Friendship Band hosts Friendsgiving show

NORTHAMPTON — The Friendship Band will hold its second annual Friendsgiving fundraiser at the Iron Horse on Tuesday, Nov. 3, sharing the stage this year with local Grateful Dead tribute band Mind Left Body.

Proceeds will benefit the performing arts in the Whole Children and Milestones programs run by ServiceNet, a human services agency. The programs offer recreational, social, skill-building and enrichment classes for children, teens and adults of all abilities.

The Friendship Band, which includes musicians of all ages and abilities, has built a local following with a mix of original songs and covers. It has played the annual Transformance show at Look Park and collaborated with the indie rock band Yo La Tengo.

“The Iron Horse is a really cool place to perform. We did it last year and it was a big hit,” said Sydney Meininger, 27, a Milestones Day program participant who plays drums and guitar in the band. “I’m looking forward to performing with Mind Left Body and doing some Grateful Dead songs, especially ‘Fire on the Mountain!’”

Meininger said she had always wanted to play in a band. “The Friendship Band is a band anyone can join,” she said.

Chris Harper, director of operations for Whole Children and Milestones, who also plays drums in the band, said the event celebrates the friendships and community that have grown around the group.

Eddy Hougen, a recreation specialist who plays bass and helps lead the band, said both groups share a tradition of improvisation. Some of the Friendship Band’s original songs date back more than a decade.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Iron Horse website, ironhorse.org.

Good Neighbor heating aid fund reopens

With heating oil prices soaring heading into winter, a statewide fund that helps households that don’t qualify for traditional energy assistance is again taking applications.

The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund began accepting applications for its 2026-27 campaign Oct. 19. It offers grants of up to $400 toward a home energy expense for households facing temporary financial hardship, with payments made directly to the energy provider.

The fund, administered by the Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, is aimed at residents who have had a short-term setback, such as an unexpected expense or a loss of income, but who are not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. Last season, household income had to fall between 60% and 80% of the state median income. Fund officials say income eligibility guidelines have been raised for the new campaign.

The fund reopened two weeks after Gov. Maura Healey declared a State of Energy Emergency on Oct. 5. Heating oil is averaging $6.12 a gallon statewide, up from $3.53 a year ago, according to the state Department of Energy Resources. That is an increase of about 73%, or roughly $700 more for a 275-gallon delivery.

More than 1,250 households received help from the fund during the 2025-26 campaign, said Justin Stearns, the fund’s chairman. The fund is supported by participating energy companies, their customers, businesses and individual donors. It remains open through spring and summer. Since 1985, it has raised more than $26.1 million and helped more than 98,500 households.

For more information or to apply, visit magoodneighbor.org or call 800-262-1320, the line for the 413 area code.

Soul Sisters to hold spirit gallery, dinner

NORTHAMPTON — Soul Sisters LLC will host an All Hallows’ Eve Psychic Dinner & Spirit Gallery on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Northampton Country Club, 135 Main St., Leeds.

The evening begins with a chef’s-choice buffet dinner, with vegan and gluten-free options. It’s followed by a “spirit gallery” with Brandie Wells, who bills herself as “The Breakthrough Medium” and says she shares messages from attendees’ loved ones who have died.

The event will be filmed for Soul Sisters’ “Beyond the Veil” programming, which is produced by Wells and filmmaker Jennifer Paone.

A cash bar opens at 5:45 p.m. The event is limited to 80 guests, ages 18 and older, and admission includes dinner. Tickets and more information are available at soulsistersllc.net.

Heart of the Valley Chorus invites singers for holidays

NORTHAMPTON — Heart of the Valley Chorus is again inviting community members to join it for three free, open rehearsals this holiday season, followed by a performance with the chorus.

Singers ages 9 and older who are comfortable in the treble range (soprano, alto, mezzo and high men’s parts) can learn a few seasonal and holiday songs in four-part barbershop style. No audition is required, and participants do not need to read music. Singers younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Rehearsals will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, at Christ United Methodist Church on Rocky Hill Road. The chorus is not a religious group. Participants will then perform with the chorus at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, with a call time of 11 a.m.

Barbershop singing in the women’s tradition has historically been for women, but the chorus is open to anyone who sings comfortably in the treble range.

Last holiday season, the chorus welcomed more than 20 visitors from across the Connecticut River Valley.

The chorus has performed in the region for more than 40 years. Its members range in age from their 20s to their 80s and come from communities including Northampton, Easthampton, Belchertown, Hadley, South Hadley, Williamsburg, Holyoke and Greenfield. Its repertoire includes jazz, Broadway, contemporary and inspirational music.

To sign up, email heartofthevalleychorus@gmail.com or visit heartofthevalleychorus.org.