CURRENT EVENTS
Dec. 5 & 6
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE will be presented by The Theatre Guilde of North Brookfield on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. in the North Brookfield Elementary School Auditorium. This production is sponsored in part by North Brookfield Savings Bank. $10 advanced tickets may be purchased by calling 508-331-9031. Tickets will also be available at the door. Bring the whole family for wonderful local theater and ring in the season with this heart-warming holiday classic.
The Christmas ŌAngelÕ Faire of The Brookfield Congregational Church On the Common will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Luncheon runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Gift Boutique, Country Store, Bake Shop, Jazzy Jewelry, Grimes' Greens, Bountiful Baskets, and the Take-A-Chance Table. Also the KidsÕ Korner will be open for children under 12 to buy gifts and get them wrapped and ready for Christmas Morning.
Saturday, Dec. 6
St. Stanislaus Church Christmas Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the St. Stanislaus Church Parish Hall, 2270 Main St., West Warren. Homemade Polish Food, Raffles, Arts & Crafts, Homemade Baked Goods. Breakfast Cafˇ from 9-11 a.m. Breakfast cooked to order. Free admission.
The North Brookfield Christmas Tree lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Haston Free Pubic Library. Children of all ages are invited to the library to write a letter to Santa and/or make an ornament. This event is sponsored by North Brookfield Decorates and the Friends of the Library.
Sunday, Dec. 7
The 16th Annual White Christmas in West Brookfield festival will take place from noon to 8 p.m. While West Brookfield has great charm anytime of the year, at Christmas it transforms into a Norman Rockwell atmosphere complete with horse-drawn wagon rides, craft shows, tree lighting, over 30 open houses at shops and businesses, and enchanting holiday music. A wagon will provide free rides around the common from 2-5 p.m. The final events of the day will include the lighting of 2,000 white lights hung on the Town CommonÕs 70-foot high spruce tree at 5:45 p.m. The tree will be surrounded with 100 luminaries and carols will be sung by all. To cap off the day, a very special concert featuring the Quaboag Choral Society directed by Eric Von Bleicken will be held in the Great Hall, on the 2nd floor of Town Hall at 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11
DivorceCare:
Surviving the Holidays, sponsored
by the East Brookfield Baptist Church and Brookfield Congregational Church,
will be held at 7 p.m. Brookfield Congregational Church On the Common as a
helpful, encouraging seminar for people facing the holidays after a separation
or divorce. Event is held at the the Brookfield Congregational Church On the
Common
Friday, Dec. 12
Join the North Brookfield Senior Center from 6-10 p.m. for a fun filled Christmas Dinner Party with delicious food, awesome entertainment and great company. Volunteers will be serving a chicken breast dinner complete with appetizers and dessert. DJ Andy Caron will be playing a wide variety of music for your entertainment so come and dance the night away or just relax and be entertained. This is an open event and everyone is welcome to attend so invite your family and friends. Help us celebrate this beautiful time of year. Tickets are available at the Senior Center so please stop by to reserve your seat by Dec. 5. Donation is $12. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13
8th Annual Christmas in New Braintree Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the New Braintree Grade School and Town Hall. Over 50 artisans to purchase your holiday gifts from, more than ever before! A fun filled day that also includes pictures with Santa, Bake Shoppe & Lunch Cafˇ.
POLAR EXPRESS EXTRAVAGANZA - The New Braintree Public Library will be hosting the Polar Express Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be pictures with Santa, kids crafts, letter writing to Santa, storytime and games. Fun for the whole family.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - The New Braintree Public Library will be showing the holiday movie, The Polar Express, at 6:30 p.m. Adults and children are welcome to wear their pajamas and enjoy free refreshments.
Sunday, Dec. 14
East BrookfieldÕs tree lighting ceremony will be held on at a new location, the municipal complex, for the first time. The party is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m, and will include a visit from Santa, carol singing and refreshments. The public is invited to attend.
A
Blue Christmas Worship Service creates a
sacred space for those people living through dark times and will be offered at
7 p.m. at the Brookfield Congregational Church On the Common.
A Christmas Cantata, CHRISTMAS IS BORN, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Brookfield Congregational Church On the Common.
The North Brookfield High School Student Council and North Brookfield Playground Committee will hold its 3rd annual Christmas on the Common from noon to 3 p.m. on the North Brookfield Common. In case of rain, it will be held in the North Brookfield Elementary School Cafeteria. Last year more than 150 children attended the 2nd Christmas on the Common, on an afternoon capped off with just a touch of snow coming down from above. Spirits were high, as kids of all ages lined up to have their picture taken with Old St. Nick. If you are one who needs to have their spirits lifted or need to get the commercialism out of the Christmas Holiday, what better way than seeing the wild eye and awe of these young kids. The Committee is accepting donations of prizes to give away or cash donations to help defray the cost of the food and stocking stuffers, again this year. If you would like to donate, please contact Richard LeBlanc at 508-867-2134 or at leblancr@vibram.us
UPCOMING/ONGOING
Adventure Tours of WarrenÕs Mystery Trip visits a metropolitan area on Saturday, Feb. 7 with several excellent venues that you have probably always wanted to visit. The three-course lunch will include Chicken Florentine or Pasta Primavera. Make sure to let us know if you need a vegetarian entree. Price is $79 including lunch. Seats are still available for Southern Charm: Savannah, Charleston, and Jekyll Island and for Alaska Discovery. Call (413) 436-5357 to register.
