Hudson/Stow

Just click below on the paper you want to read. You can read life-size by clicking on the four corner box bottom right, then turn pages with mouse at corners just like you would if paper!

Current Edition - 04/25/25
Hudson/Stow
Just click below on the paper you want to read. You can read life-size by clicking on the four corner box bottom right, then turn pages with mouse at corners just like you would if paper!

Current Edition - 04/18/25

HEADLINES

Hudson Candidates’ Night

The Hudson Candidates’ Night is slated for Wednesday, April 30th, from 7 to 8:45 pm., at the Hudson Senior Center. Co-hosted by the Assabet Valley Chamber and the League of Women Voters (Acton Area), the event’s objective is to provide voters with an opportunity to listen to, and learn more about, candidates from contested races, in a comfortable atmosphere.
Questions for contested candidates for the Housing Authority, Library Trustees, School Committee, and Select Board can be submitted via this link-- https://bit.ly/Hudson2025. Additionally, audience members may submit questions on index cards at the event.
There’s ample parking at the Senior Center, along Church Street, as  well as at Railroad Crossing, across the street from the Center.
Can’t attend in person? Watch the event live on HUDTV on Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 47 or livestream it at  https://www.hudtv.org/livestream . The program will also be archived on hudtv.org for those that prefer to watch at a later date.
For more info, email info@assabetvalleychamber.org or call 978.568.0360
Kids outdoors

Family Nature Hike and Scavenger Hunt

On Sunday, May 4, at 1:30, bring the family to a kid-length hike and scavenger hunt with the Westborough Community Land Trust! Youngsters will explore nature with their parents and take pictures of the items they find! Parents/Guardians must supervise their children; this is not a drop-off event. Pencil or pen, camera/phone, long pants, closed shoes, and insect repellent recommended. Meet at the Gilmore Pond Trail Entrance, GPS address approximately 19 Quick Farm Rd. Westborough. Park on one side of Quick Farm Road only. Free, open to the public, no reservation needed.
Trail Map: https://westboroughlandtrust.org/maps/UJ
Check WestboroughLandTrust.org for cancellations.
For questions contact: events@westboroughlandtrust.org

THE CANNON THEATRE Proudly Presents “Enchanted April”

Devens, MA: The Cannon Theatre is proud to present A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. This production, directed by Shawn Cannon, is the fifth in The Cannon Theatre’s 2024-25 season line-up, which also includes upcoming productions of Cannon’s 10-Minute Play Festival and featuring performances of Shakespeare: the Eras Tour.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is a comic romp filled with unforgettable music and non-stop laughs about A distant heir to a family fortune sets out to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm... and a dash of murder.
The show runs for 3 weekends. Show times are May 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are taking place on May 18 and 25th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.thecannontheatre.org, and are $25 for adults, and $20 for students/seniors.
The cast and crew hails from the following towns: Ayer, Arlington, Brookline, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Lincoln, Londonderry, Pepperell, Waltham, and Worcester.

Yard Sale

The First United Methodist Church of Marlborough, 52 Church Street, hosts a yard sale Friday, April 25 6-8pm and Saturday, April 26 9am-2pm.  Great deals on furniture, clothes, toys, jewelry and more!

Supporting Asylum Seekers
Community Dinner

All are welcome at the Supporting Asylum Seekers Community Dinner at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). Join us for a night of delicious food, good stories, and round table discussions about what we can do to support our immigrant neighbors. The dinner will take place on May 3 and begin at 5:30 p.m., but please purchase tickets online by Saturday, Apr. 26 at bit.ly/SASdinner in order to give us a sense of numbers. Dinner will be prepared by a local small business and feature classic Afghan food, which will delight your senses and satisfy your appetite! $10.00 per adult for a three-course meal and beverages. Children under 16 eat for free. FPC is a nut-free location.
FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. When parking, please keep a clear path for emergency vehicles; do not block the driveway around the front of the sanctuary; park only on the 117 side of Commons Rd.; and do not block access to the back of the building. Thank you!

Moving On – FPC Sunday Service

On Apr. 27 at 10 a.m., First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC), Unitarian Universalist, will hold a service led by minister Rev. Susan Suchoki Brown entitled “Moving On.” The impact we have on others - and others on us - lasts a lifetime.
The service takes place both in person in the Sanctuary and virtually. Masking is optional. Child care for the service only is available for ages 3 and under, and children over 3 are welcome to join religious education classes. For information about those classes, contact FPC Director of Religious Education Rayla D. Baldwin-Mattson at dre@fpc-stow-acton.org. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc.
FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.
Newparents

In-Person New Parent Group in Concord

The next in-person First Year of Life New Parent Group will meet at Emerson Wellness Center, 310 Baker Ave Ext., Suite 165 on Thursday, May 1 from 9:30-11:00. Parking is free of charge. This group is free and open to all, facilitated by First Connections’ Director, Emily Fiorini, who is a mental health counselor specializing in infant-parent mental health. Parents in the postpartum year can join this free weekly group to get support for their own emotional wellbeing, recovery and transition into parenthood; baby’s development; feeding and sleep support, and community resources. This group meets every week, with one week per month meeting in person and the remaining weeks meeting via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, email Emily: efiorini@jri.org. To RSVP for the in-person group, email Linda: lmatthews@jri.org. We will have a guest speaker on “Introducing Solid Foods for Infants” presented by Emerson Speech & Language Pathologist Julia Hurd on June 12, 10-11:00. To receive the link for this free program email Linda: lmatthews@jri.org.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net
Logo eac white circle

Taking Climate Action, Together and Now!

