Action Unlimited

Concord Park Celebrates Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ Accreditation with Flag-Raising Ceremony

CONCORD: Concord Park Senior Living held a “flag-raising” recently to celebrate achieving Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ accreditation. Concord Park is the second community outside CT and fourth Senior Living residences (SLR) community to become Purple Flag accredited as part of the organization’s system-wide implementation of the program.

Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ is a collaboration between the Institute for Senior Living Education (ISLE) and the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA). The program’s standards evaluate an organization's capacity to provide collaborative care in a safe, functional and respectful environment, ensuring high quality care and overall quality of life for residents. As part of the evaluation process, Concord Park had to demonstrate adherence to 60 best practice standards and training outlined by Purple Flag for services provided to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Concord Park is now among the 13 Purple Flag communities and counting that have met the standards to elevate care quality for all residents.
The flag-raising event provided an opportunity for the community’s management, staff, residents, family members and local eldercare professionals to celebrate the milestone achievement. The purple flag will now fly in front of the community as a symbol of excellence in dementia care.

“We are extremely proud of our team for achieving this honor,” said Natasha Heimrath, Executive Director at Concord Park. “This flag is a symbol of what we do every day, day in and day out, and our promise to provide the best possible care to seniors.”

“We’re honored to induct Concord Park as the latest Purple Flag-accredited community,” said Christopher Carter, President of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA). “The hard work they’ve put into providing the highest levels of memory care for their residents is an inspiration for us all.”

Fall Nature Gardening Tip: Leave Leaves Alone

As a rule in nature and gardening, keep leaves in place whenever possible. Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter months. Dead leaves also decompose creating compost that can improve soil structure and fertility.

This being said, leaves need to be managed in yards to see the most benefit. Leaves shouldn't simply go unmanaged. If nothing is done, layers of fallen leaves can cause damage by blocking out light and smothering plants which can kill them. Often a little redistribution of the leaf layer to prevent a thick mat of leaves from forming is all that is needed to prevent this type of damage. Excessively thick layers of leaves (greater than 6 to 8 inches) may need to be reduced or removed. Whenever possible move them to mulched garden areas with fewer leaves or create a compost pile onsite to keep all that beneficial organic matter in your yard.

Mow-mulching the leaves on the lawn has many advantages, including reducing noise and greenhouse gases, and enhancing the health of your yard. The shredded/mulched leaf material creates valuable compost, which enriches the topsoil. Leaf mulching also limits spreading dust and contaminants into the air and saves you time and money. The benefits of mulching the leaves into the lawn are numerous and scientifically proven. Mulching:

is quieter and cleaner than leaf blowing;
reduces the need for fertilizer and avoids water pollution by reducing phosphorus and fertilizer leaching;
reduces the safety hazard of piled up or bagged leaves on the roadsides and saves taxpayer money for municipal leaf collection;
improves soil structure, water retention and percolation;
encourages the grass roots to penetrate more deeply, improving grass health; and
makes the lawn more resilient to weather events like drought and flooding.

Don't blow... mow!

Emerson Health Hosts VIP Evening of Women’s Health

CONCORD: Join Emerson Health for a VIP Evening of Women’s Health on November 1 at 6pm at the Umbrella Arts Center. Bring your friends, enjoy appetizers and drinks, and learn the latest health trends. The opportunity to meet some of Emerson's female physicians and leaders will follow the program. Panel participants include:

Moderator: Dr. Michelle Dalencour, Primary Care;
Dr. Elizaveta Ragulin Coyne, Surgery, Cancer Services;
Dr. Joanna Ng-Glazier, Plastic Surgery;
Dr. Christina Thomas, Obstetrics & Gynecology; and
Dr. Oneeka Williams, Urology.

Also, bring your gently used bras! Donated bras will be given to breast cancer patients and those in need. Collection bins will be onsite.

Tickets are $40/person. 100% of proceeds benefit Women‘s Health initiatives at Emerson. For more information, visit EmersonHealth.org/WomensHealthEvent.

Michael Feinstein at Cary Library

LEXINGTON: Michael Feinstein's Get Happy Trio will visit Cary Library's Memorial Hall on November 30 at 7:30pm for a Judy Garland Centennial celebration. Feinstein, Ambassador of the Great American Songbook, has built a dazzling career over the last three decades bringing the music of the Great American songbook to the world. From recordings that have earned him five Grammy® Award nominations to his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe – in addition to his appearances at iconic venues such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House – his work as an educator and archivist define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time. Tickets to this performance range from $69-$129 and are available online. For more information, visit carylibrary.org.

Concord Festival of Authors Honors Terry Tempest Williams

Pscroop2019 terry tempest williams erosion zoe rodriguez photography

CONCORD: Concord Festival of Authors will honor Terry Tempest Williams with the Henry David Thoreau Prize for Excellence in Nature writing for her outstanding career and dedication to the craft of writing. There event will take place October 28 from 7-8pm at Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street. Tickets for the in-person event or Zoom are available at thoreausociety.org.

Williams is the author of numerous books, including the environmental literature classic, “Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place.” Her most recent book is “The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks,” which was published in June 2016 to coincide with and honor the centennial of the National Park Service. Her writing has also appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Orion Magazine, and numerous anthologies worldwide as a crucial voice for ecological consciousness and social change.

The Thoreau Prize was established as an annual award in 2010 by Dale Peterson to honor a writer of fiction, nonfiction or poetry whose work embodies Thoreau’s legacy as a gifted stylist, keen naturalist and social thinker. It is given as a lifetime achievement award or to honor mid-career nature writers of exceptional promise. Previous winners of the Thoreau Prize have included the poets Mary Oliver and Gary Snyder, the author-naturalists Jane Goodall, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sy Montgomery, Peter Matthiessen, Diane Ackerman and Gretel Ehrlich, the poet, novelist and essayist Linda Hogan, biologist E.O. Wilson and the ecologist and nature writers Bernd Heinrich and George Schaller.

Founded in 1941, The Thoreau Society, Inc. is the largest and oldest organization devoted to an American author. The Society has members from more than twenty countries around the world, the Penobscot Nation, and all fifty U.S. states. The Society exists to stimulate interest in and foster education about Thoreau’s life, works, legacy and his place in his world and in ours, challenging all to live a deliberate, considered life.

After-Hours @ the Library: a Fundraising Event

CONCORD: Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Concord Free Public Library with an evening of food & drink & merriment for patrons 21+. The Main Library will come alive after-hours with a mix of music, art, puppetry, theater, and storytelling. Groove to tunes by local singer/songwriters Sawyer Lawson and Britt Connors and the Lori Zuroff Jazz Trio. Expect the unexpected from the Concord Players and puppet master Harry LaCoste. Get creative with Art for All and appreciate real-life stories told live with Fugitive Productions. This event is a collaboration between the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Your ticket ($75 suggested donation) includes food (apps and sweets) and drink (open bar) from local purveyors including Saltbox Kitchen, 80 Thoreau, Nosh, Karma, Verrill Farm, Crosby’s, and West Concord Liquors. Dressy casual attire is encouraged. Your donation will benefit the new makerspace the Workshop @ the Library. Tickets are sold online only. A small number of tickets remaining – Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/after-hours-the-library-tickets-712156759037 for more information.

