New storytime sessions at Boxford Library
New six-week storytime sessions for kids ages 3 to 5 begin April 29 and will continue through June 5. Come for great books, puppets, and crafts. You may sign up for Tuesdays at 11 a.m. or Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. at the East Boxford Library, 10 Elm St., or Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at West Boxford Library, 188 Washington St. Call 978-887-7323 to register.
Tiny Bookworms, a book and movement program for kids under age 3, will happen on Friday mornings at 11 a.m. at West Boxford Library, May 2 through June 6. Call 978-887-7323 to register.
Red Cross community blood drive
The First Calvary Baptist Church will host a Red Cross Community Blood Drive on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donors right now, particularly type O.
The drive will be in the church's fellowship hall, 586 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIVE or visit www.givelife.org for more information or to make an appointment.
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Sixth-grade parents invited to visit to Masconomet
Masconomet Middle School will present an informational evening for sixth-grade parents on Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Masconomet Middle School auditorium, 20 Endicott Road, Topsfield. This is an opportunity to meet administrators and guidance counselors. Parents only please, no students. Programs will be presented including a guided tour and question and answer session.
Central looking for hall of fame nominations
Central Catholic High School in Lawrence has extended the deadline for accepting nominations for its 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame. The deadline is Wednesday, April 30.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15. Athletes who graduated before 2003, coaches and administrators are eligible. For a nomination packet, please contact Peter Paladino, director of athletics, at 978-682-0260 ext. 640 or ppaladino@centralcatholic.net.
Merrimack Valley comes together for National Day of Prayer service on May 1
Communities Together (formerly the Greater Lawrence Council of Churches) will sponsor an interfaith service in recognition of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1 at noon at South Congregational Church, 198 South Broadway in Lawrence.
This year's theme is "Prayer! America's Strength & Shield." The homilist will be Reverend William Waters, OSA, pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Representatives from Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faith communities will be participating. This is the only interfaith gathering for this event in greater Lawrence. Please plan to join us for this service, followed by a light lunch (free of charge). For more information, please call the Communities Together office at (978) 686-4012.
Boxford celebrates Earth Day on Saturday, May 3
Boxford's Board of Selectmen declared May 3 as Earth Day in Boxford, and residents are encouraged to participate in the Help Eliminate Litter Project, sponsored by the Boxford Village Garden Club and Recycling Committee.
Residents that pick up litter from Boxford roadsides, parks and fields can bring all trash and items to be recycled to the Spofford Road recycling center, behind the Town Hall, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 3. Earth Day cleanup participants will receive a free ice cream sundae at the Town Hall, courtesy of Benson's Ice Cream in West Boxford.
Call Kathy Kinney, Earth Day chair, with questions at 978-887-2651.
St. Paul's annual yard sale and car wash
Stop by St. Paul's for second-hand treasures and a sparkling clean car on Saturday, May 3, for the church's annual yard sale and car wash. The event will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 390 Main St., North Andover.
Sponsored by Episcopal Church Women, the event includes a bake sale with coffee, soft drinks and lunch as well as a car wash in the church yard. Included in the yard sale are books, clothing, furniture, household goods, sporting goods, toys and one-of-a-kind treasures that need new homes.
The famous $2-a-bag sale begins at 1 p.m. and continues until closing at 3 p.m. The car wash is manned and sponsored by the Sunday School.
The League of Women Voters candidate's night: The Topsfield-Boxford-Middleton chapter of the League of Women Voters will host candidates nights in the Tri-Town area in time for this spring's local elections.
Boxford's candidate forum will be Wednesday, April 30, at the Boxford Town Hall, 7A Spofford Road, at 7:30 p.m. All candidates are invited to present their qualifications and views on issues confronting the towns. The candidates running for contested positions will be seated on panels to respond to written questions from the audience.
The League is canvassing the communities for those wishing to give short presentations for and against the local ballot questions. Presenters are asked to call Karen Sheridan at 978-887-5519, e-mail at sheridanjk@aol.com.
