Tower Hill Botanic Garden Presents 'Prismatic, An Orchid Exhibition'

WEST BOYLSTON: Tower Hill Botanic Garden invites the public to experience “Prismatic, an Orchid Exhibition,” which runs February 11 thru March 20. This exhibition celebrates the interplay of color and light with dazzling plant displays and vibrant art installations. Pre-purchased tickets are required for admission to Tower Hill. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.towerhillbg.org. Tower Hill requires masks for all indoor events.

From the moment they enter the lobby, winter-weary visitors can feast their eyes on gorgeous arrangements of over 1,400 orchids and 800 tropical plants as they pass through an entrance bathed in all the colors of the spectrum. In the Limonaia, a massive upside-down pyramid of Plexiglass panels captures incoming light, creating hundreds of sparkling prisms that shimmer over towers of orchids. A George Sherwood chandelier graces the café, while in the Milton Gallery and the Orangerie, visitors can walk through and under rainbows.

“This exhibit is the perfect antidote to winter. It offers guests of all ages a chance to appreciate the fantastic diversity and beauty of orchids as well as the power of light, since plants, including orchids, utilize the energy of light for photosynthesis,” said Grace Elton, CEO of Tower Hill. “The play of light on the orchid towers and arches is nothing short of magical.”

Opening Weekend will feature activities for children, music, art, workshops, and vendors selling stained glass, floral collages, and crystal suncatchers. After-hours, on Fridays, Tower Hill will be hosting “Orchids After Dark,” which will include jazz and drinks with a cash bar and light bites. These special evenings run from February 18 through March 11; the cost is $20 for members and $28 for non-members.

Adult Education will offer a class on orchid care and repotting on February 26. There will also be guided exhibit tours—one with the exhibition manager and another with the conservatory horticulturist—to learn about orchid species and the design of the show on select days in February and March. Youth Education will run “Color Crush” during February Vacation Week from February 21 through 27. Children can enjoy drop-in activities, where they can experiment with light and color and study orchids up close. They can also take classes where they can create rainbow mosaics, make whimsical suncatchers, or do colorful science experiments.

Tower Hill is committed to connecting people to plants and nature. Its property contains 171 acres of woodland trails, formal gardens, and a Visitors Center. In addition to “Prismatic,” which is included with general admission, guests this winter will enjoy dramatic views of Mount Wachusett and ample photo opportunities.

Nashoba Symphonic Band Fifth Anniversary Concert - February 5

WORCESTER:The Nashoba Symphonic Band, under the direction of David Wayne Bailey will perform its 5th Anniversary Concert at 2pm on Saturday, February 5, at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street. The concert is free and open to the public. General seating tickets are available through the Mechanics Hall box office, www.mechanicshall.org. Masking is required.

Highlights of the concert will feature organ soloist, Gavin Klein, and include a scoring for organ and winds of Bach's Fantasia in G-Major and the Finale from the Organ Symphony of Camille Saint-Saens. Other works on the program will be Psalm for Band by Vincent Persichetti, Polka and Fugue from “Schwanda the Bagpiper” by Jaromir Weinberger, and the rollicking Gumsucker's March by Percy Aldridge Grainger, as well as marches by Sousa and Fucik.

Organ soloist, Gavin Klein is an organist, pianist, and harpsichordist from Bolton, Ma. He is currently a senior at Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton. He first found his love for the organ after hearing some of the most famous organs of Europe on vacation when he was very young. With a background in early music and keyboard studies since he was four, Gavin took on the organ at the age of 12, and is currently an organ student of C. Henry Mason, director of music at Immaculate Conception Parish in Worcester, Ma. Since then, he has given performances in both the US and Europe. He is a member of both the American Guild of Organists, and the Organ Historical Society.

The Nashoba Symphonic Band is a program of the Nashoba Regional High School Friends of Music and supported in part by grants from the Berlin, Hudson, Marlborough and Stow Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

ARC Comedy Night Benefit Rescheduled to April 8

HUDSON: The Addiction Referral Center (ARC) is hosting the 11th annual Comedy Night Benefit, featuring the area’s most popular and talented comedians was originally scheduled for February 11, but will now take place April 8 at the Hudson Portuguese Club, 13 Port Street. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7:30pm. The event, being held in support of the ARC of Marlborough, will include lots of laughs, food, and raffle prizes.

Entertainers include popular comedians Paul Nardizzi, Janet McNamara, and Dan Donahue. Host of the evening is local favorite comedian Dave Rattigan.

Dave Rattigan returns as host. Rattigan spent the pandemic launching two podcasts, both of which he co-hosts, Inside the Line: Real Stories by Real Cops, and Soccerheads New England. He has performed at Fenway Park, The Cape Cod Melody Tent, South Shore Music Circus, a lumberyard, the lobby of an ad agency, and a library. His CD has been played on Sirius Satellite Radio, and he’s performed on the Steve Katsos Show. He’s done commercials for Olympia Sports and iParty, and performed in Dublin and Kilkenny, Ireland and in Boston with Irish comedians Ardal O’Hanlon and Joe Rooney. He’s performed at the Hampton Beach Comedy Festival (NH), Boston Comedy Festival, Women in Comedy Festival, and Salem Comedy and Spirits Festival, and shared the stage with Bill Burr, Jeff Dunham, the Beach Boys, Steven Wright, Bob Marley, Nick DiPaolo and more. He also runs Scamps Comedy Productions, which produces live comedy shows.
Paul Nardizzi is one of the country's top comedians, with multiple standup appearances on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, and Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period, as well as regional appearances on NESN. A former winner of the Boston Comedy Festival, Nardizzi is in demand for theater shows, corporate functions, colleges, golf tournament, and fundraisers. His CD has been played on Sirius Satellite Radio and he’s a prolific author of humor books and co-host for a podcast focused on the world of soccer, Soccerheads New England, available at iHeart Radio.
Janet McNamara is a Boston-based comic with a conversational style and awkwardly charming energy. Earlier this year, she was selected to perform in the prestigious Hampton Beach Comedy Festival. The former finalist in the Boston Comedy Festival contest, McNamara won the 2014 BeanTown Comedy Riots and has been featured in Boston’s Women in Comedy Festival, the Ashville Comedy Festival and Burbank Comedy Festival. You might also recognize her as being the 'Golden Idol’ winner for the worst audition of American Idol season 10, an appearance that introduced a national audience to her joie de vivre and infectious energy. McNamara doesn’t speak French.
Dan Donahue is an electrician by day, fast-progressing Boston comedian by night. Much of his humor comes from his experiences on the job. He has performed on Scamps Comedy-produced shows around New England as an opener and host, working with comedians including Juston McKinney, Mike McDonald, Christine Hurley, Paul Nardizzi and more.

For tickets or table reservations, call (508) 485-4357. Tables ($250) and individual tickets ($25) should be purchased in advance at the ARC.

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. For more information, visit them online at www.theaddictionreferralcenter.org.

Domestic Violence Roundtable Collects Valentine Donations for Families in Shelter

MARLBOROUGH: Bringing warmth to others in winter was a focus for the people of Saint Stephen Lutheran Church for the holidays and beyond, as they wrapped sweatshirts, and donated blankets, throws and cocoa. In December, the youth group wrapped 200 sweatshirts for the local Sweats for Vets program, and also shopped for gifts for teens in the Hope for the Holidays outreach. St. Stephen members and friends of all ages, in partnership with the Hudson-based Fresh Start Furniture Bank, collected more than 40 new blankets, throws, and comforters, including some quilted items, and added packets of cocoa to bring several kinds of warmth to the clients of Fresh Start in January.

“Thank you for dropping off all those blankets and some with Girl Scout cookies and hot chocolate, too,”wrote Fresh Start’s Sue Waudby to St. Stephen Lutheran Church Pastor Joseph Graumann. “We truly appreciate the generosity of your parish in helping to keep our families warm this winter.” She added that the volunteers “were so thrilled to see all these blankets come in when we were running so low. Thank you so much for being a community partner with us.”

For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or visit them on Facebook.

PHOTO: Marlea Dutt (Hudson) and Judy & Doug Kellogg (Marlborough) stack the more than 40 blankets and throws collected by St. Stephen Lutheran Church parishioners before they

are delivered to Fresh Start Furniture Bank.

