CONCORD: Kerem Shalom—Vineyard of Peace—of Concord, warmly invites the community to join them for the High Holy Days 5784! This year’s services and programs begin on September 15 with Erev Rosh Hashanah and conclude on September 25 with Yom Kippur. Services will take place both in-person and online and include: Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur, Early Childhood Family Services, Tashlich at the Old North Bridge (in-person only), Torah Study with Rabbi Sam Pollak, Musical Musaf Service with the Tiferet Ensemble (in-person only), and Mindfulness Meditation. See keremshalom.org for the full schedule as well as registration and further details.

CONCORD: Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), fostering the power of women’s voices in song, invites new singers to join its ensemble at “Open Rehearsals” on Tuesdays, September 12 and 19, 9:30am, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street. Artistic Director and Conductor Jane Ring Frank welcomes newcomers to join rehearsal, audition and learn more about the fall season. Rehearsals continue through 2023-24 on Tuesday mornings, 9:30am-noon, also held at Trinity.

CWC welcomes singers with prior choral experience including good sight-reading skills, solid intonation and vocal quality, responsiveness to direction and the ability to blend within an ensemble. For auditions, prospective members may be asked to sight-read a short passage and/or sing a familiar tune, arriving with a prepared solo is not necessary. An information form is available to be printed in advance and brought to the audition at concordwomenschorus.org/wp/sing-with-us. Chorus members are expected to attend rehearsals and to participate in performing scheduled concerts. In addition, singers may have the opportunity to perform Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 13, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).

The ensemble continues weekly rehearsals in preparation for the upcoming concert “A Celebration of Glorias: Vivaldi’s Signature and More,” performing on December 16 at 4pm.

CWC is committed to the safety of all and requires all singers to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. Masks are optional during rehearsals, but policies may change as needed. For more information, performance details or to join Concord Women’s Chorus, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

CONCORD: The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a place where music helps children with developmental needs grow and flourish. Many parents want their children to try different activities and learn new skills. But this can be hard to do when a child has developmental needs. CCM cares about making music education accessible for everyone and works with the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education to offer Tones of Fun Developmental Music Class for the community.

Tones of Fun meets a special program that meets need in our communities, especially for children diagnosed with learning differences. It helps each child find and explore their individual interests — Tones of Fun is a wonderful program that reinforces finding the absolute best version of their unique self. Tones of Fun is a musical program designed for children with different learning needs. Physical, language, social, cognitive, and musical development are stimulated through musical play in a social group of all ages and skill levels. The program uses simple instruments, movement, props, and improvisation to stimulate physical, language, social, cognitive, and musical growth. A highly trained instructor from the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education who adapts the class to the needs and abilities of each student.

Maura Lyons’s son, Daegan, is a member of the Tones of Fun class. Maura shared, “This class is so important to my family and me; it’s the highlight of our week. It is the only activity in town that Daegan can share with his siblings, myself, and his friends. It brings him so much happiness
and excitement. It truly melts my heart to see him so focused on something he loves.”  In the class, Daegan is focusing, socializing with peers, learning how to take turns and be in a group, and discovering new songs and instruments.

The fall session begins on September 19 and the 45-minute class will meet on Tuesdays at 4:30pm for ages 3 – 6 and 5:15 pm for ages 7 – 9. No previous musical experience is necessary to participate. However, students must be accompanied by an adult to every class, participate effectively in classes, and maintain a safe environment for themselves and others. Parents/Caregivers can apply through CCM at https://concordconservatory.org/programs/tones-of-fun-developmental-music-class/.

CONCORD: The Concord Orchestra will hold an open rehearsal on September 5 from 7:30-10pm at 51 Walden Street. The orchestra has openings for strings. For more information, visit www.concordorchestra.com. Please email info@concordorchestra.com if you are planning to attend, so there will be sufficient music, chairs and stands. To join the orchestra please email info@concordorchestra.com to arrange for an audition with the Music Director sometime before or after the open rehearsal.

The orchestra will be conducted by Music Director Zeke Fetrow. The orchestra will be reading music of Beethoven, Sibelius, and Howard Hanson. The Concord Orchestra, is composed of 70 volunteer musicians living in Concord and the greater Boston metropolitan area. A season of five concert programs is planned.

