Phinehas S. Newton Library plant and book sale

ROYALSTON — On Saturday. June 3. from 8:30–11:30 a.m. the Friends of the Phinehas S. Newton Library in Royalston will have a giant plant and book sale outside the Royalston Post Office (Old School Shouse #1). There will be a huge selection of books for all ages and in all genre. Fill a bag with books and make a donation.

The famous plant sale will feature common and uncommon varieties of high quality perennial flower and herb plants, shrubs, annual vegetables and flowers, bulbs and tubers, and houseplants. Expert advice from experienced gardeners will be offered as well.

New this year is a raffle for a guided tour of four of Royalston’s seriously impressive and somewhat “secret” backroad gardens. Five raffle winners can each bring a friend for an afternoon garden tour on Saturday, June 24, starting at 1 p.m. Raffle tickets are three for $5 and are on sale now at the Phinehas S. Newton Library, 19 The Common, and will be available at the plant sale, where the winners will be drawn at the close of the sales. All profits from the sales go to the Friends of the Library who support the Library and its programs. Call the library for more information at 978-249-3572.

Make a morning of it on Royalston Common as along with the book and plant sales and the garden tour raffle, the Village School will host a pancake breakfast, tag sale, and silent auction. Tom Ricardi will present his impressive birds of prey program as well.

South Athol United Methodist Church Supper

ATHOL – Please join us for a June 17 supper at the South Athol United Methodist Church located at 65 Morgan Ave. Consider treating “Dear Ole’ Dad” for Father’s Day Weekend with the ever-popular Swedish Meatball supper on Saturday, June 17, served with gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, fresh dinner rolls and, as a change of pace, a delicious strawberry shortcake for dessert. All prepared and served family-style by experienced kitchen helpers, many of whom are ServSafe certified.

Reservations are required and tickets are $14 each for the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. settings, and are available by calling 978-249-9212. Please note: When making reservations, please specify if they are for “eat in” or “take out,” this will simplify it for servers to accommodate all of diners.

Comerford receives Legislator of the Year from Massachusetts Alliance for Foster Families

BOSTON — On Sunday, May 21, Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) was honored at the 2023 Annual Foster/Adoptive Parent Recognition Awards Brunch by the Massachusetts Alliance for Foster Families (MAFF), the state’s leading advocacy association working to promote and enhance the well-being of children in out-of-home placements and the families who care for them, with its Lisa Anne Jenkins MAFF Legislator of the Year Award for her work on behalf of children and for her perseverance in securing passage of the Foster Parent Bill of Rights.

Comerford accepted this award via video and spoke in celebration of the work MAFF does on behalf of children and families across the Commonwealth. An excerpt of Comerford’s remarks is provided below.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be receiving the Lisa Anne Jenkins MAFF Legislator of the Year Award. Thank you to MAFF, my colleagues in the Legislature, advocates, foster parents, and everyone who worked tirelessly for the passage of the Foster Parent Bill of Rights,” said Comerford. “I share this award with you, because our success would not have been possible without each and every one of you. It’s my deep and sincere privilege to work in this area with you as a partner and to push to shape our child welfare policies in ways that protect and support foster parents, biological families, and our children.

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