The Stow COA is hosting two events in April celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Stow residents should mark their calendars now to not miss out. These events are free, but registration (beginning on 3/24) is required. Registration can be done on-line at https://myactivecenter.com/#, by phone (978-897-1880) or in-person during COA (509 Great Road, Stow) business hours (M-F, 8-3:30). Event details are below.
On Wednesday, April 9 (1 pm) join us for a lively celebration as we commemorate 250TH Anniversary of the American Revolution.   We’ll enjoy snacks and beverages while experiencing a special performance by the Fife and Drums, bringing the spirit of 1775 to life. Thank you, Stow Historical Society, for partnering with the COA to sponsor this program!
On Thursday, April 17 (1 pm) Paul Revere is coming to Stow... no, not really.  Paul Revere is dead, but musical ventriloquist Kevin Driscoll and his dummies become Paul Revere & Friends™ for a FUN show! Kevin is a Massachusetts-certified teacher with decades of teaching experience. The Paul Revere & Friends™ INTERACTIVE performance is in full compliance with the goals of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework. This event is being funded by the generosity of Stow Friends of the COA and Stow Historical Society.

This month’s Stow’s Veteran’s social will take place at the American Heritage Museum (568 Main Street, Hudson) on Tuesday, April 15, 10 am. The Museum is closed to the public on Tuesday, so this opportunity allows our Stow veterans a quiet opportunity to tour the museum which includes a vast collection of tanks, armored vehicles, and military artifacts from World War I through the battlefields of today. This is one of America’s largest public military history museums.   This event is free but registration (opens 4/1 to closes 4/10) is required as space is limited.  There are several ways to register:
Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/#
Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
Coming in person to the Pompo Community Center

A support group in the loss of a child.....
Saturday April 19th
10:30am-12:30pm
Hudson Public Library - Tavares Room
3 Washington St, Hudson, MA
www.mylesabove.o

Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 6:30pm
Northborough Historical Society
52 Main Street

Save A Dog of Sudbury and Wag N’ Wash at 1173 Main Street, West Concord, are teaming up again to host another in-store “Meet & Greet” adoption event on Saturday, March 22, 10 am – 12 pm.
“This is always a fantastic opportunity to have several of our amazing, deserving pups meet their potential forever person or family in a fun and welcoming setting,” says Julie Bolio, Save A Dog’s Shelter Manager. “Adoptions all over the country have slowed, leading to longer stays in the shelter, so we especially appreciate the opportunity to give our pups extra exposure... and past in-store “Meet & Greets” have proven very successful!”
While Save A Dog adopters often hail from all over New England and Massachusetts, the “Meet & Greet” events are particularly popular with residents from surrounding communities including Acton, Marlborough, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Stow, Harvard, Westford and Littleton.
Vibe, pictured here, is one of the Save A Dog pups looking for his special family. A happy-go-lucky, 9-month-old Bully/Heeler mix, Vibe is a typical puppy who loves to run and play, rides well in the car, and enjoys outdoor adventures... but also settles down nicely inside the home. He’s already crate-trained, housetrained, knows several commands, and gently takes treats. As a people-focused pup, he’s smart and learns quickly.
More information about Save A Dog’s adoptable dogs (and cats!) can be found on the Save A Dog website: www.saveadog.org. Potential adopters are encouraged to fill out an online adoption application beforehand at www.saveadog.org/applytoadopt.asp
Now celebrating more than 25 years of rescuing abandoned dogs and cats through its Sudbury shelter and network of dedicated foster homes, Save A Dog has found loving families for more than 8,500 companion animals.
See you Saturday, March 22

“ Defend our Democracy--a call to Action !” will be the theme of the Stow Democratic Town Committee meeting  at 7 pm on Wednesday March 19 in  room 127 of the Stow Community Center (  509 Great Rd, Stow). Bay State  residents of all political  affiliations  are worried about how the drastic cuts in federal programs and the  international  trade war  are impacting their daily lives.  Guests include State Senator Jamie Eldridge, members of the Mass Dems  state committee and  Indivisible Acton.  Non members are  welcome to attend  and  to find out how their concerns can be heard. in  Washington.  For more information see our facebook page or email us at StowDTC@gmail.com

On Saturday, March 22nd 10am to 4pm and Sunday, March 23rd 12 noon to 4pm the Spring Equinox Art Fair will be held at the First Parish Church, 353 Great Road, in Stow.  Sponsored by SAGA and the FPC Arts Committee, over 20 local artists have works for sale including paintings, pottery, fabric art, photography, greeting cards and much more.  Admission and Parking is Free and the show is accessible to people of all abilities including wheelchair users. More info can be found on the FPC website www.fpc-stow-acton.org

