CALENDAR

Ashburnham Community Church hosts Summer 2007 Band Concert Series

22 FRIDAY The Ashburnham Community Church will host a community-wide cookout at 5 p.m. at the church in honor of the Proulx family. The invitation is extended to everyone in town who would like to have an opportunity to say "good-bye and thank you" to Dale and Christine for their dedication and caring service. For information, call (978) 827-5553.

St. Bernard's Elementary School, 254 Summer St., Fitchburg will host its annual Summer Carnival from 6 to 11 p.m.

Theatre at the Mount will perform "The Pirates of Penzance" at 8 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 632-2403.

23 SATURDAY The Church of the Good Shepherd, 10 Wachusett St., Fitchburg, will host a yard sale and plant sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A chicken barbecue will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Cost for the barbecue is $7; $6 for seniors; $4 for children. For information, or to purchase tickets for the barbecue, call (978) 342-2690.

Emanuel Lutheran Church will host its second annual Strawberry Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 1200 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg. Strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie and freshly picked strawberries will be for sale. Lunch from the grill will also be available, as well as games for the children. Held rain or shine; sponsored by the Men's Group at Emanuel.

A Book Sale and Ice Cream Social will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. Blinki the Clown will visit from 10 a.m. to noon, and live music will entertain the audience from noon to 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Trustees and Friends of the Library. For information, call (978) 874-7416.

St. Bernard's Elementary School, 254 Summer St., Fitchburg will host its annual Summer Carnival from 2 to 11 p.m. A chicken barbecue will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Fireworks will be displayed at 11 p.m.

Theatre at the Mount will perform "The Pirates of Penzance" at 8 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 632-2403.

24 SUNDAY Theatre at the Mount will perform "The Pirates of Penzance" at 2 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 632-2403.

Elm Street Congregational Church, 264 Elm St., Fitchburg, will host its second Sunday Family Celebration. Fun activities for children will begin at 4:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. The 6 p.m. service will include praise music, a dance team, and more. All are welcome. Call Pastor Steve at (978) 342-4257 for information.

The Ashburnham Community Church will host a folk music concert by Chuck and Mud at 5 p.m. at Winchester Park, Ashburnham. Sausages, burgers, hot dogs, salads, popcorn, home-baked goods, ice cream and beverages will be for sale. There will be attendance prizes for adults and children.

Dance2Swing Studios presents The Velvet Elvis Band at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. A group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Admission is $12. For information, visit

26 www.dance2swing.com. TUESDAY Today is the beginning of the Summer Reading Program at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. As a special treat, Bates & Tincknell will entertain children from 7 to 8 p.m. with music and stories. For information, call (978) 874-7416.

A free medical lecture will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ramsey Rehab, 39 Cinema Boulevard, Leominster. Guest speaker will be Herbert Stevenson, M.D., who serves as Director of Sports Medicine and the Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program for U-Mass, will present "Stay in the Game, Prevention of Sports Injuries in the Athlete." He is team physician to Fitchburg State College, Holy Cross, WPI, Clark University and Leominster, Fitchburg, St. Bernard's and Monty Tech high schools. For information, call (978) 466-6677.

27 WEDNESDAY Movie Time will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham. For information on library events, call (978) 827-4115. Baby Brunch will be held at 11 a.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St.,

Westminster. Registration required. For information, or to register, call (978) 874- 7416.

The Best Western Royal Plaza in Fitchburg, the official race headquarters for the Longsjo Classic, will host an All You Can Eat Pasta Buffet from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $12.95 in advance or $15 at the door. The ceremony is free and includes a special exhibit of Art Longsjo's prestigious cycling career, organized by the Fitchburg Historical Society. Visit www.longsjo.com

28 THURSDAY Fitchburg Art Museum presents the Rahnasto Lecture, given in memory of trustee Anne Rahnasto Bogojavlensky, at 11 a.m. preceded by coffee at 10 a.m. at the museum, located on Merriam Parkway. Arno Minkkinen, an award-winning photographer whose work is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many other museums will present "Teaching Art Is Making It." Admission is: Adults $7; students age 13 and up and seniors, $5; children 12 and under free. For information, call (978) 345-4207, or visit fitchburgartmuseum.org.

