CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CHOICE
Monty Tech Drama Club presents 'Little Shop of Horrors'

FITCHBURG - Musical theater returns to Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School after many years with the upcoming production of "Little Shop of Horrors," being presented by the school's Drama Club. Performances will be held in the school's Strato G. Dukakis Performing Arts Center on Friday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m. Cast members include: Madonna Howard, April Maloughney and James Romano of Fitchburg; Michelle Brisebois of Ashby; Morgan Leger of Lunenburg; Jillian Michniewicz of Sterling; Angela Szymcik of Templeton, and Andrew Kelley and Kim Olmilla, both of Westminster. Members of the chorus are Jennifer Brennan of Ashburnham; Michelle Brisebois of Ashby; Haley Holbert, Elizabeth Dunkel and Alfredo Noguera, of Fitchburg; Kayla Alisauskas of Hubbardston; Natalie Arsenault of Sterling; and Iesha Brennan and Alyssa Nicolls, of Winchendon. Tickets are $10; $8 for students with valid I.D. For tickets or information, call (978) 345-9200 or (978) 632-8889, ext. 4242. Monty Tech is located at 1050 Westminster St., Rt. 2A, at the Fitchburg-Westminster line. Pictured is the cast of "Little Shop of Horrors" at a recent rehearsal.

25 FRIDAY

Warmer Winters will host "Knit Nite" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Congregational Church of Christ, 583 Main St., North Leominster. Beginners welcome. Pizza served. For information, call Judy Gentry at (508) 254- 0003. Stratton Players presents "Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)" at 8 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. Call (978) 345-6066. Fourth Gear will perform at 9 p.m. at Stooges Pub, 114 River St., Fitchburg. Fourth Gear features ex-Commando Mike Gallant, ex-Thundertones Jim Provencher and Steve Sears, and ex-Yellow Submariner Dan Kirouac. Cover charge is $5.

26 SATURDAY

Fitchburg Art Museum, located on Merriam Parkway, presents Saturday classes for children starting today. "Pee Wee Picasso," "Wacky Worlds," "Drawing and Painting" and "Teen Studio Time" will be offered. For information, call (978) 345-4207, Ext. 303 or visit fitchburgartmuseum.org.

A Finnish Breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg. Finnish Oven Pancake (Pannukakku) with homemade blueberry sauce, bacon, strawberry yogurt, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, juice, coffee, and pulla will be served. Donation is $5. Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (weather permitting). For information, call Maija Mård at (978) 582-7717 or Lorna Sulin at (978) 342-5121.

A scrapbooking event will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 138 Main St., Westminster. Your $30 registration includes: continental breakfast, full lunch, dinner, beverages and snacks; free scrapbook goodies for each attendee, hourly door prizes, die cut and stamping station, on-site shopping, and more For information, contact Kristin at readysetcrop@yahoo.com or (978) 877- 0569.

The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) will host a family workshop on "Animal Tracking in Winter" from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Williams Barn, Chicopee Row, Groton. This is an outdoor exploration while learning the art and science of track identification. Suited for families with children ages 7 and up. Registration is required by calling Stacey Chilcoat at (978) 448-0299.

Stratton Players presents "Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)" at 8 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. Call (978) 345-6066.

27 SUNDAY

The MIT Educational Studies Program (ESP) will join Fitchburg High School in hosting Splash on Wheels at the high school, 140 Arn-How Road, Fitchburg. This event, open to all area high schools and middle schools (grades 7 through 12), features over 50 classes taught by MIT students, alumni, and community members in a wide variety of subject areas. Registrations accepted in the main lobby starting at 8:30 a.m. The first class begins at 9 a.m. Cost is $10.

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

The 4th annual Massachusetts College Goal Sunday will take place at 2 p.m. at

Fitchburg State College. College Goal Sunday is a volunteer-driven effort to provide free assistance to college-bound students and their families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For information, visit www.fafsaday. org.

The New Players Theatre Guild will hold auditions for the Frank Loesser musical "Guys and Dolls" at 3 p.m. at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School, 45 Harvard St. Fitchburg. For details, contact Bob Healy at (978) 582-0038.

Fitchburg Art Museum presents "The Freshly Ground Art Cafe: Off in Their Own Little Worlds," with noted artists Lothar Osterburg and Sally Moore, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the museum, Merriam Parkway. Free. For informtion, call (978) 345-4207.

Dance2Swing presents BJ Magoon and Driving Sideways, a swingin' boogie woogie blues band, 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.

