Action Unlimited

Rotary Club of Concord Awards Eight Scholarships

CONCORD: The Rotary Club of Concord congratulates eight winners of 2022 Rotary Scholarships, administered by The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle to:

Alicia Kearney, the William L. Eaton Scholarship: Alicia Kearney is excited to broaden her robotics expertise at the Stevens Institute of Technology where she plans to study mechanical engineering. While at CCHS, her participation in (and ultimate election as captain of) the Robotics Club was her greatest joy. This summer, Alicia is hoping to start a week-long Robotics camp for local middle school children. Alicia was awarded the Rotary Class Act Award for community service and an award from the Rotary Club for her leadership of the Robotics Club.
Alicia was selected for this scholarship because of her commitment to community services her work with middle school students and her previous awards from the Rotary Club.

Max Hamel, the Thomas R. Huckins Scholarship: Max took his love of the outdoors into consideration with his selection of the University of Vermont where he plans to pursue studies in Marketing or Environmental Science with an underlying focus in business. He is proud that he co-owns a successful landscaping business that he founded with several friends six years ago. Max organized a community service organization called High St. Helping Hands that gives CCHS students the opportunity to volunteer for projects that his company has donated to beautify the CCHS campus. While at CCHS, Max was a member of the baseball and football teams, the leadership counsel for the football team, and the Tai Chi Club. Max was selected for this scholarship because of his commitment to the environment and his commitment to community service.

Jasper Clarkson, the Richard L. Hale Scholarship. Jasper Clarkson is enrolling at the University of Puget Sound. Jasper originally hailed from the West Coast and has always aspired to return. Jasper serves his community through work at OpenTable, as a TA in the library as well as assisting elder neighbors with household maintenance and upkeep. Jasper was motivated to participate in the CCHS chapter of Innocence Project to investigate and defend those who are wrongly convicted and on Death Row. He was able to communicate directly with a man he was advocating for, and it shaped his view of the criminal justice system and social justice. Jasper was selected because of his commitment to community service and his advocacy of changes to the criminal justice system and his pursuit of social justice.

Elicia Benavides, the Captain Thomas J. Hudner Jr. Scholarship: Elicia plans to attend Suffolk University in the fall, majoring in environmental studies and global law. She hopes to continue into Law School and study immigration law. She chose Suffolk because her mother, who trained as a lawyer in Peru, got in but was unable to attend. Elicia started a non-profit in 5th grade, Read to Lead, and continues it to this day. She collects books and donations during the year and in the summer brings them to the village where her mother was raised in Peru and acts as a small lending library. She wanted to give back to the community that raised her mother. She believes that education is the only way out of poverty, and she is very passionate about studying indigenous cultures. Elicia was invited to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards convention in the summer of 2021. Elicia was selected for this award because of her commitment to community service, her initiative in providing longstanding service to her mother’s village in Peru and her previous recognition by the Rotary Club.

The following Interact Scholarships were administered by the Scholarship Committee of the Rotary Club of Concord. Interact is a Rotary club for young people who want to connect with others in their community and school. The CCHS Interact club carries out service projects and learns about the world. While CCHS’s Interact Club receives guidance from the Rotary Club of Concord, it governs and supports itself. Four CCHS Seniors won Interact Scholarships:

Zachary Hooven: Zachary will be attending William and Mary and aspires to work internationally in a finance role in investment banking and asset management. He plans to further his philanthropic interests, particularly in strengthening educational systems. Zach has spent the last two years training and recruiting tutors for ESL students.

Alexandra Newman: Alexandra (Allie) intends to build on her volunteer and educational experiences to pursue a career in law or international relations. At CCHS she participated in many community service projects and beyond school, traveled on two mission trips to Puerto Rico to rebuild following Hurricane Maria.

Kiley Pietropaolo: Kiley will be attending Georgia Tech. She has enjoyed her relationship with Rotary from Early Act in Middle School through Interact in High School, and credits this with her appreciation of the importance of serving her community.

Kaitlyn Nigborowicz

This year the Rotary Club of Concord will hold its 34th Annual Thomas R. Huckins Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday August 29 at the Concord Country Club. As in the past, the event will benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund and Rotary charitable projects. Rotary thanks “Platinum Sponsors” Emerson Hospital, Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty (the Maurer/Widell Team) and Deaconess Abundant Life Services along with “Friends Sponsors” The Salute Military Golf Association-Boston and Spaulding Management for their support. To register to play in or learn more about the event, visit www.rotaryclubofconcord.org and click on Golf in the banner at the top of the page.

PHOTO: (From left) Rotarian Hilary Taylor, Interact Scholar Kiley Pietropaolo and Rotarian Sharon Spaulding at Interact Awards Ceremony.

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Concord on Full Display at the Summer Sidewalk Celebration

CONCORD: Concord will be on full display at the Summer Sidewalk Celebration this year! The Concord Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Concord invite residents and visitors alike to enjoy sales, dinning, shopping, and live entertainment throughout Concord Center, the Thoreau District, and West Concord on Saturday, August 6 from 10am to 3pm. At the Celebration, local businesses will both offer new products in-shop and host sales outdoors at merchandise tables. Local blues band “Becky and The Swinging Bards” will jam-out, while non-profit theatre group “The Concord Players” will karaoke the day away!

To ensure easy event access, Walden Street will be closed to traffic from 10am to 4pm with its parking lot open for visitors.

In addition to the Sidewalk Celebration, the Chamber and Town is sponsoring a Enjoy Local Passport program that rewards customers who dine or shop at ten or more Concord Businesses between July 1 and August 10 with free entry to both raffled weekly prizes and a sweeping grand prize.

“Both programs are great ways to have fun while supporting local companies,” says Marie Foley, Chamber President and owner of Revolutionary Concord, Alright Art Supply and The Concord Toy Box. “Be sure to drop by the Chamber of Commerce’s table during the Celebration for surprise giveaways and more information.”

To learn more about Concord’s Summer Sidewalk Celebration and Enjoy Local Passport, visit https://concordchamberofcommerce.org.

Chocolate at the Job Lane Farm Museum

BEDFORD: Job Lane Farm Museum will present chocolate demonstrator, Linda Greene on July 24 from 2-4pm, featuring a colonial period chocolate and talk about how chocolate first came to the area. Greene is the Director of the Westford Museum and is passionate for Chocolate. As an 18th Century Chocolate Interpreter, she was a versatile educator and interpreter at the Captain Jackson’s Historic Chocolate Shop on the Olde North Church campus. For information, visit https://joblanefarmmuseum.org.

Become a Weed Warrior!

CONCORD: Become a Weed Warrior and help remove invasive water chestnut from the Sudbury, Concord and Assabet Rivers! Only by consistent removal can we prevent our rivers from becoming choked with these weeds. OARS is recruiting volunteers to join OARS staff this July. Volunteers will be trained to identify water chestnut and how to pull it, working from a boat or on the land. Volunteers will need to provide their own kayak, canoe, or small watercraft, paddles, and lifejacket/ personal floatation device. To learn more and volunteer, please contact Russell Forester at outreach@oars3rivers.org.

OARS is a nonprofit, science-based organization that works to protect and restore the health and resiliency of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers and their watersheds. Visit www.oars3rivers.org for information.

Concord Chamber of Commerce Relaunches Passport Program

CONCORD: Concord’s Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Concord are once again bringing back the popular Enjoy Local Passport program through August 6, 2022. It’s easy to play! Participants in the Enjoy Local Passport program are encouraged to shop and dine in ten or more of their favorite Concord and West Concord businesses. To enter the contest, shoppers just need to get their Concord Passport stamped or initialed at each of the locations. Online sales are also included. Every week during the promotion, a winner will be selected and awarded a gift check– or shopping bucks - that may be used at any local store or restaurant. On August 6, 2022 a grand prize winner will be picked too!

Beth Williams, Town of Concord’s Economic Vitality and Tourism Manager,
explained, “Last year we had 500 entries and nearly 100 Concord businesses were
represented – and this year promises to be even more successful. Really everyone
wins with the Local Passport.”

“We are always looking for ways to help local businesses be more successful and
the Passport program is the perfect tool to incentivize people to shop locally,” said
Marie Foley, President of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. “We really hope people have fun with it and we encourage everyone to try a couple of new stores or
restaurants that they’ve never been to before.”

Passports may be picked up and turned in at the Concord Visitor Center, 58 Main
Street, or the Concord Flower Shop, 135 Commonwealth Avenue in West Concord. You can also email your completed passport to visitors@concordma.gov.

Bedford Garden Club Hosts Meeting at Job Lane Farm Museum

BEDFORD: The Bedford Garden Club will hold a meeting on July 12, at the Job Lane Farm Museum located at 295 North Road. Social time is at 11am, followed by a meeting given on the history of the Lillian Dutton Memorial Herb garden and about Lillian Dutton who had a mail order herb business while living there. There will also be talk about the herbs that are planted there, how they were originally used, and if they are used today. Due to the pandemic, please bring your own lunch, your drink, and a chair. The public is invited, and it is free. For more information, visit https://bedfordgardenclub.org.

