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LIBRARY NEWS

  • Hope to see many people out tomorrow at Ghost Town!
  • Rep. Saunders will not be holding his normal Office Hours in November. Instead, he will be holding “Regional Office Hours”  at the New Salem Public Library time and date TBD. Normal office hours will resume in December.
  • Work will begin on our Accessible Trail will begin on Tuesday November 11.  The parking lot will be corded off for the machinery.  The work is expected to take about one week.

November at the Wendell Free Library

EVENTS IN BRIEF

All month: Art in the Herrick Room by Swift River School Students

Every Friday: TGIF Social Hour, Lego, games, pickleball etc. Library hang. 4-5 p.m.

Every Saturday: Free Math Tutoring with Samara Sawyer, 10-noon. no tutoring 11/1

Every Sunday: Yoga. 10 a.m.

Every Tuesday: Free Tech Help. Registration required. Call or use the online sign-up at https://engage.gcc.mass.edu/seniors/cyber-seniors/. 3-5  p.m.

Every Tuesday: Adult Art Group. 5 p.m.

🥳Every Wednesday: CNC Playgroup is back! 10-11:30 a.m.

Every Wednesday Matinee Movie. 4 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Yoga. 6:20 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1: Ghost Town at Sundown, with rain date of Sunday November 2.  Gather at Gazebo at 5:45, process into Ghost Town at 6pm following Wendell Blast Brass Band.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9: Cookbook Book Club. Pick up a copy of Ottolenghi Comfort for a pot-luck style book discussion. Let us know if you are coming by emailing wendell@cwmars.org. 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 & 17: Fiber Group / Mending Circle. 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18: Seashell Detectives; Let’s investigate where seashells come from and how to identify them. What can you do with them when you bring them home from a beach?  Seashells will be provided, but you can also bring your own. Designed for elementary age children. 3:30 P.M.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 & 17: Fiber Group / Mending Circle. 6:30 p.m. Free.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 & 18: Canva For Beginners. To Register email wendell@cwmars.org. 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5: Matinee Movie: SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (2024) | Tim Mielants, director; w/ Cillian Murphy, Patrick Ryan, Peter Claffey; 98 min. 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8: POETRY READING WITH JESS MYNES. 1 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12: Matinee Movie: AFTER HOURS (1985) 4 p.m.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13: “Yankier & Yankier”, An Evening of Robert Frost’s poetry read by Hal Stowell.  Francis Doughty interlude on guitar, refreshments served. 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: Swift River School Student Art Show Reception. 6-7 p.m.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: ‘Shiatsu With Friends’ Explore & Feel Vibrant With Wholistic Practitioner Shell Hines. Confirm Your Spot 978- 544-3559 wendell@cwmars.org 1-4 p.m.  Funded by the Wendell Cultural Council.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19: Matinee Movie: ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974) | Martin Scorsese, director; w/ Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Alfred Lutter; 112 min.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2: Adult Book Group. Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly. 10 a.m.

Ghost Town at Sundown

Saturday, November 1 (*rain date of Sunday November 2)

5:45pm: Gather at Gazebo

6pm: Parade into Ghost Town at  following Wendell Blast Brass Band.

Take a stroll through a haunted village that pops-up just once a year.  Parade into Ghost Town following Wendell Blast Brass Band for TRICK OR TREATING, SPOOKY HOUSES, SHADOW PLAY THEATER, & more. Stay tuned in the case of rain for announcements about our rain date Sunday Nov. 2.

STILL NEEDED!: COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FORM THE “POP-UP VILLAGE”. “HOUSE LOTS” AVAILABLE TO BE FILLED WITH YOUR CREATION. Contact the Wendell Free Library to sign up and for details: wendell@cwmars.org/ 978-544-3559

This is a community wide event established and organized by the Wendell Free Library, but made possible by everyone who participates.

POETRY READING WITH JESS MYNES.

Saturday, November 8, 1 p.m.

Jess Mynes, a Wendell resident for over three decades, will be reading poems from his recently published Necessary Luxury from Press Brake. He is the author of several out of print books, including One Anthem (Pressed Wafer) and Sky Brightly Picked (Skysill Press). His poems have appeared in: The Nation, The Brooklyn Rail, Blazing Stadium, Vlak, Shampoo, Big Bell, and other publications. He was one of the curators of All Small Caps, a reading series that ran for eight plus years at the Deja Brew here in town.

“Yankier & Yankier”

An Evening of Robert Frost’s poetry read by Hal Stowell. 

Thursday November 13, 6:30 p.m.

Francis Doughty interlude on guitar, refreshments served.

