Hearth cooking returned to Waters Farm Days in October with the newly restored fireplaces in the Dining Room and North Kitchen, according to officials at the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

In addition, the North Kitchen’s beehive oven was brought back to operating status.

This work was done by Richard Irons of Irons Restoration Masonry and Jeremy Brown of Wachusett Chimney.

Rides about the Blackstone Valley Polar Express remain available through December 23rd. Enjoy a ninety-minute train ride for a view of the North Pole along with singing, games, a reading of the classic children’s story “The Polar Express” and a visit with Santa. The conductor will be there to punch your special golden ticket, and you’ll be treated to hot chocolate and a cookie. Every child will aso receive a silver bell—the first gift of Christmas.

For information and tickets, visit www.blackstonevalleypolarexpress.com/site/.

Nominations are now in for the John H. Chafee Heritage Awards, which honor individuals and groups that have worked on projects and programs, and institutions that promote the cultural heritage and the preservation of natural areas and that strive to enrich the quality of life in the Blackstone Valley.

The Corridor established the award to honor the late Sen. John H. Chafee. Recipients have included community leaders, preservation heroes, business partners, environmental advocates and students whose achievements have resulted in public benefit.

One way to support the Corridor as a nonprofit is by volunteering; the community and the Corridor benefit greatly from the contributions of volunteers, whose efforts are considered an in-kind donation. The current value of a volunteer (national average) is $29.95 per hour. When volunteers report and log their hours, the Corridor is able to use them as an in-kind match when applying for grants.