Luke Judge

Pepper is a 2-year-old longhair black cat who likes to slink around people’s feet and loves to play.

Because of a heart condition, Pepper has no “forever” home. Thanks to Stray Pets in Need, Pepper has a place to stay besides a foster home or Kitty City at Pet World on Route 9.

Pepper, and several other sick or pregnant cats, now live in SPIN’s new transition home near the Natick-Wellesley line on Route 9 (privacy forbids the listing of the exact address). It’s also the home of Sue Webb, the founder of SPIN and the animal control officer for the area.

“We had been looking for years and years” to find a home, said Webb. Several years ago, SPIN occupied a space at the Natick Animal Clinic on West Central Street, but had to move when the clinic expanded. The organization searched and fundraised, and found several possibilities, but zoning issues, size, cost … the possibilities were crossed off until last summer, when a house came on the market.

“It was zoned commercial 2 … we bought it in August 2009 and moved in September,” said Webb.

The house serves as a transition shelter; there are no adoptions here (that’s over at Kitty City). Volunteers run the shelter, making sure the cats are fed and medicated (when needed), the cages are cleaned, and information on the animals’ well-being recorded. There’s even a list that keeps tabs on the tabbies that have been adopted.

There is still much of the house here; there is a living room, kitchen, bathroom, office space, even a bedroom for Webb. There’s also a storeroom for cages and litter boxes; a caged-in area for feral cats; a room for momma cats and their litters; and a room for cats on the mend.

Once these cats are given a clean bill of health, they can be sent to Kitty City for adoption.

The home itself needs some help. Webb said they could use some helping hands for several projects, including sealing cracks in the foundation; repair holes in the siding; caulk/fill space along the basement door; sand and seal decking; and more.

SPIN is planning several events in spring and early summer, including a yard sale on June 5 and a crafts fair at Pet World on June. 19. SPIN will also be at the Tots and Tails on Trails in Wellesley on May 22.

For information on SPIN’s services and needs, visit straypetsinneed.info, or call 781-235-1218.

Notes: The Center for Arts in Natick was packed on March 25 as the Natick Education Foundation presented its annual Shining Light Awards. The Natick Community Organic Farm (Community Business Award), Kathleen KC Browne (Educator Award) and Susan Wornick (Harriet F. Siegel Award) received the honors, and the spotlight also shone on several Natick school groups, including the fourth-grade rhythm ostinato from Brown Elementary School and the high school speech team. The foundation also announced that the pink flamingoes have returned to flock the town, and there’s plenty of room for teams in the annual Spelling Bee on May 12. For information, visit natickedfoundation.org; for the Spelling Bee, contact Bill McGinley at or 508-655-3344, ext. 3950. … St. Paul’s Episcopal Church conducted its annual Palm Sunday procession from the Common the church, with “Jesus” and a pony leading the way. “Jesus” was played by two different boys (for the 9 and 11 a.m. services), while the pony was Willie Joe, a 14-year-old fella from the Ridge Valley Stables in Grafton. In between services, the kids got to ride Willie Joe around the parking lot.

The first weekend of April also marks Easter celebrations.

· On April 2, Good Friday, local congregations will conduct their annual Stations of the Cross on the Common beginning at noon.

· The Recreation and Parks Department will conduct its annual “Fun with the Bunny” and Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on April 3. “Fun with the Bunny” is for children age 3 through kindergarten, and takes place at the Cole Center on Boden Lane starting at 4 p.m. Admission is $2 at the door, which includes entertainment, goodies and a chance to meet the big bun-bun. For the slightly older set, grades one-four, there’s the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt at the high school football field starting at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $2 at the gate. Children should bring their own flashlight and basket or bag, and be able to do the hunt on their own. No adults will be allowed on the field during the event. For those not familiar with the event — before it begins, staffers scatter plastic eggs on two areas of the field. These eggs have numbers on them; the young hunters receive a specific number at registration, then search for “their eggs,” one in each spot on the field. Once they find the eggs, the kids turn them over to the staffers for a bag of treats. For information, call 508-647-6530 or visit natickma.gov/recreation.

