A holiday gift drive can put a present under the tree for one child. But a child who has been separated from their family because of abuse or neglect, and is moving between foster homes and new adults in courtrooms, needs something that lasts longer than the season. As you plan your holiday giving, please consider including Boston CASA, which recruits, trains and supports volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) who stand up for children in the Massachusetts foster care system year-round.

The need is significant. Fewer than 1 in 8 foster youth will earn a college degree, and 1 in 4 will experience homelessness after leaving care. In FY26, Boston CASA served more than 350 children and youth, including 186 new cases, which is 129% of its annual goal. The organization serves more than 35% of eligible children in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties. Hundreds still go without an advocate.

Rather than a one-time gift, Boston CASA gives a child a consistent adult who is sworn in by a judge to speak on their behalf:
 

• A steady presence. Each CASA is assigned one case at a time and meets with the child twice a month for at least 18 months. CASAs are the only adult in the case focused solely on the child, and often become the most consistent, trusted adult in their life.
• A voice in court. CASAs submit monthly written reports to the presiding judge so the child’s needs and preferences are heard in decisions that shape their life. In a national survey, 92% of judges said CASAs improve long-term outcomes.
• A connection to services. CASAs advocate across education, health care and mental health. In a single year, 61 children received increased educational support, 27 youth were connected to services including DCF, MassHealth and the Department of Mental Health, and 20 children gained access to primary health care.
• A path to adulthood. Boston CASA’s Youth Advisory Board helps foster youth ages 14 to 22 build skills in personal finance, public speaking and advocacy. Among participants, 60% reported improved coping and self-care skills and 100% said they would recommend the program to other youth in care.

“The real work is done in everyday things. It’s being the adult who keeps showing up and supporting them, simply because they care,” says Chris Willis, a CASA since 2021. “When I read these case reports, I see kids who have every reason in the world to be angry or miserable. But the kids I’ve worked with still smile and persevere. They’re truly great kids.”

Donate. An average of $4,500 per year supports a child with a CASA. Readers can learn more and give at www.BostonCASA.org.

Get involved. Boston CASA trained 86 new volunteers in FY26, and its next training begins in late January with spots still open. Community members interested in becoming a CASA can join one of the monthly information sessions at the same site.

November 4, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 21st Season with a concert titled “Northern Lights” at First Congregational Church in Princeton on December 3 and Museum of Worcester on December 4. A reception will follow each concert.
The annual holiday Baroque concert journeys north to the Baltic and features a host of composers from the region. Glittering musical selections reflect the northern sky’s brilliant starscape and the spectacular aurora borealis.
Thursday, December 3 @7:30PM Friday, December 4 @7:30PM
First Congregational Church Museum of Worcester
9 Ayer Road, Harvard 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @7 PM Pre-concert talk @7 PM
Program
Johan Daniel Berlin | Sinfonia a 6
Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński | Sonata a due violini
Georg Philipp Telemann | Concerto for 2 violas TWV 52:G3
Johan Helmich Roman | Assaggio in G minor for solo violin
Johann Sebastian Bach | Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor
George Frideric Handel | Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 5
Worcester Chamber Music Society Musicians:
Krista Buckland Reisner, violin and nyckelharpa
Rohan Gregory, violin and viola
Mark Berger, viola
Peter Sulski, viola and violin
Ariana Falk, cello
With guests:
Catherine Weinfield-Zell, oboe
Pablo Kennedy, double bass and theorbo
John McKean, harpsichord
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/northern-lights/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.
All venues are handicapped accessible.

 

The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer

Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit -- Sweet, thin-skinned and seedless, the flavor is reminiscent of refreshing red grapes and sweet nectarines.
California Navel oranges – Easy peeling with the perfect balance between sweet and tart. Seedless and packed with Vitamin C.
Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes ($42) or 10 lb. boxes ($22) each.  Order online through November 13 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 12. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area, we welcome your order and can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 12 in Harvard.
The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here: https://lions-citrus-sale-109284.square.site/.
We are also offering gift boxes that will ship anywhere in the Continental US. Here is the order site: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.

 

BOSTON – Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg’s Veterans’ Bonus Division has begun awarding bonuses to servicemembers for their participation in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S military campaign against Iran that began on February 28th of this year. To date, the division has received over 300 applications for bonuses related to Operation Epic Fury and awarded over $200,000 to these members of our nation’s military.

“Massachusetts has led the nation in recognizing our veterans for over 100 years,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “These new bonuses reflect our state’s commitment to honoring the servicemembers who make significant sacrifices every day.”

