WILLIAMSBURG — The Haydenville Congregational Church is holding its first big fundraiser since the pandemic started, with a weeklong silent online auction that kicked off Thursday.
The auction will feature more than 150 items that range from toys and furniture to art posters and original oil paintings. These items include a 3-foot-long wooden loon, a homemade pair of Bernie Sanders-style mittens and a pancake breakfast box. But the most notable item for Trish LaFreniere, the head of the church’s fundraising committee, is coming from Michael Liberatore, an 8-year-old member of the congregation and an accomplished cellist.
LaFreniere said Liberatore is offering a 20-minute cello concert for sale at the auction, that he will perform either over Zoom or outside the winning bidder’s home. The concert might also feature a piano encore.
“This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard of in my life,” she said.
The silent auction will run from Thursday, April 8, to Thursday, April 15. On April 17, bidders will be able to pick up their auction items at the church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday also will feature a cookie sale at the same time.
The silent auction can be found online by clicking “fundraising projects” on the church’s website at haydenvillechurch.org. LaFreniere said the monetary goal for the fundraiser is $2,000, but a little more “would be great.”
Goshen’s Town Election will be held on May 1, with April 9 being the last day to register to vote for the election if you’re not already a registered Goshen voter.
Voting for the election in person will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John James Memorial Hall, located at 42 Main St. However, voters can still vote by mail, and the application to do so can be found at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2021-Vote-by-Mail-Application.pdf.
Those who find themselves unable to print out the application can mail a request for a mail-in ballot to the town clerk at 40 Main St., Goshen 01032.
The one race being contested on the ballot is for a seat on the Chesterfield-Goshen Regional School Committee, where incumbent Barton Gage faces challenger Carla Raymond.
Town Clerk Kristen Estelle can be contacted with any questions by emailing clerk@goshen-ma.us or by calling 413-268-8236 x107.
The Meekins Zoom Book Club will meet on April 15 at 7 p.m. to discuss the book “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel.
The discussion is part of the All Hamptons Read event, which is being spearheaded by libraries in Northampton, Florence, Easthampton, Southampton, Westhampton and Williamsburg.
The book takes place in the United States after a major pandemic destroys most of the world’s populations and infrastructure. The book is an ALA Notable Book and an Arthur C. Clarke Award winner.
In the book, said Bev Bullock, the library director at Meekins, it’s interesting to see how characters adapt to their circumstances, which includes one group of characters creating a traveling symphony.
To participate in the book club, email meekinsreference@cwmars.org to receive the Zoom link.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.