All are invited to an interactive discussion at the First Religious Society (FRS) on the Carlisle Common at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. The focus is on climate action that we can take now-–as individuals, as a community, and as engaged citizens who want to protect our democracy and support effective climate policy that benefits all. Dr.Juliette Rooney-Varga, Professor of Environmental Science, Director of the Climate Change Initiative and Co-director of the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy at UMass Lowell will lead the discussion. Her research focuses on the nexus of climate change and sustainability science and decision support. She welcomes our questions and our voices. Please join us.
The event is hosted in person by the FRS Environmental Action Committee and will also be available live and recorded on YouTube at:  https://youtube.com/live/uATC2L0vI8c?feature=share  .  Virtual participants can participate via the chat box. Refreshments served.

The Town of Stow Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony at Brookside Cemetery

The Town of Stow Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony at Brookside Cemetery will be held rain or shine.  All service veterans are invited to participate in Stow’s Memorial Day observance, along with residents and others from neighboring towns/communities.  Veterans who plan to attend who would like to ride rather than march in the Parade to Brookside, should kindly email rodger.burkley@gmail.com.  And please feel free to bring a comfortable chair for the ceremony at Brookside. This year’s Memorial Day holiday is even more significant and meaningful, given the Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary this past April 19th.

WHO: All Veterans and Residents
WHAT: Memorial Day Parade
WHEN: 1:40pm (Parade departs promptly at 2:00pm)
                on Monday, May 26th 2025
WHERE: Hartley road between Center and Hale School
VENUE: Brookside Cemetery Memorial”

Familiar Strangers Performing in Princeton

The Princeton Arts Society invites you to enjoy the lively music of the Familiar Strangers -- Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 14 Mountain Road, Princeton. Everyone is welcome; a $10 donation is suggested.
Familiar Strangers is a high-energy acoustic band that blends bluegrass, Celtic, country, rock, and other influences to create fresh takes on a range of songs with lively fiddle runs, rich harmonies, and driving guitar, upright bass, banjo and dobro.
Whether covering current artists such as the SteelDrivers, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, or reimagining ‘80s classics, or playing traditional bluegrass, their sound is both timeless and dynamic.
The band brings diverse musical backgrounds. Susan Ruth (fiddle) was raised in Boston’s Irish music scene. Greg Young (guitar) brings deep roots in American folk and country. Ken Clarkson (dobro/banjo) carries Appalachian influences from the Blue Ridge to New England.  John Brunette (bass) grew up on funk and soul before discovering bluegrass.
With appreciation to our sponsors: Barre Savings Charitable Foundation and the Princeton Cultural Council.
The Princeton Arts Society is a nonprofit organization benefiting artists and lovers of the arts through exhibitions, events and programs. Memberships support us. Visit www.princetonarts.org.
https://www.familiarstrangersband.com

MCC to Welcome Lowell Chamber Orchestra for Second Concert of Spring 2025 “A World of Music”

For a second time during the Spring 2025 “A World of Music” concert series, Middlesex Community College will welcome the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO). The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center, Theatre in Lowell.
“The final concert of the LCO season features works in which composers reach back to their traditions and make them sound new,” said Orlando Cela, MCC music professor and conductor of the LCO. “In the case of Pulcinella, Stravinsky reaches out to our musical past and refurbishes 21 pieces from the Baroque period into a modern style. Hailstork also contributes to the centuries-old genre of the romance – particularly as it applies in the solo orchestral repertoire – as exemplified perfectly by Bruch, hence why we perform both pieces together, one after the other. On the other hand, composer Simon Andrews looks into the New England tradition of communing with nature, and his work ‘Till Voices Wakes Us’ takes the sound of the American toad and makes a beautiful work. We open with Mendelssohn’s homage to the style of Baroque counterpoint, his Symphony for Strings No. 3.”
Entitled Voices Near and Far, this program features music from the past and present. Till Voices Wake Us by Simon Andrews, the winner of the 2024 LCO Call-for-Scores, will be performed, and violist Jeremy Kienbaum, winner of the 2024 LCO Young Artist Competition, will be the soloist in Two Romances by Adolphus Hailstork. The concert will also include works by Felix Mendelssohn, Max Bruch, and Igor Stravinsky.
“A World of Music” will end the season with a second Student Recital at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 at MCC’s Concert Hall on the Bedford Campus.
Previous performances include a previous concert by the LCO on Saturday, February 1; an Online Saturday Arts Concert featuring MCC faculty, alumni and students on Saturday, March 8; Know Orchestra on Sunday, March 23; a Piano Recital by Anastasia Seifetdinova on Friday, April 4; and Guqin and Viola in Musical Dialogue on Friday, April 11.
All concerts are free and open to the public.
MCC’s Academic Arts Center is located at 240 Central Street in Lowell. With parking not available on site, the nearest public parking facility is the Early Garage on 135 Middlesex St.
Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/events/worldofmusic.html for more information.

The Nashoba Valley Chorale Concert

The Nashoba Valley Chorale, a 90-voice community chorus, will present the beloved masterwork “Ein Deutsches Requiem” by Johannes Brahms on Sunday, April 27 at the Groton Performing Arts Center (Groton Middle School) Tickets are $35 and available at www.nvcsings.org or through the Groton Senior Center ( Senior discount available).
Join us for a glorious afternoon concert by the premier local community choir, Nashoba Valley Chorale, when we perform the Brahms Requiem. The performance will feature two well-known Boston-area vocal soloists, Deborah Selig and David McFerrin, and the Chorale
will be accompanied by two pianists playing together on one piano. The pianists are Shawn McCann from Pepperell, and Abigail Charbeneau from Concord, NH. This four-hand piano version, also composed by Brahms, will have a different feel as these two musicians
share a piano bench and keyboard to provide the music usually played by an entire orchestra. It is quite a feat and the Chorale is excited to work with these amazing musicians. Tickets available at www.nvcsings.org.
Red eyed tree frog sue a copy

Print Exhibit to Celebrate AVCC’s 40th Anniversary Meet the Artists on Saturday, April 26,
1-3 P.M.

