HOLDEN — Good neighbors abound in the town of Holden. Help the Democratic Town Committee honor them. Once again, for the 28th year, the committee is seeking nominations for this community- based, nonpartisan award. Shine a light on the good deeds of those citizens of Holden who have made significant or long-term contributions to the town through their volunteer activities.
Is there a local hero you would like to nominate? Submit the name of your nominee and a detailed explanation about why you feel they are deserving of the award. Send your nomination to “Good Neighbor Award,” 197 Union St., Holden, MA 01520, or email sjarntz@gmail.com.
The deadline to receive nominations is Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.
Wachusett Reservoir Hikes Programs are free and open to the public. Dogs and domestic animals are prohibited on watershed lands. Winter trail and parking conditions can be unpredictable; call 774261-1809 to check program status. For more information, contact the program coordinator at 774-261-1809 or Kathryn.Parent@mass. gov.
Wachusett Reservoir hike Gate 22. Saturday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Explore the trails between South Bay and Horseshoe Cove. Easy to moderate slow-paced hike will be approximately 2.5 miles. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy hiking shoes. Trekking poles and traction devices recommended. All ages welcome. Meet at Gate 22, GPS address 167 Temple St. (Route 140), West Boylston.
Wachusett Reservoir hike Gate 8. Saturdays, Feb. 4, 11 and 25, 11 a.m.1 p.m. Get to know the trails of Sawyer Bluff. The guided winter hiking series will continue every Saturday in February, meeting at Gate 8, and exploring different trails and shoreline areas of the Narrows, Lord Cove, and Hastings Cove. Easy to moderate slowpaced hike will be approximately 3 miles. Trekking poles and traction devices recommended. Meet at Gate 8, the intersection of Cross Street and Route 70, Boylston, GPS address 1199 Main St., Boylston.
Cabin Fever Snowshoe Ranger hike. Saturday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Watershed Rangers on a family-friendly hike. Bring your own snowshoes if there is snow. Meet at Gate 8, the intersection of Cross Street and Route 70, Boylston, GPS address 1199 Main St., Boylston.
Owl Pellets. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 11-11:45 a.m. Discover the characteristics that make owls successful hunters. Be prepared to take a closer look and dissect an owl pellet. All ages welcome. Meet at Stillwater Farm, 228 Redemption Rock Road, Sterling.
Habitat hike. Tuesday, Feb. 21, noon-1 p.m. Discover the wildlife of the watershed and search for signs of wildlife. Think like an animal and look for cozy winter resting places. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring trekking poles, ice cleats, or snowshoes depending on trail conditions. About 1 mile moderate walk. All ages welcome on this family-friendly hike. Meet at Stillwater Farm, 228 Redemption Rock Road, Sterling.
Bark and Buds Winter Trees. Saturday, Feb. 25, 1-2 p.m. Can you identify trees in winter? The diverse forest of the watershed protects drinking water quality. Get out to the forest to become a nature detective. About 1/2 mile slow-paced walk. All ages welcome on this family-friendly hike. Meet at Stillwater Farm, 228 Redemption Rock Road, Sterling.
Chamber directories available HOLDEN — The Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 Business Directory and Appointment Books are available. Residents of Boylston, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and West Boylston can obtain the directories at their town hall, library, banks, and other high traffic areas. Copies also are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, located in the Damon House at 1174 Main St., Holden.
The directory includes listings of all Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses, town government contacts, and a month-ata- glance appointment calendar. For more information, call the chamber at 508-8299220 or email info@wachusettareachamber. org.
COA Art Show
PAXTON — Members of the Massasoit Art Guild are presenting a show at the Paxton COA gallery, 17 West St. The show runs through January. Participants include Linda Spencer, Cheryl Rossier, Loretta Mederios, Sid Solomon, Susan Kenny and Irena Russell. The gallery is open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Quabbin-Ware River Region Visitor Center Myths and Mysteries of Quabbin Reservoir and the Ware River Watershed will be offered online on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2-3 p.m. The history, construction and management of the Quabbin Reservoir and the Ware River watershed hold an endless fascination for both visitors and residents of the area. Join in to explore the mysteries and clear up some persistent myths. Register at https:// app.smartsheet.com/b/ form/85cfacfdf92146e-fab43575f21224025 (smartsheet.com)
Community Lunch STERLING — The next Community Lunch in Sterling is Saturday, Feb. 4. All are welcome, with no cost and no reservations. This month’s menu salad, chicken pot pie and dessert. Enjoy a dinner-type meal in a warm, respectful setting. Lunch is at noon on the first Saturday of each month at the First Church in Sterling.
