On Thursday, September 14, at 6 p.m., the South Hadley Conservation Commission is hosting the third in its Growing Wild series at the South Hadley Public Library. Larri Cochran, co-president of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, will be the guest speaker. More information about the talk and additional resources are available at: https://www.southhadley.org/1345/Growing-Wild
South Hadley Falls Bird Walk on September 8th
The South Hadley Conservation Commission, in collaboration with the Hampshire Bird Club, is hosting a walk for the public at 8am on Saturday, September 9, 2023 to investigate the birds living, flying and feeding below South Hadley Falls. The group will meet at 8 a.m. at the entrance to Texon Mill Park. Park at the South Hadley Public Library parking lot at 2 Canal Street, and walk down the hill at the rear of the lot to the entry gate for Texon Mill Park.
In advance of the September 9th bird walk, the Hampshire Bird Club is also hosting an optional Zoom talk and discussion on Tuesday, September 5, from 7-8 p.m. to acquaint people with the birds they may see the following Saturday, as well as how to prepare for the walk. Please register for the Zoom talk at https://bit.ly/2023bfe.
Stars Above Circus Show at Buttery Brook Park-July 25 and 26
Hideaway Circus: Stars Above
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 4:00pm (tickets required)
Tuesday, July 25 at 7:00pm (tickets required)
Despite a delayed 8pm start due to rain on Tuesday, the show went on for a good crowd! (photo below)
The Hideway Circus-Stars Above northeast outdoor circus tour is at Buttery Brook Park for two shows in July. To purchase tickets, view a video trailer, and general information about the family friendly show and what to bring, see: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stars-above-south-hadley-ma-tickets-623742399307. For more information about the Stars Above tour, visit: https://www.starsabovecircus.com/
Buttery Brook Park is located at 123 Willimansett Street (Route 33), South Hadley, MA.
July 2023 at Buttery Brook Park
South Hadley’s Buttery Brook Park (https://www.southhadley.org/1200/Buttery-Brook-Park) will host a number of special family-friendly activities this month, including an outdoor circus, morning concerts, and the annual big rig day. Ongoing summer events include Friday Cruise Nights and a Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market. The park grounds offer pickleball and basketball courts, a spray park, playgrounds, shaded picnic areas, and restroom facilities.
Buttery Brook Park is located at 123 Willimansett Street (Route 33), South Hadley, MA.
The South Hadley Recreation Department (http://southhadleyrecreation.org) also offers a number of Summer Programs for youth, including South Hadley Trail Runs, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Art-ventures, and Skyhawks Sports & Games.
Hideaway Circus: Stars Above Outdoor Circus Show,
Tuesday, July 25 at 7:00pm (tickets required)
IMPORTANT: START TIME MOVED TO 8:00PM ON TUESDAY, JULY, 25th due to storms
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 4:00pm (tickets required)
The Stars Above northeast outdoor circus tour is coming to Buttery Brook Park in July for two shows. To purchase tickets, view a video trailer, and general information about the family friendly show and what to bring, see: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stars-above-south-hadley-ma-tickets-623742399307. For more information about the Stars Above tour, visit: https://www.starsabovecircus.com/
Free Children’s Summer Concert Series
Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00am:
July 12, 2023 – Annie and the Natural Wonder Band
https://www.facebook.com/annieandthenaturalwonderband/
July 19, 2023 – Tom Knight
https://tomknight.com/
July 26, 2023 – In the Nick of time
https://www.inthenickoftimemusic.com/
The South Hadley Family Center hosts three children’s summer concerts under the pavilion at Buttery Brook Park. Concerts are free and take place on Wednesdays from 10am -11am. Please bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the concerts. This program is supported in part by the South Hadley Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Annual Big Rig Day
Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 10am to 12pm
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/Fibersonic, the Friends of Buttery Book Park, All Star Dairy, and the South Hadley Recreation Department. Don’t miss this great, free family event!
Friday Cruise Nights
Fridays from 5pm to Dusk, May 19 to September 8, 2023
2023 Cruise Nights (pdf)
Buttery Brook Park Friends’ Cruise Nights are held from 5:00pm to dusk each week during the season, which generally runs from the Friday before Memorial Day to the Friday after Labor Day. The public is invited to come and see each week’s vintage vehicles (admission is free) and enjoy pleasant warm-weather nights at the Park. Beverages including beer, soda, and water are available from the Friends and South Hadley-based Foley’s Franks food wagon is on site. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Park in 2023! Funds raised through Cruise Nights help to support Park improvements. For more information about Cruise Nights and inclement weather cancellations, see: http://www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark
Wednesday Farmers’ Market South Hadley
Wednesdays from 2-6pm
May 24 to October 11, 2023 (rain or shine)
Buttery Brook Park will welcome a great new attraction in 2023! Enjoy the park while you shop, along with fare from a local food truck. A SNAP match program will be available. Visit the Market’s website at farmersmarketsouthhadley.com or Farmers’ Market South Hadley on Facebook for more information.
