Westford/Littleton

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Current Edition - 11/29/24
Previous Edition - 11/22/24

HEADLINES

New Winter Artisan Showcase Happening in the Lunenburg Library!

Local crafters and artists will be setting up inside the Lunenburg Library to showcase their wares for a special Winter Artisan Showcase on Sunday, December 8th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Bakers, makers, artists and small businesses are creating an interactive pop-up shopping experience just in time for the holidays. Browse through items including soaps, candles, paintings, fiber goods, fresh baked snacks, leather crafts, home decor and great gift ideas. Bring the whole family and join in the activities! Scavenger hunt, face painting, crafts for kids, hot chocolate station, tic tac toe competitions and games galore. Visitors can check out a leather craft demo, beekeeping discussion and honey sampling, meet a local author and make a bookmark too. Families can even see Miss Debbie and Miss Joslyn in the Children’s Room for a special library craft! The library will have a super special visitor from the North Pole stop by before noon for photos with kids. Don’t forget to stay after the market ends for a free Celtic Christmas music concert in the library’s main hall at 2:00 pm. Chris & Katie LaFond will perform a 75-minute live festive holiday concert on harp, flute and guitar. There will be a specialty hot chocolate bar on sale as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Lunenburg Library during the music concert as well.
Please note that library services will be unavailable during these events. Vendors, and the musicians and concert seats, will be placed throughout the library restricting access to books, seating areas, and computer stations.
If you would like more information, please contact Muir Haman at 978-582-4140 ext. 315 or email atmhaman@lunenburgma.gov

Unless otherwise noted, the following programs are made possible by the Friends of the Library.

 
Director’s Corner:  Let the Library help you save money this holiday season and support all your festive plans! Check out our cookbooks [Cookies! Pies! Appetizers!), décor magazines, Christmas idea books and craft books to assist in planning your festivities! Best of the holiday season to you and yours as you honor your own celebratory traditions!

Holiday Closure: The Library will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Eve) and we will be closed for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28 through Friday, November 29. The Library will re-open on Saturday, November 30 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Monday Mystery Club: Monday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary Atwood Room. Wake up your week with a stimulating book club discussion! We’ll meet in the Mary Atwood Room to discuss Zero Days by Ruth Ware. Print copies are available at Main Desk. Email Linda Ernick for details!  No registration required.
“Bring your stuffies over to the Children’s section and let them roam the library overnight! Monday, December 2 Drop-off your on Monday, December 2 between 2:30 – 4:30 p.m..  You can begin to pick them up Tuesday, December 3rd, starting at 10: a.m.
Drop off your stuffies with Miss Jill—and don’t forget to make them a nametag while you are here! There will be lots of fun adventures in store for them, as well as a dance party! We’ll make sure to tuck them in for a good night’s sleep afterward. Pictures of what they got up to will be posted the next day in the library, as well as on the Children’s Instagram, @jvfletcherkids.”
“How Chamber Music Works” Demo-Concert: Tuesday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room The Youth Services department and Westford Chamber Players (WCP) will be cohosting a demo-concert, performed by WCP professional musicians. The program will be highly interactive and entertaining, demonstrating how music instruments work and how the harmonious interplay of the instruments can tell a story and express feelings in a chamber setting. The demonstration part includes engaging audience participation, followed by a mini-concert. The musicians will be performing several pieces of classical and popular music, including Kikki’s Delivery Service from Studio Ghibli, dances from Bach and Handel, excepts from Mozart and Viotti, the famous Crisantemi from Puccini, and a few popular Christmas songs (e.g., Oh Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells Boogie). The event is completely free and geared towards children ages 5 – 18 as well as adults who are interested in chamber music. Register here. Through the registration form, the WCP collect very brief information about the age ranges of our audience to better tailor the program.

Adult Nonfiction Book Club:Tuesday, December, 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Atwood Room.  . – We’ll meet in the downstairs Meeting Room to discuss Life’s Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive by Carl Zimmer. Copies are available at Main Desk. This is also our Title Picking Event for 2025. Email Charles Schweppe for details!   No registration required.

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – Interview Practice: Wednesday, December 4, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50+ Job Seekers Group meets on biweekly the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30- 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your “Encore Career”, this networking group program is perfect for you! Register here.


Furoshikii (Japanese Gift-Wrapping) Workshop Thursday, December 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Discover the art of gift-wrapping and accessorizing using furoshiki – Japanese wrapping cloths. Join multi-talented international artist Nefertiti San Miguel from Etnia Fusion (Boston) to learn this singular technique just in time for the holiday season.

Each participant will use existing materials already available around the house demonstrating the concept of mottainai (expression of regret for wastefulness) by upcycling leftover fabrics. Spark your creativity by gracefully swathing items of different sizes (small and medium) in ordinary and unique shapes, such as hexagon boxes, glass bottles, books, picture frames and more. Master the presentation of elegantly-wrapped gifts for any occasion and amaze your loved ones with the artistic form and function of one magical square of cloth. Register here.

Children’s Craft Bags: Be sure to stop by the Children’s Desk for free craft bags. The contents will change frequently and should inspire some creative fun!

Where are Elephant and Piggy?: Remember the fun of the summer, searching for Appa?  Let the fun continue! Come in and find the hidden Elephant and Piggy in the children’s room.  If you find them, you will receive a bag of 6 charms and clips from summers past to add to your collection. Each week during the month of November Elephant and Piggy will have a new hiding spot.

