For over 40 years, Loaves and Fishes have been providing food to our neighbors in an atmosphere of kindness and respect.  With the help of volunteers and donors, Loaves and Fishes serves the communities of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton and Shirley. But regardless of what community people may live in, no one is ever turned away. Last year alone, they served over 1,000 households/3,000 individuals with nutritious groceries.

Would you like to learn more about what drives food insecurity in our region?
Would you like to learn more about how you might have a positive impact?

Learn the answers to these questions and more as Patty Stern, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes, shares more about their mission and how they address this growing societal need.

Monday, February 2, 7 PM
St. Anne’s Church Hall
75 King Street, Littleton, MA

This event is sponsored by the Blessed Trinity Parish Social Justice Ministry.

RSVP requested but not required to plan for refreshments.
socialjusticeministry@blessedtrinitycatholic.org

 

As your parents grow older, it may be time to talk with them about financial and aging issues.

Position these conversations to honor their plans and understand their wishes, so their affairs will be taken care of as they would like.

First, consider health care. Find out if they have limits on medical care and appropriate legal documents, like a health care power of attorney.

Another subject: independence. Have they thought about the need for long-term care?

Also, ask if they have updated wills, revocable trusts and durable powers of attorney, so a trusted person can make financial decisions if they become incapacitated.

Finally, have they left instructions in their will about their funeral preferences?

These are sensitive subjects, but you can get help from other family members or a trusted legal or financial professional.

By raising these issues with your parents, you can help avoid unpleasant surprises — and maybe even create some peace of mind for your family.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Alan Bell. your Edward Jones financial advisor at 222 Great Road Suite 8 Littleton, MA 01460. 978-486-1059.


Member SIPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

19 Carter Street, Berlin

Weekly Events: Suggested donation $5

Monday: A Politics-Free Tea Time 2 - 4pm
Turn off your TV and stop by for 2 hours of pleasant tea and pleasantries, pastries with good company, and no politics!
Tuesday: Armchair Meditation 8 - 8:30am
Wednesday: Coffee Hour 9am - 12pm
Wednesday: Office Hours with Melissa (Director of the Berlin COA) 10 – 11am (Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday)
Wednesday: Old Time Music Jam 11am – 1pm (every 2nd and 4th Wednesday)
Wednesday: Irish Session 7 - 10pm
Thursday: Afternoon Games 2 - 4pm
Friday: Open Art Studio & Coffee Hour 9am - 12pm
Friday: Fiber Arts Group 2 - 4pm
Saturday: Social 10am - 1pm
Office Hours w Senator Kennedy’s team Every second Wednesday of the month at 11am – 12pm

Visit 19Carter.org for tickets, registration + more info!
We frequently add new upcoming events :)

FEBRUARY 1-7, 2026

Sunday, February 1, 2pm | Music and Stories from Little House on the Prairie
Come enjoy the tunes Laura Ingalls Wilder loved and find out more about the music that was so popular with the pioneers. Cost: Free!

Monday, February 2, 4:30pm | Social Singing with Music Includes
Music Includes brings people of all abilities and identities together for inclusive, high-quality musical experiences. Join us in a safe, joyful space to share songs of all kinds. Select Mondays from Jan 19 - April 27.  Register at nacc.net. Learn more at ldfamusic.com/music-includes.
Monday, February 2, 7:30pm | Open Mic for Comics
Join us for our monthly, laid-back night of comedy brought to you by OMP Productions and the Carnival Personnel Podcast. Comics can sign up for a stand-up slot in advance by emailing openmicpain@gmail.com. Audience welcome! Ages 18+ Suggested donation: $5

Tuesday, February 3, 6pm | Book Launch: When Did We See You? A Lenten Reflection on Poverty and Wealth
Berlin resident Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Mae Magill invites us into an honest conversation about faith, money, and community, posing hard questions about poverty, wealth, and what it means to follow Jesus in an economically divided world. Cost: Free!

Saturday, February 7, 11:30am | Veg Group: Cooking with Plants!
This month guest speaker Tracy Zook will talk about plant foods and recipes especially delicious in February! Suggested donation: $5

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

 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax assistance, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. You don't need to be an AARP member to use the service. Since 1968, Tax-Aide has helped over 82 million taxpayers receive all the credits and deductions they're entitled to. Our volunteers are IRS-certified every year, so they understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code.  We can prepare and e-file both Federal and state tax returns.

Every year, from early February to mid-April, our volunteers take appointments at host sites around the country. Check with your local senior center or use the AARP Tax-Aide Service Locator Tool at aarp.org/money/taxes to find a site near you. 

