Stow, Mass., Nov. 9 – On Nov 9 at 10 a.m., First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC), Unitarian Universalist, will hold a service led by Intern Minister Yaakov Trek Reef entitled “Moving Forward in Community.” This is an exciting year for the FPC Community, with big questions in our near future. This service will launch our annual stewardship drive and highlight our hopes and dreams as a community.

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.

Stow, Mass., Nov. 14 – All are welcome to the monthly Multigenerational Game Night at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy free parking, free snacks, and free fun!

The next Game Night will take place on Friday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. FPC is a nut-free location. It’s located at 353 Great Rd, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible. 

 

All are welcome to Guest Table Community Dinner at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton
(FPC) on Friday, November 14. Our community dinner is served on the second Friday of each
month in FPC’s Fellowship Hall. There is no charge for the meal, but donations are gratefully
accepted and we are always looking for volunteers to help set-up, cook, serve, or clean-up. We
offer options made with vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free ingredients. Doors open at 5 PM,
dinner is served at 5:30 PM.

Our dinners, in the past and present, are sponsored by the generous donations from the Stow
Community Chest. We are also grateful for the consistent support we receive from the Stow
Council on Aging and The Stow Food Pantry.

First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. Its facilities are
wheelchair accessible with free accessible parking. If you have questions or would like to
volunteer with a meal, please email fpcguesttable@fpc-stow-acton.org.

 

Sonic Liberation Players in Concert: Voiceless Mass 
Saturday, November 8th, 2025 - 7:30PM Sanctuary & Hall

Sonic Liberation Players open their 8th season with Raven Chacon's "Voiceless Mass," winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music. FPC Accompanist Trevor Berens will join the ensemble from our historic Hutchings pipe organ. The concert will also feature John Cage's rarely-performed "Apartment House, 1776", which celebrates the various music of this country in 1776, and a new commission from composer Eddie Davis. Suggested donation: $20. Donations collected at the door or in advance at Eventbrite.com.

House of Hamill - Upcycled Celtic Folk
Saturday, November 15th, 2025 - 7:30PM

Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the US and have shared their music and stories on the country’s premier folk stages. Their original song “Banks of the Brandywine” was a Grand Prize winner in the 2024 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Appearing at First Parish’s New Revival Coffeehouse
Visit houseofhamill.com for more information.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the concert.  Doors open at 7:00. Go to Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

     The first day of November was sunny but cold and blustery as we greeted donors and clients.  We received some wonderful donations:  chairs, a couch or two and tables.  A young man from Marlborough was one of the last donors of the day.  He brought a dining table to donate.  He told me that his Dad had made the table, and it was beautiful.  He said that his Dad died in an accident and that he taught his children to give back whenever they could.  The young man had recently learned about Fresh Start and he was so happy to donate the table to someplace that helped those in need, to someplace that was a non-profit and would not sell the table but would give it to a family in need.  Bless that man and his father!
     We can use more couches and love seats and dressers.  In the kitchen department, we need cutting boards, colanders, measuring cups & spoons, can openers, baking pans and cookie sheets.  We can always use linens, toddler beds and bedding. Shower curtains, liners and rings are always in demand and in low supply.
     Check our website for updates on most-needed items and for our hours and location.  We accept furniture donations on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30 and household items until noon on Saturdays and from 9 to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We provide furniture and furnishings to pre-qualified individuals and families at no charge to them.  It is truly a Feel Good place!

 