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Animal Clinic to Open on Minuteman High School Campus in Partnership with Boston Veterinary Clinic
Students and Professional Staff will Offer Public Services

LEXINGTON: An animal health and wellness center that will be operated in collaboration with Minuteman High School students and professional staff from Boston Veterinary Clinic (BVC) will tentatively open on the Minuteman campus in Lexington in the fall of 2023, Minuteman Superintendent-Director Edward A. Bouquillon and BVC CEO Paul Mataras announced today.

The partnership and opening of the animal clinic mark a milestone for Minuteman’s Animal Science career major, which launched last fall. The clinic will be in the East Campus Building, which is separate from the main school building, with its own parking area and easy access for patients and pet parents.

“Many young people are passionate about animal welfare and there is a clear need for skilled professionals in this growing field,” Bouquillon said. “Thanks to this wonderful partnership with Boston Veterinary Clinic, our students will get valuable hands-on learning experience, provide an important public service, contribute to the local economy, and help countless dogs, cats, and other animals with their health and wellness needs.”

There is a large demand for skilled workers in the animal science field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 16 percent by 2029, which is much faster than the 4 percent growth rate for all occupations combined.

“We are excited to work with the Minuteman team of educators in this first-of-its-kind partnership,” Mataras said. “It allows us to continue our expansion in Greater Boston, adding BVC Lexington to our network, while also bringing our high-level training program, focused on fear-free primary care, to the future leaders of veterinary medicine.”

In 2018, Minuteman was granted special legislation to allow the school district to enter into long-term leases with mission-compatible business partners. By doing so, Minuteman can provide a lease to a business partner that will incorporate a career technical education program into its business model, thus increasing opportunities for students and expanding the school’s enrollment. Reflecting a statewide trend in career technical education schools, Minuteman is experiencing an enrollment waitlist for the first time in recent memory.

There are currently multiple bills pending in the Massachusetts State House that would allow career technical education schools to expand their ability to provide long-term leases to business partners from five to 25 years, including House Bills 4542 and 4864.

The pending opening of the Minuteman/ BVC animal clinic remains subject to local and state licensing approvals. Representatives from BVC and the Minuteman signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this month. The Minuteman School Committee voted unanimously in favor of proceeding with the MOU in a public meeting on May 17, following a presentation from Mataras and BVC’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Brian Bourquin.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional career and technical high school and continuing education institution that integrates robust academic and technical learning. As an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Minuteman challenges all students to aspire to their full potential, accelerate their learning, and achieve success in the 21st-century global community.

The Bedford FBCoA Fix-It-Shop is Ready for Your Business

BEDFORD: What if you had a repair person at your fingertips? What if that repair person promised high quality service at ridiculously low costs? What if that repair person was trustworthy and skilled at their craft? Would you take advantage of it? Well, you actually have this service right town!

The FBCOA Fix-It Shop (The Friends of the Bedford Council on Aging) can fix almost everything (except electronics). It's a group of capable volunteers who take pride in their work. The shop is open to all - from Bedford and any other town, and people of any age, and the prices cannot be beat!

The folks at the Shop have repaired a microwave, a fax machine, a sewing machine, and a Roomba, as well as some of the other mechanical things they routinely fix, such as:

watch batteries for only $5
clocks: wall, mantel, anniversary
lamps, vacuum cleaners, remote controls, radio/CD players etc.
small appliances such as coffee makers, blenders, toasters, fans, and humidifiers.
stubborn switches, such as on a microwave door
sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools
re-glue tables and chairs, and broken ceramic items
Return sound and lights to children's toys

If you're not sure - bring it in!

The minimum charge is $3. The shop stocks many standard parts. Anything requiring extensive labor or special-order parts will be done only after prior customer approval.

All proceeds benefit the FBCOA (Friends of the Bedford Council on Aging).

Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am to noon, upstairs in the Town Center (yellow building behind Town Hall), 12 Mudge Way. Call (781) 275-6825 for more information.

Jane Goodall at CCHS
Goodall to Receive the Thoreau Prize at the Concord-Carlisle High School

CONCORD: The Thoreau Society recently announced that conservationist and best-selling author Dr. Jane Goodall will receive the 2022 Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing. The prize will be awarded during the Annual Gathering on the afternoon of July 10 at 2:30pm at the Concord-Carlisle High School. Join in person or virtually via our live-stream. Tickets are available at www.thoreausociety.org.

When Goodall was 26 years old, she was dispatched to Tanzania by famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, who had obtained a small grant from the National Geographic Society to fund a study of chimpanzees at Gombe Stream on the edge of Lake Tanganyika. She had been working for Leakey as a secretary. In 1960, with no formal scientific education, she arrived at the research outpost where her work would take place. She was accompanied by her mother, Margaret.

Goodall is a keen observer and careful to document her daily observations. One day, near the end of the six months afforded by the grant, she happened to be observing a chimpanzee she had named “David Greybeard” for his distinctive appearance. (At the time, the scientific community frowned on assigning human names to primate subjects in the field, supposing identification numbers more objective.) She observed the chimpanzee fashioning a stick into a kind of rod that he then used to capture termites as they swarmed around the opening of their mound.

As the story goes, when she informed Leakey of her discovery, he replied with a telegram that read, “Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as human.” Previously, it had been thought that only humans make tools. But since Goodall’s watershed research with chimpanzees, we have learned that many other animal species also fashion objects into tools.

Given the momentous discovery, the National Geographic Society naturally extended the research grant for continued work at Gombe. Goodall’s first husband, Baron Hugo van Lawick, began photographing and filming chimpanzees in 1962, helping to document her research at Gombe Stream. The work introduced the world to the Kasekela chimpanzee community, and its now famous members, Flo, Fifi, and Flint.

According to their website, the Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, “continues Dr. Goodall’s pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals.” Today, the Institute remains at the forefront of global advocacy for chimpanzee communities.

Goodall is not only an astute scientific observer, she is also a gifted communicator. The Thoreau Prize Committee, under the auspices of the Thoreau Society, is pleased to recognize Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary literary accomplishments in nature writing. Bestsellers written by Dr. Goodall have included In the Shadow of Man (1971), My Life with the Chimpanzees (1988), Through a Window (1990), and most recently The Book of Hope (Celadon, 2021). She has published books for children as well as adults, and in 1991 she founded Roots and Shoots, an organization that promotes student engagement, from preschool to college age, with environmental, conservation, and humanitarian issues.

The Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing 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. The Thoreau Society has helped to steward the prize and events since 2017. The prize is given both as a lifetime achievement award and 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 Sy Montgomery, Peter Matthiessen, Diane Ackerman and Gretel Ehrlich, the poet, novelist, and essayist Linda Hogan, and field biologists Robin Waller Kimmerer, George Schaller, Bernd Heinrich, and E.O. Wilson.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, is the Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace. To learn more about the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, visit www.janegoodall.org.

PHOTO: Jane Goodall Institute / by Bill Wallauer Jane Goodall at Gombe Stream National Park.

Local Residents Earn Dean's List Honors from MassBay Community College

WELLESLEY: The following local students have been named to the MassBay Community College Dean's List, achieving this outstanding academic honor for the spring 2022 semester.

To be eligible for the MassBay Dean's List, students must complete at least six credits of college-level courses, be in good standing with the College, and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Frank Abbott of Acton (01720), who studies Biotechnology
Holly Lascko of Acton (01720), who studies General Studies
Hailey Martinez of Acton (01720), who studies Liberal Arts - Early Childhood Education
Walid Alsharafi of Concord (01742), who studies Electrical & Computer Engineering
Nell Larkin of Concord (01742), who studies International Business

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor's degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay's Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond. To learn more about MassBay, visit massbay.edu.

Songs & Stories with Alan Goodrich
at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library invites children and their caregivers to enjoy songs and stories with Alan Goodrich in the Children’s Garden at the Main Library on Thursday, June 23 at 10:30am. No registration is required for this event.

Alan is a guitarist and singer-songwriter/ solo performer who presents live music
concerts "for kids of all ages" including classic and current children's songs and original songs. In addition to his solo performances, Alan is the lead singer and drummer for Alan and The Alligators (a rock group based out of Concord) and has also performed with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members The Platters, T Lavitz (of The Dixie Dregs, and Jefferson Starship fame), The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Greg Hawkes (of The Cars), Dave Mattacks (of Paul McCartney, and Elton John fame), and others.

Alan's original music CDs have been added at over 75 radio stations across the US and
Canada and charted in the Top Ten in college radio. He resides in Concord where he is a music teacher in addition to being a live music performer. For more information, you can visit him online at www.alligatorsband.com.

