Town of Belchertown

09/16/2026

Big congrats to Firefighter Sylvants (Sly) Moore on graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy! 🎓

Firefighter Moore just completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program, alongside 19 other recruits from fire departments across Massachusetts. That means weeks of hands-on training in search and rescue, ladder work, pump operations, and fire attack — all to meet national firefighting standards.

Congratulations, Firefighter Moore — we're proud to have you serving our community as part of the Belchertown Fire Department! 👏

[In the image from left to right: Firefighter (FF) Nathan Marean, Captain Jeff Haughey, FF Sly Moore, FF Kevin Girard, FF William Ingram and FF Dominic Fioravanti.

Learn more:

The Belchertown Fire Department is proud to congratulate Firefighter Sylvants Moore, who graduated on August 28 from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's fifty-day Career Recruit Firefighter Train

09/14/2026

Ten days to go.

Five volunteers. One enormous wall. Something new is coming!

The US250 Task Force is prepping the soccer wall at Chestnut Hill (59 State Street) for Red, White & Belchertown which is happening on Thursday, September 24.

Full lineup dropping soon. But you can expect: music, reenactors, food trucks and fireworks!

Many thanks to Stadler Ace Hardware for donating paint and supplies.

Belchertown Recreation Department

09/14/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗽 — 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟰

In case you missed it — here's what happened in Belchertown last week.

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱
Good news, young writers — the deadline for the Red, White and Belchertown Essay Contest has been extended to Wednesday, September 16. Open to all Belchertown kids in grades K through 12, with three age divisions (K–3, 4–8, 9–12) and a $250 savings bond awarded to each division winner.
https://www.belchertown.org/FormCenter/General-Forms-4/Red-White-America-Essay-Contest-for-Stud-91

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲
Half-Year 2026 Transfer Station Annual Permit Stickers are on sale now for $67.50, or $55.00 for residents 65 and older. Stickers are valid from the date of purchase through February 28, 2027.
https://www.belchertown.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=186

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
The Belchertown Fire Department welcomed two new members to the team this month: Firefighter/Paramedic Myranda Garreffi, sworn in and serving since August 11, and Firefighter/EMT Jacob Haley, sworn in and serving since August 24. Please join us in welcoming them to the Town of Belchertown.
https://www.belchertown.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/188

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭
This past week, the Belchertown Fire Department marked the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a ceremony at the fire station. Resident Laura Hicks opened the morning with the National Anthem, and Firefighter Kevin Girard served as master of ceremonies. Firefighter Myranda Garreffi led the gathering in two prayers, including the firefighters' official prayer. Town Manager Steve Williams, Fire Chief John Ingram, Representative Aaron Saunders, and Senator Jake Oliveira all offered remarks, honoring the 2,977 people killed that day, including 343 New York City firefighters, and the 206 Massachusetts residents among the lost.

The ceremony closed as fire department ceremonies have for generations — with the ringing of the bell, struck five times in four sets, a tradition known as the Four Fives, signaling that a firefighter's duty is complete. Laura Hicks closed the morning with God Bless America.

Twenty-five years later, we remember.

09/14/2026

Tomorrow night, the Belchertown Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee will hold a Tri-Board meeting — Monday, September 14 at 6:30 PM in the auditorium at Town Hall (2 Jabish Street).

Town Moderator Ben Farrell will open the meeting with a review of Robert's Rules of Order, followed by discussions on financial policies, strategic planning, and the start of FY2028 budget conversations.

Can't make it in person? Join remotely via GoToMeeting: https://meet.goto.com/377465909

09/12/2026

📝 Essay Contest Deadline Extended!

Good news, young writers — we've extended the deadline for the Belchertown Essay Contest to Wednesday, September 16!

This is your chance to enter for a shot at a $250 savings bond. Open to all Belchertown kids entering grades K–12, with three age divisions (K–3, 4–8, 9–12).

Two ways to submit:
✅ Fill out the online form
✅ Drop off your entry at the Finnerty House, 1 South Main Street

Don't miss your chance — get those essays in by September 16!

Link to submit: https://www.belchertown.org/FormCenter/General-Forms-4/Red-White-America-Essay-Contest-for-Stud-91

09/11/2026

This morning, the Belchertown Fire Department held a ceremony marking the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.

The bell was rung in remembrance of the 2,977 people killed that day, among them the 343 firefighters who climbed as others came down and did not come back.

The ringing of the bell is one of the oldest traditions in the fire service. It once signaled the beginning of a call and, when the work was finished, the return home. For a firefighter who does not return, the bell is struck five times, in four sets — the Four Fives, a signal that dates to the days of the telegraph alarm. It is the last alarm, and it tells the department that the firefighter's duty is complete.

We are grateful to the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who serve Belchertown, and to those who answered that morning and never came home.

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁.

09/10/2026

🚒 Please join us in welcoming two new members to the Belchertown Fire Department!

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿/𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶 was sworn in and began her service on August 11, and 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿/𝗘𝗠𝗧 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘆 followed on August 24. Firefighter Garreffi joins the Department from South Hadley Fire District 2 and the Granby Fire Department, and Firefighter Haley brings prior fire and EMS experience from Monson.

"We're excited to welcome Myranda and Jake to the Department. Both bring valuable experience from neighboring communities, and we look forward to seeing them grow with our team." — Fire Chief John Ingram

Meet the Department's newest firefighters:

The Belchertown Fire Department is pleased to welcome two new members to the team. Firefighter/Paramedic Myranda Garreffi was sworn in by the Town Clerk and began her service on August 11, and Firefig

09/10/2026

Mark your calendars! The 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻'𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon) at the DPW Highway Garage, 290 Jackson Street. Vehicles arriving after noon will not be accepted.

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 for all attendees, and fees vary based on load size and whether you hold a Transfer Station Permit Sticker. Propane tanks and cylinders (20 pounds) are accepted for an additional fee of $30.00 each. No commercial loads will be accepted.

Residents of reciprocal communities are welcome to attend but must first contact the community they live in to discuss payment arrangements and other details.

Good to know: latex paint isn't considered hazardous waste in most areas since it's water-based and can be dried out and disposed of with household trash. Oil-based paints, which contain flammable and toxic solvents and metals, should still be brought to the event.

Learn more and pre-register: https://www.belchertown.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/187

09/09/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄!

Priced at $67.50, or $55.00 for residents 65 years and older, half-year stickers are valid from the date of purchase through February 28, 2027.

Stickers may be purchased at the Transfer Station (135 Hamilton Street), the DPW Office (290 Jackson Street), Finnerty House (1 South Main Street).

Learn more: https://www.belchertown.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/186

09/09/2026

Belchertown Fire Department invites you to a 9/11 Memorial Service on Friday, September 11, 2026 as we marked 25 years since the September 11 attacks on our country.

The service will be held at the Fire Department at 10 North Main Street, Belchertown at 8:45 AM.