NEWS CALENDAR
Applefest celebrated this weekend

Enjoy the foliage and festivities at Wachusett Mountain's 24th Annual Applefest to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21. The celebration will feature over 60 craft exhibitors, a farmer's market, and special family fun side shows both days.

Don't miss the pie-eating contests; entries must be in by 2 p.m. daily. Also, children will enjoy a performance by magicians, jugglers and clowns; pony rides and moon bounces. Wachusett Mountain is located at 499 Mountain Road, in Princeton. For more information, call (978) 464-2300 or visit www.wachusett.com.

19 FRIDAY

Fitchburg Lodge of Elks #847 will hold a Meat Raffle at 7 p.m. at 860 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg. Door prizes and raffles to be awarded.

Crossroads Community Church, 839 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, presents "Friday Night Live!" at 7 p.m.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

20 SATURDAY

Warmer Winters will host a Knit-A-Thon from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the North Central Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg. For knitters and crocheters, the yarn will be free; just bring your needles and talents. For those who do not knit, free lessons will be taught throughout the day. The event will also feature raffles, music, a magician and refreshments. All ages and skill levels welcome. Finished garments will be donated to local people in need. Call (978) 537-3464.

A scrapbooking event will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Townsend. The $30 registration includes a continental breakfast, full lunch, dinner, beverages and snacks; 12 hours of cropping; free scrapbook goodies for each attendee; hourly door prizes and more. Call (978) 877-0569.

A Harvest Supper Buffet will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ashburnham Community Church, located at Route 12 and Chapel Street. Turkey with all the fixings, mashed potatoes, winter squash, peas and onions, homemade pies, coffee, tea, and cider will be served. Reservations required by calling Brenda Brown at (978) 827-5492.

A Pot Luck Supper and a viewing of the film "An Inconvenient Truth," followed by a discussion, will be held at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 66 Elm St.,

Gardner. Free. All interested people are invited to attend and bring a dish to share for supper.

St. Joseph's Monthly Dance will present the 11th annual Pauline Lincourt Memorial Dance from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. in St. Joseph's Parish Hall, 49 Woodland St.,

Fitchburg. Music by MO-CO. Admission is $10. To reserve seating, contact Louise at (978) 342-0173.

First Parish Fitchburg Church presents BrickRoad Productions in "Mystery on the Trail" at 7:30 p.m. at The Sundial Function Room, 29 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. A three-course meal will be served. Cost is $30 for the dinner and show. Seating is limited; reservations required. Call (978) 353-0170.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School auditorium, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

Original Irish Tenor John McDermott will perform at 8 p.m. at Fitchburg State College's Weston Auditorium. McDermott is one of the original members of The Irish Tenors and a musical storyteller in the Celtic tradition. Call (978) 665-3347 or (978) 665-3709.

21 SUNDAY

  Members of the Leominster Land Trust and the Recreation Department will lead a hike of the entire 11-mile Monoosnoc trail. Hikers should meet at 8 a.m. at Samoset School (gym side parking lot) to take the van to the West Street Trailhead. Anyone desiring to do only a segment of the trail should call Judith Sumner at (978) 534-7529) to make other parking arrangements. Please pack a lunch, water, and wear proper hiking gear. Call (978) 534- 7529 or (978) 537-3018.

A Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. at the V.F.W. Hall, Eaton Street,

Westminster. Sponsored by the Westminster Lions Club to benefit the Oakmont Youth Soccer program. Tickets are $3 (children under six years old eat free).

Dance2Swing Studios presents DJ Alan- Hep2theJive at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. A beginner friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Admission is $12. Visit www.dance2swing.com

22 MONDAY

The Mystery Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. The group will discuss "Cimarron Rose" by James Lee Burke. For information, or to reserve the book, call (978) 874-7416.

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, 1050 Westminster St., Fitchburg, will host its annual Career Awareness Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Area seventh- and eight-graders and their families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculuty and administrators. Call (978) 345-9200, Ext. 5235 or 5236.

23 TUESDAY

Twin City Toastmasters will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation Community Conference Room, 1 Main St., 3rd floor (above the Bank of America), L eominster. Call (978) 343-7259.

"How to Keep Our Dead Alive: Historic Cemetery Documentation and Mortuary Art" will be discussed at the Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society meeting at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 22 Elm St., Gardner. Speakers will be The Gravestone Girls. There is a $2 fee for guests. Call (978) 297-4484.