Volunteers needed to bring joy to families in need this holiday season

CANTON, MASS. (November 3, 2025) – With the holiday season approaching, The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division is kicking off its annual Red Kettle Campaign across the Commonwealth, and volunteers are urgently needed in nearly every region.
As more families across Massachusetts face economic hardship, inflation and housing costs heading into the holidays, the need for The Salvation Army's services continues to grow. The organization serves as a critical safety net, providing Christmas gifts and food, offering emergency assistance with bills, and providing shelter to those without a home. All Red Kettle proceeds support The Salvation Army's work with individuals and families right in the communities where donations are collected. On average, volunteer bell ringers raise enough money to provide nearly 250 meals to children and families in their respective towns. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Give With JOY.”
“Each act of generosity, large or small, helps The Salvation Army make the season brighter for families across Massachusetts,” said Major Elijah Kahn, General Secretary of The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division. “Our volunteers and donors embody the spirit of the holidays and make it possible for us to bring joy where it’s needed most.”
The first local Red Kettle campaigns of 2025 kick off across the state in November. Areas with upcoming campaign launches that are in need of volunteers and support include: the Merrimack Valley, Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts (Hyannis, Fall River, and New Bedford), the North Shore (Newburyport, Salem, and Lynn), MetroWest, Mass Bay/Boston, the Route 2 area (Athol, Greenfield, and Fitchburg), as well as Western (Springfield and Pittsfield) and Central Massachusetts (Milford and Worcester).
The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division is working to raise more than $2.3 million through this year’s Red Kettle Campaign to support critical year-round social services. Donations can be made in person at a Red Kettle or virtually.
To volunteer at a Red Kettle or donate online, visit salvationarmyma.org/redkettle.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army helps more than 28 million people in nearly every zip code in America overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from substance abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at our more than 7,400 centers of operation around the country. In 2024, Forbes ranked The Salvation Army 6th in its list of America’s Top 100 Charities. And in 2021, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked The Salvation Army 2nd on its list of “America’s Favorite Charities.” For more information about supporting The Salvation Army or your local service centers, visit salvationarmyma.org. Follow us on X @SalvationArmyMA and #DoingTheMostGood.

 

Dear Open Table Community,
As the government shutdown continues, over 41,000 households in our service area stand to lose their SNAP benefits in the coming days. For some, this loss comes on top of month-long furloughs and work without pay requirements. We know this strain will push many members of our community into a desperate situation. We are already seeing the impact; over the past week the number of new clients that signed up for Open Table more than tripled.
In the face of these unprecedented challenges, we want you to know that Open Table is ready. Our shelves are stocked, our meals are prepared, and our doors are open to those who needs us.
We know you want to help, and as demand rises, we’ll need your support more than ever. Here’s how we can meet the moment together:
Make a financial gift to help offset rising costs: https://www.opentable.org/give-now/
Donate non-perishable food to keep our pantry full: https://www.opentable.org/donate-groceries/
Join our giving activities to lift up neighbors in need: https://www.opentable.org/donation-activities/
Support Open Table Today!
Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, no matter what lies ahead. Thank you for standing with us and for your continued compassion and support.
With gratitude,

Alexandra DePalo
Executive Director
Barbara Fisher
Chair, Board of Directors

 

Dear Open Table Community,
As the government shutdown continues, over 41,000 households in our service area stand to lose their SNAP benefits in the coming days. For some, this loss comes on top of month-long furloughs and work without pay requirements. We know this strain will push many members of our community into a desperate situation. We are already seeing the impact; over the past week the number of new clients that signed up for Open Table more than tripled.
In the face of these unprecedented challenges, we want you to know that Open Table is ready. Our shelves are stocked, our meals are prepared, and our doors are open to those who needs us.
We know you want to help, and as demand rises, we’ll need your support more than ever. Here’s how we can meet the moment together:
Make a financial gift to help offset rising costs: https://www.opentable.org/give-now/
Donate non-perishable food to keep our pantry full: https://www.opentable.org/donate-groceries/
Join our giving activities to lift up neighbors in need: https://www.opentable.org/donation-activities/
Support Open Table Today!
Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, no matter what lies ahead. Thank you for standing with us and for your continued compassion and support.
With gratitude,

Alexandra DePalo
Executive Director
Barbara Fisher
Chair, Board of Directors

 