The League would like to remind citizens not previously registered to vote that special voter registration sessions are set up in each town prior to town meeting and town election. Call the Boxford Town Clerk for the dates and times at 978-887-6000. Mail-in voter registration forms are also available at town halls, libraries and post offices.
"Be our guest, be our guest ..."
Students at North Andover High School will perform the musical "Beauty and the Beast" on Thursday, May 1, Friday May 2 and Saturday May 3 at 7:30 p.m. as well as a matinee performance on Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m.
All shows will be in the NAHS auditorium, 430 Osgood Street. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating, $12 at the door, $10 for open seating advance purchase and $8 for students and senior citizens.
For information or to reserve tickets, call Karen Kramer at 978-794-171, extension 3073.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks ...
Registration is now open for the Tri-town Babe Ruth Baseball League. Open to boys age 13 to 18, the season runs from June 8 and ends on Aug. 1. Playoffs begin Aug. 3 and will last about two weeks. An all-star game will be played on July 26 for those players selected. All teams will be composed of players from Boxford, Topsfield and Middleton.
Divisions of play:
r A Division, ages 14 and 15
r B Division, ages 13 through 15
r Senior BR Division, ages 16 through 18
The number of teams is dependent upon number of registrants. Everyone makes a team and the coaches will determine team placement. Eligibility age is based on a player's age as of Aug. 1. A player must be between the ages of 13 and 18 by midnight on July 31. To register, e-mail baseball@baasports.com or visit the Boxford Athletic Association Web site at www.baasports.com.
Visit the B.E.S.T. homes in town
The Boxford Elementary Schools Trust Annual BEST Homes Tour is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight Boxford homes will be featured — each one highlighting a special element, including a complete wine cellar, a library and media center, a newly renovated kitchen, a pool, patio and entertainment room. Some of the homes are new construction and others are historic; all are sure to satisfy a variety of personal tastes, say organizers. Tourgoers will have the opportunity to bid on specialty raffle items including dinner for six from "Hot Dish Catering" in Lawrence, a spa basket by Body Science in Beverly, a private ladies consultation at Night and Day in Andover, a golf package containing a Keri golf bag from Swing with Style in Middleton and a golf package for four at the Ipswich Country Club.
Visit www.bestforboxford.org for ticket and raffle information.
Genealogy discussion group at Boxford library
In conjunction with Boxford's Connection to the Past, an ongoing genealogy program sponsored by the Friends of the Boxford Town Libraries, local residents Marsha Cooper and Deanna Shanahan will facilitate a genealogy discussion group on Thursday, May 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Boxford Village Library, 10 Elm Street.
Join this informal setting to share your genealogy successes and frustrations, and chat with your neighbors who share your interest in genealogy research. Joining the discussion will be Jane Fiske, a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.
Email information@friendsofboxfordtownlibraries.org to register, or call the Boxford Village Library at 978-887-7323.
Patriots Memorial Park spring cleanup scheduled for May 3
The Friends of Memorial Park have scheduled a cleanup of the park for Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will rake, pick up broken branches, clean out beds, spread mulch and fertilizer and do some weeding and pruning. Donuts are available for willing workers. All are welcome to prepare this town-owned park for the summer. Bring rakes, shovels, clippers and any gardening tools. For information or questions, call Phila Slade at (978) 683-9282.
Rain date is Sunday, May 4 from noon to 4 p.m.
Patriots Memorial Park is located across from the library on Middlesex and Greene Streets. It was given to the town in 1922 and was restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It is cared for by a volunteer group, Friends of Memorial Park, a committee within the North Andover Improvement Society. Donations for maintenance of the park are always welcome and can be sent to NAIS, P.O. Box 212, North Andover, MA 01845.
The committee wishes to thank all the volunteers who have participated in the past cleanups and also extends a note of thanks to Peter Breen for providing mulch over the years.
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Origami workshop on Mother's Day weekend
A Mother's Day origami workshop will be held at Stevens Public Library on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to noon.