Princeton Landowner Information Session PRINCETON — The Princeton Open Space Committee and Princeton Land Trust will present a Landowner Information session at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at the town hall annex. Princeton landowners have several opportunities to conserve land, provide short- or longterm protection to our natural resources, and reduce property taxes through permanent or temporary conservation plans. This session will review the options offered by local and state programs, explain how the programs work and what is required to take advantage of them, and provide examples of how landowners have benefited from these programs. Some examples are land trust land donations, conservation restrictions and Chapter 61 (Agriculture, Forest, or Recreation). Participants will be introduced to the people that can help to implement these options, and time will be provided to discuss specific situations.
For landowners interested in reducing taxes: Many Princeton residents have realized substantial tax benefits by taking advantage of these programs. There is an ability to obtain tax benefits from temporary or permanent conservation steps, by conserving all or part of a property, or through an ownership transfer or simply placing a conservation restriction on land still owned by the landowner.
For landowners primarily interested in conservation: Princeton has been blessed with many generous land owners who have donated or conserved their lands for all of us to enjoy. Princeton Land Trust and Mass Audubon have taken an active role in helping landowners to conserve all or part of their property, and by doing this we have extended wildlife corridors, added trails and recreation areas, preserved Princeton’s vistas, and protected our natural resources.
Legion meeting, meat raffle STERLING — The regular meeting of the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 of the American Legion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at the post hall, 32 School St. Shepherd’s pie served at 7 p.m., E-Board at 6:30 p.m. All veterans welcome.
Post 189 will hold a meat raffle at the Eight Point Sportsmen’s Club, 147 Beaman Road, Sterling, at 1 p.m. Feb. 12.
Conant Library
STERLING — Conant Public Library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Adult puzzles available for checkout. Beat boredom this winter with fun new jigsaw puzzles. The library has added adult puzzles to our collection; puzzles can be checked out for three weeks with your library card. Puzzles range from 300 to 1,000 pieces and come in a variety of designs. For more information, call the library at (978) 422-6409.
Registration for the following programs (if required) can be done at sterlinglibrary.org or by calling 978-422-6409.
Memory Kits. The library has added Memory Kits to its collection of nontraditional items for patrons to check out. The self-contained kits are ideal for individuals with memory- related issues and their caregivers. Each kit includes an assortment of books, activity sheets, DVDs, puzzles and more. The kits are designed to trigger special memories of life experiences and encourage interactions between individuals with memory-related issues and their caregivers. Each kit can be checked out for three weeks and renewed for an additional three weeks. For more information, call the library at (978) 422-6409.
Sterling Library’s Library Apps Explained. The library has a number of phone apps to help you to quickly and easily access books and materials. Come learn about Libby and the CW MARS app on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. Bring your phone or tablet with you to this interactive tech demo — and make sure you know your passwords. Registration required.
Picture Book Club. The next meeting is at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. The book this month is Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub. Books can be checked out at the library (participants do not need to bring their copy to the meeting). Registration is required. Open to children in grades k-2.
Teen Volunteers. Volunteer in your community. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., teens can help with program preparation and keeping library materials in shipshape. Registration is required. Open to young people 12-18.
February Adult Craft. 1 or 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. Love is in the air! Create a fun, festive heart-shaped wreath to help decorate your house for Valentine’s Day. Adults of all ages are invited to create this themed decoration. All supplies provided. Registration required.
Lotus Flower Lantern Workshop.
6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. For adults and teens 12 and older. Members of the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project will help attendees make traditional lotus flower lanterns using colored paper and wire frames. All materials provided; participants can choose the color of their lotus flower. Stay afterwards to learn a little about Korean history and culture. This is a hybrid program; choose to come into the library or Zoom from home (must pick supplies up ahead of time if doing at home). Registration required. Thank you to the Friends of the Conant Public Library for sponsoring this event.
