Congregational Church to hold Blessing of the Animals
PETERSHAM – The Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church will be holding a Blessing of the Animals ceremony in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. on the North Common at the Band Stand at the center of Petersham, along Route 32.
All types of animals, big or small, are invited and will be accommodated. Bring a non-perishable pet food item to be donated to local pets in need. Anyone with questions should call the church at 724-8808, message the church via the Facebook page, or comment on the event page on Facebook.
Congregational Church to hold to-go harvest dinner
PETERSHAM – The Petersham Congregational Church will be holding a harvest dinner as a to-go meal, with pickup starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the church, 21 N. Main St. Menu includes pot roast, potatoes, winter squash, cole slaw and a dessert. Cost is $15 per meal, proceeds to help repair weather damage to the church. Reservations required, call 978-724-3362.
Art Center exhibition with Janet Palin, Molly Levine
PETERSHAM – The Petersham Art Center will present the work of artists Janet Palin and Molly Levine in the gallery with “Mother and Daughter Ranging Far and Wide: Paintings by Janet Palin & Molly Levine” through Oct. 26. A gallery reception will be held on Sunday, Oct. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Primarily landscape artists, this mother-daughter duo will exhibit their works depicting locations from the vast American southwest to Iceland to their New England home. Petersham-based artist Palin is a longtime member of the Art Center and travels regularly, inspired by the landscapes of the American southwest where she captures the vastness, color and natural formations as both realistic and abstract.
Levine was raised in Petersham and now makes her home in Portland, Maine, where the diverse historic city landscape, Maine seacoast and forests provide inspiration. Both artists have exhibited their work widely.
Regular Art Center hours are Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. For more information about the exhibition and the Center, call 978-724-3415. Since 1912, the Petersham Art Center has been home to regional fine art and craft through its shop, gallery, classes and special events.
Congregational Church’s monthly movie night
PETERSHAM – Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church will show “Belle” (2021), an action-adventure-sci-fi-fantasy-musical anime from Studio Chizu, on the big projector screen, at 21 N. Main St. in Petersham at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. There is no admission fee. Soda and other refreshments will be provided. Comfy cushions and food to share will be welcome.
Call for photos for ABNC 2026 calendar
ATHOL – The Athol Bird and Nature Club is putting together its 2026 calendar. The ABNC usually has many for May through August, but not so many for the early spring, winter and fall months. Furthermore, the club typically has many bird and mammal images, but not so many plant, insect, reptile, amphibian or other nature-related subjects.
A variety of photos from many photographers makes the calendar more interesting. There is one main requirement – the photo must be taken in the North Quabbin area. Images are needed for the main month’s subject, and smaller images for the blank cells in the date part. Landscape-oriented images are required. Images in focus and not heavily cropped are best. Please send the images, or a link to the images, to info@atholbirdclub.org.
Mount Wachusett receives scholarship donation
GARDNER – Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) President James Vander Hooven and MWCC Foundation Director Carla Zottoli welcomed members of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) on Sept. 24, as they presented a scholarship donation on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans of America Massachusetts State Council.
Jim Benton, vice president of the Vietnam Veterans of American State Council and former president of the VVA Local Chapter 907, John Durling, VVA Chapter 907 Vice President, and Ed LaFord, VVA Chapter 340 President, joined college leadership to continue a long-standing tradition of supporting veteran students at MWCC. For more than 20 years, the local VVA Chapters and the VVA Massachusetts State Council have provided both direct and indirect support to the College’s veterans, demonstrating a strong and lasting commitment to student success.
“We are deeply grateful to the VVA state council and local chapters for their decades of generosity,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “Their unwavering support ensures that our veteran students have the resources they need to succeed, and it serves as an inspiring example of community leadership.”