Good morning, Springfield.

Forest Park Zoo will host Spooky Safari on Saturday, Oct.

24 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a family-friendly Halloween event with trick-or-treating, inflatable archery, face painting, a scavenger hunt, animal encounters, crafts, games, and a costume contest (registration closes Oct. 23 at noon; advanced tickets are required).

West Springfield’s annual seven-mile race will return to Bear Hole Reservoir on Nov.

7 at 10 a.m. to raise funds for trail upkeep and student field trips through its Environmental Education program. Registration is $20 until Oct. 20 (and $25 thereafter) and the winner will receive a $50 prize.

The Foundation for TJO Animals received a $4,000 grant from Bertera Subaru to cover essential costs at the Thomas J.

O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center this October, including veterinary care and spaying/neutering. It will celebrate National Make a Dog’s Day on Oct. 22 and run a pet food drive.

Jameson, the dog whose brave survival after a brutal 2014 beating inspired local animal welfare efforts, died Tuesday night at home in Ludlow at age 13—leaving a lasting legacy in the community.

CFWM partners with the Resilience Center to host its Gratitude, Joy and Connection event on Oct.

28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Quonquont Farm in Whately + it will highlight 35 years of community impact with local artists.

Early Thursday morning, a fire at Agawam's family-owned Waniewski Farms—known for its kielbasa—forced the store to close and launch a fundraiser while firefighters contained the blaze with no injuries and investigators work to determine the cause.

On Oct. 7, a Massachusetts player at MGM Springfield won a jackpot prize of $10,722.93 from a $6 bet on the Thunder Empire slot machine.

On Sept. 16, Country Bank was recognized by the Boston Business Journal for its charitable contributions to Massachusetts nonprofits, a nod to companies donating at least $100,000 last year (the bank employs 241 staff who volunteer locally).

Frontier softball star Skylar Steele received an offer from UMass on Oct.

3 after years of dedication playing for her high school and travel teams (Fury Platinum 18-U). Steele committed to join the Minutewomen and now prepares for her college career while finishing her final season with the Redhawks.

Travis Reed, Springfield Central assistant principal and PA announcer, energized fans at the Golden Eagles’ home opener on Sept.

11 despite a 29-14 loss, and he will host a pep rally in two weeks (Oct. 30) to celebrate student success and bring bilingual shoutouts to the community.

Gabe Thomas (a sophomore from McCann Tech) was named MassLive Athlete of the Week after winning the Berkshire Classic with an even-par 71 at Stockbridge Golf Club on Oct.

12. His performance, which included three birdies in the final stretch to secure a two-shot victory, marks the school’s first title.

Belchertown high school girls volleyball won 3-1 over West Springfield, with Olivia Skora recording 34 assists + Cassidy MacLean tallying 16 kills.

The team, which now has three wins in a row, will face Springfield International today at 5 p.m.

Springfield Central is set for a crucial game against Westfield tonight, hoping a strong performance from returning quarterback Jareth Staine will boost their playoff run.

The football mailbag also spotlights Division 7 contenders such as reigning champion Cohasset and South Hadley as teams prepare for postseason battles.