Hello neighbor.
What does it take to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary?
In some cases, the answer would be: a lot of effort. In others, a mere tweak of the moment — a nearly imperceptible shift; head tilt, perhaps.
The Turners Falls Lost and Found Fashion Show is a party to flaunt the glorious creations of those who have transformed abandoned laundry at Suzee’s Third Street Laundry into runway fashion.
If you’d like to see these works of art and meet their creators, head to Shea Theater on Avenue A on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 5 to 10 p.m. “A Party to Flaunt the Glorious Unnecessary” has an admission of $10. Tickets are available at Tangible Bliss, Nina’s Nook, The Rendezvous, LOOT and Cosa Rara, all in my old stomping ground of Turners Falls.
Tickets are also available online at: www.turnersfallsriverculture.org
Featured designers include Andrea Glampyre, Anne Harding, Vic Maillo, Richie Richardson, Gretel Schatz and many more. There will be live music, dance from Craze Faze and some other performances, as well as beer and snacks.
This year’s fashion show is the latest incarnation of an evening of some glamorous— and sometimes wacky — designs. The fashion show began on Third Street and has grown after more than a decade. It took a hiatus to reorganize, because there just wasn’t enough room at the laundry any longer.
It’s run by volunteer producers, who spent the last year working to bring it to the Shea. The fashion show is sponsored by Cosa Rara, Suzee’s Third Street Laundry and Turners Falls RiverCulture.
Have a great time!
BAKE AN APPLE PIE for the Franklin County Fair’s pie-eating contest on Saturday, and your pie is your admission to the fair. There will be two classes for the contest — a youth, for ages 12 and under, and one for adults. There will be four prizes for each class. Pies should be two-crust apple pies only (no raisins, no nuts, no cranberries, etc.). For more information, check the fair’s exhibitor handbook or go to Facebook.
MEET THE ARTISTS RECEPTION and Exhibit will be held at the Shelburne Falls Senior Center today from 3 to 5 p.m. at 7 Main St. in Shelburne Falls. Drop in and meet local senior artists, and view their artwork. The group meets throughout the spring with artist Kim Sebrey to work on their paintings and drawings. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.
“COLRAIN, 1896: A SNAPSHOT,” will be the topic of the next Colrain Historical Society program Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. in Stacy Barn behind the Pitt House at 8 Main Road. There will be old photos, anecdotes and a narrative by Belden Merims, who will describe life in the town before the coming of the Colrain-Shelburne Falls trolley that year. This program continues the series devoted to transportation in Colrain, from the earliest paths and roads to the trolley and how it changed Colrain. The program follows a business meeting at 7. It’s free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call Belden at 413-624-3453.
A BAKED BEAN SUPPER will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. at the United Church of Conway. The menu will include scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, rolls, pickles and a blueberry dessert. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. It’s all you can eat! To make reservations, call Muriel Antes at 413-369-4350. Walk-ins will be welcome as space permits. There will also be take-out dinners available. The church is accessible.
THERE WILL BE A DEMONSTRATION FOR ALL, “Clearing the Way: Invasive Species Removal” on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Rose Field in Conway, at Shelburne Falls Road and Main Street. Naturalist Laurie Sanders will show people how — and explain why — to properly tackle invasive Japanese knotweed, honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet and multiflora rose on their property. The town-owned field off Shelburne Falls Road is just north of Conway center. Park on the field. Participants should take protections against ticks, poison ivy, whatever. For more information, call 413-768-7416 or email:
info@friendsofthesouthriver.org
SHELBURNE FALLS AREA WOMEN’S CLUB will meet at Fellowship Hall (the Grange) on Wednesday, Sept. 14, for “Ghosts Real and Imagined,” a talk by local mystery novelist Emily Arsenault, and the public is invited. Fellowship Hall is on Little Mohawk Road in Shelburne Center.
Emily is the author of several literary mystery novels that take place in New England. Her talk will be about how a 19th century murder in her family history — along with some eerie experiences in her house in Shelburne Falls — led her to write her most recent novel, “The Evening Spider,” which is part psychological suspense, part historic true crime and part ghost story. She will also discuss how her research touched upon late 19th century forensic science, as well as the history of the Northampton State Hospital. The meeting marks the start of a new club year for the 91-year-old community service organization and its more than 90 members. Members and guests are invited to a potluck dinner beginning at 6 p.m. A business meeting will be held at 7 p.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Potential members are encouraged to attend. Those who have not yet paid dues for the year should bring $20 annual dues to the meeting. For more information, contact Kay Berenson at 413-625-9239.
BOOKS ARE FUN BOOK FAIR will be held Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Gift Shop. Sales will benefit patients and services.
OUR NEIGHBOR BILL “RED DOG” BLANCHARD was severely burned in an apartment fire on Friday, Aug. 12. He has a long road to recovery ahead of him. All of his possessions were lost in the fire, including his beloved cat. There is going to be a spaghetti dinner to benefit Bill on Friday, from 5 to 11 p.m. at St. Kaz on Avenue A in Turners Falls. There will be live music and raffles, as well. Tickets, which are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, are available at St. Kaz and Taylor’s Tavern in Greenfield. A $5 donation for just the entertainment is also available at the door. A bank account has been set up, if anyone would like to donate: William Blanchard Fire Fund, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, 277 Federal St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Good luck, Bill! Our thoughts are with you.
ROBBINS MEMORIAL CHURCH at 55 Munson St. in Greenfield will be selling apple pies at the church this year. You can pick up a whole pie, slices or add a little ice cream. Hours are as follows: Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, from noon to 7 p.m. To order a pie or pies, call 413-773-7624.
THE 45TH ANNUAL DUBLIN GAS ENGINE MEET will be Friday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Cricket Hill Farm in Dublin, N.H. There will be antique gas engines, tractors, antique cars and trucks, working displays, a flea market and much more. For more information, visit: www.dublinnhgasenginemeet.com
ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, John Shippee, 89, of Buckland was honored on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Fenway Park as one of our military heroes. John is a veteran of the Korean War. It was all due to the efforts of Theresa and Bruce Dearborn of Charlemont, who, along with John and his wife, Donna, are members of the Colrain Community Church. The Dearborns made all the contacts and arrangements with Fenway. During the break between the top and bottom of the fourth inning, John was escorted onto the field and given the award. He was met with a standing ovation. Congratulations John, and thank you for serving!
To contact Anita Fritz, features editor at The Recorder, send an email to: neighbors@recorder.com or afritz@recorder.com Information you want included in Neighbors should be submitted by noon at least two days before you want it to run. Neighbors runs on Wednesday.