by Penny Isaac
In 1976 fans could see Bruce Springsteen for the low price of $8 (about $44 in modern day prices) and in 1988 they could see him for only $22.50 (about $60.84 in modern day prices). In 2024 this price changed so much that fans paid anywhere from $59.50 to $399 on the primary market and up to $5,000 on the resale market. This turn of events left many to wonder, what changed? The answer may seem obvious, inflation prices are going up after all, but inflation is actually not the problem here. The true problem behind concert ticket prices is ticket scalpers.
Concerts saw their first rise in scale thanks to The Beatles in 1965 and since then have taken off in size and popularity. This rise in popularity has only further increased after the pandemic as we worked as a community to come closer and get back to a new sense of normality. Although the growth in community has generally impacted positively on the music industry and music fans, not all aspects of the concert’s growth have had a positive impact. The main problem with this growth comes with the growth of ticket scalping.
When an artist decides on a venue, the artist, and their team work together with the venue to agree on a ticket price and ticket quantity before sending the tickets off to the venue’s contracted ticket selling company, like Ticketmaster or Fair AXS. The ticket company will then send out the tickets through presale and primary sale until the tickets get sold out. Once the tickets are sold out, any remaining tickets will be sent to the secondary market, which is where problems occur.
During primary sale ticket scalpers, often called brokers, will buy as many tickets as they can, often using bots that have been made unlawful under the BOTS Act 2016 to bypass ticket limits. Once the brokers have as many tickets as they can buy they often use manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics like advertising lower prices and then upping the price during checkout or affiliating themselves with the venue, artist, team, or ticket selling website to sell the tickets at inflated prices. The price increase in the resale market is often so dramatic that the price of a resale ticket can get up to 20 times the original face value of the ticket.
The ticket scalp problem has affected the resale market in horrible and manipulative ways. Most ticket selling platforms don’t offer refunds, so the resale ticket market was designed as a way for fans to sell tickets to fans for an event they are no longer able to attend. The creation of the secondary market also allowed fans to find tickets if they missed the primary market and, in some cases, allowed them to explore cheaper options. As more and more ticket scalpers begin to show up on the secondary market, they are corrupting the ideas that the secondary market was built on and inflating the prices unjustly in the process.
The problem of ticket scalping has grown so significantly that in 2024 alone the resale market brought in about 3.4 billion dollars in sales and this problem doesn’t just affect the fans, but the artists too. With the modernization of music and the use of online platforms, artists are getting paid less and less in comparison to the money they use to make from vinal, CD, and cassette tape sales. Many artists rely on concerts to make their living and thus it is their right to set the concert ticket prices. If an artist decides they want their ticket to be $800 that is between them and the venue but instead that money is going to someone who has no affiliation with that artist’s music and decisions.
Nevertheless, there is now a solution: The current federal government along with Massachusetts government are taking a stand. In Massachusetts there are laws in place making the use of or selling of automated ticket buyer, bots, illegal along with requiring a license for a person to sell any tickets to a concert. This law also contains strict rules on the maximum price of fees on tickets, refunds and when they must be issued, marketing and how to accurately disclose price information, along with strict fines and even jail time for violations.
On a federal level there are currently two bills stuck in the Senate. The first bill is called the Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (TICKET Act). The TICKET Act passed the house of representatives on April 29th, 2025, and is currently in the senate waiting for floor consideration as of September 16th, 2025. The TICKET Act is a bill that contains strict procedures on the price and advertisement of tickets, refunds, and the rights of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. This bill, if passed, would require honest advertising, itemized breakdowns in the price, refunds, and full clarity of what the ticket includes.
The Fans First Act is a bill currently in the house of representatives and was introduced in senate on December 7th, 2023. This bill contains all the main ideas ad the TICKET Act but adds additional conditions like strengthening the BOTs Act and adding more extreme fines, gives the buyer venue information, protects fan bases and fan websites, requires proof of purchase, and a study to be released on year after the bill is put into action. The study must contain information on the secondary market, how brokers bypass rules and regulations, fraud tickets, price increases due to brokers, and the relationships between primary sellers and venues/artists. This bill generally just goes into more detail than the TICKET Act and adds more conditions to protect music fans in particular from scalpers.
For the past month I have been studying the secondary ticket market and how brokers have impacted it in a negative way for my high school civics project. What I found is that this problem has affected so many more people than I could’ve imagined. From a survey I took from Parker Charter Essential School, a local middle and high school in Massachusetts, 42.5% of people said that they couldn’t attend their favorite artist’s concert due to the price. Ticket scalping has turned from a minor inconvenience to a huge problem in just a few years and the solution to this problem is within reach with the TICKET Act and the Fans First Act. This problem can affect anyone who likes a certain artist. So, even if it doesn’t affect you , it likely affects someone you know like a friend of family member. Due to this I would highly recommend that you call your local and federal senate representatives and urge them to vote yes on the TICKET Act and bring attention back to the Fans First Act. It is the opinion of over 260 artists that “predatory resellers should not be more profitable than the people dedicating their lives to their art,” so let’s change that by passing these Acts!

