🏺 TRASH OR TREASURE? 💎

Find out what your treasures are worth!

Do you love Antiques Roadshow?
Would you enjoy an afternoon of fun, fascinating finds, and surprises?

Join us for our Trash or Treasure Event at the Ashby Free Public Library and help support the Ashby Library Fund!

Bring along an interesting item, antique, collectible, or family treasure and find out what our knowledgeable guests think it might be worth!

🎉 THE AFTERNOON WILL INCLUDE:

🔎 Trash or Treasure Appraisals
🔨 Silent Auction
🥪 Light Refreshments
🏺 Interesting Artifacts & Treasures
🎈 Fun for the Whole Family!

📅 SAVE YOUR SPOT!

Sign up for a time slot using the link below so you don’t have to wait!

Use the link here

Don’t want to sign up online? No problem!
Stop by the library and Rose will be happy to sign you up!

❤️ Come have some fun, discover the story behind your treasures, and support your local library!

Ashby Free Public Library
Every treasure has a story!

📅 Your Regular Weekly Programs

There’s always something happening at the Ashby Free Public Library! Join us for these recurring programs:

🧱 Tuesdays at 4:00 PM — LEGO Club

Build, create, and let your imagination run wild! All LEGO enthusiasts are welcome.

🧸 Wednesdays at 10:30 AM — Toddler Playgroup

Come play, socialize, and make new friends. A fun and welcoming morning for little ones and their grown-ups.

🎨 Thursdays at 5:30 PM — Art for Everyone

Get creative! Bring your own project or come explore something new. All skill levels are welcome.

♟️ Thursdays at 6:30 PM — Chess Club

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just learning the moves, come play a game and sharpen your skills. Everyone is welcome!

🎶 Saturdays from 12:00–2:00 PM — Song Circle

Bring your voice, bring an instrument, or just come listen. All are welcome!

📖 September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

September is also Library Card Sign-Up Month, and this year we have an especially good reason to encourage everyone in your household to get a card.

A portion of the library’s state funding is determined by a formula that considers several factors, including the percentage of town residents who have library cards. The more Ashby residents who have library cards, the better it is for the library!

If you don’t have a library card, or if someone in your family doesn’t have one, September is a great time to sign up. And there are some pretty great benefits:

📱 Access to Libby for ebooks and audiobooks
🎬 Free streaming through Kanopy
📚 Borrowing privileges at approximately 150 libraries through CWMARS
🌟 And, of course, access to everything at your own Ashby Free Public Library!

So come get a card—and encourage your friends and family to get one, too!

🕯️ September 11 — Libraries Remember Day

September 11 is Libraries Remember Day, when libraries across the country recognize the role libraries play in fostering knowledge, memory, community, and unity.

Libraries are places where communities come together to learn, remember, ask questions, and understand one another. We are proud to be one of those places here in Ashby.

📅 This Week at the Library

📕 Wednesday — Democracy Book Club

5:00 PM

This month we’re reading Careless People. Join us for a lively discussion and conversation about the book and the issues it raises.

You don’t have to be an expert—or even agree with everyone else—to join the discussion. Come listen, talk, and share your perspective!

🍎 Thursday Cooking Club: School Snacks

4:00 PM

Join your friends for Cooking Club and make some fun and delicious snacks to pack in your lunchbox or enjoy when you get home from school!

Come cook, create, and enjoy a tasty afternoon at the library! 🥨🍓

🐑 Friday — First Friday Movie Night

6:00 PM

It’s First Friday Movie Night!

This month we’re watching The Sheep Detectives. Come enjoy a movie, some company, and a relaxing Friday night at the library.

🐉 Friday — Dungeons & Dragons

5:30 PM

Our adventurers are back! Dungeons & Dragons begins at 5:30 PM.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or just curious about the game, come join the party!

📸 Tuesday, September 8 at 5:00 PM

Photography Class with Joe Cantor

Want to take better photographs? Join Joe Cantor for our photography class and learn how to make the most of your camera!

