Cooler Concord

Safe Cycling in Concord with Dr. Peter Furth
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Mass cycling – meaning lots of people riding for everyday transportation – is critical to public health, climate, safety, and livability goals. Hundreds of kids riding to the high school and middle school; hundreds of commuters riding to the train station; thousands more doing errands and going on recreational rides. Mass cycling can only be achieved by “low-stress connectivity” – meaning people have a bike route with little traffic stress from home to their destinations. We’ll describe what low-stress connectivity looks like and how it is measured, so that it can become a goal for a community like Concord. We’ll describe some innovative road designs for creating low-stress bike infrastructure without road widening, including flexpost-protected bike lanes, advisory lanes, and sidepaths.
About the Speaker:
Peter G. Furth is a researcher and professor of civil engineering at Northeastern University known for his work in transit planning, traffic signals, and bicycle infrastructure. He is a recipient of three “best paper” awards from the Transportation Research Board for research in public transportation planning and in traffic signal signal control, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals for his development of the Level of Traffic Stress approach to bicycle network planning.
This program is offered in partnership with the Concord Chapter of Mothers Out Front, a volunteer-led organization dedicated to ensure a livable climate and better future for all children and Bike-to-School Concord.

Clean up Your Assabet - OARS Giving "Back" Tuesday
2025-12-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Nashoba Brook Bakery, 152 Commonwealth Avenue #3, Concord, Massachusetts, 01742, United States
Celebrate the launch of 40 Years, 3 Rivers with OARS on Giving “Back” Tuesday!
WHEN: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 5–7 PM
WHERE: Nashoba Brook Bakery, 152 Commonwealth Avenue #3, Concord, MA 01742
Instead of asking for donations on Giving Tuesday, OARS 3 Rivers is giving back. Join us for an evening of snacks, drinks, and community, and meet the OARS team!
This event also kicks off our December theme: Clean up Your Assabet. Special “Clean up Your Assabet” T-shirts will be on sale—get yours before they run out!

Come be part of the very first celebration in a year of exciting events honoring OARS’ 40th anniversary!

Registration is highly encouraged, although not required.

Maynard to the Sea: A Solo Canoe Trip
2025-12-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Roosevelt Room, Maynard Public Library, 77 Nason Street, Maynard, 01754, United States
As a new resident to Maynard and avid paddler Ozzy wanted to trace the path a drop of water takes from his home to the ocean. Join us as he talks about this 62 mile, 2 day journey from Maynard to the Ocean and what he learned about the rivers, the towns and cities along the way.

Sustainable Middlesex Carbon Countdown 2025
2025-12-15 09:30 - 11:00 | Follen Church, Lexington, 755 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, United States
Join us for Carbon Countdown 2025 to hear from Senator Mike Barrett and to learn how State programs are backing local climate projects!

Senator Mike Barrett will update us on the State Legislature’s efforts regarding Climate Change

Carbon Countdown 2025: State Support for Local Climate Initiatives
Join us to learn how State programs can provide crucial support for local climate initiatives. Learn from experts in the field, and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about combating climate change. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of the solution!
Date: Saturday, December 13
Location: Online, and In-person at Follen Church, Lexington, MA
Registration: Required, event is free

Five Lightning Rounds Presenting Innovative State Climate Programs

Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Mass Climate Bank
Green Communities
Municipal Vulnerability Program
Environment and Climate One Stop

This event is cosponsored by:

350 Mass MetroNorth
Andover WECAN
Building Electrification Accelerator
Climate Action Working Group of First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington
EcoNatick
Elders Climate Action
Essex County Community Foundation
First Parish Lexington
Food Link
Gas Transitions Allies
Green Beverly
Green Community Catalysts
Green Newton
Lexington Climate Action Network
Mass Climate Action Network
Mass Energize
Mothers Out Front Arlington
Sierra Club Massachusetts
Sustainable Arlington
Sustainable Lexington
Sustainable Marblehead
Sustainable Sudbury
Sustainable Wellesley

Watersheds, Water Pollution, and Water Quality
2026-01-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Fowler Library, 1322 Main St, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Are you interested in learning about local river science? Come learn about water quality programs for the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord rivers with the local nonprofit OARS 3 Rivers from Water Quality Program Manager Abby McCarthy. She will share a fun and interesting presentation about the ongoing programs to monitor and improve water quality, what issues affect river health in the watershed, and how you can get involved in local river science volunteering. Although this talk is designed for a general audience of adults and youth ages 12 and up, people of all ages are welcome to attend.
The talk will be 45 minutes, followed by ample time for questions. We hope to help build excitement for local environmental projects and water science!
This program is offered in partnership with OARS 3 Rivers and Middlesex Conservation District.

