Action Unlimited
First connections

New Meeting Times for Postpartum Support Group Held by First Connections

Beginning January 9th, First Connections will be facilitating the First Year of Life (FYOL) Support Group on Thursdays from 9:30-11:00 AM via Zoom with 1 Thursday per month held in person. Please email efiorini@jri.org for a weekly reminder and link.
This group is facilitated by Emily Fiorini, MA, a clinician specializing in the FYOL, with additional guest speakers. Parents in the postpartum year can join this group to get support for their own emotional wellbeing, recovery, and transition into parenthood; baby’s development; feeding and sleep support; and community resources. Emily is available for free one-on-one Zoom consultations by request.
The FYOL group supports all new parents. Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, parenting solo, partnered, or married, an adoptive or biological parent, have one baby or more, you are welcome here!
For more information about First Connections, our program offerings, and our extensive directory of community resources and referral services, please visit our website at firstconnections.org where you will find a link to our Parent Blog and our seasonal Winter Newsletter listing current programs open to registration.
It is never too early to find resources that you can rely on and a community you and your baby can be a part of. We are here for you whenever you need us.
Funding for these parent groups is provided by the Concord Carlisle Foundation and Nordblom Family Foundation. We are so grateful to these organizations for their financial support that allows us to provide these critical postpartum support services to families in the area free of cost. For more information about these and other free programs and services provided by First Connections, please visit our website at firstconnection.org.

Tom Denney Nature Camp Registration
is Opening January 1!

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)

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

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 meetings had been every Thursday evening at 7 pm at the South Acton Congregational Church. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

The Highlands to host Santa’s Hotline
for children

FITCHBURG, Mass. (Dec. 13, 2024) – The Highlands, a local skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, is starting a Santa’s Hotline that local children can call to talk to Santa and Mrs. Claus and share their Christmas wishes.
The hotline will begin on Dec. 16 and will be available each day from 3 - 5 p.m. until Dec. 24. Parents and children can reach the Santa Hotline by calling the center’s designated toll-free number: 978-353-7344.
The call line will be staffed by volunteer residents who have completed a short training on taking calls to the North Pole and have been dubbed honorary Santas and Mrs. Clauses.
Executive Director Mark Ailinger expressed his love for the initiative because, in addition to bringing children joy, the hotline gives the center’s residents something fun and exciting to do for the community.
“We are thrilled to provide a direct, toll-free phone number for area children to speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus,” said Ailinger. “Our residents are still vibrant members of this community and very much enjoy giving back their time and talent, especially to area children. We’re delighted to offer parents and children the opportunity to create some wonderful memories by having their kids or grandkids talk live to Santa and Mrs. Claus on our toll-free number.”
Located at 335 Nichols Road, The Highlands has been providing the Fitchburg community with short-term rehab, long-term care and specialized memory care for more than 50 years. The center is one of 15 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Massachusetts managed by Life Care Centers of America.
Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, Life Care manages nearly 200 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 26 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.
Nature

Birds and Wildlife Photography in
Massachusetts and Beyond

Assabet Valley Camera Club Program

HUDSON: On Wednesday, January 8, the Assabet Valley Camera Club (AVCC) is pleased to host Shawn Carey, wildlife photographer and teacher for Mass Audubon Society. As a member of various bird clubs over the years, Shawn has extensive knowledge of this species and serves on the Advisory Board of the Mass Audubon Society and its Bird Art Museum. Shawn has served as chair of the Mass Camera Naturalists and has co-founded Migration Productions where he provides almost all of the digital photographs in their productions.
Birds and Wildlife Photography in Massachusetts and Beyond is supported in part by a grant from the Hudson Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. The program is free and open to the public. Carey’s work can be viewed at Migration Productions - Photography and Video of Birds & Other Wildlife
Currently AVCC meetings are using a hybrid approach where members can meet either in person or via Zoom. If you are interested in attending the program, contact AVCC at avcc.digital@hotmail.com a few  days prior to the meeting to request a link to the event or to let us know you will be attending in person. The club’s Zoom room opens at 7:00 PM with a brief business meeting at 7:15. Shawn’s presentation Birds and Wildlife Photography will begin at 7:30.
AVCC in-person meetings are held at the Hudson Senior Center, 29 Church Street, Hudson and are open to the public. The first meeting of the month generally features a program designed to instruct and/or to entertain camera enthusiasts.  During the second monthly meeting, a competition of members’ digital images are judged and critiqued by qualified individuals. Assabet Valley Camera Club, affiliated with both the New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) and the Photographic Society of America (PSA), participates in inter-club competitions on regional, national and international levels.
AVCC welcomes anyone interested in learning more about photography as a visual art and its practical application as a science.  Members benefit from the hands-on experiences, from the knowledge presented in programs, and from having their work critiqued. For more information, check out the AVCC website at www.assabetvalleycameraclub.com .

Donate to Beacon Santa!

The applications have arrived, and with them, letters from families sharing their struggles and asking for help from the Beacon Santa.
They are grandparents, single moms, families struggling with health issues – all seeking a little respite from their troubles and a little joy for the holidays.
One grandmother writes that she and her husband are raising their three grandchildren – all of whom have health problems. She has had to cut back on working so she can take the children to their doctors’ appointments.
She is asking for help from the Beacon Santa to put a little something under the Christmas tree for the children.
“We would like to be able to give our grandchildren a Christmas that they will remember in a positive and happy way,” she writes.
Another grandmother writes that she is caring for her two granddaughters – alone. She has been struggling with health issues, and her granddaughters “have shown incredible kindness and resilience throughout the year,” she writes.
She wants to provide them with the joy of “giving and receiving” gifts, but her limited income makes it difficult for her to provide gifts on her own.
She is asking Beacon Santa for help.
“I believe that with your help, we can spread some holiday cheer and create happy memories for them,” she writes.
This year, Beacon Santa has been asked to help more than 600 children. But Beacon Santa would not exist without help from people just like you – please consider donating today.
How to donate
By Mail:  Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 7 Digital Way. Maynard, MA 01754 OR Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643. Maynard, MA 01754.
Online: Through PayPal: paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809 or by clicking on the PayPal button in this article. A PayPal account is not needed to donate.

