Annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast
Harvard’s 14th annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast will take place Monday, May 31, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The breakfast is sponsored by the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church Fellowship Building off Elm Street on the Common. The breakfast will include yogurt pancakes, sausages, juice, and beverages. Net proceeds, plus 100 percent matching funds, will benefit Loaves & Fishes food pantry. Suggested donations are $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 12.
Jazz After Hours at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum’s Jazz After Hours Series Wednesday, June 2, at 6 p.m., will feature saxophonist Frank Bonanno and Friends.
Republican Town Committee
The Harvard Republican Town Committee will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the old library.
The Hive Detectives Author and Photographer
Author Loree Griffin Burns and photographer Ellen Harasimowicz will discuss the making of their book, The Hive Detectives: Chronicles of a Honey Bee Catastrophe, Thursday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Harvard Public Library. The Hive Detectives brings middle-grade readers inside the world of today’s honey bee, exploring the problems they face, and introducing scientists and beekeepers working to protect them. Burns and Harasimowicz will talk about the bee adventures they experienced while creating the book, show some images from the book, answer questions, and conclude with a book signing. Preregister for this program in the Children’s Room, or by calling 978-456-2381.
Bird Walk at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum will host a free Bird Walk and Exploration with local birder Pat White Saturday, June 5, from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the museum grounds. Bring binoculars and field guide for the two-mile trail walk.
Barry Van Dusen Reception
Fruitlands Museum will host an artist reception with Barry Van Dusen, the museum’s artist-in-residence, Saturday, June 5, at 2 p.m., to introduce his work at the Flights of Discovery exhibition that will run through November 15.
LemonAID Stand ‘n’ More
Thirsty visitors to the town center will find lemonade, baked goods, candy, and bracelets for sale at the LemonAID Stand ‘n’ More on the Common Sunday, June 6, from 9 to 12:30 p.m., rain or shine. One cup at a time, friends of Charlotte and Meg hope to make a difference at this benefit for Charlotte O’Shea and Meg James.
Transcendental Poetry as Music at Fruitlands
Fruitlands will host musician Dillon Bustin performing “Messenger of Dawn: Transcendental Poetry as Music” at its Sundays at One concert Sunday, June 6, at 1 p.m. Bustin will demonstrate how the Transcendentalists related birds to music, nature, and human sensibilities. Program fee is $8 for members and seniors, $10 for adults, and $5 for children (12 to 14).
A Closer Look: Focus on the Fruitlands Farmhouse
In part 3 of Fruitlands’ Curatorial Lecture Series, A Closer Look, museum director Mike Volmar will focus on the Fruitlands farmhouse Tuesday, June 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. Volmar will discuss Joseph Palmer’s Freelands, the lesser known but successful experiment that followed Alcott’s abandonment of Fruitlands. Lecture fee is $10 for members and seniors, and $15 for nonmembers. Reservations are suggested.
Saab Story Harvard Premiere
There will be a free screening of Saab Story Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the Harvard Public Library. The feature-length narrative video, which was written, directed, and edited by Bromfield graduate Chris Byler as his senior thesis for Hampshire College, was shot primarily on location in Harvard. It features several Harvard residents in roles ranging from extras to main characters. For more information call 978-407-5300 or e-mail cwb05@hampshire.edu.
OUT OF TOWN
Program for Diabetics
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s Diabetes and Endocrine Center will host a program for diabetics, “The Latest on Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring,” Wednesday, June 2, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Founders Room, 200 Groton Road in Ayer. RSVP to Pam Massucco or Alice Vergados at 978-784-9534.
Sleep Support Group
Nashoba Valley Sleep Support Group for people affected by sleep problems will meet Thursday, June 3, at 6 p.m. in the Founders room at Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. RSVP to teresa.comeau@nashobamed.com. For information about the Sleep Center call the Sleep Center Outpatient Coordinator at 978-784-9399.
Caregiver Support Group
A free caregiver support group will be held Thursday, June 3, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Littleton’s Council on Aging offices at 33 Shattuck St., 2nd floor, in Littleton. The group meeting with Anne Marie Rowse from Senior Care Advisors will be a general support group for caregivers and those they are caring for. This will be the last meeting before the fall. An RSVP to amrowse@sca-ma.com is helpful but not necessary.
Jazz Jam at Indian Hill
Amateur jazz instrumentalists and vocalists are invited to an open jam session led by Indian Hill Music School faculty Friday, June 4, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Indian Hill Music School, 36 King St. in Littleton. Admission is $5 per person. Call 978-486-9524 for more details and to sign up, or visit www.indianhillmusic.org.
