Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
     Were your holidays good?  Did you receive the gifts you hoped for?  Maybe a new toaster or microwave oven or coffee maker; are the old ones still working?  Perhaps you received new sheets and a comforter—-and the old ones are still good.  Furniture upgrades?  New kitchenware? Bring your “old” items to Fresh Start Furniture Bank to furnish someone else’s home.
    At present we are in need of all furniture, especially couches, dressers, bookcases, rugs, dining tables, upholstered chairs, recliners, queen and full headboards, end tables, bedside tables and storage cabinets.  We also need artwork, kitchen knives, dishes, cutting boards and colanders.
    We expect donations to be in good condition; if you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, don’t give it to us!  Read our website to see what we DO and DO NOT take for donations, and our address and hours of operation.
     Imagine finally finding a home after being in a shelter—-and having nothing or very little IN the home!  That is what Fresh Start’s clients deal with.  We have helped convert over 4000 empty apartments into homes for more than 12,000 people in the last 10 years.  And, by taking in almost 170,000 pieces of donated furniture and home goods, we have kept all of those items out of landfills.
     Last Saturday 40 donors arrived; they had “cleaned out” for the new year or were just waiting for us to reopen after the holidays.  It was a good start to the new year but the clients keep coming and we need to help them all!

Museum also ends advance ticket reservation system
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced today a $13 admission price from 1:00pm to 4:30pm on weekday afternoons, now through March 28. The discounted price will not be offered on holidays or during school vacation weeks.
Under the Winter Weekday Afternoon Discount program, admission for adults and children will be $13 per person; seniors 60+ will be $12. Children under 1 and teachers are always free. All other Museum-offered discounts such as EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare Card to Culture, Wonderfund, library passes, museum reciprocal programs, AAA, and active duty miliary discounts will still apply.
Regular admission prices are $19.00 for adults and children ages 1 and over, $18.00 for seniors 60+, free for under 1 and teachers.
Discovery Museum also announced the closure of its reservation system. Advance reservations to visit are no longer required nor accepted.

Winter can stretch budgets to the breaking point. With increased costs for food, heating, housing, and transportation, many Massachusetts families are facing tough choices. If you or your family need help accessing food, don’t wait—call Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline today at 1-800-645-8333.
The FoodSource Hotline connects residents to the resources they need right now. Trained counselors are available to help you apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), find free meals for children, and locate emergency food programs like community meals and food pantries. The hotline can also refer callers to other federal food programs, like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).
Whether you’re a college student, a senior, or a family facing hardship, the FoodSource Hotline is a confidential, free, trusted resource recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for anyone seeking food assistance.
Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for support, available in over 180 languages.
Get Help Now: If you are struggling with food insecurity, call 1-800-645-8333. For more information and access to resources, visit Project Bread’s website, where you can find information in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole. Don’t wait—help is just a phone call away.

January is a time to recharge and recover from the holidays. It is also National Mental Wellness Month to recognize the importance of mental health and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. According to the National Institutes of Health, 57.8 million adults lived with some form of mental illness in 2023. The severity varies from person to person. Understanding mental health statistics in the U.S. can raise awareness and garner support for those in need. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness and women are more likely than men to experience depression. 17% of adolescents ages 12-17 experienced a major depressive episode. 33.5% of adults with a mental illness also have a substance use disorder.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collects data on substance use and mental health. Their 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that multiracial people had the highest rate of mental illness at 36.7%, followed by Whites (24%), American Indian/Alaskan natives (23.5%), Hispanics (20.6%), Blacks (19.4%), and Asians (18.1%).
Mental illness affects people differently. Children ages 6-17 are three times more likely to repeat a grade if they have mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems. Those with severe mental illness have a life span of 10 to 25 years shorter than the general population. 64% of jail inmates have a mental illness compared to 21.6% of the general adult population.
National Mental Wellness Month involves individuals being able to cope with life’s difficulties, having healthy relationships, and taking care of their mental well-being before issues arise. Wellbeingtrust.org tells us that having a purpose in life offers many benefits, including being happier, living longer, sleeping better, and improved heart health. To find that purpose explore your interests, volunteer, consider what you love to do, talk to friends and family, and try new experiences.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental illness. The Jason Foundation is a valuable resource if you feel that a friend or loved one is struggling with a mental illness. JFI is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of suicide through educational programs that equip youth, parents, educators, and the community with the tools and resources to identify and assist those who may be struggling mentally. Visit www.jasonfoundation.com to learn how to make a difference and find the closest Jason Foundation Affiliate Office.

