Hello neighbor.
I still think about our neighbors in the Pumpkin Hollow section of Conway who suffered devastating loss when a tornado hit in late February, and hope they are recovering as life gets back to “normal.” While I feel bad about their losses, I’m am so very grateful no one was hurt.
Twelve-year-old Kyle Baker, a sixth-grader at Conway Grammar School, wrote a poem about the incident as part of a class assignment. I don’t think I have to say another word – except that my thoughts and prayers are still with you, Conway. Thanks Kyle!
Here’s Kyle’s poem, “The Storm of Many Voices:”
The voices of all the fallen trees
Twisted right around
The voices of all the houses
With their walls blown down
The voices of all the people
With holes in their roofs
The voices of all the workers
With little to no sleep
The voices of the church bells
That ring no more
This storm has many voices
We are just lucky that none of them were lost
GILL MEMORIAL COMMITTEE is accepting donations for the placement of flags on ultility poles inthe center of town. Depending on what is raised, the committee is hoping to expand the project in the future. Flags will be displayed from Memorial day through Veterans Day. A flag, flag staff and bracket cost approximately $43. Donations may be sent to: Town of Gill Memorial Committee, Flag Project, 325 Main Road, Gill, MA 01354.
HAVE YOU BEAUTIFIED OR REPAIRED something in your home lately? Share your project – humble or major – in an upcoming Recorder supplement. Email Chris Harris (charris@recorder.com) by Friday.
GREENFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL is holding its annual “ShamROCK” concert tonight at 7 in the school auditorium on Federal Street.
TILTON LIBRARY WILL HOST a presentation by Barry Dietz on the life and poetry of Robert Frost tonight at 6:30 in Deerfield Town Hall. “Nature’s First Green is Gold” will explore how Frost, who was born in California and spent his teen years in Lawrence, became the quintessential rural New England poet. The program, offered as part of Tilton Library’s 100th anniversary celebration, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served and a drawing for new copy of American Library’s “Robert Frost: Collected Poems, Prose and Plays” will be held. More information can be found at: www.tiltonlibrary.org.
GREENFIELD COUNCIL ON AGING in the Weldon on High Street will show “Singing in the Rain” on Thursday at 1 p.m. It’s free! Donations support the council. To reserve a seat, call 413-772-1517.
GREENFIELD COUNCIL ON AGING in the Weldon on High Street will hold Creative Coloring on Fridays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Meet new friends and reconnect with old ones while creating something great. A variety of materials will be provided for free. You can also bring your own. No need to register.
COME TO THE CABARET at First Parish Unitarian in the center of Northfield on Saturday at 7 p.m. for wide-ranging musical entertainment hosted by Paul Bocko and Michael Bird. There will be many local performers. By donation. Benefits the church. For more information, call 413-648-9120.
GREENFIELD SAVINGS BANK on Avenue A in Turners Falls will hold a “Budget Dance” with John Hanold and Michael Naughton on Saturday at 10 a.m. They are both members of the Montague Finance Committee. Bring your questions and concerns. Light refreshments will be served.
ATHOL AND ORANGE LIBRARIES will offer free sign language classes for babies and toddlers. Both are hosting Sheryl White of Baby Kneads in Boston to teach a four-week sign language workshop for caregivers of babies and preverbal toddler. Classes will meet on four Thursdays in March and April at 10:30 a.m. The first two classes will be held March 30 and April 6 at Athol Public Library. The last two classes meet on April 13 and 27 in Wheeler Memorial Library in Orange.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Montague is holding its annual sugar on snow supper on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The menu includes corned beef hash, baked beans, Harvard beets, coleslaw, homemade bread, doughnuts and sugar on snow with a side of pickles. Reservations are recommended. Take-out orders will be taken. For reservations, call 413-863-2398. Walk-ins are welcome. Cost is $12 for adults and $5 for children under 10 years old.
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S REGIONAL DOG SHELTER is holding a rabies clinic on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the shelter on Sandy Lane in Turners Falls. No appointments needed – $20 per pet. All dogs must be leashed and all cats must be in crates. Call 413-676-9182.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH at 43 Silver St. in Greenfield will hold an event, Racial Justice Rising, with Ashfield lawyer Buz Eisenberg speaking on racial inequities in our criminal legal system on Saturday. Doors will open at 9:45. Donations are accepted. Light refreshments will be available.
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE, the Relay For Life team of the Dwight family and friends, will hold a fundraiser breakfast at United Church of Bernardston, 58 Church St. in Bernardston on Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. There will be corn fritters, pancakes, sausage and more. The cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children ages 4 to 13. Children 3 and under are free. Get tickets at the door. There will also be a bake sale and drawings.
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 most weeks.