Concord Band Presents Fall Concert "New England Portraits"

CONCORD: The Concord Band presents a Fall concert, 8pm on October 21 at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center, inaugurating the commemoration of 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, upcoming in 2025. The program features “Chester Overture for Band” by William Schuman, based on Boston composer William Billings’ best known song that became a Revolutionary War patriotic anthem. Composed in 1956, Schuman expanded the third movement from his New England Triptych for orchestra and arranged it for concert band. The Concord Band played Chester during the Bicentennial and included the piece on the Band’s 1975 LP. More recently, the Band performed Chester at the 2012 tribute to Music Director Laurate William Toland, who had conceived and conducted the 1975 album. Maestro James O’Dell has rounded out the theme, “New England Portraits,” with other pieces inspired by places and events of New England.

Four of these pieces feature composers who have written commissions expressly for the Concord Band. Andrew Boysen’s “Snapshots of Acadia,” with movements depicting the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Thunder Hole, Cadillac Mountain and its famous sunrise, will be presented alongside a video showing selected images of the landmarks. Roger Cichy, who also has conducted his original compositions with the Concord Band, wrote “Beachscapes” to recognize three beaches, Nauset (MA), Rocky Neck (CT), and Scarborough (RI). Stephen Bulla composed “North Bridge Portrait” about Concord's famous bridge and the ‘shot heard round the world.’ “Three New England Caricatures” was written by James Curnow on a commission from UMass Lowell dedicated to the New England Youth Wind Ensemble. The piece is loaded with interesting percussion sounds such as cake pans, frying pans, and water bottles, comprising three movements: "Old Jolly Roger," "Polly Van" and "Captain Kidd," after the infamous 17th century pirate. The finale of the program is “Old Home Days” by Danbury Connecticut-born composer Charles Ives. The multi-movement work is based on hymn tunes, traditional songs, and melodies that might be performed by New England small town bands at parades and country dances.

Admission is free, with a $20 donation requested. More information is available online at concordband.org.

Concord Art Presents Rhoda Rosenberg: Shapes of Time (1968-2022)

CONCORD: Beginning October 26, Concord Art presents Rhoda Rosenberg: Shapes of Time (1968-2022). This exhibition celebrates Rosenberg’s career as painter, master printmaker, established artist, and beloved professor. It will be on view through December 17. Rosenberg’s work focuses on deeply rooted ties with family members and the power of an object’s shape to convey feeling. Concerned with emotion and meaning behind her subject matter more than representational rendering, she has concentrated on transcendent shapes throughout her career, seeing beyond the form of an object and getting to the feeling it evokes instead.

Rosenberg has served as a faculty member at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts since 1982. She won SMFA’s Russel T. Smith Award for outstanding teaching in 2003 and earned a Faculty Enrichment Grant for her work teaching at Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. Rosenberg has also taught at Boston University, Danforth Museum School of Art, and Montserrat College of Art. Additionally, Rosenberg runs the Merrimac Printmaking Studio. Rosenberg’s work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions around the globe, from Alaska to South Africa to Poland. Selections of her work are housed in various collections across the country, from Massachusetts to Colorado. The winner of numerous awards and accolades, Rosenberg notably received the Atlantic Papers Materials Award at Boston Printmakers North American Print Biennial in 2007. Her retrospective coincides with Boston Printmakers North American Print Biennial 2023 + 75th Anniversary at Boston University’s 808 Gallery from October 10-December 9.

Like Concord Art’s founder, Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts, Rosenberg grew up in Philadelphia; she first exhibited her work in 1966 as a part of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Fellowship Show, at the same school where Roberts had studied and won the Smith Prize for painting in 1889. A catalog of Rhoda Rosenberg: Shapes of Time (1968-2022) will available at Concord Art. For more information, contact Executive Director Kate James at katejames@concordart.org or Assistant Director Natalie Reiser at nataliereiser@concord.org. You may also call Concord Art at (978) 369-2578.

71st Annual Turkey Dinner at First Church of Christ, Congregational

BEDFORD: Enjoy the home cooked meal that has become a First Church and Bedford tradition! The annual Turkey Dinner, scheduled for October 21 at 6pm at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 25 Great Road, features a menu of roast turkey, savory stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash, green peas, and, of course, homemade apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. Tickets are $20 per adult; $10 per child under 12, and may be purchased by calling or stopping by the church office between 9am-1pm during the week through October 20. Take-out meals will be available. Frozen homemade apple pies are also available for sale at $15 each. Call (781) 275-7951 for more information.

Lincoln Sudbury Civic Orchestra Holds Open Rehearsal

SUDBURY: The Lincoln Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO), in residence at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, will hold an open rehearsal on October 17 at 7:30pm at the high school. The session is open to all orchestral players interested in participating in the orchestra’s 51th season and beyond. Conductor Alfonso Piacentini begins his second season directing the orchestra in two concerts in January and June. The orchestra will rehearse music for its January concert including Brahms Symphony #2, Mozart Overture to The Magic Flute and Saint-Saens Horn Concerto, with young Cuban artist Mauricio Martinez. There are openings in all string sections, particularly low strings, trombone, and horn, but all are welcome. Visit the LSCO Youtube channel to see an invitation video from Maestro Piacentini. All musicians who are interested in joining the LSCO for this open rehearsal and for the concerts of their 51st season should send an email to lscivicorchestra@gmail.com, or use the Contact Us link at lscivicorchestra.org. You will receive instructions on obtaining parts and other details.

For over 50 years, the LSCO has been dedicated to providing opportunities for talented students and supportive adults to perform orchestral literature of the great classical composers. The LSCO has provided playing opportunities for over 500 student musicians and given over thirty student and adult concerto artists an opportunity to show their skills and love of classical music. Membership is open to the community regardless of town of residence. The orchestra rehearses every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30pm in the large ensemble room at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS), 390 Lincoln Road.

Concord High Students Celebrate 70th High School Reunion

CONCORD: Classmates from many long years ago recently got together to Celebrate their 70th Reunion from Concord High School. When these special folks attended Concord High School there were students from Bedford, Carlisle, Concord and Lincoln. That was before the addition of the Concord/Carlisle School was a reality. Pictured are John Condon, Dick Loynd, Ken Olsen, Marian Harrison Stebbins, Jean McAllister Kydd, Steve Verrill, Bonnie Daley Kennedy, Priscilla Giles and MaryAnne Snelling Moszka.

Healthy Relationships Zoom Workshop

LEXINGTON: Healthy relationships are ones where people can safely feel and express themselves and others. This comes from mutual trust, honesty, good communication, being understanding and calm during arguments, and consent. Minuteman High School is presenting a parent workshop call "Healthy Relationships" with Cory Mashburn, M.Ed on October 11, 6-7:30pm, via Zoom. This workshop will offer strategies for opening conversation and engaging teens and their friends in thinking critically about healthy and unhealthy relationships. For more information, visit www.minuteman.org.

Concord Festival of Authors Explores the Art of Storytelling in October 2023

CONCORD: The 31st annual Concord Festival of Authors (CFA) celebrates the written and spoken word with top-notch literary events throughout town on October 20-30. Managed by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library (CFPL), this year’s CFA also honors the library’s 150th anniversary as a community home for readers of all ages.

