Calling Stow Senior Artists!
The Stow Council on Aging has been invited to submit an original artwork by one of our seniors for display at Middlesex Superior Court, as part of their grant-funded Community Art Program.

• Theme: "Community"
• Medium: Pencil, watercolor, or oil on paper/canvas
• Size: 11" x 14", unframed (digital copies accepted)
• Drop-off deadline: September 15, 2026, at the COA
• Required: A card with the artist's name, the work's title, and a brief description
• Selection: The COA team will choose their favorite piece to submit
• Celebration: The chosen artist will be honored in November alongside other artists, guests, court staff, judges, and community members

Please contact Kathleen or Tanya at 978-897-1880 with questions about this exciting opportunity

BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2026 — The American Red Cross urges people to celebrate the power of kindness by making an appointment to give lifesaving blood or platelets. Every donation is critical to helping prevent the next blood shortage.
The Red Cross and Hello Kitty® and Friends are partnering in September to remind donors that comfort and care are always better when shared. Just one blood or platelet donation can help more than one patient enjoy a happier future. As a thank-you, those who come to give Sept. 1-20, 2026, will get an exclusive Red Cross × Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack, while supplies last. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HelloKitty.
Thanks to the generosity of thousands of people who rolled up a sleeve this summer, the blood supply continues to recover from critically low levels. As we enter September, the blood supply remains vulnerable — especially as we approach new seasonal challenges such as back-to-school activities that can cause donors to be less available to give, and the ongoing potential for tropical systems in the Atlantic, which can further threaten the blood supply by disrupting blood drives. By making and keeping appointments now, donors can help the Red Cross ensure lifesaving blood products are on hand wherever they are needed, including communities where donations may not be possible due to severe summer weather and natural disasters.
One small act of kindness can travel far. Spark joy and book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Maynard & Stow Sept.1-20:

9/11/2026: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Dept of Fire Services/MA Firefighting Academy, #1 State Road
9/16/2026: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks #1568, 34 Powder Mill Rd

The Armory on the Assabet Summer Events Series in Hudson, MA Featuring Music, History, and Community Programming

Shoestring Film Festival
August 30, 2026 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Maynard Fine Arts Theater, 19 Summer Street, Maynard, MA
Independent film showcase featuring shorts, animation, and original storytelling

ATTENTION STOW BUSINESS OWNERS AND STOW RESIDENTS! STOWcase 2026 (an evening open house to showcase some of what Stow has to offer its residents), is taking place on Thursday, October 22 from 6 to 8 pm at Center School.  We are delighted to invite Stow business owners and Stow residents to participate in this well-attended town-wide event! STOWcase attracts hundreds of residents, giving you a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business, sell merchandise and connect with residents. There is NO registration fee, however a donation for the raffles is required.  To apply please visit https://www.stow-ma.gov/994/STOWcase.  If you have any questions, please email stowcase@stow-ma.gov.

On Sunday, September 13th at 9:30AM, the United Church of Christ in Boxborough invites you to Welcome Sunday!  We’ll worship outdoors on the lawn (weather permitting) and then enjoy good food, fun games, and great music. It will be great to see old faces and new!
We are the big white church in the center of town. 723 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough.  www.boxboroughucc.org

The Stow Garden Club invites you to join us for our BYO Picnic Lunch on Wednesday, Sept 2nd at 12:30. Meet us at the Town Center Park Gazebo on 323 Great Road in Stow. Bring a picnic lunch and, if possible, a lawn chair. Beverages will be provided. Come chat about Fall Gardening! 

Please participate in the Stuff a Cruiser Food Drive to benefit the Maynard Food Pantry on Saturday, September 19, 2026 between 10 AM – 1 PM at the Maynard Market Basket parking lot, 129 Parker Street, Maynard!  This wonderful food drive is being sponsored by the Maynard Police Department, Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and the Maynard Public Schools.

Whether you are shopping at the Maynard Market Basket or just want to drop a food donation off on that Saturday, September 19th, there will be police cruisers in the parking lot to accept your food donations.  Please do not donate perishable food items (refrigerated or frozen) or glass items.  It will be a great way for everyone (young and older) to do good at a fun event!

Maynard Food Pantry most needed items include: beef stew, Progresso soups (specifically Italian Wedding, Split Pea, Chicken Noodle, Chicken & Rice, Lentil, Minestrone), Sloppy Joe or Corned Beef cans, cereal bars/granola bars, individual juice boxes, individual cereal boxes.

