Art Exhibit at the General Store
The Harvard Public Library will present, in collaboration with the Harvard General Store, a special painting exhibition titled “Agnes Abbot: A Look at the Landscape,” May 1 through 30, upstairs at the General Store. An opening reception will take place Friday, May 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Organized by independent curator Pamela Clark Cochrane, the exhibition will include 15 watercolors from the library’s collection (available for purchase; proceeds to benefit the library) alongside a collection of Abbot’s paintings borrowed from local public and private collections. Agnes Abbot (1897–1992) lived in Harvard for many years. She is best known for her landscape paintings. A member of the New England Watercolor Society, Pen and Brush, the Guild of Boston Artists, and the National Association of Women Artists, her works are in many private and public collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fogg Museum, and Wellesley College’s Davis Museum. For more information contact Pam Cochrane at pccochrane@gmail.com or 978-456-2349. (5/1)
Family Movie Night
The Harvard Public Library will host a family movie night Friday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m., when the movie will be The Tale of Despereaux (G). Popcorn and water will be served. Pre-registration is requested to ensure a sufficient supply of popcorn which will be for sale. (5/1)
Bird Walk
Fruitlands Museum invites the public to a morning bird walk Saturday, May 2, led by local birder Pat White. The group will be looking for “local residents” and early arrivals, including eastern towhees, rose-breasted grosbeaks, black-and-white warblers, pine warblers, chipping sparrows, veery, blue-headed vireos, and wild turkeys. Birders should expect to walk about two miles on trails through meadows and woods, with some steep sections and wet areas, and should bring binoculars, a field guide, and tick repellent. Meet at 6:30 a.m. in the first parking lot at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road. Call Pat White at 978-456-8127 for more information. (5/1)
Change Drive
Girl Scout Troop 30749 will collect change for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Saturday, May 2, at Annual Town Meeting and Tuesday, May 5, on election day, at the Bromfield School. The change collected will be used to purchase new children’s underwear and socks for Loaves & Fishes clients. (5/1)
Ducky Wucky Ticket Sales
The Ayer-Harvard-Shirley-Devens Rotary Club members will sell raffle tickets Saturday, May 2, at the transfer station for the 19th annual Ducky Wucky River Race on the Nashua River May 9. Holder of the ticket corresponding to the winning rubber duck wins the grand prize: dinner for two anywhere in the world. “Adoptions” are $5 for one duck; a flock of five costs $20. Proceeds benefit local charities supported by the Rotary Club. All tickets sold by Loaves & Fishes will directly benefit that organization and can be purchased at the pantry on Barnum Road at Devens. (5/8)
Harvard Schools Trust Dinner-Theater Gala
The Harvard Schools Trust annual Dinner-Theater Gala will be held Saturday, May 2. Community members can choose to attend both the dinner and the drama production, or to attend the drama production only. There are still some tickets and unlimited raffle tickets available. Raffle tickets can be purchased separately; ticket-holders need not be present to claim their prizes.
The play Misconception, an original play written by Bromfield’s advanced acting class, will be performed before dinner, with the curtain scheduled to go up at 6 p.m. in the Cronin Auditorium. For those also attending the dinner, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert will follow the performance at a number of host homes.
