South Deerfield resident named to dean’s list

COLCHESTER, Vt. — Elijah Phelps, a Frontier Regional School graduate from South Deerfield, earned a spot on the dean’s list at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont for the spring semester.

The rising sophomore was named to the dean’s list for completing at least 12 class credits and earning a grade point average at or above 3.5 in the semester.

Aug. 3: Seed saving presentation

CONWAY — The Friends of the Field Memorial Library will host a seed saving presentation on Monday, Aug. 3, at 5 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.

Gretel Anspach, a Massachusetts Horticultural Society trustee and lifetime master gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, will discuss the benefits of saving seeds, techniques “for ensuring genetic purity” and the easiest home garden plants with seeds to store, according to Linda McDaniel, chair of the Friends. Participants can choose from a variety of dried flower heads to harvest seeds for their own gardens.

Second floor of Tilton Library to open on Aug. 3

SOUTH DEERFIELD — After opening its first floor in January, Tilton Library will open its second floor on Monday, Aug. 3. The installation of the elevator connecting the two floors held up the opening of the entire space.

  • Library Director Candace Bradbury-Carlin in the Reading Room in the original portion of Tilton Library. Credit: PAUL FRANZ / Staff File Photo
  • The History Room and Makerspace in the original portion of Tilton Library. Credit: PAUL FRANZ / Staff File Photo
  • The Teen Room on the second floor of the addition to Tilton Library. Credit: PAUL FRANZ / Staff File Photo
  • A wall of windows brings the outside in on the second floor of the addition to Tilton Library. Credit: PAUL FRANZ / Staff File Photo

On Aug. 3, visitors will have a chance to explore the upstairs for the first time, where the original building is broken into a craft space and a room featuring local history. A few steps up takes visitors to two quiet study rooms and a new Teen Room — a driving force behind the expansion, according to Tilton Library Director Candace Bradbury-Carlin — with reading or socializing nooks, tables for arts and crafts, and a gaming area. To tailor the new space to meet local teens’ needs, an advisory board of about five Frontier Regional School high schoolers and 10 middle schoolers met to brainstorm ideas.

The library will be closed between July 29 and Aug. 2 to prepare for the second floor’s debut, with the exception of the Bruins mascot event to be held the Children’s Room on Wednesday, July 29, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Visitors can pick up ice cream at the Aug. 3 opening while supplies last and roam the new space with their neighbors.

Whately receives $225K grant for new loader

WHATELY — As part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)’s recent slew of Unpaved Roads Program grants, the Whately Highway Department received $225,000 to purchase a new loader.

According to Highway and Buildings Superintendent Garrett Barry, the current 20-year-old loader is “desperately in need” of replacement.

“It’s served its time,” Barry said.

He credited the town’s Community Development Administrator Caroline Gurek with securing the grant — state support that makes investments like a new loader possible for Whately.

“It’s a huge thing for us,” Barry said. “I’m super happy.”