Robin Jubenville Organ Concert Gives Tribute to Philip Beaudry

HUDSON: The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson is pleased to announce that Organist and Music Director Robin Jubenville will perform an hourlong concert of classical organ music in tribute to Philip Beaudry, former UCMH organist and Master Organ Builder. Over the course of his career, Beaudry built, rebuilt, restored, and maintained organs in over 40 churches, including the one at UCMH. Jubenville’s teacher, internationally acclaimed organist James David Christie, knew Beaudry personally and has said of him that “Every organ Phil touched turned to gold.”

The organ at UCMH was built in 1891 by Geo. Ryder as his Opus 161 and presented to the church by Joseph S. Bradley, Edmund M. Stowe and Russell B. Lewis in 1892. Philip Beaudry originally rebuilt the organ in 1968. Beaudry was known to have a particular skill in the area of voicing, and he certainly brought this skill to bear when he rebuilt the wind system of the UCMH organ in 1991. Christie has said that he considers the sound of the organ at UCMH to be among the best organs in the region – “a hidden gem.”
“When I first heard the organ at UCMH I fell in love with the sound of it,” said Ms. Jubenville. “I think it’s important to acknowledge and pay tribute to the person responsible for that sound.” Ms. Jubenville first came to UCMH as organist in 2008.

The program will be presented on June 17, 2023 at 4pm in the Sanctuary at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH), located at 80 Main Street in Hudson. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted. Tickets are available online at BeaudryOrganTribute.eventbrite.com. Suggested donation is $10 per person or $20 per family. For more information, please contact the church office at 978.562.9180 or via email at administrator@ucmh.org.

PHOTO: Organist Robin Jubenville at the organ in the sanctuary of the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

NVTHS Craft Fair Seeks Vendors

WESTFORD: The Nashoba Valley Technical High School Foundation's 11th Annual Craft Fair will be held November 18 from 10am-3pm (set up 8am-9:30am) at NVTHS, 100 Littleton Road (Rt. 110). Register now for this well-attended event - only 100 spots available! Vendor fees are $75, which includes an 8' spot and 2 chairs. Bring your own table or display. Click HERE for more information and to complete the online registration/payment. Any questions, email NVTHSFoundation@nashobatech.net.

Pastor Rheanna Goodrich Called to St. Stephen Lutheran Church

MARLBOROUGH: Rev. Rheanna Good rich has been settling in to her new role as pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church with a variety of events and milestones. She began her New England ministry in March during Lent, and celebrated Easter in April. With clergy from Central Massachusetts as well as members of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in attendance, she was formally installed as pastor several weeks later. May was marked by the celebration of Pentecost and a baptism of a teen in a nearby pond. In June, she will preside at a baptism of an infant in church, and the confirmation of five youth members of the congregation.
Pastor Goodrich replaces Rev. Joseph Graumann, who left last June to return to his home state of New Jersey. Rev. Greg Mileski served as interim clergy while the search for a permanent pastor took place.

The new pastor says she feels very welcomed, and the warmth of that welcome has brought joy to Pr. Goodrich and her family as they settle in to their new home in Marlborough. Her family includes her spouse, Mara, and their daughter, Kaili. “The call has been amazing so far,” says Pr Goodrich. “The congregation has been so welcoming to our family, and super supportive. I am looking forward to getting to know everybody here, working with people to figure out what comes next.” Her focus is both the church and the Marlborough-Hudson community. She notes that “a lot of people don’t know Jesus, a loving, benevolent God. There is so much pain and brokenness.” The call of the church, she says “is to help heal.”

Pr Goodrich comes to SSLC from Michigan, where she has spent the major portion of her life, but New England is also in her background. Born in Montana, she lived with her parents and sister in New Hampshire from age 2 to Grade 4, and has fond memories of outdoor activities. “We ran around in the woods all the time and loved playing outside.” Her family attended Baptist and Episcopal churches, but she came back to her Lutheran roots in Michigan during her high school years. Her faith was important, but Pr. Rheanna didn’t realize then that it would become her vocation and went on to earn a BS in English with a focus in Creative Writing at Central Michigan University. After graduation, “I quickly realized I needed a job and went into business,” she recalls of her time spent managing apartment complexes. “Then God got involved.”

Active in her congregation leading programs, and serving as council president, the thought of becoming a pastor emerged, but she was unsure “whether I wanted to take on the responsibility in my 20s.” She was now married - she and Mara will mark their 21st anniversary this summer. Talking with Mara and her pastor, eventually “there were enough signs that I couldn’t ignore it. This was in my heart.” She enrolled in the five year program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and daughter Kaili, now 12, was born during this time. Pr Goodrich accepted a first call to a church in Au Gres, MI, “a lovely, rural community experience,” and a second call to Bridgeport, MI, closer to Mara’s work. Accepting her third call meant a move to Massachusetts for the family of three and four cats. “It is fabulous to be back in a place of diverse culture, people, language, and food,” she says. The family likes the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, and camping. Pr Rheanna also Pastor Goodrich enjoys creative writing, including science fiction as well as poetry. Among many new and old adventures, she would love to try snowshoeing again, take Kaili to Hampton Beach, to experience it as she had as a child, and all three would like to explore Salem, and the history of a very distinct era. “We were looking for a new adventure,” Pr. Rheanna says with a smile, adding that “New England is a homecoming for me and had everything we were looking for.”

For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page.

PHOTO: Rev. Rheanna Goodrich, right, is installed as pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough, with presiding minister Jeff Goodrich (no relation) and congregation council president Paula Blomquist, as the congregation and other clergy from Central Massachusetts look on and pledge their support.

Art Installations Scheduled for June 10 for Art on the Trails: Transformation at Beals Preserve

SOUTHBOROUGH: The Southborough Open Land Foundation invites the general public to visit Beals Preserve to watch artists install their work for the 7th annual Art on the Trails on June 10 from 10am-5pm. This year’s theme is Transformation The exhibition will take place again this year at the Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve. A juried exhibition of sculptural installations will be on view beginning June 10 and closing on September 17. The exhibition is juried by Sculptor Sarah Alexander, Creative Director, Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

Sixteen projects will be exhibited from 21 artists. Artists participating are Lisa Barthelson (Rutland, MA), Ted Castro (Acton, MA) , Marie Despres (Grafton, MA), Holly Ewald (Providence, Rhode Island), Maxwell Fertik (Providence, Rhode Island), Gints Grinbergs (Dedham, MA), Matthew Haberstron (Medford, MA), Meagan Hepp (Brighton, MA), Linda Hoffman (Harvard, MA), Alexandra Ionescu (Providence, Rhode Island), Denise Johnson and the students of Margaret Neary Elementary School (Southborough, MA), Jon Laustsen (Providence, Rhode Island), August Lehrecke (Providence, Rhode Island), Hope Leeson (South Kingston, Rhode Island), Madeleine Lord (Dudley, MA), Gena Mavuli (Boston, MA), Margot McMahon (Oak Park, Illinois), Matthew P. Muller (Providence, Rhode Island), Hildreth Potts (Garrison, NY), Bridie Wolejko (Lunenburg, MA), and Melanie Zibit (Shirley, MA).

Art Juror Sarah Alexander said of the selection process, “It is always a challenge to select from many excellent submissions. I am confident that the work, while diverse in material and subject, will present a cohesive show along the trails of the Preserve. I look forward to seeing it installed!”

Representative of Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF) said, "The Southborough Open Land Foundation is pleased that the Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve serves as the beautiful backdrop for the 7th Annual Art on the Trails. It is fascinating to see the intersection of art and nature as various aspects of the preserve serve as inspiration for the artists’ creations."

In addition to the installations, the program will include poetry written in response to the work and will be juried by poet Maura Snell. A prize winning poem will be selected from submissions by Scituate poet Joanne DeSimone Reynolds. Learn more about this event at www.artonthetrails.com or by contacting Catherine Weber at (508) 523-3605 or cweber@artonthetrails.com.

PHOTO: Empathy, Welded found steel, 72” high, 40” wide, Madeleine Lord

Sudbury Meetinghouse Presents Greg Greenway & Tom Prasada-Rao

SUDBURY: The Meetinghouse at First Parish of Sudbury, 327 Concord Road will present an evening of folk music with Greg Greenway and Tom Prasada-Rao on June 10 at 7:30pm. Tickets: $25 in advance or at the door. Free parking is available at First Parish’s Meetinghouse or across the street, behind Sudbury Town Hall.

