Town of Belchertown

09/07/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻! Today's a good day to slow down, spend time with the people who matter, and enjoy everything that makes this town home. From all of us at the Town of Belchertown, we hope you get a well-earned day of rest.

By the way — if you're out and about this weekend, stop by the Belchertown School Garden in front of Swift River Elementary School (57 State Street). The sunflower maze is in full bloom right now and worth a wander.

We'll see you back at it tomorrow.

09/07/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗽 — 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟳

In case you missed it — here's what's happening in Belchertown this past week.

𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱
Belchertown will observe Labor Day this Monday, September 7. The following will be closed: Town Hall and all municipal offices, Clapp Memorial Library, the Senior Center, Veterans' Services, and the Recreation Department. The Transfer Station is closed Monday under its regular weekly schedule, and again Tuesday, September 8 in observance of the holiday. 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 2026 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏. Police and Fire will be on duty around the clock, as always — in an emergency, call 911. Town offices reopen for regular business hours Tuesday, September 8.

𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆
The Belchertown Police Department congratulates Officer Connor White, who graduated from the Municipal Police Training Committee's Holyoke Police Academy 6th Recruit Officer Course. He was among 46 new officers who took the oath of office at a ceremony at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
https://www.belchertown.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=185

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 — 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱
The Senior Center invites the community to its Open House on Friday, September 25 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, featuring staff and volunteer meet-and-greets, lunch samples, a guided tour, the on-site Second Best Thrift Shop, and a chance to win an Autumn Gift Basket.
https://www.belchertown.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=184

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗩𝗣 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁
The town received a $1,000,000 MVP Action Grant to plan a potential community resilience hub at the former Tadgell School. The grant covers planning, design, and community engagement — it is not a commitment to the estimated $20 million-plus full project cost. Several options remain on the table for the building's future.
https://www.belchertown.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=183

09/07/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲, who graduated on July 31 from the Municipal Police Training Committee's Holyoke Police Academy 6th Recruit Officer Course! Officer White was among forty-six new officers who took the oath of office and received their badges during a ceremony at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, representing twenty-one police departments and agencies from across the Commonwealth.

The Recruit Officer Course provided over eight hundred hours of training in foundational law enforcement skills alongside modern policing methods, including de-escalation, trauma-informed response, and community-focused policing. Officer White has since begun his eight-week Field Training Program, the next step toward serving the Belchertown community as a full-time police officer.

"Connor put in the work to earn this badge, and I'm proud to welcome him to our department. He'll be a great addition to our patrol division." — Police Chief Kevin Pacunas Belchertown Police Department

Pictured left to right: Lieutenant Bruce Jenks, Officer Connor White, Chief Kevin Pacunas, and Lieutenant Jared LaValle.

Learn more:

The Belchertown Police Department is pleased to congratulate Officer Connor White, who graduated on July 31 from the Municipal Police Training Committee's Holyoke Police Academy 6th Recruit Offic

09/06/2026

Join us for the Senior Center Open House on Friday, September 25, from 12:00 PM (noon) to 2:00 PM at 60 State Street!

Come meet our dedicated staff, connect with our volunteers, instructors, technicians, and group leaders, and see all the programs the Senior Center has to offer. Sample some lunch menu favorites while chatting with the Nutrition Team, learn about transportation options, and take a guided tour of the building.

Don't miss the on-site Second Best Thrift Shop, open with special hours from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and grab a free entry for a chance to win an Autumn Gift Basket!

"Our Open House is the perfect opportunity for residents to see everything the Senior Center has to offer. Whether you're a longtime visitor or have never stopped by before, we can't wait to show you around and introduce you to our incredible staff and volunteers." — Jessica Langlois, Executive Director of the Belchertown Senior Center

Learn more: https://www.belchertown.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/184

09/05/2026

𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟳. 🇺🇸

In observance of the holiday, the following will be closed Monday:
Town Hall and all municipal offices
Clapp Memorial Library
Belchertown Senior Center
Veterans' Services
Recreation Department
Belcehertown Public Schools

The Transfer Station is closed Monday under its regular weekly schedule, and on Tuesday, September 8 in observance of the holiday.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻.

Police and Fire will be on duty around the clock, as always. In an emergency, call 911.

Town offices reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, September 8. We wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day.

Also worth noting: the pool at Chestnut Hill Community School is closed through September 13 and reopens September 14. This is unrelated to the holiday.

09/04/2026

📋 Curious what the $1 million Tadgell MVP grant actually means for Belchertown? We put together a quick breakdown.

The short version: this grant funds planning, design, and community engagement — it does not commit the Town to a $20M+ renovation project, and no final decision on Tadgell's future has been made. Several options remain on the table, and the Select Board will ultimately decide which direction to pursue.

Take a look at the graphic below for the full picture, and read more about the grant here: https://www.belchertown.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/183

09/03/2026

It's Apple Season!!!

And several orchards call Belchertown home... including UMASS Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center!

Tell us - what are your favorite places to pick apples in Belchrtown.

🍎🍏

Calling all apple nerds!🍎🤓 UMASS Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center made it on the Boston Globe's apple picking list! “Right now, the apple crop looks pretty outstanding for most growers,” Jon Clements said. https://bit.ly/460uz06

09/03/2026

🎉 Belchertown has been awarded a $1M grant to help transform the former Tadgell School into a community resilience hub.

The funding comes through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant, part of the state's new ECO One Stop program. It builds on years of community input — including past surveys, public meetings, and the schematic designs presented in June 2026 — and moves the project into its next phase, with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) leading the work ahead.

Read the full announcement here: https://www.belchertown.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/183

09/02/2026

****4:15pm Bay Road is open ****

The Bay Road railroad crossing is currently blocked due to a disabled train. The railroad company has been notified, and crews are working to clear the tracks. There is no estimated time for when the intersection will reopen, so please seek an alternate route and avoid the area if possible. We will provide updates as we get them.

Wilbraham Regional Emergency Communications Center
Town of Belchertown
Belchertown Fire Department