Paxton Garden Club
PAXTON – The Paxton Garden Club is selling its 2024 photo wall calendar, $15 each, as a fundraiser to support its public programming and scholarship fund. Calendars are available at Paxton Marketplace or by emailing the club at paxtongardenclub01612@gmail.com.
The next PMAGC business meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, in the Community Room at the Paxton COA, 17 West St. To view the agenda, past meeting minutes and proposed bylaw update, visit www.paxtongardenclub.com/about-usjoin/meetings-minutes. All are welcome to attend.
Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. in the Reading Room at the Richards Memorial Library for Invasive Plants How to Identify & Tackle. This seminar is free. Joe Johnson, MS, will present on five invasive plant species causing havoc in the area. In this 90-minute presentation, Joe will show us how to identify them, why they are on the prohibited plant list, the “Achilles heel” of each plant, and best practices for managing invasive plants. Be sure to watch his first presentation — Invasive Plants: Understanding The Management of Invasive Plants — at www.paxtongardenclub.com/past-programs.
Business Directories available
The Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Directory and Appointment Books are now 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. They 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-at-a-glance appointment calendar. For more information, call 508-829-9220 or visit www.wachusettareachamber.org.
Legion meeting
STERLING — A regular meeting of the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 of the American Legion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at the post hall, 32 School St. Chicken and rice, vegetable at 7 p.m. All veterans welcome.
Conant Library
STERLING — Conant Public Library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 pm. For programs that require registration, visit sterlinglibrary.org or call 978-422-6409.
International Snack Bags. Spend winter break exploring a new country with the library’s International Snack Bags. Pick up a snack bag at the library beginning Tuesday, Dec. 26. Available for children of all ages while supplies last. No registration required.
Building Day. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28. The Baker Room will be filled with Legos and Keva blocks all day on Thursday. Drop in and build with friends. Open to all ages, no registration required.
True Crime Book Club – December. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28. Discussing Murdered by His Wife by Deborah Navas. This book chronicles the story of Bathsheba Spooner who, in 1778, was the first woman in the new country to be executed for murdering her husband, in the Brookfields. History and true crime – how can you go wrong? No registrationrequired. Books will be available at the circulation desk for checkout.
Book Bingo for Adults: A January to June Program. Book Bingo is a self-directed reading challenge for adults from Jan. 2 to June 1 with opportunities for prizes. Receive a raffle ticket for each Bingo you complete for chances to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant. No registration necessary; pick up your Bingo sheet at the circulation desk or view it at sterlinglibrary.org beginning Jan. 2 and find out all the details. Book Bingo is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Teen Volunteers. Teens seeking service opportunities can help with program preparation and keeping library materials in order from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3. Come help out and get to know the library. Registration is required. Open to young people in grades 6-12.
January Adult Craft: Book Page Dahlia Wreath. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 1 or 6:30 p.m. Come enjoy crafting with friends with this vintage dahlia wreath. It’s simple, yet looks beautiful and will brighten up your house or door this new year. All materials provided. Registration required.
Picture Book Club. 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10. The club will read Jigsaw: Mystery in the Mail by Bob Graham. Come read and discuss that book and a few more, and of course, have some fun with puzzles. Books can be checked out at the library (participants do not need to bring their copy to the meeting). Registration required. Open to children in grades K-2.
Fearless Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10. This book club, aimed at avid readers in middle and high school, will bring young people together to read books at a YA/adult level. This month we will discuss Suzanne Collins’ The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which starts off the action in the smash hit Hunger Games series and is currently a box office hit. Books will be available for checkout at the library. Registration required. Open to young readers in grades 6-12.
Adult No-Bake Peppermint Pie. 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11. Adults are invited to make a peppermint pie to take home. All ingredients included. Bring a bowl and a large spoon for mixing. Registration required.
Toddler Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with friends at the library. Tuesdays at 10:30 am; 5-week session begins Jan. 16. For children ages 18 months-3 years (siblings of other ages welcome but must be registered) with their caregivers. Registration required.
Adult Felting. 1 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Join instructor Laura Darrow to create adorable snowmen from felt. Registration required. This program is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council.