Donate Your Vehicle to Support The Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Christmas Motors is teaming up with the Pan Mass Challenge to accept vehicle donations to benefit The Dana Farber Cancer research program.
This unique program is unlike all others, as 100 percent of the proceeds of your tax deductible vehicle donation will go to cancer research. (No administrative cost).
We will accept any car or truck regardless of age.
For more information or to arrange your donation call 978-897-9627 and ask for David Christmas.
Working together, we can find a cure for cancer.

Groton Grange Contra Dance
January 4,  2025

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, January 4, 2025,  from 7:30 - 10:00 PM , at Historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney Street. This will be an evening of live music and dancing with Groton’s own Contra  Banditos, along with caller Don Heinold,  who will teach traditional New England style contra, square, and line dances to the beat of old time fiddle tunes. Beginners are welcome, no experience or partner is necessary.  Suggested donation at the door is $5.00  per person, children under  3  years old are free, and family maximum is $20.  Made possible by a grant from the Town of Groton lecture Funds .Refreshments are provided. PARKING ALLOWED ONLY ON THE GRANGE SIDE OF CHAMPNEY ST.

Experience Christmas at Mt. Calvary with an “Eye-Opening Christmas”

ACTON, MA – Join us on Christmas Eve. All of our services are designed for all ages and are a great family experience. Christmas Eve services at Mt. Calvary are spectacular. We’ll have a free hot cocoa bar, cookies, special Christmas music, and more!
On Christmas Eve you have choices:
3:30 PM Christmas Eve service is a family service that is great for little ones with the wiggles. Families with children are invited to arrive 30 minutes early for their children to receive and wear a Nativity costume and be a part of the Christmas story. This is a wonderful service with Scripture, Christmas carols, and your children being a part of the story.
6 PM Christmas Eve service is a traditional, beautiful candlelight service as we sing Silent Night. Arrive 15 minutes early for special preservice music with a string quartet.
9 PM Christmas Eve service is a festive candlelight and Holy Communion service. Arrive 25 minutes early for special music with piano, guitar, violins, cello, percussions, and oboe.
Then, join us Christmas Day at 10 AM for a service of Christmas carols and readings.
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was eye-opening. Jesus was not like other newborns. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a feeding trough for animals. A myriad of angels illuminated the sky announcing his birth. Shepherds made a surprise visit and investigated the birth. Joseph and Mary were amazed by all these things. But there’s another stunning surprise that Matthew wants to convey to you at Christmas. Matthew wants you to know that you belong in God’s family.
Mt. Calvary is located at 472 Massachusetts Avenue in Acton. Parking is available off Prospect Street. Handicap parking is available at the Massachusetts Ave. circle drive and the Prospect St. parking lot. Overflow parking is available in the Acton Funeral Home parking lot right next door. For more information, visit mtcalvaryacton.org, call (978) 263-5156, or send an email to info@mtcalvaryacton.org.
Sent with volunteer email

Ultimate Feel-Good Gift

Are you looking for the ultimate feel-good gift? How about providing a bed for a child who doesn’t have one?
Unfortunately, for many families who turn to Fresh Start Furniture Bank, the absence of a bed is a painful reality. These families come to us with empty hands and heavy hearts. While we strive to fill their homes with donated furnishings, we often need to purchase mattresses to ensure every child has a safe place to sleep.
That’s why we’re on a mission to raise $5000 for our Sweet Dreams Mattress Program, which will provide 25 mattress sets at just $200 each. Your generous support will not only help us reach this goal but will also create ripples of stability and dignity for families in our community for years to come.
No contribution is too small; every dollar counts and brings us closer to turning this dream into reality!
Please send checks to Fresh Start Furniture Bank, 16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA 01749

Meet your Perfect Match at Save A Dog Adoption Event Saturday, December 14

Save A Dog is hosting a ‘Meet and Greet’ holiday adoption event at Wag N’ Wash, 1173 Main Street in West Concord on Saturday, December 14, from 10 am to 12 pm. Come meet the adorable dogs and puppies looking for their forever homes, and join the holiday festivities with free store samples and photo ops!
More information about our adoptable dogs (and cats!) can be found on the Save A Dog website: www.saveadog.org. Potential adopters are also encouraged to fill out an adoption application online beforehand.
Now celebrating 25 years of rescuing abandoned dogs and cats through its Sudbury shelter and network of foster homes, Save A Dog has found loving homes for more than 8,500 companion animals.
See you Saturday!

Operation Christmas Child Volunteers Send Christmas Joy to Children Overseas

Area volunteers are celebrating the collection of gift-filled shoeboxes that will send a message of joy to children around the world.
Thousands of volunteers contributed to Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, by packing shoeboxes filled with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items. The global Christmas project will deliver these gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 100 countries, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Each shoebox is an opportunity to share the message of the Gospel and bring hope to children in need around the world.
Although drop-off locations have closed for the season, there is still time to share hope and love with children overseas by packing a gift-filled shoebox online. Shoeboxes built online go to some of the hardest-to-reach areas in the world. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks is selling Christmas trees again this year.

Hours are: Mondays-Fridays: 4:00 PM -8:00 PM
Saturdays: and Sundays: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
The Maynard-Clinton Elks is located at 34 Powder Mill Rd, Maynard, MA  01754.
If you have any questions, please call 978-897-9892.

Concord Cuisine Raffle: a Concord Scout House Fundraiser

The 2024 Concord Cuisine Raffle has arrived! The Concord Scout House, a 501(c)3 organization, is offering FOUR PRIZE PACKAGES of gift certificates and food items to popular businesses in and around Concord who have donated generously. Read the descriptions of the prize packages below and buy entries to the package(s) of your choice. You can buy entries to more than one... or all of them! There will be one winner for each prize package, so it helps to buy entries for multiple packages.  Go to: ConcordScoutHouse.org or go.rallyup.com/concordcuisineraffle

Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church

The annual Messiah Community Sing-in returns! Save the date- December 22 at 4 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, on the Common.
Join the chorus, professional soloists and orchestra to sing, or just come to listen. Suggested donation is $20.00. Bring your own score or buy one at the door.
For more information call 978-779-2876.

