SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley Police Department’s newest officer has arrived at the station, bringing all his excitement, energy and fur with him.

The South Hadley Police Department will launch its comfort dog program with Office Murphy, an 8-week-old Labrador. Murphy comes from Freedom Labradors, an organization in Sandwich that breeds and trains service and comfort dogs.

Chelsea Newcomb, owner and co-founder of Freedom Labradors, said Murphy’s temperament was what led her to believe he’d make a good comfort dog, especially when in schools and public places.

“He’s super confident,” she continued. “He’s very lovable. He likes to people please, so he will be easy to train for sure.”

Murphy met staff at the department last Saturday, and Newcomb has begun his training alongside handler, Officer Emily Tebo.

“We do all the basic obedience, off leash and on leash training,” Newcomb said. “Then we do monthly maintenance training check-ins, only because I want to make sure, especially being in schools and public, that the dog is behaving appropriately.”

Murphy will work toward American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizens and STAR Puppy certificates over the next six months. However, Newcomb said the puppy can start his comfort dog duties immediately, depending on South Hadley Public School’s policies and schedules around comfort dogs.

Wanted: Granbysuperintendent search committee members

GRANBY — The School Committee looking for residents and school staff interested in joining a search committee to find Granby Public School’s next superintendent.

The Superintendent Search Committee will consists of school staff, parents and community members interested in finding the right person to fill the superintendent position, currently held by Interim Superintendent Mary Jane Rickson. Former Superintendent Stephen Sullivan departed from the district at the end of last school year, opting for a job in Greenfield Public Schools as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.

Anyone interested in applying to the committee can reach Ginny Hajdamowicz at vhajdamowicz@granbyschoolsma.net. The deadline is Feb. 28.

Belchertown raises money for high school student

BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown Police Officers Association and McCarthy’s Pub raised $1,800 in a one-night fundraiser to support high schooler Hannah Racine as she undergoes cancer treatment.

The fundraiser took place on Nov. 14 at McCarthy’s Pub, where 10% of food sale and profits from a raffle were donated to Racine’s family. Belchertown Police Officers Association sold stickers that said #Hannahstrong, but most of the money came from donations. Many people who entered into the raffle also pledged to send the money won back to Racine.

“People from the community came by and said if this was my kid, I would want someone else to do the same thing,” Police Officer Draine Colon-Rivera said. “The community just came together.”

Racine was diagnosed with cancer in June after doctors found a tumor in her pelvis and cancer cells on her lungs. According to the updates on her GoFundMe page, Racine has undergone one surgery and a few rounds of chemotherapy, but still has more surgeries and treatments over the next few months.

Colon-Rivera helped organize the fundraiser with the Belchertown Police Officers Association, a nonprofit that raises money and public safety awareness for the Belchertown community. Many officers know Racine’s mother Kimberly from her position as accountant department assistant, Colon-Rivera said, and Racine herself is heavily involved in her school community and in Jitterbugs Early Childhood program.

“She’s a great student on her senior year of high school and we heard about the devastating news she got the beginning of her senior year,” Colon-Rivera said. “We know the community was doing some events to help her and we wanted to help their family.”

Santa’s Land is back at Buttery Brook Park

SOUTH HADELY — Santa’s Land is back at Buttery Brook Park for its 52nd year for children and their parents to enjoy a piece of the North Pole complete with hot chocolate and souvenirs.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves will be at the park from Dec. 12-15, and Dec. 19-22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. to take photos with South Hadley families and give coloring books and cookies to the town’s children.

The event has been run by the Friends of the Buttery Brook Park since the early 1990s, and David Bernier, member of the Friends association, said the visit to Santa’s cabin at Buttery Brook Park has become a family tradition for many local families.

“I’m one of the greeters, so I have grandparents telling me that they’re parents brought them there when they were kids, and they brought their kids and now they’re bringing their grandkids,” he said.

Bernier said Santa’s Land attracts between 500 to 600 children every year, accompanied by their parents. Families wait in line outside and receive a complimentary hot chocolate to keep warm. Once inside, children can sit on Santa’s lap, give him a Christmas present request and get their photo taken by their parents. Bernier said the Friends no long offers photos for purchase, as many people use their phone cameras for these photo opportunities. Mrs. Claus will give children their coloring book before families can enjoy a second cup of cocoa.

“I like to greet the families as they come and talk to the kids and just the excitement of them seeing Santa their smiles and the stories from the parent and grandparents,” Bernier said. “It’s a great time.”

The event is free, but donations to the Friends of the Buttery Brook Park are encouraged.

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.