The Maynard Food Pantry is very grateful for the support of the Maynard Police Department, Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, the Maynard Public Schools and the Maynard Market Basket for coordinating this effort!

In May 2025 the Maynard Democratic Town Committee voted to change its bylaws to allow endorsements of political candidates prior to the state’s primary elections. 2026 is our first year and we are excited to announce the following.

The Maynard Democratic Town Committee is endorsing the following candidates because we feel they best represent our values and desires for the state and the nation.

Senator Edward Markey for US Senate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
https://www.edmarkey.com

Jonathan Paz, candidate for US House of Representatives to represent the Fifth District of Massachusetts
https://www.pazforthepeople.com

September 1, 2026 is Massachusetts State Primary Day, please go to Maynard elections for voting information: https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/170/Elections

The Randall Library Friends’ (RLF) successful Revitalize Randall campaign resulted in the gift of indoor and outdoor furniture for the Randall Library, valued at more than $214,000. Stow’s Select Board formally accepted this gift at their July 2026 meeting.
At that meeting, the Select Board presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Randall Library Friends. The Select Board recognized the extraordinary generosity and steadfast commitment of the RLF to the Town of Stow and expressed their appreciation to every member, volunteer, donor, and supporter of the Friends. The citation reads, in part, “Your generosity has left a lasting legacy for our community, and we thank you for helping make the new Randall Library a place where everyone belongs.”
Lisa Lavina, President of the Friends, accepted the certificate. Lisa reflected on the recognition: “This Certificate of Appreciation belongs to everyone who contributed to Revitalize Randall. The Friends appreciate the enormous support from this community and we look forward to hosting some exciting events at Randall in the near future.”
Revitalize Randall was a four-year campaign to raise the funds needed to secure new furnishings for the renovated Randall Library. It was organized and conducted entirely by volunteer efforts. Contributions exceeded $206,000. Nearly all of the donations came from individuals or businesses in Stow, a testimony to the special regard Stow holds for its library.
The Randall Library Friends coordinated this fundraising effort as part of its mission to promote and support the Randall Library. The Friends provide funds and resources needed for Randall Library’s many programs for children and adults, passes to museums and other cultural attractions, and public access to a copy machine.
To read the full text of the Select Board’s commendation and to learn more about the Randall Library Friends, visit www.RandallFriends.org.

 

• Is there an employer match, and how much do I need to contribute to get all of it?

• Do I have the option to make Roth contributions?
• What kind of investments are in the plan, and how are they different?

• First, try to contribute at least enough to get the full employer match available under your plan, or you'll be leaving money on the table.
• Second, start as early as you can, even if the amount feels small. Having more time to invest can increase the potential benefits of compounding.

With the September 1st state primary fast approaching, Middlesex County voters can hear directly from the two Democratic candidates vying to lead the county’s District Attorney office. Incumbent District Attorney Marian Ryan and challenger David Solet, a former longtime prosecutor in the office, appeared recently at a candidate forum taped at NewTV’s studios in Newton. The tape of the forum is online at tinyurl.com/middlesexDA.

The forum was organized by a coalition of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and local League of Women Voters chapters – including the Westford League – in coordination with NewTV, Newton’s local media outlet. Following League practice, the forum was structured around a series of moderated questions submitted by community members in advance, with both candidates having equal time to respond and lay out their vision for the office.

Since there is no candidate for District Attorney on the Republican primary ballot, the winner of the Democratic primary will be the presumptive next District Attorney.

As chief prosecutor for Middlesex County, the DA decides whether to bring charges, prosecutes criminal cases, and works with police during investigations, with a duty to pursue fair outcomes, not just convictions.

The taped forum is now online at tinyurl.com/middlesexDA, giving voters time to watch it before heading to the polls in the state primary election on Tuesday, September 1. Registered Democrats, as well as unenrolled voters (aka “independent” voters) and those enrolled in political “designations” who choose the Democratic ballot, can vote in this race.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, issues-oriented organization – open to all – that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. For more information, go to https://lwv.westford.org/.

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.

