April 14–2026 Annual Town Election Information

Election Day Voting:

  • Polls for South Hadley’s Annual Election are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm on Election Day, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for in-person voting. All precincts vote at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton St (Rt 116). Ballots for each precinct can be viewed at: www.southhadley.org/1088/Sample-Ballot. To check your registration and receipt of a mail-in ballot, see: www.VoteinMA.com
  • Separate elections for Fire/Water Districts 1 and 2 are also held at the High School. Ballots can be viewed at: District 1: www.shdistrict1.org | District 2: www.shdistrict2.org

Election Results:

  • After the polls close at 8:00pm, there are three separate tallies that the Board of Registrars (BoR) needs to review and combine for full and accurate results:
    1) Election day votes
    2) advance mail-in and early/absentee votes
    3) hand-counted votes
  • 1) Tally tapes from in-person voting on election day (similar to a cash register receipt) will be printed from each of the 5 precinct voting machines located at the high school. There are 5 machines because there are 5 precincts (A, B, C, D, and E). The tally tapes contain all of the elected positions, town meeting members for each precinct, and the ballot questions.
  • 2) Tally tapes with results for in-person absentee/early ballots and vote-by-mail ballots received by Sunday, April 12 are tallied separately for each precinct through a process known advanced processing. This means that there will be 5 additional tally tapes printed to document these results (one for each precinct). By law, these cannot be printed until the polls close.
  • In total, 10 printed tally tapes, (2 sets for each district as outlined above), will be posted on the wall in the hallway outside of the gymnasium. It is anticipated these will be posted by 9:00pm. These early results will need to be added together.
  • 3) In addition, there will likely be ballots that must be hand counted.
    This means that they were not processed by the voting machines (for example, a ballot with a write-in must be hand counted). These hand count results then need to be added to the tally tape results to provide a full count of all received ballots.
  • The BoR is prioritizing reporting out unofficial results of the ballot questions and then will move on to processing results for town-wide elected positions, followed by Town Meeting Members.
  • If election results appear close, the BoR will wait until the hand count is complete to release unofficial results. Otherwise, the BoR will seek to post unofficial results of the ballot questions from the totals of the two sets of printed tally tapes as soon as possible.
  • When available, unofficial results will be posted to the South Hadley Elections pages on the Town website (See: southhadley.org/Elections) and will be shared as a Community News item from the Town of South Hadley page and Facebook pages.
  • If you have questions or would like to learn more about the tallying process, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office

April 25-Guided Vernal Pool Hike with Brad Timm

Guided Vernal Pool Trek at Lithia Springs with Brad Timm on April 25th

SOUTH HADLEY— On Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10am-12pm the South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee will host a guided Trek at Lithia Springs Reservoir, a beautiful natural area that once provided water to the town. The free, family-friendly Trek will be led by Brad Timm, a wildlife ecologist and founder of the Northeast Wildlife Team. Come explore with Brad on a leisurely guided hike as we stop at several vernal pools along the trek and look and listen for frogs, toads, salamanders, and much more. For example, did you know that some frogs produce their own anti-freeze, lots of salamanders can regenerate their tail and entire limbs, and that Blue Jay and Bluebird feathers aren’t actually blue (they’re brown!).

Participants of all ages and new Trekkers are welcomed. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for hiking in wet and muddy areas. Some free copies of A Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools are available for participants from South Hadley Conservation. Brad’s new book, America is Wild!, has recently been published and signed copies will be available for purchase ($20) at the event.

Meet up at 9:30am in the Hiker Parking Lot on Amherst Road (next door to 502 Amherst Road), to walk approximately a half a mile down Pearl Street to the end of Lithia Springs Road, where the Gate 8 Trailhead is located. We will wait at Gate 8 until 10am to meet any Trekkers who may have parked elsewhere. Please try to carpool as there is limited parking on Lithia Springs Road and in the Hiker Parking Lot on Amherst Road.

Treks are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or ground conditions. Please be sure to check the Bike/Walk page on the Town website for trail maps and any cancellation notices or other information: www.southhadley.org/bikewalk. Should there be a cancellation decision, information will be posted online by 8:00pm the night before the hike.

March 12-Information Session on SHELD Building Proposal

Know Your Town, a local organization that seeks to inform residents about town affairs, will sponsor an informational presentation and discussion on their proposed new operations building on the Big Y property for South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD). The event is free of charge and open to the public.

SHELD Building Info Session
Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 6:00pm
Community Room at South Hadley Public Library
2 Canal Street, South Hadley

Manager Sean Fitzgerald, and Board Members Paul Hine and Paul Dobosh will speak about the project. The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to come to the microphone and ask questions or to comment.

KYT programs are typically recorded by South Hadley’s shctv15.com and posted onlinefor later viewing.

March 19-Know Your Town Candidates Night

Plan to attend Know Your Town’s annual Candidates Night, an opportunity to hear from candidates for local townwide offices in the Town Election on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. In-person voting for the Annual Town Election, as well as elections Fire/Water Districts 1 and 2, will be held at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street (Rt. 116).

Candidate’s Night 2026
Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:00pm
Community Room at South Hadley Public Library
2 Canal Street, South Hadley

Townwide offices on the 2026 Town Election ballot include:

Selectboard–2 seats (3 year terms)
School Committee–2 seats (3 year terms)
Board of Health–2 seats (3 year terms)
Municipal Light Board/SHELD–1 seat (3 year term)
Board of Assessors–1 seat (3 year term)
Housing Authority–1 seat (3 year term)
Trustee Free Public Library–3 seats (3 year terms)
Planning Board–2 seats (3 year terms)

For candidate information, see:
www.knowyourtown.org/election-info/meet-the-candidates

In addition to Townwide offices, precinct-based Town Meeting members from each of South Hadley’s five precincts will be elected. There are eight 3-year seats per precinct, plus a 2-year seat in Precinct B, and 1-year seats in Precincts B and C.

