‘Annie, Jr.’ at HES
Twenty students from Hildreth Elementary School will perform the musical “Annie Jr.” Saturdays and Sundays, March 10 and 11, 17 and 18, at 2 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria. The classic story of Orphan Annie is full of songs and dancing. Tickets are available at the door for $5. Doors will close at 2 p.m., so arrive a little early. The show is directed by Kate Hoch with musical direction by Jessica Parsons, choreography by Edie Hettinger, and set, lighting, and sound by New England Stage Works.
Tips for Growing Vegetables the Easy Way
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will sponsor “Tips for Growing Vegetables the Easy Way” in a workshop Saturday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Garden. Jennifer Angell, a certified horticultural therapist, will cover in-ground versus container plantings, raised beds, soil, composting, planting seeds versus plants, gardening tools, managing pests, and more. Participants should bring photos if possible, know what their soil is like, how much sun the area gets, and what direction it faces. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
Maple Sugar Day at Fruitlamds
Learn about maple sugaring at Fruitlands Saturday, March 10, at 11 a.m. Visitors will be able to witness a sugaring demonstration, take part in tastings, and see how to tap a tree, an indigenous North American process that was taught to colonists by Native Americans. Guided hikes will be available to Fruitlands’ south gate maples, where local sugarer Jim Burns has installed a modern tapping operation. While the maple sugaring is open to Fruitlands’ visitors, the museum is suggesting a $5 donation per person for the event.
Barn School Open House
The Barn School preschool will host an Open House Saturday, March 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at 33 Ayer Road. The event is open to the community to enjoy crafts and music featuring Harvard’s own Danno Sullivan. For information call 978-456-3561.
Concerts at the Healing Garden
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will hold the first in a series of Concerts at the Garden Sunday, March 11, at 3 p.m. The Indian Hill Jazz Standards ensemble will play jazz standards spanning American tunes from the 1940s to today. The Garden, in collaboration with Indian Hill Music School, will bring talented musicians and dancers to perform in this monthly series. The Healing Garden is located at 145 Bolton Road. Admission is $10 for Garden members, $15 for non-members. Visit www.healinggarden.net for event updates or cancellations.
Early Release Movie for Bromfield Students
The Harvard Public Library will hold a movie rated PG-13 for Bromfield students Wednesday, March 14, at 1 p.m.
Charting Harvard’s Future
“Building a Sustainable Future—Reinventing Town Center and Managing Energy Needs” will be the topic of the third and final forum in the Elizabeth S. May Memorial Lecture Series Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m. at Volunteers Hall. The forum will focus on current town center buildings, as well as energy conservation ideas. Municipal Building Committee members and others will present the latest information on the status of plans for Harvard Town Hall and Hildreth House. In addition, Energy Advisory Committee members Jim Elkind and Eric Broadbent will present ideas for managing energy needs in connection with these town buildings, as well as elsewhere in town. Panelists will all welcome questions from the audience.
The series was inaugurated by the League of Women Voters of Harvard to honor the memory and vision of Elizabeth S. May, a long-time League volunteer. More information at www.lwvharvard.org.
Realistic Artistic for Students
Teen volunteer Nicole Lynch will lead lessons in simple art skills and tips for grades 4 to 8 Wednesdays, March 14 and 28, at 1:30 p.m at the Harvard Public Library. Space is limited to six; please register.
Eat Yourself Healthy
John and Fifi Ball will facilitate a five-week video and discussion course on nutrition and health Wednesdays, March 14, and March 28 through April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Building at 7 Elm St. “Diet and Cancer” with Dr. Neal Barnard and “Winning the War Against Cancer” with Dr. Joel Fuhrman will be shown March 14. Participants may attend any part or all of the film and discussion course. A free CD-ROM will be offered to attendees at the last meeting of the series. There is no charge for attendance or for light refreshments. Advance registration is encouraged but not required. To find out more about the course or to register for the series, contact John Ball at JohnABall@verizon.net or 978-456-3552.
HES Festival of Cultures
The Harvard PTO will sponsor its fifth annual Festival of Cultures, “Places to See,” Friday, March 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Hildreth Elementary School. The purpose of the two-part event is to embrace, celebrate, and value the diversity in the community.
From 6 to 7:15 p.m. in the HES gym, visitors will have a chance to meet with “ambassadors,” Hildreth Elementary School family members with direct experience in the roughly 18 countries or regions they represent. Children will receive passports as they travel from country to country, learning about landmarks, art, culture, sports, religions, food, history, music, and locations. A hands-on craft area will offer crafts from around the world. A silent auction will include donated international food items and meals delivered or served at a future date.
