Hello neighbor.
First, I’d like to apologize for not being around as often the past couple of weeks. It surely has been a busy beginning to summer.
Second, I’d like to wish our neighbor Helen Reed a very happy 100th birthday. Helen is a Town of Conway retiree and friend to many — I’m sure many of you know her, or at least know who I’m talking about. Helen turns 100 on Sunday, and there’s going to be an open house at 1 p.m. at 36 Main St. in Conway. You’ll have an opportunity to sing to Helen and wish her well in person.
Finally, the First Universalist Parish of North Dana lives on in memory, and Swift River Historical Society is holding a concert on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to remember more. Pioneer Valley Brass will perform a selection of traditional and modern music specially arranged for the band. The concert is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served after the concert.
Pioneer Valley Brass is a quintet of talented musicians: Dick Tandy and Curt Coolidge, both on trumpet, Jim Engele on horn, Jeri Bannister on trombone and Joe Hoye on tuba.
The Vespers programs are sponsored by First Universalist Parish of North Dana. For more information, contact Maureen Riendeau, music coordinator for the parish, at 978-249-6336 or email: moe@crocker.com
SHELBURNE FALLS MILITARY BAND will perform on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Mary Lyon Church on Upper Street in Buckland. The church work committee will serve hamburgers, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, chili dogs, chili, baked beans, popcorn, strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, coffee and soda. There will also be a bake sale. Food will be available beginning at 6:15 p.m. The concert will feature music from the shows “Kiss Me Kate,” “The Lion King,” “Oklahoma,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Carousel,” “Porgy and Bess” and “South Pacific.”
COLRAIN’S MEETINGHOUSES, CROSSROADS and stagecoach routes, inns and taverns have flourished throughout the town’s history, providing patrons with news, drink, food and lodging. Colrain native Brad Brigham will offer a peek inside each of these vital, public houses at the next program of the Colrain Historical Society on Thursday. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m., following a business meeting at 7. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 413-624-3453.
SHELBURNE FALLS TROLLEY MUSEUM will celebrate TROLLEYFEST on Saturday, July 23, at the museum on Depot Street in Shelburne Falls from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s the annual celebration of the restoration of Trolley No. 10, which was delivered to the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Railway Co. in 1896. The trolley celebrates its 120th birthday this year. There will be something for everyone, including children. Open to the public, and all-day adult pass is $4 and youth passes are $2. Children under 6 are free.
GEORGEANNA FOSTER, a longtime resident of East Leverett Village, spoke briefly about the history of that part of town on May 14 at the Historical Commission’s celebration in Moores Corner. She will return to the town library on Montague Road on Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m to finish her story.
MOHAWK TRAIL CONCERTS presents Andrew Garland, baritone, and Estela Olevsky, piano, performing Schumann’s Dichterliebe followed by folk and Broadway songs, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Federated Church on Route 2 in Charlemont. Tickets online at mohawktrailconcerts.org and at the box office, cash and checks only. Children under 16 admitted free.
To contact Anita Fritz, features editor at The Recorder, send an email to: neighbors@recorder.com
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