First Congregational Church of Shelburne to stream sermon by Raphael Warnock

SHELBURNE — The First Congregational Church of Shelburne will host a livestream of a sermon by the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a U.S. senator and senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive to Fellowship Hall between 9:30 and 10 a.m. Warnock will start speaking at 10. After the sermon, light refreshments and beverages will be served.

The livestream is part of the annual meeting of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Celebration of the Met Opera coming to Shelburne Falls

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall will soon be home to a celebration of the greatest opera performances that occurred at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

“Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas” is a collection of the best opera performances that happened at the Met, hosted by soprano Renée Fleming, whose performances are also featured in the collection.

Doors open at 51 Bridge St. at noon, while the screening begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $22. There is no advance seating.

Shelburne Falls Welcome Committee to host benefit

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Falls Welcome Committee will host “We Say No: A Benefit for Immigrant Rights” at the Buckland-Shelburne Community Center, 53 Main St., to raise money to support the Welcome Committee itself as well as the nonprofit Center for New Americans.

The event is slated for Sunday, Oct. 4, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event itself starts at 5 p.m., however, bidding on locally donated goods and services starts at 4:30.

The event will feature poetry from Martín Espada, a world-renowned poet who teaches the subject at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; attorney Stewart “Buz” Eisenberg; and state Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, who will provide an update on the status of immigrant rights in western Massachusetts. The West County Chorus will perform a few songs.

A potluck will start at 6:30 p.m. after the speakers and songs have concluded. Following the potluck, Congolese dance band Sammy & Brothers will play more music for the crowd.

To purchase a ticket, visit tinyurl.com/2kjmhrh3. To bid on the donated goods and services, visit go.rallyup.com/6f47ab.

Williamsburg Road bridge in Ashfield reopens

ASHFIELD — A bridge that has been closed since July 2025 reopened last Friday after the Massachusetts Department of Transportation finished its repairs.

According to a post on the Ashfield Fire Department’s Facebook page, town leaders received word that the permanent repairs had been completed on the Williamsburg Road bridge over Creamery Brook. The bridge has fully reopened.

In April of this year, the Selectboard heard from MassDOT that the state was willing to pick up the roughly $90,000 bill that Ashfield would be left with after completing the project. Todd Olanyk, who now serves as chair, said it was “a no-brainer” to accept the state money, with the project originally slated to be finished by the end of fiscal year 2026.

Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III had said in April that the project may be pushed back a few months.

Colrain Wood Bank opening soon

COLRAIN — Organizers of the Colrain Wood Bank told the Selectboard on Tuesday that the community resource will open on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Anyone who needs wood for whatever reason can stop at the Colrain Wood Bank, which is next to the Transfer Station on Charlemont Road. There is no cost to take any amount of wood, and anyone is able to donate wood as well.

Massachusetts Councils on Aging advises Colrain can still use grant money

COLRAIN — The Selectboard shared during its Tuesday meeting that town counsel, the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and the Executive Office of Aging & Independence are all in support of Colrain continuing to receive the $20,000 grant that had previously been rejected by the Colrain Council on Aging.

Town Administrator Diana Parsons said Colrain would receive an updated contract that names the town as the recipient of the grant instead of the Council on Aging. The Selectboard voted to appoint Parsons as the delegated authority to spend this grant money.

The grant will provide funding for congregate meals hosted by the town, and could also provide brown bag food delivery to seniors. There had also been previous discussion of involving Colrain Food For All in this process.

Patchwork begins on Number 9 Road in Heath

HEATH — The Highway Department has started patching Number 9 Road before snow and cold weather halt any infrastructure projects.

At the Sept. 8 Selectboard meeting, Highway Superintendent Tyson Howard outlined his plan for a long-term construction project on Number 9 Road, which involved supplemental patchwork to fix the road before winter.

Town Coordinator Mia Francesconi said the patchwork started within the past couple weeks.