The Villages of the Shadowbrook Estate Condominums

You can bring more than just your books to the library during the festive month of December! For those that are feeling generous or want to help out locally this holiday season, South Hadley Public Library is accepting food and toiletry donations for Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Our local food pantry is seeking much needed soup, hot and cold cereal, canned meat, tomato products, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant and women’s hygiene products. Please check the dates on your food items and do not bring any expired items. You can drop items off in the gift boxes under our tree by the elevator.

Adult Programs at SHPL

Our book groups are in full swing this month. The Hello Sunshine Book Club meets on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30 to discuss Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Our Between the Covers Book Group meets on Tuesday, December 10 at 3:00 to talk about The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne. Copies of the January discussion titles will be available at those meetings and new members are always welcome. Not ready to join in? Feel free to pick up a copy of these books and see if you enjoy them!

Meet artist Ruth Sanderson on Monday, December 9 at 6:30 and view her exhibition of children’s book illustration, including original artwork from her fairy tales and her two new board books, Good Morning Farm Animals and Good Night Farm Animals at the opening of her new exhibit: The Children’s Book Art of Ruth Sanderson. Refreshments will be served, and signed books and prints will be available for purchase.

Chief of Police Jennifer Gunderson of the South Hadley Police Department, will hold office hours in the library lobby on Tuesday, December 10 from 5:00 to 7:00. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with one of our community leaders.        

The Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Since ancient times, many cultures have celebrated the “return of light” to illuminate and bring wassail, good health and good cheer, during the cold days of winter. There are many wonderful, meaningful, “old world” traditions and ways you can celebrate Yule and the Solstice-tide.  Come together for Ways to Celebrate Yule with Winifred of Awentree on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:00.  Join Winifred Costello for an engaging and informative evening during which you will learn several family friendly ways to kindle the Winter Solstice light and celebrate the magic of the season.

Do you have jigsaw puzzles over 500 pieces? 300 Pieces? Want a new one… or two? Come on down and bring a complete puzzle for our Jigsaw Puzzle Swap happening on Saturday, December 14at 10:00. Drop off your complete puzzle from Monday, December 2 through Friday, December 13 at the Library Front Desk. Get a ticket for each puzzle dropped off. We will have all the puzzles available the morning of the swap, just bring your ticket to swap for the number of puzzles you brought.

We are excited to host A Night of Classical Vibes with David Van Tassel on Wednesday, December 18 at 6:00. This is a night of classical and classically inspired music. David, who is now 16, has been passionately studying music since he was 3 years old and piano since he was 9 years old. He especially loves the musical compositions of Franz Liszt, Fredric Chopin, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Come sit back, enjoy the live pianist, and forget the day’s troubles.

Gaylord Memorial Library Programs

At Gaylord, Spice Club will be trying Southern New England Spice Company’s Thai Spice Rub. Sign up online by clicking here or stop by the Gaylord circulation desk to register in person. Then attend the meeting on Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 and take home your spice packet!

If winter is garden-planning season for you, come check out our newly expanded Seed Library! Thanks to a donation of seeds from Rocky’s Ace Hardware, you’ll have lots to choose from – especially vegetables!

Online Author Programs (click each program for more information)

• Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with Dr. Jeffrey Post. A Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration. Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00
• On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries: A Conversation with Laura Dave. New York Times Bestselling Author of The Last Thing He Told Me. Wednesday, December 11 at 2:00

STAY CONNECTED WITH THESE LINKS:

• For Teen and Children’s programs, as well as registration information please see the Library’s new Online Calendar at: shadleylib.libcal.com
• SHPL Facebook page
• South Hadley Public Library homepage
• Gaylord Memorial Library homepage
• Town of South Hadley homepage

Guided Public Trek on November 3, 2025
South Section of Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook Conservation Area
Meet at 10:45am at the Town Farm Lot near the Community Garden
Bachelor/StonyBrook-RiverToRange_South Loop Trek Map (PDF)