Family Paint Times: Cactus Heart.
4:30 or 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8. Come to the library and follow a step-by-step plan to create a painting of a cactus so cute you’ll want to hug it. Ages 5 and older; under 10 must have a supervising caregiver, who is encouraged to paint along. Registration required.
Series Celebration: Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. Celebrate Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular series in a special book club meeting. Discuss the characters and style of the books, test your knowledge and play some games to celebrate the books. Open to confirmed fans and those who want to try something new; children should have read at least the first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, before the meeting. Books will be available for checkout at the library. Open to readers in grades 2-4. Registration required.
Middle School Book Club: Dear Student. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. Come discuss Dear Student by Elly Swartz. Participants should read the book before the meeting and bring the book with them; copies will be available at the library. Open to readers is grades 5-8. Registration required.
1970s Snack Bags. You’ve had International Snack Bags — now it’s time to explore the decades and experience delicious snacks from the 1970s. Grab your bell-bottoms and head to the library to grab a 1970s Snack Bag. Each bag will contain snacks popular in the 1970s as well as books from the decade of disco. Available at the library beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, for kids of all ages, while supplies last.
Community Coloring. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. Help complete the library’s giant coloring posters. Drop in and spend a vacation day coloring with friends in the Baker Room. No registration required, open to people of all ages.
February Cookbook Club. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22. Discover flavorful, feel-good food at the Cookbook Club. Sample from the wide array of recipes found in Alton Brown’s Good Eats: The Final Years. Choose a recipe from the book, prepare it at home, then bring it to the library to share with others. Cookbooks are available at the library for checkout; let us know which recipe you have chosen to avoid duplicates. Registration required.
Explorers’ Club: LEGO! 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Come explore the world of LEGO. LEGO trivia, speed challenges; make a LEGO souvenir to take home. Open to children in grades 1-4. Registration required.
Drop-In LEGO Time. 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Come play with LEGOs in the Baker Room. No registration required.
Parents’ Night Out Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. The group will discuss The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman. Come enjoy some good book talk. No registration required.
Richards Memorial Library
PAXTON — The Richards Memorial Library, 44 Richards Ave., is open after emergency boiler replacement/ repair.
All month long:
Drop-in Crafts for Young People.
”Paint by numbers” but with pixel stickers in this communal activity for all ages and abilities.
Take Home Crafts for Teens (ages 12-17). Hot chocolate-themed craft and treat.
Don’t Spill the Tea Club (adults): Decaf Lady Grey Tea & a tea accessory.
Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 Business Directory Appointment Books are available. Come in to get yours.
Weekly Programs
Drop-in LEGO Challenge: Tuesday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 31. Ages 5 and older due to small parts. Take the challenge or build from your own imagination.
Chess Time at the Library: Thursday, 4-5:30pm Jan. 26. All Ages. Play, learn, and teach chess together.
Youth Book Clubs
Registration required. Visit the rmlpaxton. org tween and teen pages for more info and to register.!
TeenBookClub (ages12-17).January book: The Firekeeper’s Daughter (MA Teen Choice Book Award runner-up). Enjoy a book (and treats) each month from the MA Teen Choice Book Award winners and nominees. These books contain more mature content and explore complex questions. Optional: Write a book review for the library’s Honest Book Reviews page.
Events
Month of January: Mini Art Show by Humans. On display all month. Artists may collect their art work to bring home on or after Feb. 1.
James Webb Space Telescope: Seeing to the Beginning of Time.
Thursday, Jan. 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. with Jim Zebrowski, Ppresident of the Aldrich Astronomical Society. Recommended for school age children and adults.
Wanted: Teen Volunteers to help with library tasks in a fun, friendly environment. The library can sign forms for Honor Society and other volunteer hours. Visit, call or email the library if you’re interested.
Ongoing: Puzzle Exchange, bring a puzzle or take a puzzle; museum passes to local museums and other venues.
For more information, visit rmlpaxton. org or call 508-754-0793.
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