On view - free and open to the public - through June 1, 2025
WELLESLEY, MASS. Through June 1, the exhibition, Sovereign Memory: Photography, Remembrance, and Displaced Histories, at the Davis Museum explores photography as a strategy for healing. The artists employ the photograph as a connective tissue, stitching together individuals, families, and communities to severed histories and identities.
About 40 works are on view through June 1, 2025, along with two other exhibitions at the Davis Museum, all highlighting new acquisitions. All three opened on Feb. 7, 2025.
“Sovereign Memory reflects on how artists employ the medium of photography to reimagine the stories we tell ourselves about our past and present,” said Jessica Orzulak, Associate Curator and Curatorial Affairs Manager at the Asheville Art Museum and former Linda Wyatt Gruber ‘66 Curatorial Fellow in Photography at the Davis Museum who curated Sovereign Memory. “Photographs can capture intimate moments of our individual lived experiences, but they also have the capacity to share a more complicated portrait of collective life and histories from a myriad of perspectives.”
Among the artists represented are: Carrie Mae Weems, Mildred Howard, Ellen Howard, Lorraine O’Grady, Tatiana Parcero, Zanele Muholi, Sky Hopinka, Gordon Parks, Willie Cole, Rico Gatson, Fred Wilson, and Wendy Red Star.

All of the artists in Sovereign Memory share a concern with how images profoundly shape the stories of where we come from–and who we are. Orzulak believes photography has revolutionized how we represent our histories, solidifying architectures of personal and collective memory through archives born of visual technologies. Photography also has a darker history as a colonial machine producing images in support of empires.
For communities who endured generations of colonialism and continue to navigate legacies of its violence, histories told through the lens of photography can re-implement a colonial gaze, enacting a series of erasures. The multiplicity of personal and collective experiences becomes distilled into a single, simplified story told from an exterior perspective.
Featuring a transnational selection of photographic works from the Davis’s collections, this exhibition expands that single, false story into many sovereign memories. These artworks have become emblems for reconnecting to known and unknown histories, enacting memory as an emancipatory strategy.
Curated by Orzulak, this exhibition is supported with funds given through the generosity of Linda Wyatt Gruber (Class of 1966).
The Davis Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 781-283-2051 or visit https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/visit/directions.

If you love discovering unique treasures, handcrafted goods, and supporting local artisans, this is the event for you! Join us at the West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Mass Ave., Acton, on May 10, 2025, from 12-3 PM for an afternoon of shopping, community, and fun. Hosted in partnership with the West Acton Village Merchants Association, this event is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts and goodies.
Interested in selling your creations or household items? Vendor spaces are available for a small fee—limited tables, so don’t wait! Contact the church office at 978-263-5902 or wabcadmin@verizon.net.

All are welcome to the Spring Equinox Art Fair at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). This family-friendly fair will take place on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, March 23, from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
The Stow Area Guild of Artists (SAGA) and the FPC Arts Committee are sponsoring the fair, which celebrates the arrival of spring -- and the arrival of color, light and joy -- with works created by local artists and crafters from SAGA and FPC, along with other local community members. Come together to welcome the new season, connect with local creatives, and enjoy a day of color, inspiration, and renewal!
FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. There’s plenty of free parking and its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

To honor Concord’s 250th celebration, this talk will dive into Concord’s past, when everyone living here was British until we became Americans. It wasn’t that sudden, of course. Let’s explore
together who the early settlers were, how they lived, and what they believed in. What did the town, their houses, and their farms look like? Barbara Forman, a Town and local museum guide in
Concord for 30 years, will take you on a trip through time. There is no charge. Please call the COA office to sign up at 978-318-3020.

We use lights at night around our homes. But they hurt the insects, bats and other animals that depend on the dark to live their lives. Well-designed outdoor lighting can be beautiful and functional while also protecting the wildlife around us. DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society have jointly published Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.

The five principles are as follows:
1) Useful. Use lighting only where and when needed.
2) Targeted. Direct lighting so that it only illuminates what you need it to.
3) Low level. Make sure your lighting is no brighter than necessary.
4) Controlled. Use timers or motion detectors so lighting is only on when needed.
5) Warm-colored. Limit the use of any lighting that is bright white or blue-ish.
To learn more, come to this month’s talk from Sustainable Stow and Randall Library.  James Lowenthal of Smith College will lead us on a multi-faceted virtual tour of the night-time environment and how important natural darkness at night is for all species, including pollinators, birds, and humans. Prof. Lowenthal leads the Massachusetts chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association.
Join us (indoors) on Weds. March 19 at 7PM.  Register here for a zoom link: bit.ly/3CX0Daj
Did you miss last month’s talk on plastic? We were joined by Dr. Alex Vai for a talk on addressing the problem of plastic in our environment. You can see our talk on Stow TV: bit.ly/3Dk89fq

The Middlesex Conservation District will be holding its annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday May 2 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM and Saturday May 3 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Farrington Nature Linc. The address is 291 Cambridge Turnpike in Lincoln, MA.
All items can be pre-ordered through April 21st and picked up on the sale days – we encourage early ordering as all items are sold on a first come, first served basis.  To place an order, you can go to our website at https://middlesexconservationdistrict.org/spring-sale-ordering/, go to the Spring Sale page, and order the plants you are interested in online, or email admin@middlesexconservationdistrict.org to request a paper brochure. The order form is also available to view online here.  Offerings will include native shrub seedlings, wildflowers, ferns, grasses, fruits, seeds, and hardgoods such as composted cow manure, and root bags.  All plants are straight, native species that benefit our native pollinators, wildlife, and local ecosystem. We will also be selling excess first quality stock on the days listed above.
The Middlesex Conservation District is a not-for-profit environmental agency whose purpose is conservation of natural resources of Middlesex County.  Proceeds from our biannual plant sales provide educational programs and other activities which aim to protect our soil and water resources. For more information about our sale or programs please visit https://middlesexconservationdistrict.org/

