Members of the Northampton Senior Center’s Needle and Hook club completed a recent yearlong project knitting pink scarves to be donated to the Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield, which raises money for breast cancer awareness.
The group meets every Thursday to work on a variety of fabric, yarn and other fiber materials to make a sampling of crafts. They work together on a variety of projects, including long-term ones completed over the course of a year, according to Senior Center Executive Director Kim Park.
“What brings the group together is their passion for the fiber arts,” Park said. “They create a sense of community together.”
The Rays of Hope Walk has been running since 1994 and is organized by Baystate Health. The funds raised through the walk go toward breast cancer research via equipment, breast health programs and outreach and education throughout the Baystate hospital system. To date, the program has raised over $17.2 million, according to Baystate.
The Rays of Hope Walk this year begins at 8 a.m. on Oct. 19, with walkers starting at Temple Beth El at 979 Dickinson St., Springfield.
The club has made scarves for the walk for the last three years, according to Nancy Yesu, an assistant director at the senior center. Yesu said the group produces between 20 and 30 scarves each year for the walk.
“We bring them down to Baystate for people to wear,” Yesu said. “Sometimes it’s chilly out there, and people aren’t prepared. Other times, they just want to wear a scarf.”
Housing forum on tap
A public forum on housing will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to discuss the ongoing challenges for building housing in the city.
“Invited housing developers and professionals will discuss data, statewide initiatives, and current trends in the housing market that are contributing to the high cost of construction,” an announcement for the forum reads. “This includes labor, financing, other requirements that are affecting buildability. We’ll look at what implications that has for affordability in Northampton and beyond.”
While nonprofit organizations like Valley Community Development Corporation have moved forward with affordable housing development in the city, private developers have struggled to advance projects. A planned housing complex on King Street recently has gone up for sale before construction has begun, while another planned housing complex on the corner of Phillips Place and Hawley Street has seen marked opposition from residents.
Speakers at the event include Jessica Allen, the real estate development director at Valley CDC, Aelan Tierney, president of Kuhn Riddle Architects, and Jeff Spiritos of Spiritos Properties LLC. Spiritos had owned the property on 79 King St. before it was put on the market.
Gateway Fiber honors elementary school
Bridge Street Elementary School in Northampton is one of five schools across four states chosen by Gateway Fiber to win a special prize package, including $1,000 and a celebratory frozen yogurt truck day.
In addition, between Aug. 11–18, $15 per fiber order was donated to the campaign, raising another $2,000 per school. Altogether, Bridge Street received a $3,000 check during a special presentation ceremony on Sept. 11.
“The community came together, voted, and showed their incredible support for this school, and today, we get to honor that,” said a spokesperson for Gateway Fiber regarding the event. “We want to connect with the communities we serve. We are proud to stand with Bridge Street Elementary and can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll do with this support.”
Gateway Fiber, a Missouri company, last year worked to install fiber internet cables within Northampton, part of a multimillion dollar project by the company to allow fiber internet access in the city. Unlike the internet provided through cable connections, which uses the same coaxial cables used for TV transmissions via electrical signals, fiber-optic internet uses glass fibers to transmit data by converting it to light. The end result is generally a faster, more reliable system, but can also be more expensive then cable services.
The frozen yogurt at the event was supplied by GoBerry N’ Cream of Northampton.
Blood drive next week
Adults interested in donating blood will have an opportunity to do so at a community blood drive at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 22-23.
Cooley Dickinson is partnering with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center to bring their blood mobile to Northampton. The blood mobile will be set up in front of the hospital from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Donating blood is an incredible act of generosity that saves lives,” said Catherine Reed, executive director for operations at Cooley Dickinson, in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful for our community’s continued support in providing the essential blood supply our patients depend on.”
All blood donors will receive a YETI Patriots Foundation tumbler. A photo ID is required for blood donation. Donors are also advised to be well hydrated, drink extra water, and eat before donating blood. All donor types are welcome.