Donate Your Vehicle to Support The Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Christmas Motors is teaming up with the Pan Mass Challenge to accept vehicle donations to benefit The Dana Farber Cancer research program.
This unique program is unlike all others, as 100 percent of the proceeds of your tax deductible vehicle donation will go to cancer research. (No administrative cost).
We will accept any car or truck regardless of age.
For more information or to arrange your donation call 978-897-9627 and ask for David Christmas.
Working together, we can find a cure for cancer
Fred headshot

Book Signing and Author Talk with Local Author Fred Kinch

“Thursday December 12, 2024
Acton Memorial Library
486 Main Street, Acton, MA
Listen to Fred Kinch tell stories from his new book, The Business of Secrets – stories about his adventures selling cryptographic equipment to the intelligence organizations of some 80 countries worldwide. These secret coding units kept messages confidential as they were sent from one place to another, for users such as the military or diplomatic corps. Fred encountered a spooky, shadow world, where potential customers (spies?) would appear when they wanted to see Fred and vanish when they did not. Some of the stories are humorous, some frightening, but all are entertaining. Stories like:
·       Driving through war-torn Beirut in the middle of the night, passing through multiple military checkpoints where I could have been detained and possibly disappear forever.
·       Arriving in Cairo at the height of the tourist season on an official visit to the Egyptian Army, only to find out that the officer in charge of getting us hotel rooms had done nothing, leaving us struggling not to sleep in the streets of Cairo.
·        And more…
The Business of Secrets picks up the story of cryptography after the era of the Enigma machine of WWII and brings it forward another 30 years. In a sense it is a sequel to the very popular book by Andrew Hodges and Douglas Hofstadter, Alan Turning: The Enigma, which inspired the movie: The Imitation Game.
Fred will have a cryptographic unit with him for the audience to examine. Books will be available for purchase and Fred is happy to sign your copy.
Questions are encouraged. Come join a lively discussion.”

Become an Adult ESOL or
Basic Literacy Tutor!

Have you been looking for a great volunteer opportunity? If you would like to make a difference in the life of an adult with limited English or basic literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts at the Pollard Memorial Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one or small group tutoring on a flexible schedule to adults in the greater Lowell area.
You do not need prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language. All you need is an open mind, a desire to help an adult improve their skills, and the ability to meet with your student for 2 hours per week for 9-12 months! In-person, remote, and hybrid tutoring options are available. Before being matched with a student you also must attend a Volunteer Information Session and successfully complete an 18-hour Tutor Training.

ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session online via Zoom
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18

ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session in person at Pollard Memorial Library
Thursdays 1-4 pm
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
To learn more, join us on-line via Zoom at one of our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 pm
Thursday, December 12, 12-1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm
To RSVP to one of the above sessions, or find out more about our program, please contact our Literacy Director, Sarah Miller, at smiller@lowelllibrary.org, or our Literacy Assistant, Mary Hartmann, mhartmann@lowelllibrary.org, or call us at 978 674-1541.

Beacon Santa Fund

Lights are going up, families are unpacking Christmas decorations, children are writing letters to Santa – it seems signs of Christmas can be seen just about everywhere.
But for those struggling to make ends meet, not sure whether to use their last remaining dollars to pay the electric bill or put food on the table, the holidays can bring stress, rather than joy.
Every year, hundreds of applicants in the 12 communities of Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford, turn to the Beacon Santa.
This year, over 275 families asked for help for 625 children from the Beacon Santa to provide a few things for their children for Christmas.
The Beacon Santa is run by three Maynard women, who volunteer their time because they are determined to provide a little holiday joy to families in need. But the Beacon Santa would not exist without generous donations from readers like you.
We know it’s a big ask – it seems everyone’s been struggling the last few years, what with the high prices of everything from eggs to gasoline.  But if everyone reading this donated as little as $5, the Beacon Santa would be able to help those 625 children find a little joy this Christmas.
So please, consider donating today.
Founded in 1965, the Beacon Santa raises funds to provide holiday gift cards to families living in the 12 communities it serves.
Donations can be sent by mail to Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 7 Digital Way. Maynard, MA 01754 OR Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643. Maynard, MA 01754.
Donations can also be made online through PayPal: paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809 – you do not need a PayPal account to donate.

The Salvation Army Hosts 9th Annual Sounds of Christmas Concert

On Sunday, December 8 at 6 p.m., The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division will be presenting its 9th annual Sounds of Christmas Concert. The free event at The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center (650 Dudley Street, Dorchester) will feature festive music and holiday refreshments. Featured performances include music from The Salvation Army’s 40-piece brass band, the Massachusetts Divisional Chorus, and nearly 100 young people from Salvation Army centers across Massachusetts showcasing dance, timbrel and vocal talents.
The Salvation Army is one of the largest music providers in the world. The nonprofit’s music programs teach people, regardless of age, how to sing and play instruments at no cost. These skills are utilized in a myriad of ways such as playing in a Salvation Army band, singing in a choir, performing in dance and arts, or playing an instrument at one of The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettles during the holidays.
For more information about The Salvation Army’s music program and Sounds of Christmas Concert, visit: salvationarmyma.org.

The Boxborough Minutemen Company Wants You!

