For over 60 years, outstanding artisans have displayed their products at the Holiday Artisans Fair at First Parish in Concord. This year, the fair is Saturday, November 7, from 10 am to 4 pm. Join us to enjoy great shopping and socializing while browsing juried artists, crafters, artisans, & photographers showcasing their latest creations. You will find gorgeous handmade woodwork, ceramics, jewelry, fine art, cards, and children’s & pet gifts. Don’t miss the popular Boutique featuring jewelry, vintage creative clothing, accessories, and more. Food will be served on-site throughout the day by a local restaurant.  This event is indoors and held rain or shine. The entrance fee is $3.00 per person (children under 10: no charge).

Concord, MA - Beginning Thursday, October 29, Concord Art presents Magnetic North, curated by Elizabeth Awalt and Pamela “Posey” Moulton. The exhibition will be on view through December 17.

Iconic Concordian and Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau believed “that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” Few places embody that magnetic pull more strongly than the state of Maine—which was part of Massachusetts until 1820. Maine’s dramatic coastline, expansive forests, rugged mountains, and ever-changing light have attracted artists for generations. Historically, painters came to Maine during the summer months to work directly from the landscape, establishing a tradition that continues today. Increasingly, however, artists are choosing not only to visit Maine but to make their lives there, drawn by both the natural environment and the strength of its artistic communities.

The artists represented in Magnetic North have all spent significant portions of their lives in Maine, and several were born in the state. Together, they represent a range of practices including painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. While each artist brings a distinct vision, they share an enduring connection to place, a commitment to creative independence, and a deep engagement with the natural world. Many have built lasting careers while contributing to Maine's vibrant cultural landscape through galleries, exhibitions, residencies, and community initiatives. There is a generosity among Maine artists that is distinctive. Like magnets, they draw one another forward, creating opportunities for both peers and future generations.

Artists featured in this exhibition include Elizabeth Awalt, Jarid del Deo, Melanie Essex, James Parker Foley, Roy Fox, Grace Hager, Dylan Hausthor, Jocelyn Lee, Joanna Logue, Pamela “Posey” Moulton, Verónica A Pérez, Brian Smith, Emilie Stark-Menneg, Ian Trask, John Walker, Shoshannah White, and David Wilson.

A catalog of the exhibition will be available at Concord Art. For more information, contact Executive Director Kate James at katejames@concordart.org or Assistant Director Natalie Reiser at nataliereiser@concordart.org.
You may also call Concord Art at 978-369-2578

Details: Magnetic North,Curated by Elizabeth Awalt + Pamela “Posey” Moulton
October 29, 2026 - December 17, 2026
Concord Art 37 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 01742
Tuesday through Saturday 10am – 4:30pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm
Opening Reception: October 29, 5:30pm
Artist Panel with Jorge S. Arango, Art Writer: December 2, 6pm

Felixology: books, gifts, and art for the magical mind at 2 Walnut St in Maynard is holding a Thanksgiving-themed Grief Cafe on Sunday, November 22nd from 6-8pm. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, can be particularly difficult for grieving families and this event seeks to acknowledge that feeling of loss. Participants are invited to bring a food or drink that reminds them of a deceased loved one to share. If comfortable, they may share why the food or drink is meaningful. The featured book will be After Taste by Daria Lavelle. It is not necessary to bring a food or drink item to attend the Grief Cafe.

Felixology opened in late 2024 to honor the memory of the owner's late son Felix, who passed away at age 29 from Mesothelioma. Felix was a creative, enchanted soul who grew up in nearby Concord amongst nature and the spirits of his ancestors. He had a profound love of nature, history, literature, and art. He grew up to be an artist and designer for theatre, opera, film and top fashion designers.

Felixology is committed to being more than just a retail location, but a safe, welcoming, community space that harkens back to the carefree, magical days of childhood. It is a bookshop for all ages, but caters to the inner child in all of us. Felixology holds monthly Grief Cafes and Death Cafes to normalize discussions on grief, death, and dying.

For more information on Felixology or the Grief Cafe please visit the website at felixology.com, email felixology8@gmail.com, call 978-298-5716, or visit social media on Facebook or Instagram (@felixologybookshop)

