Brewery founders to speak at NMH graduation

GILL — Mariah Draper Calagione and Sam Calagione III, founders of Dogfish Head Brewery, will be the keynote speakers at Northfield Mount Hermon School’s 142nd commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 25.

The Calagiones both attended NMH — Sam in the Class of 1988 and Mariah in the Class of 1989 — as did their two children, Sam IV and Grier. They have served the school in numerous volunteer roles over the years. Mariah recently completed 13 years on the NMH board of trustees, six of them as chair. The two now serve as honorary co-chairs and members of the steering committee of “This Place, This Moment: The Campaign for Northfield Mount Hermon,” which seeks to raise $275 million for financial aid, faculty support and other programs at the school.

“Northfield Mount Hermon is truly the centerpiece of my family’s life,” Sam Calagione, who is a native of Greenfield, said in a statement. “It is certainly the place where I figured out who I wanted to be and how I wanted to interact with this wonderful, challenging, creative world we live in.”

Donations from the Calagione family also helped fund the construction of the Draper Riverhouse and the Calagione Fitness Center, and the establishment of scholarship funds. The Calagiones’ community service and philanthropic work expands beyond NMH and includes community-based projects in Delaware, where they live.

“We’re thrilled that Mariah and Sam have accepted the Class of 2025’s invitation to be this year’s commencement speakers,” NMH Head of School Brian Hargrove said in a statement. “They exemplify all that is special about Northfield Mount Hermon: a resolute commitment to serve and to lead. Their journey as entrepreneurs models our educational principles — they learn by doing, they embrace a creative and collaborative process, and they make sure their choices reflect their values. To be sure, they engage their heads, hearts and hands in all they do. We’re excited to have them share their inspiring story with our graduates.”

Emmy-nominated actor to speak on faith and media

TURNERS FALLS — Our Lady of Peace Church at 90 Seventh St. has invited Frank Runyeon, nationally acclaimed speaker and Hollywood actor, to present his talk, “Hollywood vs. Faith: The Struggle to Live Faithfully in the Media Age,” on Saturday, March 8, at 7 p.m.

In his talk, Runyeon suggests, with humor, how to watch TV “inside out.” He discusses the subtle impact of commercial sponsorship, as well as the reasons for the sex and violence portrayed in the media, offering his perspective as an actor who desires truth in storytelling.

Doors open at 6 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10.

For more information, contact Marguerite Noga at 413-863-5397 or visit ourladyofpeacetf.org.

Puzzle swap set for Sunday

ERVING — The Erving Public Library will host a puzzle swap on Sunday, March 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees don’t need to bring a puzzle to take a puzzle.

School Committee seat remains open

MONTAGUE — There is an open seat for a Montague resident on the Gill-Montague Regional School District School Committee.

Interested Montague residents should email Executive Assistant Tara McCarthy at tara.mccarthy@gmrsd.org or send a letter to Tara McCarthy, 35 Crocker Ave., Turners Falls, MA 01376, by Monday, March 10, so the committee can consider potential candidates at its next meeting on Tuesday, March 11.

Additionally, nomination papers for School Committee seats that will be on the ballots during the annual town elections are now available at the Superintendent’s Office at 35 Crocker Ave. in Turners Falls.

Town elections will be held May 19 in Gill and May 20 in Montague. Nomination papers are due back in the Superintendent’s Office no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, March 31.

All nomination papers for School Committee seats must be picked up from and returned to the Superintendent’s Office, not the Town Clerk’s Office. There is one seat for a Gill representative with a three-year term and there are three seats available for Montague representatives, one for a one-year term and two for three-year terms.

For more information or with questions, contact Tara McCarthy at 413-863-9324 or tara.mccarthy@gmrsd.org.

Hands-only CPR sessions to be taught at library

ERVING — The Erving Public Library will host a free American Red Cross hands-only CPR class on Tuesday, March 11, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Additional sessions will be held May 13 and July 8.

No sign up is needed. For more information, contact the library at 413-423-3348.

Local author coming to Erving Public Library

ERVING — The Erving Public Library will host an author talk with Judy McIntosh on Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m.

McIntosh will discuss her writing journey and her latest book “Swift River Secrets,” a contemporary mystery with family feuds and grudges dating back to the flooding of four towns to create the Quabbin Reservoir.

McIntosh’s books will be available to purchase after the presentation. Registration is appreciated but not required. To reserve a seat, call the library at 413-423- 3348.

Just Roots rep to lead cooking program

TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center at 24 Third St. will welcome a representative from Just Roots community farm on Wednesday, March 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. He will lead community members in cooking a meal together.

To register, contact Stacey Langknecht at slangknecht@brickhousecommunity.org or 413-800-2496.

MacDougall to lead upcycled art workshop

TURNERS FALLS — Eveline MacDougall will lead an upcycled art workshop for all ages and skill levels on Saturday, March 22, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Greenfield Savings Bank branch at 282 Avenue A. Attendees will transform outdated or unused calendars into one-of-a-kind envelopes.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials will be provided, but attendees can also bring their own calendars. Light refreshments will be available.