Bonuses for participation in Operation Epic Fury range from $500-$1,000 for serving in imminent danger locations. Individuals may apply for this bonus regardless of active or discharge status. Servicemembers or veterans may be eligible if they: served during Operation Epic Fury, had been domiciled in Massachusetts for the six months immediately prior to entry into the armed forces or prior to activation, and have been discharged under honorable conditions (if applying as a discharged servicemember).

Since 2006, the Division has disbursed more than $12.5 million in wartime bonuses to post-9/11 veterans and those who missed bonuses at discharge.

Apply for a bonus by creating an account at https://matreasury.my.site.com/mavbd/. Veterans, servicemembers, and their families are also encouraged to submit an inquiry to determine eligibility for a bonus at https://matreasury.my.site.com/mavbd/inquiry.

Ayer, MA:  St. Andrew's Church will host its Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 7 Faulkner St., Ayer.

The fair will feature handmade gifts and holiday shopping opportunities from local artisans, including stained glass, pottery, handmade bags, knitted items, costume jewelry, and curated gift baskets. Attendees can also purchase homemade cookies by the pound and freshly baked pies, and enter to win prizes from an extensive raffle table.
A highlight of the event is St. Andrew's famous beef stew, which will be available for lunch either to enjoy on-site or to take home.
Admission is free, and guests will be welcomed with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate.
The annual fair is a longstanding community tradition and offers visitors an opportunity to support local crafters while getting a head start on holiday shopping.
St. Andrew’s is located at 7 Faulkner Street in Ayer and is an open and affirming community. We are a family-friendly community where children are always welcome.  Sunday School and childcare are available. The Sunday Celebration of Holy Communion is at 9:30 am, in-person and streams online at http://youtube.com/@standrewsayer/streams. For more information, please visit the St. Andrew’s website at www.standrewsayer.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 First United Methodist Church cordially invites one and all to a free Thanksgiving Day dinner to be held at the church at 34 Felton St., Hudson, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th. from 4:00 – 6:00pm.  We hope that anyone who may be alone or not able to be with loved ones will consider our invitation.

As one of the many ways we reach out to others, one of our church members, and his family, will prepare a traditional holiday feast for people in the Hudson and surrounding communities, free of charge.   Come enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, as we welcome the holiday spirit of giving, into our hearts.

Please visit us for this celebration of thanks for all our gifts and blessings and feel free to invite a friend or neighbor to join you.
As mentioned, the dinner is free but donations are always welcome.
We are located at 34 Felton Street, just over the hill, off the Hudson Rotary.    

More information is available at 978-562-2932 or at the church’s website: www.hudsonfumc.org.

The First United Methodist Church cordially invites one and all to a free Thanksgiving Day dinner to be held at the church at 34 Felton St., Hudson, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th. from 4:00 – 6:00pm.  We hope that anyone who may be alone or not able to be with loved ones will consider our invitation.

As one of the many ways we reach out to others, one of our church members, and his family, will prepare a traditional holiday feast for people in the Hudson and surrounding communities, free of charge.   Come enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, as we welcome the holiday spirit of giving, into our hearts.

Please visit us for this celebration of thanks for all our gifts and blessings and feel free to invite a friend or neighbor to join you.
As mentioned, the dinner is free but donations are always welcome.
We are located at 34 Felton Street, just over the hill, off the Hudson Rotary.    

More information is available at 978-562-2932 or at the church’s website: www.hudsonfumc.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

Stow, Mass. – The Spiritual Growth and Community Center (SGCC) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley is pleased to offer the following programming during the month of November.

Open Creativity: November 5 and 19, 7-9pm. Give yourself the gift of dedicated time to work on your project in the company of fellow creatives. Bring your own project in progress or start something new! All crafts are welcome.

SoulCollage: November 14, 1-4:30pm. SoulCollage® is a deeply personal and intuitive form of art therapy developed by Seena B. Frost in the late 1980s, designed to facilitate self-discovery and emotional exploration through creative collage-making.

Intermediate Zentangle Workshop: November 15, 2-4pm. This class is for anyone who has learned the basics of Zentangle. Now that we have those down, we're going to change it up and break the rules! Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum is the minister of UUCAV, but she's also a Certified Zentangle Teacher. For this workshop, she'll bring you some of the latest ideas from Zentangle learned at the “ZenAgain” conference and other places. This workshop requires registration, is limited to 12 people, and has a materials fee. Please visit uucav.org for more information and a link to the registration form.

The Spiritual Growth and Community Center (SGCC) is the outreach program arm of UUCAV, 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. All programs are open to the community. Our programs are welcoming to all, and inclusive of all perspectives, including oppressed, mainstream, and non-religious views.