Domestic Violence Roundtable Collects Valentine Donations for Families in Shelter

2018 roundtable valentines day bags decorated by children at sudbury extended day

SUDBURY: Each February, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable collects items for Valentine’s Day and fills gift bags for women, men and children temporarily living in local domestic violence shelters and transitional housing programs: REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. The Valentine Bags are decorated by the children from Sudbury Extended Day.

Members of local communities are cordially invited to participate in this collection again this year. Donations are welcome, but due to Covid 19 restrictions and social distancing, donors will not be assembling the gift bags. However, this is still a great opportunity for civic organizations, workplaces, families, friends and neighbors to contribute to the Roundtable collection and to help make lives brighter for families affected by domestic violence. Small acts of kindness like the gift bags let families know they are supported in their decision to leave an abusive situation and brighten their day. These gestures are especially appreciated during the pandemic.

Some examples of needed items are gift cards for CVS, Target, Market Basket, Gas etc. For mothers and teens some items would include full size bath products, fuzzy socks, cosmetics, nail polish, hair products, journals, etc. Items for children could include playing cards, art supplies, small toys, small stuffed animals, matchbox cars, and educational items. Baby items may include toys, rattles, baby cups, baby socks, bibs, and baby body products.

In past years the Roundtable has provided as many as 125 bags for families in shelter and transitional housing. If you are interested in contributing to the Valentine’s Day collection and have questions, please contact the Roundtable at info@dvrt.org. Donations may be left in the collection baskets provided at Sudbury Wine and Spirits in the Rugged Bear Plaza Road, 410 Boston Post Road, Sudbury or at Maynard Spirits, (near Market Basket) 4 Digital Way, Suite 3, Maynard. The collections will start on January 22 and end on February 5.

Sudbury LWV Plans Forum on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

SUDBURY: Explore the challenges and opportunities around diversity, equity and inclusion in Sudbury during a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Roundtable” virtual forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Sudbury Sunday, January 30, at 2pm. The forum is open to the public. Registration is required; the registration link will be posted on the League website, www.lwvsudbury.org.

Three organizations—the Sudbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission; Sudbury for Racial and Social Justice; and the Sudbury Commission on Disability—will discuss their work and participate in a roundtable discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion issues in Sudbury.

The public is invited to submit questions for the panel in advance by email to lwvforumquestions@gmail.com. Emailed questions will be accepted until 5pm on Thursday, January 27.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization and does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. Information about the Sudbury League is available at www.lwvsudbury.org.

Wayside Inn to Host a Panel Discussion on Hospitality History

SUDBURY: The tradition of hospitality has been a constant in The Wayside Inn’s long history. “During the 18th and 19th centuries, How’s Tavern served as a popular stop for travelers along the Boston Post Road,” said Katina Fontes, Education Coordinator for The Wayside Inn Foundation. The inn’s popularity continued into the Victorian period after the 1963 publication of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Tales of a Wayside Inn. “Fans of Longfellow knew that our inn inspired the book’s setting, and during the late 1800s, many made the pilgrimage to Sudbury,” added Fontes. During the early part of the 20th century, Henry Ford purchased the property, built the Grist Mill and Martha-Mary Chapel, and moved the Redstone School from Sterling to the site. This all began a long period of tourism, which continues to this day, for travelers coming from near and far to visit the historic inn and grounds. “Throughout the last 300+ years, our goal has always been to provide good food, excellent service, and a memorable experience,” said Fontes, “and hundreds of staff members have worked hard behind the scenes to make this goal a reality.”

To research this history, Wayside Inn Foundation staff have reviewed documents related to former Inn staff and workers. “Our archive is a treasure-trove of information and we have shared short biographies of former staff members on social media,” noted Fontes. “However, our long-term goal is the publication of a comprehensive report or book on this topic and additional research is needed.” Last summer, college interns were recruited to assist with the project by analyzing Ford Era Hostess Diaries and interviewing current long-time staff members.

For those wishing to learn about this work, The Wayside Inn Foundation is hosting “Be Our Guest? Dinner and Panel Discussion on the History of Wayside Inn Hospitality” on Wednesday, January 19 at 7pm. Panelists will include interns Allison Densel and Lena Leavitt, Director of Community Engagement Sally Hild, and Archivist Lauren Prescott. Katina Fontes will moderate the discussion. Zoom links for the program cost $7 per household for members; $10 per household for non-members. Innkeeper’s Circle members may request a free link.

Takeout dinner options (for pick-up on the day of the event between 5:00-6:00 pm) are available for $25/dinner and include an assortment of Grist Mill rolls and muffins, fresh mixed green salad with house raspberry vinaigrette, choice of Wayside Inn chicken pie (all chicken, no vegetables, fresh crust) w/ whipped potatoes & green beans, OR butternut squash ravioli with sage brown butter sauce, and chocolate ganache cake

Program details and registration is available at www.tinyurl.com/our-guest.

Winter Walk into History

WESTBOROUGH: The former Westborough State Hospital is surrounded by beautiful woods as well as interesting history. On Sunday, January 23 from 1-3pm, a walk is being put on by the Westborough Community Land Trust begins at the new pavilion on the shore of Lake Chauncy. A brief introduction to the fascinating story of Westborough State Hospital will be given, illustrated by historical plaques in the pavilion. Then enjoy the crisp air and winter views on a two-mile walk exploring some of the lesser-known trails in the adjacent Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area, on woodland trails with some small hills.

Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way [formerly Hospital Road] off Lyman Street in Westborough. Go straight up the hill, past the soccer fields on your left. Then take the very last left turn before the parking lot for the condo building. Where that road meets the lakeshore, park in the lot near the yellow gate. Meet at the pavilion by the parking area. No reservation needed. Check for weather cancellations online at https://westboroughlandtrust.org before setting out. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

The Thursday Garden Club of Sudbury presents Laura Bibler "Our Grandmothers Knew What They were Doing In The Garden"

SUDBURY: The Thursday Garden Club of Sudbury will feature Laura Bibler "Our Grandmothers Knew What They Were Doing In The Garden" as the speaker at their next general meeting on Thursday January 13, 2022. Bibler is a graduate of the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, Harvard University and has been a landscape designer since 2000. Laura has created and directed the installation of comprehensive landscape designs at private homes and historic estates. Her projects range from modest garden spaces to inclusive master plans.

Laura's topic "Our Grandmothers Knew What They Were Doing" hopes you will find inspiration for your own garden from horticultural wisdom handed down from our grandmother's time. This presentation brings to life the prominent garden writer of the early 20th century. Their pearls of wisdom continue to inform us on color blending, cultural considerations, and plant placement. Laura will also speak about some of the work she has done in designing and restoring the French Garden at Stevens Coolidge Place in North Andover.

This virtual meeting will start at 9:30am with the featured speaker beginning at 10am. If you would like to attend on zoom please email TGCSudbury1776@gmail.com before January 11 to receive the zoom info.

Assabet Valley Mastersingers Bonus Concert

WESTBOROUGH: Assabet Valley Mastersingers is proud to provide a bonus concert this season. Glories of France, Requiem in d minor by Gabriel Faure and Gloria by Francis Poulenc, will be presented on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 3:30pm at The Congregational Church of Westborough. Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Founder and Artistic Director, will conduct the chorus with soprano Kristen Watson and baritone Thaddeus Bell, accompanied by organist Brett McGuire.

This concert pairs two of France’s most acclaimed choral composers. Faure’s Requiem is a sublime statement of faith with some of the most beautiful melodies he ever composed. Like the Requiems of Durufle and Brahms, it provides comfort and consolation and has become a favorite of performers and audiences alike, By contrast Poulenc’s Gloria is an exuberant declaration of praise with lively rhythms, beautiful melodies and an overall eclectic musical style.

Concert tickets may be purchased through www.AVMsingers.org or at the venue the evening of the concert. The price is $20; $15 for seniors and students. All concert attendees are required to present proofs of vaccination. Masks are required with social distancing by attendee unit (family, friends with them). It is an AVM core value to be responsible and community-minded. As such AVM will follow all public health guidelines provided by Federal, state, and local health departments and those of our concert venues.

For further information, visit www.AVMsingers.org . Programs are supported in part by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Cultural Councils of Ashland, Boylston, Grafton, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, West Boylston and Westborough. AVM is also supported in part by grants from the Avidia Charitable Foundation; from Southborough Community Fund, a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.

Enjoy Nature with SVT this Winter

SUDBURY: Anyone with an interest in nature and the outdoors is invited to participate in upcoming outings and webinars being sponsored by Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT). Most programs are open to the general public at no charge.

