Harvard Adult Education flyers on their way
Harvard Adult Education flyers will be in your mailbox soon. New classes include CPR, first aid, quilting, gouache painting, and more. The flyer is available now online at www.psharvard.org. For more information, contact Community Education at 978-456-4118 or email jcavanaugh@psharvard.org.
Habitat for Humanity seeks families for new homes
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts is looking for families in need of simple, decent, and affordable homes to be built in Sterling and other towns in north central Massachusetts in 2012. Those interested in applying for a Habitat for Humanity home are invited to attend one of the following information meetings: Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., Fitchburg Fire Station, 33 North St., Fitchburg; or Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m., Fitchburg Fire Station, 33 North St., Fitchburg.
All applicants in a household must attend one of these sessions to apply.
Habitat for Humanity builds simple, decent, affordable housing with people in need. Habitat homes are not given away, but sold at cost with a zero- or low-interest mortgage. Partner/homeowners work alongside Habitat volunteers and staff to help build the home.
Applicants must meet three criteria established by Habitat for Humanity International:
- Applicant's current housing is unsafe or provides inadequate living conditions.
- Applicants can demonstrate a steady income, but not make enough to qualify for a standard mortgage (e.g. a family of four would have an annual of income of $24,650 - $49,260).
- Applicants must have a willingness to put in hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" in the building of their home or the homes of other Habitat families.
Habitat encourages all those interested to attend an information meeting. Less-than-perfect credit or lack of savings may not prevent qualification for a Habitat mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, Christian ecumenical housing ministry that builds simple, decent houses with people in need. Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital or family status, disability, sex, age, sexual preference.
To donate funds or new materials, or to learn about construction and non-construction volunteer opportunities, visit www.ncmhabitat.org or contact the office at 978-348-2749 or email office@ncmhabitat.org.
From Town Hall: When are tax bills mailed and payments due?
Bills are mailed twice per year for real estate and personal property. The first and second quarters (preliminary tax) will continue to be sent out together on June 30, and the third and fourth quarters (actual tax) will now be sent out together on Dec. 31. Retain your bills in a safe place and make a note as to when they are due.
- 1st Quarter (preliminary) covers July, August, and September. Bills due Aug. 1.
- 2nd Quarter (preliminary) covers October, November, and December. Bills due Nov. 1.
- 3rd Quarter (actual) covers January, February, and March. Bills due Feb. 1.
- 4th Quarter (actual) covers April, May, and June. Bills due May 1.
Noa reopening at Fruitlands
Noa Jewelry, Fine Handcrafts & Gifts is reopening at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, on Saturday, Jan. 14. In conjunction with the Museum's WinterFest celebration, which will run every Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 26 from 1 to 5 p.m., the store will feature its artisan jewelry and handmade gifts.
"Many people aren't aware that this is the perfect place when you need a birthday or anniversary gift, or even a last-minute child's birthday party gift. We even have baby items," said Noa owner Ian Scofidio. "We are also here when you need to shop for Valentine's Day this year. We find that once our Harvard and Bolton customers find us and realize how convenient this location is, they're delighted. They just have always thought they needed to leave town to go shopping and have never thought of Fruitlands as a place they can shop."
Harvard Woman's Club calls to crafters and artists
The Harvard Woman's Club is putting out a call to artists and crafters to reserve your table at Handmade Harvard, an arts and crafts fair to be held on March 3 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building at 7 Elm St.
Reserve your space now, which includes a 6-foot table for $35. The deadline for application is Feb. 14, and applicants will be chosen on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information and an application form, contact Bess Haire at 978-456-8618 or besshaire@charter.net.
Artists and crafters are invited to donate an item for the Silent Auction to take place on the day of the event. For information contact Anne Hentz at 978-772-9889, anne@annehentzinteriors.com.
All proceeds will benefit local non-profit community organizations, student scholarships, and veterans' groups.
Well Adult Clinic
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, in conjunction with the Harvard Board of Health, announces that a Well Adult Clinic will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Hildreth House, 15 Elm St., Harvard. Drop in for blood pressure, pulse screening, and diet teaching. No appointment is necessary.
For further information, contact Nashoba Associated Boards of Health at 978-772-3335 or 1-800-427-9762 x333.
Master planning survey
As the next step in the Master Plan visioning process, the Master Plan Steering Committee is asking all Harvard residents to respond to a survey, to help the committee make decisions about Devens, town center, the commercial district, regionalization, housing, energy, and conservation. The focus of the survey is, What should Harvard look like in 2022? with questions framed by what residents said they wanted at the town-wide forum on Nov. 19.
Take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/harvardplan2012.
According to the committee, the survey is also available in paper copy at the library and Hildreth House.
The survey closes Jan. 31. Results will be available at the second town-wide forum, scheduled for March 3.
For more information, the committee invites residents to visit its website at www.harvardmasterplan.org.