Thursday, FEB. 4

Learn About Shawsheen School, Prospective Kindergarten Parent Tea, 6:30 p.m.; RSVP to 978-623-8856 or mkpoe@aps1.net.

Andover Youth Services Telethon, 6 to 9 p.m., broadcast live on local cable television, proceeds benefit Andover Youth Service programs, youth center building fund.; Diane at dcostag@hotmail.com or Andrea at lynch-zaimes@comcast.net.

Author reading, Dani Shapiro will be reading from her new book Devotion, a memoir about her son began to ask the difficult questions about God, mortality, and the after life, 7 p.m., free, Andover Bookstore, 89 Rear Main Street, 987-475-0143.

Friday, FEB. 5

Live theater, Spotlight Playhouse presents Neil Simon's, "Rumors!," a hilarious farce when party guests arrive to an empty house where the food is uncooked, the host has been shot, and his wife is missing, 8 p.m., Haverhill High School, Haverhill, $15 adults, $12 students, seniors; 978-380-8509, rachel@spotlightplayhouse.org. Also being performed Feb. 6, 12, 13 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.

Exhibit opens, "America Now," Montserrat College of Art Gallery, 23 Essex St., Beverly, through April 10, with reception 7 to 9 p.m.; Shana Dumont at 978-867-9604, www.montserrat.edu/galleries.

Learn About Shawsheen School, 9:30 a.m., see Feb. 4 listing.

ANDOVER YOUTH SERVICES TELETHON, 6 to 10 p.m., see Feb. 4 listing.

Saturday, FEB. 6

Family Snow Shoe Hike, hosted by Andover Conservation Commission, Bald Hill-Wood Hill reservation, 2 to 4 p.m., meet at the end of Holmes Road, proceed down the Wood Hill trail at 2 p.m. sharp. The hike will be about 2.25 miles on an easy to moderate trail. If there is not enough snow then snow shoes will not be necessary. There will be complementary hot chocolate and snacks at the 1.75 mile location on the trail for as long as it lasts; Bob, campconservation@live.com.

Live music, "Rock the House," a benefit concert to raise funds for the Samaritan Teen Crisis Line, featuring well-known Andover band One Step Away, and Andover High School band, Left Hand Blue, $7, 7 to 10 p.m., Ballard Vale United Church, 23 Clark Road, Andover; Noni Yount,978-470-2921.

Live gospel music, First Church Congregational of Boxford celebrates Black History Month with the New England Conservatory Gospel Choir, 7 p.m., free, First Church Congregational Church, 4 Middleton Road, Boxford, in the church's Family Life Center; www.FirstChurchBoxford.org, 978-887-5841.

Live music, the Phillips Academy Music Department hosts student recital featuring Won Yong Kim, oboe, Yonwoo Kim, violin, and Jinsoo Lim, piano, performing works by Dutilleux, Poulenc, Vieuxtemps, Shostakovich and J.S. Bach, 7:30 p.m., free, open to the public, Timken Room at Graves Hall, Phillips Academy campus; (978) 749-4263, music@andover.edu.

Wildlife program, hosted by Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, 8 to 10 a.m., just inside the entrance to the Lowell Cemetery, off Lawrence Street (across from 1025 Lawrence St.)

Puppet show, National Marionette Theatre presents a puppet production of Hansel and Gretel, 2 p.m., $12, Family Four-Pack: $40, Rogers Center at Merrimack College; 978-837-5355, www.merrimack.edu/rogers

Grecian Blue Hawaii, 7 to 11 p.m., with meat and dessert buffet, cash bar featuring tropical drinks, music by Salonica Boys, adults $15; seniors, students $12; children under 12 $8; under 5 free, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Harris St., Newburyport; 978-465-5757. (Snow Date: Sunday, February 7)

Sunday, FEB. 7

Summer Opportunity Fair, noon to 2 p.m., Smith Center on the Phillips Academy campus, admission is free. The fair gives students a chance to meet with representatives from more than 80 local, national, and international summer programs as well as gap-year programs.

Live chamber music, Andover Chamber Music's annual Valentine concert, "Heartstrings from Saint Petersburg," a program of Russian music, $30 with group and student discounts available, 4 p.m., West Parish Church, Reservation Road, Andover; AndoverChamberMusic.org, 978-474-6222. NOTE: 100% of the proceeds from CD sales will benefit Haiti.

