AMHERST — Amherst Crafts on the Common was held for the 38th time Saturday.
A fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, the event had 100 juried artisans, with jewelry, clothing, woodwork and paintings, a children’s book sale and live music.
The musical lineup included The Memphis Flyers, Eva Cappelli, Eli Catlin, Buddy McEarns, The Duo Sonics and jazz vocalist Taylor McCoy.
The League of Women Voters is soliciting community donations of gently used books, compact discs DVDs and vinyl records for its annual Giant Book Sale.
Collection of items will take place between June 30 and July 15 at Fort River School, 70 South East St.
People are welcome to drop by the school at any time, where a container will be set up outside the gymnasium to accept contributions.
The sale will be held July 27 to 29 and Aug. 3 and 4.
Trustees for the Jones Library are putting together surveys to get feedback from residents who use the North Amherst and Munson Memorial branch libraries.
The surveys, which are still in draft form, will eventually be available online and seek to collect information about who is coming the branches, the types of books they check out and the services they are using, and the strengths and weaknesses at the locations.
At eight pages, Austin Sarat, president of the trustees, said the survey might be too long to get useful information.
But trustee Lee Edwards said she doesn’t think the length will be a deterrent to those who want to tell trustees what they think of the branches.
Sarat said the long-range plan that will be developed for the branches has to be reconciled with the plan for the main branch, where an expansion and renovation project will be funded in the coming years by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Bobbie’s Meadow is the name of a new multi-use space in the apple orchard at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
The area, which pays tribute to late co-founder Barbara “Bobie” Carle, will be dedicated Saturday at 10 a.m., with her husband and fellow museum co-founder Eric Carle on hand to cut the ribbon.
The opening day will feature special story times, with Center Dance Studio performing a narrative dance inspired by Carle’s picture book “Little Cloud” and Brendan Wenzel reading from his book “Hello Hello,” art being created by local artists and nature explorations, with naturalist Ted Watt leading guests on a search for bugs, birds and animals in the meadow.
Alexandra Kennedy, executive director, said in a statement that connecting art, nature and people in a new setting to inspire creativity and expand our programming. “Our orchard is being reimagined as a vital extension of the museum,” Kennedy said.
Bobbie’s Meadow was designed by Mantle Landscape Architecture of Berkeley, California and Klopfer Martin Design Group of Boston and built by Wright Builders, Inc. of Northampton.
The Dakin Humane Society, which has an adoption center and shelter in Leverett, will hold a benefit fundraiser Sunday at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton.
The Barks & Brews, held for the third time, begins at 1 p.m. for the general public.
General admission tickets are $25 and include a complimentary beer and free parking.
To order tickets, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1782524425125634/
Amherst Police has received a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to purchase child passenger safety equipment.
The grant will purchase of car and booster seats that can be installed by certified technicians at the department.
“Properly installing your car seat will certainly make it safer for everyone on the road,” said Police Chief Scott Livingstone.
Those interested in the service should call the department at 259-3000.
MONDAY: Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room,. Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Bylaw Review Committee, 9:30 a.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
