Amherst, Hadley to mark 23rd anniversary of 9/11

AMHERST/HADLEY — The towns of Amherst and Hadley will hold Sept. 11 commemorations on Wednesday to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Amherst’s ceremony hosted by the Fire Department will take place at the North Fire Station, 603 East Pleasant St., beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Attendees are asked to park in the marked spots on the side of the building or on the gravel/grass area on the north side of the station.

Hadley’s ceremony will be held at the Hadley Fire Department, 15 East St. Arrival begins at 9:30 a.m., and people can park in the gravel lot to the north of the station.

At 9:55 a.m., apparatus will roll out of the bays to the front of the station.

At 10 a.m., all available fire/EMS and Police Department personnel will assemble at attention in front of the apparatus and maintain silence. Bells will ring, with four sets of five chimes each, followed by lowering of the American flag to half-mast.

There will then be one minute of silence, followed by a prayer by a chaplain, and a firefighter and police prayer. The bells will ring again, the flag will raise and the ceremony will end.

Northampton closely watching mosquito threat

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Department of Health and Human Services is closely monitoring the risk of mosquito-borne diseases locally, specifically eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV), as mosquito activity remains high across the state.

Currently, there have been no confirmed mosquito samples, or animal or human cases of these diseases, in Northampton and the risk for disease remains moderate to low for both viruses in Hampshire County. However, given recent activity in neighboring counties and across the state, it is critical for residents to take preventive measures, officials said.

As a member of the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District, Northampton benefits from a comprehensive Mosquito Control Program to help protect residents from mosquito-borne diseases, including WNV and EEE. The program services include mosquito trapping, species identification, disease testing, and source reduction measures, such as larviciding to control mosquito populations before they reach adulthood. While aerial spraying is being used in other parts of Massachusetts and activities after dusk are being curtailed, Northampton has not reached the threshold to require such actions.

Mosquito season continues through September and October, and Northampton will provide ongoing updates based on local mosquito surveillance data and risk assessments. Mosquito activity typically declines after the first hard frost.

WestMass ElderCare’s first online auction raises $12,500

HOLYOKE — WestMass ElderCare raised more than $12,500 at its Fabulous 50th Online Auction, which ran from Aug. 8-Aug. 30 in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary.

“This fundraiser not only marked a milestone in our 50-year journey but also helped raise essential funds to support the critical programs and services that benefit older adults and individuals with disabilities across our region,” said Roseann Martoccia, executive director at WMEC.

With funding struggling to keep pace with inflation and rising operational costs, fundraising events like this have become increasingly essential to sustaining WMEC’s programs.

WestMass ElderCare is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the dignity, independence, and quality of life of older adults and individuals with disabilities through a wide range of home and community-based service.