We’ll explore the three essential elements of photography—ISO, shutter speed, and aperture—and learn how they work together to create better images. We’ll also cover composition techniques, share ideas, and get advice from fellow photographers.

New students are always welcome! The group meets every other Tuesday, so come join us and improve your photography skills.

📝 Thursday, September 10

A Quick Notary Service Update

Heather will be out for part of the day on Thursday, so Notary Services will not be available until after dinner time.

Thank you for your understanding!

Mark your Calendars!

🧺 Create a Basket for Our Silent Auction!

We’re putting together a silent auction during our Trash or Treasure event, and we have a wonderful donation of lots of adorable little baskets!

Would you like to get creative and put together a themed basket to donate to the auction? Think movie night, baking, gardening, crafts, kids’ fun, cozy reading, or anything else you can dream up!

We’ll have the baskets on display throughout the Trash or Treasure event, and all proceeds will benefit the Ashby Free Public Library.

Have fun creating a basket, support your library, and maybe introduce someone to their new favorite treasure! 🧺📚

Trash or Treasure September 13th 2-5

🏺 Trash or Treasure? Find Out!

Join us for a fun Antiques Roadshow–style afternoon at the library in support of the Ashby Library Fund!

Bring your treasures, curiosities, and mysterious objects and discover whether they’re trash or treasure! Enjoy an afternoon of antiques, stories, and good company while supporting your local library.

There will be light refreshments and a silent auction, making this a wonderful Sunday afternoon for antique lovers, curious collectors, and anyone who has ever wondered, “What is this thing—and is it worth anything?”

Come have some fun, support the library, and find out if your treasures are truly treasures!

❤️ Tuesday, September 15 at 12:00 PM

Bereavement Support Group

Join Karen at noon for our Bereavement Support Group, a caring and supportive space for anyone navigating loss or grief of any kind.

Karen brings warmth, compassion, and practical tools to help you navigate this difficult chapter of life. Whether your loss is recent or happened some time ago, you are welcome to join the conversation, listen, and connect with others who understand.

You don’t have to navigate grief alone. ❤️

❤️ Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 PM

Community Heart & Soul: Ashby’s Assets

What makes Ashby special—and what do we want Ashby to become?

Join us for an evening with Community Heart & Soul, a community development process designed to help small towns identify their strengths, build on their assets, and accomplish big things with the help of technical assistance and seed funding.

Ashby has some big ideas and some big goals ahead, and this could be an exciting opportunity to bring the community together to imagine our future and decide what matters most to us.

Dinner will be served! Please join us, share your ideas, and let your voice be heard. ❤️

📚 Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00 PM

Fiction Book Club Is Back!

The Fiction Book Club returns this month with Kristin Hannah’s The Women!

Apparently, everyone is very excited to talk about this book—and I have been assured by numerous people that it will be an excellent book for discussion. (I am choosing to trust them!)

The Fiction Book Club is back for the fall, and this is certain to be a great conversation. New members are always welcome!

5:00 PM at the library.

🏛️ Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Library Trustee Meeting

The Ashby Free Public Library Trustees will meet at 6:30 PM. Trustee meetings are open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.

🎶 Thursday, September 17 at 5:30

Friends of the Library Meeting All are welcome.

🎶 Thursday, September 17 at 6:00 PM

The Music of McCartney with Dan Kirouac

Dan Kirouac is back! Dan has performed at the library several times, and his music is always wonderful. This time, he brings us an evening celebrating the music of Paul McCartney.

Come enjoy the songs of one of the great musical talents of our time, performed by a favorite library musician.

We’re expecting this to be a wonderful evening of music—and we hope you’ll join us! 🎸🎶

🐶 Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 AM

Pick-a-Puppy Sensory Box, Story & Craft

And yes—this sensory box is for kids, not puppies! 🐶😂 You would be amazed how many questions we’ve gotten about that!

Kids will get to pick their own puppy, create a little home for their new pet, and enjoy a fun sensory activity that encourages imaginative play, creativity, and learning.

