Family Movie Night
The Harvard Public Library will host a Family Movie Night for all ages Friday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m. with popcorn and water provided. Preregistration is requested.
Textiles of Bhutan Exhibit
The Fiber Loft and For Art’s Sake will sponsor a free lecture by fiber artist Cameron Taylor Brown on the Textiles of Bhutan Saturday, April 2, at 5 p.m. at the old library. Brown will share her experiences from a recent trekking and textiles adventure that took her to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, where traditional textile arts are integral to daily life. She will show images of the beautiful country, the people, and their textiles and will discuss the significance of textiles and crafts in Bhutanese culture.
School Open Houses
Evergreen Garden Playschool and Oxbow Schoolhouse will host open houses Sunday, April 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 270 Barnum Road in Devens. For more information about Evergreen Garden call 978-772-9595 or visit www.evergreengardenplayschool.org. For information about Oxbow Schoolhouse call 978-772-9500 or visit www.oxbowschoolhouse.org.
Story of Harvard Sweet Boutique
Sue George, owner of Harvard Sweet Boutique, will talk about turning a talent for baking cookies, brownies, and toffee into a thriving Internet business when she speaks at the Harvard Woman’s Club meeting Monday, April 4, at St. Theresa’s Parish Hall. George will lead listeners through the story of her homegrown success—how her background in software and talent for baking combined to create the successful mail-order business she started four years ago. Lunch will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by the meeting at 12:15 p.m. All are welcome.
Music and Movement at VNS
Village Nursery School invites children ages 2 to 5 and their parents to celebrate the national “Week of the Young Child” Wednesday, April 6, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at 40 Poor Farm Road. The program, which is free and open to the public, will offer an opportunity to enjoy music and movement activities led by Jennifer Hamilton. Children can enjoy a healthy snack, dance, sing, and explore the playground. RSVP by April 3 to 978-456-3993.
Bromfield Spring Concerts
The Bromfield High School Concert Choir, Middle School Chorus, and Grade 6 Chorus will perform a variety of pieces Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in Cronin Auditorium. The High School Concert Choir, together with Harvard Pro Musica, will offer a sneak preview of their upcoming joint performance of Mozart’s Requiem, which will be performed with the Orchestra of Indian Hill Saturday, May 7.
The Bromfield High School Wind Ensemble, Middle School Symphonic Band, and Grade 6 Concert Band will perform a selection of world music Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m., also at Cronin. Both student concerts are free and the public is very welcome to attend. Visit www.harvardpromusica.org for more information about the May concert.
Bromfield Middle School Drama
The Bromfield Middle School Drama Club will present two one-act plays by Alan Haehnel, The Chronicles of Jane, Book Seven and Will and Whimsy, Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in Cronin Auditorium. Jane, a teenager of great prowess played by Becca Morin, assembles her friends and followers so she can retell the story of one of the greatest challenges in her heroic career—The Term Paper. Will and Whimsy is a funny and touching look at Shakespeare’s sonnets in which modern interpretations play hand-in-hand with the original text. The production is directed by Martha Brooks, with choreography by Melissa Hoffmann. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for other adults. For more information e-mail mbrooks@psharvard.org.
Harvard Schools Trust Annual Dinner-Theater Gala
The Harvard Schools Trust will host its 22nd annual Dinner-Theater Gala Saturday, April 9. The Gala will begin in Cronin Auditorium at 6 p.m. with a performance of The Yellow Boat by David Saar, the Bromfield Drama Society’s entry in this year’s Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. The play will be followed by dinner, dessert, and a silent auction at 7:15 p.m. at the Fellowship Building, 7 Elm St. Tickets are $50 per person, payable by check to the Harvard Schools Trust and mailed to P.O. Box 450, Harvard, MA 01451; or payable by PayPal at www.harvardschoolstrust.org. Half of the cost of each Gala ticket is tax-deductible. All proceeds from the Gala will be used to fund grant requests for educational enrichment programs at Hildreth Elementary School and the Bromfield School. For more information contact Harvard Schools Trust at 978-456-5085 or e-mail galainfo@harvardschoolstrust.org.
Lego Expo
The Harvard Public Library will host a Lego Expo Saturday, April 9, with age group exhibits as follows: ages 3 to 5 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., ages 6 to 8 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and ages 9 to 12, teens (13 to 18), and adults from 2:30 to 3:30 at the library. Participants can bring constructions of their own design to the Expo to share with others and to be judged. Preregister at the Children’s Room, which also has construction guidelines and other helpful tips about the Expo. For more information call the library at 978-456-2381.
Vernal Pools at Oxbow NWR
Join Rona Balco for a look at the vernal pools at Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge Sunday, April 10, from 1 to 3 p.m., starting from the Still River Depot Road parking lot. Preregister with Rona at 978-779-2259.
