything else on the design (the printer adds the name of the camp and the year).
Think about the printing and do not make any lines that are too close together and will turn into blobs (e.g. feathers on a bird need to be distinct).
Please review the below list of past designs so there is no recent duplication.
Feel free to scan and email us a sketch of your idea and we will give you feedback (technical only) before you draw your final submission.
DO NOT TRACE. ORIGINAL ARTWORK ONLY.
Ask us if you have any questions.
https://www.tomdenneynaturecamp.org/tee-shirt-design-contest

Middlesex Community College hosted the 14th annual Commonwealth Honors Program (CHP) Research Conference on Wednesday, April 30. During the event, Middlesex honors students presented and discussed their research projects with the community.
“My experience in the Honors Program at MCC has been incredibly rewarding and transformative,” said Nilsu Buyuk, an MCC psychology honors student, of Watertown. “The CHP conference is an excellent environment for students to develop a variety of skills, especially public speaking and presentation abilities. Additionally, the honors conference offers a chance to build a strong network with other MCC honors students and faculty members. It’s inspiring to see what kinds of projects others are working on, and it creates space to exchange ideas and learn from one another.”
Buyuk’s presentation compared teenage girls’ lives in Afghanistan with those in the United States. Crediting her professors for their guidance, she believes her experience working on the presentation was “enjoyable and slightly challenging.” Participating in the CHP has built her confidence, as well as helped her improve her leadership, communication and collaboration skills.
An MCC world languages honors student, of Dracut, Carina Rivera created a project entitled “Resistance in the Form of Art.” Focused on artists using their art to spread knowledge, Rivera worked with her professors to expand her research from one artist to include others. A visual learner, she was nervous about how to best create her presentation, but she felt supported by the college faculty and staff.
“I struggled in school as a kid and never thought of myself as an honors student,” Rivera said. “I wanted to try [the honors program] out and see if I could prove myself wrong. I have felt right at home among my professors and peers. This opportunity has taken me out of my comfort zone and given me a confidence boost as a speaker and student. It’s great to see everyone showcase their hard work.”
Setting up their projects in the Bedford campus cafeteria, students shared slides and spoke on their topics. At the end, the participating students received awards for their presentations. For CJ Muenks, an MCC history, politics and global studies honors student, of Lowell, the CHP was a way to expand his learning opportunities. His presentation focused on Native American religious practices and how European colonialism affected them.
“I had never had the opportunity to present to my peers as a confident adult,” Muenks said. “Just being able to practice public speaking is incredibly beneficial, but also our professors were incredible instigators of critical conversation. Middlesex has reignited my passion for learning, as I have had extremely supportive professors and made numerous friends.”
Jason North, an MCC biology honors student, of Groton, was recommended to join the CHP by his professors. Focusing his presentation on the emergence, evolution and culture causes of a stigma behind nuclear technology, he combined his interests in nuclear chemistry with history and politics. Through the program, North improved his research and time management skills, as well as honed his professionalism.
“I benefitted from having what I wrote critiqued and examined, because I got a taste for what the expectations are for prestigious research,” North said. “I feel closer to my professors now having connected with them, both on the mechanics of the research and their interest in my topic itself.”
MCC’s CHP offers students the opportunity to work with dedicated faculty and participate in seminar-style classes to improve their research techniques and present their work. Through this experience, students attend special events and activities, while sharing ideas with peers, faculty and staff.
Required for every honors course, students are expected to present their research projects at a conference before graduating. After selecting a topic, students develop a research question and use both primary and secondary sources to guide their project. The goal is to hone students’ research, analysis and organization skills, according to Binnur Ercem, MCC’s Professor of Sociology & Cultural Anthropology and Director of the CHP.
“Students refine their arguments, create visual or multimedia presentations, and practice their public speaking skills to confidently share their work with the campus community,” Ercem said. “CHP’s annual research conference is an opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate our students’ intellectual curiosity, academic achievements, determination, perseverance, hard work, and love of learning.”