Unless otherwise specified, all events are held at 353 Great Road in Stow, Massachusetts. The building at UUCAV is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. There is plenty of free parking.

Plan your Thanksgiving holiday celebrations now! Join us on Sunday, November 22nd for the Maynard-Clinton Elks Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot. We’ll have drawings for turkeys, hams, and Tomahawk steaks, as well as an assortment of raffles, including a full Thanksgiving dinner.
All are welcome. Doors open at 1:00 PM, with the first drawing at 1:30 PM.
Support the Maynard Food Pantry!

Bring a non-perishable food item and be entered into a raffle!

Maynard-Clinton Elks is located at 34 Powder Mill Road, Maynard, MA 01754.
For further information, please call (978) 897-8425.

Sounds of Stow’s 48th season under the direction of Barbara Jones focuses on music of “Connections”– past to present, culture to culture, voice to voice. The opening concert –2:00 pm, Sunday Nov. 22, connects an early Baroque motet by Padre Martini with the major feature, Maurice
Durufle’s “Requiem” (1947). Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA provides the appropriately beautiful space for this beloved and moving setting of the requiem text, which draws on traditional chant melodies, flavored by harmonies that evoke music by compatriots Debussy and Faure.

Our season continues with further exploration of Christopher Tin’s exciting works, with “The Drop that Contained the Sea”, on Sunday, April 11, 2027 at Littleton High School. New singers are welcome to join us for an amazing adventure into evocative and joyous music that connects the water cycle to music rooted in many cultures (see website for details.) The season concludes with “Hearts Full of Hope," a program about the courage to hope, the strength we find in one another, and the possibility of creating a more compassionate world, on June 6, 2027, in Stow.

For further information and tickets, visit www.soundsofstow.or or email info@soundsofstow.org. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton, Littleton and Hudson.

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks invites the community to an evening of fun, music, and giving back at a charity Music Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, November 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Lodge, located at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard.
Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Admission includes one bingo card for each of the four rounds of Music Bingo. Additional cards will be available for purchase at the event.
Guests can also try their luck with an assortment of raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees who bring items to donate will receive a free raffle ticket as a thank-you for their generosity. Suggested donations include full-sized toiletries, new socks, new washcloths, and coffee gift cards just to name a few.
All proceeds will benefit Veteran Pathways of New England, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans on their journey toward stability, healing, and independent living. Through this fundraiser, the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.
Advance admission can be prepaid through Venmo at @blproia. For verification, the last four digits of the associated phone number are 0060.
Gather your friends, enjoy a fun night of music bingo, and help make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country.
For more information, please contact Barbara Proia, Loyal Knight and Veterans Committee Chairperson, at 978-337-0060.

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers hospital stays and medical services such as doctor visits. Part A typically comes with no monthly premium if you've worked for at least 10 years. Part B requires a monthly premium, with higher-income beneficiaries paying additional amounts based on income. Part B also includes an annual deductible and cost-sharing requirements, with Medicare typically announcing updated amounts for the coming year in November.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) offers an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare through private insurance companies. Many plans bundle Part A, Part B, and usually Part D while including additional benefits like vision and dental coverage.
• Medicare Part D provides standalone prescription drug coverage for those who stay with Original Medicare. In 2027, Part D plans include a $2,400 annual cap on out-of-pocket spending for covered prescription medications, although covered drugs vary by plan.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies help cover certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't pay.

• Out-of-pocket costs, including premiums, deductibles, copayments and other expenses not covered by Medicare.
• Prescription drug coverage. Although Part D plans include a $2,400 cap on out-of-pocket spending for covered drugs in 2027, the medications covered by each plan can vary. Make sure your prescriptions are included.
• Provider access. Make sure your doctors and hospitals are covered by the plan.
• Your anticipated health care needs. If you expect ongoing treatment, specialist care or planned procedures, make sure your plan provides appropriate coverage.
• Travel considerations. Frequent travelers may want supplemental coverage for emergencies outside the U.S.

BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division (UCP) and the Massachusetts Veterans Bonus Division have partnered to help veterans recover unclaimed property and funds owed to them. Launched in August, the collaborative effort has already resulted in 93 claims with an estimated value of over $45,000. To date, $12,000 has been returned to Veteran Bonus recipients in unclaimed funds

Both divisions operate under the leadership of State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. By working together, the departments are connecting veterans with funds that may otherwise have gone undiscovered, while helping ensure they receive the money they are entitled to.