Greg Greenway is an American folk singer-songwriter. Musically, his guitar, piano, ukulele, and melodica reflect inspiration from all over the map–gospel, rock, blues, Jazz, and world music. But his center is in the singer/songwriter tradition that traces its roots all the way back to the social awareness of Woody Guthrie. He has played at such notable places as Carnegie Hall, and he’s been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered and Mountain Stage. He considers the height of his achievements as having “Driving in Massachusetts” played on Car Talk.

Tom Prasada-Rao, a musician’s musician, has had an unassuming presence on the folk scene since the early nineties. His voice belies his musicianship and his extraordinary songs. From Rishi’s Garden with its homage to Ravi Shankar to the groove of Sleeping Beauty, Tom’s music is melodic, ambitious, and reverent. He’s touring again after being featured last year on the nationally syndicated TV show Troubadour Texas.

CLICK HERE for more information or to purchase tickets.

Several Sudbury Town Offices Following Summer Schedule

SUDBURY: July 10-August 25, some Town offices will be following a four day (Monday – Thursday) summer schedule. July 14 will be the first Friday that offices are closed. Employees will work the same number of hours each week by working extended hours Monday through Thursday.

The revised summer schedule will begin July 10 and will affect offices in Town Hall and the Flynn Building. Offices in these two buildings will be closed on Fridays from July 14th through August 25th, with the exception of the Select Board/Town Manager’s Office and IT Department, which will observe their regular Monday – Friday schedule. Offices will be open to serve the public with extended hours as follows:

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am-5pm.
Tuesday from 8am-7pm.
Friday closed

The following Town departments will be following this compressed schedule:

Assessor
Human Resources
Planning and Community Development
Tax Collector/Treasurer
Town Accountant
Town Clerk
Veterans’ Services (please check website for office hours)

The following offices will NOT be observing the summer schedule and will be operating on regular hours: Atkinson Pool, Building Department, Conservation, Council on Aging, Engineering, Fire Department, Goodnow Library, Health Department, Highway Department, Information Systems, Police Department, Public Works, Recreation Department and Select Board/Town Manager’s Office.

All offices will return to their regular Monday – Friday schedule beginning August 28.

Native Plant Trust Announces Mushroom Modulations by Christine Southworth, First in New Visiting Artist Program

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FRAMINGHAM: Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces its first Visiting Artist Presentation: Mushroom Modulations, taking place June 3 at 8 pm at Garden in the Woods.

The artist, Christine Southworth, is a Lexington, MA-based multi-media composer whose work primarily involves nature. Her new work for Native Plant Trust is an immersive performance incorporating music and photographs and video of mushrooms and fungi growing at Garden in the Woods and around Middlesex County. The electrical currents given off by mycelium networks are thought to be used as communication between different fungal fruiting bodies. Surrounded by her images of mushroom colonies growing and fading throughout the seasons, she will make music by “listening” to slight electrical variations in live colonies she has grown via electrodes placed on different parts of the fruiting growth and converted to sound.

"I’m absolutely delighted to be the Inaugural Artist in Residence at Garden in the Woods,” notes Southworth. “Making and presenting art in such a setting is a dream come true. Last summer I visited Garden in the Woods for the very first time and went back many times during the fall to photograph mushrooms on the trails. The amazing thing about Garden in the Woods is it’s kept wild through meticulous maintenance and its visitors actually stay on the paths, which allows not only plants but also fungi, lichens, and moss to grow freely. The combinations of mushrooms I found, thriving together, were unlike any I’ve seen before in the area.” About the current project, Southworth adds: “I decided to make this into a multimedia piece, having read several articles and papers about mushroom communication. I built the “Mush Room” this year, a 3-walled room made of shoji screens which I am using as projection screens. My photos surround me as I sit in the room, with mushrooms I’ve grown and fallen logs covered in mushrooms from the forest, and using biofeedback devices hooked up to an analog synthesizer, I perform the mushrooms. Each time I play them it sounds different, and at Garden in the Woods this June, I am very excited to be able to perform them for the public for the very first time.”

Christine Southworth is a composer and video artist based in Lexington, Massachusetts, dedicated to creating art born from a cross-pollination of sonic and visual ideas inspired by intersections of technology and art, nature and machines, and music from cultures around the world. She received a B.S. from MIT in 2002 in Mathematics and an M.A. in Computer Music & Multimedia Composition from Brown University in 2006. She has been a member of MIT-based Gamelan Galak Tika since 1999 and has composed several pieces for the group and performed at venues including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

The new Visiting Artist Program at Native Plant Trust invites local artists to explore their art while working among the plants at Garden in the Woods and Native Plant Trust sanctuaries across New England. For more information and to register, please visit www.NativePlantTrust.org.

Sudbury Observes Memorial Day

SUDBURY: Sudbury’s Memorial Day observance will take place on May 29. All are welcome to view the parade or join the march. Spectators will honor an outstanding Sudbury citizen serving as Parade Marshal, listen to the patriotic strains of the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie, and hear musket and rifle salutes. The parade and ceremonies honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury’s residents, starting with King Philip’s War of 1676. During these Memorial Day events, the community especially remembers men and women who sacrificed their lives in service of the United States.

Joe Bausk, a long-time Sudbury resident, will serve as Parade Marshall. Joe served with the U.S. Navy 1952-6, during the Korean War period. He was assigned to a Destroyer Escort, whose mission was to search for submarines, and an LST (Landing Ship Tank). Joe has been very active in Sudbury town affairs and has been a loyal member of the Sudbury companies of Militia and Minute, joining the annual march to Concord’s North Bridge.

The main part of the parade begins at 9:30am at Rugged Bear Plaza, 410 Boston Post Road, where the Parade Marshall and Boy Scouts will join members of the Sudbury Military Family Network and veterans’ organizations. All veterans are invited to join in the line of march. Uniforms are not required. Civilian clothes which respect the dignity of the occasion (dark slacks, white dress shirt, and hat that signifies branch of service or veterans’ organization are appropriate).

The parade marches east along Route 20, then north on Concord Road, with stops at the Goodnow Library Civil War Monument, the Wadsworth Monument (King Philip’s War) and the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials at Wadsworth Cemetery. Musket and rifle salutes are fired at each stop by the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The parade continues north on Concord Road. At Ascension Parish, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Cub Scouts join the marchers. At about 11:15 am, the parade reaches Grinnell Park at Town Center for tributes at the World War I Monument, followed by the Memorial Day program.

The Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies will perform musical selections, followed by musket and rifle salutes. After the Girl Scouts and Brownies sing, the Parade Marshall will be recognized. Finally, the names of Sudbury veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day will be read. To conclude, taps will be played.

Parade Route and Approximate Schedule

9:30am: Parade begins at Rugged Bear Plaza
9:45am: Civil War Monument, Goodnow Library, Minuteman Musket Salute
10:10am: UNACC Ceremony at King Philip Monument, Wadsworth Cemetery, Minuteman Musket Salute
10:30am: Rabbi Freeman delivers prayer for WWII, Korea and Vietnam as Service Flags are raised from half-staff to full-staff. Minuteman Musket Salute
11am: Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Tiger/Cub Scouts join parade at Ascension Parish Church
11:20am: Memorial Day Program begins at Grinnell Park at Town Center. Ceremony begins with opening remarks. National Anthem - Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Companies. Minuteman Musket Salute follows. Sudbury Fyfe & Drum plays "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Girl Scouts sing “My Country Tis’ of Thee.” Reading names of veterans deceased since last Memorial Day. Thank You announcements followed by TAPS.

Post Road Art Center to Exhibit Ashley MacLure's "Mixed Feelings"

Unique materials and techniques used to explore past trauma, current hopes

MARLBOROUGH: The Post Road Art Center is proud to present “Mixed Feelings,” an exhibition of mixed media works by Northborough-based artist Ashley MacLure. The center’s newly-renovated gallery space will host dozens of MacLure’s works from June 3-30.

“We’re excited to host this captivating exhibition,” said owner Randi Isaacson. “With our commitment to showcasing exceptional artwork by local artists and fostering community engagement, the gallery provides the perfect platform for Ashley’s evocative images to make a lasting impact on the viewers.”

