For the past nine years Sanderson Elementary School in Ashfield has produced a unique local goods catalog designed to support local Hilltown business and raise money for the school’s parent teacher organization.
At the beginning of each year, every student receives a copy of “Local Goods,” which advertising variety of items produced by local farms, artisans and restaurants. For every item that is sold, the business donates from 20 to 100 percent of the proceeds to the Sanderson PTO.
Activities that have been funded through the catalog include all school field trips to the UMass Fine Arts Center, Chinese acrobat performances, live animal shows, and performances by the Berkshire Hills Music Academy.
Some of the businesses featured in this year’s catalogue include Blue Rock, Cold River Package, Elmer’s Store and the Ashfield Lake House. Locally produced foods such as yogurt, maple syrup, honey and pickles are also available through the catalog, as are and entertainment activities at the Berkshire East Resort and the Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley.
“It’s through the hard work of local volunteers that we are fortunate to be able to create such a unique and successful fundraiser,” said Jennifer Pease, of the Sanderson PTO. “It’s a closed loop system, every dollar generated from the catalog goes right back into our towns.”
The deadline for Local Goods orders is Friday, Oct. 14. The school will host an order distribution day Nov. 19, when participants will be treated to a pancake breakfast or ice cream social courtesy of Ashfield Hardware.
Local Goods catalogs can be found at Ashfield Hardware, Elmer’s, The Belding Library, Ashfield Neighbors, and Mo’s Fudge Factory.
For more information contact the Sanderson PTO at: sandersonpto@gmail.com.
Valley View Farm will present a unique presentation Oct. 14-15 called “The Realm of Fire: An Interactive Theater Adventure.”
This family-friendly production will take theater-goers on a half-mile trail through Valley View’s beautiful wooded grounds as they help a cast of elves, dwarves and fairies free the forest from a dragon that has held them captive.
Lead by one of the characters in the production, groups will begin every 15 minutes, taking a 45-minute walking adventure along a candlelit trail.
Program Director Amanda Weisenthal has worked on-Broadway and in television, and brings 38 years of experience to this production. Recently, Weisenthal has worked in the theater department at Northampton High School and directed six musicals at Hampshire Regional High School.
Food trucks and pick-your- own pumpkins will also be available at the event.
Valley View Farm is a 120-acre horse-powered farm offering seasonal organic vegetables, fruit, maple syrup, and flowers. It is located at 16 Walpole Road in Haydenville.
Shows on Friday and Saturday will go from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sunday shows will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children under 12.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to: farmtheater.com.
The West Cummington Congregational Church will hold its 15th annual auction and dinner on Saturday, Oct. 15. The auction will be held at the Parish House at 27 West Main St., West Cummington, and will be preceded by a “Souper Supper” prepared by popular local chef Alice Cozzolino.
Proceeds will support all the programs and activities of the church.
All are invited, and as only 90 dinner tickets are for sale, organizers encourage those interested to get their tickets early.
Dinner tickets can be purchased for $15 at The Old Creamery Coop in Cummington at 634-5560 or from Darlene Graham at 634-8098.
Registration for the auction will begin at 4:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 5:40 p.m. and the auction will begin at 7 p.m.
The Williamsburg Historical Society will hold its annual meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Congregational Church, 4 North Main St.
The featured speaker will be Dennis Picard, curator of the Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield. Picard will discuss ways in which early settlers altered the landscape through European husbandry practices.
A potluck supper will begin at 6:30 p.m. and participants are asked to bring a dish to share. This program is free and open to the public.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at: Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.