A free live webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Our speakers will be Lynn St. Germaine, an Infant-Toddler teacher for 37 years, and Patricia Collins, a Preschool teacher for 25 years, from Concord Children’s Center. Young children often act out for various reasons such as hunger, tiredness, frustration, confusion, or difficulty transitioning between activities. At times, they may not have the words to express what they need, leading to outbursts and meltdowns. These behaviors are not random-they signal underlying needs or developmental challenges, like unmet emotional needs, underdeveloped communication skills or lack of self-regulation. By understanding the root causes of challenging behaviors, parents can respond more effectively and support their children’s emotional and social development. By attending this program, you will gain an understanding of why children act out, and learn strategies that might include creating predictable routines, reinforcing positive behaviors, and using calm and consistent responses to guide the children through emotional ups and downs. To receive the Zoom link for this FREE program email First Connections: lmatthews@jri.org.

Are you thinking of separating or going through the divorce process? The Metro-West Boston Divorce Support Group is a confidential peer-support group with no religious affiliation. Men and women from all towns are welcome. Our group has been meeting in Acton for decades. Now we are continuing weekly on Thursday evenings by remote videoconference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

Join Westford Climate Action for a family-friendly Open House and Showcase on Wednesday, April 30, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Westford Museum, 2 Boston Road.
WCA members will share their personal experiences with heat pumps, electric vehicles, solar installations, induction stoves, electric lawn equipment, rebates, and more. Learn about No Mow May and Dark Skies. Find out more about WCA’s successes and future plans for clean energy and sustainability.
Families are encouraged to attend! Children can take part in a student-led climate experiment they can try at home. Plus, they can enter a free raffle for a Solar Bug kit and adults can try their luck for a native plant.
Bring your curiosity, bring a friend, and bring students who are passionate about climate solutions!
For more information, visit westfordclimateaction.org.

Spring Book Sale May 2-4, 2025
Friday, May 2 from 4pm - 6pm Members only! Become a member ahead of time or at the door
Saturday May 3, 10am - 3pm All books $2-$3
Sunday, May 4, 10am - 3pm BAG DAY $5/bag
Have donations? Drop off donations from 10am-7pm on Weds, April 30 or Thursday, May 1. Please note the guidelines below!
Want to help? Sign up to set up the sale, sell books, or pack up after the sale. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FADAD28A1FEC16-56231203-rhlfriends#/

The Westford Police Amateur Radio Team (http://www.wb1gof.org/) will be conducting an open house in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day (https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day).
During this event, we will be communicating with other amateur radio operators from across North America and around the world. We will be showcasing multiple live amateur radio stations each using a different radio communication technique. Most of all, one of the stations will permit you to get on the air.
Come join us at the Great Brook Farm State Park (https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-brook-farm-state-park) at 165 North Road, Carlisle, MA on Saturday, April 26 (rain date May 3) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
See you there!

(128 Lowell Road – Westford)
Sunday April 13th – 1PM
20 Easter Hams and 20 Turkeys raffled on a spin wheel
*Sirloin Strips, Prime Ribs and others are also being raffled off.
Raffle tickets on sale at the event!
$1500 Cash drawing as well!
(Drawing tickets on sale now – see any Stony Brook member)
Open to the public
Food and beverages will also be available

The Littleton Lyceum is excited to bring back Shakespeare & Company, performing Macbeth, on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center at 56 King Street.
Don’t miss Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, full of murder and mayhem and complete with political ambition, witches, war, and kings.
Tickets may be purchased at the door or online for $40.00 for a family or $12.00 for an individual admission, $5.00 for seniors and students.
For more information, check out our website at: littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
We had another good day at Fresh Start on Tuesday with nice weather for clients to arrive as well as several donors.  One donor, our regular angelic Judy was there with donations when I arrived for my shift at 9AM.  Another donor brought two big boxes containing 8(?) towels sets, brand new from the store - Kohl’s I think.  The details were lost in the excitement!
Our volunteers put together kitchen sets for our clients.  At present we really need measuring cups and measuring spoons, spatulas, and both slotted and non-slotted spoons.  Also pot holders, placemats and kitchen towels.  We are also low on baking pans, platters, serving bowls and both small and medium pans.
In our furniture department we need couches, couches, and couches!  Also dressers and kitchen tables & chairs.
Our linen department needs more comforters, blankets and throws.  It’s getting warmer outside but we need them for our clients.
Finally, to make a home cozy we need lamps and artwork for our clients to choose.
We are open to accept housewares on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9-noon and furniture on Saturday from 8:30-10:30.  We are located at 16 Brent Drive in Hudson, just past Sauta Farms condos on Lower Main St.  Check our website (above) for other information and thank you for helping us to help others!

