Jazz Concert at Littleton Lyceum

LITTLETON: The Littleton Lyceum is excited to present the Pamela Hines Trio on November 17 at 7:30pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center on 56 King Street. A prolific presence in American Jazz, as both a pianist and a composer, Pamela Hines has received national and international critical acclaim for her instrumental compositions and jazz originals for vocalist. Don’t miss this chance to experience quality music at affordable prices. Season tickets are available for families or individuals for $25, and single admissions may be purchased at the door for $8; $5 for seniors and students. For more information, visit littletonlyceum.org or follow them on Facebook.

Sounds of Stow Fall Concert

STOW/LITTLETON: Join the Sounds of Stow Chorus & Orchestra for the opening concert of their 45th season. “Beauty in Birdsong” on November 19 at 2pm. The concert will be held at a convenient and state-of-the-art venue, the Littleton High School at 56 King Street in Littleton (just off I-495). For further information and tickets, please visit www.soundsofstow.org or email info@soundsofstow.org.

Under the direction of Barbara Jones, the chorus and orchestra will perform the area premiere of Christopher Tin’s important new work, “The Lost Birds: An Extinction Elegy.” The composer’s website observes that the work serves as a “musical memorial to bird species driven to extinction by humankind. Sweeping and elegiac, it is a haunting tribute to those soaring flocks that once filled our skies.” Drawing on texts by four 19th century women poets, “The Lost Birds” celebrates the beauty of birds and the natural world, while also warning of the tenuous existence of all living things. Tin has created a profound, timely, moving and beautiful work that will touch the hearts of all who hear it. Preceding this new work, the orchestra visits familiar works from the musical canon that are inspired by birds, including Vivaldi’s Flute Concerto “The Goldfinch,” Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan” arranged for harp and cello, Margaret Lowe’s “Dawn Carol” for flute ensemble, and R.V. Williams’ “The Lark Ascending.”

Sounds of Stow is partnering with the Mass Audubon Society to highlight the importance of conservation as bird populations are declining across North America. Joan Walsh, chair of natural history and field ornithology at the Mass Audubon Society, will give a short talk at the beginning of the concert, and Audubon staff will be in the lobby to answer questions, provide informational material, and introduce some avian “wildlife ambassadors.”

Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton and Hudson.

Fall Nature Gardening Tip: Leave Leaves Alone

As a rule in nature and gardening, keep leaves in place whenever possible. Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter months. Dead leaves also decompose creating compost that can improve soil structure and fertility.

This being said, leaves need to be managed in yards to see the most benefit. Leaves shouldn't simply go unmanaged. If nothing is done, layers of fallen leaves can cause damage by blocking out light and smothering plants which can kill them. Often a little redistribution of the leaf layer to prevent a thick mat of leaves from forming is all that is needed to prevent this type of damage. Excessively thick layers of leaves (greater than 6 to 8 inches) may need to be reduced or removed. Whenever possible move them to mulched garden areas with fewer leaves or create a compost pile onsite to keep all that beneficial organic matter in your yard.

Mow-mulching the leaves on the lawn has many advantages, including reducing noise and greenhouse gases, and enhancing the health of your yard. The shredded/mulched leaf material creates valuable compost, which enriches the topsoil. Leaf mulching also limits spreading dust and contaminants into the air and saves you time and money. The benefits of mulching the leaves into the lawn are numerous and scientifically proven. Mulching:

is quieter and cleaner than leaf blowing;
reduces the need for fertilizer and avoids water pollution by reducing phosphorus and fertilizer leaching;
reduces the safety hazard of piled up or bagged leaves on the roadsides and saves taxpayer money for municipal leaf collection;
improves soil structure, water retention and percolation;
encourages the grass roots to penetrate more deeply, improving grass health; and
makes the lawn more resilient to weather events like drought and flooding.

Don't blow... mow!

First Church Unitarian Littleton Hosts Folk Festival’23

LITTLETON: First Church Unitarian invites you to Folk Festival ‘23 featuring The Sugarsnap Trio, a professional music trio from Burlington (VT). The Sugarsnap Trio is part of a larger touring band, The Tenderbellies who have travelled the country playing their inspiring music for many years. The Trio offers a mixture of folk, blues and more with original and familiar tunes. This is their first time performing for First Church live. This family-friendly event takes place November 11 at 7:30pm at 19 Foster Street. Tickets at the door are $30 per person; $35 for families. No one will be turned away for an inability to pay - put whatever you feel you can afford in the “Donations” jar (as no gift is too small). Proceeds go to First Church Unitarian Littleton to help them remain an active and vital part of their shared communities.

Westford Remembers Edgar Allan Poe with a New Sculpture by Westford Artist David Christiana

WESTFORD: Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society and the Parish Center for the Arts as they collaborate in unveiling David Christiana’s newest sculpture celebrating Edgar Allan Poe's time in Westford and the impact Westford had on Poe’s work. The unveiling will take place on October 29 from 2-6pm. Christiana will be on hand to discuss the sculpture, J.W. Ocker will introduce the unveiling, and Abner Serd will read “Nancy” and “The Raven.” There will be autumn-themed refreshments.

Poe’s connection with Westford began in 1848 when he met Nancy Heywood Richmond in Lowell during a Poets and Poetry of America Tour. He later spent time in book club meetings at the Heywood house on Graniteville Road. Recently bereaved - his wife of eleven years had died four months earlier - Poe was in need of friendship and warmth. Conversations with Nancy, to whom he gave the nickname “Annie,” prompted his descriptions of Westford as Paradise and he planned to return. Sadly, Poe died in the following year.

Sculptor David Christiana created many of the historic pieces in town including the Fallen Firefighter and September 11th monuments in Westford Center, the Rajiv Paluri memorial in Whitney Playground and the Westford Knight sculpture on Depot Street. He is also recognized as a talented photographer and has designed Westford historic house signs.

J.W. Ocker, winner of Lowell Thomas and Edgar Awards, is the author of macabre travelogues, spooky kid’s books, and horror novels including A Season with the Witch, Twelve Nights at Rotter House, The Black Slide, and Cursed Objects.
Rick Taylor, who performs and writes as "Abner Serd," brings history to life. He comes to us fresh from an extended storytelling tour of New Zealand where he entertained a wide variety of audiences with recitations of classic 19th-century poetry. He has also performed as an historical interpreter at Boston’s Old North Church.

The Westford Historical Society and Museum in the town center promotes understanding and appreciation of Westford’s unique history by providing programming that features aspects of the daily lives, activities and achievements of Westford residents and by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting documents, photographs, and objects historically significant to Westford.

The Parish Center for the Arts is a private, non-profit arts center located in a historic 10 Lincoln Street on Westford common. It offers many ways to celebrate the fine and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. Programs include many genres of music, theater, and fine arts. Visit pcawestford.org for more information.

Don't Miss Nashoba Players' “The Fourth Wall”

WESTFORD: The Nashoba Players open the end of this month with a clever play that fits in well with our current political situation, “The Fourth Wall” by A. R. Gurney. The play’s title refers to what is known in the theater as the fourth wall, or the imaginary wall between the actors on stage and the audience. The production runs October 27, 28 and November 3 and 4 at 7:30pm at Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln Street. Reservations are now open for cabaret seating at nashobaplayers.org.

