Join us for a visit to the Watt Phnom Serei Cambodian Temple in Ayer. Watt Phnom Serei, established on June 26, 2019, is a functioning Buddhist sanctuary serving the local Cambodian-American community. The temple acts as a vital cultural hub in the Ayer/Groton area, offering a tranquil setting for worship, ancestral ceremonies, and traditional community gatherings. Venerable But Buntenh will provide an overview of the temple's history, Cambodian culture, and religious practices. After the tour, we will enjoy a traditional selection of food and drinks. 10:30 AM-12:00 PM: Presentation/Tour12:00 PM-12:30/1:00 PM: Lunch & Cultural Exchange Watt Phnom Serei (WPS) Inc. is a non-profit organization established on June 26, 2019, by a group of Cambodian Buddhist practitioners living in Massachusetts and nationwide and registered on June 26, 2019, in the state of New York. A year later, we moved to Massachusetts to operate in the United States of America. The vision of Watt Phnom Serei Inc. is to uphold Buddha's Teaching in all individuals and lives, helping them live in harmony and peace. Watt Phnom Serei Inc. has a mission to empower spiritual leaders and followers to be peace makers for the world; to mobilize the young generation of Buddhists to help spread compassion and peace through meditation and Buddhist approaches; and to inspire Buddhist followers to participate in protecting environment to cultivate inner peace for all peoples through learning about Buddhism and meditation practice in such a way that they achieve harmony and happiness for themselves, their families and communities, and in all countries in the world. We are committed to sowing seeds of peace from the WPS Inc. monastery and making WPS Inc. not only a place for spiritual worship, but also a place for people from all walks of life, regardless of race, culture, or religious differences, to learn the Buddha's Teaching.In this way, we believe that we can reduce negative thoughts and increase positive attitudes by developing love and compassion, tolerance, and understanding of all co-existing relationships in the world today. In so doing, Buddhist monks, members and supporters of WPS Inc. are the first and best messengers to help carry on our mission and activities to reach our goal. Venerable But Buntenh is also an environmentalist, and his talks can be found in The New York Times and on other social platforms. All proceeds benefit Prescott Community Center.

Discover the remarkable life of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, an 18th-century woman whose curiosity, determination, and love of learning helped shape colonial South Carolina. A pioneering agriculturalist and accomplished scholar, Pinckney experimented with plants and crops—including indigo, which became an important part of the region’s economy. This presentation explores her achievements, challenges, and lasting legacy as a woman who made an extraordinary impact when opportunities for women were limited. Groton resident Nancy Muller, PhD, MBA, will present the story of this remarkably capable and well-educated trailblazer. A long-time resident of Charleston, South Carolina, where Eliza Lucas Pinckney lived, Dr. Muller is a retired professor from the College of Charleston. She is a graduate of Duke University, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Graduate Business Administration, and VCU’s Medical University of Virginia. The program is FREE for ages 18 or under. **All proceeds benefit the Prescott Community Center.