Happy New Year!
     Fresh Start Furniture Bank in Hudson served 596 families in 2025!  That’s almost 600 families who had been homeless and not only found housing through agencies but were given everything they needed to make those homes warm and welcoming.  Everything from bed and bath linens to silverware, dish sets, and small appliances to rugs, couches, dressers, dining tables and chairs - all at no cost to them and through the generosity of donors like you!  A lot of donors showed up today and a Girl Scout troop assembled and donated dozens of kitchen starter sets for our clients.
     We are always looking for more volunteers; Fresh Start Furniture Bank is a warm and welcoming and rewarding place to work.  Take a look at our website (above)and join the family!  You’ll be happy that you did!
     Donations of household items (linens, small appliances, kitchenware, lamps, etc.)can be brought to us at 16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-noon.  Furniture can be accepted on Thursday mornings from 8:30-10:30 and household items until noon.  Donated items do not need to be new but they need to be in good shape.  If you wouldn’t give it to a good friend, don’t give it to our clients!
     You will find lists of most needed items on our website, and links to Amazon and Target Wishlists under Other Ways to Donate.
     Let’s make it a happy new year for more families!  Thank you!

Millions of Americans set money-related resolutions each January, such as saving more or reducing debt.

But too many resolutions fade quickly.

A 2023 Forbes Health poll found that over half of people give up on their resolutions by April.

The issue isn’t necessarily motivation. It could be execution.

Here are some things to consider.

Vague goals like “save more” often fail. Instead, set specific, measurable targets like, “Save $100 a month.”

You might also focus on just one or two priorities: building an emergency fund, increasing retirement plan contributions or paying down debt.

Then, track your progress regularly and break big goals into small steps. Each win builds momentum to reach the next goal.

Finally, find an accountability partner or work with a financial advisor to stay on track.

The new year offers a fresh start. With clear goals, a realistic plan and the support you need, 2026 could be the year your financial resolutions finally stick.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Alan Bell, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 222 Great Road, Suite 8 Littleton, MA 01460, 978-486-1059.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, February 7, 2026 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. Bring your soft soled dancing shoes .Parking allowed only on the Grange side of Champney St.

Looking for a fun evening?

Join the Nashoba Valley Neighbors for a wine tasting and warm winter meal, with lots of fun people interested in an evening out and a nice dinner at a local restaurant.  The NVN are joining a wine tasting at The Westford Wine & Spirits in Westford at 5 pm Saturday, January 24, and dinner at the nearby Evviva Trattoria at 6:30.  Please feel free to join us for either or both, but we ask that you respond by Thursday, January 22 at noon.

If you would like more information, or to join us, please RSVP to info@nashobavalleyneighbors.org

The Nashoba Valley Neighbors Club is a non-profit social organization open to new and established residents from such town as Acton, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Westford, Maynard, and Harvard, but we welcome any residents in the surrounding communities that are looking to explore new interests and to make connections with new friends.

Find us on Facebook or visit the Club’s website at http://www.nashobavalleyneighbors.org for more
Information.  We hope to see you!

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

CONCORD, MA – Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is pleased to announce a FREE Volunteer Advocate Training program for interested community members. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in our 13 partner communities.

The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize 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 Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.

The March 2026 training will be held at the Lexington Police department starting on March 2 through
March 20: Monday and Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 7:15 PM and Fridays from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM. For those who decide to activate as volunteer advocates, there is an additional 10 to 12 hours of supervised field training at the completion of the classroom segment.

The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. For more
information about the training or to request an application, call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to
training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.

DVSN member communities: Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow,Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and Hanscom Security Forces.

Cornerstone Congregational Church is sponsoring our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday, January 17 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 our community and across the country. 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 about 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).

The Littleton Lyceum will present The Oak Hill Project: From Lady Slippers to Slippery Slopes
on Friday, January 9, at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center at 56 King St.
Littletonian Bernadette Morey Stockwell will show her vivid slides of the results of a family
challenge during covid to hike the Oak Hill Conservation Land daily for a year. This all-ages
presentation blends visuals and story-telling, celebrating how the experience grew into a shared
discovery of place, community, and meaning.

Family season tickets are available for $40.00, and single tickets may be purchased at the door
for $12.00, seniors and students for $5.00.

For more information, check out our website at littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook or X

 

Donors have chance to win trip to Super Bowl LX during National Blood Donor Month
Red Cross, Saquon Barkley huddle up for a lifesaving play in January

BOSTON, Jan. 5, 2026 — The American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage this winter, which could lead to a disruption in lifesaving care. Donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now.