Staff Recommends:  Looking for a light, holiday read?  Check out The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts. “Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, this joyful Christmas romp tells the story of a woman who can’t stop trying to help everyone around her find their happily-ever-after--even when her help leads to disaster. Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they’d just let her--and if all of her help didn’t end in utter disaster. Then there’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He’s been divorced for years, and it’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she’s determined to help him find that someone--whether he likes it or not.”


If you have questions or need assistance, please call us at 978-399-2300 or send us an email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov

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Middlesex County
Middlesex Conservation District
Fy 2024 Annual Meeting With Dr. Doug Tallamy

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

Candlelight Vespers
A Time of Joy, Peace & Hope

Sunday, December 8, 2024
The Shirley Meeting House
On the Center Town Common
Shirley, MA
As we come upon the holiday season, we often find ourselves making lists of “presents to buy, things to be done and places to go.” The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is often both daunting and overwhelming. To take you away from all of this we invite you to the peace and tranquility of The Shirley Meeting House on Sunday, December 8th for our 21st Annual Candlelight Vespers Concert. This year’s theme: A Time of Joy, Peace & Hope.
The doors will open at 6:00 pm and you are invited to sit back and enjoy traditional holiday songs and carols performed on our own Stevens Tracker Organ by Lois Toeppner.
The Vespers program begins a 6:30 and will feature music, stories and poems that will allow you to pause and reflect on the true meaning of the season and the joy, peace and hope it offers us all.
Joy – Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving and of families united. – Norman Vincent Peale
Peace – What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.—Agnes Mae Pharo
Hope –  Christmas is not a story of hope. It is hope.— Craig D. Lounsbrough
The Meeting House Chorale will be under the direction of Bernard Crane and accompanied by pianist Elenye German. Our readers this year are Rebecca Boucher, Eben Goldman, Christine Hatch, Kevin Johnston, Mary Ellen Jones, William Oelfke and James Quinty. Holiday musical selections will be shared by Gus Angelo, Nancy Beaudette, Roy Ellis, Benjamin Farrar, Emilie Faucher, The German Family, Holly Haase, Dawn Kenney, Victoria Landry and Andy Sullivan. It wouldn’t be Vespers if we didn’t invite all of you to join in the singing so warm up your voices and be ready to lift them in song. Following the program you are all invited to the Center Town Hall for warm cider, dessert and conversation with friends. We look forward to seeing you.
Candlelight Vespers is our gift to the community for their support throughout. As always, any  donations are welcome and appreciated.
The Shirley Meeting House is ADA Accessible.

36th Annual Tree of Lights – Open House & Celebration

Organization(s): Emerson Health, Auxiliary of Emerson Health
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Emerson Health, 133 Old Rd to Nine Acre Corner, Main Building, Concord, MA 01742
Description: Over thirty years ago, Tree of Lights began to remember and celebrate those whom we loved and were inspirational to our community. We continue that to this day. Join us for the Tree of Lights Open House! For our 36th year, we’re expanding this beloved tradition into a family-friendly event, and we invite you to be a part of it. Free admission, bring your family and friends! Celebrate the season with activities for all ages: create greeting cards for patients, enjoy performances by talented local youth musicians, experience our art exhibit by local artists dedicated to remembrance, light, hope, and love, and visit our contemplation area to honor loved ones who continue to touch our lives. Support Pediatric and Adolescent Care at Emerson Health by dedicating a Light ($10) or a Star ($25) in memory or honor of someone special. Tribute names submitted by December 4 will be included on our Tribute Wall at the event. Let’s light up the season with love and remembrance! For more information and to make a dedication, visit emersonhealth.org/treeoflights.
Cost: $0
Website: http://emersonhealth.org/treeoflights

Book Signing and Author Talk with Local Author David Brody, The Essex Junta: Newburyport and the 3 World Wars

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

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL ON LITTLETON TOWN COMMON, NOVEMBER 20, 2024

November 20th was the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). TDOR is an annual observance to honor the memory of the transgender and gender non-conforming people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
About 20 members of First Church Unitarian (Littleton), the Congregational Church of Littleton, and First Baptist Church (Littleton) gathered on Littleton Town Common on November 20, 2024 at 7 p.m. for a vigil in honor of TDOR. The vigilers held electronic candles, transgender and non-binary and diversity pride flags, and other signs to show love and support to transgender and non-binary people. The names of those lost to anti-transgender violence in the United States in the past year were read aloud, with a singing bowl sounding in between each name. The vigil carried on for about an honor. (Two photos are attached to this email.)
Rev. Lara Hoke of First Church Unitarian said, “In these times especially, it feels important to show solidarity with our transgender and non-binary siblings and neighbors. We wanted to come together to pay our respect to the beautiful souls we have lost, and to show solidarity with those who might be feeling fear right now.”
Rev. Jen Monroe-Nathans of the Congregational Church of Littleton said, “We’re all in this together, and we want our transgender and non-binary siblings to feel valued and supported.”