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 27th. at 4:30 pm and is free of charge to everyone who may be alone or not able to be with loved ones. 
As one of the many ways we reach out to others, one of our church members, Bob S., 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.com.

The Stow Friends of the Council on Aging (SFCOA) will hold a special sale on Wednesday, November 19th, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Pompo Community Center (509 Great Road, Stow) with bargains galore for these wonderful collectibles!

All proceeds benefit Stow senior residents through the Stow COA. Thank you for supporting our event!

First United Methodist Church of Hudson is hosting our sixth annual Soup’s On event, on Saturday, November 8, at 5:00 pm.  We will be serving several different homemade soups, stews, chowders, and chili recipes, plus a variety of delicious desserts!

We will be asking for a free will offering from the attendees.  The funds raised will help pay our Church's heating costs.

We hope that you will join us!  Anyone familiar with the dinners held at FUMC will know that we have some very talented cooks! 

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.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.net

 

Usher in the season with celebrated choral music
CONCORD, MA Issued October 27, 2025... Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), fostering the power of women’s voices in song, presents the holiday season concert “Radiant Light: A Celebration of the Season,” on Saturday, December 6, 4 pm, at a new venue, Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord.  The performance is conducted by CWC Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank, accompanied by Simon Andrews, piano.

“Radiant Light: A Celebration of the Season,” features a glorious program of music, including Dan Forrest’s luminous “Lux: The Dawn from on High,” a multi-movement work scored for women’s chorus, piano, violin, and cello. Other favorites include Ruth Morris Gray’s jazzy, percussion-driven “What Child Is This” and “Siyahamba,” Forrest’s warm and inclusive “Shalom,” and Elaine Hagenberg’s heartfelt “O Come, Emmanuel.” At the conclusion of the concert, the audience will be invited to join a festive, traditional (and really fun!) carol singalong. The program features some of Boston's finest professional instrumentalists, including Anne-Marie Chubet, violin (Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra, Director, Boston College Baroque Ensemble); Andrew Koutroubas, cello (Boston Early Music Festival, Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra); Gary Fieldman, djembe (Portland Symphony, ME, and Springfield Symphony, MA).

Concord Women’s Chorus is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power of women’s voices through song, hailing from Concord and the greater Boston area. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices.  Acclaimed conductor Jane Ring Frank was recently awarded Choral Arts New England’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for her expertise at a ceremony where CWC performs under her direction, and in her honor.

CWC’s commitment to the mastery and performance of a dynamic repertoire for women transforms the act of choral singing into an instrument for collaboration, education, and connection. The ensemble features confident singers who care deeply about creating, through women’s voices, a source of strength and inspiration for themselves, the audience, and the world around us.

Tickets to “Radiant Light” are $30 adults, free for children under 12, available at simpletix.com/e/radiant-light-a-celebration-of-the-season-tickets-240537. Seating is limited; early purchase is recommended.  For more information, or to join Concord Women’s Chorus, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, and follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

About Concord Women’s Chorus
Concord Women's Chorus (CWC), based in Concord, Massachusetts, is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power in women’s voices through song. Singers hail from Concord and the greater Boston area. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices. The ensemble has commissioned three new choral works to date.
CWC’s commitment to the mastery and performance of a dynamic repertoire for women transforms the act of choral singing into an instrument for collaboration, education, and connection. The ensemble features confident singers who care deeply about creating, through women’s voices, a source of strength and inspiration for themselves, the audience, and the world around us.
The chorus began in 1960 as the Concord Madrigals, a small group of women who expressed, through song, the strength of female community. Over the years the group has increased in size and capacity and greatly expanded its repertoire. In 2005, the Concord Madrigals became Concord Women’s Chorus, a name that reflects not only the evolution of the chorus but the abiding power of women’s voices.
In addition to concerts, CWC often engages in other performances and projects. The ensemble has engaged in several concert tours in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. For more information or to join CWC, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, and follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

Each year, as Thanksgiving approaches, Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks proudly continues its long-standing tradition of giving back through its Annual Turkey Drive supporting the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. What started years ago as a small company initiative has grown into a community effort that helps ensure local families can enjoy a warm and plentiful holiday meal.

