Fishing derby
RUTLAND — Rutland Cub Scout Pack 141 invites children in grades K-5 (and a parent) to join them for their annual fishing derby. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Rutland State Park, just before the opening to the entrance. There is no charge to participate. If you have any questions, email Scottkeevan141@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
Lions golf tournament
RUTLAND — The Rutland Lions Club will be holding its 40th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Bedrock Golf Club. Shotgun start is at 1:30 p.m. Fees are $260 for a four-person team and include 9 holes of golf and a steak dinner. Additional fees include golf cart, closest to the pin contest, strings to be used on holes 3 and 6, and mulligans to be used only on your drive. There will be a prize for closest to the line on hole 9. There will also be numerous raffle prizes.
To register, contact John Tisdell at 774-234-0602 by Aug. 30, 2023, or mail to Rutland Lions Club Golf Tournament, 28 Soucy Drive, Rutland, MA 01543.
Sterling Fair
STERLING — The Sterling Fair will be held Sept. 8-10, 2023, on the grounds of the Sterling Airport, 121 Greenland Road.
New in 2023 are speed painter Rob Surette and Animal Adventures Live Exotic Zoo, along with visitor favorites including horse and oxen pulls, farmer’s market, Gillette Midway, Exhibit Hall, Livestock Show, frog jumping, tractor pull, Perkins Belgian Horse Parade, food and craft vendors, fireworks, helicopter rides, and live entertainment.
For schedule updates as well as livestock and exhibitor entry forms, vendor information and tractor/horse/oxen pull entry guidelines, visit www.sterlingfair.org or Facebook @TheSterlingFair.
Paxton calendars
PAXTON — The Paxton Historical Commission will again be selling calendars containing 12 archival monthly photos from Paxton’s past. Calendars will be available at the Paxton Marketplace and the Senior Center and cost $10. Profits from calendar sales over the past decade have helped the commission to recently purchase a large historic sign commemorating the life of Maj. Willard Moore, Paxton’s hero from the American Revolution.
Holden Bandstand series
HOLDEN — The 2023 Holden Bandstand series is in full swing. Concerts are held at 1130 Main St. Upcoming concert:
5-7 p.m. (note time change) Sept. 10, Slo Grass, acoustic American bluegrass, sponsored by the Holden Cultural Council.
In the event of rain, concerts will be held in the Senior Center.
Legion meetings
STERLING —There next regular meeting of the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 of the American Legion is Monday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the post hall, 32 School St. Hot dogs and chili. The 28th is the September meeting. E-Board at 6:30 p.m. All veterans welcome. Sterling Association drawing.
Paxton Garden Club
The Paxton Garden Club is going on a bus trip Sept. 9 to Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum in Bristol, Rhode Island. The trip includes transportation, admission, private 90-minute tour of the gardens with Q&A, bagged lunch, and free time to explore the gardens, mansion and gift shop. Cost is $55 per person, with a $20 nonrefundable deposit due at signup. Space is extremely limited. For more information and to sign up, go to www.paxtongardenclub.com/bus-trip.
Gale Free Library
HOLDEN — Events at the Gale Free Library, 23 Highland St.
Lapsit Story Time: 10 a.m. Thursdays, age 2 and younger, in the Program Room. Join Miss Rachel for songs, short picture book stories, and more. This story time will focus on routine, repetition and early literacy skills like ABC’s and 123’s.
Preschool Story Time: 11 a.m. Thursdays, ages 3-6, in the Program Room. Join Mr. Kevin for lots of laughs and fun stories. This story time will focus on picture book stories and include some games or activities, and of course Mr. Kevin’s great sense of humor.
Conant Library
STERLING — Conant Public Library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Summer hours (July and August) on Saturdays, the library is open 9 a.m. to noon. On Saturdays during the rest of the year, the library will be open 9 a.m. to 2 pm.
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.
Adult Summer Reading: The annual Summer Reading Program runs through Thursday, Aug. 31. Check out adult reading materials (books or audiobooks) and receive a raffle ticket. Local businesses are offering wonderful prizes for the raffle. Open to adults ages 18-plus.
Sterling Pages: An Intergenerational Community Writing Project. Patrons can check out a notebook on their library card and add to the writings of friends and neighbors. This is an effort to record shared memories and favorites and continue to build a strong community. There are five notebooks with five different themes. All ages are welcome to participate. Stop by or call the library at 978-422-6409 to ask about this exciting new program. Have fun and thank you in advance for your contribution.
