Community garden taking root through Hope in Hands.

Byline: Betty Lilyestrom

COLUMN: Leicester Notebook

The Hope in Hands Committee, which last fall made sure that Leicester folks suffering from the falling economy had ample food for the holidays, is organizing another food-producing project - a Leicester Community Garden. And getting it into operation is well on the way.

"The land has been acquired and approved," said committee member Lois Dorr-Wicklund. "The insurance paperwork is being put into place. Farming equipment with driver attached has been donated, rototilling has been donated and several Leicester groups have agreed to participate in setting up and continuing the operation."

Groups that have already agreed to participate are Hope House of Leicester, the Leicester Food Pantry, Christ Episcopal Church, Leicester Recycling Center, Leicester Primary School, Leicester High School and some members of the Leicester Garden Club.

The garden will be on land donated by the Leicester Water Supply District off Paxton Street, between the district's water tank and the primary school.

"We hope to break ground later this month, as soon as the insurance is finalized," said Mrs. Dorr-Wicklund. "We already have a generous donation to pay for most of the insurance, but we are asking for any group or individual who would like to be involved but is physically unable to participate to consider making a donation to help defray the remaining insurance costs and the cost of garden fencing that will be needed."

Seedlings will be planted in the spring.

"The location of the garden will allow participation by the students of both the primary school and the high school, placing agriculture back into the classroom and creating an awareness of the need of others in our community," Mrs. Dorr-Wicklund said.

The produce from the garden will be given to the Leicester Food Pantry, Hope House and to any person in need in the community.

Hope in Hands Committee members are Mrs. Dorr-Wicklund and Beth Rowden, representing Christ Episcopal Church; Deborah Entwistle, representing First Congregational Church and the Leicester Unitarian Church; Don Wentworth of Creative Services of New England; Ruth Kaminski. representing the Leicester Recycling Center and Hope House; Bonnie Keefe-Leyden, representing Rehabilitative Resources of Southbridge; and Cheryl Cooney, representing the Leicester Food Pantry. To volunteer or for more information, call Mrs. Dorr-Wicklund at [phone].

Mrs. Dorr-Wicklund said the committee also plans to continue the Thanksgiving townwide food gathering for the Leicester Food Pantry, which it started last year. Dates will be announced shortly.

Jacqueline Gordon has long been involved in programs that bring youngsters from foreign countries to the United States to spend a year experiencing American family life and education. So what she was looking for when she called this week was no surprise: a volunteer area family to provide a home this year for a 17-year-old boy from Serbia who wants to spend a year at an American public high school.

Ms. Gordon, who is working with AYUSA, a State Department-certified organization, says the boy speaks English, is bright and friendly, and has only one request regarding the school he will be attending - he wants the opportunity to try out for basketball.

"He has his own spending money and insurance," she said

Any family who would like to serve as host for the boy for this school year is asked to call Ms. Gordon at [phone].

For more information on the sponsoring program, visit www.ayusa.org.

The Leicester Board of Health will hold a seasonal flu clinic from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Leicester Senior Center, 40 Winslow Ave. Preregistration is not required.

Preference for the shots will be given to individuals 65 and older and individuals 50 and older with chronic health problems. There is no fee for individuals 65 and older, but they must bring with them all insurance cards. All others will be charged a $5 administrative fee. For more information, call the Board of Health at [phone].