Assabet Valley Camera Club in Hudson, MA is celebrating its 40th Anniversary!  In honor of the occasion AVCC has partnered with Hudson Public Library to display 31 member images throughout the library for the months of April and May. Members of the club will be available on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 3 to show their works and answer any questions about the club and membership.
Back in 1985 a small group of people, who took an evening photography course at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School with Norm Eggert, decided to form the Assabet Valley Camera Club. The group initially met in different member’s homes, and held photography competition meetings with color slides projected on a living room wall. Over the years, as the group has grown, they have met at various Hudson venues, the public library and the Unitarian Church.
Currently, the camera club meets at the Hudson Senior Center. Although there are still a few of the charter members involved in the club, membership has grown from a handful to nearly 60 photographers. Members of all ages with both amateur and professional experience hale from 15 different communities in the greater Metro West area.
As photography has changed, so has the club. AVCC phased out color slide competition and has embraced digital images. Prints have held strong over time with members having the opportunity to exhibit images on a monthly basis at Cafe 641 on Main St. in Hudson.
New members are always welcome. The camera club meets twice a month from September through May on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:30 pm. To learn more visit our website www.assabetvalleycameraclub.com .
Please consider joining us on April 26 or visit during normal library hours to view the 40th Anniversary Print Exhibit.

Fresh Start Furniture Bank report

www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
I THINK we have seen the last of snow this season!  My wise Dad told us that spring snow is nature’s fertilizer; it pulls nitrogen out of the atmosphere for the lawns.
At Fresh Start we still need couches and loveseats, upholstered chairs, dressers and dining tables.  In the kitchen area we are short on saucepans, food storage containers, and bowls (cereal, mixing and serving). We are running out of microwaves and slow cookers and we can always use silverware.  Our supply of lamps goes up and down; right now it is down so bring them!   For bedrooms we need throws and comforters.  We just partnered with a woman who works for an organization that rescues and rehabs owls and she needs fleece for them.
Please look at our website if you don’t know our location or hours.  We take donations of housewares on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-noon and furniture AND housewares on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30.  The website also spells out what we DO and DO not take and there is a place to sign up for a pickup by our truck if you have several large items.
Thank you for helping us to help others!
Final gettinghere onepage

Conocrd250 info

Final mapandscheduleapril13

Concord Parade Map

ATTENTION Stow Veterans!

You are cordially invited to march and attend this year’s Stow’s Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2025.  Meet on Hartley Road between Center and Hale School at 1:40 pm (parade departs promptly at 2:00 pm).  As a veteran, your participation and support is highly appreciated. If you are a veteran who would like to participate but feel the distance is too much to march, please email Rodger Buckley at rodger.burkley@gmail.com or 978-568-9333 so he can coordinate a vehicle for you to ride during the parade. Please also feel free to bring a comfortable lawn chair during our ceremony as you like. While no formal uniform is required for participation, some veterans choose to wear their military service uniform. Or you can choose to wear or display an item representing your branch of service and unit while in your comfortable clothes. Please note that due to the major construction project at the Town Library, we will remain at the Brookside Cemetery Memorial site for the entire ceremony and ceremonial wreath laying honoring our fallen heroes. For those unable to attend, we ask that you observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 1500 (3 pm).
Thrifting market

Thrifting Market at Memorial Church in Sudbury April 24-26

On Thursday April 24 from 6-8, Friday April 25 from 9-5 and Saturday April 26 from 9-1 Memorial Congregational Church is holding its semi-annual rummage sale of gently used clothing, shoes, accessories and linens. There will be lots of clothing for children and youth as well as the full range of adult clothing, including suits. Shop our bargains and check our Boutique of high-end clothing. Good quality clothing at rock bottom prices!
On Saturday we will hold our bag sale…..just $10 for a brown grocery bag full of clothing.
Memorial Church is located at 26 Concord Rd (across from Goodnow Library) in Sudbury. For questions or additional information, please call 978-443-3885.
Top dog calendar

Top Dog Calendar Contest Event!

Saturday, April 19 & 26,
10 am - 1 pm
Could your dog be a picture perfect calendar star?
Here’s your chance to find out when Wag N’ Wash at 444 Great Road in Acton hosts the Top Dog Calendar Contest event Saturday, April 19 and 26, from 10am to 1pm.
Enter a photo of your dog to win a spot (or the cover!) in Acton Community Dog Park’s 2026 Top Dog Calendar, and enjoy the store festivities featuring a photo booth, raffle basket and free samples. Joining in the fun will be dog park mascot Parker, Acton police dog K9 Zane with Officer Stackhouse, and adoptable pups from Save a Dog. A $10 contest entrance fee benefits the Acton Community Dog Park.
More information can be found at https://www.gogophotocontest.com/actoncommunitydogpark
See you Saturday!

