DC Station to host first electric vehicle events
NORTHAMPTON — DC Station, a fast-charging electric vehicle station that opened last fall, will host its first two public programming options in February.
Demo Day with Rivian, an EV manufacturer, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the business at 5 Fulton Ave.
And on Saturday, March 7, DC Station will host a workshop, “The ABCs of EV Ownership,” from 1 to 2 p.m., at its EV Base Camp.
For the Demo Day, DC Station Developer Bruce Volz said three to four Rivians will be on site for test drives. Participants may stop in to ride or sign up for a time slot on the Rivian website at https://bit.ly/4tize7K. (Follow the prompts, then click on the zip code that shows and enter “01060.”)
Anyone curious about electric vehicles is welcome to attend the workshop on March 7 to learn all there is to know about making the switch to electric driving. The 45-minute offering will be led by Greg Goff, who oversees EV Base Camp, the education center for DC Station.
Goff is an automotive consultant with over a decade of experience with EVs, and he will offer a talk and then answer questions. Topics to be covered include the benefits of going electric; home versus public charging options; understanding charging times and costs; battery care, range, and life span; costs; ownership experience; and tax credits, rebates, and other incentives.
DC Station opened in October 2025, offering 10 fast, Level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles and, once tenants are found, a place for drivers to grab a fast cup of good coffee or healthy meal while they wait.
The station is named DC for Direct Current.
‘Depolarizing Ourselves’ workship in Easthampton
EASTHAMPTON — A local bridge-building group that started up last spring in response to toxic polarization will hold a free Braver Angels workshop titled “Depolarizing Ourselves” on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the Easthampton Public Library Annex, 52 Main St.
Polarization is fueled by how people talk about those on the other side of an issue. Too often, people ridicule, dismiss, or stereotype each other. In this 1.5-hour session, participants will learn how to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer” and how to interact without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large swaths of the population.
Registration is required; go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/depolarizing-ourselves-registration-1979388966683?aff=oddtdtcreatoror email depolarizewmass@gmail.com. For more info about the group’s third-Saturday meetups, email depolarizewmass@gmail.com.
Northampton St. Pat’s Association to host awards banquet
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton St. Patrick’s Association will host the 2026 Marshal & Brennan Awards on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Northampton Elks Lodge #997, Spring Street in Florence.
The association will honor Meaghan Sullivan, the 2026 parade marshal, Sam Falcetti, the 2026 James Brennan Award. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. and an awards ceremony at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and are available at Ahearn Funeral Home, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, by contacting any member of the board of directors, or by email at irishofnorthampton@gmail.com
District Court food drive nets 500 pounds for survival center
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton District Court Probation staff delivered more than 500 pounds of food to the Northampton Survival Center, 265 Prospect St., on Feb. 5, following a monthlong Winter Food Drive.
The probation staff worked with the Northampton Law Library and collaborated with community partners Ivy Garcia and Steve Weber, owners of Deals and Steals, for this first-time food drive.
Hatfield fire chief graduates management training program
Hatfield Fire Chief Robert Flaherty is one of dozens of fire service leaders from across Massachusetts to graduate from the 31st class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program.
The four-month program for new chief officers and chief officer candidates is delivered jointly by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston. Through intensive classroom instruction, challenging out-of-class assignments, and student presentations, the course delivers multifaceted training in the managerial aspects of leading a municipal fire department.
The Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program covers a spectrum of topics considered essential for effective public sector management. It includes human resource management, ethics, executive leadership, governmental and organization structures, information management, customer-focused strategic planning, legal issues, budgets and public finance, community awareness, media relations, and labor relations.