The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on Sunday September 21 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8 p.m. For information please contact Captain Chad Childers at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org.
  The Boxborough Minutemen Company is open to anyone of least 18 years of age, regardless of gender or town of residence, who is interested in service to the Town and/or perpetuating the memory of the Minutemen of 1775.  You do not need to be a marcher or revolutionary war re-enactor to join the Company.
  Our members may participate in any number of the Company's activities including marching in parades and town celebrations, organizing the annual Fifer's Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to the FreeBee Market, community supper, and other service organizations, and participating in our various social functions. The Company also provides financial support to a variety of service organizations and sponsors a number of annual scholarships to Boxborough students who are continuing their education after high school.
All are welcome to come and make new connections with others.
For more information visit www.boxboroughminutemen.org.

 

 

Choral Arts New England celebrates Frank’s leadership
in the region’s choral community; awards Chorus recording grant

CONCORD, MA Issued September 8, 2025... Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC) announces that its Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank has been awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by Choral Arts New England (CANE). This prestigious honor recognizes Frank’s decades of visionary leadership, artistry, and contributions to the vitality of New England’s choral community.

Frank will be presented with the award at the “41st Annual Choral Arts New England Awards Ceremony” on Sunday, October 26, 3 pm, at First Congregational Church in Winchester. The event, which is open to the public, will feature a brief performance by Concord Women’s Chorus, under Frank’s direction, as well as opportunities for both chorus and audience members to sing together in celebration of New England’s rich choral tradition.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to choral singing and culture in New England,” said Mary Brody, chair of the Choral Arts New England Board. “We are delighted to recognize Jane as a member of this distinguished group.”

Since moving to Boston in 1991, Frank has conducted ensembles across Greater Boston with artistry and distinction. She has served on the faculties of Harvard University and Emerson College, directed Chapel Music at Episcopal Divinity School, and conducted Philovox, the professional recording chorus of E.C. Schirmer. As Founding Director of Boston Secession, she created groundbreaking programs and recordings that earned national acclaim. She conducted Cantemus Chamber Chorus for 11 years, serves as Minister of Worship and the Arts at First Congregational Church of Winchester, and was an Affiliated Scholar with the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University for 22 years.

Frank has led Concord Women’s Chorus for more than 30 years, shaping its reputation for artistry, adventurous programming, and commitment to amplifying women’s voices in choral music.

The Choral Arts New England Lifetime Achievement Award, first presented in 1994, honors individuals who have left a lasting mark on the region’s choral culture. Past honorees include Dr. André de Quadros (2024), Alice Parker (2004), and Lorna Cooke DeVaron (1995). With this award, Jane Ring Frank joins a celebrated legacy of leaders who have inspired generations of singers and audiences alike.  For more information on the awards, visit choralarts-newengland.org/lifetime.

In addition to celebrating Frank’s honor, Concord Women’s Chorus also announces that it has received an Alfred Nash Patterson Grant from Choral Arts New England to support its current recording project. The application was spearheaded by CWC board member Allison Jones, whose efforts helped the chorus secure not only the grant but also the distinction of receiving the Hammond Family Grant.

According to CANE, “Named grants represent the aspirations for choral music of some of Choral Arts New England’s most committed supporters, and we are very happy that Concord Women’s Chorus has achieved this distinction.”

Since 1985, Alfred Nash Patterson Grants have supported more than 220 choral projects across New England, fostering innovative programming, new compositions, music education, and regional collaboration.

For more information, or to join Concord Women’s Chorus, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, and follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

About Concord Women’s Chorus
Concord Women's Chorus (CWC), based in Concord, Massachusetts, is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power in women’s voices through song. Singers hail from Concord and the greater Boston area. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices. The ensemble has commissioned three new choral works to date, and will professionally record these pieces in 2026.

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

The chorus began in 1960 as the Concord Madrigals, a small group of women who expressed, through song, the strength of female community. Over the years the group has increased in size and capacity and greatly expanded its repertoire. In 2005, the Concord Madrigals became Concord Women’s Chorus, a name that reflects not only the evolution of the chorus but the abiding power of women’s voices.

