HES Festival of Cultures
The Harvard Parent-Teachers Organization will sponsor its third annual Festival of Cultures, Friday, March 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Hildreth Elementary School. The festival has two parts; attendance for the whole event is encouraged. In the HES gym from 6 to 7:15 p.m. visitors will have a chance to visit with “ambassadors” from more than 18 countries, including Haiti. The “ambassadors” are HES family members who have direct experience in the country they represent. Students will use “passports,” stamped by the ambassadors, to track the countries they visit as they travel the world. During the first portion of the event, there will be an international silent auction of donated items from around the world. At 7:15 p.m. the event will move to the cafetorium for live international performances from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. No food will be served, so visitors should plan to eat before coming. Visit web.me.com/deb.barton for more details and to view photos from previous festivals. (3/12)
Warner Free Lecture: ‘To Bee or Not to Bee’
The secret lives of bees and the recent disease problems in the honeybee population will be the topic of the next Warner Free Lecture Series presentation Friday, March 12, at 8 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the public library. Photographer and Harvard resident Ellen Harasimowicz and West Boylston author Loree Griffin Burns will talk about the book they have written, The Hive Detectives, which explores the fascinating lives of these ordinary-seeming insects. (3/12)
Massachusetts High School Drama Festival at Cronin Auditorium
On Saturday, March 13, the Bromfield School will be one of seven schools state-wide to host the semi-final round of the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. Performances, open to the public, start at 9:30 a.m. at the Cronin Auditorium. Admission is $10 for six plays. Participants will be Newburyport High School, Nauset High School, Bromfield (with their performance of Defying Gravity at 12:30 p.m.), Tyngsborough High School, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, and Notre Dame Academy. (3/12)
Harvard Lions 19th Annual Fruit Sale
The Harvard Lions Club will hold its annual citrus sale Saturdays, March 13 and 20, from 8 a.m. to 2.p.m. at the transfer station, and Saturdays and Sundays, March 13, 14, 20, and 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the town center. Fruit will also be available at the transfer station Wednesday, March 17, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Royal Ruby Red grapefruit and Valencia oranges will be sold in 20-pound and 40-pound boxes (for $24 and $36) and in a mixed 20-pound box for $26. Carlson Orchards will store fruit in cold storage between sale dates. People who can’t get to the sale sites can order ahead by contacting Rick Veltri at rickv@charter.net or call 978-456-8795. (3/19)
The Flaming Lips’ Zaireeka at HPL
Harvard Public Library Friends of the Arts will play Zaireeka on four stereo systems in Volunteers Hall at the Harvard Public Library Saturday, March 13, at 7 p.m. Warner Brothers released Zaireeka in 1997 in four compact discs meant to be played alone or in unison, on up to four two-channel playback systems. That the systems may not quite be in sync or operate at slightly different speeds is not an issue. The point is to allow for randomness within the structure of the “song” and hear the results. Admission is free. Call the library at 978-456-4114 to reserve a seat. (3/12)
Concerts at the Common
The Concerts at the Common series will present internationally acclaimed pianist Chad R. Bowles Sunday, March 14, at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. Bowles will perform music of Joseph Haydn, Enrique Granados, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Franz Liszt, and Vincenzo Bellini/Franz Liszt. Tickets are $18; refreshments will be served. For more information visit www.chadrbowles.com or call Eleanor Toth at 978-779-2876. (3/12)
Shaker Song Workshop at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum will sponsor a Shaker Song Workshop Sunday, March 14, at 1 p.m. at the museum. The two-hour workshop, led by Nancy McDowell, Shaker musicologist and founder and president of New England Voices, will explore the history of Shaker music through performance and audience participation. All ages are welcome. Admission will be $10 for members and seniors, $15 for nonmember adults, and $5 for children. (3/12)
Well-Adult Clinic
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, in conjunction with the Harvard Board of Health, will hold a Well-Adult Clinic Tuesday, March 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Hildreth House. Residents can drop in for blood sugar check, blood pressure and pulse screening, and diet instruction. No appointment is necessary. For more information contact Nashoba Nursing Service & Hospice at 978-425-6675 or 800-698-3307 or visit www.nashoba.org. (3/12)
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museums will host a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner with micro-brewed beer pairings, Wednesday, March 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the museum on Prospect Hill. Paul Correnty, head chef of Harvard Public Schools, and Chris Basile of the Quarterdeck Restaurant in Maynard will create classical Irish dishes paired with micro-brewed beers from Blue Hills Brewery in Canton. Admission is $59.95 (plus tax) per person and reservations are required by calling 978-897-9165. For more information and a look at the menu, visit www.fruitlands.org (3/12)
Drop-In Playspace at Evergreen Garden Playschool
Parents of children ages 4 months to 3 years are invited to a Wednesday morning drop-in playspace with their children from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 270 Barnum Road in Devens. The next two will take place Wednesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 24. The program will run weekly through May. Suggested donation is $5 to $10; no registration required. For more information contact sarah@egplayschool.com, call 978-772-9595 or visit www.evergreengardenplayschool.org. (3/19)