CONCORD: Concord Chorus is holding open rehearsals on Mondays, September 11 and 18, at 7:30pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street. Interested singers are invited to sing with the Chorus and may have a short audition with Director Kevin Leong during the rehearsals if they choose. The Concord Chorus is a wonderful group of welcoming people who enjoy singing and learning excellent choral repertoire and performing at the highest level. Share in a musical experience that will be fun and fulfilling. For audition information, please visit www.concordchorus.org/join-us.

The Chorus' 78th season is very exciting! On December 9, sing Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Parts 1-3).  And for the spring, on May 11 and 12, sing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Brahms's Song of Destiny with Masterworks Chorale and the Lexington Symphony Orchestra. We hope to welcome many new singers! If you have questions, please contact Chairperson, Stephanie Keep at chair@concordchorus.org.

CONCORD: Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, announced that it has appointed Vivek Kamath, Glen Murphy and Alissa Weinberger to its 2024 Board of Directors. The three new board members bring a variety of skills – from supply chain expertise, to finance, and immigration law – to Open Table.
“Vivek, Glen, and Alissa are talented individuals, each one with a unique professional history of dealing with some of the biggest challenges facing both Open Table and its clients today,” said Mary Siegel, president, Open Table Board of Directors. “As we look forward to a new fiscal year where fully one-third of our local residents are facing food insecurity, their input will be invaluable in guiding our strategic and tactical decisions for the year ahead.”
 
Vivek Kamath - For the past 27 years, Vivek has helped transform supply chain organizations and operations across seven unique industries and in more than 30 countries. A Stow resident, Vivek is currently an executive supply chain partner with Gartner, Inc., where he provides advisory services to chief supply chain officers from around the world. In his spare time, Vivek likes to golf, cook, and volunteer in the community. He is happily married for 28 years and has two amazing and accomplished daughters and two fur babies that keep him and his wife young and busy.

Glen Murphy, CFA – Glen has spent 30 years in the financial investments industry focusing on institutional and mutual fund portfolio management. This included serving as Global Head of Portfolio Management for the Invesco Quantitative Strategies Group, where he managed a team of portfolio managers based in the United States and Europe. Today, he helps run his family’s Blue Meadow farm in Sudbury, which is a combination of equine facility (training, boarding, and lessons) and “U-Pick” blueberry farm.
Glen enjoys community service with volunteer experience with the Boy Scouts of America, Boston Cares, and Smile Mass in addition to Open Table. His volunteer efforts with Open Table began when a blueberry customer recommended Open Table as a benefactor of their farm’s “Pick for the Community” efforts, donating blueberries picked by volunteers to local food pantries. Glen was impressed by the scope of activity and organization when he delivered his first batch of blueberries to Open Table. He quickly became an active volunteer, assisting in the unloading of trucks and preparing mobile food pantry deliveries. Glen has a BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an MSF from the Boston College Carroll School of Management, and is a CFA charter holder.  He lives with his wife and daughter in Sudbury. 

Alissa Weinberger – A staff attorney with MetroWest Legal Services’ Immigration Unit in Framingham, Alissa represents immigrant youth before the Boston Immigration Court. Previously, she worked with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault providing individual counseling and led batterer intervention groups. A Maynard resident, Alissa has been volunteering with Open Table since 2020 where she worked on the pick and pack team and helped take phone orders in English and Spanish. Alissa was drawn to Open Table’s model of promoting food security in a manner that fosters autonomy, dignity, and meets the community’s diverse needs. Alissa is excited to support Open Table’s mission and crucial community work. Alissa also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors for MetroWest Worker Center in Framingham. She holds a J.D. from Northeastern University’s School of Law, a Masters in Community Counseling from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. In her free time, Alissa loves to hike, dance, knit, and bake.

PHOTO: Newly appointed Open Table board members Glen Murphy, left, and Alissa Weinberger, center, are welcomed by existing board member Jonathan Magasanik in front of the organization’s Maynard food pantry.

CONCORD: Concord Conservatory of Music’s (CCM) West Side String Program (WSS) allows violin and viola students to learn to play their instrument at a high level while becoming part of a music community. Now, new beginner violin and viola students, ages 5 and up, enrolling at CCM during the 2023-2024 academic year will participate in the WSS Program, providing them with a path for successful learning. They’ll realize their full potential as a musician while building their musicianship and life skills.