Skate4Charity founded by two friends James Pijewski and Steve Molloy is hosting its 3rd annual charity Ice Hockey tournament March 29th at 11am at the The Edge Sports Center in Bedford, 191 Hartwell Rd. Over two years the charity has raised over $74k and last year alone the charity raised over $50K to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. This year they have decided to support the Greater Boston Food Bank again, who are the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, they distributed 117 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle to have enough to eat in the Eastern Massachusetts area and surrounding communities. Every $1 donated helps to provide 2 healthy meals to neighbors in need. Event will be held 11am-3pm and there will be food, games, raffles and prizes. Beverages provided by Idle Hands Craft Ales. Watch 4 co-ed teams face off, and help support a great cause, all spectators welcome. Donations are accepted day of and at this link: https://my.gbfb.org/fundraiser/6068134
If you donate after seeing this article please put “action unlimited” in your donation comment.
Shout out to our sponsors for this year’s event: Torii Homes, Law Office of Susan E. Zak, Maynard Motors, and A&M Roofing.
If you would like more information follow us on instagram or Facebook @skate.4.charity

Are you curious about what Concord is doing for the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and Lexington? Do you want to know how you can participate? The Concord250 Committee
has been busy scheduling lots of events leading to the big parade in Concord Center on April 19th. We are fortunate to have the leaders of this initiative coming to the COA on March 18th at
11:00 AM to answer your questions and give you tips for the celebration, including information about road closures. The panel for the presentation includes Gary Clayton, Co-Chair Concord250 Executive Committee, Joe Palumbo, Concord250 Events Sub-Committee Chairperson, and Fred Ryan, Concord250 Public Safety Sub Committee Chairperson. Please come with your questions and remember to call the COA office to sign up at 978-318-3020.

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
Last Saturday started slowly with donations but we ended up with 24 donors who arrived.  One was a woman from a retirement community in Hudson.  She puts a notice in their newsletter about “drives”for different causes and the residents contribute.  This week, Fresh Start was the benefactor!  Her SUV was packed full of brand new or good-as-new silverware sets, knife sets, dish sets, linens, and I don’t know what else PLUS a barely-used upright vacuum cleaner!
THANK YOU to the Westridge residents and friends!
Another woman arrived and said she had done the pick-ups for one of our weekly donors from Maynard.  That donor puts the word out and she picks up donated items to bring to Fresh Start, always enough to fill a cart for us.
Yet another weekly donor uses her Kohl’s Cash to purchase things for Fresh Start, usually sheet sets or towels or other linens.
There were a lot of shiny halos in our parking lot on Saturday!  Thank you, one and all!
If you would like to join the angels who help us to help others, take a look at our website (above), see what we do and what we need.  Give a family a Fresh Start on life!

Maynard Relay for Life team, the Lady Bugs, will be having our annual fundraiser, Egg your House!  Take the pressure off, and order 50 toy filled eggs for $30.  We will bring them to your house the night before Easter - April 19th - and scatter the eggs in your front yard (please note, we will not be hiding them).  You can also order them as a surprise for a neighbor, friend, relative, etc!  We will go to Maynard, Acton, West Concord, Stow and Sudbury.  You must order them by April 9th.  Email kim.lalli@comcast.net, for more information and/or to get an order form.  Checks can be made out to Kim Lalli or Venmo, details will be given at the time of the order.  Help us raise money for the American Cancer Society and help more people have more birthdays.

Devens, MA: The Cannon Theatre is proud to Enchanted April. This production, directed by Maren Caulfield, is the fourth in The Cannon Theatre’s 2024-25 season line-up, which also includes upcoming productions of: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and a 10-Minute Play Festival.
Enchanted April is a play about two unhappy London housewives who, feeling lost in their marriages, pool their savings to rent a villa in Italy for a women-only holiday, recruiting two other, more upper-class women to share the cost; as the four women spend time together under the Italian sun, they initially clash but eventually bond and rediscover themselves, with their newfound happiness sometimes threatened by the return of the men in their lives.
The show runs for 3 weekends. Show times are March 21, 22, 28, 29 and April 4, and 5 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are taking place on March 30 and April 2 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.thecannontheatre.org, and are $25 for adults, and $20 for students/seniors.
The cast hails from the following towns: Arlington, Tyngsboro, Lexington, Waltham, Sudbury, and Sterling.
The Production Team includes:
Directed by Maren Caulfield
Produced by Bob Amici
Stage Management by Meredith Brummer
Set Design by Shawn Cannon and Maren Caulfield

