Softball field dedication
STERLING — The Sterling Recreation Committee is having a field dedication ceremony at noon Saturday, April 27. The committee is naming Softball Field 1 on Griffin Road in honor of Jo-Ann Cummings, for her 35 years of volunteering on the Sterling Recreation Committee.
Girl Scout plant sale
Spring is here, and what better way to welcome it in than plants for your garden or home? Central-Western Girl Scout Adult Alumnae Troop 2016 will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Leicester Senior Center, 40 Winslow Ave. The sale will offer a variety of indoor and outdoor plants, both annuals and perennials. All proceeds will support Girl Programs in Central Massachusetts.
Sterling Grange Sesquicentennial
STERLING — Sterling Grange is celebrating its 150th Anniversary with a public supper and program at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Sterling Senior Center, 36 Muddy Pond Road. Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, bread, cake and ice cream will be served. A brief history of the Grange will be presented by the Massachusetts State Grange historians, Amber and Randy Vaill. Music from The Sterling Strummers will conclude the festivities.
Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and younger. Reserve a seat by calling 508-886-2341 or emailing your name and number of tickets to sterlinggrange53@gmail.com.
Pulling 4 Paws
PRINCETON — NEADS World Class Service Dogs, based in Princeton, will hold the NEADS Pulling 4 Paws Truck Pull on Sunday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Polar Park in Worcester. Teams of 15 will put their strength to the test to see who can pull an 18-wheeler the fastest.
Paxton Earth Day trash collection
PAXTON — The town’s annual weeklong Earth Day trash collection will take place Monday, April 22, through Wednesday, May 1. Join your fellow neighbors to make Paxton litter-free.
Visit the Pick It Up, Paxton website to learn all the details, including the dumpster location: https://sites.google.com/view/pick-it-up-paxton/home.
Volunteer for Cleanup: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5EyXYUJWGAS1NHM6pyEYHjQ4lKP60qGBloFR2n5qmKpgoaQ/viewform.
Rutland Townwide Yard Sale
RUTLAND — Rutland’s 28th annual Townwide Yard Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, rain or shine.
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. The full schedule can be found at https://www.mass.gov/doc/wachusett-watershed-wednesday-events-2024/download.
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.
Bottle and can drive
STERLING —Sterling Boy Scout Troop 1 and Cub Scout Pack 34 will hold a bottle and can drive from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday, April 27, in the Sterling Municipal Light Department garage parking lot.
Princeton Arts Society spring show
PRINCETON — The Princeton Arts Society’s spring show and sale, “Euphoria,” is the perfect opportunity to view inspiring works of art and perhaps add a piece to your personal collection.
The show and opening reception will be held at the Princeton Community Center, 206 Worcester Road (Post Office Place). The events are free.: Friday, May 3, 6-8 p.m., opening reception; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5.All work is by the society’s members. The show includes works in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, and more.
The Princeton Arts Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization encouraging and supporting area visual, literary and performing artists. For more information, visit www.princetonarts.org or visit the Princeton Arts Society on Facebook.
American Legion
STERLING — The regular meeting of the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 of the American Legion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the post hall, 32 School St. Hamburgers and salad at 7 p.m. All veterans welcome.
Post 189 will hold a ham and potato supper at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the First Church in Sterling hall. Take-out available. $12 donation requested. For tickets, contact Jerry Boynton at 978-870-3005, Ed McNamara at 508-612-7704, Everett Pierce at 978-400-6794, or Joe Chiaravalloti at 978-870-0575. Jerry will be available at Post Hall May 3, 10 and 17 for tickets from 10 a.m. to noon.
Bridal gowns and a love story
RUTLAND — The Rutland Historical Society is hosting a display of Mother/Daughter Bridal Gowns, plus a WWII Love Story, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Wood House, 232 Main St. The display will include several mother/daughter wedding gowns, two of which are the same dress worn by both generations, a grandmother, 1887, and a granddaughter, 1950, wedding gown from Rutland; grandmother-in-law/granddaughter-in-law dresses, a grandmother dress, 1937, and her two granddaughter’s gowns. The display will also have a wedding gown, bridesmaid gown and flower girl dress all donated from our members.
The WWII Love Story is from the parents of one of our members. On display will be the bride’s gown, veil, cake topper, going away dress, trousseau and more, as well as letters to her WWII sweetheart and letters to her parents as a new bride away from home for the first time. The event is free. Refreshments will be served.