Write Time Story Club. Do you like to write stories? On Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 5:30 p.m., come meet others who do, too. The group will have fun generating ideas through brainstorming games and freewriting. If desired, writers may bring a page or two of their writing to share. Open to young writers ages 9-14; registration required.
MusicTime. Children and their grownups are invited to share music together with songs, dance, and instrument play. A 5-week session of MusicTime on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. begins Jan. 18. Registration required, open to children 18 months-5 years with caregivers.
Scrabble and Snacks. Do you love to play Scrabble, but have trouble finding friends to play with? Adults are invited to secure new opponents and show off their wordsmithing skills at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Snacks provided. No registration required.
Classics Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. The group will discuss the historical fiction novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Copies of the book will be available at the library. No registration required.
Preschool Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with friends at the library. Mondays at 10:30 a.m.; four-week session begins Jan. 22. For children ages 3-6 (siblings of other ages welcome but must be registered) with caregivers. Registration required.
Bean Art for Kids. Are your kids looking for new ways to express their artistic side? Kids age 7 and older are invited on Monday, Jan. 22, at 4:30 p.m. to create fun pictures or mosaics out of beans. Registration required.
Adult Chopped Challenge. Put your kitchen skills to the test. Adults are invited at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, to sample the cuisine creations participants come up with using special ingredients. Pick up your bag of ingredients from the library beginning Jan. 16, create something new using all of the ingredients, and bring it with you to discuss and share. Registration required.
Homeschool Art Class. 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23. Come build a cardboard castle with fellow homeschooling friends. All materials will be provided for this open-ended session. Fun for all ages. Parents are encouraged to participate with younger children. Ages 6-16. Registration required.
Explorers’ Club: Emo Afternoon. Smiley faces, angry faces, surprised faces — how do emojis help us express ourselves? On Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 4:30 p.m., come learn a bit about these ubiquitous little characters and then paint your own emoji to decorate your space. Open to children in grades 1-4. Registration required.
Winter Sow Program. 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25. Who says you can’t garden in winter? Come learn the value that native plants have for the local ecosystem and how to winter sow a few different types of native seeds to be planted in your garden in June. Each participant will need two 1-gallon translucent milk jugs. Registration required.
EFT/Tapping Workshop. 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. Amber Finnell will teach tapping points and techniques that have been said to decrease stress and increase healing. Registration required. This program is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council.
Learn to Macrame Series. Get cozy inside and learn a new craft. Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 1 p.m. for this fun series. January’s project uses just three knots to make a stunning cover to any jar. In February, tackle a classic mini wall hanging and learn a few new knots. Registration required.
Half-Day Intergenerational Puzzle Race. The library is combining its love for puzzles with some friendly competition. Construct a team of expert puzzlers, consisting of two, three or four members with at least one teammate under age 16. Teams are invited to the library on Wednesday, Jan. 31 (a half-day at school) at 2 p.m. for the race to complete identical 500 piece puzzles. Registration required.
January Cookbook Club. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. Discover home-cooked meals and delicious desserts. Join us to sample recipes from Magnolia Table Volume 3 by Joanna Gaines. Choose a recipe from the cookbook, prepare it at home, then bring it to the library to share with others. Cookbooks available at the library for checkout; let us know which recipe you have chosen to avoid duplicates. Registration required.
Creativebug. The library has a new database available to patrons, Creativebug. Creativebug offers free access to more than 1,000 craft classes, including art and design, paper crafts, knitting, quilting, crochet, sewing, food and home, and holiday and kids crafts. Free patterns are also available for knitting, sewing, and crochet. Sign up for Creativebug on sterlinglibrary.org, using your Sterling library card. For more information, call the library at 978-422-6409.
Libby and CWMARS App Help. Interested in learning how to download free eBooks and eAudiobooks to your device? Schedule a one-on-one appointment with staff at the Conant Public Library to learn how to use Libby, a library reading app offering thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and electronic magazines. Appointments to learn how to use the CWMARS app are also available. Call the library at 978-422-6409 to schedule an appointment.