For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch), or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

Summer School Registration Now Open at Minuteman

High School Academic Recovery, Preschool Fun, Middle School Enrichment

LEXINGTON: Registration is now open for Minuteman High School's summer programs: high school academic recovery, preschool fun, and middle school enrichment.Courses will be held in one- or two-week sessions between July 11 and August 12. Minuteman High School is located at 758 Marrett Road (Rt. 2A) in Lexington, and is close to I-95 and Route 2.

A high school academic recovery program (grades 9-12) with numerous courses will be available July 11-August 5. Open to any high school student, even if they do not attend Minuteman.

A middle school enrichment program (grades 6-8), with numerous courses in career technical education areas such as auto mechanics, plant science, multimedia, animal science, cosmetology, and early education, will be available July 11-29.

A preschool program (ages 3-6) at Minuteman’s Colonial Children’s Academy will be available from July 11-August 5.

High School Academic Recovery

The high school summer program is open to any student in grades 9-12; they do not need to be current Minuteman students. The academic recovery classes are for students who did not pass their course(s) for the year and/or need additional support in the following academic subjects: Algebra I, Algebra II, Biochemistry, Chemistry/Physics, English, Geometry, History. A Public Speaking/Debate class is open for high school students as well. Courses are offered in 1- or 2-week sessions between July 11 and August 5 in either the morning or afternoon. Details and register online.

Middle School Enrichment

The middle school enrichment program is open to any student in grades 6-8 who has an interest in hands-on learning. One-week courses are held from July 11-29 and include veterinary science, auto mechanics, cosmetology, early education, environmental science, multimedia, and public speaking/debate. Free school bus transportation is provided to students living in Minuteman’s nine member towns of Acton, Arlington, Bolton, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Needham, and Stow. Details and register online.

Preschool Summer Fun at Minuteman!

Colonial Children’s Academy, the childcare center at Minuteman High School, is offering a summer program for children ages 3-6. Weekly programs run between July 11 and August 5. Hours are 8:30-11:30 AM with an optional lunch until 12:30 PM. The cost is $160 per week or $200 per week with the extra lunch hour. For more information, visit minuteman.org/ccasummer

If you have any questions, please email Cindy DeMaio, summer school coordinator and cosmetology instructor, or Kim Quinones, administrative assistant.

Bike for Books at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library is encouraging children, teens, and adults to bike to the Library! Every time you bike to the Main Library or Fowler Branch Library, show your helmet and they’ll stamp your bike card. After 10 stamps, you earn a free $5 gift certificate to Bedford Farms! For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch), or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

June 2022 StoryWalk at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library invites everyone to visit our StoryWalk, newly installed for the season on Main Street, leading to the new Children’s Library entrance. The June StoryWalk features Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard and illustrated by Keith Mallett. The story is a picture book biography of Ona Judge, a young enslaved woman who escaped the family of George Washington. In honor of Juneteenth, meet the acclaimed author of Runaway and historian Mr. Shepard on Tuesday, June 21 at 10:30am at the Main Library. No registration required. Visit www.concordlibrary.org for more Library programs.

Open Table Receives Cummings Foundation Grant
Metro West nonprofit receives two years of funding from Cummings Foundation

CONCORD/MAYNARD: Open Table, the Concord and Maynard charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, announced that it is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The Concord and Maynard-based organization was chosen from a total of 580 applicants during a competitive review process.

Currently Open Table distributes bags of groceries, which include fresh produce, proteins, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable produces, to over 300 households each week and provides over 800 prepared meals to clients that hail from the Metro West suburbs. Open Table has received incredible support from the communities it serves through donations of food and funds, making it possible for us to continue to address food insecurity in our region.

“The Cummings Foundation grant will help Open Table expand its services as a community food hub and support the increased number of individuals and families facing food insecurity during these challenging times,” said Jeanine Calabria, executive director of Open Table. “In addition, the grant will be used to help Open Table grow its mobile food program.”

The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties.
Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial property. Its buildings are all managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“We are so fortunate in greater Boston to have such effective nonprofits, plus a wealth of talented, dedicated professionals and volunteers to run them,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joyce Vyriotes. “We are indebted to them for the work they do each day to provide for basic needs, break down barriers to education and health resources, and work toward a more equitable society.”

With the help of about 90 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants. Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.

“Our volunteers bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which is so critical to our grant selection process,” said Vyriotes. “Through this democratized approach to philanthropy, they decide more than half the grants every year.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including food insecurity, immigrant and refugee services, social justice, education, and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 45 different cities and towns.

The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 900 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org. Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $375 million to greater Boston nonprofits.

Open Table is a 501(c)(3) established in 1989. Their mission is to address hunger in their local community by providing healthy food in a welcoming environment while respecting the dignity and diversity of those served. For more information, visit: www.opentable.org

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn, and Cummings Health Sciences, LLC. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

Make Your Own Videogame with Coderdojo

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library is excited to invite videogame designer and master coder Matthew Mackowski for the first installment of a monthly program, Make Your Own Videogame with Coderdojo, on June 4 from 2-4 pm in the CFPL Main Teen Lounge. Teen participants will have the opportunity to learn the basics of coding and get an inside look at the videogame industry and what it takes to become a designer. Or if you already have projects you are working on, bring them in for consultation. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Future session dates are TBA. No registration required.

This is not only a great opportunity for young coders to receive feedback on their projects, but to practice team-building, taking and receiving criticism, and solving problems collaboratively.

CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community-based programming clubs for young people. Anyone aged seven to seventeen can visit a Dojo where they can learn to code, build a website, create an app or a game, and explore technology in an informal, creative, and social environment.

Matt Mackowski is a professional video game developer and software engineer with over 15 years of experience. He has worked on games for the PC, mobile and console markets. Including working games for VR/AR. His notable shipped titles include the Fieldrunner series for mobile gaming, NBA 2k22 and Gears of War 3 port for the Playstation 5.

Renewable Energy with Ted Barten

CONCORD: On Sunday, June 5 at 10:30am, Kerem Shalom member Ted Barten will share his work over the past five years in the rapidly emerging offshore wind sector—including industry pioneer, Vineyard Wind. Barten will present an online “case study” of Vineyard Wind 1, America’s first successful utility-scale offshore wind project.

Barten is an environmental engineer by training (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and several other states, and earned his MBA at Northeastern University. Ted has devoted his 48-year environmental engineering career to siting, environmental analysis, licensing, and permitting of energy generation and energy infrastructure projects throughout the Northeast.

Please see keremshalom.org for additional information and registration for all events. Contact the office at 978-369-1223 or ksadmin@keremshalom.org with any questions.

Storytime Workshop with Acclaimed Children’s Author Wafa’ Tarnowksa at the CFPL

CONCORD: Meet award-winning children's author, Wafa’ Tarnowksa on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:30am at the Concord Free Public Library, Main Library! Wafa’ will read aloud from her new, critically acclaimed picture book, Nour’s Secret Library. Please note that this Summer Reading Program event has changed from the previously announced date of June 21 to June 14.

Nour’s Secret Library is about the power of books to heal, transport and create safe spaces during difficult times — specifically times of war. It’s based on actual events in Syria, as well as Wafa’s personal experience as a child during the Civil War in Lebanon. The book has received recent praise in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, School Library Journal, and more. This program is recommended for ages 6 and up. Afterwards, participants will be able to have their books signed by the author. No registration required.

For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch), or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

Celebrate Juneteenth with Acclaimed Children’s Author Ray Anthony Shepard

CONCORD: In honor of Juneteenth, come meet acclaimed children's author and historian Ray Anthony Shepard on Tuesday, June 21 at 10:30am at the Concord Free Public Library, Main Library. Shepard will read from his newest book, Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge, a picture book biography of Ona Judge, a young enslaved woman who escaped the family of George Washington.

The book is written in verse, and focuses on the risks Ona faced escaping enslavement to the unknown life as a fugitive in New Hampshire. Kirkus Reviews says “with a distinctive, haunting voice, powerful images, and thought-provoking story structure, this unique look at a remarkable young woman’s life choices and decisions offers an utterly necessary but seldom highlighted perspective on the contradictions within our society’s foundations.” The book has received a host of awards, including the Jane Addams Children’s Honor Book, a Notable Book by the Association for Library Services to Children, Bank Street’s Best Books of the Year list, and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.

Ray Anthony Shepard is a former middle school history teacher. As a child he was mesmerized by the historical stories his mother told, especially stories about his grandfather, who was enslaved until age six. From his mother, he learned the story of slavery not taught in school. He now strives to write “black biographies that matter to all young readers.” In addition to Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge, he is also the author of Now or Never!: Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry's War to End Slavery.

This event is generously sponsored by The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. No registration is required.

For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch), or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

Musical Mondays in June at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library hosts free musical concerts on Mondays at 10:30am for children ages 0-6 years and their caregivers at the Main Library. No registration is required for these performances.

