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Outdoors

Laurelwood Garden Club wraps their season up with color

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FITCHBURG — For the 17th year now, members of the Laurelwood Garden Club have come together to plant an array of full-blooming, vibrant, colorful flowers in the 18th century half-ton cast iron water basin, located in Renaissance Park.

The park, which is open to the community for relaxation and inspiration, is home to the water basin, which was used in the historic Civil War era as a horse trough. The park is located next door to Fitchburg’s City Hall.

“I could not be more thrilled with this year’s display of the beautiful festival of flowers we planted,” said Julie Palioca, Laurelwood Garden Club member, public relations coordinator, and Civic Beautification Project coordinator. “I am so thankful for all of our club members who volunteer to do the planting and for those who volunteer to water the flowers during the week to keep this spectacular floral garden in full bloom all summer long.”

In July of 2017, the Laurelwood Garden Club converted this horse trough into a Memorial Garden in memory of club member Julia Casey.

“Club members strive to continue to honor Julia’s legacy for her dedication to the Laurelwood Garden Club and the community by beautifying the city of Fitchburg with floral art,” said Palioca.

This year’s Civic Beautification Project was made possible through a grant awarded to the Laurelwood Garden Club, under the project title Art/Beautification/Public/Benefit by the Fitchburg Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

During the four-day Art in Bloom event recently held at the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Kay Previte Award went to Laurelwood Garden Club member Jo Ferrell for her interpretation of Biophony, Fred Liang (#10) Paper Town exhibition.

On Sunday at the close of the event, the People’s Choice Top Winner Award went to Laurelwood Garden Club members Joan Pease and Debbie St. Vran for their interpretation of Tara (In The Flowers) Bekaatat Kanaan, Lebanon (#4) Rania Matar: Oceans by the Door-Ansin Gallery.

The Laurelwood Garden Club will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, June 9, at Dario’s Restaurant, 655 Main St., with election of officers and annual reports.

The recipient of the $1,000 Scholarship Award will be announced at this meeting.

Monthly meetings will resume in September; however, the Laurelwood Garden Club will be busy planning their programs for the 2023-2024 season during the summer months.

The Laurelwood Garden Club was organized in l965 and is affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (New England Region) and the Garden Club Federation of Mass., Inc. within the North Central District.

The club meets on the second Friday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at the Fitchburg Art Museum, from September through June.

For information regarding the Laurelwood Garden Club, contact Julie Palioca at 978-537-7630.

Celebrate summer reading with ‘Eyes on Owls’

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LUNENBURG — The Lunenburg Public Library is excited to kick off its Summer Reading Program with an amazing presentation all about owls.

Eyes on Owls will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, at the library, located at 1023 Massachusetts Ave.

Marcia Wilson, teacher naturalist, and Mark Wilson, wildlife photojournalist and author, will present Eyes on Owls which will feature some of their owls and other birds of prey.

Their program will focus on educating their audience about owl and birds of prey species and habitats.

The Wilson’s founded Eyes On Owls in 1994 as an educational enterprise that brings wild owls to schools or groups to learn more about your wild neighbors and their habitats.

“The owls we care for at Eyes On Owls are permanently disabled – that is they can’t survive on their own in the wild,” said Marcia Wilson. “Many of the owls are survivors of collisions with vehicles. We give each owl a safe, clean, low stress home and all the mice they need to eat — owls don’t eat plants, of course.”

Several times a week, the Wilson’s bring a selection of owls to a school or group program to help people learn about these fascinating birds.

“We have federal and state permits to display the owls for educational programs,” Wilson added. “The owls are not pets. Our owls have sharp talons and beaks, special dietary, and health requirements, as well as special housing we custom build for each bird. Non-flighted owls get handicapped ramps in their aviaries.”

Eyes On Owls brings live owls to you and your group. Their facility is not open to the public, “this way the owls get the rest and shelter they need to stay healthy,” added Wilson.

The Wilson’s have heard of countless encounters with owls from their audiences whose lives are enriched by their presence.

“Owls are so very important in our world today because learning about them provides a peek into the wild world around us,” Wilson said. “As predators, they show us how predators fit into the balance of nature that is right outside our doorstep. Owls have special adaptations that enable them to capture mammals like mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels, opossums, rabbits, and rodent pests that we share the world with. This is in addition to entrancing us with their hooting calls and amazing appearances that we see when we least expect them.”

No registration for this event is needed. For more information on this program, or other library events, call 978-582-4140. For more information on Eyes on Owls, visit eyesonowls.com.

Garden Remedies Earth Day efforts in Fitchburg

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FITCHBURG — Garden Remedies is making good on promises to be involved with and give back to the community in positive ways.