Hal Stowell has lived in Wendell since 1973, a year he marks by the wedding of Kathy and Myron in “the purple house”. He earned a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst after “several years of gallivanting”, worked as a carpenter among other trades, and is a Navy Vet. Hal likes classical music, his favorite Bob Dylan album is Knocked Out Loaded, and he loves living in Wendell “because there are so many hard working and creative people, you aren’t going to get better than that”. He is the published author of one volume of poetry, Country Crossings from Small Press World with woodcut engravings by Abigail Rorer. The year Robert Frost died in the hospital, Hal hitchhiked all the way to Boston from Fitchburg to try to see him, and subsequently lost his job at the local paper mill.

Seashell Detectives

Tuesday, November 18, 3:30 p.m.

Let’s investigate where seashells come from and how to identify them. What can you do with them when you bring them home from a beach?  Seashells will be provided, but you can also bring your own. Designed for elementary age children. This is the beginning of a monthly series offered by local Linda Hickman, retired Library Director and Children’s Director of the Montague Libraries.

Art Exhibition Opening Reception

Thursday November 20, 6-7 PM

A selected group of students from Swift River School invite you to share in this showcase of the unique art creations.  The exhibit will be up all of November in the Herrick Community room and glass display case.  Big thanks to SRS art teacher Karie Neal for putting the show together. Please check the library calendar for other events happening in that room to plan your visit.

Free Math Tutoring with Samara Sawyer

Every Saturday

10-noon

Drop in math tutoring for elementary and middle school kids, consisting of homework help, strengthening of concepts, and fun interactions with math.  (Library policy is that all youth under grade 4 must be attended by a caregiver).

About Samara: “Hi! My name is Samara Sawyer.  I am a junior at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts. I have always been passionate about math and education. I am so excited to use this program to further my love for both while helping the community.

Matinee Movies

Every Wednesday at 4 p.m.

November 5

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (2024) | Tim Mielants, director; w/ Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Emily Watson Peter Claffey; 98 min.

An understated adaptation of Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel about the infamous Magdalene laundries in Ireland. Set in the mid-1980s, devoted father Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent. This minimalist, somber drama is moving and hypnotic, and features outstanding performances.

November 12

AFTER HOURS (1985) | Martin Scorsese, director; w/ Griffin Dunne, Rosanne Arquette, Verna Bloom, Teri Garr; 97 min.

A funny film about a very long, very bad night in New York City’s SoHo. Griffin Dunne is excellent as the hapless hero lost in a labyrinthine journey that goes deeper and deeper into the darkness, and the stellar supporting cast includes Rosanne Arquette, Verna Bloom, Catherine O’Hara, John Heard, Teri Garr, Linda Fiorentino, and others. A fine example of the art of Black Comedy.

November 19

ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974) | Martin Scorsese, director; w/ Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Alfred Lutter; 112 min.

After her husband dies in a car accident, Alice (Ellen Burstyn) travels with her preteen son across the Southwestern U.S. in search of a better life and hoping to pursue the singing career she abandoned when she married.  In Tucson, she meets a divorced local rancher (Kris Kristofferson) who becomes enamored of her. Burstyn gives the kind of complex, seemingly effortless, performance she is known for, earning her a Best Actress Oscar.  This was Scorsese’s first Hollywood studio production, and it remains somewhat of an outlier in his filmography. Burstyn described their collaboration as “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”

No Movie the day before Thanksgiving.

Tech Help at the Library

Every Tuesday 3-5 p.m.

Register for a 30min, 1 or 2 hour appointment.

Support offered: Basic Computer Skills, Using the Internet, Email Support, Setting up New Devices, Accessing Services , affordable internet and device programs, library resources, health portals, entertainment, and so much more!

To sign up visit https://engage.gcc.mass.edu/seniors/cyber-seniors/ or speak tolibrary staff.

CNC Playgroup at the Wendell Free Library

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. beginning Oct 1.

Free play, time to socialize with other families. Circle time with books, finger plays, favorite songs, and activities.  Opportunities to play outside on the playground.

The Gentle Healthy Bones and Balance Exercise Program

Wednesdays 10:00-11:00 am and Fridays 10:00-11:00 am

Presented by the Wendell Free Library via ZOOM.

For seniors who wish to improve or maintain strength, mobility, flexibility,

balance and bone health.

To join, please contact:

Marianne Vinal

Email: mariannevinal@gmail.com

Telephone: 978-544-6122 call or text

or

The Wendell Free Library

Email: Wendell@cwmars.org

The monetary support of the Friends of the Wendell Free Library makes so much possible!!

The following is a list of stale dated checks being held by the Town of Wendell. Please contact the Treasurer, PO Box 145, Wendell, MA 01379 or email treasurer@wendellmass.us to request a replacement check. Please call 413-522-1360 if you have questions.

