10+ Things To Know This Week In Tewksbury

Calling all poets: The Library will host an open mic night on Wednesday

The TMHS Theater Co. production of Beauty and the Beast debuts on Thursday, with showings on Friday and Saturday available. Get tickets online for $10.

The Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library are also now selling tickets to a wine tasting hosted by Oakdale Liquors on Thursday, May 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $15, a $5 savings over paying at the door.

Finally, Congregation Shalom, located at 87 Richardson Road in Chelmsford, invites the community for a prospective member open house and informal discussion with Rabbi Shoshana Perry, education director Deborah Morrissey and others in the congregation. It will be held on Sunday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. 

Monday, April 24

Monthly Lunch & DJ Dance
When: Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Senior Center

Lunch is provided by AgeSpan (formerly known as Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley) and their Traveling Chef and will include a chicken parmesan sandwich, coleslaw and fresh fruit. Tickets are $8 for a three-course lunch and lots of dancing. 

Select Board
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Town Hall or catch the meeting on Tewksbury TV or Comcast (99) or Verizon (33)

The Select Board has a rather full agenda, including making appointments to the Community Preservation Committee, scheduling retail marijuana license hearings and signing off on the Town Meeting warrants. Notably, the Tewksbury Housing Authority will request $215,640 to buy down several units at Merrimack Meadows, to keep them on the town’s affordable housing rolls.

Planning Board
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Town Hall or catch the meeting on Tewksbury TV or Comcast (8) or Verizon (32) 

The Planning Board will designate members for committees and pick up a number of continued site plan reviews, including five retail marijuana proposals. Agenda

Writing Group: Advice From Author Baron R. Birtcher
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual, register here

Are you a writer — or an aspiring writer — looking for some support? The Tewksbury Writing Group generally meets the fourth Monday evening of every month and is open to everyone who’s interested in writing, regardless of genres or skill levels. Each Zoom meeting features a guest speaker, typically a published author or editor, offering some tips of the trade. 

The April 2023 guest speaker is Baron R. Birtcher. Birtcher is the LA Times and IMBA bestselling author of the hardboiled Mike Travis series (Roadhouse Blues, Ruby Tuesday, Angels Fall, and Hard Latitudes), the award-winning Ty Dawson series (South California Purples, Fistful Of Rain, and Reckoning), as well as the critically-lauded stand-alone, Rain Dogs.

Tuesday, April 25

How President Reagan Won The Cold War
When: 2 – 3 p.m.
Where: Virtual, register here

Explore President Reagan’s commitment to negotiate with the Soviet Union during the Cold War from a position of strength by building up the American military. Examine the improved relations between the Soviet Union and the United States brought about by the personal and professional relationship between President Reagan and Secretary General Gorbachev. Led by Jacob Lunbeck, Education Associate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. 

An Evening of Poetry
When: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Library

Throughout the month of March, TPL hosted an all ages Poetry Contest. Join the winners as they recite their work live and receive prizes for their accomplishments.

6:30 – 7 p.m. – Winners from each age category (adult, Grades 6-12, Grades 3-5, and Grade K-2) of the 2023 Poetry Contest will recite their works on this year’s theme: spring.

7 – 7:30 p.m. – Community members of all ages are invited to participate in an Open Mic to read their own poetry. When considering the content of your poem, please be advised that this event is open to all ages. Participants are asked to recite one poem during the Open Mic segment.

Refreshments will be served. Registration is not required but recommended for this event.

Shawsheen Tech School Committee
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Shawsheen Tech Conference Room

There will be a public hearing on whether the tech should participate in the Mass. School Choice program, along with a reorganization and other matters. Agenda

Wednesday, April 26

IN PERSON Teen Event: Perler Beads (Grades 6-12)
When: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Library, register here

Get creative! It’s time to make your own perler bead designs. You’ll have 45 minutes to create your own design, and we’ll spend the last 15 minutes ironing your creations into existence! 

Thursday, April 27

The History Of Bob Marley
When: noon – 1 p.m.
Where: Virtual, register here

Bob Marley was much more than a famous Jamaican musician. He was a man with deep religious convictions who rose from poverty to become a global musical and cultural icon – a pop prophet. Though he survived an assassination attempt, he ultimately died of cancer at age 36. Using performance and interview clips we’ll trace the arc of Bob’s career. Led by Gary Wenstrup, who has taught courses on the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Motown Records. 

Elementary School Building Committee
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Town Hall

The ESBC is winding down its mission with a review of punch list items so that the town can provide a final cost number to the state. There will be an update on the gym floor. Agenda

Zoning Board of Appeals
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Town Hall or catch the meeting on Tewksbury TV or Comcast (99) or Verizon (33)

For anyone following the Foster Lane saga, the ZBA will hear an appeal on a letter issued by the building inspector, among other matters. Agenda

Friday, April 28

Trivia Night — TV Commercials
When: 7 – 8 p.m.
Where: Virtual, register here. 30-team limit

This month’s popular team trivia will focus on TV commercials. Play solo or organize a team! For security purposes, participants’ videos will be disabled, so no need to worry about having a working webcam to play. The ability to view slides on a screen is all you need. Please note that trivia questions are geared towards adults in challenge rating. If families want to play together, however, there are no “embarrassing” questions or content.

Weekend

Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee Meeting
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
Where: Town Hall

The Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee will meet this Saturday. All residents are invited, and any registered Democrat living in Tewksbury may join the committee as an associate member. Learn more here. TDTC meetings are a chance to hear directly from the town’s representatives — Vanna Howard, Tram Nguyen and David Robertson — as well as special guests. 

Friends of the Library — Book Donation Drive & Puzzle Swap
When: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Library

Join the Friends of the Library for their quarterly book donation drive & puzzle swap. If you are interested in donating books or DVDs in good condition, please visit the Friends’ table on the first floor of the library from 10am to 1pm. All donations will be reviewed by a volunteer from the Friends of the Library. Accepted items will then be sorted and sold on the Friends’ ongoing book sale carts located on the first floor.

For puzzles, please ensure that all pieces are in a sealed plastic bag and the boxes are taped shut. Puzzles may be swapped 1-for-1 or purchased for $1.00 per 100 pieces.

2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Bunting Club

All proceeds will support Dana Farber Pediatric Brain Cancer Research in memory of Meghan McCarthy of Tewksbury. Check in at 11 a.m., bags fly at noon. There will be pizza and water, and a cash bar for any other beverages provided by the Bunting Club.  Get tickets and learn more here.

Congregation Shalom Open House
When: Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: 87 Richardson Road in Chelmsford

The community is invited for a prospective member open house and informal discussion with Rabbi Shoshana Perry, education director Deborah Morrissey, and others in the congregation. Congregation Shalom is a dynamic, welcoming Reform synagogue with membership from over 20 Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire cities and towns. Come and learn more about Congregation Shalom, with space to ask questions reflecting your own needs. Children are welcome, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, please email membership@congregationshalom.org or call the Temple office at (978) 251-8091.

MAY PREVIEW: There’s a LOT going on next week. Here’s a preview.

Monday, May 1: Town Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Tewksbury Memorial High School
Wednesday, May 3: Special Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Tewksbury Memorial High School
Friday, May 5:
TMHS Band & Chorus Spring Concert 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tewksbury Memorial High School and TMHS Art Show, TMHS Cafeteria; 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 6: Tewksbury Town Clean Up, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn more
Saturday, May 6: TMHS Art Show, TMHS Cafeteria; 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.