  The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday December 15 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8 p.m. For information please contact Captain Chad Childers at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org.
  The Boxborough Minutemen Company is open to anyone of least 18 years of age, regardless of gender or town of residence, who is interested in service to the Town and/or perpetuating the memory of the Minutemen of 1775.  You do not need to be a marcher or revolutionary war re-enactor to join the Company.
  Our members may participate in any number of the Company’s activities including marching in parades, organizing the annual Fifer’s Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to town organizations, and participating in our various social functions. The Company also provides financial support to a variety of service organizations and sponsors a number of annual scholarships to Boxborough students who are continuing their education after high school.
  All are welcome to come and make new connections with others.
  For more information visit www.boxboroughminutemen.org.
Concord band

Newton All City Troubadours at Concord Band Holiday Pops

The Concord Band presents Holiday Pops! on Saturday, December 14, 2024, 7:00 PM at 51 Walden in Concord. The Concord Band welcomes the Newton All City Troubadours, directed by Jaime Alberts and Eric Ritter, with collaborative pianist Emma Campbell. The All City Troubadours are an auditioned, select chorus of 20 members comprising Newton’s best 7th, 8th and 9th grade singers. Their mission is to spread joy through the creation of community and music throughout Newton and beyond.
Concord Band Music Director James O’Dell will conduct seasonal favorites such as Sleigh Ride, Auld Lang Syne, and a composition by Boston musician and composer, Edward Madden, celebrating Hanukkah titled Shirim.
The All City Troubadours will bring holiday spirit to our audience as they perform “When You Believe,” and join the Band for Christmas Finale. The Concord Band will reprise Mancini Spectacular and Gabriel Fauré’s Tuscan Serenade with euphonium soloist Doug Ruby.
Admission includes festival seating with complimentary refreshments available at intermission, and a reception following the concert. Tickets are $25/adults and $10/children, available in advance from ticketstage.com/concordband.
Additional information about the Concord Band is at www.concordband.org, and the All City Troubadours at newtontroubadours.weebly.com.

Concord Cuisine Raffle:
a Concord Scout House Fundraiser

The 2024 Concord Cuisine Raffle has arrived! Concord Scout House, a 501(c)3 organization, is offering FOUR PRIZE PACKAGES of gift certificates and food items to popular businesses in and around Concord who have donated generously. Read the descriptions of the prize packages below and buy entries to the package(s) of your choice. You can buy entries to more than one... or all of them! There will be one winner for each prize package, so it helps to buy entries for multiple packages.  Go to: Go.RallyUp.com/ConcordCuisineRaffle

36th Annual Tree of Lights – Open House & Celebration

Organization(s): Emerson Health, Auxiliary of Emerson Health
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Emerson Health, 133 Old Rd to Nine Acre Corner, Main Building, Concord, MA 01742
Description: Over thirty years ago, Tree of Lights began to remember and celebrate those whom we loved and were inspirational to our community. We continue that to this day. Join us for the Tree of Lights Open House! For our 36th year, we’re expanding this beloved tradition into a family-friendly event, and we invite you to be a part of it. Free admission, bring your family and friends! Celebrate the season with activities for all ages: create greeting cards for patients, enjoy performances by talented local youth musicians, experience our art exhibit by local artists dedicated to remembrance, light, hope, and love, and visit our contemplation area to honor loved ones who continue to touch our lives. Support Pediatric and Adolescent Care at Emerson Health by dedicating a Light ($10) or a Star ($25) in memory or honor of someone special. Tribute names submitted by December 4 will be included on our Tribute Wall at the event. Let’s light up the season with love and remembrance! For more information and to make a dedication, visit emersonhealth.org/treeoflights.
Cost: $0
Website: http://emersonhealth.org/treeoflights
Choir music copy

Bedford Kicks Off the Holidays with an Artisans Market (and More) on December 7

Submitted by the Bedford Cultural District Partnership
The Bedford (Mass.) Cultural District and the Gallery@FirstParish are hosting a holiday Artisans Market on Saturday, December 7, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at First Parish, 75 The Great Road. The Artisans Market will be a centerpiece of Bedford’s Holiday Kickoff, which will also feature the town’s annual tree lighting on the Common at 5:00 p.m., followed by the merry arrival of a special visitor from the Far North.
At the Artisans Market, the joyful sounds of the First Parish choir will fill the halls as shoppers browse two floors of artisans’ tables. More than 25 creative vendors will sell handmade, giftable artwork and crafts, including original paintings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, baskets, stained glass suncatchers, ornaments, candles, books, and more. A rainbow of colorful fabric art will also be offered for one-of-a-kind gift giving, including quilted items, felted jewelry and ornaments, crocheted wearables and crafts, handwoven scarves, punch needle and repurposed homewares, and upcycled mittens.
Another highlight of the Holiday Kickoff is a Winter Walkabout from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Local businesses and institutions will roll out their welcome mats and serve up holiday cheer. The Bedford Historical Society will have an open house at Old Town Hall, 16 South Road, with Bedford memorabilia and books for sale.
Also featured will be a holiday Storybook Trail along The Great Road from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. and continuing on Sunday, December 8. Starting at the Bedford Free Public Library, 7 Mudge Way, and ending at the Artisans Market, the trail will feature The Best Gift for Bear by Jennifer Bell.
First Parish is fully accessible through the Elm Street entrance. Parking is available at the Town Center/Town Hall complex.
Providing opportunities to support Bedford arts, culture, artists, and crafters is a key component of the Bedford Cultural District’s mission. For ongoing updates on the Artisans Market and other initiatives of the Bedford Cultural District, including the New Song Music Series, visit the district’s website, www.bedfordma.gov/culturaldistrict, or contact Bedford’s Housing and Economic Development Director, Eric Salerno, at esalerno@bedfordma.gov or by phoning 781-918-4006.

Middlesex County
Middlesex Conservation District
Fy 2024 Annual Meeting With Dr. Doug Tallamy

To all land occupiers* within Middlesex County, notice is hereby given that on the 9th day of December, 2024, beginning at 6:00 PM, an Annual Meeting will  be held by the Middlesex Conservation District in Room 204 at Acton Town Hall at 472 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720. This annual meeting will be held to make a full report of our activities and financial affairs since the last Annual meeting and to elect supervisors for the Middlesex Conservation District of the State of Massachusetts. Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor of Agriculture at the University of Delaware and author of Nature’s Best Hope will be giving his presentation virtually first. This meeting is free to attend and all are invited.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Katherine Becker, Chair
Elizabeth Austin, Supervisor, Co-Chair
Miryam Becker, Supervisor, Clerk
Margaret Delano, Supervisor
* Any person who resides, owns land, and or uses land within the county.

