On the Horizon – Sunday, March 30 through Monday, April 9

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

The coming week holds a great deal of promise: A forum on the “carbon tax” as well as lectures on modern Chinese history; a Chipotle fundraiser for the girls’ volleyball team; a ten-day Cradles to Crayons project; a blood drive; AAUW’s monthly meeting; Bedford artists showing their work at Concord’s Umbrella Center for the Arts; and a talk about botanical art in conjunction with the traveling show now on exhibit at the Bedford Library.

Sunday, March 30

The Bedford League of Women Voters will hold a forum on a system of taxation called “carbon pricing” or the “carbon tax” on Sunday, March 30, from 3-5 pm at the home of Carol Amick and Bill Moonan, 18 Crescent Ave. Bedford’s State Senator, Michael Barrett of Lexington, will be the featured speaker. Click here to read more.

The third lecture in Professor Dan Breen’s series on Modern Chinese History, The Cultural Revolution, will take place at 2 pm in the library meeting room. China is the world’s emerging economic colossus, yet many Americans know very little about the events that shaped its development in the 20th century. In this program, Professor Breen will take a look at four major turning points in modern Chinese history, with a view towards discussing their importance in directing China’s road to the 21st century. Dr. Daniel Breen is a professor of History at Newbury College who led the World War I series the Library presented in 2006. In the past Dan has lectured at the Library about Prohibition, World War II, the Great Depression, the Civil War and the Supreme Court. Dr. Breen has both a JD from the University of Georgia and a PhD in History from Boston College. Thanks to the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library for sponsoring this program. This program is free and open to the public. Please contact the Library at 781-275-9440 or click on www.bedfordlibrary.net for more information.

Monday, March 31

BHS Volleyball Fundraiser –Monday, March 31 from 4-8pm – Please come and support the Bedford High School Volleyball team on Monday, March 31st from4-8pm for a fundraiser at Chipotle Mexican Grill at 301 Great Rd Bedford, MA. You may bring in a flyer, show it on your smart phone or tell the cashier you are there for the BHS Volleyball fundraiser and Chipotle will donate 50% of the proceeds.

What better way for opera lovers or lovers, in general, to usher spring in than with Dave Collins’ lecture about La Boheme sponsored by Bedford Center for the Arts in the Bacon Room at First Parish at 7 pm. This all-time favorite, and maybe the best first opera for those who don’t yet have favorites, will be simulcast in local theaters on April 5. Admission is $15 for BCA members and $20 for non-members . You may also renew your membership or join BCA at the same time for $25 individual membership.

Tuesday, April 1

Help Massachusetts Kids Thrive – First Church in Bedford is organizing a local collection for the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory from April 1 to 11. Cradles to Crayons distributes clothing, books, and other essentials to kids in need across Massachusetts. Requested items include new and like-new clothing from toddler size 2T to adult size Medium, sneakers up to youth/adult size 5, and baby board books. Drop off donations at the First Church of Christ, 25 Great Rd, Bedford on the stage in upper fellowship hall

F W Thompson Lodge Blood Drive at First Church of Christ, 25 The Great Road, from 2 pm to 7 pm. The American Red Cross needs all donors, but especially those with O- or B- blood types. Walk-in donors are welcome; to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-Red-Cross or visit www.redcrossblood.org

Wednesday, April 2

American Association of University Women – AAUW Monthly Meeting at 7 pm. “What in the World is World PEAS CSA?”in the meeting room at the handicapped accessible Bedford Free Public Library. World PEAS Community Supported Agriculture is a fantastic program of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project that is sponsored by Community Teamwork Inc. and Tufts University. New Entry provides entrepreneurial farmers with business techniques, with access to land and farming tools, and with organic agricultural know-how. AAUW is a nationwide, nonpartisan organization that uses its influential network to disseminate information, raise awareness, and effect change on women’s issues. AAUW is the largest non-government provider of scholarships for women. The Bedford/Lexington Branch has been serving local communities for over 50 years.