Special Events and Programs:
Fitchburg Art Museum

 
185 Elm Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Hidden Treasures
Event Date: Thursday, April 24
Event Time: 1 to 2 pm
Event Details: Contact the Education Department
Champagne Reception
Event Date: Friday, April 25
Event Time: 6 to 8 pm
Event Details:
Join us for a special evening of art, music, and flowers!
Finicky Fork catering, Cash bar with specialty drinks (one complimentary drink ticket for each guest), Kay Previtte prizewinner announced, Emily Mazz Duo providing the entertainment.
Leominster native Emily Mazzarella is a pianist and teacher who regularly performs throughout Central Massachusetts. She will be joined by acoustic bassist Sahil Warsi to perform jazz standards and Great American Songbook classics.
Tickets:
$30 per person/ $25 members
Violinist Stefani Perrett Performs in the Galleries
Event Date: Saturday, April 26
Event Time: 2 to 3:30 pm
Event Details:
2-2:45 pm Contemporary Folk in Stephen DiRado, Better Together: Four Decades of Photographs
2:45-3:30 pm Classical in Evoking Eleanor
Local Violinist, Stefani Perrett started playing violin at age 8, after admiring her mother’s playing over the years. She has performed with numerous orchestras, and in venues from Boston to Europe. After Suzuki teacher training, she began teaching private violin lessons while working toward her violin performance degree at UMass. Now Stefani enjoys playing a variety of genres for all different types of events.
The Art of Bonsai with Michael Levin of Bonsai West
Event Date: Sunday, April 27
Event Time: 2 to 3:30 pm
Event Details:
The program will consist of a display of beautiful bonsai and the talk will include all key points regarding history, care, and a complete demonstration teaching the fundamentals of creating a bonsai from scratch. The talk will touch on all aspects of traditional and contemporary bonsai and will be a fascinating overview of the art.
Event Sponsors include Rose Sponsors: Fitchburg State University and Spinelli CPA; Lily Sponsors: Achla Designs; Daisy Sponsors: King Farm, Manor on the Hill, Rise & Grind, All One Credit Union, Gallery Marquee, and Rollstone Bank.
Art in Bloom Admission:
Tickets:
$15 Adults
$10 Seniors and Students
FAM Members are FREE
View Events Online: https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/art-in-bloom-2025/
Contact Aimee Cotnoir, FAM Membership and Events Manager with questions at acotnoir@fitchburgartmuseum.org or events@fitchburgartmuseum.org.

Looking for a Way to Enrich the Lives of Stow’s Senior Residents?

The Stow Council on Aging (COA) is working closely with Minuteman Senior Services (Minuteman) to recruit an On-site Dining Coordinator volunteer (or volunteers as this position could be shared between 2 or more people) for Stow’s congregate meal site on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Food is delivered around 10, followed by the meal being served close to 12 noon with clean-up typically done by 1. We serve approximately 16 to 20 people twice a week (about 8-10 home delivered and 8 to 10 on-site congregate meals). The Dining Coordinator would create and maintain a warm and welcoming environment for the seniors who utilize the senior dining program. A summary of this opportunity is provided below.  Training is provided by Minuteman.
• Receive meals from catering service.
• Assist with daily Meals on Wheels (MOW) coordination including cold pack production and packing hot meals into thermal bags.
• Work with MOW drivers to ensure delivery of meals.
• Implement and maintain food handling practices and procedures for dining and MOWs that adhere to agency standards and local fire, health, sanitation, and safety codes.
• Supervise the collecting and counting of congregate meal site donations made each day.
• Keep required records and statistics
Contact COAAdminAsst@Stow-MA.gov for more information.
Ori lionheart 1

Discarding Color:
Learning to See in Black and White
Assabet Valley Camera Club Program

HUDSON: On Wednesday, May 7th, the Assabet Valley Camera Club (AVCC) will host a presentation by Nancy Ori, founder of the New Jersey Photography Forum, which over the years under her direction, has become the largest and most recognized group of fine art exhibiting photographers in the state.  Nancy was taught by Ansel Adams and was affiliated for many years with the Ansel Adams Workshop in CA as a teaching assistant. Currently, she oversees her own workshop company for photography and other mediums as well as running photography tours.
This workshop is designed for beginner and intermediate black and white photographers. It will cover visualization, scene evaluation, lighting, seeing contrast, understanding brightness values of colors as they convert to black and white, as well as some post processing tips. There will be a visual exercise designed to get you thinking differently while shooting. Nancy will demonstrate how to approach an image from start to finish. The program is open to the public. Nancy’s work can be viewed on her website at www.nancyori.com  .
Currently, AVCC meetings are using a hybrid approach where members can meet either in person or via Zoom. If you are interested in attending the program, contact AVCC at avcc.digital@hotmail.com a few  days prior to the meeting to request a link to the event or to let us know you will be attending in person. Guests are welcome to attend up to two consecutive club meetings prior to becoming a member. For membership information, please go to  https://www.assabetvalleycameraclub.com/Club/MembershipInfo.aspx   The club’s Zoom room opens at 7:00 PM with a brief business meeting at 7:15. Discarding Color: Learning to See in Black and White will begin at 7:30.
AVCC in-person meetings are held at the Hudson Senior Center, 29 Church Street, Hudson and are open to the public. The first meeting of the month generally features a program designed to instruct and/or to entertain camera enthusiasts.  During the second monthly meeting, a competition of members’ digital images are judged and critiqued by qualified individuals. Assabet Valley Camera Club, affiliated with both the New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) and the Photographic Society of America (PSA), participates in inter-club competitions on regional, national and international levels.
AVCC welcomes anyone interested in learning more about photography as a visual art and its practical application as a science.  Members benefit from the hands-on experiences, from the knowledge presented in programs, and from having their work critiqued. For more information, check out the AVCC website at https://avcc.visualpursuits.com/ .

World Amateur Radio Day

The Westford Police Amateur Radio Team (http://www.wb1gof.org/) will be conducting an open house in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day (https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day).
During this event, we will be communicating with other amateur radio operators from across North America and around the world. We will be showcasing multiple live amateur radio stations each using a different radio communication technique. Most of all, one of the stations will permit you to get on the air.
Come join us at the Great Brook Farm State Park (https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-brook-farm-state-park) at 165 North Road, Carlisle, MA on Saturday, April 26 (rain date May 3) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
See you there!