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

Join Sustainable Sudbury and the Town for an online solar webinar on January 23, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. We’ll be joined by Matt Honkonen, from East Coast Solar, hear from community members about their experiences, and provide time for questions! Learn about this electric alternative to power your home and lower your climate impact!
Register here: https://bit.ly/plugIN-events-Sudbury
Learn more about heat pumps and solar here: https://bit.ly/plugINSudburyMA
This event is sponsored by plugIN MetroWest, in partnership with MassEnergize. Sudbury is 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!

Habitat’s memorial event will be held around the globe; all invited to view and sign doors
Leominster, MA January 3, 2025 — Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts joins Habitat organizations around the world in erecting a memorial door to pay tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter and acknowledge how his efforts opened doors to brighter futures for thousands of Habitat homeowners for more than four decades.
Habitat for Humanity NCM’s memorial wall signing will be held in Ayer on Thursday, January 9th at 1 p.m. at the build site at 12 Newton Street, Ayer. The media and the general public are invited to pay tribute by signing the memorial with their names and personal messages.
“President Carter’s contributions to Habitat for Humanity are among the most vital to our organization,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “He opened doors of opportunity for families worldwide, and all of us at Habitat have been honored and humbled to work alongside him. We were truly blessed to have his support, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Carter family.”
In addition to visiting the memorial, the public is invited to visit habitat.org to sign the official online memory book and to see and share Habitat’s global tribute to President Carter.
“President Carter was a true champion of people and communities everywhere,” stated Carolyn Read, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts. “His impact on our region will live on as we continue to build homes, communities and hope.”

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

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 meetings had been every Thursday evening at 7 pm at the South Acton Congregational Church. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 3:00 PM, the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO) presents its first orchestra concert of its 52nd season with its winter concert, “Masters of Symphonic Dance” at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
The theme of the performance celebrates the importance of the relationship between music and dance, a partnership that has been thrived over many millennia, ever since humans could move expressively and make musical sound on instruments.
Now in his third season, Alfonso Piacentini, a charismatic, young conductor and percussionist leads the all-volunteer community orchestra. Maestro Piacentini also serves under Benjamin Zander as an Assistant Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and its youth orchestra.
Maestro Piacentini, with the full enthusiasm and support of Managing Director and Sudbury resident William Nicholson, has chosen a varied program with iconic works and some less well known, all that pay homage to the beauty and meaning of dance expression.
The Overture to Felix Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” incidental music opens the concert. The haunting Danse Macabre by Camille Saint Saëns features concertmaster and Maynard resident Chris Brainard as violin soloist.
All listeners will recognize the famous “Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss, which capture Viennese high society in its five waltzes. The “Slavonic Dance #1” by Antonin Dvorak are examples of classically rendered country dancing.
Igor Stravinsky’s Berceuse and Finale from his ballet “The Firebird” capture tenderness in the berceuse (French for ‘lullaby’) and the exciting action in the Finale.
Mexican composer Arturo Marquez became famous when conductor Gustavo Dudamel programmed the “Danzon #2” in a concert in 2007 by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. It is one of the most frequently performed orchestral works by a Mexican composer.
Admission to the concert is a suggested donation of $20 per adult. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is located at 390 Lincoln Rd in Sudbury. The concert will also be livestreamed on Sudbury TV. Go to sudburytv.org, Scroll down on the Main page to the Live Stream section and click on Watch Now for the Educational Channel.
The inclement weather date is Friday, January 17 at 7:30 PM at LSRHS.
This year, the LSCO launched a chamber music initiative called the “LSCO Chamber Players”, featuring members of the orchestra and guest performances in small ensembles. The LSCO CP gave its debut performances in the fall in Sudbury and Lincoln. The LSCO CP will usually do two performances in the fall and spring of each season to give listeners more access to great classical music performances in the community.
The LSCO will present its second full orchestra concert on Sunday June 8, 2025. The program will be announced in the spring of 2025.