SVT is a nonprofit land trust that conserves open space and farmland in 36 communities around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. Through its wide assortment of programs, SVT encourages area residents to explore the region’s beautiful natural areas and gain an appreciation for the plants and wildlife that live among us.

During the winter, SVT will lead group walks at properties in Berlin, Wayland, and
Northborough. Wildlife-themed outings include a Full Moon Owl Prowl and a Winter Wildlife Tracking, both planned for February. For those who prefer to enjoy nature from home, SVT will broadcast webinars on “Sri Lanka: A Unique Journey Through Nature” and “Wildlife in Winter.”

All programs require registration. More details are available at www.svtweb.org/calendar.

NACC Begins Rehearsals for May'22 Concert

NORTHBOROUGH: Rehearsals for Northborough Area Community Chorus (NACC)'s 2022 Spring Concert will begin in a few weeks. Under the direction of David Rose, with accompanist Mark Bartlett, they will begin Tuesday, January 11, 7:30pm, in the chorus room at Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett Street. NACC is encouraging new members to join, as well as welcoming back current and legacy members.

The NACC will present "Yesterday and Today", NACC's 50th Anniversary Spring Concert, on Sunday May 1, 2022 at 3pm at Algonquin Regional High School's auditorium. Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough District Covid protocols will be followed. For more information, call 571-331-0214 or 774-249-2497, visit the Northborough Area Community Chorus Facebook page, or visit them online at www.nacc.net.

NACC is supported in part by grants from the Northboro, Southboro, Marlboro, Westboro & Shrewsbury Cultural Councils which are supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Winter Advisory Regarding Face Coverings

This Advisory has been updated as of December 21, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine boosters are highly effective at protecting against serious illness, hospitalization and death and every individual who is eligible and works, studies or resides in Massachusetts is strongly urged to get vaccinated and boosted. The Department of Public Health urges all eligible residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because vaccination provides the most effective protection from severe illness associated with COVID-19.

In response to the spread of the Delta variant and the emerging Omicron variant, the Department of Public Health now advises that all residents, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home). The DPH particularly urges this recommendation if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.

Your primary care physician can advise you whether you are at increased risk. Information from the Centers for Disease Control regarding the conditions that may put you at increased risk can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html.

All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including transportation and health care facilities. Please see www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings have remained mandatory since May 29, 2021.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s current mask requirement and Policy on Vaccination Rate Threshold issued on September 27th, 2021 is not impacted by this advisory. As a result of the most comprehensive and robust school testing program in the country, with 99% of public, collaborative and charter districts enrolled, Massachusetts elementary and secondary schools remain open and safe for children and youth to engage in learning, with over 325,000 school days saved. Only schools who can demonstrate they have high vaccination rates of over 80% of all individuals vaccinated are able to remove masks for vaccinated individuals upon a written attestation.
For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, it is especially important that you wear a face covering or mask any time you are indoors and not in your own home to reduce the chance that you may spread COVID-19 to other people. People who show no symptoms of illness may still be able to spread COVID-19.

An individual is fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. However, if a fully vaccinated individual becomes symptomatic, they should be tested and wear a mask until receiving test results.
When you wear a face covering or cloth mask, it should:

Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face,
Be secured with ties or ear loops,
Include multiple layers of fabric,
Allow for breathing without restriction, and
Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

For more information, please refer to the CDC at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

Businesses in Your Community

Christmas Eve for All Ages at St. Stephen Lutheran Church

MARLBOROUGH: From a family-friendly experience for your pre-schooler to a traditional carols and candlelight service for everyone from the kids to Grandma, there is a Christmas Eve service to match your needs at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton Street.

At 4pm on Friday, December 24, the Family Service will encourage participation through responsive readings, a story time, holy communion, and an opportunity to share prayers. “This is a time to come together to hear the Good News that Jesus is born,” said St. Stephen Pastor Joseph Graumann. “Kids are welcome to sit on the floor in the center of the church, and the first two rows will be reserved for their parents,” he added. This service will be a little shorter than the evening service.

The Festival Eucharist Service, at 7 pm, will offer a more traditional Christmas Eve with readings, prayers, holy communion, carols, and the lighting of candles. Both the handbell choir and the vocal choir will provide additional music. Those who attend will hear the creation story in a new way “as we celebrate God’s message, that Jesus is with us, here and now,” Pastor Graumann noted. “Whether you are new to church or newly returning, you have a place at Christ’s table.”

Masks are required for everyone age two and above, at both services, and those who are eligible are encouraged to be vaccinated. For those who would prefer Christmas Eve worship from home, both services will be available through YouTube. Visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com and select Visit our YouTube Channel.

St. Stephen Day is Coming - Donate a Blanket

MARLBOROUGH: Singing, playing musical instruments, eating Christmas leftovers, feeding the birds, and going on sleigh rides are among a myriad of world customs for St. Stephen Day, December 26, but perhaps the most popular is to give gifts to the poor. The people of St. Stephen Lutheran Church are going to embrace that giving tradition of the church’s patron saint, and invite the community to join them.

Partnering with Fresh Start Furniture Bank in Hudson, St. Stephen church will collect new blankets and throws between now and Sunday, December 26. If you would like to participate in bringing a little coziness to our neighbors, you can drop off your donation to the church at 537 Bolton Street, Marlborough (Route 85) on Sunday, December 19, from 9am to noon. (The worship service will take place from 10-11, but items can be left in the lobby.)

You can also bring your blankets to one of the Christmas Eve services, Friday, December 24 at 4 pm (Family Service) and 7 p.m (traditional service with candlelight, carols, and handbells). Please note that all items (blankets, throws, comforters) must be new and unused, and should be left inside the church, in the lobby.

At the 10am worship service on Sunday, December 26, the collection will be blessed and taken to Fresh Start the following week. Along with other area groups Fresh Start has been working hard to resettle many of the refugees coming to this area.

For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org). Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton.

Town Office Closings for 2021 Christmas & New Year

SUDBURY: In observance of Christmas and New Year, the schedule for the Town Offices in the Town Hall, Flynn Building, Goodnow Library, Senior Center and offices located in the DPW Building will be as follows:

Friday, December 24, 2021: Closed
Friday, December 31, 2021: Closed

The Transfer Station will be closed on Saturday, December 25, 2021 and on Saturday, January 1, 2022.

Holiday hours for Park & Recreation Department in the Fairbank Community Center and the Atkinson Pool are TBD.

Please check https://sudburyrec.com for the latest hours of operation. For additional information, please contact the Town Manager’s office at 978-639-3381.

Sudbury Art Association Hosts Holiday Market

SUDBURY: Celebrate the arts and shop local at the 11th Annual Sudbury Art Association Holiday Market. SAA is a Sudbury organization which sponsors activities designed to promote the arts. Thirty artists and craftspeople will offer a variety of original, one of a kind items and this year we will be featuring visiting artists as well. The Market will feature a wide range of talents and skills, and offer unique gifts for sale at a variety of prices. Finely crafted offerings include functional and decorative pottery, jewelry, fiber arts, paintings, fine woodworking, sculpture, photography, ornaments and more. This event is always much anticipated and not to be missed. Visit the new location at 437 Boston Post Road in the TJMaxx Plaza. They are open every day through December 24 (closed Thanksgiving), from 10am-6pm, Thursdays until 8pm. To meet SAA artists, view their work and learn more about the SAA visit www.Sudburyart.org.

Jeff Levine to Present: Financial Therapy 101

SUDBURY: Join B’nai Torah online on Sunday, December 19 at 7pm for “Financial Therapy 101” with Jeffrey Levine, CPA, MST, a Wayland resident and member of Congregation B’nai Torah. Levine will present a primer on reviewing one’s net worth, cash flow, and goals and objectives for one’s financial future. This will be a general discussion on investments, retirement accounts, cash savings, typical spending and saving techniques, and some year-end tax planning. If Congress does agree on some tax changes for 2021 or 2022, that too will be discussed.

Levin has been practicing small business accounting, business and personal tax law, and personal financial planning for over 40 years. He is a shareholder in Alkon & Levine, PC, Certified Public Accountants in Newton, MA. Along with serving a personal client base of over 700, he has been quoted frequently in Newsweek, The Boston Globe, and Fortune Magazine.

Contact admin@bnaitorah.com or 978-443-2082 for additional information.

