WESTFORD, MA (February 11, 2025) - WestfordCAT, Westford’s community access television station, marks a significant milestone in its commitment to local journalism with the successful launch of its comprehensive print news initiative and continued digital expansion. Building on a decade of community-focused journalism that began with the Westford Template, WestfordCAT has evolved into a multi-platform news organization serving the Westford community.
The organization recently achieved a notable milestone with the publication of its “2023 A Year in Review” newspaper, supported by Merrimack Valley Business Machines’ sponsorship of a new Toshiba printer. This expansion into print media complements WestfordCAT’s robust digital presence, which has seen remarkable growth with over 200,000 website views and consistent monthly revenue from digital advertising.
“Our transformation from a traditional community access television station to a comprehensive local media center reflects our commitment to keeping Westford informed and connected,” said Sarah Fletcher, Executive Director of WestfordCAT. “In an era of declining local news coverage, we’re proud to be expanding our services to meet our community’s information needs.”

Key achievements in WestfordCAT’s news expansion include:
• Weekly printed news flyers distributed throughout town;
• Sustained growth in digital readership and engagement;
• Integration of student journalists and interns in news coverage; and
• Enhanced multimedia coverage of local government, sports, and community events

The organization’s news division, staffed by professional journalists and complemented by student interns from local schools, continues to provide in-depth coverage of town government, local events, and community stories that might otherwise go unreported.

LEGO® Discovery Center Boston is starting their biggest mini LEGO® competition yet, as kids across New England can build their way to be crowned Boston’s 2025 Mini Master Model Builder and also vie for the title of 2025 Global Mini Master Model Builder!
The epic building competition is part of the Creativity Academy event held at LEGO Discovery Center Boston, operated by Merlin Entertainments, now through March 3rd. Kids can build a LEGO creation to compete for the honor while at the attraction and then one builder will be crowned Boston’s Mini Master Model Builder in March once the event concludes. More info about the Mini
Each of the winning local Mini Master Model Builders will be tasked to create another LEGO® build to be displayed at the one and only Home of the Brick, LEGO® House, in Billund, Denmark to vie for the title of the first-ever Global Mini Master Model Builder!
LEGO House comprises over 25 million LEGO bricks spread across four immersive Experience Zones, a Masterpiece Gallery of fan creations, and a multi-sensory LEGO museum. Also, LEGO House is home to some of the world’s largest LEGO models including the Tree of Creativity, giant dinosaurs, waterfalls and more.
Last year, Tara, age 11, won the title of Boston’s 2024 Mini Master Model Builder by building Derby the LEGO® Horse that won the judges over, and even got to spend a few days shadowing actual LEGO Master Model Builders in the attraction! Tara created a video calling all local Mini Builders to enter the Global Mini Master Model Builder Competition.

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

 

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

Director’s Corner:  With the exception of Mother Goose, Virtual Job Seekers and Adult Book Groups, programming and Meeting Room use are temporarily winding down, as the Library prepares for its off-site move to the Temporary Library in late March/early April. Stay updated via this e-newsletter and the Library website!

Holiday Closing: The Library will be closed on Monday, February 17 in observance of President’s Day.

Mother Goose: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room.  Mother Goose will continue through February!  Join Miss Jill and Miss Hannah every Tuesday and Wednesday for stories, songs, finger plays, and more! No registration required.

Virtual Job Search Help for 50 & Over – “Career Story- Tell Me a Bit About Yourself”: Wednesday, February 19 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.

Monday Mystery Book Club: Monday, February 24 at 3:00 p.m. Wake up your week with a stimulating book discussion! We’ll meet upstairs in the Mary Atwood Room to discuss The Burning by Linda Castillo. Copies of the current selection are available at Main Desk. The e-book and audiobook are both available to download from Libby. Email Linda Ernick for details! No registration required.

Museum Passes: Looking for something fun to do with your children or teens over February break?  Check out our Friends funded Museum Passes.  Spend a day in Boston visiting the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Gardner Museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts.  Looking to stay closer to home?  Don’t miss the Discovery Museum in Acton, the Concord Museum or Orchard House. Check out our Museum Passes page for many other places to visit and to reserve your pass!