Adult puzzles are available for checkout. The library has added adult puzzles to its 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 978-422-6409.
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.
Registration for the following programs (if required) can be done at sterlinglibrary.org or by calling 978-422-6409.
Masterpiece Monday: Snap Bracelets. From 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28, come to the Baker Room and design your own snap bracelet. Use markers, yarn or crayons to decorate your own snappy wristband. Open to kids of all ages, no registration required.
Fit Lit Book Club. Enjoy a fun book discussion while getting some exercise. Fit Lit Book Club continues Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 6:15 p.m. Participants should read Seven Girls Gone by Allison Brennan, then meet at the Cider Mill entrance of the Sterling Rail Trail at 6:15 p.m. The gathering will be canceled poor weather; call the library if the weather is questionable. The group will enjoy a discussion of this mystery featuring the FBI’s Mobile Response Team as they dig into the unsolved murders of women in a small bayou town. Books are available at the library for checkout. No registration required.
Sourdough Brandon’s Sourdough Starter Workshop. Have you ever wondered how to make sourdough bread? If so, now is your chance to find out. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m., Sourdough Brandon will show us the day-to-day process of making, maintaining and storing sourdough starter. Participants will also have a chance to sample some bread and will receive their own starter to bring home. This program will be held at the Sterling Senior Center. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
September Adult Craft: Decoupage. Make a cute Welcome Fall decoupage sign for your doorway using a few simple materials on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Registration is required. Sterling residents will be given priority in registration; after one week, open spots will be given to nonresidents in the order that they registered.
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 978-422-6409.
Museum Pass. The library has a pass to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson. This pass provides half-price admission for up to six visitors. The American Heritage Museum is a military history museum that features one of the world’s largest collections of armored vehicles and tanks. For more information and to reserve a pass, call 978-422-6409.
Richards Memorial Library
PAXTON — The Richards Memorial Library is at 44 Richards Ave.
Mondays: Ukulele Play Alongs (Virtual). 7-8 p.m. for teens and adults. Sponsor: Friends of Richards Memorial Library. Register for Zoom link & song sheets: bit.ly/40EKtZe.
Special End-of-Summer Storytime, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Listen to Massachusetts author Marietta Apollonio read her new storybook, Jack the Library Cat, and enjoy coloring and craft fun. Geared to children ages 1 to 8 and their families/caregivers. All are welcome. Outdoors if nice, indoors if not.
YOUTH BOOK CLUBS – Registration required. Visit the rmlpaxton.org tween and teen pages for more information and to register.
Teen Book Club (ages 12-17). Enjoy a book — and treats — each month.
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.
Congregate lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. No reservations are required. $3 suggested donation.
Call for Crafters! Are you planning your annual fairs and events? Applications are now open for the SSC Annual Cookie Sale & Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 9. Visit the FOSS page on our website for an application form, or call 978-422-3032.
Farmers’ Market Coupon Books are available. Call Outreach for details and to see if you qualify.
Pancake Breakfast is Friday, Aug. 25, 7:30-9 a.m. Meet Chuck Goss, the town of Sterling’s facilities manager. $4 suggested donation. Fat Daddy’s Mobile Market will be at the Center on Friday, Aug. 25, 7:30-9 a.m. during the pancake breakfast.
Art display by Larry Schuyler. On display at the Senior Center through August.
Guys & Gals Fitness with Marty. A total body workout for men and women of all fitness levels. Mondays at 10 a.m. No signup needed. Free.
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.; 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.; Going Steady on Fridays at 10 a.m. Registration required for all exercise classes.
Outdoor Pickleball at West Sterling tennis courts, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. All ages and levels welcome. No play on wet courts. No signup needed, but you must sign a participation waiver on your first visit.
Sterling Strummers Ukulele Group meets for Ukulele Club on Thursdays at 2 p.m. and Open Strumming on second and fourth Mondays 3 p.m.
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 2 p.m.; Knit & Crochet, Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
Caregivers, please join our new format Caregiver Program. The center will run a supervised activity for your loved one as you attend the support group. New day, new time, new format. Every first Friday of the month, 1-2 p.m.
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.