Adventure Tours of Warren will attend the Rhode Island Flower Show this year on Feb. 21. As you may know, Boston will not have a flower show this year because the Exposition Center is being torn down. As a result, Rhode Island is taking in exhibitors and vendors and will be larger than ever. We'll enjoy the show for three to four hours and then move to Federal Hill for some shopping and then a cooking demonstration and five-course lunch at Geppetto's. Price of this trip is $75. We are limited to 45 passengers on this trip. Call (413) 436-5357 to register.
Adventure Tours of Warren still has a few spaces on its New York Weekend trip Jan. 23-25. You need to let us know before Dec. 23 if you want to go. Call (413) 436-5357 to register.
The Friends of the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library are currently hosting its annual White Christmas Raffle Table through Dec. 16 at the Library in West Brookfield. The raffle items have been generously donated by area businesses, organizations, and individuals, with proceeds to benefit the Library and its patrons. Tickets are: 1 for $1, or 3 for $2.
The Quaboag Historical Society Museum, Front Street, in West Brookfield will be open during the winter months of December, January and February on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. Sunday hours have been discontinued. Beginning in March 2009 through the end of November 2009, the museum will again be open each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special visitations will continue to be available by appointment by calling 508-867-5428.Admission is free.
Salvation Army Ringers Needed. The Ware service extension, that provides vouchers for utilities and food to the communities of Ware, Palmer, Monson, Warren, Hardwick, new Braintree and the Brookfields, is looking for ringers to take part in the annual red kettle appeal beginning in November. All funds raised go back into the communities where the money was collected. Those interested should call Dale Clark at 413-586-5336 or e-mail dclark@use.salvationarmy.com.
Knitting classes will be offered at
the Haston Free Public Library in North Brookfield on Tuesday
mornings. The class will run for six weeks through Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12
noon. This is an open class for all levels and concentration will be on socks.
Registration is required. There is no charge. Participants are required to
provide their own materials. Call the library to sign up and for further information
at 508-867-0208 x 3.
American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Ware from 1-7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Ware Senior Center on 1 Robbins Road (behind Cumberland Farms). To ensure less time waiting, call The Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE for your appointment to donate. You must be at least 17 years old, 110 pounds and in good general health. Please bring ID. The need for blood is constant.
North Brookfield Cub Scouts are looking for experienced uniforms. These are uniforms in good condition that a former Cub Scout is not using any more. They can be turned in to Bob LaFlamme at Crowley Fuel office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
ThereÕs something new at story hour this year at Warren Public Library on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. Brenna Cockerham is presenting music for kids, and Jamie Valois is doing her stories and crafts. Pre-school children may now be registered at the library Tuesday or Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inquiries may be made to 436-7690.
WARREN GARDEN CLUB meets 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m. New members welcome. Call Elizabeth at 436-7268 or e-mail elizabethjameskelley@verizon.net.
THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM is in desperate need of volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in North Brookfield on Wednesdays. If you can spare 2-3 hours each Wednesday, you could make a difference to a person in need. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and rewarded with the satisfaction that comes from helping others. Please consider volunteering for this vital program. Call Tri-Valley Elder Services Nutrition Site in West Brookfield at 508-867-1411.
SOUTHBRIDGE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK, Grace House, Sayles Street in Southbridge needs the following donated items: microwave (2), sofa, blankets, pots and pans, dishes and cups, small end tables, size 6 (girls) summer clothes. Two of the families from Grace House have been able to move out and are in need of a few items. If you have any of the items listed above that you would be willing to donate, contact Lynne, (St. Anne Š St. Patrick SIHN Coordinator), by emailing dukefan1@cox.net or by calling 413-209-6526.
QUABOAG VALLEY RAILROADERS ASSOCIATION scale model railway display runs on the second Saturday of every month from noon to 4 p.m. above the Quaboag Historical Museum on Route 9 beside the East Brookfield Fire Station.
THE HASTON LIBRARY BOOK GROUP meets for lively discussions of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction on the third Tuesday of every month, from 7-9 p.m. at the Haston Free Public Library on Main Street in North Brookfield. New members are always welcome. To sign up for the Haston Book Group and order a selection, call the Library at 508-867-0208.
YOGA CLASS, 5:15 p.m., Wednesdays at the North Brookfield Senior Center. Cost is $20 for six-week session, with a minimum class size of 10. To reserve a space, call the senior center at (508) 867-0220.
Preschool story hour, 11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield, for children ages 2.9 to 5.
Drop-in arts and crafts, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fridays at the Merrick Public Library, Brookfield. Special attention is available for school projects, with materials accessible and available at the library.