The Program includes 17, 30-minute private lessons and 15 group classes—students receive benefits from one-on-one instruction as well as from learning and playing with others. WSS blends Suzuki philosophy, Paul Rolland’s movement in string playing, and traditional string pedagogy. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy embraces the idea that all children are born with a musical ability that can be nurtured at an early age through their environment, listening, imitation, and working closely with a parent at home.

The traditional string pedagogy enhances these approaches by incorporating the
development of technique and musicianship through scales, etudes, music reading, and a variety of repertoire. This approach assures teaching tailored to the individual student’s needs, with a strong emphasis on building confident solo performing, fluent music reading, and skillful ensemble  participation, whether they lead to music-making at the highest level or a lifetime of enhanced musical enjoyment.

Students will study a range of music in this program. WSS students progress through the program with their peers in group classes, and later join ensembles or pursue studies in the fiddling track. The CCM student placement process ensures that students take lessons with a faculty member best suited to their needs and placed in the most appropriate WSS group. Consideration for placement may include age, repertoire level, technical,
musical, ensemble, performance and reading skills, fluency, attendance, emotional maturity, musical maturity, lesson preparation, and consistency of review.

To learn more, visit ConcordConservatory.org and submit a Student Interest Form, or call (978) 369-0010. Financial assistance is available.

CONCORD/MAYNARD: Open Table announced that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Concord Carlisle Community Chest 2023 Grants program. This is the 28th consecutive year that Community Chest has supported Open Table, and this gift will go towards Open Table’s general operational expenses.
 
In a break from past Giving Day fund raising events, this year the Concord Carlisle Community Chest will host a full Giving Month program, with posts on social media on different days for each of the 24 grant recipients.
 
Follow the Community Chest Giving Month on Instagram or Facebook.
 
“The Concord Carlisle Community Chest continues to be a consistent, long-time partner for Open Table,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “This grant will help us keep the lights on, pay staff, and keep our facilities in good repair; all of which are critical to ensuring we can provide healthy food to those in need in our community. We are most grateful for their continued generous support.”
 
PHOTO: The Concord Carlisle Community Chest makes $30,000 grant to Open Table (left to right): Elizabeth McKneely, CCCC Grant Allocation Committee; Kaitlin Waterson, CCCC Grant Allocation Committee; Alexandra Deplo, Open Table Executive Director; Mary Siegel, Open Table President; Barbara Fisher, Open Table Vice President; Jessica Kirkwood, Open Table Grants Manager/Financial Analyst

LOWELL: In Middlesex Community College’s summer programs, kids 8 to 17 can dive into the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in new and exciting ways. MCC’s College for Kids classes provide unique opportunities for students to explore their interests.

“This summer, MCC has a line-up of interactive STEM courses students will love, from veterinary science to aviation, all about science to introduction to coding, and Lego Mindstorms Robotics & Battlebots to Minecraft,” said Audrey Nahabedian, MCC’s Dean of Workforce Development. “These classes offer many hands-on opportunities that will keep students engaged, learning and having fun.”

In Introduction to Veterinary Science, students who love animals can learn more about working with animals for a career and gaining tips on how to care for small and large animals.

“There are hundreds of career paths the allow you to work with and for animals,” said Kimberly Febres, MCC College for Kids Instructor. “This camp will introduce careers such as animal trainers, veterinarians and everything in-between, including first aid for your dog and cat. Students will also enjoy a special visit from Millie the guinea pig!”

Co-sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, an Aviation course will introduce students to different careers and experts in the field. Students can learn about designing, building and testing their own model aircrafts and rockets.

Students who sign up for All About Science learn through experimenting. Topics including chemistry, biology, physics and animal science will teach students how science works in the real world. For students in the introduction and intermediate coding for teens classes, they will gain a better understanding of different programming languages. While the Lego Mindstorms Robotics & Battlebots class will teach students to work in teams to build, program and battle their own robots, MCC’s Minecraft class allows students to think critically about the way they approach the game.

College for Kids classes are taught by public school teachers and professionals who are experts in their fields. In addition to STEM classes, topics include cooking and baking, arts and crafts, photography and filmmaking, graphic and web design, writing, fashion design.

