Good Neighbor nominations sought
HOLDEN — The Holden Democratic Town Committee is again seeking nominations for its annual Good Neighbor Award, this year its 29th. The award honors citizens of the town who have made significant and/or long-term contributions to the community through their volunteer activities. The award is completely nonpartisan.
Nominations for the award are eagerly sought. Those who would like to make a nomination will need to obtain a nomination form. Contact S. Jane Arntz by email at sjarntz@gmail.com or via snail mail at 197 Union St. Holden, MA 01520. The deadline to request a form is Jan. 10.
Fiber Arts Showcase
RUTLAND — In February, the town’s Events Committee, together with the Rutland Library, will host a Fiber Arts Showcase.
The town is calling all embroiderers, quilters, rug makers, knitters and cross stitchers to submit their fiber art creations to be placed on display.
If you have a fiber art you would like to place on display, please complete the registration form found at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9u1eMNQEQ5iT2SX40Um-PGJcHO6hBwb_h5R1GzodGRuxjbw/viewform.
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, 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.
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.
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.
Richards Memorial Library
PAXTON — The Richards Memorial Library is at 44 Richards Ave.
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, Jan. 15.
Congregate lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. No reservation required. $3 suggested donation.
Comedy Night with Jerry Caruso and Bob Sheehy. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Jerry and Bob have been making audiences laugh throughout New England and New York. Tickets are $5 and available at Sterling Senior Center. This is an adult event.
History Club will discuss The Wager by David Grann at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 4. The Feb. 1 book will be Union 1812 by AJ Langguth.
Art Reception with Linda and Maurice Iorio from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9. Meet the artists and view their work, which will be on display at the Senior Center throughout January and February.
Dull Men’s Club presents An Audience with Chief Gaudette of Sterling Police at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. All are welcome, dull or not.
Book Club will be discussing The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hess at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. Copies of the book, including large print, are available to borrow at the Senior Center.
Classic and contemporary acoustic music with Bill McCarthy. 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Bill has been entertaining audiences, solo and in bands, in Worcester, Boston and Cape Cod.
Pancake Breakfast, Coffee with a Cop and Fat Daddy’s Market, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26.
Growing Places Pop-Up Market will be inside at the Center on Tuesday, Jan. 9, noon-1 p.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.
Parkinson’s Support meets at 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 10 & 24 in person and via Zoom.
Sign up for Foot Clinic (Jan. 11 & 25) or Chair Massage with Sherrill (Jan. 10).
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.
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