Scout Funding Event

Scout Electronics Recycling AND Paper Shredding fundraiser events on Saturday, April 26th at Hale School 55 Hartley Road in Stow from 8:30 AM to 1 PM.  PLEASE NOTE:  Paper Shredding truck will only be onsite from 11 AM to 1 PM but documents can be dropped off before then.   Please visit our website at http://www.troop1stow.net for pricing structure.  We can also be contacted at 978-212-9175.   Drive up service and payment is by Credit Card only. 100% of net proceeds go to supporting the Scouts of Troop 1 Stow. OPEN to anyone to attend.
Dog

25th Annual Paws in the Park!
Sunday, May 4, 10 am - 3 pm

Are you a dog lover looking for a day filled with canine and family fun?
Join Save A Dog on Sunday, May 4, rain or shine on the grounds of historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Paws in the Park, one of the largest gatherings of pups and people in New England!
This year’s event features day-long food and music, dog games and contests, an agility course with try-outs, main ring demonstrations, raffles and a silent auction, and 67 vendors and exhibitors including many animal rescue groups. Special highlights include a group dog walk at 11 am led by Anna Meiler, WBZ News Anchor and host of the station’s Sunday morning “Pet Parade,” and Save A Dog’s “Adoptable Dogs Parade” at 12 pm. TRAX, the Worcester Railers mascot pup, will also make a special appearance right after the parade from 12:30-1:30 pm.
Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 5-12. Kids under 5 are free, and strollers are welcome.
Bring your dog—if they enjoy being around people and other dogs—on a 6 foot or shorter leash (no retractable leashes, please).
All proceeds benefit the life-saving rescue and adoption work of Save A Dog, a 501c3 tax exempt humane society. Now entering its 27th year, Save a Dog has found loving forever homes for more than 8,500 pets through its Sudbury shelter and dedicated network of foster homes.
See you on May 4th!

Helping Parents Understand and Manage Challenging Behaviors in Young Children

A free live webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Our speakers will be Lynn St. Germaine, an Infant-Toddler teacher for 37 years, and Patricia Collins, a Preschool teacher for 25 years, from Concord Children’s Center. Young children often act out for various reasons such as hunger, tiredness, frustration, confusion, or difficulty transitioning between activities. At times, they may not have the words to express what they need, leading to outbursts and meltdowns. These behaviors are not random-they signal underlying needs or developmental challenges, like unmet emotional needs, underdeveloped communication skills or lack of self-regulation. By understanding the root causes of challenging behaviors, parents can respond more effectively and support their children’s emotional and social development. By attending this program, you will gain an understanding of why children act out, and learn strategies that might include creating predictable routines, reinforcing positive behaviors, and using calm and consistent responses to guide the children through emotional ups and downs. To receive the Zoom link for this FREE program email First Connections: lmatthews@jri.org.

Divorce Support Group by Remote Meeting

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

Quilt Show

The Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild is pleased to announce that it’s biennial quilt show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th, 2026 at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical Show in Upton, Massachusetts. The Guild has selected “Creating Comfort’ as their show theme. This theme reflects not only the members’ love of quilting but also reflects the guild’s mission and fundraising efforts. Over 200 member quilts as well as guild challenges and round robins will be on display. Also included at the show will be a special raffle quilt, the quilters’ boutique, raffle baskets, and local area vendors. Any local area vendor wishing to participate in the Guild’s show should contact Deb Hudgins through the website at thimblepleasures.org  or  by contacting her by mail at TPQG, P.O. Box 447, Mendon, MA 01756.
The guild has chosen Home Base as the show’s special fundraiser. All funds raised through the sale of items at the special fundraiser table will be donated directly to Home Base. Home Base is a Red Sox Foundation dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of veterans, service members, and their families through clinical care, wellness, education and research. The 2026 show is being chaired by Gina Brooks, Donna Hopkins, and Val Ogilvie.

Easter Sunday: Rolling Away the Rock
FPC Sunday Service

On Apr. 20 at 10 a.m., First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC), Unitarian Universalist, will hold a service led by minister Rev. Susan Suchoki Brown entitled “Easter Sunday: Rolling Away the Rock.” We will celebrate the rebirth of nature and new ideas. Join us for a service of great music and rejoicing in spring. The young people will begin in the Sanctuary, then have an Easter Egg Hunt and a bonnet and hat contest on the front lawn. Please come with your fanciest or silliest hats or bonnets.
The service takes place both in person in the sanctuary and virtually. Masking is optional. Child care for the service only is available for ages 3 and under. To enter the virtual room, go to tinyurl.com/22-23fpc.
FPC warmly welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The church is located at 353 Great Rd., Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org.
2025 breakfast with the bunny poster vertical edit.001

Stow Lions’ Easter Bunny Breakfast

On April 13th from 8:00am to 12:30pm at Center School, 403 Great Road, Stow, the Stow Lions Club will host its traditional Easter Bunny Breakfast. On the menu will be pancakes, sausage, tater tots, coffee, tea, juice, plus face painting and crafts. Admission: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors (65+), $4 Children (5-17), Free for toddlers (0-4); Max $40 per family. Come for fun with the Easter Bunny while supporting local charities!