Learn how to make an origami scrapbook for your mom, or how to make origami animals like a crane, frog, dog, penguin, dinosaur, butterfly and bat. The workshop will be led by a young origami enthusiast that has worked with Michael LaFosse, the origami master whose pieces are on display in the Peabody Essex Museum Origami Exhibit.
The workshop will be held in the community meeting room at the library, 345 Main St., North Andover.
The workshop is open for children ages 6 and up, with their parents and older siblings; all materials will be provided. Sign up in the children's room at the Steven's Memorial Library. Space is limited.
This free workshop is supported by Friends of the Stevens Memorial Library and the North Andover Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
For more information, contact the Library Children's Room at 978-688-9505.
Foster homes wanted for kittens
Want the fun of having kittens but not the lifetime commitment? Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley is in need of fosters for kittens, moms and kittens and pregnant cats. ARMV provides medical treatment and food. Please call 978-374-7233 or go to www.armv.org.
Registration for Booster Club teams
North Andover Booster Club online registration is open for the following sports:
Track and field (new), fifth- through eighth-grades, open through April 22
Football, fifth- through eighth-grades, open through June 30
Cheering, fifth- through eighth-grades, open through May 31
Field Hockey, fifth- through eighth-grades, open through June 30
Visit the North Andover Booster Club Web site, www.eteamz.com/nabc, for more information and to register.
MVFCU collects children's books for the homeless
Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union's branches, including its branch in North Andover, is promoting a children's book drive for the month of April. The books can be used or new and will be donated to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
Each branch will have a box in place out in the lobby with the sign above it for their members' use. "Our experience volunteering through the years as readers at the Hennessey School in Lawrence has shown us that reading opens up a whole new world to children," said Peter Matthews, President/CEO of MVFCU. "We will promote this on the web and on the radio — prompting members to stop by a local branch to make their donation."
Stevens-Coolidge Place Plant Sale May 10
Celebrate spring and get your garden growing with a visit to the 26th Annual Stevens-Coolidge Place Plant Sale at The Stevens-Coolidge Place on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Annual sale highlights include peonies, Japanese and bearded iris, and old-fashioned roses, along with hard-to-find trillium and ferns for shady, woodland gardens.
People can preview the plants at 9 a.m.before the sale officially opens at 10. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.
Located at 139 Andover Street in North Andover, The Stevens-Coolidge Place is an historic 91-acre country estate owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations. It features a rose garden, greenhouses, a French potager garden, historic trees and plantings, and fields managed for wildlife habitats. The historic house and its surrounding gardens are perhaps the best known work of landscape architect Joseph Elliot Chandler, who transformed a simple c. 1800 farmhouse into an elegant gentleman's estate with garden "rooms," murals, bowed windows, and many Colonial Revival architectural details.
Eldercare resource fair on May 15
Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Lawrence, a coalition of faith communities, social service agencies, and health organizations serving elders and caregivers, will sponsor its second annual Eldercare Fair at St. Michael Church Parish Hall, 196 Main St., North Andover on Thursday, May 15 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
This is an opportunity for caregivers and older adults to learn about available resources and services. Representatives from assisted living facilities, adult day health programs, companion programs, transportation services, Medicaid planning services, caregiver assistance programs, senior centers and skilled nursing and personal care providers will be available to explain eligibility guidelines and answer questions.
This event is free to the public. For more information, call Jean Guyer at 978-686-4050.
Don't fret it, shred it!
North Andover residents will have the opportunity to protect themselves against identity theft by taking part in a shredding event on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at the North Andover DPW, 384 Osgood St.
One box of paper will be shredded free of charge and each subsequent box will be charged at a rate of $5 per box. (For purposes of this event, a "box" is a standard file box.) This is an excellent opportunity to witness the secure disposal of your personal and business documents.
The shredding will be done on-site by Universal Shredding of Georgetown. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jason Mello at Universal Shredding at 978-352-8567.
North Andover Garden Club's annual plant sale
Stunning annuals and proven perennials from garden club members' own gardens will be for sale on Sunday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, 345 Main St., North Andover.
