■Parades, fireworks and display of the U.S. flag will be among the observances of July 4, 1971 — the day which marks 195 years of American independence from England. Although some Northampton churches will have patriotic songs as part of Sunday services, no formal celebrations are planned in the city.
■Williamsburg’s four-day bicentennial celebration starts today with an ecumenical service combining St. Mary’s of the Assumption of Haydenville, the Haydenville Congregational Church and the First Congregational Church of Williamsburg. Celebrations will continue over the next four days, culminating with a grand parade on Monday.
■Local State Environmental Police and the maker of Jet Skis are teaming up to hand out life jackets that not only may preserve lives, but also will save a day on the water for boaters. The two parties will begin the “Don’t Get in Over Your Head” program on one of the busiest days of the summer, July 4, to help educate boaters who leave shore without the proper number or the right type of life jackets.
■After years of a virtual home-building freeze, developers are now hot to put up homes along the outer rim of Northampton. If two major home-building projects get off the ground — including Andrew Chambers’ proposal to build approximately 20 homes off of Turkey Hill Road — Florence residents could see as many as 140 new homes built in the next few years.
■State officials say final design and construction plans have been approved for high-speed rail in western Massachusetts. U.S. Reps. John Olver and Richard Neal and Sen. John Kerry and federal and state transportation officials said Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation signed a nearly $73 million grant agreement.
■Almost every day, police in Northampton, Amherst and surrounding communities take reports of thefts from homes and vehicles parked outside them. It’s been going on for almost a year, and by now investigators know what to expect when hearing from victims: The thieves entered through unlocked doors and took loot they can easily fence, like TVs, laptop computers and jewelry.