On Monday, June 6 Alan Goodrich (pictured) - a guitarist and singer-songwriter solo performer - will entertain for all ages, including classic and current children's songs and original songs. In addition to his solo performances, Alan is the lead singer and drummer for the band Alan and the Alligators (a rock group based out of Concord, MA) and has also performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Platters, T Lavitz (of The Dixie Dregs and Jefferson Starship fame), The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Greg Hawkes (of The Cars), Dave Mattacks (of Paul McCartney and Elton John fame), and others. Alan resides in Concord where he is a music teacher in addition to being a live music performer. For more information, you can visit his website: www.alligatorsband.com.

On Monday, June 13 join Hugh Hanley , a nationally– known early childhood educator and musical entertainer who specializes in programs for young children and their teachers and families. Hugh accompanies his singing with guitar and banjo and draws on a wide repertoire of songs, finger plays, and music activities that are engaging and accessible to young children; they’re so much fun that the grown-ups will love to join in too!

On Monday, June 27 Concord favorite Rockabye Beats joins us again! They are a fun, family group whose music is reminiscent of founder Marcos Valles’s Puerto Rico. Their songs offer a range of styles from rock n’ roll to calypso to funk and even blues. Enjoy movement, dancing, counting, singing, and a little bit of Spanish vocabulary. Their music will have you bopping and moving along in no time!

For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch), or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

Minuteman Superintendent Ed Bouquillon Surprised With Retirement Parade on Athletic Track
Students and Staff Celebrated Retiring District Leader

LEXINGTON: It was an occasion filled with high spirits, expressions of sincere gratitude and fond farewells at Minuteman High School as students, teachers and administrators recently showed their appreciation to the district’s longtime superintendent, Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon. He plans to retire in June after 15 achievement-filled years.

Under summery blue skies with a balmy feel in the air, hundreds of students grouped by their career technical programs headed for the school’s football field. Many were carrying signs bearing messages thanking Dr. Bouquillon for his dedication and leadership.

As they wound their way around the perimeter of the new athletic field, bagpiper Seth Fagans of Acton stood in the center playing, adding a lilting musical nod to Dr. Bouquillon’s Irish heritage.

The next phase of the event took place inside the building in Minuteman’s theater. Principal George Clement spoke first, praising Dr. Bouquillon for doing so much to enhance students’ education and for preparing them for productive careers.

“His mission [was] to help kids discover what they love to do and what they do well, and to help kids gain an individual economic opportunity,” Clement said. “The question: Did he get the job done? The answer: Hell yes!”

He then read a checklist of Dr. Bouquillon’s most significant personal and professional accomplishments – “hire and foster top talent, get the school budget in order, rewrite the district charter, watch the school win multiple awards for excellence, be a proud husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and son, as well as a dynamic, generous, and strong servant-leader.”

Perhaps Dr. Bouquillon’s biggest success involved his steadfast advocacy for a new, badly-needed, state-of-the-art Minuteman school facility. It opened its doors in the fall of 2019.

Another notable triumph of his tenure came a year earlier, when Minuteman earned the prestigious designation of National Blue Ribbon School in 2018, an honor conferred by the U.S. Department of Education. That same year, Dr. Bouquillon was named a semi-finalist for National Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents.

In his remarks, Dr. Bouquillon struck a thoughtful tone. He said he has been conferring often with his successor, Dr. Kathleen Dawson, as she transitions into the role of Minuteman’s superintendent. She will begin on July 1. The school is “in very good hands,” Dr. Bouquillon said.

He took time to thank his family, including his wife, Diana, recognizing that people sometimes have to make tough choices between their family and the rigorous, unavoidable demands of a job such as a school superintendent.

Continuing on the theme of making choices, Dr. Bouquillon said that the staff’s mission is to help kids “make good choices” for their career pathway and future. “Helping kids find their passion – that’s what we do, and we do it well.”

Rounding out the tribute were two presentations to Dr. Bouquillon. The first was from Assistant Superintendent Amy Perreault, who gave him a pin to wear on his kilt. The other was from students in Carpentry, who made Adirondack chairs for him.

Bedford's 2022 Memorial Day Ceremonies

BEDFORD: On May 30, honor our veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. Bedford's Memorial Day events begin at:

- 8:30am American Legion/VFW Memorial & Shawsheen Cemetery: Ceremonies begin at the American Legion Post on Great Road

- 10am Old Burying Ground Ceremony

- 10:45am BHS Fallen Veterans Memorial Tribute by Bedford HS JROTC cadets

- 11am Town Parade - Starts from Mudge Way with brief stop at WWI memorial on Town Common

- 11:15am Veterans Memorial Park (next to Bedford Funeral Home): Town Ceremonies

For more information, contact Paul Purchia at 781-275-2464 or 781-789-8974.

Note: In case of heavy rains, outside activities will be canceled. Veterans Memorial Park ceremonies will be moved to Bedford High School Auditorium starting at 11am.

Minuteman High School's Students of the Term Announced for Term 3

LEXINGTON: Minuteman High School recently recognized four students from Stow, Arlington, Lexington, and Needham with the Student of the Term Award. The award is based on nominations from teachers and celebrates both academic achievement and good citizenship. One student is awarded per grade. Assistant Principal Brian Tildsley surprised the students, presenting them their awards in class. Later in the week the winners received a certificate and a free lunch with the staff members who nominated them in The District Restaurant at Minuteman.

The Students of the Term for Term 3 are:

Danieliz Calderon of Needham, a senior in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality program. “Danieliz prevailed against many obstacles she faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has demonstrated exceptional progress,” said Anita Currier, culinary arts teacher. “We admire her fortitude and courage. We are immensely proud of her accomplishments and commitment to success.” During her participation in the student Top Chef competition, Calderon received The Superintendent’s Special Award for her shrimp taco dish.

Jamie Lehoux of Lexington, a junior in the Metal Fabrication and Welding program. “I have seen tremendous growth from Jamie in welding and academics,” said Denise D’Ambrosia, teacher’s aide. “She is always pushing herself to be a better welder, including by working with more difficult metals such as aluminum. She is constantly involved with new projects and is always willing to learn and take feedback.” Lehoux participated in the SkillsUSA Districts competition in February.

Nick Krain of Arlington, a sophomore in the Automotive Technology program. “Nick has excellent attendance, is very conscientious, and is always prepared for shop,” said Don Melanson, automotive teacher. “I consider him one of the top students. He’s an excellent example for others.”

Robert Emken of Stow, a freshman in the Programming and Web Development program. “Robert is very conscientious, always having his homework done and coming [in] for extra help when need be,” said Connie Maynard, Spanish teacher. “He always works hard… It’s great to see.”

Minuteman is an award-winning regional career and technical high school and continuing education institution that integrates robust academic and technical learning. As an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Minuteman challenges all students to aspire to their full potential, accelerate their learning, and achieve success in the 21st-century global community. Located in Lexington in a new state-of-the-art facility, Minuteman’s member towns are Acton, Arlington Bolton, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Needham, and Stow.

PHOTO: The students (from left, front row) are Robert Emken of Stow, Jamie Lehoux of Lexington, Danieliz Calderon of Needham, and Nick Krain of Arlington. Back row: English as a Second Language teacher Daniela Das, Spanish teacher Connie Maynard, Principal George Clement, Culinary Arts teacher Martin McElhinney, and Automotive teacher Don Melanson.

Where Jazz Meets Classical Concert

CONCORD: Enjoy an evening of jazz inspired by classical music when The Concord Conservatory of Music will present Where Jazz Meets Classical Concert on Friday, May 20 at 7:30pm. Guest musicians will include saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky and pianist Yoshiko Hiramatsu Kline to perform with CCM faculty members Tsuyoshi Honjo on saxophone and Peter Evans on live electronics and bass clarinet.

Jazz and classical music might seem to live on opposite sides of the musical world.
Surprisingly, at times, these genres intersect and share with one another. Get ready for an innovative, one-of-a-kind jazz experience. You’ll hear fresh improvisational music and discover
jazz interpretations that borrowed and were inspired by contemporary classical music. In addition to jazz music, you’ll learn the background stories of the music and its composers—about their philosophies and performance practices.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.concordconservatory.org or at the door: $25 for adults and free for students 18 and under. Visit www.ConcordConservatory.org, email info@concordconservatory.org, or call (978) 369-0010 to learn more.

Annual West Virginia Mission Festival Returns to First Church Bedford

BEDFORD: Following a two-year pandemic-enforced hiatus, Bedford’s First Church of Christ, 25 Great Road, is bringing back its annual West Virginia Mission Festival, to be held from 5-8:30pm, Saturday, May 21. In addition to live Appalachian folk music by the popular duo Tim & Maggie, and a Southern-style pulled-pork supper, the festival will also feature free children’s activities, plus a variety of arts & crafts and baked goods for sale. Supper – featuring smoked pulled pork, sides and dessert - will be served from 5-8pm. Cost is $15 per person or $40 per family. First Church will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from this event to fund its ongoing humanitarian mission work in West Virginia.