24 WEDNESDAY

FSC faculty member, Dr. Joshua Spero, will hold a booksigning for his book, "Bridging the European Divide: Middle Power Politics and Regional Security Dilemmas" from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Center for Teaching and Learning, Hammond Campus Center, Fitchburg State College.

25 THURSDAY

The Italian film, "Ciao, Professore," will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Ellis White Lecture Hall, Fitchburg State College. It is a drama about a teacher sent to a poor town outside Naples, who must work to convince the children about the importance of education. Tickets available at the door. Call (978) 665-3709.

The Camera Club of Central New England will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 West St., Leominster. A Critique Night will be held. Members will bring two slide or prints for others members to critique. For membership information, call Dan Cox at (978) 534-0366.

Dick O'Brien and members of the Leominster Land Trust and the Recreation Department will lead a family moonlight hike from the Elm Street Trailhead (under the high tension wires- approximately 1.75 miles from Pond and Elm streets) to South Monoosnoc Overlook on the Monoosnoc Trail. It is a moderate climb; hikers should carry flashlights, carry water and wear proper hiking gear. Call (978) 534-7529 or (978) 537-3018.

26 FRIDAY

A Pumpkin Decorating Contest will be held today and Saturday, Oct. 27, at Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham. Judging will be held on Saturday at noon. For ages 3 to 17; with a limit of one pumpkin per person. For information, call (978) 827-4115. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" will be shown from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. For information, call (978) 874-7416

Crossroads Community Church, 839 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, presents "Friday Night Live!" at 7 p.m. "The Outpouring," a Christian band, will perform. Immediately following the service, the monthly 24 Hour Prayer Vigil will be held. For information, visit www.thecrossroadscommunity.com

Mount Wachusett Community College Alumni Association will sponsor an audience interactive dinner theatre production of "Murder in the Land of Lost Pages, A Fairy Tear-able Tale" at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 150 Royal Plaza Drive, Fitchburg. A cocktail reception will be held at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and show at 7 p.m. Performed by the Massachusettsbased Comical Mystery Tour. Admission is $40 per person or $75 for two people. Reservations are required by Oct. 17. Proceeds will benefit the Alumni Association scholarship. For tickets, or more information, contact Carol Cullins at (978) 630-9594.

First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist, located at 923 Main St., will present "Spooky Movie Night" featuring the 1925 silent film classic "The Phantom of the Opera" on Friday, October 26, 2007, at 7:00 P.M. Music for the 92-minute film will be improvised on the church's historic 1928 E.M. Skinner organ by Dr. Robin Dinda, Director of Music at the church and Professor of Humanities (Music) at Fitchburg State College. For additional information on Spooky Movie Night, and to purchase tickets, call 978-582-6221, or visit www. fitchburguu.org.

A Fitchburg Ghost Tour will be held at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning at 880 Main St., (in front of the Buolder Café) Fitchburg. For details, or to make reservations, call (978) 790-0862. Adults are $10; senior citizens and those 18 and under $7.

27 SATURDAY

The Townsend Recycling Committee is sponsoring a "Take It or Leave It Day" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Townsend Recycling Center, 33 Greenville Road. Everyone in Townsend and in the wider community are invited to bring items that are clean, working, reusable, and with no missing parts. Call (978) 597-1713.

Peoples Church, 56 S. Main St., Ashburnham, is holding a free item giveaway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items include clothes for all ages, books, toys, videos and more.

Karen & Friends will present a program with stories and puppets at 10 a.m. at the Fitchburg Youth Library, 610 Main St. For all ages. For information, call (978) 345-9637.

"Miss Nelson Has a Field Day" will be performed at 2 p.m. at Theatre at the Mount, Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. All tickets are $4; advance purchase recommended. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 632-2403.

The Friends of the Townsend Seniors are hosting the William E. May Endowment dinner at the Townsend Ridge Country Club. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., followed by a family-style dinner at 7 p.m. honoring the 2007 awardees Hirk and Louise Fortin. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased from Bob Tumber by calling (978) 597-8843 or Shirley Kao at (978) 597-6338.

The Thayer Symphony Orchestra of Leominster will host its Gala Opening Concert at 8 p.m. at the Stratos G. Dukakis Performing Arts Center, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg. This Gala Opening is created to celebrate Maestro Wada's 25th Anniversary with the TSO. Enjoy some of his favorites pieces from the past 25 years - Finlandia, Royal Fireworks, Symphony No. 1, Sibelius, Handel, and Beethoven. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 466-1800.