2023-2024 season tickets for area venues
For lovers of live performance, now is a great time to check out these area venues and their season ticket options for the coming 2023-2024 season.
The Majestic Theater in nearby West Springfield, MA has been a regional favorite for high-quality, locally-produced professional live theater since 1997. Each season consists of five productions (including at least one musical) in an intimate theater with plenty of good seats. Season ticket holders can easily change tickets to another date if a conflict arises. Information about the 2023-2024 season can be found at: https://www.majestictheater.com/index.html. Tickets for the annual summer program of musical tribute acts and live children’s theater are also available.
The Fine Arts Center at UMass/Amherst offers a variety of high-quality entertainment, from world music and dance, Jazz greats like Branford Marsalis, to Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr, and The Simon & Garfunkel Story theatrical production. Choose at least 3 shows to subscribe and save 15% (and the ability to swap tickets if a conflict arises). Events for the 2023-2024 season can be viewed at: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/default.asp. Performance venues include the Tillis Performance Hall/Bromery Center for the Arts, Bowker Auditorium at Stockbridge Hall, and UMass Old Chapel.
The Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT has opened subscription sales for their 2023-2024 Broadway season, which includes shows like Wicked and Frozen. The theater is about an hour’s drive, and parking for evening and weekend shows is free at nearby CT government lots, making it a very convenient location for seeing Broadway shows.
Take the South Hadley Housing Survey by July 16!
Last summer, our town started a process to update South Hadley’s Housing Production Plan. Since then there have been a series of community engagement activities, including two public forums on housing. The most recent Housing Production Plan forum, on June 22, 2022 at the South Hadley Senior Center and on Zoom, offered residents an opportunity to learn about housing development and constraints in our community and discuss draft goals, strategies and opportunities to create much-needed housing for people of all incomes and stages of life.
As a follow-up to the recent forum, an online survey is available so that residents can provide their important feedback on draft goals, strategies, and opportunities to create new housing in South Hadley. The Housing Survey is now open and the comment period has been extended to July 16th. Please share your input by taking the survey at: links.shhousingplan.org/survey2
Those who were unable to attend the June 22 forum can watch a recording of the meeting online at: https://vimeo.com/839763093. A PDF of the slide show presentation, which provides an overview of the plan process, timeline, and information about zoning concerns and potential strategies is available at: https://shhousingplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SH-HPP-CF-2-Presentation.pdf.
The process will continue through fall 2023, when a completed planning document will be submitted for adoption by the Selectboard and Planning Board, as well as approval by the MA Department of Housing and Community Development. The plan is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To learn more about the project, visit the Housing Production Plan website and sign up for email updates: https://shhousingplan.org. If you have additional questions, you can contact Planning and Conservation Department Director, Anne Capra, by email at acapra@southhadleyma.org or by phone at (413) 538-5017 x6128.
Summer Wine Down at Gaylord Library
The public is invited to the monthly Wine Down on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the Gaylord Library branch, 47 College Street, South Hadley. Come support the Friends of the Gaylord Library and mingle in the historic library rotunda–it’s a great way to connect with others and meet new people! Everyone over the age of 21 is cordially invited; Entry fee is $10. This event is open to the public. For information, see: https://gaylordlibrary.org/winedown
If you are interested in getting more involved with the Gaylord Memorial Library Association or helping out with events like a Wine Down, please fill out a form at the circulation desk and we will be in touch!
Fire District 1 Special Meeting
South Hadley Fire District 1, the district that serves Shadowbrook, held a special meeting on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 for a vote on a warrant article to fund salaries. Article 5 failed to pass at the Annual Meeting on April 27 after many of those present expressed a desire for more detail about the items to be funded than what was provided. A recording of the special meeting to complete the vote on that warrant article is available on the Channel 15 website (https://shctv15.com/), with a direct link to the video at: https://vimeo.com/828134384?embedded=true&source=video_title&owner=1326098.
Community Forum 2 on Housing-June 22
A second community forum on Housing will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023 from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the South Hadley Senior Center, 45 Dayton Street, South Hadley. All residents are invited to come and learn about housing development and constraints in our community and discuss draft goals, strategies and opportunities to create much-needed housing for people of all incomes and stages of life.
The forum is part of an ongoing process started in the fall of 2022 to update South Hadley’s Housing Production Plan and shape the future of housing in our town. To learn more about the project, visit: https://shhousingplan.org.
South Hadley Library June Programs
In-Person Adult Programs at South Hadley Main Library (SHPL)
2 Canal Street, South Hadley
Tuesday Night Knitting Group. Tuesdays from 6:00-8:00
Join the library’s Tuesday Night Knitters for some quality knitting and crocheting time. All skill levels are welcome. The group meets on the second floor in the Mandrachia Quiet Study Room but may move to a larger meeting room when available.
