Regional Calendar

SATURDAY, OCT. 27

Night Hunter: 6 p.m. A burning owl fire sculpture by Myth Makers Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein. Celebrate the end of the season with Fruitlands Museum in a dusk ceremony of fire and community. Enjoy this family gathering — the grand finale of a 40-foot flaming owl as the sun sets and the October Hunter’s Full Moon rises over the late fall landscape. This free community gathering sponsored by Fruitlands Museum and Myth Makers Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein.

SUNDAY, OCT. 28

Sunday breakfast: The Ayer Sportsman’s Club resumes its Sunday Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., until Mother’s Day. The breakfast menu includes pancakes, French toast, omelets, sausage, bacon and ham, and free coffee and juice. Full breakfast $7. Orders-to-go also available. Proceeds benefit the children’s fund. (Room rentals also available.” The club is located at 255 Snake Hill Road, Ayer.

Pleasure trail ride: registration at 8:30 a.m. at Ten Broeck Farm, 1 Old Farm Lane, Pepperell. Fee: $25. Last ride out at 10 a.m. Ride sponsored by the Pepperell Horse Owners Association, offering loops of approximately six, 10 and 16 miles, with continental breakfast, on-trail snack and lunch. For information about the ride visit www.tenbroeckfarm.net.

Friend Day at First Baptist Church of Groton: Join us for Friend Day. Come early and enjoy coffee and pastries located in our fellowship from 10-10:30 a.m. The morning worship service will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the main auditorium with a message on “Friendship” by Pastor Tom Faulk. First time visitors will receive a complimentary gift. Be a friend and make a friend on Friend Day at FBC.

NRWA Leads DRLT wildlife preserve walk: 1-2 p.m. The Nashua River Watershed Association will lead a guided trail walk at the Dunstable Rural Land Trust’s Wildlife Preserve in Dunstable. Al Futterman, NRWA’s land programs director, will lead the walk and provide “naturalist observations” about what can be seen at this property. The trail walk will last approximately one hour and cover roughly two miles. The walk will proceed in a light rain, but not a heavy storm. This walk is free and open to the public, funded in part by a grant from the Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund. The trailhead for this walk is on Main Street in Dunstable; a map is viewable on the NRWA’s website under Programs & Events. There is a parking area at the trailhead. For the comfort of all, no dogs please. Pre-registration is encouraged for planning purposes, and for notification in case of inclement weather at 978-448-0299, or email AlF@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.

The future’s in the dirt: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, 703 Chicopee Row, Groton. Meet farmer Ben Hewitt, author of “The town that food saved,” who will hare how a community used farming and food to revitalize a town around sustainable agriculture. Event organized by Freedom’s Way and Groton Local.

Concert: Indian Hill Music presents an afternoon of tunes by the great American composer Irving Berlin at 3 p.m. at 36 King St., Littleton. The musicians are well-known throughout the New England jazz scene and feature Indian Hill Music School faculty members Eric Baldwin, guitar/banjo, Paul Pampinella, vocals and Justin Meyer, bass. The afternoon will also feature special guests Billy Novick on reeds and Dave Whitney on trumpet. Tickets are $18/adults and $15/students; available at the door or by calling 978-486-9524×116 or online at www.indianhillmusic.org.

Welcome Home to Wallace: The Wallace Figure Skating Club continues its 40th anniversary celebration from 3-4 p.m. at the Gaetz arena at the Wallace Civic Center at Fitchburg State College. This affordable family fun event is open to the public for a suggested donation of $3/adult and $2 /child, children under 5 years of age are free. Come enjoy an hour of public skating, games, treats, raffles, skate and dress swap and costume contest. Ice skates will be available for rent. Call us 978-345-7054, email WFSC@wallaceFSC.com or visit www.wallacefsc.com/

THURSDAY, NOV. 1

Take a Look Morning: 9 a.m., Applewild School (coeducational independent day school for grades K – 8 serving families in central Mass. and southern N.H.) is hosting an open house on the first Thursday of each month. Prospective parents are invited to meet at 9 a.m. at the Crocker Building, 120 Prospect St., Fitchburg, for an opportunity to tour the school and see teachers and students in action. No RSVP necessary. For more information please call the Admission’s Office, 978-342-6053, ext. 110 or visit www.applewild.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 3

Huge Indoor Community Yard Sale: The Parker School will be holding its fifth annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (no early birds, please). This is an indoor, rain or shine, yard sale with all sorts of items available, including toys, games, sports equipment, books, clothing, music, household items, holiday and novelty items, crafts, outdoor and gardening items, and all sorts of other great things. The Yard Sale features items that have been donated from within the school community and are being sold at bargain prices. All proceeds benefit the Parker Yearbook. The sale is located at 49 Antietam Street, Devens (exit 37 off Route 2 or off West Main Street in Ayer). Signs will be prominently posted as you near the school. From 1-1:30 p.m., any remaining items will be free, though donations are encouraged.

SUNDAY, NOV. 4

Nashoba Tech open house: 1-4 p.m. Prospective students and their families and the community are invited to attend. For information, call 978-692-4711 or visit www.nashobatech.net.

THURSDAY, NOV. 8

Open house: Join the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce at the one-year celebration open house of the Hilton Garden Inn and Great American Grill Restaurant at Devens Commons. The celebration of great food, beverages, and raffles starts at 4 p.m. Bring an unwrapped to for Toys For Tots and be entered into a raffle to win a 65-inch LED 3D TV — and many other prizes!

Wine-tasting to benefit The Healing Garden: Hosted by the board of the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, 6-9 p.m., at Nashoba Valley Winery, 100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton. Please join us for a fun evening of wine-tasting and winery tour. Wine, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Your donation of $75 per person directly benefits The Healing Garden. Space is limited — reserve early by calling 978.456.3532 4# or emailing janet @healinggarden.net or online at www.healinggarden.net.

Parent talks: Hollis Preschool presents “Parent Talks,” free and open to the public at 7 p.m. Dr. Tricia Harmon Stone (Ed.D., Harvard University) will present “Gender Matters in the Life of Your Child: Turning Points in Boys’ and Girls’ Development.” Dr. Harmon Stone will discuss the prominent gender issues that raise difficulties for boys and girls at different ages and how to disrupt harmful patterns. The talk will be held at Hollis Preschool (5 Marketplace, Hollis). Space is limited. Please register at curriculum@hollispreschool.com.

FRIDAY, NOV. 9

3Rivers Arts gala: The 3Rivers Masquerade Ball — an unforgettable night and celebration of new beginnings at Devens Common Center, Devens, 6-11 p.m. Dinner tickets for the event are nearly SOLD OUT. However, a number of party tickets are still available to enjoy the after-dinner events and dancing from 9-11 p.m. Party tickets are $30 at ww.3RiversArts.com. The theme is a twist on 2012’s end of the Mayan calendar celebrating new beginnings and the launch of a new era of arts and culture. Guests are invited to wear their own mask or purchase a handmade mask at the door. The night’s events include a cocktail reception with signature Tres Rios cocktails, a seated dinner with a Mayan flair, pop-up art gallery, silent auction, “end-of-the-world” photobooth and plenty of dancing and mingling. The evening’s entertainment highlight will be a fashion show, showcasing distinctive, out-of-the-ordinary pieces inspired by the mystery of the ancient Mayans and the curiosity of Victorian Steampunk.

Dinner & Absinthe Tasting with Jeremy Bell: Fruitlands, 7 p.m. Learn how “Absinthe made the Art Grow Fonder” with the inimitable Sir Jeremy Bell! A private dinner by Fireside Catering and Absinthe tasting will be accompanied by a hilarious night of history. Jeremy will tell you how Absinthe influenced art and poetry. Fruitlands members: $50, nonmembers: $75. RSVP by Nov. 2 to kcastorano@fruitlands.org.

COMING UP…

SUNDAYS

Pepperell Christian Fellowship

Worship schedule: Early service 8:30-9:45 a.m. followed by adult and children’s Sunday School from 10-10:45 a.m. The second service is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Nursery care is available for children up to age 5 during the worship services and children’s church is offered for children between the ages of 5 and 7 during the sermon. Worship services are filled with song, prayer and a sermon given by Pastor Stephen Witmer. We are located at 17 Main St. in Pepperell (next to the library). Additional information is available at www.pcfchurch.org or by calling the church at 978-433-6360.

Shirley, Trinity Chapel Episcopal

Church services with Eucharist begin at 11 a.m.; breakfast is offered from 10 to 10:45 a.m., Sunday School starts at 11 a.m. and child care is available.

TUESDAYS

Bible study

Every Tuesday evening from 7 to 8 p.m., there is an informal bible study at the West Townsend Reading Room, Dudley Road, West Townsend. Come and join us for a real spiritual treat as we study God’s word together. For information, call 978-597-8116.

WEDNESDAYS

Prayer Service

All are invited to join us for an evening of prayer on Wednesdays, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at Union Congregational Church in Groton, 218 Main St. There will be music, candles, Scripture, sharing and silence.

In November…

Fair Trade Fair

The annual Fair Trade Fair will be held at the Fellowship Building of the Unitarian Church, Elm St. (near the Common), Harvard, on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair is designed to help industrious women in developing countries support their families and educate their children. It is free to the public.

Artisans from Central and South America, the Middle East, India and Bangladesh will be among those represented by vendors who are area certified in fair trade and/or have signed statements that fair wages were paid for all items being sold. The sales price to you is set by the vendors under Fair Trade laws which regulate the amount of profit allowed.

These beautiful items will be hard to resist as holiday gifts for others and as special gifts for yourself. Raffle items will be donated by the vendors and refreshments will be available for purchase. The Unitarian Women’s Alliance and Social Action Committee are sponsors of the event.

Attention runners!

Registration is now open for the Ayer Fire Department’s 8th Annual Thanksgiving Day Road Race on Thursday, Nov. 22. The first 475 to register will receive a T-shirt! Registration ends on Nov. 18. Race begins at 8 a.m. sharp regardless of weather. For more, go to www.ayer.ma.us/Pages/AyerMA_Fire/info.