Deitz to lead Horror Readers Discussion Group

GREENFIELD — Starting Monday, Oct. 21, Barry Deitz will lead a Horror Readers Discussion Group on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Greenfield Public Library’s Local History Room.

For the first meeting, participants are asked to bring a favorite horror novel to share. The program is free and intended for ages 18 and up.

Virtual talk to discuss origins of Project 2025

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library invites residents to a virtual talk by Brian Conley, professor and chair of the Political Science & Legal Studies Department at Suffolk University, about the history and origin of the mandate that led to the current Project 2025 document. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.

Project 2025, the brainchild of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation in 2022, is roughly 900 pages and has been described as a far-right political playbook. If its outline becomes a reality, it would make abortion access much more difficult, dismantle the Department of Education, privatize student loans and bar transgender Americans from military service, among other things. It would also bolster the power of the government’s executive branch, which is the president, the vice president and the Cabinet.

Conley, an expert on electoral politics, political parties, and political marketing and branding, researched and wrote “The Rise of the Republican Right: From Goldwater to Reagan.”

For more information and to register for the talk, go to tinyurl.com/BrianConley. Participants are advised that the program will be recorded and all registrants will receive a link to the recording within 48 hours of the event.

This program, sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library, the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, and in collaboration with multiple Massachusetts and New Hampshire libraries, is free and open to the public.

Local author to speak on ‘The Unofficial Harry Potter Companion’ books

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library welcomes local author Kat Miller for a talk on her books, “The Unofficial Harry Potter Companion: An In-Depth Exploration” volumes 1 and 2 in the Community Meeting Room on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m.

As co-creator and owner of the “Alohomora!” podcast, Miller enjoys dissecting the Harry Potter series with readers from around the world.

A limited number of books and T-shirts will be available for purchase at the program.

GCC Community Chorus plans three fall concerts

GREENFIELD — The GCC Community Chorus is opening the 2024-2025 season with three performances during the college’s fall semester.

The first two programs are titled “Four Centuries of American Music.” The preview concert will take place on Friday, Oct. 18, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in GCC’s Sloan Theater. The full performance will be given at Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.

The group’s annual Holiday Concert will take place from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in GCC’s Main Lobby on Friday, Dec. 6.

The preview concert will include shape note music by William Billings and Jeremiah Ingalls, the “Shoshone Love Song” featuring a Native American text, the traditional American folk song “He’s Gone Away,” a 19th-century hymn by Lowell Mason, “Dominic Has a Doll” from Four Cummings Choruses, a mid-20th-century choral cycle by Vincent Persichetti, “Tonight” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and “I Dream a World” (2002) by André Thomas. The full performance will add Moravian music from the 18th century, a Gospel number and “Lamiya’s Song (2017) by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm.

The GCC Community Chorus was formed in the fall of 2023, and is conducted by Margery Heins, who also directed the GCC Chorus from 2001 until the beginning of the pandemic. This is John Yannis’ first semester as accompanist.

GCC Community Chorus concerts are free, with donations welcome at the door. For more information, email heins@gcc.mass.edu.

Crossroads Cultural District Committee accepting funding proposals

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Crossroads Cultural District Committee is accepting proposals from organizations seeking funding for cultural activities. The Crossroads Cultural District receives an annual allocation of $15,000 that can be used to support events and arts projects that take place in the state-designated district in downtown Greenfield.

Submissions are due by noon on Monday, Dec. 2. To apply, visit forms.gle/Syh91LCkWinabDYq6.

“The Crossroads Cultural District Committee is dedicated to advancing arts and culture in the heart of Greenfield,” Crossroads Cultural District Chair Charlotte Treiber said in a statement. “We’d like to thank the Mass Cultural Council for this generous award, and we look forward to receiving exciting proposals from local organizations who share our mission of engaging the local community and beyond.”

Events and projects must take place within the Crossroads Cultural District and occur before Sept. 30, 2025 to be eligible for funding. The committee has previously funded events like the Winter Carnival and Bee Fest. The committee has also installed light pole banners and funded bee sculptures in recent years.

For more information, contact Economic & Community Development Assistant Christian LaPlante at 413-772-1548, ext. 4 or CrossroadsCulturalDistrict@greenfield-ma.gov.

Free lunchtime parking expanded to Legion Parking Lot

GREENFIELD — Effective Oct. 10, the city of Greenfield is offering free parking in the Legion Parking Lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, to support dining at the more than 25 restaurants in downtown Greenfield.

This decision follows an Oct. 1 announcement of free lunchtime parking for the Olive Street Parking Garage to promote the city’s business community ahead of the fall tourism season. The city decided to also establish free lunchtime parking for the Legion Parking Lot following feedback from the community.

“Our downtown is a beautiful space that features a wealth of tremendous businesses,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher said in a statement. “I believe that including the Legion Lot in our new free lunch parking program is a great way to support businesses as we approach the busy fall season.”

Parking in the Legion Parking Lot costs 40 cents per hour Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m.