Lenten Supper Program at Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity Parish’s Take 5 Series for Lent will continue Wednesday, March 17, at St. Theresa’s Church. A soup and bread dinner will start at 6 p.m. and Sister Dorothy Scesny’s talk, “We rise again from the ashes,” will begin at 7 p.m. All are welcome. (3/12)
Ballroom Dancing for Teens
Instructor Phyllis Norton will offer ballroom dancing for Harvard students. Classes for students in grades 9 through 12 will be Fridays, March 19 and 26, and April 16 and 30, just in time for the prom. There will be a similar class for students in grades 5 and 6. Registration forms are available at www.psharvard.org (click on Parents & Community, After School, Crosslinks or Spectrum) or at the Community Education office at the Bromfield House. For more information call 978-456-4118 or e-mail jcavanaugh@psharvard.org. (3/19)
Oxbow Wildlife Refuge Walk
The Friends of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (Oxbow NWR) will lead a walk to discover the early signs of spring Saturday, March 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Oxbow NWR at Still River Depot Road. If there is still snow cover, participants may bring snowshoes and/or cross-country skis. To preregister (required) call Rona Balco at 978-779-2259. (3/19)
Woodwind Quintet at Volunteers Hall
Pentamerus Winds, a woodwind quintet, will play a free recital Sunday, March 21, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Volunteers Hall. The concert is sponsored by a grant from the Harvard Cultural Council. For more information, contact Carolyn Grant, at 978-456-8233 or e-mail csgrant00@charter.net. (3/19)
Carrie Newcomer in Concert
Singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer will perform in Volunteers Hall at the library Friday, March 26. Doors open at 7 p.m.; concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited; call the library at 978-456-4114 to reserve tickets. Due to great demand, tickets may not be available the evening of the concert. (3/26)
The Harvard Schools Trust Annual Dinner-Theater Gala
The Harvard Schools Trust is taking reservations for its annual Spring Dinner-Theater Gala, slated for Saturday, April 10. The gala will begin at 6 p.m. with a production by the Bromfield Drama Society at the Cronin Auditorium, directly followed by dinner and dessert at Fruitlands. The gala will feature its popular raffle, including Red Sox tickets, dinner at Not Your Average Joe’s, seasonal wreaths from Nature Contained, and Chef Paul’s famous soups. Tickets are $55 per person. Checks should be made payable to Harvard Schools Trust, P.O. Box 450, Harvard, MA 01451. (Half of the cost of each Gala ticket is considered a tax-deductible donation) For more information contact the Harvard Schools Trust at 978-456-5085, visit www.harvardschoolstrust.org/hst_gala.htm, or e-mail galainfo@harvardschoolstrust.org. (3/26)
OUT OF TOWN
Coffeehouse Performance
Singer, songwriter, humorist, and author Don White will perform at the New Revival Coffeehouse Friday, March 12, at 8 p.m. at 353 Great Road in Stow. Tickets are $15 and available at www.fpc-stow-acton.org/Coffeehouse.html. (3/12)
Teen Open Mic
Indian Hill Music School will host a Jammin’ on the Hill open mic night for teens ages 13 to 18, Friday, March 12, from 7 to 10 p.m. at 36 King St. in Littleton. Local bands and solo acts are invited to perform. Light refreshments will be served. There will be a $5 cover charge for audience and performers. Call 978-486-9524 or e-mail sal@indianhillmusic.org to request a spot. More information is available at www.indianhillmusic.org. (3/12)
Bartok Concerto
The Orchestra of Indian Hill will perform Bela Bartok’s “Concerto for Orchestra” Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Littleton High School, 56 King St., Littleton. Artistic Director Bruce Hangen and the orchestra will present an on-stage preview and performance of this important 20th-century masterwork. Hangen will discuss Bertok’s life and music in a preconcert talk at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $48, $35, $22, and $15 for students. For more information call 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org. (3/12)
Tap the Sap with the NRWA
Nashua River Watershed Association educators/naturalists will offer a free “Tap the Sap” maple sugaring program Saturday, March 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m, in Groton. Families can try tapping century-old sugar maples, observe backyard syrup production, play sugaring games, and enjoy a delicious sample. Visit www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org for more information. (3/12)
Good-Wil Sunday Music Brunch Series
The Good-Wil Sunday Music Brunch Series will continue Sunday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fitchburg High School, 140 Arn-How Farm Road in Fitchburg. The brunch will feature an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, continuous raffles, local vendors, and live music by the seven-piece Wil Darcangelo Band. Tickets are $10 for seniors and children ages 5 to 12, $15 for adults, $44 for a family of up to six people; children younger than 5 are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at www.Good-Wil.org. (3/12)
Mind-Body Talk
The Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center in Lancaster will host “Depression-Proof Your Life! The Mind-Body Way to Vitality,” a talk by Nancy Liebler, Ph.D., Sunday, March 14, at 2 p.m. at the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center, 679 George Hill Road in Lancaster. Liebler is a clinical psychologist, professor, lecturer, and co-author of Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way Life! The Mind-Body Way to Vitality. The lecture is free; an RSVP is requested but not required. For more information call 978-365-4549, e-mail info@lancasterhealth.com, or visit www.lancasterhealth.com. (3/12)
