Three County Fair hosting food drive on Saturday

NORTHAMPTON — The Three County Fair, formerly known as Hampshire Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, will host a food drive on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the fair office’s parking lot at 54 Fair St.

The fair is collecting nonperishable food donations such as canned items, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce and peanut butter, plus toiletries for local food pantries including the Northampton Survival Center, the Easthampton Community Center, the Franklin County Community Meals Program in Greenfield, the Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry at BUCC in Belchertown and the Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center Cupboard in Holyoke managed by the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

Each vehicle that donates will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2023 Three County Fair, Sept. 1-4.

To participate, deliver nonperishable food items in disposable bags or boxes by driving through the Three County Fair office parking lot where volunteers will receive donations. The Fair requests that donations be compiled in disposable bags or boxes for volunteers to easily accept them from vehicles.

S. Hadley businesses can apply for facade improvement grants

SOUTH HADLEY — The town is offering up to $10,000 grants to local businesses and commercial property owners for facade improvements. Priority locations for funding are along major roadways, including Routes 33, 47, 116 and 202.

Applications are due April 24, and eligible projects will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The South Hadley Facade Improvement Program provides commercial business and property owners with financial support for the enhancement of commercial building facades through reimbursable grants of up to $10,000. The total funding available is $76,000.

To learn more and complete an application, visit https://www.southhadley.org/1299/Faade-Improvement-Program

Funding has been provided by a Regional Economic Development Organization grant to the town through the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts Inc. In 2022, South Hadley received $95,475 through the same program for facade improvements in the South Hadley Falls neighborhood, outdoor furniture for businesses in the Village Commons commercial district, and free public Wi-Fi in the vicinity of Beachgrounds Park in South Hadley Falls and the Village Commons.

For more information, contact Anne Capra, director of Planning and Conservation.

Commission on the Status of Women seeking members from region

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is currently seeking candidates for the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women, one of 11 regional commissions across the commonwealth that strives to represent women and girls in the areas of equality and opportunity.

The mission of the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women is to provide a permanent, influential voice for women and girls across Hampshire and Franklin counties that facilitates and fosters community and inclusiveness. The commission stands for fundamental freedoms, basic human rights, and the full enjoyment of life for all women and girls throughout their lives.

HFCSW represents all towns and cities in Hampshire and Franklin counties. To apply, visit: mass.gov/service-details/hampshire-franklin-commission-on-the-status-of-women

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