Hearts, Hugs & Hope: A Virtual Alzheimer’s Support Group Offered by Concord Park

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

Blessed Trinity Parish Presents: Lessons & Carols

Sunday, December 15th – 4pm – St Anne Church, 75 King Street, Littleton, MA
“Lessons & Carols” is a service of light that weaves together scripture, prayer and song to tell the story of the promised messiah, Jesus Christ. Each of the nine scripture readings (lessons) are followed by a carol and prayer that reflect the message of the reading. “Lessons & Carols” is a perfect way to prepare our hearts for Christmas!
Come hear music from our Adult & Youth Ensembles and talented Readers and Musicians!  Adults and children are welcome!
Free will offering at the door to benefit: Blessed Trinity Parish suggested donation: $10 adults, $5 seniors/students
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[MIX]tape A Cappella Returns to PCA with Holiday Concert

WESTFORD, MA: Tune-iffic ensemble [MIX]tape A Capella returns to the Parish Center for the Arts at 10 Lincoln Street on December 13, 2024 at 7:30pm (Doors open 7pm). Cabaret seating. BYOB & Snacks. Part of the PCA’s Coffeehouse Series, tickets range from $15-$25 and are available online https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-13-24-mix-tape-a-cappella/238, or you can also call (978) 692-6333, visit pcawestford.org, or find the PCA on Facebook, X and Instagram.
[MIX]tape began their a cappella journey in October of 2015, in the quaint, historic city of Dover (NH). With a rag-tag bunch of folks with musical tastes spanning classical to early 20th Century jazz to modern radio hits, the members of the group remain true to their namesake.
The PCA Coffeehouse Series is generously sponsored by Enterprise Bank/Westford.
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-13-24-mix-tape-a-cappella/238
Facebook: facebook.com/ParishCenterfortheArts
X/Twitter: x.com/PCAWestford
Instagram: instagram.com/pcawestford

Blanchard Theater Arts presents Into the Woods, Jr.

Be careful what you wish for, as Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s cockeyed fairytale comes to life in this adaptation of their groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical  Into the Woods JR. featuring all of your favorite characters — Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch — in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables.  Follow the baker and his wife, who wish to have a child. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse, and wind up changed forever. Along the way, meet Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk.
Show times are Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 pm, Friday, December 6 at 7:00 pm, and Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 pm
at Blanchard Middle School, 14 West Street, Westford MA
Tickets go on sale November 24th to the general public on https://cur8.com/16703/project/127071?fbclid=IwY2xjawGriZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQPJPs_xHPWlFVOlpPE6VCGfqI-dep9FiPVe4Dd1RHElF3xJr5hqAfITTg_aem_qEkHM_UzbmxmYdXX_8SxhA
$10 for children
$12 for adults at cur8.com
Tickets will be sold for $15 at the door. CASH OR CHECK ONLY.

Crescendo International Music Competition Winning Violinist Eric Mrugala at PCA in December

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

Shop Small This Holiday Season

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

  Folkinger at Littleton Lyceum

The Littleton Lyceum will present Nashville-based singer-songwriter Amy Speace on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center on 56 King Street.
A former Shakespearean actress, Amy has received critical acclaim from the New York Times and NPR, who described her voice as “velvety and achy” and compared her to Lucinda Williams. She has toured widely and has shared the stage with Guy Clark, Judy Collins, and many others.
Season tickets to the Lyceum are available for families or individuals for $40.00, and single admissions may be purchased at the door for $12.00, $5.00 for seniors and students.
For more information, check out our website at littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

Westford League To Host Holiday Party December 11

Come to the League of Women Voters’ Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the season and learn more about the League in a casual, relaxed environment. The gathering will be held at the Westford Museum, 2 Boston Road, and will include light refreshments.
In the spirit of giving, the League is again suggesting that attendees bring donations for the Westford Food Pantry. While not mandatory, an unexpired, non-perishable food or personal care item in its original, unopened packaging will be welcome. All donations will be brought to the pantry at the Cameron Senior Center. A list of most-needed items is available on the pantry’s website at https://www.westfordfoodpantry.org/.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. The League’s goals are to encourage active and informed participation in government, increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. For more information about the League in Westford, go to lwv.westford.org.

J.T. Turner’s One-Man “Christmas Carol” Back in Westford by Popular Demande

WESTFORD, MA: The Parish Center for the Arts is very pleased to bring something back to the PCA this holiday season as part of their new Literature Live series. On December 15 at 7pm (doors open 6:30pm), actor J.T. Turner will take the stage with his one-man production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol!” Witness the classic tale come beautifully to life as Turner portrays Charles Dickens… and every single character from the story. Dickens himself was famous for bringing his story to life for audiences every year, and this version brings all the drama, comedy and redemption Dickens intended. The performance is recommended for ages eight through adult.  Tickets range from $10-$20 and are available online at https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-15-24-j-t-turner-s-a-christmas-carol-/204.  BYOB and snacks. For more information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.
This production is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Westford.
J.T. Turner is a professional actor on stage, film, TV, and audio. He’s a director of plays and musicals, writer, touring historical re-enactor, expert storyteller and public speaker. In addition, J.T. is a choreographer of stage combat. His company (The Actors Company) offers shows on historical/ literary characters, including Robert Frost, Will Shakespeare, Ben Franklin, Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald. J.T. also teach internal arts such as Tai Chi, Qigong and Meditation for all ages.
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-15-24-j-t-turner-s-a-christmas-carol-/204
Facebook: facebook.com/ParishCenterfortheArts
Twitter/X: twitter.com/PCAWestford
Instagram: instagram.com/pcawestford

Donate Your Vehicle to Support The Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Christmas Motors is teaming up with the Pan Mass Challenge to accept vehicle donations to benefit The Dana Farber Cancer research program.
This unique program is unlike all others, as 100 percent of the proceeds of your tax deductible vehicle donation will go to cancer research. (No administrative cost).
We will accept any car or truck regardless of age.
For more information or to arrange your donation call 978-897-9627 and ask for David Christmas.
Working together, we can find a cure for cancer.
Craftfair2024flyer

12th Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale

Saturday, November 23rd, 10:00am-3:00pm
FREE Admission
Stop by for local craft vendors and baked goods! Nashoba Valley Technical High School
100 Littleton Road, Westford, MA
Presented by The NVTHS Foundation

New Winter Artisan Showcase Happening in the Lunenburg Library!

