Hello neighbor.
Though I don’t like driving in the snow – and I’m sure other people don’t care for it, as well – I can’t deny that this is one of the most beautiful times of the year here in New England. The branches of the trees are covered in white. Everything the snow touches glistens. The air smells clean. It truly is a winter wonderland.
I’m still waiting to hear from our precipitation prognosticator, Farrah Pomeroy, so I will let you know her thoughts about what our winter is going to look like as soon as I do.
Until then, enjoy the snow and be safe.
TRINITY CHURCH’S 4TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY CAROLING will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Baptist Lot on Main and Water streets in Shelburne Falls. The blizzard date is Sunday. Join carolers for some old-fashioned singing of holiday favorites and a bonfire to celebrate the seaons. There will be booklets of carols so you can follow along. Bring the family and your enthusiasm.
“LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS” is the special theme at Sawmill River Arts Gallery this month. The gallery’s members have created or added real lights or “light” images to their art work at the Montague Mill in Montague Center. Hours are Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m and Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Special holiday hours: open daily the weeks of Dec. 19 and 26, closing at 4 p.m. on Christmas and New Year’s eves. Closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, call 413-367-2885 or visit: www.sawmillriverarts.com
SOUTH COUNTY SENIOR CENTER at 67 North Main St. in South Deerfield wil hold a craft and bake sale on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center.
THE MOHAWK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SELECT CHORUS, a group of about 20 students directed by Ben Demerath, will perform today at Shelburne-Buckland Community Center in Shelburne Falls. The event is sponsored by Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club. There will be social time at 6:30 p.m., with a short business meeting at 7 p.m. The music program will follow at about 7:30 p.m. The program will be an eclectic one. The program is free and open to the public. Guests are welcom at the club’s social time and business meeting.
SHELBURNE FALLS EAGLES at 52 State St. in Buckland will hold a holiday meat raffle on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is open to the public. A raffle will be held downstairs in the Member Social Room. Raffle includes roasts, hams, lobsters, seafood and more. Raffle proceeds will go to Shelburne Falls Eagles Scholarship Fund. Karaoke will follow the raffle – featuring Dirty Johnny until 11 p.m.
GREENFIELD SENIOR CENTER in the Weldon off High Street in Greenfield will celebrate Winter Solstice on Wednesday, Dec. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a lasagna luncheon with salad, rolls, dessert and beverage. Tickets are $8.
GREENFIELD SENIOR CENTER in the Weldon off High Street in Greenfield will serve pizza on Thursday, Dec. 22, at noon – your choice of meat or veggie. Two slices and a beverage for $3 per person. Registration, with payment, is due 24 hours in advance. The classic movie “White Christmas” will be shown at 1. The movie is free. Call to reserve at 413-772-1517.
And now, I’d like to tell you a little about some of our neighbors.
A GREENFIELD MAN’S COLUMN on the Business page of the Huffington Post in October about a Turners Falls man’s film concerning food co-ops was featured for five consecutive days and drew more than 2,600 “likes.” It was our neighbor Al Norman who wrote about Steve Alves’ documentary, “Food For Change.” Visit: http://huff.to/2eTClRb
I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE regarding the National Stair Climb for Fallen Firefighters I told you about a couple of months ago. Seven firefighters from Franklin County headed to New York – five of them from Conway – to climb in honor of all fallen firefighters. Two of the five were junior firefighters (teens). The entire team finished the event. We’re proud of you all!
HADASSAH HELD ITS 2016 Keepers of the Gate reception a few weeks ago and a couple of members from Greenfield attended. Our neighbor Shirley Colodny received her Chai Keepers of the Gate pine from Hadassah Greenfield President Janet Hodos. Congratulations!
OUR SHUTESBURY NEIGHBOR ZIPORAH HILDEBRANDT is a winner of the Writers of the Future Contest, which is in its 33rd year. Ziporah was chosen from a group of eight finalists, making her a quarterly winner in the contest. She earned a cash prize, a trip to Hollywood for a weeklong intensive professional writing workshop and more for her short story, “The Long Dizzy Down,” published in the annual bestseller, “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future,” Vol. 33. Ziporah studied poetry writing at Hampshire College. Congratulations Ziporah!
DAWNDALE FARM WILDLIFE IN BERNARNDSTON and Cummington Wildlife will hold a seminar “Preparing to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator” on two consecutive Saturdays – Jan. 21 and 28 – at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The seminar is limited to 25 participants. Registration is necessary – last year’s seminars sold out. It’s an intensive two-day program giving the basics of what wildlife rehabilitation entails and how to pass the state exam to become one. The cost is $155 per person. For more information, call Nancy Bordewieck at 413-834-5733 or Judy Pasko at 413-695-6854.
THERE WERE SEVEN FINALISTS in the 4th annual Historic Deerfield King Arthur Flour Holiday Cookie Baking Contest this year. Those finalists included three people from Franklin County. The entries were judged on taste, appearance, festiveness, originality and overall appeal. First Place (Gold) went to Lynne Dyer of Turners Falls for her Santa’s Blondies cookies. Charlsie Woodside of Leverett received Third Place (Red) for Nana’s Sugar Cookies. Tammy Aiken of Turners Falls received Fourth Place (Green) for her Butternut Squash Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. Congratulations to all for their yummy wins.
ONE GREENFIELD RESTAURANT will join more than 20 western Massachusetts culinary greats at the 27th annual Chefs for Jimmy later in January. Pierce Brothers Coffee will participate in the event that raises money to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Each participant will share a delicious local dish for tasting. Chefs for Jimmy is an annual event. For more information about the event, including date, time and cost and to purchase tickets, visit: www.jimmyfund.org/chefs-for-jimmy
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 two days before you want it to run. Neighbors runs on Wednesday.