For 50 years, Concord Prison Outreach’s Holiday Gift Bag Project has carried a simple but meaningful message to incarcerated people during the holiday season: you are not forgotten. This year, our volunteers, faith partners, and community partners will come together to assemble and distribute 2,300 Holiday Gift Bags to incarcerated men and women at MCI-Shirley, MCI-Framingham, North Central Correctional Institution in Gardner, and Northeastern Correctional Center in Concord. Each bag contains simple, useful items and a holiday card that serves as a reminder to our incarcerated neighbors that they remain valued members of our community. This message is especially important during the holidays, which can be an incredibly difficult and isolating time for those separated from their families, friends,and communities.
The Holiday Gift Bag Project is just one of the many ways CPO works to restore dignity and build hope throughout the year. At the heart of our work is the belief that people can heal and grow, families can remain connected despite incarceration, and every person deserves opportunities to move forward with dignity, purpose, and hope. CPO delivers more than 60 programs across nine prison and jail sites, reaching 1,000+ program participants with the support of more than 430 program-based volunteers and over 2,000 volunteer hours.
At MCI-Framingham, our work with incarcerated women continues to grow. CPO is now delivering programming directly to women living in the Reintegration House, a 12-bed, minimum-security pre-release residence designed to support their transition back into their families and communities. Our Reentry Readiness Program provides practical preparation for life after incarceration, addressing areas such as personal and family reintegration, financial literacy, emotional wellness and recovery, technology, employment readiness, healthy relationships, and community resources.
Our Restorative Justice programming continues to create opportunities for accountability, healing, recovery, and personal growth. In 2025, CPO provided 722 hours of Restorative Justice programming, engaging 556 incarcerated participants through 32 programs across seven prison and jail sites. We also expanded our work to include Recovery Circles, designed to address addiction, trauma, grief, and cycles of harm within correctional facilities.
Across all of these efforts, CPO is reaching more people and offering more programming than ever before. In 2025, we engaged more than 3,500 individuals through volunteer and program participation and supported more than 5,000 additional individuals and families through seasonal service initiatives and community outreach.
But growth is not simply about numbers. Each number represents a person. Another participant has access to a program that can help them heal and grow. Another woman preparing for reentry knows she is supported. Another child feels remembered. Another family has an opportunity to reconnect.
Restoring dignity means recognizing the humanity and potential in every person. Building hope means creating real opportunities for healing, connection, recovery, education, and a path forward. Together, we can build a community where incarceration does not mean isolation, where recovery and second chances are possible, and where every person has reason to be hopeful about the future.
As we work to meet our annual budget and continue providing the Holiday Gift Bag Project and our growing programs throughout the year, we ask you to consider making a financial contribution to CPO. Your support allows us to sustain and expand this work, reach more incarcerated people and families, and continue showing up for our neighbors across Massachusetts.
Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us restore dignity and build hope.
Show Your Support. Donate today at donorbox.org/hgb.

The Trinitarian Congregational Church will be hosting its 55th annual Antiques Show on Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th, at the TriCon Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, from 10-5 on Friday and 10 - 4 on Saturday.

The Antiques Show raises monies to support mission and outreach efforts. All proceeds to the church, from entry fees, dealer rents, and café sales, are given away to outreach organizations that support hunger initiatives, domestic violence agencies, preschool and early education scholarships, veterans' needs, and the LGBTQ+ community.  Offering fine antiques, furniture, glassware, prints, jewelry, art work, and more(!), 3 floors of quality dealers are on hand to greet the over 800 customers who come back year after year. Our building is fully accessible.

The TriCon Café is a hit every year, offering freshly made sandwiches and soups and a place to sit so you can make a day of shopping and lunch.  We also sell many homemade desserts, including pies (sliced and whole), cookies, and other yummy baked treats.

The entrance fee is $10 per person (children free).  Look for our $1 off coupon/ad on social media, some area stores, and in local papers.

The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer

Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit -- Sweet, thin-skinned and seedless, the flavor is reminiscent of refreshing red grapes and sweet nectarines.
California Navel oranges – Easy peeling with the perfect balance between sweet and tart. Seedless and packed with Vitamin C.
Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes ($42) or 10 lb. boxes ($22) each.  Order online through November 13 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 12. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area, we welcome your order and can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 12 in Harvard.
The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here: https://lions-citrus-sale-109284.square.site/.
We are also offering gift boxes that will ship anywhere in the Continental US. Here is the order site: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.

The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey, will present its first concert of the 2026-27 Season “Masquerade” on Sunday, November 1st at 2 pm in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 (12 Green Road GPS), Bolton MA. The concert is free and open to the public – the hall is accessible to one and all.

The concert is (still) in the Halloween mood and opens a Waltz, a Mazurka , and a Galop from the Masquerade Suite, by Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian, followed by the chilling Dance of the Skeletons, the soundtrack of a 1901 silent cartoon. The featured work on the first half will be a remarkable work by Barbara York, Encountering Baba Yaga, with alto saxophone soloist, Andy Kern. It will be remembered that the Baba Yaga was a witch in Slavic and Russian folklore who live in a house built on fowl's legs, and flew about in a giant mortar.

The second half of the concert opens with Night On Bald Mountain by Modeste Moussorgsky which many will recognize from the Disney film Fantasia. The program will conclude with a setting of themes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Friends of Music and supported in part by grants from the Ashby, Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster. And Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.