 
Local crafters and artists will be setting up inside the Lunenburg Library to showcase their wares for a special Winter Artisan Showcase on Sunday, December 8th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Bakers, makers, artists and small businesses are creating an interactive pop-up shopping experience just in time for the holidays. Browse through items including soaps, candles, paintings, fiber goods, fresh baked snacks, leather crafts, home decor and great gift ideas. Bring the whole family and join in the activities! Scavenger hunt, face painting, crafts for kids, hot chocolate station, tic tac toe competitions and games galore. Visitors can check out a leather craft demo, beekeeping discussion and honey sampling, meet a local author and make a bookmark too. Families can even see Miss Debbie and Miss Joslyn in the Children's Room for a special library craft! The library will have a super special visitor from the North Pole stop by before noon for photos with kids. Don't forget to stay after the market ends for a free Celtic Christmas music concert in the library's main hall at 2:00 pm. Chris & Katie LaFond will perform a 75-minute live festive holiday concert on harp, flute and guitar. There will be a specialty hot chocolate bar on sale as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Lunenburg Library during the music concert as well.
Please note that library services will be unavailable during these events. Vendors, and the musicians and concert seats, will be placed throughout the library restricting access to books, seating areas, and computer stations.
If you would like more information, please contact Muir Haman at 978-582-4140 ext. 315 or email atmhaman@lunenburgma.gov
Nov 22 literacy volunteer

Become an Adult ESOL or Basic Literacy Tutor!

Have you been looking for a great volunteer opportunity? If you would like to make a difference in the life of an adult with limited English or basic literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts at the Pollard Memorial Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one or small group tutoring on a flexible schedule to adults in the greater Lowell area.
You do not need prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language. All you need is an open mind, a desire to help an adult improve their skills, and the ability to meet with your student for 2 hours per week for 9-12 months! In-person, remote, and hybrid tutoring options are available. Before being matched with a student you also must attend a Volunteer Information Session and successfully complete an 18-hour Tutor Training.
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session online via Zoom
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session in person at Pollard Memorial Library
Thursdays 1-4 pm
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
To learn more, join us on-line via Zoom at one of our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 pm
Thursday, December 12, 12-1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm
To RSVP to one of the above sessions, or find out more about our program, please contact our Literacy Director, Sarah Miller, at smiller@lowelllibrary.org, or our Literacy Assistant, Mary Hartmann, mhartmann@lowelllibrary.org, or call us at 978 674-1541.

Holiday Fair

 
Central Congregational Church (UCC) of Chelmsford will hold its annual Holiday Fair on November 23 from 9 – 2 at 1 Worthen Street.  Buy Thanksgiving baked goods. Sparkle for the holidays in pre-owned jewelry.  Find a gift or ornament from the Craft Table. Decorate your home with used holiday items from the Christmas Room.  Discover books, games, puzzles and videos in the Media Room. Bid on a Silent Auction treasure. Be sure to save time for a delicious Lunch from our remodeled kitchen.
See you at the Fair, November 23, 9 – 2PM at 1 Worthen Street, Chelmsford.  Parking behind the church.
Nov 22 littleton hs play

Littleton High School upcoming production

Littleton High School Drama presents “The Man Who Came to Dinner”.
Set in the 1940s, The Man Who Came to Dinner chronicles the unexpected stay of a national radio celebrity, Sheridan Whiteside, in a prominent family's home in Ohio after he slips on a patch of ice on their front steps. Making himself too much at home, Whiteside attracts famous friends, curious locals, and plenty of mischief to his hosts' lives, often to their horror. This classic play from Kaufman and Hart runs November 22-24 at Littleton High School. More information at littletonps.org/drama

Chelmsford to Celebrate Transgender Day of Remembrance

The First Parish Church of Chelmsford, in partnership with the Chelmsford Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, invites the community to come together for a meaningful celebration of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, located at 1A North Rd., Chelmsford, MA 01824. 
Nov 22 halalisa singers

The Halalisa Singers present Season of Light featuring “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest”

Saturday, December 7 in Arlington
Sunday, December 8 in Littleton
Boston-based world music vocal ensemble The Halalisa Singers led by artistic director Mary Cunningham presents Season of Light featuring Conrad Susa’s exquisite “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest” accompanied by harp, guitar, and marimba.  The holiday program is part of a season revisiting past repertoire in honor of Cunningham’s twentieth year leading the chorus in diverse, uplifting music from around the world. Joining the singers are pianist Trevor Berens, guitarist Berit Strong, harpist Li Shan Tan, and marimbist Sylvie Zakarian.
∙ Saturday, December 7 at First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA. Concert at 7:30 p.m.
∙ Sunday, December 8 at First Church, 19 Foster St., Littleton. Concert at 4 p.m.
Tickets for each performance are $25. For more info visit www.halalisa.org or email info@halalisa.org.
Nov 22 gnomes