Join us for a story, craft, and lots of puppy-themed fun!

Sign up at the library to reserve your spot. 🐾

🎃 Saturday, September 26

Pumpkin Festival Library Book Sale & First Annual Kids Business Expo!

It’s Pumpkin Festival weekend, and the library is getting in on the fun!

📚 Library Book Sale

Stop by the library’s book sale during the Pumpkin Festival and stock up on some great books at great prices. Every purchase helps support the library!

💡 First Annual Kids Business Expo

Are you a young entrepreneur? This is your chance to show us what you’ve got!

Young people are invited to set up a table at the library and sell something they make or create. It could be artwork, crafts, baked goods, jewelry, games, or just about anything else!

Make some money for the holidays, save for college, or simply earn money to spend on something you’ve been wanting. Most importantly, you’ll get a chance to practice running a business, talking to customers, setting prices, and making sales.

All young entrepreneurs are welcome!

Want a table? Sign up with Rose at the library.

Come support our young business owners—and see what Ashby’s next generation of entrepreneurs has been creating! 🎃💰🛍️

I can hardly believe fall is here! September is shaping up to be a very busy—and very fun—month at the library, with lots of special events, new programs, and all of our regular favorites.

From our first-ever Trash or Treasure antiques appraisal event on September 13 to Community Heart & Soul on September 15, the Library Book Sale during Pumpkin Fest, and our very first Kids Business Expo on September 25, there is a lot happening!

And of course, we’ll still have our regular programming, including Democracy Book Club, Fiction Book Club, Toddler Play Group, First Friday Movie Night, Dungeons & Dragons, and more.

📖 September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

September is also Library Card Sign-Up Month, and this year we have an especially good reason to encourage everyone in your household to get a card.

A portion of the library’s state funding is determined by a formula that considers several factors, including the percentage of town residents who have library cards. The more Ashby residents who have library cards, the better it is for the library!

If you don’t have a library card, or if someone in your family doesn’t have one, September is a great time to sign up. And there are some pretty great benefits:

📱 Access to Libby for ebooks and audiobooks
🎬 Free streaming through Kanopy
📚 Borrowing privileges at approximately 150 libraries through CWMARS
🌟 And, of course, access to everything at your own Ashby Free Public Library!

So come get a card—and encourage your friends and family to get one, too!

🕯️ September 11 — Libraries Remember Day

September 11 is Libraries Remember Day, when libraries across the country recognize the role libraries play in fostering knowledge, memory, community, and unity.

Libraries are places where communities come together to learn, remember, ask questions, and understand one another. We are proud to be one of those places here in Ashby.

📅 This Week at the Library

📕 Wednesday — Democracy Book Club

5:00 PM

This month we’re reading Careless People. Join us for a lively discussion and conversation about the book and the issues it raises.

You don’t have to be an expert—or even agree with everyone else—to join the discussion. Come listen, talk, and share your perspective!

🐑 Friday — First Friday Movie Night

6:00 PM

It’s First Friday Movie Night!

This month we’re watching The Sheep Detectives. Come enjoy a movie, some company, and a relaxing Friday night at the library.

🐉 Friday — Dungeons & Dragons

5:30 PM

Our adventurers are back! Dungeons & Dragons begins at 5:30 PM.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or just curious about the game, come join the party!

🍂 September Is Going to Be Fun!

Keep an eye on the calendar because we have a LOT coming up this month. We’re excited to see everyone back at the library as summer winds down and fall gets underway.

Happy September, Ashby! 🍁📚

Mark your Calendars!

Trash or Treasure September 13th 2-5

🏺 Trash or Treasure? Find Out!

Join us for a fun Antiques Roadshow–style afternoon at the library in support of the Ashby Library Fund!

Bring your treasures, curiosities, and mysterious objects and discover whether they’re trash or treasure! Enjoy an afternoon of antiques, stories, and good company while supporting your local library.