28 MONDAY

St. Leo School, 120 Main St., Leominster will hold an Open House Week beginning today through Friday, Feb. 1. Tours will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, or to schedule a tour, call (978) 537-1007.

The New Players Theatre Guild will hold auditions for the Frank Loesser musical "Guys and Dolls" at 7 p.m. at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School, 45 Harvard St., Fitchburg. For details, contact Bob Healy at (978) 582-0038.

29 TUESDAY

Fitchburg State College will host the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival - Region I New England beginning today through Sunday, Feb. 3. For more information, and a complete schedule of events, visit www.kcactf1.org.

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.

30 WEDNESDAY

SB2, Supporting Small and Home-Based Businesses will hold its first meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg. This new program, organized by a group of area business leaders, is aimed to provide support, education and resources for small and home-based businesses. Topic will be "Who are You? Your Business Classification and What It Means To Your Business." Free to attend, casual attire and no membership required. Future meetings to be held the first Wednesday of each month. For information and to RSVP, contact David Roth at (978) 340-0486 or by e-mail at SB2@massweb. org. Story time will be held at 10 a.m. (for children ages infant to 2-yearsold) and at 11 a.m. (for children ages 3-yearsold) at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. Call (978) 874- 7416, to confirm library is open. A story and craft time will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. For children ages 6 to 10. Call (978) 874-7416, to confirm library is open.

Emerson Hospital will host an informational session on its surgical weight loss program at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Royal Plaza,

Fitchburg. Attendees will receive information on who is a candidate for surgery, what results prospective patients can expect to achieve and how support, counseling and education can help achieve long-term weight loss. For more information, call (978) 287-3532.

The Greater Gardner CDC will hold a free workshop "Nuts and Bolts for Entrepreneurs" at 6:30 p.m. at 8 Parker St., Gardner. This class is for anyone who is thinking of opening a business or has opened a business in the last two years. Class size is limited. Registration required by calling (978) 630-2975.

The New Players Theatre Guild will hold auditions for the Frank Loesser musical "Guys and Dolls" at 7 p.m. at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School, 45 Harvard St., Fitchburg. For details, contact Bob Healy at (978) 582-0038.

31 THURSDAY

Story time will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. For children ages infant to 6-years-old. Call (978) 874-7416, to confirm library is open.

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. Call (978) 874-7416, to confirm library is open.

The Great Decisions program will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 9 South St., Westminster. Former Ambassador George Lane and Dr. Kevin Hart will lead a discussion on the European Union, in terms of a united Europe's success, integration, and its changing demographics as new countries join. For information, call (978) 874-7416.

A free Reiki Seminar for dog owners and their leashed companions will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at Pooch by Holly Anne Evans, 557 Lancaster St., Leominster. For information, call (978)-466-WOOF.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of North Central Massachusetts will sponsor a mental illness support group at 7 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 780 Rindge Rd., Fitchburg. For information, call Guy Beales at (508) 736-3887.

2 SATURDAY

Life in Balance will host the workshop "Stress Solutions & Positive Thinking" from 2 to 5 p.m. at 42 Main St., Suite 9, Leominster. Cost is $50. For information, or to register, call (978) 660-4833.

The Westminster Democratic Town Committee will hold its annual caucus promptly at 2:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 127 Main St., Westminster, to elect delegates and alternates to the 2008 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Westminster residents at least 18 years old and registered as Democrats as of Dec. 31, 2007, are welcome to attend and run for a delegate or alternate position. For information, call Kimberly Caisse, at (978) 833-6163.

Interclass Competitive Plays will take the stage at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School at 7 p.m. at the school, 45 Harvard St., Fitchburg. Under the guidance of Robert Healy, students direct and act in four one-act comedies performed by the class of 2008 through 2011. Each play will be judged by local theatre experts. Following the plays, awards will be presented. General admission, at the door, is $5. For information, call (978) 342-3212.

Bill Mallia and the Gulf Stream Band will perform at 7 p.m. at the Kahvila Christian Coffeehouse at Messiah Lutheran Church, 750 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Donations are welcome. Coffee, hot chocolate, Finnish coffee bread, and other refreshments will be available. For information, call (978) 343 7397.

3 SUNDAY

Life in Balance will host the workshop "Stress Solutions & Positive Thinking" from 2 to 5 p.m. at 42 Main St., Suite 9, Leominster. Cost is $50. For information, or to register, call (978) 660-4833.

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.