AMHERST — In a town where many languages are spoken, handheld translation devices are helping municipal employees who interact with the public to better support residents.

With the success of Pocketalk Translators bought two years ago for Amherst’s community participation officers, who have used them at a variety of public events, the town bought several more using American Rescue Plan Act money.

“Expanding our use of these handheld translation devices is a significant step toward fostering inclusivity in our community,” Pamela Nolan Young, director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, said in a statement. “This initiative ensures that all residents, regardless of the language they use, feel supported and valued in our town. By breaking down language barriers, we foster meaningful connections and promote equitable access to services and resources for everyone.”

The Pocketalk Translators support translations in more than 50 languages, both spoken and written, and can also translate documents written in other languages into English.

Petra Pendroff, head of branch services at the Jones Library, said the devices have already been helpful in interacting with patrons she serves, including those who speak Spanish, Polish and Chinese. “Having these on hand makes it a lot easier to jump into conversations with patrons to figure out how we can help them,” Pendroff said.

Winter coat drive

The Parent Guardian Organizations at the high school and middle school are collecting winter coats and jackets for students and families, with teen and adult sizes among the most needed.

Used, clean coats in good condition, and new coats, are both accepted through Nov. 15. They can be dropped off inside the lobbies of the high school and middle school, the Visitor Information Center at 35 South Pleasant St. and the Greenfield Savings Bank at 6 University Drive.

Once the collection is complete, the coats will be available at the schools’ Family Center.

Housing Production Plan survey

A survey to inform the town’s Housing Production Plan, by helping to understand current housing needs and preferences to develop strategies to address them, is underway.

Those who live and work in town, or have an interest in Amherst, are encouraged to complete the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/AmherstHPP.

The survey concludes Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Paper copies are available at Town Hall.

Last updated in 2013, the Housing Production Plan will chart a path toward addressing the affordable housing needs of low- and moderate-income people in Amherst.

Amherst Young Feminist Party action

Joined by the Raging Grannies, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund Organizer Jon Marx and Amherst College Professor Ever Osorio Ruiz, the Amherst Young Feminist Party placed a banner stating “Access to Contraception is a Human Right” at First Churches of Northampton on Saturday.

Founded in May 2020 by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, the organization, formerly Generation Ratify Amherst, is demanding legal gender equality and bodily autonomy through banner drops, a flash mob, school walkouts, a yoga class, rallies and interviews, a processing event after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and a feminist art gallery benefit.

Roadtown Turkey Trot

A 5K run and walk, the second annual Roadtown Turkey Trot to benefit the Shutesbury Library, is set for Nov. 23.

Participants can register for the race at Roadtown.org. Registration is $35 through Nov. 22 and $40 on the day of the race, and $15 for the children’s fun run.

Library Director Mary Anne Antonellis said the library is continuing to raise money for furniture, equipment and landscaping at the $8.98 million, 4,400-square-foot building under construction at 66 Leverett Road.

Antonellis said the foundation is almost complete and framing will soon begin, with the building set to open next fall.

Village of Dwight talk

The Amherst Historical Society and Belchertown Historical Association are sponsoring a talk focused on Dwight, the village in North Belchertown tied closely to Amherst, by Michael Carolan, who is the association’s assistant and archivist.

The talk is set for Nov. 14 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown.

Carolan will discuss notable events, architecture and landscapes of the 8-square-mile district and its contributions to art, industry, politics, science and religion, from the 18th through 20th centuries, as it intersected closely with people and events in Amherst, South Amherst and Pelham. That included Rev. Henry Ward Beecher giving his first sermon in Dwight, the village being the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln’s first biographer, Emily Dickinson’s sister-in-law helping to establish its chapel, and rare aquatic flower gardens drawing hundreds through Dwight’s two railroad stops.