Live classical music, The New England Classical Singers, joined by the Girls; Ensemble of Lawrence High School, present a Cantata by Theodore Du Bois, "The Seven Last Words of Christ," 4 p.m., free, Holy Rosary (Corpus Christi) Church, 36 Essex St., Lawrence; 978-620-3621.

Winter Discovery Hike, with Middleton Stream Team, 12:55 p.m. at North Liberty Street, Middleton; 978-777-4584, www.StreamTeam@comcast.net.

Ice Fishing Derby, 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., $10-15, Georgetown Fish and Game Club, end of Lake Avenue, Pentucket Pond, Georgetown; Bob Ohanley 978-994-0462, ss454truck@aol.com

Monday, FEB. 8

Tax tips workshop, hosted by The Harvard Club of Andover, Inc., a program of tax saving tips and a description of IRS tax changes for 2009, 7 p.m., free, Atria Marland Place, 15 Stevens St., Andover, with Andover CPA Richard Soo Hoo and Kenneth Der, a CPA and CFP of Wellesley, who will focus on those who prepare their own tax returns as well as those who hire professional preparers.

Tuesday, FEB. 9

Fish On!, Stellwagen Tuna & More, 7 p.m., with Capt. Bart Waldo on his experiences fishing bluefins on Stellwagen Bank including a description of the gear that worked (and didn't) and the fight to catch bluefin tuna ranging from 225-998 lbs., Memorial Hall Library, Andover; www.mhl.org, 978-623-8401, ext. 31 or 32.

Adult auditions, singers and dancers for Rodgers & Hamerstein and Little Hart, North Regional Theatre Workshop, 6 p.m., First Church Congregational, 26 Pleasant St, Methuen; Paul Webster-Greene at 978-397-1481, www.nrtwinc.com.

wednesday, FEB. 10

Free hike, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Harold Parker State Forest, meet at the headquarters at 305 Middleton Road, wear appropriate footwear, hiking footwear is best, snowshoes/skis welcome on days with snow. Trail is of moderate difficulty. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days.

Civil War roundtable meets, 7:30 p.m., Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette St., (Rte. 1), Salisbury, discussing the "plot to kill Abraham Lincoln," with author and historian Kate Clifford Larson, free; Tom, 978-462-8518.

Thursday, FEB. 11

Author reading, with Anita Silvey, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book," 7 p.m., free. Anita will have a slide show to accompany her talk, Andover Bookstore, 89 Rear Main St., Andover: 978-475-0143.

BLACK PEARL SINGS!, music-filled play celebrates Black History and Women's History months, through March 7, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell; www.MerrimackRep.org, 978.654.4MRT.

Live theater, "The Last Five Years," opens, 7:30 p.m., $10 adults, $8 students/seniors, Center for the Arts, Endicott College, 376 Hale St., Beverly. Performances also on Feb. 12, 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, FEB. 12

Kids' Night Out, for ages 6 to 10, Merrimack Valley YMCA, Haverhill Street, Andover. Swim, play games in the Mat Room, make craft projects, and make new friends. Refreshments will be served, 6:30-9 p.m., $7 for YMCA Family Members; $10 for General Members; and $12 for non-members.

The Vagina Monologues, 8 p.m., Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, $50 (includes private reception to meet the cast) or $20 (performance only); (978/462-7336), www.firehouse.org.

Saturday, FEB. 13

Merrimack River Eagle Festival, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Massachusetts Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center host, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free; 978-462-9998.

Dance party, with Boubacar Diabate and his band, SambaLolo (meaning Peace Star), the age-old West African tradition of Griot storytelling, Crossroads Coffeehouse of the North Parish UU Church, 3 Great Pond Road, 2nd floor, North Andover, 8 p.m., $12; www.crossroads-coffeehouse.org with PayPal, tickets can also be purchased in person at Shoppe on the Common in North Andover's Old Center, 978-687-3960.

Alumni Valentine's Day Celebration, with a special Mass and blessing for families, renewal of vows, and a champagne toast, 5 p.m., Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher, Merrimack College (315 Turnpike St.), N. Andover; Kathleen St. Hilaire in the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations, (978) 837-5107 by Feb. 8. NOTE: Not open to the public; alumni only.

