Mahar hosting Homecoming Weekend

ORANGE — Homecoming Weekend at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in Orange is set for Oct. 17 through Oct. 19.

The first event is a program will be held in the Kermit Cook Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17, when the homecoming royalty will be introduced by Mahar Key Club members. The candidates are Kayla Quinn, Thea Whitmore, Beliah Esteves, Nevaeh Scribner, Shea Woods, David Phelps, Jayden Dicato, Jayden Delgado, Chance Parsons, Mitch Krasco, Lian Lopez-Baez and Luan Lopez-Baez. A feature of the program will be the lip-sync entries from each class.

On Oct. 18, there will be a parade featuring the homecoming royalty, class banners, cheerleaders, the sports teams and coaches. Prior to the football game, the homecoming royalty will be presented to the crowd. At 7 p.m., the Mahar Senators will play the Ware Junior Senior High School football team. During halftime, parents of varsity football team players, of the cheering squad and of the senior cross-country team will be recognized by the Key Club. Parents of seniors will receive pictures and parents of underclassmen will receive certificates of appreciation.

The varsity volleyball, soccer and field hockey teams will play alumni teams on the morning of Oct. 19. Volleyball and field hockey games will begin at 9 a.m., the girls soccer team will play at 10:30 a.m. and the boys soccer team will play at noon. The Key Club will sell coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts in the gym lobby.

The Homecoming Dance featuring DJ Coach Percy Eady will be held on Oct. 19. A highlight of the dance will be the presentation of awards for class banners and the lip-sync competition. The crowning of the homecoming royalty will be at 9:15 p.m.

Homecoming Weekend is organized by the Mahar Key Club as part of its school and community service program.

Amherst author to speak at New Salem Public Library

NEW SALEM — Amherst author Elisabeth Rosenberg is slated to read from and discuss her book “Before the Flood: Destruction, Community and Survival in the Drowned Towns of the Quabbin” at the New Salem Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 8 p.m.

“Before the Flood” reveals the stories and the key players behind the four disincorporated towns that were flooded to create the Quabbin Reservoir: Dana, Prescott, Greenwich and Enfield.

The event is free. Rosenberg will have copies of her book available to purchase.

There is also a Zoom option for this event. More details and a Zoom link are available at nsfriendsoflibrary.weebly.com.

Library to host ‘Mysterious Massachusetts’

NEW SALEM — The New Salem Public Library will host Springfield librarian Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe for a program called “Mysterious Massachusetts” on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Hodge-Wetherbe will share tales of strange and unusual happenings across the state. She will talk about the Salem witch trials, the Dover Demon, seaside ghosts and the UFO event reported in Berkshire County in September 1969.

This program is supported by a grant from the New Salem Cultural Council.

For more information, call the library at 978-544-6334 or email nsdirector@cwmars.org.

Library to host grain-weaving workshop

NEW SALEM — The New Salem Public Library has planned a grain-weaving workshop for Saturday, Nov. 9.

Kathy Morris, an artist and librarian from Royalston, is slated to visit and offer hands-on instruction to design and create unique decorations from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will learn the basic steps and select from various styles.

Registration is required. Call the library at 978-544-6334 or stop by in person at 23 South Main St.