Monday, May 11

7 am-8 pm: Rutland’s Annual Town Elections. Precincts 1 & 3 vote at Naquag Elementary School, 285 Main St. Precinct 2 votes at Rutland Free Library, lower level, 280 Main St. For more information on what is on the ballot, go to rutlandma.gov.

7 am-8 pm: Holden’s Annual Town Elections The ballot contains the FY2027 $5.5 million budget override request as well as elections for the town’s open seats. Go to the town website at holdenma.gov for budget, and ballot information. The Annual Town Meeting will be held June 8.

10 am- 8 pm: Paxton’s Annual Town Elections at Paxton Center School, 19 West St. See the town website for the final ballot, paxtonma.gov.

Tuesday, May 12

10 am: The Friends of the Paxton COA meeting. The Friends are the fundraising arm of the Council and offer other support as needed. The Friends meet on the second Tuesday of every month in the Activity Room at the Senior Center.

10 am: Get your manicure at this complimentary “spa” at the Paxton Senior Center provided by Bay Path Regional Technical High School. Students of the Cosmetology Dept. are on hand to beautify your nails – and yes, it’s for men, too! Call the Center to RSVP in advance.

2:30 pm: Veterans and American Legion Meeting at the Holden Senior Center. For more info, contact Doug Harvey, Commander of Post 42 at 5508-450-9965 or email [email protected]

6 pm: Icebox Cakes with the Cooking Club at the Gale Free Library. The icebox cake is a simple yet delicious combination of cookies and whipped cream. Learn how to assemble one with guest presenter Chef Colleen Kranich who will talk about the versatility of a recipe and how to adapt it. Chef Colleen will bring one for the class to enjoy. Everyone will make their own mini-icebox cake. Registration required.

7 pm: Rutland Historical Society Annual Meeting in the Wood House at 232 Main St. Reports of the society’s leadership will be available and an election of officers will be held. Learn about accomplishments this past year, plans for the coming year, and browse their collections at the close of the meeting. 

Wednesday, May 13

7:30-9:00 am: Wachusett Women’s Connection hosted by the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce at the Holden Senior Center. Network with fellow women in business and enjoy breakfast courtesy of their sponsor, Myles Funeral Home. Free, but register at wachusettchamber.org to be included in the food count.

8 am – late morning: Slow birding walk Central Mass Rail Trail, Glenwood Rd to Moulton Pond. Leader: Ted Purcell. Migrants are returning, settling into breeding territories, and doing a lot of singing. Join us for an easy walk; we’ll stop and listen, practice observation without binoculars, and watch for bird behavior. Suitable for beginning birders. Bring cameras and binoculars. Registration preferred for weather updates [email protected]. Meet at parking area at 102 Glenwood Rd, Rutland.

10 am: Veterans Meeting and DCR talk at the Paxton Senior Center.10 am-meeting; 10:30 am-program on the Wachusett Reservoir by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Open to all.

10 am: Senior Hike: Wachusett Meadow Sanctuary, Princeton. This hike will follow trails on the north side of the sanctuary. It will be about 2.5 miles and include the trails to the top of Brown Hill, around North Meadow, and over to Otter Pond. This is a pretty hike, and plenty of wildflowers should be in bloom. For more info or to register:  [email protected]

1:30 pm: Pretty Powerful: The History of Our Clothes: At the Holden Senior Center. Join Professor Charlotte Haller from Worcester State University as she explores the ways clothing reveals relationships between politics, identity, and women’s history of the past 100 years. Wear clothing meaningful to you from your own collection or bring an item that represents a particular era. Please call the Center to RSVP. 

7 pm: Giant Wasps - In-person or via Zoom with Paul Sievert at Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St, Athol Using photos taken in Gill and Montague, Paul will describe the ecology of some of North America’s largest wasps: Cicada Killers and Giant Ichneumons. Cicada Killer Wasps provision their offspring with cicadas they capture in treetops, while Giant Ichneumons lay their eggs on larvae of other wasp species found deep within rotting tree trunks. These behemoths play an important role in food webs by controlling insect populations and serving as prey for insectivorous birds. Spend an evening with the giants. Register for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QVOuG9EsRgCfmVNMtPNhXA#/registration?