In addition to concerts, CWC often engages in other performances and projects. The ensemble has engaged in several concert tours in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. For more information or to join CWC, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, and follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Women Helping Others (WHO), at First United Methodist Church of Marlborough, will offer a Holistic Tea at the church on Sunday, September 28 from 2 to 4:00pm.  A sound bath and information on essential oils will be shared by Three Feathers Healing of Hudson, MA.  WHO will provide tea and desserts.  While space is limited, registration is free.  Free will offerings are gratefully received. The church is located at 52 Church Street.  Link for registration:  https://tinyurl.com/2vx9narc

WHAT:
State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division will return a long-lost Purple Heart medal to Thomas Brigham, the grandson of Sgt. Thomas Flynn. The medal was recovered by the Unclaimed Property Division and traced back to the Flynn family as part of the Treasury’s efforts to reunite military honors with rightful heirs.

Sgt. Thomas Flynn was born in August. 27, 1896, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He served with Company G of the 9th Infantry and 101st Infantry with the Massachusetts National Guard.

WHEN:
September 9, 2025
12:00PM

WHERE:
Massachusetts State House, Treasurer’s Office, Rm. 227

WHO:

• Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg
• Thomas Brigham, grandson of Sgt. Thomas Flynn
• Brig. Gen. Lisa Ahaesy from the National Guard
• Veterans Services Representatives

WHY:
The return of military medals is part of the Massachusetts Treasurer’s Office mission to honor the legacy of veterans and reunite families with their treasured heirlooms.

MASSACHUSETTS (September 9, 2025) - Hey MA Teens! Voting will open for the MA Teen Choice Book Award (MTCBA) on September 15!  Young people from across Massachusetts are invited to vote for their top teen book from a list of nominees until Oct. 5. This is the only award in the Bay State that invites students in grades 7-12 to vote for their top new books.
The list of nominees has been curated by a committee of public librarians, school library media specialists and educators. The top teen choices will be announced in late October..

“There are two ways for teens to cast their votes - they can vote directly using our digital ballot (available at https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/home) or they can cast a paper ballot at any participating library,” said Suzanne Larson, committee chair and high school library media specialist at Seekonk High School in Seekonk, MA.  “We encourage school and public libraries interested in participating to create displays and ballot boxes by using MTCBA resources, also available on the award website.” (https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/home)

The twenty-one 2025 Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award Nominees are:

• Aisle Nine - Cho, Ian X.
• America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History - Aberg-Riger, Ariel
• The Bletchley Riddle - Sepetys, Ruta & Sheinkin, Steve
• Call Me Iggy - Aguirre, Jorge & Rosado, Rafael (Illustrator)
• The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky - Galarza, Josh
• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love - Croucher, Lex
• HappyHead - Silver, Josh
• I Kick and I Fly - Gupta, Ruchira
• I Will Never Leave You - Kennedy, Kara
• The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge - Hubbard, Matthew
• Looking for Smoke - Cobell, K. A.
• Navigating With You - Whitley, Jeremy & Ribeiro, Cassio (Illustrator)
• The No-Girlfriend Rule - Randall, Christen 
• The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Jackson, Holly
• Red - Cardi, Annie
• Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes - Jarrow, Gail
• Star Splitter - Kirby, Matthew J.
• Twenty-four Seconds From Now… - Reynolds, Jason
• Where Sleeping Girls Lie - Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah
• The Wilderness of Girls - Franklin, Madeline Claire
• Wish You Weren’t Here - Baldwin, Erin

The Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award is a cooperative project between the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) and the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) with support from Salem State University. For more information on the selected titles and how to participate and vote, please visit www.mateenchoicebook.org.