The comedy finds that Peggy (Emily Goldfarb) has redecorated her living room and hubby, Roger (Kenny Meehan), hates it. Peggy’s typically superb taste has oddly failed. She’s rearranged the room as if it were a stage set. Everything faces one way, toward the fourth wall. Unable to deal and needing moral support, Roger first asks old friend, Julia (Diane Meehan), to fly in from New York. Then he calls in Floyd (Ken Golner), a local theater professor, to address the issue. Something strange is afoot, everyone feels compelled to behave like they’re acting in a play or even a Cole Porter musical. Besides the four actors, there are two more ‘characters’ or forces in the comedy. The fifth of course is the fourth wall, and the sixth is an on stage grand piano, a seemingly intelligent piano focused on Cole Porter songs. The piano seems to be in cahoots with the fourth wall.

Director Douglas Cooper points out that the revised 2003 script being performed with political overtones was first penned by Gurney in 1996. He even considered more recently tweaking it again to reflect our present day. In the end, Gurney’s 2003 revision leads us to reflect on our own challenges dealing with the current state of politics. It’s The Players’ hope that audiences will laugh a lot, and maybe see the function of theater in society. It’s important to consider our ethical responsibilities to ourselves and to each other as world citizens in a turbulent political climate.

Free Seminar: Energy Realities in the 21st Century

WESTFORD: Transitioning to clean energy is a huge undertaking that will have a lasting impact on future generations. To make informed decisions as we move forward, we need a better understanding of the details. Will the Massachusetts 2050 Roadmap succeed in getting us to 100% clean energy? Can solar and wind do the whole job? How is the Grid impacted? What role could nuclear power play? Which technologies are really green? Are rolling blackouts in our future? Are we leaving viable options on the table? Join Eco-Nuclear Solutions on October 24, 7-8pm at the Roudenbush Community Center, 65 Main Street in Room105 to learn more about the benefits, limitations and unintended consequences of all clean energy options.

Presented by Eco-Nuclear Solutions, a local nonpartisan group of scientists, engineers, educators and environmentalists who educate and advocate for nuclear energy. Take a deep dive into nuclear power. Learn the facts about radiation, accidents and waste. Decide for yourself how best to power the great electrification. Which path is really kind to the planet?

Get more information at www.eco-nuclearsolutions.org. Walk-ins welcome. If you’re not able to attend in person, you can request a Zoom link by sending an email to econuclearsolutions@gmail.com.

Trick or Trash!

ACTON/LITTLETON: Please join the community in recycling - candy wrappers! Place your candy wrappers in another bag (recycling that, too!), and then drop it off in the TerraCycle bin at the Donelan's Supermarket (in Littleton as you exit the door, or in Acton near the bottle center), or at the lower floor of the Reuben Hoar Library. The Sustainability Committee is also working on getting special boxes around Littleton specifically for recycling candy wrappers - at Alumni Field parking lot during Trunk or Treat, Reuben Hoar Library lobby, and the Town Hall. Thank you for helping reduce trash in our community!

The TerraCycle bins at Donelan's are also where you can recycle other non-curbside-recyclable items such as:

• Oral care product containers & manual toothbrushes (no electric toothbrush heads)
• Plastic Deodorant containers (no aerosols)
• Air freshener and cleaning pumps, trigger sprays, cartridges (no aerosols)
• Empty ink-jet and toner cartridges
• Cell-phone cases of any brand
• And so much more – see tinyurl.com/littletonmarecycles

TerraCycle gives points for each item which translate into cash for non-profits such as 4-H, the Littleton schools, and the library. Still have questions? Visit https://tinyurl.com/littletonmarecycles, or email littletonma.recycles@gmail.com.

Westford League of Women Voters & Westford Women’s Club to Co-Host Fredie Kay

WESTFORD: The League of Women Voters of Westford and the Westford Women’s Club are joining forces to present “Honoring Massachusetts Women Past and Present,” an evening presentation with Fredie Kay, president and founder of Suffrage100MA, Fredie Kay. This special event will take place November 8, 7:30pm at the Westford History Museum, 2 Boston Road. The presentation is free and open to the public. Parking is available on Lincoln Street and in the lot adjacent to the Westford Police Station in town center.

Since 2010, Suffrage100MA has been dedicated to commemorating the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment, which prohibits governments from denying women the right to vote. It took a 72-year struggle, by thousands of suffragists, to achieve adoption of the 19th Amendment in August of 1920. The mission of Suffrage100MA has been to raise awareness and honor the remarkable sacrifices and achievements of the suffragists, by providing resources, creating educational films, and organizing events held in Boston on Women’s Equality Day.

Kay will present an overview of Suffrage100MA and highlight the organization’s vision for a new virtual Massachusetts Women’s History Museum and flagship Women’s Hall of Fame. She is an attorney and women’s rights and political advocate. Kay is the president of the Women’s Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts.

Chill with Joel Cage October 7 in Westford

WESTFORD: What's better than chillin' and listening to good music with good friends? Well, the PCA’s good friend and award-winning veteran singer/songwriter, Joel Cage will be returning to the PCA on October 7 at 7pm! Tickets are $12 for members and/or in advance; $15 for non-members and/or at the door (if available). Snacks and beverages of your choice are welcome during the show. To reserve your cabaret seating or for more information, visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org or call (978) 692-6333.

Once a member of the acclaimed rock & roll group Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Joel has been performing regionally and nationally as a soloist for decades. He has performed at some of the most prestigious folk and acoustic venues and festivals in the country, including the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas where he was awarded top prize in the Kerrville New Folk Competition. A virtuoso guitarist and an impassioned vocalist, Joel's music is both evocative and raucous. He spans the gamut from sounding like a full rock band to 'hear your own heartbeat' intimacy. Joel is also a master interpreter of other people's music, spanning a wide field of musical genres, garnering him the oft used moniker "Acoustic Rock Song Stylist."

Visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

DirectTicket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/10-7-23-joel-cage/136

Pumpkinhead People Contest in Littleton

LITTLETON: It’s that time again folks! Littleton Police is hosting their 5th Annual Pumpkinhead People Contest October 1-27. This year’s theme – SUPERHEROES & VILLAINS. Tips on How to Make your Own Pumpkinhead People…

• Use plastic bags stuffed with newspaper, hay or other lightweight materials to make the arms, legs and bodies.
• Supplies of: duct tape, glue, plumbers foam, two by fours, dowels, nails, scissors, PVC, wire, coat hangers and rope will help you put together your Pumpkinhead People.
• Once ready to assemble, the best way to secure the head to the dowel or stake that you will be using is to cut a small hole in the base of the pumpkin (leave the stuffing in the pumpkin), put the dowel or stake through the small cut hole and fill the entire inside of the pumpkin with plumbers foam. This will help keep the dowel or stake in place and slow down the rot process of the pumpkin. Remember pumpkins are heavy. We recommend you use two by fours.
• Use old clothing to make your Pumpkinhead People bodies more realistic or you can use costumes, sheets, almost anything to clothe your displays. Old mop heads, wigs, straw or other materials can be used for hair.
• Markers or paints should be used for faces rather than carving which prevents early rot. It is recommended that you have back up heads for replacement if needed.
• Wind can be a factor…it is important that you secure your displays tightly to the ground or anchor them to something.
• Position your Pumpkinhead People where it is highly visible from the street. Businesses may want to position your display near your business sign as we anticipate they will be highly photographed which presents a great marketing opportunity!

Be sure to call (603) 444-7711 x2, Monday-Friday between 8am-4pm to register your display!

