Hello neighbor.
It’s that time of year. I was scanning through local radio stations the other day in my car and found one that’s already playing holiday music 24/7. Normally, I would complain that it’s too early, but I think this year we need a little holiday cheer a earlier than usual.
There are plenty of holiday bazaars and fairs throughout Franklin County this weekend, so make your plans now. You shouldn’t have to choose among them, so plan your time accordingly, and visit some or all of them.
Have fun!
AWARD-WINNING NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALIST Trace Hentz will discuss her book, “Stolen Generations: Survivors of the Indian Adoption Projects and 60s Scoop,” today at noon in the library solarium at Greenfield Community College, 1 College Drive. This is her third book in the series. The event is free and open to the public.
SHELBURNE GRANGE WILL HOLD A VETERANS DAY program tonight at 7 in Fellowship Hall in Shelburne Center, 17 Little Mohawk Road. Timothy Niejadlik, director of Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services will discuss services available to veterans. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Muriel Antes at 413-369-4350.
THERE WILL BE A FAMILY BINGO NIGHT at Mohawk Trail Regional High School in the cafeteria on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. to benefit the Class of 2017. There will be lots of great prizes for all ages. The cost is $1 per card. The school is at 26 Ashfield Road in Buckland. There will be a concession stand, and there will be activities for children in the gym.
THE LITTLE DRUMMER CRAFT FAIR returns to Franklin County Technical School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Support the FCTS Music Department and drumline, and shop for the holidays at the same time. There will be artists and crafters from throughout the Northeast, as well as an extensive raffle table and more. A lunch and other refreshments will be available for purchase. They will be served by culinary students. Yum! Admission is free and there’s plenty of free parking. Also, bring canned goods to donate to the school’s food drive.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HARVEST CRAFT FAIR will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 43 Silver St. in Greenfield. There will be crafters, gift cards, raffles, specialty baskets and more. Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 413-774-3449.
THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STARS annual Snowflake Bazaar will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge building at 215 Munson St. in Greenfield. Shop for the holidays. There will be crafters of all kinds there this year. There will also be a coffee can auction and more. Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GILL-MONTAGUE SENIOR CENTER will hold its Christmas Bazaar on Satuday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be raffles, food, crafts and gifts and more. It will be held at the senior center at 62 Fifth St. in Turners Falls. For more information, call 413-863-9357.
UNITED CHURCH OF BERNARDSTON will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 58 Church St. in Bernardston. There will be handmade crafts, food and baked goods, wreaths, Grandma’s attic, a mystery gift tree, a can raffle and more. All proceeds will benefit the church. For more information, call 413-648-9360.
WARWICK TOWN HALL will host the annual holiday fair of Trinitarian Congregational Church-Metcalf Chapel of Warwick on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be two floors of crafters and artists, along with the popular themed basket silent auction. It’s a great way to start your holiday shopping. A hot lunch will be available for purchase and there will be a bake sale.
MARY LYON CHURCH on Upper Street in Buckland will hold its Silver Bell Bazaar on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be crafts, specialty foods, plants, a quilt raffle, wreaths, a bag raffle, jewelry and more. There will be a buffet lunch, as well, which will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $12 per person.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, 31 North Main St. in Orange, will hold its annual Holiday Fair on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be raffles, a pie and bake sale, local crafters and more. Chowder and sandwiches will be for sale from 11 a.m .to 1 p.m.
SAINT JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH at the corner of Federal and Church streets in Greenfield will hold its Mistletoe Mart and Craft Faire on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be themed gift and crafter basket raffles, the annual Cookie Walk and much more. There will be a full lunch menu for purchase in the St. James Cafe.
TRINITY CHURCH OF SHELBURNE FALLS will holds it Thanksgiving Bake Sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon on Bridge Street outside of Keystone Market. There will be pies, breads, rolls, breads, cookies and more. All proceeds will go to charities supported by Trinity Women’s Group at the church.
SAINT PATRICK’S CHURCH at 80 Main St. in Northfield is holding a lasagna dinner on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the church. Menu will include lasagna, salad, rolls, beverages and dessert. Adults are $10 and children under 12 are $6. To make a reservation, call 413-498-2728.
THE ANNUAL BEAVER MOON GATHERING at Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Ave. A in Turners Falls, will feature Evan Pritchard, director of the Center for Algonquin Culture, who will be the guest speaker on
Saturday from 1 to 1 p.m. His topic will be “Waterways and Crossroads: Connecting Sacred Sites in Nolumbeka.” The event is free and open to the public.
FRIENDS OF ERVING LIBRARY AND ERVING RECREATION DEPARTMENT will sponsor a free concert on Friday at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at the Erving Elementary School, 28 Northfield Road (Route 63). Beatles For Sale, an award-winning, New England-based Beatles tribute band will be the featured artist. The concert is free and refreshments will be available for purchase. The Friends of the Library will accept donations for the proposed new library building or library improvements.
GREENFIELD LODGE OF ELKS, along with World Eye Bookshop, will hold a Book Fair on Sunday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the lodge on Federal Street. All students in grades Pre-K to 12 will receive a voucher to use toward any purchase.
BUCKLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY is again offering a full-color 2017 calendar of Robert Strong Woodward’s paintings. “New England Seasons” ($20) can be found at Andy’s and the Oak Shoppe on Deerfield Street in Greenfield, Boswell’s Books and Sawyer News, both on Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls, and Buckland Public Library on Upper Street in Buckland. Also visit:
www.store.bucklandmasshistory.org
THE INTERFAITH REFUGEE SUPPORT PROJECT needs your help. One hundred-plus refugees, who arrived in western Massachusetts over the past few months, are in urgent need of new and gently used warm clothing -especially coats for infants to adults. Most needed are school-age children. Also welcome are hats, gloves, scarves and boots. Dropoff is at Temple Israel, 27 Pierce St. in Greenfield. You can drop items off Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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.