Details about the event and the raffle prizes, as well as ticket order forms, can be found at several locations around town or by visiting www.harvardschoolstrust.org. (5/1)
Choral Concert
The Congregational Church of Harvard will host a concert by the Allegra Regional Girls Choir of Connecticut Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m. This group of 50 singers, ranging in age from 6 to 17 years old, is from the United Choir School, one of New England’s most highly acclaimed girls choral programs. The concert is free and open to all. For more information call Sharon Schmidt at 978-772-1453 or the church at 978-456-8788. (5/1)
Environmental Walk-a-Thon
The Bromfield Environmental Group will hold a walk-a-thon on Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise climate awareness and funds. The walk will start at the Bromfield School and loop around Old Littleton, Pinnacle, and Oak Hill Roads. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided for all participants. Everyone is welcome. For more information contact Helen Kilian at 978-456-8498 or helen.kilian@gmail.com. (5/1)
Organ and Brass Concert
Concerts at the Common will present organ and brass music Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church. Performing on the organ will be Paul Cienniwa, who has performed in France, New York, Chicago, and Boston. In addition to leading Newport Baroque, he is director of Sine Nomine choral ensemble and is music director at First Church of Boston, where he can be heard weekly on WERS (88.9 FM) Boston. Another guest performer will be Jim Phelan, an active horn soloist and chamber music performer both in the United States and abroad, who plays in the Massachusetts Symphony and Concord Orchestra. Phelan has invited four brass players to join him for this occasion. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 978-779-2876. Free refreshments will be available. (5/1)
Superstar Productions Drama Workshop
Superstar Productions Youth Theatre is accepting registrations for its spring drama workshop, Honk Jr., presented through the Harvard school system’s Spectrum after-school enrichment program. Students in third through fifth grade are eligible to sign up for the workshop, and everyone who registers will get a part in the show. The registration deadline is May 5. Biweekly rehearsals will begin Thursday, May 14, after school at Harvard Elementary School and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday for all cast members. The workshop will culminate in two performances of Honk Jr. in the Bromfield School’s Cronin Auditorium June 27 and 28. For more information go to www.superstarproductions.org or e-mail superstars@charter.net. (5/1)
Hurdy Gurdy, Monkey and Me
The library will host an original version of an age-old organ grinder and monkey act at the library Tuesday, May 5, at 1:30 p.m. with Coco, a live performing monkey, and her sidekick, Tony, the Hurdy Gurdy man. Weather permitting, the program will take place outdoors for an unlimited crowd. In case of rain, pre-registration for limited indoor seating will be required. Harvard residents can pre-register in the Children’s Room at the library. The program is supported by a grant from the Harvard Cultural Council. (5/1)
WBN Meeting
The Women’s Business Network (WBN) will hold its May luncheon Wednesday, May 6, at noon in the blossoming gardens of the Healing Garden at 145 Bolton Road. Members should bring their own lunch and are invited to bring a friend, whether she’s in business or not. The cost is a small donation to the Healing Garden—a minimum of $5, payable to the Healing Garden, but sent to WBN member Rosemary Fletcher, P.O. Box 3515, Framingham, MA 01701. Reservations and pre-payment are required. For more information or to register contact Rosemary at 508-877-1299 or rfletcher@msn.com by Thursday, April 30. Contributions to the Healing Garden are tax-deductible. (5/1)
Art in the Park
The Village Nursery School invites parents and their preschoolers to a free afternoon of play, art, and refreshments Thursday, May 7, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at 40 Poor Farm Road. Children can visit different art stations, such as sculpture, spin art, and artful science, and can make a project with one of the teachers. To celebrate the arrival of spring there will be an ice cream social as part of this open house event. To attend, enroll by May 5 by callling 978-456-3993. (5/1)
Friends of the Library Book Sale
The Friends of the Library annual Book Sale will take place at the old Harvard library on Fairbank Street Saturday, May 9; Sunday, May 10; and Saturday, May 16. On Saturday, May 9, early-bird admission will be from 8 to 9 a.m. for $10 per person; free admission will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission will also be free Sunday, May 10, when the hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, May 16, when the hours will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a preview sale for Friends of the Library only on May 8. (5/8)
Ukulele Project
Art and Cloth, 285 Ayer Road, will host the Ukulele Project Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m., and invites budding musicians to this free event to learn the basics of playing the ukulele from Harvard resident Danno Sullivan. (5/8)
Harvard Farmers’ Market–Dharma Harvest Event
In conjunction with Dharma Harvest’s greenhouse raising and earth celebration, the Harvard Farmers’ Market welcomes its vendors and invites the community to A Taste of the Market in May, Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dharma Harvest, 204 Bolton Road in Harvard. Seafood, pasta, bagels, plants, greens, soaps, lotions, and more will be available for purchase. There will be live music, nature walks, garden talks, and children’s activities throughout the day. For more information and a full schedule visit www.dharmaharvest.org. (5/8)