Spring Pops! Program
Concord Band Performs Revolutionary Music

The Concord Band will present its spirited Spring Pops! concert on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:00pm, at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center. The program commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord as part of Concord250 festivities this year throughout the town of Concord. The concert features two compositions specially commissioned to honor the historic events of April 19, 1775.
North Bridge Portrait by noted composer and arranger Stephen Bulla was commissioned by the Concord Band. The composition builds on foreboding melodies leading to martial themes, culminating in the fateful “shot heard ’round the world” at Concord’s North Bridge. The program also features Seeds of Revolution, recently commissioned by the Lexington Bicentennial Band and composed by Daniel Lutz, Director of University Bands at UMass Lowell. Seeds of Revolution depicts unfolding events and growing sentiments in Massachusetts leading up to April 19, 1775. The performance continues with a march representing both historic towns, aptly titled Concord and Lexington, written by George Briggs, former band director at Harvard University.
The Concord250 program concludes with Concord, composed for the U.S. Marine Band by Clare Grundman, incorporating traditional tunes from colonial New England, “The White Cockade,” William Billings’ “America,” and “Yankee Doodle.” Grundman noted that “Yankee Doodle” was a very popular tune for jigs and country dances, but for his composition he used 7/8 time for an exuberant and clever ending.
Music Director James O’Dell has also selected twenty-first century music representing the digital revolution, drawn from video games and superhero movies. Epic Gaming Themes by Paul Murtha elevates classic video game soundtracks to the stature of film scores. Video Games Live, by Marty O’Donnell, includes excerpts from a Hollywood concert phenomenon celebrating music from video games that toured around the world from 2005 through 2015. This composition will be conducted by Concord Band clarinetist Jim Dorney, who studied conducting at SUNY Geneseo. The Concord Band will perform Soundtrack Highlights from Guardians of the Galaxy, arranged for band by Michael Brown. The powerful soundtrack is based on popular hits of the 1960s and 1970s, which the film’s protagonist plays to remind him of his childhood on Earth.
Tickets to the Spring Pops concert are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Admission includes open seating and complimentary refreshments. Tickets are available at ticketstage.com/concordband. Additional information about the Concord Band is available at www.concordband.org and on Facebook.

Friends of the Bolton Public Library
to hold Book Sale

The Friends of the Bolton Public Library will hold their semiannual book sale on Saturday, May 10th, from 8:30 am – 4. No Rain Date. Location is the Houghton Building, 697 Main St. There are over 5,000 books sorted and “not picked over.” Puzzles, CDs and DVDs​
The book sale is the Friends’ largest fundraiser.   Proceeds from the sale support programs, events, museum passes, and our online newsletter Wowbrary.

Wolves Of Nashoba Festival

The Nashoba Symphonic Band, a program of the Nashoba Regional High School Friends of Music, supported by the local Arts Councils of Bolton, Lancaster, Stow, Berlin, Clinton, Ashby and Lunenberg, is planning an exciting series of events on May 2nd and 3rd, climaxing in a gala symphonic band concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4th in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School.
In celebration of the building of the new Nashoba Regional High School as well as the recent change of  mascot to “Nashoba Wolves”, the Nashoba Symphonic Band has commissioned a new piece, The Wolves of Nashoba, from eminent composer, Robert Sheldon.  The May 4th concert will be the World Premiere of this stirring work.
All events will be held in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Rte 117 (12 Green Road GPS), Bolton MA and are Free of Charge.

EXCITING FESTIVAL EVENTS – ALL FREE!
Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. “Local History Talks and Chats”
The Festival opens on Friday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. With “Local History Talks and Chats,” an evening of presentations by local historians.  The featured speakers will be Nashoba Regional High School U.S. History teacher, Timothy Castner speaking on King Philip’s War, Victoria Hatchell, Special Collections and Archives Librarian at the Thayer Memorial Library in Lancaster, and Mark Bodanza of the Leominster Historical Society.
Music for the evening, beginning at 6:45, will be provided by the Nashoba Symphonic Band Clarinet Choir and include Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, as well as works by Beethoven and Gabrieli.

Saturday, May 3 at 7 p.m. “The Devil and Daniel Webster”
On Saturday evening, May 3rd at 7 pm, the Festival offers a radio-play version of Stephen Vincent Benet’s classic one-acter, The Devil and Daniel Webster (with permission of Dramatists Play Service) ‘broadcast’ by the Little Wolf Players. The cast includes NRHS students,  Jane Dailey, Alyssa Poch, Zain Khan, Ishaan Adhikary, Jacob Paul, Melody Robin and Audrey Blesik.   The play tells the story of the nearly-local, Daniel Webster’s clever courtroom defeat of none-other-than Old Scratch (guess who!).  The ‘broadcast’ is given in the form of a old-time radio play.
Also on the program is the NSB Chamber Ensemble performance of a rousing instrumental suite from the 1952 comic opera The Good Soldier Schweik, by Robert Kurka, based on the satirical novel of Joseph Hasek.  A pre-performance concert will begin at 6:15, featuring selections by the NSB Brass Choir, including the Fanfare from La Peri by Paul Dukas and one of the first performances of Three Miniatures for Brass Quintet by William Nicholson.

Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m.  “The Wolves of Nashoba” Festival Concert
World Premiere of work by Robert Sheldon
The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey,  will present  the World Premiere of “The Wolves of Nashoba,”  commissioned for the band by eminent composer, Robert Sheldon. Other works on the program include music by Persichetti’s Chorale Prelude: Turn Not Thy Face, Freischutz Quickstep by Grafulla, Elgar’s Nimrod and Alfred Reed’s setting of the music from Mary Poppins, as well as marches by Sousa and W.Paris Chambers.  Also expect a guest appearance by the Stow Colonial Fife and Drum Corps!
SPECIAL PRE-CONCERT LUNCHEON! in the NRHS Auditorium lobby from one until two-thirty, consisting of sandwich makings, salads and light desserts.  The cost is $15 for adults, $10 seniors and students. Reservations are highly recommended which we will be accepting through Sunday, April 27th.   Please send individual names or a group planning to attend  (with a check made payable to NRHS Friends of Music) to Nashoba Friends of Music, Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road Bolton MA 01740.  Please include an email address so we can confirm the  reservation.  Tickets will be waiting at the door.
Please note that all “Wolves of Nashoba” events are wheelchair accessible.  It is recommended that you notify us if you require additional seating consideration for any of the events so we are able to best serve your needs. Please address all questions and concerns to David Bailey dbailey@nrsd.net.

