Deerfield Academy fixing Frontier’s fields

SOUTH DEERFIELD — With a one-person field crew at Frontier Regional School, Deerfield Academy is offering the school a hand — and equipment — to help prep the fields for winter and spring.

Superintendent Darius Modestow thanked Deerfield Academy’s administration and field staff for the help, as the private school is repairing Frontier’s baseball and softball fields.

“It’s a maintenance project that is bigger than my one-person field crew can handle, and they offered their crew and equipment to fix the fields,” he said. “The infield lips grow over time and need to be cut back and resod.”

Recreation Department holding toy and food drive

DEERFIELD — The Recreation Department is hosting a toy and food drive to benefit organizations in Franklin County.

Those with items to donate can drop them off in the lobby of Town Hall at 8 Conway St. Donations will be accepted until Sunday, Dec. 10.

Specifically, the Recreation Department is seeking non-perishable food that will go to the Franklin Area Survival Center, and unwrapped toys and gift cards that will go to the Salvation Army to be distributed throughout the county.

Church holding tree lighting, visit from Santa

SHUTESBURY — The Shutesbury Community Church is sponsoring its annual community tree lighting, carol sing-along and visit from Santa Claus on Sunday, Dec. 10, on the town common.

Music, to be provided by church Worship Arts Director Veronica Richter, will include a range of traditional and contemporary holiday songs. Santa will listen to children’s Christmas wishes and will receive a small gift, while hot cocoa, cider and doughnuts will be provided.

Before the festivities, though, volunteers are needed to help decorate the tree. Those interested are asked to meet on the common in front of the church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The tree has been donated by Athol’s West Brook Tree Farm.

Child care available for Conway’s Special Town Meeting

CONWAY — The town is offering free child care on Saturday, Dec. 9, for its Special Town Meeting at Conway Grammar School.

To request child care, email Conway Grammar School Principal Kristen Gordon at Kristen.Gordon@frsu38.org by Dec. 6. Special Town Meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Winter parking ban in effect in Whately

WHATELY — Following a Selectboard vote, the town’s winter parking ban is now in effect until April 15.

Under the ban, no parking shall be allowed on streets or in municipal parking areas between midnight and 7 a.m. The restriction does not apply to residents of the Smikes House and their guests who park in the spaces designated for the Smikes House.

Mount Toby Concerts hosting Fiery Hope chorus

LEVERETT — Mount Toby Concerts is continuing its traditional music series on Saturday, Dec. 16, with a performance by the Fiery Hope chorus.

Fiery Hope was founded in 1988 and is led by Eveline MacDougall, who also serves as a Greenfield Recorder columnist. The chorus, formerly known as Amandla, started out singing South African freedom songs but has since added songs from other cultures, as well as original compositions by MacDougall.

The show will be held at 194 Long Plain Road in Leverett starting at 7 p.m. A recommended donation of $20 to $30 is requested at the door, although folks are able to pay as they are able.

Reserve seats by emailing diacrowe@yahoo.com or calling 413-835-1695.