The works on display employ a variety of unconventional techniques, including collage, photo transfer, ink and Play-Doh, to explore MacLure’s feelings about her past and her mother, as well as hopes and concerns for the future and her daughter. People are sure to connect with these Poignant images.

“By experimenting with a variety of conventional and unconventional media I’m able to process my experiences,” said MacLure. “I have known abandonment, neglect, fear and incredible sadness. But I have also known abounding joy and gratitude.”

The exhibition opens June 3 with a reception from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Admission is free to the public, and the artist will be on hand to discuss her works and answer questions. The exhibition will remain open to the public through June 30 during the Post Road Art Center’s regular business hours.

In conjunction with the show, the Post Road Art Center will be hosting three workshops taught by MacLure on the techniques used to create the pieces being shown. The workshops will be held June 3, 17, and 24 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Signup is available online at postroadartcenter.com/in-person-art-classes.

LSCC Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Golden Gala Concert

LINCOLN/SUDBURY: On Sunday, June 11 at 2:30pm, the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO) celebrates its 50th season with their spring concert, “50 Years of Music Making” at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. The concert will feature Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland, two world premier pieces by William Nicholson, Jr., and Dvorak’s Symphony #6 led by Pip Moss, Conductor Emeritus. The LSCO also welcomes back Emil Altschuler (pictured), acclaimed violin soloist with a selection of pieces with pianist Siu Yan Luk.

In his first year leading the orchestra, Alfonso Piacentini, a charismatic, young conductor and percussionist who also serves under Benjamin Zander as an Assistant Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and its youth orchestra, shares his excitement as the group prepares for this ambitious program, “I'm overjoyed to be working with this group on some challenging, iconic pieces as well as premiering two works by our own managing director and in-house composer, Nick [William Nicholson, Jr.]. Embracing the new can challenge all of us in good ways and it’s been incredibly fun and rewarding to see it happen! We would love nothing more than to share our Simple Gifts with you.”

The LSCO was founded in 1972 as a way for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School students to experience the rigors and joys of performing great orchestral music alongside seasoned adult musicians. Now 50 years later, LSCO draws adult and student members from all over MetroWest. Former Lincoln music educator Pip Moss led the LSCO for 26 years prior to his retirement in 2013. Many of the musicians in today’s orchestra were members of the group under Pip, some when they were high school students. Reflecting on the opportunity to return to conduct at this milestone concert Pip shared, “I wouldn’t have missed it! Coming back and seeing so many familiar faces has been wonderful and I’m looking forward to the concert. I always enjoyed working with this group, people coming together with different backgrounds, from multiple towns and levels of experience to make music together. It’s heartwarming to see the group continue to thrive.”

Violinist Emil Altschuler, also back for this milestone concert, first appeared with LSCO in January 2019, along with his collaborator, Boston’s well know harpist Charles Overton. Altschuler is known internationally as a soloist, chamber music collaborator, and music educator, and directs the Altschuler Summer Music Institute in Rimini, Italy.

“As Managing Director of LSCO for the past 11 years, I’m excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this unique, talented group,” said William Nicholson. “This concert celebrates the orchestra, its members and leaders past and present, and soloists over the years. The music is varied, capturing a sampling of the works this group has played over the years. I hope many will join us to celebrate on June 11.”

The full program planned for the June 11 concert includes A Mighty Fortress – Brass Octet, by William Nicholson, Jr., Academic Festival Overture, by Brahms, Appalachian Spring, by Copland, Variations on Row-Row-Row Your Boat, by Nicholson, Adoration, by Price, Symphony #6, by Dvorak, and Violin and Piano Selections featuring Emil Altschuler with piano accompaniment by Siu Yan Luk.

Admission to the June 11 concert at 2:30pm is a suggested donation of $20 per adult. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is located at 390 Lincoln Rd in Sudbury. The concert will also be livestreamed on SudburyTV. Go to sudburytv.org, Scroll down on the Main page to the Live Stream section and click on Watch Now for the Educational Channel.

Open House/Member Appreciation Cookout at Recovery Connection

MARLBOROUGH: The public is invited to visit The Recovery Connection, 31 Main Street, during its Open House on May 26, 11am-3pm. Welcome is anyone interested in learning more about what this community-based recovery center offers. A non-profit organization located near Marlborough’s Main Street, Route 20 and Route 85, The Recovery Connection is hosting a cookout with games and ice cream sundaes. From 1-3 pm is a Member Appreciation program with guest speakers. Volunteer peer-to-peer support services help community members and families affected by substance use disorder, alcohol use and/or gambling. Drop by to find out about resources available to adults at any stage of recovery. For information, call (508) 485-0298. The Recovery Center is part of Spectrum Health Systems, a non-profit funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.

The American Chestnut Story & WCLT Annual Meeting

WESTBOROUGH: Did you know there is an American Chestnut tree breeding orchard in Westborough? In this program by the Westborough Community Land Trust, learn the fascinating story behind the work that is being done there: What happened to the American Chestnut, a former keystone species in the eastern woodlands? What is Chestnut blight, and how did the scientific community react when it was first discovered in 1901? How did a single pathogen cause an entire species to become functionally extinct? What progress has been made in trying to restore this "Sequoia of the East” and is there any hope of success? The sweeping Chestnut saga will be shared in a presentation on June 12 at 7 pm, at St. Luke's Parish Hall, 1 Ruggles Street. Follow this iconic tree's story from the separation of the continents and the last glaciation to the current understanding of the Chestnut genome and advances in biotechnology.

Presenter Brad Smith joined the American Chestnut Foundation in the early 1990's, upon spotting his first Chestnut in the wild after reading a National Geographic article about this new organization. He became a board member of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter soon after its founding in 2000; he is a past president and remains a director. He has been involved in surveying, pollinating, planting, harvesting and crossbreeding Chestnuts for the last two decades. Brad has recently retired from teaching Latin for 35 years, and has lived in Westborough since 1988.

Free and open to the public. Presentation will start at 7pm; WCLT Annual Business Meeting will follow the presentation at about 8pm. Non-members are welcome to leave after the presentation. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

NPT Executive Director Debbi Edelstein Receives Gold Medal

FRAMINGHAM: Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces Executive Director Debbi Edelstein received an honorary Gold Medal on May 11 presented by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which continues a 192-year tradition of awarding medals to individuals and organizations for their contributions to excellence in horticulture for the public good.

“Under Debbi’s leadership over the past 14 years Native Plant Trust has been transformed into a conservation powerhouse,” notes James Hearsum, President and Executive Director of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, who will bestow the award. “The organization has prioritized evidence-based interventions and has created and enhanced public data tools to enable professionals and the public alike to understand and intervene in support of native plant conservation. Debbi has cultivated and grown a vastly expanded audience for educational and public participation for native plants both in the wild and in gardens. Debbi believes in taking action, and has shaped an organization single-mindedly focused on its mission to save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. The Gold Medal is awarded for the exceptional positive impact for native plants Debbi has had through her leadership of Native Plant Trust and the legacy she passes on for future generations.”

The Gold Medal was first awarded in 1846. Designed by Francis Napoleon Mitchell in 1848, it was designated for "gardens showing unusual skill in arrangement and management; garden superintendents who have done eminent service in the promotion of horticulture; other persons or entities for eminent horticultural accomplishments or outstanding service to this Society.” Later, the criteria for the award was changed to "for eminent horticultural accomplishments or for outstanding service to the Society."
Massachusetts Horticultural Society seeks to help people change their lives and communities for the better through growing plants. As America’s first established horticultural society, MHS has been practicing horticulture for the public good since 1829.

Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Visit them online.

Opera Scenes Showcase on “Love and Nature”

SUDBURY: Celebrate spring with songs of “Love and Nature,” being performed in an Opera Scenes Showcase concert as part of First Parish of Sudbury's Meetinghouse Concert Series on May 21 at 3:30pm. Don’t miss this chance to experience a delightful concert of arias and opera scenes that will feature Boston area opera singers Laura McHugh, soprano; Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano; Giovanni Formisano, tenor; and Carlo Bunyi, baritone. Noriko Yasuda, principal coach at Longy Opera Production and Opera North (NH), will accompany the ensemble.

This concert will feature songs on love and nature by beloved composers Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Floyd, and Puccini. The singers will draw you in with engaging scene-setting narratives to enhance your enjoyment! Come and enjoy these beautiful and rich voices accompanied by our newly restored 1922 Model B Steinway in the wonderful Sudbury Meetinghouse venue! Tickets are $25 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Free parking is available at First Parish (327 Concord Road) and behind Sudbury Town Hall (322 Concord Road).
Please contact (978) 443-2043 or office@fpsudbury.org for further information or CLICK HERE.