The Stow Council on Aging (COA) is looking for COA Ambassadors.

The COA is a busy place and sometimes a second set of hands is just what we need.   COA Ambassadors can be expected to welcome residents, assist with our sign-in kiosk, and provide general information
regarding COA activities. Depending on the day, COA Ambassadors may be asked to help with events including set-up and breakdown.  Each COA Ambassador will be assigned a regular recurring weekly shift either in the morning (9:30-12:30) or afternoon (12:30-3:30).
Fill-in shifts are also an option. Volunteering is a great way to stay active and engaged. If you would like more information about this fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity email COAAdminAsst@Stow-MA.gov.

EASTER Services at
First United Methodist Church

Hudson, MA
Christ the Lord is Risen!
Join our Easter celebration!
Sunday, April 20, 2025
     9:00 am - Pancake Breakfast
     10:00 am - Easter Egg Hunt (Grades K-4)
     11:00 am Easter Worship Celebration -
First United Methodist Church of Hudson
Over the Hill, off the Hudson Rotary at 34 Felton Street
(978) 562-2932
Rev. Chris Jones, Pastor
Bee

Pollinators Are in Decline. You Can Help!

Pollinator populations are in decline, some by as much as 60%. Many of us know that pollinators rely on particular flowers for their nectar and as hosts at various stages in their life cycles. But this only works with native plants with which the pollinators have co-evolved over time. The widespread use of nonnative plants and insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids also threaten pollinators. Climate change is also affecting pollinator survival.
There are many things we can do help pollinators survive. First is to plant native species in your garden. You can have a few cultivars or non-natives too, but the pollinators need the native species to survive. Second, reduce or eliminate pesticides. Also reduce use of synthetic fertilizers. Third, reduce the size of your lawn which is a desert as far as pollinators are concerned. Fourth, leave the leaves on the ground in the fall and early spring. These leaves provide critical protection for overwintering pollinators.
One of the most effective things you can do is to, create a garden specifically for pollinators. This garden can be of any size, but it must consist of native plants. Non-native plants such as cultivar and hybrid plant species won’t work for pollinators in most cases.
To learn more. join us for the next talk from Sustainable Stow and Randall Library. We will explore the “whys” and “hows” of creating a series of pollinator gardens around Stow. Our guides will be members of the Brookline Pollinator Pathway team, a group of public organizations and private residents that have developed multiple pollinator gardens throughout Brookline. Join us April 16 at 7PM.
Register for a zoom link here: bit.ly/4hOm3Vn.
Last month’s talk was on choosing and controlling outdoor lighting to keep the skies dark at night. Dark skies are important for many pollinators, birds, and other living things.  You can see a recording of that talk on Stow TV. bit.ly/4hMoFCX

JEWELRY SALE

Hudson Senior Center Gift Shop
29 Church St., Hudson MA
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10AM - 3PM
Sponsored by: Friends of the Hudson Senior Center
Are you planning to visit the Hudson Arts Fest? If so, get ready for a delightful experience! We cordially invite you to the Hudson Senior Center on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10 AM to 3 PM, where you’ll find a wonderful collection of donated jewelry! But the sparkle doesn’t end there—it continues until Friday, May 16th, in our Senior Center Gift Shop. Furthermore, our shop features unique handcrafted items made by Senior Center members and local artisans. Our regular hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Fridays from 10 AM to 1 PM. Just head up to the second floor for a visit! We welcome cash, check or Venmo.
Note: This year, thanks to the generous contributions from the Hudson community, the Friends have curated an exceptional collection of New, Costume & Vintage jewelry.

Seder Supper at
First United Methodist Church

Hudson - Thursday, April 17th at 6:00pm – Seder Supper   - A “Christian Seder” refers to a Christian adaptation of the Jewish Passover Seder, often incorporating elements of Christian theology and the Last Supper, while retaining the core structure and symbolism of the Jewish tradition.  Seder customs include telling the story, discussing the story, drinking four cups of grape juice, eating matzah, partaking of symbolic foods, and singing of hymns,  All are invited to partake of this special evening.
First United Methodist Church of Hudson
Over the Hill, off the Hudson Rotary at 34 Felton Street
(978) 562-2932
Rev. Chris Jones, Pastor
Some of the 120 vendors