The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure following a busy holiday season when winter weather and packed schedules made it even tougher to ensure hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care. Without immediate action, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed now.

Don’t wait – make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

For the seventh year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to urge individuals to kick off 2026 with a blood donation. As a thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win an exciting Super Bowl LX giveaway. The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, access to day-of in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6-9, 2026), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

Join a lifesaving team
The Red Cross and Pro Football Champion and blood donor Saquon Barkley are teaming up to remind donors that the best offense against a winter blood shortage is making and keeping blood donation appointments. The blood supply can drop quickly – now’s the time to get in the game and give blood or platelets.

"I gave blood once in college and that was the only time I had ever been asked to give, until the Red Cross reached out this fall,” said Barkley. “It was a no-brainer for me to give again. It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring – it’s a beautiful thing."

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 5-31:

Westford
1/5/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Parish Church, 48 Main Street
1/15/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., H.E. Fletcher Club, 11 Brookside Rd
1/17/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cornerstone Congregational Church, 32 Graniteville Rd
1/18/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Roudenbush Community Center, 65 Main Street
1/30/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Nashoba Valley Technical High School, 100 Littleton Road

 

Budgeting doesn’t have to feel restrictive. In fact, it can be empowering. A budget simply helps you understand your money flow and align it with what matters most.

You might need a budget if you're starting out in life, spending more than you earn or working toward a big goal like buying a home or retiring. Major life changes — marriage, a new baby, job or retirement — are also great times to reassess.

Start small: track your income and expenses for 30 minutes a week. Pair it with something enjoyable to make it easier. Use apps or spreadsheets to simplify the process.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you prefer detailed categories or broad ones, find what works for you.

Review regularly and adjust as life changes. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. A good budget frees you to spend wisely on what matters the most and save with confidence.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Alan Bell, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 222 Great Road, Suite 8 Littleton, MA 01460, 978-486-1059.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

The Acton Community Chorus presents our winter concert,  I Hear The Stars Still Singing, a constellation of contemporary choral music contemplating the stars and the ways they guide our lives, featuring a multi movement work by Kenneth Riggs called "Starlight Songs", plus written works by other living composers such as J. Michael Saunders, Jacob Narverud, Susan LaBarr, and Victor C. Johnson. The concert will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 4pm at the Acton Congregational Church with an inclement weather date of Sunday, January 11th at 4pm. Tickets are available through the link on our website or at the door. There will be a reception following the concert.  Every year we seek out a community partner to support, and this season we are partnering with NAMI of Central Middlesex County. They will have volunteers in attendance to share the resources they have for individuals and families living with mental health conditions. The Acton Community Chorus is a nonprofit organization supported in part by grants from the Acton Boxborough, Concord, Littleton and Stow cultural councils which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a State agency.

The Acton Community Chorus invites all area singers to attend our Open Sing for our Spring 2026 Concert Movie Night. We will be featuring iconic songs from iconic movies including My Heart Will Go On, Both Sides Now, Danger Zone, Bohemian Rhapsody, (I've Had) The Time of My Life, and so many more! We will meet on January 26, 2026 at 7:30pm at the Faith Free Evangelical Church 54 Hosmer Street in Acton, MA. Please see our website www.actoncommunitychorus.org for more information about our vibrant choral group that has been bringing choral music and friendship to the Assabet Valley area since 1984!

"Psychosis Unveiled" is an in-person presentation for people living with symptoms of psychosis and those who love them. Join the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and speakers from the MA Psychosis Access & Triage Hub (M-PATH). Join us on Monday, January 26th, at the Edinburg Center, 205 Burlington Road, Bedford MA, rear entrance. The event kicks off at 6:30 PM with dessert & social time. At 7:00 PM the presentations begin. Learn more about the program and please RSVP here: namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/psychosis. 

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 video conference. For more information, call Doreen 617-957-0838 or contact paulbaker01@verizon.net

 

The Littleton Lyceum will present The Oak Hill Project: From Lady Slippers to Slippery Slopes
on Friday, January 9, at 7:30 pm in Littleton High School’s Performing Arts Center at 56 King St.
Littletonian Bernadette Morey Stockwell will show her vivid slides of the results of a family
challenge during covid to hike the Oak Hill Conservation Land daily for a year. This all-ages
presentation blends visuals and story-telling, celebrating how the experience grew into a shared
discovery of place, community, and meaning.

