Dragons, girls who code, and radioactivity

Girls in grades 3-12 can meet every Tuesday at Acera School in Winchester for free instruction in computer coding.Acera School

Author, award-winning animator, and former Chelmsford resident J.R. Krause reveals how Massachusetts inspired his new picture book “Dragon Night,” which he’ll sell and sign at an event at the Adams Library on 25 Boston Road in Chelmsford. Plus, the animator will spill a bonus secret relating to both Massachusetts and the hit show “The Simpsons,” for which he has 500 credits. Krause speaks on March 23 at 10:30 a.m.

The Acera School in Winchester is hosting a free after-school club in which girls learn to code. The club, which started March 5 and is open to the public, runs Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at 5 Lowell Ave. Newcomers can still join. Two facilitators run the club, with one dedicated to third- through fifth-graders and the other to sixth- through 12th-graders. Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit dedicated to closing gender-based inequality within technology fields. To register, visit www.aceraschool.org/girlswhocode.

Chemistry professor Mike Cross will discuss radioactive materials at the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers on March 21. Cross is a professor at Northern Essex Community College who has also given talks about the health benefits of chocolate. “Radioactivity in Your Daily Life” will detail how smoke detectors, cigarettes, and even table salt could carry radioactive material. The talk is at 7 p.m. at 15 Sylvan St. Register at www.danverslibrary.org or 978-774-0554.

The city of Somerville is accepting applications for the mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee. The group makes recommendations to fill vacancies on boards and commissions in the Somerville community. The position lasts one year and the panel meets as vacancies arise. When a vacancy needs to be addressed, the committee meets three times before deciding on a suggested replacement. The committee then presents its nomination to the mayor for final approval. Find the application at this link and submit it by 4:30 p.m. on March 21.

For high school students who learn differently and want to explore post-secondary options, this fair in Beverly might be the right fit. The Landmark School hosts its first Post-Secondary Fair for Students Who Learn Differently on March 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Alice Ansara Athletic Center, 447 Hale St. The public is invited to meet more than 40 exhibitors from colleges, gap-year programs, technical schools, alternative programs, and more. Contact www.landmarkschool.org for more information.