The Turkey Drive is a true team effort, with Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks employees, customers, and local partners all pitching in to donate turkeys, canned goods, and other Thanksgiving essentials. The company collects and delivers the donations directly to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, where they're distributed to families across the region in time for the holiday.

"For us, this tradition is about more than just providing food, it's about sharing the spirit of Thanksgiving," said Derek Vacca -General Manager of Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks. "We're incredibly thankful for our customers and our community, and we want to do our part to help ensure everyone can celebrate the season surrounded by good food and good company."

Over the years, the annual Turkey Drive has become one of Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks' most meaningful community initiatives. The team takes pride in knowing their efforts bring comfort to local families-extending the same warmth they provide through their heating and cooling services to those in need.

The Merrimack Valley Food Bank plays a vital role in fighting hunger across the region, and contributions from community partners like Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks help make their mission possible. Each turkey and each donation adds up to hundreds of meals shared, stories told, and memories made.

As this year's holiday season approaches, Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks encourages others to join in - by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. Together, these small acts of generosity make a lasting impact, helping ensure that no table is left empty on Thanksgiving Day.

For Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks, it's more than just a turkey drive - it's a celebration of community, compassion, and the true spirit of giving.

 

Your extra could be someone’s only.
The public is invited to donate good quality new and used household goods on Saturday, November 1st from 9 am to 1 pm at the Pompositticut Community Center, 509 Great Road,  Stow, MA 01775.
Donations will be collected on-site in a moving truck generously provided by Mark’s Moving & Storage and delivered to Household Goods, Inc. Household Goods provides a full range of donated furniture and household items, free of charge, to help people in need make a home.
The event is organized and sponsored by Mark’s Moving & Storage, the official mover of Household Goods. In addition, Mark’s Moving & Storage is providing a driver, support staff and surplus storage if needed.

The following items will be gratefully accepted:

• Dressers, tables, chairs, couches and bookcases
• Like-new mattresses, box springs and bed frames
• Dishes, flatware, pots and pans, bakeware, sheets, towels, blankets, lamps, microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and vacuum cleaners

Only items that are clean, complete and in good working order will be accepted. We cannot take upholstered items that are stained or torn, food, clothing, toys, books or any items not listed above.

About Household Goods, Inc.
Since 1990, Household Goods has furnished 60,000 homes across Massachusetts. Located at 530 Main Street, Acton, MA, Household Goods furnishes over 3,000 homes with 90,000 household items every year. This is made possible by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who contribute tens of thousands of hours. For more information about Household Goods visit https://householdgoods.org

About Mark's Moving & Storage
Mark’s Moving and Storage’s non-profit division Mark’s Northeastern Furniture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and was established to re-purpose discarded furniture and provide for charities and individuals in need. Since 2011, the foundation and its partners have distributed thousands of pieces of re-purposed furniture. More than 1,000,000 pounds of furniture have been given to individuals and local charities, such as the United Way of Tri-County, Welcome Home and Household Goods, Inc.  For more information, visit the firm’s website, www.marksmoving.com.
Mark’s Moving and Storage, 111 Milk St., Westborough, offers a wide range of moving and storage services, including commercial on demand warehouse storage local and long-distance residential and corporate moving, air freight, container shipping, record storage management, disposal, packing and unpacking services, portable storage containers, warehousing and fire and flood remediation.