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NPL Announces 8th Annual Trillium Week

FRAMINGHAM: Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, will celebrate its eighth annual Trillium Week at Garden in the Woods May 8-14.

“There are few wildflowers as charismatic as trilliums. They are instantly recognizable and widely cherished by gardeners and wildflower enthusiasts alike,” notes Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust. “Our collection of trilliums at Garden in the Woods became a Nationally Accredited Collection in 2013 through the American Public Gardens Association because of the breadth of taxa represented and the quality of our specimens. It is an honor to be recognized for this achievement and encouragement for the staff to continue to develop the collection with the highest standards of horticulture. Please join us during our Trillium Week, when these plants take center stage.”

Trilliums are relatively easy to cultivate, but like so many things in nature, do require patience. From seed it may be five to seven years before a trillium will bloom; clumps with six blossoms may be 50 years old or more.

During Trillium Week there are guided tours of the award-winning trillium collection at Garden in the Woods on May 10, 12, 13 and 14. A self-guided audio tour of the collection is available on the Native Plant Trust website for download.

Twilight Trilliums is the signature event celebrating trilliums and provides an opportunity to stroll the gardens after hours while enjoying beverages and light refreshments from Decanted Wine Trucks, a local, women-owned business. The event will feature live music by guitarist/ composer John Baboian. John has been a member of the faculty at Berklee College of Music since 1980, is a voting member of The Recording Academy (the Grammy’s), and has been a featured performer on over 20 recordings. His compositions and arrangements have been featured on shows including HBO’s The Sopranos. Tickets are $30 members, $36 nonmembers. Click HERE for more information and to register for Twilight Trilliums.

Give Your Stuff Away Day at Sawyer Hill EcoVillage

BERLIN: Sawyer Hill EcoVillage will celebrate Give Your Stuff Away Day (an international environmental holiday) on May 13. Residents will give away toys, clothes, books, media, computer gear, sports equipment, housewares, furniture, and much more -- just as in a multi-family yard sale, but all free. Giveaway hours will be 9am to 1pm. Residents will lay out giveaway items in several designated areas outdoors; other possessions are off-limits. If it rains lightly or rain is threatening, giveaway items may be consolidated at certain spots under outdoor canopies or a porch roof. If heavy rain or severe thunderstorms are expected, a rain date may be posted online. Service animals are welcome, but pets must be left at home. Because COVID is still circulating and the event is often crowded, masking is strongly encouraged. Visitors are also asked to maintain some distance from others not in their group. Reach out to Sawyer Hill EcoVillage.

Blessing of the Animals Multi-generational Service at UCMH

HUDSON: The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH) will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals IN PERSON in the beautiful, historic sanctuary at 80 Main Street in Downtown Hudson. This multi-generational worship service will be led by Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann on May 21 at 10:30am.

“Our animal companions are often cherished members of our families, bringing us deep love and connection as well as laughter and joy,” said Rev. Alice. “This service will feature a blessing of the animals as we honor their importance in our lives.”

Well behaved animals of all varieties are welcome to join on leashes or in appropriate enclosures. There will be a slide show presentation of pets who prefer to be left at home, so they can be included in a distance blessing. Please contact the church office via email at administrator@ucmh.org for information on how to send your picture for inclusion. Additionally, all are invited to bring pictures or other mementos to honor pets on the Altar of Memory.

Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of faith, religion, or spiritual affiliation, including atheists. Additional information, including links to services, is available at www.ucmh.org.

All-You-Can-Eat BBQ for a Great Cause

MARLBOROUGH/HUDSON: The scouts of Hudson Troop 77, Hudson Troop 2, Marlboro Troop 2 and Assabet Valley Crew 23 invite the community to an all-you-can-eat BBQ fundraiser, benefiting Scouting activities and community service projects. The event will be held May 21 at Jacobs Hall in the Marlboro Masonic Building at 8 Newton Street in Marlborough. Participants can enjoy endless food catered by Stevie’s Cafe, including vegetarian and gluten free options. Tickets are $20/adult (11+); $15/child (10 and under) and are available online at https://scout-all-you-can-eat-bbq.square.site for a preferred seating time (11-12, 12-1, 1-2 or 2-3).

Scouting supports youth ages 11-18 as they engage in community service projects, conservation activism, and outdoor exploration while developing lifelong skills. Participants have gone on to become leaders in their community, school and career as they go forward while giving back to others. Your support at this event helps the Troops and Crew with supplies for future projects and supports scouting activities so that no one is limited by financial cost. If you have any questions on this event please email fundraiser.hudsontroop77@gmail.com.

Sudbury Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale

SUDBURY: This year, The Sudbury Garden Club is featuring a two-part plant sale. The Online Plant Shop will run online from May 1-10 with pick-up on May 13 from 9-11am in the Peter Noyes School Parking Lot. The Live Sale on May 13 runs from 9am-12pm in front of the Town Hall. Their famous Bake Sale will be back, too! Look for your favorite items from past years and explore our new ones. Whether you’re looking for a special gift for Mom or you’re ready to add color and variety to your garden, you’ll find a great assortment of nursery-quality annuals, member-grown perennials, hanging baskets, herbs and vegetable plants. Club members will be on hand to offer advice on where and how to plant or display your selections. These plants make great gifts for Mother’s Day on (May 14) and don’t forget to sample, or bring home, some delicious homemade treats from the Bake Table! Rain or shine.

The Plant Sale is the Club’s major fund raiser and proceeds benefit the Sudbury Community. The Club awards scholarships to Sudbury high-school students who plan
to study horticulture, agriculture, or environmental science. Funds help support civic plantings at Heritage Park, the Goodnow Library, the Town Hall, traffic islands and various Sudbury locations. Monthly meetings offer a variety of educational programs (open to the public) and their Community Outreach Program distributes small floral arrangements to Meals on Wheels, the Sudbury Food Pantry, nursing homes and other organizations. Members also provide flower arrangements for the circulation desk at the library.

The SGC coordinates the local garden clubs’ decorating of the Wayside Inn for the holidays and participates in decorating the Hosmer House. New members are always welcome. For more information, follow them on Facebook or visit www.sudburygardenclub.org.

Kaleidoscope Unveiled at Unitarian Church of Marlboro & Hudson: Open for Viewing at Hudson ArtsFest

HUDSON/MARLBOROUGH: The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson (UCMH) is pleased to announce the recent unveiling of a human-sized, fully functional kaleidoscope created by local artist and UCMH member Elisa Abatsis. Handcrafted with items used in various Sunday Services, the shifting patterns inside the kaleidoscope include gems and sand from the sharing of joys and sorrows, as well as wax from the Christmas Eve candlelight service and artificial flower petals from springtime services.

“The kaleidoscope was built to express my appreciation for the congregational relationships I've formed at the Unitarian Church of Marlboro and Hudson,” Ms. Abatsis said. “We come from different backgrounds and experiences, but our shared values of love, compassion, and understanding unite us. When we come together, we create a community that is both supportive and challenging. We learn from each other, grow together, and support each other. The kaleidoscope reminds us that even the most ordinary things can be transformed into something beautiful through collaboration and deep reflection.”

The Kaleidoscope will be on public display during the Hudson ArtsFest on May 6 (rain date May 13). All are invited to stop by for a look! The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson is located at 80 Main Street in Hudson, across Church Street from Hudson Town Hall. For more information, please email administrator@ucmh.org or call (978) 562-9180.

Hundredth Town Chorus Presents Two Free Concerts

WESTBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH: The Hundredth Town Chorus will present two free public concerts entitled "The Rainbow Connection" in May. On May 17 at 10:30am, the Chorus will perform at the Westborough Senior Center at 4 Rogers Road; and on May 24th at 10:30 am they will be at the Southborough Senior Center at 9 Cordaville Road.

HTC is an organization of women who enjoy singing four-part harmony in a relaxing and fun environment. The chorus was founded in 1949 by the Westborough Women's Club, with a mission to share the joy of music by singing and entertaining at area nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and senior centers. Today's chorus is made up of members from all over Worcester County, including Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Marlborough, Grafton, Framingham, Hopkinton, Millbury, and Uxbridge. The chorus also performs at area events such as Westborough's Arts in Common and the Westborough 300th Anniversary Celebration. Music includes holiday classics, Broadway favorites, popular music, and folk songs, as well as an occasional classical number.