October 21, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 21st Season with a concert titled “Exuberant Voices” at Assumption University in Worcester on November 8.  A reception will follow the concert. Martinů’s Three Madrigals are a complex blend of the English madrigals and energetic Bohemian and Moravian folk music that he loved. Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 5, written after a three-year hiatus from composition, marked a radical stylistic departure from his earlier works and ushered in his late style. Saint- Saëns’ Quartet No. 2 is rhythmically dynamic, jaunty in tone, energetic, and exuberant.
Sunday, November 8 @4:00PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30PM
Program
Bohuslav Martinů | Three Madrigals, H.313 
Ludwig van Beethoven | Cello Sonata in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
Camille Saint-Saëns  | Piano Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 41
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/exuberant-voices/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.
This concert will also be presented by the Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton at 7:00PM on November 6. Tickets and information are available at iconmuseum.org. 

A turkey drive can fill one table for one night. But a family that just lost SNAP benefits, or a patient managing diabetes without a working stove, needs something that lasts longer than a holiday meal. As you plan your holiday giving coverage, please consider including Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts, which works year-round to help residents afford and access healthy food with dignity.

The need is steepening. In 2025, 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank, including approximately 1 in 2 Black and Latino/a households. Massachusetts SNAP enrollment has already fallen by 196,000 people, including nearly 70,000 children, under new federal rules and another round of changes took effect Oct. 1.

Rather than handing out a single meal, Project Bread connects people with resources to buy their own food or find reliable no-cost food nearby:

-A phone call. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333) is the only comprehensive food assistance information and referral service in Massachusetts. In 2025, the Hotline received 20,383 calls, with counselors assisting in more than 180 languages, and completed 3,779 SNAP pre-screens and 510 SNAP applications over the phone.
-A prescription. Through the nonprofit’s Health Care Partnerships program, Project Bread works with MassHealth and health care providers to treat food insecurity as a health issue. Since its 2020 pilot, the program has connected more than 25,000 patients with grocery store gift cards, nutrition counseling, cooking classes and the kitchen essentials holiday food drives often overlook. In 2025 alone, that support included more than $3.4 million in grocery store gift cards and nearly $1.2 million in kitchen supplies and appliances. A new five-year report found 93% of participants reported improved health, along with lower A1C (blood sugar) levels and fewer emergency room visits. One health care partner reported $10.35 million in annual savings across 1,600 patients.
-A lunch tray. Since Project Bread led the Feed Kids Coalition’s successful push for permanent School Meals for All in Massachusetts, it continues to support school and summer meal programs statewide. On an average day in October 2025, 588,669 kids ate school lunch.
-A seat at the table. Through the Make Hunger History Coalition, Project Bread is uniting more than 700 partners to make Massachusetts the first state to permanently end hunger. Its Council of Experts with Lived Experience helps shape that work.

“The holidays put food at the center of our lives, which is why this season can be so hard for families struggling to afford groceries,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. “With federal cuts reaching Massachusetts households now, a gift to Project Bread does more than fill a plate for one night. It helps a parent connect to SNAP, a patient get the food their doctor prescribes and a child eat at school every day. That’s how we move from getting people through the holidays to ending hunger for good.”

Donate. Readers can learn more and donate at www.ProjectBread.org.

Get help. Residents who need help affording food can call the FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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.

WBN hosts our "She Means Business" event on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm at St. Theresa Church (Holy Trinity Parish), 17 Still River Road in Harvard. Guests welcome! Members will sell their wares and share their business stories. Members may set up a table display starting at 5:30 pm and must RSVP if setting up a display. Guests welcome, but only members may set up a display. Contact Deb Oliva at dboliva@charter.net to RSVP and for more information. WBN is a local, volunteer run networking group of women in small businesses, professional practices, non-profits and the arts who meet monthly for mutual support, education & networking

Sounds of Stow’s 48th season under the direction of Barbara Jones focuses on music of “Connections”– past to present, culture to culture, voice to voice. The opening concert –2:00 pm, Sunday Nov. 22, connects an early Baroque motet by Padre Martini with the major feature, Maurice
Durufle’s “Requiem” (1947). Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA provides the appropriately beautiful space for this belovedand moving setting of the requiem text, which draws on traditional chant melodies, flavored by harmonies that evoke music by compatriots Debussy and Faure.

Our season continues with further exploration of Christopher Tin’s exciting works, with “The Drop that Contained the Sea”, on Sunday, April 11, 2027 at Littleton High School. New singers are welcome to join us for an amazing adventure into evocative and joyous music that connects the water cycle to music rooted in many cultures. (see website for details.) The season concludes with “Hearts Full of Hope," a program about the courage to hope, the strength we find in one another, and the possibility of creating a more compassionate world, on June 6, 2027, in Stow.

For further information and tickets, visit www.soundsofstow.or or email info@soundsofstow.org. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton, Carlisle and Hudson.