Discovery Days at the Historical Society
The Harvard Historical Society will host a series of Discovery Days the third Sunday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Still River Meeting House, 215 Still River Road. Each Discovery Day will feature a different aspect of the Society’s collection, and an expert will be on hand to give a brief presentation and to answer questions. The discovery for Sunday, April 17, will be items from the Society’s collection of Civil War memorabilia, including poignant letters from 24-year-old Charles Sprague, relating the horrors of war to his sister. Kevin Foster, a history teacher at Bromfield and a self-professed Civil War buff, will share his knowledge and passion. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated to help support the ongoing operations of HHS.
Concert at the Common
Concerts at the Common will host the Dearing Concert Duo with music by DeFalla, Piazzolla, Granados, Dyens, and Britten, for voice, flute, and guitar Sunday, April 17, at 4 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of the Common. The concert is supported in part by grants from the Bolton, Harvard, and Stow Cultural councils. General admission tickets are $18, discounted to 15 for seniors and $12 for students under age 18. For more information visit http://dearingconcertduo.com or www.uuharvard.org, or call or 978-779-2876.
OUT OF TOWN
April Fool’s Fundraiser
Celebration, Bromfield’s after-prom party organization, will be the beneficiary of a Friday April Fool’s Day fundraiser Friday, April 1, at McDonald’s at the Ayer Rotary. McDonald’s will donate all profits from sales between 5 and 7 p.m. to Celebrations. Just eat-in, drive-thru, or purchase gift cards to participate.
Ragtime: The Musical in Concord
Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord will present the Tony award-winning show Ragtime: The Musical April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. and April 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. The production features a diverse cast of more than 40 talented actors from all over the MetroWest area, including Harvard, a 20-member live orchestra, and many beautiful songs. The musical is based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow about the social upheaval and change in early 20th-century American society resulting from immigration, racism, industrialization, and political anarchy. Historical figures such as Henry Ford, Harry Houdini, and Booker T. Washington intermingle with fictional characters from three families. Tickets are $20, discounted to $15 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets visit www.emersonumbrella.org or call the Emerson Umbrella office at 978-371-0820.
Steep Canyon Rangers Concert to Benefit NRWA
The Steep Canyon Rangers will perform a benefit concert for Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m. at Lawrence Academy in Groton. The Rangers are a band from North Carolina, with multiple awards and four albums. Tickets purchased in advance are $25 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and younger; tickets purchased at the door will be $30 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the NRWA. To purchase tickets online, go to www.MKTix.com/nrwa. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 978-448-0299. Advance ticket sales end Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m.
Ayer Masonic Breakfast
The Ayer Masonic Association will hold its monthly fundraising breakfast Sunday, April 3, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Ayer Masonic Center, 11 Sculley Road in Ayer. The menu will include eggs cooked to order or pancakes, with bacon or sausage, potatoes, toast, juice, and coffee.
Icon Workshop in Bolton
Bolton resident and icon artist Chelsea Monroe-Cassel will hold a four-session introduction to iconography at the First Parish of Bolton, April 4, 6, 11, and 13. The workshop, which is open to the public, will provide participants with an opportunity during Lent to step outside daily activities and focus on a unique spiritual discipline. Students will learn about early icons and their images, while completing an icon of Archangel Gabriel and acquiring the basic knowledge to write other icons. Monroe-Cassel works at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton. She also creates her own icons on natural rock and driftwood. The $150 class fee includes four sessions and admission to the Museum of Russian Icons. Registration is online at www.terramareicons.com or by calling 617-435-4765.
Oak Meadow Open House
Oak Meadow Montessori School will host an Admission Parent Group Tour Monday, April 4, from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at 2 Old Pickard Lane in Littleton. To register, call 978-486-9874 ext. 226 or e-mail admissions@oakmeadow.org. For more information visit www.oakmeadow.org.
Once On This Island Performance
Open Door Theater will present Once On This Island April 1, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and April 2, 3, 9, and 10 at 2:30 p.m. at the Dragonfly Theater at R. J. Grey Junior High, 16 Charter Road, Acton. Harvard residents taking part in the production include Sabrina Hildreth and Rachel Makosky acting on stage and Rachel Leicher backstage as the lighting designer. The musical is a tale of romance between a peasant girl and a rich city boy from the other side of the island whom she rescues from a storm. Tickets are available online at www.MKTix.com and through cast members. Individual tickets are $10 each; group rates and back-stage tours are available for youth organizations. For more information e-mail tickets@opendoortheater.org or check the Open Door website at www.opendoortheater.org.
Caregiver Support Programs
A series of free education and support programs will be held Tuesdays during April from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Acton Medical Associates, 321 Main St. in Acton. The programs are for those taking care of a spouse, a parent, family member or friend. The program for Tuesday, April 5, is “How to Help Your Loved One Plan for the Future: Assisted Living and other Health care Options” with Nancy Catalini Chew from the Law Offices of Nancy Catalini Che, Harvard. Space is limited. To register call Allison Galbraith at Acton Medical, 978-263-1131 or e-mail Anne Marie Rowse from Senior Care Advisors at amrowse@sca-ma.com.