Middlesex Community College’s theatre department is proud to present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s award-winning “Into the Woods” for the Spring 2025 production. The musical will run for five performances from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13 at the college’s Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell.
“I auditioned for ‘Into the Woods’ because I was interested in exploring musical theater, and because I hoped to make connections with and learn from the talented members of MCC’s theater program,” said Ellery Martin-Gleason, an MCC Liberal Arts and Sciences student from Concord. “Since I began acting at MCC, I have found more confidence in my abilities to communicate with others, and greater ease embracing my personality. It is important for students to have opportunities to follow our passions in order for us to grow as people, create our paths as individuals, and figure out the roles we want to play in our communities.”
“Into the Woods” includes characters from popular Brothers Grimm fairytales. Focusing on after the original plots come to an end, familiar stories include “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella.” Opening in November of 1987, the original Broadway production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning three.
“Opportunities like this serve as reminders as to why we either started working in or fell in love with theatre in the first place,” said Abby McIsaac, an MCC alumna from Tyngsborough. “Returning to MCC to perform there again feels like coming home after being away for so long. I couldn’t be prouder of the work that we’ve put into this, and I’m so very excited for people to see what we’ve created together.”
“When the ‘Into the Woods’ auditions came along, I knew that I wanted to participate,” said Connor Lee, an MCC Performing Arts student from Chelmsford. “Theatre is so important because it is a place where people can go to make friends and build their community. It allows students to feel like they belong to something important. On top of all that theatre is just so much fun and I’d recommend it to anyone who gets the chance.”
The MCC theatre department partnered with UMass Lowell’s theatre arts on the Spring 2025 production. Auditions for students and alumni of both schools were held in January with the goal of bringing together talents, perspectives and resources from both institutions, according to Karen Oster, MCC’s Chair of Performing Arts.
“By collaborating with partners in our community and drawing on the expertise of dedicated faculty and staff from both institutions, we create enriching experiences that allow our students to develop their skills – both on stage and behind the scenes – gaining invaluable experience that prepares them for future success,” Oster said. “Audiences can expect the high-quality, dynamic productions MCC is known for, brought to life by the incredible talent and dedication of our students.”
Curtain times for MCC’s productions are 7 p.m. on Thursday April 10 and Friday, April 11; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Tickets are $5 for Middlesex students with ID, $15 for MCC faculty and staff, and $20 for general admission.
MCC’s Academic Arts Center is located at 240 Central Street in Lowell. With parking not available on site, the nearest public parking facility is the Early Garage on 135 Middlesex St. For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://www.middlesex.edu/events/theatre.html

 

Director’s Corner:  This week is National Library Week (April 6-12) celebrating the theme “Drawn to the Library”! National Library Week was first celebrated in 1958 by the National Book Committee and has since evolved into an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. Although we cannot celebrate with you in person, we are working fervently behind the scenes to create a welcoming and successful temporary location at 515 Groton Rd.

While Westford is fortunate to have a new Library building in our future, we do want to acknowledge the federal cuts that are currently affecting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  These cuts will eventually affect Westford at a local level.
Below are some of the statewide programs that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners have identified that will be impacted by cuts to federal funding.

Databases
The statewide database program provides critical access to research databases that no community or school system could afford to purchase on its own. On average 60% of database usage comes from schools. Last year, there were over 9 million full text downloads from these databases, an increase of 12% in just one year.

ComCat
The Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat) supports Inter Library Loan—the way people can get items from libraries across the state. The MBLC used $186,521 in federal funds to pay for ComCat last year. On average people get close to 7,500 items through ComCat each month. At a value of $15 per item, ComCat pays for itself in just 1 and ½ months.

Library eBooks and Audiobooks
The MBLC uses federal funds to support the statewide Library eBook and Audiobook Program (LEA). LEA circulation has more than doubled since 2019 with residents borrowing more than 1.9 million items from LEA in 2024, an increase of 19% in just one year. The platform that everyone uses to borrow LEA items is paid for with federal funds from the MBLC.

The J.V. Fletcher Library at 50 Main St. will be closed from March 31 through April 21 to allow for moving and training at the temporary library site. 
The temporary location at 515 Groton Road, Westford will officially open to the public on April 22 at 10 a.m.

The J.V. Fletcher Library on the Town Common will be closed for 18-22 months as it undergoes an extensive expansion and renovation. During this time, the temporary library located at 515 Groton Road will operate regular library hours and services to continue serving the Westford community.

Please note that phone lines may experience disruptions during the transition. However, staff can still be reached via email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov, and virtual resources such as Libby, Hoopla, and online databases will remain available for all cardholders.

Important Information During the Transition:
• Item Returns: Please hold onto your J.V. Fletcher Library materials until the temporary site opens. No overdue fines will be charged. Materials from other Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) libraries can be returned to any MVLC location.
• Hold Pick-Ups: From March 24 to April 21, the library will not process hold pick-ups. Your place in line will remain unchanged. You may adjust your hold pick-up location through your account at westfordlibrary.org.
• Library Cards: You can register for an e-card online or obtain a physical library card at any MVLC library.
• Museum Passes: Physical passes will not be available during the closure. However, online passes for select museums, including the Boston Children’s Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and New England Aquarium, will remain accessible.
• Meeting Rooms: No meeting room space will be available at the temporary location.
• Library Programs: Programming will resume in May 2025.
Please read our MOVING FAQ for more information about the move and our temporary closure.

