Breaking News

Calendar…March 16, 2016

Upcoming Events at the Randall Library in March
(For more details check out http://www.randalllibrarystow.org)
Saturday, March 19, 2:30pm, “The Women of King Phillip’s War”- National Women’s History Month Presentation: Journalist and historian Edward Lodi will lecture on the intriguing and courageous women involved in the great American conflict known as King Philip’s War. Considered the single greatest tragedy of 17th century Puritan New England, the bravery of women on both sides of the conflict forever shaped New England. Funding for this presentation made possible by the Stow Women’s Club.

Thursday, March 24, 7pm, Irish music with The Ivy Leaf Band – Come hear The Ivy Leaf Band and their traditional Irish music. The Ivy Leaf Band has performed at such prestigious venues as Club Passim, Irish Ceilidh Club, and the New England Folk Festival to great reviews, and the Randall Library is proud to have them perform. For more information and to hear samples of the band’s performances go to http://www.ivyleafmusic.com/. This is a wonderful, family-friendly way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Refreshments will be served.

Saturday, March 26, 2pm, Cool Recycled Book Art – Use old books as a starting point to create animals, flowers, pictures, beads and more.

14th Annual Arts Buffet and Center School Art Show
Mark your calendars for a fun day of kids’ arts and crafts and the Center School Art Show on Saturday, March 19, from 11am—2pm  in the Center School gym. Pizza, baked goods, snacks, and water will be available for purchase. Old favorites like marbleized shaving cream paper, shrinky-dinks, jetpacks, and a paper airplane construction station and test flight zone will be returning, but we also have many exciting new projects. This year we will be featuring a Spin Art machine, space dust painting, no-sew fleece pillows, glowing jars, airbrush painting, homemade wind chimes, pompom monsters, and even more projects targeted towards pre-K and elementary aged students! Admission is $6 per artist, with a family cap of $24.  If financial hardship would discourage you from attending, please contact Center School Administration for complimentary admission.

We need an army of volunteers to run the Arts Buffet successfully. To lend a hand, go to the SPTO website (www.stowpto.org) and click on the Arts Buffet link. Send any Arts Buffet questions to Rosanne Peterson or Debbie Ferguson at [email protected].

Like Animals?  Volunteer for Stow’s DART
The town of Stow will shelter individuals, and their pets (in an adjacent “pet co-shelter”), during a disaster requiring the evacuation of residents from their homes. The Stow Medical Reserve Corps is recruiting volunteers to effectively run our pet co-shelter during short-term emergencies. The Stow Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), a sub-group of Stow’s Medical Reserve Corps, will train new volunteers to assist with the pet intake and registration process, staff the pet co-shelter, and monitor care of animals by their owners during an emergency. Volunteers require no special background, but should enjoy and be comfortable with pets and people. Our next orientation meeting and pet intake training session is Saturday, March 19, from 10am to 12pm, at the Stow Town Building, 3rd floor Conference Room. To register, call 978-897-4592 or email [email protected].

Holy Week Services at FPC
On Palm Sunday, March 20, First Parish Church of Stow & Acton will look at the very human side of Jesus and what he taught. This service will be offered twice, at 9 and 11 am. The Rev. Tom Rosiello and intern minister Ilene Gillispie will each offer reflections on what they see as the most important teachings.  A Maundy Thursday candlelight communion service will be held on Thursday, March 24, at 7pm. The story of Jesus’ final days will be told, focusing on the Passover meal that he shared with his disciples and what this ritual of “breaking bread together” means today.   On Easter Sunday, March 27, services at 9 and 11am will focus on what the Easter message can mean in peoples’ lives today. After an Easter Message for All Ages, FPC’s children will leave for the “Great Easter Egg Hunt.” Both services will be filled with “Hallelujahs” and other Easter music. Both will conclude with an invitation to join the choir in singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.  FPC is located at 353 Great Rd. and is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact FPC’s office at 978-897-8149 or visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org. Sounds of Stow Chorus and Orchestra concert.

The full orchestra and chorus under the direction of Barbara Jones will perform Mendelssohn’s majestic Lauda Sion, Fauré’s beloved Requiem, and a new work by John Rutter, “Hymn to the Creator of Light.” In addition, Boston’s acclaimed Mana Tokuno will perform Schumann’s great Romantic piano concerto, rounding out a program of varied musical riches.