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

One in five people across the country live with a mental health condition including children, adolescents and adults. Family members, in the role as "care supporter" for their loved one often need support as well. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a non-profit organization founded in 1979, is dedicated to improving the lives of those with mental illness and their families through support, education and advocacy at state and national levels. Volunteers trained by NAMI now offer many support groups and educational programs in communities across Massachusetts for those with illness and separately supportive family members. Programs are offered in person and digitally via the Zoom format and are completely free to the public. You can find details at the NAMI Massachusetts website www.NAMIMASS.org .
If you have a family member with mental health challenges you can also connect to a support-group I facilitate with my co-facilitator at fsgroup25@aol.com.  Our NAMI group meets once a month, every 2nd Thursday of the month, from 6:15 pm – 8:45 pm on Zoom and has been meeting for four years. The group usually has around 6-8 participants and creates time enough for all to share and feel much better at meetings end. If you would like to speak with someone ahead about our NAMI support-group feel free to call me. My name is Dee and my cell number is 978.697.3441.

Written By Deb Paul
“We’re not about what happened on 9/11. We’re about what happened on 9/12.” Jeff Parness, founder of New York Says Thank You, captured the essence of American resilience in just thirteen words.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of a day that changed our nation forever. September 11, 2001, is etched into our collective memory—not just for the horror we witnessed, but for the unity that followed. Most Americans remember exactly where they were when the news broke. The images of the Twin Towers collapsing, the chaos, the courage—they remain vivid, unshakable.

We lost thousands of innocent lives—on planes, in offices, on the streets. First responders ran toward danger, not away from it. Families were shattered. The American spirit was tested. And yet, as Rudy Giuliani said, “The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead, we have emerged stronger and more unified.”

In the days that followed, something extraordinary happened. Strangers became neighbors. Political differences faded. Compassion surged. We remembered what it meant to be one nation, indivisible—not just in theory, but in practice. Flags flew from every porch. Blood banks overflowed with volunteers. People prayed together, cried together, and stood together.

We saw firefighters and police officers risk everything without hesitation. They didn’t ask who someone voted for or what religion they practiced. They saw fellow human beings in need—and they responded with courage and compassion. That spirit of selflessness defined the days after 9/11. It reminded us of who we are at our best.

But today, that unity feels distant. We are a nation divided—by politics, by ideology, by mistrust. The spirit of 9/12, once so palpable, now flickers faintly. The sense of shared purpose that once bound us has been replaced by suspicion and polarization.

Let this anniversary be more than a moment of mourning. Let it be a call to remember—not only the lives lost, but the values we rediscovered. Patriotism is not a relic. Unity is not naïve. These are the foundations of a resilient democracy.

We must reflect not only on what we lost, but on what we found: courage, compassion, and a renewed sense of community. These qualities are still within us. They are not confined to history—they are waiting to be revived.

So this September 11, pause. Reflect. Recommit. Not just to memory, but to meaning. To kindness. To courage. To each other.

Because the legacy of 9/11 isn’t just about what happened. It’s about who we became—and who we still have the power to be.

It’s time again for First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) to sell its homemade apple pies on Saturdays and Sundays, from Saturday, Sept. 20, to Sunday, Oct. 12. Sales will begin at 10 a.m. and will close when the day’s pies are sold, or at 1 p.m., whichever comes first. FPC’s 3 lb. pies are $20 each and 1 lb. tarts are $10, cash or check preferred. The apple pie stand is located at the front of the church grounds, at 353 Great Road, Stow. For more information, visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org. Apples for the pies have been generously donated by Shelburne Farm of Stow.

On Saturday, September 20, all gardeners are welcome to join the New England Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) for their fall kick-off meeting. The topic of the day is seed saving, processing, and growing. The event will take place at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Attendees are asked to bring their own bag lunch, with beverages and snacks provided. At 11 am, Jan Sacks and Marty Schafer of Carlisle lead the panel discussion on Seeds - Collecting and Cleaning Techniques. These expert growers will share tips they’ve found valuable. After the lunch break, our Annual Seedling Sale begins at 1 pm. Members bring their extra seedlings of clearly labelled rock garden plants, including some natives, to share. The first-round price is $2 per pot until buying slows down, after which the price is $1 per pot. Very special, higher-value plants may be raffled off.
Come to buy, even if you can’t bring seedlings of your own!

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

 

 

 

• Pre-movie pictures with Monsters University characters, Mike Wazowski and Sulley
• Free popcorn, prizes, music and games
• Ice cream from New City Microcreamery will be available
• Giveaways from Orangetheory Fitness, Whole Foods Market and more!