Thursday, May 14

9 am: Coffee and…: at the Holden Senior Center. Amy Drelinger of Sacred Circle Transition and Healing will share tools for caregivers’ wellbeing, ways to stay connected with loved ones living with memory changes, and suggestions to feel less alone and better supported as you move through changes that come with aging. Call the Center to RSVP.

10-11 am: Chamber Chat: Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly chat at The Bagel Inn in Holden. Join them for coffee and conversation. 

10:30am-12 pm: Artful Loss with the Gale Free Library’s Craft of Writing Workshop. Online via Zoom. Looks at writing that shows ways of addressing – even with a light and humorous touch – the inevitable losses of being alive. Registration required.

11 am-2 pm: Spring Bling Fling at the Rutland Senior Center with Dawn Rizzo Eager of DRE Design who will showcase and sell her unique jewelry created with rare, vintage crystals and other elements.

12:30 pm: Music Through the Decades at the Paxton Senior Center. Enjoy singer/guitarist Arizona Doug in his popular show tracing the sounds of music from the 1940s to 1970s. He returns with his acclaimed skills and engaging entertainment. Pre-show lunch available with a required reservation by calling the Center by May 12.

4:30 pm: Dine Out at the Hardwick Crossing Country Club, 262 Lower Rd., Gilbertville with the Rutland Senior Center. Meet at the restaurant. RSVP by calling the Center.

6 pm: Art Workshop - Hydrangeas. Join the Gale Free Library’s May exhibiting artist Cristina Farrèr for this mixed-media painting workshop. Participants will make canvas panels with a collage background, then learn to paint hydrangeas using bubble wrap. All supplies included. Registration required.

Fri. May 15 -Fri. June 12

Teen Care Kits for ages 12-18
This time of year can be stressful for teens with exams and big transitions. Drop by Richards Memorial Library to pick up a Teen Care Kit filled with calming activities, resource suggestions, and a small snack. 

10 am: Kidding Around Yoga with Miss Nicole for ages 2-5 To register, email [email protected] This is not your typical yoga class. Little ones learn basic poses with lots of music, movement, and literacy incorporated. Yoga helps children manage anxiety and improve emotional regulation, all while developing strength and flexibility. At the Gale Free Library.

1 pm: Felted Sea Turtle at Holden Senior Center. All materials provided. Registration began April 27 and continues until full. Each participant must register in person with $20 cash. If you cancel after 3:30 pm on May 8, you will not receive a refund.

Saturday, May 16

10:30 am and 12 pm: Music at the Salisbury Mansion, 40 Highland St. Worcester. Greater Worcester Opera and the Salisbury Mansion partner for a special one-day event that will include the Worcester Revolutionary House Tour combined with selections from Greater Worcester Opera’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical, 1776. Join them as they fill the Mansion with music and make the American Revolution come alive. Tours are one hour and limited to 16 participants. Registration required. Cost: $15 non-members; MOW members free. Call the MOW at 508-753-8278.

11 am-12 pm: Mornings with Maggie at the Gale Free Library. Our friend Maggie will be back to brighten our day! Maggie and her person, Kelly, are a therapy team certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. No registration required.

11 am-1 pm: Drop in, Open House at Richards Memorial Library. The Friends of Richards Memorial Library invite you to join them at this Open House. FRML is the library’s primary fundraising organization and funds most library programming, museum passes, technology, and more. Join them to meet the new Library Director Vicky Biancolo, celebrate this year’s accomplishments, share your dreams for the library, and learn how you can get involved. Charcuterie Woo will generously provide snacks.

Sunday, May 17

10 am: Hope Lives Here’s Walk to Remember. Join them for their 5th Annual Walk to Remember, which will start and finish at the HLH Community Grief Garden behind the Rutland Library. This event will give everyone the opportunity to remember and reflect on those that we are missing over the 1.7-mile course. Come share your stories, some laughter and some tears. This year’s walk will support the Memorial Garden and the programs HLH offers to the community.

3-5 pm: Discovering the Other Lost Valley with Maria Beiter-Tucker, Interpretive Services Supervisor at DCR. Held at the Barre Town Hall, 2 Exchange St. Before the Swift River Valley was cleared and flooded, 23,000 acres were taken along the Ware River in Barre, Oakham, Rutland, and Hubbardston to supplement the waters of the new reservoir. Approximately 350 people lost their homes along with three villages: White Valley, Coldbrook Springs and West Rutland, which are featured in this presentation. Also taken were parts of New Salem, Belchertown, Pelham, and Ware. This presentation focuses on this other lost valley, why it was cleared and the role the Ware River Watershed plays in protecting the water supply of 2.7 million Massachusetts residents.