Book Signing and Author Talk with Local Author David Brody, The Essex Junta: Newburyport and the 3 World Wars

Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 1:30 pm
Westford Museum
2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA
The Essex Junta: Newburyport and the 3 World Wars is the 19th book in Brody’s “Templars in America” series, which focuses on American history during the 1800s. While the Templars play a part in the narrative, this novel centers more on a powerful cabal of Massachusetts shipping families known as the Essex Junto (Brody uses the modern spelling “Junta”). These families amassed wealth through the opium trade and sought to have New England secede from the Union.
The story, though remarkable, is based on actual events. These families collaborated with agents they embedded in the South, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. Documentary evidence suggests they may also have been involved in plans that led to World Wars I and II. Additionally, these families had close ties to Freemasonry, particularly with the influential Masonic figurehead Albert Pike, and they were founders of Yale’s exclusive Skull and Bones Society.
David S. Brody, an attorney turned fiction writer, currently focuses his writings on sites and artifacts that provide evidence of pre-Columbian exploration of America. He refers to this as the “Templars in America” series, as much of this exploration seems connected to the medieval Knights Templar. Brody incorporates artifacts and historical sites into his books to create modern-day suspense plots.
His journey began with the Westford Knight, and he remains captivated by the hidden history of North America and the genuine possibility that waves of European explorers arrived on our shores long before Columbus. He hopes that his readers share in his fascination.
Suggested Donation: $10 per person
Your contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum.

Hearts, Hugs & Hope: A Virtual Alzheimer’s Support Group Offered by Concord Park

December 12, 2024, 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.

Shop Small This Holiday Season

The Christmas holiday shopping season has once again arrived, and it is an important time to shop in our local communities. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, not solely in terms of jobs and powering our economy, but in the character, value, and charm they bring to our Main Streets.
There are far too many empty storefronts, quiet downtowns, and struggling small businesses across Massachusetts. Main Street is still grappling with elevated inflation, high utility costs, changing consumer habits, and other economic pressures. But there is a way consumers can help – by shopping and dining at local, independently-owned businesses right where we live and work. Sixty-seven cents of every dollar spent at a local small business is reinvested in the community, and small businesses support our local tax base, governments, and schools, while also enriching our communities. A staggering 90% of small business owners have financially supported community or civic groups, including youth sports leagues, community events, charities, and school programs. Small businesses support us, and we need to support them.
During this busy time of year, there is a temptation to order online from retail giants and big box stores for the sake of convenience, but we cannot and should not forget about our neighbors, friends, and family who own small businesses. The 15th annual Small Business Saturday is on November 30th, and it serves as a reminder for all of us to visit our Main Street businesses for great deals and first-class service. Shop small and local this Saturday and throughout the entire holiday season, or even better, the year ahead.
Christopher Carlozzi is the Massachusetts Director of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Sax quartet tree lightling 51 walden 2

51 Walden Presents Music for
Tree Lighting Festival

The Concord Band and Concord Players will participate in Concord’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting festival on December 1, 2024, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm at 51 Walden, with several performances by small ensembles:
Brass quintet          3:00–3:20 pm
Clarinet choir          3:20–3:45 pm
Festive carolers       3:45–4:20 pm
Saxophone quartet  4:25–4:50 pm
Complimentary hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and light dessert items will be served.
All are welcome at the Town of Concord’s Annual Tree Lighting. This year’s event will be host to a variety of outdoor entertainment, a parade and festive store fronts. Parade starts at 4:50 pm. Santa will make his way down Main Street aboard one of Concord’s Fire Trucks to light the Town Tree.
For more information or inclement weather, see the Concord Recreation Department link at https://concordrec.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30779
Craftfair2024flyer

12th Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale

Saturday, November 23rd, 10:00am-3:00pm
FREE Admission
Stop by for local craft vendors and baked goods! Nashoba Valley Technical High School
100 Littleton Road, Westford, MA
Presented by The NVTHS Foundation
Nov 22 literacy volunteer

Become an Adult ESOL or Basic Literacy Tutor!

Have you been looking for a great volunteer opportunity? If you would like to make a difference in the life of an adult with limited English or basic literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts at the Pollard Memorial Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one or small group tutoring on a flexible schedule to adults in the greater Lowell area.
You do not need prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language. All you need is an open mind, a desire to help an adult improve their skills, and the ability to meet with your student for 2 hours per week for 9-12 months! In-person, remote, and hybrid tutoring options are available. Before being matched with a student you also must attend a Volunteer Information Session and successfully complete an 18-hour Tutor Training.
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session online via Zoom
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session in person at Pollard Memorial Library
Thursdays 1-4 pm
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
To learn more, join us on-line via Zoom at one of our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 pm
Thursday, December 12, 12-1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm
To RSVP to one of the above sessions, or find out more about our program, please contact our Literacy Director, Sarah Miller, at smiller@lowelllibrary.org, or our Literacy Assistant, Mary Hartmann, mhartmann@lowelllibrary.org, or call us at 978 674-1541.
Bob gross

Transcendentalism for Yankees—and Jews?