Friday, April 4

Two Bedford artists, digital fine arts printer Sing Hanson and photographer Bill Davison are among the artists who will exhibit their work during Open Studios at The Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord. The Umbrella’s artists have been holed up all winter painting and printing, drawing and designing, sketching and sculpting, and now they’re ready once again to open their doors for you! The studios will be open on Satuday, April 5th from 12 – 5 and Sunday, April 6th from 1 -5

Saturday, April 5

Join the Bedford Trails Committee on Saturday, April 5, 2014 for an interesting two-hour guided trail walk through one of the Bedford Conservation Areas. Wear sturdy shoes; parts of the trail may be muddy. Partakers should bring water. Children and well-behaved dogs are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Participants should gather in the parking lot behind the Bedford Library, 7 Mudge Way at 9:45 a.m. to meet the trail leader and carpool to the trailheads.

The Austin Prep Hall of Fame will induct Michael G. McAuliffe, Class of 1978 for his accomplishments as a Golf. McAulliffe currently lives in Andover, but grew up in Bedford. While at Austin Prep he was a three-time letter man in golf, and two-year golf captain; two-time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star; All-Scholastic in 1977; two-time MIAA North Sectional medalist. He attended Dartmouth College and played golf. Austin The ceremony at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover.

Sunday, April 6

Professor Dan Breen’s final lecture in the Friends of the Library’s Modern Chinese History series, The Ascension of Deng Xiaoping will take place at 2 pm in the library meeting room. China is the world’s emerging economic colossus, yet many Americans know very little about the events that shaped its development in the 20th century. In this program, Professor Breen will take a look at four major turning points in modern Chinese history, with a view towards discussing their importance in directing China’s road to the 21st century. Dr. Daniel Breen is a professor of History at Newbury College who led the World War I series the Library presented in 2006. In the past Dan has lectured at the Library about Prohibition, World War II, the Great Depression, the Civil War and the Supreme Court. Dr. Breen has both a JD from the University of Georgia and a PhD in History from Boston College. Thanks to the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library for sponsoring this program. This program is free and open to the public. Please contact the Library at 781-275-9440 or click on www.bedfordlibrary.net for more information.

In conjunction with the Bedford Library’s exhibit of Botanical Art, artist/educator Sarah Roche will speak from 5 to 6 pm on Sunday, April 6 in the library’s meeting room. Roche will trace the changing role of the botanical artist through history and show how advances in printing technology have made botanical art more accessible to the public. She has taught Botanical Art and Illustration at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, Massachusetts, at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston and for the Wellesley College Botanic Garden, at the Wellesley College Greenhouses. Roche is Chair of the Education Committee of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Her illustrations are included in the Collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and in collections in the UK, Ireland and Europe as well as in the United States. Roche’s program is free and open to the public.

Two Bedford artists, digital fine arts printer Sing Hanson and photographer Bill Davison are among the artists who will exhibit their work on day two of Open Studios at The Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord. Our artists have been holed up all winter painting and printing, drawing and designing, sketching and sculpting, and now they’re ready once again to open their doors for you! The studios will be open on Sunday, April 6th from 1 -5.

Save the Date

Bedford Garden Club Monthly Meeting – April 8
Library Book Sale – April 11-13
BEST/ PTO movie night featuring Despicable Me 2 – April 11
Pancake Breakfast at First Parish on the Common – April 12
Pole Capping Parade and Colonial Muster on Bedford Common – Saturday, April 12
Frank W. Thompson Masonic Lodge Open House – April 12
Swing into Spring, a jazz concert to benefit Emerson Hospital Auxiliary – April 12
BHS Poetry Slam – April 16
Massachusetts celebrates Patriot’s Day – Monday, April 21
BARC Tree Inventory training – April 26
Annual Rummage Sale at First Church – May 3
Reflections in Bloom, a gala party to benefit Emerson Hospital Auxiliary – May 3
Bedford Garden Club Geranium Sale – May 10
First Parish Plant & Craft Fair on Bedford Common – May 17