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02/14/2025

Exchange Club seeks applications for 18 Under 18 Award
BY KEVIN FLANDERS
STAFF WRITER
SPENCER — The Exchange Club of Spencer is seeking applicants for its annual 18 Under 18 Award.
Established in 2021, this initiative honors individuals from grades 8-12 who make a meaningful impact in their community. Applicants must reside in, or attend school in, Spencer or East Brookfield.
“The Exchange Club of Spencer is proud to uphold its mission by celebrating the outstanding young members of the Spencer-East Brookfield community through the 18 Under 18 program,” read a statement released by the club.
Understanding that students are often recognized for academic and athletic successes, Exchange Club members created the 18 Under 18 program as a tool to celebrate youngsters whose achievements may have gone overlooked. These include volunteering at a local church or organization; assisting family members and friends in need; or serving as a leader in school or the workplace.
When selecting each year’s class of award recipients, program leaders focus on achievements in the following categories: community involvement; work ethic; leadership; caring and selflessness; and citizenship.
A committee of Exchange Club members reviews the applications each year, with the names of applicants redacted to ensure an unbiased process.
“Each year, the process of selection becomes more and more difficult, as the students have become comfortable with sharing their accomplishments that are more personal than a win on the field or grades that are earned,” read a statement released by the Exchange Club in celebration of the 2024 class.
To be eligible to receive the 18 Under 18 Award, applicants must be in grade eight or older (up to age 18), as of June 1, 2025.
The Exchange Club congratulates all students who apply for this year’s 18 Under 18 program. Award recipients will join an all-time roster of impressive local youngsters who have impacted their communities in myriad ways.
The inaugural 18 Under 18 class included Spencer’s Ryleigh Modig, who inspired the community with her journey on NBC’s The Voice. More recently, several DPHS and KTMS students have been selected for their community contributions. Whether it’s serving as a lifeguard, a church volunteer, or a camp counselor, local kids are staying active and involved. And the Exchange Club looks forward to continuing to recognize them this year and beyond.
The application submission deadline is March 31.
To obtain an 18 Under 18 Award application, or to view a full list of program requirements, visit www.spencerexchangeclub.org.
If you are selected as an 18 Under 18 recipient, you will be invited to attend an award ceremony on May 30 at the Worcester Bravehearts game. The Exchange Club will provide each winner with two tickets to the event. Additional tickets may be purchased to attend the catered event, game, and ceremony.
All applicants will be notified of their selection status by May 1, 2025.
All supporters and sponsors of the program are thanked for their recognition of local youngsters. For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, visit the Exchange Club Web site.
“As a sponsor, your business will be celebrated as a vital partner in supporting the next generation of leaders. Join us in empowering local youth and fostering a brighter future for Spencer and East Brookfield,” the club’s statement read.

02/14/2025

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The Hayden Pond Association held its First Annual Ice Fishing Derby this past weekend (Feb. 8) to raise funds for invasive w**d treatment and control. The event saw a turnout of 12 participants and many spectators, with all enjoying the perfect weather and each other's company. Prizes were awarded for heaviest bass, heaviest non-bass and longest "other." After prizes were awarded, the HPA netted $160 toward w**d treatment and inspections.