Adult Nonfiction Book Club: Tuesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
Join us to discuss Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexievich. Copies are available at Main Desk. The e-book and audiobook are both available to download from Libby. Email Charles Schweppe for details! No registration required.


Adult Book Club: Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Atwood Room. Join us to discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Copies are available at the Main Desk and there are downloadable copies (audio and e-copies) available from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla. Email Kristina Leedberg for details. No registration required.


Staff Recommends: The Serviceberry: abundance and reciprocity in the natural world by Robin Wall Kimmerer.  “As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth--its abundance of sweet, juicy berries--to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, ‘Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.’”


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

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Dr. Brian Hainline
Across the country, young people are dropping out of organized sports. The share of kids ages 6 to 17 who participated in a team sport dropped by nearly 5 percentage points between 2017 and 2022. The decline isn’t primarily because kids are losing interest. Rather, what they’re losing is access -- especially as the cost of participation continues to rise.
Reversing this trend is critically important for kids’ mental and physical health. So it’s worth looking at some of the barriers sports have faced, and how tennis is forward-thinking in this matter.
It’s no secret that learning and playing a sport at an early age can prove enormously valuable. Sports participation is associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in young people -- as well as better self-esteem, improved cognition, and heightened physical literacy. Physical activity releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that put you in a better frame of mind and enhances brain connections. It helps kids maintain a healthy weight and sets young people on a path to a lifetime of healthy habits.
Barriers to sport involvement, especially financial ones, have been growing ever more formidable. The average cost of playing youth basketball was over $1,000 a year in 2022. Soccer was almost 20% more expensive, at $1,188 a year on average. No wonder nearly two-thirds of families say the cost of youth sports is a financial strain.
Tennis is one of the few sports to counter the trend of inaccessibility. Since 2019, the number of Americans ages 6 and older playing tennis has increased by 34 percent -- and currently stands at 23.8 million.
Part of this success is tennis’s relatively low barriers to entry, especially compared to more equipment-heavy games like hockey, football, or skiing. All you need to get started is a racquet and a few balls -- maybe $30 worth of equipment in total -- and access to one of the nation’s roughly 270,000 tennis courts, which are typically free to use.
Modest equipment costs are only part of tennis’ growth. The game has found ways to adjust to people of all ages and abilities, including individuals who are too often told they cannot participate in sports because of physical, mental, or age-related challenges.
Tennis recognizes that not everyone needs to play on the same size court and by the same rules.
All the way down to beginner youth (and all the way up to the elderly), adaptations are available, ranging from the speed and size of the ball, the size and weight of the racket, the size of the court, rules of service, scoring, and the length of a match. Importantly, wheelchair tennis has made a major breakthrough and is an exciting variant of the game that’s widely available.
Tennis is also a game young people can play into adulthood. There are leagues and competitions across the country for players 18 and over, 40 and over, and even 95 and over.
Sports remain one of our best tools for combatting the crisis in youth health. All sports need to look for opportunities to expand their reach through custom tailoring to meet players where they are.
Brian Hainline, MD is Chair of the Board and President of the United States Tennis Association and recently transitioned from the NCAA as their Chief Medical Officer. He co-chaired the International Olympic Committee Consensus Meetings on both Pain Management in Elite Athletes and Mental Health in Elite Athletes. Brian is Clinical Professor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. This piece first appeared in the Boston Herald.

