The Villages of the Shadowbrook Estate Condominums

South Hadley’s 2025 Annual Town Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in the auditorium at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street. A short Special Town Meeting will take place directly before the Annual Town Meeting.

The Meeting Warrants listing the business to be addressed on May 14, along with budgets and other background information, can be found at: https://www.southhadley.org/1480/_2025

The Annual Town Meeting serves as a legislative session to vote on policies and the budget for the year. The Town of South Hadley has a Representative Town Meeting with 120 elected Town Meeting members from the Town’s five precincts (Shadowbrook is in Precinct A, shown in green on the map). Each precinct is represented by 24 members elected to three-year staggered terms. A third of the Members are elected each year at the Annual Town Election. To learn more about Town Meeting in South Hadley, visit www.southhadley.org/townmeeting.

Residents may attend in person to watch the meeting, which can also be viewed on Channel 15 or online at https://shctv15.com/watch-live/. Annual Meetings are also recorded for later viewing at https://shctv15.com.

May Adult programs at South Hadley Public Library

Picture this: Two free photography workshops happening at SHPL! Presented by Peter Glass, the first class, Fast Track from AUTO to MANUAL, takes place on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 – 1:00. Learn everything you need to take your digital camera off AUTO or Program mode and put you in charge of your shots. Registration required, click here – only 15 spaces available! The second class will be Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone on Saturday, May 17 from 10:00-1:00. Learn how to understand and use your smartphone camera controls to capture great shots (note: this class doesn’t cover selfies!). Registration required, click here —only 15 spaces available.

South Hadley has an amazing history and we’re diving into it with a local history talk by Leo Labonte on The Life of Horatio Horatia, Wednesday, May 7 at 6:00. Through a tiny, unfinished 15-page diary, we’ll get a rare look into the life of a seemingly ordinary man living through extraordinary times. What we discovered is that his experiences during some of the most difficult periods in our nation’s history were anything but ordinary.

Romance readers – we have a group we’d love you to join. The Between the Covers book club will meet on Tuesday, May 13 at 3:00 to discuss The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne.  Whether you are already a romance reader or are new to the genre, join us for a monthly get-together of romance novels that offer happy endings and often are part of a series. Books will be available to check out from the library in the weeks prior to each meeting.

As food prices rise, knowing how to make smart choices at the grocery store becomes even more important. Join the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:00 to learn about the Explore MyPlate healthy eating guidelines. Learn how to read nutrition labels, pick up tips on how to add more movement to your day, and discover how to create budget-friendly meals. This program is open to adults and families. Registration required, click here.  

Looking for a timely and important talk that reflects today’s headlines? Come to Birthright Citizenship and the 14th Amendment, presented by Professor Montana Martinez, Assistant Professor of Law at Western New England Law School on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:00. Bring your questions—or just your curiosity—and come learn more about this vital topic.

South Hadley has been designated an Age & Dementia Friendly Community and we’re excited to collaborate with the Council on Aging to screen a new documentary coming soon to public television.  Join us for a free viewing of the new film Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s on Friday, May 30 at 4:00. This is an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how this progressive neurodegenerative disease transforms roles and relationships. Whether it’s a partner caring for a loved one or an adult child shifting into being their parent’s caregiver, these stories show how families evolve when a loved one is diagnosed. View the trailer here.

As we learn to nourish our bodies and our communities with real food and tangible support, it’s easy to forget that plants have also nourished our stories for centuries. On Saturday, May 31 at 10:00, author Varla Ventura will present Enchanted Plants: An Exploration of Common and Uncommon Plants in Folklore and Magic. From the tangled forest to the garden hedge, join folklorist, “rotten botanist,” and author Varla Ventura as she explores some of the world’s most magical plants. From the ordinary apple to the fabulous foxglove, we’ll uncover the roles plants have played in fairy tales, folklore, and history.

May Adult programs at Gaylord Branch Library

More timely programming: Learn about Book Banning in the US on Thursday, May 8 at 6:00.  Join author Sarah Prager to learn about the history of book bans in the US, including her own experience as an author of banned books. You’ll hear about book bans by the numbers, why specific books were targeted, the history of banning LGBTQ+ books in particular, and what you can do to fight book bans today.

May Online Author Programs (click each program for more information)

• How to Use Anxiety to Thrive with Dr. David H. Rosmarin,  Harvard Psychologist, Author, and Keynote Speaker. Wednesday, May 7 at 2:00
• On Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller with Author Liann Zhang, writer of Julie Chan is Dead – A Propulsive Debut Thriller. Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00
• How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us with Author Rachelle Bergstein, Lifestyle Writer, Editor, and Bestselling Author of The Genius of Judy. Wednesday, May 21 at 2:00

For more information, including programs for children and teens, see the library calendar and other resources:

• Online calendar for library programs (including registration information)

• SHPL Facebook page

• South Hadley Public Library homepage

• Gaylord Memorial Library homepage

• Town of South Hadley homepage

Don’t miss the Mother’s Day hanging flower basket sale hosted by the Friends of the South Hadley Seniors! The sale will be held:

Friday, May 9, 2025
8:30am to 3:00pm
South Hadley Senior Center
45 Dayton Street, South Hadley

Baskets are $25 each, payable by cash, check, or Venmo. Come early for the best selection.