Series for Caregivers
Acton and Littleton Councils on Aging are offering a free “Education and Support Series for Caregivers” each Monday in March. The next program, “The Difference between Medicare and Medicaid and How Medical Insurance Can Impact Caregiving,” will take place Monday, March 15, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Acton’s Senior Center, 50 Audubon Drive. Monday, March 22, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Tracey Ingle of Ingle Law will talk about “The Nuts and Bolts of the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit – Who is Eligible?” at Acton Medical Center. To register for either program call Allison at 978-263-1131, ext. 310. (3/19)
Beetles vs. Purple Loosestrife
The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) and the Stewardship Committee of the Squannassit and Petapawag Areas of Critical Environmental Concern will sponsor a free orientation and training workshop on raising Galerucella beetles to combat invasive purple loosestrife Tuesday, March 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main St. (Route 119) in Groton. Registration is requested, but not required. To sign up for the workshop contact Rick Muehlke, NRWA Land Programs and Outreach assistant, at 978-448-0299, or e-mail at RickM@NashuaRiverWatershed.org. (3/12)
St. CATrick’s Day Cat Adoption
The Sterling Shelter will sponsor St. CATrick’s Day, a special one-day adoption event, Wednesday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the shelter in Sterling. Adoption fees for any cat at least one year old will be reduced from $100 to $50. The Sterling Shelter will assure that all cats have been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated for their age, FIV/leukemia tested, and vet checked. The shelter will also provide a bag of food, a cat carrier, and a free post-adoption exam with one of 50 VCA Animal Hospitals in New England. (3/12)
Bach’s Lunch Concert
Indian Hill Music School’s free monthly faculty series will present soprano Dr. Nancy Leinonen Howells singing songs that are all about love, from classical to cabaret, with pianist Michael Havay, Thursday, March 18, from noon to 1 p.m, at 36 King St. in Littleton. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be served; bring your own lunch. For more information call 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org. (3/12)
‘Democracy in the Balance’ Forum
The Alliance for Democracy (North Bridge chapter), ConcordCAN, Carlisle Climate Action, and the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle will sponsor “Democracy in the Balance: Corporate Power in Politics,” a free public presentation, Friday, March 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Trinitarian-Congregational Church, 54 Walden St. in Concord. The forum, with a panel of experts, will discuss Citizens United v. FEC, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that will affect corporate participation in elections. For more information, visit www.lwvcc.com, e-mail DemocracyForum@lwvcc.com or call 978-369-3842 (3/12)
Diabetes Discussion Group
Emerson Hospital will host a free diabetes discussion group Friday, March 19, at 10 a.m. in the first floor conference room at 54 Baker Ave. Extension in Concord. Guest speaker Swan E. Anderson incorporates Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ancient art of harmonizing the life energy in the body, in her wellness practice. For more information contact Cheryl Laundry at 978-287-8590. (3/19)
Indian Hill Performathon
Indian Hill Music School students and faculty will offer two days of free recitals featuring all musical styles, from jazz to classical, Friday evening, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, all day, at 36 King St. in Littleton. Contributions will benefit the Indian Hill Music School Scholarship Fund, which awards more than $37,000 in need-based scholarships annually. More information is available at 978-486-9524 or www.indianhillmusic.org. (3/19)
Great Meadows Walk
Musketequid and Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge will co-sponsor a walk at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, March 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the refuge on Monsen Road, off Route 62 in Concord. Local naturalist, botanist, and photographer Cherrie Corey will lead an exploration of the landscape, plants, and seasonal wonders of Great Meadows. Preregistration is not required. A $5 per person donation will be accepted. For more information e-mail cherrie.corey@verizon.net or call 978-760-1933. (3/19)
Gallery at Dunia: “Visual Conversations”
The Gallery at Dunia will host a free artist reception for Salem-based artist Carol Dearborn Sunday, March 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at 43 Nason St. in Maynard. The Gallery is showing Dearborn’s “Visual Conversations” exhibition, now through April 24, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dearborn specializes in unconventional landscapes, incorporating abstract expressionist and symbolist ideas to explore inanimate soul and transcendent energy; exploring the boundaries between the material and the supernatural. (3/19)
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Open House
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School will hold its annual open house Wednesday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1050 Westminster St., Route 2A, at the Fitchburg-Westminster line. The snow date is Thursday, March 25. The general public and prospective students and their families are invited to tour the school and see firsthand students and teachers working on projects in the school’s 20 career programs. A spaghetti and meatball supper will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Tickets $3 and children under 5 are free. The 14th annual Monty Tech Antique Car Show will also be held that evening. (3/19)