NEW SALEM NEWS – December Newsletter
December 1
December 2
December 2
December 3
December 3
December 5
December 7
December 9
December 1
December 10
December 11
December 15
December 16
December 23
December 25
December 30
Lego Club
Teens and Tweens at the Library – Writing
Book Discussion Group at Library
Library Used Book Sale Begins
Reading and Conversation with Mira Bartok and Jane Yolen
Review of Library Needs with Trustees
First Day of Chanukah
Teens and Tweens at the Library
Pizza and Pages
Write for Rights at the Library
Council on Aging Holiday Potluck
Winter Solstice – Storybook Lanterns – at the Library
Teens and Tweens at the Library – Henna Tattoos
Teens and Tweens at the Library – Make a Gift
Christmas
Teens and Tweens at the Library – Games Day
Reading and Conversation with Mira Bartok and Jane Yolen
On Thursday, December 3rd from 7:00-9:00 pm, come and experience Reading and
Conversation with Mira Bartok and Jane Yolen at the Moore-Leland Library at 172 Athol Rd,
Orange, MA 01364. New Salem resident and author/illustrator, Mira Bartok, (The Memory
Palace), along with celebrated fantasy writer, Jane Yolen (Letting Swift River Go, Owl Moon,
plus 300 other books!), will read from their latest stories and poems, followed by a lively
conversation about their creative process and literary friendship. There will be books for both
children and adults for sale, along with prints and broadsides. (FYI: Although both writers write
for children too, this event is for adults.) For more information, please call: (978) 575-0444.
Refreshments courtesy of Friends of the Orange Libraries.
Write for Rights
On Thursday, December 10th, the New Salem Public Library will host an evening of letter
writing in support of prisoners of conscience around the world. The event is sponsored worldwide by Amnesty International which provides the information about people who have been
imprisoned for their beliefs and/or actions in support of equal rights as well as addresses of the
agencies responsible for putting these people in prison.
Every year around International Human Rights Day (December 10th), hundreds of thousands of
people around the world send a letter or e-mail on behalf of someone they've never met, as part
of Write for Rights. Our messages help convince government officials to release people
imprisoned for expressing their opinion (called "prisoners of conscience" by Amnesty), stop the
use of torture, commute death sentences, and end other human rights abuses.
Last year, hundreds of thousands of people around the world helped send over 3 million
messages, and we helped change lives as a result. Moses Akatugba was released from death row
in Nigeria. The City of Chicago passed a law ensuring justice for survivors of torture by police.
Carmen was released from prison, after being jailed under El Salvador's ban on abortion.
Prisoner of conscience Murad Shtewi was released by Israel. And prisoner of conscience Liu
Ping, in China, was able to have a visit from her daughter.
The event will take place on Thursday, December 10th from 7:00-9:00 pm at the New Salem
Public Library. Information and materials for the letter writing campaign will be available. For
information contact Mary-Ann Palmieri at 978-544-2611 or mapalmieri1126@gmail.com.
New Salem Library News
Review of Library Needs: Townspeople are invited to review the library maintenance and space
needs with the Library’s Board of Trustees at a special "walk-through the library" meeting on
Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 am. The trustees are looking for ideas and input from the
public on taking care of and organizing the library facility.
Lego Club: The Lego Club will meet on Tuesday, December 1st at 3:30 pm. Open to ages 5 and
up.
Pizza and Pages: The Pizza and Pages group is reading Flyte, by Angie Sage. Read it and come
Wednesday, December 9th at 5:00 pm to talk about it and eat pizza donated by the New Salem
General Store. Note: This group now meets on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays.
Teens and Tweens: December is National Novel Writing Month. On Wednesday, December 2nd,
come to the library and work on your novel. Have a snack. Talk about what you’re writing.
Maybe you’ll be our next published author!
What’s new in December for the Teens and Tweens group? So the ‘rents’ won’t let you get a
‘tat’ for the holidays? Come to the New Salem Library on December 16th and get a cool henna
tattoo - intricate snowflakes, a mockingjay, or something you design! The artist will arrive for
3:00 pm and stay until 5:00 pm. Don’t miss out!
Make a last minute gift on Wednesday, the 23rd.
Games Day will be held on Wednesday, December 30th. Come play WII games, computer games,
LEGO and board games. Maybe you’ll learn a new game!
Always free snacks, people to hang out with and activities to try. You can take the school bus
from Swift River or Mahar! Be sure to bring your bus note.
Anyone who is interested in learning to sew following a pattern should come to the library on a
Wednesday and pick out what they’d like to make or call 978-544-6334 and let us know!
Book Discussion Group: On Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm, the Book Discussion Group
will be discuss The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt.
Friends of New Salem Library News
Library for All Seasons: The Library for All Seasons program will be holding a Winter Solstice
Event ~ Storybook Lanterns – on Tuesday, December 15th from 3:30-5:00 pm. This is an all
ages program. Swift River School students with parental permission may take the bus to the
New Salem Public Library after school to participate. Everything needed for the lanterns will be
provided. There will be snacks and other fun activities.
