BOSTON, Nov. 9, 2026 — The American Red Cross asks donors to go for a spin and help save lives by giving blood or platelets in November. The last two months of the year can be a challenge for many donors trying to juggle regular donation appointments with packed schedules full of seasonal activities and holiday planning. Donors of all blood types ─ especially those with type O blood ─ are urged to make an appointment to donate now.

The Red Cross and Wheel of Fortune are teaming up to give back to donors this Thanksgiving. Those who come to give blood or platelets between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6, 2026, will receive an exclusive Red Cross x Wheel of Fortune oversized mug, while supplies last. Additionally, all who come to give Nov. 23-Dec. 6 will automatically be entered for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Los Angeles with entry to a Wheel of Fortune taping. Full details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/WheelofFortune.

Every spin counts. Every drop matters. Reserve your spot to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross urges donors not to wait to make a lifesaving difference ─ share your good health this holiday season by donating blood for patients in need. In November during National Diabetes Awareness Month, successful donations will get free A1C testing (one result per calendar year; do not fast before donating). For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Maze.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 16-Dec. 6

Marlboro
11/28/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Immaculate Conception School, 119 Washington St

Sudbury
11/25/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd
12/1/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd

 

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

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

Shamanic Journey and Drumming Group: November 21, 11:30-1:30. This is a drop-in event and no experience with shamanism, journeying, or drumming is required - just a curious and open heart! Come by for an opportunity to connect deeply with spirit.

Playing with Tarot: November 27, 7-9pm. Bring your favorite tarot deck, and see how much fun tarot can be without the rules! No tarot experience required - extra decks are available for those without.

Buddhist Book & Meditation Group: Weekly on Mondays from 7:00-8:30pm and Saturdays 9:30-10:30am (online only). The group is open, and follows a format which includes meditation, reading, and discussion, applying exploration of our readings to real life experience. Books are suggested by the attendees and selections are chosen by the group. All are welcome!

The Spiritual Growth and Community Center (SGCC) is the outreach program arm of UUCAV, providing the Assabet Valley region with high-quality, inspirational programs, classes, and events to awaken curiosity, joy, compassion, and personal growth for the mind, body, and spirit. All programs are open to the community. Our programs are welcoming to all, and inclusive of all perspectives, including oppressed, mainstream, and non-religious views.

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

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

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

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

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

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.

 

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

The fair will feature handmade gifts and holiday shopping opportunities from local artisans, including stained glass, pottery, handmade bags, knitted items, costume jewelry, and curated gift baskets. Attendees can also purchase homemade cookies by the pound and freshly baked pies, and enter to win prizes from an extensive raffle table.
A highlight of the event is St. Andrew's famous beef stew, which will be available for lunch either to enjoy on-site or to take home.
Admission is free, and guests will be welcomed with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate.
The annual fair is a longstanding community tradition and offers visitors an opportunity to support local crafters while getting a head start on holiday shopping.
St. Andrew’s is located at 7 Faulkner Street in Ayer and is an open and affirming community. We are a family-friendly community where children are always welcome.  Sunday School and childcare are available. The Sunday Celebration of Holy Communion is at 9:30 am, in-person and streams online at http://youtube.com/@standrewsayer/streams. For more information, please visit the St. Andrew’s website at www.standrewsayer.org.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Spiritual Growth and Community Center (SGCC) is the outreach program arm of UUCAV, providing the Assabet Valley region with high-quality, inspirational programs, classes, and events to awaken curiosity, joy, compassion, and personal growth for the mind, body, and spirit. All programs are open to the community. Our programs are welcoming to all, and inclusive of all perspectives, including oppressed, mainstream, and non-religious views.

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

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.

The holiday season returns to the heart of Boxborough on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, for the 93rd Annual Merrie Christmas Fair. The event spans the United Church of Christ Boxborough, the Community Center, and the Town Hall at 723 Massachusetts Avenue. Admission is free, and neighbors from Boxborough, Acton, and surrounding towns are invited to attend.

The fair features a variety of seasonal shopping options. Visitors can browse handcrafted items, including holiday ornaments, homemade knits, custom gifts, and hand-turned wooden creations. Fresh winter greens, centerpieces, and gifts will also be available. For vintage finds, shoppers can visit the curated jewelry table and explore the Town Hall Grange Room for the "Attic Treasures" sale.
In addition to shopping, the fair offers activities for all ages. The Sugar Plum Food Hall will serve breakfast and lunch alongside live music, baked goods, and hot cocoa—with appearances by a dancing Santa. This year, the snack bar features Oscar’s Burritos, serving breakfast and lunch options. Outside, families can enjoy a bouncy house and s’mores by the firepit, while a specialized children’s table inside features kids' crafts and gifts.

For those wishing to shop from home, the UCCB Online Auction opens November 11th at 8:00 AM and closes November 21st at 6:00 PM. The secure digital platform accepts credit cards and features one-of-a-kind items.

Proceeds from the fair enable the United Church of Christ Boxborough to continue its support of vital local and global outreach programs, including the FreeBee Market, Community Supper, Acton Food Pantry, and World Central Kitchen. This year, 10% of all fair profits will directly benefit A Friend in Need, a local emergency fund providing immediate support to neighbors in crisis.

Mark your calendar for November 21st to support the community and celebrate the season. All are welcome.

