July 2022 at Buttery Brook Park

The 2022 Summer Children’s Series sponsored by the South Hadley Family Center returns again this year for three Wednesday mornings in July under the pavilion at Buttery Brook Park. Bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the concerts are recommended. The events, which begin at 10:00am, are free and open to the public. This year’s series’ includes:

This program is supported in part by a grant from the South Hadley Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Mass Cultural Council logo in color

Big Rig Day 2022 is scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 10am to 12pm. The longtime Park favorite features Big Rigs of all types, such as fire trucks, police cars, utility trucks, ambulances and more. Climb into the caps and meet the people who operate these fascinating vehicles. This unique, free, kid-friendly event is typically co-hosted by SHELD/Fibersonic, the Friends of Buttery Book Park, and the South Hadley Recreation Department. 

Weekly Friday Cruise Nights are held (weather permitting) from 5:30pm to dusk through Labor Day weekend. Come and check out beautifully restored vintage vehicles and enjoy a pleasant summer evening at the Park. Food and beverages are available, and proceeds help to support park improvements. 

Buttery Brook Park is located at 123 Willimansett Street (Rt. 33) in South Hadley, MA. For more information, visit the Friends of Buttery Brook Park at: https://m.facebook.com/butterybrookpark/

A Conversation About Community Seating

The Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) will host “A Conversation About Community Seating” from 11:00am to 12:00pm on Friday, June 24, 2022 via Zoom. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, please register at: https://bit.ly/MPIC062422. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

South Hadley’s newly adopted Master Plan Update calls for prioritizing places for people to sit, and to gather, outdoors. Seating on walking routes, in or near parks, transportation stops, shopping, conservation areas, and elsewhere will help create the thriving community envisioned in the Plan. Several boards, committees, and commissions are charged with making this happen. MPIC is seeking input from those identified in the Master Plan as well as anyone else who is interested in this project. The Bike/Walk Committee (BWC) is among the groups with community seating goals in the Plan and anticipates being involved with helping to develop a bench sponsorship campaign and a master map for outdoor seating and gathering areas. 

The purpose of this initial conversation is to identify a working group and to determine its tasks. What sorts of issues should it consider? These might include locations, types of seating, installation and maintenance costs, mapping community seating resources, other? How could necessary funds be generated? 

June 2022 South Hadley Library Events

The South Hadley Public Library (Main Library, 2 Canal Street) and the Gaylord Library (Branch, 47 College Street) will offer a number of programs for adults, teens, and kids this month. A sampling of the adult offerings follows below. Please visit the link at the bottom for the Library Event Calendar to view the full schedule of events.

South Hadley Public Library (Main Library) | Adult Program Sampler

A House in South Hadley through Time – 5 Walnut Street
Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30
Hugh Scott moved with his family from Connecticut to Salem Massachusetts, and finally in 1868 to South Hadley Falls. In 1883 he had a house built for the family at 5 Walnut Street in the same neighborhood.  This program will also serve as a primer on local history research techniques. Presented by Bob Comeau, this program is funded by the South Hadley Cultural Council and Co-Hosted by the Holyoke Preservation Trust.

Senator Jo Comerford’s Library Tour and Rescheduled Democracy Works Talk
Wednesday, June 8 at 5:00
Sen. Comerford will be giving a brief legislative update and then opening the floor for informal conversation and questions. She will then give a talk on how democracy works best when everyone participates, talking about effective strategies for engaging with the state legislative process. Jo Comerford is the State Senator for the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. 

The Highwaymen: Songs & Stories (Outdoor Concert)
Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30
Longtime New England singer/songwriter Matt York will perform the songs of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings and tell stories of their careers in an hour-long performance. York has twice been nominated as Best Male Artist by the New England Music Awards and his latest release was named one of the Boston Globe’s best albums of 2019. This program is supported in part by a grant from the South Hadley Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. In case of inclement weather, this program will take place in the Community Room.

Zoom Program: Orphan Trains of the East Coast by author Andrea Warren.
Wednesday, June 29 at 6:30 | Register by clicking here. 
Religious societies believed removing children from impoverished areas away from their parents, alive or dead, and into the countryside would give them a better life. Find out more about this sometimes happy, but often times tragic time in history.

Gaylord Library | Adult Program Sampler

Composting with HHCD. Thursday, June 2 at 6:30
Join us to learn all the ins and outs of Composting! Learn all you need to know and then participate in a hands-on project to get you composting in a fun and unique way. This program is being offered by the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD). Sign up to learn about composting.