Programs are offered in Bedford and Lowell, featuring six weeks of full- and half-day programs from July 10-August 17, Monday-Thursday. Full-day programs run 9am-4pm, and half-day programs run 9am-noon or 1pm- 4pm. Students who take two half-day programs to make a full day can stay on campus for lunch in between the two sessions.

Students will also have a chance to be part of a production of “The Addams Family,” taught by MCC’s Performing Arts Chair Karen Oster. The theatre program will run at MCC’s Academic Arts Center in Lowell from 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday, July 24-August 12.

PHOTO: In MCC’s summer programs, kids 8-17 can dive into the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in new and exciting ways. MCC’s College for Kids classes provide
unique opportunities for students to explore their interests.

BEDFORD: The Bedford Cultural District Partnership is sponsoring a Music and Arts Festival 2023 on June 17 at the Bedford Common in front of First Parish Church, 75 The Great Road. The festival will feature a variety of music performances, plus artisan and community vendors, art demos, mural painting, and more. Nearby galleries and cultural institutions will host open houses, and there will be a book sale and activities for the kids at the Bedford Free Public Library.

The music performance schedule will be:
 

• 11am: Zach Shen & the Funky Bunch - Jazz/funk fusion
• 12pm: Fretless - A cappella quintet harmonies
• 1pm: Mark Zelermyer & Friends (pictured) - Contemporary folk
• 2pm: Kadak Chai Band - Bollywood rock

The festival will also be an opportunity for the Cultural District Partnership to explore local interest in the proposed launch of a new music venue/coffeehouse in Bedford. Excited about the music venue/ coffeehouse proposal? Please let them know your opinions by completing the
brief survey HERE.

For more on the festival, click HERE. This event will take place rain or shine!  For inquiries, contact Jeff King at jmking@bedfordma.gov or call (781) 275-1111.

BEDFORD: First Congregational Church, 25 Great Road, will celebrate summer with its 72nd Strawberry Festival to be held from 6-8pm on June 15. This popular event will feature strawberry shortcakes on sale, rain or shine. Enjoy fresh strawberries, old fashioned biscuits and Bedford Farms vanilla ice cream, topped with homemade chocolate sauce and real whipped cream. Hot fudge sundaes will also be available. Prices range from $5 to $7, with discounts for military, first responders, health-care workers, and teachers. Live music will be provided to enjoy while you eat. Admission is free and free parking is available behind the church, off Mudge Way. For further information, please
visit www.firstchurchbedforducc.org or call (781) 275-7951.

PHOTO (credit Allyson Printz): Enjoying strawberry shortcakes are Lynne & Roy Webster of Littleton, and Holly Webster of Bedford.

Free, safe, and private program for financially challenged families

CONCORD/MAYNARD: Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, is bringing back Fuel Up for Summer, a weekly summer lunch bag program designed for local families who find it financially difficult to provide daily nutritious lunch and snacks for their children over the summer months. The summer program is free, safe and private for all participants. Parents can select a lunch, snack and drink each day for their child’s lunch box or bag. The lunch packs are always peanut free. No photo ID or proof of financial need is required.

Open table's weekly kid lunch and snack pack contains:
 

• 3 lunches such as wrap sandwiches, veggies and dips, fruit salads and cheese, and pasta salads;
• 3 individually portioned snack foods, such as granola bars, goldfish crackers, apples, raisins, and fruit cups.

Kids packs are available starting June 20 for pick up at Open table 33 Main Street, Maynard, Tuesdays: 3-6:30pm; Thursdays: 1-4:30pm. To guarantee availability, packs must be reserved in advance by Monday at noon for the week of pick up.
Online form: www.opentable.org/order-form, (978) 369-2275; orders@opentable.org.

“Kids’ summer programs may be free. And yet, many families still find it challenging to provide their children with healthy nutritious lunches,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “With most public school meal programs suspended for the summer, Open Table is filling the gap by providing free box lunches for kids to make sure that they get the most possible out of their summer experiences.”

CONCORD: On May 27, The Rotary Club of Concord will host their first annual outdoor music festival from 1-7pm at Rideout Field. Rockin’ for the Kids will feature several local musical ensembles, children’s activities, raffle prizes, and more, with a goal of benefiting Concord Children’s Center’s (CCC) tuition assistance program. A local nonprofit early education institution in Concord for over 45 years, CCC provides tuition support to qualifying families seeking childcare and early education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Bruce Marshall, a well-known rock, blues, and rhythm and blues musician will headline the event. Bruce has shared the stage with Bo Diddley, Blood Sweat and Tears, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, The Doobie Brothers, The Band, and several other internationally known acts. Bruce will be joined by folk musician Terry Kitchen, Shon Gordon of kids’ musical group Rockabye Beats, The Joy of Music student chamber music ensemble, and guitarist Seth Connolly.

