AMHERST — Collectibles, food, holiday decorations, wreaths, books and a white elephant room will be part of Grace Episcopal Church’s St. Nicholas Bazaar on Saturday.
The annual event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 14 Boltwood Ave.
For more information, call 413-256-6754.
HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke’s traditional celebration of the holiday season will kick off Saturday.
From 3 to 5 p.m., the Holyoke Merry Go Round at Heritage Park will offer free rides. Children and families will have the opportunity to pose for photos with holiday characters. Also, at the Holyoke Children’s Museum, young people are invited to decorate ornaments in the Art Studio.
All the while, roaming Dazzle Day Balloon Artists will entertain by twisting balloons into all manner of creative shapes.
At 5 p.m., City Hall will open for one and all to warm up with hot chocolate, cookies, and popcorn. Holiday characters will circulate in the hall, and a DJ will provide holiday music.
At 5:15, the First Lutheran School Ambassador’s Choir will perform. The Holyoke High School Madrigal Choir will perform at 5:30.
At 6 p.m., Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia will invite everyone outside for the annual Parade of Lights and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
AMHERST — Recently appointed Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren will join Town Manager Paul Bockelman for coffee and conversation Dec. 13.
The Cuppa Joe with Paul event takes place at Coronation Cafe, 103 North Pleasant St., from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Stromgren grew up in Amherst and began his career with the Amherst Fire Department 42 years ago as a student firefighter, moving through the ranks from professional firefighter/EMT, captain and assistant chief. He officially began his duties as chief after serving as interim chief since June.
Residents are encouraged to drop by to offer comments and suggestions, ask questions, raise concerns and meet others.
HOLYOKE — Beginning in early 2025, WestMass ElderCare, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last month, will be known as Access Care Partners, reflecting a broader mission that extends beyond serving just the “elderly” population.
“Celebrating our 50th anniversary, we felt it was the perfect time to evaluate our brand and how we represent ourselves,” said Roseann Martoccia, executive director at WestMass ElderCare. “Our goal was to ensure our name truly encapsulates the wide range of individuals we serve, many of whom are not necessarily ‘elders.’ In fact, we provide services to individuals as young as 3 years old.”
The decision to rebrand came after extensive research and community engagement. The findings indicated that while the organization is highly respected for its work, the name “WestMass ElderCare” did not fully capture the scope of services offered, which includes support for individuals with disabilities and younger populations. The name Access Care Partners better reflects the organization’s mission of providing care and support to people of all ages and abilities, ensuring they have access to the services they need to live independently.
For more information about Access Care Partners and their services, visit wmeldercare.org/accesscarepartners or call 413-538-9020.