The highlight of this year’s Mission Festival is the music of Tim & Maggie. This popular duo from Athens, West Virginia has spent decades studying and performing early American/ Appalachian music, including tunes from England, France, Ireland and Scotland. They play various instruments, including banjo, guitar, flutes, spoons and bones. Tim & Maggie will perform three musical sets: 5:30-6pm; 6:30-7pm; and 7:30-8pm.

For almost 10 years, the church’s West Virginia Mission Project has helped fight poverty in Appalachia by supporting nonprofit organizations in and around Princeton, a town located in one of the poorest counties in southeast West Virginia. 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. The entire community is invited to the 2022 West Virginia Mission Fest to sample the fine cooking of 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. Free parking is available behind the church. For further information, visit firstchurchbedford.wordpress.com or call 781-275-7951.

PHOTO: Douglas Dussault of Bedford, helped repair homes in West Virginia recently as part of Bedford’s First Church of Christ West Virginia Mission Team.

Concord Orchestra presents “American Voices”

CONCORD: Concord Orchestra presents “American Voices” at 8pm on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 at 2pm. The orchestra, directed by Jeffrey Rink, performs Jan Swafford’s Adirondack Interlude, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Charles Griffes’ The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan, and Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid Suite. Performances take place at the Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden. A pre-concert talk by the conductor is scheduled for Saturday at 7:15pm. All concerts of the 2021-2022 Concord Orchestra season are planned and directed by finalists auditioning for the position of Music Director.

In 2001, Jeffrey Rink made his conducting debuts with The New Japan Philharmonic, the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and conducted a sold-out performance of Chinese and Western music in Carnegie Hall. During his 20 years in Boston, Rink served as Music Director of Chorus pro Musica, the Newton Symphony Orchestra, the New England Philharmonic, Concert Opera Boston and Assistant Conductor to Sir Christopher Hogwood with the Handel and Haydn Society. Rink served from 2007-2018 as Music Director of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. He is a recipient of the Jacopo Peri Award for outstanding contributions to the art of opera in New England.

This season, the Concord Orchestra features several young performers who participated in the annual young artist competition. The competition is open to musicians of high school age or younger who live in eastern Massachusetts. This season the winners were chosen by a panel of orchestra members and Eric Culver, consulting conductor. Winners of this season’s competition perform at the March and May concerts.

Ayaan Ahmad (pictured), winner of the young artist competition, performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major. Ahmad, a resident of Sharon, Massachusetts, began studying the violin at the age of four with Daniela Rubenstein. Since 2015, he has been studying with Jan Mark Sloman at the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as Ryan Meehan of the Calidore String Quartet. In 2015, Ahmad won first prize at MMTA’s Bay State Competition. In November of 2020, he won the Massachusetts round of the MTNA junior strings competition as well as the eastern division round, advancing to the final national round. In the summer of 2021, Ahmad was accepted into
and attended the Perlman Music Program where he worked with esteemed teachers such as Li Lin and Catherine Cho, and performed and worked with world renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Tickets for adults and seniors are $25. Admission for youth under 18 is free. For tickets and information, call 978-369-4967 or visit www.concordorchestra.com.

A Baroque Extravaganza May 21

BEDFORD: On Saturday, May 21 at 7pm at First Parish in Bedford, 75 The Great Road, the Music Committee is sponsoring a fantastic concert, “A Baroque Extravaganza”. It will feature a chamber orchestra playing Vivaldi’s “Spring” from “The Four Seasons”, a Concerto Grosso by Handel and J.S. Bach’s spectacular cantata, “Wir müssen durch viel Trüsal”, BWV 146. For the “Spring” concerto, the violin soloist will be First Parish’s own, Carlough Faulkner-Carroll; the opening movement will also feature Dorothy Anderson-Perales, recreating a heartfelt dance she choreographed for First Parish for Easter 2021. The Bach cantata has an excellent line-up of soloists including Cynthia Mork, Benjamin Sears and two wonderful guest soloists as well as a semi-chorus drawn from the First Parish adult choir.

One of the most thrilling movements of the cantata is the opening “Sinfonia” which features a virtuosic organ solo which will be played on their historic Hook & Hastings instrument by returning First Parish favorite, Heinrich Christensen, Music Director and Organist of King’s Chapel in Boston. Heinrich was the featured organ soloist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” at the beginning of this month and got rave reviews.

The orchestra is made up of some incredible players, including regular members of the Lexington and Portland Symphony orchestras, the Handel and Haydn Society and subs for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I have high expectations for the quality of this event.
The program will be broadcast on Zoom for those who won’t be able to attend in-person. Visit www.uubedford.org for more information.

Teen Volunteering at the Concord Free Public Library Information Session

CONCORD: Are you a teen or caregiver of a teen in need of community service hours? Look no further than the Concord Free Public Library! Join Teen Librarian Cary Stough Monday, May 23 from 6:30-7pm for a short informational session on the many opportunities available to teens, from craft preparation to creating and facilitating their own programs. This session will also serve as an abbreviated tour for those who have not had the pleasure of visiting the newly renovated building.

Teen volunteers have been the source of much of what makes the Concord Free Public Library such a vibrant, unique community space. It has been our honor to assist students from CCHS and elsewhere achieve their required community service hours. Given the library’s new expansion, the need for extra help has never been greater or more welcome. If you cannot make the session, or would like more information about the teen volunteering opportunities beforehand, please visit the Library website.

No registration required. Event will begin in the Teen Lounge and end in the Children’s Room.

Russell Robb to Give Career & Finance Talk at Concord Library

CONCORD: On May 25 at 6:30pm in the Main Library, join Russell Robb for a presentation and discussion of his new book Your Money Mentors: Expert Advice for Millennials. Please register for the talk at www.concordlibrary.org.

Your Money Mentors offers advice for millennials and their parents on how to succeed in the years post college graduation. Co-written by a millennial, and based on the author’s sixty-plus years of experience in finance, the collective advice is full of data, current research, anecdotes, and suggestions regarding mentors, continuing education, internships, careers, starter jobs, setting financial goals, budgeting, and money matters concerning marriage. The book is presented in three parts: Foundations for Success, Careers, and Making Your Money Work.

Robb's presentation will focus on the following:

Why Focus On Millennials ?
High School and College Internships= Jobs
A paradigm shift from lifetime employment
Handling Money is a Life Skill
Use of financial formulas
Opportunities And Serendipity
Avoiding Underemployment

Russell Robb is the author of Buying Your Own Business, 2nd ed. (Adams Media), M&A TODAY, a monthly newsletter, Selling your Business (Adams Media), and Your Money Mentors: Expert Advice For Millennials (Rowan/Littlefield). He is a graduate of Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada and the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton (Undergraduate), and he served 2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Robb has worked for American Express and Colonial Management, and he is involved with Lincoln Canoe and Kayak Company and Tully and Holland Investment Bank.

Iris Show in West Concord

WEST CONCORD: Enjoy the sight and smells of spring! The Iris Society of Massachusetts (ISM) is holding an iris show with over 200 iris blooms on display. The show is being held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 from 1-4pm at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276
Main Street. Admission is free, the building accessible, with ample parking.

In addition to the array of beautiful, scented irises, companion plants will be on view as well as floral arrangements that use irises to reflect the show’s theme of “Moving forward, looking back.’ Potted iris plants and rhizomes will be on sale. Everyone is welcome to enter identified irises as well as floral arrangements that reflect this year’s theme. Both iris entries and arrangements must be received at the show between 8 and 10am.

Members of the society will be on hand to answer general questions about irises as well as more specific horticultural queries. For more information, visit www.massirises.org.

Six Spectacular Concord Gardens: 33rd Annual Concord Museum Garden Tour

CONCORD: Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “When I go into a garden, I think, if it were mine, I should never go out of it.” After two years of watching spring’s beauty through windows and screens, the time has come to experience the great outdoors! The Concord Museum Guild of Volunteers are pleased to present the 33rd annual Garden Tour in an in-person format. Garden lovers like Emerson will be able to tour six glorious private gardens, many on historic and spectacular properties, on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 (rain or shine) from 9am to 4pm.

Each of the private gardens reflect the individual interests and passions of the owners and their families and will inspire both new and accomplished gardeners. For example, one of the unique and completely owner designed gardens, has a multitude of variegated foliage. It includes a wide range of plants, including cranesbill, Clematis, Hosta, and unusual grasses and ferns. The front terrace is modeled after a garden in Provence with mounds of boxwood complementing the stone structure. Moving from France to Italy, another garden features a somewhat formal Palladian setting with a long rectangle of lawn and plantings.

Still another property was carefully designed to transition the formal perennial garden surrounding the swimming pool to a practical vegetable garden and fruit trees. These give way via a scenic gate to a semi-wild area that features birch trees amongst naturalized grasses. The terrace near the house provides an expansive view over the open field below.

