CALENDAR

5 FRIDAY

The band Fourth Gear will perform at 9 p.m. at Beemer’s Pub, 114 River St., Fitchburg.

6 SATURDAY

The Friends of the Leominster Public Library will hold their First Saturday Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 30 West St., Leominster. There will be a large selection of material to choose from including fiction and non-fiction as well as children’s and young adult materials; recent bestsellers, videos, audios and CDs and items of a holiday theme. The Friends also hold book sales at the library each Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For information, call (978) 534-7522.

A Saturday Night Supper will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 60 West St., Leominster. Roasted pork, potatoes, vegetables, homemade desserts and beverage served. Cost is $7 per adult; $5 for children under 12. For information, call (978) 537-3560.

The Rabbit Hole will host After Hours: Live Music at 7 p.m. at 805 Main St., Fitchburg. YouTube sensation Lauren O’Connell debuts her new album “The Shakes.” Also in the lineup is Ununi, Matt Fox, Alto Jeffro, and Black Steel Peacock. The evening begins with an idie-folk-pop sound. The last bands have a progressive, experimental pop noise sound. Free. For more information, call (978) 345-0040.

7 SUNDAY

Dance2Swing presents DJ AlanHep2theJive at its Snaps and Claps at 7:30 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. Admission is $10. A beginner friendly group swing dance lesson begins at 6:30 p.m. Call (978) 263-7220.

8 MONDAY

John McDonough’s Pumpernickel Puppets will be performing at the John R. Briggs Elementary School cafeteria at 9:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by a grant from the Ashburnham Cultural Council and is free and open to the public. Call (978) 874- 7312 for more details.

Heywood Hospital’s Gardner Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society will host a “Look Good… Feel Better” session from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Heywood Hospital Dining Room, Conference Room B, 242 Green St., Gardner. This program teaches women with cancer how to look their best during treatment; discuss wig care, hat and scarf fashions, and skin and nail care. Also, enjoy a free make-up kit. Pre-register by calling (978) 630-6457.

Mount Wachusett Community College celebrates Black History Month, a remembrance of important people and events in the history of African Americans, with a screening of the documentary “Strange Fruit” at 12:30 p.m. in the North Café, 444 Green St., Gardner. The film explores the history and legacy of the Billie Holiday classic. Free.

Free classes in Breath Meditation (vipassana) for wellness and relaxation will be offered on an ongoing basis from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at the Leominster Public Library, 30 West St. Participants will engage in gentle stretching, silent meditation, and guided meditation (metta). Reservations recommended by calling (978) 906-3299.

9 TUESDAY

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elk, 134 North Main St., Leominster. For information or to make an appointment, call (800) REDCROSS.

10 WEDNESDAY

Story hours will be held at Westminster’s Forbush Memorial Library at 10 a.m. for children 0 to 2 years old, and at 11 a.m. for children 2 to 4 years old. Forbush Library is at 118 Main St., Westminster. Free but registration is required by calling (978) 874-7416.

The Friendship Club Book Club will meet at 1:30 p.m. and is reading Kate Jacobs’ “Friday Night Knitting Club.” Forbush Library is at 118 Main St., Westminster. Free but registration is required by calling (978) 874-7416.

Southside Grille & Margarita, located at 242 West Broadway, Gardner will sponsor a Chicken Wing Eating Contest at 6 p.m. to raise money to assist Jessica Lefebvre, a young Gardner woman who is suffering from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a debilitating disease that affects the nervous system, bones and joints. A graduate of Johnson & Wales and employee at Southside, Lefebvre has been unable to work. Proceeds from the contest and 10 percent of the day’s sales will go to assist her and her husband, Andrew, pay the medical bills. The $20 entry fee will include a t-shirt, all-you-can-eat wings and unlimited bottled water or fountain soda. For information, call (978) 632-1057.

The Great Decision discussion group holds third of eight weekly meetings at the Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main Street, Westminster, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Open to all, books costs $10 for adults and $5 for children.

11 THURSDAY

Story hours will be held at Westminster’s Forbush Memorial Library at 10 a.m. for children 0 to 6 years old, and at 11 a.m. for children 0 to 6 years old. Forbush Library is at 118 Main St., Westminster. Free but registration is required by calling (978) 874-7416.

The Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Dr., Ashburnham, will host story hour from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Mystery Book Club will meet at 2 p.m. and is reading Rhys Bowen’s “Evan Blessed.” Forbush Library is at 118 Main St., Westminster. Free but registration is required by calling (978) 874-7416.

Do you or a member of your family feel like a different person since returning from Iraq or Afghanistan? The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) will be at the Leominster Veterans Center, 100 West St. from noon to 3 p.m. For information, call (800) 233-2559 or (617) 204-3852.

A story hour and craft will be held at Westminster’s Forbush Memorial Library at 4 p.m. for children in kindergarten to second grade. Forbush Library is at 118 Main St., Westminster. Free but registration is required by calling (978) 874-7416.

Applewild School presents its Building Educational Success speaker series at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Center, Applewild School, 98 Prospect St., Fitchburg. Irene Revis, learning specialist at Applewild School, will address concerns regarding organizational skills in her talk on “Practical Strategies for Organizing Students: An Overview of Executive Functioning”. For information, call (978) 342-6053, ext. 110.

Chair City Pipers Acappella Chorus will host a Ladies Night Out from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wakefield Place Community Room, corner of Cross and Pine streets, Gardner. Enjoy an evening of fun, entertainment, and refreshments. Also, learn a short song to sing with the chorus. For details, call Jan at (978) 632-6888 or Judy at (603) 532-4240.

IAABO Board No. 44 basketball officials and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School will hold a Benefit Basketball Game for Haiti featuring Winchendon Prep vs. Notre Dame Prep at 7:30 p.m. at Monty Tech, Route 2A, Fitchburg. All proceeds going to Haiti For Relief Fund. Tickets are $5 adults; $3 for students/seniors. For information, call Bob Bourque at (978) 345-9200, ext. 5228. Donations accepted.

13 SATURDAY

Registered Democrats in Westminster will hold a caucus at 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 127 Main St., to elect three delegates and two alternates to the 2010 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. The caucus is open to all registered Democrats (as of Dec. 31, 2009) living in Westminster. For more information, contact the chair, Kimberly B. Caisse, at (978) 833- 6163.

First Church of Templeton, located on the common, will hold a Swedish Meatball Supper from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The family-style supper includes Swedish meatballs, side dish, vegetable, dessert, and beverage. For more information, or to make reservations, call (978) 939-4021.

New Players’ Theatre Guild presents “Painting With Music,” a wonderful gala of songs throughout the ages, all of which have a color in their title, at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St., Leominster. A social hour will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. with snacks and a cash bar, a dinner buffet catered by Sean Patrick’s will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. reservations, contact Jeanie Storrs at (978) 537-5100, ext. 28.

The Boulder Coffeehouse presents Karen and Tag Vennard at 7:30 p.m. in the Dillon Room, 923 Main St., First Parish Unitarian Universalist Chjurch, 923 Main St., Fitchburg. Freewill suggested donation is $5, with proceeds benefitting Ginny’s Helping Hand Food Pantry (non-perishable food goods also welcome). Karen and Tag Vennard play an original mix of acoustic music. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes humorous, always romantic, a perfect treat for Valentine’s Eve. Special guest Aurelia Carter brings her renowned historical research in the American Banjo in a very entertaining way. An assortment of pastries and refreshments available. For information, call (978) 345-2661.

A Valentine’s Day Dance, to benefit local animal shelters, will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Franco Vets, 300 Water St., Leominster. Enjoy music by DJ Earl. Admission is $10 (bring in a blanket, bleach, laundry detergent, small bag of food or two towels and pay $7).

The Four Points by Sheraton Leominster will host a fundraising music event for the Heart & Stroke Foundation at 9 p.m. The show will feature four female singer/ songwriters from the area, who are donating all proceeds from the evening to this worthy cause. Melinda Horrigan, controller at the Sheraton Four Points, has championed the event in honor of her mother, Christine Mahoney, who passed away suddenly from a stroke at a young age. Tickets are available for $10 at the Four Points Sheraton, by calling (978) 840-5549.