NOTE: Community bulletin board-type items are welcome for inclusion in the Happenings! section of the Xpress newspapers. Please allow enough lead time for publication. Email your calendar or event notice to [email protected]. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

• The St. Joseph’s Church in Charlton Easter Sunday Service on March 31 at 10 a.m. will live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYqLQCOYpUk.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

• “Local Area Trails & Waterways”, photographs by Ray Arnold, will be on display and for sale April 2-30 in the cafe gallery at Booklovers’ Gourmet, located at 72 East Main Street, Webster. A meet and greet with the artist will take place on Saturday, April 6 from 12-2 p.m., free and open to the public. The show may be viewed during regular business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sunday & Monday. For more information, call 508-949-6232 or email [email protected].

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

• The New England Country Music Club will hold the following dances with live classic country bands at the Progressive Club, 18 Whitin St., Uxbridge:

Sunday, Apr. 7,”Rachel Landry”; Sunday, Apr. 21, “South County Line”; Sunday, May 5, “The Farm Hands”.

Doors open at 12:15, live music 1-5 p.m. Snacks may be brought in, cash bar for beverages. www.facebook.com/NECountryMusicClub

• Vernal Pool Exploration Hike With A Ranger - Join Ranger Viola from 2- 4:00 p.m. at the West Hill Dam office, 518 E. Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge.  Join us for a short hike to some resident Vernal Pools, in daylight, to observe if Big Night (mass migration of amphibians) and egg laying have occurred or is occurring. Visitors are currently finding some wood frog egg masses and possible salamander egg deposits, so come explore.  Cancelled for heavy rain or snow.  For more information we post updates on Facebook and Ranger Viola is happy to take your calls at 978-318-8417.  Wear sturdy shoes, bring a water bottle, dress for the weather, be prepared to walk about a mile, round trip, walk through wooded areas, not trails and expect downed trees and logs etc. (walking or hiking stick will be helpful).  We expect a range of ages, so under the age of 5 this is highly not recommended.  Vernal Pools, only last about a month, fish cannot live there, spring rains fill them so salamanders and other Vernal Pool species can migrate to the pool they emerged from, long enough to mate and leave their eggs.  They only return in future years, eggs hatch and adults emerge before the pools dry out.  No gathering of any animals will be permitted. Vernal Pools and these species are highly protected.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

• St. Peter Parish in Northbridge is having a Ham Dinner on Saturday, April 13 th starting at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Bring you family and friends for a wonderful meal and meet some new friends. Tickets are $17 per dinner and include salad and dessert. To go meals will be available for pick up at 5:00pm and all orders must be purchased in advance. “Pay It Forward” purchase an extra dinner and we will deliver it to someone in need in our local community. Please call the parish office at 508-234-2156 or email [email protected] to purchase tickets or if you have any questions.

• Meet author Ann Watt, whose debut book is a nursing memoir titled, “When Being a Nurse Was Fun: Tales From My Life as a Nurse”, on Saturday, April 13, 1-2:30 p.m. at Booklovers’ Gourmet, 72 East Main Street, Webster. This book signing and presentation is free to attend and signed books will be available for purchase. For more information or to RSVP, call 508-949-6232 or email [email protected]. Ann lived in Worcester for a few years and was employed by UMass/Memorial at the University campus. The book starts with a few stories about her nursing training and employment at UMass.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

• At 7 pm at Vaillancourt Folk Art, 9 Main Street, Manchaug Village, Sutton. Christine Watkins, Sutton Historical Society, will tell the story of the devastating 1924 Manchaug Village fire on its 100th anniversary which burned over 10 acres, left 25 percent of the Village population homeless, destroyed the retail section of the village, and made national news.  This presentation will include photos, newspaper summaries, and eyewitness accounts.  Come hear how a small community, with the help of generous neighbors, persevered over a tragedy. 

•Learn everything about growing “Daylilies in the Garden” at the Sutton Garden Club meeting at 7 p.m. at the A.L. Gendron Post 414, 156 Boston Post Road, Sutton. Adel Keohan will be presenter.