Middlesex Community College is excited to announce The Owl Theatre will be coming/returning to the college’s Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center (AAC) in Lowell. With the Luna Theater at nearby Mill No. 5 closing on Sunday, February 2, Middlesex will now honor that theater’s legacy with a new version opening at the AAC hearkening back to the building’s roots.
“The Luna Theater provided a unique space in downtown Lowell for film lovers to gather and share the communal experience of a movie,” said Jim Lichoulas, Mill No. 5 Owner. “Now, I’m happy to pass the baton to Middlesex Community College to carry on many of the Luna traditions with their new venture in the nearby Academic Arts center.  With this news, Greater Lowell will continue to have a theater venue to keep the tradition of film alive downtown.”
“MCC looks forward to continuing the cultural offerings set by the Luna Theater at Mill No. 5,” said Phil Sisson, MCC’s President. “We are thrilled to provide film options and community entertainment to Greater Lowell. Keeping culture in the downtown area, putting films on the big screen, and bringing the community together matches the work we’re already doing by hosting the Lowell Asian American Film Festival and El Encuentro Film Festival at the AAC. Our hope is to carry on this important institution and provide expansive opportunities for our film and communication programs as we move forward.”
Event planning for the Owl Theatre at Middlesex is underway. This includes bringing the Luna’s crescent moon statue over to the AAC and adding an owl to the artwork.
“Built in 1876, the Boston and Maine depot where our AAC now stands was home to one of the original Lowell movie theaters, The Owl Theatre, which opened in 1913 before becoming the Rialto movie theater,” said Patrick Cook, MCC’s Vice President of Administration. “MCC’s new version of The Owl Theatre is a fantastic opportunity to go back to the building and our community’s roots to one of the first uses of the space. Tying in the college’s owl mascot to this original concept is a perfect fit, while maintaining a wonderful community tradition established so successfully by the Luna Theater for so many years.”
MCC will soon be announcing a series of films that will take place on weekends. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about the first slate of films. In the meantime, email John Bachelder, MCC’s AAC Manager at Bachelderj@Middlesex.edu to recommend movies or film genres.
Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/campus/academicartscenter.html for more information on MCC’s AAC.

Westford: Each Thursday, First Connections facilitates a First Year of Life (FYOL) Support Group meeting from 9:30-11:00 AM via Zoom with 1 Thursday per month held in person. Please email efiorini@jri.org for a weekly reminder email and link to join.
The FYOL Support Group is facilitated by Emily Fiorini, MA, a clinician specializing in the FYOL, with additional guest speakers. Parents in the postpartum year can join this group to get support for their own emotional wellbeing, recovery, and transition into parenthood; baby’s development; feeding and sleep support; and community resources. Emily is also available for free one-on-one Zoom consultations by request to meet individual needs.
The FYOL group supports all new parents. Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, parenting solo, partnered, or married, an adoptive or biological parent, have one baby or more, you are welcome here!
For more information about First Connections, our program offerings, and our extensive directory of community resources and referral services, please visit our website at firstconnections.org where you will find a link to our Parent Blog and our seasonal Newsletter listing current programs open to registration.
It is never too early to find resources that you can rely on and a community you and your baby can be a part of. We are here for you whenever you need us.
Funding for these parent groups is provided by the Concord Carlisle Foundation and Nordblom Family Foundation. We are so grateful to these organizations for their financial support that allows us to provide these critical postpartum support services to families in the area free of cost. For more information about these and other free programs and services provided by First Connections, please visit our website at firstconnection.org.

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

WESTFORD, MA: Parish Center for the Arts is pleased to present The Tedesco Duo as part of this season’s Classical Guitar Series. The Tedesco Duo is a lively flute and guitar duo from New England comprised of Arielle Burke on flute and Catherine O’Kelly on guitar. They perform repertoire from all eras, with an emphasis on contemporary music. Arielle and Catherine began performing together in 2011 as students at The Hartt School. Their first performance was of Sonatina for Flute and Guitar by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, which is what prompted them to name the ensemble “Tedesco Duo.” They have since performed the works of composers such as Mauro Giuliani, Astor Piazzolla, Phillip Houghton, Libby Larsen, Roberto Sierra, and Máximo Diego Pujol. Tedesco Duo has been praised for their communicative playing and for performing repertoire that is colorful and spirited. Tickets for their February 16 appearance at 4pm in the Main Hall (10 Lincoln Street) range from $5-$20 and are available online (https://parisharts.square.site/product/2-16-25-tedesco-duo-classical-guitar-series-/210), or at the door (if available). General Recital Seating. For more information, visit pcawestford.org or call (978) 692-6333.