Professor Robert (Bob) Gross, who will offer insight into its significance for Judaism on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 10:30 am.
Bob is a leading American historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut. He specializes in the social and cultural history of America from the Colonial era through the nineteenth century. He has received the prestigious Bancroft Prize for his book The Minutemen and their World, and numerous national awards as well as fellowships from the Guggenheim, Rockefeller, and Howard Foundations, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Antiquarian Society.
His latest book (2021) is The Transcendentalists and their World. The religious and intellectual movement known as Transcendentalism sprang up in Massachusetts, with Concord as its epicenter, during the 1830s and 1840s, and it came to inspire both a new vision of individualism and idealistic efforts for social change, particularly abolitionism and women’s rights. In the 1850s and after, Transcendentalism expanded beyond that regional base and spread to national and international audiences.
Did the movement have any appeal to Jews in the mid-19th century United States? Does it have anything to say to Jews today? Bob’s talk will offer an account of Transcendentalism in Concord and New England but with a Jewish twist. Transcendentalism, one could say, argues that we are all, every one of us, chosen people. How would this square with the collective identity of Jews?
Learn more: keremshalom.org
Contact ksadmin@keremshalom.org/978-369-1223 with any questions.
Kerem Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming Jewish community where tradition and innovation are celebrated.
Open table

Open Table Family-to-Family Holiday Drive Returns


An opportunity to give back to our community and brighten the holiday season
Concord and Maynard, MA (November 15, 2024) – Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, announced that the Open Table Family-to-Family Gift Bag Drive is back for the fifth year in a row. The program offers community members the opportunity to create special holiday gift bags for a local family and/or a senior who are clients of Open Table.
Open Table provides participants with a list of suggested items to fill a gift bag, then sends daily reminders and other information on each of the first 12 days of December. Items must be unwrapped as this allows Open Table to determine an appropriate recipient for each bag.
Families can use the following suggestions to create a gift bag for a family or a senior:
Day 1:  Movie night snack (popcorn, pretzels or chips)
Day 2:  Travel mug or tumbler
Day 3:  Fun activity: games, puzzles, puzzle books, cards, art supplies, craft kits
Day 4:  $25 chain grocery store or pharmacy gift card, or a Visa gift card (please place in a marked envelope and include the store gift receipt)
Day 5:  Favorite baking mix for holiday baking (cookies, brownies, etc.). No need to provide other ingredients
Day 6:  Nice moisturizer or hand cream for cold weather
Day 7:  Hot chocolate mix, coffee or tea
Day 8:  Festive kitchen tea towel or napkins
Day 9:  Favorite store-bought holiday sweets
Day 10:  Olive oil (24 oz or less size)
Day 11:  Spread for toast (jellies, jams, nut butters)
Day 12:  Dried fruit and/or nuts
Please place all items in a sturdy reusable bag. (We’ve found the ones at TJMaxx work well.) Total weight of each bag must not exceed 25lbs for the safety of both clients and volunteers moving them around. Also remember we cannot accept homemade baked goods or alcoholic items in the bags.
Completed gift bags may be dropped off curbside at Open Table’s Food Donation Center, 40 Beharrell Street, West Concord on Friday, December 13th between 4pm and 6pm. You can also drop off curbside at Open Table at 33 Main Street, Maynard, on Saturday, December 14th between 10am and 1pm. Open Table volunteers will be on hand to assist.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to make the holidays a bit brighter not only for the families who rely on Open Table, but for those who donate as well,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. "For many members of the community this program is a meaningful part of their holiday season, and we are so grateful for that!”
If you have any questions about this program, please contact the coordinator, Julie, at  holiday@opentable.org
Sign up to make a gift bag at:  https://www.opentable.org/family-to-family/

“Festival of Sharing” Holiday Fair

 
St. Matthew’s Church in Acton will host its unique “Festival of Sharing” Holiday Fair on December 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As always, all proceeds from the event will benefit local and international charitable organizations supported by St. Matthew’s.
Last year—the 5th annual Festival--raised over $25,000 for 26 organizations. Please join us to shop, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and experience live Christmas music. The Festival is held at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central Street, Acton, MA.
For more information, visit: www.saint-matthews.org.
Nov 22 halalisa singers

The Halalisa Singers present Season of Light featuring “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest”

Saturday, December 7 in Arlington
Sunday, December 8 in Littleton
Boston-based world music vocal ensemble The Halalisa Singers led by artistic director Mary Cunningham presents Season of Light featuring Conrad Susa’s exquisite “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest” accompanied by harp, guitar, and marimba.  The holiday program is part of a season revisiting past repertoire in honor of Cunningham’s twentieth year leading the chorus in diverse, uplifting music from around the world. Joining the singers are pianist Trevor Berens, guitarist Berit Strong, harpist Li Shan Tan, and marimbist Sylvie Zakarian.
∙ Saturday, December 7 at First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA. Concert at 7:30 p.m.
∙ Sunday, December 8 at First Church, 19 Foster St., Littleton. Concert at 4 p.m.
Tickets for each performance are $25. For more info visit www.halalisa.org or email info@halalisa.org.

Folksinger at Littleton Lyceum

 
The Littleton Lyceum will present Nashville-based singer-songwriter Amy Speace on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center on 56 King Street. A former Shakespearean actress, Amy has received critical acclaim from the New York Times and NPR, who described her voice as “velvety and achy” and compared her to Lucinda Williams. She has toured widely and has shared the stage with Guy Clark, Judy Collins, and many others. Season tickets to the Lyceum are available for families or individuals for $40.00, and single admissions may be purchased at the door for $12.00, $5.00 for seniors and students. For more information, check out our website at littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

Donate a Dinner Basket or Sponsor a Child to Help the Maynard Food Pantry

 
As in years past, the Maynard Food Pantry will be helping local families in need during the upcoming holiday season by providing them with dinner baskets and gifts. Donations of dinner baskets and/or gifts from families, organizations, groups and companies will help us accomplish this goal. Suggestions for dinner baskets include a canned ham or fresh ham together with a combination of bagged potatoes, fresh squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, canned or fresh vegetables, apples, oranges, canned pineapple, fruit juice, packaged rolls and packaged desserts.
Those who would like to purchase gifts will be given specific information about a certain child(ren) including ages, sizes and special gift requests. If you would like to donate one or more of these items or would like additional information, please contact Mary Brannelly at mjtbrannelly@comcast.net no later than Friday, December 13, 2024 for drop off information.
Please consider sending a donation of any amount to Maynard Food Pantry, PO Box 55, Maynard, MA 01754.
As we begin our 31st year, the Maynard Food Pantry is very grateful for the outpouring of support we receive from residents, businesses and organizations in Maynard and beyond! Thank you and enjoy your Holidays!
Nov 22 the love dogs