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks invites the community to an evening of fun, music, and giving back at a charity Music Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, November 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Lodge, located at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard.
Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Admission includes one bingo card for each of the four rounds of Music Bingo. Additional cards will be available for purchase at the event.
Guests can also try their luck with an assortment of raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees who bring items to donate will receive a free raffle ticket as a thank-you for their generosity. Suggested donations include full-sized toiletries, new socks, new washcloths, and coffee gift cards just to name a few.
All proceeds will benefit Veteran Pathways of New England, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans on their journey toward stability, healing, and independent living. Through this fundraiser, the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.
Advance admission can be prepaid through Venmo at @blproia. For verification, the last four digits of the associated phone number are 0060.
Gather your friends, enjoy a fun night of music bingo, and help make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country.
For more information, please contact Barbara Proia, Loyal Knight and Veterans Committee Chairperson, at 978-337-0060.

 

One Man, Two Guvnors is a West End and Broadway hit comedy play written by English playwright Richard Bean, adapted from Carlo Goldoni’s 1743 Italian classic The Servant of Two Masters.
Set in 1963 Brighton, England out-of-work and financially-strapped skiffle player Francis Henshall has taken on the job of servant to Roscoe Crabbe, a small-time East London hood who is trying to collect a debt from his fiancee’s father.  However, “Roscoe” is really his twin sister, Rachel…who has been posing as her own dead brother…who was killed by her own boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers…for whom Francis also works as his servant.
Still with us?  Further complications are prompted by several letters, a very heavy trunk, several unlucky audience volunteers, an extremely elderly waiter, and Francis’ pursuit of his two passions: Dolly, a very feminist bookkeeper, and filling his own stomach.
The hilarity never stops in this award-winning slapstick farce in its knockabout quest to answer these simple questions: How can any man (especially Francis!) serve two masters without either of them finding out about the other?  Can he pursue – and win- the girl he fancies?  And, somehow, can he get a decent meal in the process?
One Man, Two Guvnors opened on Broadway in 2012 to critical acclaim and famously starred James Corden as Francis Henshall, a performance that won him a Tony Award for Best Actor.
Amy Poli of West Concord takes on the role of Dolly, a quick-witted, observant, flirtatious and politically aware bookkeeper who sees through everyone almost immediately, and is the target of Francis’ affection.  Amy is excited to make her debut with The Concord Players and on the east coast theater scene after spending a decade as a Burlesque and Cabaret performer in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Chelmsford resident Rebecca Bishop portrays Pauline, who begins as a lovestruck ingenue but grows in confidence and independence throughout the play.  Rebecca has previously appeared on the Concord stage as an award-winning clown in The 39 Steps and more recently involved with She Kills Monsters while keeping busy working at the Discovery Museum in Acton, appearing in Jordan's Furniture commercials, and producing short films and viral bucket content.
Other local residents behind-the-scenes include Costume Designer Tina Zannieri, Lighting Designer Susan Tucker and Assistant Stage Manager Bill Fisher of Concord, and Set Co-Designer Allen Bantly and Props Designer Anne Bantly of Carlisle.
Angela Richardson of Carlisle and Mike Lague of Sudbury Co-Produce this madcap production, an exhausting experience both on- and off-stage, and will also be for audience members alike!

Performances are November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 at 8:00 pm and November 8 & 15 at 2:00 pm.
Tickets are $24.00.

For more information and to order tickets please visit: concordplayers.org
or Email: tickets@concordplayers.org or call the Box Office at 978-369-2990 and leave a detailed message.

Solar panels will improve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs for food pantry
Concord and Maynard, MA (October 14, 2026) – Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today announced that it has received a grant of up to $179,400 from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Low-Income Services Solar Program (LISSP) to install a 55-kW rooftop solar panel system on its Annex Building.
“Open Table is thrilled to receive this grant and become a more energy efficient organization,” said Open Table’s Executive Director, Alex DePalo. “This is an incredible opportunity for us to both reduce hunger, and reduce our carbon footprint.”
The new rooftop solar system will be installed at the Maynard food pantry’s Annex Building on Main Street in Maynard. Once installed, the system will generate 100% of the electricity needed to operate the building and reduce annual electrical bills by $8,000-$10,000. As a result, more resources can be used for Open Table to meet its mission to fight food insecurity in MetroWest.
“I was incredibly happy to see Open Table receive a Low-Income Services Solar Program Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), to install a 55-KW rooftop solar system at Open Table’s Maynard Annex Building. This grant will reduce energy costs and build energy resilience for the non-profit, which is a leading organization in combating food insecurity for the district that I represent,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge.
Open Table works in 21 municipalities across the Metrowest area to provide healthy food that respects the dignity and diversity of those in need. The organization's strategic mission works to address both short- and long-term food injustices by breaking down barriers to food access caused by transportation, stigma, and bias. At the heart of this mission is a commitment to social justice and ensuring that people from all backgrounds and walks of life do not go hungry.
LISSP helps nonprofit organizations reduce operating costs and strengthen community resilience by providing funding for solar and energy storage systems. Grants are available to nonprofits that provide critical community services and support Environmental Justice (EJ) communities across Massachusetts.
The Low-Income Services Solar Program (LISSP) was enacted by the legislature in 2022 with the aim to support the green transition for non-profits that serve low-income and environmental justice communities. Bringing solar directly to the facilities of organizations that provide critical services in communities builds resiliency, reliability, and sustainability for non-profits. Importantly, solar systems also reduce energy needs and utility costs, freeing up additional funds for non-profit’s mission-driven services. The program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) through its Powering Community Services with Solar initiative and is administered by the Center for EcoTechnology. 

