Hello neighbor.
I just returned from the Outer Banks — Corolla, N.C., to be exact. I had a wonderful time with old and new friends. I got to see some of the wild horses that have become so famous and stayed on the beach in a beautiful home.

But, I must confess that I am glad to be back home in Franklin County. Though I always find other places beautiful and intriguing, I’ve found none more than those in my own backyard. We should all appreciate what we have here in New England. Nothing compares!

I also wanted to share a proud grandma moment. My 5-year-old grandson Justin just won second place for creating a new ice cream flavor for Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream on Cottage Street in Easthampton.

I believe the flavor is called Dragon Fire S’mores and includes some variation of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows mixed in vanilla ice cream. Justin was served the first scoop, though at that point he decided he wanted plain old chocolate ice cream, instead.

I’m back in the saddle, so I’m going to move on to what’s going on in the area.

OUR NEIGHBORS THADD AND PAMELA BISTREK in Northfield would like to share some happy news. Their son Tolan Jason Bistrek was recently promoted to chief petty officer during a pinning ceremony of the U.S. Naval Reserves at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee. Tolan is a chief equipment operator in the Seabees, serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27. He is currently employed at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, working in the operating rooms as a clinical engineering service representative.

Tolan is married to Nara Garber and has four children: Lillia, Camille, Tolan James and Samuel. His grandfathers — James L. Dinsmore of Northfield and the late Stanley T. Bistrek — served during World War II.

MONADNOCK TRI-STATE DANCE will meet Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Elmm Community Center, 21 Durkee St., Winchester, N.H. with live music by The Visitors. Everyone is welcome.

THE UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Conway on Whately Road will hold an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with eggs, sausage, juice and coffee on Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO BEGIN YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING, take a trip to West County on Saturday, Oct. 1. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mary Lyon Church on Upper Street in Buckland will hold the Copper Trellis Art and Craft Show. A lunch of chili and cornbread will be served.

FOUR RIVERS CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL will hold a recycling event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s time to clean out your basements, attics and garages. Bring your old electronics, small appliances or metal to the blue barn at the school at 248 Colrain Road. You will have to pay by the pound for CRT monitors and televisions to be recycled. Otherwise, the school is asking a donation of $5 per item (maximum of $30).

FRANKLIN COUNTY STAMP CLUB will meet Monday at the Mill House at 75 Wells St. in Greenfield. The meeting will be in the South Meeting Room at 1 p.m. All are welcome. Remember, the club is looking for young members who are just getting interested in stamps, as well.

THE SENIOR CENTER IN SHELBURNE FALLS (7 Main St.) will meet to talk about Alzheimer’s on Monday at 2 p.m. Meghan Lemay, program coordinator for the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, will present. Learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages being delivered by someone with dementia. Also, identify strategies to help connect and communicate at each stage of the disease. Free and open to the public.

SOUP AND GAMES NIGHT at Hope and Olive restaurant, 44 Hope St. in Greenfield, will benefit Mohawk Trail Concerts on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a silent auction, bake sale, music and lots of soup, bread, drinks and games.

APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ARTeens After School Program at The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls. Applications for the pay-what-you-can after-school program are due Oct. 12. The program will begin Oct. 25. It’s for middle and high school teens interested in making art. Applications and information are available at: www.theartgarden.org or at local high schools.

To contact Anita Fritz, features editor at The Recorder, send an email to: neighbors@recorder.com. Information you want included in Neighbors should be submitted by noon two days before you want it to run. Neighbors runs on Wednesday.