The Middlesex County 4-H Fair is from August 28-30, 8am-6pm, except for Sunday, when it closes at 4pm. The fairground is located at 55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford. There is parking at the fairgrounds, as well as additional parking with a free shuttle that drops off at the gate.
The fair is family-friendly and geared towards kids, but is enjoyable for all ages. There is livestock which includes horses, goats, dogs, cows, chickens, rabbits, and sheep.  The animals are shown by 4-H youth, who compete for ribbons and also to entertain the public.
The showing class is where animals are displayed and are judged on how well they handle and how they look. Some of the highlights in livestock are the horse shows, rabbit races, the chicken poop bingo and dog agility.
In addition to livestock, 4-H members are also judged on various projects, which are displayed in the Static Barn. Examples of projects include: arts and crafts, home-grown produce, photography, bee and maple products, and a wide variety of posters - just to name a few.
One of the most popular activities is the hay ride, which allows people to see the whole fair while riding a tractor. There are also various shows and performances, corn husking and a watermelon eating contest, bouncy house, and lots of fair food.
4-H youth help run parts of the fair, and it is not uncommon to see them as you walk around. The fair happens once a year, but 4-H members spend all year working on their projects, taking care of, and training their animals. These 3 days of the fair allow the pubic to see all their hard work.
There is enough at the fair that you will not get bored, but it isn’t large like the Topsfield or BigE fair. The fair has been relatively unchanged since its founding in 1956. We like to stick to the roots of what a county fair really is.
4-H is a youth organization founded in 1902, with 6 million youth nationwide and 5,148 in Massachusetts. Although the roots of 4-H are in agriculture, it has expanded to a wide range of interests including STEM education. 4-H focuses on developing skills like public speaking, record keeping, leadership, and working on year long projects with animals or plants which teaches patience and hard work.

The Spiritual Growth and Community Center (SGCC) is the outreach program arm of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley, located in Stow, MA. Founded at the Unitarian Church of Marlboro and Hudson (UCMH) in 2008, the SGCC moved to its new home in Stow following UCMH’s merger with the First Parish Church of Stow & Acton in 2026.

For over seventeen years, the SGCC has been living its mission, providing the Assabet Valley region with high-quality, inspirational programs, classes, and events to awaken curiosity, joy, compassion, and personal growth for the mind, body, and spirit.

To welcome SGCC to Stow, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley (UUCAV) is offering a startup special: from now through September 30, 2026, all of our recurring programs are free (except for materials cost, and beverages for Pub Theology). All are welcome! Unless otherwise stated, all events will take place at UUCAV, 353 Great Road in Stow. Our building is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. There is plenty of free parking.

The SGCC is run by our SGCC Director, Cynthia Menard, and the SGCC Committee, a Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley. For more information on joining the committee or hosting an event, contact Cynthia Menard at sgcc@uucav.org. For a listing of programming offerings, to register for upcoming events, or just to learn more about SGCC, visit our website at www.uucav.org/sgcc.

Fall is just around the corner, which means it’s apple pie season at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley (UUCAV, formerly First Parish Church of Stow and Acton)! Our volunteers will soon be hard at work picking, prepping, and baking our famous homemade apple pies.

Sales begin September 19 and will run every Saturday and Sunday through October 11 from 9:00 a.m. to noon – or until we’re sold out, so be sure to come early!

Each 3 lb. pie is $20, and mini pies are $10. You’ll find the apple pie stand right out front at 353 Great Road in Stow, on Route 117 near the Route 62 intersection.

Special thanks to Shelburne Farm of Stow for generously donating the apples for the pies.

For 50 years, Minuteman Senior Services has provided older adults, people with disabilities, and their family caregivers with the information and assistance they need to make informed decisions about their care and support. The need for volunteer meal drivers is growing as more older adults depend on home-delivered meals to remain safely and independently at home. Just a few hours of your time each month can help ensure that local seniors receive nutritious meals and the social connection that comes with a friendly visit.
We are seeking caring volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound older adults from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekdays. Volunteers can choose to serve once a week or twice a month. Mileage reimbursement is available. This simple commitment can have a lasting impact on the life of an older adult in your community. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 781-221-7093 or email volunteer@MinutemanSenior.org.

 

BOSTON, Mass. (Grassroots Newswire) August 13, 2026 - The following local residents were named to the 2026 spring semester dean's list at Simmons University in Boston.

• * Rowan Ignacio, Maynard 
• * Carly Rieter, Maynard

To qualify for dean's list status, undergraduate students must obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system.