There will be light refreshments and a silent auction, making this a wonderful Sunday afternoon for antique lovers, curious collectors, and anyone who has ever wondered, “What is this thing—and is it worth anything?”

Come have some fun, support the library, and find out if your treasures are truly treasures!

The Town of Ashby is looking for a volunteer to help at the Devens Recycling Center during the upcoming Hazardous Waste Day event.

Town Administrator Mary is looking for someone who can volunteer on Saturday Sept 5th, Monday, or Wednesday Sept 2nd I told her I would help spread the word!

The volunteer will help collect demographic information from residents dropping off hazardous waste during the event. No special experience is required, but you should be comfortable talking with people and recording information.

Unfortunately, I am not available to help because the library is open on Wednesday and Saturday, so I am hoping one of our wonderful community members might be able to step in.

Interested? Please let me know, and I will pass your information along to Mary so she can provide you with the details about the schedule and what is needed.

Thank you for helping keep Ashby safe, clean, and environmentally responsible! 🌎

☀️ Summer is coming to an end for Kierstyn! 🎓

Today is her last day for the season, and we’re celebrating with some delicious gluten-free cake! 🍰

Please stop by and wish Kierstyn a wonderful and successful semester. We’ll be celebrating today from 12–5 p.m.

Bring your appetite! ❤️

🍦 Thursday, August 20 from 4:00–6:00 PM

End-of-Summer Reading Ice Cream Party!

It’s time to celebrate a summer full of reading, books, and fun! Join us Thursday afternoon for our annual End-of-Summer Reading Ice Cream Party!

The Ashby Alumni Group will welcome all of Ashby’s incoming first graders to their ranks with their wonderful annual gift of The Kissing Hand. Rose will read the book aloud, and each incoming first grader will receive their own copy to take home.

There will be ice cream for everyone, games, and plenty of fun! Kids can also bring in their completed summer reading slips and collect their summer reading prizes.

Come celebrate the end of a great summer of reading with us! 🍦📚🎉

🔎 Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 PM

Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Mystery

Get ready for a fascinating—and rather gruesome—piece of Massachusetts history.

Historian and author Andrew Noone will join us to tell the extraordinary story of Bathsheba Spooner, a pregnant woman who was convicted of arranging the murder of her husband with the help of her lover during the Revolutionary era.

The case ended with Bathsheba’s execution by hanging, making it one of the most notorious murder cases in early Massachusetts history.

Come hear Andrew tell the story behind his book and explore the people, motivations, and circumstances surrounding this remarkable case.

Thursday at 6:30 PM — don’t miss it!

🎯 Thursday at 7:00 PM

NEW Discussion Group: Women & Firearms

We are also launching a new discussion group specifically for women interested in firearms.

Have questions about firearms? Interested in target shooting? Wondering what different types of firearms are available or how to get started? This is a chance to ask questions and have a practical conversation about issues that affect women who are interested in firearms.

This is a non-political, practical discussion focused on education, questions, experiences, and resources.

Thursday at 7:00 PM in the Historical Room.

🌟 It’s going to be a BIG week at your library!

Community planning. Live music. Burgers. History. True crime. And a brand-new conversation.

We hope you’ll join us!

📚 Fiction Book Club Is BACK!

I am determined that this is the year Fiction Book Club actually works! 😂

I have an entire year of titles picked out, and this time I’m sharing the whole list at the beginning so everyone knows what’s coming. We’re going to make this happen!

We’ll start with The Women by Kristin Hannah—a book that everyone seemed to love. And yes, I always cry when I read Kristin Hannah books, but this book club is not about me. 😂

Come join us for good books, good conversation, and hopefully a little less crying from Heather.

📖 Fiction Book Club
🗓️ Third Wednesday of every month
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 Ashby Free Public Library

Read the book, come to the discussion, and bring your opinions. We’d love to have you!

Do you need a Rubbermaid bin, laundry basket, trash basket, bucket, storage bin—or just about anything else for organizing your life? The library has quite a collection of these things looking for a new home!

We also have a rather large copy machine that is FREE to a good home.

