The Villages of the Shadowbrook Estate Condominums

Hatfield WillBike4Food Ride
Sunday, September 21, 2025, 7am to 5pm (first ride leaves at 7am)
Lion’s Club Pavilion, Hatfield MA
Information and Registration from Food Bank of Western MA
Additional details from MassBike

Hello, South Hadley Bikers and Walkers! The South Hadley Bike/Walk Committee would like to call your attention to a bike event next month—the WillBike4Food ride in Hatfield on September 21st to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. This is a fun community event for a great cause, with 4, 12, 25, 50, and 100 mile scenic routes along the Connecticut River, starting and ending in Hatfield. Participants can ride and fundraise individually or with a team of friends, family, or coworkers.

Many families in the Valley experience food insecurity, and this year the Food Bank is dealing with a cut of almost half a million dollars’ worth of funding. Let’s help them make up this shortfall and support our neighbors, making sure everyone in the Valley has nutritious food. This is a fun, family-friendly event, and a few of our Bike/Walk committee members will be participating. Please feel free to donate to Jake or Anne’s campaigns below and consider signing up for the ride yourself!

Anne’s WillBike4Food Fundraiser
Jake’s WillBike4Food Fundraiser

Missing our Wine Downs over the summer?

Plan to come to our “Back to School” Wine Down:
Friday, September 12, 2025 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Gaylord Memorial Library
47 College Street, South Hadley MA
$10 Entry (cash/credit) 21+ only

As always, Gaylord Wine Downs are a great way to catch up with old friends and meet new people!

If you’d like to bring items to benefit Operation Backpack, you can bring them with you to the Wine Down, or drop off at the Gaylord during Library hours. Items in need include Zip drives, Binders, 3- or 1-subject notebooks, glue sticks, Post-It notes, yellow highlighters, calculators, protractors and, of course, backpacks!

South Hadley Library is partnering with other town departments to host these events in September at the main Library:

• Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 5:00pm
  Office Hours with Police Chief Jennifer Gunderson
  Share your concerns and ideas
• Monday, September 15,2025 at 3:00pm
  Monthly Public Health Drop-In Hour
  Access public health services and information
• Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 10:00am to 2:00pm
  National Voter Registration Day
  Town Clerk’s office staff will be available at the Library to help you check your voter registration status or register to vote

Details to come for these October events, in collaboration with South Hadley Health Dept:

• Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  Tapestry Health Mobile Harm Reduction van
• Tuesday, October 20, 2025
  Baystate Health Blood Drive

Adult Programs at South Hadley Public Library (main library)

September is packed with great programs at the library! We’ll kick things off with Sound Healing with Julia Nadolny on Wednesday, September 10 from 6:00–7:30. Julia, certified in energy-medicine, will guide participants through a reflective, balancing experience rooted in an ancient tradition. Click here to register.

The following week, history buffs can join us for Canals of the Connecticut River with Robert Comeau on Wednesday, September 17 at 6:00, a fascinating look at the canals that shaped power, navigation, and irrigation in the Valley—made possible by a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.

In the Community Room on Saturday, September 20 at 10:00am there will be Small Appliance Swap—drop off up to three small appliances from September 2–19, receive a ticket, and then come find something “new-to-you” on swap day.

In the Lobby on Saturday, September 20 we’ll have Selma Says: Energy Reading with Tarot in the Lobby through 11:00 (first come, first served). Selma blends her background in mental health with her studies of Tarot and Carl Jung’s Collective Unconscious to explore your burning questions about love, choices, and life direction.

On Wednesday, September 24 at 6:00pm, meet local author Rondalyn Whitney and learn about her book Self-Regulation: A Family Systems Approach. The first 20 attendees will even receive a free signed copy!

And to wrap up the month, don’t miss our Mid-Autumn Chinese Festival on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00–12:30. This family-friendly celebration of the Moon Festival will feature mooncake tasting, calligraphy, and lantern-making, in partnership with the Chinese Association of Western Massachusetts. Sign Up to participate! Limited to 50 participants.

Are you reading what we’re reading? Check out our Library book discussion groups:

• The Hello Sunshine Book Club is reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Between the Covers Romance Club is reading It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover.
• The Sustainable Living Book Club is reading Twist by Colum McCann.
• We also have books for the discussion groups that meet at the Senior Center. Check out the full selection near our new book area.

Online Author Programs (click each program for more information):

• On Writing Darkly Charming Villainous Love with Hannah Nicole Maehrer, New York Times Bestselling Author and TikTok Superstar. Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00
• Argue Less and Talk More with Communication Expert Jefferson Fisher, New York Times Bestselling Author and Social Media Sensation. Wednesday, September 10 at 2:00
• Our Failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell with Author Gabe Henry, Simplified Spelling Historian and Author of Enough is Enuf and Eating Salad Drunk. Wednesday, September 17 at 2:00

Main Library–Programs for Children and Teens

CHILDREN: September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! At SHPL, kids can get their first library card when they turn five. Stop by the children’s desk to take a picture with our cute “I got a library card!” photo frame! Library cards are free, and cardholders have access to millions of books, movies, and more through the C/W MARS library system. And there are no late fees!

Thanks to all who participated in our “Level Up at Your Library” summer reading program – over 230 of you!! Raffle winners have been contacted. Next year’s theme is “Plant A Seed, Read!”

