Paxton Easter event
PAXTON — The Paxton Recreation Department is holding Easter activities from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. The event will include pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts, games, firetrucks, and an Egg Hunt at 12:30. Activities will take place at the Paxton Bandstand, weather permitting, or the Paxton Senior Center if there is inclement weather.
Natural and Low-cost Homestead Design
BARRE — Many Hands Organic Farm and Sustainability Center, 411 Sheldon Road, is holding a class on Natural and Low-Cost Homestead design, on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to noon, with a potluck lunch. Presenters are Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson, owners and builders of the farm. Cost is $50-$100, on a sliding scale.
This class is for people planning to develop a homestead using natural materials and systems and want to consider the wide range of issues involved. Topics covered will be: initial land selection; site determination; residential design – climate and weather protection, energy, water, septic, vehicle access, root cellar, attached greenhouse, storage, connectivity choices, backup systems; outbuilding siting and design; developing natural features – fields, gardens, ponds, woods, walking trails; long-term planning.
A major focus of each topic will be the extent to which low cost, natural materials, incorporating energy-saving design, and appropriate technologies are employed. A tour of the house and grounds of the farm, where many such principles have been applied, will be included. Register at https://mhof.net/events-workshops/.
American Legion meeting
STERLING — The regular meeting of the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 of the American Legion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1, at the post hall, 32 School St. Hot dogs and beans at 7 p.m. All veterans welcome.
Pet vaccine clinic in Holden
HOLDEN — Registration is open for Second Chance Animal Services’ April 6 pet vaccine clinic at the Holden police station. Low-cost vaccines will be offered for dogs and cats to help area pet owners care for their pets. The annual clinic, presented in conjunction with Holden Animal Control, welcomes pets from all towns.
Parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats — the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets — are preventable with a simple vaccine. An estimated 30% of pet parents do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventative care.
The vaccine clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to noon in the rear of the police station, located at 1370 Main St. Advance registration is encouraged, as there will be limited availability for same-day registration. Rabies and distemper vaccines are $18 each, and pet owners can register their pet for vaccines online at https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/scasconnect-worcester/.
Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour
STERLING — Maj. Gen. Lafayette is coming to Sterling Sept. 3 in honor of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of 1824. Do you know anything about Lafayette? Ask Seamus Heinrich or Clare Fisher. Clare has read Lafayette daily journal entries from 1824 as he traveled through the East Coast towns and cities, including Sterling. More information on the tour to come.
The Sterling Historical Society will present a program on Tuesday, April 9, on the history of Lafayette, by the president of the American Friends of Lafayette. The program will be held at 7 p.m. in the Legion Hall, School Street, right around the corner from the museum. All are welcome.
Rutland Townwide Yard Sale
RUTLAND — Sign up now for Rutland’s 28th annual Townwide Yard Sale. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, rain or shine.
There will be no mailing of the flyer this year. Sign up flyers will be posted all around town. Early Bird Special: Your yard, $20; town common, $25. After March 31, your yard, $25; town common, $30. To sign up, contact Ben at Rutlandyardsale@gmail.com or call/text 774-535-1295.
Watershed Wednesdays
Watershed Wednesdays is a series of evening talks held at the Wachusett Reservoir Headquarters, John Augustus Hall, 180 Beaman St., West Boylston. Division staff will share their knowledge about water conservation to bring communities in the watershed together for engaging conversations. Talks will take place one Wednesday each month, and are free. Program will be canceled if West Boylston Schools are closed. For questions, email Kathryn.Parent@mass.gov or call 617-352-4044. Below are a few of the upcoming talks. The full schedule can be found at https://www.mass.gov/doc/wachusett-watershed-wednesday-events-2024/download.
Macroinvertabrates. 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 17. Find out why we care about these aquatic creatures big enough to see without a microscope. Get your hands on samples to identify with Education/Outreach staff.
Climate resiliency. 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 15. Hear how changes in climate change the way storms and hazards impact natural, cultural, and recreational resources from DCR’s director of climate resilience.