The two ensembles of the Chelmsford Community Band are joining together again for their annual joint Spring performance at 2pm on Sunday, June 1, at the Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center.  The Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Art Bakopolus, will bring a program of lively jazz and swing standards, and the Concert Band, under the direction of Eric Linsner, will be celebrating the sounds of New Orleans with music inspired by Cajun folk songs, New Orleans jazz traditions, and a medley from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
Admission to these community concerts is always free, but the band greatly appreciates donations that cover their expenses and make it possible to rent rehearsal space and buy music.  Suggested donations are $10 for an individual or $20 for a family.
Having recently celebrated its golden anniversary, the Chelmsford Community Band has a 70-piece concert band and a 20-piece jazz ensemble made of dedicated volunteer musicians with a proud tradition of bringing live musical performances to this community since 1972.  They are supported by grants from the Chelmsford Cultural Council, other local towns, and your donations.  Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky, and find them online at www.chelmsfordcommunityband.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH– The Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club invites walkers to complete a 5km or 10km (3.1 or 6.2 mile) walk route in Weston, MA. This is a walk-at-your-own pace, just-for-fun event “in your own backyard.”
The start point is the Weston Public Library, 87 School Street, Weston,MA 02493. Register and begin walking between 10:30-12:30. Finish by 4 p.m. There is a $4 participation fee per person. Donations are accepted. The 5km and 10km routes are on mostly flat and paved surfaces.The trail would be doable for strollers but difficult for wheelchairs due to the trail through the woods, a short grassy path, and uneven pavement in some places.
The 10km route consists of the 5km route with 3 loops branching off the 5km route. Except for one stretch of the 10km route on a trail through some woods and another short, steep path joining the rail trail, both routes are on sidewalks and the rail trail passing some historic buildings, residential areas with large homes and tree-filled spaces, and the town center.
Walkers will pass the fieldstone First Parish Church and the Colonial Revival-style Weston
Town Hall, a fire station built in 1914 the town’s original library built in 1899 and now the home of Weston Art & Innovation Center as well as the Weston Media Center.
Volkssporting events sponsored by Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club promote fun, fitness and friendship through non-competitive walking and biking. There is also an achievement awards program through the American Volkssport Association (AVA). For further information contact Marianne at (339)-204-3700. You may also contact www.walknmass.org for this event and future events.

You are invited to join The Chelmsford Women of Today for a Community Craft and Yard Sale. Find treasures and enjoy local crafts for sale.
Date – 5/31/2025
Central Congregational Church Parking Lot, North Road, Chelmsford, MA.
Time  - 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Crafters and vendors wishing to participate are encouraged to call 978-250-7267 for more information. Space for tables up to 6’ is $25, and $50 10x10 canopies that can accommodate up to 3 tables. Tables must be provided by the vendors. Must call no later than May 15 to reserve space.
The proceeds from this event will support Alternative House, Wish Project, and various other local organization

Cornerstone Congregational Church is proud to sponsor our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday, May 24th 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 your community and across the region.  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 less than 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).

It will have gift certificates from many local businesses and lots of gifts to make your summer extra sunny, including a beach towel, sunglasses, birding book, ice cream scoop, a mini fan and many more items for summer fun! TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TREASURE SHOP, 75 Groton Road, North Chelmsford through Tuesday, July 1, 2025. 1 ticket $5.00, 5 tickets $20.00. The drawing will be held Wednesday July 2, 2025.

Myles Above in Heaven
An intimate support group in the loss of child........
Saturday May 17th
10:30am-12:30pm
Hudson Public Library, Hudson, MA

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

- Trinity Church, 14 Wattaquadock Hill Rd., Bolton, will be hosting an  indoor yard sale on Saturday, June 7th, 9:00AM - Noon.  All items are free. Household goods, toys, books, movies, sporting goods, clothing, more. Enjoy free refreshments as well!  www.trinitybolton.org

