Autism accessibility programs and services

WINCHENDON — This fall, as part of their ongoing See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative, the Beals Memorial Library will be offering some sensory-friendly programs, services and support for children and families on the autism spectrum, neurodivergent individuals, and individuals with other special needs. Here’s what’s coming:

Available Sept. 11, the Library of Things collection of useful and specialty items will include Sensory To-Go Bags. These contain over-ear headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, communication cards, and more to meet patrons’ sensory needs. They are designed for individuals with autism, sensory processing, or other special needs. To be able to use one of these bags, all you need is a CWMARS library card in good standing.

On Monday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 p.m., the library is inviting people to join its caregiver support group, Walking Beside You. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers raising individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs are invited to take part. Walking Beside You aims to create a safe space to come together, support each other, and share the joys and challenges of raising individuals with unique needs. This group will also be a space to gain information, get advice, and hear about valuable community resources. Future meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m.

Beginning on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9-10 a.m., the library will be extending this summer’s Sensory Friendly Saturdays into the fall and winter with its Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour. On the third Saturday of each month, enjoy a special library hour designed to provide a safe and friendly environment for individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs, and their families. Friendly library staff will assist in navigating the library and its various services. Sensory toys and accessories will be available to help encourage positive play/interaction and minimize stress and anxiety. During Sensory Friendly Browsing Hours, the library will not be open to the general public. Upcoming dates include: Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16.

All programs in affiliation with the See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative are funded by the Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant, an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant St. in Winchendon. For more information, contact Alexis Chanthachack at 978-297-0300 or by email at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com or achanthachack@winchendon-ma.gov, or visit the library’s website at bealslibrary.org.

South Athol Church Suppers return

ATHOL – After a short pause during the hot summer months, the public is welcomed back to the South Athol United Methodist Church suppers at 65 Morgan Ave., Saturday, Sept. 16 – pot roast of deef with delicious gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, fresh dinner rolls and the always popular homemade pies for dessert. All prepared and served family-style by the experienced kitchen helpers, many of whom are Serve Safe certified.

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

Please come and join this event. Take-out meals are generous portions, complete with choice of pie, and you provide your own beverage.

Carved in Stone at the Memorial Library

PETERSHAM—The program, “Carved in Stone: Local Gravestone Art and Artists of the 18th Century,” will be presented at the Petersham Memorial Library on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. The program will explore local gravestones from the 1700s, and the gravestone carvers who created them.

Barbara Hanno, of the Petersham Cemetery Commission and the Petersham Historical Society, has assembled a slideshow of these ancient stones, from Petersham, Hardwick, Barre, New Salem and many other area locales. She will discuss the symbols, historical significance and artists who created the stones. Ken Levine, also of the commission and the society, who is an artist in stone lettering, will demonstrate the tools that would have been used to create the images and inscribe the lettering.

Gravestone motifs have changed over time, from early field stones with no identification, to the winged skull of the early Colonial years, to the elaborate “soul effigies” of the mid to late 1700s. Later, the urn and willow designs of the 19th century dominated the art. This program will focus on the time period from approximately 1730-1805.

In this area of central Massachusetts, as the early towns became established, the art of gravestone carving began to flourish. The artists of some stones cannot be identified, but pioneer researchers, like Daniel and Jessie Farber, of Worcester, have had archives established of their work, such as the Farber Collection, at the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester. These early researchers combed the burying grounds and cemeteries of New England to find the artworks and to try to establish who created these ancient treasures.

As part of the program, Levine will allow participants to try some of the tools on a slate tablet, with supervision. The program is sponsored by the Petersham Cemetery Commission and the Petersham Historical Society. It is free and open to everyone.

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