Open to high school juniors and seniors in MA, funds can be used for any educational or developmental experience
Acton, MA – Discovery Museum announced today the 2025 Discovery Museum Scholarship program, which began in 2022 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Museum. The program will award four one-time $1,500 scholarships to high school juniors or seniors in MA who embody the mission and values of the Museum.
“More than 6 million kids and their families have come through our doors over the past four decades to learn about themselves, their abilities, and the world around them, guided by their own creativity and natural curiosity,” said CEO Marie Beam. “The Discovery Museum Scholarship looks to celebrate young learners who embody the mission and values of the Museum by supporting them on next leg of their educational journeys—whatever that might be.”
All high school juniors and seniors residing in MA are eligible to apply. For one of the four awards, preference will be given to current or past employees or volunteers of the Museum. Award money can be used for any educational or developmental experience, such as college or trade school tuition, travel expenses to support an exciting volunteer opportunity, or costs to provide a learning experience for young children.
Video or written applications are being accepted at https://bit.ly/DMScholarship2025 (applicants must log in to Google to apply) and must be received by March 31, 2025. Recipients will be notified in mid-May.

Presented by Groton Grange, 80 Champney St. Groton
Saturday, February 15 at 11:00 AM
Learn how to plan, plant, and care for a garden this season.No waiting!
Questions? We have answers. Interested children welcome. Free to all.

Worcester, MA –  Worcester Chamber Music Society (WCMS) is thrilled to present its Annual Free Family Concert on March 2, 2025, with a performance at 3:00pm at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.  Neighborhood Strings students will perform at the beginning of the concert. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Mechanics Hall comes alive with the voices of a wolf, a boy, a cat, a duck, and a bird in Prokofiev’s beloved story of Peter and the Wolf, followed by delightful depictions of a catalogue of fantastical beasts in Saint-Saën’s Carnival of the Animals. Artwork by students from Abby Kelly Foster School and a meet and greet with the musicians round out the multisensory experience of our always popular Family Concert. Be sure to reserve your seats early because this one-time-only concert will reach capacity soon.
Sunday, March 2 @3PM
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
Generously sponsored by Bay State Savings Bank, Cornerstone Bank, and Karen Amlaw Music. This concert is also funded in part by the Auburn and Shrewsbury Cultural Councils, local agencies funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Program
Peter and the Wolf | Sergei Prokofiev, composer
Carnival of the Animals | Camille Saint-Saëns, composer
With a special performance by Neighborhood Strings
With guests:
Orlando Cela, conductor / William Kirkley, clarinet / Denise Plaza Martin, oboe / Clark Matthews, French horn / Adrian Jojatu, bassoon / Lilit Hartunian, violin / Moisés Carrasco, double bass / Aaron Trant, percussion
Venue is handicapped accessible.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. Reserve early, since this event typically sells out quickly.
Tickets are available at  https://worcesterchambermusic.org/animal-adventures/ or by calling the WCMS office at (508) 926-8624.

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled evening of singing, dancing, food, (including gluten-free and vegan pizza, delicious homemade baked goods, and candy, soda and seltzer) and prizes! The fun starts at 5PM on Friday, February 14 at First Church Unitarian located at 19 Foster Street, in Littleton, MA. $20 per family or $5 per person at the door, cash or Venmo accepted. Parking available at the Masonic Lodge, 310 King St., Littleton, Congregational Church of Littleton, 330 King St., Littleton, or Castle in the Trees Playground, 300 King St., Littleton. To pre-register your dietary preferences and number of people attending so we’ll have plenty of food on hand, please email rochellecham@gmail.com.

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, March 1,, 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 Dudley Laufman,  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. PARKING ALLOWED ONLY ON THE GRANGE SIDE OF CHAMPNEY ST.

 

The League of Women Voters-Acton Area invites community members to a webinar on Wednesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Four panelists will speak about what works with Open Town Meeting and what we can learn from other types of local governance (Representative Town Meeting, Town Council). Attendees can learn about what’s on the horizon for Open Town Meeting, how the legislative function of the town works in each form of government, ways we might overcome barriers to participation, and how the community can participate in their town government under various types of governance. Registration information is below.
Since the late 1600s, most Massachusetts towns have adopted Open Town Meeting (OTM) as their legislative body. Voters who reside in a town with Open Town Meeting have an opportunity at least once a year to gather, deliberate, and decide on budgets, borrowing, zoning, by-law changes and other important matters. Yet both town officials and residents have long questioned the viability of an Open Town Meeting legislature as population grows and other demands limit voters’ ability to attend. Attendance rates are low and those who cannot participate in person feel excluded.
The League of Women Voters-Acton Area spent a year studying OTM to better understand the alternatives and the benefits and challenges of each form of town governance.
OUR PANELISTS:
Mark DiSalvo, President, Massachusetts Moderators Association and Town Moderator for North Andover which uses an Open Town Meeting legislature.
Gerri Slater, Town Moderator for Norwood which uses a Representative Town Meeting legislature.
Bill Rosenblum, Selectboard Member for the Town of Ludlow and member of Ludlow’s 2024 Charter Commission which recently attempted to transition from a Representative Town Meeting legislature to a Town Council-Town Manager form of governance.
Patricia Lloyd, Associate, Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, a state agency based at UMass Boston working with municipalities, school districts and other public entities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local governments.
Click here to read LWV Acton Area report, or visit our website at lwv-actonarea.org.
For questions, please contact: Diane Baum: dianebaum5@gmail.com
YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND.
We’ll see you Feb. 19!
The League of Women Voters-Acton Area is a non-partisan, grassroots organization serving the towns of Acton, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard and Stow

