New England

Juggle-O-Rama

/ joseph elon lillie / 1 Comment

My newest role in the community is as a friend of the library. The friends sponsor programs at the library that promote its mission and vision. The first project I was privileged to be a part of was a juggling workshop for kids used to promote the library’s summer reading program.

The auditorium was packed with kids several from our church. I am so in love with this little town that provides so much for its citizens.

Here are some pics.

Manuel King, the director of the Beals Memorial Library opened the show with a push for the summer reading program.

BALANCING THE BABY

ALL THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME.

SEVII WAS A LITTLE YOUNG FOR THE WORKSHOP. HE STILL HAD FUN PRETENDING THE THROWING SCARVES WERE SPIDERWEBS AND TRAPPING HIS FATHER IN THEM.

AN AUSPICIOUS WEEKEND

/ joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

What a big weekend! Friday morning began with my first meeting at 7:30 A.M. followed by a farewell breakfast for one of the members of our council of churches who is moving to a new church across the state.

By late afternoon I was helping Patrick Cortis set up for his concert at Sippin Serendipity. The coffee house was packed out and it was a beautiful night of worship and music.

Towards the end of the night I sat with my grandson Sevii and his ring pop so that Sevii’s mom could take pictures (she has sort of become Patrick’s official photographer).

We finished cleaning up by about 9:30 P.M. and I went home to bed and crashed.

I was up and out by 7:15 A.M. on Saturday so we could get set up for our church workday. We had crews washing windows, repairing faucets, deep cleaning the cafe and our downstairs ministry staging room. Meanwhile another team was outside weeding and raking the playground and leaf blowing the parking lot while a third team fixed the back projector in the sanctuary.

After that we went home and took a brief nap before heading out to The Winchendon Food Truck Festival.

We ended up going down for both lunch and supper. It was a great time and I got to talk to so many people.

It was at this event that T-Mobile announced that the town of Winchendon was one of 25 towns across the U.S. chosen to receive a $50,000.00 grant for improvements! Things are changing in our little town!

It was an auspicious weekend!

COYOTES

/ joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

I am awake most mornings between 3 and 5 A.M. I am always out with Snug (the youngest Maltese) at that hour. We don’t usually venture far from the house, especially in this cold, but yesterday we discovered another reason to stay close to home.

Photo by Ant Armada on Pexels.com

We were just finishing our loop around the house and were standing by the light pole at the edge of our driveway when the shrieking started.

At first I thought it was someone in trouble. Then I saw them crossing the road about a hundred feet in front of us. Snug and I beat a hasty retreat back into the house. Country livin’…….Time to start carrying a big stick I guess.

TOY TOWN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 2024

/ joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

Last weekend was Winchendon’s Festival of Lights.

My volunteer position was as a greeter at The Breakfast with Santa. It was mostly traffic direction and helping one of the vendors carry her boxes up to the craft fair.

The dining room stayed full for most of the morning, and Santa was kept busy taking pictures with the kids and handing out candy canes.

Ms. Grinch also put in an appearance.

While the breakfast was going on downstairs at The Toy Town Senior Center, The great hall upstairs was hosting a craft fair.

My daughter Melanie is on The Parks and Recreation Committee which hosted the whole day.

The town wide Cookie Crawl started at 9 A.M. and went until 2 P.M. Area business provided cookies that could be gathered in these boxes.

The town held a gingerbread house competition and a letters to Santa time. Then the whole night was capped off with the tree lighting at Grout Park on our local Bike Path.

How does your town or family ring in the holidays?

THE REGION CELEBRATES

/ joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

The holidays are upon us, and with the holidays comes holiday preparations and celebrations! Our region is becoming more and more like a Hallmark movie every year.

Gardner is hosting a special Thanksgiving market this coming Saturday. I think I shall have to go and take a peek.

Meanwhile Winchendon is hosting its annual Festival of Lights on December 7th. Here is a list of all the events happening.

Don’t Miss The Festival of Lights: Saturday 12/7! 🎄✨🌟

🎅 Kick off your holiday season with a day full of family fun and festive cheer! Here’s what we have planned for you:

📸 Pictures with Santa by Rustic Lens Photography:

⏰ 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

🍳 Breakfast with Santa:

⏰ 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

💰 Suggested donation: $8 per person

🖼 Holiday Craft Fair:

⏰️ 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

💰Come support local vendors

🍪 Gingerbread Man Decorating:

⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

💰 $8 per kit

GNOME PAINTING

⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

💰 $8 per gnome

📜 Letters to Santa:

⏰ 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

💰 $10 per kit

🎄 Tree Lighting at Grout Park:

⏰ 5:00 PM

📍 (The park with the big metal bicycle near the bike path!)

🎅 Mr. & Mrs. Claus Appearance:

⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

📖 “The Night Before Christmas” Reading:

⏰ 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

📍 Old Murdock Senior Center

🎤 Caroling at Grout Park:

⏰ With Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Also on December 7th is……..

Yippeee! I love the cookie crawl.

WHAT FUN THINGS DOES YOUR TOWN DO FOR CHRISTMAS?

DRY

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One of the reasons that the leaves here in New England were so brilliant this year was because we have been cool and dry. We are currently in a level 3 drought here in Winchendon MA which means we are in critical drought. We are also in a severe fire threat. With 518 fires in the state having burned 1500 acres so far, outdoor burning of yard waste has been banned through January 15th here in MA.

That means here in the forest garden my growing pile of brush is not going anywhere at the moment. It’s Ok. I am still putting plastic on the windows inside just now. I don’t really have time for a fire in the fire pit.