· This Monday, April 5, is the first day you can head to the Board of Health office, East Central Street, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and purchase a ticket for the 24th annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. That event will take place May 15 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Senior Center parking lot. Tickets are $5 per car, with a limit of 300 cars. You can also pick up a list of what will be accepted. For information, contact the Board of Health at 508-647-6460.

Gary Paulsen, author of “The Winter Room,” “Hatchet” and “Dogsong,” will speak at Wilson Middle School, Rutledge Road, on April 6 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) The event is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by Morse Institute Library and Wellesley Booksmith. Paulsen will talk about his new novels, “Woods Runner” and “Lawn Boy Returns.” For information, call the Wellesley Booksmith at 781-431-1160 or visit wellesleybooksmith.com.

The Democratic candidates for the state Senate election, state Rep. Lida Harkins and Dr. Peter Smulowitz, will debate on April 6 at 7 p.m. at the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St. The debate will be sponsored by the Natick Democratic Town Committee and moderated by Rick Holmes, editorial page editor of the MetroWest Daily News. Suggested questions may be submitted at the debate, or through the Natick Democratic Town Committee Web site at NatickDemocrats.org.

The following events have to do with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Natick, Framingham and Sherborn:

· The next Relay meeting is scheduled for April 8 at the American Cancer Society office at 30 Speen St., Framingham. For information, call Nancy Prevost, American Cancer Society, at 781-314-2668, or visit relayforlife.org/natickma.

· Team Friends for a Cure and Team Sea Side will present a “Party for Life,” in memory of those who lost their battle with cancer, on April 9 at 6 p.m. at the AMVETS, 55 Prime Park Way. Cost is $10. Entertainment by Joey the DJ and Jozeph the Magician. There will also be food, cash bar and raffles. For information, contact Kathy Demko at .

· A Bingo fundraiser will be held April 10 at the Natick Elks, 95 Speen St. Doors open at 5 p.m., Bingo starts at 6:45 p.m. (minimum age for Bingo is 18). There will also be a happy hour, raffles, games and food. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Natick, Framingham and Sherborn.

· The fifth annual Fashion Show and Brunch will be held April 11 at 11 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Route 9, Natick. Tickets are $60. Gail Huff of WCVB-TV will be the emcee. For more information, contact .

… The Golden Tones Senior Chorus and the Midlife Crisis Band will blend their musical styles during an afternoon FUNraiser for the Golden Tones on April 11 from 2-5 p.m. at the Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland. The event will include Wayland’s most danceable tunes, live and silent auctions, a door prize, a raffle for a wonderful Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II, a cash bar, and a plethora of homemade refreshments. For more details on the event, raffle, sponsors, and auction items, visit goldentones.org. To reserve tickets for an afternoon of singing, dancing, bidding, and refreshments, call 508-358-7962. The event admission price is a $25 tax-deductible donation. … A “preseason” walking tour of historic Natick Center will take place April 17. Meet at the Gazebo at the Common at 10 a.m.; your guide (me) will present lots of tidbits about the history of this part of town (including some colonial and pre-Marathon stuff). It’s free. … The Recreation and Parks Department has announced that space is still available in the Camp Woodtrail summer programs for children in grades one-eight. For information, call 508-647-6530 or visit natickma.gov/recreation. … The Natick Women’s Club will hold its annual Card Party on April 23 at the Fisk United Methodist Church on Walnut Street. A mini-luncheon will begin at noon, followed by an afternoon of cards and games. The fee is $8, with proceeds to benefit the club’s scholarship fund. Lucky ticket-holders will be eligible to win prizes. Women and men are invited. Call Augie Chase at 508-653-1139 to reserve a spot. … Rain has definitely become a four-letter word. … Happy Easter, everyone.

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