United Way holds
annual diaper drive
GREENFIELD — United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region (UWFH) is holding a drive through June 30.
Contributions will help UWFH collect the nearly 20,000 diapers it distributes each month via its diaper bank to 14 local agencies supporting the community. Donations can be made online via UWFH’s Amazon wish list or in person at more than 45 donation sites located across Franklin and Hampshire counties.
UWFH is also accepting cash donations made online and by check that will go directly toward supporting its cross-county diaper bank.
UWFH encourages donors to give larger diaper sizes for children that are often harder to come by at local pantries, specifically sizes 4, 5, and 6, as well as pull-up training pants. Days of action will include standouts on Saturday, June 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Stop & Shop in Northampton, and on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Stop & Shop in Greenfield.
For more information about how to donate, visit uw-fh.org/diaper-drive, call 413-584-3962 x102, or email info@uw-fh.org.
HAYDENVILLE — A Family Bingo Night — bingo for prizes not cash — is planned for Thursday, June 19, from 6-8 p.m., at Haydenville Congregational Church.
Leading the event will be Molly Keehn of Florence, known as the Bingo Queen for her work running bingo events for nonprofits around the region.
Unlike traditional bingo, Keehn said her events do not involve gambling. She said, “It is a family event. We welcome children. In addition to bingo we play other games and help build connections and community for those involved.”
There is no required fee to play. The church will encourage a small donation for each bingo card a participant takes.
There will be a range of prizes, including gift certificates, and there will also be prizes for children.
Baked good and refreshments will be available.
The church is at 143 Main St., Haydenville.
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is cautioning the public to beware of text messages that allege to be from the RMV that request payment or other information. The practice, also known as smishing, can involve messages stating the RMV will take action against an individual due to unpaid fees.
Attempts have been made in Massachusetts and several others states to trick individuals into sharing credit card numbers and other sensitive information, directing them to websites to pay outstanding balances. The RMV strongly encourages customers not to click links contained in such messages.
A wave of current text messages circulating warns of traffic ticket enforcement and that immediate action must be taken to avoid license suspension and vehicle registration revocation and impact to one’s credit score. The texts referenced a false regulation that allows for this enforcement action. These texts are being customized with dates and different states and can include the word “Massachusetts” to trick individuals into immediate payment.
Scammers will sometimes create links that mimic the names and URLs of official websites. Customers should only use Mass.Gov/RMV for online RMV services.
AMHERST — The public is invited to join University of Massachusetts Amherst astronomers to observe sunrise and sunset on the longest day of the year among UMass Amherst Sunwheel’s standing stones on Friday, June 20, at 5 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
UMass Amherst astronomer Stephen Schneider, who will lead this event for the final time after doing so for the past 14 years, will explain the astronomical cause of the solstice and how the Sunwheel works.
At 10:43 p.m. EDT on June 20, the sun will reach its northernmost position relative to the stars as seen from Earth. This marks the astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. On the solstice, daylight is longest and nighttime is shortest in the Northern Hemisphere.
At the evening session, if the sky is clear, a solar telescope will be set up to safely view the surface of the sun. During this period of strong solar activity, sunspots and solar prominences are often visible.
The UMass Amherst Sunwheel is located south of McGuirk Alumni Stadium, just off Rocky Hill Road (Amity Street) about one-quarter mile south of University Drive. Visitors to the Sunwheel should be prepared for wet footing and mosquitoes. The events will be canceled in the event of heavy rain. For more info, please visit the Sunwheel website.