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Calendar… April 16, 2014

Upcoming Events at the Randall Library in April
The Randall Library has a new website at www.RandallLibraryStow.org  to find out the latest news on upcoming events, programs, reading suggestions and a whole lot more.

Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for BABIES, Thursday, April 17 at 10am, and Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for TYKES -Thursday, April 17,  at 10:30am – Join Sonia Gomez for Itsy Bitsy Yoga, with two age levels on the same day. Infants cannot walk yet, tykes include walkers up to preschool age, Sign-up at the circulation desk; limit of 12 participants.

World Book Night, Wednesday, April 23 – Randall Library is proud to be one of 2,300 bookstores and libraries across America supporting World Book Night 2014. Randall Library serves as a community base for local givers, receiving the books that they will be giving out and providing useful resources. Go to http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/ to learn more about World Book Night, and how you can get involved next year!

Poetry Reading with Robert Clawson & Susan Richmond, April 24 at 7pm
In honor of National Poetry month, the Randall Library is pleased to have  poets Robert Clawson and Susan Richmond in to read and speak about their poetry and inspirations.

SPRING PEEPER CONTEST
What will you be doing during April School Vacation?  Are you ready for a fun family outdoor adventure?  The Stow Conservation Trust (SCT) is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Spring Peeper Contest.  Find all six (6) of the Spring Peeper posters located in some of SCT’s Conservation properties (Red Acre Woodlands, Leggett Woodland and Hale-Corzine).  The hunt for the spring peeper posters will run between April 16 and April 26.  Look for them on your own or find clues to where they are displayed on the SCT website www.stowconservationtrust.org   Submission deadline is May Day, Thursday, May 1.

The Stow Minutemen March on Patriots’ Day
The Stow Minutemen Company will once again march the same route taken by the Colonial militia in April 1775 to Concord, upon hearing the news that the British Regulars were marching towards Concord. We start out at pre-dawn on Monday, April 21, at 4:30am, when the air is cool and all is quiet – but not for long as musket volleys, colonial fife and drum music, and the marching of many feet awaken townsfolk along our historic route.

This year, the Company will begin its annual pre-dawn Trail March “muster” (an assembly of troops prior to parade) with over 30 Colonial re-enactors dressed in period garb, as well as many modern-day “civilians” who are welcome to follow along at the rear. Please note that the Stow Minutemen do not actively organize, supervise, or chaperone civilian followers, and cannot be held responsible for any child or adult.  The Company will march in time to its own fife and drum corps and musket volleys will be fired at pre-determined locations as well as spontaneously along the route.  We encourage carpooling for the return, since several roads in Concord will be closed to vehicles.

The annual Trail March and our participation in Concord’s Battle at Old North Bridge and Parade is rain or shine. So come out and join us and live what happened on what we now know as Patriots’ Day. For more information, e-mail us at [email protected], or call us at 978-206-1775.

Please note that due to road closures in Concord, our route is slightly different and our breakfast stop will be at Rideout Playground in Concord.  You may also join us at Cucurbit Farms on Parker Street in Acton. For more information about the Stow Minuteman Company, visit: www.stowminutemen.org.

The schedule for the annual Trail March is as follows:
4:15    Muster at the Lower Village Common (near Papa Gino’s)
4:20    Musket safety inspection
4:30    Step Off
4:35    Volley at Old Cemetery – Pompositticut Rd. & Great Road (Rt. 117)
4:35    March up Pompositticut Rd. into Maynard – becomes Summer St.
5:07    Left onto Concord St. in Maynard
5:15    Meet Assabet Village Minute Men at Concord St. and Acton St. (Rt. 27);
5 minute break; volley fired
5:20    Cross Rt. 27 on Concord St., heading for Acton
5:37    Enter Acton; continue on Parker St.
5:47    Cross High St. in Acton; follow Parker Street to end (changed from prior years)
6:15    Brief stop at Cucurbit Farm  (5 minute necessary break)¹
6:20    Depart Cucurbit Farm and continue down Parker Street¹
6:27    Right turn onto School Street¹
6:35    Continue straight on to Laws Brook Road¹
6:52    Pass Hillside Ave (it gets hilly here)¹
7:07    Arrive at Rideout Playground (food and necessary break)
7:27    Depart Rideout Playground¹
7:45    Through the Concord Rotary, and march on Barrett’s Mill Road
8:15    Brief stop at Col. Barrett’s house (necessary break)
8:20    Depart Col. Barrett’s house
8:42    Cross Lowell St. onto Barnes Hill Rd. (this is our “Heartbreak Hill”)
9:00    Arrive at North Bridge Visitors Center, Minuteman National Park
9:00    Reenactment of battle at Old North Bridge
9:15-9:45  Join parade as it passes through the Park
(scheduled to reach North Bridge at 9:30)
11:00-11:15    Parade end at Armory (Hunt’s Gym) on Stow St.
Total Trail March distance: approx.9.5 miles (11 including the parade)
¹ This portion of the route differs from previous years

NEW BOOK CLUB MEETING
The next meeting of the New Book Club will be at 7pm on Tuesday, April 22, at the Randall Library. We’ll discuss Shine,Shine,Shine, by Lydia Netzer. Oddities and idiosyncrasies are cast in a metaphysical light, but Netzer makes them easily understood. Join us to share your understanding of this unusual story. Bring your suggestions for future reads.  Questions — call 978-897-6055.

Rummage Sale April 25 & 26
The Union Church will be holding its ever popular spring rummage sale on Friday April 25 – 9AM to 1PM plus eve hours 5PM -7PM.  We open the doors Saturday morning again 9AM to 1PM.  Come and find bargains galore in: clothing for all ages, linens, housewares, books, media, decorative items and toys, etc.  The Union Church is the blue door church on Rt 117 immediately west of the Stow Police Station.

Friends of Troop 1 Stow Electronics Recycling Event
Boy Scout Annual Electronics Recycling Day.  Friends of Boy Scout Troop 1 Stow will hold the 11th annual electronics recycling event, Operation Motherboard, at Bose Corporation, 688 Great Road (Rt. 117), on Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   Please visit http://troop1stow.net/recycling for complete rate details and to review the accepted items list. Call 978-212-9175 or send email to [email protected].

CANDIDATES FORUM
The League of Women Voters will sponsor a Candidates forum on Monday, April 28, 7:30pm at Stow Town Hall.  Candidates for all open positions have been invited to speak.  A question and answer period will follow.  The public is cordially invited to attend.  The evening will be taped for Stow Cable TV.  Check the programing schedule for times.

The League is a non-partisan, multi-issue, grassroots organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in local, state, and national government.  The League neither supports nor opposes candidates. www.lwv-aa.org.

~ Outside of Stow~

6th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
On Wednesday, April 30, from 7-10 pm (doors open at 6), OARS is hosting an evening of films from the largest environmental film festival in the nation at the Maynard’s Fine Arts Theatre Place (19 Summer Street, Rt 62). They introduce viewers to magnificent animals and plants that inhabit our beautiful places, as well as the courageous individuals who work to protect their communities’ environment. This year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival is themed “emPOWERment” –and what better way to get inspired than through an evening of beautiful, engaging films! There’s something for everyone in these delightful and informative films.  Tickets: $12. Visit www.oars3rivers.org to order tickets and for more information.