Three County Fair to hold food drive on Saturday

NORTHAMPTON — The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organizaetion that manages the Three County Fair and fairgrounds, will be conducting its 2024 Food Drive on Saturday outside of its main office at 54 Fair St.

The fair is seeking non-perishable foods such as canned fruit, vegetables, and tuna, plus cereal, pasta, pasta sauce and peanut butter for area food pantries who have partnered with the fair. This year’s recipients include the Providence Ministries-Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke, the Easthampton Community Center, the Franklin County Community Meals Program in Greenfield, the Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry in Belchertown and the Westhampton Congregational United Church of Christ food pantry.

Each vehicle that donates a minimum of 10 in-date items will be supplied with a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2024 Three County Fair, Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Donations can be dropped off at the Fair’s main office between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. The Fair requests that donations be compiled in disposable bags or boxes for volunteers to easily accept them from vehicles.

Hampshire Mall to host free MYCHIP event

HADLEY — Hampshire Mall will host a free Masonic Youth Child Identification Program, or MYCHIP, event in coordination with the Masons of Massachusetts on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Café Square.

The program provides tools to help law enforcement authorities find and identify a lost or missing child. Each child’s family will be given a USB stick containing the following: identification information such as physical characteristics, identifying marks or features and parent contact information; a brief video interview that be distributed to the media in order to reach a huge audience; and fingerprinting.

None of the information is copied and all the identifying materials are given to the child’s family.

The Masons of Massachusetts, partnering with the Massachusetts Crime Prevention Officers Association, donate MYCHIP resources to make this service available to the public. No information is kept by MYCHIP.

 

Advocates for Autism honorSen. Comerford

BOSTON — Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, was honored at the State House by the Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts, receiving the 2024 Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of her support of the disability community and her work to file and pass an act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder.

Comerford said she was humbled to receive the honor alongside colleagues, Reps. Sean Garballey and Kay Khan. “I am proud to be part of a legislature that is committed to supporting those living with disabilities and I look forward to continuing our work to build an accessible, safe, and welcoming Commonwealth for all,” she said in a statement.

Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) is a statewide organization that brings together people with autism spectrum disorders, their families and friends to build the capacity of communities across the commonwealth to welcome, fully include, and support people with autism spectrum disorders.

Northampton Rec. to host youth and adult golf lessons

NORTHAMPTON — Registration is open for the Northampton Parks & Recreation youth and adult golf lessons.

Youth lessons are for those ages 11-17 years old and will be held on Saturday mornings. There are two, four-week summer sessions available this season.

The adult lessons are for those 18 and older. The department offers Adult Beginner lessons on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings and Adult Intermediate/Advanced lessons on Thursday evenings. There are three, four-week sessions available this year.

Ray Millette, a local golf pro, will teach the course at Scotti’s Driving Range in Leeds. The first session of Adult Golf lessons begins April 25. Register online at northamptonma.gov/recreation, or in person at the Parks & Recreation Office at 100A Bridge Road, Florence.