Small farm topics
PRINCETON — The Princeton Agricultural Commission invites you to bring your questions, experiences (successes & challenges) and expertise to Small Farm Topics – A Town Hall discussion of agricultural interests & experiences. The discussion will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in the large room of the Princeton Annex Building. Light refreshments will be served.
Paxton Garden Club
PAXTON — Seminar: Preparing the Soil for Gardening. 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Community Room at the Paxton COA. Learn about soil structure, compaction, fertility, and pH, and learn how you can modify these qualities for a more successful garden from presenter Gretel Anspach, a trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and a Lifetime Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association. Free.
Bottle and can drive
STERLING —Sterling Boy Scout Troop 1 and Cub Scout Pack 34 will be holding a bottle and can drive from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 27. The drive will be held in the Sterling Municipal Light Department garage parking lot.
Craft Fair vendor applications
STERLING — Applications are now being accepted for the annual Friends of the Conant Public Library Arts & Crafts Show, which features high-quality crafts and art. All items must be handmade. The fair will be held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meetinghouse Hill Road. Thirty-five booths are available in three rooms.
The application deadline is May 1. Vendor spaces fill up quickly. The fair will be advertised online and in local newspapers. For an application, visit SterlingLibrary.org, click on “About,” then “Friends of the Library.” Printed applications are available at the front desk of the library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road.
For more information, email Beth Cyr at sterlingcraftfair@gmail.com.
Gale Free Library
HOLDEN — This month the Gale Free Library, 23 Highland St., is hosting two artists. Dena Hengst’s exhibit is “Harmony in Duality: Bridging Realism and Abstraction.” Painting both realistically and abstractly, her exhibit focuses on how nature, mostly water and rocks, can be expressed using both styles.
The second exhibit, “Here and There,” features the photography of John Gaumond. John has taken photographs from around the world. His work often highlights unusual views of subjects, including doors, windows, alleys, arches, and rooftops, to make them more interesting. He finds patterns and angles, as well as colors, contrasting shapes and textures, fascinating.
Both exhibits can be enjoyed throughout March in the second floor program room and lobby.
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.
Seed Library. The library has a collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds that you can choose from to plant and grow at home. The collection includes veggies, herbs and flowers. Come into the library and browse the seed card catalog. Then, come to the circulation desk to check out seeds. No need to return anything! If you happen to have extra seeds, share with a neighbor or a friend. The library does ask that you only take what you can use. For more information, call 978-422-6409. This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Conant Public Library.
Teen Volunteers. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. Teens seeking service opportunities can help with program preparation and keeping library materials in order. Come help out and get to know the library. Volunteers may also register to help out at these children’s programs: Science in Motion, How to Be Annoying, Paint Times, and Half Day Hoops. Registration required. Open to young people in grades 6-12.
Preschool Art Time: Egg Carton Flowers and Butterflies, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27. Come make pretty flowers and butterflies out of egg cartons. Colorful art activity for kids ages 2 to 5. Registration required.
Scrabble and Snacks. Love to play Scrabble, but have trouble finding opponents? Adults are invited to show off their wordsmithing skills at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 21, and 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. Snacks will be provided. No registration required.
Classics Book Club, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21. Discuss the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Copies of the book will be available at the library. No registration required.
Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club, 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 25. For kids in grades 2 to 5. Do your kids enjoy book clubs, but struggle to finish the book on time with all their other commitments? If so, then the new Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club is for them. In this interactive book club, no advance reading is required. As we read R.A. Montgomery’s Race Forever aloud, attendees will decide where the story goes. After reading, there will be a race car craft. Registration required.
Half Day Hoops! 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Sterling Senior Center. Kat Suwalski, founder of WildKat Hoops, will lead the group in her unique brand of joyful hula hooping. Dance, play, and exercise while learning to wield your hoop. Hoops provided. For ages 5-105; registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Fearless Book Club, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. Come tackle a classic: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The club will also be looking at the graphic novelizations of the book — participants are encouraged to read those and/or the original. Books (original and adapted) will be available for checkout at the library. Registration required. Open to young readers in grades 6-12.
