Calendar
Friday, April 11
Battle of the Bands: 7 p.m., Indian Hill Music Center, 36 King Street (Route 2A), Littleton; Local bands (age 18 and under) invited to compete for prizes in the fourth annual Battle of the Bands. Cover charge of $10 per person for all. Call (978) 486-9524 for information or an application to perform.
Clothing sale: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., First Parish Church, 673 Main St., Bolton; Annual sale of gently worn clothing for all seasons. Contact Linda at (978) 779-6427.
Gary Hoey: 8 p.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley; World renowned guitarist Gary Hoey with opening act Little Big Wheel; Tickets $20 in advance, $25 on day of show. Call (978) 425-4311.
Saturday, April 12
Clothing sale: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Parish Church, 673 Main St., Bolton; Annual sale of gently worn clothing; at noon all items marked half off; at 2 p.m., all items that fit in a bag for $2.
Vernal pools: 10 a.m., Memorial Hall parking lot, Townsend; Carpool to the state forest for vernal pool field work with Cathy Kristofferson and Emily North of Friends of Willard Brook. Bring waders if you have them. Call Emily at (978) 597-3553 or e-mail Emily@willardbrook.org.
Spaghetti supper: 5-7 p.m., Union Congregational Church, 218 Main Street, Groton; $7 for adults, $25 maximum per family, children under age 5 are free. Proceeds to benefit the youth mission to rural Maine this summer. Call the church at (978) 448-2091 or visit www.uccgroton.org.
African Rhythms: 7:30 p.m., Bromfield School, Cronin Auditorium, Route 111, Harvard; Benefit concert for the Build a School in Africa Project with drummers, singers, dancers and vendors from Africa. Tickets $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Call Judy to learn more at (978) 433-2384.
Ring in the Spring: 7:30 p.m., Congregational Church, 330 King St., Littleton; Free concert (donations accepted at the door) of sacred and secular music by both the United Ringers and the handbell duet of Janet Anderson and Debra LeBrun. Refreshments following the concert. Call the church office at (978) 486-3245 to learn more. Church is handicapped accessible.
Dennis Pacy: 8 p.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley; Accoustic concert by Dennis Pacy and friends, with portion of the proceeds to benefit Loaves & Fishes. Tickets $15 each or $25 per couple.
West meets East: 7:30 p.m., Littleton High School Performing Arts Center, 56 King St. (Route 2A), Littleton; Indian Hill music director Bruce Hangen welcomes Anoushka Shankar (daughter of sitar master Ravi Shankar) for a performance. Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. Tickets $46, $33 and $20 with pre-concert Indian dinner catered by Café Goa. Call (978) 486-9524 or visit www.IndianHillMusic.org for details.
Sunday, April 13
Future Stars Showcase: 4 p.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley; Seven local teen bands — Antidote (Parker Charter School), Azra, Brigade of Aces, Blackout (Ayer High), Friday Night Delight, Royal Flip and solo artist Jack Babineau — take the stage in a family-oriented showcase. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 on day of show. Call (978) 425-4311.
Ham & Bean Supper: 6:30 p.m., St. James Church Hall, St. James Avenue, Groton; Annual traditional ham & bean supper, sponsored by the Groton Knights of Columbus; tickets $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children other 12. To learn more call Bob at (978) 448-5266.
Free classical concert: 3 p.m., Indian Hill Music Center, 36 King Street (Route 2A), Littleton; Free performance by violin-piano due. Visit www.IndianHillMusic.org.
Monday, April 14
Masonic communication: 7:30 p.m., Caleb Butler Lodge, Sculley Road, Ayer; Regular Communication of the Lodge; Dinner is $10 and begins at 6:30 p.m. but reservations required by April 10 to Halsarge@comcast.net or call (978) 394-3644.
Spring Showers Brunch: 10-11:30 a.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley; Nashoba Valley Women’s connection, part of International Organization of Stonecroft Ministries, offer an uplifting brunch with guest speaker Lovedy Alexander. Cost $12 inclusive. Call Charlotte at (978) 456-8320 or Lisa at (978) 827-3070 to reserve. Nursery provided.
Tuesday, April 15
Homeschooling: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Lawrence Library, Pepperell; Homeschooling workshop offers answers and support. All are welcome. E-mail Aretha at taggart7@charter.net or Raquel at GraceAndJoy@comcast.net.
Application deadline: Last day to apply for a “Friends of Nashoba Valley Medical Center” scholarship for high school seniors planning to pursue a degree in a health-related field. Call (978) 784-9239.
