Little Women Opens, the Fishing Derby is Happening, and Golfing and Gardening Are in Your Future

Hello, friends, and welcome. For those of you who had the week off from school who decided to stay around, I hope you kept busy, taking advantage of all the cool things going on around town. There’s a lot coming up, so let’s jump in.

Little Women March On

Awhile back I we’re having – well, the next event is the production of Little Women itself. It starts next Friday, April 27, and runs four times each weekend over the next three weekends: Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It’s a show the Concord Players do every 10 years, in tribute to Concord’s own Louisa May Alcott, and their script, which hews closely to the book, is an original adaptation by local playwright David Fielding Smith.

Even though the original story was written over 150 years ago, it’s a classic, depicting the life of the March (aka Alcott) sisters living in a family struggling to make ends meet, helping neighbors, enduring the hardship of wartimes, and entertaining each other with stories and plays. And the Concord Players will do it justice, from a spectacular set to period costumes and superb acting. If you go opening night, you also get a gala that includes yummy food (Apple Slump) and drink (soft and sparkling punches) that are truly world class.

Tickets are going quickly; to get all the cool info, go to their website and click on Little Women.

Gone fishin’

There is something so peaceful about throwing a line in the water and contemplating life while waiting for a fish to bite – at least, that’s what I imagine fishing to be like. I’m guessing it might be a tad noisier at the Concord Rod and Gun Club’s fishing derby next Sunday, April 29. See, the Annual Bing Bartolomeo Kids’ Fishing Derby is for kids, ages 14 and younger, who are not known for being quiet. But the pond is being stocked with trout, experienced club anglers will be on site to provide instruction and mentorship, lunch will be served – and the whole event is free. How great is that??

You don’t need to be a member to participate, though kids do need to bring their own fishing gear and bait. Registration begins at 9 am, the derby itself starts at 10, and the awards ceremony happens at 1 pm.

The Concord Rod and Gun Club is at 74 Strawberry Hill Road; it’s a lovely wooded property that just begs for self-reflection. If you need more information, you can call Steve Kirk at 978-371-0176 or email Stevekirkfisherman@gmail.com.

Hit the greens

If golf is more your thing, here’s an event for you: Decibels Foundation is hosting their tenth annual golf tournament on Monday, June 18 over at Wedgewood Pines Country Club in Stow. I’ve helped out at this event in the past; I don’t know how they do it, but the weather is always spectacular. The event is a load of fun: there’s a shotgun start, they ply you with lunch on the links, and after there’s an awards ceremony with a bbq buffet, raffle, and silent auction. You may end up going home with more than you give.

Decibels uses the money raised through the tournament to fund their programs that support children with hearing loss, including the early intervention program over at Minute Man Arc. For details on the tournament, including how to register, go to www.decibelsfoundation.org, or just click here.

Getting the dirt

Listen, if you like flowers – and who doesn’t, really – and you love the outdoors, I’m here to tell you about the easiest volunteer gig ever: Garden Guide for the Concord Museum’s Annual Garden Tour. The tour takes place the first Friday and Saturday in June, June 1 and 2, and there are three shifts each day to choose from: 8:50 - 11 a.m., 11-1:30 p.m., and 1:30 - 4 p.m. Believe me when I tell you, you do not need to know anything about gardening to do this; I’ve done it for years, and I’m no gardener. But you DO get to stand in a beautiful garden, enjoying the fruits of someone else’s labor. And when you volunteer, you can buy your own ticket to the tour for half price, a really great deal. It’s a win-win all around.

To secure your gig, just contact Jennifer Lannan at jenlannan@comcast.net or 978-369-3328, and give her the following info: name, address, phone, email, day and shift you want, and she’ll hook you up with a garden.

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow us on Twitter: Maureen is @cosmo1162, I’m @stefanie3131.