Monday, May 18

8 am-4 pm: Scholarship Scramble Golf Tournament. Join the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce at Sterling National Country Club for an 18-hole golf tournament to support the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund. The tournament fee includes greens fees, golf cart, continental breakfast, and buffet lunch. There will be prize drawings, a silent auction and special contests throughout the day. Don’t miss this fun event! For details, go here: wachusettareachamber.org/events/golf-tournament/

10 am: Mindfulness Meditation with Marie Clemente at the Holden Senior Center. $5 per person. RSVP and pay in cash at the Center office.

Tuesday May 19

10:30 am: Get the facts around fire safety in this interactive and engaging presentation by Ryan Plante of the Paxton Fire Department. Topics include smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, cellphone safety, using 911, and home heating/outdoor tips. A good time to ask questions to ensure your home and loved ones are safe. At the Paxton Senior Center.

6:30-7:15 pm: Animal Adaptations with the Ecotarium at Richards Memorial Library. Discover which characteristics and behaviors help animals move, hunt, and survive. Meet a live EcoTarium ambassador animal, explore the amazing ways it’s adapted to its ecosystem, and handle skulls, pelts, and more to get a firsthand look at evolution. For kids and their caretakers/families.

Wednesday, May 20

11:30 am: Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Paxton Council on Aging, which is open to all. Find out how the Friends support the COA mission. Complimentary lunch follows. Call the Center by May 12 to RSVP.

1:30 pm: Friend’s Ice Cream Social at the Holden Senior Center. Join them for a fun afternoon making your own sundae. $5 per person. RSVP at the Center.

2 pm: Support group for families affected by loved one’s mental illness held every other Wednesday at the Rutland Senior Center. This is a safe and confidential space. It will meet again on June 6.

4:20 pm: Arthropod Petting Zoo at the Gale Free Library with Professor Bugman for ages 3+. Registration required, opens 5/13. Learn all about arthropods, the most diverse group of animal life, during this show-and-tell-and touch program. Learn, see, touch, and smell the incredible adaptations that help these creatures survive.

6-7 pm: Ukulele Group at the Gale Free Library. Whether new to the ukulele or more advanced, you are welcome to join this group where you can play together, learn from each other, and have fun. Ages 16+. If you are new to the group, contact the Reference Desk to let them know you’ll attend.

Thursday, May 21

11:30 am: Memorial Day meal at the Rutland Senior Center. Enjoy hot dog, baked beans, coleslaw, baked apples. Suggested donation $3 payable at time of sign up. RSVP by May 18 by calling the Center.

12:30 pm: The Jazz Age: Rita Parisi brings to life the woman who inspired The Great Gatsby in her fascinating one-act play, “I Am Zelda.” It’s a time of free-wheeling lifestyles which Zelda and her husband novelist F. Scott Fitrzgerald embraced. Vivacity and tragedy rule. Supported through grants from the Paxton Cultural Council and Council on Aging. Lunch available. At the Paxton Senior Center. RSVP by May 18.

12:30 pm: Acrylic Painting Class at the Rutland Senior Center. Class is limited to 10 people. RSVP with payment of $10 to secure your place.

4:20 pm: Graphic Novel Book Club for grades 4+ at the Gale Free Library. Registration opened 5/1. This month’s graphic novel book club will be a special one. Bring descriptions of the favorite graphic novels you’ve read this year to decorate a bulletin board so that others can have suggestions from the community.

Friday, May 22

9:30 am: Memorial Day observance at the Rutland Senior Center as they honor the men and women who died while serving our country. All attendees will receive a commemorative American flag. Cupcakes and coffee served.

Saturday, May 23

9 am: Hike the Rutland to Oakham Rail Trail. One of the favorite sections of the Mass Central Rail Trails, this hike is level and pretty, and provides a chance to enjoy some flora. The length will be variable, from 4 - 8 miles towards Barre and back. Hikers may use their discretion to decide how far they wish to go. It’s hard to get lost! For more information or to register [email protected]

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day. Please see your town’s websites for their sponsored Memorial Day remembrances.