Run-Walk for Cancer
Emerson Hospital and the Thoreau Club will hold their annual 5K (3.1 miles) Run-Walk for Cancer and inaugural Cancer Survivorship Celebration Saturday, June 5, starting at 10 a.m. at the Thoreau Club field, 275 Forest Ridge Road in Concord. The Cancer Survivorship Celebration will include lunch, music, yoga, a meditation area, a “heroes wall” to post messages, art expression activities from the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden and noa Gallery of Groton, and booths featuring tie-dye T-shirt-making, face-painting, an inflatable obstacle course, and pool activities. All cancer survivors are invited, along with the general public, to celebrate in this day of family fun. Runner and walker registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Advanced registration is $20, available until May 29 at www.firstgiving.com/emersonhospitalauxiliary, and $25 per person the day of the event. Children under 12 may participate at no charge. Participants are encouraged to go the “extra mile” by recruiting sponsoring pledges. Free T-shirts are available the day of the race to the first 250 participants.
PMC Kids Ride
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) Bolton Kids Ride invites kids ages 2 to 15 to join other cyclists across New England in mini bike-a-thons Sunday, June 6, from 11:30 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Florence Sawyer School in Bolton, to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants are encouraged to ride as part of a team in honor of a family member or friend. Registration is $10; the recommended fundraising amount is $50. Contributions can be made payable to the Pan-Mass Challenge. To register, visit http://kids.pmc.org. For more information call 978-634-1400, e-mail kristen@keaneville.com, or call 800-WE-CYCLE.
Nature Hike at Oxbow NWR
Rona Balco, of the Friends of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, will lead an interpretive walk on the Esker Loop trail located off Walker Road in Shirley Sunday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to noon. This walk includes moderate hiking at times and will explore the dynamics of the area’s geological formation along with discovering local flora and fauna. To find out more and to preregister, call Rona at 978-779-2259.
Whisker Walk Pet Benefit
The third annual Whisker Walk animal shelter benefit will be held Sunday, June 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lancaster shelter on Route 117. The free, fun day for families and their dogs will include a pet walk at noon, a dog walk-a-thon fundraiser to benefit New England animal shelters and rescue groups, a photo contest, and other activities. For more information on sponsor, vendor, or participant details contact leigh13@ix.netcom.com or visit www.whiskerwalk.org.
Bird Walk at Great Meadows
Jason Forbes will lead a bird walk sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club Sunday, June 6, at 6:30 a.m. at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, beginning at the refuge parking lot on Monsen Road.
Afternoon Walk in Lancaster
Walk ‘n’ Mass Volkssport Club will sponsor a walk Tuesday, June 8, from 3 to 6 p.m. starting at Atlantic Union College, Thayer Performing Arts Center, 438 Main St. in South Lancaster. An ice cream social will follow. Volkssporting events promote fun, fitness, and friendship by providing walking and other noncompetitive events free to the public. Volkssporting also offers an achievement awards program. For more information contact 978-365-5021 or joypeach@verizon.net, or visit www.ava.org/clubs/walknmass.
Summer Basketball League
Monty Tech will hold basketball leagues for junior varsity and varsity boys and girls this summer at 1050 Westminster St., at the Fitchburg-Westminster town line. All teams will play twice a week for five weeks, starting at the end of June. Boys will have games on Fridays and Sundays and girls will play on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information or to register contact Bob Bourque at 978-345-9200, ext. 5228, or at burkieball13@msn.com.
Fitchburg Benefit
The Fay Club will host a gala benefit for five Fitchburg-based nonprofit organizations from the Good-Wil Initiative Friday, June 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 658 Main Street in Fitchburg. The event will include a champagne cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, live music, silent auction, and live auction. Tickets are $50 and are available in advance by calling 978-660-8631. For more information visit www.Good-Wil.org.
Call for Artists and Crafters
The Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL) will sponsor its first Arts for Animals show and sale, Saturday, July 17, from noon to 5 p.m. (rain date is Saturday, July 24) at WARL, 139 Holden St. in Worcester. The event is open to fine artists and crafters, with a $35 fee for a 10-by-10-foot space. Exhibitors may show photography, painting, paper craft, handmade toiletries, jewelry, home décor, ceramics, textiles, and more. All fees directly support the programs and services at WARL. Deadline for application is June 17. Artist exhibition guidelines and applications are available online at www.worcester-arl.org.