The camp in Bolton is for students entering Kindergarten through High School.
Activities include swimming, games in the fields and woods, arts & crafts, songs, tracking, hiking, campfires to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, building shelters, Animal Adventures, Predator and Prey, The Amazing Race & more.
Campers entering grades 6th-9th in the Eco Adventures program will play kayaking games on the pond, laser tag in the woods, nighttime activities on Thursday and dinner and s’mores, water guns, an adventure hike, team building activities & more.
Counselors-in-Training must be entering 9th grade or above and attend Orientation June 24- and then choose two weeks or more to be at camp.
There are 6 weekly sessions that run June 30 – August 8, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.
Before/After Care is available!
Campers from all towns are welcome!
See the website for more details and to register: tomdenneynaturecamp.org
Questions: bcttdnc@gmail.com (best means of communication) or 978-429-3004 (voice mail)

www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
I THINK we have seen the last of snow this season!  My wise Dad told us that spring snow is nature’s fertilizer; it pulls nitrogen out of the atmosphere for the lawns.
At Fresh Start we still need couches and loveseats, upholstered chairs, dressers and dining tables.  In the kitchen area we are short on saucepans, food storage containers, and bowls (cereal, mixing and serving). We are running out of microwaves and slow cookers and we can always use silverware.  Our supply of lamps goes up and down; right now it is down so bring them!   For bedrooms we need throws and comforters.  We just partnered with a woman who works for an organization that rescues and rehabs owls and she needs fleece for them.
Please look at our website if you don’t know our location or hours.  We take donations of housewares on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-noon and furniture AND housewares on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30.  The website also spells out what we DO and DO not take and there is a place to sign up for a pickup by our truck if you have several large items.
Thank you for helping us to help others!

Devens, MA: The Cannon Theatre is proud to present A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. This production, directed by Shawn Cannon, is the fifth in The Cannon Theatre’s 2024-25 season line-up, which also includes upcoming productions of Cannon’s 10-Minute Play Festival and featuring performances of Shakespeare: the Eras Tour.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is a comic romp filled with unforgettable music and non-stop laughs about A distant heir to a family fortune sets out to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm... and a dash of murder.
The show runs for 3 weekends. Show times are May 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are taking place on May 18 and 25th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.thecannontheatre.org, and are $25 for adults, and $20 for students/seniors.
The cast and crew hails from the following towns: Ayer, Arlington, Brookline, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Lincoln, Londonderry, Pepperell, Waltham, and Worcester.

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

 

For a second time during the Spring 2025 “A World of Music” concert series, Middlesex Community College will welcome the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO). The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center, Theatre in Lowell.
“The final concert of the LCO season features works in which composers reach back to their traditions and make them sound new,” said Orlando Cela, MCC music professor and conductor of the LCO. “In the case of Pulcinella, Stravinsky reaches out to our musical past and refurbishes 21 pieces from the Baroque period into a modern style. Hailstork also contributes to the centuries-old genre of the romance – particularly as it applies in the solo orchestral repertoire – as exemplified perfectly by Bruch, hence why we perform both pieces together, one after the other. On the other hand, composer Simon Andrews looks into the New England tradition of communing with nature, and his work ‘Till Voices Wakes Us’ takes the sound of the American toad and makes a beautiful work. We open with Mendelssohn’s homage to the style of Baroque counterpoint, his Symphony for Strings No. 3.”
Entitled Voices Near and Far, this program features music from the past and present. Till Voices Wake Us by Simon Andrews, the winner of the 2024 LCO Call-for-Scores, will be performed, and violist Jeremy Kienbaum, winner of the 2024 LCO Young Artist Competition, will be the soloist in Two Romances by Adolphus Hailstork. The concert will also include works by Felix Mendelssohn, Max Bruch, and Igor Stravinsky.
“A World of Music” will end the season with a second Student Recital at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 at MCC’s Concert Hall on the Bedford Campus.
Previous performances include a previous concert by the LCO on Saturday, February 1; an Online Saturday Arts Concert featuring MCC faculty, alumni and students on Saturday, March 8; Know Orchestra on Sunday, March 23; a Piano Recital by Anastasia Seifetdinova on Friday, April 4; and Guqin and Viola in Musical Dialogue on Friday, April 11.
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 https://www.middlesex.edu/events/worldofmusic.html for more information.

The Chelmsford Center for the Arts is located at 1A North Road, Chelmsford, MA.

Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation Workshop every Sunday at 10:00 am
in the seminar room (there will be no Meditation Workshop on 4/20).
Knitting with Marion: Tuesdays and every other Saturday!

