CURRENT EVENTS

By Tim Kane

POLICY: Our calendar section is intended to promote “free” events or ones that directly affect a volunteer-driven organization that benefits the community. Paid events that are not deemed fund-raisers or benefits do not qualify. Non-charitable events that charge the public for profit is not allowed as we consider that paid advertising. The deadline to submit calendar items in the mail, by fax, or emailed in Word document format is Monday at noon or sooner. We usually print one week in advance of an event, and the listings should be brief, with only time, date, location, brief activity explanation, and contact info. To view the entire calendar online, log on to www.quaboagcurrent.com and click the blue “calendar” button.

UPCOMING/ONGOING

The firefighters of the Towns of Brookfield and East Brookfield annually join together to supply toys for local children at Christmastime. The need for help is greater this year. You can help by dropping off unwrapped toys at either the fire station or the Town Hall or by leaving a check (made out to “Toys for Joy”) which can be used to purchase the toys. Your help is very much appreciated. If you have questions, you may call East Brookfield’s Deputy Fire Chief Keith Audette at 774-200-0949.

The Merriam-Gilbert Public Library is hosting "Too Human", a jazz performance Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. (snow date Jan. 14). Ellen & Roger perform jazzy, bluesy originals and jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Registration required.

TEXAS HOLD’EMM TOURAMENT to be held Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the North Brookfield Sportsmen’s Club, 20 Boynton Rd. Tourney will benefit the youth fishing derby. Refreshments will be available.

Join The Trustees of Reservations as they enjoy the winter splendor at the Rock House on Route 9 in West Brookfield on Saturday Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your skates, cross country skis, snowshoes or just take a peaceful winter hike depending on what conditions Mother Nature provides. Free for all.

Meet a colonial soldier fighting in King Philip’s War (1675-1676) and learn about defending the southern New England colonies during a free program sponsored by the Brookfield Council on Aging on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. in Brookfield Town Hall on Central Street.

The East Brookfield Board of Health will sponsor an H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Clinic for town residents from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 at the Memorial Town Complex, 122 Connie Mack Drive. The clinic is open to all town residents.

INFORMAL PROGRAM FOCUSING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWS AND PARENT’S RIGHTS will be held Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the library at the Warren Community Elementary School on South Street in West Warren. Presented by the Federation for Children With Special Needs and sponsored by Quaboag Regional School District’s Special Education and Title I departments. This workshop is free and open to all. Parents with children of all learning levels are encouraged to attend this informative workshop.

FUNDAMENTALS OF ART CLASS to be held Thursday evenings from Jan. 14 through Feb. 18 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Massasoit Art Guild Studio, Main Street, E. Brookfield. The course is being offered by Linda Spencer and will cover how to look at art by covering subjects, media, elements, and principles of design as well as composition, perspective, figure and face proportion, and color theory. Some basic art materials will be required as well as paper and pencil, but actual art production will be easy. The course fee is $75. Spencer can be reached through the contact me section of the Massasoit Art Guild's web site at www.massasoitartguild.com or at 508-885-2280.

HARLEM SUPERSTARS RETURN Sunday, Jan. 17 at the Julianne Caron Memorial Gymnasium in North Brookfield High School at 2 p.m. hosted by the Friends of the North Brookfield Playground for the sixth straight year. The Superstar opponent will be the North Brookfield Dream Team. The Dream Team is still being assembled. If there is a special someone that you’d like to see go up against the 7’2” Ricky Lopes, let a member of the committee know, and we will try to entice them into playing. Tickets make great stocking stuffers and will be available from members of the Playground Committee, at Bob’s Deli and at North Brookfield High School. Prices are $7 in advance or $8 at the door. Any questions, contact Richard LeBlanc at 508-867-2134 or e-mail leblancr@vibram.us.

SIMPLE SUPPER hosted by the First Congregational Church of W. Brookfield, 36 N. Main St. will be held Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. Hearty soup, salad, bread, great desserts and Allen's apple cider. A donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children is requested. No reservations needed, just drop in.

PRESENTION ABOUT LOCAL HISTORIC FIGURES will be held Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge as part of a Sturbridge Historical Society meeting. Joe Ouellette will make a presentation about playwright George M. Cohan of North Brookfield and Cornelius “Connie” McGillicuddy of East Brookfield, once the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. The event is free and open to the public.