The concert is Sunday, March 20, at 3pm in the Hale School auditorium, 55 Hartley Rd.  Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for seniors and adult students, and $10 for students ages 5 to 18. Hale School is fully handicapped accessible. A shuttle provided by Stow Council on Aging will be available from parking areas near 117 and 62. Sounds of Stow is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the local cultural councils of Stow, Acton-Boxborough, Bolton and Hudson; four complimentary tickets are available through your local COA.

How Executive Skills Create Successful Students
Executive functioning is a term used to describe the tasks our brains perform that are necessary to think, act, and solve problems. Does your child have difficulty getting started on a long-term assignment? Is she  easily distracted and disorganized?

Join us on Wednesday, March 23, beginning at 7pm, at the Hale Middle School Auditorium, for a talk by Dr. Peg Dawson, Ed.D, NCSP, from the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, NH. She has co-authored six books on executive functioning including the Amazon best-seller, Smart but Scattered. Come learn more from this nationally-recognized expert who has worked with thousands of children and teens who struggle at home and school.
This free lecture, sponsored by Nashoba SEPAC and the Special Education Dept., is appropriate for parents/guardians of all children.

Income Inequality Forum
The Stow, Maynard  and  Hudson Democratic Town  Committees  are sponsoring an educational, interactive forum entitled “Narrowing the Income Inequality Gap” on Wednesday, March 30, at Old Town Hall at 7pm. Speakers will include Luc Schuster, Deputy Director of MassBudget.org; Dr. Randy Albelda, Professor of Economics at UMass Boston; and Harris Gruman, Executive Director of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council. Sarah Cressy  from the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce will  be the moderator. Admission is free and there will be time for questions and discussion.
The program is intended for individuals of all political  persuasions who want a better understanding of the causes of income inequality in America; some of the solutions being discussed during the presidential debates; and  how changes in  taxation, wage and benefit regulations would impact the middle and upper classes and small business owners.
Nashoba Students – we need your help!

Bolton Local, a grassroots group of folks from Bolton, is calling any and all students at Nashoba Regional High School to enter our new contest. Create an exhibit, art display, video or web-site, that we can share with the world. Your entry should promote a sustainable solution and hopeful vision for the future. Solo and group entries are both encouraged. First prize is $300, second $150 and third $50.

The deadline to register is April 1, and entries must submitted by April 30. For more information or to sign up, go to www.BoltonLocal.org or email [email protected].

Mo Kenney at New Revival Coffeehouse
Canadian singer/songwriter Mo Kenney will be coming to the New Revival Coffeehouse in Stow on Saturday, April 2. Kenney’s songs have won multiple awards, including the East Coast Music Award for Pop Recording of the Year in both 2014 and 2015. Her song “I Faked It” won the folk division in the 2015 U.S.A. Songwriting Competition and she has been nominated for a fresh crop of prizes in 2016 for her new CD, In My Dreams. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door; advance tickets are available at www.BrownPaperTickets.com. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. The coffeehouse is located at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, 353 Great Rd. For more information, call 978-274-2593.

STOW GARDEN SPRING PRESENTATION
Do you have a flower or window box(s) or would like to have one? You don’t need to be a “Gardener” to add this wonderful touch to your home. Just attend our next presentation, which will fill you with some wonderful, practical ideas and add beauty to your home. This meeting of the Stow Garden Club will be Wednesday, April 6, at the Union Church at 7pm.  Our guest speaker will be Heather Husebo presenting Flower Box Gardens. Her business is creating box gardens with a variety of plants for individuals and business needs and contending with a range of zero-full shade conditions. Her presentation will include making a flower box garden.  Contact Susan Pauley for further information at 978-568-8049. All are welcome; you do not need to be a Garden Club member to attend.

Springfest seeks volunteers
The Stow SpringFest Committee seeks volunteers, artisans and craft vendors for the ever- popular SpringFest, to be held at Center School on May 14. Last year SpringFest was a success with more than 300 attendees, and we want to keep the success alive. Volunteers, vendors and artisans interested my contact the committee at [email protected].

READY TO MOVE? SCT’S RUN FOR THE  WOODS IS MAY 15
Now’s the time to register for Stow Conservation Trust’s Run for the Woods – a 5K Run/Walk to be held on May 15 starting at the Hale Middle School. Are your kids wearing you down with their high energy? Sign them up for the One Mile Kids Fun Race for all ages under 12. Registration and details at www.stowconservationtrust.org. Have some fun and help preserve open space in Stow at the same time.