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The Greenfield Public Library welcomes local author Sarah Pirtle on Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss her novel “An Outbreak of Peace.” -
The Greenfield High School Band, pictured marching in the Franklin County Fair parade in 2022, will present a spring concert on Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium.
GREENFIELD — The city’s Department of Public Works will begin flushing fire hydrants Monday, May 13, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The tentative schedule is as follows:
■Monday, May 13 — Barton Road from Adams Road west to Colrain.
■Tuesday, May 14 — Silver Street from High Street west to Colrain Road, then south to Sanderson Street.
■Wednesday, May 15 — Sanderson Street from Parkway west to Colrain Road, then south to Main Street.
■Thursday, May 16 — Main Street from Highland Avenue west to Munson Street, then south to Montague City Road.
■Friday, May 17 — Montague City Road from Deerfield Street to Mountain Road, then Camp Avenue to Temple Avenue.
■Monday, May 20 — Bernardston Road, Adams Road and the industrial park.
■Tuesday, May 21 — Dead-end streets and roads.
This schedule is weather-dependent. If the weather is inclement on the first day, then hydrant flushing will start on the second day, etc.
Residents are advised that their tap water may be a little discolored in the afternoon. They are encouraged to run the water to clear up any discoloration before drinking it or doing laundry.
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library welcomes local author Sarah Pirtle on Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss her novel “An Outbreak of Peace.”
Pirtle’s novel takes place in Franklin County in the 1980s. In 1987, it received the Olive Branch Award for outstanding book of the year on world peace. Now it returns expanded with local people — Juanita and Wally Nelson, Randy Kehler and Betsy Corner — as additional characters in the book.
“An Outbreak of Peace” reveals true local events along with a fictional plot — teenagers ask their Town Meeting to vote to declare peace, meaning that everyone will choose something to do that helps build community.
Copies of her book will be available for purchase.
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield High School Spring Band Concert will be held Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. It’s free and open to the public.
The Band Parents’ Association is seeking additional members, and will hold a bake sale and raffles in support of the band and music program.
The Greenfield High School Band will also march and perform in the city’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 27, at 10 a.m.
After the parade, there will be a potluck picnic and end-of-year celebration at the high school for band students and their families.
The band will also perform at the high school’s Senior Awards Night on May 30 and graduation on June 1. Greenfield High School Band Camp will be held Aug. 12-15.
GREENFIELD — Artspace Community Arts Center is finalizing plans for its Community Clay Project and is seeking input.
Last summer, Artspace received a feasibility and planning grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to study how best to bring the idea of a community clay studio to fruition.
Over the fall and winter, the arts center used part of that funding to commission a feasibility and marketing study from the UMass Arts Extension Service to inform the planning process.
Now, Artspace is gathering more specific input about what students, families, educators and peers think a community clay studio in Greenfield should be like.
Residents are encouraged to schedule a one-on-one “Clay Conversation” with Artspace Director Madeline Miller between May 13 and May 31 by visiting tinyurl.com/ArtspaceCalendar; join a group conversation about how Artspace can best serve Greenfield and Franklin County with clay programming on Thursday, May 16, at 7 p.m. or Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. by signing up at tinyurl.com/CommunityClayInput; or fill out a survey about program offerings that would interest them at tinyurl.com/ClayProgrammingSurvey.
GREENFIELD — Join Rory Joyce, outreach coordinator with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for “Health Care Options for Seniors” on Friday, May 17, at 11 a.m. at the Greenfield Public Library.
This presentation is geared toward existing Medicare enrollees, with a focus on the differences between Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as understanding when you can switch plans. It also explains how Medicare Part D plans work.
This program is free, but registration is requested by emailing Rory.Joyce@bcbsma.com.
GREENFIELD — Just Roots, a local farming and food access nonprofit, will host a Spring Festival and Seedling Sale on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 34 Glenbrook Drive.
The Just Roots Spring Festival and Seedling Sale is free to attend and will feature live music, cooking demonstrations and samples, farm tours, a free seed swap, a raffle with prizes from local businesses, children’s activities and free ice cream from Ice Cream Emergency.