BROOKFIELD’S LIONS CLUB 21^ST ANNUAL ICE FISHING DERBY will be held Saturday, Jan. 30. Weigh-ins 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Postponement date: Feb. 27.

TURKEY DINNER Saturday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of W. Brookfield, 36 N. Main St. Turkey with all the trimmings including scrumptious homemade pie will be served. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations are strongly encouraged for the dining room and mandatory for takeout orders. Call the church at 508-867-7078.

The Children's Room at the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library in West Brookfield presents "Bedtime Snacks: A Family Story Night" for parents and children, the third Tuesday of each month, from 7-7:30 p.m. Each month a different beloved children's classic will be introduced. The library will supply the milk and cookies - participants are welcome to bring a favorite blanket and pillow to make themselves cozy.

West Brookfield Walks! every Tuesday. Meet us at the Merriam-Gilbert Library at 8:15 or the Walking School Bus can pick you up on the way. We will be traveling from the library down North Main Street to the Elementary School. Principal Colleen Mucha will be leading and we will be having surprise special guests. Parents can wait with their children on the route and the Walking School Bus will pick them up and drop them off at school. Any questions call West Brookfield Elementary School at 508-867-4655.

West Brookfield Walks! every Tuesday. Meet us at the Merriam-Gilbert Library at 8:15 a.m. or the Walking School Bus can pick you up on the way. We will be traveling from the library down North Main Street to the elementary school. Principal Colleen Mucha will be leading and we will be having surprise special guests. Parents can wait with their children on the route and the Walking School. Bus will pick them up and drop them off at school. Any questions, call West Brookfield Elementary School at 508-867-4655.

A Warren knitting group invites people of all ages and abilities to join them. The group will meet on Tuesdays at the Warren Public Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your needles, yarn and any projects you are working on to share ideas, tips and tricks with fellow knitters. The Warren Public Library is located at 934 Main St., in downtown Warren. For more information, call (413) 436-7690.

Are you a 6th-12th grade girl? Do you like to be outdoors? Would you like to make the world a better place? Girl Scout Troop 11122 might be for you! They meet at Hitchcock Academy in Brimfield. If you are interested you can contact the troop leader Meg Kimball at (413) 297-5102.

350^TH QUABOAG PLANTATION ANNIVERSARY GARDEN TOUR Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11, 2010, gardens in all six Quaboag Plantation towns will welcome you to tour their flower, shrub, and vegetable gardens. Do you know of or have a garden in Brookfield, East Brookfield, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Warren, or West Brookfield that would be a good candidate for the tour? If you would like to be included on the tour, please contact either Don Roberts at 508-867-6498 (onsouthpond@charter.net) or Deb Morrison at 508-867-3324. Proceeds of the tour will be contributed to the Anniversary Celebration.

QUABBIN COMMUNITY BAND REHEARSALS Mondays, 7-9 p.m. in the Quabbin Regional High School band room, 800 South St., Barre. Current and new members welcome. Concerts are held every Sunday evening at the Harding Allen Bandstand, in Barre center, beginning June 21 and running until Aug. 16. Call 978-355-9879.

NORTH BROOKFIELD FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FOOD PANTRY is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ST. JOSEPH’S FOOD PANTRY in North Brookfield is open the first Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and the third Thursday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.

Story Hours for children 3-8 years old are being held at Warren Public Library, Main Street, Warren, on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Story Hours teach valuable social skills to children while they listen to stories, sing songs and make crafts. Children may be registered during library open hours Tuesday and Friday, 1:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday morning 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is seeking a musically talented co-leader who would enjoy using the new children’s musical instruments recently purchased in memory of William N. Wright. For more information, call the library at 436-7690.

BEDTIME SNACKS: A FAMILY STORY NIGHT the third Tuesday of each month from 7-7:30 p.m. in the Children’s Room at the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library. Each month a different beloved children's classic will be introduced. The library will supply the milk and cookies - participants are welcome to bring a favorite blanket and pillow to make themselves cozy. Additional copies of the book will be available for check-out, to finish reading the story together at home. A great family activity, reading together encourages literacy and exposes children to the deep enjoyment a book can provide.

