EASTHAMPTON — Local veterans service organizations are collectively hosting a National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Oxbow boat launch parking area next to the Pearl Harbor Veteran Memorial Bridge along Route 5 on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m.
The Central Hampshire Veteran Services and the South Hadley-Easthampton Veteran’s Service District, and the veteran councils of Northampton and Easthampton, as well as area posts of The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, will participate.
This year’s national theme is “Everlasting Legacy.” In an effort to honor the theme, the local remembrance ceremony has been moved to the first Sunday in December to allow youth participation from local Scouting organizations, youth members of the Sons of the American Legion and other community-oriented school and civic groups.
Veteran service organizations from any and all communities are encouraged to attend and are welcome to bring unit flags and color guards. No prior notice is required.
The event is open to the public.
The Easthampton Community Center is hosting the ninth annual Holiday Whobalation at Millside Park on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Robin Bialecki, director of the center, said that Fahn Miner and Elaine Wood came up with the idea of a flash mob and having locals bring toys to donate to children. Bialecki explained that the pair took the local folklore that Easthampton was the inspiration for “Whoville” in Dr. Seuss’ children’s book, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” and created an event around it. Mount Crumpit, where the fictional character of the Grinch resides, is said to be inspired by Mount Tom.
In carrying on that spirit, the Grinch and Santa Claus will arrive at Millside Park in a special sleigh and will join in a sing-a-long to the Whoville song. The Grinch and Santa will be available for photographs.
“Santa used to come to town and do a big holiday stroll and sing Christmas carols, but that stopped a couple years back. And because we didn’t want to be terrible grinches, we decided to have Santa join our event,” said Bialecki.
Those who attend are encouraged to dress like their best Whovian garb, but leave their Kris Kringle and Grinch costumes at home so as to not confuse children.
Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or stocking stuffer for the center’s Toy Program. All of the gifts are distributed to children in the surrounding area.
“The Toy Program has been around for at least 25 years. Last year, the program helped about 1,200 children, but we anticipate the need will be much larger this year,” she said.
In the past, volunteers at the event passed out hot chocolate and cookies, but that has stopped with the pandemic. This year, gift bags with a Grinch mug, a package of hot chocolate, and a package of cookies will be handed out. Children will also receive a glow necklace.
“It really is a lot of fun. It’s a staple in Easthampton,” she said.
For more information, call the Eashampton Community Center at 413-527-5240.
Easthampton Police K-9 Gino is the cover dog of a new children’s book, “What Does A Police Dog Do?” The book, published by Willow Bend Publishing, is written by Ellen Field and features local police dogs photographed by John Cebula.
“What Does A Police Dog Do?” tells the stories of the police dogs and the work that they do ranging from arson investigations and bomb detection to tracking and providing comfort to people in distress.
The book also features local dogs from Amherst and South Hadley police departments and Holyoke Fire Department. All 30 dogs in the book are from Massachusetts, and also includes dogs from the State Police’s Fire and Explosion Investigation unit assigned to the state Fire Marshal’s office.
The COVID-19 testing site at Millside Park is closing on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The Easthampton Health Department partnered with California-based health services firm Curative to offer free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing at City Hall last December when the city was experiencing some of its highest number of recorded cases of COVID-19.
The Easthampton testing site shifted to Millside Park in January.
Curative has announced it would be closing all of its sites nationwide by Dec. 31.
To date, Health Director Bri Dupras said Curative has completed more than 11,000 PCR tests in Easthampton.
The demand for testing has declined over the past few months with the increased availability of rapid tests and as air flight travel required it.
Dupras said rapid antigen tests are still available for free at the city’s Health Department from 9 to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
“I am grateful that through our partnership with Curative and the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services, Easthampton was able to have a COVID-19 testing site available to our residents six days a week for almost a year,” Dupras said in a statement.
To search for testing locations, visit mass.gov/covid-19-testing.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