The second half of the program will feature live performances in the cafetorium from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. No food will be served at either part of the event. For more information, visit web.me.com/deb.barton/Festival_of_Cultures.
The Elementary School Art Show will open the same evening.
‘Kilimanjaro: Journey to the Roof of Africa’
Peter Christoph, a respected photographer and president of the Camera Club of Central New England, will lead a photographic journey through five climate zones, from tropical rain forest to arctic conditions, toward the summit of 19,340-foot high Mount Kilimanjaro Friday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. in Volunteers Hall in the Harvard Public Library. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. This event is part of the Warner Free Lecture Series.
Painting Class with Jill Pottle
Artist Jill Pottle will teach a class on “Painting Materials and Methods with Oils and Acrylics” for beginning and returning artists who want to learn or brush up on fundamental painting skills Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning March 16 through April 27 at Fruitlands Museum. To register call 978-456-3924, ext. 292, or email mdelaney@fruitlands.org.
Tree Grafting Workshop
Harvard horticulturalist Denis Wagner will lead a hands-on workshop to learn about grafting apple trees Saturday, March 17, at 1 p.m. at Fruitlands Museum. Participants will need to bring a grafting knife or one can be purchased on the premises, pruning shears, and cuttings from a favorite apple tree to graft. Rootstocks and scion wood will be supplied. Requests for a certain variety of apple scion wood should be mentioned when making reservations, which are required as space is limited. Fee is $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. To register call 978-456-3924, ext. 292, or email mdelaney@fruitlands.org.
Knit Wits for Students
The Harvard Public Library will host Knit Wits, a workshop for all levels of knitters in grades four through 12 led by teen volunteer Janet Sorrells, Monday March 19, at 3:30 p.m. Projects will depend on skill levels of group members; more advanced knitters may bring their own projects to work on. Please register.
Annual Lego Expo
Time to start building for Harvard Public Library’s Fourth Annual Lego Expo Saturday, March 24. Participants bring constructions of their own design to the Expo to share with others and to be judged. Group times are: ages 3 to 5, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; ages 6 to 8, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; ages 9 to 12, teens 13 to 18, and adults (18+), 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Register in the Children’s Room where construction guidelines will be available. Due to space limitations, the Lego Expo is open only to Harvard residents and children who attend school in Harvard.
Early Education Programs at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum will begin early education classes Mondays and Thursdays from March to early May. Classes will include “Time for Me” for children aged 18 months through 2.9 years, Mondays from 9 to 9:45 a.m.; and “Little Explorers” for youngsters from 2.9 to 5 years, Thursday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. Time for Me is $5 for drop-in members, $10 for non-members. Little Explorers is $8 for drop-in members, and $12 for non-members. Discount punch cards are available. Each program’s weekly theme is posted on the Fruitlands’ website, www.fruitlands.org.
OUT OF TOWN
Concert Series at the Bull Run
The Bull Run Restaurant on Route 2A in Shirley continues its concert series with:
- Saturday, March 10: Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
- Sunday, March 11: Royal Southern, direct from New Orleans
- Saturday, March 17: Yoke Shire, Celtic Show for St. Patrick’s Day.
Tickets and more info at www.bullrunrestaurant.com.
Care for the Caregiver Presentation Dinner
Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley will host a “Care for the Caregiver” dinner Wednesday, March 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 191 Foster St. in Littleton. The light dinner event will feature two speakers from Harvard. Anne Marie Rowse, principal of Senior Care Advisors, LLC, will speak on local services available publicly and privately, as well as available housing options. Joyce Gallagher, director of nursing for Hospice of the Good Shepherd, will educate families about advance directives. Gallagher will speak on the importance of a health care proxy and living will and the importance of planning ahead. A prize-drawing will also be held.
Backyard Chickens for Everyone
Groton Local will host “Backyard Chickens for Everyone,” a presentation by Tiffany Doggett, Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m., at the Nashua River Watershed Association, 592 Main St. in Groton. Doggett has raised her own flock from a combination of fertilized eggs, day-old chicks, 10-week-old chickens, and hens from retiring chicken keepers. She has experience with different breeds and will explain the process of setting up and raising a flock. The talk is free. For more information, go to www.grotonlocal.org or call Jim Hubert at 978-302-5611.