Annual Christmas Craft Fair


For over 40 years the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church has hosted our Christmas craft show and holiday fair.
This year’s fair is Saturday, December 7th from 9 am to 3 pm at 242 Main St, N. Chelmsford, MA. This event is a great way to kick off your holiday spirit and get a jump on your gift shopping. Skip the craziness of the mall and come to our friendly, fun, festive fair to celebrate and shop! We will have professional crafters and vendors offering unique, one-of-a-kind gifts in a joyous, stress free atmosphere!
Come to shop, but don’t forget to bring the kids to the Kids Winter Wonderland.  Kids can have fun doing holiday themed crafts and decorating (adult staffed) all while you shop!! There’s a FREE door prize every attendee can enter to win – a giant craft basket loaded with holiday crafts & goodies by our crafters.
Celebrate the Season with Homegrown Christmas Trees from VT! This Christmas, bring the warmth of the season into your home with an exquisite homegrown Christmas tree, lovingly hand-planted and meticulously maintained with care from VT. Trees will be freshly cut and available throughout the Holiday Fair. Pricing starts at $60.
Hot, homemade breakfast and lunch are offered throughout the fair. Stop by our breakfast bistro for a hot cup of gourmet coffee & a homemade pastry, a delicious breakfast sandwich or waffles!  Take a break at our luncheon featuring hot homemade soup, sandwiches and subs.  Pick up a treat for your holiday hostess, we will have hand made chocolates, pies, breads & treats. If you have a Yankee Swap to shop for, we offer cute crafts, fresh plants and greenery, vintage jewelry and white elephant bargains!

Event for Chelmsford Historical Society

The Chelmsford Historical Society's holiday open house will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6:30-9:00 PM at the Barrett-Byam Homestead, 40 Byam Road, Chelmsford, MA.  All are welcome to tour the homestead and enjoy holiday decorations provided by the Chelmsford Garden Club and traditional holiday carols by 2 Cat Duo.  Light refreshments will be served.  Come enjoy our roaring fireplace!  http://chelmhist.org/

Folksinger at Littleton Lyceum

The Littleton Lyceum will present Nashville-based singer-songwriter Amy Speace on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center on 56 King Street. A former Shakespearean actress, Amy has received critical acclaim from the New York Times and NPR, who described her voice as “velvety and achy” and compared her to Lucinda Williams. She has toured widely and has shared the stage with Guy Clark, Judy Collins, and many others. Season tickets to the Lyceum are available for families or individuals for $40.00, and single admissions may be purchased at the door for $12.00, $5.00 for seniors and students. For more information, check out our website at littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

Donations Needed

Chelmsford Food Pantry Serving everyone because financial difficulties and hunger have no boundary lines. Please consider donating the following items to the Chelmsford Food Pantry. Cooking Oil, Ramen Noodles, Soup, Spaghetti Sauce, Mac’n cheese, Canned fruit or vegetables, Boxed Cereal and Oatmeal, Shelf Stable Milk, Condiments.
Donations can be dropped off at the pantry located at: 50 Rear Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA (beige trailer behind town hall) Thursdays: 10:30-1:00 pm and 6:30-7:45 pm. As well as donation boxes located inside Market Basket, Stop & Shop and the Chelmsford Public Library. For more ways to help the pantry and your community visit: chelmsfordfoodpantry.org.
Nov 22 the love dogs

Fan Favorites The Love Dogs Return to the PCA December 7

Whenever the Parish Center for the Arts sends out a survey about who audiences would like back on their stage, there are a few groups that ALWAYS come up, one of which being The Love Dogs! This season, fan favorites The Love Dogs return to 10 Lincoln Street on December 7 at 7:30pm (Doors open 7pm). Advanced ticketing guarantees you a seat… something that is inevitably in demand at their shows. Tickets range from $15-$25, and you can bring your own food and drink for a complete evening of entertainment. For reservations (STRONGLY recommended), visit https://parisharts.square.site/product/12-7-24-the-love-dogs/203, or you can also call (978) 692-6333. For more information, visit pcawestford.org, or find them on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram.
Take one red-hot horn section - we're talkin' alto, tenor, baritone saxes and trombone - down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar. Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called "the best in the business," and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic frontman with one of the biggest blues voices around. Season with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada and on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It's a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence; it's The Love Dogs!
Nov 22 uccb fair

UCC Boxborough’s Merrie Christmas Fair: A Welcoming Event for Everyone!

When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 9am-1pm
Online Silent Auction has begun!
Where: UCC Boxborough church campus, 723 Middle Road Boxborough 01719
For: Everyone!
The Boxborough Merrie Christmas Fair promises a fun-filled shopping celebration with local handicrafts, delicious food and surprising treasures for all! Come share the joy and shop for your family, friends or treat yourself. Look for truly handmade gifts from soft knitted scarves to hand carved trees and fresh greens for a Thanksgiving table. The fair has 91 years’ experience sharing local creativity and artistry in a fun, festive setting. At the Sugar Plum café, have lunch and sip cocoa as you enjoy the live music of jazz and blues singer Phyllis Fallon and the Workingman’s Music Duo. The online Silent Auction has close to two hundred items for young and old alike. The online auction is an easy way to shop over ten days, November 13-23. Items range from fine home crafted items to snowshoes to restaurant gift cards and museum memberships to expansive vacations including a trip to Tuscany, a two night stay in NYC with Broadway tickets and a windjammer cruise out of Bar Harbor. If you like to thrift, shop at our vintage jewelry table or the legendary recycled Attic Treasures that fill the Town Hall? The fair has something for everyone and is a chance to buy truly local and sustainably. This year’s fair not only supports UCC Boxborough, a partner with Free Bee market, but ten percent of fair proceeds will go directly to North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity.
The fair is located at UCC Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Ave and Boxborough Town Hall on Middle Road. Come and wander the fair, have lunch, let your children shop in their own shopping area, poke through the Attic Treasures, sit outside by the fire pit where Santa might be making a s'more! Meet a friend, have fun with your neighbors, and know that your dollars buy much more than gifts, you are supporting your community as you shop. The online Silent Auction begins November 13 at 8am and ends November 23 at 6pm. https://www.BiddingForGood.com/UCCBSilentAuction
Nov 22 christmas tree