Food Pantry Boxes for Charitable Organizations Available

LITTLETON: Mattias Lacroix is a Boy Scout from Troop 20 in Littleton working on his Eagle Scout project. He has constructed four food pantry boxes and will provide, install and stock a box for you at no charge as a public service. A food pantry box is a wooden box about 2’ by 2’ by 1½’ that sits on a post, kind of like a mailbox, and stores non-perishable food. People who are in need of food can come and take some, and people who have a little extra food can come and put food in the box. (Think “little free library” for books). If you are an organization within an hour’s drive of Littleton that would like Mattias to install a food pantry box for you this fall, please reach out. You just have to pick a spot, call Digsafe to check it, and maintain the box’s food supply if it gets low. Mattias will also hold a food drive so you aren’t just getting an empty box. If you are interested or have any questions please email mattias.lacroix@theparkerschool.org.

Westford LWV Holds Special Town Meeting Preview

WESTFORD: The League of Women Voters of Westford is hosting a Special Town Meeting Preview on October 12, to educate residents about items on the meeting warrant. The preview will be held virtually at 7pm. Residents can obtain a Zoom link on the League’s website at lwv.westford.org.

The Special Town Meeting will be held on October 16 at 7pm in the Westford Academy gymnasium, 30 Patten Road. Voter registration deadline for Special Town Meeting is October 6 at 5pm at the Westford Town Clerk’s office or at 11:59pm on the Secretary of State’s website. You can check your voter registration status on the same site.
There are nine articles on this year’s Special Town Meeting warrant. Of particular note is Article 9, which would amend existing zoning bylaws to define and regulate firearm businesses. To read the Town Meeting warrant, visit www.westfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13539/2023-STM-SIIGNED-WARRANT-10162023.

For more information about Special Town Meeting, check out the Westford Town Moderator’s website at Town Moderator | Westford, MA (westfordma.gov).

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, issues-oriented organization for all that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. For more information about the organization, go to Westford League of Women Voters | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

Family Fun at the Country Fair October 14

LITTLETON: A tradition that dates to the 1890s, The Country Fair on October 14, 10am-2pm, offers something for everyone – free kids activities, a gigantic yard sale; fantastic homemade jams, a used bookstore and jewelry booths, homemade lunch and bake table, and new this year, take a tour of home-built super-tiny house. It’s all happening in Littleton at 19 Foster Street and at the nearby Historical Society.

"We have raised ‘Spend a day, not a fortune’ to new heights with free fun family crafts and face painting. Kids of all ages can shop for treasures at the ultimate recycling booths, yard, and buy grilled hot dogs, mac ‘n cheese and popcorn, all without breaking the piggy bank," said Susan Tordella, co-chair of the annual event.

Special highlights include tarot card readings, Martha’s home baked apple pies, free live entertainment by the famous UU Ukes, and "Ask the minister" a question about the universe or life.
The massive yard sale offers a variety of gently used household items, sporting equipment, toys, kitchen goods, some vintage and mid-century items, art, craft supplies, games, bric-a-brac, tools, home maintenance, and many surprises. Come early for the best selections at the yard sale and our famous homemade jams, jellies and pickles and crafts.

Lunch and scones will be sold at the Country Cafe inside the church’s lower dining room. The homemade menu features pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw, macaroni and cheese to die for, and Lentil soup – vegan, gluten free and delicious.

Donations from the community for the yard sale will be accepted October 13 from 4-6 pm, and 8-10am before the sale on October 14. PLEASE NOTE: TVs, car seats or computer monitors will NOT be accepted. All contributions are tax-deductible, to benefit First Church Unitarian of Littleton, which awards 10% of income to a Littleton non-profit. Email questions to fair@fculittle.org.

America’s “Special Guest” Charlie Farren Takes the PCA Stage

WESTFORD: Every state and every town has their own "legendary" musicians to lay claim to, and the Merrimack Valley proudly claims Charlie Farren! The Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) welcomes “America’s Special Guest” for an acoustic set on October 21 at 7pm (Doors open 6:30pm). Pack a nice dinner, beverages of your choice, and get ready to kick back and enjoy some original Farren fan favorite songs and stories. Tickets are $25 at the door; $20 in advance; $18 for PCA Members, and are available by calling (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

With innumerable live shows and 18 albums (7 solo; 11 with bands he's formed) under his musical black belt, Charlie Farren burst onto the national scene in the early 80s as lead singer of The Joe Perry Project, teaming up with the Aerosmith lead guitarist. With Perry, Charlie played to sold out theaters across the country and toured arenas and stadiums around the world with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Heart, ZZ Top and Alice Cooper. Farren subsequently formed FARRENHEIT, a trio releasing a self-titled debut album on Warner Brothers. Three singles from that album, “Fool in Love,” “Bad Habit” and “Lost in Loveland,” as well as video exposure on MTV, established FARRENHEIT as one of the era’s premier rock acts.

More recently, Charlie has been touring North America as with Three Dog Night, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, ZZ Top, Joe Perry, Pat Benetar & Neil Geraldo, and many others. His CHARLIE FARREN: GUITAR & VOICE has been rolling out with regular releases of compelling new original music that has been resonating with audiences across the United States. Charlie continues to be one of America's most original and compelling musical artists. He takes the stage alone, and leaves with a roomful of new believers! Don’t miss your chance to join the band!

The PCA is located at 10 Lincoln Street, Westford, right on Westford Common.

"For Comedy, God & Country": Jimmy Tingle Comes to Westford

WESTFORD: "Boston's Own" political satirist/comedian Jimmy Tingle is stopping by the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) on October 15 for a special matinee of his “For Comedy, God & Country” at 3pm (Doors open 2:30pm). Pack a late lunch/early dinner, beverages of your choice, and be prepared to be entertained in many ways with laughter, tears, insight, logic and more tears because you’re laughing so much. Tickets are $18 members; $20 advance purchase; $25 non-member; $30 at the door, and are available by calling (978) 692-6333 or online at pcawestford.org.

Jimmy Tingle has the rare distinction of winning the prestigious “Best of Boston” award as both a performer in the “stand up comedy” category and as a producer for Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater. His "Education of an American Comic" received stellar reviews during a 9-week engagement in New York City and continued to succeed brilliantly at the Hasty Pudding Theater in Cambridge, becoming the longest running one person show in that theater's history. The show was also nominated by The L.A. Weekly for "best male solo performance" in their 20th Annual Theater Awards. Jimmy is also known for his "Uncommon Sense," "Jimmy Tingle in the Promised Land" and "Jimmy Tingle’s American Dream."

Tingle was the American correspondent for David Frost’s show for PBS and the BBC, “The Strategic Humor Initiative.” He completed two seasons as the humorist/commentator with “60 Minutes II” on CBS, worked as a contributor and satirist for MSNBC, and has appeared on “Tough Crowd” with Colin Quinn, “The Tonight Show,” “Larry King's Weekend,” “Late Night with Conan O'Brien,” “The Late Late Show” with Tom Snyder, The American Comedy Awards, as well as his own HBO comedy special.

In October 2017, Tingle announced that he would run for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. In the Democratic primary election in 2018, Tingle was defeated, but his expansive career has given Jimmy no shortage of material to share, much of which leaving audiences holding their sides.

Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/10-15-23-jimmy-tingle-for-comedy-god-country/114

The PCA is located at 10 Lincoln Street, right on Westford Common. For more information, visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bonnie Anderson Opens Piano Heritage Series with Clara Schumann & Friends

WESTFORD: One of the PCA’s favorite instrumentalists, Westford native Bonnie Anderson will present “Clara Shumann & Friends” on October 22 at 4pm, with a pre-concert talk at 3:15pm. Enjoy music by female composers and living composers from around the world. Hear stories and music by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Cecile Chaminade, Margaret Bonds, Eliza Kats-Chernin, William Bolcom, Stephen Wood and Alexis French. All ages welcome! Tickets are $15 for members/seniors; $18 for non-members; $8 for teens and $5 for kids 12 and under. Snacks and beverages of your choice are welcome during the show. To reserve your seat or for more information, visit pcawestford.org or call (978) 692-6333.