Be Part of a Team, Form Lasting Friendships and Enjoy Balanced Competition
Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball (EMASS) is opening its annual registration campaign for men and women softball players age 50 and older. With almost 500 members, the league attracts players from towns across Eastern Massachusetts with games played primarily in Wayland, Medfield, and Framingham. The EMASS season runs from late April through late September, including playoffs. Interested players can register for the EMASS 2025 season at https://e-mass.org/current-programs.
EMASS has six divisions that accommodate a range of skill levels, two of which play on Saturday mornings and four on weekday mornings. EMASS has many seniors in their fifties and sixties who can still hit a ball over a 300-foot fence, run down a deep drive in the outfield, or turn a double-play in the infield. There are other divisions in which players whose talents may have diminished over time can enjoy playing with similarly skilled friends.
A Community of Like-Minded Players Who Become Friends
“We are a group of folks who recognize how lucky we are to be able to play a game we love at the age we have attained and at a level that matches our abilities,” said Steve Bober, Commissioner of EMASS.
“I joined EMASS when I retired and didn’t know a single person,” offered Joe Groden, an EMASS Division coordinator. “Six years later, the best thing about being part of this community has been the number of friends I’ve made. This is truly the essence of the experience.”
Division Coordinator Mike Mauceri added, “These friendships can expand, providing opportunities like playing in tournaments or going to Cuba to play in a friendship series. Whether you just want an outlet for fun and exercise or to build new friendships, there’s something for everyone.”

A Physical Activity Outlet with Balanced Competition
EMASS adds about 60 new players each year. “We shuffle up team rosters every year in all divisions to enhance connections across our large softball-loving community,” said Division Coordinator Rich Goldberg. “Our members enjoy competing with and against their friends.”
EMASS players cherish their weekly double-headers and three-hour escape to the ballfield. “Aches and pains are easily tolerated when offset by the joy of playing and competing with friends,” said Walker Royce. “And, at a cost of roughly $5 per game, there’s no better value for healthy recreation.”

About EMASS Senior Softball League
EMASS was founded in 1995 and offers active seniors of all skill levels a safe, well-organized opportunity to play competitive slow-pitch softball. Players can sign up for a division featuring players with similar abilities. With two Saturday divisions and four weekday divisions, players can play at a level most comfortable for them. All divisions play a double-header each week and many members play on different teams in multiple divisions.
For more information about EMASS Senior Softball League, visit www.e-mass.org.

 

HUDSON, MA – Together For Hudson, a volunteer Proposition 2 1/2 override question committee, is holding an informational event on Thursday March 6th, to connect community members, inform the public, and create space for questions. The $3.95 million budget deficit projected for Hudson’s town budget for fiscal year 2026 (starting July 1, 2025) threatens to devastate Hudson Public Schools, the library, senior center, and essential town services.

Without a YES vote at Town Meeting on May 5th and at the polls on May 12th, the town faces devastating cuts, including:

• 55+ educator jobs lost

• The elimination of arts and drama programs, which are crucial for creativity, mental health, and life skills

• The reduction or elimination of Biomedical Engineering and Engineering “Project Lead The Way” pathway programs

• Cuts and added fees for sports, potentially eliminating JV programs altogether

• Overcrowded classrooms, negatively impacting student learning

• Reductions in town services, the library, and senior programs

While schools have already made $1.1 million in cuts, eliminating 12 positions and several supports, further reductions will likely gut Hudson’s education system, harming students, and lowering property values.
Residents are encouraged to learn more and take action by attending this community information session:
March 6, 2025
Hudson Portuguese Club, 13 Port St., Hudson, MA
6:00 - 8:00 PM (Food & mingling at 6 PM; Presentations and Q&A session at 6:30 PM)
Hudson thrives because of community investment, and now, residents must come together to protect what makes the town special.
To view a video about the challenges Hudson is facing, and gather more information, visit TogetherForHudson.com or visit the Facebook page at https://Facebook.com/groups/TogetherForHudson

March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, with March 1 recognized as Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). It is a global event whose purpose is to remove the stigma attached to self-injury and to encourage parents, family members, educators, and healthcare professionals to recognize the signs of self-harm.
According to the book Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones, by Janis Whitlock and Elizabeth E Lloyd-Richardson, it is not unusual for young people to engage in self-injury such as cutting, burning, or scratching themselves until they bleed. This is upsetting to parents, and many worry that self-injury is a sign their child is suicidal.
The relationship between self-injury and suicidal ideation can look similar, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Self-injury is almost always used to feel better rather than an attempt to end one’s life. This is why the technical term for self-injury is non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI.
Symptoms of self-injury may include scars, often in patterns; fresh cuts and bruises; excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn; wearing long sleeves or long pants to hide injuries; frequent reports of accidental injury; and talk of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. According to an excerpt from the book, young people who self-injure are at an increased risk for suicidal ideation. Sixty-five percent of youth who self-injure will also be suicidal at some point. While NSSI does not cause suicide, Whitlock and Lloyd-Richardson note that engaging in self-injury can lower inhibitions toward suicidal ideation.
Factors that may increase the risk of progressing from self-injury to suicide include family conflict, more than 20 NSSI incidents, emotional or sexual trauma, feelings of hopelessness, substance abuse, engaging in risky behaviors, and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) or PTSD.
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is a national leader in youth suicide prevention through educational and awareness programs. One of the many programs offered by JFI is a 1-Hour training module entitled Non-Suicide Self-Injury. This training discusses the issue of NSSI and how it relates to suicidal ideation. Examples of NSSI, contributing factors, and signs associated with the behavior are studied. Also, recommendations on how to respond to a young person who may be struggling with self-injury are provided. This training, along with many others, is available to stream at no cost on the JFI website www.jasonfoundation.com

