CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CHOICE
Charity night keeps those in need warm
The Yarn Basket, located at 12 Ray Ave., Fitchburg, will hold a Charity Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. All knitters and crotchetiers are invited to make up hats, mittens, scarves, helmet liners, afghans for wounded soldiers, baby afghans for Project Linus, preemie caps for Children's Hospital and chemo caps for the Oncology Unit at Burbank Hospital. Bring your favorite baked goodie; coffee, soda and water will be provided. Participants will receive 20 percent off any purchase and be entered into a free raffle. Pictured at a recent charity night at the Yarn Basket, volunteers made hats, mittens, scarves, slippers and other items for wounded soldiers, as well as blankets for the Linus Project for children in need of comfort. Hundreds of items have been donated since September, and the program will continue the first Monday of each month. For more information, call (978) 353-6796. Pictured (left to right) are June Hagen, Tina Simpson and Sandra Long.

5 SATURDAY

The Drawbridge Puppet Theater, located at 1335 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg, presents "Pinocchio" at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. Remaining showtimes are every Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. throughout the month of January. For ages 4 and over. Cost is $6. Reservations recommended. Call (978) 582-6565.

A Saturday Night Supper will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 60 West St., Leominster. Roast beef, potatoes, vegetables and homemade desserts served. Tickets are $6 for adults; $5 for senior citizens; $3 for children ages 5 to 12 (under 5 eat free). Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (978) 537-3560.

Crossroads Coffeehouse presents NBJ (Nothing But Jesus) at 7 p.m. at Nashua Valley Christian Church, 690 Mechanic St., Leominster. Call Lisa Holley at (978) 534- 8507.

6 SUNDAY

Dance2Swing presents DJ AlanHep2theJive at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Eagles Hall, 456 Litchfield St. Admission is $10. A beginner friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Visit www.dance2swing. com or call (978) 263-7220.

7 MONDAY

The Yarn Basket, located at 12 Ray Ave., Fitchburg, will hold a Charity Night from 6 to 9 p.m. All knitters and crotchetiers are invited to make up hats, mittens, scarves, helmet liners, afghans for wounded soldiers, baby afghans for Project Linus, preemie caps for Children's Hospital and chemo caps for the Oncology Unit at Burbank Hospital. Bring your favorite baked goodie; coffee, soda and water will be provided. Participants will receive 20 percent off any purchase on this night and be entered into a free raffle. For information, call Dianne or Sandy at (978) 353-6796.

8 TUESDAY

A free well-adult clinic will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Ashley Court, School Street, Ashburnham. Held in association with Nashoba Association Boards of Health. No appointment necessary. For information, call (978) 425-6675. The Leominster Recreation Department will sponsor an eight-week adult exercise program beginning today through Thursday, March 6. The program, taught by Paula Skehan, includes aerobics, hand weights and interval training, and will be held at Fall Brook Elementary School gym from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Cost is $57. For information, or to register, call (978) 534-7529 or (978) 537- 8711.

The Westminster Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. at 110 Main St., Westminster. A short business meeting will be held where everyone will be brought up to date on recent projects and plans for the coming year. Following the meeting, a traditional Yankee Swap will be held. Refreshments served, all are invited to attend. For information, call (978) 874-5569.

9 WEDNESDAY

An Executive Women's Network brown bag luncheon will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the National Plastics Center, 210 Lancaster St., Leominster. Deborah Penta, of PENTA Communications, will present "How to Market Yourself for Success." To attend, or to take a table, please RSVP to reservations@massweb.org. Any further questions, call Heidi, program director, at (978) 353-7600, Ext. 235. The Leominster Historical Society presents "Tracking Lewis & Clark" at 7 p.m. in the Leominster Public Library Meeting Room, 30 West St. In 2007, Gil and Carol Tremblay made the same journey in an airconditioned bus. Gil will lead a photo presentation and highlights of the two trips. For information, call Sandy Balboni at (978) 660-0597

10 THURSDAY

Always On Call Health Services Inc. will offer an American Heart Association Heath Care Provider course from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 285 Central St., Suite 214, Leominster. This course is for people within the healthcare industry and nursing students. For more information, or to register, call (978) 537-9900. The Fitchburg Lodge of Elks #847, located at 860 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg will start a new Bingo (in addition to their Tuesday evening Bingo) on Thursday afternoons beginning today. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Bingo will start at 1 p.m. The Oakmont Peer Leaders will sponsor a Spaghetti Supper and Bingo Night in the Oakmont High School cafeteria, 9 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham. The spaghetti supper will be served from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by Bingo from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets, sold at the door, are $5 for adults, $3 for students. All proceeds to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The Boys' & Girls' Club of North Central Massachusetts' 5th Annual Adult Spelling Bee will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Weston Auditorium, Fitchburg State College. Approximately 20 teams of five adults are expected to compete for honors as best spellers and best costume before an audience of over 200 people in this annual fundraising event. For information, call (978) 665-3765.

The Camera Club of Central New England will hold their first meeting for the 2008 season at 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 West St., Leominster, Call President Dan Cox at (978) 534-0366.

12 SATURDAY

The Boulder Coffeehouse presents Gayle Picard at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Fitchburg, 923 Main St., Fitchburg. Proceeds from the $5 suggested donation will be split between the host Church and the Children's Aid & Family Service, an affiliate of the Seven Hills Foundation of Central Massachuetts. Call (978) 345-2661.

Applewild School will host an Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Marshall Building, 98 Prospect St., Fitchburg. Student-led tours will be available as well as conversations with faculty and administrators who will be on hand to talk about the school and scholarship opportunities available for the coming year. For more information, contact Terry Perlmutter at (978) 342-6053, ext. 110, or tperlmutter@applewild.org.

First Church of Templeton, located on Templeton Common, will hold a Chicken Pot Pie Supper with open seating from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The family-style supper includes freshly prepared chicken pot pie, vegetable, beverage, and a piece of homemade pie for dessert. Tickets are $8, $4 for children, with children under 5 free. For information, call (978) 939-2784.

St. Edward the Confessor Church will host an ethnic foods dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. in the church hall, 10 Church St., Westminster. Salad and vegetables, fried rice, tourtierres, hot potato salad, Irish stew, bread, cookies, ranchero tamale pie and Stanley's famous kapusta will be served. Tickets, sold at the door, are $10, and $5 for children under 12 (children under 6 free). For information, call (978) 874-0639.

Writer Sally Cragin presents "Real Townies Are Always Home," a spoken word celebration of New England, at the historic Fay Club, 658 Main St., Fitchburg. A traditional New England dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the performance at 7:30 p.m. The menu includes New England fish chowder, Yankee pot roast with root vegetables, and apple crisp with ice cream. The program is an entertaining exploration of aspects of New England. Tickets are $29 (includes tax and gratuity). For seating reservations, call (978) 345-4537; for more information about "Real Townies," call (978) 407-6482.