The 2023 CFA kicks off with keynote speaker Jennifer De Leon (pictured), author most recently of Borderless, who will discuss “The Power of Storytelling” on October 20 at 7pm in the CFPL’s Goodwin Forum. The CFPL will also feature the Friends of the CFPL’s Ruth Ratner Miller Memorial Award for Excellence in American History recipient Robert Gross on October 21 at 7pm, and author/ illustrator Chris Van Dusen will give the 11th annual Leslie Riedel Memorial Lecture for Young People on October 22 at 4pm. In celebration of the library’s 150th anniversary, the CFPL Corporation presents award-winning author and Boston College professor Elizabeth Graver on October 27 at 7pm.

The popular CFA Breakfast with the Authors returns to Concord’s Colonial Inn this year on October 28 at 8:30am, featuring longtime moderator and Concord resident Dr. Suzanne Koven with esteemed authors Julie Carrick Dalton (The Last Beekeeper), Marie Myung-Ok Lee (Hurt You) and Sandeep Jauhar (My Father’s Brain: Understanding Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s). Tickets will be available at the Barrow Bookstore and Concord Bookshop as well as online through the CFA website.

The third LIVE storytelling program, The Stories of Us, will be a CFA featured event at the CFPL on October 25 at 6:45pm. Created by Be Well Be Here in collaboration with Communities Organized Against Racism (COAR) and Carlisle DEIB, The Stories of Us was modeled after The Moth as a forum for impactful community conversation, and features surprise local presenters who share powerful personal stories that inspire our common humanity. Other events at the CFPL include The Robbins House’s program with celebrated young adult author Ray Anthony Shepard on October 21, a Poetry Panel on October 29 and the final CFA event, Mystery Night on October 30.

Local organizations presenting events at the CFA 2023 include: the Umbrellas Arts Center (The Art of Self-Expression Workshops on October 21), the Transcendentalism Council (Harvard Divinity School lecturer Dan Makanan on October 23); Concord Museum (historian David Hackett Fisher on October 24), Orchard House (author Virginia Pye on October 28), Thoreau Society (the annual Thoreau Prize awarded to Terry Tempest Williams on October 28), and Barefoot Books (Mariana Llanos on October 29).

“CFA programs showcase diverse experiences and voices that honor the evolving literary history of Concord, MA,” says CFA Curator Lara Wilson. “The CFPL Friends and the festival planning team of volunteers work hard to offer meaningful community storytelling events that spark thoughtful conversations at the CFA every October.”

MCC Faculty Member to Perform As Part of College Concert Series

BEDFORD/LOWELL: As part of the Fall 2023 “A World of Music” concert series, Middlesex Community College will welcome faculty member and noted guitarist Raley Beggs for a lecture recital. The performance will take place at 11am on October 3 at the MCC Bedford Campus Concert Hall. Beggs will feature the music of South African guitarist and composer David Hewitt, whose compositions blend his European roots with native/Indigenous music from South Africa. Several of his works for his solo guitar will be performed.

“David Hewitt (1947-2001) left the guitar repertoire a collection of works that reflect his experiences and inspirations from western traditions of guitar along with his fascinations with Zulu maskanda music,” Beggs said. “The resulting compositions constitute a body of work that is utterly unique and dramatically underrepresented today. This concert will offer a hearty introduction to the world of South African music through the life of composer David Hewitt and his innovative exploration of Southern African guitar styles."

“A World of Music” will also include an Online Saturday Arts Concert featuring MCC faculty and alumni at 4pm on November 11, as well as a Student Recital at 12:30pm on December 4 at MCC’s Bedford Concert Hall.

Performances throughout the semester will also take place at the Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell, including Literature through Music at 11am on October 14; Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band at 3pm on October 22; and a second performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra at 7:30pm on December 9. Parking isavailable on-campus. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/worldofmusic.

“The Climate Crisis: What Climate Change Could Do to Our Planet, What Can We Do?”

CONCORD: First Parish in Concord Sanctuary will be hosting a forum on October 19 from 7-9pm - “The Climate Crisis: What Climate Change Could Do to Our Planet, What Can We Do?” in person and on Zoom. Gilbert (Gib) Metcalf (pictured) will speak, moderated by Peter Lowitt. Questions and comments will be aired following Professor Metcalf’s talk. You may attend this event in person or on Zoom. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86552147277.

It is clear to many of us that our worst fears about what climate change can do to our planet and to us are becoming a disturbing reality. We badly need to hear what can be done to address the growing impacts of global climate change and its role in exacerbating wildfires, hurricanes, rising sea level temperatures, and other destructive climatic events. That is the focus of this forum, featuring climate economist, Gilbert (Gib) Metcalf. Gib has written and spoken extensively on the economics of climate change and the effectiveness and socio-economic impacts of different policy approaches to eliminating our greenhouse gas emissions.

Gib Metcalf is a Professor of Economics Emeritus at Tufts University and a Visiting Professor at the MIT Sloan School, where he serves as an affiliate of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR). In addition, he is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a University Fellow at Resources For The Future. Metcalf has frequently testified before Congress, served on expert panels for the National Academies of Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and as a consultant to numerous other organizations. During 2011 and 2012, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Energy at the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he was the founding U.S. Board Member for the UN based Green Climate Fund.

Robert Barney Presents Organ Recital

CONCORD: On September 29 at 7pm. Robert Barney, organist at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, will present a special organ recital to celebrate his 30th anniversary of service to Trinity. Barney's program is inspired by his study at Smarano International Organ Academy this summer which focussed on the musical links between Rome, Lubeck (Germany) and Paris. The program will feature works by Girolamo Frescobaldi, Jan Pieterzsoon Sweelinck, Nicolas de Grigny, Matthias Weckmann, and Johann Sebastian Bach. This program is open to the public; a free-will offering will be accepted. For further information, please call Trinity Episcopal Church (978) 369-3715 or visit trinityconcord.org.

Organist Robert Barney, a resident of Littleton, has distinguished himself as a recitalist, conductor, and teacher with performances in Europe, Canada and the U.S., and for the Organ Historical Society, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the American Guild of Organists. As Artistic Director for The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus from 1985-1997, he led first performances of that group in Boston’s Jordan and Symphony Halls, Avery Fischer Hall in New York City, and similar halls in Minneapolis, Denver, and elsewhere. Mr. Barney, currently in his 30th year as Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord, Massachusetts, also teaches private lessons in organ, piano, and voice, and is Artistic Director for Youth pro Musica in Newton, Massachusetts (currently on hiatus because of the pandemic). Robert holds degrees from Concordia College, Bronxville, NY and The New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. His mentors included Robert Owen, Ralph Schultz, Frank Taylor, Donald Teeters, and Yuko Hayashi.

Run a Food Drive to Spread More Love, Less Hunger

Did you know that 24% of the food Open Table distributes comes from community food donations? Your assistance is vital to Open Table. Please consider running a food drive this autumn if you are hungry to help neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It's an easy, feel-good community service that is a great activity for neighborhoods, businesses, schools, scouts, clubs, teams, and faith-based organizations. All size food drives are welcome. Sandwich boards and other signs are available to help you spread the word. Go to www.opentable.org/donation-activities/ for information. Stay up-to-date on our changing needs and news on Instagram and Twitter @opentablema and Facebook.com/opentablema.

Open Table is the local food pantry supporting those in-need in Concord, Bedford, Carlisle, and 18 other surrounding areas. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, email info@opentable.org or call (978) 369-2275.

