■A woman with numerous talents, a warm interest in people and a versatile writer of many distinguished books for young people is Jane Yolen Stemple, new resident of Hatfield. Her 20th book will roll off the press next August and a very special one, “The Fireside Song Book of Birds and Beasts,” is to be published in the spring.
■A new interdepartmental English-social studies course and a political science class community poll on the Vietnam War were both recommended for approval Tuesday by the subcommittee of teachers of the Northampton School Committee. Mark S. Rand, chair of the history department at Northampton High School, said social studies teachers will accept the program titled “The Garden and the Machine” on a limited pilot basis.
■The Men’s Resource Center will honor two men Sunday for their work with children and their efforts to combat violence and create tolerance within their communities. The two are: Michael Bardsley, Amherst Regional High School guidance counselor and Northampton city councilor; and Stephen Jefferson, director of Juvenile Services at the Center for Human Development in Springfield and leader of a Men Overcoming Violence group.
■The founder and chairman of the national Coalition of Essential Schools will visit Northampton High School and deliver a talk drawn from his newest book on school reform. Theodore R. Sizer will speak and answer questions at the school’s Congdon Auditorium on Dec. 2. He will also sign copies of his new book “Horace’s Hope.”
■Public higher education in the state stands to gain an estimated $20 million in annual revenue once resort casinos begin operating in Massachusetts, the first new money to enter the system since the tobacco settlements of the late 1990s. Gov. Deval Patrick expects to sign a bill authorizing casino gambling today or Wednesday, paving the way for three casinos to be built throughout the state.
■In a dream come true, Graham Spencer-Orrell, 17, a Northampton High School senior and proud trumpet player in the NHS marching band, has been selected to be part of the Great American Marching Band, one of 11 bands to hit Manhattan streets for the 85th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.