• Farmer’s Daughter: 15% off your order (all day 9/19)
• Mooyah: 15% off your order (all day 9/19)
• Oak Barrel Tavern: Free appetizer with $50 food purchase (9/19–9/21)

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

 

for our Open Sing rehearsals on September 8th and 15th, 2025. Give us a try and see if you'd like to become a member! Acton Community Chorus is a non-auditioned chorus founded in 1984, providing singers from the MetroWest communities with an opportunity to enjoy singing choral music in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

 

Exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag for those who come to give
Donors can score one of four iconic T-shirt designs

BOSTON, Aug. 25, 2025 — The American Red Cross asks donors to give blood or platelets now to help maintain a healthy blood supply. Donors of all blood types, especially those with types O positive and B negative blood, are urged to make an appointment to keep lifesaving blood products ready the moment patients need them.

People coming together to care for one another is the humanitarian spirit shared by our Red Cross community and fans of PEANUTS. And this month, the Red Cross and PEANUTS are once again joining forces to remind people that a little good goes a long way. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of PEANUTS, those who come to give blood Aug. 29-Sept. 21, 2025, will get an exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag with one of four special T-shirt designs, while they last.

Each design is iconic, and donors won’t know which one they’ll get until they open the bag. Additionally, there will be a number of golden tickets randomly in the mystery bags hidden throughout the country. Donors who find a golden ticket when they open their bag will have the chance to redeem it through an online form for all four T-shirts! See RedCrossBlood.org/Peanuts for details.

Be a friend to patients in need. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Seasonal challenges
Routines are changing, and schedules are filling up before fall, which could keep people from coming out to help save lives. In addition, the threat of severe weather and hurricanes remains strong in late summer. As we near National Preparedness Month, it’s important to note the significant disruption weather can cause all year long. Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, weather canceled about 1,500 blood drives, causing more than 40,000 blood donations to go uncollected. Making and keeping donation appointments where it’s safe to do so can help patients when and wherever they need it most. 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 25-Sept. 15

Sudbury
8/27/2025: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd
9/3/2025: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd

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

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

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

BOSTON, Aug. 6, 2025 — During National Wellness Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to prioritize their personal health and well-being while helping to save lives with a blood or platelet donation. Donors of all blood types – especially those with type O positive or B negative blood – are asked to make an appointment now to prevent a further drop in donor turnout.

In August, the Red Cross will provide free A1C screening – a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes – for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Fasting is not required for this test, and donors will be able to view their confidential results one to two weeks after their donation in the Blood Donor App or their donor account at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors will receive one A1C test result in a 12-month period.

August also brings changes in routines. Back-to-school plans, the start of fall sports and final summer vacations may be top of mind right now, but patients can’t wait. Making and keeping donation appointments can be the difference in a patient’s treatment journey.

Help save lives and empower your health! Schedule a time to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give Aug. 1-28, 2025, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For details on both offers, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 16-31

Sudbury
8/20/2025: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd
8/27/2025: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd

BOSTON (August 7, 2025) – Many young people in foster care enter new schools with few resources, making it difficult to keep pace with their peers. Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is seeking community support to fill back-to-school wishlists for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect. The organization's greatest need is for clothing gift cards from Old Navy, Kohl’s, DSW, and other retailers. Gift cards from Target, Marshalls, and Walmart are also needed for youth in college or entering independent living.
Boston CASA recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to serve as CASAs in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties for children removed from their homes, most of whom end up in foster care.
The challenges foster youth face are reflected in the statistics: only about half graduate from high school, and fewer than 4% go on to earn a four-year college degree. Steady support and access to basic necessities can help change these outcomes—building a stronger, more secure foundation for the children and youth who need it most.
Last year, the nonprofit gave more than $1,200 of gift cards and supplies to youth in need of back-to-school support. Boston CASA’s Back-To-School Drive runs through September 8.
In addition to school supplies, Boston CASA works year-round to help every child they serve celebrate their birthday. Community members can help by purchasing items from the organization’s Amazon “activities” wishlist, ensuring each child has a special gift to open on their big day.
To donate or learn more, visit linktr.ee/bostoncasa or email Charly Snellings at charly@bostoncasa.org.
About Boston CASA
Boston CASA recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, most of whom end up in foster care. Unlike mentors, CASAs work within the child welfare system, advocating directly in court and alongside DCF to ensure children in foster care receive the support, stability, and services they need. Research shows that just one consistent adult can change a child’s trajectory—help us be that difference. Volunteer, donate, or support our mission at www.bostoncasa.org . #ChangeAChildsStory

A support group for mothers in the loss of a child..........