Between Worlds Concert October 1

CONCORD: Violinist Siri Smedvig, trumpeter William Kasel, and pianist Bonnie Anderson will perform "Between Worlds" on October 1 at 2pm in the Performing Arts Center, 51 WaldenStreet in Concord. This program will treat listeners to the sumptuous sonic worlds of brass, strings and piano, as displayed in compositions of Faure, Biber, Kreisler, Vitali, Bartok, Hindemith, Arutunian and others. The performance will also feature poetry including work by Pulitzer Prize recipient American poet Elizabeth Bishop.

Violinist Siri Smedvig studied violin with Joseph Silverstein, Boston Symphony Orchestra's Concertmaster (1962-1984) while attending Harvard University. She studied and performed five summers at Tanglewood Music Center. Siri has performed with numerous orchestras
including the Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, Handel & Haydn Society, Seattle Symphony, and American Symphony. She is currently Concertmaster of Concord Orchestra and Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and has an active teaching studio.

Trumpeter William Kasel studied with Rolf Smedvig, and Roger Voisin, both former Principal Trumpets for the Boston Symphony while attending Boston University. He studied and performed three summers at Tanglewood Music Center. William has played with Boston
Opera, Empire Brass Quintet. He is currently trumpeter in Concord Orchestra.

Accompanist Bonnie Anderson studied piano at Juilliard School, Michigan State, and French Piano Institute in Paris. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from Boston University. Bonnie is on the piano faculty at Phillips Andover Academy and has an
active teaching studio.

Admission to this performance is free, with donations gratefully accepted to help support the event.

Concord Conservatory Presents Music & Folklore Concert & Lecture

WEST CONCORD: Imagine listening to a musical performance that transports you to a different time and place, where you can experience the stories and emotions of people from various cultures and traditions. Join the Concord Conservatory of Music, along with the Concord Museum, for Music & Folklore concert and lecture on October 27 at 7:30pm. Celebrate the oral folk traditions of various cultures through music at 1317 Main Street in West Concord.

Folklore is a way of preserving and transmitting the stories, wisdom, and values of distinct cultures across time. Hear musical tales that reveal the similarities and differences between diverse societies and appreciate the richness and variety of our cultural heritage. The guest speaker will be Frank Korom, Professor of Religion and Anthropology at Boston University

and Associate of Folklore and Mythology at Harvard College. His expertise, research, and teaching interests range from South Asian expressive traditions and contemporary religion to diaspora studies and transnationalism.

By combining chamber music and folktales, composers can create works that are rich in narrative, character, and atmosphere. Experience how the works of Schubert, Copland, Bartok, Esmail, Mussorgsky, and others bring to life the spirit and the magic of these narratives, connecting us with our shared roots. This chamber music concert will feature CCM faculty artists soprano Rose Hegele, violinist Angel Valchinov, and pianist Yoko

Hagino.

Tickets are $25 General Admission and are available online at ConcordConservatory.org or at the door. Tickets are free for students age 18 and under. Email info@concordconservatory.org or call (978) 369-0010 for more information.

MCC Kicks Off “World of Music” with Lowell Chamber Orchestra

LOWELL/BEDFORD: Middlesex Community College will kick off the Fall 2023 “A World of Music” concert series with a performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) at 7:30pm on September 16 at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell.

“We are delighted to be opening the fall season with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra,” said Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta, MCC’s Chair of Music. “Our Fall ‘World of Music’ concert series will feature a wonderful variety of music, including orchestral music, faculty performances, lecture recitals, an exciting Klezmer Band, and an online concert in collaboration with Dracut Arts. There’s something for everyone!

The LCO, conducted by MCC faculty member Orlando Cela, will present a concert featuring miniature symphonies. Works by Yoko Nakatani, Brittney Benton, Vincent Persichetti, and Arnold Schoenberg will be performed. Other performances at the Academic Arts Center this semester include Literature through Music at 11am on October 14; Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band at 3pm on
October 22; and a second performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra at 7:30pm on December 9.

“A World of Music” will also hold performances at MCC’s Concert Hall on the Bedford Campus, including Guitar Music of South African Composer David Hewitt at 11am on October 3 and a Student Recital at 12:30pm on December 4. There will also be an Online Saturday Arts Concert featuring MCC faculty and an alum at 4pm on November 11.

All concerts are free and open to the public. MCC’s Academic Arts Center is located at 240 Central Street in Lowell. With parking not available on site, the nearest public parking facility is the Early Garage on 135 Middlesex Street.
For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/worldofmusic.

Fab Four from Bedford Exhibit at Westford’s PCA

WESTFORD/BEDFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) welcomes four Bedford artists in a group exhibition running from October 8-29, with an opening reception on October 8 from noon-3pm. This is the first in the PCA's 2023-24 "Artist-of-the-Month" series, open to visitors in the Gallery each Sunday from noon until 2pm.This group exhibition of talented artists features a collection of works in acrylic, watercolor, collage and batik.

Dana Holley’s primary medium is acrylic, and she also enjoys drawing and collage. Her artwork has been exhibited at the Bedford Arts & Crafts Society’s Regional Art Shows and the Grace Chapel Art Gallery and was featured on the cover of her Wellesley College 50th reunion Record Book.

Laura Wallace has cultivated her art practice in batik for many years. Since her retirement from the software industry, she has shown her work at various venues, including Gallery Twist, the Concord Art Association, and the Bedford Free Public Library. Laura also enjoys painting in acrylics and watercolor, as well as drawing.

Margo Zelermyer has recently rekindled her longtime passion for making art. She works in acrylics, colored pencil, ink, collage, and watercolor. Margo has exhibited at the Grace Chapel Art Gallery and the Bedford Arts & Crafts Society’s Regional Art Show.

Sylvia Mallory studied watercolor painting and subsequently took up acrylics, now her favored medium. She also works in collage and mixed media. Sylvia’s artwork has hung at the Rockport Art Association, Gallery Twist, the Grace Chapel Art Gallery, the Art Gallery at First Parish, and the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. Her favorite subject matter includes landscapes, floral still lifes, and abstracts.

For more Artist information, contact 4.friends.art@gmail.com. For more information about the PCA exhibit, visit www.pcawestford.org or call (978) 692-6333.

Bedford Cultural Council Grant Applications Open; Deadline October 17

BEDFORD: The Bedford Cultural Council grant cycle for FY24 opened September 1, and the BCC seeks applications from interested individuals and organizations for funding. Eligible projects include a wide range of artistic projects and activities in and around Bedford — including festivals and performances; lectures and workshops; arts education and enrichment programs for children and adults; nature, science, and environmental education projects; and projects celebrating local history and cultural diversity. First-time applicants are given priority in grant decisions.

People of all ages, backgrounds, and affiliations are encouraged to apply for projects that will enhance Bedford as a community. Funding for the grants comes from Mass Cultural Council with the Select Board also allocating funding. As the Select Board’s liaison to the BCC, Emily Mitchell noted that “Bedford has a long history of community arts and culture, and the Bedford Cultural Council is an integral partner in bringing innovative and inclusive programs to the Town through its annual grant program. The Select Board strongly encourages individuals and community groups to apply for FY23 grants to continue Bedford's rich tradition of cultural and educational opportunities.”
"As a former BCC Chair, I'm always proud to see the amazing work that the Cultural Council supports. The dedication of the BCC volunteers exemplifies the best of Bedford. I encourage everyone involved in the arts and humanities to apply and take advantage of this incredible resource," said Bedford's State Representative Ken Gordon.