Christmas Trees

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

The Neighborhood Supper – Donations Requested

 
Each Tuesday evening from 5:30 – 6:30 anywhere from sixty to over seventy people gather for a free nutritious hot meal at the Congregational Church of Littleton at 330 King Street. Any and all from Littleton and surrounding communities are welcome. These meals are provided through volunteer assistance from the five Littleton churches who take turns each Tuesday to host these suppers. Participating churches include the Congregational Church of Littleton, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Blessed Trinity Parish, the First Church Unitarian, and the First Baptist Church. The volunteers coordinate services to complete a variety of necessary tasks such as meal planning, food preparation, set up and clean-up. In addition, the Neighborhood Supper is governed by a Board of Directors made up of members from each of the churches in town. The board's responsibilities include setting policies, bill paying, license renewal, and additional issues that may come up.
The Neighborhood Supper has been in existence since 1991 (over 30 years) and is paid for by monetary donations made out to the Neighborhood Supper. It is currently in need of donations. Please think about contributing to the Neighborhood Supper. Checks may be made out to the Neighborhood Supper and sent to P.O. Box 112, Littleton, MA 01460.
Note that the Neighborhood Supper is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, so donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your generous support.
 

Rotary Club of Bedford's Winter Community Breakfast

 
When: Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Bedford High School, 9 Mudge WayBedford, MA
Details: Join the Rotary Club of Bedford for a festive, family-friendly morning of community, delicious breakfast, and holiday cheer! Enjoy live musical performances, photos with Santa, a winter-theme photo booth and crafts and activities. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club's Foundation and local initiatives. Tickets are $10/person 2 and up. Tickets and more info at: https://bedfordmarotary.org/
Nov 22 wreath

Holiday Faire and Festival at Aldersgate UMC

Aldersgate United Methodist Church hosts its annual Holiday Faire and Festival on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7. The fair offers a celebration of holiday cheer with delicious homemade food, beautiful wreaths and other greenery, crafts and gifts, jewelry, a silent auction, and much more. A children’s area will provide a fun and safe place for kids to make their own crafts while the grown-ups shop.
Aldersgate UMC is located at 242 Boston Road (Rt. 4) in Chelmsford. For more information about the fair, contact the church office at (978)256-9400 or aldersgatechelmsford@verizon.net, or visit us online at www.aldersgatechelmsford.com or www.facebook.com/aldersgateumc.chelms.
Hours for the fair are Friday, 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bidding for the silent auction ends at noon on Saturday.
Nov 22 christmas fair harvard

Christmas Fair 2024

Congregational Church of Harvard
5 Still River Road, Harvard, MA
Something for all ages
Please join us for our annual Christmas Fair; December 14, 10-2.
Come early to welcome Santa and his elves as they arrive by firetruck between 9:45 and 10 am.
Santa will be in Santa's cafe from 10:30-1:30. Stop in for a visit and take some photos.  While in the cafe, enjoy a sandwich, snack or buy a treat to take home!  We also offer a craft room and a room reserved for kids to shop for gifts to give to the special people in their lives.
The popular Festival of Trees and Wreaths will return.  Come bid on your favorite themed tree or wreath.  There will be a preview party, Friday, December 13, 6-8 pm.  The trees look their best at night!  Light refreshments will be served.
Our Unique Boutique and its Christmas Annex will be open in the basement level.  You may find that perfect gift!

The Nutcracker presented by Dance Prism Ballet

 
December 14, Saturday two performances 2:30 & 6:30
The Performing Arts Center at Littleton HS
No holiday season is complete without seeing this beloved holiday classic, see it again, or start a new tradition.  A Magical Experience for the Whole Family! Don’t miss your chance to create cherished memories together at Dance Prism's The Nutcracker — a holiday tradition like no other right in your neighborhood! Tickets at danceprism.com.

Saints Vartanantz Annual Food Festival/Bazaar

Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church will hold its 75th Annual Food Festival/Bazaar on Saturday, November 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Eat-in or Take-out.  The Food Festival menu includes lamb, chicken, and losh kebab (Armenian hamburger) dinners and a vegetarian platter. A country store will offer a variety of Armenian specialties and deserts. The festival also features a jewelry table, gift items from Armenia as well as tours of the church’s sanctuary at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A Backgammon Tournament will start at 1:30 p.m. For further information, call the church office at 978-256-7234. The address is 180 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford, MA

News from the J.V. Fletcher Library

 
50 Main St., Westford, MA (1-978-692-5555), http://www.westfordlibrary.org
Unless otherwise noted, the following programs are made possible by the Friends of the Library.

Director’s Corner: A big thank you to author Dan Souza and all the members of theFriends of the Library who worked so hard to make the Annual Meeting a success. We are so grateful to the Friends of the Library for all of their support and funding for Library programs, museum passes, new collections, and so much more!

Pre-School Concert with Steve Blunt: Monday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room The big kids are back to school so that means the younger kids get an energetic show just right for preschoolers with dancing, singing, and playing along with Steve. Come join us for a rocking good time! No registration is required.

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – Interview Strategies: Wednesday, November 20, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. The Massachusetts Library Collaborative's 50+ JobSeekers Group meets biweekly the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30- 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career", this networking group program is perfect for you! Registration required.

