Swift River Valley Historical Society hosting hike

NEW SALEM — The Swift River Valley Historical Society is sponsoring an event on Sunday, May 17, to allow people to hike East Street in Ware through the lost towns of Enfield and Greenwich from Quabbin Gate 49.

Anyone who is interested should meet at the east entrance to Quabbin Park (opposite Quabbin Park Cemetery) to carpool to the gate, where there is limited parking. The hike departs at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Museum Administrator Dot Frye at dotfryesrvhs@gmail.com.

An act of the state Legislature disincorporated Enfield, Greenwich, Dana and Prescott on April 28, 1938, to enable the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir.

Wendell tax bills due May 16

WENDELL — Tax bills are due by Saturday, May 16, according to the town’s website.

The website also states that the late-payment demand bill was increased to $25 at last year’s Annual Town Meeting.

Orange Historical Society welcomes new member to board of directors

ORANGE — The Orange Historical Society has named Sandra Fawn Weinstein to its board of directors to fulfill the remaining year of a three-year term that was left vacant in December when Irene Ballou died at age 92. Ballou had served the Historical Society since 1955, including 36 years as president.

Members gathered on May 5 to conduct annual elections. The 15 members present also voted to reelect Denise Andrews, Anne Colo, William Johnson, Maureen Riendeau, Frank Schiappa and George Willard to the board. The additional directors serving are Lurene Hall, Walter Pollard, Ann Reed, Terry Reed and Ginette Richard, while five-year officerships are held by President Kathryn Schiappa, Vice President Ingrid Pollard, Secretary Sandi Eklund, Treasurer Jeff Cole, Assistant Secretary Linda Knechtel, Assistant Treasurer Tom Smith, and Auditors Jeri Deyo and Gregory Metevier.

Scholarship applications due May 30

ORANGE — The Orange Scholarship Foundation, celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, has announced that scholarship applications are due May 30.

The Orange Scholarship Foundation has awarded $1 million in scholarships to graduates of Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. Mahar graduates — as well as students from Orange, Wendell, New Salem and Petersham who are attending Franklin County Technical School or Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School — are eligible, along with post-graduates.

The foundation is able to award scholarships from investments made by the L.S. Starrett Co., Rodney Hunt, the Orange Business Association and the Mahar 50+ Club, as well as several private investments.

Donations can be mailed to Orange Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 298, Orange, MA 01364. Applications are available at Mahar Student Services, the porch at Witty’s Funeral Home or from Kathy Kilhart (klkilhart@gmail.com).