To be on the ballot, Nominination papers need to be obtained at the Town Clerk’s office by Friday, February 20, 2026; with signed papers submitted at the Town Clerk’s office by 5pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. A minimum of 50 certified signatures from registered local voters is needed for Candidates for townwide offices; a minimum of 10 is needed for Town Meeting Member candidates. Candidates are always advised to get extra signatures in case some cannot be certified.

For information about voting, elections, and the Running for Local Office Guide, see www.southhadley.org/elections.

March 13-Gaylord Library March Melt Wine Down

Please join the Friends of the Gaylord for the MARCH MELT Wine Down!

Gaylord March Melt Wine Down
Friday, March 13, 2026
5:30 to 7:00pm | 21+ Only
$12 entry (cash/credit – please note new entry cost)
Gaylord Memorial Library
47 College Street, South Hadley

Our sponsor, Marie Rohan, and the P.E.O. sorority (Philanthropic Educational Organization) will celebrate women’s history month with special treats and news about RBG events coming up!

Library Director Joe Rodio will be on hand to discuss what the town budget crisis might mean for the Gaylord.

 

3/13-Gaylord March Melt Wine Down

Please join the Friends of the Gaylord for the MARCH MELT Wine Down!

Gaylord March Melt Wine Down
Friday, March 13, 2026
5:30 to 7:00pm | 21+ Only
$12 entry (cash/credit – please note new entry cost)
Gaylord Memorial Library
47 College Street, South Hadley

Our sponsor, Marie Rohan, and the P.E.O. sorority (Philanthropic Educational Organization) will celebrate women’s history month with special treats and news about RBG events coming up!

Library Director Joe Rodio will be on hand to discuss what the town budget crisis might mean for the Gaylord.

 

S Hadley Library-December Programs

Winter weather and a good book just seem to go together. As we move into December, we invite you to visit the South Hadley Public and Gaylord Memorial libraries to pick up a bestseller, discover a new author, or reconnect with a classic. You can find the most recent additions to the collection by clicking here. The page is updated weekly and you can even sign up for email alerts for new materials. In addition to the adult programs outlined below, visit our websites for more programs for teens, children, and families.

South Hadley Public Library-Adult Programs

  • Puzzle lovers can join us for a Jigsaw Puzzle Swap on Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 —drop off complete puzzles (no missing pieces) at the Front Desk from December 1–12 to receive swap tickets and pick up new-to-you puzzles the morning of the event.
  • Celebrate the season with Wassail! A Victorian Holiday on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00. The Small Planet Dancers will feature songs, a parlor game, and a festive march through a lively Victorian-inspired holiday ball. This program is sponsored by the South Hadley Cultural Council; registration is required by clicking here.
  • Looking to join a book club? The library has a selection of books being talked about by groups at the library and senior center. Library groups include the Hello Sunshine Book Club meeting on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:30 to discuss The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. We also have our Between the Covers Romance Book Club meeting on Tuesday, December 9 at 3:00 – 4:00 to talk about Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler.

If you have ideas for programs, please share your ideas with Adult Services Librarian Desi Smelcer.

Gaylord Memorial Library-Adult Programs

  • Spice Club is sampling Southern New England Spice Co.’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning this month! Sign up here  and discuss your cooking and baking plans with other spice enthusiasts on Thursday, December 4 at 6:30.

  • Castle Nitor returns to Gaylord on Thursday, December 11 at 6:30 for Tablet Weaving. Learn one of the most unique weaving techniques from the past and take home a new treasure that you made on your own! Register here.

Online Author Programs (click each program for more information)

KEY WEBSITES to STAY CONNECTED:

Happy Holidays! Our schedule has some adjustments this month:

  • Wednesday, December 24, closing at 1:00
  • Thursday, December 25, both libraries closed
  • Friday, December 26, open normal hours at SHPL and GML
  • Wednesday, December 31, closing at 6:00

December 12: Gaylord Winter Warmer Wine Down

Ready to warm up with new and old library friends?
Then come to the Winter Warmer Wine Down!

GAYLORD DECEMBER WINE DOWN
Friday, December 12, 2025
5:30pm – 7:00pm | 21+ Only
$10 entry (cash/credit)
Hosted by Denise and Gary Hammon

Snow is on the way, and whether this weather makes you whine or “wahoo!,” warming up with friends is always welcome! We will have our usual wine tasting and light appetizers, but this month’s event also includes mulled wine, and a sharing table if folks want to bring a festive treat for everyone to enjoy.

OH AND ONE MORE THING...

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 is GIVING TUESDAY!
Please consider supporting your historic community library with a one-time or recurring donation to the Gaylord Memorial Library Association, which cares for the Gaylord’s building and grounds: gaylordlibrary.org/donate/

Senior Center Library: Take One, Share One

Take a book, share a book!

To keep the COA library full of good choices for the community, the next time you visit the South Hadley Senior Center (at 45 Dayton Street), bring a book to share and check the library to see if there’s one you’d like to take home.

The Council on Aging (COA) library at the South Hadley Senior Center is offering a new, easy way to obtain new books, while taking those you’ve finished reading to a new home to be enjoyed by someone else. There’s no need to sign a book in or out, and you don’t need to return the same book you took out. The library operates on the honor system; everyone contributes to ensure there are always quality books on the shelves.

Thanks for sharing only one at a time, as space is limited!

To view the December Senior Center newsletter:
https://www.southhadley.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2092