Spring Fair
RUTLAND – Celebrate spring with the Rutland Historical Society from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Rain date is Sunday, May 19. The spring fair is set to include vendors, crafts, plants for your garden, and food trucks.
Vendor space is still available. To reserve a space, email ballenlocke@gmail.com.
Community Fair
RUTLAND — The Rutland Events Committee is hosting a Community Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the Rutland Community Center,t 53 Glenwood Road. Representatives from Rutland town committees, departments, school PTO’s, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Public Works, Emergency Departments, and more have been invited. Members of the Rutland community can come to see all the great aspects of the town and learn how they can contribute. Rutland organizations and departments can register for the fair here: https://forms.gle/vynTNBmXCFwR6Hw49. For more information, email the volunteer committee at rutlandeventstor@gmail.com.
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.
Summer Reading program needs prize donations. The library seeks donations of new items for youth ages 0-18 to be awarded as prizes in the Children’s Summer Reading Program raffles. These prizes make the interactive Summer Reading Program even more fun, and children really get excited about them. Popular prizes in the past have included Squishmallows, candy, gift cards, toys, and craft kits. Consider making a donation to help this program succeed. Donations may be dropped off at the library. For more information, call 978-422-6409.
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.
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.
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 sponsored by the Friends of the Conant Public Library.
International Snack Bags. Kids of all ages are invited to the library starting Tuesday, April 16, to pick up an International Snack Bag. Snack bags include snacks from another country as well as facts and book recommendations about the chosen country. Where will we travel to next? Open to kids of all ages while supplies last; no registration required.
Adult True Crime Book Club, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Do you love a true crime thriller? Come join fellow true crime enthusiasts for a deep dive into a book, this time into Lost Girls by Robert Kolker, which is one of Slate’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years. Kolker provides a literary account of the lives and presumed serial killings of five Craigslist prostitutes, whose bodies were found on the same Long Island beach in 2010. Based on the New York Magazine cover story. No registration required. Books will be available at the circulation desk.
Choose Your Own Adventure: The Magic of the Unicorn, 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 29. Do your kids enjoy book clubs, but struggle to finish the book on time with all their other commitments? If so, the new Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club is for them. Kids in grades 2 to 5 are invited, no advance reading required. As we read Deborah Lerme Goodman’s The Magic of the Unicorn aloud, attendees will have multiple opportunities to decide where the story goes. After the story, participants will make their own good-luck talismans. Registration required.
Homeschool Art and Fun: Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes, 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. Come join other homeschoolers to make fairy houses and gnome homes. Using a multimedia approach, children will fashion their own home for tiny friends. The library will provide all the materials for this open-ended activity. For ages 6-16 (parents are encouraged to stay with our youngest children). Registration required.
Fit Lit Book Club, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. Enjoy a fun book discussion while also getting some exercise. The library’s Fit Lit Book Club will meet at the Cider Mill entrance of the Sterling Rail Trail (weather permitting). Participants should read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig prior to the walk. We will enjoy a discussion of this No. 1 best-seller that explores the choices that go into a life well lived. Books are available at the library for checkout. No registration required.
Babytime. Interactive storytime with your baby that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. Ages 0-18 months. Every Wednesday in May at 10:30 a.m. (May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29). Registration required. (You will be registered for the entire session.)
Picture Book Club, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. The club will read The World’s Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon. Come explore that book and a few more with friends, then choose a baby plant to take home and make a special place for it to live. 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.
Teen volunteers, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. 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 online to help with these children’s programs: Paint Times, Explorers’ Club, Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Open to young people in grades 6-12. Registration required.
Nibbling on Native Plants, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. Ever been in your backyard or in the surrounding woods, and wondered, “Can I eat that plant?” Welcome expert forager Russ Cohen as he presents a slideshow featuring native edible wild plants suitable for nibbling on and for planting in your backyard. In addition to providing identification keys and foraging guidelines, Russ will bring samples of foraged goodies and drinks to try. This program will be held at the Sterling Senior Center. Registration required. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Sterling Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Preschool Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with friends. Mondays at 10:30 a.m.; five-week session begins May 6 (no meeting 5/27). For children ages 3-6 (siblings of other ages welcome but must be registered) with caregivers. Registration required.
Toddler Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs, and crafts with friends. Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; six-week session begins May 7. For children ages 18 months-3 years (siblings of other ages welcome but must be registered) with their caregivers. 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.