 

Join us for the Annual Scandinavian Fair 2025 on Saturday, November 8th from 10 AM to 3 PM at Concord Middle School, 923 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA.
This community tradition is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!
Shop & Explore
Find hand-crafted Scandinavian gifts, jewelry, books, linens, ornaments, and stocking stuffers — perfect for early holiday shopping.
Taste the North
Visit the Nordic Café for open-faced sandwiches, waffles, lefse, and our famous cream cake. Plus, browse gourmet cheeses, baked goods, chocolates, and seafood at great prices.
Enjoy Live Scandinavian Music
Immerse yourself in the sounds and spirit of the Nordic countries while you shop and sample delicious treats.
Bring your family, meet a Viking, and experience the warmth and charm of Nordic holiday traditions!
Admission:
Adults – $5 | Children under 16 – Free
Sponsored by Norumbega Lodge, Sons of Norway.
All proceeds support the Lodge’s fraternal and charitable activities.

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

Are you looking for something rewarding to do? Consider volunteering with the Stow COA and the SFCOA to make a difference in the lives of Stow’s senior residents.  Interested volunteers should submit a completed application (https://www.stow-ma.gov/328/Volunteer), including a CORI form. Once approved, you’ll receive emails with volunteer opportunities that you may choose to accept at your availability.

The Friends of the Hudson Public Library will have their annual Fall Book Sale on Saturday, October 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Armory garage, 35 Washington Street, Hudson. From timeless classics to thrilling mysteries, popular fiction and children's books, find your next read at unbeatable prices. 

 

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
(rain date: Sunday, Oct. 26)
Stargazing begins at 6:00pm and ends at 9:00pm

SAS members will set up their telescopes for guest viewing. This Star Watch has a wonderful show, featuring glorious Saturn with near edge-on rings, a thin sliver Moon, Mercury and Mars if you come early, and galaxies if you stay late! See the galaxies of Pegasus and Andromeda, the Ring Nebula in Lyra and, with dark skies, the Veil Nebula in Cygnus! In conjunction with visual scopes, check out our newest digital imaging system, a Seestar 50, which may even let us see a real live supernova!

If you have COVID-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone ill, we ask that you refrain from attending.

Parking and Location:
SAS members will have telescopes setup to the left. Look for signs and glow sticks to direct the way. Visitors can park in the parking lot. Please try to minimize the use of headlights when possible.
For more detailed info: https://skylight.kantbelievemyeyes.com/star-night-minute-man-airfield/

Join us at the Massachusetts National Guard Museum Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 5PM for a fascinating evening with EVP specialist and New England Paranormal lead investigator Joe Rainone. In 2024, Joe led a two-team ghost hunt at the Museum, uncovering intriguing evidence and stories from the Armory. During this one-hour presentation, he will share his findings, personal experiences exploring unexplained phenomena, and some of the evidence captured right here in the historic building.
Following the talk, the Armory will remain open for visitors to explore. This special event is part of a fundraiser to support the Museum’s programs and preservation efforts. The Museum is located at 91 Everett St, Concord, MA 01742. Go to https://friendsmangmuseum.org/events/ to register for the event.

 

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) has joined No Kings 2 as a national partner this Saturday, October 18. For more than a century, the League has stood firm in defending democracy and confronting threats to freedom and equality.
No Kings 2 offers an opportunity for people across the nation – and in Massachusetts – to come together in solidarity with allies and take a united stand against hate and authoritarianism.
There are several local rallies planned for this Saturday:
Acton, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., 472 Main Street
Chelmsford, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., Town Common, corner between North Road and Westford Street
Groton, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Groton Town Hall, 173 Main Street
Littleton, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Littleton Common, Stevens Street
Lowell, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Click on this link for location: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/846848/
Tyngsboro, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Tyngsboro Bridge, Middlesex Road and Kendall Road
Those unable to attend a local event can still take part. This map lists hundreds of rallies taking place across the country: https://www.nokings.org/#map
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 about the organization, go to 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.net

The Friends of the Hudson Public Library will be hosting its annual meeting and election of officers on Tuesday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m. in theTavares Room of the Hudson Public Library.  All members and Friends are invited to attend.

Songwriter David Dodson will open the 2025–26 season at New Revival Coffeehouse on Saturday, October 11. David writes great songs that run the gamut of American styles—folk, rock, blues, jazz and country. His songs cover a variety of topics and range from poignant to hilarious. He plays a mean guitar, tells a good story, sings like a bird, and he’s got rhythm. For more information about David’s music, visit www.daviddodsonmusic.com.