The river figures prominently in another owner’s garden design, with a table, benches, and hammocks for river viewing. Care has been taken to incorporate native plantings in the garden design to benefit birds, animals, and pollinating insects while also providing eye-catching blooms. A meadow with fruit trees, grasses, and wildflowers provides a serene landscape, with the cultivation of grapes and blueberries evokes Concord’s agricultural heritage.

The Garden Tour is self-guided and self-paced. Tickets are good for either or both days, however each garden may only be visited once. Garden goers should arrive at 9am to pick-up maps and programs prior to starting out at the Concord Museum. Tickets may be purchased online at www.concordmuseum.org or the day of the tour. Advance tickets may be purchased through May 29 and save $5. Become a member of the Museum and save $10! Member tickets Early bird: $30; Regular $35. Non-member Tickets: Early-Bird $40; Regular $45.

Hungry to Help: Children’s Bag Event with Open Table at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library (CFPL) is introducing a new, monthly program for elementary school children brought to you in partnership by the Library and Open Table, a local food pantry serving Concord and surrounding communities. This hands-on program will take place May 25 and June 29 from 3pm-4pm in the Children’s Activity Room at the CFPL’s Main Branch. Different stories and activities will be used each month to help educate children and facilitate discussion on food insecurity. Children will decorate a bag and fill it with food provided by Open Table in support of the Open Table Kids' Bags program. Kids who attend will also learn about Open Table and the positive impact their organization makes for children and others in the community.

Food Donations - (Optional) Have your child bring a food donation. Shopping with your child is another great way to involve them. Needed Donations

In-Need - If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please leave a message at 978-369-2275 or email info@opentable.org.

For more information about Library programs and services, call 978-318-3301 (Main Branch) or 978-318-3350 (Fowler Branch) or visit www.concordlibrary.org.

Recruiting for the Friends of the Bedford Council on Aging Board

BEDFORD: The Friends of the Bedford Council on Aging (FBCOA) are looking for new board members to expand their positive impact on the COA. You have an opportunity to really make a difference without requiring a huge obligation in time or effort.

The Friends of the Bedford Council on Aging (FBCOA) was established as a non-profit to financially support the programs and services of the Bedford Council on Aging (COA). It is entirely supported by donations and fundraising. They meet six times a year on the 3rd Tuesday of September, October, November, January, April and June at 1pm. They need help with:

Membership: Collect and record dues. Track membership.
Outreach: Connecting to members via email and social media throughout the year.
Fundraising: Initiating one fundraising event each year.

If you are interested, please call (781) 275-6874 or email bobbiennis@msn.com, or visit them online at www.facebook.com/FBCOA.

Everyone’s Birthday Bash

CARLISLE/MAYNARD: Sanctuary has declared Saturday, May 14th, “Everybody-who-missed-celebrating-their-birthday-due-to-that-darn-pandemic Day.” For all the folks who didn’t get to celebrate their birthday in proper style over the past couple of years, versatile performer and music producer Mac Ritchey (pictured) and friends are inviting you to the dance party of the century.

Ritchey himself is celebrating his belated 50th (a few days before his 51st), and his idea of a good time on his birthday is exactly this: live music, friends, a dance party, community, and a warm spring evening. Mac (of Carlisle) who will play oud, bouzouki, didjeridu, and sing vocals, will be joined by musician friends Ken Hickey of Boxborough, MA on drums & vocals, Mike Payette of Dracut, MA on bass and vocals, Marshall Goff of Newton/Waltham, MA on guitar and vocals, Neil Kruszkowski of Groton, MA on saxophone and vocals, and Dave Boyd from Portugal on keyboards, bodhrán, and vocals.

With a diverse set list targeted towards dancing and a party atmosphere, the evening will be a two-set night with a six-piece band plus guests. Within the evening, there will be mini-sets featuring Walk Like A Cow, the recent collaboration between Ritchey and Dave Boyd that turns classic rock tunes on their heads with oud (Arabic lute) and bodhrán (Irish frame drum). Dave Boyd is coming over to join us from Portugal because that’s what a good friend does for his buddy’s birthday party. Adding fun to the party will be lighting design by VFX Design Studios and birthday cake for all!

Tickets $15 in advance at www.sanctuarymaynard.com/Event/Details/141 or $20 at the door. Doors open at 7pm and the party starts at 8pm. Sanctuary has a full bar and table service. Arrive early enough to order dinner in one of Maynard's many fine restaurants and bring it with you. Proof of vaccination or negative test required.

Concord Players presents Titanic: The Musical

CONCORD: The “unsinkable” ship, the Titanic, sets sail on her maiden voyage across the North Atlantic carrying more than 2,200 souls on a collision course with destiny. It was the “Ship of Dreams” for the passengers on board: The 3rd Class, immigrating to America for a better life; the 2nd Class, hoping to live a leisured lifestyle in imitation of the upper classes; and the 1st Class, striving to maintain their privileged positions forever. A fateful collision with an iceberg simultaneously dashed all of these dreams.

This year, 2022, marks 110 years since this historic event unfolded. While there have been many large-scale catastrophes since the Titanic went down, we continue to be drawn to this tragedy as few events have captivated our imagination so deeply. How could a monument to man’s ingenuity and engineering meet such a terrible fate? What was it like for the passengers and crew in those fateful last few hours?

The Concord Players are pleased to present the Tony Award winning production of Titanic: the Musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone. The musical opened on Broadway on April 23, 1997 and went on to win five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Both Yeston and Stone knew the idea was an unusual one for a musical. The story is unique to the turn-of-the-century British culture with its rigid social class system while romanticizing progress through technology. Said Yeston “I think if you don’t have that kind of daring damn-the-torpedoes, you shouldn’t be in this business. It’s the safe sounding shows that don’t do well.”

According to Stage Director Douglas Hodge of Sherborn “We all know how this doomed journey ended, but very little about the 2,200+ souls aboard.” He prefers to focus on the hopes and dreams of some of those passengers. “The distinct lines of class were on full display which, some say, led to the inequity of who lived and who died.” But it is not only the passengers we get to know – the officers and crew are just as much a part of this epic saga.

With a large and amazingly talented cast, a full orchestra under the direction of Ben Oehlkers, ingenious sets and stunning costumes, the audience may find it hard to believe they are sitting in a community theater and not on Broadway. Performances are April 29, 30, May 6, 7, 13 & 14 at 8pm and May 1 & 8 at 2pm at The Performing Arts Center, 51 Walden Street.
Tickets are $28 with reserved seating. Masks and proof of vaccination are required for admittance. For tickets and more details regarding The Concord Players Covid-19 Policy, visit www.concordplayers.org.

Concord Conservatory of Music Presents Fiddler Jenna Moynihan in Concert

CONCORD: The Concord Conservatory of Music, 1317 Main Street, will present Scottish fiddler and experimentalist Jenna Moynihan for a 7pm concert and 5pm masterclass on May 7. Widely regarded as an incredibly talented acoustic musician, Jenna’s also well-known for her versatile and inventive fiddling, which draws strongly from the Scottish tradition but is not limited by it.

Jenna's music is playful and upbeat with exceptional skillfulness, perfected intricate and lively bowing, and with her toes in constant motion. New England-born artist and guitarist Owen Marshall will join Jenna for this concert. Collaborators before, they complement each other’s playing exceptionally well—as he too has been immersed in the various textures and sounds of the Celtic music spectrum for decades.

In her masterclass before the concert, Jenna will walk through a few of the unique characteristics of Celtic music styles and cover essential forms, ornamentation, and phrasing. Students will walk away with exciting techniques to practice and a couple of beautiful tunes to play.

Jenna graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and received two honors given annually to one outstanding string player: the Fletcher Bright Award and The American Roots Music Award. She continually collaborates with many professional artists and groups and soloed for the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.concordconservatory.org or at the door: $45 for the masterclass and concert tickets, $20 for the concert only, or $25 for the masterclass only (both events are free for students 18 and under).

Korean Family Month Celebrations at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: The Concord Free Public Library is partnering with the Korean Cultural Society of Boston to bring a celebration of Korean culture through the month of May.

Exhibition of Minwha (Korean Folk Painting)
Enjoy an exhibition of Minwha (Korean Folk Painting) from May 2–31 in the Main Library Gallery. The exhibition features Seongmin Ahn, Insun Cho, Sunhee Hur and Jaeok Lee. More information about the artwork can be found at https://concordlibrary.org/news-events/exhibits

Korean Art and Craft
Children are invited to enjoy a celebration of Korean Art and Craft on Saturday, May 14 from 2-4 pm in the Children’s Library at the Main Library. No registration is required. Featured activities include:

Folding color papers, with Isabelle Rhee (Heejin Kim)
Clay cookies with Korean patterns, with clay artist, Jaeok Lee
Cori Ahn will read from her book, My Name is Kimchee
Children can have their photos taken in front of a cutout of a traditional Korean dress.
play traditional Korean games like Ddakgi.