“Veterans have given so much in service to our state and our country, and we want to make sure they receive every dollar they are owed,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “By bringing our divisions together, we are doing even more to help them recover funds they may not know they are owed.”

As part of the partnership, after the Veterans Bonus Division awards a wartime bonus to a veteran, the division coordinates with UCP to determine whether that recipient also has unclaimed property in Massachusetts. This proactive approach creates an additional opportunity to connect veterans with forgotten or unclaimed financial assets and help return money that rightfully belongs to them.

In addition to the cross collaboration between both departments, Unclaimed Property routinely reaches out to veterans, many of whom are no longer stationed in Massachusetts. Their last known addresses are military post offices or a local base address. In the past two years, over $298,000 has been returned to current or former military members.  With a total of $2.5 million in cash and securities waiting to be reunited.

The divisions will continue working together to identify veterans who may have unclaimed property and facilitate the return of those funds, reinforcing the state’s commitment to supporting those who have served.

MASSACHUSETTS (Oct. 30, 2026) — More than 600 teens across the Commonwealth have cast their votes, and the winner of the fifth annual Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award is Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming (Penguin Random House, 2025).
“Massachusetts readers, I cannot thank you enough for this amazing, amazing honor! I am overjoyed that you read my book!” Fleming said when she learned of the results.
The first runner-up is Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel (Penguin Random House, 2025), followed by Breathing Underwater by Abbey Lee Nash (Holiday House, 2024).
“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Oppel. “Of all the awards a writer can win, I love readers’ choice awards best because they put the power in the hands of my actual readers to discuss, debate, and choose their favourite books. I’m so glad that Best of All Worlds connected with the readers of Massachusetts!”
The Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award is the only award in the Bay State that invites students in grades 7–12 to vote for their favorite new books. The three top titles were selected by teens from a list of nominees curated by a committee of public librarians, school library media specialists, and educators. Teens were encouraged to read the nominated books throughout the spring and summer before casting their votes October 1–16, 2026.

Troop 1 Stow Scouts annual wreath sale is going on now through Thursday, November 12th.  All come with a red bow and available in 2 sizes:  Standard wreaths (fit standard size door), undecorated ($22) or decorated ($27); Large (40" outer diameter), undecorated ($68).  Sponsor a veteran wreath ($18) to be placed in the Stow cemeteries by volunteers.

Order online at troop1stow.net or by sending check payable to Troop 1 Stow PO Box 75, Stow, MA 01775

Wreaths will start to be DELIVERED the week of Thanksgiving to Stow and bordering towns.  If you have any questions, please contact us at 978-212-9175 or by email at wreath@troop1stow.net

When: November 7, 10 am–noon (rain date: Nov 8)
Where: Maynard High School student parking lot

Considering purchasing an electric vehicle? Join us to meet EV owners, explore different models, ask questions, and learn about charging, range, incentives, maintenance, and everyday EV ownership.

Attention Stow residents!  Do you travel?  Like to share your adventures with others?  The Stow COA offers an Armchair Travel Program on the third Tuesday of the month at 1 pm.  Volunteers show pictures and share information about a place they have visited. For more information email COA2@Stow-MA.gov.

Stow, Mass., Oct 30 – The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley (UUCAV) will hold a Samhain Circle on Friday, October 30, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. entitled “Descent into the Underworld.”  Explore your inner depths as we journey into the spirit realm to discover what death and rebirth hold for us this year. Visit with ancestors and guides, let go of what no longer feeds you, and make room for new growth. Part of the ritual will take place outdoors, weather permitting; a warm layer is recommended.

The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the ritual will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to familiarize themselves with the instructions for the evening. A potluck feast in the Vestry will follow the ritual; please bring a dish to share.

UUCAV is a nut-free facility with accessible parking and entry, located at 353 Great Rd, Stow.

Stow, MA – The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and Troop Stow Scouts are proud to host the annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Stow Community Center, 509 Great Road, Stow. Doors open at 7:30 AM, and the program begins at 8:00 AM. The event is a heartfelt way to thank and honor local veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.

This year’s keynote speaker is a hometown voice: Airman Sophia Schneider, US Air Force, Air National Guard, of Stow. A graduate of Nashoba Regional High School, Schneider enlisted in the Air National Guard and is currently stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base as an E-2 Airman. Following Basic Training, she is continuing her studies through the University of New Hampshire in Hazardous Waste Environmental Engineering and Emergency Management. She is also the second female to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, and the 100th overall, in Stow’s Troop 1.

