By ANITA FRITZ
Recorder Staff
Hello neighbor.
The Greenfield Annual Word Festival 2016 is upon us. This year, poets and storytellers will occupy seven venues throughout downtown Greenfield, sharing their thoughts, wisdom and art.
Beautiful, insightful, crazy, thought-provoking words will cascade through Greenfield through Sunday as dozens participate.
The Arts Block, in the center of town at 289 Main St., is the home base, where people can pick up program books with the schedules. The shows are free, but donations are happily accepted.
The events happen at the Arts Block and six other venues within walking distance of the Arts Block, including The Root Cellar on Fiske Avenue and Green Fields Market on Main Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. through Friday. On Saturday, the festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. and then 7 until about 11 p.m. On Sunday, the festival takes place from 2 to 5 p.m.
The events range from today’s “Mole” event, where people tell true stories without a script, to readings from seniors, veterans and writing group members.
The festival gives visitors and local audiences a chance to enjoy words crafted by writers of all ages and at all levels of experience, from those just finding their voice to well-seasoned authors who have published books, won awards, been on tours and make their living from their craft of writing and performing.
Paul Richmond of Human Error Publishing is producing the event, which is free — donations are accepted to help pay for it, though. A book fair featuring books by the readers will be at the Arts Block. For more information, visit: gawfest.org
WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TO A SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY BAZAAR? The Recorder would like to know and will be sharing your answers in its Gift Guide. Call Chris Harris at 413-772-0261, ext. 265 or email her at: charris@recorder.com
ARE YOU DOWNSIZING YOUR CHRISTMAS? Chris Harris will be sharing your answers in The Recorder’s Gift Guide this year. Readers have told us they’re interested in how their neighbors are celebrating the season. Contact Chris at 413-772-0261, ext. 265 or email her at: charris@recorder.com
DO YOU DECORATE A TABLE-TOP TREE? How? Please share your decorating expertise and tips so others can follow. They will be shared in The Recorder’s Gift Guide this year. Call Chris Harris at 413-772-0261, ext. 265 or email her at: charris@recorder.com
GREENFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY on Main Street in Greenfield presents “Music to Get Elected By” today at 6 p.m. There will be a lecture and multimedia presentation about the history of American campaign music with Wayne Hankin, a nationally recognized music performer and educator. The program is free and open to the public thanks to Friends of Greenfield Public Library.
SHELBURNE FALLS GRANGE will host a community program about Shelburne Council on Aging and its work with the Senior Center in Shelburne Falls today at 7:15 p.m. There will be a potluck dinner at 6:30. It will be held at Fellowship Hall, 17 Little Mohawk Road in Shelburne Center. The program is free and open to the public. Bring a dish to share. Dessert and beverages will be provided.
GREENFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHORUS will open its fall semester concert series on Friday with a preview concert from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in Sloan Theater on the main campus. The chorus is once again under the direction of Margery Heins, who will talk to the audience about the program and music. The concert is free and open to the public.
GREENFIELD SENIOR CENTER at 54 High St. in Greenfield will hold a dance night with music by Champagne Jam. The dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the center (enter from Union Street). The event is free and open to the public, but donations to support the Senior Center will be accepted and appreciated. For more information, call 413-772-1517.
“A FAMILY OF WITCHES, THE MARVELOUS MAGIC OF NATASHA LOWE” will be the 16th “Experience the Book” event presented by Greenfield Public Library on Saturday at 4 p.m. Youth Librarian Kay Lyons will take your children through time with the characters of three books. Space is limited, so sign up in the library or by calling 413-772-1544, ext. 5. The event is free and open to the public.
TRINITARIAN CHURCH ON MAIN STREET IN NORTHFIELD will hold a fall clothing sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nothing will cost more than $5. There will be lots of items for children, teens and adults. On Sunday, all items will be reduced in price from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anything left will be donated to charity.
DICKINSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY IN NORTHFIELD will go to the dogs at its seventh annual Dog Show, sponsored by Friends of the Library, on Saturday. Registration begins at noon. There is a $10 entry free for adults and $5 for children. A trio of judges will choose.
WORLD EYE BOOKSHOP on Main Street in Greenfield will host Jendi Reiter on Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Jendi will read from her new book, “Two Natures.” Set in New York City in the early 1990s, “Two Natures” is the coming-of-age story of Julian Selkirk, a fashion photographer who struggles to reconcile his Southern Baptist upbringing with his love for other men. Refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL TRASH FOR TREASURES event will be held Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Trinity Church, 17 Severance St., Shelburne Falls. The event will raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Audrey’s Fund, a transportation fund for Audrey Clark of Shelburne Falls, who needs transportation for follow-up appointments after her second double-lung transplant September 2009. Bring new or gently used items to be raffled. Drawing will be at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, call Sandra Gaffey at 413-625-0227.
RAINBOW ELDERS OF LIFEPATH will host a panel and discussion on “Staying Independent and Out of the Closet as We Age: Navigating Housing Options as an LGBTIQA Older Adult” at Great Falls Discover Center, 2 Ave. A in Turners Falls. Refreshments will be provided. Register by Monday, Oct. 24 by calling 413-773-5555, ext. 2215 or 978-544-2259, ext. 2215.
MOHAWK TRAIL CONCERTS, in conjunction with Arms Library in Shelburne Falls, will present a noon-hour concert on Oct. 28, which will feature Thomas Pousont on harpsichord playing Bach and Frescobaldi at the library. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call Denese Gurley at 413-625-9511 or email: info@mohawktrailconcerts.org
OUR NEIGHBOR ROBIN ALIX said her granddaughter Leah recently cut her long locks and donated them to Locks of Love. The family, which has lost members to cancer, hopes that others will do the same. Thank you Leah!
DAKIN HUMAN SOCIETY has been named a recipient of the 2016 grant from the I’m Animal Friendly license plate program of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition. The grant will be used to perform spay and neuter surgery on 500 animals. For more information, visit: www.petplate.org
GREENING GREENFIELD’S 4TH BI-ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORUM will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but you should sign up now. “Innovations for Rural Living: Finding Solutions to our Food and Transit Challenges” will be held at Greenfield Community College. The event is open to all. There is a sliding-scale fee of $10 to $25 and lunch will be included. For more information or to register, visit: www.greeninggreenfield.org
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 prior to when you want it to run. Neighbors runs on Wednesdays.