Seedlings for sale will include vegetables, flowers, culinary and medicinal herbs, native pollinators and more from Just Roots, MXED GREENS, Turtle Bend Farm, Checkerspot Farm, Sage Green Botanicals, People’s Medicine Project, Sawmill Herb Farm, Foxtrot Farm, and Wing and a Prayer Nursery.
More information can be found at justroots.org/event/spring-festival-seedling-sale.
This event is held in the midst of the Just Roots’ Spring Appeal fundraising campaign.
The organization aims to raise $20,000 by the end of May to support its community farm and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
This year, Just Roots will serve up to 1,000 families in Franklin County and statewide through its CSA program, 90% of whom are low-income and/or food insecure. Funds generated through Just Roots’ Spring Appeal will bridge the gap between what participating families are able to pay for a seasonal farm share and what it costs to grow fresh, local food. In addition, Just Roots is seeking to make investments at the farm to build resiliency as it continues to recover from the flooding of 2023 and adapt to a changing climate. To donate or for more information about the Spring Appeal, visit justroots.org/donate-to-spring-appeal.
GREENFIELD — A 28th annual spring concert of vocal and choral music will be presented by the Recital Chorus, directed by Margery Heins, on Saturday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Greenfield Community College’s Sloan Theater.
The chorus is made up of college and community singers who will present rounds, madrigals and folk songs for the season, as well as other works from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Music will be sung in several languages, in unison songs, and in pieces for women’s chorus and for mixed voices. Soloists and small groups will perform.
Most singers in the Recital Chorus are private voice students of Heins who study with her at her studio in Shelburne Falls and at GCC. Voice students learn solos in their lessons, and in addition, focus on the importance of small ensemble singing as they become members of the Recital Chorus. Soloists in the May 18 concert include Nancy Blickenstaff, Jenny Kilgore and Vicki St. Amand. Heins will conduct the ensembles. Meg Reilly, pianist and organist at the First Congregational Church of Ashfield, will accompany at the piano.
Donations (cash or check) will be accepted at the door to defray concert expenses and to benefit the GCC Food Pantry.
GREENFIELD — Starting June 7, Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care will offer a six-week Spouse/Partner Bereavement Support Group at the Greenfield Senior Center on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
The group, which continues through July 12, is specifically for seniors ages 55 and older who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner. The group, facilitated by Marcia Schuhle, offers support through education and the sharing of feelings associated with the grieving process. It is recommended that the death be at least three months before the start of a group. A brief interview is required.
The group is free and limited to 10 participants. To register, call Pioneer Valley Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Maude Williamson at 413-774-2400 by May 30.
GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. is accepting submissions from Massachusetts filmmakers for the fourth annual LAVA Film Festival, a showcase of Massachusetts filmmaking talent, from students to professionals and everyone in between.
The festival will take place Oct. 11 to Oct. 13 at The LAVA Center. The early bird registration deadline is Sunday, July 21, with a fee of $6.50 for adults, and the regular deadline is Sunday, Aug. 11, with an $11 fee for adults. Youth under the age of 18 can submit their films for free by either deadline.
However, Pioneer Valley filmmakers can submit for free by getting a promo code to waive the entry fee. Email info@thelavacenter.org and state your town of residence.
Films must be made by current residents of Massachusetts. Films and videos of any length, any subject and any style will be accepted, but they must be creative projects in their own right, as opposed to live events or performances filmed for documentation purposes. Filmmakers may be asked to rate their accepted submissions using MPAA guidelines so The LAVA Center can include suggested age ranges in publicity and program introductions.
Submissions will be accepted through FilmFreeway at filmfreeway.com/LAVAFilmFestival.
GREENFIELD — “Distractions,” an art show by a group of Greenfield Community College student artists, is on display at Artspace Community Arts Center, 15 Mill St., through May 31. Visit artspacegreenfield.org/gallery for more information, including gallery hours.