HTC is supported, in part, by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Congregation B'nai Shalom graciously donates rehearsal space. For more information, visit the website www.hundredthtownchorus.com or facebook page, email htc.chorus@gmail.com, or call (508) 847-2961.

Register Your Child for BGCMW's Summer Program

FRAMINGHAM: Parents and guardians in the MetroWest community are invited to register their children for the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest Summer program, open to youth between ages of 5-14. The Summer Program offers an inclusive, safe & supportive environment. Programing will be offering a wide range of activities to promote physical fitness, creativity, learning & enrichment, to combat Summer Slide, which refers to the academic decline that can occur when students are out of school during the summer months.

"Our program is designed to keep children engaged and active during the summer months," said Tammi Pudlo Framingham Clubhouse Director. "Our staff is dedicated to providing a fun and educational experience that will help children build self-confidence, develop new friendships, and create lasting memories."

Alumni Olivia Barbosa attests to the transformative power of the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest after-school program. “I went to the Boys & Girls Club after-school program for most of my elementary school years and a few summers. I learned so much from the club and developed more social skills than I could ever have at school. My most vivid memories where the trips we would go on in the summer of 2012,” said Barbosa, Framingham Clubhouse alumni and now program staff. “It was such a fun summer for me. I remember going to Boston, riding the swan boats, going to Butterworth Park, and even winning my first “big girl” bike in a raffle at the end of the summer. I will always cherish my memories from my time at the club and the friendships I made from going there in the summer time and afterschool. “

The 8-week program runs from June 26 to August 18, at our Framingham Clubhouse, located at 25 Clinton Street. To register for the Summer Program or to learn more, visit www.bgcmetrowest.org/framingham-summer-program or call the Framingham Clubhouse at (508) 620-7145.

UCMH Now Accepting Applications for New Crafter's Market: Deadline May 15

MARLBOROUGH/HUDSON: The Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson will host a Crafters’ Market directly across from the Hudson Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays, from June 20 through September 26 (excluding 7/4) from 3:30-6:30pm. Local crafters who hand-make items of all kinds are invited to submit applications for a high visibility 10×10 space. Reserve a space for a single date for $30, or save when you commit to multiple dates. Full pricing details, along with an online application form, can be found at www.ucmh.org. The application deadline is May 15, and vendors will be notified of acceptance by June 1. For more information, please email administrator@ucmh.org or call (978) 562-9180.

Help Create a Safe New Home for Survivors of Abuse

SUDBURY/MAYNARD: Spring is a time of renewal and new growth, a time for starting over, and planting seeds for the future. It is also the time for the Shower for Shelters. The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable cordially invites you to participate in its Annual Shower for Shelters. You can help families transitioning from a shelter or transitional housing to establish a new home by donating new household items or gift cards. All gifts collected will be donated to clients of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

The Shower for Shelters is being held through May 5. New unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at Spirits of Maynard, 4 Digital Way, Suite 3, Maynard or at Sudbury Wine and Spirits, 410 Boston Post Road, Rugged Bear Plaza, Sudbury. Requested items include: diapers, twin size comforters, sheets and pillowcases, bed pillows, towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses, small kitchen appliances, and other household items. Gift cards for the following are also welcome: Target, Walmart, CVS, Market Basket, Hannafords, Stop and Shop ($20-$50). For further information, please visit the Roundtable online at www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.

Northborough Garden Club Hosts Chocolate & Vanilla Presentation

NORTHBOROUGH: Delight your senses in this special Northborough Garden Club presentation of Chocolate and Vanilla featuring medical aromatherapist Nancy Engel. Engel will share photos of an organic farm in Costa Rica which grows vanilla beans, cinnamon, peppercorns, cacao for chocolate and more. Learn about the growing and drying process, and enjoy tastings of different types of high- quality chocolate.

Nancy Engel has traveled the world to study aromatic and culinary plants. She trained as a medical aromatherapist in Provence with a French Medical doctor, and German chemist. In addition to the farm in Costa Rica, Engel has worked on the lavender and herb harvests of Southern France, and the fragrant Rose Harvest in Central Turkey. Her company, Goodness Remedies, makes products from these aromatic plants and herbs.

Guest registration and a $5 donation at the door is requested. Please sign-up online at www.NorthboroughGardenClub.com.

The Ice Age in Westborough

WESTBOROUGH: On May 7 from 1:30-3:30pm, learn about how Westborough was shaped by glaciers with the Westborough Community Land Trust! Glaciers covered the land in a mile-thick ice sheet eight different times over the last million years. During this 2.5-mile round-trip hike around upper Jackstraw Trail, leader Andy Koenigsberg will take the group along the edge of Lake Chauncy, and north to visit a glacially deposited former sand and gravel quarry. Come away with an understanding of how New England’s rocky, hilly, pond-filled landscape came to exist as we see it today. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

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 and meet near the yellow gate. No reservation needed. Check for weather cancellations before setting out: westboroughlandtrust.org.

Trail Map: https://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/map_FishWildlife.pdf

Map: https://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf

Plug Into the Outdoors!

WESTBOROUGH: Turn off the devices and turn on the wonder! Join the Westborough Community Land Trust on a family-friendly afternoon in nature on April 30, 1:30-3:30pm. Spend some family time looking for and learning about the plants, trees, insects, birds, and animals right in our own back yard. The event will take place on the Gilmore Pond All-Persons Trail, so strollers and individuals of all ages and abilities are welcome! Presented as part of Westborough Unplugs week.
Free, no reservation needed. Short, level crushed stone trail with integrated boardwalks. Meet at the Gilmore Pond Trail Entrance, GPS address approximately 19 Quick Farm Road. Park along one side of Quick Farm Road. WCLT is a non-profit, all-volunteer land protection organization, and is not affiliated with the government of the Town of Westborough. For questions, contact events@westboroughlandtrust.org.

Map: https://westboroughcharm.org/guide/maps/upperjackstraw_trail_map.pdf

Monarch Butterfly Presentation

SUDBURY: Please join the Friends of Assabet River, Oxbow and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuges for an inspiring presentation on Monarch Butterfly conservation. The program will be held at Great Meadows NWR, 73 Weir Hill Road on April 26, 7pm. For additional information or questions, email friendsofaroxgm@gmail.com. Light refreshments will be served.

Monarchs are the most well-travelled insect of North America and a recent addition to the IUCN red-list of endangered species. Learn about their biology, life strategy, how their migration works, what challenges threaten the species, what restoration looks like and how you can be more "Monarch friendly".

Tim Puopolo is a former refuge intern and has been working professionally as a park ranger since with the National Park Service, the DCR, and the City of Cambridge where he is now. Tim is working closely with Monarch Watch to help restore Monarch populations in Massachusetts.

Goodnow Library to Hold Film Screening of "Cycle of Memory

SUDBURY: Goodnow Library is pleased to share that it will partner with the Sudbury Senior Center and Dementia Friendly Sudbury for a screening of the award-winning documentary "Cycle of Memory" on April 26 at the Library, 21 Concord Road. Refreshments will be available at 5:30pm, and the film will begin at 6pm. Filmmaker Alex Leff will join virtually for a question and answer session after the screening. This film is recommended for ages 16+ and contains some strong language, as well as mild cannabis use. Registration is required to attend. Those interested should contact the Sudbury Senior Center at (978) 443-3055 or by email at senior@sudbury.ma.us.

"Cycle of Memory" tells the story of Mel Schwartz, Leff's grandfather, who escaped the Great Depression on a bicycle. Seventy-five years later, after Schwartz lost his memory to Alzheimer's, his grandchildren set out to recreate his life-changing journey and find those memories before they slip away. "Cycle of Memory" explores the importance of intergenerational connection, healing painful pasts, and leaving a meaningful time capsule for the future. To view the film's trailer, click here.