Winter Seed Sow Workshop
2026-01-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Rd, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
See the list of items to bring and register so they know you’re coming. Two sessions at 1pm (Full) and 2:30pm (open).
Join Alexi Dart-Padover from the Concord Land Conservation Trust as he guides participants in making clay seed balls—a.k.a seed bombs!—using the Land Trust’s collection of native seeds. The process is hands-on, easy to follow, and fun for all ages! The sticky clay can get a little messy, but don’t worry, supplies will be on hand for washing up. The Land Trust will scatter the seed bombs at sites where invasive plants have been removed, helping to restore disturbed habitats. Participants are also welcome to take some seed bombs home to scatter in their own yards!
This activity is part of a Winter Seed Sow workshop, where you can start your own native seedlings in reused milk jugs. If you’ve ever wanted to grow native plants in your garden, this is the easiest and most affordable way to try it. All seeds are provided; just bring any rinsed gallon jugs if you have them. The event is organized by the Concord Pollinator Health Committee, CCHS Green Team, and Concord Library.
Fowler Library will also host small 20-minute drop-in sessions January 14th from 3-5 PM.

Sustainable Concord Coffee: Time-of-Day Electric Rates
2026-01-20 08:00 - 09:00 | First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Laura Scott from CMLP will introduce the new time-of-day electric rates that CMLP plans to roll out to residential customers beginning April 1, 2026. She will talk about:

why CMLP chose time-of-days rates
how they work; and
the potential benefits and challenges for customers.

She will also touch briefly on the wider electric market and why time-of-day rates make sense in today’s world.
Laura Scott’s 38-year career spans commodities trading, finance, strategy and consulting in the North American electricity, natural gas, and oil markets. She currently serves as the Assistant Director for Power Supply & Energy Management at the CMLP where she helps maintain a reliable, cost-effective and forward-thinking utility that serves the needs of the Concord community.
Arrive early (7:30) for coffee and fresh baked breakfast goodies

Wreath Composting at Fowler
2026-01-31 10:30 - 16:00 | Fowler Branch Library, 1322 Main Street, Concord, MA, US
Keep your wreaths out of the trash! Bring them to Fowler where Mothers Out Front and volunteers with wire cutters will help us remove the wire so the greenery can be composted at the Town Compost Site and the forms reused!
Bring work gloves (and wire cutters if you have them)! It doesn’t take long at all to take apart your wreath, and we are happy to show you how.

For questions, please call Fowler at 978-318-3350.

No Registration Required

*If this date doesn’t work for you, the self-help wreath station will be open from January 27-30, 10:00-4:30

'Does It Work?' Mid-winter Green Home Tours
2026-01-31 13:00 - 15:30 | All over town, Concord, MA
Visit a Concord home (or two), enjoy a cup of hot mulled cider and great conversations with neighbors. Bring your questions. Get real answers about 21st-century electric heating, cooling, cooking and car travel:

Can a heat pump really keep a home warm throughout the winter?
What’s it like to drive an EV on a long trip?
How does cooking on an induction stove compare to gas?
Is it worth getting solar panels?

You may leave with new friends. You’ll certainly leave with new insights, including a feel for the comfort of a heat pump-heated home in mid-winter.
Register Now to reserve your space at concordma.gov/MidWinterHomeTour.
In case of weather cancellation, the snow date will be February 7th at the same times.

WEBINAR: Recent Climate Progress in MA
2026-02-02 19:00 - 20:00
What progress have we made against climate change since last year?
Congregation Or Atid is pleased to once again welcome
Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer
to discuss our progress and path forward. This event is free and open to the public.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the zoom link.

Winter Walk for Thoreau School Families
2026-02-04 08:15 - 09:00 | Fowler Branch, 1322 Main St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Thoreau families are invited to bundle up and walk to school on February 4th. This fun, community building event promotes healthy, car-free routes to school. Meet at the Fowler Library at 8:00am to join the group. The event is a collaboration between the Concord Public Library, Mothers Out Front Concord, and the Safe Routes to School program.