Out of Town
Forever Plaid Musical Comedy in Acton
Forever Plaid, the story of four singers who get to make a one-time “heavenly” comeback, will be performed May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m. at Acton Theatre III, 250 Central St. in West Acton. This musical production includes such ’50s classics as “Heart and Soul,” “Shangri-La,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” and more. Forever Plaid is directed by Evan Kelly, musically directed by Gina Naggar and choreographed by James Turner (Bromfield Class of 2005). It stars Dave Carney, Div Slomin, James Turner, and Matt Walsh, all of whom have appeared in many local community theater productions. Tickets can be reserved by calling 978-263-9070 and are also available at www.theatreiii.org. (5/1)
Indian Hill Chamber Concert
Indian Hill Music’s Kalliroscope Gallery Chamber Series concludes Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m. with a concert at the Kalliroscope Gallery, 264 Main St. in Groton, by two Indian Hills faculty members and acclaimed musicians, pianist Jenny Tang and violinist John Holland. General admission tickets are $25 per person and $15 for students, and include a post-concert wine-and-cheese reception. To order tickets call 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org. (5/1)
Fundraising breakfast
The Ayer Masonic Association will hold its monthly fundraising breakfast Sunday, May 3 from 7:30 to 10 a.m at the Ayer Masonic Center, 11 Sculley Road in Ayer. Breakfast will include eggs cooked to order or pancakes with bacon or sausage, potatoes, toast, juice, and coffee. (5/1)
St. Matthew’s Concert
The Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Madrigal Singers and the Canta Mundi Choir from Lexington High School will perform Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St. in Acton. The Madrigals, under the direction of Jennifer Moss, will present selections of Renaissance and Baroque music. Canta Mundi, under the direction of Brian O’Connell, will perform a selection of sacred music and folk songs from around the world. Tickets will be available at the door for $15; the cost is $12.50 for seniors and students. Childcare will be available and refreshments will be served. For more information call 978-263-2822 or visit www.saint-matthews.org. (5/1)
NRWA Hike
Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) Land Programs Director Al Futterman will lead a free Where the Rivers Meet walk Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon in the new conservation area that protects the confluence of the Squannacook and Nashua Rivers in Shirley. This hike is part of a series of free programs the NRWA is offering to the public in celebration of its 40th anniversary. To register and receive directions to the meeting place, call the NRWA at 978-448-0299 or e-mail Al Futterman at AlF@NashuaRiverWatershed.org. (5/1)
Baby-sitting Class
Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC), 200 Groton Road in Ayer, will offer a baby sitting class Tuesday, May 5, and Thursday, May 7, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Founders Room. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate. The cost is $35; checks should be made payable to NVMC. Registration is required; contact Rosanna Casavecchia to register at 978-784-9204 or e-mail rosanna.casavecchia@nashobamed.com. Light refreshments will be provided. (5/1)
Rev It Up
The Nashoba Valley Medical Center nine-week exercise program, Rev It Up, begins Tuesday, May 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m at the medical center, 200 Groton Road in Ayer. The program offers an understanding of why the body works the way it does and how to help it work more efficiently. The cost is $90 for the series. For more information contact the NVMC Diabetes and Endocrine Center at 978-784-9452. (5/1)
College Fair for Students with Learning Differences
A college fair focusing on students with learning differences will be held at Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road in Bolton, Wednesday, May 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. More than 20 colleges will have representatives and a panel discussion led by college representatives will cover the available services, how to access services, how expectations differ from high school to college, and choosing a college program and services. There is no charge; families from all surrounding towns are welcome. For more information visit www.nrsd.net and click on “Nashoba Regional High School.” (5/1)
Caregiver Support Group
Senior Care Advisors is offering a free support group for all caregivers of seniors on Thursday, May 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Littleton’s Multipurpose Room, 33 Shattuck Street, behind the Ruben Hoar Library on Route 2A. For more information please contact Anne Marie Rowse from Senior Care Advisors at 978-456-3756 or amrowse@sca-ma.com. (5/1)
Family Pajama Jam
Indian Hill Music School invites young families to put on their pajamas and sing, dance, and play musical instruments at the school’s free musical story hour that will celebrate bugs and blossoms Friday, May 8, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m at the school, 36 King St. in Littleton. (5/8)
Harvard Pro Musica Concert
Harvard Pro Musica will hold its spring concert Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 435 Central St. in Acton. The program will feature J.S. Bach cantatas and contemporary pieces by Bennett, Lauridsen, and Whitacre. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. For more information visit www.harvardpromusica.org or call 978-456-5039. (5/1)