On Saturday, March 22nd 10am to 4pm and Sunday, March 23rd 12 noon to 4pm the Spring Equinox Art Fair will be held at the First Parish Church, 353 Great Road, in Stow.  Sponsored by SAGA and the FPC Arts Committee, over 20 local artists have works for sale including paintings, pottery, fabric art, photography, greeting cards and much more.
Admission and Parking is Free and the show is accessible to people of all abilities including wheelchair users.
If you are a local artist there are a few tables open.  More info and the application can be found on the FPC website www.fpc-stow-acton.org

Surround yourself with art. The Princeton Arts Society’s Annual Spring Show & Sale is the perfect opportunity to view inspiring works of art and perhaps add a piece to your personal collection.
The Show and Opening Reception are free and open to the public:
Friday, May 2, 6 to 8 PM – Opening Reception
Saturday, May 3, 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday, May 4, 10 AM to 4 PM
Princeton Community Center, 206 Worcester Rd. (Post Office Place) Princeton MA.
All work is by the Society’s members, many of whom are award winning artists widely recognized in their fields. The show includes works in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, and more, including three-dimensional works, with subject matter as varied as our artists.
The Princeton Arts Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization encouraging and supporting area visual, musical, literary and performing artists.
www.princetonarts.org

Middlesex Community College has partnered with JED Campus Initiative to increase and strengthen student wellness services on campus. The nonprofit organization works with Middlesex to provide evidence-based practices and resources to help MCC improve their support and response to students’ mental health challenges.
“This partnership with JED Campus creates a more connected environment for students of all types to have a sense of safety and belonging on campus,” said Leonard Russ, MCC’s Dean of Students. “It will and should provide more understanding for the college on how we view our students. They are individuals who have a myriad of different needs that we’re here to support. We want to make sure we’re giving students the best version of MCC, as well as the resources they can use and tap into outside of the college.”
In 2023, MCC conducted the Healthy Minds Survey through Michigan University to get a better understanding of the student experience. In addition, MCC completed the JED Campus Baseline Self-assessment of services and supports on campus. Departments collegewide contributed to a list of over 250 questions related to the support of students’ mental health, including financial aid, facilities and more.
The organization then helped MCC develop a strategic plan focused on seven areas of support. This includes developing life skills, promoting social connectedness, identifying students at risk, increasing help-seeking behavior, providing mental health and substance abuse services, following crisis management procedures, and restricting access to potentially lethal means.
With the data, Middlesex formed subcommittees to implement necessary changes to policies and expand services. JED’s comprehensive approach is part of a shared mission with MCC to support students and make sure “no one falls through the cracks,” according to Amy Mahoney, MCC’s Wellness Counselor.
“Our goal is to reduce stigma and talk about mental health, making it something we don’t shy away from,” Mahoney said. “Students will have access to trainings, so they feel empowered to help themselves and each other. Identifying ourselves as a JED Campus means we have gone through this process to make sure we’re doing everything to prioritize students’ mental health.”
Mahoney believes MCC will be better able to support the whole student so they can reach their academic goals. Through these efforts, MCC strives to assist students in staying at the college, graduating, and transferring to a four-year school or entering the workforce.
One of the survey results that stood out to the college was an issue of loneliness for students. In addition to providing online toolkits and trainings through JED, MCC will host more events and activities throughout the year. Students can better connect to classmates and the community, as well as learn social and life skills.
As a JED campus, MCC is also now part of a network of universities and colleges nationwide who share the same core principles of supporting students’ mental health, according to Russ. With this more well-rounded approach in all areas, Russ believes Middlesex is the “best version of ourselves to deal with challenges and be proactive.”
“We used the data to get the results we need to have more mental health support on both campuses, available to help students, faculty and staff,” Russ said. “The institution is taking a strong stance and has followed the appropriate steps to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support the community as a whole.”

