ORANGE — St. Mary’s Women’s Club is preparing for the 94th annual Parish Fair to be held Oct. 8 at the parish center on Cheney Street. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and beef stew and pie will be served for lunch at 11.
Parishioners and friends are asked to donate prizes for the center table raffle and baskets, baked goods, candy and fudge, jellies and preserves, crafts, etc. for various other tables. The parish center will be open Monday from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment to drop off goods.
ORANGE — The Orange libraries have announced the third annual Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition in honor of the late “Millers River Poet,” Robert P. Collén. Ten finalists will be chosen by the judges to participate in a reading reception and contest on Oct. 25 at Wheeler Memorial Library. Prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be awarded to the top three finalists. Submissions for the contest are being accepted through Oct. 15.
Entrants may submit up to three of their original poems. Only unpublished poems will be accepted and must be submitted on white 8.5-by-11-inch paper, typed on plain typeface. All personal information must appear on the reverse side of the submitted poems and should include the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the entrant. Notification of entry receipt will be made by email or telephone. Poems will not be returned to entrants.
Submissions should be mailed to: The Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition, Wheeler Memorial Library, 49 East Main St., Orange, MA 01364. The competition is sponsored by the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries. Call 978-544-2495 or visit www.orangelib.org for more information.
ORANGE — The Orange Fire Department’s second annual open house is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 18 Water St. on Oct. 8.
The Board of Selectmen granted the department’s request for the closure of South Main Street to Water Street and Water Street to Depot Road for the event.
Deputy Fire Chief William Gale said the open house’s activities will include a police dog demonstration with Officer Christopher Bisceglia and his K-9 partner.
ATHOL — The polls for the Nov. 8 presidential election will be held at Pleasant Street School this year to avoid a heavy flow of traffic at the previous location, the local senior center.