About Simmons University
Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons is a respected private university offering nearly 50 majors and programs for undergraduate women and graduate programs open to all on campus, in blended formats or entirely online, in nursing and health sciences, business, communications, social work, public health, library and information science, and more. Founded in 1899, Simmons inspires a culture of education, connection, and action through high-impact learning with engaged faculty, an immersive community that forges lifelong networks, and career-centered programs that accelerate professional success. The result is a Simmons experience that prepares graduates to thrive as they launch and advance in their careers. For more information, please visit www.simmons.edu.

The First United Methodist Church invites you to our Friendship Dinner on Saturday, August 22nd at 5:00 pm.  Now that summer is in full swing, we’ll be enjoying BBQ style eating, with Grilled chicken, salad, drinks and dessert!   The cooking will be done outside but dining will be inside Lamson Hall so we won’t have to deal with mosquitoes or bees!!

Invite family, friends and neighbors for an evening of great tasting food, laughs and fellowship.
Friendship Dinners are served the fourth Saturday of every month and are free and open to everyone.

First United Methodist Church is located over the hill, off the Hudson Rotary, at 34 Felton Street.
More information is available at 978-562-2932 or at our website http://www.hudsonfumc@gmail.com

College costs can feel overwhelming — four years at a public university run around $120,000 according to the College Board 2025. But you don't need a perfect plan to get started.

There are savings accounts specifically to save for education. Many offer tax advantages and don't require a minimum opening deposit.

One type of account is a 529 college savings plan, and it's a smart choice for many. Earnings grow tax free, and distributions for qualified education expenses are federally tax free. And anyone — including grandparents — can contribute.

One easy way to save is to set up automatic contributions and let time do the heavy lifting.

When your expenses change – such as the end of daycare costs — redirect that money toward your education fund. Tax refunds and bonuses help, too.

Just don't let college savings crowd out your retirement fund. Loans exist for college but not for retirement.

It's never too early to begin saving for your child's education.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Tristan Bezzant, your local Edward Jones financial advisor at 14 Nason St. Maynard, MA. Member SIPC

August 18, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society begins its 21st Season with a concert titled “Autumn Winds” at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Harvard on September 25 and at Assumption University in Worcester on September 26.  A reception will follow each concert.
The chamber music ensemble opens the season with three pieces written in three centuries. Mozart and Brahms each composed works in their masterful styles that display the virtuosity of the hornist and clarinetist for whom they were written. In 1782 shortly after his marriage, Mozart composed his Horn Quintet for friend Joseph Leutgeb; Leutgeb played a natural horn which, unlike modern French horns, lacked valves, relying instead on a variety of crooks and hand-stopping techniques to play the instrument’s full range. In 1891, Brahms wrote his Clarinet Trio for Richard Mühlfeld, whose fine musicianship inspired Brahms to begin composing again after an intentional retirement. Dohnányi’s Sextet showcases both instruments in a work that nods to Brahms while delighting in its own eccentricity and sass. In 1935, Dohnányi wrote this piece during a long illness.

Friday, September 25 @7:30PM Saturday, September 26 @7:30PM
Unitarian Universalist Church Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
9 Ayer Road, Harvard 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @7 PM Pre-concert talk @7 PM

Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Horn Quintet in E-flat major, K.407/386c
Johannes Brahms | Clarinet Trio, Op. 114
Ernő Dohnányi | Sextet, Op. 37

Worcester Chamber Music Society Musicians:
Krista Buckland Reisner and Rohan Gregory, violin
Mark Berger, viola
Peter Sulski, viola
David Russell, cello
Joshua Gordon, cello
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
With guests Gary Gorczyca, clarinet; Clark Matthews, French horn
All venues are handicapped accessible.

Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/autumn-winds/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624

Event: Northboro Junior Woman’s Club 49th Annual Harvest Craft Fair
Date: Saturday, November 7,2026
Time: 9:00AM-3:00PM
Place: Robert E. Mexican Middle School,  145 Lincoln Street, Northboro, MA

Jurying Information: This is a juried show requiring that all items are handmade. Please visit NJWC’S website for applications and more show details. www.northborojuniors.org/craft-fair.html

The Northboro Junior Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization that has been active in Northboro for over 40 years. They support community projects in Northboro as well as internationally. The Harvest Fair is the club’s major fundraiser.

Regional initiative expands capacity to produce, process, and store locally adapted seed needed for ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.