The Concord Band presents Music From Warm Places on Saturday, March 8, 2025, 7:00 PM at the 51 Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord MA.  Under the baton of Music Director James O’Dell, the program includes captivating works by Lewis Buckley, Nubia Jaime-Donjuan, Shelley Hanson, Terry White and Óscar Navarro.
A highlight of the program is the Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Band by Spanish composer Óscar Navarro, masterfully performed by Acton resident Jerry Vabulas, an outstanding soloist and member of the Concord Band since 2012. Jerry has also soloed with Leominster Colonial Band, the Fitchburg Military Band, the Carlisle Chamber Orchestra, the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra. Navarro’s composition displays the full range and virtuosity of the clarinet, along with extended delicate pianissimos and an irresistible touch of jazz.
Jaime-Donjuan’s four movement Little Mexican Suite is based on traditional Mexican musical genres. Each movement is inspired by a species of tree native to Mexico that has touched the composer’s life. Volver A La Montaña (Return to the Mountain), by Shelley Hanson, is based on the folk music of the Quechua people of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Terry White’s Fantasia Latina, commissioned by Concord Band percussionist Neil Tischler, premiered in March 2020, only two days before the COVID-19 shutdown, and is based on four latin dance styles—tango, danzon, songo and samba—and is full of unexpected rhythmic and harmonic twists. Con Sabor Español (With a Spanish Flavor), composed by the former music director of the MetWinds Lew Buckley, also features numerous rhythmic and time changes.
The evening also features a special guest performance by the distinguished Area 9 Saxophone Quartet playing Saxophone Quartet by Venezuelan composer and pianist Aldemaro Romero. Area 9 is a Boston-based ensemble committed to performing rich, diverse, and ever growing chamber music repertoire for saxophone. Its members, two of whom are Concord Band members, include Bennett Parsons (soprano), Cara Hachlen (alto), John Rabinowitz (tenor) and Seychelle Corbin (baritone).
Admission is free to the public; donations of $20 are requested. The Concord Band serves the Concord community and surrounding towns. Additional information about the Concord Band can be found at https://www.concordband.org, and for the Area 9 Saxophone Quartet at https://www.groupmuse.com/musicians/7386-area-9-saxophone-quartet.

 

Stow, MA, March 2 – An afternoon of indoor fun for the whole family will take place in Stow on Sunday, March 2, from 1 to 7 p.m. First Parish Church of Stow & Acton will offer carnival games, face painting, movie time, and food and beverages. The carnival games take place from 1 to 5p.m., and movie takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, carnival game tickets are $1 each, and the cost to play a game is 1 ticket.
We have over two dozen carnival games. including a life-size “whack-a-mole.” There are games for kids from 3 to 12 or more. Prizes include games, puzzles, and stuffed animals. Mac & cheese, chili, cookies, lemonade and more will be available for purchase.
Parent/guardian supervision is required during the carnival games. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend the movie at 5 p.m. or they can sign their child up for childcare. There is no charge for the movie, and donations for childcare are accepted.
The Carnival Games Fest takes place on Sunday, March 2, at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC). Email dre@fpc-stow-acton.org with any questions about the event. FPC is located at 353 Great Road, Stow. Its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

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 spring class, which will meet from 9 to 12 on Monday mornings.  Class dates are March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The first four classes will meet virtually, using Zoom, and the last one will be in person, in the Wayland Town Building, because of ongoing renovation of the 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 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 send email to esol@waylandlibrary.org.

Are you ready to get your hands dirty and dive into the world of gardening? Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a total beginner, don’t miss the upcoming free gardening seminar, “Ready, Set, Grow!”, hosted by Amanda Wales of Hudson SDA Church. This exciting event promises to equip you with all the essentials for starting your own garden with a special focus on seed starting basics.

Event Details:
Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Hudson SDA Church, 94 Marlboro Street, Hudson, MA
Parking: Ample parking available on-site
Phone for More Information: 978-562-2942
Online Registration:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ready-set-grow-a-free-gardening-event-tickets-1207256610019?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Email Registration:  email full name to “hudsda1844@aol.com”
What You’ll Learn:
Amanda Wales, a passionate and experienced home vegetable gardener, will share her wealth of knowledge on how to start seeds successfully. This seminar is designed to teach you the fundamentals of seed starting, ensuring your gardening season gets off to a strong and healthy start. Whether you’re interested in growing your own vegetables, herbs, or flowers, Amanda’s tips will help you achieve success in your garden.

Why Attend:
As a long-time home gardener, Amanda has honed her skills over the years, growing an abundant vegetable garden. Last year, Amanda’s gardening seminar attracted a large crowd, with attendees enjoying her down-to-earth teaching style and practical advice. Her approach is both welcoming and informative, making the seminar a perfect opportunity for gardeners of all skill levels to learn and grow.
Attendees will also enjoy the chance to connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts, exchanging ideas and experiences. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your gardening skills, this event offers an excellent opportunity to prepare for the growing season ahead.

Free Giveaways and Grand Prize:
What’s better than free knowledge? Free stuff! To make this event even more exciting, there will be free giveaways, with a grand prize to top it all off! Don’t miss your chance to walk away with some amazing gardening supplies and goodies that will help you grow your best garden yet.