School food: 7-8:45 p.m., Lunenburg Public Library, 1023 Mass. Ave., Lunenburg; Free seminar by Nashua River Watershed Association featuring Chef Paul Correnty, of Pepperell, speaking on “How and What to Eat: Kids and Schools” school food nutrition, quality and popularity. All are welcome to attend. Call (978) 448-0299 to learn more.
Wednesday, April 16
Blue Star Mothers: 6 p.m., Leominster Veteran’s Center, 100 West St., Leominster; Monthly meeting of Mass. Chpater 1 of the Blue Star Mothers of America (mothers who have or had children in the U.S. military); meeting are held on third Wednesday of every month. Visit bluestarmomsmassch1.org for more information.
Thursday, April 17
Devens Grill: 7-10 p.m., Devens Grill lounge, 4 Ryans Way, Devens; No cover charge for after dinner live music. This week, Arte Kenyon and Steve Esposito. Visit www.DevensGrill.com or call (978) 862-0060.
Friday, April 18
The Mistress Cycle: 8 p.m. Bromfield School, Cronin Auditorium; Harvard Community Theater presents “The Mistress Cycle” with music by Harvard native Jenny Giering and directed by Harvard’s Michael McGarty, with lots of local talent. Tickets $10 at the door, $8 for studens and seniors. For more information call (978) 456-4152, etc. 557.
Acoustic Café: 7-10 p.m., Indian Hill Music, 36 King St. (Route 2A), Littleton; Open mic night for adults hosted by singer/songwriter Nancy Rbule. Cover $10 per person at the door. Refreshments served. Call (978) 486-9524 to reserve a performance slot.
Saturday, April 19
The Mistress Cycle: 8 p.m. Bromfield School, Cronin Auditorium, Harvard; see story above.
Children’s clothing: 10 a.m. to 1 pl.m., Central Congregational Church, 1 Worthen St., Chelmsford; Annual spring sale of children’s clothing, toys, books, maternity clothes and more by Nashoba Valley Mothers of Multiples. Admission $1, under 14 free. E-mail nvmom_info@bigfoot.com to learn more.
Morning walk: 10-11:30 a.m., Meet at Squannacook Elementary School upper parking lot on Route 13, just north of Townsend center, for a hike with Rhonda Plamondon along the Suqnnacook River. Call Rhondas at (978) 877-8489 with questions.
Jewelry fund-raiser: 5:30-7 p.m., Century 21 office, 495 Main St., Suite E, Groton; Silpada jewelry sale to benefit the eighth annual Community Walk for Autism Awareness.
Tartan Ball: 6 p.m. social hour, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 150 Royal Plaza Drive, Fitchburg; Fourth annual Tartan Ball begins with Piping of the Haggis followed by traditional dinner of cock-a-leekie soup, mashed potato, mashed turnip and dessert. Music by the Brigadoons, of Canada. Tickets $35 by calling George at (978) 386-7797. All proceeds, less expenses, donated to St. Andrew’s Societies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Sunday, April 20
Hike the State Forest: 10-11:30 a.m., Meet at Squannacook Elementary School upper parking lot on Route 13, just north of Townsend center, for a hike with Paul Sebring through some lesser-known parts of the Townsend State Forest. Wear sturdy boots and bring water and snack. Call Paul at (978) 597-5047 for more information.
Singles dance: 7-11 p.m., Irish-American Club, 616 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica; Light buffet, $10 each. Visit www.singlesdances-newengland.com to learn more.
Camp open house: Noon to 4 p.m., Camp Middlesex, 1031 Erickson Road, Ashby, opens for public tours and talks with the staff. Free refreshments.
Save the date:
Saturday, April 26
Karaoke Night: 7-11 p.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley; Benefit the charities of the Ayer/Shirley Lions Club by joining them for Karaoke Night. Tickets $15, with free appetizers until 8 p.m. Tickets at the door or at North Middlesex Savings Bank in Ayer or Groton.
Sunday, April 27
Groton Road Race: 1 p.m. (main event, others start earlier), Groton-Dunstable Middle School, Route 119; Annual foot race event for all abilities and ages, from 11 a.m. “Tot’s Trot” to the 10K main event. Register by visiting GrotonRoadRace.com.
9-Ball Qualifier: 11 a.m., Billiards Café, Main Street, Ayer; Junior National Championship double-elimination qualifier in two age divisions, 14 and under and 15-to-19, boys and girls. Membership to BCA/BEF required, at $15 each. For further information e-mail roy@thebillardscafe.com.