02/14/2025

Library program offers a lesson in beekeeping

BY GUS STEEVES
CORRESPONDENT
CHARLTON — Nature's full of oddities. How's this for one: all male honeybees, termed drones, are actually genetic clones of their female queen.
That was an in-passing point brought up by longtime beekeeper Scott Herbert during his recent presentation to about 30 people at Charlton Library.
He's seen a lot of drones over the years. Although they comprise just four percent of any hive, he now manages 85 hives scattered across several farms. Of course, that means he's known far more worker bees, the females who do everything in the hive, from feeding larvae, defense, food collecting, cleaning and caring for the solitary but all-important queen. The drones exists solely to “pass the genetics of that queen to another virgin queen” in the area. (For guys who think that sounds like a great life, follow it to the end – they get dragged out of the hive every fall to freeze to death.)
Then again, most workers don't exactly have a long lifespan either. They live just six weeks during the summer, but three or four months over the winter. Herbert said their lives are pretty predictable: days 3-10 after maturity are spent feeding the larvae and creating wax for new hive cells; days 10-20, “fanning” the hive to keep it cool and other things close to home; then days 20-40 doing the most dangerous thing, primarily foraging and guarding the hive.
Herbert, owner of Charlton Bee Company, Master Beekeeper, Granger, and former leader of the Worcester County Swarm Team, started his talk with a quick summary of the various equipment most beekeepers use, include the hive, a smoker, a bee brush, suit, and a couple other small items. The smoker isn't a guy with a cigar. It's a small metal device in which he lights pine needles. The smoke temporary blocks bees ability to smell pheromones that trigger defensive behavior, but will also prompt them to start gorging on honey in case they have to flee. Thus “preoccupied,” he said, it's far easier to harvest honey and do any maintenance.
A bee brush isn't used to brush their hair, but to brush them aside gently to he can get to honey or the queen if he needs to remove her. The suit is fairly obvious – it can be any color but is often white, loose and with a net hood to prevent stinging. Often only the hood is necessary, since bees will often go for the face. Personally, he said he likes the ventilated ones because of doing work in heat; “you don't want to get heat stroke.”
It takes a few hundreds dollars in gear to get started in beekeeping. The items above run about $150 total. The hive itself costs about $350 (he recommends having at least two so you can see differences between well-functioning hives and those who aren't). A colony of bees (about three pounds) costs around $250, although you can sometimes collect a swarm and/or find a hive someone wants to give away. (Be careful, though. He noted that once people know you're into beekeeping, they sometimes ask for your help in getting rid of swarms of similar insects, like wasps and hornets, that don't produce honey.) People typically order new bee colonies right around now, although Herbert noted all of his are sold.
Swarms are the bees' natural process of creating new colonies, but are inconvenient for the beekeeper. They're typically sparked by a colony becoming too big for its hive in the spring (not in the first year), with about half of the bees and the queen flying off to find a new home. The bees left behind will produce a new queen by packing a selected egg in a peanut-shaped, larger than normal cell with royal jelly (a highly-nutritious form of honey). She'll emerge 16 days after laying; other bees take 21 days. A queen usually starts laying about 1,500 eggs a day between April and June (less if food is scarce).
He said he gets his first honey harvest in late June, with a second in late September, although he always tries to leave the bees about 100 pounds of honey so they'll survive the winter.
A queen-less colony tends to be more aggressive; they also can be during fall, drought and other times when pollen is less available.
Herbert said the “alarm pheromone smells a lot like bananas. … It's an old wives' tale, but I have an aggressive colony that smells a lot like bananas.”
He used that memory to warn people not to wear cologne or eat bananas while tending your beehives. For newcomers to beekeeping, hive work will take about an hour per hive in spring and 15-20 minutes with some experience. In late summer, it typically takes maybe an hour every two weeks. In overly rainy and overly dry periods, that might need to include providing the bees sugar water to compensate for lack of pollen.
When they can get their own pollen, bees practice “floral fidelity,” only feeding on a specific kind of plant while it's flowering (clover, knotw**d and goldenrod are among them in season). That makes them far more important as a pollinator than many other insects, who flit between plant species. It also makes it possible to get “pretty specific” flavors in the honey, if the beekeeper is careful to “pull the honey when the flowers are done blooming,” he said.
Regarding threats to bee hives, Herbert said he's seen bears go after the honey, but they're usually deterred by an electric fence around the whole cluster of hives. Occasionally, skunks will scratch at a hive entrance until the guard bees emerge and eat them; that can be prevented by elevating them, which forces the skunk to stand on hind legs and exposes their belly to bee stings. Mice will also seek honey; a device called a mouseguard has tiny holes only bees can enter.
He said he's generally more worried about “pesticide events,” as in when aerial spraying happens near some of his hives. To avoid having one hit them all, he has them on several farms around town, and if he knows one's coming, he'll cover the affected ones with blankets.
Likewise, a serious concern is the Varroa mite, a parasitic species that reproduces under (and eats) capped larvae in the hives and is a vector for bee diseases. He said he controls that by taking the queen out of the hive for a week or two to cause breaks in the mite's food supply. There are also various drugs and chemicals to treat the mites, but they have variable effectiveness and need to be used carefully, often during particular periods of the year.
“If you're not ready to leap into beekeeping, you can do something to help the nearby bees,” he urged. One of them was to plant “something that blooms when other things don't,” especially during mid-summer.

