town News Douglas

Awarded Grants For Cultural Programs

The Douglas Cultural Council has announced the award of 15 grants totaling $9,130 for cultural programs in Douglas, and in surrounding towns that benefit Douglas residents. A complete list of recipients and grant amounts can be found below. The Douglas Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences & humanities yearly.

The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers. The members of the Douglas Cultural Council are: Shawn Anderson, Paul Beckwith, Rakesh Bhaskar, Kathie Landers, Dyan LarsonParker and Jennifer Zifcak.

This year's grants include: Blackstone Valley Art Assoc. Uxbridge Unleashed (summer concert series), Simon Fairfield Public Library (children’s pro- grams), Plant Guy Eric, Uxbridge First night Celebration, Douglas High School Chorus, Douglas Octoberfest, Douglas Adult Social Center, Special needs Advocacy network (art project for students), Blackstone Valley Community Chorus, & BVT Multicultural Festival. Last year, more than $5.6 million was distributed by local cultural councils statewide.

Grants support an enormous range of grass-roots activities: concerts, exhibitions, radio and video productions, field trips for schoolchildren, summer and after-school youth programs, writing workshops, historical preservation efforts, lectures, First night celebrations, nature and science education programs for families and town festivals. nearly half of LCC funds support educational activities for young people. The council will seek grant applications again in the fall. Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www. massculture.org. Applications will be due in October.

FMI about the Douglas Cultural Council, visit their Facebook page at Douglas Massachusetts Cultural Council. www.facebook.com. Or Jennifer Zifcak at jstinchfield@douglas-ma.gov (774) 262-4463, or Shawn Anderson at (972) 533-5737.

Opening Day in Uxbridge

This year, the Uxbridge Baseball/Softball Opening Day will take place on Sunday, April 23rd. The fes- tivities will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a parade marching through downtown to the fields by Taft School. Following the parade there will be a ceremony and the day will conclude with games and a variety of activities. equipment $20-40 weight sets $10. nEW: Box Springs $45, Mattress $45 to $60 nO CHARGE On: Keyboards, Car, Boat, Motorcycle Batteries, Cables, wire and cell phones.

Please come down to join the fun and support your town's local sports programs! Food, vendors, and other items will be available for purchase.

An Electronic and Appliance Recycle Day will be held this month at Saint Mary Church, 77 Mendon Street, Uxbridge. The event will take place rain or shine on Saturday, April 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents from all area towns are welcome to participate.

Items will be collected in the parking lot. Allowed items are as follows. Small electronics items: Computer towers, Scanners, VCR, Printers, Copiers, DVD, Stereo Equipment, Lighting, Vacuum, Answering Machine, Fax, Speakers, Compact disc., Circuit Boards, Radios, Record Players, Modems, Word Processors, Fans, Video equipment, Game Console, Xbox, etc., Tape Players, Typewriters (Anything with a plug and more) @ $5 each.

APPLIAnCES: Dishwasher, Dryer, Stove. $20, Microwaves $10 (small) Large $20, Lawn mowers $20, Snow blowers $40, TV's and Monitors / Flat panel monitors: 18”- 26” $20 ea, 27”35” $25 ea / Over 35” Projection TV $40 ea., AC or Dehumidifier $20, Refrigerators $20 (dorm) $40 Large. Grill $20, Empty propane tank $10. Ex.

ALSO InCLUDED: Bicycle Recycle Day, no fee. Bring your unwanted old or new bicycle and drop it off, it will be reused again. Mountain, Road, BMX, Cruiser, (Old to new) Kids, etc. Our aim is to keep bikes from being thrown out when they can be reused. (We can pick up bicycles if you cannot get them there).

All towns welcome to Electronic and Appliance Recyle Day Historical Trolley Tours

The northbridge Historical Commission, in partnership with the northbridge Historical Society and with funding provided by a grant from the northbridge Cultural Council, is pleased to announce its popular Historical Trolley Tours of northbridge. The tours will take place Saturday, May 13th. Three tour times will be offered, 9 a.m., 11 a.m., or 1 p.m. and space is limited. The tours begin at the Historical 1770 Fletcher House, 1 Main Street, former home to James Fletcher and now the home of the northbridge Historical Society. northbridge historian and teacher Ken Warchol will be your guide for a 2hour trolley tour of northbridge Center and The Historic District of Whitinsville. This tour will take you back to 1772, when northbridge received its town charter. Then, Whitinsville was only a small village. You’ll learn about the vital role northbridge played in the industrial revolution as it became a thriving industrial global center and the position the Whitin family had on the development of the town and establishment of Whitin Machine Works as the most prominent textile machine shop in the world by the end of the 1920s. The tour will include aspects of village life and explore the architectural skeletons and landmarks that remind us of a bygone era. Join us as we explore and learn about northbridge's important role in developing our nation’s history and designation as part of the Blackstone Valley River national Heritage Park.

There is no charge for the tour, and registrations are required. Maps of the walking district are available for $5, and donations are accepted. For registration and information, contact Ken Warchol at (508) 680-3440 or email Kenwarchol2@msn.com. Upon contact, you must leave complete contact information, including full name, contact number and email, and state preferred time and the number of seats requested.

Youth Speech Contest

Eabha Twohig-Mann, Uxbridge H.S. freshman, took the stage with confidence successfully navigating two rounds of the District 33A Lions Annual Youth Speech Contest. This year’s topic, Environmental Crisis: Fact or Fiction, is competed in four rounds. In its final format, the five to eight minute speech must be memorized and

Pansies on Parade

Prepare to Shred and Destroy

delivered error free before a large audience at the Lions conference. Twohig-Mann performed with confidence on initial levels winning cash prizes at each competition. Coached by Uxbridge High teacher, Sheila Bernard, Twohig-Mann impressed judges and audience with her poise and delivery. The contestant who won at the District 33A Conference will move on to the state competition.

Willard Clock Museum Birthday Celebration