St. Stephen Church Knitters Send Christmas Gifts to Seafarers

MARLBOROUGH: Two groups contributed their skills, their time, and their money to make Christmas a little happier —and warmer— for mariners served by Seafarers International House, based in New York City. The Knit Wits of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough and the Shrewsbury based Night Knitters created handmade hats and scarves, the basis for 30 gift satchels put together by St. Stephen church volunteers. The kits were also packed with a sweatshirt, a teeshirt, a pair of socks, a can of nuts, and a hand made Christmas card.

Seafarers are often isolated and lonely, sometimes without the means to contact family frequently, or purchase needed items while in port. Typical contracts put most at sea for 10 months a year, and they remain a largely forgotten population at the holidays.

This is the sixth year the St. Stephen knitters made sure Seafarers would be warm and not forgotten at Christmas. In the first year of participation, Saint Stephen sent five kits and they have been increasing their donation each year. Those who knitted, donated, or put together the satchels this year included Joyce Danielson, Lina Dickey, Martha Domke, Marlea Dutt, Ginny Fulham, Ann Gibson, Pastor Joe Graumann, Liz Greer, Peg and Don Harbert, Judy Kellogg, Elaine Recklet, Melanie Whapham and Jane Woolsey. Some funding for the sweatshirts was provided through a Thrivent Action Team initiative. Thrivent, a financial services company, supports a variety of outreach projects. The project was organized by Melanie Whapham, who also delivered the gift packages to a Seafarers chaplain in New Haven, Connecticut. An additional eight Hudson Food Pantry.

Seafarers International House is an ecumenical mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to seafarers and sojourners, as well as people who are distressed, disadvantaged, and displaced. For more information, check out www.sihnyc.org.

Seven Lutheran chaplains support the Seafarers Port Mission. When requested, they will board merchant marine ships to provide pastoral care and counseling. During the holidays, chaplains distribute the packages to ships that port in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia and southern New England that will be out at sea for Christmas.

For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) . The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton.

PHOTO: Marlea Dutt, Melanie Whapham, and St. Stephen Lutheran Church Pastor Joseph Graumann put together gift packages for mariners at Seafarers International House.

St. Stephen Families Support Cathedral in the Night

MARLBOROUGH: More than 20 families from St. Stephen Lutheran Church participated in a recent outreach to the Northampton-based Cathedral in the Night, an outdoor community that offers Sunday evening worship followed by a free meal. In an effort spearheaded by youth group leader Sarah Maston, parishioners responded by donating and preparing food, bringing warm clothing, and/or purchasing needed items such as socks, sweats, and thermal underwear, through the CITN Amazon wish list.

In previous years, church youth had attended worship, served hot meals, and dined with the guests, but Covid restrictions have meant that dinner is now prepared for takeout. The Maston family and six other volunteers dished out 80 hot meals for the to-go containers.

Cathedral in the Night, www.cathedralinthenight.org, is an outdoor Christian community in downtown Northampton, MA which seeks to create a safe place for all people: the homeless, the housed, the church-less, the churched, the student and the resident to explore, question and live out their spiritual beliefs; to gather for a meal and to empower one another to engage in issues of social justice by working to fight the causes of inequality and homelessness.

For more information about St. Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com.

261779264 5247215425293770 6602622308368705313 n

Light Up Northborough 2021: Tree and Menorah Lighting

NORTHBOROUGH: The Northborough Community Affairs Committee is pleased to present Light Up Northborough on Saturday, December 4 at 4:30pm on the corner of Blake and Main Streets. This year's celebration will include the first Menorah lighting and annual tree lighting as well as various singing groups to entertain such as Women of Note, the Northborough Community Chorus and Northborough Elementary Student Chorus. The hot cocoa and cookies are being donated by Metrowest Painting and the pizza is being donated by Northboro House of Pizza. Monetary donations for pizza will go directly to the Northborough Food Pantry. There will also be a collection for Toys for Tots taking place.

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 the event.

This celebration will be the grand finale to the exciting new event titled The Great Northborough Snowman Hunt which you can learn more about online at http://northboroughguide.com/snowmanhunt. For more information about the Northborough Community Affairs Committee, visit www.northborough cac.weebly.com or find them on Facebook @nobocac.

Chabad Center Offers Family-Friendly Chanukah Celebrations

SUDBURY: Chabad Center of Sudbury invites the community to join us for our family friendly and outdoor Chanukah Celebrations which will include some exciting outdoor events on the first and last nights of Chanukah. The celebrations are open to all and all are invited to participate.

On Sunday, November 28 at 3:30pm, the community is invited to a Chanukah Kick Off Celebration & Show asthe first light of Chanukah is kindled along with a spectacular show by Davey the Clown. The crowds will enjoy the lighting of a 9-foot Menorah, Music, Hot Latkes and Donuts, Chanukah Refreshments, and a Gift for every Child. The event will take place on the lawn at the Chabad Center of Sudbury at 100 Horse Pond Road.

On the last night of Chanukah, December 5, the community is invited to a two-part Chanukah Celebration, starting with a joyous Chanukah Car Parade through town at 4pm, followed by the annual Sudbury Town Center Chanukah Celebration in front of the Town Hall. If you wish to join the parade, departure i at 4pm, meeting at 3:45pm. If you wish to join in at the Town Center, the event will start at 5pm.

Kindly RSVP at www.chabadsudbury.com or by calling 978-443-0110.

Have a Holly Jolly Holiday with Northborough Area Community Chorus

NORTHBOROUGH: The Northborough Area Community Chorus 2021 Annual Christmas Concert, under the direction of Elinor A. Armsby with accompanist Mark Bartlett, is scheduled for Sunday, December 12 at 3pm at Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett Street. The program features timeless carols like “The Holly and the Ivy” and “O Tanenbaum” alongside newer works such as Eric Whitacre’s sumptuous “Glow” and “This Christmas” by the mysterious composer with the pseudonym “Pink Zebra”. Songs like “Swingin’ St. Nick!” and “Ocho Kandelikas” reflect the joy of the season and contrast with more reflective carols like “White Christmas” and “What Child is This”. The St. Mary’s Parish of Shrewsbury Children’s Choir, composed of children from first grade through high school, is excited to be performing “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” as part of the program. Jan Cappello has been directing the children’s choir for 26 years.

Tickets are just $5. Audience members are required to wear masks, according to school COVID-19 protocols. For more information call 571-331-0214 or 508-393-8943 or visit www.nacc.net.

The NACC is supported in part by grants from the Northborough, Southborough, Shrewsbury, Marlborough, and Westborough Cultural Councils which are supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present “Low-Carb Holiday Recipe Transformations” With Chef Liz Barbour

SUDBURY: Join the Friends of the Goodnow Library for “Low-Carb Holiday Recipe Transformations” on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 7:30pm. Festive foods should always be delicious and healthy. This class will transform 2 classic high-carb and high-starch holiday side dish recipes into healthier versions that taste amazing! Chef/Cooking Instructor Liz Barbour shares low-carb cooking wisdom and easy recipes you will love preparing and eating as part of a low-carb lifestyle. Register for this class here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bzmMs75FT-mEXNCW_Yl_Xg . Fill in your information and you will receive a zoom link to this webinar.

Barbour is an entertaining communicator whose warm, relaxed approach to food and cooking resonates with her students. With stories and instruction Liz shares her experiences as a working chef to demystify the cooking process. She is a firm believer that any home cook can prepare fresh, flavorful meals with confidence if taught just a few basic but important skills. Liz is a regular guest on New Hampshire’s WMUR Cook’s Corner and her cooking demonstrations and recipes are featured in various publications including Where Women Cook, New Hampshire Magazine, the Nashua Telegraph, and The Hippo Press.

Domestic Violence Roundtable Invites You to Support Holiday Drives for Families Affected by Abuse

Each year the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable sponsors a family for the holidays, and each year we invite our local communities to become involved in making the holidays brighter for families affected by domestic violence. Families in shelter for the holidays face a sad and difficult time as they are separated from family and friends and are hiding from their abusers.

