Upcoming Events

Business meetings will be held on at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 19, March 19, and April 16, 2026 in the South Hadley Library Trustee's Conference Room. Meetings are normally on third Thursdays and hybrid-online; participants may attend in-person at the Library or online via Zoom. To obtain a meeting link, to join our mailing list, or for other information about SHDTC, please email: southhadleydemocrats@gmail.com.

First Friday Breakfast Gatherings
The next two breakfast get-togethers will be held at 8:30am on Friday, February 6 and Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Gaylord Library, 47 Newton Street, South Hadley. Conversation is casual, there is no set agenda, just a chance to talk about local, national, and international affairs and join in community with others, Democrat or not. Coffee and light snacks will be available, and all are welcome. Plan to join us at at the Gaylord! 

South Hadley Democratic Caucus
Registered and pre-registered Democrats in South Hadley are invited to come together at 10am on Saturday, March 7, 2026 (registration opens at 9:30am) at the South Hadley Public Library to elect delegates and alternates to represent the town at the 2026 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention in May. Click here for more details.

Food Drive on Saturday, Feb 7!

Food Drive for Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry
Saturday, February 7, 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm (rain or shine)
DRIVE UP AND DROP OFF!
South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street
Hosted by South Hadley Democratic Town Committee
In the event of a significant snowstorm, see: southhadleydems.com

All food and monetary donations are accepted (please make checks payable to Neighbors Helping Neighbors). Items most in demand include any and all feminine hygiene products, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, pet food for cats and dogs (canned or dry), hot or cold cereal, soups, and canned meats such as Spam, corned beef hash, and beef stew. Please be sure to check expiration dates.

If you'd like to donate but can't make it to the High School on Saturday, food can be dropped off at the food pantry on Wednesdays before 12pm and Saturdays before 10am at Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry, 30 Carew Street (United Methodist Church), South Hadley, MA 01075. 

Save the Date!

South Hadley DTC Caucus

Registered and pre-registered Democrats in South Hadley will come together to elect delegates and alternates to represent the town at the 2026 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention on May 29-30 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Eligible voters who are not yet registered as Democrats may register at the caucus.

South Hadley DTC Caucus
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Community Room, SH Public Library
2 Canal Street, South Hadley
Caucus Registration begins at 9:30am
The Caucus begins at 10:00am

For more information: https://www.mobilize.us/massdems/event/888199

Our Historic Gaylord Library

This year's first newsletter is written by Denise Hammon and Katie Van Winkel, both of whom serve as Gaylord Library trustees. The text is based on talks at November's 'Our Roots, Our Voices' event, and discusses the importance of the Gaylord Memorial Library in South Hadley's history and its ongoing service to the area today. The building is an architectural jewel whose beginnings can be traced back centuries to when the land was acquired as the town's first cemetery. Many thanks to Denise and Katie for this newsletter and for their service as Gaylord Library trustees.

• SHDTC Updates Newsletter-Gaylord Library History-011226

Ice Out for Good Weekend of Action

Residents of South Hadley and other area communities are invited to gather in Belchertown, where the community's weekly local Indivisible standout in support of our democracy and constitution will focus on the pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies against people across the nation. These activities recently resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, poet, and mother of three, who was shot in her car at close range by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. 

A broad coalition of groups nationwide will gather for coordinated action this Saturday and Sunday to demand accountability and attention to the human cost of ICE's actions. A core principle behind all ICE Out For Good and Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action and no civil disobedience.  

• Weekly Standout for Democracy--ICE Out for Good
  Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 10am to 12pm
  Belchertown, MA

Jake's Take--2025 Year in Review

Year-end review and newsletter from our State Senator, Jake Oliveira:

• Jake's Take: 2025 in Review--January 6, 2026
  

Friday Breakfast Get-Together Location Change

As everyone may have heard, Tailgate Picnic deli closed its doors on December 31, 2025 after 37 years at the Village Commons. Founded in 1988 by the Magri family and then taken over by Dawn Morey in 2022, the Tailgate was a fixture in South Hadley and our committee appreciated the opportunity to hold our monthly First Friday Breakfast in the back room for many years.

New Location: Our January breakfast get-together will be held at 8:30am on Friday, January 9, 2026 at the Gaylord Library, 47 Newton Street, South Hadley. Please note the date change from the first Friday due to the holiday week. Additional details and parking information to come. Conversation is casual, there is no set agenda, just a chance to talk about local, national, and international affairs and join in community with others, Democrat or not. Coffee and light snacks will be available, and all are welcome. Plan to join us on January 9 at the Gaylord!

Winter Food Drive on February 7

Get ready to help support Neighbors Helping Neighbors-South Hadley Food Pantry, and save the date to DRIVE UP and DROP OFF items at South Hadley High School!

Food Drive for Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry
Saturday, February 7, 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm (rain or shine)
South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street
Hosted by South Hadley Democratic Town Committee
In the event of a significant snowstorm, see: southhadleydems.com

All food and monetary donations are accepted (please make checks payable to Neighbors Helping Neighbors). Items most in demand include any and all feminine hygiene products, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, pet food for cats and dogs (canned or dry), hot or cold cereal, soups, and canned meats such as Spam, corned beef hash, and beef stew. Please be sure to check expiration dates. 

Democratic Town Committees in Granby, Belchertown, and Ludlow are also planning food drives in a regional effort to help local families.

Download and share our Food Drive Flyer (pdf)!

Consider running for local office!

South Hadley's 2026 Annual Town Election is Tuesday, April 14, 2026. In-person voting for all precincts is held at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street (Rt. 116). Separate elections for Fire and Water Districts 1 and 2 are held on the same day at South Hadley High School.

For information about voter registration, voting options, and elections, visit the Town Clerk's Elections page at www.southhadley.org/elections. For details about local elected positions on the ballots and how to run for them, see the Running for Local Office Guide and the information sheet about the local election Calendar and Positions Available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the helpful staff at the Town Clerk's office.