Gus Steeves can be reached at [email protected].

Photos
Gus Steeves
1. Scott Herbert shows samples of manufactured starter honeycombs bees will be quite happy to fill.
2. A closeup of the honeycombs.

02/13/2025

Sturbridge Trails ice sculpture carving event this Saturday

STURBRIDGE — With the winter finally cooperating this year The Friends of Sturbridge Trails (FrOST), with support from the Sturbridge Tourist Association, is holding its annual ice sculpture carving demonstration and contest on Saturday, Feb. 15, starting at 11 a.m. and running to 1 p.m. This family friendly event will have two live ice carvers putting on an ice carving demonstration as well as some 12 individual blocks of ice carved by local area residents on display along the Grand Trunk Trail, located at the Riverlands, 52 Stallion Hill Rd. In addition to viewing the ice sculptures, there will be family/kids’ games of ice golf, ice bowling and an ice obstacle course. The ice carving demonstration will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The residents carved ice blocks will be set out on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 8 to 10 a.m. Volunteers will be available to assist in set out.

Judging the ice sculptures and carving demonstration will start at 11 a.m. Ice sculptures will be on display until they melt! The grand prize is a gift card to a local restaurant. Please direct all questions to Jen Scherer at [email protected].

The Friends of Sturbridge Trails is a local 501c3 group formed to support enjoyment of the Sturbridge Trail system. For more information on how to join FrOST and support its mission please visit the trails Web site at www.treksturbridge.org or email [email protected].

02/13/2025

Old Sturbridge Village announces February events and programs


STURBRIDGE — Old Sturbridge Village welcomes February with new events, a new exhibit, and many favorite programs returning this month.

Opening Friday, February 14th Old Sturbridge Village is excited to present a new exhibit. “Hands & Hearts: Courtship and Marriage in 19th-Century New England” explores marriage and partnership by telling the stories of four couples from the 19th century. The new exhibit is located in the Visitor Center and is included with standard daytime admission. “Hands & Hearts” was made possible thanks to the generous support of Keith and Elaine Knowlton and the Felicia Fund.

On Feb. 15 and 16, Old Sturbridge Village celebrates Valentine’s Weekend. Guests can learn about the history of love letters, view the process of preparing hot chocolate, hear a selection of comedic 19th-century love songs, shop for unique gifts, and more. Married couples can make this celebratory weekend extra special by renewing their wedding vows with a Justice of the Peace. Registration in advance, by Feb. 12 is required for vow renewal and a limited number of time slots are available.

Evening of Illumination continues this month on Feb. 8 and 22; tours are based on pre-selected time slots and are available from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This unique experience allows guests to discover how New England families spent their evenings before the introduction of technology by touring the Village after dark, lit only by candlelight, oil lamps, lanterns, and firelight. This event is sponsored by National Grid.

A popular visitor favorite, Maple Days will return this year from Feb. 19 to March 9. Guests can learn about the history of maple sugar in 19th-century New England and watch the sugar-making process at OSV’s sugar camp, from tapping the trees to “sugaring off.”

Educators visit for free during school vacation week, Feb. 19 – 21. This is an opportunity for teachers to explore how they can plan a field trip for their students. Special programming for teachers includes drop-in, hands-on crafts, 19th-century school lessons, tours of the Village, and talks with members of the Collections and Research team on these dates. Teachers must show a valid teacher ID card, paystub, or other proof of being a teacher, principal, or school aid at the Visitor Center to receive free admission. Offer valid for teachers only, not others in their party. Special thanks to Cornerstone Bank for supporting OSV and the celebration of Museum Education’s 50th Anniversary.

February’s Homeschool Day will be on Feb. 28. Homeschool Day is an educational opportunity for students to explore the Village and participate in hands-on workshops, scavenger hunts, and self-guided exploration. February’s Homeschool Day celebrates Black History Month. Students will learn about the valuable contributions that people of color had in the 19th century on art, cooking, and written word.

