Fewer rainy days, flowers starting to bloom, and warmer weather are all signs that May is here. It’s a time to stop and look at your surroundings, appreciate the beauty of nature. Take time this month to also check in on yourself and others. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While progress has been made over the years in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, there is still more work to be done.
It is important to take care of your mental health as it can affect everything you do. If you’re constantly stressed with no outlet to release it, you may find yourself consistently on edge, where even minor issues have major impacts. If all you do is care for others and neglect yourself, you could burnout. You can’t pour your energy into others without also taking time to replenish your own. These are just a few examples of how neglecting our mental health can affect our well-being.
There are multiple things you can do to take care of your mental health. It can be small, like getting 10-15 minutes of sunlight daily to help boost your mood, decreasing your social media consumption, or giving yourself a few minutes to relax instead of going from one task to another whenever possible. Just how the mind affects the body, the body also impacts your mind. Drinking more water, getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients from your food, and moving your body — whether it’s a walk down the street or time at the gym — all help your brain function. There are also bigger things you can do, like planning a getaway, trying something new, or talking to a friend or a mental health professional when needed.
Mental health is often a silent battle; however, the signs that someone is struggling can be loud once you know what to look for. It’s important to look out for others who may be struggling but don’t know how to express what they’re experiencing. We can never know exactly what is going on inside someone else’s mind, so take the time to be prepared for any situation. For instance, someone experiencing suicidal ideation may not openly share the depth of their thoughts. However, there are warning signs for suicide. These may include sudden changes in appearance and eating habits, a loss of interest in things normally loved, increased anger and irritability, giving away prized possessions, and more. For a more extensive list of suicide warning signs, visit www.jasonfoundation.com. There you will find risk factors, additional warning signs, resources, and a list of their locations across the country to find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office to help you or someone you know. The Jason Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the education and prevention of youth suicide. They offer free trainings and materials to educate the public on youth suicide.
This month, check in on those around you, and on yourself. Everyone can benefit from someone asking how they’re really doing. Give someone the opportunity to recognize the struggle they’re facing, so it can be overcome.

The Military Family Support Group (MFSG) is a volunteer organization whose mission is to provide support to anyone with an active duty service member serving in the military.  Our goal is to help educate members on military life, customs, and traditions as well as provide outreach, benefit awareness, and social networking opportunities.  In addition, MFSG offers support to family members with a active duty service member transitioning to veteran status.  MFSG hosts events throughout the year and is open to individuals, families,  and friends in the Concord/Carlisle and surrounding communities with an active duty member serving in all branches of the military.  Follow us on Facebook or at  milfamilysg@gmail.com

2025 MFSG Schedule of Events
June 10, 2025-Book Club Event at the Concord Free Public Library, Trustees Room,  Main Library , 129 Main St., Concord, MA. 10 AM. A book discussion about “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a collection of short stories about a platoon of American soldiers fighting on the ground in the Vietnam War.  Copies of the book are available at the Main Library.

July 20,2025- Worcester Woo Sox Game-1:05PM-”Indebt to a Vet “ event.. Tickets are $25/pp Contact 978-618-8525 for ticket info.
November 7, 2025-Lincoln Council on Aging,  Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Rd. Lincoln, MA. 1:00PM.  “Trench Art and Trinkets: What Did They Bring Home>”  A presentation by Lincoln, MA               Veteran’s Services Officer Peter Harvell.  Bring your trench art or militaria piece to be appraised at the event.

November 11, 2025-Vetaran’s Day Flag Retirement Ceremony, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA.  8:00AM. The ceremony will include a prayer, a cannon salute, Taps being played ,          and the National Anthem followed by the flag retirement ceremony. Meet at 7:45 AM at Prichards’s Gate at 34 Bedford Street, Concord, MA to join the MFSG march procession.

For more information about these events or becoming a MFSG member, please contact 978-618-8525. Look for additional military related events in the Boston/Metro West area on our Facebook page.