Sijo Poetry
Middle school students, high school students, and adults are invited to learn about Sijo, a traditional form of Korean poetry on Saturday, May 14 from 2:30-4:00pm at the Main Library. Professor Emeritus David McCann of Harvard University will share his expertise on Sijo, which is a Korean verse form related to haiku and tanka. David has translated and published a large number of sijo, both Classical as well as contemporary, and for several years at Harvard taught the course Writing Asian Poetry where students wrote poems following models in Classical Chinese, the Japanese haiku, and the sijo. His own book of sijo poems, Urban Temple, was translated into Korean and published in Korea. Register for this program at www.concordlibrary.org.

Music
Enjoy Korean music on Saturday, May 21 at 7pm at the Main Library. Three Korean traditional instruments - Gayageum (Korean traditional zither), Janggu (drum), and Ajaeng (string instrument with a bow) - will be played by well known performers Kyung Sun Kim, Jihye Park, and Yoona Kim. Dr. Mina Cho, the founder of the 'International Gugak Jazz Institute', will also add fun by improvising on a keyboard with Yoona Kim. Register for this program at www.concordlibrary.org.

These events are generously sponsored by The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Trevor Simon Honored as Minuteman's Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year for 2022

LEXINGTON: Congratulations to Trevor Simon, a senior Plumbing student from Waltham, who was named Minuteman High School’s Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year. He received an award in a prestigious ceremony recently, hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Each vocational-technical high school in Massachusetts selected one student for the Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year Award.

Trevor was also the recipient of Minuteman’s Plumbing All-Star Award for the Class of 2022. He works for SDH Plumbing and Heating of Waltham through Minuteman’s Cooperative Education (Co-Op) Program. Trevor was co-captain of the school football team. Upon graduation, he plans to continue working in the plumbing trade as he pursues a Journeyman’s license while enrolled in evening courses.

Trevor was nominated by Guidance Counselor Diane Dempsey and Plumbing Teacher Kyle Romano. Both praised him warmly for his diligence and maturity.

“He’s a super respectful young man,” Dempsey said.

“Trevor is a respectful, bright, compassionate, and determined individual,” Romano said. “He is an honest and focused team player. Trevor has always been a positive example for his classmates in the Plumbing program. His teachers and peers have admiration for Trevor, as do his employers and coworkers.”

First Church Bedford to Host Two-Day Rummage Sale

BEDFORD: Bedford’s First Congregational Church, 25 Great Road, will host its Spring Rummage Sale on two days this year: 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 29; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Admission is free and a $1 donation at the door will benefit the Bedford Food Bank. This year’s sale will feature a wide variety of white elephants, books, puzzles, household goods and small appliances, sports equipment, children’s toys and games, and costume jewelry. (No clothing, shoes, or soft goods will be sold.) Free parking available behind the church. Handicapped accessible. For more information, call 781-275-7951 or visit www.firstchurchbedford.wordpress.com.

Emerson Hospital 5k Run~Walk for Cancer Care
Registration Now Open for 23rd Annual Event; High-Performance Shirts for All Registrants!

CONCORD/ACTON: Registration is open for Emerson Hospital’s 23rd annual 5k Run~Walk for Cancer Care at www.emersonhospital.org/5k. All proceeds go directly to support patients who receive cancer care at Emerson. In addition to the 5k, there will be a one-mile Kids’ Run and medals for the top finishers.

There are two ways to participate: Join the in-person event on Saturday, May 7 at 8am at Nara Park in Acton, which includes free breakfast from Blackbird Cafe, and ice cream from Kimball Farm. Or, sign up to do the virtual event with flexibility to complete the 5k anytime between May 1 – May 15. Visit the website for details, to register, and make a donation. All registrants will receive a Run~Walk high-performance race shirt.

The Run~Walk event is a great opportunity to meet up with friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Encourage everyone you know to come out and exercise while raising money to support people in the community with cancer.

All funds raised will provide compassionate care, including therapeutic acupuncture and massage therapy, support groups, transportation, and more for people who receive cancer care at Emerson. Patients value these supports to aid their healing. For more information, email runwalk@emersonhosp.org, call Emerson’s Development Office at 978-287-3084, and follow on Facebook and Instagram @EmersonHospital5K.

Beyond the Notes Springs Forward to Present First Mini Concert of 2022!
Featuring Concord native & violinist Sarah Whitney

CONCORD: It is no secret that live music has taken a hit since the pandemic began, but that has not stopped Concord native and violinist Sarah Whitney from finding innovative ways to present creative COVID friendly concerts to the community. On April 23 at 7:30pm, Whitney will take the stage at First Parish Church in partnership with Powers Gallery and Concord Conservatory to present her highly acclaimed concert series Beyond the Notes Minis for an unforgettable evening of music, artwork, and community! Limited capacity to allow for social distancing. Performed by violinist Sarah Whitney, the program will highlight the works of Black composers and feature some of the rising star students from the Concord Conservatory. Pieces will be performed alongside exquisite artwork from Powers Gallery for an evening of collaborative music making you will not want to miss!

Beyond the Notes Minis is a COVID safe live mini-concert series that highlights the works of Black composers and supports social justice. For this series, Beyond the Notes will take the stage in support of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, donating 10% of all proceeds to Good360. Having presented over 10 COVID friendly concert series since the pandemic began, Whitney has been creating lots of buzz in the Concord community and beyond with her innovative, fresh take on presenting concerts. According to a recent audience member, "The Beyond the Notes Minis have delighted audiences with almost two years of bold and immersive concert experiences that have TRULY gone 'Beyond the Notes!' Not only does this series deliver performances of the highest caliber, but it also supports wonderful organizations doing important work!"

Since this series began in 2020, Beyond the Notes has presented outdoor concerts, indoor concerts, and virtual concerts, has partnered with The Umbrella Arts Center and Powers Gallery, and featured special guest appearances from Sarah Kenner, creator of The Hungry Musician blog, composer Jonathan B. McNair, and composer Jessica Meyer. Beyond the Notes has raised funds for The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), The Center for Constitutional Rights, Race Forward, Direct Relief, Common Cause, The Voter Participation Center, Leadership Conference Education Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Campaign Zero. Beyond the Notes is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non profit arts service organization.

Praised by the Washington Post for her "marvelous violin acrobatics," violinist Sarah Whitney is known for her musical versatility and has been heard worldwide across stages in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the United States. She is recognized as a performer, teacher, entrepreneur and advocate for bringing fresh new ideas to classical music. As former founding member and violinist of the NYC-based string quintet SYBARITE5, Sarah performed over 1,000 concerts around the world, had three albums reach the top ten on the Billboard Charts, premiered the first-ever Concerto for String Quintet and Orchestra with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and Duluth-Superior Orchestra, was the first string quintet to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, the Aspen, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Grand Teton and Ravinia Festivals.

All attendees must provide proof of full vaccination by showing a vaccination card, a photo of the card, or a digital vaccine record. Anyone exempt from/ineligible to receive the vaccine or unable to verify vaccination status must present proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours OR healthcare-professional-administered negative rapid test within 24 hours of the time of entry. Regardless of vaccine status, ALL patrons must wear a properly fitted CDC-approved face mask. The venue will operate at limited capacity with distanced seating.
Tickets cost $30/person and $15/student for advanced purchase. Tickets will be available at the door for $35/person and $15/student cash or check only. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.gobeyondthenotes.com.

Assabet River Bluff Conservation on Warrant for Concord Town Meeting

WEST CONCORD: During the 2022 Concord Town Meeting, which starts May 1, residents will have a chance to approve the purchase of a 7-acre property along the Assabet River in West Concord through two articles. If the measures pass, 1 acre of the land will be available for affordable housing, and the remaining 6 acres will be conserved as open space for public enjoyment. The wooded property, called Assabet River Bluff, is located along Old Marlboro Road and Upland Road, not far from the West Concord Train Depot. It abuts the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and overlooks a bend in the river. The landowners have given the Town the chance to purchase this land until July 29. If the Town fails to act on this opportunity, the land will be sold to a private developer.

The effort is being spearheaded by a coalition of local organizations, including the Concord Land Conservation Trust (CLCT), Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT), the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), and the Town of Concord Department of Planning and Land Management (DPLM). The Concord Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and the Concord Housing Foundation are also financially supporting the project.
The one-acre portion that is to be purchased for affordable housing purposes includes an existing two-family home. If the effort to purchase the land is successful, CHDC plans to construct three additional units of housing for a total of five permanently affordable homes.

“Assabet River Bluff is recognized for its ecological values, climate benefits, cultural history, and recreational opportunities,” said Polly Reeve of CLCT. “By protecting this land, we will ensure it provides these benefits for generations to come.”

“This is a unique opportunity to bring conservation interests and affordable housing interests together to prevent maximization of market rate housing development on the site and to create five new affordable housing units in support of the Town’s open space and affordable housing goals. With this initiative, Concord is already being viewed as a model for other communities in the Commonwealth,” said Lee Smith, Chair of the CHDC.

