Wacky Wednesday: Fiorella’s

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This Wednesday’s Feature:

FIORELLA’S

March 3- March 10

Exciting offer on breadsticks and a jar of marinara with each order of any family style meal on menu (Feeds 4-5 people)

 

Fiorella’s Cucina

24 Walden Street

978-341-9999

Concord Middle School Building Project Community Forum

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Welcome!

The Middle School Building Committee invites you to learn about the progress of the Concord Middle School building project.  The Building Committee is committed to an open, transparent process, and we invite questions or comments at any time.  We are very grateful to the residents of Concord for overwhelmingly supporting the first step in the process of providing a new learning environment for our middle school students.  Thank you!

 Click here to view latest updates

 

Click here to sign up for regular updates by email

 

Next Community Forum: February 24th, 7:00 pm

Committee Charge

The Concord Middle School Building Committee is charged by the Select Board to undertake a Feasibility Study to explore the construction of a single new Middle School Building to replace the two existing facilities. The Committee is also charged to begin the schematic design process for a new school building based on the findings of the Feasibility Study. Funding for the Feasibility and Schematic Design was approved under Article 14 at the 2019 Annual Town Meeting. It is anticipated that the Town will be asked at a later time to approve full design and construction funding for the new school and, should such funding be approved, the Committee shall anticipate serving as the construction oversight body as well. The Committee has final authority on all design decisions and will make recommendations to the Town Manager on all financial, contractual and schedule matters. The Middle School Building Committee shall be the point of contact for all community groups for all issues regarding the project. The Committee shall ensure community engagement throughout the planning and execution of the final design and construction. It is the expectation that there will be multiple opportunities throughout the process to solicit community feedback.

Committee Members

Meetings & Minutes

Presentations

Documents

For more information, please visit the Town’s website by clicking here.  To watch video recordings of meetings, click here.

To contact the Concord Middle School Building Committee, click here.

Tips on Improving Curb Appeal in Winter Months

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Stephanie Blunt of William Raveis Concord and stylist Amy Versaggi share tips on how to improve curb appeal during snowy wintery months in this  video.

  1. Be sure to clear walkways
  2. Clean front and to back door
  3. Add light such as lanterns
  4. Add seasonal greenery in planters such as juniper and pine cones.
  5. Add a basket or bucket of birch logs and decorative branches by entranceway
  6. Add a fresh welcome mat by door

Stephanie Blunt, William Raveis Sales Associate – Concord Office
85 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742
Email: Stephanie.Blunt@Raveis.com
Cell: 978.265.7527

 

Local offerings to celebrate Valentine’s Weekend!

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Check out some of the happenings around town on Valentine’s Weekend:

2/11 COA’s Valentine’s Card & Candy Drive-Thru Giveaway

2/11 Film NOVA: Decoding the Weather Machine and Movie Discussion 

2/12 Grab & Go Lions Club Annual Italian Lunch

2/12 Concord Library Take & Make Together

2/12 Concert and Conversation with Composer Yehudi Wyner

2/12 LIVE Valentine Jazz with Sarah & Herb Gardner on Zoom

2/12 Concord Players presents an Evening of Short Plays

2/13 Chocolate History with a Chocolate Twist Tour

2/14 The Umbrella’s Art & Nature Valentine’s Workshop

Bring your x-country skis and visit Great Brook Ski Touring Center

ART for ALL, the community outreach program of the Village Art Room in West Concord, is selling Valentine Inspiration Kits and Valentine greeting cards made by local creatives. 100% of sale proceeds goes toward the community art outreach projects.

Order or pick up some flowers…

Concord Flower Shop

Concord Market

Copper Penny Flowers

Verrill Farm

Valentine’s isn’t complete without chocolate….

Concord Cheese Shop

Concord Market

Graem

Priscilla’s

Verrill Farm

Pick up a special gift from a lovely shop in town… so many wonderful options!

Have a Coffee / Breakfast Date with your Valentine

Haute 2

Caffe Nero

Club Car Cafe

Concord Teacakes

Dunkin Donuts

Haute Coffee

Helen’s

Main Street’s Market & Cafe

Nashoba Bakery

Sally Ann’s

Saltbox Kitchen

Starbucks

Trail’s End

80 Thoreau 3

Order a special Valentine’s weekend meal from one of our many wonderful restaurants 

No Valentine’s is complete without a delicious dessert…

Concord Market

Concord Teacakes

Farfalle

Nashoba Bakery

Reasons to Be Cheerful

Sally Ann’s

Verrill Farm

Open some Bubbly Champagne or Craft Beer!

