COLRAIN — The Colrain Firefighters’ Association will hold its annual pancake breakfast and auction on Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. at Colrain Central School.
According to a post on the Colrain Firefighters’ Association’s Facebook page, more than 60 raffle items have been donated by local businesses and individuals.
Tickets for the pancake breakfast are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under.
COLRAIN — Dennis Piana of Colrain has been selected as a finalist for the 2021 Beals Prize for Poetry given by the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon.
Now in its second year, the competition drew submissions from 44 poets from across the state, according to a press release from Library Director Manuel King. The top 10 finalists will read their submissions during an awards ceremony at the library, at 50 Pleasant St. in Winchendon, on Friday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Immediately after the readings, a panel of three judges will announce the winners, the release states. Prize money of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place will be awarded.
Piana, who lives in Colrain with his wife, Robbie Murphy, was chosen for his poem “To Escape the Confining.” According to the release, Piana won first place in the Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest in 2016, edited “The Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest Silver Anniversary Anthology” and has been an adjunct professor in English and film studies at several Massachusetts universities and colleges. His prose and poems have appeared in several print and electronic publications, and have been showcased in Western Massachusetts literary events and public libraries.
Other finalists for the 2021 Beals Prize for Poetry are: Mary Buchinger Bodwell of Cambridge for “Lincoln’s Throat”; Mark Fisher of Ashburnham for “The Wren”; Jacquelyn Healy of Baldwinville for “Field Mouse”; Phoebe Hynes of Amherst for “Open Space”; Aidan Needle of Athol for “Sorrento”; Chris O’Carroll of Pelham for “Memo from the Cat”; Jonathan Raskett of Hardwick for “When Sunset Ignites”; Paula Sayword of Hatfield for “Swallows”; and Stephanie Shafran of Northampton for “Breathing Kindness.”
For more information, call the Beals Memorial Library at 978-297-0300. Those wishing to attend the awards ceremony must register in advance as seating is limited.
Cultural Council seeks applications
BUCKLAND — The Buckland Cultural Council is seeking applications for grants it will award to fund arts and humanities projects and events.
According to Cultural Council Co-Chair Laura Cunningham, “it is the council’s mission to support the cultural offerings of the area for a wide age range of people including seniors and youth, and to improve the quality of life for students in, residents of and visitors to West County.”
Artists, schools and community groups are invited to apply. The Buckland Cultural Council has been allotted $5,000 from the Mass Cultural Council to award. Applications are due Oct. 15.
To learn more and to apply, visit massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/Buckland.
Book signing set for Oct. 23
SHELBURNE FALLS — The Salmon Falls Gallery at 1 Ashfield St. will host author Astrid Sheckels for an in-person book signing event on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Attendees can purchase a signed copy of her new book, called “Hector Fox and the Giant Quest.” Guests are also welcome to shop the gallery’s usual collection of watercolor originals, reproductions, calendars, mugs and cards by Sheckels.
Women’s Club
holding pie sale
SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club will hold a pie sale on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon on Bridge Street in front of Keystone Market. Proceeds will benefit the club’s scholarship fund.
SHELBURNE FALLS — Levin Finck of Shelburne Falls earned a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in May.