Applewild Open House
Applewild School, an independent school for grades K through 8, will host a Take-a-Look Morning open house the first Thursday of each month. Prospective parents are invited to meet at 9 a.m. at the Crocker Building, 120 Prospect St. in Fitchburg to tour the school and see teachers and students in action. No RSVP is necessary. For more information call 978-342-6053, ext. 110, or visit www.applewild.org.
Fostering Environmental Stewardship
Applewild School will host “A Belief in the Future: Fostering Environmental Stewardship and Civic Engagement in the Next Generation” Thursday, April 7, at Applewild School Center for the Performing Arts, 90 Prospect St. in Fitchburg. The program will include The Work of 1000, a documentary film featuring Marion Stoddart and the cleanup of the Nashua River. Events will start with community sharing and refreshments at 5:15 p.m., followed by the film at 6 p.m., and, at 6:30 p.m., a panel discussion with Marion Stoddart, Mayor Lisa Wong, Applewild science teacher Dr. Julia Miles, and moderator Maura Lyons. The public, including families with children in fourth grade and higher, is invited to the free event. For more information call 978-342-6053, ext. 215.
Jane Yolen at Bolton Author Festival
Jane Yolen, who published her 300th children’s book this year, will head up the list of 10 award-winning authors at the third Bolton Author Festival Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bolton Public Library. The festival is free and open to the public. Yolen, who used to live in Bolton, wrote her book Owl Moon about “owling” at night with her children outside her house on Still River Road. Other authors at the festival will include Scott Nash, illustrator of the Flat Stanley books, Heidi Stemple, Jeanne Brett, Karen Day, Jamie Harper, Ralph Masiello, Suzy Becker, Melinda Hardin and Amy MacDonald. Authors will be reading, selling, and signing their books. Themed baskets of signed books and goodies will be raffled off and homemade pies will be for sale. The event is sponsored by The Friends of the Bolton Public Library. Visit www.boltonlibraryfriends.org for more information or contact Mary Delaney at 978-852-3792 or marygdelaney@comcast.net.
Don Quixote: Three Ways
The Orchestra at Indian Hill will perform Don Quixote: Three Ways, three different musical settings of “Don Quixote” by Strauss, Telemann, and Ravel, Saturday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Littleton High School, 56 King St. in Littleton, A preconcert talk will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $45. Call 978-486-9524 ext. 116 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org.
Caregiver Support Programs
A series of free education and support programs will be held Tuesdays during April from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Acton Medical Associates, 321 Main St. in Acton. The programs are for those taking care of a spouse, a parent, family member or friend. Upcoming programs include:
- Tuesday, April 12: “Coping with Depression and Other Challenging Behaviors in the Elderly” with Charles Wasserman, psychiatrist from Emerson Hospital
- Tuesday, April 19: “Assisting Your Loved One – Managing their Diabetes,” Peg Mikkola, registered dietitian with Minuteman Senior Services in Burlington
- Tuesday, April 26: “Sleep Changes As We Age,” Neil Kruszkowski, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services from Emerson Hospital
Space is limited. To register call Allison Galbraith at Acton Medical, 978-263-1131 or e-mail Anne Marie Rowse from Senior Care Advisors at amrowse@sca-ma.com.
Worcester Chamber Music Concert
Worcester Chamber Music Society musicians will perform The Bohemians, pieces by Dvorak, Martinu, and Schulhoff, Saturday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Assumption College Chapel, 500 Salisbury St. in Worcester, and Sunday, April 10, at 3 p.m. at Oakham Congregational Church, 6 Coldbrook Road in Oakham. Preconcert talks will be held 30 minutes before each concert. The Worcester concert is free; admission in Oakham is $25 adults, $20 seniors, $10 college students, and children under age 17 free.
Indian Hill Music School Piano Recital
A select group of Indian Hill Music School piano students from the community will perform in the school’s annual Honors Recital Sunday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at Indian Hill Music, 36 King St. in Littleton. Admission is free. Call 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org.
Food Fight in Clinton
Food Fight offers an eye-opening look at why the food we eat has changed so much over time and how local solutions like local farmers and home-grown vegetables are changing things for the better. The documentary will be shown Sunday, April 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the historic Strand Theatre in Clinton. Tickets can be purchased online at www.growingplaces.org or by calling 978-598-3723. Tickets benefit Growing Places Garden Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the food security and nutrition education of families in need in our community.
Concord Walking Tour
Walk ‘n’ Mass Volkssport Club has created self-guided walking tours of the many historic sites of Concord, including the Old North Bridge, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the Minute Man National Park, Louisa May Alcott House, Colonial Inn, and travels through downtown Concord. The guide is available in the walk box at the Rite Aid Pharmacy, 71 Lowell Road in Concord, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two routes, 3.1 and 6.2 miles, are rated reasonably easy but are not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. For further information call 603-881-9128, e-mail Lindakipnes@earthlink.net, or visit www.ava.org/clubs/walknmass.