Concord Cheese Shop

Concord Market

Crosby’s Market

Concord Provisions

Farfalle

Nine Acre Wine & Spirits

Vintages

Walden Liquors

West Concord Wine & Spirits

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

Wacky Wednesday!

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This Wacky Wednesday’s feature is CONCORD TEACAKES

Concord Teacakes is filled with an array of delicious cakes, cupcakes, scones and cookies…. As well as some fantastic offers of soups, dinners, salads and sandwiches ready for customers to take home or enjoy at the shop.

“Pretty mini cupcakes, elegant special occasion cakes, scones and much more – all very special!” Testimonial from Betsy Spaulding, January 2021.

 

Center for Parents and Teachers

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Do you know about CPT (Center for Parents and Teachers)?

Chances are you are already familiar with the programs they have offered and may have attended some of their programs if you are a parent or a teacher!

CPT is a valuable organization in our community that has brought educational and relevant programs to parents and teachers in our  community for over 33 years.

Watch this short slide show to learn more about CPT’s more than 33 year history!

Parents today face a wider range of challenges than ever before. CPT offers programs that increase parental effectiveness through high quality, low cost workshops and forums that address both ongoing and new challenges faced by parents.

Parents find CPT’s programs to be very helpful in offering guidance and skills on the many challenges they face. Issues such as ever-changing technology (how do I keep my child safe on social media sites?), substance use/abuse ( how do I guide my child away from vaping, smoking, alcohol and drug use?) and relationship guidance (is my child being bullied?  How can I help?)  are just a few of the topics addressed through CPT’s high quality programs. 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PARENT PROGRAMS

Teachers are expected to provide a deep and enriching educational experience that exceeds past classroom standards and benchmarks.   CPT offers preschool, elementary and secondary teachers innovative strategies and helpful tools through the provision of professional development workshops, conferences, resources and classroom materials. 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS
Communities are being asked to forge alliances to work on issues that transcend home and classroom boundaries. CPT works in partnership with other community organizations to support best possible community wide responses to the many challenges of these times.  Participants are offered exceptional learning opportunities that afford new strategies for effective responses.
  

CPT has offered programs for parents such asTalking with Your Children About Diversity: Building Bridges of Understanding, Appreciation and Respect;Clearing Away the Smoke: How to Talk with Teens about Today’s Marijuana;   Programs for teachers such as Teaching Young Children Self-Regulation ,   Exploring Ways to Ease Children’s Anxiety, Worry and “Overwhelm” Through the Simplified Classroom  and many, many more…….

MORE PAST PROGRAMS

To support its work with parents and teachers, CPT relies on individual donations and grants from community businesses and organizations such as the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Emerson Hospital, Healthy Concord, the Foundation for Metrowest, CHNA15, the Sudbury Foundation, The Bradford Mills, Concord Printing, Woodman & Eaton PC, local Parent Teacher Associations, First Parish Concord, The Colonial Inn and many generous individuals and families from throughout the region.

As an IRS-designated 501(c)3 non profit organization centered in Concord, MA, all donations to CPT are entirely tax deductible, in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. 

CPT is dedicated to helping you be the best parent possible!  And we urgently need your help as we struggle through this pandemic! The Center for Parents and Teachers is an IRS-designated 501(c)3 nonprofit, funded by grants and donations.  CPT is not funded as a line item in either the Town or School budgets.  CPT has been dedicated to supporting families and educators for over 30 years. Now we need your help so we can keep serving our community.

One simple way is through Amazon Smile:  when you shop Amazon online they will send (at no cost to you) a small percentage of your purchases to support CPT . Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/80-0296820 to generate donations for the Center for Parents and Teachers!  

You also can support our services by giving a tax deductible gift directly on our donate page. Thank you for your consideration so we can keep supporting our community!

 

FIND OUT MORE AND DONATE
Keep checking for upcoming CPT programs on our calendar!

Unite with Light 2021 to benefit the Chase Bjork Foundation

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Please support the Chase Bjork Foundation through Unite With Light

We’d like to share some exciting news with you!

We feel so incredibly fortunate that Unite With Light will honor Chase and all those fighting the darkness of mental illness by raising money through the sale of luminaries, to be displayed in Concord and Carlisle on Saturday evening, January 30th, the anniversary of Chase’s death.

