LAWRENCE — The Lawrence Portuguese Ladies Council is hosting a special event tonight for 50 members of the Boys and Girls Club at its headquarters, 2 Saratoga St.
Each child will receive a hot meal, a toy and an article of clothing.
Local businesses and residents have all contributed to make tonight's event a success, said Dina Pereira, event organizer.
They are: Cafua Management, Costa Donuts Two (Mike and Danny Costa), Marilyn Derrah, Portuguese American Club, Federal Carpet, Jose and Manny Leal, D & J Entertainment, Holy Ghost Association of Lawrence, Essex Contractors, Bemis Associates, Oldemiro and Lucia Prudencio, Academy Lanes and Romano's Pizza.
"One year, we held a similar party on a smaller scale," Pereira said. "The volunteers were all brought to tears when children told us they did not want to open up their presents because they knew that these would be the only gifts they would have to open up on Christmas morning."
MSPCA to host year-end adoptions
METHUEN — The MSPCA at Nevins Farm is holding a kitten adopt-a-thon Saturday and Sunday.
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staffers and volunteers will available from 1 to 5 p.m. to help people choose the perfect match from more than 60 kittens and several hundred adult felines.
"This time of year is challenging for us to house and care for all of the kittens that have been born during the warm summer months, and we depend on our foster families to help us care for those that are not quite ready for adoption," said Mike Keiley, manager of the Noble Family Animal Care & Adoption Center at Nevins Farm.
"These kittens have been well-loved, and are all ready to go to new homes, so we hope to find adopters willing to open their hearts and homes to some great kittens, and maybe the mom cats too," he said.
Foster families will be on hand to answer questions about the kittens. All cats are spayed or neutered, have received their first vaccinations and will be micro-chipped.
The adoption fee is $200. Potential adopters should be prepared with proof of home-ownership or landlord contact information and proof of vaccinations for current pets in the home. The MSPCA is at 400 Broadway.
Jazz ensemble presents Christmas concert
NORTH ANDOVER — Merrimack Jazz Ensemble performs its first Christmas concert Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Roger Center for the Arts at Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St.
Merrimack College students, faculty members and alumni will play holiday inspired jazz and swing music.
Freewill donations will be accepted for Lazarus House, a homeless shelter in Lawrence.
Free yule concert to be held Sunday
METHUEN — The Timberlane Community Band will perform a free concert at the Methuen Senior Center on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The public is invited.
The center is at 77 Lowell St.
Winter concert to warm the holiday
HAVERHILL — The Northern Essex Community College Chorus will present a winter concert of Renaissance and contemporary music Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Technology Center on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.
The concert will include works by the King Singers, Irving Berlin and Rutter, as well as, spirituals by Moses Hogan and William Dawson.
Featured soloists will be Hannah Heckman-McKenna, Geehae Moon and Mariah Kotowski.
The public is invited. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Dancers on NECC stage this weekend
HAVERHILL — Northern Essex Community College's winter student dance production, "Progressions," will be Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Sport and Fitness Center on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.
"Unforgiven," a dance piece focusing on domestic violence and those who are affected by it, will be featured.
It has been choreographed by students Kris Testa of Kingston, N.H., Kylee Bradlee of Haverhill, Kelsey Surette of Salisbury and Kristina Koegh of Newburyport.
Another dance, "Run for Cover," is a hip-hop piece, choreographed by college dance coordinator Michelle Deane. Inspired by the social drama that occurs in night clubs, the high-energy piece has moveable flats that the dancers hide and pop out of at random.
Tickets for the show are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and $3 for children under 12.
To purchase tickets in advance, call Julie Carey or Jane Bailey, 978-556-3360