FITCHBURG, Mass. (Dec. 13, 2024) – The Highlands, a local skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, is starting a Santa’s Hotline that local children can call to talk to Santa and Mrs. Claus and share their Christmas wishes.
The hotline will begin on Dec. 16 and will be available each day from 3 - 5 p.m. until Dec. 24. Parents and children can reach the Santa Hotline by calling the center’s designated toll-free number: 978-353-7344.
The call line will be staffed by volunteer residents who have completed a short training on taking calls to the North Pole and have been dubbed honorary Santas and Mrs. Clauses.
Executive Director Mark Ailinger expressed his love for the initiative because, in addition to bringing children joy, the hotline gives the center’s residents something fun and exciting to do for the community.
“We are thrilled to provide a direct, toll-free phone number for area children to speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus,” said Ailinger. “Our residents are still vibrant members of this community and very much enjoy giving back their time and talent, especially to area children. We’re delighted to offer parents and children the opportunity to create some wonderful memories by having their kids or grandkids talk live to Santa and Mrs. Claus on our toll-free number.”
Located at 335 Nichols Road, The Highlands has been providing the Fitchburg community with short-term rehab, long-term care and specialized memory care for more than 50 years. The center is one of 15 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Massachusetts managed by Life Care Centers of America.
Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, Life Care manages nearly 200 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 26 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.

GROW Apprenticeship Award will support new Behavioral Health Apprenticeships
SUDBURY, MA –  Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and Representative Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) are pleased to announce that Advocates for Human Potential, a Sudbury-based organization, has been awarded a $120,000 GROW Apprenticeship Award. This federal grant will fund the development of 24 new apprenticeship opportunities in the field of behavioral health, contributing to the organization’s mission to transform behavioral health and human service systems so organizations and individuals can reach their full potential.
Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) works to improve behavioral health and human service systems, enabling individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. Comprised of nationally recognized experts and professionals with lived experience across the behavioral health system, AHP develops innovative programs, policies, and best practices to address challenges such as the opioid crisis, housing instability, workforce shortages, and criminal justice system involvement. Partnering with federal, state, and municipal agencies, AHP focuses on serving disadvantaged populations, including individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, homelessness, and unemployment. Utilizing data-driven strategies and care coordination, AHP aims to create measurable, lasting impacts.
“I am thrilled to see Advocates for Human Potential receive this vital funding, which will expand career opportunities in behavioral health and help meet the growing demand for these essential services,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge. “I want to thank the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for their leadership and commitment to investing in workforce development. This funding underscores the importance of providing individuals with pathways to meaningful careers while addressing urgent public health challenges. On the Senate side, I also want to thank Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Health Care Finance Chairwoman Cindy Friedman, for leading the fight for increased investments in behavioral health.”
“I am pleased to see Advocates for Human Potential recognized for their critical work in behavioral health services,” said Representative Carmine Gentile. “I am also grateful to the Federal and State partners that helped ensure this funding will not only create valuable apprenticeship opportunities but also strengthen the behavioral health workforce that so many individuals and families rely on. Investments like this help to address the root causes of some of our society’s most pressing issues such as housing instability, the opioid crisis, and severe inequities.”
This award is part of the broader GROW Apprenticeship initiative led by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). In Fiscal Year 2025, the program will distribute over $3.4 million in funding, including over $1.2 million in federal funds, to support apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities across multiple sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and clean energy. The GROW Apprenticeship initiative is expected to create 575 new apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities statewide, equipping individuals with the skills and experience needed to thrive in high-demand industries.

