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A 14-foot-long community mural created last fall by random attendees of the Paradise City Arts Festival is now on display in Northampton City Hall. The mural was presented at a recent ceremony attended by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, artist Rick Freed, and Linda Post, founder and director with her husband Jeff Post of the Paradise City Arts Festival. -
A 14-foot-long community mural created last fall by random attendees of the Paradise City Arts Festival is now on display in Northampton City Hall. The mural was presented at a recent ceremony attended by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, artist Rick Freed, and Linda Post, founder and director with her husband Jeff Post of the Paradise City Arts Festival.
City officials were on hand during a recent celebration at City Hall to mark the completion of a 14-foot-long community mural celebrating three decades of the Paradise City Arts Festival and reflecting the city’s rich artistic and cultural history.
As part of its 30th arts festival held last October, Paradise City Arts commemorated its origin story with a community mural featuring trademarks of Northampton: the Connecticut River, Northampton City Hall, and a depiction of 19th century opera singer Jenny Lind, who is credited as giving Northampton the “Paradise City” moniker. The mural, designed by New Hampshire artist and professor Rick Freed, was executed over the long weekend by festival visitors of all ages.
Mariah Swanson, marketing director for Paradise City Arts, told the Gazette that the mural embraces the concept that painting is for everyone, no matter one’s age or artistic ability.
“We’re all using abstract shapes, so it feels accessible for anyone to come and just play,” Swanson said. “But then when all of the shapes and colors come together, it’s understandable.”
Six months after its initial creation, the mural was unveiled at its city hall location in a ceremony attended by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and members of the local arts community. The mural is located along a stairway to the mayor’s office between the building’s first and second floors.
Ward 1 City Councilor Stanley Moulton has added his name to the list of city officials not seeking reelection, making him the third councilor to do so.
Moulton announced he would not be running in a newsletter sent to constituents on April 26. Moulton said he was stepping back from his role on the council to “pursue other interests.”
“I also hope to encourage a new generation of leaders to participate in municipal government,” Moulton wrote in the letter.
A former editor for the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Moulton joined the council in 2022, serving for two terms. During his time on the council, Moulton served on Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s advisory commission for spending the $4 million the city received in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the federal government. He also was one of three councilors on the Ordinance Review Committee and served as vice chair of the Finance Committee.
Moulton joins At-Large Councilor Marissa Elkins and Ward 5 Councilor Alex Jarrett in not running for reelection for the city council. Five School Committee members are also not running for the upcoming election, with a sixth, Aline Davis, running for Jarrett’s council position.
The Valley Community Development Corporation (Valley CDC) has received $200,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation, the giving arm of TD Bank, as part of the foundation’s “Housing for Everyone” grant.
Valley CDC is one of 36 organizations selected out of 270 applicants for the grant, the funds of which will be used to provide assistance to homeowners in need of maintenance and repairs in order to keep their homeowner’s insurance.
“Due to the current economic environment, families and seniors are finding it increasingly difficult to cover monthly expenses, leaving little to no savings for home maintenance,” said Valley CDC Program Director Sarah Sargent in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this grant program to cover these costs for homeowners.”
Organizations were selected for their programs focused on post-purchase homeownership support, such as foreclosure counseling, financial assistance funds, legal assistance, property tax relief programs and energy efficiency improvements. A total of $7.2 million was distributed by the TD Charitable Foundation.
Valley CDC serves Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties for homeownership and small business services and primarily Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, and Easthampton for affordable housing development.
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