Saturday August 16, 2025
10:30am-12:30pm

Hudson Public Library
Tavare Room
3 Washington St
Hudson, MA

www.mylesabove.org

Today (7/29) was hotter than hot but client families showed up to “shop” and donors came in a steady stream. We are very low on a lot of items; if you can help us by bringing your used (or new!) items, it would be so appreciated.

We need:
Couches, dish sets, small appliances (toasters, blenders, microwave ovens), and air fryers, book cases, storage cabinets, table lamps and vacuum cleaners.
Kitchen items: Large skillets, large pots, cereal bowls, drinking gasses, pot holders, cooking & baking pans.
Linens: Throw blankets, twin & full bed blankets, crib sheets, towels, queen & full sheet sets.

Finally - we have no shower hooks and liners in inventory at present.

Help if you can!
Check our website for location and hours to donate. www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
Thank you!

Leominster, MA – [July 31, 2025] – Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts is thrilled to invite community members, businesses, and supporters to the Annual Building Dreams Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the stunning Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, MA.

This exciting event brings together golf lovers and community champions for a day of fun, networking, and philanthropy — all in support of Habitat NCM’s mission to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.
Event Details:
Red Tail Golf Club – Devens, MA
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Schedule:

• 7:00 AM – Registration
• 8:15 AM – Shotgun Start
• Lunch immediately following play

Whether you're swinging for the green or cheering from the sidelines, your participation helps fund three new affordable homes and over 35 critical home repairs each year for families in our local communities.
Golfer spots and sponsorships are available now – but selling fast!
Register today: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8gfsyam
A special thank you to our generous sponsors, whose support makes this event possible:
All One Credit Union, The Law Office of David R. Rocheford, Jr., P.C., Rollstone Bank & Trust, McCarty Companies, Package Steel Systems, Inc., Main Street Bank, Doors Unlimited Inc., J Ferrera Associates, Inc., Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, James Monroe Wire & Cable, GFA Federal Credit Union, Fidelity Bank MA, The Majestic Group, Powell Stone & Gravel, DMH Electric, Inc., Middlesex Savings Bank, Country Bank, Darcangelo Realty Group, and New England Sheets.

About Habitat NCM 
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts (NCM) offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income families in central Massachusetts seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore, which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture to support Habitat’s mission of providing affordable housing.

Congratulations to Debra's 2nd generation owner, Adam Stark. Adam received the 2025 INFRA Cheryl Hughes Brix Award for leadership in the natural products industry. After 9 years on the board of directors in Minneapolis and 30 years in Concord, Adam has made the Deb's Natural Gourmet team proud. The Brix award is because the store is "bricks and mortar". In addition to honoring Adam, his Mother was recognized with the naming of the Debra Stark Award.
If you haven't been to the Concord store, make it a field trip. The store has two locations next door to each other. You will love them both!

Acton:  Acton-Boxborough Farmer's Market
Runs Sundays June 15 – October 12 10AM – 1PM
Location: Elm Street Playground, Acton
Features live music and a variety of vendors including local produce and artisanal goods.

Maynard: Maynard Farmer's Market
Runs Saturdays 9AM – 1PM from the last Saturday in June to the last Saturday in September
Location: Mill Pond Parking Lot, Main Street in Maynard
Features local produce and products, live music, kids' activities, and information about local nonprofits.

Carlisle: Carlisle Farmer's Market
Runs Saturdays 8AM-12PM until September 27th
Location:  Kimball Farm Carlisle, 343 Bedford Road, Carlisle
Features local produce, baked goods, and arts and crafts.