WAYLAND, MA — As climate change fuels increasingly severe storms, flooding, drought, wildfire, and habitat loss across the United States, demand for native plants and seed for ecological restoration has reached unprecedented levels. To help address a critical shortage of locally adapted, locally grown native seed throughout the Northeast, Native Plant Trust has launched the Restoration Accelerator™, a regional initiative designed to expand the production, processing, and storage of native seed for habitat
restoration, conservation, and horticultural use.
“Restoring ecosystems at scale begins with seed,” Native Plant Trust CEO Tim Johnson said. “By investing in the infrastructure, partnerships, and scientific expertise needed to expand native seed
production, we are helping ensure that future generations inherit landscapes that are healthier, more
diverse, and more resilient than those we see today.”
Native plant communities form the foundation of healthy ecosystems, supporting pollinators and wildlife, protecting water quality, storing carbon, stabilizing soils, and helping landscapes withstand environmental change. Yet even as demand for native plants grows, the supply of locally adapted seed has struggled to keep pace.
“As the pace of ecological change increases, preserving local adaptation is increasingly important for building resilience in ecosystems. We will not win this battle by simply introducing more plants from the south. The flora of the Northeast will adapt, and we can support this process by ensuring all the pieces remain in place. Gardens, designed spaces, and restoration projects all help shepherd the ecosystems in which we live into the future by valuing the use of locally adapted native plant material,” says Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust.
The need is urgent. A 2023 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that ecological restoration in the 21st century will be required at a scale never before seen, as native plant communities face mounting threats from climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, restoration practitioners, conservation organizations, government agencies, and commercial growers across the country face a well-documented shortage of native seed, often using seed mixes with non-native species designed for different regions and lacking transparency about seed origins.
The Restoration Accelerator™ builds upon more than three decades of the Native Plant Trust's
nationally recognized expertise in seed banking, conservation, and native plant propagation. Based at
Nasami Farm, the organization's nursery in western Massachusetts, the program coordinates with seed
users and native plant and seed producers in Massachusetts to better understand needs and match
production to demand, offering seed and plant production services to restoration practitioners (i.e.,
seed users) on a contract basis. Those services include wild seed collection, nursery production, and
seed increase, and providing services to both new and experienced growers, including training and
consultation, wild-sourced starter seed, plugs for increase plots, seed processing services, and climate-
controlled seed storage. The facilities include a dedicated seed-processing building and a storage facility equipped with a cold-dry room and a long-term storage freezer, enabling growers to clean, process, and safely store large quantities of seed while maintaining viability and quality.

For more information about the Restoration Accelerator™, please contact ra@nativeplanttrust.org.

Selections focus on “Connections”, both musical and thematic, promoting visions of hope and shared humanity.
Sounds of Stow Chorus welcomes all area singers to our Open Rehearsals, Monday evenings August 31, September 7, and September 14 at the First Parish Church in Stow Center (353 Great Road), from 7-9:15. Come as early as 6:30 to meet and greet your fellow singers.
Sunday, November 22, 2026, our season opens with Maurice Durufle's much beloved "Requiem".  Stylistic traditions and techniques spanning centuries are evident in this piece, composed in 1947, which is mainly contemplative, but breaks into memorable dramatic renderings of appropriate texts. Barbara Jones directs the chorus, accompanied by organ, strings, trumpets, harp and timpani, in the beautiful Salem Covenant Church just east of Worcester.
Building on the great success of Christopher Tin’s “To Shiver The Sky” (April, 2026), we eagerly anticipate performing his “The Drop that Contained the Sea” on April 11, 2027.

The Sounds of Stow Chorus is a friendly and welcoming group whose singers hail from 20+ towns in the Metrowest area and beyond. Membership is open to anyone who can match pitch, learn the music, and blend with the other voices. We particularly encourage Tenor voices to join our group for the upcoming year. Artistic Director Barbara Jones and Assistant Director Christina Kennedy promote serious musicianship at weekly rehearsals that are lively, challenging, educational, and always fun! We hope to see you this month!

For further information, please visit www.soundsofstow.org or email
soundsofstow@gmail.com

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.

   With some hot summer days behind us and some still to come you might not be thinking of blankets and comforters.  However, Fresh Start has a massive need for all sizes of blankets and comforters right now.  We also always need shower curtains and liners and hooks.  A lot of our clients move into a new home and find there is no curtain in the shower.
     For kitchenware we need measuring cups, both for dry and liquid, and measuring spoons.  Also cutting boards and drinking glasses.
     Finally, we are currently low on tables & chairs and end tables.
      Please check our website (above) for more information, for our location in Hudson and for our hours.  We accept donations in good (not necessarily new)condition on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9-noon for household items and on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30 for furniture and until noon for household items.
     Thank you for helping us to help others.

