NORTHFIELD — Naturalist Nancy Goodman will lead a tree identification walk from the Riverview Picnic Area, located at 100 Ferry Road, on Saturday, Oct. 21, starting at 10 a.m.
According to a post on the Nextdoor social networking service, the free event is open to anyone ages 16 and older, and will allow participants to become familiar with the characteristic bark of different trees in varying habitats and at different stages of growth, as well as identify trees by their leaves and other clues.
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, snacks, sturdy walking shoes and the book “Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast” by Michael Wojtech if they have a copy.
Call 800-859-2960 for advance registration.
WARWICK — Warwick Community School will be hosting a spaghetti supper on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Dinner will include pasta, salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea and other beverages, according to the Warwick town website. The event also features a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 12, and children age 3 and younger eat for free.
BERNARDSTON — The Sandri Companies, owner of The Inn at Crumpin-Fox, asked the Selectboard to reconsider the town’s raise of the local room occupancy excise from 4 to 6 percent during a Wednesday meeting.
Selectboard Chairman Stanley Garland read a letter from The Sandri Companies, which proposed the tax increase be brought to voters at a meeting where Sandri could present a case for the rate to remain at 4 percent.
Voters approved the change to 6 percent during May’s town meeting.
Garland explained company representatives felt “very disappointed” by the increase, and felt they weren’t given a chance to debate it. With the company not having a Bernardston office, the letter stated representatives didn’t receive notice that the increase would be brought before voters.
The board agreed the excise rate should remain the same, though Selectboard Robert Raymond noted the company could garner 25 signatures and put a petition article on the spring town meeting warrant.
BERNARDSTON — Pioneer Valley Regional School District Superintendent Ruth Miller asked the Selectboard to consider forming a committee to recommend changes to the district agreement during a Wednesday meeting.
Selectboard Chairman Stanley Garland read a letter from Miller, in which she proposed a meeting to discuss tackling the project. She suggested involving a representative from each of the four towns.
The board agreed that the HEART Committee, or the committee for “Honest Education and Retaining Trust” that met for the first time in early March, was originally formed to recommend changes to the district agreement under which all member towns operate. Robert Keir, a member of the HEART Committee, said he believes the committee still plans to look at the agreement once it collects more data about the district to inform its work. Thus, the board decided to allow the committee to continue and reanalyze the situation later should the group not consider changes to the agreement.