Craft time will be held at 11 a.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St.,

Westminster. Children ages 5 and up will make a compass necklace. Registration required. For information, or to register, call (978) 874-7416.

Lutes & Limberjacks will be held at 2 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham. Featuring lutes, guitars, bongos and percussion. This is an interactive concert/demonstration for children and families. For information on library events, call (978) 827-4115.

The Longsjo Classic shifts to the Fitchburg State College Circuit Race, a 3.1 mile loop through the hilly streets of Fitchburg - women's pro cycling 40 miles begins at 2:15 p.m.; men's pro riding 78 miles starts at 3:50 p.m. Visit www.longsjo.com

29 FRIDAY The Longsjo Classic race gets underway at 3:15 p.m. for pro women and at 4:30 p.m. for pro men, beginning at Saima Park,

Fitchburg. This is a 6.2-mile race against the clock. Visit www.longsjo.com

The Amazing Duck Race will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. from the banks of the Nashua River at Circle Street to Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. Cost per duck is $5. The winning duck and its family will receive a $1,000 cash prize; second place duck, $500, and third place, $250. Rubber ducks can be adopted until June 22 at the Mayor's Office. For information, call (978) 345-9550.

30 SATURDAY Join pastel artist Gregory Maichack from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main St. Enjoy an engaging hands-on experience of basic pastel painting, as well as advanced techniques. Created for adults, accommodating age 14 and up if accompanied by an adult. Supported in part by a grant from the Ashby Cultural Council. For information, call (978) 386-5377.

A Doll Carriage and Bicycle Parade will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverfront Park, Boulder Drive, Fitchburg. For information, visit www.civicdays.com. This is a Fitchburg Civic Days event.

Riverfront Revival of the Arts, a Fitchburg public arts exhibit, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. The event will feature live music, food, art activities for children, and an art exhibit by local artists. The Fitchburg High School Jazz Band, as well as other talented members of the community, will entertain. For information, call Hannah Masse at (978) 400-6463.

The Longsjo Classic changes venues with the men's pro riding a total of 104 miles in the Wachusett Mountain Road Race. The riders will start shortly after noon at the ski area of Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. Visit www.longsjo.com

The Civic Days Softball Tournament will be held from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Coolidge Park's Charlton Softball Field, Fitchburg. For information, visit www.civicdays.com. This is a Fitchburg Civic Days event.

13 SUNDAY The Longsjo Classic concludes at 3 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. for the pro women and men respectively, around a 0.9 mile loop through downtown Fitchburg. Visit www. longsjo.com

TUESDAY A Downtown Block Party will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. on Main Street, Fitchburg. The party will feature live entertainment, classic cars, an International Food Court, vendors, children's events and family fun. Fireworks will be held at dusk (approx. 9 p.m.) For information, visit www.civicdays. com. This is a Fitchburg Civic Days event.

The stage is set for the Ashburnham Community Church's upcoming 2007 Summer Band Concert Series. All concerts start at 5 p.m. at Winchester Park (near the Ashburnham Police Station) and feature an evening of great music, "hotoff the-grill" sausages, burgers and dogs, salads, beverages, popcorn and home-baked goods. There will be raffle drawings for attendance prizes for adults and children.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 24, as they welcome back Chuck and Mud; performing original Folk Americana sung and played directly from the heart.

The New England Swing Orchestra - specializing in Big Band Music from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, Rhythm & Blues, Rock n' Roll, Soul and Motown - will perform on Sunday, July 15. July 29 wraps up the concert series with Ashburnham's own Al Girouard and Ruff Cut bringing you an evening of Classic Rock.

Pack your blankets and summer chairs and join the community for three cool summer evenings of family entertainment. For information, call (978) 827-5553. Pictured is Churck and Mud who will kick off the band concert series this Sunday.