“The Council works hard to encourage people in the community to apply for grants, then is put to the task of applying limited resources to fund worthwhile projects,” said Bedford’s State Senator Mike Barrett. “These grants ensure that Bedford's wealth of cultural groups will continue to thrive.”

Previously funded projects include such popular programs as:

South Asian Association of Bedford: Holi and Diwali celebrations
Bedford Mothers Out Front: Pumpkin smash
Friends of Job Lane House: Student docent program and Family Field Day
Bedford Free Public Library: Traveling maker space
Lane Elementary: Lobby Math & Science Corner
Sarah Scoville: Bedford Utility Box Murals
Bedford Historical Society: “The Preservationist,” mailed to all addresses in Bedford

The application is completely electronic, straightforward, and relatively easy to complete. Bedford funding priorities, local guidelines, and information are available online at www.bedfordma.gov/cultural-council and www.mass-culture.org/Bedford. The online application is available at https://massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp. More detailed information on the grant process can be found at https://massculturalcouncil.org/communities/local-cultural-council-program/application-process/. If you have any questions, please email the Bedford Cultural Council at BedfordMACulturalCouncil@gmail.com or contact Barbara Purchia at bsrpurchia@aol.com or (781) 275-2464.

2023 Ruth Ratner Miller Award Honors Bob Gross

CONCORD: Join the Friends of the Library for the presentation of the prestigious Ruth Ratner Miller Award for Excellence in American History on October 21 at 7pm in the Goodwin Forum of the Concord Free Public Library. This year’s winner is Concord’s own Robert Gross, PhD. He is a prolific author of carefully researched books on American history, starting with the publication of The Minutemen and Their World (1976) which won the Bancroft Prize in American history. It was re-issued in a 25th anniversary edition in 2001 and published by Picador in a revised edition in 2022 to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Gross' latest book, "The Transcendentalists and Their World" (2021), was chosen by the Wall Street Journal as one of the 10 best books of 2021. He has written numerous works including Thoreau and the Laborers of Concord, published in 2013. A native of Bridgeport (CT), Gross received the B.A. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966 and the M.A. (1968) and Ph.D. (1976) in History from Columbia University. Gross specializes in the social and cultural history of the U.S., from the colonial era through the 19th century. Other works include In Debt to Shays: The Bicentennial of an Agrarian Rebellion (1993). His other recent work examines New England writers — notably, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson — in historical context.

The lecture is an in-person event. Tickets can be purchased (cash or check only) at the Barrow Book Store and the Concord Book Shop at $15 for adults, $5 for students. Digital tickets are $16 ($6 for students) through Zeffy at cfpl.info/friendsmiller. This year, advance tickets will not be sold at the Library. Following the lecture and award presentation by the Friends, there will be a book signing and reception in the Library’s Reference Room.

The Ruth Ratner Miller Memorial Award for Excellence in American History was established in 1998 and is sponsored by her four children to honor the life of their mother, who believed passionately that understanding history was not merely desirable but a civic and religious duty.

The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library, Inc. is an all-volunteer community-supported non-profit organization which has been supplementing the materials and programs offered by the Concord Free Public Library for over 50 years. The Friends make museum passes, poetry readings, chamber music concerts, the seed lending library, “Direct-to-You” home delivery, multi-lingual entertainment, summer lawn concerts, and so much more available to all library patrons. The Friends also sponsor the annual Concord Festival of Authors each October and professional development opportunities for staff throughout the year.

Garden Club of Concord Seeks Grant Proposals

CONCORD: The Garden Club of Concord invites all local organizations and residents interested in pursuing gardening-related community projects to submit grant proposals. This is an excellent opportunity for passionate individuals and organizations to make a positive impact on Concord’s environment and community life.

For years, the Garden Club, through its grant program, has been able to sponsor a diverse range of community projects. Past grants have funded planting projects at Concord-Carlisle High School, the Old Manse, the Concord Housing Authority and The Umbrella Community Arts Center. In addition, the Club supports outreach to citizens through nature and horticulture; Gaining Ground and Minute Man ARC for Human Services have received past grants for garden-related educational and therapeutic programs.

Funding for all grants is made possible through the Garden Club’s much-anticipated annual spring plant sale. This event, open to the public each year, serves to generate funds for community projects and provides an opportunity for the community to connect and share their love for plants and the environment.

To request a grant application or for more information about the application process, please contact Joan Campbell at joancampbell74@gmail.com or (978) 369-3889. The deadline for submissions is October 20, 2023.

A Show Featuring Contemporary Art from Ukraine is Coming to Bedford

BEDFORD: The Gallery @First Parish in Bedford is pleased to announce the up-coming art exhibit “Affirmation of Life: Art from today’s Ukraine” which will be exhibited September 23-October 7. The Gallery @First Parish is located in First Parish Church at 75 Great Road. This will be a rare opportunity to see and enjoy contemporary art from Ukraine. Works in this exhibit represent a whole spectrum of art being made by Ukrainian artists today. Much of this art will be on view for the first time in the United States having been collected for this show by Bedford residents Vlad Shapiro and Nataliya Proskura.

The opening weekend will be September 23-24, with an opening ceremony on the 23 at 10am with the exhibit open until 4pm. Then, at 5pm there will be a concert featuring Ukrainian soprano, Olga Abakumova who escaped from Ukraine with her young daughter and now lives in Sudbury. She will be accompanied by pianist Clemens Teufel playing the music of A. Kos-Anatolsky, H. Majboroda, G. Gershwin, R. Schumann, J. Strauss as well as others. There will be a small reception following the concert.

On September 24 at 11:30am there will be a talk in the gallery about the art and the importance of these pieces. The Gallery will also be open during church hours, 9am-2pm Monday through Friday, for the rest of the exhibit. Private showings can be arranged. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to appreciate the depth and richness of the Ukrainian culture, coming directly from artists currently living and working there.

All proceeds from this show will go to Mriya (https://mriya-ua.org), a non-profit organization created by local Ukrainians, mostly young professionals and students, to provide humanitarian support for Ukraine as well as support for the arts.

This show has the support of the Bedford Cultural District Partnership, The First Parish Church of Bedford, and the Ukrainian Cultural Initiatives. For more information, visit http://ukrainian-cultural-initiative.com.

Rabbi darby leigh and ks cantor rosalie gerut

An Invitation to Share High Holy Days 5784

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.

Bedford Minuteman Company Needs YOU!

BEDFORD: The Bedford Minuteman Company is looking for men and women who appreciate history. There is the opportunity to learn the fife and/or drum. If not, there are positions to carry flags or become a musket man. They march in parades and participate in local town events (i.e., Town Meeting, etc.). The next event is Bedford Day on September 23. Their booth is on the circle, behind the Town Hall in front of the yellow building. You will see the Bedford Flag at the booth. Stop by the booth to say hello, or to request a flyer, email info@bedfordminutemen.org or visit
https://bedfordminutemen.org.

Choral Ensemble Invites Women to Join for Fall Season

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.

