Greening Greenfield invites residents to discuss EPA recycling grant

GREENFIELD — Greening Greenfield is inviting residents to a community conversation about the city’s planned recycling changes. The event will be held at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., on Monday, Oct. 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

With the city having recently received a $2 million grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly established Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program, known as SWIFR, the city plans to undergo a complete transformation of its recycling management system over the next three years. The city plans to transition from a dual-stream, manual collection system to a single-stream, fully automated collection system.

According to Greening Greenfield, the conversation aims to give residents the opportunity to examine the benefits and drawbacks of the proposed changes and possible alternatives before the grant contract is signed and decisions are finalized.

“We are hosting this meeting to start the public engagement process, giving the community a chance to learn more about our existing recycling system, the proposed new system, to ask questions, express any concerns, and to become involved in this decision-making,” Greening Greenfield’s Peg Hall said in a statement.

The event is free and no advanced registration is required, but seating is limited to 49. Masks are strongly requested when not speaking.

Professor giving talk on witchcraft, persecution

GREENFIELD — As part of the Greenfield Community College Senior Symposium, Professor Leslie Lindenauer will give a talk titled “Conversing with the Devil: Witchcraft & Witch Persecution in Early New England” on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at the John Zon Community Center.

Mention witch trials and most people will make an immediate connection to Salem, Massachusetts, where the courts sentenced 19 people to hang for the crime of witchcraft and tortured a 20th to death. Less known, however, is that dozens and perhaps hundreds of people were tried for witchcraft in New England beginning more than four decades before the infamous events in Salem. Lindenauer will explore witchcraft and witch-hunting in New England in the 17th century, in communities shaped by a profound belief in the devil, while paying special attention to the role that gender played in both accusations and trials.

Lindenauer comes from the Department of History, Philosophy and World Perspectives at Western Connecticut State University, where she teaches courses in early American history, public history and gender studies.

To register, which costs $10, visit engage.gcc.mass.edu/senior-symposia.

‘Haunted Experiences’ talks continue Sunday

GREENFIELD — Join the Greenfield Public Library, in collaboration with the Ashland Public Library, for a virtual “Haunted Experiences with Jeff Paoli” program on Sunday, Oct. 29, at noon.

Paoli, host of “That Halloween Podcast,” will discuss “The Old Joliet Haunted Prison” attraction run by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. Paoli will be joined by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group CEO and Founding Partner Chris Stafford.

The program is free, but registration is required at bit.ly/46LLQsC.