Treehouse Foundation sponsors women leaders panel
EASTHAMPTON — Treehouse Foundation of Easthampton is sponsoring a panel on March 25 from 10-11:20 a.m. to celebrate Women’s History Month. Titled “Women Leading Change: Building Strong Communities,” it will feature three women who have experience in areas related to children in foster care.
Treehouse is an intentional, intergenerational community in Easthampton dedicated to supporting families fostering and adopting children who have been in foster care. Founded in 2002, it has become a national model in the movement for innovation in child welfare. It is poised to expand this model to other cities in Massachusetts.
Panelists include Jessica Collins, executive director, Public Health Institute of Western MA; Denise Hurst, president, Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Springfield School Committee, at-large; and Holly Hanfield, Treehouse Community Advocate. Erika Kuester, Treehouse Foundation CEO, will moderate the discussion.
The panel is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Treehouse Community Center, 1 Treehouse Circle, Easthampton.
Friends of Northampton Trails to hold Sunday cleanup
NORTHAMPTON — Friends of Northampton Trails has scheduled a community cleanup of the bike path at various locations along the 11-mile trail network on Sunday, March 29, from 9 to 12 p.m.
An expected 75 volunteers will gather to collect litter and remove brush in an effort to keep the shared-use path clean and accessible for all to enjoy. The teams will be led by volunteer captains at various locations along the trail network. This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers are encouraged.
To register online, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/0dfd58da/yeO5cP30V0WF4EY3q4DjqA?u=https://tinyurl.com/yt7ys2yu
A central staging area will be located at the Roundhouse Parking Lot behind the municipal buildings. A rain date is scheduled for Saturday, April 4.
For more information contact David Hoose 413-695-2538 or dhoose@strhlaw.com, or Robert Isaackson at 312-608-5767 or isaakson64@gmail.com.
Chesterfield seeks Council on Aging director
CHESTERFIELD — For the fourth time in less than a year and a half, the town will see a Council on Aging (COA) director.
After a nine-month term as director, the Select Board accepted the resignation of Eileen Theroux earlier this month. According to Town Administrator Brenda Lessard, Theroux said she decided to resign due to the job, “taking took much of her time.”
Theroux will remain at the post until the first week of May.
Theroux entered the role after interim director Kate Reid took the helm in February 2025. Reid had initially told the town she would be director on a trial basis, and the commute to Chesterfield was too demanding for the nonresident.
Before Reid, Brooke Bullock served a four-month stint as director. Bullock succeeded 10-year director Jan Gibeau, who stepped down due to health issues in October 2024.
South Hadley bank branch leaders to meet community
SOUTH HADLEY — Greenfield / Northampton Cooperative Bank invites community members to stop by its South Hadley branch located at 487 Newton St. on Thursday, March 26, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation with branch staff, including Branch Manager Joanna Czarniecka and Assistant Branch Manager Jimmy Rosario. Also in attendance will be Victor H. Rodriguez Sr., vice president and community engagement mortgage officer and Deb Esposito, senior vice president, business banking officer.
The event is open to the public and designed as a casual way for customers and neighbors to get to know the staff and learn more about the services available at the branch.
During the event, attendees may also enter a drawing for a gift basket. The drawing is open to customers and non-customers age 18 and over. Visit the South Hadley branch for full details.