Everything is out in front of the library and available to anyone who can use it. No need to ask—just stop by and take whatever you like!

Help us clear some space and give these things a second life! 😊

📚 This is the year the book club succeeds. I am manifesting it.

I will admit that, so far, I have been a complete failure at making the library’s fiction book club stick. But this year is going to be different. I have picked 12 books that I am declaring guaranteed-to-be-successful titles, and I am putting the entire list out there early so everyone knows what is coming.

Some of these books I have read and absolutely loved. Some I haven’t read yet. And, in the interest of full transparency, some were selected because I let the internet pick them for me. 😂

Now all we need is YOU.

We’ll meet at 5:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Ashby Free Public Library. Come for one book, come for all 12, or just come see what we’re talking about.

I am determined to make this book club work. Please help me manifest it. 📖✨

Here’s to a year of good books, good conversations, and—hopefully—an actual book club that shows up!

• The Women-A powerful and deeply moving story of a young woman who serves as a nurse in Vietnam and returns home to a country that struggles to understand the sacrifices made by its veterans.

• The Frozen River – A captivating historical mystery inspired by the life of an 18th-century midwife. Rich historical detail, moral dilemmas, and strong female characters make for excellent discussion.

• The Berry Pickers – A moving story about family, identity, and belonging that explores Indigenous and settler experiences in New England and Nova Scotia.

• The Covenant of Water – Sweeping historical fiction spanning generations in India. Beautifully written and full of themes of family, medicine, faith, and destiny.

• Remarkably Bright Creatures – A charming, hopeful novel about loneliness, friendship, and second chances—with an unforgettable octopus narrator.

• West with Giraffes – Inspired by a true story, this Depression-era road trip with two giraffes is heartwarming and surprisingly thought-provoking.

• The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Historical fiction about Kentucky’s Pack Horse Librarians. Library lovers almost always enjoy this one.

• Horse – A fascinating blend of art, science, race, and history centered on the famous racehorse Lexington.

• The Secret Book of Flora Lea – A beautifully written novel about sisters, wartime England, storytelling, and the enduring power of imagination.

• Lessons in Chemistry – Funny, smart, and inspiring, with plenty to discuss about gender roles, science, and resilience.

• The Island of Sea Women – A compelling historical novel about friendship and female free divers on Korea’s Jeju Island.

• Go as a River – Lyrical historical fiction about love, loss, and finding one’s place in the changing American West.

• The Violin Conspiracy – A literary mystery woven with music, family history, and questions of race and identity.

We have a packed week ahead with community conversations, music, burgers, history, true crime, and a brand-new discussion group! There is something for everyone, so come join us.

❤️ Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM

Heart & Soul: Reimagining Ashby’s Future

What could Ashby’s next chapter look like?

Representatives from Community Heart & Soul will be at the library to introduce their program and talk about how it can help communities grow and prosper. Heart & Soul is a multi-year community-building process centered on local storytelling, listening, and developing a deeper understanding of what matters most to the people who live here.

The program also comes with a $10,000 grant and a consultant to help guide the community through the process. Nearby Pepperell and Winchendon are currently participating in Heart & Soul.

With the future of our school and the rebuilding of the Grange Hall, Ashby is at an important moment. This could be an opportunity for our community to step back, listen to one another, and imagine what we want Ashby to become.

Please join us Tuesday at 6:30 PM to learn more!

🎶 Wednesday: Music, Burgers & Library Business!

Wednesday is a busy one!

The Friends of the Ashby Free Public Library will be serving food and refreshments at the band concert. Come enjoy the music, get dinner, and support library programming at the same time!

And yes, Heather will be cooking the burgers! She has many years of professional burger-chef experience under her belt and is ready to put those skills to work. 🍔

🏛️ 6:30 PM — Library Trustee Meeting

The Library Trustees will also meet at 6:30 PM. As always, Trustee meetings are open to the public, so you’re welcome to join us and see what is happening behind the scenes at your library.

