UMass prof. to lead program on understanding drought

BELCHERTOWN — As drought conditions become an increasingly familiar part of life in Massachusetts, residents will have an opportunity to learn more about how drought develops, how it affects local water supplies, and what the future may hold during a free public presentation on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Belchertown Town Hall Auditorium.

Hosted by the Belchertown Conservation Department, the program, “Understanding Drought and Water Supplies,” will be presented by Professor Konstantinos (Kostas) Andreadis of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, whose research focuses on hydrology, water resources, drought and climate impacts.

Designed for homeowners, residents and anyone interested in understanding where their water comes from, the presentation will explain the science behind drought in clear, practical terms. Topics will include how Massachusetts defines the different stages of drought, why droughts have become more frequent in recent years and what scientists expect as the climate continues to change.

Professor Andreadis will also discuss the differences between surface water and groundwater systems, why each responds differently to drought, and how water managers evaluate long-term and short-term impacts on water supplies. Additional topics will include aquifers, seasonal groundwater recharge from rainfall and snowmelt, well fields, deep and shallow wells, artesian wells, and how public water supply systems collect, store, and distribute drinking water.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Questions from attendees will be welcomed following the presentation.

Depolarization group to host former GOP state rep

EASTHAMPTON — Braver Angels in Western Mass, a bipartisan group working to reduce political polarization, will host former Republican state Rep. Lenny Mirra at its monthly meetup in Easthampton on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Mirra will speak about his decade of service in the Massachusetts State House, his experience as a Braver Angels member, and what it’s like to be a Red in a largely Blue state. The free talk and question-and-answer will take place at the Easthampton Public Library Annex, 52 Main St.

For more info about BAWM’s third-Saturday meetups, email depolarizewmass@gmail.com.

Singer David Roth to perform at South Church in Amherst

AMHERST — Singer-songwriter David Roth will perform at South Church on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Roth, a Chicago native now based on Cape Cod, has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the United Nations, and his songs have appeared on NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis and on recordings by Peter, Paul and Mary and the Kingston Trio. He has released 15 CDs of his own music and has performed for more than three decades.

The Rev. Dr. Susan Cartmell, South Church’s pastor, said she met Roth in the mid-1990s while running a coffeehouse at another church.

“His ability to sing about issues that matter and shine a light on the human aspects of justice issues makes his music memorable and his message powerful,” she said. “In every concert, David has created musical spaces that create community and touch audiences of every faith or no religion at all.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is a suggested $20 donation; no one will be turned away.

More information is available at amherstsouthchurch.org.

DPH launches statewide health equity survey

BOSTON — The state Department of Public Health is asking Massachusetts residents to take its 2026 Community Health Equity Survey, an anonymous survey meant to help shape public health policies and programs.

The survey, open now through November, asks residents 12 and older about their experiences with health care, housing, transportation, education, employment and other factors, with a focus on communities disproportionately affected by health inequities. New this year are questions on immigration experiences and the mental health effects of recent immigration policy.

State health officials said they particularly want responses from older adults, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, immigrants, rural residents, veterans and young people, groups often underrepresented in health data.

The survey takes 15 to 30 minutes and is available in 11 languages. It does not collect identifying information, including immigration status, and cannot be traced back to respondents, according to DPH. Data from the state’s 2020 and 2023 surveys has been used by more than 150 organizations to secure grants and shape local programs, officials said.

Results from the 2026 survey will be released in 2027. The survey is available at mass.gov/HealthSurvey.