• Sutton Historical Society’s first speaker presentation at 7 pm at Vaillancourt Folk Art, 9 Main Street, Manchaug Village, Sutton. Christine Watkins, Sutton Historical Society, will tell the story of the devastating 1924 Manchaug Village fire on its 100th anniversary which burned over 10 acres, left 25percent of the Village population homeless, destroyed the retail section of the village, and made national news.  This presentation will include photos, newspaper summaries, and eyewitness accounts.  Come hear how a small community, with the help of generous neighbors, persevered over a tragedy. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

• Home Baked Ham & Bean Supper, April 20, 2024 at 5:00 pm in the Community House, 8 Court St, Uxbridge located behind the Uxbridge Town Common. Sponsored by the Uxbridge Congregational Church. Menu includes baked ham, home baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, brown bread, beverages & dessert. Donation of $13.00 per adult, children under 6 free. Raffles will also be available. For reservations call 508.244.7849 Limited tickets will be sold at door. Come enjoy great food and fellowship.

SATURDAY, MAY 4

• The Millbury Nature Trails Committee will host an Arbor Day Tree Planting Event at 9 a.m. at the Brierly Conservation Area. Help plant trees and mark a new trail. Rain date is May 11. To register, visit the Nature Trails Facebook page.

• 9th Annual Family Fun Fishing Day  - Open Sky Community Services and the Blackstone River Watershed Association are excited to co-host the 9th Annual Family Fun Fishing Day at Riverbend Farm in Uxbridge along with our partner organizations, the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor Volunteers-in-Parks Program, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. This year’s event will be held on Saturday May 4 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, May 5. Prizes offered in four different age groups will be awarded at 1:15 p.m. There will be activities for the whole family, as well as food and ice cream for purchase, free face painting and raffles. All ages and ability levels are welcome.  Fishing poles, bait and instruction will be available with pre-registration and participants are welcome to bring their own. This is a catch and release event for everyone from first time fishers to experienced anglers. Adults must accompany children under 12. Volunteer opportunities are available at openskycs.org/fishingvolunteers. Pre-registration will open starting April 5 at thebrwa.org/familyfishing2024. This is a FREE event, but pre-registration is required. Please contact Joanne Holahan at 508-278-5200 with any questions.

• At 7 pm at Vaillancourt Folk Art, 9 Main Street, Manchaug Village, Sutton. Christine Watkins, Sutton Historical Society, will tell the story of the devastating 1924 Manchaug Village fire on its 100th anniversary which burned over 10 acres, left 25 percent of the Village population homeless, destroyed the retail section of the village, and made national news.  This presentation will include photos, newspaper summaries, and eyewitness accounts.  Come hear how a small community, with the help of generous neighbors, persevered over a tragedy. 

• Sutton Historical Society’s first speaker presentation at 7 pm at Vaillancourt Folk Art, 9 Main Street, Manchaug Village, Sutton. Christine Watkins, Sutton Historical Society, will tell the story of the devastating 1924 Manchaug Village fire on its 100th anniversary which burned over 10 acres, left 25percent of the Village population homeless, destroyed the retail section of the village, and made national news.  This presentation will include photos, newspaper summaries, and eyewitness accounts.  Come hear how a small community, with the help of generous neighbors, persevered over a tragedy. 

saturday, june 3

• Saint Peter’s Parish in Northbridge will be holding a Yard Sale on Saturday, June 3 rd , 7:30am to 3:00pm in the parish hall. If you are moving, spring cleaning or just have too much clutter, bring us your gently used items for our yard sale. You may drop-off your donations every Saturday from 10:00-1:00pm April through May, starting on Saturday, April 6th at the parish garage. We are accepting kitchen items, home goods, toys, sporting goods, books, small furniture

items, clothing for donation and much more. Please see our website for a

complete list of what we are accepting. You may also call or email the parish

office, if you have any questions: 508-234-2156 or email: [email protected].

HIKES WITH BLACKSTONE VALLEY HERITAGE CORRIDER HIKES

The following is a list of hikes in Massachusetts being led by volunteer Trail Ambassador Phil. Phil’s hikes begin at 10 a.m. 

Saturday, March 23: Midstate Trail Hike – Part 1, Douglas

Saturday, April 6: Midstate Trail Hike – Part 2, Douglas

Saturday, April 20: Castle Hill Farm Hike, Whitinsville

Saturday, May 4: Mendon Town Forest Hike, Mendon

Saturday, May 18: Wallis Pond Loop Hike, Douglas

Saturday, June 15: Douglas State Forest Hike, Douglas