Town of Wendell Tailings List as of 10 14, 2025

October at the Wendell Free Library

Events in Brief

All month: Art in the Herrick Room by Julie Pepper: Art from the Fountain of Trabazon Oracle Deck

Every Friday: TGIF Social Hour, Lego, games, pickleball etc. Library hang. 4-5 p.m.

✖️➗New! Every Saturday: Free Math Tutoring with Samara Sawyer, 10-noon. Begins 10/18

Every Sunday: Yoga. 10 a.m.

Every Tuesday: Free Tech Help. Registration required. Call or use the online sign-up at https://engage.gcc.mass.edu/seniors/cyber-seniors/. 3-5  p.m.

Every Tuesday: Adult Art Group. 5 p.m.

🥳Every Wednesday: CNC Playgroup is back! 10-11:30 a.m.

Every Wednesday Matinee Movie. 4 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Yoga. 6:20 p.m.

Wednesday October 1: Guided Mushroom Walk with Jonathan Kranz.

Learn basics of mushroom habits, identification, and ecology, and help prepare participants for safe, exciting forages of their own. All ages, Registration Required. Meet at the Wendell State Forest Ranger Station. 4-6 p.m.

Saturday October 4: Introduction to Pickleball. Free paddles on a first come basis. 10 a.m.

The Wendell Pickleball gang and library are offering two introduction to pickleball classes for adults on the court next to the library. We are a small group of local people who enjoy playing for fun. Our oldest player is in her 80s. We will be there at 9 am on both days playing, if you want to watch before the class. All are welcome to join in from beginner players to experienced.

Mondays, October 6 and 20: Fiber Work & Mending Circle. 6:30 p.m.

Bring a hand work fiber project of your choice and work in community while chatting and swapping tips. Or use the library needle felting supplies to try out a new medium.  6:30-8ish.

Saturday October 11: Costume Swap. 1-3 p.m.

Bring costumes to donate and look for a new costume for yourself! Please only bring costumes that are clean and in good repair. Costumes can be dropped off starting starting the day before (Friday the 10th).

Saturday October 11: Art Opening: Art by Julie Pepper. 1-3 p.m.

The Fountain of Trabazon Oracle Deck celebrates global feminine mythology, featuring contemplative, vibrant characters embodying devotion, movement, and gratitude. Each card offers themes, lessons, and guidance for real-life challenges, inspiring self-discovery and compassion. This deck serves as a navigational tool, connecting users to their true nature and the mysteries of life.

Tuesday October 14:  Last Minute Technology Help for Submitting a Cultural Council Grant. 6:30 pm. This is an opportunity to ask a question directly to a Cultural Council Member who is familiar with the entire grant application process.

Friday October 17: 2-4 p.m. Jigsaw puzzle together. 2-4 p.m.

Come work on a puzzle together with others in the Herrick Room.

Saturday October 18: Practical AI for Everyday Life: Tools You Already Use. 1-3 p.m.

This beginner-friendly workshop explores how AI powers the tools and services you already interact with daily—without the hype or fear. We’ll walk through examples like voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant), smart email features, search engine suggestions, photo organization, translation tools, and more. You’ll learn how to identify AI in common apps, understand what it’s doing, and make informed decisions about using it.

Presented by Steph Stoudenmire of Codeforce Consulting, this program is a partnership with the towns of Northfield, Charlemont, Colrain, Leyden, Wendell, and New Salem, and is funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative under the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program. Funding was provided by Massachusetts ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Tuesday, October 21: Adult Book Group. Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro. 10 a.m.

Looking Ahead

Saturday November 1: Ghost Town at Sundown, with rain date of Sunday November 2. Gather near the gazebo at 5:45, 6p.m. procession. Signups for house lots have begun!

Sunday November 9: CookBook Book Club- 4:30 p.m.

Cook a Recipe from Ottolenghi Comfort for a pot-luck style book discussion. Let us know if you are coming by emailing wendell@cwmars.org.

Tuesday November 4 and TBD (not the 11th bc of the holiday, stay tuned for new date): Canva for Beginners: Learn how to design with this free online tool! 6:30-8:30p.m.  

Join us for this two-part workshop where you’ll learn how to design eye-catching flyers, thank-you cards, and posters using Canva. Week One: Get started with Canva. We’ll guide you step-by-step through creating your first design. No prior design experience needed! Week Two: Take your skills further! Learn advanced features and explore how Canva can help you create and promote events, businesses, or services.

Presented by Steph Stoudenmire of Codeforce Consulting, this program is a partnership with the towns of Northfield, Charlemont, Colrain, Leyden, Wendell, and New Salem, and is funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative under the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program. Funding was provided by Massachusetts ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Free Math Tutoring with Samara Sawyer

Every Saturday beginning Oct. 18

10-noon

Drop in math tutoring for elementary and middle school kids, consisting of homework help, strengthening of concepts, and fun interactions with math.  (Library policy is that all youth under grade 4 must be attended by a caregiver).