This event is the first of two in this season's ‘Piano Heritage Series,’ the second on April 14, 2024 when Steve Zocchi brings his “Man vs. Piano” to the PCA stage. Also as part of the PCA’s Music offerings will be a Classical Guitar Series including Jérôme Mouffe (11/19), The Hampton Trio (2/25/24) and Thatcher Harrison (5/11).

For the past 25 years, the non-profit PCA has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. Visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A History of the Westford Quarries

WESTFORD: Most everyone knows there are granite quarries located throughout Westford. For over a century granite has been a main source of income for Westford. Granite is an igneous rock, a type of rock that has been formed out of magma. You’ll see Westford granite in town mailboxes, benches, and splattered in the cobblestone streets. Discover where the Westford Quarries were located, who owned them and men and women that worked there in an insightful PowerPoint presentation with Geoff Hall and Rich McLaughlin, November 9 from 7-8:30pm at Westford Museum & Historical Society. Suggested donation is $10 per person.

PHOTO: Samuel Merrill (left front) & George W. Merrill II (right of pole) at Merrill’s Quarry, 1886.

Fab Four from Bedford Exhibit at Westford’s PCA

WESTFORD/BEDFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) welcomes four Bedford artists in a group exhibition running from October 8-29, with an opening reception on October 8 from noon-3pm. This is the first in the PCA's 2023-24 "Artist-of-the-Month" series, open to visitors in the Gallery each Sunday from noon until 2pm.This group exhibition of talented artists features a collection of works in acrylic, watercolor, collage and batik.

Dana Holley’s primary medium is acrylic, and she also enjoys drawing and collage. Her artwork has been exhibited at the Bedford Arts & Crafts Society’s Regional Art Shows and the Grace Chapel Art Gallery and was featured on the cover of her Wellesley College 50th reunion Record Book.

Laura Wallace has cultivated her art practice in batik for many years. Since her retirement from the software industry, she has shown her work at various venues, including Gallery Twist, the Concord Art Association, and the Bedford Free Public Library. Laura also enjoys painting in acrylics and watercolor, as well as drawing.

Margo Zelermyer has recently rekindled her longtime passion for making art. She works in acrylics, colored pencil, ink, collage, and watercolor. Margo has exhibited at the Grace Chapel Art Gallery and the Bedford Arts & Crafts Society’s Regional Art Show.

Sylvia Mallory studied watercolor painting and subsequently took up acrylics, now her favored medium. She also works in collage and mixed media. Sylvia’s artwork has hung at the Rockport Art Association, Gallery Twist, the Grace Chapel Art Gallery, the Art Gallery at First Parish, and the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. Her favorite subject matter includes landscapes, floral still lifes, and abstracts.

For more Artist information, contact 4.friends.art@gmail.com. For more information about the PCA exhibit, visit www.pcawestford.org or call (978) 692-6333.

PCA Continues Arts in the Loft Classes

WESTFORD: In week 3 of the Parish Center for the Arts' "Arts in the Loft" classes, instructor Deb O'Connell will be taking on Modified Contour Line Drawings with her 13-21 age group (9/25), and Still Life Drawing with her 8-12 after school group (9/26).

Modified Contour Line Drawings is at 6:30pm on October 2. The amount of time spent looking at the object as you draw will be a focal point along with considering the role of the negative space between objects. Students will be given a choice later in class to continue working exclusively with this practice or to select a drawing for further development with pattern and design. This is a one-week session for $25.

In Still Life Drawing at 3pm on October 3, students will use colored pencil, pastel or oil pastel. Look to artists Paul Cezanne & Vincent van Gogh for inspiration - either a bowl of seasonal fruit or a flower in a vase. Media preferences will be chosen by students to complete their work with color & shading. This is a one-week session for $20.

PCA's Arts in the Loft program is ten weeks collectively, but students can pick and choose which sessions they'd like to participate in. Then, on November 27 there will be a special exhibit in the Main Hall showcasing student artwork from the class (optional). For more information, visit https://parisharts.square.site/arts-in-the-loft.

Women’s Alliance of First Church Unitarian, Littleton Presents Program on Pollinators & Native Plants

LITTLETON: On September 30 at 11am, Erin Jade, a volunteer with the Littleton Conservation Trust, will present a program on Pollinators and Native Plants in the Vestry at First Church Unitarian, 19 Foster Street, Littleton. Come learn about the importance of protecting and providing habitat and food for pollinators. There will be time for questions and answers about what you can do in your own yards and communities to support these vital links in our food chain. Light refreshments will be served after the presentation for those attending in person. For those who would like to attend virtually, please contact Rochelle Chambless at alliance@fculittle.org to receive the Zoom link.

Run a Food Drive to Spread More Love, Less Hunger

Did you know that 24% of the food Open Table distributes comes from community food donations? Your assistance is vital to Open Table. Please consider running a food drive this autumn if you are hungry to help neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It's an easy, feel-good community service that is a great activity for neighborhoods, businesses, schools, scouts, clubs, teams, and faith-based organizations. All size food drives are welcome. Sandwich boards and other signs are available to help you spread the word. Go to www.opentable.org/donation-activities/ for information. Stay up-to-date on our changing needs and news on Instagram and Twitter @opentablema and Facebook.com/opentablema.

Open Table is the local food pantry supporting those in-need in Concord, Bedford, Carlisle, and 18 other surrounding areas. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, email info@opentable.org or call (978) 369-2275.

Roudenbush Community Center Welcomes New Executive Director

WESTFORD: Roudenbush Community Center recently welcomed its new Executive Director, Amanda Sullivan. Sullivan replaces former Executive Director Michelle Sullivan, who left her role earlier this year. Sullivan is a graduate of Suffolk University, holding a Master of Social Work from the University of New England. Most recently, she served as Youth Services Director at Community Teamwork, a non-profit community action agency based in Lowell. In her role, she built up day-to-day and long-term programming for youth and adolescents. Sullivan was born and raised in Groton.

PCA Continues Arts in the Loft Classes

WESTFORD: In week 2 of the Parish Center for the Arts' "Arts in the Loft" classes, instructor Debo O'Connell will be taking on Continuous Line Drawings with her 13-21 age group (9/25), and continuing Zendoodle Letters with her 8-12 after school group (9/26).

In Continuous Line Drawings at 6:30pm on September 25, students will use continuous line drawings as a focal point. Examples of this type of drawing will be shared and the technique will be demonstrated and practiced using a few select objects as still life. Students can choose to continue with this process for the entire class or at some point select a drawing to enhance with value and color.

In Zendoodle Drawing at 3pm on September 26, students will use a font for a letter or symbol. They will discuss color schemes and designs, and how to incorporate them. Colored pencils, markers, pencil and pens, and ink will be available.

PCA's Arts in the Loft program is ten weeks collectively, but students can pick and choose which sessions they'd like to participate in. Then, on November 27 there will be a special exhibit in the Main Hall showcasing student artwork from the class (optional). For more information, visit https://parisharts.square.site/arts-in-the-loft.

Littleton High School Ranks in Top 10 Best Public High Schools in Greater Boston

LITTLETON: Superintendent Kelly Clenchy is pleased to announce that Littleton High School has been ranked the sixth-best public high school in the Greater Boston area, according to Boston Magazine. Boston Magazine recently released its annual ranking of the best public high schools in the Greater Boston area, evaluating 150 schools in the I-495 corridor.