Night Sky Restoration: Thursday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room – Presented by Tim Brothers, Observatory Manager at MIT’s Wallace Astrophysical Observatory (Westford, MA). Our night sky is in crisis as the fastest growing environmental problem, light pollution, turns night into day. Tim will be speaking to us about a path forward in restoring darkness to our nighttime environment. He recently completed a case study of an LED streetlight retrofit in Pepperell, MA, whereby following dark-sky lighting best practices, he measured what effect, if any, there was on the night sky. The results have significant implications for how we approach future lighting installations as the Westford area develops. Tim Brothers is the Observatory Manager at MIT’s Wallace Astrophysical Observatory (Westford, MA) and a Technical Instructor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. He also co-founded the Massachusetts chapter of Dark Sky International, where he is primarily focused on outdoor lighting policy in the region. Tim was recently awarded a minor planet designation, asteroid (28992), for his work on asteroid detection. Registration required.

“How Chamber Music Works” Demo-Concert: Tuesday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room. The Youth Services department and Westford Chamber Players (WCP) will be co-hosting a demo-concert, performed by WCP professional musicians. The program will be highly interactive and entertaining, demonstrating how music instruments work and how the harmonious interplay of the instruments can tell a story and express feelings in a chamber setting. The demonstration part includes engaging audience participation, followed by a mini-concert. The musicians will be performing several pieces of classical and popular music, including Kikki’s Delivery Service from Studio Ghibli, dances from Bach and Handel, excerpts from Mozart and Viotti, the famous Crisantemi from Puccini, and a few popular Christmas songs (e.g., Oh Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells Boogie). The event is completely free and geared towards children ages 5 – 18 as well as adults who are interested in chamber music. Registration required. Through the registration form, the WCP collect very brief information about the age ranges of our audience to better tailor the program.

Where are Elephant and Piggy?: Remember the fun of the summer, searching for Appa? Let the fun continue! Come in and find the hidden Elephant and Piggy in the children’s room. If you find them, you will receive a bag of 6 charms and clips from summers past to add to your collection. Each week during the month of November Elephant and Piggy will have a new hiding spot.

Staff Recommends: Sophia Kinsella’s new novel, What Does it Feel Like?, has a very different feel from her usual light and comical stories. It mirrors health struggles that the author is going through in her own life. "Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again-and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children-she begins to recall what's most important to her: long walks with her husband's hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it. Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief."
If you have questions or need assistance, please call us at 978-399-2300 or send us an email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Join us as we celebrate our Savior’s birth! Our 5:00 pm in-person service will include beautiful music from our Adult Choir. Let us worship through scripture, song, a message from our pastor, and “Silent Night” by candlelight. A pre-recorded Christmas Eve service will also be available on our website. We're building community—all are welcome! Parking is available at the church, and our building is accessible for people with disabilities. Weekly worship is offered Sunday mornings in-person at 9:30 am, or you may view our worship service on our website each Sunday. For more information, visit www.umcw.org or Facebook.com/UMCWestford.

Live Nativity at United Methodist Church of Westford

December 15, 2024 at 7:00 pm
A Live Nativity will be performed outside at the United Methodist Church of Westford, 10 Church Street in Westford. Come celebrate Christ’s birth with a recreation of that special Bethlehem night – a tradition for our church and the community proudly offered by our Youth Groups. Join us to sing carols, warm ourselves by a roaring bonfire and witness that special night so long ago that changed our lives and changed the world. Enjoy delicious hot cocoa and light snacks. Special thanks to the Chelmsford Community Band for providing music for this event and to A Touch of Majic Equestrian Center for bringing “Mocha” the pony to join our cast! If it rains, we will move our performance inside the church in the sanctuary, followed by refreshments in the Fellowship Hall. We're building community—all are welcome! Parking is available at the church, and our building is accessible for people with disabilities. For more information, visit www.umcw.org or Facebook.com/UMCWestford.

Blue Christmas Service at United Methodist Church of Westford

December 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm
If this Christmas brings feelings of hurt, sadness, or loneliness, please attend our Blue Christmas Service presented by UMCW’s Stephen Ministers. The service will be in the church sanctuary and will offer solace to those struggling or grieving this Christmas season. There will be live music from our Adult Choir and Bell Choir. Please consider bringing a friend going through a difficult time. Stephen Ministers are trained members of the congregation who provide confidential one-on-one care to support people who are hurting. Parking is available at the church, and the building is accessible for people with disabilities. The United Methodist Church of Westford is at 10 Church Street, Westford. Visit www.umcw.org or call 978-692-4176 for more information.
Nov 18 ne ringers

New England Ringers Concert at United Methodist Church of Westford


December 14 at 4:00 pm
The New England Ringers will present “A Christmas Playlist,” an exciting performance with music ranging from holiday classics and favorites to contemporary works. Hosted by the United Methodist Church of Westford, this is the perfect holiday event to enjoy with your family and friends!
Their outstanding music is matched by touches of entertaining humor (“Blue Christmas” with a special guest) and the artful visual presentation of New England’s premier handbell ensemble playing this unique instrument. New England Ringers, founded in 2000, is a community handbell ensemble of highly energetic musicians playing advanced levels of handbell literature. Membership is offered to interested ringers by audition and invitation of the ensemble. They ring on a core instrument of seven octaves of Schulmerich Handbells and seven octaves of Malmark Choirchimes, some of which exceed 5’ in height! You may often see an ensemble with multiple musicians, but what is interesting about handbells is that you have 15 musicians playing one complex instrument that will take your breath away!
You’ll go “Over the River and Through the Woods” to visit Grandma, enjoy “What a Wonderful Life,” “Jingle Bell Samba,” and so much more. The New England Ringers will transform the sounds of bells to mimic an organ in “Greensleeves” and a piccolo in “O Holy Night.”
Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased in advance by visiting www.umcw.org/christmas-playlist or at the door the evening of the event. Proceeds will benefit New England and world missions. A reception will be held after the concert where you can speak with members of the ensemble and enjoy light refreshments. Parking is available at the church, and the building is accessible for people with disabilities. Don’t miss the New England Ringers holiday concert at the United Methodist Church of Westford, 10 Church Street, Westford, on December 14, at 4:00 p.m. Visit www.umcw.org or call 978-692-4176 for more information.   