The J.V. Fletcher Library team appreciates your patience during this transition and looks forward to welcoming you at our temporary site. For updates, please visit www.westfordlibrary.org

Change Holds Pickup Location: Please select another MVLC library as your holds pickup location during our temporary closure. If you have any questions, please email us at westfordlibrary@westfordlibrary.org
• Go to https://westfordlibrary.org.
• Select Account (right hand corner, over search box)
• Enter your Library card number and PIN number (the last 4 numbers of your phone number)
• Select the “Holds” tab
• Select the item(s) you want to reroute.
• Select “Edit Pick Up Location,” at the top of the page.
• Select a Library other than Westford from the drop-down menu
• Select “Change”

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – “Cover Letters – Are They Necessary?”
Wednesday, April 16 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50+ Job Seekers Group meets biweekly on 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! Take advantage of these free, weekly skill-building and networking group meetings. A new topic will be covered at each meeting. Register here.

Virtual: Grim(m) Fairy Tales with Bill Thierfelder Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
For over two hundred years, the remarkable stories of the Brothers Grimm have fascinated and terrified us. Between 1812 and 1857, seven editions of their often dark-hued folk tales—200 stories and 11 legends—found their way into the western consciousness. This presentation first defines what a folk tale is and then explores the meticulous research that Jacob and Wilhelm undertook to accomplish their goal of collecting significant stories from around Europe. Their accomplishments have created the great archetypes for much modern literature, sociology, and psychology. This program is presented in partnership with the Groton Public Library.  Register here.

Monday Mystery Book Club: Monday, April 28th at 2:00 p.m.
We’ll meet in person to discuss The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson. Email Linda Ernick at lernick@westfordma.gov for details!

Several collections/several locations…for information, visit www.westfordma.gov/recycling
Electronics & More
April 26, 9 am - 1 pm at the Highway Garage, 28 North Street.
Scrap metal and nearly everything with a power cord!  Computers, monitors, and most other electronic devices and equipment, appliances of all sizes. Some fees may apply.

Document Shredding
April 26, 9 am - 1 pm at the Abbot School, 25 Depot St. Free via E.L. Harvey. Limited to Westford residents. (This service is part of the town’s municipal contract). Large volumes will be restricted if others are waiting. Shredded paper (shredded at home) is also accepted but must be purely paper, no shredded data disks/plastics, etc.

Zero Waste Collection
April 26, 9 am - 1 pm at the Abbot School, 25 Depot St.
Accepting donations of usable furniture (including clean twin/full/queen mattresses - no stains, rips or tears), small working appliances, household goods and decor, toys and games, clothing, office, school and craft supplies, small musical instruments, and textiles for recycling (worn out, torn, stained, outdated).  NO MOLDY OR MILDEWED ITEMS / ONLY CLEAN CONTAINERS.

Books and Media Drop off Container
Old Water Department on Forge Village Rd., Westford. For donating books and media, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, older textbooks, full sets of encyclopedias, and any book in fair but still usable condition that cannot be donated to the library. Note that this book container is available 24/7. NO MOLDY OR MILDEWED ITEMS / ONLY CLEAN CONTAINERS.

The League of Women Voters of Westford’s next Civic Social – scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 – will give residents an opportunity to meet with Assistant Town Manager Jeff Morrissette and ask questions in an informal environment.
The Civic Social will be held at WestfordCAT, 487 Groton Road, at 7:30 p.m. No registration necessary.
Jeff, who previously held the title of Director of Land Use Management, is now Assistant Town Manager of Land Use and Economic Development. He continues to oversee the Land Use Management Department and support economic development efforts, budget creation, and other special projects. He, along with Assistant Town Manager Mike Edwards, assists with labor and business contracts.
Civic Socials are the League’s informal monthly get-togethers, open to everyone, 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 League, go to https://lwv.westford.org/.

 

 

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

Director’s Corner:  Moving an entire Library is a herculean effort.  Luckily, months of planning, a dedicated and enthusiastic staff, and a moving company well versed in moving libraries is working in our favor.  We are working fervently behind the scenes to create a welcoming and successful temporary location at 515 Groton Rd.

The J.V. Fletcher Library at 50 Main St. will be closed from March 31 through April 21 to allow for moving and training at the temporary library site. 
The temporary location at 515 Groton Road, Westford will officially open to the public on April 22 at 10 a.m.

The J.V. Fletcher Library on the Town Common will be closed for 18-22 months as it undergoes an extensive expansion and renovation. During this time, the temporary library located at 515 Groton Road will operate regular library hours and services to continue serving the Westford community.