UPCOMING EVENTS
April 25th Janelle’s Dirty Basement Comedy Show at 8:00 pm. Janelle Draper & Friends are back by popular demand after multiple sold out shows at the CCA! Join us for a one night stand of raunchy hilarity and nonstop laughs in the Cabaret Cafe Along Janelle Draper, you’ll enjoy the comedic stylings of nationally touring comedians who have been featured on NBC, SiriusXM, HBO & Comedy Central! Grab your ticket now so you don’t miss out on all the fun! Tickets $20 online and $20 at the door.

April 26th NPC: New Play Reading at 6:30 pm. Join us in the Cabaret Cafe for a reading of NPC, an original play by AJ, directed by Megan Lummus!

April 26th Sugar Kings: Afro-Cuban Experience Concert at 7:30 pm and Salsa/Clave Workshop at 5:30 pm.  Join us in the auditorium for a high-energy performance by the genre-bending Boston quartet, The Sugar Kings! Experience a unique mix of Afro-Cuban roots, R&B, rock, and reggae that you won’t want to miss. Before the show, at 5:30 PM, dive into an interactive workshop led by the band, exploring clave rhythms and their role in Latin music and dance. Learn essential rhythms, discover each instrument’s function, and get a taste of salsa, son, merengue, and Cumbia dance! Tickets: $25 for the concert, $35 for the workshop + concert. Students and Chelmsford Friends of Music members get in free!

April 28th Folk Music Open Mic at 7:00 pm. Join us in the Cabaret Cafe for an evening of acoustic fun! This monthly event, hosted by Doug Kwartler, is perfect for folk performers and listeners alike. FREE ENTRY! Full bar and snacks available. Donations accepted.

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

The Westford Police Amateur Radio Team (http://www.wb1gof.org/) will be conducting an open house in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day (https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day).
During this event, we will be communicating with other amateur radio operators from across North America and around the world. We will be showcasing multiple live amateur radio stations each using a different radio communication technique. Most of all, one of the stations will permit you to get on the air.
Come join us at the Great Brook Farm State Park (https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-brook-farm-state-park) at 165 North Road, Carlisle, MA on Saturday, April 26 (rain date May 3) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
See you there!

A free live webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Our speakers will be Lynn St. Germaine, an Infant-Toddler teacher for 37 years, and Patricia Collins, a Preschool teacher for 25 years, from Concord Children’s Center. Young children often act out for various reasons such as hunger, tiredness, frustration, confusion, or difficulty transitioning between activities. At times, they may not have the words to express what they need, leading to outbursts and meltdowns. These behaviors are not random-they signal underlying needs or developmental challenges, like unmet emotional needs, underdeveloped communication skills or lack of self-regulation. By understanding the root causes of challenging behaviors, parents can respond more effectively and support their children’s emotional and social development. By attending this program, you will gain an understanding of why children act out, and learn strategies that might include creating predictable routines, reinforcing positive behaviors, and using calm and consistent responses to guide the children through emotional ups and downs. To receive the Zoom link for this FREE program email First Connections: lmatthews@jri.org.

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

The Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild is pleased to announce that it’s biennial quilt show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th, 2026 at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical Show in Upton, Massachusetts. The Guild has selected “Creating Comfort’ as their show theme. This theme reflects not only the members’ love of quilting but also reflects the guild’s mission and fundraising efforts. Over 200 member quilts as well as guild challenges and round robins will be on display. Also included at the show will be a special raffle quilt, the quilters’ boutique, raffle baskets, and local area vendors. Any local area vendor wishing to participate in the Guild’s show should contact Deb Hudgins through the website at thimblepleasures.org  or  by contacting her by mail at TPQG, P.O. Box 447, Mendon, MA 01756.
The guild has chosen Home Base as the show’s special fundraiser. All funds raised through the sale of items at the special fundraiser table will be donated directly to Home Base. Home Base is a Red Sox Foundation dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of veterans, service members, and their families through clinical care, wellness, education and research. The 2026 show is being chaired by Gina Brooks, Donna Hopkins, and Val Ogilvie.