For event details and tickets, and additional information, visit osv.org.

02/13/2025

Knights of Columbus announce Free Throw Competition

WEBSTER — Webster/Dudley Knights of Columbus Council 228 will hold its annual free throw competition on Saturday, Feb. 15 at St Joseph's Gym, 47 Whitcomb St., Webster.
The competition is open to local boys and girls ages nine to 14 with age determined as of Jan. 1. Proof of age is required at registration. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. and competition will begin promptly for all ages at 9 a.m. First place finishers will receive a trophy and those finishers will compete in the District 10 competition immediately following the local contest on this same day at St Joseph's Gym. The first-place finishers of the District 10 competition will then compete in the Massachusetts Central Region contest to be held in March.
Please contact PGK Paul Perry for any questions at 508-943-9345 or [email protected].

02/12/2025

From nursing student to nurse
BVT celebrates 15 graduates at Pinning Ceremony

UPTON — The Moonlight Program in Practical Nursing (PN) at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) is a 60-week program that prepares its adult students with foundational skills essential to a nursing career. Non-traditional students navigate challenging coursework, develop hands-on skills, and cultivate compassion and empathy to care for patients with family and work commitments.

The Practical Nursing Graduation for the Class of 2025 was held at BVT on Jan. 27. The ceremony, which signifies a rite of passage from nursing student to nurse, began with welcoming remarks from PN Coordinator Joann L. Monks, MBA, MSc, RN-BC, RMA. Monks spoke highly of the program, stakeholders, and the fifteen new nurses, who have proven they're ready to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurses exam.

In his remarks, BVT's Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal, Mr. Anthony Steele II, spoke about the essence of nursing.

He said, "As you enter this next chapter, remember that nursing is about more than just what you do; it's about how you do it. It's about making a difference in the lives of your patients, their families, and the communities you serve. Your presence, your empathy, your kindness - these qualities are every bit as important as the technical skills you've learned in the classroom."

Class President Xivanna Millin gave the class address. The guest speaker, Melissa Ferguson, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing at Bethany Nursing Center, spoke about the dire need for more nurses.

In closing, she said, "Tonight, we witness these graduates dedicate themselves to the nursing profession. I would be honored to work alongside any of you."

The 15 graduates proudly received their nursing certificates and were pinned. BVT's Superintendent-Director, Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick, was recognized for his years of service and continued support of the nursing program. Dr. Fitzpatrick could not attend; his sister, Nancy Holland, proudly accepted a pin to honor their mother, Helen Fitzpatrick, a nurse and an inspiration for this Moonlight Program.

In addition to the presentation of certificates and pins, Senator Fattman provided a citation for each graduate. Representative Murray provided a citation for the Milford graduates. Representative Muradian provided a citation for the Northbridge graduates. Xivanna Karelys Millin received the Faculty Recognition Award. Phiona Sebutinde received an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

If you're ready to take that next step toward a new and exciting career, one of the Moonlight Programs might be for you. The Practical Nursing program accepts in-district and out-of-district applicants. For more information, visit www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/practicalnursing.

About Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT)
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, BVT creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills.

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The PN Class of 2025. Photo/Courtesy of Blackstone Valley Tech. Back (L-R): Adriana Luz Rivera, Nickesha Palmer, Lynnette Cruz, Zoe Lynn Ragno, and Thomas James Mirabile. Middle (L-R): Matilda Baah, Xivanna Karelys Millin, Cassie Erin Fitzpatrick, and Phiona Sebutinde. Front (L-R): Joel Njifua Njemfoa, Samantha Marie Tavarez, Wilder Ruben Poma, Shyala Morgan Medeiros, Sarah Orenberg, and Junior Anuju Atabong.