Tuesday, May 26

8 am: Slow Birding walk: Central Mass Rail Trail, Miles Rd, Rutland, Leader: Ted Purcell This walk will be similar in spirit to our slow birding/nature walk on May 13, but we can expect changes in both bird species and nesting cycle behaviors. The appearance of trees and selection of wildflower species will remind us how quickly spring changes. For info email [email protected]

3:30-5:30 pm: Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot for grades 6+. Registration opened 5/19 Join the party for a fourth-level adventure! This session is ideal for new and experienced players. You can come with your own fourth-level character or choose from a premade sheet.

Wednesday, May 27

10 am: Senior Hike: Wachusett Reservoir South Side. This short and slow hike will be two miles round-trip. From the parking area we’ll walk over the West Boylston causeway from the Old Stone Church, passing through pine forest. There is one hill to go over, but otherwise the trail is on an easy gravel road with pretty scenery. For more info or to register email [email protected]

12 pm: Tastings Lunch Series at Paxton Senior Center. Luncheons are catered by area food businesses Come for a special treat on the last Wednesday of the month. $3. Seating is limited and you must RSVP by May 20. Paxton seniors are given priority.

6-7:30 pm: Monthly Art Club for ages 16+ of all abilities at the Gale Free Library. Registration required. Bring your own supplies or use theirs: watercolor paints and paper, brushes, pastels, colored pencils, graphite, pens, collage materials, and more. No specific project, but each month there will be a quotation, book or image to inspire.

Thursday, May 28

6:30-7:30 pm: Nature journaling. Learn how this practice can improve your mental wellbeing and foster a deeper connection with the natural world. This session will provide you with the tools to create your own nature journal or bring your own. This program is provided by the DCR’s Division of Water Supply Protection for Wachusett Reservoir. At the Gale Free Library, registration required.

Friday, May 29

9-10:30 am: DCR Event – Bird Outing. This program is designed to be inclusive and accessible for beginning birders. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. Nestled between two water bodies, this trail is a wonderful place to look and listen for birds and use your senses to observe behavior and notice habitats. We will walk slowly for ¾ mile round trip. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. Meet at Sensory Trail, Mass Central Rail Trail Sterling Spur, 25 Gates Road, Sterling.

10-11am: Books and Blankies at Richards Memorial Library with Community Connections. For babies birth to 24 months and their caregivers. Thank you Community Connections for providing this program.

11:30 am: Culinary Herb Pot by Bemis Nursery at the Rutland Senior Center. Cost $25; $20 for current Friends members. RSVP at the Center. 

Saturday May 30

7:30 am-12 pm: Birding Barre Falls Dam Ware River Watershed. Leader: David Ammerman. We will bird the fields from the parking area to Route 62, hike Brigham Rd over the Ware River West Branch crossing, and return along the river via Tracy Lane to the parking area (~2.5-mile loop). Meet at the parking lot above the dam, 1/2 mile south of Route 62 in Hubbardston. Restrooms available at Barre Falls Picnic Area on Coldbrook Rd across from the dam. Call 508-930-0356 or email [email protected]   

1 pm: Worcester Revolutionary Walking Tour hosted by the Museum of Worcester. Walk Main Street in the footsteps of Worcester’s Revolutionaries as they forced local defenders of royal government to walk a gauntlet of common men intent on defending their liberty as they spread their revolutionary ideas between the town’s taverns and meetinghouse. The tour begins and ends at Salisbury Mansion, 40 Highland St., Worcester. Wear comfortable shoes. Space is limited to 25 people. All are welcome - All ages appropriate. Cost $15 nonmembers; MOW members free. Call the MOW at 508-753-8278.

4 pm: Rendezvous with Rachel Revere at the Paxton Senior Center. In honor of America’s 250th birthday and Richards Memorial Library’s 100th birthday, the Paxton Historical Commission and the Friends of Richards Memorial Library co-sponsor this very special program. It is the story of Rachel Revere, the wife of Paul Revere, as presented by Judith Kalaora of History at Play, LLC. Kalaora is a professional educator, award-winning playwright and living historian. All are invited to attend.

7:15-9:15 pm: Evening Whip-Poor-Will walk Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick. Thanks to over a decade of habitat restoration, Muddy Brook is home to one of the largest inland congregations of Eastern Whip-poor-will in the state. Join experts from MassWildlife to experience the iconic whip-poor-will song on this 1.5-mile moonlit walk. Space is limited, and registration is required here: www.mass.gov/forms/masswildlife-2026-spring-bird-walks?

