The Sudbury Valley Trustees in collaboration with the Friends of the Goodnow Library cordially invite you to a program entitled “An Introduction to Vernal Pools.” This program will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 10-11:30 AM in the barn at 18 Wolbach Road, Sudbury. Parking is available at the main lot and the Barn, and the Barn is accessible for those with mobility devices.
Come learn about vernal pools and the wildlife that live in them. The program is free and suitable for elementary age children and up. Advance registration is required at svtprograms.funraise.org.
The Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team will present a short film “Vernal Ponds” which includes the definition of a vernal pool and lots of footage of Cape Ann wildlife. The team will explain the importance of these pools and how to protect them. After the film attendees will have the opportunity to look at some favorite vernal pool creatures.
If you have any questions. please email shild@svtweb.org

 

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

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

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

On Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 P.M.  the Marlborough Historical Society will present Mel Bloom of the ThreeFiveOh Girls.  This event will take place at the Peter Rice Homestead, 377 Elm  Street.   It is free and refreshments will be served.
While World War II is often remembered for the major battles fought overseas, a significant and often overlooked front was fought right here in the United States, known as the “American Theater.” This lecture will explore this critical, yet seldom discussed, aspect of the war, focusing on the roles women played in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard here in New England. Often mistaken for the “homefront,” the American Theater was classified as an “anti-submarine mission” where women served in crucial support roles, from operating top secret radar systems on Cape Cod to serving as military police around Boston. Despite the challenges and societal norms of the time, these women made significant contributions to the war effort, often in roles that were previously considered unthinkable. This lecture will delve into their experiences, the nature of their service, and the lasting impact they had on the war and on the evolution of women’s roles in the military.
  There will be a ‘brief’ annual meeting before the presentation .

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

Hudson Senior Center Gift Shop
29 Church St., Hudson MA
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10AM - 3PM
Sponsored by: Friends of the Hudson Senior Center
Are you planning to visit the Hudson Arts Fest? If so, get ready for a delightful experience! We cordially invite you to the Hudson Senior Center on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10 AM to 3 PM, where you’ll find a wonderful collection of donated jewelry! But the sparkle doesn’t end there—it continues until Friday, May 16th, in our Senior Center Gift Shop. Furthermore, our shop features unique handcrafted items made by Senior Center members and local artisans. Our regular hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Fridays from 10 AM to 1 PM. Just head up to the second floor for a visit! We welcome cash, check or Venmo.
Note: This year, thanks to the generous contributions from the Hudson community, the Friends have curated an exceptional collection of New, Costume & Vintage jewelry

Saturday May3rd, 2025 • 8:30 to 10:30AM
Whitcomb Middle School
25 Union Street, Marlborough
With the spring gardening season upon us, the Marlborough Garden Club invites all area gardeners to visit the annual plant sale. This popular event features hundreds of healthy and affordable plants that thrive in this area. Native plants, perennials, shrubs, herbs, ground covers and so much more will be available and ready for new homes. Plants will be organized by sun, shade and those in between areas, with pictures and care instructions to insure successful transfer into just the right spot in your  gardens.
Club members will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions.
The large indoor venue at WhitComb Middle School gives the opportunity to display a great variety of plants and an easy flow from entry to shopping and checkout.
Please join in on the plant sale for a fun day of browsing and shopping and lots of information sharing!!
The plant sale is a fundraising tradition that supports our mission of beautification throughout the Marlborough community, club meetings with educational programs and scholarships for Marlborough students.
For more information visit: www.marlboroughgardenclub.org

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
We had another good day at Fresh Start on Tuesday with nice weather for clients to arrive as well as several donors.  One donor, our regular angelic Judy was there with donations when I arrived for my shift at 9AM.  Another donor brought two big boxes containing 8(?) towels sets, brand new from the store - Kohl’s I think.  The details were lost in the excitement!
Our volunteers put together kitchen sets for our clients.  At present we really need measuring cups and measuring spoons, spatulas, and both slotted and non-slotted spoons.  Also pot holders, placemats and kitchen towels.  We are also low on baking pans, platters, serving bowls and both small and medium pans.
In our furniture department we need couches, couches, and couches!  Also dressers and kitchen tables & chairs.
Our linen department needs more comforters, blankets and throws.  It’s getting warmer outside but we need them for our clients.
Finally, to make a home cozy we need lamps and artwork for our clients to choose.
We are open to accept housewares on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9-noon and furniture on Saturday from 8:30-10:30.  We are located at 16 Brent Drive in Hudson, just past Sauta Farms condos on Lower Main St.  Check our website (above) for other information and thank you for helping us to help others!