The New Revival Coffeehouse is located at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (353 Great Rd, Stow MA). The building is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. There is plenty of free parking. Doors open at 7 PM, concert begins at 7:30. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show, and are available at eventbrite.com. Email questions to coffeehouse@fpc-stow-acton.org.

 

BOSTON, Oct. 7, 2025 — The American Red Cross asks donors to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets to support patients counting on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal. While emergencies often grab headlines, the need for blood is constant. Especially in October, as donation appointments can often drop quickly when people settle into busy fall routines and make plans around upcoming school breaks.

Additionally, the threat of hurricanes persists this month. Because blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors, any disruptions in the ability to collect lifesaving blood can have serious consequences for those seeking medical care.

Prepare now — Help patients this fall and make an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Sept. 22-Oct. 19 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. For details, see RedCrossBlood.org/Fall. Those who give Oct. 20-Nov. 16, 2025, will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/Harvest for details.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 16-31:

Sudbury
10/16/2025: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd
10/24/2025: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

 

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
(rain date: Sunday, Oct. 26)
Stargazing begins at 6:00pm and ends at 9:00pm

SAS members will set up their telescopes for guest viewing. This Star Watch has a wonderful show, featuring glorious Saturn with near edge-on rings, a thin sliver Moon, Mercury and Mars if you come early, and galaxies if you stay late! See the galaxies of Pegasus and Andromeda, the Ring Nebula in Lyra and, with dark skies, the Veil Nebula in Cygnus! In conjunction with visual scopes, check out our newest digital imaging system, a Seestar 50, which may even let us see a real live supernova!

If you have COVID-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone ill, we ask that you refrain from attending.

Parking and Location:
SAS members will have telescopes setup to the left. Look for signs and glow sticks to direct the way. Visitors can park in the parking lot. Please try to minimize the use of headlights when possible.
For more detailed info: https://skylight.kantbelievemyeyes.com/star-night-minute-man-airfield/

 

Carmah Cat Rescue, a local non-profit organization, is holding its first annual yard sale on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the front lawn of Hudson Town Hall, 78 Main Street, Hudson, MA.  There will be a large selection of treasures including furniture, glassware, holiday items, baskets, toys and games, electronics, collectibles, household decor, books, cat-themed items and much more! All items have been well looked after and are in need of a new home. Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors and come browse and, most importantly, buy!  Yard sales are a great way to stretch your dollar, and it promises to be a fun event.  All proceeds benefit Carmah Cat Rescue. Additional information on Carmah will be available at the yard sale and volunteers will be happy to answer any questions.  On-street parking is available, plus there is a parking lot behind Town Hall accessible from Church Street or Pope Street.

Update! Fall class is full. Sign up for the new winter class!
Have you ever thought about tutoring someone in English? Most people who decide to become
tutors are thinking of the good it can do, helping others become more proficient in English and
better able to cope with employment, landlords, schools or the medical profession. But then they
discover the rewards, the satisfaction that comes as progress is made and a relationship develops
that enriches both learner and tutor. Tutors often speak of their pleasure in learning about
another culture and their greater appreciation of the challenges facing those who are adapting to
ours.

Because of the constant demand for tutoring, all available tutors are now working with students,
and the next tutor-training course has been scheduled. ESOL (English for Speakers of Other
Languages) program directors Ginny Steel and Jane Albert are currently enrolling prospective
tutors for the five-session course that starts on January 7. The class will meet on five
consecutive Wednesday evenings, 6-9, Jan. 7 – Feb. 4. The first four classes will meet virtually,
using Zoom, and the last one will be in person, in the Wayland library.

No prior knowledge of a foreign language is needed, just an openness to other cultures and the
desire to share your knowledge of English. The training is free, although it is necessary to
purchase a textbook for about $40.

Tutors will be prepared to work with their learners either remotely, as we often do now, or in
person, as is sometimes possible. Tutors now are using Microsoft Teams (replacing Skype),
FaceTime, Zoom, telephone and email as they “meet” with their learners and enjoy both success
and personal connection.

For more information or to enroll in the tutor training course, you can phone Ginny Steel at 508-
358-7517 or email her at virginia@thesteels.com.