Tree House Brewing Co. holding ‘October in the Field’
SOUTH DEERFIELD — “October in the Field” will return for its second year of fall festivities at Tree House Brewing Co. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5.
Visitors can choose from a selection of lagers, the Appletini, the brewery’s latest fall drink or the Apple Cider Donut Latte. Tree House pizza and meals from a food truck will also be available.
Local artists will play live music outside. Attendees can compete in a stein-hoisting competition or launch pumpkins in the “Pumpkin Slingshot.”
Anyone ages 12 or older must have a valid ticket to enter. Tickets are $10 and available on the business’ website.
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library hosting free Big Band Concert
WHATELY — The S. White Dickinson Memorial Library will host a free Big Band Concert on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m., a concert funded by a grant from the Whately Cultural Council.
On the lawn behind the library, visitors can listen to jazz, blues, Latin, rock, pop, funk and other genres.
Oct. 5: ‘Shutesbury Decade Party’
SHUTESBURY — A “Shutesbury Decade Party” will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. on the town common.
With ice cream, games, cake and music, the afternoon is for attendees to celebrate their decade birthdays with their neighbors.
‘Monday Music Movement with Janet Ryan’ series continues
WHATELY — The “Monday Music Movement with Janet Ryan” series will continue on Oct. 6, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. in the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library Children’s Room.
The free series promises a morning of music and movement for families with children up to 5 years old.
Town survey available to determine future of former Whately Center School
WHATELY — A town survey is available for Whately residents to weigh in on the best next life of the vacant Whately Center School building.
According to Judy Markland, a member of the revived Center School Committee, the town is collaborating with consultant McCabe Enterprises on a feasibility study “to determine the best future use” of the school on Chestnut Plain Road. She added that the company is currently conducting a structural and architectural analysis to ultimately recommend one residential use and two commercial use options for the building.
In an email, Markland wrote that the next steps will stem from research on town preferences, market demands, rent costs, structural limitations and cost estimates for each scenario.
To hear from the town, the feasibility study group created a survey at survey.alchemer.com/s3/8450762/Whately-Center-School-Survey. The deadline to submit is Oct. 8.
“Town input is critically important,” Markland wrote in an email. “The study group is seeking responses from a wide age range and multiple responses per household are encouraged.”
Oct. 17: Vaccination clinic
SHUTESBURY — Residents can stop by Shutesbury Elementary School for a vaccination clinic on Friday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m.
COVID-19, flu, tetanus, HPV, Hepatitis A and B, meningitis and pneumonia vaccines will be available at the clinic. To register, visit stopandshopsched.rxtouch.com/rbssched/program/SS9095/Patient/Advisory. Details about eligibility are available on the Shutesbury Board of Health’s website at shutesbury.org/health.
South County Senior Center to receive new PVTA van
DEERFIELD — The South County Senior Center will receive a new van after the Deerfield Selectboard authorized Jennifer Ferrara, director of the Senior Center, to sign a grant agreement with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) on Wednesday.
Through the agreement, PVTA will reimburse the Senior Center up to 50% of the $9,148 bill for the van.
“We’ve been working over the past year on different ways to provide transportation for our seniors,” said Deerfield Selectboard Chair and South County Senior Center Board of Oversight member Trevor McDaniel.
Because Deerfield, the fiduciary agent for the Senior Center, has already received the funds for the van, “It’s really no cost to us,” McDaniel explained. “I thought we’d try this out for a year and if it’s beneficial to both, we’ll continue it.”
“We’re happy to partner with the PVTA to provide transportation with medical rides through the MassDOT grant,” Ferrara said over text message on Thursday.
Selectboard OKs appointments, resignations
DEERFIELD — The Selectboard appointed officials to several vacant positions and accepted two resignations during its meeting on Wednesday.
The board appointed Josh LaFlamme to serve as operator-in-training with the Department of Public Works, Ryan Kingston to the Energy Conservation Committee, Margaret Nartowicz to serve as the Finance Committee representative on the Capital Improvement Planning Committee (CIPC), Mary Ramon as the Deerfield Elementary School Committee representative on the CIPC and Jennie McAvoy to the Historical Commission.
The board also accepted the resignations of Mark Brennan as the Finance Committee representative on the CIPC and Carey Etchells as the Deerfield Elementary School Committee representative on the CIPC.
Selectboard Chair Trevor McDaniel thanked Brennan for “his level-headedness, attention to detail and dedication to serving on the Capital Improvement Planning Committee,” adding, “I think he did a wonderful job in the last few years.” He noted that the town is “in good hands” with his replacement, Nartowicz.
Free child care available for Special Town Meeting
DEERFIELD — Free child care is available for families planning to attend the Special Town Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. in Deerfield Town Hall.
Parents can drop off their children ages 4 and up from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Frontier Regional School library. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/DeerfieldSTMChildCare.