Uxbridge Senior Center's Silver Club Plans Vermont Road Trip

UXBRIDGE: The Silver Club from the Uxbridge Senior Center is organizing a trip to Vermont on May 22. There will be stops at King Arthur Flour with a tour of their facility, Simon Pearce Company to witness the glass blowing, and the Vermont Country Store for some fun shopping for things you may not be able to purchase at other places. Lunch is included at the Alta Tuscan Grill with choices of Tuscan skirt steak, penne ala vodka, Sicilian marinated chicken, or spaghetti with pomodoro sauce and meatballs. All entrees include a caesar salad and chocolate cake. The bus departs from the Dollar General at 135 Providence Rd and the Millbury Park and Ride at Rt 146/ Mass Pike/ Rt 20. Everyone is welcome to join the Silver Club on this and any other trips. Call Sue at (508) 476-5820 for more information.

SVT Storybook Trail to Celebrate Earth Day

SUDBURY: Beginning on April 15, the Storybook Trail at SVT’s Wolbach Farm will feature Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room Five. This story by Erin Dealey tells of a grade school class that exchanges letters with Earth about how they can help save the planet. It’s a wonderful story to read in celebration of Earth Day (April 22). Ideal for young readers, the Storybook Trail consists of 12 stations along a ¾-mile wooded trail that goes up and over a hill. Adults and children can read the story together while enjoying a pleasant walk in nature. After walking the Storybook Trail, visitors are welcome to drop by the “Nature Nook” at Wolbach Farm to see some fun displays on the birds, pollinators, and animals in the area.

Both the Storybook Trail and the Nature Nook can be accessed from SVT headquarters at 18 Wolbach Road. Please note that the Storybook Trail can be muddy, so wear proper footwear. It’s also best to leave strollers in the car. For more information, and directions, please visit www.svtweb.org/WolbachFarm.

The 2023 Louise Houle Annual Town Clean Up

NORTHBOROUGH: The Northborough Community Affairs Committee invites all to take part in Northborough's Louise Houle Annual Town Clean Up on April 29. The committee will host the weekend kick-off at the Pavilion at Ellsworth-McAfee Park, Rt. 135 from 7:30-10am, which will include registration and a light breakfast courtesy of Northborough Wegmans and Dunkin of Shrewsbury Street. Residents will be provided with their clean-up supplies at the morning event. They can clean their designated area anytime over the weekend and bags will be picked up on Monday morning by the DPW. The Committee encourages you to sign up ahead of time here: https://signup.com/go/fnXCrKH.

Also, if residents would like to clean ahead of the weekend, bags and gloves will be available in outside bins starting April 27 at 6 Mohican Avenue and 213 Indian Meadow Drive.

During the breakfast, food items will be collected to be donated to the Northborough Food Pantry.

For more information visit Northborough Community Affairs Committee on Facebook or visit Town Cleanup - Northborough Community Affairs Committee (weebly.com).

Ed Kreutz Presents Revolutionary War Firearms

SUDBURY: Join Ed Kreutz and the Sudbury Historical Society April 27 for an entertaining evening learning about Revolutionary War firearms. Ed is a gunsmith and builder of reproduction 18th-century flintlock weapons. He is also a historical researcher and re-enactor specializing in the Revolutionary War for over 45 years. During his talk he will show examples of the weapons and accoutrements used by the combative nations as well as civilian firearms of the time. Please note that the articles being presented are replicas and do not contain live ammunition. Free for SHS Members, $5 for non-members. Tickets available at Eventbrite.

Save A Dog’s Paws in the Park May 7

SUDBURY: Save A Dog Inc. of Sudbury is hosting its annual Paws in the Park fundraiser event on May 7 from 10am-3pm on the beautiful grounds of Longfellow’s Wayside Inn. Rain or shine, this is the place to be for a fun day where dogs and dog lovers can meet and have fun while raising funds to save the lives of homeless dogs and cats. There will be lots of dog games and contests in the main ring, nose work demonstration, a dog agility ring, kids games, bake sale booth, retail booth, raffle/silent auction booth, several vendors and other rescue organizations, and a food court for humans and dogs. There will also be an adoptable dogs parade at noon featuring dogs from other rescue organizations as well as Save A Dog, and an optional group pledge walk at 11am. The first 50 dogs get a goody bag! Admission is $10 per adult; $5 for children from 5-12; children under 5 are free - or bring in $10 or more in pledges and admission is free!

Many dogs and cats have passed through Save A Dog in the last couple of years, some with special issues and some with the need for medical treatments. Now that they are able to hold fundraisers and events once again, their ability to raise money to continue their mission will return with great joy from their volunteers. For more information about this event and the organization, visit www.saveadog.org.

May Pole Dancing on the Sudbury Town Common

SUDBURY: Join First Parish of Sudbury in dancing around the Maypole, on May 7 at 11:30am on the Sudbury Town Common, across from First Parish, 327 Concord Road. All are invited to join Brad Saylor in learning Maypole dances and Tom Kruskal and the Hopbrook Morris dancers! There is no fee to attend this program. Free parking is available behind Sudbury Town Hall, 322 Concord Road.

First Parish of Sudbury has been dancing around the Maypole for over 30 years—and we'd like to invite the community to join us in this joyful tradition— the coming of summer! Maypole dancing is a centuries-old tradition celebrated on May Day. It is believed to have started in Roman Britain around 2,000 years ago, when soldiers celebrated the arrival of spring by dancing around decorated trees, thanking their goddess Flora. These days, dancers weave ribbons around a pole rather than a tree, celebrating the arrival of spring. For more information, call (978) 443-2043, email office@fpsudbury.org, or visit https://fpsudbury.org/mayday23.

Sudbury Garden Club Annual Plant Sale May 13

SUDBURY: The Sudbury Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale will be held May 13. This year, they are featuring a two-part sale. The Online Plant Shop will run online at sudburygardenclub.org from May 1-10 with pick-up on May 13 from 9-11am in the Peter Noyes School Parking Lot. The Live Sale on May 13 runs from 9am-12pm
in front of the Town Hall. Their famous Bake Sale will be back, too! Look for your favorite items from past years and explore our new ones. These plants make great gifts for Mother’s Day!

This sale is the Club's only source of revenue which supports all their activities, monthly meetings (open to the public and offering a variety of educational programs), their Community Outreach program which distributes small floral arrangements to Meals on Wheels, the Sudbury Food Pantry, nursing homes and other organizations, their Civic Beautification efforts throughout the town (Heritage Park, the Goodnow Library & various traffic islands), and scholarships awarded to deserving high-school seniors who plan to study horticulture, agriculture or environmental sciences.

Spring is a great time to donate plants and the SGC will help dig your perennials, flowers, shrubs, biennials, ground covers, ornamental grasses, ferns, fruits, and herbs. They are happy to accept plants or set up digging appointments. Keep in mind that dividing your perennials helps keep your garden healthy and vibrant while doing a good deed for SGC. Be sure to tell your friends and neighbors about the sale and how it benefits the livelihood of the Club and the Town!

4-Week Jewpernatural Course to offer some of Judaism’s Answers on Dreams, Astrology, Demons & Ghosts

SUDBURY: Paranormal beliefs are rising fast. In 2016, 46 percent of Americans reported believing in ghosts, according to Chapman University. That figure has reached 57 percent, and since the pandemic, one in five Americans say they’ve personally met a ghost. And it’s not just ghosts. Topics like astrology, dream interpretation, and psychic abilities are rapidly becoming mainstream.

Although the resurgence of public interest in the paranormal is new, Rabbi Yisroel Freeman of the Chabad Center of Sudbury says we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Starting May 2 and running through May 23, he will be leading a 4-week course from the Jewish Learning Institute entitled Jewpernatural that unearths the Jewish perspective on dreams, astrology, spirits, and other enduring mysteries.

The trend toward the paranormal encompasses a broad spectrum of beliefs, including jinxes, demons, spirits, communicating with the deceased, and astrology. To satisfy this curiosity, Jewpernatural addresses everything from the role of angels and the efficacy of the “evil eye” to whether the stars have much to say about your future.

The course is open to the wider community and like all of our courses no background knowledge is required. The course will be offered online and in person and will run for four Tuesday evenings. Interested students can see more detailed information on this course and sign up. You may also call (978) 443-0110 or email info@chabadsudbury.com.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest Honor Inductees Into Hall of Fame

MARLBOROUGH: The Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest will be hosting their Hall of Fame Breakfast on May 18, 7:30am, at the Courtyard by Marriott. BGCMW will be honoring five individuals who have been committed to the Clubs – personally, professionally, and/or financially – throughout the MetroWest community. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Delma Josephson, Founder of Marlborough Girls Club; John Petrin, BGCMW Board of Director; Brent DeBraga, Alumni and former BGCMW Teen Coordinator; and Julie Horrigan, Alumni and former VP of Resource Development.