 

185 Elm Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Hidden Treasures
Event Date: Thursday, April 24
Event Time: 1 to 2 pm
Event Details: Contact the Education Department
Champagne Reception
Event Date: Friday, April 25
Event Time: 6 to 8 pm
Event Details:
Join us for a special evening of art, music, and flowers!
Finicky Fork catering, Cash bar with specialty drinks (one complimentary drink ticket for each guest), Kay Previtte prizewinner announced, Emily Mazz Duo providing the entertainment.
Leominster native Emily Mazzarella is a pianist and teacher who regularly performs throughout Central Massachusetts. She will be joined by acoustic bassist Sahil Warsi to perform jazz standards and Great American Songbook classics.
Tickets:
$30 per person/ $25 members
Violinist Stefani Perrett Performs in the Galleries
Event Date: Saturday, April 26
Event Time: 2 to 3:30 pm
Event Details:
2-2:45 pm Contemporary Folk in Stephen DiRado, Better Together: Four Decades of Photographs
2:45-3:30 pm Classical in Evoking Eleanor
Local Violinist, Stefani Perrett started playing violin at age 8, after admiring her mother’s playing over the years. She has performed with numerous orchestras, and in venues from Boston to Europe. After Suzuki teacher training, she began teaching private violin lessons while working toward her violin performance degree at UMass. Now Stefani enjoys playing a variety of genres for all different types of events.
The Art of Bonsai with Michael Levin of Bonsai West
Event Date: Sunday, April 27
Event Time: 2 to 3:30 pm
Event Details:
The program will consist of a display of beautiful bonsai and the talk will include all key points regarding history, care, and a complete demonstration teaching the fundamentals of creating a bonsai from scratch. The talk will touch on all aspects of traditional and contemporary bonsai and will be a fascinating overview of the art.
Event Sponsors include Rose Sponsors: Fitchburg State University and Spinelli CPA; Lily Sponsors: Achla Designs; Daisy Sponsors: King Farm, Manor on the Hill, Rise & Grind, All One Credit Union, Gallery Marquee, and Rollstone Bank.
Art in Bloom Admission:
Tickets:
$15 Adults
$10 Seniors and Students
FAM Members are FREE
View Events Online: https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/art-in-bloom-2025/
Contact Aimee Cotnoir, FAM Membership and Events Manager with questions at acotnoir@fitchburgartmuseum.org or events@fitchburgartmuseum.org.

WESTFORD, MA: Rock out and ride the yacht rock waves when Mike Payette brings his Three-Hour Tour to the Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln Street on  Friday, April 25 at 7:30pm (Doors open 7pm).  Advanced ticketing guarantees you a seat - $18 for PCA Members & Seniors; $20 Non-Members; $25 at the door (if available; $15 EBT/Card-to-Culture (ID required at the door) - and you can bring your own food and drink for a complete evening of entertainment. For tickets and more information, call (978) 692-6333, visit pcawestford.org or visit them on Facebook.
On this tour, the band will entertain you with soft yacht rock music with 70s-80s smooth vibes, great songs, and tight harmonies - think Michael McDonald, Doobie Brothers, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia and more. This new music project came to life when Mike Payette was subbing for a musician in the band No Static (a Steely Dan tribute band). During the break, he told the drummer Barry Lit that he’d like to put together a yacht rock show, to which Barry replied “I’m IN!” Mike gathered friends of kindred spirits to be part of this new band that includes keyboards, sax and trumpet, and background singers, and so began the Three-Hour Tour!
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/3-2-24-mike-payette-s-three-hour-tour-soft-yacht-rock-of-70-s-80-s-/169
For more information, visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Mike_`1_-_Susan_Wilson

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

(128 Lowell Road – Westford)
Sunday April 13th – 1PM
20 Easter Hams and 20 Turkeys raffled on a spin wheel
*Sirloin Strips, Prime Ribs and others are also being raffled off.
Raffle tickets on sale at the event!
$1500 Cash drawing as well!
(Drawing tickets on sale now – see any Stony Brook member)
Open to the public
Food and beverages will also be available.

