The Supreme Judicial Court and the Board of Bar Examiners has announced that, due to the ongoing public health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Massachusetts bar examination will not be administered on July 28 and July 29, as previously scheduled. The bar exam has been postponed until fall, on dates to be determined.
The Board of Bar Examiners, in consultation with the Supreme Judicial Court, will continue to closely monitor public health and safety guidelines, including prohibitions against large gatherings, related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event that limitations on large gatherings continue to interfere with a fall administration of the Massachusetts bar examination, alternative means for testing of applicants for Massachusetts bar admission will be devised and announced.
The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners is established by G.L. c. 221 §§35 & 36 to evaluate the qualifications of persons seeking admission to the bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Holyoke Public Library encourages the public to stay at home and make use of electronic resources. Visit www.holyokelibrary.org, click HPL Academy tab to find tutorials on how to access and use the library’s electronic resources.
TumbleBook Library electronic resources are available for library patrons of all ages. TumbleBook’s databases are easy to use, and feature unlimited access from home. You can read as many books as you want, when you want, and on any device. There are no check-outs, holds, or bulky downloads. Books are available instantly and this service will be available to you until the end of August.
The Baker-Polito administration is reminding visitors to state parks and other outdoor properties to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, avoid gatherings of people, and to practice healthy personal hygiene, to aid in the prevention of spreading the novel coronavirus. Furthermore, if visitors to state parks observe areas with high concentrations of people, the public is asked to leave the location and either visit a different park in the area or return at a later date or time.
While visiting state parks and other locations, the Department of Conservation and Recreation also advises individuals to participate in non-contact recreational activities, for example hiking, bike riding and jogging. Individuals who are ill, over 70, and/or part of a vulnerable population are advised to stay home to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The state parks system has over 450,000 acres of property, and every region of the state has hidden gem state park locations to explore that may be less busy than more popular park locations. The DCR website provides visitors the ability to search state parks by both region and recreational activity.
DCR has created a Massachusetts State Parks COVID-19 webpage that centralizes virus updates that impact the state parks system. The webpage provides visitors to state parks with information, including the closure of certain agency facilities, like visitor centers, playgrounds and restroom facilities and other pertinent information.
Florence Bank branches will be closed on Saturdays during this health crisis. Employees are doing their best to meet customers’ financial needs during this difficult time.
Drive-up hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; branch lobbies are open by appointment only. Now is the time to do as much business remotely as possible. If you need help with any of the bank’s electronic channels, call or set up an appointment at your local branch.
UMassFive has provided these updates regarding its operations for the week of March 30.
The Contact Center will expand hours to be available between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. starting on Tuesday.
The lobby video teller and drive-up windows at Hadley and Northampton will be available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The lobby video teller at VA Medical Center in Leeds is available to members with card access when the basement is accessible.
The UMassFive ATMs are still operating and available as usual.
Hadley and Northampton branches are closed to routine transactions, with the sole exception of emergency and in-person-signature-required documents. These must be scheduled via phone call and will occur only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Both locations are equipped with drop boxes for members to utilize and will be checked multiple times a day.
UMass Amherst and VA Medical Center in Leeds branches remain temporarily closed until further notice.
The Community Foundation of Western Mass has made unprecedented grants of $700,000 to community organizations and nonprofits from its recently-established COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley.
The fund has raised $2,480,000 from local philanthropic and business organizations and over 50 individuals. The first round of funding to support local response to the crisis includes: $190,000 to distribute food through the region’s system of food pantries; $120,000 to address the needs of vulnerable elders, including home-delivered meals; $120,000 to provide critical health services and outreach through the Valley’s federally designated Community Health Centers; $150,000 to provide shelter for those without homes and those impacted by domestic violence; and $120,000 to provide flexible supports to the region’s lowest-income families and individuals.
Organizations receiving funding include: Caring Health Center; Catholic Charities Agency, Diocese of Springfield; Center for Human Development; Community Action Pioneer Valley; Community Health Center of Franklin County; Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; Friends of the Homeless, Clinical & Support Options; Greater Springfield Senior Services; Highland Valley Elder Services; Hilltown Community Health Center; Holyoke Health Center; LifePath; New England Learning Center for Women in Transition; Safe Passage; ServiceNet; Springfield Partners for Community Action; Springfield Rescue Mission; Valley Opportunity Council; WestMass ElderCare; Womanshelter Companeras; and YWCA of Western Massachusetts.
More grants are expected to be announced and released next week to respond to emerging needs.
Given the long-term impact of the crisis and the evolving community needs, the Community Foundation and its partners will continue to raise funds and make grants over the next several months.
Entities contributing to the fund thus far include: bankESB; Berkshire Bank; Beveridge Family Foundation; BIG Y; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation; Dietz & Co. Architects; Greenfield Cooperative Bank/Northampton Cooperative Bank; Keady, Foard, Montemagni, UBS Wealth Management; MassMutual; PeoplesBank; TD Charitable Foundation; and Westfield Bank.
In subsequent phases, grants will be made to address needs of nonprofit organizations that have been financially impacted by the crisis.
The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. Gifts can be made online at communityfoundation.org/coronavirus-donations/.