As a 79 year old institution with well-established roots in Marlborough and the surrounding communities, it is so important that the volunteers and staff who have been champions for BGCMW are celebrated. The breakfast is also celebrating BGCMW’s 2023 Youths of the Year. The Youth of the Year award is the highest honor available for current members and recognizes a member’s dedication, leadership, and academic achievement.

“The Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates individuals who have dedicated their lives to supporting the Club’s mission of building great futures for youth,” said Chris Duane, President and CEO, “It is an honor to recognize these individuals and to carry on their legacy.”

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, one recipient will be awarded the Ron Young Memorial Award. The Ron Young Memorial Award is a lifetime achievement award given to a dedicated supporter, volunteer, or staff member who has carried on Ron’s legacy in the Club. This year’s recipient is Barbara Masterson, the Director of the Happy Hours Preschool. Barbara has been the Director for 35 years and remains steadfastly dedicated to the community’s youth.

The Youth of the Year program honors current members for their outstanding achievements. These youth are on the path to building their great futures and meet the criteria to be future Hall of Fame members. The 2023 recipients for the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest Youth of Year are Nihjae Perkins from the Marlborough Clubhouse, Lucas Pessoni from the Hudson Clubhouse and Nora Steiner from the Framingham Clubhouse. Congratulations for Nihjae Perkins who was selected as 2023 Youth of the Year to represent BGCMW at a state-wide level vying for the Massachusetts Youth of the Year.

Tickets are open to the public and on sale now. Visit www.bgcmetrowest.org/hall-of-fame to purchase your ticket or make a donation in recognition of an honoree.

St. Stephen Lutheran Church Packs 22 Welcome Kits for Fresh Start

MARLBOROUGH: Members of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlboro, packaged 22 kitchen-themed welcome bags for clients of Fresh Start Furniture Bank, filled with cutting boards, measuring cups, strainers, mixing bowls, cooking utensils and more, and delivered them this week, along with specialty items, ranging from baking pans and cookie sheets to toaster ovens and wire whisks. Extra and additional items filled another half-dozen bags, and boxes with small appliances topped off a rolling cart as volunteers transferred them from the church to a vehicle for delivery to the Hudson-based Fresh Start.

The project was made possible by donations from those who attended the recent jazz concert presented by The Rebecca Pagano Quartet as part of St. Stephen Presents, a quarterly musical program. Music lovers were asked to bring kitchen gadgets or small appliances as their admission fee to the well-attended event. Many also made cash contributions. More than $500 was donated. Another $500 from Thrivent Financial was used to purchase additional items people who are setting up new households might need. (Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services company that sponsors generosity programs; Thrivent members from St. Stephen applied for the funding for the Fresh Start kitchen kits.)

“We were delighted to partner with an organization as exciting as Fresh Start Furniture Bank,” said Martha Domke, who along with Melanie Whapham spearheaded the project through the church’s Social Ministry team. “Fresh Start has been very supportive of our efforts and we feel confident that the kits will go to deserving individuals and families. We look forward to working with them again in the future. All of the volunteers at FSFB are happy, encouraging folks,” Melanie added. “It is hard not to catch their enthusiasm.”

St. Stephen Lutheran Church has supported Fresh Start in a variety of projects over the years, she noted. A collection of small furniture pieces is a potential future endeavor. For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page.

Special Ed Parent Group to Host “Go The Distance” Awards Night

NORTHBOROUGH: The Northborough Southborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council (NSPAC) will host its 13th annual Go the Distance Awards Night on May 11 at Algonquin Regional High School cafeteria, 70 Bartlett Street, 6-7:30pm. The evening strives to recognize district staff and community members who have made a difference in the life of a special needs student in the Northborough/Southborough school district. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.nspac.org/gtd. The nomination window will be open thru April 14.

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.
Whether your child is already receiving support services or you are trying to determine if your child needs services, NSPAC is dedicated to providing information, resources and friendships to families as you navigate the special education process.

Meetings, speakers, and events of interest can be found on the website at www.nspac.org or follow NSPAC on Facebook.

AVM Host Latin American Celebration

MARLBOROUGH: Assabet Valley Mastersingers will present A Latin American Celebration on May 13 at the Whitcomb School, 25 Union Street at 7:30pm. Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director and Founder will conduct the chorus, guest Latin musicians will perform with cultural instruments, and groups will combine to perform the "Misa Criolla."

This choral tribute to the music of Latin American neighbors will feature Colombian tenor David Rivera Bozon, Andean woodwind specialist and flutist Gonzalo Cortes, and Alturo Duro, who are specialists in South American music, performing guitar, charango and percussion. They will join the Assabet Valley Mastersingers in performing the popular "Misa Criolla" by Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez. The program will also include shorter choral arrangements of folk music from Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. Composers Carlos Guastavino and Hietor Villa-Lobos will be represented as well as folk songs such as “Alma Llanera” and “Moreno Faceira”.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.AVMsingers.org or at the venue the
afternoon of the concert. The price is $25; $20 for seniors and students. Proof of vaccination is not required and wearing of masks is strongly encouraged but not required. There will be a reserved mask only section for those who prefer that environment. For further information, reference www.AVMsingers.org.

AVM 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 and from Southborough Community Fund, a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.

Benefit for the Arts: AVM Gold Outing & Dinner/Concert

BOYLSTON: Assabet Valley Mastersingers is hosting its 2023 AVM Golf Outing and Dinner/Concert benefit on May 22 at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club. Golfers will enjoy the Mark Mungeam-designed championship course which has received national recognitions and numerous awards. Players will compete for a $10,000 Cash Prize for a Hole in One on the targeted hole, with ancillary prizes on non-targeted holes.

The Golf Outing includes an 18-hole scramble, contests, prizes, raffle, lunch and dinner, gifts, a team photo, and concert! Additional contests include: First Place and Runner Up Foursomes, Most Honest Foursome, Longest Drive Men, Longest Drive Women, and Closest to the Pin. The single golfer fee is $150 and $580 for a foursome.

Golf registration is available at www.avmsingers.org/golf through May 7, 2023. This popular event entertains both golfers and dinner/concert guests. Guests will enjoy appetizers, raffle, and dinner followed by a lighthearted concert called “What the Court Jester Saw!”. The Chambersingers, an 18-voice ensemble, will perform in the Music Room. Dinner/Concert pricing is $50 per person. Dinner reservations are required and available at www.avmsingers.org/golf through May 7, 2023.

Money raised at this event enables AVM to continue to bring quality programming to the community while enhancing the area’s cultural offerings. All proceeds from this benefit event will support the operating expenses of the Assabet Valley Mastersingers, a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization. For more information and/or sponsorship, visit www.avmsingers.org/golf or contact Matt Pietro, Event Chair at AVMgolf@avmsingers.org.

Svt safiyat hamiss photo by safiya hamiss

SVT Announces Spring Programs

Area residents are invited to attend one of the many nature-themed programs hosted by Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT). The nonprofit conservation group recently posted its Spring 2023 Program Calendar on its website, along with complete details and registration information. Highlights include a Senior Walks in Acton, Wayland, and Sudbury (various dates in April and May); Unlock Your Inner Food Gardener (May 6); Spring Wildflower Walks in Berlin and Sudbury (May 13); a Plant Identification and Natural History Walk in Harvard (May 14); and a Full Moon Walk in Wayland (June 2). Space is limited and registration is required.

In honor of Earth Day, SVT will lead a History Hike Up Tippling Rock in Sudbury on April 22, at 9am. Plus, a special webinar on April 20 will explore how backyard gardens can contribute to climate change resilience.

SVT also offers volunteer opportunities for those interested in caring for local conservation lands. Upcoming projects include building a boardwalk across wetlands in Sudbury, creating a new hiking trail in Berlin, and pulling non-native invasive plants from conservation areas in several towns. New volunteers are also invited to attend the Spring Volunteer Orientation Session over Zoom on April 26 at 7pm.