Please note that phone lines may experience disruptions during the transition. However, staff can still be reached via email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov, and virtual resources such as Libby, Hoopla, and online databases will remain available for all cardholders.

Important Information During the Transition:
Item Returns: Please hold onto your J.V. Fletcher Library materials until the temporary site opens. No overdue fines will be charged. Materials from other Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) libraries can be returned to any MVLC location.
Hold Pick-Ups: From March 24 to April 21, the library will not process hold pick-ups. Your place in line will remain unchanged. You may adjust your hold pick-up location through your account at westfordlibrary.org.
Library Cards: You can register for an e-card online or obtain a physical library card at any MVLC library.
Museum Passes: Physical passes will not be available during the closure. However, online passes for select museums, including the Boston Children’s Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and New England Aquarium, will remain accessible.
Meeting Rooms: No meeting room space will be available at the temporary location.
Library Programs: Programming will resume in May 2025.
Please read our MOVING FAQ for more information about the move and our temporary closure.

The J.V. Fletcher Library team appreciates your patience during this transition and looks forward to welcoming you at our temporary site. For updates, please visit www.westfordlibrary.org


Change Holds Pickup Location: Please select another MVLC library as your holds pickup location during our temporary closure. If you have any questions, please email us at westfordlibrary@westfordlibrary.org

Go to https://westfordlibrary.org.
Select Account (right hand corner, over search box)
Enter your Library card number and PIN number (the last 4 numbers of your phone number)
Select the “Holds” tab
Select the item(s) you want to reroute.
Select “Edit Pick Up Location,” at the top of the page.
Select a Library other than Westford from the drop-down menu
Select “Change”

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – “Cover Letters – Are They Necessary?”
Wednesday, April 16 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50+ Job Seekers Group meets biweekly on 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! Take advantage of these free, weekly skill-building and networking group meetings. A new topic will be covered at each meeting. Register here.

Virtual Adult Book Discussion Club: Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. We’ll meet virtually to discuss By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. Copies are available at the Main Desk (until March 27) and there are downloadable copies (audio and e-copies) available from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla. If you are not on the Thursday night Adult Book Discussion Club email list, email Kristina Leedberg for the Zoom link.

Virtual: Grim(m) Fairy Tales with Bill Thierfelder Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
For over two hundred years, the remarkable stories of the Brothers Grimm have fascinated and terrified us. Between 1812 and 1857, seven editions of their often dark-hued folk tales—200 stories and 11 legends—found their way into the western consciousness. This presentation first defines what a folk tale is and then explores the meticulous research that Jacob and Wilhelm undertook to accomplish their goal of collecting significant stories from around Europe. Their accomplishments have created the great archetypes for much modern literature, sociology, and psychology. This program is presented in partnership with the Groton Public Library.  Register here.

Monday Mystery Book Club: Monday, April 28th at 2:00 p.m.
We’ll meet in person to discuss The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson. Email Linda Ernick at lernick@westfordma.gov for details!


Staff Recommends: The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bojalian. “In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger, from the New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical fiction as Hour of the Witch and The Sandcastle Girls. Virginia, 1864-Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand, and his wife, all the grain they can produce requisitioned by the Confederate Army. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, the territory frequently changing hands, control swinging back and forth like a pendulum between North and South, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house, the bones of his hand and leg shattered. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy-but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible decision: Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? A vivid and sweeping story of two people navigating the boundaries of love and humanity in a landscape of brutal violence, The Jackal’s Mistress is a heart-stopping new novel, based on a largely unknown piece of American history, from one of our greatest storytellers”


If you have questions or need assistance, please send us an email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov
 

April 5, 9-11 a.m. drop in. Westford Composting Open House at 39 Main Street, Westford. Members of the Westford Recycling Commission will show Westford residents how to compost organic material. Earth Machine composters will be available to Westford residents for only $25. Checks should be made out to the Town of Westford.

April 10, 2025, 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.

on Saturday, April 5,, 2025,  from 7:30 - 10:00 PM , at Historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney Street. This will be an evening of live music and dancing with Groton’s own Contra  Banditos, along with caller Don Heinold,,  who will teach traditional New England style contra, square, and line dances to the beat of old time fiddle tunes. Beginners are welcome, no experience or partner is necessary.  Suggested donation at the door is $5.00  per person, children under  3  years old are free, and family maximum is $20.  Made possible by a grant from the Town of Groton lecture Funds .Refreshments are  provided. Bring your soft soled dancing shoes .Parking allowed only on the Grange side of Champney St.