The applications have arrived, and with them, letters from families sharing their struggles and asking for help from the Beacon Santa.
They are grandparents, single moms, families struggling with health issues – all seeking a little respite from their troubles and a little joy for the holidays.
One grandmother writes that she and her husband are raising their three grandchildren – all of whom have health problems. She has had to cut back on working so she can take the children to their doctors’ appointments.
She is asking for help from the Beacon Santa to put a little something under the Christmas tree for the children.
“We would like to be able to give our grandchildren a Christmas that they will remember in a positive and happy way,” she writes.
Another grandmother writes that she is caring for her two granddaughters – alone. She has been struggling with health issues, and her granddaughters “have shown incredible kindness and resilience throughout the year,” she writes.
She wants to provide them with the joy of “giving and receiving” gifts, but her limited income makes it difficult for her to provide gifts on her own.
She is asking Beacon Santa for help.
“I believe that with your help, we can spread some holiday cheer and create happy memories for them,” she writes.
This year, Beacon Santa has been asked to help more than 600 children. But Beacon Santa would not exist without help from people just like you – please consider donating today.
How to donate
By Mail:  Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 7 Digital Way. Maynard, MA 01754 OR Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643. Maynard, MA 01754.
Online: Through PayPal: paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809 or by clicking on the PayPal button in this article. A PayPal account is not needed to donate.

The ARC is hosting the 14th Annual Comedy Night Benefit, featuring the area’s most popular and talented comedians on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Hudson Portuguese Club, 13 Port Street in Hudson. The event, being held in support of the Addiction Referral Center (ARC) of Marlborough, will include lots of laughs, food, and raffle prizes. The ARC has been serving the local community for over fifty years, since 1972, and relies on fundraising and donations to provide its services.
Entertainers at the Comedy Night Benefit include popular comedians Mitch Stinson, Tyler Hittner, and Mona Forgione. Hosting the evening is Dave Rattigan.
Doors open for the event at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:30 pm. Food is available for purchase. Coffee and desserts are complimentary. For further information on sponsorships, program ads, tickets or table reservations, call the ARC Office at 508-485-4357. Tables ($350) and individual tickets ($35) should be purchased in advance at the ARC. Chairing the planning for the event are Tracey Gustafson and Susan Kapopoulos.
The Addiction Referral Center (ARC) ranks as one of the most respected and active recovery service resources in Middlesex County.  As a nonprofit organization, the ARC provides individualized referral services, Recovery Coach appointments and daily peer-support meetings at no cost to those seeking recovery from substance use disorder. To donate to the ARC or sponsor the 14th Annual Comedy Night Benefit, please call the ARC (508-485-4357) or go to the website at www.theaddictionreferralcenter.org/2025-comedy.

Save A Dog is hosting a ‘Meet and Greet’ holiday adoption event at Wag N’ Wash, 1173 Main Street in West Concord on Saturday, December 14, from 10 am to 12 pm. Come meet the adorable dogs and puppies looking for their forever homes, and join the holiday festivities with free store samples and photo ops!
More information about our adoptable dogs (and cats!) can be found on the Save A Dog website: www.saveadog.org. Potential adopters are also encouraged to fill out an adoption application online beforehand.
Now celebrating 25 years of rescuing abandoned dogs and cats through its Sudbury shelter and network of foster homes, Save A Dog has found loving homes for more than 8,500 companion animals.
See you Saturday!

On Sunday, December 8 at 6 p.m., The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division will be presenting its 9th annual Sounds of Christmas Concert. The free event at The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center (650 Dudley Street, Dorchester) will feature festive music and holiday refreshments. Featured performances include music from The Salvation Army’s 40-piece brass band, the Massachusetts Divisional Chorus, and nearly 100 young people from Salvation Army centers across Massachusetts showcasing dance, timbrel and vocal talents.
The Salvation Army is one of the largest music providers in the world. The nonprofit’s music programs teach people, regardless of age, how to sing and play instruments at no cost. These skills are utilized in a myriad of ways such as playing in a Salvation Army band, singing in a choir, performing in dance and arts, or playing an instrument at one of The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettles during the holidays.
For more information about The Salvation Army’s music program and Sounds of Christmas Concert, visit: salvationarmyma.org.