Virtual Sit and Stitch with Ina Forman. Thursday, June 9 from 6:00 to 8:00
Log in and spend an evening with your crafty neighbors. Bring your portable handwork of choice – quilting, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch etc. – and enjoy the company of fellow slow stitchers while you work on your project from the comfort of your own home. Ina Forman creates quilts for warmth and art, along with fiber pieces for fashion and the eye. Details to connect to this virtual meeting will be sent via email to registered participants. The event is limited to 8 people. Register here.

Cameron Sutphin Outdoor Concert. Thursday, June 16, 6:30-7:30
Bring your lawn chairs and get ready for a relaxing and joyful evening! Cameron Sutphin is back again this summer to perform his original material, as well as classic country and folk cover songs such as, The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan,) Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver,) Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Pete Seeger,) Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen,) and Wake-Up Little Susie (Everly Brothers) as a solo acoustic act. Sign up to attend the concert.

Need Books Delivered? Check out our Homebound Delivery Service
The Gaylord Memorial Library continues to offer a Homebound Delivery Service to residents of South Hadley who have health or transportation issues. Books and other library materials are delivered and picked up on a monthly basis. If you, or someone you know would like to learn more and sign up for Homebound Delivery, please visit: https://gaylordlibrary.org/homebound-delivery/ or call 538-5047.

KEY WEBSITES to STAY CONNECTED

·        Event calendar for library programs (including registration information)
·        South Hadley Public Library Facebook page
·        Vimeo for recorded library programs & crafts
·        South Hadley Public Library homepage
·        Gaylord Memorial Library homepage
·        Town of South Hadley homepage

Buttery Brook Park mural reception rescheduled to Thurs, June 2

The reception celebrating a new mural installation at Buttery Brook Park will be held Thursday, June 2 at 4pm (please note date change from June 1 due to anticipated inclement weather).  

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: A Celebration of Local Ecology
Reception: THURSDAY, June 2, 2022  at 4:00pm (rescheduled from June 1)
Location: Buttery Brook Park (near the spray park)
Light refreshments will be served. All ages are welcome to attend.

Students at Mount Holyoke College recently put the finishing touches on a large mural that was recently installed at Buttery Brook Park on Route 33 in South Hadley. After researching local plants and animals, and hearing from residents about their memories of the Park, the group developed a design incorporating what they learned that will engage and captivate viewers of all ages. 

For more information about Buttery Brook Park:
https://www.southhadley.org/1200/Buttery-Brook-Park

Please note that this new page on the Town website replaces a former stand-alone website for the Park.

Shadowbrook Neighbors Morning Coffee

A weekday morning coffee is planned at 10:30am on Friday, June 10 (rain date June 14) for neighbors to get together in person outdoors to chat and catch up. Bring a chair and meet for coffee and conversation in the Hill section at the ‘Green’ on the corner by the mailbox at the top of the hill. All residents are welcome! Please see the newsletter for more details.

2022 Summer Concert Series

The annual Summer Concert Series, presented by the South Hadley Recreation Department and The Village Commons will return beginning June 23, ,2022. The free, weekly Thursday evening concerts on the Town Common take place from 6:30 to 8:00pm through September 1, 2022; if a concert is canceled due to rain, the raindate will be the following Sunday. The series is supported, in part, by a grant from the South Hadley Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Click for the complete schedule.

Buttery Brook Park News

New Pickleball courts at Buttery Brook Park are under construction now in the area near the Park’s north entrance and the basketball court, with completion anticipated in June. The spray park is open on weekends through June 17, 2022, and then daily from June 17 to September 5, 2022. Spray Park hours are 10:30am to 6:30pm. To activate the spray sequence if the water isn’t running, touch the bollards. Please note that spray parks may be turned off on cold and/or rainy days.

The Park’s annual Big Rig Day returns on Thursday, July 22, 2022 from 10:00am to 12:00pm, when fire trucks, police cars, SHELD trucks, other Town vehicles will be on site and ready for visitors of all ages.

Friday Cruise Nights resumed Friday, May 20, 2022 and will continue through September 9, 2022, from 5:30pm to dusk. Everyone is invited to come and see each week’s vintage vehicles and enjoy pleasant warm-weather nights at the Park. As in the past, beverages including beer, soda, and water will be available from the Friends, with any profits going to support Park improvements. Food will be available from the food wagon operated by South Hadley-based Foley’s Franks.

A large mural created by Mount Holyoke College students in collaboration with the Town and community will be installed at Buttery Brook Park. The public is invited to attend a celebration and unveiling of ‘Off the Beaten Path: A Celebration of Local Ecology,’ at 4:00pm on Thursday, June 2, 2022 (rescheduled from June 1 due to forecast inclement weather). All ages are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Get Ready to Ride-May 15th at Buttery Brook Park


In celebration of Baystate Bike Month, the South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee has planned an afternoon for people of all ages who want to get their bikes inspected and ready to ride, learn more about rules of the road, and explore use of e-bikes. Competitive Edge Ski & Bike of Easthampton, AAA of Hadley and Greenfield, Valley Bike, and the South Hadley Police Bike Patrol will all be there. Ice cream from Batch Ice Cream will be available too! 

