Breaking News

Calendar… Jan 3, 2014

Harmony and Dissonance:  Music’s Message for Us
On Sunday, January 5th, at 9 and 11 am, the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton will begin the New Year with a special service led by members of our Parish Jazz Band.  Come and be treated not only to great music but also an important message about the role harmony and dissonance play in our lives.  All are welcome.  The church is located at 353 Great Road in Stow, MA, at the intersection of Routes 117 and 62.  Our facilities are wheelchair accessible.  For more information you may contact our church office at 978-897-8149 or visit our website at www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

Come Sing Brahms Requiem with Sounds of Stow Chorus
All area singers are invited to join the Sounds of Stow Chorus as they explore Brahms’ great “Requiem”, to be performed in English using the contemporary translation by Lara Hoggard. Unlike the many Latin requiems, Brahms focuses on comfort of the living and a recognition of how the dead live on through their works, and through those who continue in this life.  The message, directed at all mankind rather than those of a specific doctrinal cast, is most relevant today.  This new English translation corrects some textual errors and provides a close alignment of rhythm and text to the original German.

Please come to a rehearsal on Jan. 6 or Jan. 13 to learn more.  Rehearsals are held on Monday nights from 7:30-9:30, at the First Parish Church in Stow center (corner of Rt. 62 and 117). For more information, go to www.soundsofstow.com, or contact Nina Huber in Concord, MA at (978) 505-7317.  It has been said that anyone who loves to sing choral music must sing the Brahms Requiem at least once!

Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday
On Sunday, January 12th, at 9 and 11 am, the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton will address the issue of domestic violence during service.  Guest speaker Suzanne Sege, President of the Board for the Domestic Violence Services Network, will discuss reasons why domestic violence sometimes remains hidden and resources that are available to help those who need them.  Members of the church Domestic Violence Task Force and lay ministers will lead worship.  Music will include hymns of hope and justice.  All are welcome.  The church is located at 353 Great Road in Stow, MA, at the intersection of Routes 117 and 62.  Our facilities are wheelchair accessible.  For more information you may contact our church office at 978-897-8149 or visit our website at www.fpc-stow-acton.org.

Randall Library Programs
Author Michael Tougias will appear at the Randall Library  on January 16th at 7:00pm to give a slide presentation on his new book A Storm Too Soon: A True Story of Disaster, Survival and Incredible Rescue. This dramatic and inspiring program is free and suitable for all ages. A Storm Too Soon has been featured on ABC Television’s 20/20, and chronicles the 2007 Gulf Stream disaster that prompted one of the largest and most intense rescue endeavors in Coast Guard history. Refreshments will be provided.

Board Games at the Library, Saturday, January 18th at 1pm, and Wednesday, January 22nd at 3:30pm – Warm up at the library playing board games and drinking hot chocolate. Play ours or bring yours from home! We have Apples to Apples, Jenga, Mancala and more. For more information on library programs, visit our new website at http://www. RandallLibraryStow.org

Personal Item Drive through January 10, 2014
The Nashoba Regional High School Drama Society is hosting a Personal Items Drive to benefit local two social relief organizations, WHEAT and the Stow Food Pantry, who serve residents in the Nashoba Regional School District.  For the month of December and extending until January 10, 2014, the NRHS Drama Society will be collecting personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, feminine products, and deodorant; personal care items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, shaving cream, and kleenex; and baby items such as diapers, formula and baby food.  Donations can be dropped off at Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road, Bolton, or brought to the 2014 Class Play Competition on January 10, 2014 at 6:30pm.  For questions, contact Paula at [email protected]. We thank you for your generosity.

Blended Worship Service Sunday January 12th
Please join us 9:30AM Sunday morning for worship. About once a month we bring an  updated musical style to our worship services.  In addition to a few traditional hymns with organ music, on this date we will include contemporary praise music, with instruments such as synthesizer and guitar. Since the music is a blend of traditional and contemporary we call this a blended service.

If you haven’t visited our church in a while or ever, we invite you to attend a service. New children are welcome to visit the religious ed classrooms during the sermon. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers. For more information about our church and other activities please visit us at unionchurchofstow.org.

The Union Church is the one with the blue doors at 317 Great Road, Stow.

New Book Club Meeting
The next meeting of the New Book Club will be on Tuesday, January 14, 7Pm, at the library.  Because of the cancellation of the December meeting (thanks to the snowstorm), we’ll discuss the 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window by Jonas Jonasson.  Should you need  a read that will put a smile on your face in the middle of winter–this is it! Perhaps the long winters in Sweden gives rise to the imagination and what imagination Jonasson expresses in this Zany book.  Join us in January!  Questions-978-897-6055.

Ann’s Friendship Community Supper
Friday January 17, 2013 – 5:00 to 6:00PM. Our monthly free suppers are continuing with a slight change to the name.  Out of admiration for Ann Dowen, chef and founder, we are re-naming the suppers in her honor.  Menus change monthly. We promise that the meal will always be nutritious, delicious & include tempting desserts. There’s no reason to eat alone when you can join us for friendly company. Whether you are new in town or have been here a while, you are invited. Come alone or bring your family. Although there is no charge, donations are accepted. The Union Church with the blue doors is at 317 Great Rd (Rt 117), Stow. To learn more please visit us at www.unionchurchofstow.org.

Publishing Networking Group
Meets Saturday, February 1, 10:30 a.m., Randall Library, 19 Crescent St., Stow. Anyone interested in publishing is welcome to attend this networking and planning meeting. For more information, please email Eileen Kramer ([email protected]).

~OUT OF STOW~

Local Author Talks Bees in Bolton
Bedford beekeeper Birgit deWeerd, author of “Let Me Tell You About My Bees,” will be on hand at the Bolton Public Library Thursday, January 16, at 7 p.m., to talk about a year in the life of a honeybee colony—and its beekeeper. In this engaging program sponsored by Bolton Local, deWeerd will present a slide show illustrating the activities involved in managing a bee hive, starting in January and ending with a fall honey harvest. Birgit deWeerd has been a beekeeper for 25 years and has been committed to educating people about the importance of honeybees in the environment. For more information visit www.BoltonLocal.org.

Deathtrap At Theatre III
Theatre III in Acton begins the new year with Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, a skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients: gasp-inducing thrills and spontaneous laughter.  Meet Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of thrillers with a recent string of flops, who sees an opportunity to create a new hit in “collaboration” with a young student – and will go to any lengths to achieve it.  Deathtrap provides twists, turns and sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be held spellbound until the very last moment.  Deathtrap will run January 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8:00 p.m. with Matinees on the 19th and 26th at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20 for Adults and $17 for Students (through high school) and Seniors (age 65+).  Tickets are available by calling the box office at 978-263-9070, or online at www.ticketstage.com/TIII for a convenience fee of $1.75 per ticket.  Theatre III is located at 250 Central Street, West Acton, next to the West Acton fire station.