Littleton High School ranked sixth based on several criteria, including average class size, student-to-teacher ratio, standardized test scores, graduation rate, and educator evaluations. Boston Magazine uses the most recent data available from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to compile its rankings.

LHS was also ranked third in Boston Magazine's Percent of Teachers with Exemplary Ranking list and fourth in its Bang for Your Housing Buck list. The full rankings can be viewed online at bostonmagazine.com/news/best-public-high-schools-boston-2023-chart.

"To see that Littleton High School was ranked so highly by Boston Magazine is a testament to the commitments of our students, staff, parents, and community members to provide high quality educational opportunities for all," said Superintendent Clenchy. "Their commitment to fostering a personalized learning environment is what makes Littleton Public Schools a wonderful place for students to grow both academically and personally."

Heat Pumps 101 at Westford Library September 28

WESTFORD: Westford Climate Action presents “Neighbor to Neighbor: Heat Pumps 101” a free, in-person and online event on September 28 at 7pm at the J. V. Fletcher Library, 50 Main Street. The evening will include presentations by HeatSmart Alliance and Westford residents sharing their experience with heat pumps in their homes. A Q&A will follow.

Learn about financial incentives and rebates. Cold-climate heat pumps can maintain 100% of their rated capacity down to 5° F and operate to -15° F. In summer, they provide all the benefits of central AC in homes both with and without ducts. Does this technology for heating AND cooling make sense for your home? Learn why you should invest in heat pump technology and how heat pumps will reduce your energy bills while lowering your home’s carbon footprint!

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Westford Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee, HeatSmart Alliance, and the J. V. Fletcher Library. For online registration, visit WestfordClimateAction.org/events. No registration is needed for in-person attendance at the library.

Westford League Hosts Budget Task Force at Civic Social

WESTFORD: The League of Women Voters of Westford will host the Westford Budget Task Force at its next Civic Social, September 20 at 7:30pm, in person at WestfordCAT, 487 Groton Road. Light refreshments will be served. Hear from members of the task force as they explain their work creating scenarios for a five-year sustainable plan to meet the fiscal challenges facing the Town. The task force is also looking for feedback on the data being collected that will inform its recommendations.

The task force, created by the Select Board last May, presented its findings to date at the recent Strategic Planning Retreat. It will present its final report to the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee in October.
Civic Socials are the Leag
ue’s informal monthly get-togethers, open to all, where people can learn what’s happening in and around town and about what the League is doing. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, issues-oriented organization, open to all, that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. For more information about the organization, go to lwv.westford.org.

Westford Electronics & More Collection

WESTFORD: The Westford Recycling Commission is holding an Electronics & More Collection on September 23 from 9am-1pm at the Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Street. This is a fee-based collection FOR WESTFORD RESIDENTS ONLY. Westford utilizes the services of Northeast Materials Handling of Ayer, Massachusetts. CASH OR CHECK ONLY (checks must be made out to “Northeast Material Handling, Inc”). For traffic safety reasons, entry to the access road off North Street will not be allowed until 8:45am. Those arriving prior to 8:45am will be turned away. The Northeast Materials' staff will take the items from the vehicle for them and collect fees from the driver’s side window. NOTE: TOY PLASTICS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. For a list of acceptable Items: some free and some chargeable, visit www.westfordma.gov/recycling. If you have any questions about what is acceptable, please feel free to call (978) 772-4545 or email: Francine@liquidatedstuff.com.

Enjoy Singing? There's a Place for You in The First Church Unitarian of Littleton Choir

LITTLETON: Experience the well-documented physical and mental health benefits of group singing at First Church Unitarian in Littleton! It's free, fun and flexible. You can 'learn on the job,' but mostly you participate in giving the gift of music each Sunday. They are a progressive community that welcomes all faiths, and FCU Membership is not required to sing in the choir. Whatever genre of music you like, from the Beatles to Beethoven, there's room for many voices.

Rehearsals are 7:30-9pm on Thursdays and 9:15–9:45am most Sundays. The attendance policy is very flexible. Join weekly or once a month. Music reading ability is helpful, but not required. For questions or more information, contact Music Director Molly (music@fculittle.org). Let her know your interest, and/or if you'd like to be added to the mailing list to receive the schedule.

First Connections Offers Fall Play Groups

ACTON: First Connections has two free playgroups with openings for Fall. Groups are open to residents of Acton, Bedford, Boxboro, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury and Westford. Our Fall session will run from the week of September 11 to the week of December 11. Our playgroups are funded by a grant from the Mass. Dept of Early Education and Care and led by our Early Childhood Teacher. Caregivers and children attend the groups together.

Me, You, We Playgroup for Ages 3-5 is based on a Boston Children's Museum curriculum where children practice social-emotional skills such as taking turns, using words to negotiate conflict, and labeling feelings. Families receive at-home learning materials. Younger siblings welcome. Meets outdoors (weather permitting) at Boxborough Library. Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am.

Language & Literacy Playgroup for Multilingual Families for Ages 1 1/2-5 is for families who speak a language other than or in addition to English as part of their daily life. This group will help foster a love of books in your child and share tips for how to make the most of your shared reading at home. In addition to free play, there will be circle time and activities related to each week's story. Infant siblings in carriers welcome. Held at First Connections in Acton. Wednesdays, 10-11am.

If you are interested in either of these groups, email Linda to register: lmatthews@jri.org.

Littleton Public Schools Students Participate in Extended School Year Program

LITTLETON: Superintendent Kelly Clenchy is pleased to share that Littleton Public Schools' Special Education staff worked hard to make the extended school year (ESY) a fun and engaging experience for students this summer.

Students across the district participated in a variety of activities throughout the summer ESY program, including field trips, community engagement efforts, and cooperative games. The program had weekly themes, including Nature, Outer Space, Community Helpers, Sports, and Shark Week, with corresponding learning activities and special guest appearances from the Littleton Shark.

The middle and high school programs made the community their classroom by working on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals during weekly outings. The group visited an outdoor art museum, completed volunteer work at Acton Toyota of Littleton, and worked on life skills at the Bistro at LHS.

Elementary students completed hands-on science experiments such as a saltwater density experiment, a walking rainbow experiment, and a gummy bear in water experiment. They also worked on functional academics and played games that helped develop cooperation skills like scavenger hunts.

Students in the early childhood classes worked on functional communication skills, engaged in cooperative play, and had fun with their sensory corners, balloons, and bubbles.

The district's transition program, which accommodates students ages 18-22, attended weekly fitness classes in the community on Mondays. They also completed jobs for the school and community, including collecting and delivering mail and cleaning the trails for the Littleton Conservation Commission.

"Our Special Education staff did an amazing job crafting an extended school year program that provided students with engaging, educational, and fun activities to promote learning and development," said Superintendent Clenchy. "We are very proud to have a district filled with staff and students that care so much about their community and each other."

PHOTO: Board Certified Behavior Analyst Teresa Fiori and student Kyle Musomba arrived prepared for the Extended School Year program. (Photo Courtesy Littleton Public Schools)

NVPC Presents Wabi-Sabi

LITTLETON: On September 20 at 7pm, Nashoba Valley Photo club (NVPC) will present Wabi-Sabi at Reuben Hoar Public Library, 35 Shattuck Street. This is a special presentation by Tom and Lisa Cuchara, whose work has been accepted into many juried exhibitions and has won awards at the local, state, national, and international levels. Wabi-Sabi will explore the beauty of imperfect and/or unconventional subjects. Nature photographers often seek out the flowers, leaves and such that are perfect, with no blemishes or defects. This program highlights subjects that are not perfect, such as flowers that have character, double headed flowers, decaying fall leaves, the deformed coneflower that stands out as flawed and hence different and beautiful, rust as it creates abstract patterns amidst the decay, etc. Explore the concept of slowing down and appreciating the beauty of everyday life, things that might be overlooked. Wabi-Sabi teaches to find beauty in everyday life. It is a kind of anti-aesthetic, an alternative to the dominating discriminatory ideas we hold about beauty.

