Full Snow Moon gathering and Eastern Woodlands Social Dance returns to GCC

GREENFIELD — People are invited to gather at Greenfield Community College’s Cohn Family Dining Commons on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. to participate in an Eastern Woodlands Social Dance, a single-file, call-and-response dance led by Annawon Weeden.

According to an event notice from the Nolumbeka Project, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural and historical preservation of Native American history, Weeden (of Mashpee Wampanoag, Pequot and Narragansett lineage) is continuing his efforts to “correct misinformation and misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples.” As founder and director of the nonprofit First Light Foundation, Weeden aims to educate people about Indigenous history and culture.

Other guests at the event include Liz Coldwind Santana-Kiser, Shawn Stevens, Wanonah Kosbab and Dan Shears. Nolumbeka Project President David Brule will serve as emcee.

Saturday’s event is the first of several upcoming Nolumbeka Project programs dedicated to remembering King Philip’s War and the Great Falls Massacre that occurred in 1676.

‘Sheepdog’ encore screening and director Q&A returning to Garden Cinemas

GREENFIELD — Steven Grayhm, director of the locally shot film “Sheepdog,” will return to the Garden Cinemas on Main Street for a question-and-answer session after another screening of the film on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m.

The theater hosted the first screening of the film to a sold-out audience a week before its national release on Friday, Jan. 16. This encore screening and Q&A will give residents another chance to see “Sheepdog,” which was shot in Greenfield, Montague, Erving and Shelburne Falls.

The film aims to depict the reality for veterans who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but with a unique perspective on the post-traumatic growth (PTG) that can be possible with community compassion and personal growth.

The film begins by focusing on U.S. Army veteran Calvin Cole (played by Grayhm), who returns from his final deployment in Afghanistan. Cole is court-ordered to receive treatment for PTSD. He works with Veterans Affairs trauma therapist Dr. Elecia Knox (Virginia Madsen), and his father-in-law and Vietnam War veteran Whitney St. Germain (Vondie Curtis-Hall) comes back into his life unexpectedly.

Since the film debuted to national audiences, “Sheepdog” has earned a 77% critic rating and a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Grayhm, a Greenfield resident, has appeared nationally on platforms like CNN and Fox News to talk about the film.

Tickets for the screening and Q&A are available for $8.50 on the Garden Cinemas website at tinyurl.com/yc3enexf.

Greenfield Democratic Committee to discuss town caucus, upcoming election

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Democratic Town Committee will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Elm Terrace Community Room to discuss the Democratic Town Caucus set for Feb. 28, and to plan for the upcoming election season.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Call 413-824-0401 for more information.

Greening Greenfield to host ‘Majority Rules’ screening

GREENFIELD — Greening Greenfield’s Film Committee will screen “Majority Rules” at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30.

Starting in 2022, Alaska began implementing election reforms that eliminated traditional party primaries and allowed voters to rank their candidates by preference. This system is called “ranked-choice voting.”

When the state’s longest-serving Congressman unexpectedly died, it created an open seat and prompted a special election that tested this system months earlier than expected. As dozens of candidates jumped into the race, everyone had to learn how these voting reforms would change the rules of campaigning and winning. The results sparked new alliances, a growing call for election reform and fierce pushback from political parties.

Discussion will follow the film. Refreshments will be served.