South Hadley, Massachusetts
SAVE THE DATE for the 2025 Know Your Town Candidates’ Night, which will be held in person in the Community Room at the South Hadley Public Library on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:30pm. Candidates for town-wide offices in the April 8, 2025 Town Election will be invited to participate and to also submit information about themselves for publication on the Know Your Town (KYT) website at www.knowyourtown.org.
For information about the upcoming election, see: www.southhadley.org/elections.
The Gaylord Library monthly Wine Down get-togethers continue to be a wonderful way to meet new people and to catch up with friends and neighbors. These casual, second Friday gatherings provide an opportunity to meet new people and to catch up with friends and neighbors. Everyone (21+) is welcome and newcomers will always find someone friendly and interesting to talk with; $10 entry includes wine or non-alcoholic beverages and refreshments.
The next Wine Down is on Friday, February 14th from 5:30 to 7:00pm and will be sponsored by Bill & Lucia Foley and Len Finkowski. Plan to stop in to help to support the Gaylord and enjoy wine and refreshments provided by our sponsors.
There will be some artwork prizes along with wine for the February raffle, with all proceeds going to the Gaylord. Please tell a friend or bring others along–the more the merrier!
The Gaylord Memorial Library is a beautiful, historic building housing a branch of the South Hadley Public Library (another wonderful place) and offering a full range of services and programming for our community. The property itself is still privately owned by the Friends of the Gaylord, and fundraisers like the Wine Down events help support maintenance of the building and grounds.
We hope to see you on February 14th!
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Know Your Town will sponsor a Meet, Greet & Sign event with prospective candidates for the Annual Town Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Local voters are invited to come and socialize informally with those seeking Town offices and to sign their nomination papers. Light refreshments will be served. Bring a friend, or two or three!
Save the Date:
Local Candidates Meet, Greet & Sign
Thursday, January 23, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Community Room
South Hadley Public Library, 2 Canal St, South Hadley
This is a wonderful opportunity to talk with candidates and help be a part of the process by helping them obtain the signatures they need to run for office. Those running for town-wide offices need a minimum of 50 from registered South Hadley voters, while those running for Town Meeting need at least 10 signatures from registered voters in their precinct.
There is still time for anyone interested in running for office to take out nomination papers and collect signatures. The last day to obtain papers from the Town Clerk’s office is Thursday, February 13, 2025; signed papers must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
For more information about the Town Election, visit: www.southhadley.org/elections
For details about local offices, see: 2025 South Hadley Running for Local Office Guide
Please not that this is not our formal Candidates’ Night for those who will be on the ballot in the April Town Election. A March date for that event will be announced later.
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)
STAY CONNECTED WITH THESE LINKS:
Our Annual Meeting will be held in-person on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7:00pm in the Community Room at South Hadley Public Library, 2 Canal Street, South Hadley. As always, it’s important that we have a quorum present, either in person or by proxy. If you can’t make the meeting, please be sure to forward a copy of your signed proxy to our property management company, or give one to another resident who will be attending. We look forward to seeing you!
Please join the Friends of the Gaylord Memorial Library for our next Wine Down!
DECEMBER WINEDOWN – Welcoming Winter!
Friday, December 13, 2024
5:30pm – 7pm
21+ only
$10 Cash/Credit
Gaylord Memorial Library
47 College Street, South Hadley
gaylordlibrary.org
Kick off the weekend with wine tasting and appetizers at the historic Gaylord Library. We will have some seasonal treats, and holiday gift items in our drawing! Don’t forget to check out our book sale while you’re here–fill a bag for $1.00.
5:30-7:00pm
Thursday-Sunday
December 12-15 and December 19-22, 2024
Buttery Brook Park
123 Willimansett Street (Rt. 33), South Hadley MA
www.southhadley.org/1200/Buttery-Brook-Park
The outdoor decorations are up and the Friends of Buttery Brook Park and Park Staff look forward to welcoming everyone to the 52nd year of Santa’s Land. Visitors are invited to come and visit Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves. After visiting with Santa, children receive a cookie and coloring book from Mrs. Claus. There is no admission charge, but donations in support of the Park are always appreciated.
Parents are welcome to take their own family photographs with Santa, and everyone can enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate on the log cabin porch and take a walk to delight in all of the displays outside. In season, Santa’s Land information and updates are posted at the Buttery Brook Park Friends Facebook page, www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark or www.facebook.com/southhadleyrecreation.
Volunteer membership opportunities are available on South Hadley boards and committees. Consider serving South Hadley by joining one! The Selectboard is seeking residents with diverse interests and abilities to apply for these available positions. There are no special requirements for any of the boards and committees other than a willingness to volunteer. However, applicants must be registered to vote in the Town of South Hadley.
Boards and committees with open positions include:
Bike/Walk Committee
Board of Registrars*
Commission on Disabilities
Conservation Commission
Council on Aging Board
Cultural Council
Historic District Study Committee
Human Rights Commission**
Master Plan Implementation Committee
Sustainability and Energy Commission
Tree Committee
Veterans Council
Zoning Board of Appeals
* Must be registered to vote as a Republican (as nearly as possible the members of the board shall represent the two leading political parties).
**To be appointed through the Cultural Council.
For the available positions and links to each board: https://www.southhadley.org/692/Board-Vacancies
To apply online for a vacancy: https://www.southhadley.org/FormCenter/Selectboard-4/Application-for-Appointment-to-Board-Com-44
Applications are due by November 15, 2024. Questions? Email Kristin Maher, executive assistant to administration: kmaher@southhadleyma.gov. Applicants will be contacted with instructions for how to attend a virtual interview with the Selectboard at an upcoming meeting. The Selectboard anticipates making appointments later in November.
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.