Also available for free: great gardening advice from the garden club members working at the sale. For more information, please email northandovergardenclub@yahoo.com
Author speaks, high tea served at the North Andover Senior Center
Wear your favorite hat and extend your pinky finger for an afternoon of high tea Thursday, May 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the North Andover Senior Center, 120R Main St. The event will be a fundraiser for the senior center's capitol improvement fund and will feature Methuen author Jay Atkinson, author of "City in Amber," as guest speaker.
Tickets are $10 and be purchased in advance at the senior center, or by calling Barbara at 978-688-9560.
Attendees can enjoy tea, sandwiches and pastries as well as live music and door prizes. The high tea is being organized by the Ladies High Tea Committee at the senior center.
Rain Barrels are available to North Andover residents at the discounted price of $56.50 thanks to a grant from MassDEP. Place an order through New England Rain Barrel by April 13 for pick up on Saturday, April 19, at the North Andover DPW, 384 Osgood St., between 9 a.m. and noon. Order online at www.nerainbarrel.com, or by calling them directly at 978-977-3135.
North Regional Theater Workshop, in celebration of its 30th anniversary year, will perform "A Sondheim Celebration" April 25 through 27 in the Great Hall of Methuen's Nevins Memorial Library.
North Regional Theatre Workshop is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to presenting quality music and theatrical productions to the communities in and around Merrimack Valley. It is always looking for singers and calling upon the talents and contributions of all those who love to perform, on either side of the curtain. If you would like more information, call 978-397-1481 or visit www.nrtwinc.com.
North Andover book sale: The annual book sale of the Friends of the North Andover Library will be Friday, May 2, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, May 4, from noon to 3 p.m. Bargains include more than 2,000 books for children priced from 25 cents to $2.50, as well as adult books (fiction and nonfiction), DVDs, CDs, tapes, and records.
On Sunday, books and media will be sold for $3 per bag. Proceeds pay for museum passes, summer reading program and special events. Donations may be left at the library at the staff room door at any time the library is open.
The sale is at Stevens Memorial Library, 345 Main St., North Andover. Volunteers are needed to help with publicity and book sorting. For information or to volunteer, contact Marty Larson, president of the Friends, at Larsonml@aol.com or 978-686-1557.
Bicentennial celebration: Representatives from the 11 parishes of Vicariate III of the Merrimack Region have joined to plan a local celebration of the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Boston. With a theme of "Journey Together in Christ," everyone is invited to a Mass and family gathering on Sunday, Sept. 7, at St. Michael Parish in North Andover. Merrimack Regional Bishop Emilio Allue will preside at a noon Mass to be concelebrated by priests of the vicariate. A family picnic celebration will immediately follow with activities for all ages.
Volunteers needed: Community Giving Tree is seeking volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and noon at its headquarters in West Boxford. Volunteers would sort donated items such as baby clothing, toiletries, and toys to make them available for social service workers to distribute to families in need. For more information, visit www.communitygivingtree.org.
ESOL classes: Registrations are now being taken for English for Speakers of Other Languages, citizenship preparation, parenting and preschool classes at the Asian Center, 1 Ballard Way, Lawrence. Anyone interested in signing up for either morning or evening classes should call the Asian Center at 978-683-7316. Check out the Asian Center's Web site at www.asiancentermv.org for directions and more details.
Summer history camp: The North Andover Historical Society is accepting reservations for its children's summer enrichment program, Adventures in Time. The series is geared to boys and girls ages 7 through 12.
The first week, "Working in Time", will be July 7 through 11. During this week we will explore various jobs of earlier time. Field trips to the Andover Historical Society and the Wenham Museum will provide role playing in different trades and vocations.
In the second week, "Our Bright New Age", August 4 through 8, we will compare the good time and the challenges of the early 20th century, including the labor movement, the birth of the movies, the impact of the automobile and the "making due" of the Great Depression. Visits to the Lawrence Heritage State Park and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum will help bring the period alive.