Westford Academy’s Asian Culture Club, in conjunction with Chelmsford Chinese Language School, will be bringing back a beloved tradition since 2017: the Lunar New Year Celebration. This year’s celebration, celebrating the Year of the Snake, will be held on February 8, 2025.
The event includes a dinner catered from Sichuan Palace, a local authentic Chinese restaurant. There will be a traditional Asian show that include ethnic dances done by dancers from the Angel Performing Arts, a Sichuan Opera Changing Face program performed by world renowned artist, Mr. Shuwang Yang, and a traditional instrument performance by professional players of the Boston Silk and Bamboo Chamber Music Ensemble, an entity of Boston Chinese Musicians Association. We also have an on-site raffle raffling off various goodies provided by local organizations and sponsors. The same group will provide a special demonstration of Chinese instruments in the gym, where there will also be fun activities and various other things to do. For example, the Silver Unicorn Bookstore will be sponsoring a story time activity in the gym.
The Lunar New Year Celebration first started in 2017 by a group of students with the then Mandarin Club and has since flourished. The club, which has since become the Asian Culture Club, continued the tradition every year, with only a brief 3-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned last year to great success.
Tickets start at $25 for adults, which is a combination ticket that includes dinner, show, and activities. There are special discounts for all students, and seniors 65+. Preschoolers are free.
Please visit https://www.ticketsource.us/westford-academy-asian-culture-club to get your tickets today!

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is looking for interested community members to participate in their FREE March 2025 Volunteer Advocate Training program at the Lexington Police Department.
The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize the volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at the Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.
The March 2025 training will be held over 3 weeks from March 10 to March 28th on Monday and Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 6:15 PM and Friday days 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM. For those who wish to activate as Advocates, an additional 10 to 12 hours of individual field training will take place after successful completion of the classroom segment.
The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.
Those interested in more information about the training or who want to request an application should call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Friday, February 28, 2025.

Free courses from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could prove helpful. Family to Family, starting March 20th in Boxborough, is an eight-session weekly course for those who love someone living with a mental health condition. NAMI’s Basics course, a six-session weekly class starting March 11th in Tewksbury, is for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents showing signs of behavioral health concerns. Topics for both courses include understanding the symptoms of mental illness, learning about treatments and therapies, practicing communication and problem-solving skills, creating a positive team approach, and self-care, plus the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support. The Basics class also includes information about advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings. Details and registration: namicentralmiddlesex.org/educational-courses. Offered by NAMI Central Middlesex. Basics co-sponsored by Northeast Public Health Alliance.

Come visit the newest exhibit at the Littleton Historical Society on 4 Rogers Street on Sunday, February 9, from 2-4 pm. This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence. The exhibit provides information about the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and how they affected the men and women of Littleton.
Meet the 29 patriots of Littleton who marched to Concord on April 19, 1775; learn their names and where to find their burial sites in our historic graveyards.
Perhaps you will be inspired to tour The Old Burying Ground and Westlawn Cemetery, or to examine the lives of women left to manage their households on their own, or to read what transpired at the Town Meetings at the time.
The Littleton Historical Society Museum is open every Wednesday from 1-4, and the second Sunday of the month from 2-4.