State Representative Kate Hogan and Senator Jamie Eldridge, both strong supporters of the veteran community, will also speak. Many other local representatives will be on hand to say thank you in person.

A sit-down breakfast will be provided by Pleasant Cafe of Maynard and Ayer.

Veterans and their families are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by scanning the QR code on the event flyer or by using the online form: https://forms.gle/CDaa5WggTPRD6DMT9. You can also contact Catherine Hammill at 617-872-4972 or RotaryofNashobaValley@gmail.com.

This event is a chance to gather as a community and show our deep appreciation for the men and women who have served or are currently serving our country.

About the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley:
The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is dedicated to making a difference in the local community and beyond through service projects, partnerships, and events that support education, health, and community well-being. For more information, visit www.NashobaRotary.org.

• Set up a vendor booth to sell handmade goods, treats, gifts, or other products.
• Promote your business with a festive booth or activity.
• Host a holiday craft, game, or children’s activity.
• Provide food, baked goods, treats, or hot cocoa.
• Share your talents through music, dance, or other holiday performances.
• Participate as a nonprofit or community organization.

Felixology: books, gifts, and art for the magical mind at 2 Walnut St in Maynard is holding a Thanksgiving-themed Grief Cafe on Sunday, November 22nd from 6-8pm. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, can be particularly difficult for grieving families and this event seeks to acknowledge that feeling of loss. Participants are invited to bring a food or drink that reminds them of a deceased loved one to share. If comfortable, they may share why the food or drink is meaningful. The featured book will be After Taste by Daria Lavelle. It is not necessary to bring a food or drink item to attend the Grief Cafe.

Felixology opened in late 2024 to honor the memory of the owner's late son Felix, who passed away at age 29 from Mesothelioma. Felix was a creative, enchanted soul who grew up in nearby Concord amongst nature and the spirits of his ancestors. He had a profound love of nature, history, literature, and art. He grew up to be an artist and designer for theatre, opera, film and top fashion designers.

Felixology is committed to being more than just a retail location, but a safe, welcoming, community space that harkens back to the carefree, magical days of childhood. It is a bookshop for all ages, but caters to the inner child in all of us. Felixology holds monthly Grief Cafes and Death Cafes to normalize discussions on grief, death, and dying.

For more information on Felixology or the Grief Cafe please visit the website at felixology.com, email felixology8@gmail.com, call 978-298-5716, or visit social media on Facebook or Instagram (@felixologybookshop)

 

The Maynard Food Pantry will once again be providing Thanksgiving dinner baskets to families in need within our community this holiday season.

In the past, families, organizations, groups and companies have generously donated dinner baskets consisting of a frozen turkey or canned ham together with a combination of bagged potatoes, fresh squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, canned or fresh vegetables, apples, oranges, fruit juice, packaged rolls and packaged desserts. Thinking about a family of 6 when putting together the basket is a good guide.

We would greatly appreciate similar donations this year so that the Maynard Food Pantry can provide these wonderful gifts to our client families.  In previous years, we have been able to provide approximately 85-90 dinner baskets to local families in need.

If you would like to donate a Thanksgiving dinner basket or a quantity of one of the above-referenced items, please contact Mary Brannelly by email at mjtbrannelly@comcast.net  no later than Friday, November 13, 2026 for drop off instructions.  Also feel free to send along a note if you need additional information.

The Maynard Food Pantry is always appreciative of cash donations that are used to purchase food to keep the Food Pantry stocked, especially as we have been seeing a significant increase in the number of families in need of our services over the past months.  Checks can be made payable to the "Maynard Food Pantry" and may be sent c/o PO Box 55, Maynard, MA 01754.  Thank you and enjoy your Holiday!

 