🍦 Thursday, August 20 10:30 Right Start Play Group

Crawlers, walkers and their caregivers enjoy a fun informal playgroup at the library where everyone can relax and feel supported.

🍦 Thursday, August 20 from 4:00–6:00 PM

End-of-Summer Reading Ice Cream Party!

It’s time to celebrate a summer full of reading, books, and fun! Join us Thursday afternoon for our annual End-of-Summer Reading Ice Cream Party!

The Ashby Alumni Group will welcome all of Ashby’s incoming first graders to their ranks with their wonderful annual gift of The Kissing Hand. Rose will read the book aloud, and each incoming first grader will receive their own copy to take home.

There will be ice cream for everyone, games, and plenty of fun! Kids can also bring in their completed summer reading slips and collect their summer reading prizes.

Come celebrate the end of a great summer of reading with us! 🍦📚🎉

🔎 Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 PM

Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Mystery

Get ready for a fascinating—and rather gruesome—piece of Massachusetts history.

Historian and author Andrew Noone will join us to tell the extraordinary story of Bathsheba Spooner, a pregnant woman who was convicted of arranging the murder of her husband with the help of her lover during the Revolutionary era.

The case ended with Bathsheba’s execution by hanging, making it one of the most notorious murder cases in early Massachusetts history.

Come hear Andrew tell the story behind his book and explore the people, motivations, and circumstances surrounding this remarkable case.

Thursday at 6:30 PM — don’t miss it!

🎯 Thursday at 7:00 PM

NEW Discussion Group: Women & Firearms

We are also launching a new discussion group specifically for women interested in firearms.

Have questions about firearms? Interested in target shooting? Wondering what different types of firearms are available or how to get started? This is a chance to ask questions and have a practical conversation about issues that affect women who are interested in firearms.

This is a non-political, practical discussion focused on education, questions, experiences, and resources.

Thursday at 7:00 PM in the Historical Room.

🌟 It’s going to be a BIG week at your library!

Community planning. Live music. Burgers. History. True crime. And a brand-new conversation.

We hope you’ll join us!

📚 Fiction Book Club Is BACK!

I am determined that this is the year Fiction Book Club actually works! 😂

I have an entire year of titles picked out, and this time I’m sharing the whole list at the beginning so everyone knows what’s coming. We’re going to make this happen!

We’ll start with The Women by Kristin Hannah—a book that everyone seemed to love. And yes, I always cry when I read Kristin Hannah books, but this book club is not about me. 😂

Come join us for good books, good conversation, and hopefully a little less crying from Heather.

📖 Fiction Book Club
🗓️ Third Wednesday of every month
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 Ashby Free Public Library

Read the book, come to the discussion, and bring your opinions. We’d love to have you!

Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 PM

Join us at the Ashby Free Public Library for a fascinating evening with historian and author Andrew Noone, who will explore the extraordinary—and shocking—story of Bathsheba Spooner, one of the most notorious murder cases of Revolutionary-era Massachusetts.

In 1778, Bathsheba Spooner conspired with a young Continental soldier and two British prisoners of war to murder her husband, Joshua Spooner, in Brookfield, Massachusetts. The case became infamous, culminating in Bathsheba’s execution and making her one of the first women executed in the newly independent United States.

Noone is the author of Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Conspiracy, a meticulously researched true-crime account of the case. Come hear the story behind the crime, the people involved, and the fascinating world of Massachusetts during the American Revolution.

Thursday, August 20 • 6:30 PM
Ashby Free Public Library

Come for the history, stay for the murder mystery! 📚🔎

📚 We’re Open Saturday!

The Ashby Free Public Library will be open this Saturday at our usual time!

Thank you for your patience while our staff has been out enjoying a little summer fun. We’re happy to be back and look forward to seeing you at the library! ☀️📚

Joanne is back with another installment in her wtercolor series. If you did not attend the first in the series, you are still welcome to join in. Please Join us this Saturday.

