Pioneer Valley Brass performance at St. Paul’s Church

GARDNER – The Pioneer Valley Brass return to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Cross Street in Gardner on Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. to perform the 814th vespers program sponsored by the First Universalist Parish of North Dana.

The free performance is made possible through a trust fund started by sisters Catherine Mason and Mary Hale in the 1930s, for the First Universalist Parish of North Dana, which was forced to close when the Quabbin Reservoir flooded five towns in the Swift River Valley. The trust fund was created to set up vespers programs to keep alive the memory of the Parish.

Sunday’s program will include “Children, Go Where I send You,” by Tandy; “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” by Gershwin; “The Ragtime Bassplayer,” by Lotter; “Little Brown Jug,”by Rosenthal and much more. The program is always subject to change.

The Pioneer Valley Brass is a group of talented musicians from throughout the area, and has been performing for over 40 years with various membership. Dick Tandy and Steve Babineau play trumpet, Tabatha Greelees plays horn, Dana Tandy performs on trombone, and Susan Lemei is featured on tuba. These musicians have performed and are well known throughout the region.

Contact Music Coordinator Maureen Riendeau at 978-413-6867 for information about First Universalist Parish of North Dana, or to schedule a vespers program.

Abnormal America presentation at Athol Library

ATHOL – Join the Athol Public Library at 568 Main St., Athol, on Thursday, April 3, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., for the panel presentation, Abnormal America.

Every state in the union has its own spooky stories and unsolved mysteries – alien abduction, Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil and the Mothman. These are only some of the strange things that can be “found” across the country, and in this presentation will discuss some of the strangest and spookiest stories the USA has to offer.

Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe’s dad took her to her first Star Trek convention as a child, sealing her future as a card-carrying geek. By day, she is a librarian in Springfield. In her secret identity as Geekgal, she tours New England lecturing on various aspects of geek culture. She’s performed for all venues, from The Norman Rockwell Museum to the Massachusetts Library Association.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Athol Public Library, this program is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register online at https://athol.librarycalendar.com/event/Abnormal-America-with-the-GeekGal or by calling 978-249-9515.

Those who register will receive an email confirmation, and an email reminder of the event 24 hours before the program. This program is intended for those who are 18 years or older.

Vote by mail in Annual Town Election

ATHOL – Voting by mail for the April 7 Annual Town Election is available to all registered voters in Athol. All Vote by Mail applications that were received in 2024 expired on December 31, 2024. A new application is required to receive a mail-in ballot for 2025.

Voters can request a Vote by Mail ballot as follows:

Online – Voters can submit an online application through the online portal of the Secretary of State at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/MailInRequestWeb/MailInBallot.aspx

By mail – A Vote by Mail application or any form of written communication requesting a ballot can be submitted by mail to the town clerk’s office or put in the drop box outside of the Town Hall. A Vote by Mail application is available at www.athol-ma.gov or contact the clerk’s office for an application to be mailed.

By email or fax – Applications can be submitted by email at vote@townofathol.org or faxed to 978-249-2491. All applications must include a handwritten signature. A typed signature is not acceptable unless you are a voter who needs an accommodation due to a physical disability. If you are unable to sign the application or mark the ballot, please contact the town clerk’s office for assistance.

The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail application to the town clerk’s office is Monday, March 31, at 5 p.m. For further information, please call 978-721-8445 or email vote@townofathol.org.