Complete information about SVT programs and volunteer projects is available at www.svtweb.org/calendar.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest Appoints Five New Board Members

MARLBOROUGH: The Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest (BGCMW) added five new members to the Board of Directors. Joining the Finance and Operations committee includes Robert Borek, VP, Director of Operations at The TJX Companies; Margaret DeLanders, Attorney at Bowditch & Dewey; Christopher Tracy, Vice President, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Jeffrey Tucker, EVP – Strategy & Risk Management at Main Street Bank. Joining the Resource Development committee is Angela Scott, as a community volunteer. Jason Kleinerman, a partner at The Rail Trail Flatbread Co. is also joining the Finance and Operations committee.

BGCMW Board members play a critical role in the success of Club programs for youth. Their responsibilities include setting the organization's strategic direction, overseeing its financial management, and ensuring that it operates in compliance with legal and ethical standards. Board members bring diverse skills and perspectives to the table, as well as a passion for the organization's mission. This varied board will additionally establish the Boys & Girls Clubs as a powerful supporter for young people in all the communities they operate in. Ultimately, the top priority is to give a voice to youth and encourage them to speak up throughout this year.

St. Stephen Lutheran Church Welcomes New Pastor

MARLBOROUGH: Parishioners at St. Stephen Lutheran Church welcomed a new pastor recently, and the warmth of that welcome has brought joy to Pastor Rheanna Goodrich and her family as they settle in to their new home. “The call has been amazing so far,” says Pr Rheanna.
“The congregation has been so welcoming to our family, and super supportive.”

At St. Stephen, the new pastor is “looking forward to getting to know everybody here, working with people to figure out what comes next.” Her focus is both the church and the Marlborough-Hudson community. She notes that “a lot of people don’t know Jesus, a loving, benevolent God. There is so much pain and brokenness.” The call of the church, she says “is to help heal.”

Pr Rheanna comes to SSLC from Michigan, where she has spent the major portion of her life, but New England is also in her background. Born in Montana, she lived with her parents and sister in New Hampshire from age 2 to Grade 4, and has fond memories of outdoor activities. “We ran around in the woods all the time and loved playing outside.” Her family attended Baptist and Episcopal churches, but she came back to her Lutheran roots in Michigan during her high school years. Her faith was important, but Pr. Rheanna didn’t realize then that it would become her vocation and went on to earn a BS in English with a focus in Creative Writing at
Central Michigan University. After graduation, “I quickly realized I needed a job and went into business,” she recalls of her time spent managing apartment complexes. “Then God got involved.”

Active in her congregation leading programs, and serving as council president, the thought of becoming a pastor emerged, but she was unsure “whether I wanted to take on the responsibility in my 20s.” She was now married - she and Mara will mark their 21 st anniversary this summer. Talking with Mara and her pastor, eventually “there were enough signs that I couldn’t ignore it. This was in my heart.” She enrolled in the five year program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and daughter Kaili, now 12, was born during this time. Pr Rheanna accepted a first call to a church in Au Gres, MI, “a lovely, rural community experience,” and a second call to Bridgeport, MI, closer to Mara’s work.

Accepting her third call meant a move to Massachusetts for the family of three and four cats. “It is fabulous to be back in a place of diverse culture, people, language, and food,” she says. The family likes the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, and camping. Pr Rheanna also enjoys creative writing, including science fiction as well as poetry. Among many new and old adventures, she would love to try snowshoeing again, take Kaili to Hampton Beach, to experience it as she had as a child, and all three would like to explore Salem, and the history of a very distinct era. “We were looking for a new adventure,” Pr. Rheanna says with a smile, adding that “New England is a homecoming for me and had everything we were looking for.”

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, welcoming to all. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow and Bolton. Sunday worship is at 10am, with Sunday School at 9am.

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Awards Scholarships to Local Students for Upcoming (RYLA) Conference in June

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley announced that it has awarded scholarships to this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference to be held in June. The lucky scholarship winners are Nevaeh Duplessis, Vincenzo Porfino, Riley Dinjian and Madison Oxnard.

Robert Johnson, local Committee Chairperson, said that the chosen students will be among the more than 150 Massachusetts high school sophomores who will attend the RYLA Conference. Aimed at developing the leadership potential of young men and women, the conference will feature many thought-provoking events including interactive Leadership Labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities that will provide the participants with a chance to excel amongst and with their peers. Topics will include decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service. To be chosen, the candidates needed to qualify by showing leadership potential and good citizenship characteristics and showing a strong desire to attend and benefit from the conference. Additionally, in their individual interviews, they needed to stand out from the other applicants.

Congratulations from the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley to this year’s scholarship winners and their families! Anyone interested in obtaining further information should visit www.ryla7910.org or contact
Robert Johnson at johnson@itesafety.com, (978) 875-3143 or any other member of the Nashoba Valley Rotary Club.

Algonquin Regional High School’s Inclusive DECA Program Presents A Fashion Show

NORTHBOROUGH: Algonquin comes alive with style when the Inclusive DECA Program presents a fashion show on March 30 at 6pm at Algonquin High School, 79 Bartlett Street. Experience a runway show of eclectic outfits individually chosen by Inclusive DECA students to showcase their personal style with support from club advisor Zbysia Giegucz, their peers, and members of the Algonquin Fashion Club. There will also be a concession table with light refreshments. Admission is $8 at the door. Proceeds support the continuation of Inclusive DECA, a self-funded program. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to support community food banks.

"Every year we set up a different type of business for the kids to be involved in from start to finish," said Ms. Giegucz. "In past years we have created a business model to make and sell items, but this year I wanted to do something different with them. A fashion show event lets them showcase what they have been learning about, such as appropriate dress for job interviews and other events. Over the years, it has been exciting to see how working on these business projects and events brings out the potential in each student and helps them figure out what skills they are good at. And most of all, they have fun!"

Inclusive DECA is a business club for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Students learn the basics of business processes such as interview skills, marketing, inventory control, working in groups, money management, and so much more with hands-on activities to create products and plan events. The ultimate goal is for students to learn lifelong business skills that they will carry over to future jobs after they leave Algonquin.

SVT Conserves Berlin Property

SUDBURY: Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT), a nonprofit conservation organization that works in 36 cities and towns, recently worked with the Town of Berlin to protect 44 acres of open space off Highland Street in the northern part of town. SVT has given the name Highland Ridge Woods to this new conservation area. The organization plans to work with the Town of Berlin to create public hiking trails at the site.

The Highland Ridge Woods property encircles the new Homes at Highland Ridge 55+ community. During the permitting process for the housing development, the Town of Berlin required that these 44 acres be permanently conserved as open space. This resulted in the landowner donating the land to SVT.

“SVT was happy to accept the donation and permanently protect this land,” said Meredith Houghton, SVT Senior Land Protection Specialist. “The property features a rich diversity of wildlife habitats. It sits in a white pine forest with a mix of young and old trees, and it also plays a role in flood protection for the surrounding area.”

In the coming months, SVT will grant a conservation restriction (CR) on the property to the Berlin Conservation Commission. The CR is a legal agreement that will permanently restrict development and become part of the property deed. By holding the CR, the Conservation Commission can ensure that this land will remain undeveloped.

“The Town wanted these 44 acres to be protected as open space, so we were pleased that SVT was able to take ownership of the property,” said Carolyn MacDonald, chair of the Berlin Conservation Commission. “We have worked with SVT on several previous conservation projects in Berlin, so we knew the organization would take good care of the land and its wildlife habitats.”

The Town of Berlin holds a trail easement across the Highland Ridge Woods property. Together, SVT and the Town will create hiking trails that will give the public permanent access to this new conservation land.

PHOTO: The 44-acre Highland Ridge Woods property will be permanently conserved as open space with hiking trails for public enjoyment.

Save A Dog Miles for Mutts

MARLBOROUGH: Lace up those sneakers and help some homeless dogs in the process! Save a Dog is excited to bring back their 5k Road Race - Miles for Mutts! Run or walk this officially timed, scenic 5k course. 100% of proceeds benefit Save A Dog of Sudbury's mission to rescue and rehome all breeds of dogs. The race will be held on April 8 starting at the Moose Lodge, 67 Fitchburg Street, and go along the scenic Assabet River Valley Rail Trail. Check-in and bib pick-up starts at 8:30am and the race starts at 10am. $35 for ages 18+ and $25 for under 18. Dogs are welcome with walkers only. Register now for Save A Dog's Miles For Mutts 5K Race/Walk at miles4mutt5k.racewire.com. T-shirts and swag bags to the first 100 registered! All proceeds directly benefit Save A Dog's mission to rescue dogs.

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