The Covid 19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but it has been especially difficult for families affected by abuse. With the help of our local communities, these families can have happy holidays. There are a number of ways that you can help. Sponsoring a family can be a wonderful way for you and your family to do something together to help others. You can also involve extended family, neighbors, and friends. Or perhaps your colleagues at work, your book club, scout troop, civic organization, or club would like to organize a collection. Your participation in a holiday drive can help relieve the stress and depression that overcome shelter families at this time of year. The support that comes from the community at this time of year reinforces their decisions to seek safety and end violence in their lives. Each gift, each donation, each good holiday wish has a positive effect on their self-esteem and boosts their spirits.

Three local agencies offer services and programs for families affected by domestic violence. All of these programs conduct a Holiday Drive. For further information about how you might help, please contact:

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Jean Doliber - Jean@reachma.org, 781-891-0724 X109
The Second Step, Marisa Rowe - mrowe@thesecondstep.org, 617-965-3999
Voices Against Violence, Simone Williams - simonew@smoc.org, 508-820-0834

Holiday drives start early so that agencies have time to process donations. In some cases, gift cards are being collected so families can shop and wrap their presents. Call now to see how you can help.

Rotary Turkey Shoot Returns LIVE to Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School

MARLBOROUGH: Marlborough Rotarians will hold the 39th Annual Turkey Shoot on Saturday, November 20, again at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School - LIVE AGAIN! at 6pm. “This is our big fundraiser of this season,” Marlborough Rotary Club President Aaron Aykanian stated. “Through the money raised at the Turkey Shoot, the Marlborough Rotary Club can make a special holiday season for deserving Marlborough families and veterans.”

This year’s chair of the Turkey Shoot is Peggy Sheldon. She is enthusiastic about the upcoming event. “The Turkey Shoot is always an outstanding fundraising event,” Peggy said. “We plan for this year’s Turkey Shoot to be just as great an evening for the more than 600 people we expect to attend it. It’s exciting and truly heart-warming expecting to see the people from the Marlborough community come out in support of the Rotary Club’s efforts this year after a year of going virtual. Our members really appreciate the generosity and support of the community!”

The Turkey Shoot will offer a wide variety of prizes including gift certificates to restaurants, gifts for the home, and all the fixings for complete turkey dinners. The event will include the traditional “Turkey Specials,” which consist of super prizes like a bicycle, theater tickets, or even major league sports tickets! A separate raffle will be held for a special table of children’s prizes. Everyone can register FREE for the door prize of a television. Over 200 hundred prizes with a value of more than $8,000 will be given away in a little more than three hours. “Businesses throughout the area donate items and gift certificates to this event,” Peggy added. “The prizes seem to be non-stop.”

To add to the party atmosphere, Rotarians will operate a snack bar with burgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, and even homemade baked goodies, so families can make a night of it. It is an evening that parents, kids, and grandparents alike can enjoy – together. For more information, go to www.marlboroughrotary.org or our facebook page or call (508) 460-1920.

SVT Plans “Give Thanks for the Land” Walk for November 26

SUDBURY: On Friday, November 26, Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) will lead its annual “Give Thanks for the Land” walk at the Nobscot Scout Reservation. The public is invited to register for this free event. SVT bills its “Give Thanks for the Land” walk as an alternative to Black Friday shopping. The number of participants has steadily increased since the inaugural walk in 2014 and is expected to surpass 40 for 2021.

“We encourage people to get outside instead of fighting the crowds at the mall,” said Lisa Vernegaard, SVT’s Executive Director. “The Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder to be thankful for what we have. It is the ideal time to connect with others, enjoy the fresh air, and feel appreciation for all that nature has to offer.”

Vernegaard will lead the approximately 3-mile hike at an “exercise” pace that will provide participants a chance to get their heart pumping and work off that extra slice of pie from the day before. The route includes a few steep sections, but the payoff is a fantastic view from atop Tippling Rock with views to the Boston skyline. The two-hour walk starts at 10am. To register, visit www.svtweb.org/thanks.

SVT is a nonprofit land trust that protects land in 36 communities around the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers. In 2008, the organization worked with the Town of Sudbury to permanently conserve 303 acres of the Nobscot Scout Reservation land as open space and wildlife habitat.

131271612 4010639785613019 6880214923626642664 n

St. John Lutheran Church Worship is Back in the Building!

SUDBURY: St. John’s Lutheran Church is happy to announce that they are back to in-person worship in our sanctuary at 9:30am on Sunday mornings. These services are also live streamed on YouTube @ St John Lutheran Sudbury. Caring about the community and valuing the entire worship experience, in order to worship safely and allow the congregation to sing, St. John adopted the following mask policy:

Anyone over the age of two must wear a mask at all times while inside any part of the church building. Because access to masks can still be an issue, we will provide an N-95 mask to all adults, and a child size KN-95 mask to all children at the door prior to entry. These masks are reusable for up to 4 services. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this attempt to love our neighbors and to love each other.

Most of St. John’s programs have resumed either in-person or continue via Zoom and are open to the community. Sunday School and Confirmation classes meet on Sundays at the Church. In addition, they offer new(ish) parent classes, a book group, Bible study, a senior exercise class and a discussion group on racism/anti-racism. Pastor Rev. Eric Wolf is currently leading a class on Monday evenings called “The Way: Who Are We Now.” Please call the church office for further details on any of our programs.

The Church is located at 16 Great Road. For more information, call (978) 443-8350, or visit www.stjohnsudburyma.org. They can also be found on YouTube at St John Lutheran Sudbury, or on Facebook and Instagram @stjohnsudbury.

Marlborough Rotary Club Contributes $25,000 to Marlborough Public Library Building Fund

MARLBOROUGH: At a recent meeting of the Marlborough Rotary Club, the club presented Margaret Cardello, Head Librarian and Marlborough Rotarian, with a check for $25,000 for the Library expansion project. William Keyles of Main Street Bank and President of the Marlborough Public Library Foundation was present for the presentation.
Along with providing an update on the progress of this project, Ms. Cardello and Mr. Keyles expressed their thanks for the Marlborough Rotary Club’s donation and said that it would sponsor one of the quiet study rooms.

The Library held a formal groundbreaking ceremony on September 21st and the construction company came in October 4th to begin the preparation for the site and demolition. They are thrilled to see the progress beginning on this project.

Marlborough Rotary Club President Aaron Aykanian noted, “The Library is an integral part of the Marlborough community and the Rotary Club is pleased to be able to support such an important project during its Centennial year.”

Five Confirmations & a Baptism at St. Stephen Lutheran Church

MARLBOROUGH: Recently, there was music, sacrament, and celebration at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, to mark not only Reformation Sunday, but also to baptize a child and confirm five youth.

Confirmands met with pastor Joseph Graumann during a two-and-half year program of study of the Bible and the church, and addressed what it means to be a Christian. The five who celebrated their confirmation were: Alexander Bruno (of Hudson), Ross Gibson (Maynard), Emily Haley (Hudson) and Erin Kaye and Steven Kaye (Shrewsbury). The group also participated in church services as acolytes, readers and assistants, and took part in community outreach projects. Confirmation is also referred to as “affirmation of baptism,” and the service included a baptism of Theodore Franklin Broz Walters, infant son of Alissa and John Walters of Marlborough.

“Even while the pandemic lingers, it is a joy to gather to celebrate life in our midst,” Pastor Graumann said. “We’re still here, and God is still here, gathering us and empowering us with His love.”

Special music was provided by the handbell choir, as well as musicians Linda Hanson (violin), Tammy Kaye (viola) and Ron Kaye (clarinet).

For more information about St. Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com. Worship is held each Sunday at 10am, with those attending asked to wear masks.

Mary Ann Morse Home Care Celebrates Home Care & Hospice Month

FRAMINGHAM: Each November the home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, Mary Ann Morse Home Care is joining the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) in celebrating November as National Home Care & Hospice Month.

With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the need for health care will continue to rise, and costs will continue to skyrocket. This is where home care and hospice come in. As the preferred choice for most patients, it also offers the greatest cost savings - helping many U.S. seniors remain comfortable, safe, and healthy at home, closer to those they love.

“Mary Ann Morse Home Care honors and praises the compassionate and skilled caregivers who devote their lives to providing excellent care, helping others stay safe, healthy, and independent at home, “said Bethany Mercer, Executive Director of Mary Ann Morse Home Care in Framingham. “Our nurses and caregivers go well beyond the patient-nurse relationship every day, providing socialization and companionship to often isolated seniors in the community. We’re extremely proud to celebrate their accomplishments this month.”

For more information about the National Association for Home Care &Hospice, Home Care & Hospice Month, and Home Care Aide Week, visit nahc.org/homecare-hospice-month.