About Samara: “Hi! My name is Samara Sawyer.  I am a junior at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts. I have always been passionate about math and education. I am so excited to use this program to further my love for both while helping the community.

Matinee Movies

Every Wednesday at 4 p.m.

October 1

PAPER MOON (1973; Peter Bogdanovich, director; with Tatum O’Neal, Ryan O’Neal, Madeline Kahn; 1h: 42m)

During the Great Depression, a con man and a young girl who may or may not be his daughter forge an unlikely partnership. Beautifully shot in black & white, with the usual outstanding production design from Polly Platt. Ten year old Tatum O’Neal’s performance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and she remains the youngest actor to earn an Oscar.

October 8

THE FORTUNE COOKIE (1966; Billy Wilder, director; with Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Ron Rich; 2h: 5m)

Two years before they teamed up as The Odd Couple, Matthau and Lemmon starred in this black comedy. Lemmon plays a cameraman who suffers minor injuries when a football player runs into him while filming a game. Matthau is his brother-in-law, a corrupt ambulance-chasing lawyer determined to sue for a large settlement.

October 15

THE GRIFTERS (1990; Stephen Frears, director; with John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening; 1h: 50m)

Cusack is a small-time conman who has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother (Huston) and his new girlfriend (Bening), both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play. A fine neo-noir with an impressive pedigree: Donald Westlake wrote the screenplay based on a novel by the great Jim Thompson. Nominated for four Academy Awards.

October 22

THE LADY EVE (1941; Preston Sturges, director; with Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda; 1h: 34m)

One of the best screwball comedies from the golden age, written and directed by Preston Sturges during his peak. Stanwyck is Jean Harrington, a beautiful con artist. Accompanied by her equally corrupt dad, they book passage on an ocean liner and set out to separate rich, naive Charles Pike (Fonda) from his fortune.

October 29

THE HUSTLER (1961; Robert Rossen, director; with Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott; 2h: 15m) Paul Newman is Fast Eddie Felson, a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats (played by Jackie Gleason) to a high-stakes match.

Tech Help at the Library

Every Tuesday 3-5 p.m.

Register for a 30min, 1 or 2 hour appointment.

Support offered: Basic Computer Skills, Using the Internet, Email Support, Setting up New Devices, Accessing Services , affordable internet and device programs, library resources, health portals, entertainment, and so much more!

To sign up visit https://engage.gcc.mass.edu/seniors/cyber-seniors/ or speak tolibrary staff.

CNC Playgroup at the Wendell Free Library

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. beginning Oct 1.

Free play, time to socialize with other families. Circle time with books, finger plays, favorite songs, and activities.  Opportunities to play outside on the playground.

The Gentle Healthy Bones and Balance Exercise Program

Wednesdays 10:00-11:00 am and Fridays 10:00-11:00 am

Presented by the Wendell Free Library via ZOOM.

For seniors who wish to improve or maintain strength, mobility, flexibility,

balance and bone health.

To join, please contact:

Marianne Vinal

Email: mariannevinal@gmail.com

Telephone: 978-544-6122 call or text

or

The Wendell Free Library

Email: Wendell@cwmars.org

The monetary support of the Friends of the Wendell Free Library makes so much possible!!

More News

Events

NovNovember 8 2025

7:30pm - 11:00pm


Dust off your dancin’ boots for a night of crafted country music with the Cropdusters THIS SATURDAY at the Wendell Fullmoon Coffehouse! Hailing from the Green Sisters, vocalist & guitarist Beck Mitus is just one of the bands’ amazing musicians that will get us stompin’ and singin’ along!

The evening will be a fundraiser for the Wendell Meetinghouse. Doors open at 7 pm, show starts with an Open Mic at 7:30 pm. at the Wendell
Town Hall. Admission is a sliding scale of $7 to $20 (cash only at the door), kids under 12 years old are free!

Cropdusters cover with their own flair, select tunes by Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, Patti Lovelace, Bonnie Raitt, Clint Black, Martina McBride, and much much more! In addition to the fabulous Beck Mitus, the band touts incredible seasoned musicians Tim Bowles on pedal steel, Dave Nelson on vocals and lead guitar, Brian Doiron on bass, and Roger Williams on vocals and drums.

Bring some extra cash to spend at the awesome bake sale table, with all proceeds going to support the Meetinghouse. Organizers of the Meetinghouse say, "Full Moon Coffeehouse support means that we’re able to continue to maintain and preserve the Wendell Meetinghouse as a community space … for performances, discussions, exhibits, meetings, celebrations, memorials, workshops and so much more. Thank you for continuing to say "yes" to connecting, building resilience, and enjoying our community in diverse ways at your local Meetinghouse!"

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