On July 7, 2025 register by June 30.
Cost: $150/Golfer (individuals to foursomes) Includes registration and lunch
At: Northern Spy Country Club, Townsend, MA
Sponsorships Available Green: $50 / Tee: $100
Register at www.nashobatech.net/page/nshoba-valley-technical-high

WESTFORD, MA: Directed by Mark Davis, The Providence Mandolin Orchestra (PMO) is a group of amateur and professional musicians united by the love of performing a unique style of music. Experience their unique sounds and instruments at the Parish Center for the Arts, 10Lincoln Street on April 13 at 3pm (doors open at 2:30pm). Tickets range from $5-$20for this family-friendly event. Recital seating.
The PMO are committed to carrying on the rich tradition of the American mandolin orchestra while actively promoting original, new pieces. They take pride in introducing audiences to unique sounds and instruments, and strive to enrich the community with their cultural presence. Suffice it to say, they have become a major contributor in the international field of plucked string music.
This event is supported in part by the Westford Cultural Council.
Direct Ticket Link: https://parisharts.square.site/product/4-13-25-providence-mandolin-orchestra/219
For more information, visit the PCA online at pcawestford.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Concord Band will present its spirited Spring Pops! concert on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:00pm, at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center. The program commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord as part of Concord250 festivities this year throughout the town of Concord. The concert features two compositions specially commissioned to honor the historic events of April 19, 1775.
North Bridge Portrait by noted composer and arranger Stephen Bulla was commissioned by the Concord Band. The composition builds on foreboding melodies leading to martial themes, culminating in the fateful “shot heard ’round the world” at Concord’s North Bridge. The program also features Seeds of Revolution, recently commissioned by the Lexington Bicentennial Band and composed by Daniel Lutz, Director of University Bands at UMass Lowell. Seeds of Revolution depicts unfolding events and growing sentiments in Massachusetts leading up to April 19, 1775. The performance continues with a march representing both historic towns, aptly titled Concord and Lexington, written by George Briggs, former band director at Harvard University.
The Concord250 program concludes with Concord, composed for the U.S. Marine Band by Clare Grundman, incorporating traditional tunes from colonial New England, “The White Cockade,” William Billings’ “America,” and “Yankee Doodle.” Grundman noted that “Yankee Doodle” was a very popular tune for jigs and country dances, but for his composition he used 7/8 time for an exuberant and clever ending.
Music Director James O’Dell has also selected twenty-first century music representing the digital revolution, drawn from video games and superhero movies. Epic Gaming Themes by Paul Murtha elevates classic video game soundtracks to the stature of film scores. Video Games Live, by Marty O’Donnell, includes excerpts from a Hollywood concert phenomenon celebrating music from video games that toured around the world from 2005 through 2015. This composition will be conducted by Concord Band clarinetist Jim Dorney, who studied conducting at SUNY Geneseo. The Concord Band will perform Soundtrack Highlights from Guardians of the Galaxy, arranged for band by Michael Brown. The powerful soundtrack is based on popular hits of the 1960s and 1970s, which the film’s protagonist plays to remind him of his childhood on Earth.
Tickets to the Spring Pops concert are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Admission includes open seating and complimentary refreshments. Tickets are available at ticketstage.com/concordband. Additional information about the Concord Band is available at www.concordband.org and on Facebook.

Come join us for an evening full of fun, food, and entertainment at “Dinner and a Show - Act 3” to benefit The Brush Art Gallery & Studios of Lowell, MA on Saturday, April 26.  The event will be held at Lenzi’s, 810 Merrimack Avenue, Dracut, MA, beginning at 6:00PM with cocktails, followed by dinner at 7:00PM, and a program of Broadway classics featuring Michael Lally, Matt Descoteaux at the piano, Erin Noonan-Descoteaux, Greg Descoteaux, Jerry Bisantz, Camille Bedard, Alison Burns, and Lura Smith.   There will also be a wine pull, silent auction, and raffles.
Tickets may be purchased online at:  https://thebrush.org/dinner.  For more information, please contact Jim Dyment at 978-459-7819.
The Brush Art Gallery & Studios was originally founded by the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior.  The Brush presents museum quality exhibitions, educational programs, and has collaborated with many other non-profit groups.  Artists occupy studio spaces to interact with and educate the public on a daily basis.  Studio Artists produce paintings, illustration, photograph, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, quilts, and handwoven items.  Associate artists also display work in the common areas.  The Brush Art Gallery & Studios is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

This event will take place at Abbot School, 25 Depot Street. People bring their cars, open their trunks, set out unwanted household items, and freely give away goods, and choose items gifted from others. This is not a drop off event as you must remain on site until items are gifted or donated.
Setup time is no earlier than 9:30 a.m. Gifting and Receiving is 10 a.m. Donation time is 11 a.m.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westford.
More information: email LauraGranato15@gmail.com

The Littleton Lyceum is excited to bring back Shakespeare & Company, performing Macbeth, on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center at 56 King Street.
Don’t miss Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, full of murder and mayhem and complete with political ambition, witches, war, and kings.
Tickets may be purchased at the door or online for $40.00 for a family or $12.00 for an individual admission, $5.00 for seniors and students.
For more information, check out our website at: littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