Date: Tuesday, October 27th
Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: West Concord MBTA to East Acton Village Green
Join the Minuteman Bike Share for another Trek or Treat! Wear your best costume and bike two miles along the Bruce Freeman from West Concord to East Acton, stopping for treats along the way! Enjoy free rentals from the Minuteman Bike Share and fun activities at the end. For more information on this event, email sustainability@actonma.gov.

 

Concord, MA — Mark your calendars! The Concord Festival of Authors (CFA), presented by the
Friends of the Concord Free Public Library, kicks off three unforgettable weeks of literary events
across town from October 8 to 29. From romance to mystery, history to memoir, this year's festival
packs twenty events into three weeks — something for every kind of reader.

Author Talks October 23-29
The festival hits its stride with authors on the podium in the CFPL Goodwin Forum, the Fowler
branch, at Wright Tavern and the Colonial Inn:

• Friday, October 23, 1:30 pm — Afternoon Tea Book Club with Tara Lynn Masih on her new
novel The Silent Women, followed by Q&A and a book signing — Fowler Branch
• Saturday, October 24, 8:30 - 10:00 am--Breakfast with the Authors, returning as a popular
CFA ticketed event at Concord’s Colonial Inn. Moderated by local author and physician, Dr.
Suzanne Koven, featuring Christopher Castellani, Gish Jen and Hester Kaplan.
• Saturday, October 24, 2:00 pm--Poetry at the Library features Nate Klug and Catherine
Stearns—CFPL Goodwin Forum
• Monday, October 26, 6:00 pm — Julie Carrick Dalton on The Forest Becomes Her, a story
of friendship and reckoning set in a forest not unlike Concord's own — CFPL Goodwin
Forum
• Tuesday, October 27, 6:00 pm — Jenn Bouchard & Kathleen Reidy team up for "Writing
New England," a conversation on craft, setting, and coastal storytelling—CFPL Goodwin
Forum
• Wednesday, October 28, 11:30 am — Fowler in Fact with Brooke Barbier on Cocked and
Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution — Wright Tavern

Partner Programs Explore Even More
Concord's cultural community always adds thoughtful dialogue and depth to the festival:

• Friday, October 23, 7:00 pm — Thoreau Alliance: Author Kathleen Kelly explores
Thoreau's Journal Drawings, revealing the visual side of Thoreau's naturalist genius. Hosted
at Concord Art Association.
• Saturday, October 24, 4:00 pm — Barrow Bookstore: Dr. Linda Booth Sweeney gets the
buzz going with Do Bees Pee?, a laugh-out-loud picture book about nature's waste-free
systems. Available in person or via Zoom.
• Sunday, October 25, 7:00 pm — Transcendentalism Council of First Parish: Thoreau
Was a Philosopher, and Chances Are, You Are, Too — a lively look at Thoreau's
philosophical legacy, in person and livestreamed from First Parish Church.
• Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 pm — Concord Art Association: Novelists Joan Silber
(Mercy) and Karen E. Bender (The Words of Dr. L) read from their newest work, followed by a
Q&A.

Grand Finale
The festival wraps up with its ever-popular Mystery Night, moderated by Concord's own Kate Flora
and featuring panelists Joseph Finder, Jule Selbo, and Janet Raye Stevens — Thursday, October
29, 6:00 pm, CFPL Goodwin Forum.
Join the Celebration
Most events are free with registration, unless otherwise noted. For the full schedule and to register,
visit concordfestivalofauthors.org and download the program guide.
Contact: Barbara Gugluizza, Head of Reference Concord Free Public Library 978-318-3347
bgugluizza@concordma.gov

For over 60 years, outstanding artisans have displayed their products at the Holiday Artisans Fair at First Parish in Concord. This year, the fair is Saturday, November 7, from 10 am to 4 pm. Join us to enjoy great shopping and socializing while browsing juried artists, crafters, artisans, & photographers showcasing their latest creations. You will find gorgeous handmade woodwork, ceramics, jewelry, fine art, cards, and children’s & pet gifts. Don’t miss the popular Boutique featuring jewelry, vintage creative clothing, accessories, and more. Food will be served on-site throughout the day by a local restaurant.  This event is indoors and held rain or shine. The entrance fee is $3.00 per person (children under 10: no charge).

 

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.

This mono printing method is exciting and intuitive, sometimes with surprising results. The surface
is a Gelli printing plate (18”x24”) and I use acrylics to paint directly on the silicone, making several
strokes with each pull/print, and sometimes creating layers. There are many ways to use this process—
I will share some that I have done.

The public is invited to attend this free program. Northborough Historical Society, 52 Main Street
parking available on School St.