Hello Sunshine Book Club. Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30
Join this book discussion group reading selections from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine book club. The June title is The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia. Copies of the July title, Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman, will be available soon.
Author Talk: Lost Towns of the Swift River Valley: Drowned by the Quabbin with Ellen Palladino. Wednesday, June 14 at 6:00
Palladino’s book tells the story of a community that was displaced to make room for a new reservoir in the name of progress. This is the story of the Quabbin Reservoir, which is Boston’s water supply, told through the stories of some of the people who lost their homes and livelihoods.
Spanish Conversation Circle. Saturday, June 17 at 10:30
An opportunity for Spanish speakers to practice their language skills. Participants should have some basic conversational skills to join the group. This is not a language class.
Improv for Scaredy Cats (& Non-Scaredy Cats Too!). Saturday, June 23 at 10:00
Sign up at the front desk or online at https://tinyurl.com/8pbj5bey
Help find your voice and empower yourself. This program is designed especially for improv newbies, the improv-curious, and anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone to use their voice with more joy and ease. Presented by Pam Victor of the Happier Valley Comedy Group.
Music Concert: The Songs and Wisdom of Johnny Cash by Matt York. Wednesday, June 28 at 6:00
Longtime New England musician/author Matt York will perform the songs of Johnny Cash and tell stories about Cash’s career, spanning from his early beginnings in the 1950’s to his passing in 2003. York was recently nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist and his album Gently Used was named one of Worcester’s Magazine’s best albums of 2022. 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. This program will take place on the lawn, or may move inside to the Community Room due to weather.
Adult and Teen Programs at Gaylord Library Branch
47 College Street, South Hadley
Stitch Togethers – Fridays, June 2 & 16, 3:00 to 5:00
Share your crafting know-how, browse a selection of crafty books full of new skills, or just enjoy stitching in the Gaylord rotunda!
Outdoor Concert with Cameron Sutphin – Thursday, June 8, at 6:30
Bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us for an outdoor concert featuring Americana singer/guitar player Cameron Sutphin. He has appeared on the Blue Plate Special live audience radio program in Knoxville TN, and has had the privilege of performing at The Big E multiple times.
Virtual Sit & Stitch with Timna Tarr – Thursdays, June 8 at 6:00
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. (Pre-register at www.gaylordlibrary.org)
Outdoor Yoga with Michele Lyman.
Thursdays, June 22 & 29, July 13 & 20, 4:00 to 5:00
Michele Lyman is the Owner & Director of Serenity Yoga, a local business. (Pre-register at www.gaylordlibrary.org)
Bring Your Own Board Game – Fridays, June 29, from 6:00 to 8:00
Bring a favorite board game to play against friends or meet a new one! No pre-registration necessary.
Dreaming on the Page Author Talk with Tzivia Gover. Friday, June 30 at 3:30
Author Tzivia Gover believes that everybody dreams and everybody has a story to tell. Come learn how to access your dreams and discover your inner poet or storyteller. Gover will offer examples of literary works inspired by dreams, read from her new book, Dreaming on the Page, and will offer tips and journaling prompts to help you boost creativity and find inspiration for writing stories, poems, memoirs, song lyrics, and more.
Virtual/Online Author Talks:
· The Fun Habit with Dr. Mike Rucker. Wednesday, June 7 at 4:00
–Register Online at https://libraryc.org/shadleylib
How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life: Lessons from Organizational Psychologist Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
· An American in Provence with Award-Winning Photographer Jamie Beck.
Thursday, June 15 at 2:00
–Register Online at https://libraryc.org/shadleylib
Looking to slow down from her fast-paced life in New York City, Beck embarked on a one-year getaway to Provence. One year, turning into five, Beck moved to the French countryside, documenting her life as An American in Provence.
· Tananarive Due: Author of Black Panther Tales of Wakanda.
Wednesday, June 28 @ 8:00
–Register Online at https://libraryc.org/shadleylib
Award-winning and bestselling author of sixteen books, including The Blood Colony, The Living Blood, The Good House, Joplin’s Ghost, and Devil’s Wake.
Virtual Presidential Library & Museum Lectures:
· Jimmy Carter: Gender Equity & The Carter Administration.
Tuesday, June 6 at 2:00
–Register online at https://tinyurl.com/2cuffwtb
· Herbert Hoover: Bert & Lou: The Story of the Herbert Hoover Family
with the Hoover Presidential Library. Tuesday, June 13 at 2:00
–Register online at https://tinyurl.com/6btefk8h
· Gerald Ford: Interrogating Presidential Photos
with the Ford Presidential Library. Tuesday, June 20 at 2:00
–Register online athttps://tinyurl.com/4zkctuvd
· Harry S. Truman: Out of the Archives – A Look Back at the Marshall Plan
with the Truman Presidential Library. Tuesday, June 27 at 2:00
–Register online at https://tinyurl.com/8pjb5bey
For Children’s Programs and other information, visit: