SHUTESBURY — The Shutesbury Community Church is hosting a community tree lighting, carol singing and a visit from Santa at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, on the town common.
According to a notice from Pastor Mark Ellis, social distancing and masks are recommended. The tree was donated by West Brook Tree Farm of Athol.
Santa will tell the story of Christmas and give gift bags to children. Cider doughnuts and hot chocolate will also be served.
WHATELY — Ed the Wizard and his Balloon Animal Twisting Workshop will appear at Town Hall, 194 Chestnut Plain Road, on Saturday, Dec. 11, starting at 1 p.m.
Patrons will learn the art of balloon twisting as they create their own dog, bunny, cat and more, according to an event press release. No experienced is required.
This program, which is supported in part by a grant from the Whately Cultural Council, is free and opened to the public, but may require registration. Contact the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library at 413-665-2170 for more information and to register.
Deerfield and Sunderland hosting annual holiday light contests
Deerfield and Sunderland are once again hosting home holiday decorating contests for December.
In Deerfield, awards will be given in four categories: judges’ choice, traditional, “wow” factor and most creative.
Entry forms for Deerfield must be received by Dec. 10, and judging will take place from Dec. 14 to 16, from 4 to 10 p.m. Winners will receive cash or gift cards from local businesses. Deerfield forms can be found at bit.ly/3lsgamu.
In Sunderland, awards will be given in four categories: traditional holiday themes; lights, lights and more lights; inflatable display; and lighted lawn figure display.
Entry forms must be received by Dec. 13. Judging will take place on Dec. 15 and 16, between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. Winners will receive gift cards from local businesses. Sunderland forms can be found at bit.ly/3pkUWb6.
DEERFIELD — The Recreation Department is holding another toy and food drive to support the Franklin Area Survival Center
Food and new, unwrapped toys are being accepted at the Deerfield Town Hall entryway until Dec. 15. Gift certificates to area stores will also be accepted and can be put in the Town Hall dropbox in an envelope addressed to the Recreation Department.
For more information, email recdep@town.deerfield.ma.us.
Wintermelon Wednesdays to kick off winter season
WHATELY — Watermelon Wednesdays will continue into the winter season with the seasonal rebranding of Wintermelon Wednesdays.
Shows at the Whately Town Hall will kick off Dec. 15, with banjoist Tony Trischka and his group performing his “Of a Winter’s Night” program, according to the concert series’ newsletter. The program is “an acoustic celebration of the holiday season.”
The show will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets can be found at the Watermelon Wednesday website, watermelonwednesdays.com. Brownies from the Whately Inn will be served at intermission. Attendees must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and must wear a mask inside the building.
DEERFIELD — The town is preparing its seven-year update to the Open Space and Recreation Plan and is seeking public input.
According to a press release from Allison Gage, land use and natural resources planner with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), the town encourages each member of the household to fill out their own survey, which can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/DeerfieldOSRP. Paper copies can be found at the Town Hall or Tilton Library. Responses are due by Dec. 17.
CONWAY — In an effort to support the Hilltown Churches Food Pantry, the Friends of the Field Memorial Library is hosting the annual Holiday Giving Tree.
The tree in the Field Memorial Library’s rotunda will have envelopes in which gift cards and donations can be left, while gift bags under the tree can be filled with donated items, according to a Friends press release. The tree will be in the library through Dec. 18.
The food pantry is specifically requesting books for children ages 2 to 18, gift cards for children’s gifts, food items that can help make cookies and sweets for the holidays, and basic toiletries.
The library is open to receive donations Mondays from 3 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS — Beta Zeta at-large chapter members of Sigma attended the Sigma Convention, an annual convention celebrating nurses from around the world.
Beta Zeta at-large chapter President Mary Ellen Burke, from Conway, presented her nursing research titled “Escape from Florence Nightingale Hospital: A Virtual Stimulation to Teach Ethics” as the chapter received its 14th Chapter Key Award.
Sigma was founded in 1922 and now has more than 135,000 active members in 530 chapters in more than 90 countries around the world.