Mary Ann Morse Home Care in Framingham is part of non-profit Mary Ann Morse Healthcare Corp.’s continuum of exceptional senior living, healthcare, and home care services, trusted for more than 25 years in Metro West. Visit maryannmorse.org/home-care for information.

Mayflower Scouts Honor SVT’s Dan Stimson

SUDBURY: The Mayflower Council of the Boy Scouts recently presented an Award of Appreciation to Dan Stimson of Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT). Stimson, a Westminster resident who is the Assistant Director of Stewardship at the nonprofit land trust, frequently advises area scouts who are interested in pursuing an Eagle project. He has mentored them as they develop project proposals, present those proposals to local conservation commissions, obtain permits, recruit volunteers, and obtain funding and supplies.

“In doing an Eagle project, there is lots of stress to manage complex planning, fundraising, benefactor goals, leadership, and doing the work,” said Bryan Corrigan, of the Post Road Advancement Team of the Mayflower Council. “Dan’s commitment to giving his time day and night to scouts is a great example of kindness, caring, and commitment to all involved.”

Over the years, scouts have improved the visitor experience at SVT conservation areas by clearing new trails, building boardwalks over wetlands, and designing and installing kiosks at trail heads.
“Great mentors guide you to solutions, stepping back early and stepping in when needed,” continued Corrigan. “Dan Stimson stands out among mentors in his ability to work with scouts in three areas: kindness, leading by example, and community service. The scouts of the Mayflower Council cannot thank Dan enough.”

Stimson responded, “I'm honored by the Mayflower Council's recognition. It's such a pleasure to work with scouts as they plan their leadership projects, and it’s inspiring to see the deep commitment that so many have to conservation in their communities.”

Town of Sudbury ARPA Comment Period Open Through November 30, 2021

SUDBURY: The Town of Sudbury will receive approximately $5.9 million over two years for “COVID-19 economic relief” from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funds may be used only toward the following five categories:

Support public health
Address COVID-19 economic impacts
Replace lost public sector revenue
Provide premium pay for essential workers
Invest in water, sewer & broadband infrastructure for underserved communities

A FlashVote survey was conducted in October 2021 to learn more about the priorities that Sudbury residents would like to see ARPA funds directed toward. Sudbury residents, businesses, non-profits and other constituents are invited to share their ideas for use of Sudbury’s ARPA funds. A town-wide American Rescue Plan Survey on Constant Contact is open now through November 30, 2021.

UUMass Starts Prison Pen Pal Program

MARLBOROUGH: In 2021, UUMass Action, the social justice arm of the Unitarian Church, started the Prison PenPal Program (PPP) to connect prisoners with compassionate volunteers outside the walls. One of the most painful experiences inside prison is loneliness. This is particularly true of individuals who have been incarcerated for many years and rarely receive visitors. This likely includes many of the 1,000 Massachusetts prisoners who are sentenced to life without parole, depriving them of hope of ever reuniting with families and community.

Many of these individuals need new friendships and healthy contacts with the outside world. The program is expanding rapidly in response to interest from incarcerated men and women. PPP currently is seeking 50 new volunteer penpals for prisoners who have requested them.

On November 11 at 6pm there will be a 60 minute training for people who might be interested in participating in the pen pal effort. At a minimum, letters or emails could be monthly, requiring only an hour or two a month.For further information contact Hale Powell at hpenergy@verizon.net or call at 978 337-4284. For general information about UUMass Action decarceration efforts see Decarceration & End Solitary — Unitarian Universalist Mass Action.

Town Office Closings for Thanksgiving 2021

SUDBURY: In observance of Thanksgiving, the schedule for the Town Offices in the Town Hall, Flynn Building, Senior Center, Transfer Station and Offices located in the DPW Building will be as follows:

Wednesday, November 24, 2021: Noon close
Thursday, November 25, 2021: Closed
Friday, November 26, 2021: Closed

The Goodnow Library will close at 5pm (vs. 9pm) on Wednesday, November 24; and will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26.

Holiday hours for Park & Recreation Department in the Fairbank Community Center and the Atkinson Pool are TBD.

Please check https://sudburyrec.com for the latest hours of operation. For additional information, please contact the Town Manager’s office at 978-639-3381.

Troop 101 Northborough Wreath Sale

NORTHBOROUGH: The annual wreath sale is the largest fundraiser for Troop 101. All monies support the local Northborough Troop’s trips, camperships, maintenance of equipment and supplies. These beautiful, freshly made balsam wreaths are on a 14" frame, decorated with a festive bow, hand made by BSA Troop 823. This cost is just $15 per wreath. Order online for home delivery in Northborough at https://ScoutSales.org?560.89.1402. Scouts will deliver your wreath and bow to your front door on Saturday, November 27. Online orders close on Wednesday, November 24 at 5 pm. Questions? email: nborotroop101wreathsale@gmail.com.

Town of Sudbury Announces Completion of Historic Resources Survey Project

SUDBURY: The Town of Sudbury and the Sudbury Historical Commission are pleased to announce the completion of a major project surveying over 100 of Sudbury’s historic resources. The project was funded in part by a $15,000 matching federal grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, awarded though the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin, Chairman. The Sudbury Historical Commission received Community Preservation Committee funds for the initial funding at the 2020 Annual Town Meeting.

Led by the Sudbury Historical Commission, the survey recorded historically and architecturally noteworthy resources that represent the cultural history of Sudbury, constructed before 1940. The project updated and expanded earlier volunteer and professional survey documentation, developing a fuller understanding of Sudbury’s growth over time. A main focus for the project was advancing knowledge of 20th century properties, pre-1940 municipal buildings, and under-documented building types, including barns and other outbuildings. The Town of Sudbury contracted with Wendy Frontiero and Kathleen Kelly Broomer, architectural historians and preservation consultants, to conduct the survey, which concluded in September 2021. The survey project involved field work, photographic documentation, and extensive records research.

“The Sudbury Historical Commission is thrilled to add these surveys to our inventory and have them accessible to Sudbury residents and owners of these historic properties,” said Chris Hagger, Chair of the Sudbury Historical Commission. “Sudbury is rich with history, and this grant funding is an important step in documenting and preserving the town’s history and historic structures for future generations.”

The Historic Property Survey update will support future preservation planning efforts in Sudbury, identifying areas for additional study, supporting local research, and serving as a resource for town boards and commissions. Completed surveys are on record at the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Goodnow Library, and, once processed, easily accessible on the Massachusetts Historical Commission's online database, the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).

The Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey and Planning Grant Program is a federally funded, reimbursable, 50/50 matching grant program to support historic preservation planning activities in communities throughout the state. In March of 2021, the Sudbury Historical Commission was awarded an additional matching grant to assist with the development of a town-wide preservation plan.

For more information, please contact Adam Duchesneau, Director of Planning & Community Development, (978) 639-3387 or duchesneaua@sudbury.ma.us.

In-Person Sunday Services Resume at The Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson (UCMH)

HUDSON: The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH) is delighted to announce that we are returning to in-person services beginning Sunday, November 7 at 10:30am, following the recent positive trends in public health. Though grateful for the technology that has allowed connections to continue remotely, nothing can replace the connectedness when people gather together in person!

Explore UCMH's November theme, “Holding History” with “In My Day: Multigenerational Reflections on The Way Things used To Be.” Volunteer participants of all ages have been invited to share their personal stories about impactful change they have witnessed over the course of their lifetime. “Sometimes, change is long-awaited; sometimes, we fight it tooth and nail; often, it brings unimaginable new realities,” said Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann, resident minister of UCMH. “All varieties of the story are welcome – humorous, poignant, inspirational …”

Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of faith, religion or spiritual affiliation, including atheists. All participants are asked to please observe Covid protocols, including masking while indoors, maintaining a social distance of 6' between people not from the same household, and refraining from singing. Online access will continue for those who are unable to join in-person worship. Additional information, including links to services, is available at www.ucmh.org.

Mr. Lincoln, Mrs. Hale & Thanksgiving

SUDBURY: Join The Wayside Inn Foundation and author Melanie Kirkpatrick for a virtual author's discussion and (optional) take-home dinner inspired by recipes from Godey's Lady's Book prepared by Longfellow's Wayside Inn on Wednesday, November 10 at 7pm. Register at https://bit.ly/halethanksgiving .