Transparent Language: Interested in exploring a new language? Get the ball rolling with Transparent Language, an online learning tool offered by the library. This free resource provides a variety of lessons and activities in more than 110 languages, including ESL, available for adults and children. Find it on sterlinglibrary.org, under the “Resources” tab.
Drop-In Knitting. Knitters (and all other fiber artists) are invited to a weekly drop-in program every Tuesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Work on your current project while enjoying conversation, advice and camaraderie with other knitters. Open to people of all abilities, no registration required. For more information, call 978-422-6409.
Richards Memorial Library
PAXTON — The Richards Memorial Library is at 44 Richards Ave.
Closed Saturday, Dec. 30. The library is closed on Saturday when Monday is a holiday. Check www.rmlpaxton.org for weather cancellations.
December adult book display: Holiday books
Drop-in Crafts for Young People: Winter Medley: Foam Sleds, Wacky Hats, Kwanzaa Kinaras, & more
Weekly events:
Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m., LEGO Challenge. Ages 5 and older (due to small pieces). Join the building fun. Try a new challenge each week, or free build. Drop-in, no registration required.
Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m., Outdoor Story & Play Time. Join in for healthy outdoor play and learning in the library yard. Sing songs, go on scavenger hunts, tell stories, create, and play.
Thursdays 4-5:30 p.m., Chess Time at the Library. No chess time Dec. 28. All ages welcome. Play, learn, and teach chess together. Other board games available.
Graphic Novel Book Club (ages 8-12): Receive a book and activity or treat each month. Optional in-person meeting the last Wednesday of each month, 4-4:40 p.m., for discussion and fun activities. Register now: rmlpaxton.org/tweens.
Library of Things: Did you know you can check out these items from the library? Literacy kits, museum passes, STEM kits, telescope.
Sterling Senior Center
STERLING — The Sterling Senior Center is located at 36 Muddy Pond Road. The center is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. If you are a Sterling resident and need a ride to the center, call 978-422-3032. Closed Monday, Nov. 10, and 23. Early close at noon on Nov. 24.
Congregate lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. No reservation required. $3 suggested donation.
History Club will discuss The Wager by David Grann at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 4.
DMC presents Holiday Scams (and How to Avoid Them) with Ashley Grossi, fraud analyst, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. All are encouraged to attend.
Coffee with a Cop, Pancake Breakfast and Fat Daddy’s Market, 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29.
Evening Mindful Meditation is on Mondays at 5 p.m. $5.
Pool tables are available Monday through Friday.
Ladies pool every Friday, 9 a.m.-noon.
Wii Bowling group, 1 p.m. Wednesday. Meet new friends in the bowling circle, where it’s always fun.
Exercise classes: Tai Chi on Mondays at 8:30 a.m.; Guys & Gals Fitness on Mondays at 10 a.m.; Pilates on Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m.; Line Dancing on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.; Chair Yoga on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. plus Thursday, Dec. 2; Going Steady on Fridays at 10 a.m.; Holistic Yoga, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. Registration required for all exercise classes.
Sterling Strummers Ukulele Group meets for Ukulele Club on Thursdays at 2 p.m. Beginner ukulele classes meet at 1 p.m. Thursdays.
BINGO, Mondays at 1 p.m.; Game Day, Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.; Rummikub, Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m.; Wii Bowling, Wednesdays, 1 p.m.; Acrylic painting, Thursdays at 1 p.m.; Mahjong, Thursdays at 1 p.m.; Knit & Crochet, Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
Caregivers, please join the Caregiver Program. The center will run a supervised activity for your loved one as you attend the support group. Every first Friday of the month. Next meeting, 1-2 p.m. Jan. 5.
Sign up for Foot Clinic (Dec. 28).
Veterans Services every Friday, 8 a.m.-noon.
Weekly van shopping trips on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. See newsletter or call for schedule.
Keep up to date with announcements, program updates and more at www.facebook.com/SterlingMASeniors.
Submit items for inclusion in Goings On to editor@thelandmark.com. The deadline for inclusion in the next week’s issue is noon Friday of the preceding week.
— Compiled by Kristen Payson, editor