Design a nature-themed T-shirt and send in your entry by Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm. Entries will be voted on by the staff, and if yours is chosen then it will be printed on the T-shirts.
Rules/Notes:
Entries must be sent via regular mail to PO Box 14, Bolton, MA 01740 and be in the post office box by Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm So please either mail it to get there in time or put a stamp on it/pay when you get there and give it to the people at the counter to put in the box. Do not put in the mailbox outside or the slot inside since all mail gets sent out to the distribution center before coming back to Bolton. The Post Office counter closes from 11:00am-12:00pm on weekdays, so don’t go during those times.
Entries must be on a regular 8.5″x11″ white piece of paper that has not been folded.
Entries must be drawn in black pen ink or Sharpie.
Entries must be signed by the artist (write clearly so we can read your name).
Do not write anything else on the design (the printer adds the name of the camp and the year).
Think about the printing and do not make any lines that are too close together and will turn into blobs (e.g. feathers on a bird need to be distinct).
Please review the below list of past designs so there is no recent duplication.
Feel free to scan and email us a sketch of your idea and we will give you feedback (technical only) before you draw your final submission.
DO NOT TRACE. ORIGINAL ARTWORK ONLY.
Ask us if you have any questions.
https://www.tomdenneynaturecamp.org/tee-shirt-design-contes

HUDSON—Due to a scheduling conflict, the annual Blessing of the Animals at The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH) has been rescheduled from May 18 to Sunday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m. This multigenerational worship service will take place IN PERSON in our beautiful, historic sanctuary at 80 Main Street in Downtown Hudson, led by Rev. Bruce Taylor.
“Animals have much to teach us about compassion, humility and the inherent goodness of creation,” said Rev. Bruce. “This service will honor our animal companions and their significance in our lives”.
Well behaved animals of all varieties are welcome to join us on leashes or in appropriate enclosures. There will be a slide show presentation of pets who prefer to be left at home, so they can be included in a distance blessing. Please contact the church office via email at administrator@ucmh.org for information on how to send your picture for inclusion. Additionally, all are invited to bring pictures or other mementos to honor pets on our Altar of Memory.
                Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of faith, religion, or spiritual affiliation, including atheists. Additional information, including links to services, is available at www.ucmh.org

Stow, Mass., May 16 – 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, May 16, 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.

– FPC Sunday Service
Stow, Mass., May 11  – On May 11 at 10 a.m., First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC), Unitarian Universalist, will hold a service led by minister Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum entitled “Creating a Caring Community or, What I Learned on Sabbatical.” Rev. Cindy’s sabbatical was like none other, with family and personal struggles of illness, surgery, and loss. Throughout it, our community showed what we’ve learned about how to be supportive and caring. In this sermon, Rev. Cindy will share some of her learnings through this time.
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.

Day & Time: Sunday, May 11, 6:45pm – 8:45pm
FPC has partnered with the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson to bring the drUUm-&-dance circle to Stow. Bring your joy and your open heart and join us for an evening of hand drumming and dancing around the “fire” circle. Facilitated by experienced drummers/dancers Jim Flavin and Nan Rogers, we’ll circle up in FPC’s Fellowship Hall to experiment with various types of instruments and sustained rhythm sessions and see what we create together. Let’s gather in sacred and healing community to lower our stress levels, plug into the energy, and raise some good vibes!
The drum circle will take place on the second Sunday of each month. Drummers and dancers of all abilities are welcome; please bring your own drums, and we will have a few drums and other percussion instruments available to borrow. Questions? Contact Nan at nandancing@comcast.net

The COA provides support to its senior residents by:
being a resource of information on elder affairs
offering social activities
assisting with outreach services
There are several ways residents can stay informed about what the COA has to offer:
Visit our website https://www.stow-ma.gov/council-aging and be sure to sign-up for e-alerts
Read our monthly newsletter, the Stow Senior Scoop. A paper copy is included as an insert in the Action Unlimited on the last Friday (sometimes Saturday) of the month. An electronic copy is posted on our website.
Follow-us on Facebook and Instagram (Stow Council on Aging

The Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club invites walkers to complete a 5km or 10km (3.1 or 6.2 mile) walk route in Weston, MA. This is a walk-at-your-own pace, just-for-fun event “in your own backyard.”
The start point is the Weston Public Library, 87 School Street, Weston,MA 02493. Register and begin walking between 10:30-12:30. Finish by 4 p.m. There is a $4 participation fee per person. Donations are accepted. The 5km and 10km routes are on mostly flat and paved surfaces.The trail would be doable for strollers but difficult for wheelchairs due to the trail through the woods, a short grassy path, and uneven pavement in some places.
The 10km route consists of the 5km route with 3 loops branching off the 5km route. Except for one stretch of the 10km route on a trail through some woods and another short, steep path joining the rail trail, both routes are on sidewalks and the rail trail passing some historic buildings, residential areas with large homes and tree-filled spaces, and the town center.
Walkers will pass the fieldstone First Parish Church and the Colonial Revival-style Weston
Town Hall, a fire station built in 1914 the town’s original library built in 1899 and now the home of Weston Art & Innovation Center as well as the Weston Media Center.
Volkssporting events sponsored by Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club promote fun, fitness and friendship through non-competitive walking and biking. There is also an achievement awards program through the American Volkssport Association (AVA). For further information contact Marianne at (339)-204-3700. You may also contact www.walknmass.org for this event and future events.

SUNDAY, May 18, 2025
HUDSON—The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH) will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals IN PERSON in our beautiful, historic sanctuary at 80 Main Street in Downtown Hudson. This multigenerational worship service will be led by Rev. Bruce Taylor on Sunday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m.
“Animals have much to teach us about compassion, humility and the inherent goodness of creation,” said Rev. Bruce. “This service will honor our animal companions and their significance in our lives”.
Well behaved animals of all varieties are welcome to join us on leashes or in appropriate enclosures. There will be a slide show presentation of pets who prefer to be left at home, so they can be included in a distance blessing. Please contact the church office via email at administrator@ucmh.org for information on how to send your picture for inclusion. Additionally, all are invited to bring pictures or other mementos to honor pets on our Altar of Memory.
Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of faith, religion, or spiritual affiliation, including atheists. Additional information, including links to services, is available at www.ucmh.org.

Myles Above in Heaven
An intimate support group in the loss of child........
Saturday May 17th
10:30am-12:30pm
Hudson Public Library
Hudson, MA

Saturday May 24th
10:30am -12:30pm
Duffy Properties
135 Beaver St
Waltham, MA

The online box office is open for Heaven and Earth, a wonderful choral concert on Sunday, May 18 at 4pm at the Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive in Framingham. We hope you’ll join us!
The concert will feature a selection of sacred and secular pieces, including some stunningly beautiful settings of psalms and poetry about the natural world.
One highlight of the concert will honor Alice Parker, a world-renowned champion of choral singing who was born in Boston and spent most of her life in New England. The Parker pieces will include some of her most famous spiritual arrangements, as well as “An American Kedusha,” a setting taken from the Jewish Sabbath morning liturgy.
Another local connection is Dominick Argento’s “Walden Pond,” a song cycle using texts by Henry David Thoreau, accompanied by the unusual instrumentation of three cellos and harp.
Guest performers will be Cantor Vera Broekhuysen, soprano and Cantor David Wolff, tenor.
Please visit https://www.heritagechorale.org for more details and to order tickets online in advance.

- Trinity Church, 14 Wattaquadock Hill Rd., Bolton, will be hosting an  indoor yard sale on Saturday, June 7th, 9:00AM - Noon.  All items are free. Household goods, toys, books, movies, sporting goods, clothing, more. Enjoy free refreshments as well!  www.trinitybolton.org

The camp in Bolton is for students entering Kindergarten through High School.
Activities include swimming, games in the fields and woods, arts & crafts, songs, tracking, hiking, campfires to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, building shelters, Animal Adventures, Predator and Prey, The Amazing Race & more.
Campers entering grades 6th-9th in the Eco Adventures program will play kayaking games on the pond, laser tag in the woods, nighttime activities on Thursday and dinner and s’mores, water guns, an adventure hike, team building activities & more.
Counselors-in-Training must be entering 9th grade or above and attend Orientation June 24- and then choose two weeks or more to be at camp.
There are 6 weekly sessions that run June 30 – August 8, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.
Before/After Care is available!
Campers from all towns are welcome!
See the website for more details and to register: tomdenneynaturecamp.org
Questions: bcttdnc@gmail.com (best means of communication) or 978-429-3004 (voice mail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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