 

You may be aware that Unite with Light is an annual event run by children, for children, that celebrates the winter season with beautiful light and raises money for charities that strengthen our community and our world. Now in its fourth year, the event has raised more than $16,000 for Harlem Lacrosse & Leadership (Boston) and Cradles to Crayons. It was started by the Labadini children (Brad, Morgan and Derek) of Concord when they were 16, 14 and 10. Their mom Tina serves as treasurer; otherwise, the entire effort is managed by kids.

 

Funds raised this year will benefit the Chase Bjork Foundation, specifically the development of Brain Health Bootcamp, an app that will educate adolescents, families and communities about how to identify many different types of mental illness and what to do about them. In the past year, we conducted extensive research that pointed to a need to support adolescent mental health prior to moments of crisis. We understand that all too well.

 

We would truly appreciate your support for Unite With Light and the Chase Bjork Foundation. Kits are $20 each. 100% of sales go directly to the foundation. We hope you will consider buying a kit for a friend or neighbor as a gift. Share the light, spread the love.

 

Please click here to purchase a luminary kit (also available at Crosby’s Market customer service desk).

 

Or click here to make a donation to the Chase Bjork Foundation.

 

With love and gratitude,

David, Christal, Bryce and Lars

Here are some photos from last year’s event.

“This Little Sign of Mine: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

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Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council and COAR

(Communities Organizing Against Racism, Concord-Carlisle-Boston)

present

“This Little Sign of Mine: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

 

For the past 27 years the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council has had a January celebration to honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 2021, we plan to continue this tradition and are excited to do so during a time when we recognize that our mission and the mission that Dr. King stood for is needed now more than ever.

In the spirit of respecting the CDC’s guidelines on social distancing, we are proud to offer everyone an opportunity to join the celebration from the comfort and safety of your very own home!

 

We invite community members to create and display signs in honor of Dr. King in what we are calling “This Little Sign of Mine: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”.

Get creative! How does Dr. King’s legacy inspire you? What is your dream for our community?

  • Make a poster
  • Display in a front facing window or in a front yard sign during the weekend of January 16th-18th.
  • Take a photo of your sign and email to info@cchumanrights.org by Sunday, January 17th so it can be displayed on our Facebook page on MLK Jr. Day!

This annual event is always a highlight in our calendar and we are very pleased to be able to offer this special opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s message of integration, freedom and justice for all.

Music Opportunities @ Concord

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Concord Conservatory (CCM) 

The Concord Conservatory of Music offers all the benefits of traditional music lessons from the convenience and safety of your home. Through simple, user-friendly technology, skilled CCM instructors come to you live via online music lessons.

No matter your age, or your interests, there’s something for you at CCM! Kids, Teens, Adults, Lifelong Learners

Learning music in a group setting can be motivating and fun for students of any age and any skill level. Choose the best learning environment for you:

  • Classes: Develop your music skills in a relaxed, collaborative setting with people like you
  • Ensembles: Join a performance-based group with others of a similar age or skill level. Choose from classical chamber music to rock or jazz and more.

Full details and schedules are online! Click here to register.

Instrumental Music School of Carlisle and Concord

We specialize in music lessons for students of all ages!

  • Winter/Spring 2021 lesson registration is open! Please click here for more. 
  • All our lessons will be online in the until further notice; we look forward to returning to in-person lessons when we can.
  • New group classes are starting up in in 2021! Click here to see a listing.

2020 marks IMSCC’s 40th anniversary! We are celebrating this special year by sharing faculty and student performances online with you throughout the fall. Click here to enjoy a new performance each week!

For four decades, the Instrumental Music School of Carlisle and Concord has brought the highest level of individual musical instruction to the students of Concord and Carlisle. Founded in 1980 by the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District to serve the musical needs in our communities, our distinguished faculty of professional musicians and educators provide instruction for close to 400 student musicians. Located in the towns of Concord and Carlisle, Massachusetts, classes are given at a variety of locations throughout the schools.

Whether students are beginning a new instrument or honing skills developed through many years of practice, IMSCC is dedicated to helping young musicians excel. Our teachers work one on one with students to help them develop basic skills, learn repertoire, and prepare for performances. With close ties to school music departments, IMSCC teachers are well equipped to help students prepare for ensemble playing, both in school and beyond. IMSCC graduates have gone on to conservatory programs and professional careers in music.