The Northborough Community Affairs Committee is pleased to host the 2024 Northborough Annual Tree Lighting this coming Saturday, December 7th at 5pm on Blake Street.  This year’s celebration will include the lighting of the tree, a performance by the Northborough 5th Grade Unified Chorus and an acknowledgment of the town Menorah (which will be lit during Hanukkah on 12/30). During the event, complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, pizza, candy canes and jingle bells will be passed out (while supplies last).
This annual lighting of the tree began in 1968 in honor of the memory of Neil Ellsworth, an Army private first class, who was killed in Vietnam in 1967 at the age of 19. He will be honored during this special evening.
There will also be a toy collection for Toys for Tots and a food collection for the Northborough Food Pantry taking place. Thank you to the event sponsors which include Northborough House of Pizza, Wegmans and Starbucks.
For more information about the Northborough Community Affairs Committee, please visit our website at http://northboroughcac.weebly.com/index.html or find us on Facebook @nobocac.

To all land occupiers* within Middlesex County, notice is hereby given that on the 9th day of December, 2024, beginning at 6:00 PM, an Annual Meeting will  be held by the Middlesex Conservation District in Room 204 at Acton Town Hall at 472 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720. This annual meeting will be held to make a full report of our activities and financial affairs since the last Annual meeting and to elect supervisors for the Middlesex Conservation District of the State of Massachusetts. Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor of Agriculture at the University of Delaware and author of Nature’s Best Hope will be giving his presentation virtually first. This meeting is free to attend and all are invited.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Katherine Becker, Chair
Elizabeth Austin, Supervisor, Co-Chair
Miryam Becker, Supervisor, Clerk
Margaret Delano, Supervisor
* Any person who resides, owns land, and or uses land within the county.

“The Friends of the Hudson Public Library will have a book sale AND donation day on Saturday, December 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Armory garage, 35 Washington Street, Hudson. Shoppers can fill a bag with books, puzzles, DVDs, and CDs for only $10!
The Friends will also accept book donations from 11-1 at the garage. If needed, someone can help you unload from your vehicle. Sorry, we do not accept textbooks.”

Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 1:30 pm
Westford Museum
2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA
The Essex Junta: Newburyport and the 3 World Wars is the 19th book in Brody’s “Templars in America” series, which focuses on American history during the 1800s. While the Templars play a part in the narrative, this novel centers more on a powerful cabal of Massachusetts shipping families known as the Essex Junto (Brody uses the modern spelling “Junta”). These families amassed wealth through the opium trade and sought to have New England secede from the Union.
The story, though remarkable, is based on actual events. These families collaborated with agents they embedded in the South, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. Documentary evidence suggests they may also have been involved in plans that led to World Wars I and II. Additionally, these families had close ties to Freemasonry, particularly with the influential Masonic figurehead Albert Pike, and they were founders of Yale’s exclusive Skull and Bones Society.
David S. Brody, an attorney turned fiction writer, currently focuses his writings on sites and artifacts that provide evidence of pre-Columbian exploration of America. He refers to this as the “Templars in America” series, as much of this exploration seems connected to the medieval Knights Templar. Brody incorporates artifacts and historical sites into his books to create modern-day suspense plots.
His journey began with the Westford Knight, and he remains captivated by the hidden history of North America and the genuine possibility that waves of European explorers arrived on our shores long before Columbus. He hopes that his readers share in his fascination.
Suggested Donation: $10 per person
Your contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum.

December 12, 2024, 12:00 pm, hosted by Concord Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 68 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. Please contact Amanda Spinale, Compass Memory Care Director, at 978-369-4728 or aspinale@concordpark.org for more information and the Zoom link. This group is free and open to the public.
Concord Park Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support is a project of the nonprofit Volunteers of America Massachusetts, which has supported local seniors with specialized services for over 75 years.