Our regular programs for kids continue: Rhyme Time happens every Tuesday at 10:30, Story Time every Wednesday at 10:30, and Baby Lapsit every Friday at 10:00 (except September 12). Please note that CFCE Playgroup is taking a break for the first two weeks of September; playgroup will meet only on Thursday, September 18 at 10:00 and Friday, September 26 at 3:00. For bigger kids, Lego & Games are out every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00-5:00, STEAM is Thursday, September 16 at 3:45, Graphic Novel Book Club discusses Four Eyes by Rex Ogle on Thursday, September 11 at 4:00, and kids can Read to A Dog on September 9 or 24 (call the library at 413-538-5045).

• Meet us at the South Hadley Farmers’ Market for storytime at 4:00 on Wednesday, September 3, or visit on Saturday, September 6 at 10:30 for Japanese storytime with Kanae Nagasaki.
• We’ll have live reptiles and insects with a Hitchcock Center educator on Saturday, September 13 and and music with Mr. Liam on Saturday, September 27. You won’t want to miss those ten-second dance parties!

TEENS: This month for Teens (ages 11 through 19) we kick off our month with Crafternoon Thursday, September 4 from 4:00-5:00. We will be making Confetti Bookmarks this month. Feel free to sign up for a reminder email. Our monthly gaming sessions will be happening on Tuesday, September 2 for Xbox1 and Wednesday, September 10 for Switch. Both sessions start at 3:30 and run until 5:00. No sign up is needed. We will be having a special Switch time featuring Super Smash Bros Ultimate on Monday, September 29 from 3:30-5:00.

September brings back our monthly YA Book Tasting. It happens the first Monday of the month from 3:30-5:00. All are welcome to come and see what new Young Adult & Teen materials the library has to offer! We end the month with our Teen Night Craft on Tuesday, September 30 from 6:30-7:30. This month we will be Sponge Painting. Sign up for an email reminder.

Monthly Teen Takeaways continue to be available. This month features coloring. Sign up once and get a new Teen Takeaway every month. We also have our latest Booktrovert pick: Scythe by Neal Shusterman. There are no in-person meet ups, just enjoy the book on your own time. Copies are available in the Teen Room for check out.

Please note Snackternoon will return in October with a special guest! Any questions please email Bethany

Programs at Gaylord Memorial Library (branch library)

With students returning to Mount Holyoke College, there is renewed energy around the Gaylord Memorial Library. Spend some time people-watching in the Adirondack chairs on the front lawn. Check out the late summer insects and birds in the pollinator garden. Relax in the historic rotunda while reading a good book or checking your email.

Spice Club returns on Thursday, September 4 at 6:30pm and will meet on the first Thursday of the month to share tips and recipes from the distributed spices. September’s featured spice is a Harissa Spice Blend.

The Children’s Room on the lower level has a wonderful selection of books for kids of all ages, and storytimes happen on Friday mornings at 10:30. There will be an afterschool Lego Club on Thursday, September 4 from 3:00-6:00. No registration required, just drop by.

KEY WEBSITES to STAY CONNECTED:

• Online calendar for library programs (including registration information)

• SHPL Facebook page

• South Hadley Public Library homepage

• Gaylord Memorial Library homepage

• Town of South Hadley homepage

Annual Big Rig Day at Buttery Brook Park
Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Buttery Brook Park
123 Willimansett Street (Route 33), South Hadley, MA

This longtime Buttery Brook Park favorite features fire trucks, police cars, utility trucks, ambulances and more. Climb into the cabs and meet the people who operate these fascinating vehicles at this unique, free, kid-friendly event co-hosted by SHELD/Fiberspring, the Friends of Buttery Book Park, All Star Dairy, and the South Hadley Recreation Department. Don’t miss this great, free family event!

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

The Summer Reading Program is in full swing at your libraries. Be sure to register for your age group to become eligible for some great prizes. There are so many events happening at SHPL and Gaylord, be sure to check the calendar regularly to see what’s going on.

On a more somber note, statewide research database offerings were significantly reduced on July 1 due to the elimination of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Twenty-one online resources are no longer available including the Boston Globe, Heritage Quest, and Transparent Language. Patrons will continue to have access to Britannica Escolar, Library, and School editions; Gale Academic OneFile + OneFile Collections; Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints; and PebbleGo.

Adult Programs at South Hadley Public Library (SHPL)

Thinking about a Career Change? On Wednesday, July 16 at 6:00pm, MassHire will be on hand to help you boost your resume, sharpen your skills, and explore local job opportunities—no registration needed.

Participate in our first Puzzle Race on Saturday, July 19 at 10:30am. The first team to complete the 500-piece jigsaw puzzle wins a prize!

For a more personal journey, join intuitive healer Winifred on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:00pm for an evening of self-reflection through Tarot, intention-setting, and guided affirmation work by signing up here. To round out the month, unleash your creativity with local pop artist Carla on Wednesday, July 30 at 6:00, where you’ll craft vibrant coffee filter flowers to brighten your space and your spirit, sign up here. Whether you’re looking to calm your mind, grow your skills, or simply have fun, there’s something here to help you level up this summer!

Adult Programs at Gaylord Memorial Library

We have a busy month of programs for all ages at Gaylord! Michele Lyman of Serenity Yoga will be teaching Outdoor Yoga on Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 4:00pm.

People of all ages can drop in for Cornhole on the back lawn on Thursday, July 17 from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Check out the Library calendar!
For more Adult Programs and offerings for Children and Teens at both libraries:
shadleylib.libcal.com

Other key links:

• SHPL Facebook page

• South Hadley Public Library homepage

• Gaylord Memorial Library homepage

• Town of South Hadley homepage