IMSCC is part of Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education, in association with the Concord and Carlisle school music departments. We are a self-funded non-profit program.

 

Art Opportinities @ Concord

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UMBRELLA ARTS

Adult, Teen, Youth, Mulitgenerational, free @ Home Activities

Until we are able to safely resume in-person arts education classes and workshops, most of our programming will be offered through The Umbrella @ Home, where we intend to offer the best possible online arts education experiences that you have come to expect.  We will be adding online arts instruction opportunities, as well as free at-home DIY creative activities and artists demos on a rolling basis, so please check back frequently or subscribe to our newsletter.

Additionally, we are now offering curbside clay purchasing and firing through The Umbrella! For more information on our curbside clay policies, go to our Ceramics @Home page!

More Information About Online Arts Education with The Umbrella @ Home

  • We have invested in setting up Google Classroom for The Umbrella.  With few exceptions, like Zoom, most art experiences will be set up in and conducted through Google Classroom.
  • We have detailed step-by-step instructions available for the initial set up to help anyone access the art education experiences.
  • We are anticipating running 2-month online semesters with classes running no more than 6 weeks.  See projected schedule below.
  • We are offering a wide variety of classes that meet regularly, workshops that meet once or twice, and art activities that can be downloaded and viewed on demand.
  • We are working to make the online art experience at The Umbrella of the highest possible quality, secure, easy, affordable and a great way to connect with the community of other artists.
  • We are working with some of your favorite teachers including: Mike Roche, Elizabeth Noonan, Becky Bearse, Renu Goyal, Lois Andersen, Kat O’Connor, Gillian Fraiser, Joy Buell, Alex Salzberg, Janet Scudder, Sarah Scoville, Alicia Herman, CC King, Sarah Bettencourt, and more.
  • For more information, check out The Umbrella @Home’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

Projected Schedule of Online Arts Education 2020-2021

  • Winter 2021 Session: January/February – Registration opens early Dec
  • Spring 2021 Session I: March/April – Registration opens early Feb
  • Spring 2021 Session II: May/June – Registration opens early April

Arts & Environment Classes

Classes will be held virtually using Zoom and Google Classroom depending on the teacher’s preference. Some classes will include 1 or 2 field trips to local Concord-area conservation land, where students will practice the skills they learn virtually. During these field trips, everyone will be required to wear a mask and appropriately social distance. Any questions about social distancing protocol can send inquiries to Caroline Provost at caroline@theumbrellaarts.org.

Concord Art ONLINE CLASSES

To learn more about how to use ZOOM go HERE

Sampling of some online classes on the schedule:

  • Approaches to the Figure
  • A New Year, A Bolder Brush
  • Ring in the New Year with Pastels: Learn to Paint Fearlessly
  • Explore Contemporary Art
  • Real Basics and Hands On Color Theory
  • Beginner ot Intermediate Drawing from Observation

Village Art Room Offerings

As we are not able to have groups at the Art Room at this time, and as the pandemic continues and cold weather sets in, we, the staff, volunteers and sponsoring businesses of Art for All, are focusing our efforts on 1) getting art supplies and activities to people in our community who are largely confined to their homes and who have few resources to engage in creative projects and venues, and 2) developing participatory, community art projects that can be seen in the windows of the stores in West Concord Village.

Find out more here about what we are doing now, and how you can participate.

Order ahead online and we will have a bag for you to pick up on the porch of You can pick up on the porch of 21 Winthrop Street. Arrange for a time to pick up using the email on the form.

Tap into your inner phoenix in 2021! Together we will rise from the ashes of an incredibly challenging year. With creative projects! Download an outline of the Phoenix to color in your own for free!

Or to come by the Art Room to pick up a Coloring Kit. Each kit has 2 coloring sheets for the Phoenix as well as a set of 4 coloring cards and a set of 12 crayons for $12, or 2 sheets, 4 coloring cards and a set of 36 colored pencils for $15. Proceeds from sales helps us bring this project to individuals and families who are financially challenged. SIGN UP HERE for a pick up time, or contact margie@villageartroom.com to arrange a time.

Making and sending greeting cards is a wonderful way to stay creative and connected during this sequestered, pandemic winter.

Make Valentines for ART for ALL’s LOVE for ALL sale in February. Original, handmade cards will be on sale at several of our local retailers in West Concord. Proceeds of sales support the ART for ALL program.