First Connections Offers Fall Play Groups

ACTON: First Connections has two free playgroups with openings for Fall. Groups are open to residents of Acton, Bedford, Boxboro, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury and Westford. Our Fall session will run from the week of September 11 to the week of December 11. Our playgroups are funded by a grant from the Mass. Dept of Early Education and Care and led by our Early Childhood Teacher. Caregivers and children attend the groups together.

Me, You, We Playgroup for Ages 3-5 is based on a Boston Children's Museum curriculum where children practice social-emotional skills such as taking turns, using words to negotiate conflict, and labeling feelings. Families receive at-home learning materials. Younger siblings welcome. Meets outdoors (weather permitting) at Boxborough Library. Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am.

Language & Literacy Playgroup for Multilingual Families for Ages 1 1/2-5 is for families who speak a language other than or in addition to English as part of their daily life. This group will help foster a love of books in your child and share tips for how to make the most of your shared reading at home. In addition to free play, there will be circle time and activities related to each week's story. Infant siblings in carriers welcome. Held at First Connections in Acton. Wednesdays, 10-11am.

If you are interested in either of these groups, email Linda to register: lmatthews@jri.org.

Concord Conservatory’s Music Education Program for Kids with Developmental Needs

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 Conservatory Holds Ukulele Taster

WEST CONCORD: Get hooked on playing the most infectious and fun instrument, the ukulele! Join Concord Conservatory of Music’s (CCM) free Ukulele Taster on September 11 from 7–8pm for adults. After an hour, you’ll fall in love with playing this happy and cool instrument and will probably want to join a class with your new friends.

CCM faculty member Aaron Jay Myers will guide you and have you strumming along in no time. You’ll learn how to hold the ukulele and learn some basic chords. You’ll end up playing a foot-tapping song by the end of the ukulele taster. Ukuleles will be available to use for the evening, but bring your own if possible. Sign-up in advance at ConcordConservatory.org or just show up at CCM for an entertaining evening.

After the Taster, you’ll jump at the chance to join a ukulele group class. CCM offers the Ukulele Crash Course for beginners and the Ukulele Club for those already more familiar with the instrument. Jump on the bandwagon with your friends, and join the ukulele craze!

Group classes begin the week of September 18-23. For information on the full list of CCM offerings, visit ConcordConservatory.org, email info@concordconservatory.org, or call (978) 369-0010. The Concord
Conservatory of Music is located at 1317
Main Street within the West Concord Union Church on the 2nd floor. Financial assistance is available.

Concord Orchestra Open Rehearsal

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.

The Concord Free Public Library Celebrates 150 Years of Stories

CONCORD: On October 1, the Concord Free Public Library will mark its 150th Anniversary! Join the BIG celebration on this special day and for other exciting Anniversary activities and events:

October 1st, 2-4pm at the Town House and Main Library. Visit the Town House at 2pm to hear local and state officials commemorate this historic day and hear special guest “Ralph Waldo Emerson” re-enact excerpts from his original Library Dedication speech on October 1st 1873. Immediately following, the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Pep Band will kick off a parade to the Main Library’s Front Lawn, where the celebration will continue with special guests, music, cake, activities, and giveaways for all ages.
September 23, 2-4pm in the Workshop at the Main Library will be a workshop for all ages - “Make-A-Sign,” where patrons can create their own sign to carry in the October 1 Anniversary parade.
September 29, 7-8:30pm in the Rotunda at the Main Library will be a swing era jazz concert co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Concord Conservatory of Music. New Orleans revival quintet “The Easy Winners” will perform tunes by the great jazz masters, including Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
September 30, 2-4:30pm in the Goodwin Forum at the Main Library, the Library Corporation will host the world premiere of the film Ralph Waldo Emerson: Give All to Love. This film features an “essay on film” by Michael Maglaras and will provide a new and deeply personal perspective on Emerson, his writing, his life, and his importance to contemporary life. The film also features author and editor James Marcus, whose new and probing book on Emerson, Glad to the Brink of Fear: A Portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson, will be released in 2024.
October 2, 7-8pm, in the Goodwin Forum at the Main Library, the Friends of the Library will present a lecture entitled “150 Years of Cinema” with Films at Fowler host Randall Warniers in the Goodwin Forum.
October 14, 7-9 PM at the Main Library will be an adult evening of fun and festivities - After Hours @ the Library - sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Library Corporation. The Library will come alive with music, art, puppetry, theater, storytelling, and more. Delicious food and drink from local purveyors. Proceeds will benefit the new makerspace Workshop. Tickets available on September 5.
October 1-December 22 in the (newly-renovated) Art Gallery at the Main Library, visit "Connecting the Community: An Exhibition to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Concord Free Public Library," a special exhibition curated by the William Munroe Special Collections, highlighting the history of the Library's buildings, services, and staff. Special Collections will also feature a display on early circulation procedures and a selection of books checked out to Concord residents, including Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar, in the first decade of the Library's operation. The art displayed at the Concord Museum for the exhibition "A Perpetual Invitation: 150 Years of Art at the Concord Free Public Library" will be back home at the Library.

All activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information and to register for these events, visit cfpl150.org and follow @concordlibrary on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and the Library's weekly enewsletter.

Ryan B Hebert Kicks Off 2023-24 PCA Season with the Great American Songbook

WESTFORD/CARLISLE: Fresh off a stint on Season 21 of ABC’s hit talent competition “American Idol,” entertainer Ryan B Hebert is stopping by the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) for an evening of ‘Sinatra, Standards & the Great American Songbook,’ September 2, 2023 at 7pm (Doors open 6:30pm). Pack a beverage, a bite to eat, and prepare to coast down memory lane with Hebert as he sings a collection of songs featuring Sinatra classics and standards to the sounds of Robert Goulet, and more. For tickets and information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

Ryan B Hebert is an American actor and singer, (not to mention a Pokémon Master). He grew up in Carlisle (MA), spent some time in Chicago (DePaul University Theatre School graduate), and is currently spending his time performing around New England. Ryan most recently returned for his third summer residency at The Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit (ME), including a performance backed by the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra.

For the past 25 years, the PCA has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. For more information, call (978) 692-6333, or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Concord Chorus Open Rehearsal

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.

TriCon Collects Backpacks & School Supplies

CONCORD: Trinitarian Congregational Church (TriCon) collected backpacks and school supplies for the hundreds of children in the Lowell school system, between K-8th grade, who are living in temporary housing, shelters, or are unhoused. As they enter a new school year in less than ideal circumstances, and with caregivers who may not be able to afford the annual back-to-school shopping trip, we asked our congregation for support. Our parishioners dropped off a total of 91 backpacks, filled with crayons, pencils, markers, glue sticks, papers, notebooks, and all sorts of miscellaneous supplies. TriCon's Social Action Committee organized the drive, made sure each backpack had supplies in it, loaded up their cars, and delivered all 91 packs to the Lowell Salvation Army.

Help Support Those Affected by Domestic Violence in Our Communities

Free Training to Become a Volunteer Domestic Violence Advocate

CONCORD: Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is looking for interested community members to participate in their fall 2023 Volunteer Advocate Training program at the Concord Police Department. The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize the volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at the Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.

The fall 2023 program will be held over three weeks from September 18-October 6 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during daytime hours. The training sessions will consist of a mix of long (9:15am-3:30pm) and short (9:15am-12:30pm) days. For those who wish to activate as Advocates, an additional 10 to 12 hours of individual field training will take place after successful completion of the classroom segment. The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided.