The Quaboag Historical Society Museum, Front Street, in West Brookfield will be open each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special visitations will continue to be available by appointment by calling 508-867-5428. Admission is free.

American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Ware from 1-7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Ware Senior Center on 1 Robbins Road (behind Cumberland Farms). To ensure less time waiting, call The Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE for your appointment to donate. You must be at least 17 years old, 110 pounds and in good general health. Please bring ID. The need for blood is constant.

North Brookfield Cub Scouts are looking for experienced uniforms. These are uniforms in good condition that a former Cub Scout is not using any more. They can be turned in to Bob LaFlamme at Crowley Fuel office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

There’s something new at story hour this year at Warren Public Library on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. Brenna Cockerham is presenting music for kids, and Jamie Valois is doing her stories and crafts. Pre-school children may now be registered at the library Tuesday or Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inquiries may be made to 436-7690.

WARREN GARDEN CLUB meets 2^nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. New members welcome. Call Elizabeth at 436-7268 or e-mail elizabethjameskelley@verizon.net.

THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM is in desperate need of volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in North Brookfield on Wednesdays. If you can spare 2-3 hours each Wednesday, you could make a difference to a person in need. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and rewarded with the satisfaction that comes from helping others. Please consider volunteering for this vital program. Call Tri-Valley Elder Services Nutrition Site in West Brookfield at 508-867-1411.

SOUTHBRIDGE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK, Grace House, Sayles Street in Southbridge needs the following donated items: microwave (2), sofa, blankets, pots and pans, dishes and cups, small end tables, size 6 (girls) summer clothes. Two of the families from Grace House have been able to move out and are in need of a few items. If you have any of the items listed above that you would be willing to donate, contact Lynne, (St. Anne – St. Patrick SIHN Coordinator), by emailing dukefan1@cox.net or by calling 413-209-6526.

QUABOAG VALLEY RAILROADERS ASSOCIATION scale model railway display runs on the second Saturday of every month from noon to 4 p.m. above the Quaboag Historical Museum on Route 9 beside the East Brookfield Fire Station.

THE HASTON LIBRARY BOOK GROUP meets for lively discussions of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction on the third Tuesday of every month, from 7-9 p.m. at the Haston Free Public Library on Main Street in North Brookfield. New members are always welcome. To sign up for the Haston Book Group and order a selection, call the Library at 508-867-0208.

CRAFTING GROUP meets the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month from 6-8 p.m. at the Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in North Brookfield. Bring your current project with you or something you would like to learn. Call Connie at 508-867-6535, Lois at 508-867-8339 or Van at 508-347-9326

YOGA CLASS, 5:15 p.m., Wednesdays at the North Brookfield Senior Center. Cost is $20 for six-week session, with a minimum class size of 10. To reserve a space, call the senior center at (508) 867-0220.

Preschool story hour, 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield, for children ages 2.9 to 5.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH MRS. C-D 11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield.

Drop-in arts and crafts, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fridays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield. Special attention is available for school projects, with materials accessible and available at the library.

12-STEP OVERCOMERS PROGRAM 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Emmanuel Orthodox Church, 25 Winthrop St., Warren. This is a biblically-based program.

ADULT YOGA, 7 p.m. Mondays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield. Pre-registration required.

Pre-school Story Time with Sharon Champoux Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to noon. Provided by The Community Partnership for Children. Holiday note, no story time Wednesday Nov. 25.

Pre-school Story and music at Brookfield’s Merrick Public Library with Ms. Renee Coro will be held Fridays 11:30 a.m. to noon. Holiday Note, no music time Friday, Nov. 27

Computer Club for Adults at Brookfield’s Merrick Public Library Wednesdays 2-4 p.m. Supplies & assistance available for school projects. Home Deliveries, Fridays 3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. No home delivery Friday, November 27.

Pajama Story Time is being held Wednesdays, at 7 p.m. at Warren Public Library. Children are encouraged to attend in their pajamas and bring a blanket and pillow or their favorite stuffed animal. Parents and caregivers are asked to register at the library or call 436-7690 to sign up.