The Northborough Southborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council (NSPAC) is hosting a General Meeting at the Marlborough Library, 35 West Main Street, Meeting Room 1,  Marlborough, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, 9:30-10:30 am. Families with students on IEPs and 504s in the Northboro/Southboro school district are invited to come and meet other parents. The Northborough and Southborough Police Chiefs will also join the meeting as well to collaborate and discuss crisis intervention, safety protocols, and what emergency services are available in our community. The meeting will be followed by parent open discussion.

All are welcome.
Please RSVP here: https://www.nspac.org/RSVP
NSPAC is a volunteer-run, positive and solution oriented organization of parents of students ages 3-22 with special needs, medical challenges, and learning differences in the Northborough and Southborough School Districts.
Meetings, speakers, and events of interest can be found on the website at www.nspac.org or follow NSPAC on Facebook.

April 10, 2025, 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.

Marlborough, MA – The Assabet Valley Chambersingers is excited to announce the 2nd year of our “Bling for the Sing” Online Auction, which will extend from April 4th - April 16th! This special event will feature a variety of unique auction items, and we are calling on our community to help make it a success. Your participation in this auction will make the event very successful! Your support helps us continue our mission of bringing exceptional choral music to our audiences and will enable our talented vocalists to continue to perform with professional orchestras and soloists, which enriches the cultural experience in our community.
There will be an Auction Preview from Tuesday, April 1 – Thursday, April 3. Live bidding starts April 4th – April 16th, 2025! Don’t miss your chance to bid on unique items and experiences while supporting AVM’s musical programs. Please visit https://www.avmsingers.org/support-us/bling-for-the-sing for more information on this year’s event.
If you have any questions or need more information specifically about the auction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at auction@avmsingers.org. Thank you for your generosity and support!

WWW.FRESHSTARTFURNITUREBANK.ORG
It was another great Saturday at Fresh Start in Hudson!  Clients showed up on time and with trucks.  Our translators arrived in time to help with a Portuguese-speaking client.  Several new volunteers began their shifts.
   Fifteen minutes after our furniture donation time had ended at 10:30, a couple arrived from Uxbridge with a car and trailer full of furniture, including two couches!  They are cleaning out a parent’s home.  At the time, we had three couches available for clients (we typically have more than 10).  After checking with the folks who were loading the trucks for clients we said we would take all the furniture.   There was no way that we were going to turn the donors and their two couches away, even if I had to muscle the couches through the front door by myself (unlikely!!)
     Please take a look at our website to see what we do and do not accept, where we send our truck for pick-ups and the requirements for that.  Keep us in mind when you’re doing spring cleaning or updating your home.   We need more couches and loveseats, chairs and recliners, dining tables & chairs and housewares and linens. And remember - if you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, please don’t give it to us!

Camp Invention®, a nationally recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment program, is coming to Sudbury Parks and Rec the week of August 18-August 22, 2025.
A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame® in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention challenges children in grades K–6 to tap into their natural curiosity and use their creativity to solve problems. Through hands-on activities, Camp Invention promotes STEM learning; builds confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness; and encourages entrepreneurship — all in a fun and engaging environment.
Each year, the program features a new curriculum inspired by some of our nation’s most world-changing inventors — the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees. This year’s Discover program encourages children to be confident in their ideas and explore their innovativeness through hands-on activities including:
In Control™: Campers take control of their innovation journey as they head out on the ultimate road trip. From assembling a custom control panel with a transmitter and receiver, to creating a prototype of their own artificial intelligence-inspired bobblehead assistant, they invent their way around every bump and twist in the road.
Illusion Workshop™: Children discover the mesmerizing world of illusions, where things are not always as they appear. Through hands-on activities and experiments, they go behind the scenes of the tech tricks used in theme parks, animated films and theater. Using design and electrical engineering skills, campers build an animation device to bring drawings to life.
Claw Arcade™: Campers use their creativity and engineering skills to construct a functional Claw Arcade out of cardboard. They explore physics in easy-to-reach ways as they make hands-on discoveries about the science behind claw machines.
Penguin Launch™: Children embark on an eco-expedition to investigate penguins and the ice and snow of Antarctica. Along the way, they discover the fascinating connections between the technology and training used to explore Antarctica and outer space. From flippers and flingers to exploring high-wingers, children are sure to have a blast as they propel Pengy, a research assistant penguin, across the South Pole and beyond!
“My son recently attended Camp Invention, and it was an absolutely phenomenal experience for him,” said the parent of a 2024 Camp Invention camper. “The camp’s focus on creativity, problem solving and innovation truly sparked his curiosity and imagination.”
All local Camp Invention programs are facilitated and taught by qualified educators who reside and teach in the community. Camp Invention serves 140,000 students every year and partners with more than 2,600 schools and districts across the nation. For more information or to register, visit invent.org/camp.