Acton, MA – Discovery Museum will host local author Julie Carrick Dalton to discuss her acclaimed new novel, The Forest Becomes Her, on Wednesday, September 23, 7:30pm. The novel is set in Concord, MA. The event is free with pre-registration.
In a fireside chat with Discovery Museum CEO Marie Beam, Julie will discuss the novel's themes of environmental loss, grief, resilience, and our enduring connection to forests. Together, they'll explore a question that feels more urgent than ever: If today's children never develop a meaningful relationship with nature in the first place, what do we risk losing—not only environmentally, but culturally and emotionally?
This event is for adults only. Space is limited. Museum exhibit galleries will be closed. Light refreshments will be served.

What: An Evening with Julie Carrick Dalton, author of The Forest Becomes Her
When: Wednesday, September 23, 7:30pm
Where: Discovery Museum, 177 Main Street, Acton, MA
Cost: FREE
Registration: Required in advance at https://bit.ly/DaltonSept2026; space is limited
Who: Adults only

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is pleased to announce a FREE Volunteer Advocate Training program for interested community members. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in our 13 partner communities.

The 40-hour, 3-week training is designed to familiarize volunteers with the many aspects of domestic
violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.

The September/October 2026 training will be held at the Lexington Police department starting on
September 28 through October 16.

Week 1: Monday and Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 7:15 PM and Fridays from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.
Week 2: Monday and Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 7:15 PM and Fridays from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.
Week 3: Tuesday* and Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 7:15 PM and Fridays from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.
*Due to the Monday, Oct. 12, holiday.

For those who decide to activate as volunteer advocates, there is an additional 10 to 12 hours of supervised field training at the completion of the classroom segment.

The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. For more
information about the training or to request an application, call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to
training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.
DVSN member communities: Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and Hanscom Security Forces.

Begun as a labor of love and becoming a local tradition, the Assabet Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival returns for its fifth consecutive year on Saturday, September 5 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley (UUCAV, formerly First Parish Church of Stow and Acton). The festival will include local craft beer brewers, food trucks, live music, and a separate, dedicated children’s area with games and crafts.

General admission is $10 suggested donation per person, with those 12 and under admitted free. Drink tickets for beer or hard cider are $6, and soft drinks and bottled water will be available at food trucks.

The festival will take place rain or shine in Stow Town Center at 353 Great Road. The facilities at UUCAV are wheelchair accessible with accessible parking. For more information, email craftbeerfest@uucav.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @AssabetCraftBeer.

The Stow COA is looking for volunteers to pick up food donations each week from local Stop and Shop stores.  With everything becoming more expensive, this service is greatly needed and appreciated by so many of our residents, so we want to keep it going!  An overview of what this volunteer opportunity entails is provided below.
This volunteer opportunity requires arriving at the store around 7 am to gather, pack and load about 20 banana boxes (weigh between 20 to 50 pounds) and a half-dozen milk crates in your vehicle.  

• The boxes are then brought to the rear entrance of the COA (located at the Pompo Community Center) where other volunteers will assist with unloading and ultimately arranging the donations in the COA Food Program.
• This volunteer opportunity typically takes about an hour and a half.
• Training will be provided.
• A volunteer application must be completed and processed.

If you are unsure whether this is for you, a ride along with a current volunteer can be arranged.  Email COAAdminAsst@Stow-MA.gov if interested or for more information. Thanks for considering!

Calling Stow Senior Artists!
The Stow Council on Aging has been invited to submit an original artwork by one of our seniors for display at Middlesex Superior Court, as part of their grant-funded Community Art Program.

• Theme: "Community"
• Medium: Pencil, watercolor, or oil on paper/canvas
• Size: 11" x 14", unframed (digital copies accepted)
• Drop-off deadline: September 15, 2026, at the COA
• Required: A card with the artist's name, the work's title, and a brief description
• Selection: The COA team will choose their favorite piece to submit
• Celebration: The chosen artist will be honored in November alongside other artists, guests, court staff, judges, and community members

Please contact Kathleen or Tanya at 978-897-1880 with questions about this exciting opportunity

This year's headliner is Houston Bernard, the 2024 Country Act of the Year at the New England Music Awards. We are also excited to welcome special guest Whitney Doucet, who has performed a duet with Keith Urban, opened for several country music stars, and performed with her band on the side stage before Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and Dan + Shay.