Family season tickets are available for $40.00, and single tickets may be purchased at the door
for $12.00, seniors and students for $5.00.

For more information, check out our website at littletonlyceum.org or follow us on Facebook or X

Imagine this: Your budgeting app flags unusual spending and suggests a transfer. Later, a robo-advisor rebalances your portfolio. Welcome to the age of artificial intelligence — or AI — in personal finance.

AI tools can track spending, forecast bills and offer advice via text. They can monitor credit scores, suggest budget tweaks and even negotiate lower bills.

Meanwhile, robo-advisors build and manage portfolios, and educational apps simplify complex financial concepts.

But AI has limits. It can’t weigh emotional trade-offs like saving for college versus retiring early, and it can’t help partners merge their financial visions.

That’s where human advisors shine. They help you stay focused, balance priorities and offer support through life’s changes.

As AI evolves, the key is treating it as a tool, not a guide.

The best approach? Use AI for insights and lean on human wisdom for guidance. Stay curious about what tech can do — and clear about your financial priorities, which only you can define.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Alan Bell your Edward Jones financial advisor at 222 Great Road, Suite 8, Littleton, MA 01460 (Donelan's Plaza) 978-486-1059.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Especially for Me events offer free Museum access and dedicated hours for families that would benefit from a sensory-friendly experience.
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced upcoming dates for the first half of 2026 for the Especially for Me series of free events for families and groups with members who may have a disability, including sensory sensitivities, visual impairments, learning differences, and/or hearing loss.
The popular events offer accommodations that increase access to and enjoyment of the Museum’s ADA-compliant facilities. Because admission is free, families may come and go based on their needs without concern for cost. Visitors also have the chance to meet others in similar circumstances, thereby reducing feelings of isolation and judgement by others often described by families dealing with special needs. A medical diagnosis is not required to attend.
All Especially for Me events are free to attend, but preregistration is required. Dates and registration links can be found online at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe.
January to June 2026: Especially for Me Event Schedule
Inclusive Afternoons, Tuesdays 1:30 to 4:30pm Museum is open to the public, but lower visitation is expected.

• January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2

Special Evenings, Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm Museum is closed to the public. Dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at no cost.

• Autism-Friendly Evening – January 10
• Evening for Deaf, Blind, or DeafBlind – January 31
• Inclusive Evening – February 28, March 21, May 16, June 27
• Mask On, Play On! – April 11
• Morning for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and KODA visitors – date tba

Discovery Museum’s campus is ADA-compliant and all exhibits are accessible, designed according to Universal Design principles to be both aesthetically pleasing and usable by the widest possible range of people, without regard to age or ability.
Special resources are always available including noise-reducing headphones, a Social Story and Sensory Map (both online and on-site; available in eight languages), and a designated “Take a Break” space. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters may be requested during registration. Parking is always free and dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at all evening events.
Especially for Me is part of the museum’s Open Door Connections program to provide opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, developmental, or cultural—to experience the Museum.
Especially for Me is made possible by DCU for Kids, with additional support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Www.freshstartfurniturebank.org

     The Fresh Start family would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.  Our shelves and stockroom and display areas are pretty well stocked now, thanks to donations from so many people in the area who responded to our specific requests for linens and kitchen items and furniture.
     At present what we need most is MONEY to pay our bills and to buy mattresses and to keep our truck fueled and maintained.  If you can help, please click on the link above and look for the big green DONATE button.  You can donate online with PAYPAL or with Venmo and you can always bring or send a check payable to Fresh Start Furniture Bank at 16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA 01749.  Your donation is tax deductible.
     Thank you for helping us to help others.  We supply furniture and furnishings at no charge to prequalified clients coming out of homelessness.  Please help us to keep doing what we do so well.

Groton Grange #7 invites you to our traditional New England Contra Dance on Saturday, January 3 ,2026 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. 

We know it’s a big ask.
With the economy in flux, unemployment on the rise, grocery prices still too high, every dollar is being stretched as tight as possible.
But if you can spare a few dollars for the Beacon Santa, we will make sure the money goes to put a smile on a young child’s face.
Every dollar that you donate will help a family in need.
“Working overnight is great when you have small children who need you to be home during the day. But also impossible, with small children, when the other parent is gone on random military assignments and not home to watch them,” writes one mother of five young children.
All she wants is some money to take her children shopping for clothes.
“Although things are getting better and we are solely focused on improving our finances, for our children’s sake, the holidays fast approach and we cannot celebrate without help, so please choose our home, Santa,” she writes.
The Beacon Santa Fund, which originated in 1965, raises money to give holiday gift cards to families in 12 communities: Acton, Boxborough, Billerica, Bedford, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, and Westford.
Beacon Santa turns once again to its readers, without whose generosity some families will not receive holiday help. Donations are tax deductible, of course.
A final note, so that would-be donors can feel assured that their good intentions actually do good. The Board of Directors are all volunteers. Donations are intended entirely to help families in need; no funds are ever diverted for member stipends or salaries.