For 50 years, Concord Prison Outreach’s Holiday Gift Bag Project has carried a simple but meaningful message to incarcerated people during the holiday season: you are not forgotten. This year, our volunteers, faith partners, and community partners will come together to assemble and distribute 2,300 Holiday Gift Bags to incarcerated men and women at MCI-Shirley, MCI-Framingham, North Central Correctional Institution in Gardner, and Northeastern Correctional Center in Concord. Each bag contains simple, useful items and a holiday card that serves as a reminder to our incarcerated neighbors that they remain valued members of our community. This message is especially important during the holidays, which can be an incredibly difficult and isolating time for those separated from their families, friends,and communities.
The Holiday Gift Bag Project is just one of the many ways CPO works to restore dignity and build hope throughout the year. At the heart of our work is the belief that people can heal and grow, families can remain connected despite incarceration, and every person deserves opportunities to move forward with dignity, purpose, and hope. CPO delivers more than 60 programs across nine prison and jail sites, reaching 1,000+ program participants with the support of more than 430 program-based volunteers and over 2,000 volunteer hours.
At MCI-Framingham, our work with incarcerated women continues to grow. CPO is now delivering programming directly to women living in the Reintegration House, a 12-bed, minimum-security pre-release residence designed to support their transition back into their families and communities. Our Reentry Readiness Program provides practical preparation for life after incarceration, addressing areas such as personal and family reintegration, financial literacy, emotional wellness and recovery, technology, employment readiness, healthy relationships, and community resources.
Our Restorative Justice programming continues to create opportunities for accountability, healing, recovery, and personal growth. In 2025, CPO provided 722 hours of Restorative Justice programming, engaging 556 incarcerated participants through 32 programs across seven prison and jail sites. We also expanded our work to include Recovery Circles, designed to address addiction, trauma, grief, and cycles of harm within correctional facilities.
Across all of these efforts, CPO is reaching more people and offering more programming than ever before. In 2025, we engaged more than 3,500 individuals through volunteer and program participation and supported more than 5,000 additional individuals and families through seasonal service initiatives and community outreach.
But growth is not simply about numbers. Each number represents a person. Another participant has access to a program that can help them heal and grow. Another woman preparing for reentry knows she is supported. Another child feels remembered. Another family has an opportunity to reconnect.
Restoring dignity means recognizing the humanity and potential in every person. Building hope means creating real opportunities for healing, connection, recovery, education, and a path forward. Together, we can build a community where incarceration does not mean isolation, where recovery and second chances are possible, and where every person has reason to be hopeful about the future.
As we work to meet our annual budget and continue providing the Holiday Gift Bag Project and our growing programs throughout the year, we ask you to consider making a financial contribution to CPO. Your support allows us to sustain and expand this work, reach more incarcerated people and families, and continue showing up for our neighbors across Massachusetts.
Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us restore dignity and build hope.
Show Your Support. Donate today at donorbox.org/hgb.

 

The financial markets always go through periods of instability. And we may see more of that now, given concerns about tariffs, inflation and the economy. As an investor, how can you deal with this volatility?
Some investors try to take advantage of market ups and downs by attempting to follow the age-old advice to “buy low and sell high” — that is, they seek to buy stocks when they feel prices have bottomed out and they sell stocks when they think the market has reached a high point. In theory, this is a great idea, but in practice, it’s essentially impossible, because no one can really predict market highs and lows.
Rather than trying to anticipate highs and lows, your best strategy for coping with the price fluctuations of the financial markets is to diversify your investment portfolio by owning a mix of stocks, bonds and other types of securities. Different types of financial assets can move in different directions at any given time — so, for example, stocks may be up while bonds are down, or vice versa. If you only owned one of these types of assets, and the market for that asset class was down, your portfolio could take a bigger hit than if you owned a variety of asset types.
And you can further diversify within individual asset categories. Stocks can be domestic or international, large-company or small-company — and these groupings can also move in different directions at the same time, depending on various market forces. As for bonds, they too don’t always move in a uniform direction, or at least with the same intensity — for instance, when interest rates rise, bond prices tend to fall, but longer-term bonds may fall more than shorter-term ones, which are closer to maturity with fewer interest payments remaining. Conversely, when rates are falling, longer-term bonds may be more attractive because they lock in higher yields for a longer time. Consequently, one diversification technique for bonds is to build a “ladder” containing bonds of varying maturities.
Some investments, by their nature, are already somewhat diversified. A mutual fund can contain dozens, or even hundreds, of stocks, or a mixture of stocks and bonds. And different mutual funds may have different investment objectives — some focus more on growth, while others are more income-oriented — so, further diversification can be achieved by owning a mix of funds.
Furthermore, some investors achieve even greater diversification by owning alternative investments, such as real estate, commodities and cryptocurrencies, although these vehicles themselves are often more volatile than those in more traditional investment categories.
While a diversified portfolio is important for every investor, your exact level of diversification — the percentages of your portfolio devoted to stocks, bonds and other securities — will depend on your individual risk tolerance, time horizon and financial goals. You may want to consult with a financial professional about creating the diversified investment mix that’s right for your needs.
Ultimately, while diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses, it can help you reduce some of the risks associated with investing and better prepare you to deal with the inevitable volatility of the financial markets — two key benefits that can help you over the many years you’ll spend as an investor.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Tristan Bezzant, your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC

You must evaluate whether a bond or CD ladder and the securities held within it are consistent with your investment objectives, risk tolerance and financial circumstances. Including callable bonds may increase the interest rate risk of a bond ladder. Bonds may be called prior to maturity, which could result in lower yields with new investments.