“Wabi means a beauty of elegant imperfection. Sabi means aloneness. Together, they suggest the beauty of ‘the withered, weathered, tarnished, scarred, intimate, coarse, earthly, evanescent, tentative, ephemeral.’ ~ Crispin Sartwell, Six Names of Beauty. It is a way of honoring that everything is impermanent, and we are always in a state of both becoming and falling away. It is used to describe a particular philosophy that beauty can be found in the old, the everyday, the imperfect. Wabi-Sabi applies to more than nature and the seasons of change and decay, but it also to the “Life after Humans” arena or UrbEx (urban exploration). As a side note, the term Wabi-Sabi can also be part of the social movement of embracing imperfection of your physical traits as a human being, especially with respect to self-perception and celebrating imperfection in a society that encourages people to be perfect and pressures people to be flawless.

Tom and Lisa Cuchara's photographs have appeared in Adirondack Life, Wild Bird, Birder’s World, in calendars and on calendar covers, and on the cover of a fictional paperback novel. Lisa has also had images accepted into the PPA (Professional Photographers Association) loan collection and has earned three Bronze image competition cases. Find them at www.PhotographyByLisaAndTom.com.

Visit the NVPC website at https://nvpc.visualpursuits.com to see more about the club and upcoming activities. This presentation will also be available via Zoom. Please contact Tom Carroll at nvpc.president@gmail.com for additional information.

Arts Class Series for Young People Starting Mid-September

WESTFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) is opening a new visual arts series to young people ages 8-21 during 2023-24. Arts-in-the-Loft will be offering two classes - Foundations in Drawing (ages 13-21) and Arts After School (ages 8-12). Each of these classes run for 10 weeks, and students have the option to sign up for all 10, or pick and choose which ones they’d like to attend! Then, on November 27 there will be a special exhibit in the PCA featuring young artists’ works (optional). More information is available by calling (978) 692-6333 or visit the PCA online.

In Foundations of Drawing (starts 9/18, 6-7:30pm), focus on drawing from direct observation in a variety of formats using the element of line as a focal point. Practice techniques such as blind contour, modified contour & continuous line drawing exercises referencing famous artists' sketchbook drawings. This class will work with a variety of drawing media, pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, and pen & ink. Specifically: Blind Contour Line Drawing (9/18); Continuous Line Drawing (9/25); Modified Contour Line Drawing (10/2); Cross Contour Line Drawing (10/9 & 10/16); Expressive Line Drawing (10/23 & 10/30); Lines Used for Shading & Value (11/6); Putting it All Together (11/13); and Free Draw (11/20).

In Arts After School (starts 9/19, 3-4pm), participants will engage in small creative endeavors taking either one or two weeks to complete. They will use a variety of media, processes & materials to create both 2- and 3-dimensional works of art, using works of art throughout art history and various cultural themes as inspiration for specific projects. Emphasis will be placed on individual expression & use of imagination, along with discovery & practice of skills demonstrated. Included are: Zen Doodle Letters (9/19 & 26);
Still Life Drawing (10/3); Self Portrait (10/10 & 17); Nature Leaf Printing (10/24);
Accordion Mini Books (10/31 & 11/7); and Watercolor Exploration & Application (11/14 & 21). Sessions are $20 each; $35 for two; $175 for all ten.

For the past 25 years, the PCA has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. For more information, call (978) 692-6333, visit them online, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Superior Sound Workshop Open to All

WESTFORD: Free and open to the public. From 9am-1pm on 9/16, gain hands-on skills with a professional sound system. Appropriate for all levels of experience, this workshop is custom-tailored for each student. Part science lab/part user group, this is an opportunity to work with the PCA’s sound system in depth. Learn from the experts and share ideas. Begin the day setting up the system, get a run-down of how it works, then move into open-ended experimentation with microphone technique, monitor placement, EQ, effects, and more. After 1pm (voluntary), participate in a full inventory and review of equipment, etc. Upon completion, you may become eligible as a volunteer sound tech for PCA events! Suitable for adults & teens (max 12). Instructor: David "Stack" Stackhouse. Please register in advance by email or by calling (978) 692-6333.

Community Christmas Chorus Begins October 1

WESTFORD: Community Christmas Chorus will begin rehearsals on October 1 at 7pm. The chorus, under the direction of Rene Minalga-Rheault, is a non-auditioned chorus open to all area adults and teens. The chorus will rehearse every Sunday at 7pm at the Church until the concert on December 3 at 7pm. All proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Westford Food Pantry. At this "meet and greet," singers can register, pick up their music, and pay the chorus dues ($25; $40 a couple) at that time. For further information, please call Jeanne Masterman at (978) 692-8416.

Northbound Station Brings New Sound to the PCA Coffeehouse

WESTFORD: The Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) is thrilled to be one of the first locations for the newly formed band Northbound Station, playing September 8 at 7:30pm (Doors open 7pm). Pull together a nice picnic dinner, maybe bottled beverages of your choice, and get ready to kick back and listed to some acoustic favorites from the 60s, 70s and more. Tickets are $25 at the door; $20in advance; $18 for PCA Members, and are available by calling (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

Northbound Station is the result of an expansion of the band Kota, an acoustic trio that has been performing in New Hampshire’s Monadnock area for six years. Members Suzi Brumaghim, Laurie Donohue and Paul Belanger, are now joined by drummer Craig Brown and multi-instrumentalist Dennis Lowe (Dlowe) to form a new band featuring covers of classic rock from the 60s through the 90s. Kota fans will remember performances at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, Blue Bear Inn in Francestown, West LA Brewery in Keene, Aldworth Manor in Harrisville, and many other venues. Brown and Dlowe fans will remember them for shows at from their work with other bands including Off the Hook, Bendingtunes, Therium and Sheep Dip. All included, the new Northbound Station is excited to meet future audiences, still focusing on beautiful harmonies and tight arrangements, but providing a deeper, more complex musical foundation, and creating a sound that is not to be missed!

For the past 25 years, the PCA has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. For more information, call (978) 692-6333, visit them online, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Register Now for the 15th Annual Littleton Road Race, September 17

LITTLETON: Registration is now open for the 15th Annual Littleton Road Race. The race will be held September 17, 2023. It will be the same format as in previous years with the 1 Mile Fun Run starting at 2pm followed by a 5K USATF sanctioned race. In addition to a closed race course, there will be food, music, and games for the kids. Free t-shirts are given to all 5k registrants who sign up before August 27. Awards are given to multiple age and gender group categories, and 1mi race participants receive finisher's medals.

This race is a fundraiser for the Littleton Road Race & Track Organization. In 2008, they began work to promote the building of a new track and field facility in Littleton, and this facility opened in March of 2013. Proceeds from the Road Race will be used to maintain and enhance the Littleton track and field facility, as well as promote the sport of track & field in Littleton. Past projects funded by the road race include new landscaping at the entry to the track, the addition of a pole vault box and pit, a school track records board at the high school and summer track and field programs to introduce new runners to the track. Visit www.LittletonRoadRace.org to register, donate, sponsor and volunteer.