“The Power Of Angels!”
30Th Annual Craft And Vendor Fair

Treasures Antiques, Collectables & MORE! will be hosting the annual “Power of Angels” fundraiser to benefit Kitty Angels, Inc. on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th. The event will take place on the grounds at Treasures from 9AM to 5PM, rain or shine, both days.
   The kitties and vendors are eager to have you get out of the house and visit with them for some tremendous finds, great musical entertainment and most important of all, to help Kitty Angels, Inc.! The weekend festivities are being held at Treasures Antiques, 106 Ponemah Road (Rt. 122) in Amherst. We’ll have the ‘603 Smok’n Que BBQ Company’ food truck on site with the best slow smoked BBQ in New Hampshire! Also, the crew from Mapledell Farm will be on hand again, showcasing a petting zoo as well as horse and pony rides. Look for all your favorite vendors, including Artist Lori-Ellen Budenas of Respect the Wood, Cam’s Shop, Monica Gesualdo of Trading Faces and Central Birch Art Studio, Seasonal Creations by Laurianne, The Glass Bottle, The Pearl Shop!, Ink 3-D, Damsel Safety Chick, Threaded Treasures, New Hampshire Board Games/Lime on the Loose, Hearts Design Jewelry, Gabe’s Creations, Wolfpac Studio, All About Honey, Luv Belly Rubs, Dubz Dyes, Nana’s Odds & Ends, Oak Hill Designs, Morel Woodworking, SoGo Metal Art, Happy Cat Creations, Vinyl Revival, Midnight Kitty Creations, Crafts By Sherry, To Bead Or Knot Two Bead, Willey’s Whirleys, Dollar Shy Farm, Color Street, Crystal X Clear Collection, LuLaRoe, Custom Care Designs, 2 Good 2 Be Baked, Tupperware, Krochet Voodoo, Fiber Art By Eve Huston, Eclectic Touches and Just A Bunch Of Knots. Be sure to check the Treasures website as the list continues to grow! 
     The bands and soloists for the event will consist of “9 Strings” with Dick Spencer and Dan Rodd, Roosta Gulla, Sunset Rhythm, Wildwood with Paul & Donna, Jeff Damon, Side Effects and Joey Peavey!
      As always, featured throughout the fundraising weekend and into the month of June, is a thrilling and interesting raffle of numerous and diverse prizes, all generously donated by local and national businesses, professional sports teams, private individuals and some of the awesome on-site vendors. All to benefit Kitty Angels, Inc. 
   Kitty Angels, Inc. is the sole beneficiary of this event. This is the 30th year that the owners of Treasures have been doing fundraisers for this non-profit, an all ‘unpaid’ volunteer organization. They are a no-kill cat shelter, dedicated to rescuing stray and abandoned cats and kittens, furnishing them with treatment for injuries or other health issues and then placing them into new forever homes with compatible owners. They are a 501(C) 3 charitable corporation where all donations are fully tax-deductible and every penny of every donation is used in the caring of cats.
    Interested in becoming a vendor for the event or having your business donate an item for their raffle? Contact Sherry or Rick, at (603) 672-2535 Visit their websites at www.TreasuresNH.com and www.kittyangels.org
   Please come, visit, and relax for a while. Consider adopting a new life-long forever-friend as well. Yes, your pets are always welcome, too!

Fresh Start Furniture Bank

WWW.FRESHSTARTFURNITUREBANK.ORG
It was another great Saturday at Fresh Start in Hudson!  Clients showed up on time and with trucks.  Our translators arrived in time to help with a Portuguese-speaking client.  Several new volunteers began their shifts.
   Fifteen minutes after our furniture donation time had ended at 10:30, a couple arrived from Uxbridge with a car and trailer full of furniture, including two couches!  They are cleaning out a parent’s home.  At the time, we had three couches available for clients (we typically have more than 10).  After checking with the folks who were loading the trucks for clients we said we would take all the furniture.   There was no way that we were going to turn the donors and their two couches away, even if I had to muscle the couches through the front door by myself (unlikely!!)
     Please take a look at our website to see what we do and do not accept, where we send our truck for pick-ups and the requirements for that.  Keep us in mind when you’re doing spring cleaning or updating your home.   We need more couches and loveseats, chairs and recliners, dining tables & chairs and housewares and linens. And remember - if you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, please don’t give it to us!

CHINESE MAHJONG for beginners.

Were you amazed by the Chinese Mahjong scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians? Did it inspire you to learn to play? Every Friday in April (4/4, 11, 18 & 25) at 1 pm, the Stow COA’s experienced instructor will show residents the moves you need to play. There is no cost, but residents do need to register by the prior Wednesday at 3:30 pm. There is a limit of 8 and we need a minimum of 3 players.
TO REGISTER:
Use MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/#
Call the COA at 978-897-1880
Come in person to the Pompo Community Cente

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

April 10, 2025, 12:00 pm, hosted by Concord Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 68 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. Please contact Amanda Spinale, Compass Memory Care Director, at 978-369-4728 or aspinale@concordpark.org for more information and the Zoom link. This group is free and open to the public.
Concord Park Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support is a project of the nonprofit Volunteers of America Massachusetts, which has supported local seniors with specialized services for over 75 years.

New England Folk Festival

New england folk frestival
The New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) is a non-profit educational and cultural organization promoting folk arts and traditions in New England and elsewhere. Every April, for 8 decades,  NEFFA runs the New England Folk Festival which blends dance, music, crafts, family activities, and food. The 2025 Festival is on April 25-27 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752
The Festival is unique because of the participatory nature of the events. Not only are there concerts and performances, but there are also opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with music, dance, and folk arts culture. There is music everywhere!  You will find jam sessions, instrument workshops, group singing, and  traditional music throughout the Festival. The Festival is also known for its varied social dance program, which includes: Contra and Traditional Square Dance, International Folk Dance, Waltz, English Country, Scandinavian, and more. There are plenty of introductory workshops, as well as sessions geared towards intermediate and advanced dancers.  It attracts more than 2000 attendees from all over the world and features close to 1000 performers.
This year, NEFFA is offering special reduced rate  “Festival Sampler Tickets” to introduce the festival to a wider audience.
Please spread the word!  The NEFFA Sampler ticket ($10; kids under 8 are free) is a great way to explore some of what the New England Folk Festival has to offer. Shop at the Festival Marketplace, watch traditional dances from around the world, and experience folk music, storytelling and exhibits at the Ramblin’ Road Show and Homemade Hootenanny. Take the kids to the Family Activities Area, then enjoy a snack at the food trucks while watching traditional Morris dance performances outside. Sampler tickets admission will only be available on Saturday April 26th from 11AM-4PM  More information at  https://www.neffa.org/festival-sampler/
2025 breakfast with the easter bunny poster   horizontal.001

Stow Lions’ Easter Bunny Breakfast

On April 13th from 8:00am to 12:30pm at Center School, 403 Great Road, Stow, the Stow Lions Club will host its traditional Easter Bunny Breakfast. On the menu will be pancakes, sausage, tater tots, coffee, tea, juice, plus face painting and crafts. Admission: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors (65+), $4 Children (5-17), Free for toddlers (0-4); Max $40 per family. Come for fun with the Easter Bunny while supporting local charities!