Reading Aloud for Grownups: The Reading Aloud for Grownups program dates for 2016 have
been determined! This coming year they will be on Wednesdays, January 13th, February 10th,
March 9th, and April 13th with snow dates one week later. Readers will be posted as soon as the
list is finalized.
New Programs Planned: The Friends of The New Salem Public Library have planned a lot of
great programs coming up including: Regency Fashion & Jane Austen, Feasting in Literature,
and Weird Massachusetts. Times and dates for these programs will be announced soon!
Annual Appeal: The Friends of the New Salem Public Library would like to thank our past
supporters and hope you will all take the opportunity to look over our forthcoming Annual
Appeal brochure. We have included a "suggestions," section as well.
Book Sale: The Friends of the New Salem Public Library will be having a Holiday Book Sale
starting Thursday, December 3rd. Check out the book shelves in the front and side foyers for
“almost new” books ready for holiday giving.
Council on Aging News
On Friday, December 11th, we will hold our annual Holiday Potluck luncheon at the Stowell
Building. We will gather for coffee, Bingo, and visiting at 10:00 am with lunch to follow at
noon. Please let Hendra Reidy know if you are coming (978-544-2178) and what you plan to
bring. There will be a gift swap. For those who wish to participate, bring a wrapped present
(something that would be good for a man or woman) worth $10 or less. There will be a door
prize! The snow date will be the following Friday.
Busy Bs: Every Wednesday from 1:00-3:00 pm, several of us meet at the Stowell Building
Senior Center to work on projects, visit, and keep up on local news!! Please join us.
Central Congregational Church News
Christmas Tree Lighting: The Central Congregational Church will be doing their annual
Christmas Tree Lighting. Details to be announced soon.
Black Nativity Bus Trip: The Central Congregational Church is sponsoring a bus trip to the
Black Nativity event in Boston. Details to be announced soon.
TOWN NOTICES
Board of Assessors Seeks Two Replacements
The Board of Assessors is seeking two replacements: one for the pending retirement of chair,
Phyllis Stever, who has served for ten years, and the other for the previously open slot. It is
required that the board have three members, however a board of two members meets the
minimum requirement for a quorum. The pending departure of Phyllis will leave the board (and
the town) in a predicament where, with only one assessor, we cannot legally function, sign
paperwork required by the state, and allow the town to operate. The board meets twice
monthly (2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm.) through most of the year and meetings
are normally under two hours in length. There is a stipend for board members. Please call our
office at 978-544-5814, if you are a town resident and are interested in joining the board.
Personnel Committee
Due to a recent resignation, the Personnel Committee is looking for a new member. Contact
Nancy Aldrich at 978-544-6437 if you are interested.
Website Committee
The New Salem Website committee is down to two active members and needs additional
volunteers. Please contact Mary-Ellen Kennedy at 978-821-2597 or Nancy Aldrich at 978-5446437 if you are interested.
Energy Committee
The New Salem Energy Committee is on a hiatus as only two members remain. They are now
working with Wendell on grants for energy upgrades at Swift River School. The Town of
Wendell has suggested working with New Salem on “Solarize Mass” which provides group rates
on multiple solar installations. Please contact Nancy Aldrich at 978-544-6437 if you are
interested in working with the Energy Committee.
Selectboard News
Selectboard Meetings: The Selectboard normally meets at 7:00 pm. on every other Monday at
the Stowell Building. If the Monday is a holiday, the Selectboard meet on the Tuesday of that
week. To verify a meeting date, contact the Town Coordinator at 544-6437.
Holiday Recycling Reminders
Did you know that the average American family can create as many as 10 extra bags of trash
around the holidays? We want to spread the good news that gift wrap, gift bags, gift tissue paper,
boxes, cards and other holiday waste IS recyclable! We also would like to remind people that
holiday lights, Styrofoam peanuts, ribbons and bows are not recyclable.
Please do include the following items in your paper recycling mix:
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corrugated cardboard boxes
paperboard gift boxes
greeting cards (except those with foil, metallic inks, or glitter)
wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue wrap (except those with foil, metallic inks, or glitter)
paper shopping bags (any type of handle is okay)
catalogs and calendars
TIP: Keep a recycle bin or paper bag near gift wrapping and unwrapping.
Please do not include the following items in your recycling mix:
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ribbons, bows, and tinsel (reusable from year to year)
packing peanuts and Styrofoam (accepted for reuse at Greenfield UPS Store)
holiday lights (WtE scrap metal recycler in Greenfield pays for light strings)
plastic bags (clean, dry plastic bags marked #2 or #4 recyclable at some
retailers)
blister packaging (formed plastic package used to hold toys and electronics)
photographs
LOCAL
Community Network for Children Programs
Welcome! If you are new to town and have young children, or have a new baby
in your family, the Community Network for Children (CNC) Program would like to
welcome you and share information about our programs. CNC offers ongoing,
drop-in, playgroups, parenting workshops, new baby home visiting programs and
more. Our office is based out of the Swift River School, but we support families in
Erving, Leverett, New Salem, Shutesbury and Wendell. We would love to help
you get connected to the wonderful connections in our communities. Contact
Gillian at 978-544-5157 or budine@erving.com.
The Past, Present and Possible Futures of Our Local Food Economy
On Thursday, December 10th the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and the
Quabbin Harvest Coop will be hosting a free special event focusing on the past,
present and possible futures of our local food economy at the Athol Public
Library, 586 Main Street in Athol. It is funded in part by Mass Humanities.
Gallery Opening: From 6:00-7:00 pm there will be a gallery opening and artists’
talks for Quabbin Harvest farmers, an exhibit of photographs by Oliver Scott
Snure and a premiere of new videos about area farms produced as part of the
Farm Values: Civic Agriculture at the Crossroads project of Mount Grace Land
Conservation Trust.
Presentation, Panel Discussion and Public Conversation: From 7:00-8:30 pm,
there will be a presentation, panel discussion and public conversation about local
food and farming moderated by local humanities scholar, Cathy Stanton.
Refreshments will be available.
UPCOMING
January 13
January 16
February 10
March 9
April 13
Reading Aloud for Grownups
New Salem General Store 20th Anniversary!
Reading Aloud for Grownups
Reading Aloud for Grownups
Reading Aloud for Grownups
New Salem Newsletter Policy
This monthly newsletter is a volunteer service sponsored by the New Salem
Recreation Committee of the Town of New Salem. It promotes community events
and town notices. It does not run ads for products or services.
Visit the town's www.newsalem-massachusetts.org for more information about
our town.
Holiday Recycling Guidelines
During the holidays, the average American family throws away up to 10 additional bags of
trash! In towns that require “Pay-As-You-Throw” town trash bags or stickers, those 10
additional trash bags could cost $15 - $30. By reducing, reusing and recycling your holiday
waste, you can save money on town trash bags or stickers, save energy and natural resources,
and reduce waste headed to landfills or trash combustors.
The Springfield Materials Recycling Facility, which accepts recyclables from 70 communities in
western Massachusetts, asks residents to keep the following recycling guidelines in mind.
Wrapping paper and tissue paper ARE recyclable, but only if they do not contain foil, metallic
inks, or glitter. Tape is OK. Paper shopping bags and gift bags are also recyclable, and any type
of handle is OK to include. Also recyclable are greeting cards (except those with foil, wire,
glitter or button batteries), envelopes (plastic windows are OK), catalogs, calendars, corrugated
cardboard boxes, and paperboard gift boxes. When opening or wrapping presents, keep paper
grocery bags or a recycling bin handy to collect mixed paper recyclables.
Please DO NOT include the following items in municipal recycling: ribbons, bows, tinsel,
holiday lights, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, polystyrene (Styrofoam), plastic bags, and plastic
“blister pack” packaging (that’s the type that usually requires scissors to open).
Clean, dry packing materials such as peanuts and bubble wrap, inflatable “air pillow” packaging,
Styrofoam sheets, and even cardboard boxes are accepted free for reuse at The UPS Store, 21
Mohawk Trail, Greenfield: (413) 772-2523.
Holiday lights are NOT recyclable in municipal recycling because they get wrapped around the
sorting equipment at the recycling facility and they cannot be processed there. Holiday light
strings are accepted for scrap metal recycling at WtE’s Non Ferrous Division (the former
Kramer’s), 28 Montague City Rd, Greenfield. WtE will pay per pound for holiday light strings.
Additionally, you can get a coupon for 15% off of energy efficient holiday lights by mailing in
your old light strings for recycling to HolidayLEDs.com:
www.holidayleds.com/holidayledscom_christmas_light_recycling_program.
You can reduce waste by wrapping gifts in reusable decorative tins, cloth or paper gift bags,
Christmas stockings, reusable shopping bags and baskets. Make the wrapping part of the gift; use
a kitchen towel or oven mitt to hold kitchen utensils or gadgets, or a bath towel to hold bath
accessories.
Another way to cut down on waste this holiday season is to get creative with reuse. Before you
purchase more gift wrap, check if you have any of these items which can be used to wrap gifts in
an inexpensive way: reused or leftover wrapping paper, last year’s beautiful calendar pictures,
sheet music, maps or travel brochures from favorite vacations or places, old posters, wallpaper
scraps, fabric, scarves, or kids’ art work. Consider unwrapping gifts carefully (savor them!) and
reusing gift-wrap, gift boxes, ribbons, bows and gift bags next year.
When the holidays are over, check with your town about Christmas tree recycling. Your tree may
be recycled as mulch this spring!
For more information, please contact: Franklin County Solid Waste District at: 413-772-2438, or
info@franklincountywastedistrict.org. MA Relay for the hearing impaired: 711 or 1-800-4392370 (TTY/TDD) The District is an equal opportunity provider.