April  22, 2025 7:00 P.M. “Women Veterans” Mel Bloom of the ThreeFiveOhGirls
There will be a brief Annual Meeting  before the presentation

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

The 44th Annual Senior Conference will include free breakfast and lunch, educational workshops, resources for seniors, with live music and art sessions
Middlesex and Worcester District – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) is excited to invite seniors from the Middlesex and Worcester District to the 44th Annual Senior Conference. The event will take place on Thursday, April 24th, from 8 AM to 2 PM at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, where it has traditionally been held. The Senior Conference is designed to offer seniors a day filled with valuable information, entertainment, and educational workshops led by expert guest speakers on topics such as aging well, planning for the future, downsizing, and resources for caregivers and family members. Senator Eldridge also provides a free breakfast and a delicious lunch prepared by the culinary students of Assabet Valley.
“We will provide seniors with critical information, entertainment, food, and of course raffle prizes, including the Big Chair from Bouvier Pharmacy of Marlborough! I look forward to hearing the concerns of seniors, discussing state initiatives to better support older residents in Massachusetts, and highlighting the work of the Legislature so far this session,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge. This event will be held at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Marlborough. The Senior Conference’s program features resources for seniors, yoga, zumba, numerous vendors, speakers from the Massachusetts Legislature, a drop-in art session hosted by Maynard ArtSpace, and raffle giveaways. Senator Eldridge is excited to kick off this year’s event with live music from the local Marlborough group, The Romeos Duo.
Any questions about the event can be emailed to James.Eldridge@masenate.gov with the subject line: “Senior Conference 2025.”

Presented by the Marlborough Historical Society and the Marlborough Public Library
On Wednesday,  March 26 at 6:00 P.M. at the Marlborough Public Library on 35 West Main Street the character of President John Adams will be portrayed by George Baker.  Dressed in character he will take you take you back in time.   He will talk about his wife Abigail and her views of history and society in a humorous and inspiring performance.
Abigail Adams was one of the strongest and amazing  first ladies.  She was way ahead of her time.
March is Women’s History Month.  This is an opportunity to learn about the struggles and victories of Abigail Adams as she created a  path for the women that followed.  This presentation will help you to understand the early women of our country and how they helped to lay the foundation of our great country.
George Baker, a graduate of  Columbia  College (’69) and Columbia Law School (’73),  practices law in Connecticut.
As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, this is a good way to begin learning more about the traditions of our founding fathers, their values and  history.

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

The 44th Annual Senior Conference will include free breakfast and lunch, educational workshops, resources for seniors, with live music and art sessions
Middlesex and Worcester District – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) is excited to invite seniors from the Middlesex and Worcester District to the 44th Annual Senior Conference. The event will take place on Thursday, April 24th, from 8 AM to 2 PM at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, where it has traditionally been held. The Senior Conference is designed to offer seniors a day filled with valuable information, entertainment, and educational workshops led by expert guest speakers on topics such as aging well, planning for the future, downsizing, and resources for caregivers and family members. Senator Eldridge also provides a free breakfast and a delicious lunch prepared by the culinary students of Assabet Valley.
“We will provide seniors with critical information, entertainment, food, and of course raffle prizes, including the Big Chair from Bouvier Pharmacy of Marlborough! I look forward to hearing the concerns of seniors, discussing state initiatives to better support older residents in Massachusetts, and highlighting the work of the Legislature so far this session,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge. This event will be held at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Marlborough. The Senior Conference’s program features resources for seniors, yoga, zumba, numerous vendors, speakers from the Massachusetts Legislature, a drop-in art session hosted by Maynard ArtSpace, and raffle giveaways. Senator Eldridge is excited to kick off this year’s event with live music from the local Marlborough group, The Romeos Duo.
Any questions about the event can be emailed to James.Eldridge@masenate.gov with the subject line: “Senior Conference 2025.”