Fee is $140 a week, $250 for two weeks; North Andover Historical Society members receive a 20 percent discount and a second child receives a 10 percent discount
There will be a supervised lunch period each day; children must bring their own brown bag lunch
r For details or to request a reservation form, call the society at 978-686-4035 or e-mail nahistory@juno.com. Visit the society on the Web at www.northandoverhistoricalsociety.org.
Volunteer opportunity: Horizons for Homeless Children is looking for volunteers to play with great children for two hours a week. Your time can make a world of difference for children living in homeless shelters in Massachusetts. Several shelters are on the North Shore, including Lynn, Revere, Malden, Lowell, Lawrence, Tewksbury, Peabody, Salem and Gloucester.
A commitment of six months and attendance at a training session are required. New volunteers will be trained at the Peabody Library on March 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For information, visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org, call 978-557-2182, or e-mail northeast@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
Volunteers needed: Windrush Farm in Boxford, which provides therapeutic horseback-riding for disabled children and adults, is looking for volunteers. Volunteers will help groom and tack, lead or sidewalk horses. No horse experience necessary, will train. A willingness to commit for 11/2 hours a week, for whole season. Must be 14 years or older, and able to walk/jog for an hour. Immediate needs are Tuesday afternoon at 1, 3:45 and 4:45 p.m. and Friday at noon, 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. For more information call Gina at 978-682-7855 or e-mail gina@windrushfarm.org.
Boxford Library news: All Boxford children, age preschool through grade two, are welcome to join in the Boxford Celebrates Reading program. Read, mark your monthly calendar, and win prizes. Preschoolers and homeschool children can pick up their reading calendars in the library. Kindergarten through grade 2 should watch back pack mail from school for their calendars. A new calendar is available each month. Boxford Celebrates Reading is a program sponsored by the Friends of the Boxford Town Libraries.
Boxford baseball registration opens: Players, it's time to sign up for the 2008 season. Go to the Boxford Athletic Association website (www.baasports.com) for a link to online baseball registration. Boxford Players ages 5 to 15 are eligible to participate in the instructional, farm, minors, majors or Babe Ruth programs. The spring baseball program runs from late April until late June. Optional summer baseball is available in July and August.
Instructional Softball is a noncompetitive offering for girls currently in kindergarten through second grade. The emphasis is on fun while building basic playing skills such as throwing, fielding, running, and hitting. For information/registration contact Doug Balek email dbalek@comcast.net.
Adults interested in volunteering as a coach or assistant coach, please let us know of your interest by going to www.baasports.com and registering. Click on the coach registration button. Once you have registered online, you will be contacted about your interest in coaching opportunities by one of our league directors.
Andover/North Andover YMCA events and programs:
Parents' Night Out is a program, which runs once a month on Saturday nights from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., where kids enjoy a spaghetti dinner and participate in such activities as arts and crafts, sports, games and watch movies. While the kids are having fun, parents can enjoy a night out. This program is for children ages 4 and older. Cost is $5 for members, $9 nonmembers. Upcoming date: Feb. 9.
Friday Family Nights are a great way to meet other families and have fun at the YMCA. Each month features a different theme and offers a wide variety of unique activities and snacks. Activities run from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., followed by free swim from 8 to 8:45 p.m. There is no cost for members, $5 per family for nonmembers. Upcoming nights: Dinosaur Rumble on Feb. 15.
Ballroom dancing class on Fridays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Class will cover the waltz, foxtrot, meringue, rhumba and swing, and are taught by instructor Tom Webster from Dance New England School of Dance in Chelmsford. Classes will take place in the studio. Cost is $65 per person for members, $115 nonmembers. Interested parties can sign up at the front desk.
Child Watch Center, which provides a great environment for children ages 6 weeks to 2.6 years of age while parents work out, now has expanded hours. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon. There is no fee for members, $2.50 per hour nonmembers. The cost for a second child in the same family is $1.25 per hour.
The Andover/ North Andover YMCA is located at 165 Haverhill St. For more information on any event or program above, call 978-685-3541.