Join us at the Gov. George S. Boutwell House on Sunday October 25th at 2 PM for the Groton Historical Society's Annual Meeting and Program.

We talk a lot about who lived in the Boutwell House and about what artifacts and papers are stored there. But how often do we think of the house itself? Its present-day architecture is well-documented. But why was it built that way? How was it used? How did it fit into the community?

Brian Bixby will start to try to answer some of those question, or at least raise more detailed questions. As the Boutwell House turns 175 years old, it is time we looked into the house that plays such an important role in our activities.

Brian grew up in Groton and holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Massachusetts. Now living in Cambridge, he’s been supporting the Groton History Center’s work on Boutwell ever since helping to catalogue some rediscovered Boutwell papers back in 2001. He teaches a variety of history courses at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

This program will follow the Groton Historical Society’s brief annual business meeting where members may vote on the slate of Officers & Directors. Free and open to the public.

Cake and sparkling cider will be served. 

Since 2010, October has been dedicated as National Bullying Prevention Month. According to PACER Center, one out of five students report they’ve been bullied. Bullying can happen to anyone at any time, and it can be recurring or a one off. There are multiple ways people can be bullied. Verbal, physical, and cyberbullying (online) tend to be the most common forms.
      Cyberbullying has increased, in part, because of the perceived anonymity that can accompany harassment, threats, humiliation, or torment directed at a peer. Some of these accounts are anonymous, but not all. Sometimes, private messages, comments, and posts are made by someone who isn't afraid to share their identity.
      The CDC recognizes bullying as an Adverse Childhood Experience, commonly referred to as ACEs. It also recognizes that bullying has a broader impact than solely the victim but also the perpetrators and bystanders are negatively affected. In its report “The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools,” the CDC states that while bullying does not cause suicide, it is closely linked to suicidal behaviors. The report found that youth who report any connections to bullying are more likely to report suicidal behavior than their peers who do not claim to be impacted by bullying.
       If you know someone who is or has been bullied and want to learn more about suicide prevention and awareness, The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a valuable resource. The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth and young adult suicide through education. Its website, www.jasonfoundation.com, offers resources, trainings, materials, a list of warning signs and risk factors, as well as a tool to find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office to you. It is important to be educated so that you can recognize when someone may be struggling and help them get the support they need

The Harvard Lions are offering mail order gift boxes that can be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the continental United States. There are a number of different gift box options with fruit, nuts, candy, cake and soup mixes. This offers an option to send a gift for the Thanksgiving or December holidays while supporting our local charities.
Place your order by November 4 for Thanksgiving delivery and between November 5 and December 11 for Christmas delivery.
The direct link to purchase gift boxes is here: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.org.

Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and the Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 will host Wreaths Across America on December 19, 2026 at12:00 noon.

The Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and The Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 are beginning fundraising to support the Wreaths Across America being held in Northborough for the third time this year. We are hosting an event at the Howard Street Cemetery to bring awareness to the yearlong mission of the organization, which is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which was begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

The wreaths are $17 each! If you would like to order one or more wreaths please go to: www/wreathsacrossamerica.org/MA0219

 

Come join us for a night of laughter, fun, desserts, and community—all while helping local Bedford seniors!
We’re bringing comedian Jimmy Colliton to Bedford for an evening of stand-up comedy, and 100% of the proceeds will help provide vital transportation for local seniors, so they never have to miss an important medical appointment simply because they can’t get there.
❤️Your $40 ticket does more than give you a great night out—it helps a senior get where they need to go.
Enjoy comedy, desserts, coffee & tea, a cash bar, a 50/50 drawing, and some fabulous gift baskets!
Thursday, October 22, 2026
American Legion Hall, 375 Great Rd, Bedford
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Comedy begins at 7:30 PM
$40 per person
Seats are limited, so reservations are strongly recommended!
Come laugh with us, bring your friends, and help keep our local seniors moving.

 

• Fowler Branch

DEVENS, MA — October 7, 2026 — Get ready to sip, savor, socialize, and support a great cause! Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts will host its annual A Toast to Hope fundraising event on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, Massachusetts.
A Toast to Hope is one of Habitat NCM’s most anticipated fundraising events of the year, bringing together local restaurants, breweries, distilleries, beverage companies, businesses, community supporters, and Habitat friends for an unforgettable evening of food, drinks, fun, and fundraising.
“A Toast to Hope is about so much more than food and beverages,” said Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts Community Outreach Coordinator Diana Sinkus. “It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate the difference we can make when we all raise a glass—and raise some hope—for local families.”
Guests will have the opportunity to sample an exciting variety of food and beverages from local restaurants, caterers, breweries, distilleries, wineries, beverage companies, and specialty vendors, while enjoying an evening of networking, laughter, and community spirit. From savory bites and sweet treats to craft beverages and cocktails, there will be something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
More Than an Evening Out - Proceeds from A Toast to Hope directly support Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts’ mission to provide affordable homeownership opportunities and Critical Home Repairs for local families and homeowners.
Habitat NCM serves 30 communities from Acton to Athol, working alongside families and volunteers to build affordable homes and complete critical repairs that help homeowners remain safe, secure, and able to stay in their homes.
The organization’s work is made possible through a combination of volunteers, donors, community partners, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events like A Toast to Hope.
“Every ticket, every sponsorship, every donated product, and every volunteer hour helps us continue building homes and repairing homes right here in our own communities,” said Sinkus. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helps make this event—and our mission—possible.”
EVENT DETAILS
A Toast to Hope 2026
📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m. –9:00 p.m.
📍 Devens Common Center
31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA
🎟️Tickets: $35 advance / $40 at the door
Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or additional information, contact:
Diana Sinkus, Community Outreach Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts
978-348-2749           diana@ncmhabitat.org