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)

Group of 7 in effort trying to save bluebirds facing extinction needs old pipes 5 to 10 feet long to mount nesting boxes on. Do you or anyone you know have any?  Thank you. Raymond 25bloo_brd@toast.net

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

New Life Furniture Bank of MA is pleased to announce the opening of its second warehouse and donation center at 55 Maple Street, Marlborough, MA, in the former CrossFit Crag gym.
Founded in 2013, in Walpole, Massachusetts, New Life Furniture Bank is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization with a commitment to providing gently-used household furnishings to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. In 2024, New Life assisted 757 families with home furnishings and diverted more than 415 tons of usable furniture from area landfills.
The organization signed a five-year lease for the new Marlborough facility and will host its first community drop-off day for gently used furniture at the 55 Maple Street donation center on Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Moving forward, New Life will accept community donations only on Saturdays from 8:30 to 10:30 AM. Institutional and commercial donors may schedule appointments for donations.
Please note, New Life does not accept used mattresses, headboards, box springs, bed frames, armoires, barware, or toys. Volunteers will be available on Saturday mornings to assist with unloading cars and organizing donations in the warehouse. They are also authorized to decline items that are in poor condition or unsuitable for upcycling to new homes.
Area residents interested in volunteering at the Marlborough warehouse and donation center can email marlborough@newlifefb.org or visit www.newlifefb.org/individual-volunteers/ to learn more.
“For years, we’ve searched for additional space to meet the growing need for furniture,” said Andy Crossley, Executive Director of New Life Furniture Bank. “This expansion allows us to serve more families, reduce wait times, and accept more donations—while keeping usable home goods out of landfills. We remain deeply committed to our communities and those in need, including individuals transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence survivors, military veterans, and refugees.”
New Life’s 16,000-square-foot Walpole location will continue to operate, with the Marlborough site serving as an additional resource to expand outreach and capacity. “This is not about replacing or shifting our work from Walpole – it’s about growing our impact and creating more capacity for the entire sector, including our agency partners,” Crossley emphasized.
“Our volunteers, donors, and community partners are truly the heart of New Life, and their dedication over the years has made this expansion possible,” Crossley noted. “As we open our Marlborough facility, we are eager to welcome new allies who share our passion for making a difference. Their commitment will be essential in helping us bring comfort to more families in need.”
For more information about New Life Furniture Bank of MA and how to  support its mission, please visit: http://newlifefb.org.

