The Five Minute Read

Fine artist Farley Lewis, of Missouri, comes to Lowell July 8-10, 2024, to teach a three-day “Poetic Landscape” painting class at Chez Claire Art School, in the Brush Art Gallery, 256 Market St. (Courtesy Farley Lewis)

Painting workshop

LOWELL — Spots are still available for the “Poetic Landscapes” painting workshop with painter Farley Lewis, Monday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $550, Chez Claire Art School, in the Brush Art Gallery, 256 Market St. Lewis, a fine arts painter from Missouri, will teach students how to design better paintings, understand and use values and colors more effectively and creative approaches to applying paint. To register, visit chezclaireartschool.com. Daily gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. For information call the gallery at 978-459-7819 or Lewis at 417-773-1175,  email farleylewis@gmail.com or visit farleylewis.com.

Community market takes July 4 holiday

TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury Community Market takes a break this week to celebrate July 4, and returns Thursday, July 11, from 4 to 7 p.m., in the parking lot behind the Recreation Center at 288 Livingston St. The market runs until the end of September. For information, visit tewksburymarket.com or call 978-640-4490 ext. 205.

Salsa in the Park

LOWELL — Bring your dancing shoes to the North Common Amphitheater on Saturday, July 6, from 3 to 7 p.m., for Salsa in the Park. The rain date is Sunday, July 7, from 2 to 6 p.m. Residents are invited to learn some salsa moves, enjoy social dancing and watch dance performances at the corner of 465 Fletcher St. and Father John Sarantos Way. Music provided by Eddie Tunez and dance lessons taught by Susy. The project is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. For more information, call 978-973-5926.

Lowell Famers’ Market

LOWELL — Shop fresh and local at the Lowell Farmers’ Market on Friday, July 5, from 2 to 6 p.m., 350A Dutton St., in front of the Hamilton Canal Garage. The market features seasonal produce. The following payment options are accepted: cash, credit and debit, SNAP/EBT, WIC, HIC (Healthy Incentives Program) and senior coupons.

Community Teamwork partners with the city of Lowell to run the weekly market. The market will run every Friday until Oct. 25, except for July 26 due to the Lowell Folk Festival. It will feature local vendors throughout the season, including Bitz N Peace, My Tiny Farm, Precious Prosper, Fresh Start Farms, Mill City Mercantile, Phalla’s Farm, Flats Mentor Farm and Mill City Grows.

For more information, email Market Coordinator Emily MaGovern at emagovern@commteam.org or visit commteam.org/program/lowell-farmers-market.

Summer reading challenge

LOWELL — Read books, win prizes. The Pollard Memorial Library invites readers to sign up for Summer Reading Challenge. Read for 1,500 minutes from now until Friday, Aug. 16. Participants can read books, magazines, graphic novels, newspapers or listen to audiobooks — even the back of a cereal box.

Each registered reader will receive 10 raffle chances for completing the required minutes of reading. Nonreaders can try one of the library’s activity challenges, which explores library resources and the Lowell community. For each activity badge earned, participants receive an additional raffle entry for a chance to win a Summer Reading raffle prize from local businesses. Register at lowelllibrary.beanstack.com/reader365 to track reading and activities online and earn online raffle tickets for prizes.

For information, call 978-674-4120 farmersor visit lowelllibrary.org.