Learn About “All Things Mushrooms” at the Cameron Senior Center, with Special Guest Elizabeth Almeida on April 8th.
Come learn about “All Things Mushrooms” at the Cameron Senior Center, with special guest Eizabeth Almeida, Founder and Owner of Fat Moon Farm on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Welcome Farmer Elizabeth Almeida as she shares an informative slide presentation on her world of mushrooms. Learn about their uniqueness, benefits and nutrition. Hear cooking tips and how you can grow your own fascinating fungi at home! Whether you are a foodie, a gardener, or just looking for a fun afternoon, you will enjoy getting up close with the beauty of mushrooms.
This is a FREE program sponsored by the Westford Women’s Club at the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant Street in Westford. The afternoon will include refreshments and themed door prizes.
Please call the Cameron Senior Center at 978-692-5523 to register to attend “All Things Mushrooms”.
Westford Women’s Club is a 501c3 charitable organization, serving the community since 1976. The club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC.org ) and GFWC Massachusetts (GFWCMA.org). Members are women of all ages and backgrounds living in Westford and surrounding communities, including southern New Hampshire. For more info about the WWC: westfordwomensclub@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.

 

The Westford Museum and Historical Society is excited to host a significant series of events titled “Westford REV 250 (1775-2025)” in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2025. We invite you to join us for this meaningful commemoration of our shared history.

For the Defence and Safety of the Province: Massachusetts Prepares for War

Thursday, April 3 from 7-9 pm
Westford Museum, 2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA

Join Alexander Cain as he discusses the colony’s response to the British threat of war and examines the Massachusetts militia and minuteman system on the eve of Lexington and Concord.


“…before we had gone half a mile we were fired on from all sides”
The Battles of Lexington & Concord, April 18-19, 1775.
The Start of a Revolution

Thursday, April 10, 7-9 pm:
Westford Museum, 2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA

The Battles of Lexington and Concord began on April 19, 1775, as the Massachusetts militia faced British forces. Prompted by the Midnight Rides and the Lexington Alarm, the local populace prepared for the British advance. Tensions escalated when British soldiers fired on the Lexington militia, igniting the American Revolutionary War and initiating the struggle for independence.


The Westford Girl Scout presents
A Day for Doughnuts, April 19, 1775, A one-act Play

Sunday, April 13, 1-2 pm
Westford Museum, 2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA

Before leaving that morning, Colonel Robinson’s final words were, “Have the girls prepare dough knots and send them to the men for lunch.” Olive Prescott, his great-granddaughter, recalls the events of April 19, 1775, highlighting her ancestor’s pivotal role. She blends family memories, town records, and local historians’ reports to describe how Huldah, Robinson’s wife, and their three daughters made doughnuts for over 100 men from Westford heading to fight in Concord

Patriot’s Day Candlelight Tour at Westlawn Cemetery
with Col. Johnson Robinson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

Saturday, April 19, at 6:30 PM
Westlawn Cemetery
Country and Concord Rd, Westford, MA

The local chapter of the Col. John Robinson Daughters of the American Revolution will commemorate the contributions of our townspeople to the Revolution and honor the chapter’s namesake, Colonel John Robinson, who fought at the North Bridge in Concord.
For more Westford Rev 250 programming, visit the Westford Museum website at www.museum.westford.org\

The camp in Bolton is for students entering Kindergarten through High School.
Activities include swimming, games in the fields and woods, arts & crafts, songs, tracking, hiking, campfires to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, building shelters, Animal Adventures, Predator and Prey, The Amazing Race & more.
Campers entering grades 6th-9th in the Eco Adventures program will play kayaking games on the pond, laser tag in the woods, nighttime activities on Thursday and dinner and s’mores, water guns, an adventure hike, team building activities & more.
Counselors-in-Training must be entering 9th grade or above and attend Orientation June 24- and then choose two weeks or more to be at camp.
There are 6 weekly sessions that run June 30 – August 8, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.
Before/After Care is available!
Campers from all towns are welcome!
See the website for more details and to register: tomdenneynaturecamp.org
Questions: bcttdnc@gmail.com (best means of communication) or 978-429-3004 (voice mail)

On Friday evening, April 4 at 7:30, Westford Climate Action will present a free showing of the award-winning documentary Inundation District, by filmmaker and Boston Globe journalist David Abel and Ted Blanco. Their film predicts that if the City of Boston ignores warnings of climate change, sea-level rise will cause significant flooding in the Seaport district with disastrous consequences for residents, businesses and taxpayers. For more information, please visit  InundationDistrict.com
Global warming is affecting the entire world faster and more intensely than even scientists estimated.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Program, “The cost of the 173 largest extreme weather disasters between 2014 and 2023 was over $1 trillion.”
Flooding caused by climate change is not just a coastal problem. In 2023, Leominster experienced 11 inches of rain in less than five hours resulting in unprecedented flooding, tearing out roads, bridges, and railroad tracks. Last July, Vermont experienced three devastating flooding events, washing out roads, destroying homes and businesses and requiring the help of FEMA. And last September, Asheville and the entire Western North Carolina region experienced catastrophic flooding, which contaminated drinking water, left millions without power and displaced thousands.
The documentary screening, on Friday, April 4 at 7:30 pm at the First Parish Church United, 48 Main Street, Westford, will be followed by a Q&A with David Abel. This event is free, generously co-sponsored by the J.V. Fletcher Library, First Parish Church United, Sustainable Westford, League of Women Voters of Westford and Westford’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee. Refreshments will be served. Donations will be welcome. WestfordClimateAction.org.