Article 26, found in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, asks voters to set aside $1 million of Community Preservation Act funds (CPA) toward the $2.8 million purchase price. Additional funds will come from the Concord Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Concord Housing Foundation, and a fundraising campaign launched by CLCT and SVT that has already raised over $900,000. The Town has also applied for grants that, if awarded, will help to offset the purchase price.

Article 25 will provide initial funding toward the purchase of the property, which will be reimbursed to the Town if the grant is awarded, because grant funds will not be available until December 2022.
“This collaborative effort to achieve two Town goals has been a valuable experience,” said Marcia Rasmussen, Concord’s Director of Planning and Land Management. “These seven acres have long been identified as a priority for protection in both the Concord Open Space and Recreation Plan and Housing Production Plan.”

Christa Collins, SVT’s Director of Land Protection who is also a Concord resident, added, “This is a rare chance to protect some woodland in the West Concord Village Center, where it will benefit so many. We urge Concord residents to vote Yes on Articles 25 and 26 in support of the purchase.”

To help Concord residents learn more about the conservation effort, CLCT and SVT are hosting public walks across the Assabet River Bluff property on April 22 and 24. Walk leaders will discuss the ecological significance of the property and will describe some of the wildlife species that find habitat on the land. Full details about the walks and the conservation effort are available at www.svtweb.org/ARB.

Concord Conservatory of Music Presents Mile Twelve

WEST CONCORD: On Friday, April 29th at 7:30 pm, the Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) presents Mile Twelve, a thought-provoking and energetic string band from Boston. Although their sound is rooted in traditional bluegrass, Mile Twelve surveys a broader landscape on their newest album, City on a Hill. Experience Mile Twelve live and you’ll see why they won the 2020 IBMA New Artist of the Year Award.

All five band members bring their own influences and interpretations into the music, resulting in a project that feels contemporary, thoughtfully crafted, and relevant. The lineup features Catherine “BB” Bowness (banjo), Korey Brodsky (mandolin and guitar), Ella Jordan (fiddle), Evan Murphy (guitar, lead vocals), and Nate Sabat (bass, lead vocals). With innovative arrangements and expert execution, Mile Twelve captivates its audience with their music. They are recognized for their originality, talent, and commitment to address societal concerns—they use lyrics to bring relevant stories to the forefront.

The Mile Twelve concert is part of the 2021-2022 CCM American Roots Series. Generous donors and support from the Concord Cultural Council have made it possible to bring the concert series to our community. $25 tickets for adults and free for students 18 and under. Purchase tickets in advance online at www.ConcordConservatory.org or at the door. For information, call 978-369-0010 or email info@ConcordConservatory.org. Concord Conservatory of Music is located at 1317 Main Street in the West Concord Union Church.

The Garden Club of Concord Announces the Return of Its Annual Plant Sale

CONCORD: The Garden Club of Concord is excited to announce that its annual plant sale will return on May 7 at the Tri-Con Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center from 8:30am – 12:30pm, rain or shine. A wide variety of plants will be for sale, including perennials, shrubs, vines, groundcovers and houseplants, most of which come from the established local gardens of Garden Club members. Beautiful arrangements will be available for purchase. These and all the plants will make wonderful Mother’s Day gifts! In addition, a bake sale table will offer delicious treats and will feature items home baked by members of the Club.

The Garden Club of Concord was founded in 1928. It sponsors education and community service projects throughout the year and maintains town gardens at the Town House and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Funds raised from the annual plant sale are distributed to local projects that reflect the Club’s horticultural mission. Grants have been distributed to the Concord Council on Aging, Gaining Ground, Minuteman Arc for Human Services, Concord Division of Natural Resources, Grounds for Learning at the Thoreau School and many others. In addition, the Club provides one $500 college scholarship.

Concord Conservatory Hosts Bluegrass Band Scramble

CONCORD: Here’s your opportunity to become a member of a cool bluegrass band. Join Concord Conservatory of Music’s Bluegrass Band Scramble on April 30 from Noon to 4pm to meet and perform with other musicians who love bluegrass! Plan for a fun and enjoyable afternoon in a stress-free zone—there’s no competition, only an incredible learning and skill-building experience.

Accomplished banjo player and CCM faculty member Rich Stillman will lead the Scramble. The Scramble is for anyone who dreams of playing in a band, needs some guidance, and doesn’t quite know how to begin. It’s also for those experienced players who want to play with new musicians and hone their skills.

To ensure well-formed bands, musicians sign-up for the Scramble individually, and bands are created by picking names out of hats, one for each instrument. Bandmates then have a two-hour practice session, with coaching from CCM instructors, to prepare songs and stage patter for a three-song turn in front of a sound system and a live audience.

To reserve your spot, sign-up and pay the $20 registration fee in advance at https://concordconservatory.org/news-events/bluegrass-band-scramble/
If you decide to join the Scramble last minute, you can also register at the door.

Everyone is invited for the live and free concert after the Scramble at 4pm. For more information call 978-369-0010 or email info@ConcordConservatory.org. Concord Conservatory of Music is located at 1317 Main Street in the West Concord Union Church.

It’s Revolutionary! Free Patriots’ Day Celebration at the Concord Museum

CONCORD: “Here once the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round’ the world.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Concord Museum is celebrating Patriots’ Day – the day the American Revolution began and the “shot heard ‘round the world” – in true Revolutionary style on April 18, with a free outdoor Minuteman Encampment and free admission to the Museum.

“I haven’t a man who is afraid to go!” On April 18, from 10am to 4pm visit the brave Acton Minutemen Company in an encampment on the Museum’s lawn and see them drilling with muskets to prepare for battle, cooking over a firepit, and demonstrating colonial spinning and weaving.

On Patriots’ Day the public is also invited to experience the newly renovated Concord Museum, which includes an interactive April 19, 1775 gallery. The new permanent exhibit has the largest collection of April 19th objects anywhere assembled - including muskets, swords, and powder horns that were at the North Bridge. A centerpiece of the gallery is a 12 by10-foot media screen that depicts 24 hours of the battle in just 6 minutes! Interwoven throughout the exhibit is new information about the role of women and people of color – both enslaved and free who participated and fought on that day.

Throughout the day, families can join drop-in activities to learn about life and craft in the colonies. Kids can try using a feather quill and ink to write like a revolutionary, make and decorate their own tricorn hat, and play colonial games. Visitors should also be on the lookout for a Red Coat from the British Army roaming the galleries looking for Provincial rebels. Be sure to talk with him about the experiences of the Red Coats on April 19th!

Leading up to Patriots’ Day - Town Night, April 12, 5pm to 7pm, Towns throughout Massachusetts mustered at the North Bridge on April 19, 1775, and the Museum is offering free admission and Revolutionary themed programming to the public on Town Night, April 12, 5pm to 7pm. Drop by the Lisa H. Foote History Learning Center to explore Revolutionary muskets and arms with expert Joel Bohy, Director of Historic Arms and Militia for Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers. Listen to a spotlight talk by foremost expert, Jane Kamensky, on a John Singleton Copley portrait. This program is followed by an in-person and virtual forum at 7pm titled History 1776: Conversation with Harvard Professor Jane Kamensky. On April 12th, all programs are free and open to the public. To register for the forum, go to www.concordmuseum.org.

Concord Women’s Chorus Free Program of Beauty & Renewal

CONCORD: Join the Concord Women’s Chorus on May 7 at 4pm for a free program of beauty and renewal, as they welcome their friends and supporters back to a special live, in-person concert. This concert will take place at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street. “Days of Beauty” offers works of promise, joy, and stunning harmonies. At the heart of the concert are graceful works by composer, Ola Gjeilo, whose whose jewels for women’s voices (“Days of Beauty,” “The Rose,” and “Seasons”) offer a rich and reflective landscape. The program includes pieces by composers Cécile Chaminade, Emma Lou Diemer, Gwyneth Walker and the Wailin’ Jennys.

Concord Women’s Chorus is directed by Jane Ring Frank, now in her 29th year. They perform a wide range of classical and contemporary music, with emphasis on works written for women’s voices. Face coverings and proof of vaccination will be required. Good will offerings are always appreciated. For more information: concordwomenschorus.org.

Read to Daniel the Cat! at the Concord Free Public Library

CONCORD: Did you know that reading to animals boosts reading skills and emotional and social skills for children? The Concord Free Public Library invites children to read to Daniel the Cat (also known as “Dan the Man”) in the Children’s Garden on the third Wednesday of each month between 2pm and 3pm. Daniel is a certified therapy cat through Pets and People Foundation. The upcoming dates to read to Daniel are April 20, May 18, and June 15. This event is for children ages 5 and up. Children are invited to register for their own individual 10 minute session with Daniel. Register in advance by visiting the Events Calendar at www.concordlibrary.org.