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
We had another good day at Fresh Start on Tuesday with nice weather for clients to arrive as well as several donors.  One donor, our regular angelic Judy was there with donations when I arrived for my shift at 9AM.  Another donor brought two big boxes containing 8(?) towels sets, brand new from the store - Kohl’s I think.  The details were lost in the excitement!
Our volunteers put together kitchen sets for our clients.  At present we really need measuring cups and measuring spoons, spatulas, and both slotted and non-slotted spoons.  Also pot holders, placemats and kitchen towels.  We are also low on baking pans, platters, serving bowls and both small and medium pans.
In our furniture department we need couches, couches, and couches!  Also dressers and kitchen tables & chairs.
Our linen department needs more comforters, blankets and throws.  It’s getting warmer outside but we need them for our clients.
Finally, to make a home cozy we need lamps and artwork for our clients to choose.
We are open to accept housewares on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9-noon and furniture on Saturday from 8:30-10:30.  We are located at 16 Brent Drive in Hudson, just past Sauta Farms condos on Lower Main St.  Check our website (above) for other information and thank you for helping us to help others!

Please join us at the Chelmsford Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and Dinner on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 5:30-8:00pm.
The highlight of the evening will include the presentation of the Guardian Award, an award given each year by the Society to a person or organization best exemplifying Chelmsford’s motto “Let the Children Guard What the Sires Have Won.” This year the award will be presented to Ali Reza Zosherafatain for his restoration of Odd Fellows Hall in Chelmsford center.
To begin this special night, we will enjoy dinner catered by Mr. Jack’s Catering in the Ralph Parlee Agricultural Center at the Barrett-Byam Homestead, 40 Byam Road, Chelmsford. The menu will be salad, a selection of Italian entrees, and dessert. Non-alcoholic beverages are included. If you would like an alcoholic beverage, like a favorite bottle of wine, please bring it with you.
Seating is limited so please send your name, phone number, number of people attending, and check payable at $25/person to the Chelmsford Historical Society by Monday, April 28, 2025. (Reservation request and annual membership information on separate form.) Tickets can be picked up at the door of the event.
Mail to:
Chelmsford Historical Society
c/o Jerry Sullivan
14 McIntosh Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Email chelmhist@gmail.com for questions or to make a reservation to pay at the event. If no email, leave a voicemail at 978-256-2311

Middlesex Community College’s theatre department is proud to present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s award-winning “Into the Woods” for the Spring 2025 production. The musical will run for five performances from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13 at the college’s Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell.
“I auditioned for ‘Into the Woods’ because I was interested in exploring musical theater, and because I hoped to make connections with and learn from the talented members of MCC’s theater program,” said Ellery Martin-Gleason, an MCC Liberal Arts and Sciences student from Concord. “Since I began acting at MCC, I have found more confidence in my abilities to communicate with others, and greater ease embracing my personality. It is important for students to have opportunities to follow our passions in order for us to grow as people, create our paths as individuals, and figure out the roles we want to play in our communities.”
“Into the Woods” includes characters from popular Brothers Grimm fairytales. Focusing on after the original plots come to an end, familiar stories include “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella.” Opening in November of 1987, the original Broadway production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning three.
“Opportunities like this serve as reminders as to why we either started working in or fell in love with theatre in the first place,” said Abby McIsaac, an MCC alumna from Tyngsborough. “Returning to MCC to perform there again feels like coming home after being away for so long. I couldn’t be prouder of the work that we’ve put into this, and I’m so very excited for people to see what we’ve created together.”
“When the ‘Into the Woods’ auditions came along, I knew that I wanted to participate,” said Connor Lee, an MCC Performing Arts student from Chelmsford. “Theatre is so important because it is a place where people can go to make friends and build their community. It allows students to feel like they belong to something important. On top of all that theatre is just so much fun and I’d recommend it to anyone who gets the chance.”
The MCC theatre department partnered with UMass Lowell’s theatre arts on the Spring 2025 production. Auditions for students and alumni of both schools were held in January with the goal of bringing together talents, perspectives and resources from both institutions, according to Karen Oster, MCC’s Chair of Performing Arts.
“By collaborating with partners in our community and drawing on the expertise of dedicated faculty and staff from both institutions, we create enriching experiences that allow our students to develop their skills – both on stage and behind the scenes – gaining invaluable experience that prepares them for future success,” Oster said. “Audiences can expect the high-quality, dynamic productions MCC is known for, brought to life by the incredible talent and dedication of our students.”
Curtain times for MCC’s productions are 7 p.m. on Thursday April 10 and Friday, April 11; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Tickets are $5 for Middlesex students with ID, $15 for MCC faculty and staff, and $20 for general admission.
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. For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://www.middlesex.edu/events/theatre.html