Griswold Library celebrates end of summer reading

COLRAIN— The summer has come to a close, and with it, the end of summer reading. Griswold Memorial Library is inviting all book enthusiasts to celebrate all the books read this summer at its annual Summer Reading Club Awards Ceremony and StoryWalk launch with author Grace Lin at Pine Hill Orchards from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Every child who returns their summer reading record to the library before Aug. 31 will receive a certificate and prize at the ceremony; records can be submitted to the library afterwards and prizes will be given while supplies last. Additionally adults will have a chance to win a basket of local goodies.

Author Grace Lin will be signing copies of her book “A Big Mooncake for Little Star,” a tale about Little Star gradually eating the mooncake that her mother has baked. Guests will be able to see the laminated pages of the book on display through the StoryWalk trail.

Storyteller and musician Davis Bates will also be performing.

For more information contact the library at griswoldmemoriallibrary@gmail.com, or 413-624-3619.

Peach Fest returns

SHELBURNE — Life’s a peach, especially at the annual Apex Orchards Peach Fest.

The two-day festival, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1, celebrates all things peaches and will include peach picking, peach cooking and peach sampling.

“Peaches are back and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Apex Orchards Events Coordinator Dominique Beausoleil.

Saturday’s schedule will include face painting, live music from the Brookside Project at 11:30 a.m., a peach cooking demonstration with resident and cookbook author Tinky Weisblat at 11 a.m., a peach recipe contest at 1 p.m. judged by Weisblat, Apex co-owner Tim Smith, and local farmer Jimmy Graves.

Weisblat said to impress her contestants should use fresh, locally grown peaches and to think outside the box.

“Try using peaches in a recipe you don’t normally use peaches in and replace other fruits with peaches,” Weisblat said. “You’re not going to go wrong with peaches; they’re delicious.”

Weisblat said her demonstration will likely showcase recipes that use peaches in unique ways, like a peach salad or a peach and rhubarb cobbler. People do not always think to put peaches and rhubarb together, but it works surprisingly well.

On Sunday festivities will continue with music from Sean Eric Callaghan and Company. Both days will have craft and food vendors offering both peach, and non-peach themed goods, yard games, wagon rides and opportunities for attendees to pick their own peaches.

For more information visit apexorchards.com

Ashfield relic moving out of Town Hall storage

ASHFIELD— A historic weights and measures cabinet that has been sitting in storage in Town Hall will soon be on display at the Ashfield Historical Society Museum.

Weights and measures is a legal term for the standardization of units of measurements. Weights and measures cabinets would include scales, weights and other tools to allow for uniform measurements. In 1848, Massachusetts issued a scale and decorative wooden cabinet to each of the cities and towns.

Town administrator Paul McLatchy III said he is unsure of how old Ashfield’s cabinet is; documents inside the cabinet are dated from the early 1900s, and some as early as the 1800s. He said it was used until the 1960s, and the tools inside the cabinet look old and well used.

The select board unanimously agreed to give the cabinet to the museum on permanent loan. Board Chairman Steven Gougeon said it would be nice to see new life given to the cabinet which has been sitting in storage at Ashfield town hall for years.