How to donate
By mail: Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, Maynard Crossing, 7 Digital Way, Maynard, MA 01754
Online: Through PayPal, https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1541809.  A PayPal account is not needed to donate.
New this year, you can donate through Venmo:  @beaconsanta1965

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is thrilled to announce that Night Lights was named the winner of the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. Thank you to our wonderful community for taking the time to help the Garden earn this national recognition. We look forward to the rest of this year's dazzling displays (tickets are still available) and hope you’ll join us in experiencing this award-winning event!
Visit https://nebg.org/ for more information.

 

BOSTON, FOXBORO, Mass. - On December 7, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) and Gillette partnered for a unique “Mentorship in Action” Flag Football event that brought together youth, volunteers, and New England Patriot Quarterback and Gillette athlete Drake Maye, New England Patriots Wide Receiver and BBBSEM ambassador DeMario Pop Douglas and Patriots Hall of Famer Rob Ninkovich for a day of sports and community engagement. Held on the field at Gillette Stadium, the event highlighted the importance of mentorship, offering a fun opportunity for prospective volunteer mentors to get involved while making a lasting impact on local youth.
The event kicked off with a lively pep talk from BBBSEM President & CEO Mark O'Donnell and Pat the Patriot, the official mascot of the New England Patriots. This spirited opening set the tone for a day full of energy and connection. Ninkovich, Maye, and Douglas also joined the action, each participating as a "Big for a Day" to underscore the power of mentorship and encourage others to volunteer. The event marked Douglas’ official debut as a BBBSEM ambassador.
Over 25 current BBBSEM matches, along with youth on the organization’s waiting list to be matched with their mentors, took to the field for drills, skills clinics, and friendly flag football games. The day was designed to foster new connections and inspire potential Bigs to begin their own mentoring journeys.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Gillette and bring attention to the critical need for mentorship in our community,” said Mark O'Donnell, President & CEO of BBBSEM. “This event not only gave us the chance to showcase the power of mentorship but also provided an opportunity for new volunteers to experience firsthand how they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.”
The event featured several key moments, including a speaking program, a skills clinic, and a series of flag football games, which gave participants the chance to demonstrate teamwork and leadership. The day concluded with a heartfelt recognition ceremony, thanking volunteers and mentors for their dedication to youth empowerment.
The BBBSEM event was one of ten flag football experiences happening across the country as part of a larger national partnership between men’s grooming brand Gillette and Big Brothers Big Sisters.Through this partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Gillette are coming together to bring more mentors into the lives of young men through the unifying power of sports.
BBBSEM continues to grow its impact, matching over 4,000 youth annually with caring adult mentors. The event underscored the organization’s mission to defend the potential of children and to create a community where every young person has access to the guidance and support they need to succeed. Mentorship is a necessity and through sports, connections across cultures and generations are made, helping to build a more unified, inclusive society.
“We are committed to ensuring that every child has the support of a caring adult mentor who can help them reach their full potential,” said O'Donnell. “Today, we’ve seen the impact that such mentorship can have, and we hope this event inspires even more people to step forward and become Bigs.”
For more information on how to volunteer, or to learn more about BBBSEM’s programs, visit www.emassbigs.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of over 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 76 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org..

Join us on Sunday, December 21st at 4:00 pm for the 61st Annual Community Sing-In of the MESSIAH ORATORIO here in our church, open to the wider community. The Music Director for this event is the renowned Leon Burke. This is a marvelous opportunity for singers and listeners to join professional soloists and orchestra to share this treasured tradition. No experience required! Bring a friend!
Bring your own music score or buy one at the door. There is a suggested donation of $25 to help pay our professional musicians, but of course no one is turned away! Harvard UU Church is located at 9 Ayer Rd, Harvard.

The Littleton Historical Society on 4 Rogers Street will host a Holiday Open House on Sunday,
December 14, from 1-4 pm. A performance by the Congregational Church Handbell Choir will
be featured from 1:30-2:00. Tasty old-fashioned refreshments will be served and there will be a
craft for children.

Come see our building decked out for the holidays, socialize with friends, and check out our
museum displays!