When: Sunday, December 15 @ 4:30PM & 7:00PM
Where: First United Methodist Church, 120 W. Main St, Westborough
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? The Handbell Choirs of the First United Methodist Church of Westborough present their annual Christmas concerts on Sunday, December 15th at 4:30 and 7:00. Free admission and open to the public. Come hear the beautiful sounds of the season and get in the Christmas spirit!
Can’t attend in person ? The 4:30 PM concert will be live-streamed on the church Facebook page (7:00 PM concert in person only). And if you miss it, look for it on the FUMC YouTube channel. See links below.
https://www.facebook.comFirstUnitedMethodistChurchOfWestboroughMA
https://firstumchurch.com/our-youtube-channel

The Christmas holiday shopping season has once again arrived, and it is an important time to shop in our local communities. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, not solely in terms of jobs and powering our economy, but in the character, value, and charm they bring to our Main Streets.
There are far too many empty storefronts, quiet downtowns, and struggling small businesses across Massachusetts. Main Street is still grappling with elevated inflation, high utility costs, changing consumer habits, and other economic pressures. But there is a way consumers can help – by shopping and dining at local, independently-owned businesses right where we live and work. Sixty-seven cents of every dollar spent at a local small business is reinvested in the community, and small businesses support our local tax base, governments, and schools, while also enriching our communities. A staggering 90% of small business owners have financially supported community or civic groups, including youth sports leagues, community events, charities, and school programs. Small businesses support us, and we need to support them.
During this busy time of year, there is a temptation to order online from retail giants and big box stores for the sake of convenience, but we cannot and should not forget about our neighbors, friends, and family who own small businesses. The 15th annual Small Business Saturday is on November 30th, and it serves as a reminder for all of us to visit our Main Street businesses for great deals and first-class service. Shop small and local this Saturday and throughout the entire holiday season, or even better, the year ahead.
Christopher Carlozzi is the Massachusetts Director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

On Saturday December 7th at 7:00 pm, First Church Congregational in Marlboro (37 High Street) will host their 16th annual Holiday concert by the Merrimack Valley Ringers, an auditioned community handbell choir based in Chelmsford, MA.  MVR has a full complement of 16 ringers from Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, and their instrumentation for this performance includes 6 octaves of handbells, 6 octaves of handchimes, and the debut of their latest addition, Silver Melody Bells. Our program includes holiday favorites like The First Noel, Sing We Now of Christmas, and the Nutcracker, as well as some imaginative twists on other familiar carols. There’s always something for everyone at a MVR concert!  Admission is FREE, so bring your family and friends and enjoy a concert that is sure to put you in the mood for this very special time of year!  And if you want more information about MVR, check out the MVR website at mvringers.com.

Sudbury, MA – As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, SMILE Mass extends our heartfelt gratitude to our Club SMILE Mass clients and their families, our sponsors, donors, and supporters who make our mission possible. Your unwavering generosity has transformed lives, created lasting memories, and helped build a more inclusive and accessible community for individuals with disabilities.
This season of gratitude reminds us of the incredible power of the community that makes SMILE Mass successful. Together, we’ve achieved milestones that may have seemed unattainable—expanding access to adaptive equipment, growing our programs, and bringing inclusion and accessibility to countless families.
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate not only what we’ve accomplished but also the possibilities that lie ahead. With your continued support, SMILE Mass will keep working toward a future where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and find joy in the simple moments of life.
From our SMILE Mass family to yours, we wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Thank you for being part of our journey—together, we are creating a world where small miracles in life truly exist.

The Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks will be selling Christmas trees again this year beginning Friday, November 29th. Hours are: Friday, 11/29: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Mondays-Fridays: 4:00 PM -8:00 PM, Saturdays: and Sundays: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Maynard-Clinton Elks is located at 34 Powder Mill Rd, Maynard, MA 01754. If you have any questions, please call 978-897-9892.