The day will be filled with fun activities, including blacksmith and roping demonstrations, line dancing lessons with Miss Tricia and her dancers, and a Best Dressed Contest. Food trucks will be on-site, and adult beverages will be available from Barrells & Vines and Amory’s Tomb Brewery. You can also browse several craft vendors lined up on Summer Street.

Thank you to the Maynard Cultural District and our generous business sponsors for making this event possible: Smith & Finley Homes, MacDonald Development, Summer Street Properties, The Capital Group, and Middlesex Savings Bank.

A special thank you also goes to our Country Musicfest Committee for all their hard work in putting this event together.

We hope to see you on September 19 at Maynard Memorial Park!

We are excited to announce a new event organized by the Maynard Business Alliance - The Summer Sidewalk Sale!

On Saturday, August 22nd from 10am to 3pm, participating stores in downtown Maynard will offer deals, discounts, and promotions! What a wonderful way to kick off back-to-school shopping, and send off the summer properly. The event will happen rain or shine, but let's hope for the "shine" portion.

For a list of participating businesses, visit our Events Page at maynardbusinessalliance.org and follow us on FB

The Randall Library Friends celebrate America 250 with a showing of “Hamilton” on Tuesday, August 18 at the Randall Library in Stow. The film captures a live performance at the Richard Rodgers Theater in June 2016, featuring the original Broadway cast. The show will begin at 1:30 pm.

“Hamilton” is a revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation. It is the story of America then, told by America now. With a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and show tunes, “Hamilton” is a beautiful, insightful look into America’s history.

Winning 11 Tony awards (including Best Musical) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Hamilton” has made its mark in American theater, culture, and society.  Come in out of the warm weather and watch this unforgettable show. [Rated PG-13; Run time: 2 hours 26 minutes]

One significant risk investors face isn’t losing money in a market dip; it’s failing to reach their long-term financial goals. Many people focus on avoiding short-term losses and invest too conservatively, which can limit growth over time and may impact your retirement security.

A thoughtful approach starts with understanding three things: how much risk you’re comfortable taking, how much risk you can afford based on your financial situation and time horizon, and how much growth you need to reach your goals.

You'll want to find the balance between your level of risk and long-term goals. Spreading your investments across a diverse set of investment and asset types can help manage market ups and downs while still pursuing growth, though it doesn't guarantee profits or protect against losses.

Investing well isn’t about avoiding risk. It’s about taking a balanced approach that merges your level of comfort with the future you’re working toward.

Investors should understand the risks involved with owning investments, including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. The value of investments fluctuates and investors can lose some or all of their principal.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Tristan Bezzant, your local Edward Jones financial advisor at 14 Nason St. Maynard, MA. Member SIPC

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.

Selections focus on “Connections”, both musical and thematic, promoting visions of hope and shared humanity.
Sounds of Stow Chorus welcomes all area singers to our Open Rehearsals, Monday evenings August 31, September 7, and September 14 at the First Parish Church in Stow Center (353 Great Road), from 7-9:15. Come as early as 6:30 to meet and greet your fellow singers.
Sunday, November 22, 2026, our season opens with Maurice Durufle's much beloved "Requiem".  Stylistic traditions and techniques spanning centuries are evident in this piece, composed in 1947, which is mainly contemplative, but breaks into memorable dramatic renderings of appropriate texts. Barbara Jones directs the chorus, accompanied by organ, strings, trumpets, harp and timpani, in the beautiful Salem Covenant Church just east of Worcester.
Building on the great success of Christopher Tin’s “To Shiver The Sky” (April, 2026), we eagerly anticipate performing his “The Drop that Contained the Sea” on April 11, 2027.

The Sounds of Stow Chorus is a friendly and welcoming group whose singers hail from 20+ towns in the Metrowest area and beyond. Membership is open to anyone who can match pitch, learn the music, and blend with the other voices. We particularly encourage Tenor voices to join our group for the upcoming year. Artistic Director Barbara Jones and Assistant Director Christina Kennedy promote serious musicianship at weekly rehearsals that are lively, challenging, educational, and always fun! We hope to see you this month!

For further information, please visit www.soundsofstow.org or email
soundsofstow@gmail.com