🍦📚 END-OF-SUMMER ICE CREAM PARTY! 📚🍦

Thursday, August 20 • 4:00–6:00 PM
Ashby Free Public Library
Sponsored by the Ashby Alumni Group

It’s time for one of our favorite Ashby traditions!

Every year, the Ashby Alumni Group welcomes Ashby’s newest first graders into their ranks with a very special gift: the beloved book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

This year, we’ll be celebrating this wonderful tradition at the library. ❤️
And we’re hoping that next year, we’ll be able to welcome our first graders back at the Ashby Elementary School!

🍦 COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

All first graders will receive their very own copy of The Kissing Hand, and Rose will read the story aloud.

But the celebration is for everyone!

🍦 Ice cream for all the kids
📚 Summer reading prizes for everyone who participated
🎁 A special gift for our young readers
🎨 Crafts
🎲 Games
📖 Storytime with Rose
☀️ One last big celebration of summer!

Whether you’re a brand-new first grader, a longtime library kid, or somewhere in between, come join us!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and come celebrate the end of summer with the Ashby community.

❤️📚 WELCOME, FIRST GRADERS!

🍦 LET’S CELEBRATE SUMMER READING!

☀️ SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY!

🍦📚 END-OF-SUMMER ICE CREAM PARTY! 📚🍦

Thursday, August 20 • 4:00–6:00 PM
Ashby Free Public Library
Sponsored by the Ashby Alumni Group

It’s time for one of our favorite Ashby traditions!

Every year, the Ashby Alumni Group welcomes Ashby’s newest first graders into their ranks with a very special gift: the beloved book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

This year, we’ll be celebrating this wonderful tradition at the library. ❤️
And we’re hoping that next year, we’ll be able to welcome our first graders back at the Ashby Elementary School!

🍦 COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

All first graders will receive their very own copy of The Kissing Hand, and Rose will read the story aloud.

But the celebration is for everyone!

🍦 Ice cream for all the kids
📚 Summer reading prizes for everyone who participated
🎁 A special gift for our young readers
🎨 Crafts
🎲 Games
📖 Storytime with Rose
☀️ One last big celebration of summer!

Whether you’re a brand-new first grader, a longtime library kid, or somewhere in between, come join us!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and come celebrate the end of summer with the Ashby community.

❤️📚 WELCOME, FIRST GRADERS!

🍦 LET’S CELEBRATE SUMMER READING!

☀️ SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY!

❤️ What Could Ashby Become?

What if we came together as a community to listen, share our stories, understand what matters most to our neighbors, and imagine the future we want for Ashby?

Join us Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM at the Ashby Free Public Library for a presentation about Heart & Soul, a national nonprofit initiative that helps communities build stronger connections and solve local challenges through dialogue, storytelling, and community-driven action.

Heart & Soul communities receive $10,000 in funding and a consultant to help guide them through a four-part process over several years.

Pepperell and Winchendon are already Heart & Soul communities. Could Ashby be next?

Come learn more, ask questions, and help us explore what this opportunity could mean for our community.

🌱 Let’s imagine Ashby’s future—together.

Tuesday, August 18 • 6:30 PM
Ashby Free Public Library
Everyone is welcome!

🍦📚 END-OF-SUMMER ICE CREAM PARTY! 📚🍦

Thursday, August 20 • 4:00–6:00 PM
Ashby Free Public Library
Sponsored by the Ashby Alumni Group

It’s time for one of our favorite Ashby traditions!

Every year, the Ashby Alumni Group welcomes Ashby’s newest first graders into their ranks with a very special gift: the beloved book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

This year, we’ll be celebrating this wonderful tradition at the library. ❤️
And we’re hoping that next year, we’ll be able to welcome our first graders back at the Ashby Elementary School!

🍦 COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

All first graders will receive their very own copy of The Kissing Hand, and Rose will read the story aloud.

But the celebration is for everyone!

🍦 Ice cream for all the kids
📚 Summer reading prizes for everyone who participated
🎁 A special gift for our young readers
🎨 Crafts
🎲 Games
📖 Storytime with Rose
☀️ One last big celebration of summer!