 

During Fire Prevention Week ─ October 4-10 ─ the American Red Cross of Massachusetts offers steps you can take to help prevent a fire in your home and keep your loved ones safe.

“Across the country, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year and most of these are home fires. Here in Massachusetts, our disaster teams have responded to 567 fires since the beginning of 2026,” said Holly Grant, regional executive for the Red Cross of Massachusetts. “These fires are devastating for the people involved. But there are steps everyone can take which will help not only help prevent a fire from starting but also help keep everyone safe should an emergency occur.”
STEPS TO HELP PREVENT A FIRE ─ focus on things you can do to lessen the chance of a fire in your home:
BE SAFE IN THE KITCHEN Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. Follow these five steps to help you avoid a cooking fire:

• Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet around the stove.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire ─ pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains ─ away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.

HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires. As the time of year nears when people turn the heat back on, take these five steps to heat your home safely:
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

• Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
• Space heaters: It's critical to keep at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended. 
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. And keep children and pets away from the heater.
• Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never an extension cord. Turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

October 7, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 21st Season with a concert titled “Exuberant Voices” at Assumption University in Worcester on November 8.  A reception will follow the concert.

Martinů’s Three Madrigals are a complex blend of the English madrigals and energetic Bohemian and Moravian folk music that he loved. Notable 20th century Czech composer Martinů fled the German invasion of France in 1941 by moving to the United States, eventually spending influential time in Massachusetts and teaching at the Berkshire Music School. Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 5, written after a three-year hiatus from composition, marked a radical stylistic departure from his earlier works and ushered in his late style. Marking the beginning of his late creative period, this piece was written in a most challenging time for Beethoven, largely characterized by profound deafness. Saint- Saëns’ Quartet No. 2 is rhythmically dynamic, jaunty in tone, energetic, and exuberant; the composer wrote this during a particularly banner year of personal highs, which included his marriage and the birth of his son, André.

Sunday, November 8 @4:00PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30PM
Program

Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/exuberant-voices/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

This concert will also be presented by the Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton at 7:00PM on November 6. Tickets and information are available at iconmuseum.org.
All venues are handicapped accessible.

Boston- State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg announced today that the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division (UCP) team returned $975,554 in unclaimed property to Massachusetts residents while at The Big E in Springfield. Throughout the 17-day event, UCP connected with attendees, helped people search for unclaimed funds, and assisted individuals in taking the steps needed to claim money that belongs to them. The $975,554 returned at The Big E is almost double what was returned last year at the same event, highlighting the Treasurer’s ongoing commitment to making sure unclaimed property is reunited with its rightful owners.

“We use every avenue possible to help Massachusetts residents find the money that belongs to them,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “Returning almost a million dollars at the Big E is a perfect example, and it was great to see so many people connect with our team to help them claim what is rightfully theirs.”

The Treasurer and the UCP team are constantly working across Massachusetts to return unclaimed money to residents. Through outreach events like The Big E and the team’s year-round efforts, the program continues to help people discover and recover funds they may not have known were waiting for them. In FY 2026, Treasury processed over 118,000 claims and returned over $226 million in property to its rightful owners, the most ever returned.

Treasurer Goldberg urges all citizens to check www.findmassmoney.gov for a complete list of over 10 million properties or call the live call center at 1-888-344-MASS (6277). There is no time limit for a person to claim this property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest.

Unclaimed property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and the contents of unattended safe deposit boxes. Most accounts are considered abandoned and are turned over to the state after three years of inactivity.

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

A fundraiser for desperately needed aid for the Cuban people.

The United Church of Christ of Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Ave., is sponsoring a benefit concert for the people of Cuba, featuring the Pan-Latin ensemble, Sol y Canto. The concert will take place on Sunday, October 25th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with doors opening at 3:30 PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregations of the Second Baptist Church in Santiago de Cuba, the Baptist Church of Mariana in Baracoa, and neighboring communities. Tickets are $30 per person, $10 for youth/students, plus a small ticketing fee ($35 at the door).