The Friends of the Reuben Hoar Library in Littleton are sponsoring this fun event again!
https://sites.google.com/view/rhlfriends
Mini-golf in the Library is back! Join the fun at this ticketed event on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 6 to 9pm to enjoy unlimited golf and finger foods (including gluten-free and vegetarian options) while bidding on some great silent auction items. Again this year, your ticket includes one beverage (beer, hard and soft seltzer) from local brewery Dirigible Brewing Company! Cash bar. Attendees must be age 21+
Note: Bidding will open at noon on March 8, 2025, so even if you can’t attend on Friday night, you can bid on items by registering at the link below. However, final bids will be taken in person at the event, so come join us for the best chance!
Note: When you buy tickets, you can register for bidding, so no need to register separately!
https://event.auctria.com/0fe23119-2024-4123-b156-eb2476a9829f/
If you or your business would like to sponsor this event: Friends of the Reuben Hoar Library, Inc. 35 Shattuck Street, P.O. Box 1045, Littleton, MA 01460 978-540-2600 reubenhoarlibraryfriends@gmail.com

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, February1, 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 Dudley Laufman,  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. PARKING ALLOWED ONLY ON THE GRANGE SIDE OF CHAMPNEY ST.

Friends of Indian Senior Citizens Organization (FISCO) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Massachusetts, dedicated to supporting senior citizens in the northwestern Boston Metro Region. We focus on enhancing the lives of Asian immigrant seniors by providing services that foster companionship, connection, and compassion, helping them maintain good physical and mental health through community engagement and education.
Our programs are designed to address the unique challenges faced by seniors, particularly those dealing with language barriers or social isolation. We offer a weekly hot meal service every Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Westford Council on Aging (COA) for a $3 donation. This program not only provides nutritious meals but also creates a space for socializing and building connections.
In addition, we host social events and educational seminars that promote mental and physical well-being, empowering seniors to make informed decisions about their health.
We’re excited to announce our celebration of the Festival of Colors, “HOLI,” on March 19th at the Cameron Senior Center, Westford. This vibrant event will feature cultural activities and a FREE lunch for all attendees. Seniors can RSVP on our website at www.thefisco.org, where they can also find information on other events, locations and programs.
At FISCO, we are committed to supporting senior citizens and creating a sense of community. We invite seniors in the region to join us in our activities, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community.
For more details, visit www.thefisco.org.

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled evening of singing, dancing, food, (including gluten-free and vegan pizza, delicious homemade baked goods,  candy, soda and seltzer) and prizes! The fun starts at 5PM on Friday, February 14 at First Church Unitarian located at 19 Foster Street, in Littleton, MA. $20 per family or $5 per person at the door, cash or Venmo accepted. Parking available at the Masonic Lodge, 310 King St., Littleton, Congregational Church of Littleton, 330 King St., Littleton, or Castle in the Trees Playground, 300 King St., Littleton. To pre-register your dietary preferences and number of people attending so we’ll have plenty of food on hand, please email: Rochellecham@gmail.com.

Director’s Corner: LIBRARY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

1. Label every piece of furniture in the Library.
2. Color code every piece of furniture for its destination.
3. Organize, pack, store and move 100,000 titles.
4. Have a giant Blow-out Friends Book Sale – Jan. 31 – Feb. 2!
5. Celebrate with a Ground-breaking Ceremony!
6. Apply the Master Moving List to our offsite Temporary Location.
7. Close temporarily – just to move across town!
8. Publicize townwide our temporary library space and services.
9. Welcome library patrons to our new temporary site!
10. Host Children’s and Tween programs on the third floor of Roudenbush (thank you generous space-sharing Westford Recreation Department!).
11. Let us offer you hot bestsellers, Grab’n’Go collections, curbside pickup, interlibrary loans, e-collection help, and personal service — at our temporary and future library!
Westford Academy Mid-Term Open Study:  The Meeting Room will be open on January 21 & 22, 2:00—7:45 p.m. for study hours during WA midterms. Free pizza, snacks, and refreshments will be provided! Please e-mail Alexis at achrobak@westfordma.gov with any questions. Students should have a ride home promptly at closing time.

Mother Goose is Back!: Join Miss Jill on Wednesday, January 29 in the Meeting Room from 10:30-11:15 a.m.  Enjoy songs, books, nursery rhymes and more!  No registration required.

