Farmers’ Markets
in Holyoke to
give info on
HIP program

HOLYOKE — Residents can learn more about the state’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) at several upcoming Pop-Up Holyoke Farmers’ Markets this spring.

HIP offers additional monetary incentives for buying healthy local produce at the farmers’ market. Those who attend the farmers’ markets listed below can learn about program and how to access it; learn about local vendors who accept HIP benefits; and receive support using HIP benefits at the pop-up market.

Upcoming markets, all of which will take place from 5-7 p.m., will be held at Mercadito, 413 Main St., on April 10, May 8 and May 22; and Flats Community Center, 43 N. Canal St., on April 24.

PVPC lands stormwatermanagementgrant from state

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission recently landed at $57,948 state grant to continue its efforts to help cities and towns meet existing stormwater management requirements.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection awarded grants totaling $360,000 to seven multi-community watershed coalitions and planning collaboratives to develop programs designed to assist municipalities with meeting the requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and reduce pollution in stormwater discharges. The MS4 Permit aims to reduce harmful pollutants from being washed into waters by storm drains. Municipalities are required to develop stormwater management programs that include public education and outreach, public participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, management of construction site runoff, management of post-construction site runoff, and good housekeeping measures to reduce pollution.

PVPC will use its grant money to enhance its library of green infrastructure Best Management Practices (BMP) design templates with an additional four or five templates, develop a decision support tool to help municipalities choose appropriate BMPs, and provide trainings on the templates and selection tool.

Famous organist to play at Amherst church Sunday

AMHERST — A concert on an historic organ at South Congregational Church, 1066 South East St., will be presented by Nathan Laube, an internationally acclaimed organist, on Sunday.

The concert on the church’s 1896 Casavant organ will be at 3 p.m., with free admission, though a $20 per person donation suggested.

Reservations should be made due to limited seating, by calling 413-253-2977 or sending email office@amherstsouthchurch.org.

The concert is presented as part of the South Congregational Church’s 200th Anniversary Celebration Arts and Social Justice Series.

‘Recovering Native Histories’ focus of talk in Leverett

LEVERETT — “Recovering Native Histories Along the Kwinitekw (Connecticut River)” is the title of talk being given by Margaret M. Bruchac, professor emerita at the University of Pennsylvania, April 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Leverett Elementary School, 85 Montague Road.

Part of the town’s 250th anniversary events, Bruchac will discuss the histories of Indigenous Native American communities in the homelands known as Nonotuck, now Northampton, Hatfield and Hadley, and Pocumtuck, now Deerfield, Greenfield and Leverett, from the 1600s to modern day. The talk wil cover colonial encounters, conflicts, deeds, medicinal knowledge and Indigenous survival strategies over time.

Bruchac, a Nulhegan Abenaki, is a performer, ethnographer, historian and museum consultant, long committed to critical analyses of colonial histories and recoveries of Indigenous histories. She received her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts.

The program is sponsored by “On Native Land: Leverett Advocacy and Education Group.”