The story of how Thanksgiving became a regular national holiday is a classic American tale of how an enterprising individual with a good idea can have an impact. In this case, a penniless young widow from New Hampshire, Sarah Josepha Hale, rose to become the editor of the most popular magazine of her era, Godey's Lady's Book. She used her powerful position to generate grassroots support for a national Thanksgiving, while also writing to presidents, governors and other influential leaders to line up their approval. After several presidents rejected her idea, Lincoln finally agreed. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, he called on the nation to come together in a shared Thanksgiving celebration. 158 years later, we have Mrs. Hale to thank for this still-unbroken series of Thanksgiving Days.

Kirkpatrick is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a former deputy editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page. She is the author of Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman; Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, and Escape from North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia's Underground Railroad. She has lived in Tokyo, Toronto, Hong Kong, and Manhattan and now resides in rural Connecticut. Signed copies of Lady Editor and Thanksgiving will be available for purchase during registration.

Links to the virtual discussion are $7 for TWIF Members and $10 for nonmembers. Register at https://bit.ly/halethanksgiving .

For more information about the program or The Wayside Inn Foundation, email TWIF@wayside.org .

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present “The Art of the Stir Fry”
Cook Along with Chef Leslie Cerier

SUDBURY: Join the Friends of the Goodnow Library for “The Art of the Stir Fry” on Sunday, November 14 at 4pm (please note change of time) and cook along virtually with “The Organic Gourmet” Chef Leslie Cerier. Learn how to prepare delicious, colorful, vegetarian stir fries with seasonal veggies, spices, soy foods, pastas, grains, and mushrooms. Add texture with nuts and seeds. Plus learn how to make quick and easy vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free dishes with an international flair. Come learn which ingredients go first, second, etc., what makes stir fries taste deliciously Asian, Italian, Indian, Mexican, and French, what healthy fats to use, and much more.

Leslie Cerier is an internationally renowned farm to table chef, cookbook author, motivational speaker and cooking teacher. She specializes in vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meals for optimal health and pleasure. She adapts meals according to what is freshly picked and plentiful at any given time. Leslie is a frequent guest on TV, radio, and podcasts, and she has her own blog. She also develops recipes and products for organic and natural food companies, and she has special expertise for people with dietary sensitivities.

This program is free but registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/art-of-the-stir-fry-cooking-tickets-193791354157. Please note the Zoom link will be near the bottom of the registration confirmation with a link to the recipe information which will be posted November 4. Cook along with Leslie and have a delicious meal to serve following the program.

Anthony Serra Joins SVT

SUDBURY: Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) has welcomed Anthony Serra as its new Land Protection Associate. In this recently created position, Mr. Serra will provide support to SVT staff on land protection projects while also playing an important role in community outreach and in collaborative initiatives with SVT’s conservation partners.

SVT is a nonprofit land trust that protects natural areas and farmland in the region around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. The organization, which has 2,900 members, has helped to protect more than 8,500 acres of land since its founding in 1953, and it has a goal of protecting 12,000 more by 2050. Serra will be based out of SVT’s headquarters in Sudbury.

"We are delighted to have Anthony join our land protection team," said Christa Collins, SVT's Director of Land Protection. "His particular experience in outreach and communications will really help us make the case about why we need to accelerate our efforts."

A native of Brockton, Serra holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from McGill University in Montreal and master’s degrees in public affairs and environmental science from Indiana University. He has previously worked as an Environmental Quality Analyst for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in Lansing, Michigan, and he has also served with the national AmeriCorps program at the U.S. Forest Service in MacDoel, California, and at Wildlands Trust in Plymouth (MA).

“I am excited to be joining SVT and doing my part to protect the special places in my home state,” said Mr. Serra. “This endeavor is critical for biodiversity, public health, and climate mitigation, and I hope to promote that message through my work here.”

Meeting House Fair at the First Church

MARLBOROUGH: “While the date may change, the day never will, it’s the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the church on the hill,” when the traditional Meeting House Fair is held at the First Church in Marlborough, Congregational. This year the date is November 20, 9am to 2pm. The Meeting House Fair was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, and this November it will be returning after two years. It's an old-fashioned fair that features crafts, Christmas items, and jewelry. Homemade baked goods will include cookies, pies and much more. A Trash and Treasure room will offer a variety of items at great prices. There will be a lot of books ready for reading. The popular Basket Raffle featuring themes for all ages will be back located in the Parish Hall. At lunch time you can choose a tasty “to go” package of corn chowder and/or sandwiches (still no eating in the church). There is something for everyone and everyone is invited to attend. First Church is located on Bolton Street (Rte. 85) and High streets, just above Union Common in Marlborough.

It’s Not “THE Talk,” It’s an Ongoing Conversation: Talking with Youth about Friendships and Relationships

SUDBURY: Please join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, November 9 at 3pm for a conversation with Molly Pistrang-Gomes from the REACH Beyond Domestic Violence’s Prevention Team. REACH will talk about how to engage youth in age-appropriate discussions about relationships. During the workshop, Molly will define relationships broadly. Young people interact with friends, family members, teachers, classmates, teammates, dating partners, coworkers, people online, etc. How can we support them as they navigate those relationships?

In this conversation, she will explore the importance of discussing and modeling boundaries, holding each other accountable with compassion, combating gender norms and stereotypes, and practicing healthy communication. As adults, we have the power to create spaces where young people are seen, heard, and respected.

Molly Pistrang-Gomes, M. Ed. (she/her) has been the Youth Education Specialist for REACH Beyond Domestic Violence since 2017. In her role at REACH, she works with middle and high school communities to build their capacity to foster healthy relationships and prevent intimate partner violence. This includes providing teacher trainings, individual consultation, curriculum support, parent and community events, class room workshops for youth, and student club advising. Her work uses a trauma informed lens to build social emotional skills, teach dynamics of healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships, disrupt systems of power and oppression, and model support and accountability.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in this important conversation. To receive a link to the program, visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org to register for the program. Please email infodvrt@gmail.com with questions.

Despres Property Hike and Kids’ Nature Discovery Event in Westborough

WESTBOROUGH: The Westborough Community Land Trust invites you on a walk to explore the 66-acre Despres Property on Eli Whitney Street, November 14 from 1-3pm. This newly-preserved parcel of woodland was once pasture, and today the echoes of former farm fields can be found in miles of stone walls, an old lane, a hidden brook, and a curious stone landmark. Katie O'Neill and Declan O'Neill will lead this walk exploring Westborough's newest public trails. Park across the street from the trail, at the Fales School, 50 Eli Whitney Street. Free; no registration required. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

Before the hike, from Noon-12:45, WCLT invites your child to use their senses to discover the mysteries of nature. For Kindness Week, WCLT presents a way to "Be Kind to Nature" with a children’s Nature Discovery program. Leaf shapes, bark textures, bird song, and plant smells and tastes will open up a new world to explore and appreciate. The outdoor location is the Fales School parking lot. Geared to elementary school age children. Families are encouraged to stay for the trail walk at 1pm, which will be co-led by a fifth grader! Free; no registration required. Park at the Fales School, 50 Eli Whitney Street. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest's Annual Gala Raises $140,000 for Youth Programming

MARLBOROUGH: On October 21, the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest virtually hosted the 16th Annual Bids for Kids Auction & Gala, presented by The TJX Companies. Guests gathered virtually to celebrate the superheroes of our community, participated in an extensive silent auction and raised critical funds for youth development programming. The event raised more than $140,000 for the Clubs, which serve the youth of Hudson, Marlborough, and Framingham.

This event also honored the Foundation of MetroWest with the Community Partner for Youth Award in appreciation of the $160,000 that the Foundation has invested in the Clubs since the start of the pandemic and Larissa Thurston, CEO of St. Mary’s Credit Union, with the Michael C. Sullivan Memorial Award. New this year, the Clubs recognized Jordan Poirier with the inaugural Alumni Impact Award.
“The Bids for Kids Auction & Gala is an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the successes of our community’s youth. Although we were unable to gather in person again this year, this year’s celebration highlighted our community sponsors, our individual donors, and most importantly, the successes of our youth members that are made possible because of this support.” said Chris Duane, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest. “Our kids and families need us now more than ever and we are grateful to everyone who supported and attended the event. Next year, we will gather in person!”

