Fifty-two donors at Lions Club, Monty Tech blood drive

PETERSHAM – On Saturday, May 4, the Petersham Lions Club partnered with Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School and sponsored the Massachusetts General Hospital Bloodmobile at the school, in response to a nationwide shortage and a constant need for blood. Fifty-two donors became lifesavers through their donations. The drive also accommodated a number of unscheduled donors as well.

This is the third co-sponsored blood drive that the Petersham Lions has coordinated in 2024, the other two being with the Grafton and Harvard Lions clubs. The drives collected a total of 132 units of blood from Lions Club members and supporters. Monty Tech and the Petersham Lions Club plan to make this an annual event.

Students from Monty tech who volunteered for the drive were Jillian St. Jean and Arian Forte, who coordinated the event with Lynne Shaw from the Petersham Lions, as well as Charisma Harjumaki, Quinn Dunbar, Jacob Khedekar, Isabella Willaims, Makayla Amoako, Grace Williams and Sophia Guillmette.

Beals Prize For Poetry call for entries

WINCHENDON – The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon seeks entries into the fifth annual Beals Prize for Poetry. Ten finalists will be chosen by the judges to read their work at the awards presentation on Thursday, Sept. 26. Prize money of $250, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the top three competition finalists. Submissions for the contest are now being accepted through Friday, Aug. 16.

Entrants may submit only one, original and unpublished poem. Contestants must live in Massachusetts or in one of these New Hampshire towns: Keene, Swanzey, Richmond, Fitzwilliam, Troy, Marlborough, Dublin, Peterborough, Jaffrey, Rindge, New Ipswich, Greenville and Sharon.

Submissions can be emailed to bealspoetryprize@gmail.com (Word docs preferred) or mailed to: The Beals Prize / 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon, MA 01475. Competition finalists will be notified on or before Friday, Sept. 13. All entries will be judged blindly. Previous Beals Prize first place winners are not eligible to participate and submitters should be at least 18 years of age.

The judges for this year’s competition are poets Sara Letourneau, current holder of the Beals Prize for Poetry and Managing Editor at Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services; Amy Gordon, current winner of the Elyse Wolfe Chapbook Prize; and Janet MacFadyen, Managing Editor of Slate Roof Press, a poetry chapbook collaborative.

The Beals Prize for Poetry is funded in part by the Winchendon Cultural Council and by the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library. Call the library at 978-297-0300 or go to bealslibrary.org for more information.

Upcoming summer events with the Beals Memorial Library

WINCHENDON – The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon invites the whole community to join the annual Summer Reading Club through Aug. 9. This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library” and the library will have programs, activities, stories and more for the whole family to enjoy.

On Tuesday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, join the library and Winchendon CFCE for an interactive reading adventure out on the library’s lawn with the fourth of this summer’s Storywalks. Follow the path set up throughout the library lawn to discover a new story each week. The third Storywalk of the month will feature the book, “Dear Yeti,” by James Kwan. Each child will receive a free copy of the book while supplies last. At 1:30 p.m., enjoy an hour of afternoon stories at the Mystery Story Time. Each week, there will be a guest mystery reader for young patrons to enjoy. This program is in partnership with the Winchendon Public Schools.

On Wednesday, July 31, at 6 p.m., come share stories of your own adventures at the library’s Travel Story Share. Practice the art of storytelling by sharing a five-minute story about travel adventures.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., join the library for brunch and a show with drag queen entertainer, Lady Sabrina. This event is free to attend and the performance will be teen and kid-friendly so that families with children may participate at their own discretion.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant St. in Winchendon. For more information or to sign up for programs, call the library at 978-297-0300 or visit bealslibrary.org.