The League of Women Voters of Westford is hosting a Candidates’ Night on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Millennium Building, 23 Depot Street, in Conference Room B. Candidates’ Night gives voters an opportunity to hear from those who are running in the May 6 Town election for Select Board, Board of Health, Housing Authority, Library Trustees, Planning Board, and School Committee.
Questions for the candidates can be submitted online prior to Candidates’ Night by using this link: https://lwv.westford.org/?page_id=1720. The deadline for submitting questions before the event is Sunday, March 30.  The online form can also be used to submit questions during Candidates’ Night. Attendees may also submit written questions during the event.
Jo-Ann Berry of the Acton Area League will moderate the evening. WestfordCAT will be on hand to air the event live and to record it, and will post the recording on its cable channel and on YouTube shortly thereafter.
To give voters even more information about the candidates, the League will publish its Voters’ Guide on its website prior to Candidates’ Night. All candidates – including those who are running unopposed – have been asked to answer questions about their background, their reasons for running, and their priorities if elected.
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, go to https://lwv.westford.org/.

Skate4Charity founded by two friends James Pijewski and Steve Molloy is hosting its 3rd annual charity Ice Hockey tournament March 29th at 11am at the The Edge Sports Center in Bedford, 191 Hartwell Rd. Over two years the charity has raised over $74k and last year alone the charity raised over $50K to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. This year they have decided to support the Greater Boston Food Bank again, who are the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, they distributed 117 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle to have enough to eat in the Eastern Massachusetts area and surrounding communities. Every $1 donated helps to provide 2 healthy meals to neighbors in need.
Event will be held 11am-3pm and there will be food, games, raffles and prizes. Beverages provided by Idle Hands Craft Ales. Watch 4 co-ed teams face off, and help support a great cause, all spectators welcome. Donations are accepted day of and at this link: https://my.gbfb.org/fundraiser/6068134
If you donate after seeing this article please put “action unlimited” in your donation comment.
Shout out to our sponsors for this year’s event: Torii Homes, Law Office of Susan E. Zak, Maynard Motors, and A&M Roofing.
If you would like more information follow us on instagram or Facebook @skate.4.charity

The 44th Annual Senior Conference will include free breakfast and lunch, educational workshops, resources for seniors, with live music and art sessions
Middlesex and Worcester District – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) is excited to invite seniors from the Middlesex and Worcester District to the 44th Annual Senior Conference. The event will take place on Thursday, April 24th, from 8 AM to 2 PM at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, where it has traditionally been held. The Senior Conference is designed to offer seniors a day filled with valuable information, entertainment, and educational workshops led by expert guest speakers on topics such as aging well, planning for the future, downsizing, and resources for caregivers and family members. Senator Eldridge also provides a free breakfast and a delicious lunch prepared by the culinary students of Assabet Valley.
“We will provide seniors with critical information, entertainment, food, and of course raffle prizes, including the Big Chair from Bouvier Pharmacy of Marlborough! I look forward to hearing the concerns of seniors, discussing state initiatives to better support older residents in Massachusetts, and highlighting the work of the Legislature so far this session,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge. This event will be held at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Marlborough. The Senior Conference’s program features resources for seniors, yoga, zumba, numerous vendors, speakers from the Massachusetts Legislature, a drop-in art session hosted by Maynard ArtSpace, and raffle giveaways. Senator Eldridge is excited to kick off this year’s event with live music from the local Marlborough group, The Romeos Duo.
Any questions about the event can be emailed to James.Eldridge@masenate.gov with the subject line: “Senior Conference 2025.”

Cornerstone Congregational Church is proud to sponsor our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday, March 29th from 9AM to 2PM. Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in your community and across the region.  An estimated 38 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood or platelets, but of those, less than 10 percent actually donate each year. If you are healthy and eligible, please come out to donate. Most donations take less than an hour, so book your appointment, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.
Thank you!!
Cornerstone Congregational Church
32 Graniteville Road
Westford, MA 01886
For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org
Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Unless otherwise noted, the following programs are made possible by the Friends of the Library.
Director’s Corner:  The Countdown has begun!  We’re moving soon!
The Library will be closed with services on hiatus from Monday March 31 through Monday April 21, for moving and training at the temporary site.