Sunday, May 31

7:30 am-late morning: Birding DCR Kristoff Farm, Sterling. Leaders: Scott Handler & Marion Larson. We’ll walk at least 2 miles on the old farm roads of this property looking for field and woodland birds. Expect a diverse mix of resident breeders, returning short-distance and neotropical migrants. Blue-winged Warbler and Indigo Bunting are common here. Encountering 50 species for the morning is not uncommon. Attendees are welcome to stay as long or as short as they like. RSVP requested at [email protected] so leaders can communicate regarding any weather-related changes. Meet at the end of Merrill Rd, off Rte. 140, in Sterling. 

11 am- 2 pm: Annual Meeting of the Paxton Garden Club at the Stonehouse on the Hill in Holden. This event is for 2025-2026 dues-paid club members only. Guest speakers Brian Bjorklund, Alexis Sigillo, and Nolan Durkee, wildlife biologists with the USDA, will discuss Wildlife Disease and Invasive Insect Management in Massachusetts. Enjoy an assortment of door prizes and a generous gift for each attendee courtesy of Fidelity Bank. RSVP deadline is May 18, details on the club’s website.

Tuesday, June 2

6:00-8:30 pm: Annual Dinner of the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce where State Representative Kimberly Ferguson will be honored as the recipient of the 2026 Community Leadership Award. Other recognitions include the Chamber’s Championship Award, presentation of the Scholarship Awards, membership milestone anniversaries, and election of officers and the board. To be held at the Chocksett Inn in Sterling. Tickets are $55 per person. Go here for more details: wachusettareachamber.org/chamberevent/annual-dinner-2/

Thursday, June 4

Time TBD: Volunteer Appreciation Garden Party at the Rutland Senior Center. If you volunteered at the Center any time since July 2025, this invitation is for you! If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the Center.

Saturday, June 6

8 am-12 pm: Annual Plant Sale on the Paxton Town Common, rain or shine. Looking for a unique plant for your home landscape? Visit the Paxton Garden Club’s largest fundraiser of the year. Details and application to be a vendor or donate plants on the club’s website. Help support the club that does so much around town - buy plants and beautify your home.

11 am-1 pm: Sheriff’s Annual Senior Picnic: Drive-through at SAC Park, 438 Lake St. Shrewsbury. BBQ meal with dessert, lottery tickets, tons of giveaways, raffle bonanza. You must register by May 20 [email protected] or 508-796-2638. Leave your name, address and phone. First come, first serve.

Monday, June 8

7 pm: Holden’s Annual Town Meeting at the Wachusett Regional High School auditorium. Check in starts at 5:30 pm. To see the warrant, go to the town website holdenma.gov

Tuesday, June 9

6-7 pm: Costa Del Sol & Madrid Discovery Tour info session. Area residents are invited to join the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce at this session to be held at the Manor Banquet Facility in West Boylston, which will preview the April 5-13, 2027, tour provided by the Chamber in partnership with Collette. The all-inclusive package covers RT transportation to and from Logan, RT airfare, 11 meals, experienced tour guides, and deluxe motorcoach travel. An optional three-night Barcelona post-tour extension is available. See the trip itinerary on the Chamber’s website wachusettchamber.org or email questions at [email protected]. 

Wednesday June 10

12:30 pm: Father’s Day Luncheon at the Holden Senior Center. BBQ luncheon by Morawski Barbecue. This one is for the guys only. Registration required by June 1 at the Center with $5 cash.

Friday, June 12

1 pm: Felted Elephant at the Holden Senior Center. All materials provided. Registration begins May 26 until full. Each participant must register in person with $25 cash. If you cancel after 3:30 pm June 8, you will not be refunded.

Thursday, June 11

Time TBD: Butterfly Pot with Bemis Nursery at the Rutland Senior Center. Cost $25; $20 for current Friends members. RSVP at the Center.

Saturday, June 13

10 am-8 pm: Paxton Days/Summer Jam: Held on the Center Field and Bandstand (enter through the Paxton Center School parking lot). Come join local artisans, craftspeople, artists, and community organizations and enjoy great food, great music, and fun family activities. Free and open to all. W