Speaking for the Rotary Club of Concord, President Ingrid Detweiler said: “We look forward to welcoming everyone to an afternoon of music and fun in support of Concord Children’s Center.”

Along with supporting the Concord Children’s Center, proceeds from the event will support Rotary’s many local and international efforts. Each year the Rotary Club of Concord provides five scholarships for CCHS students and 10 scholarships for CCHS sophomores to attend a Rotary sponsored leadership weekend (RYLA). Rotarians are people of action helping people around the world.

“We are thrilled and grateful to be part of this special event,” commented CCC Executive Director Pat Nelson. “This is going to be a fun afternoon of great music that will also help CCC remain accessible to all families.”

All are invited to bring a picnic and be a part of this musical family afternoon. Tickets for the event are $20 per family; $10 per person and can be purchased at the event or in advance via the Rotary Club website. Information about the day’s events, how to become a festival sponsor, and more can also be found at the Rotary Club website.

CONCORD/LINCOLN: The Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and Concord Park Senior Living recently collaborated to provide Emerson Hospital with valuable “Emergency Department Kits.” The kits, which included items like a stress ball, trivia activity sheets, and blankets - knitted by the Lincoln COA’s Knitters Group - are designed to help alleviate stress and pass the time for seniors who are admitted to the emergency department, especially if they are experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia symptoms.

The kits are a component of Concord Park Senior Living’s Dementia Friendly Communities Initiative, a public education program intended to combat the social stigma and misconceptions that can often accompany dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive impairments. Through community resources and interactive trainings, the ultimate goal of the initiative is to promote a community culture of understanding, compassion and patience towards those living with dementia and memory loss.

Over the years, Concord Park has also conducted several educational programs for the seniors at Lincoln’ Council on Aging, on the topics of dementia, brain health and more. Lincoln COA Director Amy Rettig shared, “Our partnership with Concord Park is one to be valued. Together we help our seniors receive the services and education they deserve."

PHOTO: Lincoln Council on Aging knitters Arlene Morgan (left) and Suzanna Szeto (right) with Maryellen King (center), Director of Community Relations at Concord Park

BEDFORD: First Church of Christ, 25 Great Road, is hosting a benefit West Virginia Music Festival from 5:30-8:30pm on May 20. Tim & Maggie, a popular West Virginia duo, will perform live Appalachian folk music during the evening. A pulled-pork buffet dinner, along with children’s activities and a bake sale will also be featured. Admission (including dinner) is $15 per person; $40 per family. The buffet will feature pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, corn bread, plus a variety of desserts. Vegan chili will also be served. Plenty of free parking is located behind the church. First Church will donate all proceeds from this event to support the purchase of a new pick-up truck for the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, West Virginia.

Highlighting this year’s Music Festival is the authentic music of Tim & Maggie, who hail from Athens, West Virginia. They have spent decades studying and performing early American/Appalachian music, as well as tunes from England, France, Ireland and Scotland. They play a variety of instruments, including banjo, guitar and flutes. Tim & Maggie will perform three musical sets during the evening: 5:30-6pm (first set will be geared toward children); 6:30-7pm; and 7:30-8pm.

For eight years, First Church’s West Virginia Mission Project has helped fight poverty in Appalachia by supporting nonprofit organizations in and around Princeton, West Virginia, located in one of the poorest counties in the state. These community groups are dedicated to making home repairs for local residents, supporting after-school and summer children’s programs, and hosting arts activities for at-risk youth. To donate directly to the First Church West Virginia Mission Project, please visit FirstChurchWVMissionProject.

The entire community is invited to the 2023 West Virginia Music Festival to sample the fine cooking of the First Church chefs and enjoy some lively Appalachian folk music. This benefit will also help bring hope and optimism to a naturally beautiful part of the United States with deep and distinctive cultural roots. For further information, please visit: firstchurchbedforducc.org or call (781) 275-7951.