September movies at the Beals Memorial Library

On Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m., bring the whole family to enjoy the library’s Family Movie Matinee, for a screen of Disney’s “Inside Out 2.” In this sequel to “Inside Out,” Riley is entering puberty and experiencing brand new, more complex emotions as a result. As Riley tries to adapt to her teenage years, her old emotions try to adapt to the possibility of being replaced.

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, come enjoy the library’s Classic Movie Matinee, where classic films return to the big screen. This month, the library will be screening “Dr. Strangelove.” In this dark comedy, an unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.

Finally, on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m., join the library for the monthly Movie Night, where recent releases for adults are screened. This month will be “All of Us Stranger.” In this romantic drama, a screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.

Petersham Congregational Church to hold BBQ chicken dinner

PETERSHAM – The Orthodox Congregational Church of Petersham will be holding a BBQ chicken dinner as a to-go meal, with pickup starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Church, 21 N. Main St. (Rt. 32). The menu includes BBQ half chicken (breast, wings, thigh, leg), baked potato, tossed salad, corn on the cob, and dessert. Cost is $15 per meal, with an option for an additional half chicken for $10. Proceeds will go toward repairing weather damage to the church. Reservations required, call 978-724-3362.

Golden Age Club’s September meeting

ATHOL – The Athol Golden Age Club will hold a business meeting on Sept. 16 at the Athol Senior Center at 1 p.m. The guest speaker will be Keith McGuirk, a local beekeeper. He will speak about bees, beekeeping and answer questions. Stop in and sample some delicious honey from his own hives.

The Athol Golden Age Club is open to everyone, 55 years old or over. Its purpose is threefold: to promote “re-creation” through challenging programs, friendship through regular meetings, and leisure activities such as the popular senior bus trips.

History presentation at Petersham Library

PETERSHAM – At the Petersham Memorial Library, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m., there will be a presentation on the history of North Petersham by Don Fly, Petersham resident and armchair historian. This will be a presentation of the history of North Petersham, from the Harvard Forest Campus to the Athol line from 1700s to the present day. The public is invited to share information with the group.

South Athol Church Suppers Return

ATHOL – After a short pause during the hot summer months, the public is welcomed to the South Athol United Methodist Church suppers at 65 Morgan Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 21. The menu will be roast pork with gravy, creamy 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 $14 each for the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. settings and are still available by calling 978-249-9212. When making reservations, please specify if they are for ‘eat in’ or ‘take out,’ as this will simplify for servers to accommodate all of diners.

Book presentation at Athol Library

ATHOL – “Swift River Secrets” by J. A. McIntosh will be the subject of a book launch at the Athol Public Library, 568 Main St., Athol, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m.

An author reading of the novel will also take place at the Swift River Valley Historical Society, 40 Elm St., New Salem, on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 10:30 a.m. The Swift River Valley Historical Society is a primary setting of the novel and the sections read will relate to the surroundings.

The novel is a contemporary mystery, with motives and grudges that go back to the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir in 1938. Emma Wetherby, an archivist at the society, must solve the murder of a docent on the property while dealing with a difficult pregnancy and a reluctant partner, who is the local police chief. Her research into old resentments and family feuds in the Depression-era Swift River Valley is ignored by the police, but she is convinced that the history led to the modern-day murder.

McIntosh is the president of the board of directors of the Swift River Valley Historical Society. Her work is one of fiction and any mistakes or omissions in the history are hers alone.

“The towns flooded by the Quabbin represent a human tragedy, on a personal and political level,” said McIntosh. “Boston needed drinking water and four towns were wiped from existence and the Swift River Valley was flooded to make that happen.”

The library event will include a brief history of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir and how is inspired this novel. On Saturday, participants will be given an abbreviated tour of the historical society while McIntosh reads sections of her novel.

This presentation is part of the Athol Library’s ongoing mission to promote local authors and support rural communities. Please register by calling the library at 978-249-9515 or via the library’s web at athol.librarycalendar.com. This event is free and open to the public.

North Quabbin Garden Club meeting

ATHOL – On Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Millers River Environmental Center, Cathy Stanton, a senior lecturer at Tufts University, will discuss questions and problems of the modern food system: the waste of huge amounts if food, obesity combined with under-nutrition, and the economic struggles of many farmers, Stanton will discuss how the issues appear in the North Quabbin and what is being done about them. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Transfer station permits now on sale in Petersham

PETERSHAM – Effective Oct 1, residents are required to have 2024-25 permit stickers on their vehicles for transfer station use. Visithttps://tinyurl.com/4u6x8fn9for procedures and a form for purchasing a sticker. Watch for sticker sales at the transfer station on Wednesdays and Saturdays in September. For more information about the Transfer Station, visit https://tinyurl.com/mryrnjtj.