Ryan B Hebert Kicks Off 2023-24 PCA Season with the Great American Songbook

WESTFORD: Fresh off a stint on Season 21 of ABC’s hit talent competition “American Idol,” entertainer Ryan B Hebert is stopping by the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) for an evening of ‘Sinatra, Standards & the Great American Songbook,’ September 2, 2023 at 7pm (Doors open 6:30pm). Pack a beverage, a bite to eat, and prepare to coast down memory lane with Hebert as he sings a collection of songs featuring Sinatra classics and standards to the sounds of Robert Goulet, and more. For tickets and information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

Ryan B Hebert is an American actor and singer, (not to mention a Pokémon Master). He grew up in Massachusetts, spent some time in Chicago (DePaul University Theatre School graduate), and is currently spending his time performing around New England. Ryan most recently returned for his third summer residency at The Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit (ME), including a performance backed by the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra.

For the past 25 years, the PCA has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. For more information, call (978) 692-6333, or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Calling All Artists for the 23rd Annual Westford Regional Art Event!

WESTFORD: REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN!

Share your talent by submitting your artwork for the annual Westford Regional Art Event at the PCA. Gala receptions for adults and children kick off the event on September 22 and 23. The show, open to all ages, is judged by professional artists - amateur and professional alike. Entry categories include Computer-generated Art, Drawing, Fiber Art, Mixed Media (collage, etc.), Photography, Printmaking (engraving, etching, etc.), Opaque (oil, acrylic, etc.), Pastel & Transparent (watercolor etc.) Paints, Metals, Jewelry and Sculpture. Online registration runs thru 9/15/23.

The WRAE goes deep in the heart of Westford. It started when Andrew Kusmin, Nancy Russo, and other Westford area artists worked with the Roudenbush Community Center to give local talent a place to see and be seen. Nancy and Andrew were also part of the group who started the Parish Center for Arts when the old church building at 110 Lincoln Street became available in 1997. The WRAE moved to the PCA in 1999. It draws art from Westford and the surrounding towns - hundreds of artworks from hundreds of artists - amateur and professional, adult, young adult and child.

Dozens of volunteers support the WRAE - managing online registration for artists and volunteers, receiving artwork - this year on September 17 and 8, working through the night to hang artwork halfway up the walls, and finally to celebrate with festive awards events on September 22 at 7pm and on September 23 at 1pm. The work will be on view at the PCA on September 23 (3-5pm); September 24 (10am-4pm); September 28 (4-9pm); September 30 (10am-4pm); and October 1 (11am-2:30pm). In past years, the WRAE featured over 400 artists exhibiting over 500 works!

Click HERE to Register your Artwork
Click HERE to Volunteer to help with the event

MOMENTUM Plays Westford Common August 26

WESTFORD: Raise the roof with Momentum on Westford Common, August 26 from 2-4pm. This concert is being offered free of charge courtesy of the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA), 10 Lincoln Street! For over 4 years,Momentum has been rocking the Merrimack Valley with a diverse mix of recognizable tunes from Beatles to Black Keys. From festivals to bars, covers to originals, there's always a strong groove, great lyrics, and a musical surprise around every corner! Always a rockin' good time! For more information about the band, visit them online.

For the past 25 years, the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) has brought the arts alive for residents of Westford and surrounding communities. A fine art gallery, a concert hall, a dance hall, or a general purpose hall for your private recital or family event, the PCA offers many ways to celebrate the visual and performing arts in a convenient and family-friendly venue. For more information about the PCA, a local non-profit arts organization, call (978) 692-6333, visit pcawestford.org or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Westford Regional Art Exhibit Seeks Volunteers

WESTFORD: The 2023 Westford Regional Art Exhibit (WRAE) is almost upon us! An annual celebration of art, the WRAE showcases emerging and established artists within our local communities. We celebrate this work with music and refreshments at gala awards receptions for adults and children. Online registrations will be opening soon, and when they do - register early - as this event shows an average of 500+ pieces from 350+ artists! Sign up online now via Sign-up Genius to volunteer during the event. If you have questions, contact admin@pcawestford.org.

Water Safety Reminders

According to the American Red Cross, 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning, and on average two of those deaths are children under age 14. Additionally, drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. To ensure everyone’s safety in the water this summer, the Hudson Fire Department would like to remind residents of the following safety tips for kayakers, paddlers and recreational boaters courtesy of the American Canoe Association:

Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
Children under the age of 12 must always wear a life jacket in a public body of water.
Be a competent swimmer with the ability to handle oneself underwater, moving water, surf or current. Keep the craft under control. Do not enter a rapid unless you are reasonably sure you can navigate it or swim the entire rapid in case you capsize.
Keep a lookout for hazards and avoid them. Watch for fog, especially on coastal waters.
Know your physical limitations.
Group members need to constantly assess the behavior of others in their group.

For those swimming in the ocean, lakes, ponds or pools, the Hudson Fire Department also provides the following safety tips from the American Red Cross:

Never leave children unattended while they are near or in a body of water, and make sure they have an adult to accompany them into the water. Young or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a life jacket or inflatable arm floats.
Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children.
If a child is missing, always check the body of water that they were near or swimming in first.
Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as river currents, ocean rip current, underwater hazards including vegetation and animals, and more.
Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or during swimming or diving, or while supervising swimmers.
Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they:
- Are not making forward progress in the water.
- Are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water.
- Are motionless and face down in the water.
If someone is drowning or experiencing an emergency in the water:
- Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
- Ask someone to call emergency medical services (EMS). If alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call EMS.
- Begin CPR.
- Use an AED if available and transfer care to advanced life support.
Take a CPR course for adults and children to be prepared if an emergency occurs. Update skills regularly.

PCA Hosts Summertime Jazz Jam with Joe Virga

WESTFORD: Interested in sitting in on a musical collaboration as a player or audience member? Consider stopping by the Parish Center for the Arts at 10 Lincoln Street in Westford for a summertime Jazz Jam with host Joe Virga on August 6, 3:30p-5:30pm! Just bring your instrument and sit in on a few tunes with other jazz musicians. Vocalists, bringing your own mic is recommended. These jams are a safe space to practice, play and listen to jazz tunes, or just come hang out with friends. Each month there will be a few tunes posted to work on before the jam. If you are not on the jazz jam email list, please email admin@pcawestford.org to hear more, or if you just want to drop by and see what it's all about, all are welcome. The PCA asks only a $5 suggested cover for all drop-in programs. Can't make it to this jam? Save these future dates, kicking back into gear in the PCA's new season - 9/10, 10/8, 11/5, 12/3. For more information, visit www.pcawestford.org.

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Senator Eldridge and Representative Arciero Announce $17,921 Grant for Littleton Community Farm Award

The award will be used to drill a well that will increase resistance to droughts.

LITTLETON: State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) announced that Littleton Community Farm will be awarded $17,921 through the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program. The grant will support the drilling of a new well, which will be an important tool to combat the impact of climate change on farming by increasing resistance to droughts.

Littleton Community Farm aims to reduce food insecurity in the local community and seeks to provide everyone with healthy food regardless of wealth. The farm grows, harvests, and distributes mixed vegetables from May through November in Middlesex and Worcester counties, targeting low income families, especially in food deserts, language isolation, or with low access to transportation, in Littleton, Lowell, Ayer, and Shirley.

LCF runs the Hunger Relief Program, through which the farm has donated over 36,000 lbs of diversified crops since 2015, in addition to its CSA program. A CSA participant buys a “share” of the produce in advance of the growing season and receives a weekly share of the harvest during the growing season. To increase accessibility, the CSA program uses a sliding economic scale for the cost to buy in. participants experiencing unemployment, health issues, or who have a disability can pay much less for a product share while homeowners with a higher discretionary income can pay a higher price.

