Calendar: Dec. 8, 2021

Publicize your meetings and community events in this free calendar, which comes out on Wednesdays in this space. Deadline: The Monday before. Email to: newsroom@atholdailynews.com.

ATHOL — Athol Bird and Nature Club President Dave Small invites all members and friends to Members Night: Tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. (Virtual on Zoom or in person at Millers River Environmental Center.)

Small says, “Come one and all! No matter where you are you can participate in this year’s virtual members’ night.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://bit.ly/3HzDnwu. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Dec. 9: ‘Bing Crosby’ comes to Athol Public Library

ATHOL — Join the Athol Public Library at 568 Main Street, Athol, on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m., when they present “Bing Crosby: King of the Christmas Crooners.” This is a one-hour slideshow presentation with film lecturer, Frank Mandosa.

Advance registration is required, and there will be a sign-in table at the door. Register online at athollibrary.org using the library’s convenient and easy new calendar or call 978-249-9515.

Dec. 11: Accessories Sale

ATHOL — The Friends of the Athol Public Library’s Accessories Sale is back and scheduled to begin on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. Items are priced to sell with most pieces costing from 50 cents to $5. The Friends book sale room will be open and filled with new and lightly used reading choices in many genres. They will have canvas tote bags and notecards for sale featuring images of the library. The library is at 568 Main St.

Dec. 11: Pioneer Valley Brass

HUBBARDSTON — The Pioneer Valley Brass will be performing a free public program of traditional and modern seasonal music at the First Parish Unitarian of Hubbardston on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m., returning to a 30-year tradition of a vespers service in Hubbardston, sponsored by the First Universalist Parish of North Dana. This service is the 794th in a series of performances paid for through a trust fund set up when the First Universalist Parish of North Dana was forced to leave its church building in North Dana for the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir.

Dec. 11: Holiday Open House at Beals Library

WINCHENDON — On Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Beals Memorial Library will be hosting a Holiday Open House. In the auditorium, guests can view the decorated trees for the library’s third annual Toy Town Tree Festival. Tree viewing is ongoing from Nov. 29 through Dec. 11. Most of the trees are to be auctioned off and will go home with the highest bidder. Bidding ends on Dec. 11 at 12:45 p.m. Tree Festival goers can also purchase tickets for $1 to vote on their favorite tree. By voting, ticket buyers are entered into a raffle for gift certificates to local businesses, like To Each His Own Design, Not Just Produced and Smith Country Cheese. For the kids, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a special appearance to take photos and read a few timeless classics.

The Friends of the Library will be running a Winter Bake and Book Sale in the library basement. The bake sale will only run from 10 a.m. to noon, but the book sale will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dec. 13: College essay-writing workshop

WINCHENDON — On Monday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., the Beals’ Teen Advisory Board will be presenting a College Essay Workshop. This workshop will be geared towards teaching students the skills they’ll need for the essay portion of their college applications. This event will be facilitated by library Trustee, Caela Provost, who has an M.A. in English and has worked in the field of higher education since 2014. For more information, contact the library at 978-297-0300 or visit their website at bealslibrary.org.

Dec. 14: Athol Dems to meet

ATHOL — The Athol Democratic Town Committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in Liberty Hall (Town Hall basement). Among the agenda items will be brief talks by two candidates for state offices in the 2022 election, Diana DiZoglio (State Auditor) and Quentin Palfrey (Attorney General). Members of the public are always welcome at meetings of the Athol Dems. For more information: Margot Parrot 978-830-4542.

Dec. 16: North Quabbin Garden Club

ATHOL — The North Quabbin Garden Club will hold its annual Christmas gathering on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. Participants will be making festive swag: bring wire, cutters, greens, decorations, ribbons. Greens will be provided and participants are welcome to bring some, too. No extra charge. Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St., Athol.

Join this “Citizen Science” project, the longest continuously running bird data in the area. Contact Dave Small, president of the Athol Bird and Nature Club, for additional information and to participate in this nationwide annual event: Call 978-413-1772 or email Dave@atholbirdclub.org. COVID-19 rules are in effect.