Fan Favorites The Love Dogs Return to the PCA December 7

Whenever the Parish Center for the Arts sends out a survey about who audiences would like back on their stage, there are a few groups that ALWAYS come up, one of which being The Love Dogs! This season, fan favorites The Love Dogs return to 10 Lincoln Street on December 7 at 7:30pm (Doors open 7pm). Advanced ticketing guarantees you a seat… something that is inevitably in demand at their shows. Tickets range from $15-$25, and you can bring your own food and drink for a complete evening of entertainment. For reservations (STRONGLY recommended), visit https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-7-24-the-love-dogs/203, or you can also call (978) 692-6333. For more information, visit pcawestford.org, or find them on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram.
Take one red-hot horn section - we're talkin' alto, tenor, baritone saxes and trombone - down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar. Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called "the best in the business," and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic frontman with one of the biggest blues voices around. Season with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada and on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It's a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence; it's The Love Dogs!
Nov 22 uccb fair

UCC Boxborough’s Merrie Christmas Fair: A Welcoming Event for Everyone!

When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 9am-1pm
Online Silent Auction has begun!
Where: UCC Boxborough church campus, 723 Middle Road Boxborough 01719
For: Everyone!
The Boxborough Merrie Christmas Fair promises a fun-filled shopping celebration with local handicrafts, delicious food and surprising treasures for all! Come share the joy and shop for your family, friends or treat yourself. Look for truly handmade gifts from soft knitted scarves to hand carved trees and fresh greens for a Thanksgiving table. The fair has 91 years’ experience sharing local creativity and artistry in a fun, festive setting. At the Sugar Plum café, have lunch and sip cocoa as you enjoy the live music of jazz and blues singer Phyllis Fallon and the Workingman’s Music Duo. The online Silent Auction has close to two hundred items for young and old alike. The online auction is an easy way to shop over ten days, November 13-23. Items range from fine home crafted items to snowshoes to restaurant gift cards and museum memberships to expansive vacations including a trip to Tuscany, a two night stay in NYC with Broadway tickets and a windjammer cruise out of Bar Harbor. If you like to thrift, shop at our vintage jewelry table or the legendary recycled Attic Treasures that fill the Town Hall? The fair has something for everyone and is a chance to buy truly local and sustainably. This year’s fair not only supports UCC Boxborough, a partner with Free Bee market, but ten percent of fair proceeds will go directly to North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity.
The fair is located at UCC Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Ave and Boxborough Town Hall on Middle Road. Come and wander the fair, have lunch, let your children shop in their own shopping area, poke through the Attic Treasures, sit outside by the fire pit where Santa might be making a s'more! Meet a friend, have fun with your neighbors, and know that your dollars buy much more than gifts, you are supporting your community as you shop. The online Silent Auction begins November 13 at 8am and ends November 23 at 6pm. https://www.BiddingForGood.com/UCCBSilentAuction. Meet you at the fair!
Nov 22 christmas tree

Christmas Trees

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks will be selling Christmas trees again this year beginning Friday, November 29th. Hours are: Friday, 11/29: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Mondays-Fridays: 4:00 PM -8:00 PM, Saturdays: and Sundays: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Maynard-Clinton Elks is located at 34 Powder Mill Rd, Maynard, MA 01754. If you have any questions, please call 978-897-9892.

Rotary Club of Bedford's Winter Community Breakfast

 
When: Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Bedford High School, 9 Mudge WayBedford, MA
Details: Join the Rotary Club of Bedford for a festive, family-friendly morning of community, delicious breakfast, and holiday cheer! Enjoy live musical performances, photos with Santa, a winter-theme photo booth and crafts and activities. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club's Foundation and local initiatives. Tickets are $10/person 2 and up. Tickets and more info at: https://bedfordmarotary.org/
Nov 22 maynard holiday parade


58th Annual Maynard Holiday Parade & Holiday Village

The Friends of the Maynard Holiday Parade invite you to join us at the 58th annual holiday parade in downtown Maynard on the afternoon of Sunday, December 8! In addition to the parade, we’ve added a festive holiday market this year. Read on for more details and be sure to mark your calendar with the dates, times, and locations.
New this Year: From noon to 3 pm, stroll through a holiday village at Memorial Park (corner of Summer and Nason Streets). Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of the winter season as you browse and buy locally made crafts, decorations, and food. Face painting, temporary tattoos, and do-it-yourself craft vendors will also be there. Cap off your holiday market experience by making a s’more (toasted marshmallow and chocolate on a graham cracker) with a Maynard firefighter. Bring some cash along to donate to Maynard High School’s student-run WAVM Beacon Santa telethon, an annual tradition that supports families during the holiday season. Before or after your holiday village stroll, be sure to visit the amazing stores and restaurants on Nason and Main Streets. You’ll find bountiful options for buying Christmas, Hanukkah or winter gifts for family and friends. Enjoy a delicious meal, snack, or beverage at one of our many restaurants or cafés while shopping.
The 58th Annual Parade: At 1:45 pm, look up to see Santa Claus waving at you from a helicopter! Next, food collection trucks will roll down the parade route at 1:50 pm to collect your canned food donations. As a community, we can provide "more love, less hunger." At 2:00 pm, the parade kicks off, with Maynard’s Chief of Police, Michael Noble, leading the way as Grand Marshall. Special Guests of Honor will include beloved retired kindergarten teacher Marybeth Wallace; thePatino family, whose extraordinary Route 117 holiday light displays have lit up Maynard residents’ hearts for decades; local resident Judy Burgess, whose volunteerism makes a difference in our corner of the world; and Maynard resident Charlie Williams, whose smiles and enthusiasm brighten our lives. Various bands will provide holiday music. Floats, decorated vehicles, and festively dressed walkers representing local businesses, nonprofit organizations, musical groups, and entertainers will round out this joyful event.
Parade viewers can watch from the section of Sudbury St. between the mill parking lot and Main St., as well as Main St. between Sudbury St. and McDonald’s/Jarmo’s, and Summer St. from Nason St. eastward. Nason Street is also part of the parade route and will be a “low noise” area for parade-goers who are sensitive to loud noises. For more parade details, including our generous parade and fall ball (our main fundraising event) sponsors, without whom this parade would not happen. We are still accepting donations, so please go to https://www.lightuptheholidaysmaynard.com if you would like to make a business or personal donation to the parade fund. In case of rain/snow, the parade will be moved to Sunday, Dec. 15, same time and place. We hope to see you at this fun and festive day in downtown Maynard. Happy holidays!

