NORTHAMPTON — Get ready to celebrate the queer community at the Queer Joy Collaborative’s Winter Ball on Dec. 21 at 33 Hawley St. This festive event is a chance to support the LGBTQ+ community through an evening filled with vibrant performances, dancing and community connection.
The highlight of the night will be a special performance by the Queer Joy Chorus, bringing warmth and spirit to the winter season. Then, hit the dance floor with beats from local DJs, browse exclusive QJC merchandise, and explore a silent auction with unique items from local creators — all in support of the Queer Joy Collaborative’s work promoting joy, belonging, and creative expression in the queer community.
All ticket sales and auction proceeds will fund the Collaborative’s programs in music, art, and mutual aid. Tickets are on a sliding scale from $10 to $35, and everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay.
For tickets or more information, visit queerjoycollaborative.org/winterball.
BRAINTREE — The Northwestern district attorney’s office has received a $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative to promote community safety through law enforcement initiatives, community engagement and prevention programming.
The Healey-Driscoll administration first introduced the initiative, administred by the Office of Grants and Research, in 2023 to allow DA offices to competitively apply for funding, which must be split between enforcement activities and projects focused on prevention, intervention or diversion.
The office was one of seven in the state to receive such funding.
AMHERST — The town of Amherst is seeking input on youth empowerment programming to both strengthen existing and inform future programs. The Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) and the Recreation Department are working on youth empowerment initiatives and developed a survey to collect input directly from local youth, educators, and parents/caregivers to ensure that programming is relevant and impactful.
This short survey aims to gather opinions, preferences, and ideas that will shape the direction of youth empowerment initiatives. The survey will be open until Friday, Jan. 31, and can be accessed online at bit.ly/amherst-youth-survey
All eligible youth, educators, and parents/caregivers are encouraged to participate in the survey and share their insights, as their voices are vital in building a stronger, more empowered community. For questions or more information about this survey and youth empowerment programming, contact Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Philip Avila at 413-259-0386 or avilap@amherstma.gov.
GOSHEN — Residents, businesses, and surrounding community members are invited to provide input on the town of Goshen Hazard Mitigation Plan and Unpaved Roads Project at a public listening session on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Goshen Town Hall, 42 Main St. Dinner will be provided.
Attendees will learn about what the town is doing to prepare for natural hazards and the impacts of climate change, including improving the resiliency of dirt roads. They will have an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences with hazards in Goshen, and in particular where there are unpaved road issues. Municipal officials and staff from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) will be available to answer questions and respond to input about these projects.
The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is to assess Goshen’s risks from natural hazards and climate change impacts, and to provide an action plan to reduce the town’s vulnerabilities. The plan is being completed by the town with assistance from the PVPC and is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Upon completion, the plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and FEMA for review and approval. A FEMA-approved plan makes the community eligible for federal and state mitigation grant funding.
The Western Massachusetts Unpaved Roads Project is a collaborative effort between the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) as well as the towns of Lanesborough, Goshen, Blandford and Shutesbury. With climate change, municipalities are experiencing more unpaved road failures due to the increased intensity of precipitation events. This project will further develop FRCOG’s new Dirt Road Toolkit which allows municipal staff to assess their vulnerable unpaved roads, determine which best practices are recommended to increase their climate resiliency and how to install these best practices using existing resources.
For more information about this event, please contact PVPC’s Mimi Kaplan at mkaplan@pvpc.org or 413-781-6045.