“Getting fresh, healthy food on the table is crucial for families, but the cost of doing so is often a barrier,” said Senator Eldridge. “No one should be denied access to proper nutrition, and Littleton Community Farm does great work to close the accessibility gap. I’m very excited that they are to receive this grant from the EEA.”

“Food security has become an ever increasing concern in recent years and I am grateful that the Commonwealth can do its part to support the farming community and food producers, like Littleton Community Farm, for this important endeavor to ensure that at risk individuals and families have access to wholesome healthy foods,” said Representative Arciero.

Sample a PCA Favorite “Open Mic” on Westford Common

WESTFORD: An open mic (short for "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club or pub, usually having audience members performing on stage, often for the first time. Did you know that the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) has a bi-monthly Open Mic during the season? Would you like to get a taste with NO pressure to perform whatsoever? Stop by Westford Common (or the PCA, 10 Lincoln Street if the weather's not cooperating) from 1-4pm on July 23 with a picnic lunch, a blanket or chair, and your listening ears, because PCA Open Mic Host John Ferullo will be bringing some friends by for an Open Mic Sampler! Admission to this special session is free, though donations to the PCA are humbly accepted, as all funds received will go toward future events at and offerings from this non-profit organization. For information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

Included in this special “On the Common” PCA Open Mic will be a wealth of talented artists you will probably see at one of the in-house sessions, held during the season (September-June) each 2nd & 4th Sunday (6:30-10pm). You will see and hear just the tip of the ice berg of styles and songs performing by individuals such as Bob Morse (Blues & originals/finger-style instrumentals); Dan Tappan (originals in the folk tradition); Cooper & Kenneally (folk-rock, country & blues); John Ferullo (folk originals & covers); John Swenson (originals); and Chuck Hall (original folk).

When the PCA Series starts up again September 10, 2023, the public is welcome to come by and play or just listen – all for the price of a small donation ($5 requested). You will hear spoken word pieces, American songbook tunes, original tunes, country, folk, rock and roll, oldies – there are no limits as every artist brings what they like to the table (or the stage, as the case may be). It is always a very enjoyable night, usually including a special guest artist, with a lot of fun, surprises and amazing music. For more information, call (978) 692-6333, visit pcawestford.org or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PHOTO: Open Mic Host John Ferullo (Photo by Dan Tappan)

Littleton Historical Opens Up Greeting Hours

LITTLETON: The Littleton Historical Society on 4 Rogers Street will be open to the public on Thursday evenings, 6-8pm, from July 13-August 24. They will also welcome visitors at the usual times: Wednesday afternoons 1-4pm and the second Sunday of the month 2-4pm. Stop by and check out museum displays, as well as the Advanced Placement U.S. History class projects on view in the exhibit hall till the end of the summer. For more information, visit the LHS website, or visit them on Facebook.

PCA Presents Magician Stephanie Beach on Westford Common

WESTFORD: Stop by Westford Common (or the PCA, 10 Lincoln Street if the weather's not cooperating) around noon on July 22 with a picnic lunch and stick around for a 1pm, very family-friendly magic show by the area's own magician extraordinaire Stephanie Beach! Enjoy an hour or so of fast-paced and fun entertainment you won't forget! Coloring, crafts and face-painting will also be available in the PCA throughout. Tickets: $5/individuals; $10 for families. For tickets and more information, call (978) 692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org.

Stephanie Beach is a professional Magician specializing in comedy magic and teaching magic for kids and adults. A favorite throughout the state, Beach can be found at many town festivals and parties, known for her fast-paced fun that people don't forget! She also conducts magic classes and workshops, such as her EMU (Easy Magic University) which disguises itself as a magic show, but it is actually an extraordinarily fun life skills course! For more information about Stephanie Beach Magic, visit stephaniebeachmagic.com.

Make July 22 a bit more magical than your usual summer-time fare. Enjoy Stephanie Beach perform on Westford Common. Coloring, crafting and face-painting will be available at noon in the Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln Street; show (formally) starts at 1pm. Tickets are $5 for individuals; with a $10 family cap. For tickets and more information, call (978) 692-6333, visit pcawestford.org or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tips for Safe Fourth of July Celebrations

According to the state Department of Fire Services and State Police, Massachusetts fire departments reported nearly 1,000 fires related to illegal fireworks between 2013 and 2022. In addition to the 42 fire service injuries, five civilian injuries, and $2.5 million in damages attributed to these fires, Massachusetts medical facilities reported about 30 severe burn injuries extending to 5% or more of the victims’ bodies that were caused by illegal fireworks. In 2022 alone, fire departments reported 106 fires and explosions attributed to fireworks, an increase of nearly a third over the prior year.

It is illegal for private citizens to use, possess, or sell fireworks of all kinds in Massachusetts without a license and a permit. This includes fireworks purchased legally elsewhere and brought into Massachusetts. It includes sparklers, firecrackers, cherry bombs, and other fireworks. Fines range from $10 to $1,000, and some violations could carry a one-year prison sentence.

Residents are encouraged to report any misuse of fireworks they notice in the community to your local Police Department.

In case of a firework-related or other emergency, always dial 911.

Additionally, residents are reminded of these key safety tips for Fourth of July celebrations:

Attend organized and permitted fireworks displays only.
Report illegal fires to the police.
Remember that alcohol/drugs and fireworks do not mix.
Keep pets indoors and away from fireworks. The loud noises and flashing lights can be frightening and overwhelming for pets. Pets can become frightened and run from familiar environments and people, becoming lost. Read more here.

The Department also urges residents to observe the following tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on getting home safely following Fourth of July celebrations:

Be mindful of pedestrians.
Always wear your seatbelt.
Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. From 2017 to 2021, 1,460 drivers were killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period — 38% of the drivers killed were drunk.
Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, do not plan on driving. Instead, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service to get home safely.
Take keys away from individuals who are under the influence and are planning to drive. Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory, which are critical for safe and responsible driving.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.

Russell Street School Students Participate in Playground Mural Elective

LITTLETON: Superintendent Kelly R. Clenchy is pleased to share that Russell Street School students have been working on a mural as their selected What I Need (WIN) elective. Students began the Playground Mural Elective project on June 5, when they gave the playground wall a fresh coat of white paint. Groups of approximately 20 students from Grades 3, 4 and 5, have been working on the mural on Wednesday afternoons.

Students selected to paint the mural as part of the school's WIN elective program, which allows students to choose an afternoon activity to participate in on Wednesdays. The options change each trimester.

RSS Music Teacher Timothy Gansenberg, who has been involved in the production of murals in Lowell and Methuen, worked collaboratively with Art Teacher Kristen Hemmis to create the mural project.

Students gathered inspiration from other murals around the community and brainstormed ideas for RSS' mural. Gansenberg designed it using the most popular components, which included the district's signature tiger paw logo and mascot. The colorful drips were inspired by an art project Hemmis did with students based on works by artist Jen Stark. Finally, the mural features a slogan that reads "RSS is our school."

"The Russell Street School mural is a great representation of our energetic, lively, and vibrant school community," said Superintendent Clenchy. "The students have displayed an immense amount of creativity and excellent teamwork skills while working on this project. We cannot wait to see the final result!"

PHOTO: Russell Street School students work on a mural for the playground. (Courtesy Littleton Public Schools)

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Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous- Weekly Meeting

LITTLETON: Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a free Twelve Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating, or bulimia. Meetings are held on Thursday at the Reuben Hoar Library, 35 Shattuck Street from 6:30-8pm. For more information or a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. and the world, call (781) 932-6300 or locally at (617) 413-4237, or visit www.foodaddicts.org.

About Action Unlimited

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

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