EASTHAMPTON – A commemoration will be held for the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Wednesday afternoon, one of many memorials taking place across the country to remember the atomic bombings.
The 41st Easthampton commemoration, organized by the national organization Back from the Brink, will begin at 4 p.m. at the River Valley Co-op where peace walkers will gather. They will make their way on foot to the main gathering of the commemoration that will take place at 5 p.m. at Nashawannuck Pond, hosting origami crane folding, ice cream serving and poetry readings. Lanterns will be guided into the middle of the pond by a kayaker at 7 p.m., a staple ceremony of the commemoration to honor the lives lost on that day.
Belchertown association brings back Old Bag Sale
The Belchertown Historical Association is holding a second Old Bag Sale on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Belchertown United Church of Christ, located on Park Street behind the town common.
The association still has hundreds of bags left from its spring donations of gently-used bags, and members invite people to visit and choose from pocketbooks, wallets and backpacks.
Sheriff’s office lauded for opioid treatment program
NORTHAMPTON – Surveyors from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), an organization recognized as one of the strictest of the many oversight agencies that monitor correctional practices in the country, gave the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office’s Opioid Treatment Program high marks during a recent audit.
The surveyors, Dr. Lawrence Mendel and Donna Mayne, conducted a stem-to-stern audit of the program. It was the second such audit since earning the sheriff’s office received its federal OTP license in 2021, and our first since earning NCCHC accreditation in 2023.
During their exit interview, Mendel and Mayne noted the teamwork they experienced during the visit, stating that they had no concerns about the program, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. They filed their preliminary report with the NCCHC Accreditation Committee and by September the sheriff’s office should receive a renewed accreditation its program.
Belchertown’s senior, veteran tax work-off program
BELCHERTOWN – The town of Belchertown has launched its Senior and Veteran Tax Work-Off Program, a new initiative that allows eligible residents to reduce their property taxes by up to $1,000 per year in exchange for volunteer service to the town. The program was approved at the May annual Town Meeting and will begin with a pilot this fall.
Open to residents aged 65 and older or veterans as defined by Massachusetts law, the program offers participants the opportunity to earn tax credit at the state minimum wage by volunteering in a variety of municipal roles. The credit is applied directly to their property tax bill.
Volunteer positions are available in many areas of town government and services. Opportunities include outdoor work to help beautify public spaces, working with and supporting students, community outreach efforts, and important office-based roles that help the town run smoothly.
“This is a meaningful way to support residents who have served our community, whether through military service or simply by spending their later years here in Belchertown,” said Town Manager Steve Williams. “The Tax Work-Off Program not only provides financial relief but also creates opportunities for civic engagement and keeps our seniors and veterans connected to the town and it’s government.”
The pilot phase of the program will run from September 1 through November 15, 2025, with credits applied to the December 2025 tax bill. Up to ten participants will be accepted in this first year.
To qualify, residents must be 65 years of age or older or a veteran; have owned and lived in a Belchertown home for at least two years; meet income and asset limits; and submit a completed application by Aug. 15.
Participants will be interviewed and matched with available assignments based on their skills and interests as well as the needs of the town. Applications are available at the Belchertown Senior Center or online at belchertown.org/taxworkoffprogram. The program is administered by the Senior Center, and interested residents can call 413-323-0420 with any questions.