Volunteers and staff of the company’s cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility located on Airport Road did an Earth Day clean-up last month that involved collecting trash and cleaning up on and around the site including the parking lot, road and borders of the Nashua River, which abuts the property.

Garden Remedies Senior Sustainability Specialist Samantha Woodman (l.) and Senior Laboratory Manager Celena Vello set up an information table at the April 22 Fitchburg Celebrates Earth Day event to discuss the cannabis company's sustainability efforts and more. (COURTESY GARDEN REMEDIES)
Garden Remedies Senior Sustainability Specialist Samantha Woodman (l.) and Senior Laboratory Manager Celena Vello set up an information table at the April 22 Fitchburg Celebrates Earth Day event to discuss the cannabis company’s sustainability efforts and more. (COURTESY GARDEN REMEDIES)

“The clean-up was part of our annual Earth Day clean-up event, which aims to keep our local environment clean and sustainable,” Garden Remedies Senior Sustainability Specialist Samantha Woodman said of the April 21 effort.

Woodman said Garden Remedies opened in 2016 as the first physician-founded cannabis dispensary brand in Massachusetts, the first woman-founded cannabis dispensary brand in Massachusetts and was among the earliest wave of combination adult-use/medical cannabis dispensaries to open in the state. In addition to the Fitchburg location, there are three retail dispensaries in Marlborough, Melrose and Newton.

Garden Remedies staff, including Assistant Grower Raymond Williams, pictured in front, and other volunteers did an annual Earth Day clean up in April 21 on and around the Airport Road property of the Fitchburg cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility. (COURTESY GARDEN REMEDIES)
Garden Remedies staff, including Assistant Grower Raymond Williams, pictured in front, and other volunteers did an annual Earth Day clean up in April 21 on and around the Airport Road property of the Fitchburg cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility. (COURTESY GARDEN REMEDIES)

The company also took part in the Fitchburg Celebrates Earth Day event that took place on April 22 at the intersection of Main and Putnam streets, where Garden Remedies set up an informative table to discuss their sustainability efforts (gardenremedies.com/sustainability) as a company, promote their new concentrate line, AERO, built on reducing waste, and “break down the cannabis stigma in the community,” Woodman said.

Massachusetts hiking author to host virtual event

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CLINTON – Dust off your hiking shoes and hit the road just in time for summer with author Madeline Bilis.

Bilis will talk about her book “50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts”, via Zoom, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23. This event is hosted by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library in conjunction with the Bigelow Free Public Library and other local libraries.

“In my presentation, I plan to shed light on some of the beautiful (and sometimes lesser-known) trails in our backyards,” said Bilis. “It wasn’t until I started researching and writing the book that I realized eastern Massachusetts has so many wonderful places to hike and walk.”

She will also highlight her favorite local spots and will be offering recommendations for attendees.

“I spent the better part of 2018 hiking around, and writing about, one of the loveliest places on earth – Eastern Massachusetts,” said Bilis. “As a native, I, of course, am biased, but I encourage you to find the truth in that statement by using my book as a guide.”

In “50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts”, Bilis said, “You’ll find hikes spanning surprisingly varied landscapes, from the rocky ledges of the Blue Hills Reservation to the sandy stretches of the Cape Cod National Seashore”

The book details some of the most well-known trails beyond Boston, as well as the area’s more secret, hidden-gem walks.

Bilis said that writing her hiking guidebook not only made her a Massachusetts hiking expert, but a Massachusetts town expert as well.

“I stopped for lunch in many of the towns where the hikes are located and had a ball popping by historical sites and local shops,” she said. “The book brought me to places I may never have gone to otherwise, which was an added bonus.”

Bilis believes her book is an important resource for people who want to spend a Saturday morning hiking but not get overwhelmed by researching trails online or just aren’t sure where to go. At the start of each chapter, she made sure to note which address to put into your phone’s GPS, if there are restrooms available, whether the trail is dog-friendly, and more.

“I love having a few hours to be present in nature without distractions,” she added. “While hiking for my book, I learned a ton about local plants. Did you know Maudslay State Park has one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel in the state?”

“When you’re out there, you’re able to take the time to appreciate little details, which can be hard to do – especially when distracted by a smartphone,” Bilis said. “Getting outside on some local trails, even if just for an hour, is a really wonderful reset. I hope this virtual event will inspire folks to explore new places.”

For more information, or to register for this presentation, visit bigelowlibrary.org or call 978-365-4160. For more information on Madeline Bilis, visit madelinebilis.com.