02/12/2025

Watershed group needs volunteers

UXBRIDGE — The Blackstone River Coalition (BRC) needs volunteers to assist with its 22nd year of water quality monitoring of 28 sites in the Mid-Reach section of the watershed. Enjoy being out along waterways? Volunteer as a regular site monitor assigned to a particular site or serve as a “floater” to cover sites on an "as needed" basis. Fieldwork not your thing? Come volunteer in the water-testing lab which operates out of the Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge.
The BRC trains community scientists to participate in the Coalition's watershed-wide water quality monitoring program. The goal of this long-running program is to gather information about the current status of, and long-term changes in, the health of the Blackstone River watershed. This information helps local policy makers, state officials, and concerned community members make the Blackstone River cleaner for people and wildlife.
More than 90 volunteers work with the BRC to sample 75 sites throughout the watershed from Worcester to Pawtucket. Sites are sampled on the second Saturday of each month from April through November. Field monitors and floaters are trained in a one-hour session to test for dissolved oxygen at the site, record physical and aesthetic parameters, and collect a water sample that they drop off at the lab between 9 a.m. and noon on the Saturday of testing. Lab volunteers, who help test these samples for nutrients, conductivity, and turbidity, do not need to commit to helping each month and can be trained the first time they assist.
There are two additional sampling teams in the program. The Headwaters Team samples waterways from Worcester to Grafton and runs its lab out of Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester. The Rhode Island Team samples waterways from Woonsocket to Pawtucket and runs its lab out of Sycamore Landing in Lincoln, R.I. The Rhode Island Team and the Headwaters Team are also looking for volunteers.
To volunteer as a field monitor, floater, or lab assistant, please contact Heather Parry, Coordinator, BRC Volunteer WQM Program at 508-579-9188 or [email protected].

02/12/2025

02/10/2025

North Pond Ice-Out Contest underway!

BROOKFIELD — As winter lingers, anticipation for spring grows, and with it comes the 2025 North Pond Ice-Out Contest, hosted by the Quaboag Quacumquasit Lake Association (QQLA). It’s time to have a little bit of fun at nature’s expense and predict when you think the ice will melt enough to send Norpondapus, the QQLA lake monster, back into North Pond.

After a couple of false starts in previous years due to lack of ice, QQLA’s legendary Norpondapus has finally taken its place on the frozen surface of North Pond near the Quaboag boat ramp. When the ice weakens enough for the lake monster to break through, its fall will trigger a timing mechanism that will officially mark the "ice-out" moment—and determine the contest’s winners.

The general public is invited to predict the exact date and time when Norpondapus will make its descent. The contestant whose guess is closest—without exceeding the actual recorded time—will claim first place, winning 30 percent of the proceeds. Additional prizes will be awarded to second and third place winners, earning 20 and 10 percent of proceeds, respectively. Prizes will grow depending on the number of entrants. The remaining 40 percent of proceeds will benefit the Quaboag Quacumquasit Lake Association’s mission of preserving and protecting the quality of the two lakes (better known as North and South Ponds) and the surrounding watershed through the promotion of responsible, effective, environmental policies.

Entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13. The official ice-out period runs from Feb. 15 to April 13, and only one ticket is available for each unique 15-minute time interval. Each guess costs $5 per interval, and there is no limit to the number of guesses a participant can purchase.

To enter, participants can visit qqla.org/ice-out to select their chosen date and time. After choosing a "Golden Ticket" for a specific date, entrants will use a dropdown menu to pick a 15-minute interval, provide their contact information, and finalize their entry through the online shopping cart.

Will you be the one to predict when Norpondapus takes the plunge? Get your entry in before the Feb. 13 deadline and join in on the fun. For additional information and full contest rules, visit the Quaboag Quacumquasit Lake Association Web site at qqla.org or email event chair, Bill Seabourne at [email protected].

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The deadline to submit a guess in the QQLA North Pond Ice-Out Contest is Feb. 13.