We will re-open on 4/22 at 10:00 a.m. at our temporary location, 515 Groton Road.

We anticipate that we will be in our temporary location for 18-22 months as the Library undergoes an expansion and renovation project.

Please read our MOVING FAQ for more information about the move and our temporary closure.
More detailed information about our temporary location will be released soon! Stay updated via the Friends e-newsletter, social media, a Town-wide mailing and the Library website!

Change Holds Pickup Location: Please select another MVLC library as your holds pickup location during our temporary closure. If you have any questions, please contact the Main Desk.

Go to https://westfordlibrary.org.
Select Account (right hand corner, over search box)
Enter your Library card number and PIN number (the last 4 numbers of your phone number)
Select the “Holds” tab
Select the item(s) you want to reroute.
Select “Edit Pick Up Location,” at the top of the page.
Select a Library other than Westford from the drop down menu
Select “Change”

Virtual Adult Nonfiction Book Club :Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m.
We’ll meet virtually to discuss The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff.
Copies are available at Main Desk until March 28th. The e-book and audiobook are both available to download from Libby.  Email Charles Schweppe for the Zoom link!

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – “Using AI – Your Job Search Co-Pilot”
Wednesday, April 2 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50+ Job Seekers Group meets biweekly on 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! Take advantage of these free, weekly skill-building and networking group meetings. A new topic will be covered at each meeting. Register here.
Virtual Adult Book Discussion Club: Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. We’ll meet virtually to discuss By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. Copies are available at the Main Desk (until March 27) and there are downloadable copies (audio and e-copies) available from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla. If you are not on the Thursday night Adult Book Discussion Club email list, email Kristina Leedberg for the Zoom link.
Virtual: Grim(m) Fairy Tales with Bill Thierfelder Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
For over two hundred years, the remarkable stories of the Brothers Grimm have fascinated and terrified us. Between 1812 and 1857, seven editions of their often dark-hued folk tales—200 stories and 11 legends—found their way into the western consciousness. This presentation first defines what a folk tale is and then explores the meticulous research that Jacob and Wilhelm undertook to accomplish their goal of collecting significant stories from around Europe. Their accomplishments have created the great archetypes for much modern literature, sociology, and psychology. This program is presented in partnership with the Groton Public Library.  Register here.
Staff Recommends: The Quiet Librarian by Alan Eskins. “Hana Babic is a quiet middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia--until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend--the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head. Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora--and hope she can find the killer before the past come

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, April 5,, 2025,  from 7:30 - 10:00 PM , at Historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney Street. This will be an evening of live music and dancing with Groton’s own Contra  Banditos, along with caller Don Heinold,, who will teach traditional New England style contra, square, and line dances to the beat of old time fiddle tunes. Beginners are welcome, no experience or partner is necessary.  Suggested donation at the door is $5.00  per person, children under  3  years old are free, and family maximum is $20.  Made possible by a  grant from the Town of Groton lecture Funds .Refreshments are  provided. Bring your soft soled dancing shoes .Parking allowed only on the Grange side of Champney St.

A support group in the loss of a child.....
Saturday April 19th
10:30am-12:30pm
Hudson Public Library - Tavares Room
3 Washington St, Hudson, MA
www.mylesabove.org

On Friday evening, April 4 at 7:30, Westford Climate Action will present a free showing of the award-winning documentary Inundation District, by filmmaker and Boston Globe journalist David Abel and Ted Blanco. Their film predicts that if the City of Boston ignores warnings of climate change, sea-level rise will cause significant flooding in the Seaport district with disastrous consequences for residents, businesses and taxpayers. For more information, please visit  InundationDistrict.com
Global warming is affecting the entire world faster and more intensely than even scientists estimated.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Program, “The cost of the 173 largest extreme weather disasters between 2014 and 2023 was over $1 trillion.”
Flooding caused by climate change is not just a coastal problem. In 2023, Leominster experienced 11 inches of rain in less than five hours resulting in unprecedented flooding, tearing out roads, bridges, and railroad tracks. Last July, Vermont experienced three devastating flooding events, washing out roads, destroying homes and businesses and requiring the help of FEMA. And last September, Asheville and the entire Western North Carolina region experienced catastrophic flooding, which contaminated drinking water, left millions without power and displaced thousands.
The documentary screening, on Friday, April 4 at 7:30 pm at the First Parish Church United, 48 Main Street, Westford, will be followed by a Q&A with David Abel. This event is free, generously co-sponsored by the J.V. Fletcher Library, First Parish Church United, Sustainable Westford, League of Women Voters of Westford and Westford’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee. Refreshments will be served. Donations will be welcome. WestfordClimateAction.org.

April 5, 9-11 a.m. drop in. Westford Composting Open House at 39 Main Street, Westford. Members of the Westford Recycling Commission will show Westford residents how to compost organic material. Earth Machine composters will be available to Westford residents for only $25. Checks should be made out to the Town of Westford.