The Clubs would also like to give a special thank you to all of the 16th Annual Bids for Kids Auction & Gala sponsors – including the TJX Companies, Market Basket, Hologic, Ken’s Foods, Tito’s Vodka, Kane Industrial Park, Murphy Insurance Agency, St. Mary’s Credit Union, Avidia Bank, Bernardi Auto Group, Middlesex Savings Bank, Reliant Medical Group, RW Holmes, Wegmans, Suburban Appraisal Services, DaSilva Landscaping, Sereni Salon, and the Corkin, Kaplan & Rudolph families.

The 17th Annual Bids for Kids Auction & Gala will be hosted on October 20, 2022 at the Verve Hotel in Natick. If you are interested in learning how you can support this event, or other programming at the Club, please contact the Resource Development office at 508-485-4912.

Native Plant Trust Seeks Storytellers

FRAMINGHAM: Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces an open call for storytellers for its annual signature event, The Botany Story Slam, which will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 6-8pm. The event is currently planned as an in-person event at Garden in the Woods; however, storytellers from around the world are welcome to submit their tales for the chance to share their stories using video technology.

A story slam is a competition in which each storyteller has minutes to share an experience on a chosen theme, with the audience interacting and voting on their favorite tale. Winning stories may be aired on the radio. NPT seeks exciting, well-presented stories 5-10 minutes in length about plant adventures. Storytellers may include botanists, horticulturists, farmers, land managers, plant researchers, environmental educators, rangers, or similar plant-related professionals. For submission instructions, please email education@NativePlantTrust.org by December 1, 2021, with the subject line “Story Slam Submission.” Storytellers will be selected and notified on a rolling basis and must be available to present at the event on February 26, 2022, either in person or virtually.

Northborough's 2nd Annual Jack-O-Lantern Contest & Stroll

NORTHBOROUGH: Back by popular demand, the Northborough Community Affairs Committee is excited to announce the Second Annual Jack-O-Lantern Contest and Stroll during Halloween weekend. Jack-o-lanterns provided by Northborough residents will be on display at the Town Common starting Friday, October 29 and will stay lit through Halloween weekend for all ages to enjoy.

Residents can sign-up now to participate and members of the community will be able to vote over Halloween weekend for their favorite designs. The Committee is accepting up to 100 entries and registrants are asked to make a suggested donation of $5 to the Northborough Food Pantry to participate. Pictures of the jack-o-lanterns will be posted on the Committee's website and Northborough residents will be able to vote for their 3 favorite entries. The three winners who will each receive a prize from local businesses.

On Saturday, October 30 from 11:30am to 12:30pm, the Family Jack-O-Lantern Stroll will take place featuring live music from the local musician Anelise and her Family Band. This event at our Town Common will also have treats and will be a chance for families to choose their favorite Jack-O-Lanterns!

The Committee would like to make sure this fun event is safe so please follow local and state guidelines when viewing the display. Visit this website for more information on this event: https://northboroughcac.weebly.com/jack-o-lantern-stroll.html.

Marlborough Resident Ginny Carpenter Onstage in "Lovers & Other Strangers"

MARLBOROUGH: Marlborough resident Ginny Carpenter is appearing in Theatre III of West Acton's fall production, "Lovers and Other Strangers" by Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor. Performances run November 5, 6, 12 & 13 at 8pm; November 7 at 2pm at 250 Central Street. Tickets are $22; seniors/students/groups of seven or more $19. For more information, visit www.theatre3.org.

The 43rd Annual Pear Tree Boutique Back and In Person!

293 er lighted basket with woodland teddy bear

MARLBOROUGH: The 43rd Annual Pear Tree Boutique will be held in person on Saturday December 4 from 8:30-10:30am at Whitcomb Middle School, 25 Union Street. Join the Colonial Garden Club of Marlborough to shop for this year’s sale. With new sale hours, they are planning for a lively event where you can obtain your fresh winter greens, holiday décor, wreaths, swags and faux creations. All items are hand-crafted by the members the week before the event and will last through the holiday season.

The Garden Club is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, serving the Marlborough community by providing free horticultural and conservation education for residents as well as beautification for some of the city’s public gardens. The club is 100% dependent on its fundraising efforts to fund these community offerings.

In accordance with Marlborough Public School policy, all who enter the Whitcomb School must wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

The Pear Tree Boutique is a fantastic way to contribute to the Marlborough community and bring some beauty and joy into your home for the holidays. To learn more about membership or to receive the club’s customer newsletter about meetings, special events, the annual Plant Sale and Pear Tree Boutique, email the club at gardenclub01752@gmail.com, visit https://sites.google.com/view/colonialgardenclubmarlborough.

About Action Unlimited

A weekly advertising publication with seven (7) different editions to choose from - Acton (Acton, Maynard), Boxboro, Chelmsford, Concord (Concord, Carlisle, Bedford), Hudson (Hudson, Stow), Marlborough (Marlborough, Sudbury) and Westford (Westford, Littleton), Each edition is filled with news, events, puzzles, local advertisers, classifieds and more!

The Action is also your one stop shop for graphic design, copying services, website design, business card printing, scanning & shredding services.

100 Domino Drive
Concord, MA 01742

Phone: (978) 371-2442

Monday - Wednesday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 7:30am - 3:00pm
Friday - Sunday: Closed

Tower Hill Botanic Garden Presents 'Prismatic, An Orchid Exhibition'

Nashoba Symphonic Band Fifth Anniversary Concert - February 5

ARC Comedy Night Benefit Rescheduled to April 8

Domestic Violence Roundtable Collects Valentine Donations for Families in Shelter

Domestic Violence Roundtable Collects Valentine Donations for Families in Shelter

Sudbury LWV Plans Forum on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Wayside Inn to Host a Panel Discussion on Hospitality History

Winter Walk into History

The Thursday Garden Club of Sudbury presents Laura Bibler "Our Grandmothers Knew What They were Doing In The Garden"

Assabet Valley Mastersingers Bonus Concert

Enjoy Nature with SVT this Winter

NACC Begins Rehearsals for May'22 Concert

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Winter Advisory Regarding Face Coverings

Businesses in Your Community

Christmas Eve for All Ages at St. Stephen Lutheran Church

St. Stephen Day is Coming - Donate a Blanket

Town Office Closings for 2021 Christmas & New Year

Sudbury Art Association Hosts Holiday Market

Jeff Levine to Present: Financial Therapy 101

St. Stephen Church Knitters Send Christmas Gifts to Seafarers

St. Stephen Families Support Cathedral in the Night

Light Up Northborough 2021: Tree and Menorah Lighting

Chabad Center Offers Family-Friendly Chanukah Celebrations

Have a Holly Jolly Holiday with Northborough Area Community Chorus

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present “Low-Carb Holiday Recipe Transformations” With Chef Liz Barbour

Domestic Violence Roundtable Invites You to Support Holiday Drives for Families Affected by Abuse

Rotary Turkey Shoot Returns LIVE to Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School

SVT Plans “Give Thanks for the Land” Walk for November 26

St. John Lutheran Church Worship is Back in the Building!

Marlborough Rotary Club Contributes $25,000 to Marlborough Public Library Building Fund

Five Confirmations & a Baptism at St. Stephen Lutheran Church

Mary Ann Morse Home Care Celebrates Home Care & Hospice Month

Mayflower Scouts Honor SVT’s Dan Stimson

Town of Sudbury ARPA Comment Period Open Through November 30, 2021

UUMass Starts Prison Pen Pal Program

Town Office Closings for Thanksgiving 2021

Troop 101 Northborough Wreath Sale

Town of Sudbury Announces Completion of Historic Resources Survey Project

In-Person Sunday Services Resume at The Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson (UCMH)

Mr. Lincoln, Mrs. Hale & Thanksgiving

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present “The Art of the Stir Fry”Cook Along with Chef Leslie Cerier

Anthony Serra Joins SVT

Meeting House Fair at the First Church

It’s Not “THE Talk,” It’s an Ongoing Conversation: Talking with Youth about Friendships and Relationships

Despres Property Hike and Kids’ Nature Discovery Event in Westborough

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest's Annual Gala Raises $140,000 for Youth Programming

Native Plant Trust Seeks Storytellers

Northborough's 2nd Annual Jack-O-Lantern Contest & Stroll

Marlborough Resident Ginny Carpenter Onstage in "Lovers & Other Strangers"

The 43rd Annual Pear Tree Boutique Back and In Person!

Friends of the Goodnow Library Present “The Art of the Stir Fry”
Cook Along with Chef Leslie Cerier