Historic Deerfield visitors can learn to make miniature whisk brooms

DEERFIELD — In celebration of stick season, Historic Deerfield will teach visitors the history of Deerfield brooms and how to make their own miniature whisk brooms using broomcorn from Historic Deerfield’s garden.

The event, “Sweep Away the Fall: Brooms and Sticks,” will run on Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the History Workshop at 110 Old Main St.

The event is included with general admission to Historic Deerfield.

Whately Congregational Church to host organ concert

WHATELY — The Whately Congregational Church is hosting a free organ concert on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. to thank the town for supporting the restoration of the church’s windows, with eight windows even dating back to the 1800s.

Special Town Meeting voters approved appropriating $38,000 from the Community Preservation Fund for the project in November 2022. Three years later, the restored windows are now in place at the 1843 building, according to Community Preservation Committee member Judy Markland.

To celebrate the project’s completion, organists William and Marjorie Ness of Lancaster will perform on the church’s Estey Organ, including a duet.

Community forum will inform Deerfield residents on the local impacts of state and federal cuts

DEERFIELD — Residents will hear from state legislators and officials on the local impact of federal and state budget cuts on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Town Hall.

Sen. Jo Comerford, Rep. Natalie Blais, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Executive Director Andrew Morehouse and Massachusetts Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi will join Town Administrator Christopher Dunne to explain the local impact of these cuts at Sunday’s forum, hosted by the citizens group Engage: Deerfield. After the discussion, attendees will take a break for refreshments before a question-and-answer session.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. To secure a spot, RSVP at engagedeerfield.org/rsvp.html.

Bement School hosting fifth annual Winter Community Needs Drive

DEERFIELD — The Bement School will host its fifth annual Winter Community Needs Drive, rain or shine, on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The school is seeking coats, hats, waterproof gloves and mittens, new wool socks and other types of socks, new underwear, sweatpants, sweatshirts, thermal layers and other winter clothing. Toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, feminine hygiene products and deodorant, are sought, along with a few food items that can be difficult for service agencies to collect, such as flour, white sugar, cake mix, instant pudding, gluten-free items, ketchup, oatmeal and mayonnaise. Donations for families in need across western Massachusetts can be dropped off at the parking area on campus at 538 Greenfield Road.

According to The Bement School’s Communications and Events Coordinator’s Crista DeRicco, the drive is part of the month-long Bement Gives Back Challenge, an event focused on collecting volunteer hours to support local organizations like the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Franklin County Community Meals Program, The Treehouse Foundation, United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region and Dakin Humane Society. Donors then match the volunteer hours to support the school.

Deerfield Police Officer Marissa Smith resigning

DEERFIELD — After about eight years, officer Marissa “Rissa” Smith’s last day at the Deerfield Police Department is Friday. According to Police Chief John Paciorek Jr., Smith will be joining the Bennington (Vermont) Police Department.

“I would like to express that I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Deerfield community and for the members that make this town so special,” Smith wrote in an email on Thursday. “I have been lucky to learn from and work with some of the best Police, Fire and EMS professionals, and will miss everyone very much.”

Paciorek said Smith first joined the Deerfield Police Department in February 2017 as a part-time officer before becoming full-time in June 2019. During her time in Deerfield, she attended several trainings, including the National Cyber Crime Conference. She is also a certified sexual assault investigator.

“She excels in every aspect of police work: citizen engagement, community problem-solving, proactive policing, interviewing, diffusing situations, documentation, with an extensive report-writing skill set,” Paciorek wrote in a letter to the Bennington Police Department, also noting Smith’s knack for technology. “I cannot even express the loss to the town of Deerfield and, more specifically, our agency. Even the prosecutors at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the State Police Detective Units (Greenfield and Northampton), and surrounding agencies are at a loss for words.”

In an email, Paciorek described Smith as “one of the best police officers, human beings and community servants I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”

“Vermont is getting an absolute rock star,” he added.