Pet adoptions will be every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Petco in North Andover on Route 114 with the Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley. The cats and kittens are pre-neutered, tested, microchipped and have shots up-to-date. A one-month pet health insurance is also included. The adoption fee is $175 for kittens and $125 for cats 6 months and older. Special needs cats are $75. For more information on adopting and registering for the Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley adopt-a-thon, visit www.ARMV.org or call 978-374-SAFE.
Hospice support group: Merrimack Valley Hospice offers a monthly drop-in support group for those caring for a loved one with a dementia or illness on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Ashland Farm, 700 Chickering Road. For information or to register, call Lois Marra 978-552-4537 or Nancy Thornton 978-552-4528.
Baby equipment donations: Community Giving Tree is seeking donations of gently used baby equipment to help families throughout the North Shore. Consider donating cribs, strollers, swings, highchairs, baby gates, monitors, port-a-cribs, bassinets and toddler beds.
All donations are tax deductible and will be given directly to families in desperate need. Call or email to schedule a convenient pick-up time, or for directions to a drop-off location.
You may contact the Community Giving Tree at communitygivingtree@comcast.net or at 978-500-5527. Community Giving Tree is a non-profit organization sponsored by the Tri-Town Council on Youth and Family Services.
Playgroup for preschoolers: Playful People Playgroup is a nonprofit drop-in play group for children preschool age and under. It provides interaction for children and caregivers. Children play with toys, make crafts to take home, eat snacks and participate in music time with sing-alongs and occasionally some parachute play. The group is run by volunteers and meets Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, Elm Street, North Andover.
Cost is $1.50 per person. Age 9 months and younger and snack and craft-time volunteers are admitted free. The group follows the North Andover public school calendar for holidays and snow-day announcements. Call Donna Phaneuf at 978-688-4613.
Down syndrome playgroup: Morning Travelers, a playgroup for children with Down syndrome and their families, meets the third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon at First Calvary Baptist Church, 586 Massachusetts Ave. For information, call Sharon at 978-974-0191.
Bottoms up! Merrimack Toastmasters meetings are on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, 345 Main St. Guests are welcome. Call 617-753-3473 for more information.
North Andover Thrift Shop: At 172 Sutton St., at the corner of Main Street in the historic Scholfield Mill building, the shop has been a North Andover fixture since 1955. Volunteer run and nonprofit, all profits are donated to scholarships and community programs.
Articles of clothing in very good condition, as well as small household items, jewelry, books, are accepted on a space-available basis during shop hours (no toys, puzzles, or electronics please). Please call the shop, 978-689-9520 to check on space availability.
Hours are: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
ALA accepting vehicle donations: The American Lung Association is accepting used cars, trucks, motorcycles and boats in every condition to help support Massachusetts residents living with chronic lung disease. ALA will pick up the vehicle free of charge. For more information, call 800-577-5864 or visit www.lungne.org.
Elders Need Volunteer Drivers: Have you ever thought about how difficult life would be if you were confined to your home without transportation? Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Lawrence, a coalition of faith communities, social service agencies, and health organizations, is looking for volunteers to drive elders to medical and "quality of life" appointments. Volunteers serve through the Friends in Deed program at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. Elder Services provides training and additional liability insurance for its drivers. Volunteers decide when they drive. To help, please call Elder Services at 1-800-892-0890. Ask for Eileen at ext. 463 or Jerry at ext. 445 (and mention Interfaith Caregivers).
Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Lawrence, a coalition of faith communities, social service agencies, and health organizations working together to serve elders and caregivers, will sponsor its 2nd Annual Eldercare Fair at Saint Michael Church Parish Hall, 196 Main Street, North Andover on Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Caregivers and older adults, do not miss this opportunity to learn about the vast array of resources and services available in our communities. Representatives from assisted living facilities, adult day health programs, companion programs, transportation services, Medicaid planning services, caregiver assistance programs, senior centers, and skilled nursing and personal care providers will be available to explain eligibility guidelines and answer all your questions. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jean Guyer at (978) 686-4050.