On Sunday, November 3, 20234 at 11:00am the South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee will lead a free, guided Trek on the southern portion of the Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook Conservation Area, which also includes the River-to-Range accessible trail. Bike/Walk members Anne Barry and Jim Buckley will lead participants along the South section’s main dirt trail, which has a few short, but steep sections, some of which have wooden steps with railings. The area is in a bio-diverse floodplain of ecological and cultural significance, and there are tree roots and stones in many parts of the trail. After intersecting with the River-to-Range trail, with its wider and better groomed surface, we will walk up a short spur to the juncture of Bachelor Brook and the Connecticut river, which offers spectacular north and south views of the river. We’ll walk a bit more on the Trail along the river, then go back via the main South trail to another path that passes fields and loops back to the parking lot at Town Farm Field. The Trek is approximately 2.7 miles. New Trekkers are always welcomed.

Participants will meet at 10:45am in the area of the Town Farm Lot that is closest to the Community Garden, which is located at 100 Hadley Street and has plenty of parking. We’ll leave from there at 11:00am and walk two tenths of a mile to the trailhead for the South Trail at small hiker lot on Route 47, near the south end of the bridge over Bachelor Brook. Our Trek loop will end back at the Town Farm Lot.

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and safe footwear, and bring water and walking poles, if desired. Please keep in mind that fallen leaves can be slippery and some areas of the trail may be wet, so hiking footwear is preferable to sneakers. While no hunting is allowed in MA on Sundays, bright clothing is always a good idea. Please use caution if walking on Rt. 47 as the road is a bit curvy. There is room to move off the road and walk on the adjacent grassy strip.

All events are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or ground conditions and any decision to cancel will be made and posted by 8:00am on the day of the Trek. For more information, to check for a weather notification, or to download Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook South Loop Trek Map, visit us on the Town website at: www.southhadley.org/bikewalk.

Know Your Town (KYT) will host an in-person forum on the five state ballot questions, moderated by Marc Desrosiers. The public is invited (no children under 14 years of age please), and refreshments will be available.

Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 6:30 pm
South Hadley Public Library-Community Room
2 Canal Street, South Hadley

These questions will appear as follows on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot:

• Question 1: 
  State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
• Question 2: 
• Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
• Question 3: 
  Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
• Question 4: 
  Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances
• Question 5: 
  Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

For information about voting and elections in South Hadley:
http://www.southhadley.org/elections

To register to vote, check/update registration, confirm receipt of a mail-in ballot and more:
http://VoteInMA.com

The public is invited to a forum to review and discuss the South Hadley Police Department Staffing Report produced by MRI, Inc. of New Hampshire, which was hired this year to conduct a staffing study of the department.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
6:00pm
South Hadley Senior Center
45 Dayton Street, South Hadley MA

Read the full study at: https://tinyurl.com/Y9BNRHEK

Send questions and comments to: selectboard@southhadleyma.gov

BWC Autumn Social Bike Ride
SUNDAY, October 27, 2024 at 2:00pm
5-mile ride at a casual pace in South Hadley
Meet at 1:45pm in the center area (away from traffic) of the Rocky’s Ace Hardware parking lot at 487 Newton Street, South Hadley
Autumn Bike Ride Map.pdf

The South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee (BWC) will host a Social Ride led by committee members Jake Woodruff and Anne Barry. Our Autumn Bike Ride will start and end in the Rocky’s Ace Hardware parking lot, located at 487 Newton Street (Route 116). The five-mile route travels through neighborhoods and showcases some of South Hadley’s existing bike infrastructure. After a bit of climbing at the start of the ride, participants will use bike lanes, a short car-free connection between neighborhoods, and the recently completed Lyman Street (Route 33) bike path.

Meet at 1:45pm in the center of the lot, away from store traffic. Wear your bike helmet and weather-appropriate clothing. Everyone is strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle. Anne and Jake will ride at the front and back to make sure everyone stays on the route, and we will keep a casual pace and regroup several times to make sure everyone stays together. Come for a nice and easy autumn bike ride! 

All events are subject to change or cancellation due to weather conditions. For more information, an Autumn Bike Ride route map, or to check for a weather notification (posted by 10am), visit the Town website here at: http://www.southhadley.org/bikewalk.