Local poet selected as a finalist in Beals Prize ForPoetry

WINCHENDON – The Beals Memorial Library has announced that local area poet Katharine Shiebler, has once again been selected as a finalist in the 2024 Beals Prize for Poetry. Now in its fifth year, the competition drew the attention of 85 poets from around the Bay State.

The award ceremony will be held at the library on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., when the top 10 finalists will read their submissions. Directly after the readings, a panel of three distinguished judges will announce the prize winners. Prize money of $250 for first, $100 for second, and $50 for third will be awarded to the contest’s three best poems.

Kate Shiebler is a sixth grade science and social studies teacher at Merriam Elementary in Acton. She grew up in Winchendon and moved back as an adult with her family. She lives with her husband and three children. This is her second time as a finalist for the Beals prize.

Jurors for the contest were poets Amy Gordon of Gill, winner of the 2023 Elyse Wolf Chapbook Prize; Janet MacFadyen of Amherst, managing editor of the Slate Roof Press; and Sara Letourneau of Foxboro, current holder of the Beals Prize for Poetry.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant St. in Winchendon. For more information, please call the library at 978-297-0300.

This event is funded in part from a grant from the Winchendon Cultural Council and by the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library.

Athol FireDepartmentopen house

ATHOL – On Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Athol Fire Department will hold an open house to raise funds for the Salvation Army. The event will feature the Salvation Army food truck, prizes, fire truck and tool demonstrations, and more. The Fire Department is located at 2251 Main St.

Athol Cultural Council welcomes grant applications

ATHOL – The new grant cycle for the Athol Cultural Council is currently open with proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities and science programs due Oct. 16.

The council is committed to enhancing the cultural life of the community and encourages organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for grants.

The Athol Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) serving all 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities every year.

This year, the council will distribute about $16,000 in grants. Last year, more than 30 grants were awarded, bringing a variety of events to the area, most of which were offered free of charge.

Applications are available now through the Oct. 16 submission deadline. The council reminds applicants to be sure to carefully read and follow LCC Program Guidelines and Council Priorities to ensure the application is completed properly. For all the details and to apply, please visit https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/athol/. For questions about the application process, contact Council Chair Robin Brzozowski at 978-249-9515 or via email at culturalcouncil@townofathol.org