Monday Mystery Book Club: Monday, January 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary Atwood Room Wake up your week with a stimulating book club discussion! We’ll meet in the Mary Atwood Room to discuss Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto.  Print copies are available at Main Desk. Email Linda Ernick for details!


Make your own felted boba tea patch!: Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. For grades 5 -12. Registration is required. Spread some positivi-tea when you make your own bubble tea patch from wool. Use the finished piece as a patch on a jacket or frame it for a unique piece of art. Choose from a matcha or fruit flavored Boba. Add a cute smiling face or your own unique touches. Pop up Art School will show you the basics of needle felting. You’ll leave the class with a completed piece and the tools and knowledge to needle felt on your own. Register here.

VIRTUAL: Cultural Perspectives in Chocolate with Cocoa Beantown: Tuesday, January 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m.  Why do the Swiss love their chocolate so much? Why are the Japanese obsessed with Kit Kat bars? Why isn’t American commercial chocolate as good as European? Learn about different perceptions of chocolate around the world while also picking up tips and tricks on how to learn more about a local food culture just by visiting a chocolate shop in this multi-cultural chocolate seminar. Register here. This program is hosted by and presented in partnership with the Groton Public Library.

Adult Nonfiction Book Club:  Tuesday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room.  Join us to discuss The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson.  Copies are available at Main Desk. The e-book and audiobook are both available to download from Libby. Email Charles Schweppe for details!


Friends of the Library Book Sale:

Our 2025 Winter Book Sale will take place January 31, February 1, and February 2.

Friday, January 31: Members-Only Sale, 6:30 to 9:00 PM (No scanners allowed)
Saturday, February 1: Public Sale, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sunday, February 2: $10 Bag Sale, 2:00 to 4:00 PM

We appreciate your continued patronage, and are still accepting donations of gently used books, CDs, and DVDs.

Staff Recommends: The Author’s Guide to Murder : a novel by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. “There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead--under bizarre circumstances--in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in--or possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists.”


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

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Artist-of-the-Month FeministFuturist is a collective of eight artists who exhibit individually and collectively. An intergenerational, multi-racial, and gender-inclusive collective, FeministFuturists’ engage with one of the most fundamental human questions and roles: reproduction, birth and M/Othering. The collective addresses these topics through a diverse set of projects and media including painting, sculpture, film and performance. Running January 4-30. As an added bonus... on 1/19 starting at 10:30am, enjoy a Movement Choirs, Collective Storytelling Workshop, an interactive collective story, a movement choir, and a creative representation of the experience of contemporary M/Otherhood (You DO NOT have to be a mother to participate). This is a dive into experiencing movement as non-verbal communication. We will look into individual movement preferences and aspects of moving together in unison and rhythm to reinforce wholeness and oneness. Attendance is free, but space is limited. RSVP required.

The Littleton Lyceum will present Alex the Jester on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center at 56 King St.
Alex will bring his visual humor, sight gags, and light-hearted music to the Lyceum’s stage.
Children and the young-at-heart will love the gibberish-speaking impish rascal.
Season tickets are available for individuals or families for $40, and single tickets may be purchased at the door for $12, $5.00 for seniors and students.
For more information, check out our website at: littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook.

While We’ve Been Singing: Music Written Since Our Founding
James Barkovic, Director
Terry Halco, Assistant Director
Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 3:00pm
United Methodist Church of Westford
10 Church Street
Westford, Massachusetts
Advance Tickets can be purchased online at www.westfordchorus.org.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door, cash or check only.
$25 Adults, $20 Seniors, $10 Students, Children Under 5 Free.
Parking is available in the church parking lot and on the street, venue is handicap accessible.
Post concert recording will be available, you must register online at www.westfordchorus.org to receive the link.