March Cookbook Club, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. Travel around the world this month at the Cookbook Club. Sample recipes sample recipes from Ripe Figs by Yasmin Khan. Khan offers recipes and stories from Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, celebrating food and migration. Choose a recipe from the cookbook, prepare it at home, then bring it to the library to share with others. Cookbooks are available at the library for checkout. Let the library know which recipe you have chosen to avoid duplicates. Registration required.
Richards Memorial Library
PAXTON — The Richards Memorial Library is at 44 Richards Ave.
Reminders: For weather cancellations, visit Rmlpaxton.org. When Wachusett Regional schools are closed or delayed, there are no morning programs at the library.
All holds must be picked up within one week of the notification. Contact the library if you need an extension.
Bring your library card when checking out books. Lost it? The library will replace it for free.
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 10:30-11:15 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, do snow art and experiment, and have fun.
Thursdays 3:30-4:30 p.m., Chess Time. All ages and skill levels 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 at 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.
Ready, Set, Grow: Seed of the Month Club. March: Whirlygig Mix Zinnia flowers. One packet per person, available when you check out an item; no holds or reserving; while supplies last. Sponsored by the Friends of Richards Memorial Library.
Win tickets to Dinosaur World Live. Visit the library through March 23 and enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to Dinosaur World Live at the Hanover Theatre & Conservatory. Dinosaur World coloring sheets available. Winner announced on March 26; show date: Thursday, April 25, 6:30 p.m.
Drop-in Crafts for Youth: Clover Scratch Art and Pot O’ Gold kits. Sponsored by the Friends of Richards Memorial Library.
The Softer Side of Celtic, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Musician and raconteur Jeff Snow combines the music, stories and a wee bit of history from Scotland, Ireland and England into a concert event that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sponsored by the Friends of Richards Memorial Library.
Mario Scavenger Hunt, March 27 through April 12. Celebrate Mario Day with a Mario Riddle Scavenger Hunt at the library. Drop in any time during open hours March 27 (WRSD 1/2 day) through April 12 to solve the riddle and earn a small prize.
Health Plan Options for Seniors, 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 28. A presentation & discussion with Luisa from BCBS covering Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D plans; which plan might be best for you; understanding when you can switch plans.
Friends of Richards Memorial Library meets at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28. The board of the Friends of Richards Memorial Library will not meet in February. Anyone interested in joining the board or attending the meeting is encouraged to come to the library.
Paxton Senior Center
PAXTON — The Paxton Senior Center is located at 17 West St. COA office is 508-756-2833.
Heart and Hands: Every Monday at 10 a.m. Enjoy knitting or crocheting on your own or a group project.
Coffee café: Every first Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., join us for coffee and treats and socialize.
Mindful Movement Class: Every Friday at 11 a.m. Enjoy an exercise class to increase your strength and balance. Donation $3.
Chair massage: Call the COA office to make an appointment for March 25 or 26.
Planning for the Future: 10 a.m. March 27. A panel of specialists will guide you on real estate issue, downsizing, and legal issues.
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 reservation required. $3 suggested donation.
Friends of Sterling Seniors (FOSS) are holding their spring fundraiser. Buy your $10 ticket for a chance to win $500 in $5 scratch tickets. Only 250 tickets available. Drawing will be held when all 250 tickets are sold. Tickets on sale at the Senior Center, or from a FOSS board member.
Pancake Breakfast, Coffee with a Cop and Fat Daddy’s Market. 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, March 29.
The Sterling Police Association Spring Grab ’n’ Go will be on Friday, April 5, with pickup at the Senior Center between 5 and 5:45 p.m. Call to reserve your dinner.
No Caregiver Program in March. Check with us for a new day and time in April.
Parkinson’s Support meets at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in person and via Zoom.
Sign up for Chair Massage with Sherrill (March 27)
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. Goings On is compiled by Kristen B. Payson, editor.