DVSN is a community-based organization that works to combat domestic violence in collaboration with the police departments of its twelve member towns (Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston), Hanscom AFB, the Concord District Court, and Emerson Hospital. To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.

Those interested in more information about the training or want to request an application should call (978) 254-1761 or send an e-mail to dvvap@concordma.gov. Applications are due no later than September 8, 2023.

Barbara Sutherland and Dorit vander Wilden, Isabel Wilber & Ruth Johnson indulging in a bit of flower arranging, a program offered by Concord Park Assisted Living.

Concord park residents barbara sutherland and dorit vander wilden

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Water Safety Reminders

According to the American Red Cross, 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning, and on average two of those deaths are children under age 14. Additionally, drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. To ensure everyone’s safety in the water this summer, the Hudson Fire Department would like to remind residents of the following safety tips for kayakers, paddlers and recreational boaters courtesy of the American Canoe Association:

Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
Children under the age of 12 must always wear a life jacket in a public body of water.
Be a competent swimmer with the ability to handle oneself underwater, moving water, surf or current. Keep the craft under control. Do not enter a rapid unless you are reasonably sure you can navigate it or swim the entire rapid in case you capsize.
Keep a lookout for hazards and avoid them. Watch for fog, especially on coastal waters.
Know your physical limitations.
Group members need to constantly assess the behavior of others in their group.

For those swimming in the ocean, lakes, ponds or pools, the Hudson Fire Department also provides the following safety tips from the American Red Cross:

Never leave children unattended while they are near or in a body of water, and make sure they have an adult to accompany them into the water. Young or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a life jacket or inflatable arm floats.
Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children.
If a child is missing, always check the body of water that they were near or swimming in first.
Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as river currents, ocean rip current, underwater hazards including vegetation and animals, and more.
Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or during swimming or diving, or while supervising swimmers.
Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they:
- Are not making forward progress in the water.
- Are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water.
- Are motionless and face down in the water.
If someone is drowning or experiencing an emergency in the water:
- Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
- Ask someone to call emergency medical services (EMS). If alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call EMS.
- Begin CPR.
- Use an AED if available and transfer care to advanced life support.
Take a CPR course for adults and children to be prepared if an emergency occurs. Update skills regularly.

Concord Youth Theatre Auditions "Little Women"

CONCORD: The Concord Youth Theatre Teen Company is open to young people in grades 9 through 12. It will be holding auditions August 28 and 29. Sign up here.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's American classic, and her life, this Civil War story of love and family stands the test of time. The adventures of the four March sisters are brought to vivid musical life in Little Women. The Civil War is in full swing, and the March sisters -- Meg, the oldest, a romantic, the spirited and tomboyish Jo, sweet and loving Beth, and irascible, playful Amy -- live in Concord, Massachusetts with their Marmee while their father is on the battlefield. Filled with adventure (both lived and imagined), heartbreak, and a deep sense of hope, the struggle of these “Little Women” to find their own voices mirrors the growing pains of a young America. With buoyant, joyful melodies, memorable characters, and a big-hearted message, Little Women reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

Audition: Monday, August 28 from 6:30-8:30; Call Backs Tuesday, August 29 from 6:30-8:30. Plan to stay the full time.
Rehearsals: Thursdays 6:30 – 8:30pm; Saturdays 2:00 – 4:00pm; Sundays 5:30 – 9:30pm
Tech week will require additional days and times.
Performances: October 13 @ 7:30; October 14 @ 4:00; October 15 @ 2:30
Tuition: $485

All auditions will be held at 53 Church Street. If you have any questions, please call (978) 371-1482 or send an email to concord_youth_theatre@concordyouththeatre.org.

The Rotary Club of Concord Honors Beloved Rotarian June Grace with a Habitat Build Day

CONCORD: In memory of June Grace, Rotarians from clubs in Concord and Bedford volunteered at a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell home being built in Concord. June once mentioned that a nice way to honor someone who has passed away is to volunteer for something that was important to them and so when she died in May the idea was born. Sharon Spaulding reached out to Suzanne at Habitat for Humanity who loved the idea of honoring a previous volunteer by hosting a Habitat Build Day!

June and her husband, Buck, very much enjoyed volunteering at Habitat. June had volunteered at the Carter Way Bedford Habitat project as well as a house in Concord. June was a member of Rotary Club of Concord since 2002 and the Rotary Club of Worcester for 9 years prior. Actively involved in all aspects of the club, she was a Past President and Public Relations Chair. She worked tirelessly on youth engagement, international projects and local initiatives including cooking for Open Table. In addition, she could be found hosting events for Minute Man Arc and Gaining Ground, serving slush at Picnic in the Park and marching in the Patriots Day parade. June was involved in outreach to the service people at Hanscom, prison outreach for gifts to the children at the holidays and she was the champion of the Rotary Pops Concert Fundraiser. June was an active and engaged volunteer, always kind, encouraging and thoughtful to all her fellow Rotarians and is greatly missed.

Her spirit was very much felt as more than two dozen Rotarians from Concord and Bedford clubs gathered to help paint walls and ceilings of a habitat home in Concord in two shifts on Thursday July 27. During a lunch break between shifts several Rotarians spoke and shared their memories of working on projects with June. Jean Goldsberry, President of the Rotary Club of Concord said, “This was a wonderful tribute to our beloved June Grace who epitomized the Rotary mission of Service above Self.”

Riverfest Summer 2023 at the Old Manse, August 5

CONCORD: Celebrate 24 years of Wild & Scenic designation for the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers. Come to the riverbank by foot, or paddle, bring a picnic, and enjoy a day of entertainment at the historic Old Manse, 269 Monument Street, August 5 from 10am-4pm. Begin the day with outdoor yoga. Join local artists for plein air painting. Children will enjoy “The Story about a Butterfly” and make their own butterfly out of recycled materials, learn about the history of our rivers, become a Junior River Ranger, or have fun with arts and crafts by the river. Enjoy an Encore Dance Ensemble performance, or Ron McAdow’s readings and commentary about the literary history of our rivers. Take a guided walk through the pollinator gardens at the Buttrick House. There is something for everyone! For details and timing of these events, and to see a full listing of Riverfest Summer 2023 events taking place through August 13, visit www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org. These events are courtesy of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord River Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council and all the local nonprofits working to protect our rivers.

Virtual Films at Fowler Continues in Summer 2023

CONCORD: Virtual Films at Fowler continues in summer 2023 with the theme of Finding Family. These selected movies are in some way about the varied pleasures, problems, and pitfalls of belonging to a family, whether conventional or unconventional.

A Place in the Sun (1951), August 2, 7pm. (Discussion Date on Zoom) Winner of six Oscars - An eager young man starts a factory job and falls in love with a pretty co-worker, but he is lured away by a glamorous socialite.

Please watch the film on Kanopy before the discussion. To register for the discussion and receive a Zoom link, send an email to the Coordinator of the program Randall Warniers at FilmsatFowler@concordlibrary.org.

This series is sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

[View Summer 2023 Virtual Film at Fowler Schedules]

Some of what's happening at Concord Public Libraries...

