September Movies at the Beals Library
WINCHENDON – Free movie screenings for all ages are back at the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon after a summer hiatus, with the library showing three films during the month of September on its big screen.
The first film, which will be shown on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m., is the comedy, who-done-it, “The Sheep Detectives.” Hugh Jackman stars as George Hardy, a shepherd who loves to read murder mysteries to his sheep, never suspecting that they can understand him. Rated PG. Run-time: 1 hour, 50 minutes.
Second on the list of movies for September is “Minions & Monsters,” which will be screened on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. This animated comedy tells the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters upon the world, then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they created. Rated PG. Run-time: 1 hour, 29 minutes.
The 1976 Hollywood classic, “Taxi Driver,” starring Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepherd, and Jodi Foster, is the third movie screening of the month on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. Suffering from insomnia, disturbed loner Travis Bickle (De Niro) takes a job as a New York City cabbie, haunting the streets nightly, growing increasingly detached from reality as he dreams of cleaning up the filthy city. Rated R. Run-time: 1 hour, 54 minutes.
The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. All movies at the library are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 978-297-0300 or visit bealslibrary.org/events.
South Athol church suppers return
ATHOL – After a short pause during the summer, the South Athol United Methodist Church suppers at 65 Morgan Ave. will return on Saturday, Sept. 19. This meal will be baked ham with gravy, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, fresh dinner rolls and homemade pies for dessert. All food is prepared and served family-style by experienced kitchen helpers, many of whom are Serve Safe-certified.
Reservations are required and tickets are $16 each for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and children under 6 eat free of charge. Settings will be at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Please note that the reservation phone number has changed and is now 978-249-3167. When making reservations, please specify if they are for eat-in or takeout, as this will simplify it for the servers to accommodate all diners.
Turkey dinner at St. Francis Church
St. Francis Church at 101 Main St, Athol, will hold a turkey dinner on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the church hall. The menu includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, salad and dessert. Tickets are $15 each. Indoor dining and takeout options are available. Reservations are required, contact Rachel 518-302-1103 to buy tickets before they’re sold out.
Pond Field Trip for homeschoolers
PETERSHAM – Provided at no charge by the Athol Bird and Nature Club, join aquatic biologist Cathy Szal and educator Bonnie Benjamin on this field trip for homeschoolers ages 8-12 years old for a visit to Harvard Pond, Route 122, Petersham. Nets, magnifiers and pans will be provided to explore the aquatic life and take a closer look at aquatic plant life.
There will be a limit of 10 students. Water boots or water shoes and hats are recommended. There maybe be bugs and bug repellent may be needed. There will be a snack break, and everyone is welcome to bring a snack. All equipment and materials will be supplied. An adult will need to accompany participating students. There are no facilities on site. This event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To register or for information, please contact Cathy Szal catherineszal400@gmail.com.
MWCC receives $25,000 grant for Child Watch Program
GARDNER – The Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) Foundation has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM) to support MWCC’s Child Watch program. The funding was awarded through the Community Foundation’s Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant Committee.
Child Watch provides on-campus childcare support for MWCC students while they attend classes and pursue their education. By helping address childcare needs, the program removes a significant barrier that can make it difficult for student parents to enroll in college, attend classes consistently, and complete their degrees and certificates.
The $25,000 grant will help MWCC continue providing resources for student parents, including support through the Child Watch program. Student parent support is part of the college’s broader commitment to reducing barriers to higher education and providing students with the support they need to succeed.