PEOPLE & EVENTS
FRIDAY- SEPTEMBER 22

Ashby  Pizza Night will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Parish Church. Eat in or take out orders available. For information, call (978) 386-5660.

Ashburnham  Peoples Church Food Pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to noon at 56 South Main St. The pantry will continue to be open the fourth Friday of each month.

Westminster  A Texas Hold 'Em Tournament will be held at Wachusett Village Inn, 9 Village Inn Road. Doors open at 6 p.m.; "Shuffle Up & Deal" starts promptly at 7 p.m. Proceeds from this event, which includes dinner, music, entertainment, and auctions, will benefit the American Diabetes Association. Swimming is available at the Wachusett Village Inn Club for children (with parental supervision) from 7 to 11 p.m. Cost is $25; $10 for children (12 and under). For information or to purchase tickets, call (978) 874-2000.

SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 23

Ashby  The Ashby American Legion will hold a chicken barbecue, at the American Legion Hall, New Ipswich Road, from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost is $8. For information, call (978) 386-7977.

Ashburnham  A fall yard sale, to benefit the William Bresnahan Scouting & Community Memorial Park, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the William Bresnahan Memorial Park, corner of River Street and Route 12. Children's crafts, small sized furniture, CDs, videos, food, jewelry, household items, children's toys, knick-knacks, cookbooks, dishes, candles, old stuff, new stuff and odds and ends will be available for purchase. Donations may be delivered to Ron Skaife on Water Street or call for pickup at (978) 827-5722 (no large appliances, computers, large furniture or clothing). Hotdogs, snacks and drinks will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rain date is Sept. 30.

Townsend  The American Red Cross of North Central Massachusetts will host a Babysitter's Training Course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial Hall. This course teaches youth ages 11 and older the responsibilities and qualities of being a good babysitter, in addition to what is expected from the person who hires them. Cost is $42 fee per student. For information, or to register, call (978) 537-3339, Ext. 24.

Westminster  The Westminster Democratic Town Committee will meet at 2 p.m. at the Senior Center, 127 Main St. (American Legion Hall). The agenda will begin with a discussion about the ways committee members can help the successful candidates for governor and lieutenant governor get elected on Nov. 7. The committee will also discuss any other business that comes before it. For information, contact Kimberly B. Caisse at (978) 874-1157; or email westminsterdtc@gmail.com.

Other  Kids Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday, Sept. 24, at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton. This annual event will feature two days of music, food, and fun! Be amazed by the dazzling Northeast Trickstars! Tackle the climbing wall; and enjoy tons of interactive games! Sample food products and enjoy the jugglers, magicians, balloon artists, clowns, pony rides, kid's games, moon bounces, and barbecue. For more information, or tickets, call (978) 464-2300.  The NRWA invites families to join them from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for a hike to discover how seasonal change and reduced sunlight affect plants and animals. Fee: is NRWA members $4/person or $12/family; nonmember $6/person or $18/family. Participants are asked to meet at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main St. (Route 119), Groton. Registration required. To register or for information, contact Ellen Frank at (978) 448-0299.

 The Chair City Piper Chorus presents their annual show "Spellbound" featuring the International Quartet Champions "Exhilaration" at 7:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Mount Wachusett Community College, Green Street, Gardner. For ticket information, contact Sandy at (978) 6320006.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24

West Townsend  Deborah Prince Smith, a Townsend resident, will led a "Drawing From Nature Workshop" at 2 p.m. Smith is an artist and illustrator of Donald Stokes' nature books. Participants are asked to bring a drawing pad, pencils, eraser and bug repellant and should meet at Pearl Hill State Park parking lot on New Fitchburg Road. For information, call Deborah at (978) 597-2204. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25

Ashby  The Ashby Library Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. at the Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main St.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26

Ashburnham  The Ashburnham Council on Aging will host their monthly "Pizza and Bingo for a Buck" at noon, at the Ashburnham COA center, 1 Memorial Drive. One dollar buys your lunch, dessert and a bingo card. All seniors welcome to enjoy this event. Transportation available. For information, or to make reservations, call (978) 827-5000.

Other  The Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society Inc. will meet at 7 p.m. upstairs hall of the American Legion, Post 129, 22 Elm St., Gardner. Topic for this meeting will be "Native American Genealogy: Unearthing Your Native American Roots." For more information, please contact Mary Hasselmann at (978) 297-4484; or cmgs_secretary@hotmail.com; or write to C.M.G.S., Inc., P. O. Box 811, Westminster, MA 01473-0811.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

Ashburnham  An American Red Cross Blood Drive, dedicated to the memory of Mary Ann Powers, will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. in Ashburnham Community Church, Main and Chapel streets. Anyone that is 17 or older, in good health, weighs 110 pounds or more and who has not given blood in the last 56 days may try to donate. The American Red Cross requires a positive ID before donating. For information, or to make an appointment, call (800) 448-3543. Walk-in donors welcome.

Townsend  A Writers' Group will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Room 1 of Memorial Hall, Townsend Public Library. Network with other writers and bring what you are working on to share. Open to adults. For information, call the Townsend Public Library at (978) 597-1714.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28

Other  MWCC Foundation, Inc. will honor Kimberly Blanchard of Ashburnham, an active volunteer in North Central Massachusetts, as the 2006 Harold E. Drake Jr. Citizen of the Year Award recipient at the Annual Foundation Dinner at the Colonial Hotel, Gardner, at 5:30 p.m. Outstanding MWCC students who receive Foundation scholarships will also be honored. To attend the dinner, contact Diane Hamilton at dhamilton@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9387. Tickets are $75 per person.