To make a donation or to purchase tickets, go to: 2026 Cuba Benefit Concert: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cuba-benefit-concert-with-sol-y-canto-tickets-1991776395817

What's happening in Cuba?
Cuba is facing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in its modern history. Longstanding U.S. sanctions, compounded by recent restrictions on fuel imports, have severely strained the country's economy. Across the island, residents endure power outages lasting up to 20–22 hours a day, disrupting nearly every aspect of daily life. The prolonged blackouts have paralyzed public transportation, suspended garbage collection, and forced the closure of schools and businesses, while inflation and chronic shortages have left many families struggling to obtain basic necessities, including food, medicine, and other essential household goods.

Sol y Canto, an award-winning Pan-Latin ensemble known for its vibrant concerts and critically acclaimed music that blends diverse Latin American styles. Come and enjoy the sounds of this exhilarating band while helping the people of Cuba.

The third annual Boston MetroWest Mid-Autumn Festival brought together approximately 700 attendees for an afternoon cultural fair and evening performances celebrating Chinese culture and community connections across MetroWest.
The festival was founded in 2024 by Yvette Fang, Chair of the Concord Carlisle Chinese Club Board of Directors. What began with more than 300 attendees has grown into a regional collaboration among six community organizations: Acton Chinese American Civic Society, Concord Carlisle Chinese Club, Chinese American Association of Sudbury, Weston Westar, Jasmine Cultural Arts Foundation, and Wayland Chinese American Association.
This year’s celebration featured food, crafts, family activities and more than 100 performers presenting music, dance and other cultural programs.
State and local leaders also participated, including Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Simon Cataldo, Massachusetts AAPI Commissioner Gary Yu, Acton Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol and Vice Chair David Martin, Qian Ge, Co-President of the New England Chinese American Alliance, Lu Lai, Producer at EATV, and Shaw Yang, a board member of the Concord Carlisle Chinese Club.
Several guests, including Jamie Eldridge, Simon Cataldo, Gary Yu, Alissa Nicol, David Martin, Qian Ge and Shaw Yang, joined a traditional Chinese dragon dance.
One lighthearted cultural quiz also connected Chinese legend with American history. Guests were asked whether the Apollo 11 astronauts had actually been told to look for Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit when humans first landed on the moon in 1969. Most guessed false. The answer was true.
The festival continues to grow as a shared MetroWest tradition, bringing together families, community organizations and local leaders through culture, music and celebration.
Looking ahead, four additional community organizations have already expressed interest in joining next year’s celebration. The 2027 festival is expected to take place around the Mid-Autumn Festival, in September or October, with details to be announced. Community members are invited to stay tuned and join the celebration. Opportunities will also be available for sponsors, performers and volunteers.

 

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) will host its annual Light in the Darkness Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Fairbank Community Center, 40 Fairbank Rd., Sudbury. Held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month each October, the Vigil commemorates the lives lost in Massachusetts to domestic violence in the past year.

Community members will read each victim's story as their lives are represented by the reader, a rose, and a candle that is lit in their memory. This year's keynote speaker will be District Attorney Marian
Ryan, who has created multiple best-in-class crime prevention programs and is a leader in domestic violence prevention and prosecution.

"While the Vigil is a solemn occasion," says DVSN Executive Director Jacquelin Apsler, "It is also a night of hope. By publicly standing together to witness and commemorate, we build awareness and show the survivors in our communities that we believe their stories and support their journeys."

The public is invited to attend this free event. A light supper will be served following the ceremony. For more information regarding DVSN’s Candlelight Vigil, visit DVSN.org/Vigil or call 978-318-3421.

The Concord Band will perform its Fall Concert on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 7pm, at the Performing Arts Center, 51 Walden Street in Concord. MA. Music Director James O’Dell will lead the Concord Band in its program presentation of “Scenes”, named after the suite, Scenes from "The Louvre", written for band by composer Norman Dello Joio. Dello Joio adapted his original score from a television documentary, depicting five classic artworks from the museum's famous collection. In keeping with this theme, the Concord Band will also perform composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Additional featured pieces include Of Sailors and Whales by W. Francis McBeth, inspired by Herman Melville's iconic novel, Moby Dick; Iditarod by Robert Buckley, which evokes the epic adventure of the Alaskan dog sled race; and Ireland: Of Legend and Lore by Robert W. Smith. A multimedia presentation will accompany the music.  The Concord Band invites concert-goers of all ages to hear the music inspired by the art, and to see the art that inspired the music.
Admission is free and open to the public.  A $20 per person donation is requested.  Complimentary light refreshments will be served at a reception following the concert.  To learn more about the Concord Band, visit www.concordband.org and on Facebook.
Concord Band’s 2026-2027 Concert Season dates, 51 Walden Performing Arts Center:
§  Saturday, November 7, 1pm – Bandemonium!  Children’s Concert
§  Saturday, December 12, 7pm – Holiday Pops
§  Saturday, March 6, 7pm – Winter Concert
§  Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10, 7pm – Two evenings of Swing Dance
§  Wednesdays, June and July, 7:15pm – Summer Concerts at 51 Walden and outdoors at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA