HES Book Fair
The Parent-Teacher Organization will host its annual Scholastic Book Fair at the Harvard Elementary School during parent-teacher conferences Monday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Books for sale will include those for both children and adults, including best-sellers and cookbooks. Book Fair proceeds are returned to the school as books for the classrooms and cash funds. For more information, including book titles, go to www.harvardpto.org and click the Scholastic Book Fair link or contact Cindy Buhner at cbuhner@yahoo.com or Deb Barton at deb.barton@mac.com.
No Storytimes This Week
There will be no Harvard Library storytimes during Thanksgiving week.
Fanfare Holiday Plant Sale
The annual Fanfare Holiday Plant Sale will take place during teacher conferences Monday, Nov. 23, from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, from noon to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec.2, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Bromfield School and the Harvard Elementary School. The public is welcome to attend. New this year will be paperwhite narcissus and hyacinths grown in clear glass vases, and bulbs and media to grow your own. Assorted poinsettias and Christmas cactus are also available. Prices range from $8 to $25. All funds will benefit Harvard Public Schools music programs. Call Lillian Burkart at 978-456-8790 with questions or to order if you will miss the sale hours.
Plants That Don’t Like Lime
The Garden Club of Harvard will hold a luncheon meeting Monday, Nov. 30, at 11:15 a.m. at St. Theresa’s Church, 15 Still River Road.This month’s program, “Ericaceae: Plants That Don’t Like Lime,” will feature guest speaker Jeanie Gillis from Heritage Museum and Gardens. The presentation will start at 12:15 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. New members are welcome. For information contact Sue Fitterman at 978-772-1433.
HPL Magic Show
The Harvard Public Library will host a Magic Show with Ed Popielarczyk for children ages 3 and older Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the library. Popielarczyk is a professional magician who has been entertaining children and family audiences for more than 25 years. His magic show is a comedy that uses audience participation—the kids are the stars because they make the magic happen. Popielarczyk tells a story that helps to bring the trick together. Seats are limited; pre-registration is required by calling the Children’s Room at 978-456-4114.
Family Movie Night, Up
The Harvard Public Library will host a Family Movie Night, featuring the movie, Up (PG), Friday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the library. Popcorn and water will be served. Seats are limited; pre-register by calling the Children’s Room at 978-456-4114.
Lunch with Santa at Fruitlands
The Harvard Congregational Church’s Lunch with Santa and annual Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fruitlands Museum. Santa will arrive at 11 a.m. and reservations for lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their elves will be available for 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the church; advance purchase is recommended.
Along with Lunch with Santa, the fair will feature the Festival of Trees and Wreaths, a display of Christmas trees and wreaths decorated in a variety of themes. There will also be handmade crafts and other traditional items. Visitors will be able to purchase raffle chances on the decorated trees throughout the day, and winners will be announced at the end of the fair. A wine and cheese preview of the festival will be held Friday, Dec. 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Tea Room will be open for lunch and snacks. For more information contact Dennis Bradley, 978-456-3317 or DbinNE@aol.com.
OUT OF TOWN
Baroque Fantasies
The Worcester Chamber Music Society will perform music of the Baroque masters, “Baroque Fantasies,” Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 80 Union St. in Clinton, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Sanctuary at 111 Park Avenue in Worcester. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students, and children younger than 12 are free. To purchase tickets in advance, or for more information, send e-mail to concerts@worcesterchambermusic.org or call 978-456-2730.
Almost Miniature Paintings
Francesca Anderson Fine Art, Portraits North will present its 26th annual Almost Miniatures Show from Friday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Jan. 16, at 56 Adams St. in Lexington. The show will feature very small, quality, affordable paintings by 56 artists, some of whom are well known, as well as some who are not known. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 2 to 6 p.m. The gallery will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan.1. To contact the gallery call 781-862-0660, visit www.fafineart.com, or e-mail Francesca@portraitsnorth.com.
Thanksgiving Barn Dance
Groton Grange will host a Thanksgiving Barn Dance Saturday, Nov. 21, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney St. in Groton. The evening of music and dancing will include Two Fiddles and Groton’s own Contra Banditos. Caller Dudley Laufman will teach square, circle, and contra dances to the beat of Celtic and Old Time Fiddle Tunes. Beginners are welcome. Donations at the door are $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors, with a $15 family maximum. The dance is sponsored in part by a grant from the Groton Trust Funds Lecture Fund. For more information visit www.contrabanditos.com or www.grotongrange.com, or contact Ashling at 978-302-5649 or ashling@verizon.net.
Holiday Fair
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ayer will hold a free holiday fair Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church. Activities will include Andrew’s Attic, Bakery Shoppe, Cookies by the Pound, a crafts table, a jewelry table, raffle baskets, and a silent auction. St. Andrew’s famous beef stew will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thanksgiving Family Concert
The Orchestra of Indian Hill will perform a pre-Thanksgiving family concert Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. at Littleton High School Performing Arts Center, 56 King St. in Littleton. Artistic Director and Conductor Bruce Hangen will conduct a concert of Thanksgiving and seasonal favorites, including the “Hansel & Gretel Prelude,” Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” “Over the River and Through the Woods,” “Turkey in the Straw,” and “76 Trombones.” Guest artists will include the student winners of the Indian Hill Music School’s annual Side-by-Side Competition, which gives accomplished student players the opportunity to “share a stand” with a professional player.
A pre-concert talk with Hangen will take place at 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $48 and are available through Indian Hill at 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org. They can also be purchased from local Habitat for Humanity representatives to benefit the Groton Habitat project by contacting Allen King at 978-852-1121 or allen.king@ymail.com, or Terri Ragot, 978-448-2023 or tragot@yahoo.com. A family package is available.
‘Of Praise and Promise’
The music program at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church will present “Of Praise and Promise,” a musical celebration in honor of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, Sunday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. at 435 Central St. in Acton. Under the direction of David Potts, the concert will feature music of Purcell, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Lauridsen and Pinkham, performed by the St. Matthew’s Festival Choir, St. Matthew’s Festival Brass, St. Matthew’s Choristers, and organist Kenneth Plant. The concert is free; a free-will offering will be accepted. Donations of nonperishable food items for the Acton Food Pantry are also encouraged. Childcare will be available, and refreshments will be served. For more information contact the church office at 978-263-2822 or smumc@verizon.net.
Charity Christmas Concert
The Taubl Family ensemble will perform “Light a Candle,” a charity benefit Christmas concert, Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Proceeds will benefit orphans in Africa and South America. The ensemble will perform favorite Christmas songs, as well as an original Taubl Family song, “A New Day,” written for this cause. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door or $10 each for groups of 25 or more. Tickets are available by phone at the box office, 508-752-0888, and online at www.MechanicsHall.org.
Food Allergies: Ask the Allergist
The Nashoba Valley Asthma and Allergy Educational Support Group will host a free question-and-answer session with Dr. Jordan Scott, “Food Allergies: Ask the Allergist,” Monday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. at Nashoba Valley Medical Center. For information, call the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter, at 781-444-7778.
Icons of Saint Nicholas
The Museum of Russian Icons exhibit, “Celebrating the Season: Icons of Saint Nicholas,” will open Tuesday, Dec. 1, and run through Jan. 9 at the museum in Clinton. Saint Nicholas, the bishop of fourth-century Myra, Lycia, now part of modern-day Turkey, was known to be wise and perform good works in secret for the poor and the oppressed. His many deeds entered the realm of myth and contribute to stories of Father Christmas, St. Nick, and ultimately, Santa Claus. Today, families around the world celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas on Dec. 6 by placing their shoes on the hearth for the saint to fill them treats. The exhibit is free with museum admission. For more information visit www.museumofrussianicons.org or call 978-598-5000.
Holiday Musical Benefit
Littleton jazz pianist Molly Flannery will host her Holiday Extravaganza to benefit Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry Friday, Dec. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Acton Jazz Café. Donations of canned foods, sundries, new toys, gently used jewelry, and/or $10 will be appreciated. For more information visit www.actonjazzcafe.com, www.MollyFlannery.com, or www.loavesfishespantry.org.
HHS Holiday Arts Festival
The Harvard Historical Society will host its Holiday Arts Festival and Sale for shopping and socializing Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the old library. A members-only event will be Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Watershed Summit Workshop
The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) will sponsor a half-day workshop on a variety of topics pertaining to protecting the land and water resources of the Squannacook and Nissitissit sub-basins of the Nashua River watershed Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mass Development Offices in Devens. The Watershed Summit should be especially useful to members of planning boards, conservation commissions, boards of health, agricultural commissions, town forest committees, as well as professional foresters, farmers and citizens concerned about our shared water resources. Due to limited space and to determine the number of lunches needed, advanced reservations are requested. For more information, an agenda, and to register, contact Mark Archambault, NRWA Smart Growth circuit rider, at 978-448-0299, or visit the www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org.