K-8 children may participate in a Bike Rodeo featuring informative and fun bicycle education activities, with an instructor provided by Massachusetts Safe Routes to Schooland MassBike. Parents should pre-register their children for the K-8 Bike Rodeo at southhadleyrecreation.org and plan to bring a bike and helmet for each child. All activities take place at Buttery Brook Park on Willimansett Street (Rt. 33) in South Hadley.

Download an event flyer with more info: Get Ready to Ride! (1-pg PDF)

Please visit www.southhadley.org/bikewalk for event information and any weather announcements. In the event of a forecast for significant rain at the time of the event, a cancellation decision will be made and posted by Friday evening, May 13.

South Hadley Library Programs

In addition to the free adult programs listed below, the South Hadley Public Library and the Gaylord Library branch also offer activities for teens and children. See the library websites and the master Event Calendar for information and registration details.

SOUTH HADLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 2 Canal Street:

Author Talk | Daniel Shays’ Honorable Rebellion by Daniel Bullen
Sat, Apr 16 at 11:00am, Community Room (in person)
Daniel Bullen is the author of the new book Daniel Shays’ Honorable Rebellion: An American Story.  His talk will focus on the crisis from the protesters’ perspective. Many events happened right here in South Hadley! Come learn about this nationally known rebellion and more about your local history. Daniel Bullen earned a PH.D in American literature from New York University. Books will be available for purchase.

Know Your Town Film Screening | The Biggest Little Farm
Thu, Apr 21 at 6:00pm, Community Room (in person)
This film chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature’s conflicts, the Chester’s unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.

300 Years of South Hadley Farm History with Leo Labonte
Wed, Apr 27 at 6:30pm, Community Room (in person)
Leo Labonte will highlight the forgotten knowledge and growth of the farming and dairy industry in South Hadley. Highlighting some of the homes from the mid-1700’s from their origins to the 1720 proprietors, he will then discuss New England farm growth from 1850 -1880, the history and development of the dairies at the turn of the century in 1900.  The presentation will include pictures, maps, and drawings- some dating back to 1702. This program is sponsored by the South Hadley Cultural Council.

QAA Art Show
Reception, Thu, Apr 14 from 6-7:30pm
Artwork on display April 1-28 by members of the Quabbin Art Association in the Community Room during regular library hours (unless a scheduled event is taking place in the room).

GAYLORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY, 47 College Street:

Virtual Sit and Stitch with Timna Tarr
Thu, Apr 14 from 6-8pm (online)
Log in and spend an evening with your crafty neighbors. Bring your portable handwork of choice – quilting, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch etc. – and enjoy the company of fellow slow stitchers while you work on your project from the comfort of your own home. Timna Tarr is a professional quilter and South Hadley resident whose work has been in numerous exhibits, books, and magazines. Details to connect to this virtual meeting will be sent via email to registered participants. The event is limited to 8 people. Register here.

Seed Library Q & A with Marie Rohan
Sat, Apr 16 at 10am (in person)
Did you know the Gaylord has a seed library? Come learn more about it at our Q&A with Marie Rohan and take home some seeds to plant. This event will be held outdoors if weather permits. Sign up using our online calendar.

MHC Art Show: Altered Books
Opening Reception, Thu, Apr 21 at 6:30pm (in person)
Artworks on display April 22-30 during regular library hours. Mount Holyoke College Studio Art Department and the Gaylord Memorial Library are pleased to present Altered Books, an exhibition showcasing artworks by students in the spring 2022 Painting 1 course taught by Associate Professor Lisa Iglesias. Each artist cut, collaged, painted, drew within, and otherwise transformed de-acquisitioned books from the Gaylord Memorial Library, re-casting the texts into unique artist’s books. The participating artists include Lea Berlin, Dekyi Deji, Tents Doma, Jieyu Feng, Glynnis Goff, Isabelle Hettlinger Bickford, Joan Kang, Maya Krantz, Maeve Kidd, Sofia Lopez Melgar, Kate Perrin, Olivia Protano, Grace Sanford, Christina Tiberii, Kendall Willis, and Gyeongmin Yoon.

Free Spring Shred Days

BankESB invites customers and members of the community to two free Shred Days at local offices. Events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the following dates and at the following locations:

  • Saturday, April 30: Easthampton office, 36 Main St.
  • Saturday, May 7: South Hadley office, 605 Granby Rd.

Valley Green Shredding, a professional document destruction company, will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person. No appointment is necessary.