CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CHOICE
Enjoys tastes and traditions from around the world

St. Edward the Confessor Church will host an ethnic foods dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 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, $5 for children under 12 (children under 6 free). For information, call 978) 874-0639.

12 SATURDAY

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.

North Central Charter Essential School (NCCES) will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the school, 1 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg. Prospective students and their families can tour the facility and meet with students, parents, and staff. For information, call (978) 345-2701 or visit www. ncces.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 chicken pot pie, vegetable, beverage and homemade pie for dessert. Tickets are $8, $4 for children (children under 5 free). For information, call (978) 939-2784.

Writer Sally Cragin presents "Real Townies Are Always Home," a spoken word celebration of New England, at the 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.

The Boulder Coffeehouse presents Gayle Picard at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Fitchburg, 923 Main St. 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.

The Lancaster Coffeehouse presents Cheryl Wheeler at 7:30 p.m. at the Janeway Education Center, Perkins School, 975 Main St., Lancaster. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 day of show. For more information, call (978) 365-2043.

13 SUNDAY

Dance2Swing presents Shakin' All Over, an early rock n' roll band, at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Eagles Hall, 456 Litchfield St. Admission is $12. A beginner-friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Visit www.dance2swing.com or call (978) 263-7220.

14 MONDAY

The Monday Mystery Book Club will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. The group will discuss "Come to Grief" by Dick Francis. For information, or to register, call (978) 874-7416.

Always On Call Health Services, Inc. is offering an American Red Cross Babysitter's Training Course from 4 to 6 p.m. beginning today through Thursday, Jan. 17, at 285 Central St., Suite 214, Leominster. Participants will receive a certificate and a course handbook. Cost is $65. The course will provide youth ages 11 to 15 information and skills necessary to provide safe and responsible care for children. For information, or to register, call Maria Iacobone at (978) 537-9900, Ext. 204.

15 TUESDAY

North Central Charter Essential School (NCCES) will host an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school, 1 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg. Prospective students and their families can tour the facility and meet with students, parents, and staff. For information, call (978) 345-2701 or visit www. ncces.org. The Leominster Art Association will meet at 7 p.m. at Congregational Church of Christ, 583 Main St., North Leominster.

Robert Cole, watercolor and oil artist, will be demonstrating painting in oil. Cole, well-known local artist, has an art gallery at 88 Culley St., Fitchburg. Guest fee is $5. For more information, call Eleanor DeLibero at (978) 537-3898 or visit www.leominsterartassociation.org .

16 WEDNESDAY

A presentation entitled "Aging In Place" will be presented at 10 a.m. at the Fitchburg Senior Center, 14 Wallace Ave. Topics covered will be: elder law services, home health management, home equity management and household safety concerns. Preregistration is requested by calling either (800) 690-6646 or (978) 345-9598.

The Westminster Seniors' Friendship Club will meet at 1:30 p.m. in St. Edward's Church Hall, Church Street, Westminster. Bring attic treasures, new or old, for the Penny Auction. Meetings are open to seniors citizens age 55 and older in Westminster and surrounding towns. For information, call (978) 874-2445.

The American Cancer Society's Look Good...Feel Better program will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Simond-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, HealthAlliance Hospital/Burbank campus,

Fitchburg. Pre-registration is required. Free. For information, or to register, call Wayne Hill or Karen Kazanijian-Silvia at (978) 343-5442.

The Appleseed Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. at Slattery's Back Room Restaurant, Lunenburg Street,

Fitchburg. Due to the December meeting cancellation, a social and Yankee Swap will be held. All administrative professionals are welcome. Contact Phyllis Grammont at phyllis.grammont@nashobamed.com 17 Ashby Grange is pleased to present "It's Easy Being Green" at 7 p.m. in Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main St., Ashby. This free event includes guest speakers, door prizes, games and light refreshments. Call Debbie at (978) 386-2323.

17 THURSDAY

Families First Speaker Series presents "Temperamental Differences: Understanding and Accepting the Child That You Have" from 6 to 8 p.m. at the YMCA, 55 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. For information, or to register, call Eva Kelly at (978) 400- 6356.

Habitat for Humanity will meet at 7 p.m. at the Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial 18 Drive, Ashburnham.

18 FRIDAY

Stratton Players presents "Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)" at 8 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave. A dinner and show package available at the Fay Club. Call 19 (978) 345-6066.

19 SATURDAY

Members of the Leominster Land Trust, Leominster Recreation Department, and Wachusett Greenways will host a full moon snowshoe hike on a segment of the Wachusett Greenway in Rutland. Hikers will meet at 5 p.m. at Barrett Park to board a bus or to car pool. Carry water and a flashlight; refreshments will be served. Plan of return is 9:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Recreation Department at (978) 534- 7529 or Deanne Comeau at (978) 537- 3018. In the event of no snow, a regular hike will take place; in case of inclement weather it will be held Jan. 20.

St. Joseph's Monthly Dance will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. in St. Joseph's Parish Hall, 40 Woodland St., Fitchburg. Music by MO-CO. Admission is $10.

Stratton Players presents "Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)" at 8 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave. A Dinner and Show package available at the Fay Club. Call (978) 345-6066. The Steep Canyon Rangers of North Carolina will play a concert to benefit the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) at 8 p.m. at the Grace Fellowship Church, 43 Main St., Nashua, N.H. Tickets are $15 for NRWA members and students; $18 for non-members. Proceeds will support the NRWA's water protection, land stewardship, and environmental education programs in 31 communities in north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Call (978) 448-0299.

20 SUNDAY

The 9th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held at Unitarian Universalist First Church in Leominster, 15 West St. A program will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by a multi-cultural buffet in the lower church from 3 to 4 p.m. The program is free; however a $5 per person donation is requested for the buffet. For information, call (978) 537-0310.

Stratton Players presents "Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)" at 2 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave. Call (978) 345- 6066.

Dance2Swing presents Compaq Big Band, a 21-piece big band, at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Eagles Hall, 456 Litchfield St. Admission is $12. A beginner-friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Visit www.dance2swing.com or call (978) 263-7220.

21 MONDAY

The Bull Run Restaurant, located on Route 2A, Shirley, will host "The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." breakfast program from 7:30 to 10 a.m. with the Civil Rights Musical Play. Ticket donations are $20 (tables of eight are $169). Student essay contest winners will be announced. For tickets and more information, call (978) 772-0798.

22 TUESDAY

A series of ink paintings from Vermont artist Leonard Ragouzeous will be on exhibit in the Fitchburg State College Campus Center Art Gallery beginning today. The show, titled "Values: Images in Black and White" will begin with a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. and an opening reception at 7 p.m. The exhibit runs through Feb. 18.