Events at Roudenbush Community Center

 
Open Gym – Every Mon, Tuesday Wed 1pm to 3pm – registration required, caregivers and children can come play on our gymnastics mats.
Open Court – Every Thursday 7pm to 9pm - registration required, basketball court is open and available for shooting around or starting a game of pick up.
Winter Gear Swap – Starting Nov 15th drop off gently used clothes to any of the 3 Roudenbush buildings (65 Main Street, 73 Main Street or 170 Plain Road) come back a shop all donations on Dec 7th from 10am to 2pm.
Holiday Market – over 40 vendors will be at 65 Main Street on Dec 1 from 12pm to 4pm, Free ornament crafts for kids, Christmas Carolers, Boy Scout Troop 195 will be our front selling Christmas Trees.
Roudenbush is co-sponsoring the Westford Festival of Trees with Westford Family Funfest and the Westford Rotary – the 14th annual event will take place Dec 6th -31 at the Westford Regency and Conference Center you can visit roudenbush.com to register to submit a Tree, Wreath, Gingerbread House, Gnome or Holiday Decoration!
Roudenbush Parent Connection will return in January with “Caring for Aging Parents” brought to you by Rachel O’Toole of True North Therapy.
For more information please call (978) 496-1707

Become an Adult ESOL or Basic Literacy Tutor!

Have you been looking for a great volunteer opportunity? If you would like to make a difference in the life of an adult with limited English or basic literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts at the Pollard Memorial Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one or small group tutoring on a flexible schedule to adults in the greater Lowell area.
You do not need prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language. All you need is an open mind, a desire to help an adult improve their skills, and the ability to meet with your student for 2 hours per week for 9-12 months! In-person, remote, and hybrid tutoring options are available. Before being matched with a student you also must attend a Volunteer Information Session and successfully complete an 18-hour Tutor Training.
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session online via Zoom
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18
ESOL Tutor Training 6-week session in person at Pollard Memorial Library
Thursdays 1-4 pm
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
To learn more, join us on-line via Zoom at one of our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 pm
Thursday, December 12, 12-1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm
To RSVP to one of the above sessions, or find out more about our program, please contact our Literacy Director, Sarah Miller, at smiller@lowelllibrary.org, or our Literacy Assistant, Mary Hartmann, mhartmann@lowelllibrary.org, or call us at 978 674-1541.
Nov 18 mcc tims

Business Student Gets Fresh Start at MCC

Though he faced some challenges in high school, Middlesex Community College is offering Christian Tims, of Groton, a fresh start. The business administration student and Student Government Association (SGA) president has found a community of learning and experiences at MCC that is guiding him toward reaching his goals. “MCC has provided me with many opportunities and a solid foundation for my higher education,” Tims said. “I have been exposed to a wide array of diverse individuals with highly stratified backgrounds and ambitions which has opened my mind. MCC has also been an aid in determining what my goals are in the first place.” Interested in making a difference, Tims is looking to jumpstart his future in politics and government. While at Middlesex, he chose a business program because he wants to pursue a career in economics. Both in his classes and in his campus activities, Tims is exploring civics, law and governance. One experience that helped set Tims up for success was the Commonwealth Municipal Finance Fellowship he completed over the summer. Working full-time in the finance department of his town hall, he applied theories he learned in his classes to real-life situations. He believes he also gained a strong addition to his resume and college transfer application. “My internship experience has sharpened my discipline, work ethic, and exposed me to a professional environment where a lot is at stake,” Tims said. “It has helped me to direct my interests and increase my ability to take in a lot of information on the fly.” Tims credits Maria McDuffie Clark, MCC’s Director of Student Engagement for Equity, for assisting him with his work on SGA. The central governing liaison to all clubs and organizations at the college, SGA allows Tims to hear classmates’ feedback, concerns and needs, which he then communicates to MCC’s administration. Using his business background, Tims collaborates with clubs to build their budgets and plans. He also helps organize campus-wide events to bring the community together. At the recent Fall Jam event, he took the time to meet with students and employees to discuss how to get involved on campus. “SGA is an open forum, meaning any student can come to a meeting, inquire and contribute,” Tims said. “My role as president has challenged me as a leader and learner, and has grown my skills in project planning, teamwork and management. I’m able to give my best effort to make meaningful changes on campus.” In addition to SGA, Tims is part of MCC’s Business and Economics Club. A Commonwealth Honors Program scholar, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honors society for two-year colleges. His favorite class experiences at Middlesex include discussions about readings with classmates, as well as the chance to present projects in his honors world cultures class. Tims also enjoyed a field trip to collect dragonfly larvae to analyze mercury levels in an environmental science lab. After graduating from MCC in the Spring of 2025, he plans to transfer to a four-year school and one day earn a master's degree. Through hands-on learning and experiences, Middlesex is providing a clear path to his future. “After a mediocre and unfortunate high school tenure, now was the time to make the most of school and not lookback,” he said. “MCC has granted me fresh opportunities in the classroom, in addition to extracurriculars that have provided me with the necessary experience and credentials to ready me for the next steps.”