Please join us for our Flower-y May Wine Down!
Enjoy this lovely spring weather with some great wine tastes and fabulous nibbles.
Meet new people and catch up with old friends!
–Thanks to our hosts, Susan Newton and Nate Therien!

Friday, May 9, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:00pm
Gaylord Library
47 College Street, South Hadley
$10 entry (21+ only) includes beverages and snacks; no-alcoholic drinks also available
Proceeds support the Friends of the Gaylord Memorial Library
gaylordlibrary.org

Can’t come to this one?
Save the date and plan to join us in June for our biggest fundraiser:
Wine, Cheese & Chocolate, on Friday, June 13th!

Showcase South Hadley 2025 will host a free, two-day celebration across the town to highlight local music, arts and culture on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27. The festival takes place across multiple venues throughout the weekend and will feature live music, dance, art exhibitions, presentations and workshops. Event sponsors include Republic Services, PFD-Private Financial Design, Arrivability Car Service, Mount Holyoke College, Peoples Bank, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Gerry’s Music Shop, and SHELD/Fiberspring.

Events on Saturday, April 26 run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and feature yoga, an instrument petting zoo, puppetry shows, as well as musical, dance and theatrical performances. The day’s events will end with a performance by 2025 Grammy-award winner Ruthie Foster with Aisha Burns on April 26 at Mt. Holyoke College’s Abbey Chapel, 50 College St. The concert, which is free, begins at 7pm with Aisha Burns, followed after a short break by Ruthie Foster, but organizers recommend that people reserve general admission seats in advance through the event website. Doors open at 6:00pm.

On Sunday, April 27, activities will begin at 10 a.m. with a South Hadley Canal History Tour. A Gospel Brunch at Morningstar Baptist Church on Main Street featuring the Kevin Sharpe Group will be a highlight of the day; tickets, which include a buffet brunch by Chef Sara Barnes are available through the event website.  The day’s schedule includes an artisan/craft fair near the historic Firehouse Museum in South Hadley Falls, face painting, and more performances throughout the day from multiple artists.

For the full schedule with times and locations, visit southhadleyarts.org.

Guided Bird Walk at River-to-Range Trail with Ornithologist Bill DeLuca
SATURDAY, May 3, 2025 at 10:00am
Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook Conservation Area
Meet at 9:45am: Parking lot/trailhead, 240 Ferry St, South Hadley
Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook_River-to-Range_Trail Network Map (PDF)

The South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee will host a free, guided Bird Walk at River-to-Range Trail led by ornithologist Bill DeLuca, a senior Migration Ecologist with the National Audubon Society. It is spring migration season and the Connecticut River is an important route for many species; while some birds are here to nest, others are just stopping by during their migration further north. The accessible River-to-Range Trail, located along the Connecticut River at the Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook Conservation Area, has a hard pack surface covering a relatively flat 1-mile loop with seating benches at regular intervals. No prior birding experience is needed. Participants of all ages and new Trekkers are welcomed. No dogs, please.

We will meet at 9:45am at the trailhead by the parking lot located at 240 Ferry Street in South Hadley, just down the road from Brunelle’s Marina. We’ll leave from the trailhead at 10:00am. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and safe footwear, and bring binoculars if you have them, along with water and walking poles, if desired. Please keep in mind that some areas of the trail may be wet, so hiking footwear is preferable to sneakers.

All events are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or ground conditions. Any decision to cancel the Bird Walk will be made and posted by 6:00pm on Friday, May 2, 2025. For more information or to check for a weather notification, visit: www.southhadley.org/bikewalk.

Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 10:00am
(NOTE LOCATION CHANGE due to park renovations)

The South Hadley Recreation Department Easter Egg Hunt, which is usually scheduled at 10am on the Saturday before Easter at Buttery Brook Park will move this year to Mosier Elementary School, at 101 Mosier Street, while the park undergoes renovations. The event, which is free of charge, features an egg hunt with over 2,000 eggs and a visit from the Easter Bunny. There is also a hat parade where the children show off their finest Easter hats, and winning hats are awarded a prize ribbon. The hat parade will start the event at 10am with the egg hunt immediately following. 

Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:00am to 2:00pm
Plan to  redeemable bottles and cans to drop off in the parking lot at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street (Rt. 116). Proceeds will benefit Buttery Brook Park  improvements. While you’re there, you can also support the SHHS Car Wash to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation, and leave with a clean car, too! Hope to see you there!