Four firefighters from three Hampshire County communities are among 20 in western Massachusetts to graduate from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Graduating from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program were Aidan Brooks and William Mueller from the Amherst Fire Department. Brooks started out as a member of the Student Force while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which he graduated from in May 2023. Mueller previously worked for American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance service in Springfield.
Also graduating this week were Caleb Steiniger from the Northampton Fire Department and Aaron Gallaspie of the South Hadley Fire District 1.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires.
Upon successful completion of the Career Recruit Program, all students have met the national standards of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and are certified to the levels of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
SOUTH HADLEY — The town of South Hadley will hold a public forum on Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. at the South Hadley Public Library, to discuss rezoning of Routes 202/33. This has been an ongoing process with a consulting firm, an appointed five-member advisory board of citizens, and Anne Capra, director of Planning and Conservation.
Final recommendations will be made at the forum. All residents of the town, especially, homeowners, renters, business owners, and abutters are urged to attend this workshop to make their opinions and preferences known. The future of what kind of residences, businesses, and services to be located along these busy thoroughfares is at stake.
HOLYOKE — The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke held its annual Grand Colleen Pageant last weekend and selected five Holyoke Grand Colleen finalists. They include Erin Marie Gauthier, 20, Holyoke; Abigail Katherine Huebner, 20, South Hadley; Moira Catherine Reardon, 21, Holyoke; Erin Frances O’Donnell, 20, Holyoke; and Maura Catherine Joseph, 22, Holyoke.
The application requirements are that the young women must be single (never having been married or had a child), no older than 22 years, and no younger than 17 years by March 17, 2025, residents of either Holyoke or South Hadley, able to claim Irish ancestry, and complete the resume.
Within the application, the young women are asked to outline their significant accomplishments in the areas of community involvement, academic awards, special recognition in school, any unique hobbies or interests of theirs, and their future plans. The day started with the young women being interviewed by the judges.
The Bonnie Baker Award for Ms. Congeniality, chosen by the contestants as the young woman who was the most helpful, kind, and personable went to Maura Catherine Joseph.
HATFIELD — Prospect Meadow Farm, one of its ServiceNet’s vocational programs, is co-sponsoring the Inaugural National Care Farming Conference hosted by the Care Farming Network. The event will be held from Jan. 13-15 at the UMass Amherst, in partnership with the Care Farming Network.
This first-of-its-kind conference will bring together farmers, care providers, and other stakeholders from across the country to explore the growing field of care farming. Attendees can look forward to a rich program that includes farmer-to-farmer learning, inspiring speakers, educational workshops and farmer panels.
Care farming is a therapeutic approach that combines agriculture and health care to provide meaningful activities for individuals with various support needs. This method allows participants to engage in farming tasks that promote physical and mental well-being, social interaction, and skill development. Care farming can support people dealing with mental health challenges, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or those seeking recovery from various life circumstances.
For information on the Inaugural National Care Farming Conference, registration and scholarship information, or becoming an event sponsor, contact outreach@carefarmingnetwork.org