All Month:
Adult Book Display: April Showers Bring May Flowers
Drop-in Crafts for Youth: Spring-themed community mural. Sponsored by the Friends of Richards Memorial Library.
Scavenger Hunt: complete a hunt and earn a small prize. April 16-May 1: Poem Scavenger Hunt. Sponsored by the Friends of Richards Memorial Library
April is National Poetry Month. Drop by in April to create “Blackout Poetry” by blacking out words from old book pages to create something new.
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. May move inside during inclement weather; check website for updates.
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. April’s book: Wildful by Kori Kurimoto.
Ready, Set, Grow: Seed of the Month Club. April: Provider Bean. 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.
Pick It Up Paxton: Visit the library for gloves and bags. Then head outside to help pick up litter in the center of town. Bags and gloves generously provided by the Paxton Garden Club.
Friends of Richards Memorial Library meeting. 2-3 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Anyone interested in joining the Board or attending the meeting is encouraged to come to the library.
Resin Art Necklace with M&J Creations. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. For adults and teens with an adult. Mel of M&J Creations guides participants through the creation of a resin art necklace. Bilingual instructor (English and Spanish). Registration open to Paxton residents only through April 20; any available spots will be opened after April 20. Registration required: Tinyurl.com/RMLPaxResin.
Wingmasters. 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 4. Wingmasters presents an educational program with live birds of prey which have been rescued and rehabilitated by the Wingmasters. Program begins promptly at 11 a.m.; late arrivals may have delayed entry, due to the nature of this program (live birds of prey). Thank you for your cooperation. Registration is currently limited to Paxton residents due to limited seating. Non-Paxton residents should check back after April 23 for availability. Audience: Adults, tweens, and children age 6 and older (per the Wingmasters). This program is supported in part by a grant from the Paxton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.” Registration required: Rmlpaxton.org/RMLWing.
Paxton Senior Center
PAXTON — The Paxton Senior Center is located at 17 West St. COA office is 508-756-2833.
Mindful Movement Class starts Friday, April 5, and subsequent Fridays at 11 a.m. Increase strength and balance. Donation $3.
Chair Massage at 10 a.m. Monday, April 29, and 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 30. Appointments must be made in advance; call 508-756-2833.
Spring Art Show. Paxton residents Charles Belisle, Anita Fenton, Ann McDougle, Carol Morin, Cheryl Rossier and Robert Thorn will exhibit artwork composed of mixed media such as acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings, ink drawing, and textiles in the Senior Center Art Gallery. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continues until the end of May. Come vote for Best in Show.
Schoolhouse Café will be open at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 1. Come socialize and enjoy the coffee and tasty pastries.
Mindful Movement class, 11 a.m. Friday, May 3, and subsequent Fridays. Enjoy an exercise class to increase strength and balance. Donation $3.
Piano lessons. Come learn to play the piano starting 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 3, and subsequent Fridays. Cost is $5. Schedule your lesson at 508-756-2833.
Pitch. Come play pitch on Tuesday and Thursday every week at 12:15 p.m.
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.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater on Thursday, April 25, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 each and available in advance at the Senior Center reception desk. This 3-hour event includes a meet and greet with the cast, dinner, a mystery to solve, prizes, and lots of laughs.
History Club will discuss Killing Witches by Bill O’Reilly at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2.
Growing Places Pop-Up Market will be inside at the Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 14.
The Office of State Sen. Peter J. Durant will host district office hours at the Sterling Senior Center from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Residents are invited to stop by.
Pancake Breakfast, Coffee with a Cop and Fat Daddy’s Market, 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, April 26.
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.; Going Steady on Fridays at 10 a.m. Registration required for all exercise classes.
Pickleball returns outside on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. No signup required. All abilities welcome.
Sterling Strummers Ukulele Group meets for open strumming at 3 p.m. Monday, April 22; Ukulele Club at 2 p.m. Thursdays. Beginner ukulele classes meet at 1 p.m. Thursdays.
BINGO, Mondays at 1 p.m.; Game Day, Tuesdays at 1 p.m.; Rummikub, Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m.; Wii Bowling, Wednesdays, 1 p.m.; Acrylic painting, Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.; Mahjong, Thursdays at 1 p.m.; Knit & Crochet, Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
No Caregiver Program in April. Please check for a new day and time in May.
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. Goings On is compiled by Kristen B. Payson, editor.