What: Northborough Garden Club Presents: “The Art and Science of Flower Photography”
Where: Northborough Historical Society, 52 Main St., Northborough, MA 01532
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 6:30 pm
Contact: Christine or Deborah northboroughgardenclub@yahoo.com

LEGO® Discovery Center Boston is starting their biggest mini LEGO® competition yet, as kids across New England can build their way to be crowned Boston’s 2025 Mini Master Model Builder and also vie for the title of 2025 Global Mini Master Model Builder!
The epic building competition is part of the Creativity Academy event held at LEGO Discovery Center Boston, operated by Merlin Entertainments, now through March 3rd. Kids can build a LEGO creation to compete for the honor while at the attraction and then one builder will be crowned Boston’s Mini Master Model Builder in March once the event concludes. More info about the Mini
Each of the winning local Mini Master Model Builders will be tasked to create another LEGO® build to be displayed at the one and only Home of the Brick, LEGO® House, in Billund, Denmark to vie for the title of the first-ever Global Mini Master Model Builder!
LEGO House comprises over 25 million LEGO bricks spread across four immersive Experience Zones, a Masterpiece Gallery of fan creations, and a multi-sensory LEGO museum. Also, LEGO House is home to some of the world’s largest LEGO models including the Tree of Creativity, giant dinosaurs, waterfalls and more.
Last year, Tara, age 11, won the title of Boston’s 2024 Mini Master Model Builder by building Derby the LEGO® Horse that won the judges over, and even got to spend a few days shadowing actual LEGO Master Model Builders in the attraction! Tara created a video calling all local Mini Builders to enter the Global Mini Master Model Builder Competition.

Then join the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging.
We’re always looking to add to our membership.
You volunteer your time, we’ll keep you busy.
Here are a few areas `where we can use your help!
• Volunteer to support Stow’s senior residents
• Gift Shop Coordinator - oversees the Gift Shop.
• Creators – calling sewers, knitters and more! Come Thursdays at 10 am to share ideas for the Gift Shop or work independently at home.
• Event helpers – work with event leaders behind the scenes or at the event.
• Support our fundraisers
“No amount of time donated is too small”
Please contact Angelo Sallese, Vice President SFCOA
vicepresident@stowfriendsofthecoa.org

Fitchburg — LUK, Inc. has recently received funding from the Reliant Foundation to expand their Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention trainings. This is Reliant Foundation’s fourth year funding these trainings for LUK.
LUK shares Reliant Foundation’s goal to reduce stigma around mental health and substance use disorders. By raising awareness, the agency hopes to strengthen mental/behavioral health services for youth and adults, encourage individuals to strive for recovery, or support a loved one in their recovery journey.
With last year’s funding from Reliant Foundation, LUK met and surpassed their goal of training 900 individuals in mental health and suicide prevention through their ongoing partnerships with schools, PTOs, community organizations, and civic groups.
This funding from Reliant Foundation will allow LUK to continue offering a variety of trainings that vary in length, intensity, and scope, allowing training partners to select the most appropriate curriculum for their setting. The overall goal of the project is to raise awareness of mental health challenges, prevent suicide, and connect people in need to supportive services.
“LUK would like to send our gratitude to the Reliant Foundation for their continued support of our mental health training program. This program provides essential education to the community on understanding mental health symptoms in order to intervene both early and effectively,” adds LUK President & CEO Beth Barto. “This funding from Reliant Foundation helps LUK towards creating safe, healthy and resilient communities.”
LUK is thankful for Reliant Foundation’s support and looks forward to another year of offering these important trainings to the Central MA community.
LUK, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, health, and well-being of youth, families, and adults in Central Massachusetts. As a community-based organization, LUK’s mission is to challenge and inspire youth, adults, and families to realize their unique potential through community-based prevention, intervention, education, and support services.
For more information about LUK, Inc., visit www.LUK.org, call (800) 579-0000, or find us on Facebook (@LetUsKnowINC). Join us in building communities, family by family!

Free courses from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could prove helpful. Family to Family, starting March 20th in Boxborough, is an eight-session weekly course for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. NAMI’s Basics course, a six-session weekly class starting March 11th in Tewksbury, is for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents showing signs of behavioral health concerns. Topics for both courses include understanding the symptoms of mental illness, learning about treatments and therapies, practicing communication and problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care, plus the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support. The Basics class also includes information about advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings. Details and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/educational-courses. Offered by NAMI Central Middlesex. Basics co-sponsored by Northeast Public Health Alliance.

All are invited to our Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner to be served on Saturday, March 8th at 5:00pm.   This is one of our most popular meals served with dessert and beverage all for $15.00 with all donations going toward “Bridges to Malawi.”  Doctor Brian Lisse will be giving an update on the successes of his Hudson MA based nonprofit, Bridges to Malawi, it’s current work, challenges it faces, and plans for the future.   This has become an annual event, successfully raising money to help this worthy cause, which has accomplished so much to improve the lives and health of the people of the Kasungu East District of Malawi, a nation in southeast Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world.  During the course of the dinner Doctor Lisse will give a presentation which takes approximately 45 minutes. Please come and find out how much you can help accomplish in uplifting the lives of some of the poorest people in the world. We look forward to seeing you on the 8th! Thank you.
For more information or if you have questions, please call 978-562-2932
First United Methodist Church is at 34 Felton St., Hudson MA.

