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.

Western MA Mineral, Jewelry, Fossil Show

The Connecticut Valley Mineral Club a nonprofit organization that supports science education, is sponsoring an upcoming event in which one of our residents will be participating as a vendor. The Western Mass Mineral, Jewelry, and Fossil Show will be held on March 26 and 27, 2022 at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Drive (Rt 33), Chicopee. Saturday hours are 9:30am to 5:00pm, and Sunday hours are 9:30am to 3:30pm. Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Free parking, exhibits, rock identification, and door prizes are available.

KYT Candidates’ Night and Upcoming Programs

A Candidates’ Night forum for those running for Town offices in the April 12, 2022 Town Election will be hosted by Know Your Town (KYT), a local nonpartisan organization. The event is now scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the Community Room at the South Hadley Public Library on Canal Street (please note date change from April 7). It is anticipated that candidate bios and photos will be available on the KYT website (www.knowyourtown.org) before the election to help voters get to know those who are running for office in our community.

Upcoming KYT spring programs include:

April 21, 2022 (6:00 to 8:00pm, Thursday)
Film Screening and Discussion: ‘The Biggest Little Farm’ 
This event is free and open to the public and will be held (pending any health protocols) in the Community Room at South Hadley Public Library on Canal Street. 

April 6, 2022 (6:00 to 8:00pm, Wednesday)
KYT Candidates Night 
Candidates running for local offices in South Hadley’s annual Town Election on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. 
This event is free and open to the public and will be held (pending any health protocols) in the Community Room at South Hadley Public Library on Canal Street. 

March 31, 2022 (7:00pm, Thursday)
Conservation and Planning in South Hadley 
A virtual forum with Rebekah Cornell, South Hadley Conservation Administrator and Planner
This free online event will be open to members and friends. Please email  Martha Terry to RSVP and receive the meeting link.

Shadowbrook Neighbors Online Social

Save the date! Plan to join Shadowbrook neighbors on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 4:00pm via Zoom for a casual conversation to catch up and meeting those who are new to our community. Please see our Winter 2022 newsletter email, which owners should be receiving soon. Hopefully, conditions will continue to improve so we can meet again in-person next time, either indoors or outside.!

Odyssey Book Store Author Events

Upcoming online and live author programs sponsored by the Odyssey include:

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:00pm via Zoom
Maureen B. Jones
Maud & Addie! (middle grades novel)
Info and Registration: https://www.odysseybks.com/event/maureen-b-jones

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 7:00pm via Zoom
Marie Rutkoski
Real Easy
Info and Registration: https://www.odysseybks.com/event/marie-rutkoski

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 7:00pm in-person at the Odyssey
Marie Rutkoski
Before the Flood: Destruction, Community, and Survival in the Drowned Towns of the Quabbin
Info and Registration: https://www.odysseybks.com/event/elisabeth-rosenberg

Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 7:00pm in-person at the Odyssey
Daniel Bullen
Daniel Shays’s Honorable Rebellion: An American Story
Info and Registration: https://www.odysseybks.com/event/daniel-bullen

Friday, January 28, 2022 at 7:00pm via Zoom
Adrea Theodore (author) and Erin K. Robinson (illustrator)
A History of Me! (picture book)
Info and Registration: https://www.odysseybks.com/event/adrea-theodore-and-erin-k-robinson

The Odyssey, an independent book store at the Village Commons in South Hadley, is open for in-person browsing. Books can also be ordered online for contact-free pickup. The store also hosts several book groups, including ‘Crime Club,’ ‘Open Fiction,’ and the ‘Active Citizens Book Group.’ For more information, including store hours and additional events, visit: https://www.odysseybks.com/.

Fisher Cat Spotted at Shadowbrook

Management received notice this morning, January 14, of a fisher cat’s presence in the wooded area near the curved lower connector road in the Hill section. We ask that you take caution in this general area and throughout the community, and keep a close eye on your pets during any outdoor activities. It is especially important to secure garbage and remove bird feeders that may attract the small mammals that fishers prey upon. More information about fishers, which are members of the weasel family, can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-fishers.

Bag the Community Food Drive POSTPONED

Due to the significant increase of COVID infections in our community, the annual Bag the Community Food Drive scheduled for this weekend on January 15 is postponed. The South Hadley High School Student Council will host a replacement community activity when the current health risks are eliminated. 

Unfortunately, the needs of our neighbors cannot be postponed. To help now, please consider a donation to to the food pantry. Checks made out to “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” can be mailed to:

   Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry
   30 Carew Street, South Hadley MA 01075

For more information on how, when, and what to donate, visit: https://www.nhnfoodpantry.org. Thank you for your patience and generosity during these challenging times.