Noted organic farmers and activists to speak in Royalston

ROYALSTON — On Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. in the Royalston Town Hall, 13 The Common, Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson will talk about their journey from community activists to farmers and farming advocates as detailed in their book, “Many Hands Make a Farm: 47 Years of Questioning Authority, Feeding a Community, and Building an Organic Movement.”

They will describe their early lives, and years as community organizers in Chicago and Boston, followed by their desire to raise their family in a rural setting. Along the way, they find land, build their own house, turned marginal land into a productive farm, coordinate the organic farming association, establish a non-profit to help incarcerated people reenter the community, and raise four children along the way. They’ll describe their failures and successes and share stories about their lives.

Refreshments, courtesy of the Friends of the Phinehas S. Newton Library, will be served. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Royalston Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

In-person voting for Primary in Petersham

PETERSHAM — In-person early voting hours for the March 5 Presidential Primary will be as follows: Petersham Town Hall – Upper Level – 1 South Main St.

■Saturday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

■Monday, Feb. 26, 4–7 p.m.

■Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2–5 p.m.

■Wednesday, Feb. 28, 4–7 p.m.

■Thursday, Feb. 29, 2–5 p.m.

■Friday, March 1, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Burning permits now available through Athol Fire Department

ATHOL—2024 burning permits are now available. The burning season started on Jan. 15 and will go to May 1. Call 978-249-8275 or visit https://www.atholfire.org/ for more information.

February movies at the Beals Memorial Library

WINCHENDON — On Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m., spend Valentine’s Day enjoying this month’s Classic Movie Matinee, featuring a screening of the 1954 romantic-comedy film “Sabrina” (rating Passed). Starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden, the film follows the love triangle between a wealthy playboy, his stable brother, and the girl they’re both interested in.

On Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m., the library will be showing the 2023 dramedy, “The Holdovers” (Rated R). Starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa, the film centers on a cranky history teacher, stuck on campus during the holidays with a student who has no where else to go and a grieving cook.

Finishing off this month’s movie lineup is the Family Movie Matinee on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m., where the library will be showing the hit animated film, “Trolls: Band Together” (Rated PG). Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake reprise their voice roles as Poppy and Branch in the third film of the franchise. Poppy discovers Branch was once part of the popular boyband, ‘BroZone’, alongside his brothers, and the two must set off on an adventure to get the band back together.

All movie showings at the Winchendon library are free to attend. Bring your own snacks.

Alexandria Morris named to President’s List at Western New England University

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University (WNE) is proud to announce that Alexandria Morris of Orange has been named to the President’s List for the fall semester 2023. Morris is one of over 500 students to achieve this mark of academic excellence. Students are named to the President’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.80 or higher. Morris is majoring in accounting.

Marshall earns spot on Emmanuel College’s Dean’s List

BOSTON—Emmanuel College in Boston has named Sydney Marshall of Phillipston to the Dean’s List for the fall 2023 semester. To earn a spot on the Dean’s List, Emmanuel students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for a 16-credit semester.

Emmanuel College is a co-educational, residential institution with a 17-acre campus in the heart of Boston’s educational, scientific, cultural and medical communities. Enrolling more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students, the College provides boundless opportunities for students to expand their worldview through rigorous coursework, significant internship and career opportunities throughout the Boston area and beyond, collaborations with distinguished and dedicated faculty, and participation in a dynamic campus community.