WESTFORD: On Tuesday, March 1 from 7pm-8pm, Heather Demetrios will read from her new book, Code Name Badass: the True Story of Virginia Hall followed by a discussion. this will be a pre-registration required virtual event.  See the Westford Historical Society website to register for the Heather Demertrios book reading and discussion and for more information on the Westford Women Go to War program series and Westford women WWII veterans at: www.museum.westford.org.

During World War II, Virginia Hall was behind enemy lines, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler’s henchmen. Virginia Hall was the baddest broad in any room she walked into. This boss lady helped arm and train the French Resistance and organized sabotage missions. There was just one problem: the Butcher of Lyon, a notorious Gestapo commander, was after her. But, Virginia’s classmates didn’t call her “the Fighting Blade” for nothing.

Leslie Howard, President of the Westford Historical Society, thanks the Westford Cultural Council for their grant to bring this special event to Westford. “It’s a unique opportunity to have an author read and discuss their latest book with readers.” She further said, “Stories about the role of women in war aren’t always known or told, so this program is an excellent introduction. The book discussions in early February were lively and engaging. The evening with Heather Demetrios will surely be the same.”

As part of the Westford Museums and Historical Society, 2022 Winter Program Series, “Westford Women go to War,” we feature the role of Westford Women in World War II. Westford Women, in uniform, took office and clerical jobs in the armed forces to free men to fight. They served both at home and abroad, volunteering for the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs, later renamed the Women’s Army Corps), the Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES), the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), the Army Nurses Corps, and the Navy Nurse Corp.

Heather Demetrios is a critically acclaimed author, writing coach, and certified meditation teacher. She has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a recipient of the PEN America Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award for her debut novel, Something Real. Her novels include Little Universes, I’ll Meet You There, Bad Romance, as well as the Dark Caravan fantasy series: Exquisite Captive, Blood Passage, and Freedom’s Slave. Her non-fiction includes the Virginia Hall biography Code Name Badass and she is the editor of Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love. Her honors include books that have been named Bank Street Best Children’s Books, YALSA Best Fiction For Young Adults selections, a Goodreads Choice Nominee, a Kirkus Best Book, and a Barnes and Noble Best Book. Her work
has appeared in LA Review of Books, Bustle, School Library Journal, and other fine outlets. Find out more about Heather and her books at heatherdemetrios.com

The mission of the Westford Historical Society is to promote the understanding and appreciation of Westford’s unique history to the community. By providing programming that features aspects of the daily lives, activities and achievements of Westford residents, we strive to expand and enrich understanding of how our town continues to evolve. We foster an environment of teaching and learning that strengthens our sense of community. We will collect, preserve, and exhibit documents, photographs, objects, and sites historically significant to Westford, and encourage outside efforts to do the same.

This program is funded through a grant from the Westford Cultural Council.

WESTFORD: We’ve seen many things in the last 45 years – eight Presidents, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Three Mile Island, Johnny Carson's retirement from "The Tonight Show", U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson, an historical musical that changed the history of musicals, racial unrest and a country divided in the most heated political environment since the Civil War. And what has been there through it all? The Nashoba Players!

Celebrating 45 Years in 2022, Nashoba Players began as Groton Theatre and Littleton Theatre Guild, and evolved into its current incarnation. A member of the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres and recipients of repeated recognitions at EMACT Festivals for outstanding achievements, The Players enjoy their residence at the intimate and inviting Parish Center for the Arts at 10 Lincoln Street. A theatrical season usually offers three or more performances including drama, comedy, musicals or a whimsical tongue-in-cheek melodrama. They have previously entertained audiences with fun-filled murder mysteries and dinner theatre, and have sponsored performances by guest artists. They have offered summer theatre workshops for young people in the community culminating in a musical. In short, The Players are a dynamic, non-profit community theatre dedicated to providing cultural enrichment and quality entertainment through live theatre.

This season, celebrating 45 years includes ‘The Foreigner’ by Larry Shue, a comedy opening in March, and "an audience-pleasing, interactive spoof they cannot yet name, with adults acting like children" in October. Audiences, talented cast and crew members, and other volunteers come from many towns including Westford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lowell, Dracut, Groton, Ayer, Littleton, Pepperell, Dunstable, Acton, Shirley, Nashua, Marlboro, Berlin, Hudson, Melrose, Boston, Arlington, Harvard, Boxboro, Leominster, Lunenburg, Townsend, Tyngsboro and more!

To keep things in motion for almost a half-century, much needed support comes from donors and sponsors from all of the Players’ communities. Recently, The Players have begun a fundraising campaign to kickstart 2022’s season line-up. Show program ads range from $25 to $100, but donations in all amounts are welcomed and truly appreciated. Sponsorship tiers are also available from $100 to $5,000.

If you’d like to make a contribution to The Nashoba Players as an individual, or as a local business looking to give back to a community organization, contact fundraising volunteer JulieAnn Govang at JAG4NP@gmail.com, or call (978) 302-9121 and she will send out complete information to you via mail or email. 100% of proceeds go directly to the organization. Deadline for ad reservations is February 18, 2022.

The Nashoba Players are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. To learn more about what’s in store or how to get involved, visit them online at www.nashobaplayers.org!

PHOTO: From Nashoba Players acclaimed production of the musical "In the Heights"