Romance celebration, Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell, wine and song with Boston cabaret artists Bobbi Carrey and Will McMillan, cocktail reception at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., $59 a couple, $30 for single, includes: one hour of appetizers, white wine, champagne and cheese in the historic house before the show which runs about 90 minutes. Coffee and dessert will be available after the show; 978-452-7641 for reservations.

Live music, with Marky Ramone, the drummer from the Ramones, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, Salisbury.

Sunday, FEB. 14

Ward Winter Fun Day, experience the trails at Ward Reservation, parts of which reside in Andover and North Andover. The Trustees of Reservations and Ward Reservation Property Committee, in partnership with the Andover Trails Committee, Friends of North Andover Trails and Moor & Mountain of Andover, host, noon to 3 p.m., free, parking at the reservation entrance on Prospect Road, east of Route 125, Andover. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, refreshments and a warming fire will be available. Limited instruction for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing will also be available; 978-682-3580, ext. 1#, cward@ttor.org.

Moonlight ski/hike, AVIS Goldsmith Woodlands, 6 p.m., park at 491 S. Main St., no pets, rain cancels; Burt Batcheller, 978-475-3665; David Dargie, 978-996-4475.

Live music, a Valentine's Day concert featuring Andover singer-songwriter Camille Breeze, singing love songs written over the last 75 years exploring the themes of love, loss and hope, Memorial Hall Library, Andover; www.mhl.org, 978-623-8401, ext. 31 or 32.

Romance celebration, Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell, 2 p.m. cocktail reception, show at 3 p.m., see Feb. 13 listing.

Tuesday, FEB. 16

Privateering & The Revolution at Sea, hosted by the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum, with Dr. Emily Murphy who talks on the merchants and mariners who risked their lives to take the battle to the British on the high seas during the American Revolution. 7:30 p.m., Waterline Center, 66 Main St., Essex, $8 members, $10 non-members; 978-768-7541 to reserve seats. Snow date, Feb. 23.

Fish On!, Northeast Potpourri Fresh & Saltwater Fishing, 7 p.m., with Joe Welch on his favorite places, methods and gear for Merrimack Valley anglers, Memorial Hall Library, Andover; www.mhl.org, 978-623-8401, ext. 31 or 32.

Thursday, FEB. 18

Village Garden Club workshop, "How to Keep Your Green Thumbs In the Pink," presented by Norma Weinberg discussing hand care, 1 p.m., Helen Ann Knepper's home, 45 Clark Road, Andover.

Saturday, FEB. 20

Live folk music, with Atwater-Donnelly, opening act, Goli, 8 p.m., $20, New Moon Coffeehouse, located in the UU Church, 16 Ashland St., Haverhill; www.newmooncoffeehouse.org, 978-459-5134.

Sunday, FEB. 21

"A Celebration of American Musical Theatre" concert at 2 pm. Journey through "A Celebration of American Musical Theatre" with solos, duets, and trios performed by Susan Bishov, pianist; Diane Hagelstein, soprano; Lynne Johnson, alto; and Paul Johnson, tenor. Their repertoire includes musical show and operetta ranging from Gershwin through Simon. Memorial Hall Library, Andover; www.mhl.org, 978-623-8401, ext. 31 or 32.

Tuesday, FEB. 23

Fish On!, Marc Hamel will share his 25 years of tournament and recreational Bass fishing experiences with tips for joining a Bass Club, tournament types and the basics including fishing from the bank, responsible fishing habits and tactics and gear for all levels of experience. 7 p.m., free, Memorial Hall Library, Andover; www.mhl.org, 978-623-8401, ext. 31 or 32.

Wednesday, FEB. 24

New member coffee, hosted by Merrimack Valley Chapter of Hadassah, 10 a.m., Panera Bread, North Andover; HadassahMV@gmail.com.

Thursday, FEB. 25

Free film, The Maiden Heist, a madcap comedy caper that proves you're never too old to have fun, 7 p.m., Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park St., North Reading; 978-664-4942.

Friday, FEB. 26

Kids' Night Out, for ages 6 to 10, Merrimack Valley YMCA, Haverhill Street, Andover. Swim, play games in the Mat Room, make craft projects, and make new friends. Refreshments will be served, 6:30 to 9 p.m., $7 for YMCA Family Members; $10 for General Members; $12 for non-members.

Israeli Folk Dancing, Temple Emanuel-Lowell, 101 West Forest St., Lowell, after 7 p.m. Shabbat services; 978-454-1372, WWW.TEMV.ORG.