Whether you’re a brand-new first grader, a longtime library kid, or somewhere in between, come join us!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and come celebrate the end of summer with the Ashby community.

❤️📚 WELCOME, FIRST GRADERS!

🍦 LET’S CELEBRATE SUMMER READING!

☀️ SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY!

WHAT COULD ASHBY BECOME?

Imagine the future of our community—together.

What if we took the time to listen to one another, share our stories, understand what matters most to the people who live here, and envision the community we want Ashby to become?

Join us for a presentation about Heart & Soul, a national nonprofit initiative that helps communities come together to:

LISTEN • CONNECT • IMAGINE • ACT

Through dialogue and storytelling, Heart & Soul helps residents identify the people, places, traditions, and values that make their community special—and then use that shared understanding to address challenges and shape the future.

THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ASHBY

Heart & Soul communities receive:

$10,000 IN FUNDING
plus
A DEDICATED CONSULTANT

to guide the community through a four-part process over several years.

Two nearby communities—Pepperell and Winchendon—are already participating in Heart & Soul.

COULD ASHBY BE NEXT?

Come learn about the program, hear how it is working in other communities, and explore what it could mean for Ashby.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
6:30 PM
ASHBY FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Everyone who cares about Ashby’s future is invited.

COME SHARE YOUR STORY.

COME LISTEN.

COME IMAGINE WHAT’S POSSIBLE.

LET’S DISCOVER WHAT ASHBY WANTS TO BECOME—TOGETHER.

🎨 A Full Day of Art at the Ashby Free Public Library!

Saturday, August 15

We’re celebrating art, creativity, and Ashby’s textile traditions all day long this Saturday!

🧵 Ashby Textiles: Then & Now — Artists’ Reception

10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Join us for an artists’ reception celebrating Ashby Textiles: Then & Now, a wonderful exhibition exploring the many ways textiles have been part of Ashby’s history and creative life.

The exhibit features everything from historic clothing, weaving, and samplers to needle felting, quilting, and contemporary textile art. Several contemporary artists and quilters will be on hand to talk about their work and share their creative processes.

Light refreshments will be served. Come meet the artists, explore the exhibit, and celebrate Ashby’s rich textile traditions!

🎨 Watercolors with Joanne

10:30 AM–12:30 PM

Watercolors with Joanne is back! If you loved Joanne’s class a few weeks ago, come back for the next session in the series. Missed the first class? No worries—you can still join us!

🎶 Song Circle

12:00–2:00 PM

And we’re not done yet! Join us for our Song Circle from noon to 2:00 PM. Bring your voice, an instrument if you have one, or simply come enjoy the music and company.

Three wonderful ways to spend a Saturday—and a full day of arts at the Ashby Free Public Library! We hope to see you there! 🌻📚🎨

🚒 Sensory Box Workshop with Miss Pam!

Wednesday August 12th at 11AM 👮‍♀️

Join Miss Pam for another wonderful sensory box workshop, this time celebrating the community workers who help keep our communities safe and running smoothly—including our police officers, firefighters, and other everyday heroes!

Toddlers will create their own sensory boxes to take home for hours of hands-on fun and learning while developing important skills through play. A few spaces are still available, so sign up soon!

📚 Sign up at the library or email hperry@cwmars.org or ashbylibrary@cwmars.org.

One more quick note: We’re sorry that the library phone is still out of order. Verizon is scheduled to come on Wednesday, and we’re hopeful they will finally get it fixed!

We hope to see you and your little ones there! 💙

A Quick Library Reminder 📚☀️

Just a reminder that the library will be closed this Saturday while Heather and Rose are out of state enjoying little summer adventures!

We’ll reopen on Tuesday, when the library will be in the very capable hands of Sandra, Kierstyn, Rebecca, and James. We’re grateful to have such a wonderful team keeping things running while we’re away.

Thanks for your understanding, and we hope you’re enjoying your summer, too!