CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CHOICE
Communitycelebrates life of Martin Luther King Jr.

The community is invited to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with the followingevents.

The 9th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Celebration will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, 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.

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. Monday, Jan. 21, 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.

Fitchburg State College will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the "Living the Dream Celebration" at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the Hammond Campus Center. The celebration features readings by students of Memorial Intermediate School, an original speech by Memorial Principal Fran Thomas, and more. Coordinated by Multicultural Student Services/ACCESS Program. Call (978) 665-3399.

18 FRIDAY

In honor of National Blood Donor Month, ARC Community Services and Unitil have teamed up to sponsor an American Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at Unitil, 285 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg (use the side door entrance near the United Way). All blood donors will receive a Red Cross t-shirt, one pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee, a coffee mug, a water bottle and can register to win a $100 Unitil Energy Gift Certificate. To make an appointment, call (800) 448-3543. Walk-in donors welcome.

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

19 SATURDAY

Stratton Players will hold auditions for "My Friend Miss Flint" at 10 a.m. at 60 Wallace Ave. Directed by Janet Cragin. Scripts are available for perusal at Fitchburg Public Library at (978) 345-9635 or Leominster Public Library at (978) 534-7522.

The Ashburnham Lions Club will hold a meat raffle from 2 to 5 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 132 Williams Road, Ashburnham. Proceeds to benefit charitable causes.

A church supper will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Christ, UCC, 583 Main St., Leominster. Ham, potatoes, vegetables, and homemade pies will be served. Tickets are $7 at the door. For information, call (978) 537- 7054.

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,

Leominster, 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.

A Standup Comedy Show will be held at the Chocksett Inn, 59 Laurelwood Road,

Sterling. Cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dinner buffet and the comedy show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $49 per person. Reservations required by calling (978) 422-3355.

The Groton Grange will host a family barn dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the historic Groton Grange Hall, 80 Champney St.,

Groton. The Twin Fiddles and Contra Banditos will perform. Beginners welcome. For detailed information, call (978) 302-5649.

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., Fitchburg. 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

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

Ballroom Dancing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Acadien Club, 193 Parker St.,

Gardner. Admission is $10 at the door with a free ballroom dance lesson from an Arthur Murray instructor at 4 p.m. All dance levels, singles or couples, welcomed. Light refreshments served. Call Magic Mike Entertainment at (978 ) 821-3395.

Dance2Swing presents DJ AlanHep2the- Jive 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.

21 MONDAY

Stratton Players will hold auditions for "My Friend Miss Flint" at 7 p.m. at 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. Directed by Janet Cragin. Scripts are available for perusal at Fitchburg Public Library at (978) 345-9635 or Leominster 22 Public Library at (978) 534-7522.

22 TUESDAY

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. Each presenting donor will receive a coupon valid towards a free pound of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. For information, or to make an appointment, call (800) 448- 3543). Walk-in donors welcome.

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.

The Leominster-Fitchburg chapter of Massachusetts Citizens for Life will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Golden Living Center, 1199 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg. For information, call (978) 425- 6145.

23 WEDNESDAY

Story time will be held at 10 a.m. (for children ages infant to 2-years-old) and at 11 a.m. (for children ages 3-years-old) at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St.,

Westminster. For information, or to register, call (978) 874-7416. 23 The Italian Book Club,

of the Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State College, will meet to discuss "The Dark Tide" by Stephen Puleo at 6:30 p.m. in the Center for Italian Culture

Room. Puleo will speak on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Kent Recital Hall, to discuss his new book, "The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride, Perseverance, and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day." The Greater Gardner Community Choir will hold sign-up and first rehearsal for the Spring semester at 7 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner. Under the direction of Diane Cushing and Associate Director Mary Chapin Durling, the choir meets Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 182 of the college. The choir is open to all adults who love to sing, no experience required. A $50 music purchase fee is the only cost associated with joining. Contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162.

24 THURSDAY

Story time will beheld at 10:30 a.m. at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. For children ages infant to 6-years-old. For information, or to register, call (978) 874-7416.

A knitting class will be held from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. For children ages 7 and up. For information, call (978) 874-7416.

Forbush Memorial Library, located at 118 Main St., Westminster, will be the venue for eight Thursday-night Great Decisions gatherings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning today through March 13. Registration required; space is limited. For information, or to register, call (978) 874-7416.

All parents of next year's Oakmont Regional High School's freshman class are invited to attend a Course Selection workshop at 7 p.m. at the high school, 9 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham. For information, call (978) 827-5907.