Fall is here and Fresh Start Furniture Bank has been busy!  We held our first annual Furnishing Hope Walk for Fresh Start on October 18.  We had a goal of $30k and about 50 walkers & several additional volunteers raised $37,103 from 175 donors.  Avidia Bank was our presenting sponsor and Sen. Jamie Eldridge visited the walkers.  It was a great day of walking and raising money for Fresh Start.

Tuesday morning was a busy day with donations coming in and clients choosing their household goods.  One nice young couple who will be married tomorrow chose what they need for their new home.  When the volunteers heard about the upcoming event they put together a gift box for the couple and gift wrapped it for them.  They were surprised and very grateful.

Our current wish list of low items includes twin, full and queen size comforters, throw blankets, lightbulbs (60 & 75 watt), cereal bowls and platters.  We also are low on small kitchen tables, queen & full size beds and coffee tables.

Please see our website (above) for our location, hours of operation and other information.  Help us if you can, and spread the word, please!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

From special Boston Bruins experiences for young fans to flight lessons, a Vermont getaway, and more, the Buck Off Cancer online silent auction offers something special for everyone while continuing Jessica Halliday’s legacy.

Hockey fans won’t want to miss two special Bruins-related prizes, including an opportunity to watch the Boston Bruins play and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for children ages 6–12 to high-five the players as they head onto the ice!

The auction also features a wonderful variety of prizes, including professional teeth whitening, a charming Vermont house stay, flight lessons, dance lessons with Fox Ballroom Dance, and much more.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if they were unable to attend the fundraising event. By placing a bid, participants can enjoy the chance to win a memorable experience while supporting a meaningful cause.

Online bidding closes Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.
To view the prizes and place your bids, visit:
https://givebutter.com/c/BOC-2026/auction

Buck Off Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer research, cancer care, and equestrians with cancer. Through this mission, Jessica Halliday’s family continues her legacy of helping others facing cancer and making a difference in the lives of those who need support.

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

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

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

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

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

Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and the Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 will host Wreaths Across America on December 19, 2026 at12:00 noon.

The Northboro Junior Woman’s Club, Boros Cares 4 Troops and The Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 are beginning fundraising to support the Wreaths Across America being held in Northborough for the third time this year. We are hosting an event at the Howard Street Cemetery to bring awareness to the yearlong mission of the organization, which is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which was begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

The wreaths are $17 each! If you would like to order one or more wreaths please go to: www/wreathsacrossamerica.org/MA0219.

The Harvard Lions are offering mail order gift boxes that can be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the continental United States. There are a number of different gift box options with fruit, nuts, candy, cake and soup mixes. This offers an option to send a gift for the Thanksgiving or December holidays while supporting our local charities.
Place your order by November 4 for Thanksgiving delivery and between November 5 and December 11 for Christmas delivery.
The direct link to purchase gift boxes is here: https://ifundraise.com/616524
More details on the citrus sale can be found at www.harvardlions.org.

Since 2010, October has been dedicated as National Bullying Prevention Month. According to PACER Center, one out of five students report they’ve been bullied. Bullying can happen to anyone at any time, and it can be recurring or a one off. There are multiple ways people can be bullied. Verbal, physical, and cyberbullying (online) tend to be the most common forms.
      Cyberbullying has increased, in part, because of the perceived anonymity that can accompany harassment, threats, humiliation, or torment directed at a peer. Some of these accounts are anonymous, but not all. Sometimes, private messages, comments, and posts are made by someone who isn't afraid to share their identity.
      The CDC recognizes bullying as an Adverse Childhood Experience, commonly referred to as ACEs. It also recognizes that bullying has a broader impact than solely the victim but also the perpetrators and bystanders are negatively affected. In its report “The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools,” the CDC states that while bullying does not cause suicide, it is closely linked to suicidal behaviors. The report found that youth who report any connections to bullying are more likely to report suicidal behavior than their peers who do not claim to be impacted by bullying.
       If you know someone who is or has been bullied and want to learn more about suicide prevention and awareness, The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a valuable resource. The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth and young adult suicide through education. Its website, www.jasonfoundation.com, offers resources, trainings, materials, a list of warning signs and risk factors, as well as a tool to find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office to you. It is important to be educated so that you can recognize when someone may be struggling and help them get the support they need.

Join us at the Gov. George S. Boutwell House on Sunday October 25th at 2 PM for the Groton Historical Society's Annual Meeting and Program.

We talk a lot about who lived in the Boutwell House and about what artifacts and papers are stored there. But how often do we think of the house itself? Its present-day architecture is well-documented. But why was it built that way? How was it used? How did it fit into the community?

Brian Bixby will start to try to answer some of those question, or at least raise more detailed questions. As the Boutwell House turns 175 years old, it is time we looked into the house that plays such an important role in our activities.

Brian grew up in Groton and holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Massachusetts. Now living in Cambridge, he’s been supporting the Groton History Center’s work on Boutwell ever since helping to catalogue some rediscovered Boutwell papers back in 2001. He teaches a variety of history courses at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

This program will follow the Groton Historical Society’s brief annual business meeting where members may vote on the slate of Officers & Directors. Free and open to the public.

Cake and sparkling cider will be served.

This mono printing method is exciting and intuitive, sometimes with surprising results. The surface
is a Gelli printing plate (18”x24”) and I use acrylics to paint directly on the silicone, making several
strokes with each pull/print, and sometimes creating layers. There are many ways to use this process—
I will share some that I have done.

The public is invited to attend this free program. Northborough Historical Society, 52 Main Street
parking available on School St.

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.