02/09/2025

Uxbridge Historical Society celebrates Washington’s birthday

UXBRIDGE — The Uxbridge Historical Society is proud to present a celebration of George Washington’s birthday on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. The program will be held at the Community House of the First Congregational Church on Court Street in Uxbridge. Additional parking is available at Unibank and at Savers Bank. A donation of $10 per person would be greatly appreciated to support the program. All are welcome to attend.
Our special guest will be President George Washington, presented by John Koopman III. Since 2006, John has portrayed George Washington at many National Parks, State Parks, and other historic sites all along the East Coast. John has appeared in documentaries and films on PBS, the Travel Channel, and The History Channel, and others. He has also written a book “George Washington at WAR – 1776” which will be available for purchase at the program for $15.
President Washington will speak on the US Constitution and the Constitutional Convention. He will give Washington's point of view on the process and the result during the first months of the first presidency. This will be in keeping with the story of his 1789 visit to Uxbridge in the year following its official adoption by New Hampshire, the 9th state to adopt it, making the US Constitution the supreme law of the land. The presentation will last about 45 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period as well as a book signing.
One of his stops along this journey was at the Samuel Taft Tavern on Sutton Street in Uxbridge where he spent the night. Through the generations, the bed in which he slept that night was carefully preserved and was recently donated to the Uxbridge Historical Society for its collection. The bed is currently in storage but will be put on exhibit in the near future.
For more information or questions, contact [email protected] or call Mary Beauchamp at (508) 930-6021.

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John Koopman III as George Washington.

02/09/2025

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Pumpernickel Puppets at Chaffee School

On Thursday, Jan. 30, Chaffee Elementary PTO welcomed the amazing John McDonough of Pumpernickel Puppets for three unforgettable performances! With his perfect blend of education and entertainment, John captivated our students, filling the room with laughter, wonder, and excitement. His visits are always a hit, and this time was no exception—our kids absolutely loved it!

02/08/2025

Eagle Scout completes mountain bike trails service project

STURBRIDGE — Scouting America Eagle Scout Jonah Scherer recently completed his Eagle rank required service project of updating and improving the mountain bike trails behind the Tantasqua Regional Junior High School.
The mountain bike trails were initially installed several years ago and have been used by the Tantasqua mountain bike club as practice trails. The trails also serve as an outdoor classroom for several of the science class studies in forestry and outdoor environments.
Scherer’s project included cleaning up the trails, paint marking, formally naming and signing the trails along with the installation of a Kiosk and trail map. In total, there are four newly marked trails totaling 1.8 miles.
Scherer selected this project because “I really enjoy the outdoors and believe that the opportunity to get outside helps me develop a well-rounded character, makes me a strong athlete, and helps me when it's time to focus on academics. My Eagle project required me to apply everything I’d learned in Scouting to create meaningful community impact, and was inspired by Mrs. Marcucci’s use and hopes for the trails system. The project involved GPS-mapping two miles of trails, building and installing signs and a kiosk, and creating a color-coded map. This experience taught me leadership, problem-solving, and perseverance. Becoming an Eagle Scout symbolizes dedication and a commitment to serving others."
Scherer worked under the supervision of Mrs. Marcucci at the school, who also commented on Jonah’s project: “We applied for a grant last year that included a kiosk at the trail entrance, trail signs but unfortunately did not receive it. I was pleased when Jonah stepped up to take on this project.”

Because of his work, the Sturbridge Trail Committee will now include these trails on its web site and in the future an updated trail guide.
The trails are located at the rear of the Tantasqua Regional Junior High school at 319 Brookfield Rd., and are open for public use during non-school operating hours. These trails are designed for mt bikers, so hikers should be cautious when using the trails. School property use rules apply.
Jonah is a member of Scouts BSA Troop 161 of Sturbridge sponsored by the Champeau- Vilandre American Legion Post 109. The troop meets on Sunday nights from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sturbridge Federated Church. For more information on Troop 161, email Scoutmaster Kevin Scherer at [email protected] or stop in during a troop meeting.

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Jonah Scherer standing next to the recently completed Kiosk for the Tantasqua Trail system.

02/08/2025

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Great turnout for Masons’ annual Chinese New Year’s Party


On Saturday, Feb. 1, brethren and their family and friends converged at the Quinebaug Masonic Lodge in Southbridge for their annual Chinese New Year’s Party (The Year of the Snake). The lodge’s rear parking lot was packed with vehicles. Brethren and their families and friends from all around the 24th Masonic District attended this annual event. There was plenty of oriental food served potluck style, some made and most bought. There were games for adults and children to play. There was fraternalism and many laughs to make for a great night. A movie was shown a 1986 classic staring Kurt Russell in “Big Trouble in Little China”. Fraternalism and comradery, being with brethren’s, family and friends is what freemasonry is all about. If you would like more information about Freemasonry, go to www.massfreemasonry.org to find a lodge near to you.