Come to the FRS Greens Sale & Holiday Fair on Dec. 7

The Annual FRS Greens Sale & Holiday Fair will be held on December 7 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at 27 School Street in Carlisle. For the best selection of greenery (decorated & plain wreaths, boxwood trees, swags, and mantle pieces) and gingerbread house kits, you are encouraged to pre-order online at https://www.uucarlisle.org/2024-greens-sale--holiday-fair.html. On Saturday, December 7, we will have a limited number of wreaths (decorated and undecorated), other greenery, delicious homemade baked goods, and a variety of talented local artisans & vendors. The Holly Jolly Café lunch menu includes turkey & Boursin cheese sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, beef and vegetarian chili, slices of pie, and hot and cold cider. Please place your pre-order for your greenery and Gingerbread House Kits between now and Thursday, December 5 at 6:00 pm. All online orders can be picked up at FRS on Saturday, December 7, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

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 meetings had been every Thursday evening at 7 pm at the South Acton Congregational Church. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net
Nov 18 silver bells

Silver Bells Holiday Fair

Memorial Congregational Church (Concord Rd. and Church St., Sudbury) is excited to host our Silver Bells Holiday Fair on Saturday, November 23rd from 9am to 3pm with a fair preview on Friday evening from 6:30-8pm. There will be a $5.00 charge on Friday evening with 50% of the proceeds going to charity. Punch and hors d’oeuvres will be served. There will be no charge on Saturday—just a fun day of holiday cheer and shopping. Come find Christmas decorations, a handcrafted item, a juicy grilled burger for lunch, a treat from our bake table, homemade novelty chocolates, a piece of jewelry you can’t resist,  puzzles, books, and games to entertain you through our cold, dark winter. Take a chance on our beautiful raffle items, and grab one or more white elephants that are just what you’ve been looking for. The Toy Shoppe has an abundance of brand new and gently used toys. You will be sure to find a variety of toys! Please consider donating a toy in support of HOPE Sudbury whose mission is to provide assistance to people in need. There will be a donation box in the Toy Shoppe. The Book Shoppe will feature a special guest from the North Pole! Join Mrs. Claus for story time at 10:00, 11:00 and 1:00.
See you all at the Silver Bells Holiday Fair!

Upcoming Documentary Screening Nov. 19

The Town of Acton in collaboration with Community Team Work Inc. and other community organizations are hosting Who We Are - A Chronicle of Racism in America on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. A facilitated discussion will follow the screening at the Maynard Fine Arts Theater, located at 19 Summer St., Maynard.
The event is free and registration is requested. Please register and contact the Acton DEI Director with any questions at wgachugi@actonma.gov. Community organizations include UCC Boxboro, Na’aseh (social justice organization of Congregation Beth Elohim), OUT Metrowest, St. Matthews United Methodist Church and Indivisible Acton Area.

Become an Adult ESOL or Basic Literacy Tutor!

 
Have you been looking for a great volunteer opportunity? If you would like to make a difference in the life of an adult with limited English or basic literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts at the Pollard Memorial Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one or small group tutoring on a flexible schedule to adults in the greater Lowell area.
You do not need prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language. All you need is an open mind, a desire to help an adult improve their skills, and the ability to meet with your student for 2 hours per week for 9-12 months! In-person, remote, and hybrid tutoring options are available. Before being matched with a student you also must attend a Volunteer Information Session and successfully complete an 18-hour Tutor Training.
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session online via Zoom
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session in person at Pollard Memorial Library
Thursdays 1-4 pm
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
To learn more, join us on-line via Zoom at one of our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 pm
Thursday, December 12, 12-1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm
To RSVP to one of the above sessions, or find out more about our program, please contact our Literacy Director, Sarah Miller, at smiller@lowelllibrary.org, or our Literacy Assistant, Mary Hartmann, mhartmann@lowelllibrary.org, or call us at 978 674-1541.
Nov 18 library book sale

Concord Library Holiday Book Sale

The 2024 Concord Public Library Holiday Book Sale will take place in the Goodwin Forum of the Main Library, 129 Main St. Concord, on December 6 & 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and December 8, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Book Sale will be teeming with nearly-new or gently used books, movies, and music CDs for adults and children.
Come for your holiday shopping and have a fun time. Gift-worthy books of all genres, and specialty gift baskets for children. Prices are low; value is sky-high. Cash and cards accepted.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Donate a Thanksgiving Dinner Basket to a Maynard Food Pantry Family

The Maynard Food Pantry will once again be providing Thanksgiving dinner baskets to families in need within our community this holiday season.
In the past, families, organizations, groups and companies have generously donated dinner baskets consisting of a frozen turkey or canned ham together with a combination of bagged potatoes, fresh squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, canned or fresh vegetables, apples, oranges, fruit juice, packaged rolls and packaged desserts. Thinking about a family of 6 when putting together the basket is a good guide.
We would greatly appreciate similar donations this year so that the Maynard Food Pantry can provide these wonderful gifts to our client families.  In previous years, we have been able to provide approximately 85-90 dinner baskets to local families in need.
If you would like to donate a Thanksgiving dinner basket or a quantity of one of the above-referenced items, please contact Mary Brannelly by email at mjtbrannelly@comcast.net  no later than Saturday, November 16, 2024 for drop off instructions.  Also feel free to send along a note if you need additional information.
The Maynard Food Pantry is always appreciative of cash donations that are used to purchase food to keep the Food Pantry stocked, especially at this time of the year when we consistently see an increase in the number of families in need of our services.  Checks can be made payable to the "Maynard Food Pantry" and may be sent c/o PO Box 55, Maynard, MA 01754.     Thank you and enjoy your Holiday!