Open Table Receives $168,529 Food Infrastructure Grant from Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MAYNARD/CONCORD: Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today announced that it has received a Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) in the amount of $168,529 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Open Table was one of 165 organizations selected from across the state to receive funding to help promote food security and resiliency.

The grant will be used to help renovate the Open Table Annex at 39 Main Street in Maynard and, specifically, to purchase a walk-in freezer and refrigeration. Located adjacent to Open Table’s existing pantry and offices, the new annex space will enable Open Table to keep more food onsite and, in turn, better support its growing client base with both on-site food distribution as well as its prepared meals and its growing mobile programs.

“This grant will be used to strengthen Open Table’s infrastructure and ensure that individuals and families throughout the MetroWest area have access to food,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “We are most grateful to the State for its commitment to fighting food insecurity by partnering with local organizations like Open Table. We, like many other food pantries, are seeing a significant increase in demand, and are working hard to make sure that everyone has food on their table.”

In addition to meeting the current needs, Open Table is aware that almost 50 percent of food insecure households in the Metro West area are not currently accessing a food pantry. With the added capacity from this grant, Open Table hopes to expand programs and partnerships with local organizations that serve individuals and families in need.
Currently Open Table distributes bags of groceries, which include fresh produce, proteins, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable products, to over 300 households each week and provides over 1000 prepared meals to clients that hail from the Metro West suburbs. The organization offers food through its on-site drive-through model as well as a number of delivery programs. Open Table has received incredible support from the communities it serves through donations of food and funds, making it possible to continue to address food insecurity in the MetroWest area.

The FSIG program was created to provide grants for capital infrastructure investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals throughout the state who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or otherwise face unequal access to food. The program seeks to ensure that farmers, fishers, and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future supply chain issues.

Help Support Those Affected by Domestic Violence in Our Communities
Free Training to Become a Volunteer Domestic Violence Advocate

CONCORD: Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is looking for interested community members to participate in their fall 2023 Volunteer Advocate Training programat the Concord Police Department. The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize the volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at the Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.

The fall 2023 program will be held over three weeks from September 18-October 6 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during daytime hours. The training sessions will consist of a mix of long (9:15am–3:30pm) and short (9:15am-12:30pm) days. For those who wish to activate as Advocates, an additional 10-12 hours of individual field training will take place after successful completion of the classroom segment. The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided.

DVSN is a community-based organization that works to combat domestic violence in collaboration with the police departments of its twelve member towns (Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston), Hanscom AFB, the Concord District Court, and Emerson Hospital. To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.

Those interested in more information about the training or want to request an application should call (978) 254-1761 or send an email to training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than September 8, 2023.

Concord Conservatory Collecting Ukuleles for Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley

CONCORD/MAYNARD: Do you have a ukulele sitting in a closet that you haven’t touched in years? Consider donating your ukulele to a program offering free music classes for kids. The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) provides free weekly ukulele group classes to kids attending the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley in Maynard. Most of the kids at the Club do not own a ukulele, making practicing their instrument at home holding them back from making greater strides in their musicianship. CCM, in partnership with the Concord Cambridge Savings Bank, will have a collection box for either new or gently used soprano-sized ukuleles. The collection box is located in the branch located at 202 Sudbury Road, Concord.

Help put a ukulele in kids’ hands who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience music instruction. Studying music is like nothing else—providing emotional, social, and linguistic benefits. You’ll be giving the gift of music that keeps on giving. The goal is to collect at least 30 ukuleles allowing Club members to keep a ukulele at home to practice during the week and to be able to play their tunes for their family and friends. Thank you in advance for helping make a difference—one instrument at a time.

Contact CCM with any questions you may have about your ukulele donation. To learn more about CCM, visit ConcordConservatory.org, email info@ConcordConservatory.org, or call (978) 369-0010.

Open Table Appoints Three New Members to Board of Directors

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.

Tips for Safe Fourth of July Celebrations

According to the state Department of Fire Services and State Police, Massachusetts fire departments reported nearly 1,000 fires related to illegal fireworks between 2013 and 2022. In addition to the 42 fire service injuries, five civilian injuries, and $2.5 million in damages attributed to these fires, Massachusetts medical facilities reported about 30 severe burn injuries extending to 5% or more of the victims’ bodies that were caused by illegal fireworks. In 2022 alone, fire departments reported 106 fires and explosions attributed to fireworks, an increase of nearly a third over the prior year.

It is illegal for private citizens to use, possess, or sell fireworks of all kinds in Massachusetts without a license and a permit. This includes fireworks purchased legally elsewhere and brought into Massachusetts. It includes sparklers, firecrackers, cherry bombs, and other fireworks. Fines range from $10 to $1,000, and some violations could carry a one-year prison sentence.

Residents are encouraged to report any misuse of fireworks they notice in the community to your local Police Department.

In case of a firework-related or other emergency, always dial 911.

Additionally, residents are reminded of these key safety tips for Fourth of July celebrations:

Attend organized and permitted fireworks displays only.
Report illegal fires to the police.
Remember that alcohol/drugs and fireworks do not mix.
Keep pets indoors and away from fireworks. The loud noises and flashing lights can be frightening and overwhelming for pets. Pets can become frightened and run from familiar environments and people, becoming lost. Read more here.

The Department also urges residents to observe the following tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on getting home safely following Fourth of July celebrations:

Be mindful of pedestrians.
Always wear your seatbelt.
Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. From 2017 to 2021, 1,460 drivers were killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period — 38% of the drivers killed were drunk.
Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, do not plan on driving. Instead, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service to get home safely.
Take keys away from individuals who are under the influence and are planning to drive. Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory, which are critical for safe and responsible driving.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.

Concord Conservatory Children’s Chorus, Beginner Vocals & Voice Instruction

CONCORD: Gain confidence, learn proper techniques, and get that feel-good spirit while singing. Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) can help you and your kids achieve all that by joining a chorus, group class, or one-on-one individual voice instruction.

The new Concord Conservatory Children’s Chorus nurtures singers ages 9-13 in a comprehensive approach that allows them to develop and thrive. Featuring a challenging, performance-oriented, and fun curriculum, chorus members will receive training in vocal technique and musicianship and explore a wide variety of musical genres including folk, jazz, pop, Broadway, and world music.

No Experience required to join—just a love of singing and enthusiasm for music is essential. Singing in a group builds students’ self-esteem and helps form strong friendships, as they work towards a common goal. Kids will play musical games and perform full-body exercises leading into each rehearsal. These activities allow students to work on their vocal technique and musicianship in a low-pressure environment, which helps improve their performance.

Kids ages 6-8 also have their own Beginner Vocals group class that will help develop their singing voice. Young singers will learn the basic elements of breathing, pitch, voice placement, range development, and tone while working towards a performance of songs from a well-known musical.

CCM offers one-on-one private voice instruction. You and your kids can improve the tone and control of your voices. Take the time, while having fun, to discover a wider range of music and vocal best practices. Our accomplished and talented voice instructors, Rose Hegele, Holly Jennings, and Jay Lane, have all received formal music training along with their wealth of performance experience. They know and understand what it means to perform on a stage in front of a live audience. Voice instruction provides continuous feedback. You’ll learn proper breathing and posture for singing while you increase your repertoire and explore
new genres.

Visit ConcordConservatory.org for more information. Concord Conservatory is located at 1317 Main Street in the West
Concord Union Church. Financial assistance is available.