Westford: Roudenbush Community Market
Runs Tuesdays from 3PM – 7PM until August 26
Location: The Abbot School, 25 Depot St, Westford
Features an assortment of local vendors including fresh local produce and local art.

Chelmsford: Market on the Common
Runs most Saturdays 11AM – 2PM
from May 31 – October 11
Location: 1 North Road, Chelmsford
Features local produce, artisans, food vendors, and more.

Hudson: Hudson Farmer's Market
Runs every Tuesday 3:30PM – 6PM through September 23 (except 9/2)
Location: Hudson Town Hall, 78 Main Street, Hudson
Features live music, local produce, baked goods, and local artisans.

Marlborough: Marlborough Farmer's Market
Runs Saturdays 9AM – 1PM
from June 14 – October 4
Location: Behind City Hall, 140 Main St, Marlborough
Features local produce, live music, kids' activities, artisans, and food vendors.

 

10 Lincoln Street, Westford

Music & More!
Ongoing 3rd Friday Bluegrass Jam
A community event open to the public. All are welcome, 7-10pm. You can bring your banjo, fiddle, voice, or just come to watch every 3rd Friday in a month from September-June! Everyone has a great time. Future Dates: 8/15, 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12/19, 1/16/26, 2/20, (No March), 4/17, 5/15, 6/19, 7/17, 8/21...

Ongoing Thursday Night Sing & Jam
A community event open to the public weekly on Thursdays from 7-10pm (year-round). Bring your instrument &/or voice and join the Sing & Jam fun! $5 suggested cover. Future Dates:  8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28 …

Current Volunteer Opportunities!
Concerts & Events
For every concert and event during a season, the PCA has to be set up accordingly with chairs and/or tables for the audience (and taken down after the fact). We need greeters and box office support, and the sprucing up of the Hall post show. Many hands make light work & you get to see a show free! Training, if needed, is provided. Ongoing opportunities will be posted in this newsletter, but if you’d like to be emailed directly when needs arise, email Volunteer Coordinator Carol Wing to get on the “Volunteer” list.
Arts in the Loft
The PCA’s Arts-in-the-Loft program is growing and we’re in need of after-school youth and evening adult art instructors.  If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, reach out to PCA’s Business Manager JulieAnn Govang!  Classes to resume in October’2025.

Board Members Welcome
The PCA Board is the governing force behind all you see, and it takes committed volunteers to keep things running smoothly.  Would you like more information about getting more involved in all things PCA? Contact PCA’s President Raj Puranik!

CONCORD, Mass. – Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers with 50 locations in nine states, is once again rallying communities to support children in need with Ace’s annual “Fill the Bucket” fundraiser benefitting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
From Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3, customers who visit participating Rocky’s Ace Hardware stores can donate $5 to receive a limited-edition five-gallon bucket. As a thank you, shoppers will receive 20% off nearly everything they can fit inside the bucket*.
One hundred percent of the $5 donation goes directly to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which provide critical care, life-saving treatments and essential medical services to children in local communities across the country.
“This fundraiser is a fun, tangible way for customers to support local children’s hospitals and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges,” said Rocco Falcone, president of Rocky’s Ace Hardware. “Every dollar makes a difference, and this event is a great example of neighbors helping neighbors.”
Rocky’s Ace Hardware has a longstanding tradition of community giving, and the “Fill the Bucket” event is one of the most popular ways the company helps raise funds for vital causes.
*Some exclusions apply; see store for details.
About Rocky’s Ace Hardware
Rocky’s Ace Hardware, your neighborhood store for paint, hardware, lawn and garden, and grilling, has been in continuous operation, under the same family ownership, since opening its first location in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1926. From one modest store to now 50 convenient locations throughout Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, Rocky's has become one of the country's largest Ace Hardware dealers, noted for its exceptional customer service and vast product selection. For more information, visit rockys.com.

Join us on Tuesday, August 26th from 2:00PM – 7:00PM at the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks #1568 located at 34 Powdermill Road, Maynard, MA.
Please call 781-461-2052 to schedule an appointment.

Give August 1-28th for $15 e-gift card & successful donations get A1C testing. Terms: rcblood.org/Test.