Mat Sulda hits 1,000-point career milestone for Smith Academy basketball

HATFIELD - The crowd was roaring, the band was playing and one young man was waiting for his chance at a milestone. In the end, he did not have to wait too long to achieve it. Smith Academy's Mat Sulda, needing only eight points to pass the 1,000-point mark for his career, shook off a few misses before draining three consecutive 3-pointers to surpass the mark in the first quarter of the Falcons' 77-50 victory over Athol Monday. Sulda, who scored a career-high 35 points, hit the milestone with 2 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

Elizabeth Proulx, lifelong Hatfield resident

HATFIELD - Elizabeth A. Boyle Proulx, a lifetime resident of Hatfield and daughter of the late Elizabeth and John Mullins, died Jan. 31, 2012, at the age of 87.

She was predeceased by her husbands, William E. Boyle and Eugene F. Proulx.

Nonprofit innovator Greg Speeter dies at 68

HATFIELD - Friends and colleagues say Greg Speeter, founder and former director of the Northampton-based National Priorities Project, was a rare combination of visionary and everyman, a person whose legacy is an organization that brings the reality of the federal budget home.

Julia Folts & Andrew Harbold

Janice and Jeffrey Folts of Hatfield announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia Elizabeth Folts of Irmo, S.C., to Andrew Thomas Harbold, also of Irmo. Harbold is the son of Susan and Jim Crow of Columbia, S.C., and Rick and Caryl Harbold, also of Columbia.

Daniel J. Fisher, outdoorsman

HATFIELD - Daniel Joseph Fisher, 54, known to many as "Wild Dan the Mountain Man," formerly of Westhampton, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at his residence in Hatfield.

He was born March 3, 1957, in Northampton, the son of Clifford and Elizabeth (Balise) Fisher.

Food Bank's Souper Bowl Sunday tackles hunger

HATFIELD — As football fans around the country are gearing up to watch the Super Bowl, laying in grand buffets of treats and betting on their favorite team, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is hoping that people will also consider contributing a few dollars to the Souper Bowl of Caring.

Across the country, charities, food pantries, churches and youth groups are preparing for what has been called one of the nation's largest celebrations of giving and serving.

"This is a national program, and local organizations can take it on as their project," said Heather Clark, development and marketing manager at the Food Bank.

Alyssa Klepacki hits 1,000-point career milestone for Smith Academy

HATFIELD - For all the double and triple teams Alyssa Klepacki has seen this season, her 1,000th point came on one of the most wide open shots she's ever had. The Greenfield defense lost the Smith Academy girls basketball senior center for a moment on the right post and point guard Danielle Duseau fired a bullet pass underneath. "I was thinking that I better make this one," Klepacki said. "If I missed that one, that wouldn't be good." The basket set off a loud and prolonged celebration that included Klepacki receiving a game ball, flowers, hugs, kisses, balloons, more hugs and a standing ovation.