On Saturday, April 12, from 9 – 1, Memorial Congregational Church is hosting its spring electronic recycling and document shredding event.
The event is open to all communities and will be held rain or shine.  At the electronics recycling truck, prices vary from $25-50 for a TV, $15 for a computer, $15-25 for a computer monitor, or $5 for a box of electric cords.  Workers will remove the items from your vehicle and place them in the recycling truck which is operated by a state-licensed electronic recycling company who will properly dispose of all items. They will accept ANYTHING WITH A CORD OR BATTERY (including washing machines, air conditioners, etc.) as well as any type of battery, printer ink cartridges, and toner cartridges.
The fee for shredding is just $9 per copy paper box or brown grocery bag, and a worker will remove your boxes or bags of documents from your car and shred the documents as you wait. The truck is equipped with closed-circuit TV so you can actually watch the shredding if you wish. Personal and business documents of any type may be shredded.
MCC is located at 26 Concord Road, just across from Goodnow Library in Sudbury. For more information, please email recycling@MCCSudbury.org  or call 978-443-3885.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lincoln Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO) Chamber Players, the chamber music ensemble of the LSCO will present three concerts in the spring 2025 tour. The group will perform in two venues in Sudbury and one in Lincoln between March 30 and April 27.
The LSCO, in residence at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School since 1973, created the Chamber Players initiative in the summer of 2024. Members of the orchestra combine in conductor-less groups to perform works in small ensembles, ranging from duos to 12-members.
The spring tour features a wide range of music and styles, from Bach Trio Sonatas to the earliest quartets of Franz Joseph Haydn, through Claude Debussy, Rodney Lister, Bohuslav Martinu, and Caroline Naime, to the Bossa Nova styles of Brazilian Celso Machado. A new work for brass quintet by Sudbury resident and managing director of the orchestra William Nicholson will be premiered.
The LSCO Chamber Players’ mission is to bring excellent chamber music to regular listeners in the ‘artistic concerts’ and to provide added listening experiences to less served audiences in the ’service concerts’, for Council on Aging clients in both Sudbury and Lincoln and other audiences in need.
The first and third concerts are the artistic shows: the first concert of the tour is sponsored by the Sudbury Meetinghouse Concert Series of the First Parish of Sudbury on Sunday March 30 at 4:00 PM. The church is located at 327 Concord Rd in Sudbury. Admission is a suggested donation of $25.
In the service show part of the tour, the Chamber Players will perform again at Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Rd in Lincoln on Friday April 4 at 12:30 PM in a special program sponsored by the Lincoln Public Library, in collaboration with the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services. Admission is free.
For the last concert of the tour, the Players return to the Goodnow Library, 21 Concord Rd in Sudbury on Sunday April 27 at 3 PM. Admission is free.
Orchestra member Eric Hollander (viola) encouraged orchestra leadership to consider adding chamber music concerts to the regular orchestra calendar. Percussionist/timpanist Dave McLellan teamed up with Eric to organize a grassroots effort to form chamber ensembles from regular members of the orchestra. Since 1973, the LSCO has performed two concerts per year at the Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School in January and June. The group will now add at least two chamber music concerts per year to its regular performance season, which spans the academic year.
Admission is free at both concerts at the Goodnow Library and Bemis Hall. All facilities where the Chamber Players perform are handicapped accessible.
For over 50 years, the LSCO has provided opportunities for talented students and supportive adults to perform orchestral literature of the great classical composers. LSCO has provided playing opportunities for over 500 student musicians and given over thirty student and adult concerto artists an opportunity to share their skills and love of classical music. Membership is open to the community regardless of their hometown. The orchestra rehearses every Tuesday evening from 7:30 – 9:30 PM in the large ensemble room at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS), 390 Lincoln Rd in Sudbury. Visit the orchestra web site at https://www.lscivicorchestra.org. Musicians interested in joining LSCO should contact the membership coordinator by email at lscivicorchestra@gmail.com, or use the Contact Us link at the orchestra web site.

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

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

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

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

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

Join us on Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 PM for a presentation by First Connections’ early-childhood educator and playgroup facilitator, Ellie Springer, M.Ed.
Young children thrive when they have clear & consistent boundaries, when they know what to expect from their caregivers, and when they know the adults are in control. Toddlers’ and preschoolers’ developing brains drive them to seek control and power, though, so they are constantly pushing the boundaries we set for them.
In this live virtual event, called “Pick Your Battles: Setting & Holding Limits with Toddlers and Preschoolers,” Ms. Ellie will talk about how to decide whether a battle is worth fighting, when to give your child some control, when and how to set a limit, and what to do when you get that inevitable pushback.
Email Linda at Lmatthews@jri.org to register for this virtual program and receive the link to join.
Want to know more about the services provided by First Connections? We offer services for families with children birth to age 6 in the communities of Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Hanscom AFB, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford. Free programs and services include:
First Year of Life Support Groups for new parents
Parent Education programs and presentations
Children’s Playgroups
Parent Blog
Childcare & Early Education Information
Resource & Referral Guidance
ParentChild+ Home Visiting
We are grateful for the financial support of Acton-Boxborough United Way, Concord Carlisle Foundation, The Sudbury Foundation, Maynard Community Chest, Nordblom Family Foundation, William E. Schrafft and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, Acton Congregational Church, Concord Trinitarian Congregational Church and individuals like you. Thank you for your support!
For more information, please go to firstconnections.org and view our latest Newsletter with current and upcoming programs, services, and announcements.