Summer has not slowed down in Greenfield. Saturday, Aug. 12, was the second  Cardboard Regatta at Sunset Lake Beach. It was perfect weather – hot, sunny and still – as an enthusiastic crowd of brave paddlers took to the waters of Sunset Lake to see how far they could get in their cardboard creations.

Kayla Kokal of the Recreation Department posted the following results: Matthew and Brandon Mamczak on the USS Garbage Scow for fastest vessel, Orlin Wheeler on the Row-lin for slowest vessel, Emma Van Gemert in Pickle for most-creative vessel/team, Ryan and Connor Anderson in The Winners for most-spectacular “Titanic” (Kayla notes that “they really just wanted to sink the boat to get this award!” ), Greenfield Transfer Station, Captain CJ, USS Garbage Scow as the town department winner, with honorable mention to Stephenson Memorial Library, Captain David Bridgewater, The Rocket, for most-spectacular “Titanic.” Here’s to many more Cardboard Regattas in the future!

Saturday, Aug. 19, was the inaugural “Guns and Hoses” softball game between the Greenfield Fire Department and the Greenfield Police Department. The weather was kind to Greenfield again – it didn’t rain – as fans in red shirts, supporting the Fire Department, and blue shirts, supporting the Police Department, filled the stands on either sides of the ball field.

Katherine Heck, our town treasurer, and her husband Andrew Heck, a retired NYPD detective, may have been the only “mixed couple,” with Katherine sporting red and Andrew wearing the blue. The police had some young guns, including Sgt. Frank Shea and Cam Tracy, while the FD included softball ringers Jessica Weeks and Laura Kostenblatt. It was a close game, with the PD prevailing in the end. The game raised funds for a digital scoreboard at the ballfield. The Fire Department’s next community event is the seventh annual Fire Department Road Race Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 20, was the 14th annual FolkSoul Music Festival hosted by Fred Simmons and Leslie Vogel at their beautiful property off of Old Mountain Road. Many months of work in the making, this is always a wonderful community event. Other musical acts included Vermont band Low Lily, who were celebrating their new album, “Angels in the Wreckage,” and local favorite Tara Greenblatt Band.

Last week, the Barbara C. Harris Center on Otter Lake hosted their annual Joni & Friends annual family retreat, a five-day, faith-based retreat for families and children with disabilities (joniandfriends.org). The Rev. Daniel Osgood attended as retreat pastoral counselor, and the Greenfield Fire Department was delighted to bring their ladder truck over to assist with an egg-drop event for the campers.

The Oak Park Committee is currently looking for new volunteers to help organize the farmers and crafters market and other events. Please follow the Greenfield’s Oak Park and Community Happenings page on Facebook to find out meeting times, or contact Dave Thimmel.

Select Board member Tom Bascom, who spearheaded the successful initiative to bring Fidium internet to Greenfield, is looking for volunteers to serve on a community power committee, which will create a plan for Greenfield to procure electricity to businesses and residents, increasing energy efficiency and lowering costs.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, Greenfield’s own Nate Gibbons is appearing at Cooper Hill Pub in Peterborough for a comedy night starting at 9 p.m. Nate, a ConVal grad, is a very funny and talented young man. Catch the show if you get the chance!

Finally, another plug for the Friends of the Greenfield Meetinghouse Oktoberfest on Sept. 30. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and cover price includes a full German dinner, a commemorative wine or beer glass, and two drinks tickets (beer or wine). This year’s musical acts are Greenfield’s own McGettigan & Gilbert and Kathryn Sabol and her oldies band, Breathe14. This event is rain or shine.

We highly recommend getting tickets in advance; all profits go to the Meetinghouse building fund. Please go to greenfieldmeetinghouse.org for tickets, or send email to greenfieldmeetinghouse@gmail.com.

If you have news or an idea for the Greenfield Beat, please email me at jesstimm17@gmail.com.