Free community repair event to take place Sept. 14

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton RePair and ReUse group will host a Repair event on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 12-4 p.m. at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, 80 Locust St.

Northampton RePair & ReUse is managed and staffed by volunteers who are committed to reducing the city’s solid waste stream through education and innovative solid waste reduction interventions.

Community repair is a simple concept that brings together people who like to repair things (“fixers”) with people who need things fixed. Fixers get to share their knowledge with participants and each other while participants get to reuse what they already own.

The fixers are active or retired professional and self-taught repair people, craftspeople, and makers willing to share their skills, who may be interested in promoting their own repair businesses or just want to promote repair in general. They volunteer their services at the four-hour event as fixers.

Items to be fixed vary from computers to electrical/lamps and small appliances, textiles/sewing, knife sharpening, art restoration and wood furniture.

Entrance to the event and most repairs are free. The only cost to a participant may be if they need to get something, e.g. at a hardware store, to get the repair done. Donations are encouraged and appreciated, all of which go to future events.

For more information: David Starr 413-270-1234.

Hatfield Senior Center receives Aging-Friendly designation

HATFIELD — AARP welcomed Hatfield as the latest member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities at the Hatfield Senior Center’s annual picnic last Friday.

As the latest Massachusetts community to sign on to the network, Hatfield civic leaders will have access to global resources and information on age-friendly best practices, models of assessment and implementation, and the experiences of towns and cities around the world.

Hatfield is among 120 communities in the Bay State that are certified as age-friendly, as well as the entire commonwealth. The town’s Council on Aging has spearheaded the move. Among the projects: working to mitigate food insecurity by providing low-cost senior farm shares. They’ve also worked to build awareness about the growing population of people with dementia, by offering Dementia Friends Information Sessions.

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities helps participating communities become great places for people of all ages by adopting features such as safe, walkable streets; better housing and transportation options; access to key services; and opportunities for residents to participate in civic and community activities.

The second annual Senior Center Picnic, held at ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, drew more than 100 seniors from Hatfield and surrounding communities.

Valley Jazz Voices to hold open rehearsals

NORTHAMPTON — Valley Jazz Voices will hold open rehearsals on Mondays, Sept. 16 and 23, from 7-8:45 p.m. at Rockridge Community Room, 25 Coles Meadow Road.

Valley Jazz Voices is the only community jazz vocal ensemble in the Pioneer Valley. Under the direction of Jeff Olmsted, the ensemble sing in four-part harmony from the Great American Songbook, as well as Brazilian and original songs by Olmsted. No audition is required, but experience singing in a choir is helpful, and a passion to sing jazz is best.

Sign up for the fall season open rehearsals at tinyurl.com/VJV-Fall-24-Registration Dues are on a sliding scale of $180 to $230; students $50. A reduced fee is negotiable if the cost is prohibitive. For more information, contact valleyjazzvoices@gmail.com.