Get adventurous in Central Massachusetts

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CLINTON — It only takes a day trip to get outdoors and explore all the beauty that Central Massachusetts has to offer, and the community is welcomed to learn about the adventurous journeys they can take to islands, waterfalls, abandoned towns and settlements; to spot and track wildlife, or to even try hiking or kayaking right in their own backyard.

Experienced hiker and outdoorswoman, Alison O’Leary, will present “Micro Adventures in Central Massachusetts” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Bigelow Free Public Library, 54 Walnut St.

O’Leary, who is familiar with many parks and trails in Massachusetts, will provide you with a tour of a dozen day trip options in Massachusetts “that are sure to excite your family and provide memories for years to come,” she said. “I also hope to provide some tools that my audience can use to craft their own day trips as well as some inspiration to visit places they might not know about.”

O’Leary said her programs lean heavily on natural places and outdoor opportunities.

“My programs are a little different each time I present them because I like to encourage people to get outside their comfort zone and explore places they haven’t visited before,” she said. “For folks in Clinton that might mean going to the Berkshires or to Cape Ann, for instance.”

An outdoors author, O’Leary is co-author of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s “Best Day Hikes Near Boston” and “Inns and Adventures”, as well as several nonfiction history books. Books will be for sale at this event.

“Travel expands our horizons, even when we stay within Massachusetts,” O’Leary said. “Contact with nature is proven to reduce stress and makes us feel good. I believe that combining exploration, discovery, and natural surroundings is therapeutic – and fun! The character of small towns in Central Massachusetts, along with the history of the area and numerous opportunities to recreate here add up to a great quality of life.”

This presentation is being co-sponsored with the Clinton Parks & Recreation Department. For more information, or to register for this presentation, visit bigelowlibrary.org or call 978-365-4160.

Twin Cities spring cleanups are underway, with more planned

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Spring has sprung and that means annual cleanups in honor of Earth Month and Earth Day are taking place across the Twin Cities and beyond.

A group of energetic students from McKay Elementary School in Fitchburg working in conjunction with the United Way Youth Venture Program did a cleanup of the Mama Fitz Playground on Green Street on April 13, located right near the Fitchburg State University Recreation Center.

“This [was] planned and developed by the group of students, which also led me to the idea of this group to pilot the Junior Park Ranger Program in the City of Fitchburg,” said Fitchburg Recreation Director James Bunnell, adding that the students worked “with members of my parks crew to help clean up the playground.”

The students all received an official brightly colored park ranger t-shirt and pledge certificate. Bunnell said they were thrilled to have the helping hands, “something very positive for the city.”

A cleanup recently took place at Coolidge Park in conjunction with Keep Fitchburg Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, and Fitchburg Dog Park volunteers. A dozen volunteers picked up seven bags of litter and 30 bags of leaves, a pile of branches, cleaned the fence all around the park, cut back trees and bittersweet, picked up toys and dog poop, emptied the three green poop cans and the two main park trash cans, and filled the Little Free Library located there with more books.

A dozen Keep Fitchburg Beautiful and Fitchburg Dog Park volunteers picked up seven bags of litter, 30 bags of leaves, cleaned the fence, cut back trees, picked up dog poop, and much more during the recent cleanup that took place at Coolidge Park in Fitchburg. (COURTESY SAM SQUAILIA)
A dozen Keep Fitchburg Beautiful and Fitchburg Dog Park volunteers picked up seven bags of litter, 30 bags of leaves, cleaned the fence, cut back trees, picked up dog poop, and much more during the recent cleanup that took place at Coolidge Park in Fitchburg. (COURTESY SAM SQUAILIA)

“Big day!! Park looks amazing,” Keep Fitchburg Beautiful founder and City Councilor Sam Squailia posted on social media following the busy day.

There are several more cleanups scheduled over the next several weeks and into May. A full list of planned events can be found at keepfitchburgbeautiful.com/events.

In celebration of the Earth on Saturday, the city of Fitchburg and InTown Fitchburg will host a “Fitchburg Celebrates Earth Day” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., designed to educate about adopting environmentally sustainable habits and taking action. The event will feature live music, food, vendors and resources. The fun is set to take place at the Johnsonia lot on the corner of Main and Putnam streets. More information can be found at intownfitchburg.com.

This year’s Leominster Citywide Cleanup will kick off on Saturday April 22, Earth Day, and will run through May 20. Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, the city is able to provide volunteers with t-shirts, trash bags, and gloves available first come, first served in the Office of Business and Tourism at Leominster City Hall.

City residents select a location and pick up trash on their own time. Once they are done, they can call the Leominster Department of Public Works at 978-534-7596 to let them know where they left the bags and the DPW will pick them up. Details and updates can be found on the Citywide Cleanup Facebook page.