Yoga 626 is a new, cool location for studio yoga in Boston’s metro-west. Located in Bolton, MA it is on route 117, very near exit 70 on route 495.
Due to weather cancellation this event is now scheduled for March 1, noon time at the Yoga-626 studio in Bolton. This is the 2nd Annual Karin Orr donation class. This free class is open to all! The class will be the 90 minute original hot yoga (OHY) format. The room will be heated and instruction provided by experienced teachers. Donations are welcome and proceeds go directly to “Tomten Farm and Sanctuary” in Haverhill, New Hampshire. Tomten Sanctuary strives for animals happily-ever-after, through rescue, sanctuary, education, and occasionally adoption. The OHY class is a proven, therapeutic, healing yoga class and also a very effective workout. The OHY format even supports those with injuries, body pain, creaky joints and so on. Try OHY! You will feel better, more mobile, and lighter, with less pain, better sleep, and especially less stress. Plus, donations will help animals in need.
Check the website for regular in studio classes. Hope to see you Saturday March 1 and 12 noon.
Yoga 626 is a small woman owned business, established October 2024, that offers several types of group fitness classes, from the original hot yoga that gained popularity back in the 1970’s, to power or flow Vinyasa, yin, and even high-intensity interval training Pilates and the latest, greatest Yoga-Sculpt. The latter combines the best of heated yoga and Pilates and adds weights and cardio, all to a motivating soundtrack. Great fitness workout for burning calories and feeling better.
626 Main St, Bolton, MA 01740, (978) 634-1783, https://www.yoga626studio.com/ ]

Did you know cooking with gas might be making your kitchen air worse than outdoor pollution? Gas stoves release harmful stuff like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which can even increase asthma risk in kids. And ventilation only helps if your exhaust fan is strong and you actually use it.
When it’s time to replace your stove, consider going electric or induction. Induction stoves heat faster than gas and are super efficient—plus, they’re safer (you can’t burn your hand on the stove!). And with new rebates and tax credits, switching to induction is more affordable than ever.
Join us for an online webinar on March 18th from 7-8pm! Andee Krasner (Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and co-author with Rocky Mountain Institute of a report on gas stoves) will share the facts about gas stove risks and the benefits of induction cooking. We’ll also hear from neighbors using induction cooktops, plus plenty of time for Q&A.
Register here: https://bit.ly/sudbury-march-webinar
Learn more about heat pumps and solar here  and other actions with https://bit.ly/plugINSudburyMA1
This event is sponsored by plugIN MetroWest, in partnership with MassEnergize. The Town of Sudbury and Sustainable Sudbury are excited to be a part of this seven-town effort to empower residents to transform their homes into sustainable, energy-efficient, and comfortable living spaces!

FEBRUARY 24, 2025: Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) has acquired a 10.7-acre parcel in Stow that expands a corridor of permanently protected wildlife habitat along Harvard Road. Located next to the Commonwealth’s Delaney Wildlife Management Area, the property also sits adjacent to additional conservation lands owned by the Commonwealth and the Town of Stow.
SVT has named its new property the Harvard Road Conservation Area. The land contains both mature upland forest and scenic wetlands that provide habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species. Its protection fills a gap in the mosaic of conserved lands in the area.
Tony Scibelli, SVT Land Protection Specialist, managed the acquisition for the nonprofit land trust. “This project was made possible thanks to the generosity and cooperation of the Higgins Family, who previously owned the land,” he said. “We are also grateful for the tremendous support and assistance we received from the Town of Stow and its Conservation Director, Kathy Sferra.”
Ms. Sferra commented, “I’m very excited that SVT has completed this project. This land has long been a conservation priority for the Town. SVT’s acquisition of the property is a huge milestone and will protect the remainder of a pond already owned by the Conservation Commission and the important habitat in the area. We look forward to continuing collaboration with SVT.”
The acquisition marks SVT’s second conservation area in Stow. In 2011, SVT also permanently conserved a 13-acre property on Great Road, thanks to a generous donation from Candace Herene. Overall, SVT owns and manages 95 conservation areas in the 36 communities around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers.

Support for caregivers of adults - a Q&A with Rabbi Judith Kummer and the Congregation Beth Elohim clergy and shared stories from community members.
Join us for a discussion of the joys and challenges in caring for ourselves while caring for our loved ones. We will be exploring this topic through a Jewish lens.
This event will be held at CBE and available via Zoom. Light refreshments and informal sharing to follow the program.
Please sign up below for our planning purposes.
You will have the opportunity, when you sign up, to, optionally, to donate to the CBE Chesed Committee.  Donations are appreciated.
Rabbi Kummer Bio
Rabbi Judy Kummer is a board certified chaplain who delights in her work with individuals and groups in a variety of settings throughout the Greater Boston area.  She earned her BA at Barnard College and her Rabbinic Ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. A Boston native, she has served congregations in the New York area and in Washington DC.  For 18 years she served as Executive Director of the Jewish Chaplaincy Council of Massachusetts.
Rabbi Kummer has recently opened a spiritual care private practice, “Spiritual Support for Life’s Journey,” where she offers skilled spiritual care visits, eldercare programming, bereavement support and lifecycle officiation.

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

Myles Above in Heaven
A support group for mothers in the loss of a child...
Saturday March 15th, 10:30am-12:30pm
Hudson Public Library (Tavares Room)
3 Washington St, Hudson, MA
www.mylesabove.org