A turkey drive can fill one table for one night. But a family that just lost SNAP benefits, or a patient managing diabetes without a working stove, needs something that lasts longer than a holiday meal. As you plan your holiday giving coverage, please consider including Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts, which works year-round to help residents afford and access healthy food with dignity.

The need is steepening. In 2025, 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank, including approximately 1 in 2 Black and Latino/a households. Massachusetts SNAP enrollment has already fallen by 196,000 people, including nearly 70,000 children, under new federal rules and another round of changes took effect Oct. 1.

Rather than handing out a single meal, Project Bread connects people with resources to buy their own food or find reliable no-cost food nearby:

-A phone call. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333) is the only comprehensive food assistance information and referral service in Massachusetts. In 2025, the Hotline received 20,383 calls, with counselors assisting in more than 180 languages, and completed 3,779 SNAP pre-screens and 510 SNAP applications over the phone.
-A prescription. Through the nonprofit’s Health Care Partnerships program, Project Bread works with MassHealth and health care providers to treat food insecurity as a health issue. Since its 2020 pilot, the program has connected more than 25,000 patients with grocery store gift cards, nutrition counseling, cooking classes and the kitchen essentials holiday food drives often overlook. In 2025 alone, that support included more than $3.4 million in grocery store gift cards and nearly $1.2 million in kitchen supplies and appliances. A new five-year report found 93% of participants reported improved health, along with lower A1C (blood sugar) levels and fewer emergency room visits. One health care partner reported $10.35 million in annual savings across 1,600 patients.
-A lunch tray. Since Project Bread led the Feed Kids Coalition’s successful push for permanent School Meals for All in Massachusetts, it continues to support school and summer meal programs statewide. On an average day in October 2025, 588,669 kids ate school lunch.
-A seat at the table. Through the Make Hunger History Coalition, Project Bread is uniting more than 700 partners to make Massachusetts the first state to permanently end hunger. Its Council of Experts with Lived Experience helps shape that work.

“The holidays put food at the center of our lives, which is why this season can be so hard for families struggling to afford groceries,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. “With federal cuts reaching Massachusetts households now, a gift to Project Bread does more than fill a plate for one night. It helps a parent connect to SNAP, a patient get the food their doctor prescribes and a child eat at school every day. That’s how we move from getting people through the holidays to ending hunger for good.”

Donate. Readers can learn more and donate at www.ProjectBread.org.

Get help. Residents who need help affording food can call the FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

October 21, 2026   Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 21st Season with a concert titled “Exuberant Voices” at Assumption University in Worcester on November 8.  A reception will follow the concert. Martinů’s Three Madrigals are a complex blend of the English madrigals and energetic Bohemian and Moravian folk music that he loved. Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 5, written after a three-year hiatus from composition, marked a radical stylistic departure from his earlier works and ushered in his late style. Saint- Saëns’ Quartet No. 2 is rhythmically dynamic, jaunty in tone, energetic, and exuberant.
Sunday, November 8 @4:00PM
Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester
Pre-concert talk @3:30PM
Program
Bohuslav Martinů | Three Madrigals, H.313 
Ludwig van Beethoven | Cello Sonata in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
Camille Saint-Saëns  | Piano Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 41
Tickets are available at https://worcesterchambermusic.org/exuberant-voices/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.
This concert will also be presented by the Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton at 7:00PM on November 6. Tickets and information are available at iconmuseum.org

The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey, will present its first concert of the 2026-27 Season “Masquerade” on Sunday, November 1st at 2 pm in the auditorium of Nashoba Regional High School, Route 117 (12 Green Road GPS), Bolton MA. The concert is free and open to the public – the hall is accessible to one and all.

The concert is (still) in the Halloween mood and opens a Waltz, a Mazurka , and a Galop from the Masquerade Suite, by Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian, followed by the chilling Dance of the Skeletons, the soundtrack of a 1901 silent cartoon. The featured work on the first half will be a remarkable work by Barbara York, Encountering Baba Yaga, with alto saxophone soloist, Andy Kern. It will be remembered that the Baba Yaga was a witch in Slavic and Russian folklore who live in a house built on fowl's legs, and flew about in a giant mortar.

The second half of the concert opens with Night On Bald Mountain by Modeste Moussorgsky which many will recognize from the Disney film Fantasia. The program will conclude with a setting of themes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Friends of Music and supported in part by grants from the Ashby, Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster. And Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.