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org
     Were your holidays good?  Did you receive the gifts you hoped for?  Maybe a new toaster or microwave oven or coffee maker; are the old ones still working?  Perhaps you received new sheets and a comforter—-and the old ones are still good.  Furniture upgrades?  New kitchenware? Bring your “old” items to Fresh Start Furniture Bank to furnish someone else’s home.
    At present we are in need of all furniture, especially couches, dressers, bookcases, rugs, dining tables, upholstered chairs, recliners, queen and full headboards, end tables, bedside tables and storage cabinets.  We also need artwork, kitchen knives, dishes, cutting boards and colanders.
    We expect donations to be in good condition; if you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, don’t give it to us!  Read our website to see what we DO and DO NOT take for donations, and our address and hours of operation.
     Imagine finally finding a home after being in a shelter—-and having nothing or very little IN the home!  That is what Fresh Start’s clients deal with.  We have helped convert over 4000 empty apartments into homes for more than 12,000 people in the last 10 years.  And, by taking in almost 170,000 pieces of donated furniture and home goods, we have kept all of those items out of landfills.
     Last Saturday 40 donors arrived; they had “cleaned out” for the new year or were just waiting for us to reopen after the holidays.  It was a good start to the new year but the clients keep coming and we need to help them all!

Museum also ends advance ticket reservation system
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced today a $13 admission price from 1:00pm to 4:30pm on weekday afternoons, now through March 28. The discounted price will not be offered on holidays or during school vacation weeks.
Under the Winter Weekday Afternoon Discount program, admission for adults and children will be $13 per person; seniors 60+ will be $12. Children under 1 and teachers are always free. All other Museum-offered discounts such as EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare Card to Culture, Wonderfund, library passes, museum reciprocal programs, AAA, and active duty miliary discounts will still apply.
Regular admission prices are $19.00 for adults and children ages 1 and over, $18.00 for seniors 60+, free for under 1 and teachers.
Discovery Museum also announced the closure of its reservation system. Advance reservations to visit are no longer required nor accepted.

Winter can stretch budgets to the breaking point. With increased costs for food, heating, housing, and transportation, many Massachusetts families are facing tough choices. If you or your family need help accessing food, don’t wait—call Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline today at 1-800-645-8333.
The FoodSource Hotline connects residents to the resources they need right now. Trained counselors are available to help you apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), find free meals for children, and locate emergency food programs like community meals and food pantries. The hotline can also refer callers to other federal food programs, like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).
Whether you’re a college student, a senior, or a family facing hardship, the FoodSource Hotline is a confidential, free, trusted resource recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for anyone seeking food assistance.
Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for support, available in over 180 languages.
Get Help Now: If you are struggling with food insecurity, call 1-800-645-8333. For more information and access to resources, visit Project Bread’s website, where you can find information in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole. Don’t wait—help is just a phone call away.

The letters have reached our desk as more people than ever before seek help from the Beacon Santa.
Many of these letters come from single mothers, struggling to get their lives back on track and give their children a little something on Christmas morning.
One mother writes that she and her three boys lived in a shelter for 15 months and recently moved into an apartment. She is hoping for a little help from the Beacon Santa because, she writes, “finances are tight and I’d like my children to have a good Christmas this year.”
Another mother of twins writes that she is recently divorced and living on one income with no child support. All of her income goes to pay rent and other necessities, leaving nothing for the extras, such as a gift for Christmas.
She is asking for help from the Beacon Santa.
“This help from the Beacon Santa program would take a huge burden off my shoulders knowing my children will have a better Christmas with the help and support from this charity. This help this Christmas would help my children have a normal Christmas morning with presents under the tree,” she writes.
This year, Beacon Santa has been asked to help more than 600 children. But Beacon Santa would not exist without help from people just like you. Would you please consider donating today?

About the Beacon Santa
Since 1965, the Beacon Santa has raised funds to provide gift cards for families seeking a little help during the holidays.

The Fund provides help for families living in the 12 communities of Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford.
The fund is managed by three women from Maynard, determined to provide families in need with a little joy during the holidays. Because they volunteer their time, you can rest assured that the money you donate goes to those that need it most.

How to donate
By Mail:  Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 7 Digital Way. Maynard, MA 01754 OR Beacon Santa Fund, PO Box 643. Maynard, MA 01754.
Online: Through PayPal: paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809. A PayPal account is not needed to donate.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Littleton Middle School presents their musical production of Newsies Jr. Show dates are January 24th @ 7pm, January 25th @ 2pm, and January 26th @ 2pm. Performances held at Littleton High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door or online at lmsdrama.org

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, February1, 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 Dudley Laufman,  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. PARKING ALLOWED ONLY ON THE GRANGE SIDE OF CHAMPNEY ST.