Spring Craft Fair at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Winthrop; Lobster-Lunch-to-Go orders due by Wednesday, April 15
The April 15 deadline for pre-ordering a Lobster Lunch-to-Go ($25) is fast approaching as St John’s Episcopal Church, 222 Bowdoin Street in Winthrop, prepares for their?annual community Spring Craft Fair on Saturday,?April 18, from 10am–2pm.
All are welcome to browse and buy beautiful jewelry, photographs, wreaths, origami cards, soaps & beauty items, seaside & driftwood décor and more created by local artists and crafters.
To order a $25 takeout Lobster lunch (includes a generous lobster roll, chips, and double-fudge brownie), please call or text 617-846-2363 by April 15 to place your order, then pick it up the Fair. In addition, on the day of the fair homemade chili, hot dogs, and drinks will be sold.
Winthrop Art Association to Host 2026 Spring Art Festival
The Winthrop Art Association has announced the dates for its highly anticipated Spring Art Festival 2026, set to take place on the weekend of May 2 and May 3. The two-day celebration of local creativity will be hosted at the E.B. Newton Cultural Center on Pauline Street.
The annual festival serves as a community staple, offering attendees the chance to connect with fellow art lovers and enjoy the inspiring work that makes the local arts community so vibrant.
Call for Artists and Crafters
Organizers are currently calling on talented artists and crafters to showcase their work at this year’s event. All application forms must be submitted by Monday, April 20th. Interested participants can access the Festival Application, Application Stubs, and Craft Table Application forms directly on the Winthrop Art Association’s website.
How to Apply:
Visit the Spring Art Festival 2026 webpage to view and download the necessary forms.
Print and complete the required applications.
Mail the completed forms, along with your entry check, to:
Winthrop Art Association
PO Box 520010
Winthrop, MA 02152
For more information or to access the submission forms, please visit winthropartassociation.org.
Residents Can Still Apply for Home Heating Assistance through April 30
As the home heating season comes to a close, Massachusetts residents have until April 30 to apply for support from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). HEAP provides financial support to eligible households to pay a portion of their winter heating bills. Residents can learn more and submit an application at mass.gov/heat.
“Many Massachusetts families are still feeling the strain of this winter’s heating costs,” said Juana Matias, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “With the April 30 deadline approaching, now is the time to see if you qualify for home heating benefits. HEAP can provide meaningful relief, and we encourage residents to apply now or help spread the word to someone who may need support.”
Following a colder-than-average winter that increased heating usage across the state, many households continue to face elevated energy costs, compounded by rising energy prices. Residents may apply through April 30 for assistance to receive assistance for heating expenses during the winter months.
HEAP is a free, statewide program that provides grants paid directly to heating providers to help eligible households cover winter heating costs. The assistance does not need to be repaid. The program is available to both renters and homeowners and covers all heating sources, including oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal.
Eligibility is based on several factors including household size and income, and households do not need to be on public assistance or have overdue bills to qualify. Residents whose heat is included in their rent may also be eligible.
Residents can apply online or connect with their local HEAP agency at mass.gov/heat.
Eastern fiddler rays make their debut at the New England Aquarium
“Viola” and “Tasman” join the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank
The New England Aquarium has introduced two eastern fiddler rays to its Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank, marking the first time this species has been part of Aquarium exhibits. The two females are named “Viola” and “Tasman.”
Commonly known as “banjo rays” for their distinctive shape, eastern fiddler rays are native to the coastal waters of Australia, where they inhabit seagrass meadows, shallow sandy areas, and reefs. Their skin feels more like a shark’s than a stingray’s, though they are not sharks and are a close relative of guitarfish.
Viola and Tasman’s names reflect the species’ musical monikers and geographic roots. Viola is named for the string instrument, a nod to the fiddler ray name. Tasman is named after the Tasman Sea, situated on the southeastern coast of Australia, where the species is found. Guests who look closely may notice the two can be told apart by their markings, a fun challenge at the touch tank.
“Our new fiddler rays are a dynamic addition to the touch tank and have warmed up quickly to their surroundings,” said Sarah Tempesta, Manager of Interactive Exhibits at the New England Aquarium. “They are avid eaters of shrimp, clam, squid, silversides and capelin. Guests have had wonderful opportunities to interact with them already, and we can’t wait for more guests to meet them.”
Eastern fiddler rays can grow up to four feet long. Unlike stingrays, they do not have a stinging spine on their tail, called a barb. Females are also ovoviviparous, meaning that they give birth to live young from eggs that develop and hatch inside the mother. While the species is not endangered, fiddler rays face threats in the wild from being caught accidentally, or as bycatch, in commercial and recreational fishing.
Viola and Tasman join a diverse community of animals in the Shark and Ray Touch Tank, where Aquarium guests can observe and interact with them daily.