 

The Harvard Lions are selling fresh oranges and grapefruit. Treat your family to great fruit while at the same time benefiting Lions charities and families in need! We offer

Florida Royal Ruby Red grapefruit -- Sweet, thin-skinned and seedless, the flavor is reminiscent of refreshing red grapes and sweet nectarines.
California Navel oranges – Easy peeling with the perfect balance between sweet and tart. Seedless and packed with Vitamin C.
Grapefruit, oranges and ‘mixed’ are available in 20 lb. boxes ($42) or 10 lb. boxes ($22) each.  Order online through November 13 and have the fruit delivered to your home in Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough, Devens, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley or Stow by a Harvard Lion on December 12. No need to be home for delivery. If outside our delivery area, we welcome your order and can arrange for you to pick up your order on December 12 in Harvard.
The direct link to purchase for the Harvard Lions local delivery is here: https://lions-citrus-sale-109284.square.site/.
We are also offering gift boxes that will ship anywhere in the Continental US. Here is the order site: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.com or email harvardlionsfruitsale@gmail.com.

The Trinitarian Congregational Church will be hosting its 55th annual Antiques Show on Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th, at the TriCon Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, from 10-5 on Friday and 10 - 4 on Saturday.

The Antiques Show raises monies to support mission and outreach efforts. All proceeds to the church, from entry fees, dealer rents, and café sales, are given away to outreach organizations that support hunger initiatives, domestic violence agencies, preschool and early education scholarships, veterans' needs, and the LGBTQ+ community.  Offering fine antiques, furniture, glassware, prints, jewelry, art work, and more(!), 3 floors of quality dealers are on hand to greet the over 800 customers who come back year after year. Our building is fully accessible.

The TriCon Café is a hit every year, offering freshly made sandwiches and soups and a place to sit so you can make a day of shopping and lunch.  We also sell many homemade desserts, including pies (sliced and whole), cookies, and other yummy baked treats.

The entrance fee is $10 per person (children free).  Look for our $1 off coupon/ad on social media, some area stores, and in local papers

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks invites the community to an evening of fun, music, and giving back at a charity Music Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, November 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Lodge, located at 34 Powdermill Road in Maynard.
Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Admission includes one bingo card for each of the four rounds of Music Bingo. Additional cards will be available for purchase at the event.
Guests can also try their luck with an assortment of raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees who bring items to donate will receive a free raffle ticket as a thank-you for their generosity. Suggested donations include full-sized toiletries, new socks, new washcloths, and coffee gift cards just to name a few.
All proceeds will benefit Veteran Pathways of New England, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans on their journey toward stability, healing, and independent living. Through this fundraiser, the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.
Advance admission can be prepaid through Venmo at @blproia. For verification, the last four digits of the associated phone number are 0060.
Gather your friends, enjoy a fun night of music bingo, and help make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country.
For more information, please contact Barbara Proia, Loyal Knight and Veterans Committee Chairperson, at 978-337-0060.

Sounds of Stow’s 48th season under the direction of Barbara Jones focuses on music of “Connections”– past to present, culture to culture, voice to voice. The opening concert –2:00 pm, Sunday Nov. 22, connects an early Baroque motet by Padre Martini with the major feature, Maurice
Durufle’s “Requiem” (1947). Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA provides the appropriately beautiful space for this belovedand moving setting of the requiem text, which draws on traditional chant melodies, flavored by harmonies that evoke music by compatriots Debussy and Faure.

Our season continues with further exploration of Christopher Tin’s exciting works, with “The Drop that Contained the Sea”, on Sunday, April 11, 2027 at Littleton High School. New singers are welcome to join us for an amazing adventure into evocative and joyous music that connects the water cycle to music rooted in many cultures. (see website for details.) The season concludes with “Hearts Full of Hope," a program about the courage to hope, the strength we find in one another, and the possibility of creating a more compassionate world, on June 6, 2027, in Stow.

For further information and tickets, visit www.soundsofstow.or or email info@soundsofstow.org. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton, Carlisle and Hudson.

WBN hosts our "She Means Business" event on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm at St. Theresa Church (Holy Trinity Parish), 17 Still River Road in Harvard. Guests welcome! Members will sell their wares and share their business stories. Members may set up a table display starting at 5:30 pm and must RSVP if setting up a display. Guests welcome, but only members may set up a display. Contact Deb Oliva at dboliva@charter.net to RSVP and for more information. WBN is a local, volunteer run networking group of women in small businesses, professional practices, non-profits and the arts who meet monthly for mutual support, education & networking.