🌱 What Chief Dunnell’s retirement means for Northfield’s fire protection future

Coffee in hand, Northfield? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

• What Chief Dunnell's retirement means for Northfield's fire protection future
• How runners handled the demanding Northfield Mount Hermon cross country course

Also on today's calendar: Kane Hodder Live "Friday the 13th Part VII" Screening and Q&A. and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 68 and low of 52 degrees.
• Wednesday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, temps: high: 72, low: 52.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, nice and warm, with a high of 79 and low of 60 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• After 50 years at helm, Northfield fire chief calls it a career (recorder.com) — Northfield residents are seeing a major change in public safety leadership as longtime Fire Chief Floyd "Skip" Dunnell III retires after 55 years with the department, including 50 as chief, with Michael Quinn stepping in as interim chief. Dunnell, honored at the Northfield Golf Club, reflected on decades of service, regional collaboration, and mentoring firefighters while local and state leaders praised his impact on the town and surrounding communities.
   

• H.S. XC: Keene High boys take second at NMH Invitational (keenesentinel.com) — A recent cross country meet on the hilly Northfield Mount Hermon course saw Keene High's boys team finish second behind St. Paul's, with a local Northfield squad placing third. The race highlighted how challenging the Northfield terrain can be, as Keene packed five runners into the top 11 while using the meet as part of a busy early-season stretch.
   

📸 Around Northfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Northfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 3
• Billy Goat Boats →
  Northfield Mountain Recreation Center, 99 Millers Falls Rd, Northfield
  9:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday October 1
• NES Open House
  Pioneer Valley SD Northfield, MA 01360
  6:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Art Reception
  Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main Street, Northfield
  10:00 am
Saturday October 3
• The Great River Challenge, Off-road Triathlon →
  Northfield MA
• Dungeons & Dragons
  Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main Street, Northfield
  11:00 am
• The 11th Annual Great River Challenge Triathlon →
  Northfield Mountain Recreation Center, 99 Millers Falls Rd., Northield
  9:00 pm
Tuesday October 13
• Kane Hodder Live "Friday the 13th Part VII" Screening and Q&A. →
  The Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Montague
  6:30 pm
Friday October 16
• Farley Updates at Four Star Brewery →
  The Brewery at Four Star Farms, 508 pine meadow road, Northfield
  6:00 pm

📣 Northfield Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday September 29
• Stretch and Balance →
  The Great Room, 1 Care Drive, Erving
  9:00 am
• Line Dancing →
  The Great Room, 1 Care Drive, Erving
  10:00 am
• Social Stringers →
  Arts and Crafts room, 1 Care Drive, Erving
  11:00 am
Wednesday September 30
• Interval →
  The Great Room, 1 Care Drive, Erving
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• FREE PUZZLES available on Sat, Oct 3rd from 10am-11:30am at the Northfield Library!
  Park behind the library and come in the side door, turn to your left to go to the Community Room. Open to all! This monthly puzzle pick up day is… (Nextdoor River Town/South Mountain)
• Little Anna update for anyone wondering.
  Our farm page will have more updates about her as hopefully this saga reaches a new chapter! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19iH2E2bZz/?mibextid… (Nextdoor River Town/South Mountain)

• LifePath posted a job opening for Nutrition Program Assistant - Meals on Wheels Erving in Erving. Apply here.
• Duravent Group posted a job opening for Shipping & Receiving in Turners Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Northfield here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bernardston

• Firefighters rescue injured hiker in Montague (recorder.com)

Turners Falls

• Montague Police Logs: Aug. 24 to Aug. 30, 2026 (recorder.com)
• Barbara Hoynoski: Where does the buck stop in Montague? (recorder.com)
• SONG PREMIERE: Upstate Find Love Through Life's Ups and Downs with Buoyant and Soulful Indie Folk Tune 'Corner' (glidemagazine.com)

Greenfield Town

• Franklin County's YMCA seeks donations, volunteers for Free Clothing Store (recorder.com)
• $788K in grants to boost Franklin County food systems, farm capacity (recorder.com)

Ok Northfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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