AMHERST — South Amherst Common will again be the site of an Independence Day celebration starting around 9 a.m. Friday, with a children’s parade commencing at 10 a.m.
Following the parade, there will be a sing along, comments from State Rep. Mindy Domb and Amherst councilors Ana Devlin Gauthier and Rob Hegner and an effort by emcee Irv Rhodes to find both the youngest and oldest neighbor to pose for photos.
Traditional games and races are then held on the grass and watermelon and lemonade is served. Ukes for Ukraine will play music for those in attendance.
REGION — Firefighters from several area communities recently graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program.
Among those honored include Daniel Hurwit of the Whately Fire Department, who was presented with The Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award. The award is named for Martin “Marty” McNamara V, a call firefighter with the Lancaster Fire Department who lost his life in the line of duty in 2003 while battling a fire in a multifamily home. It is presented to one recruit in each graduating call/volunteer training class and recognizes their academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the program.
Other graduates include: Michael Mazulis and Eliya Petrie from the Hadley Fire Department; Nicole Thornton of the Hatfield Fire Department; Matthew Krassler, Todd Krassler and Alana Whitney of the Huntington Fire Department; Tyler Cote of South Hadley Fire District 1; Dylan Koske and Kiele Lusignan of South Hadley Fire District 2;
The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Rows will offer free summer programming for people who want to get out and explore on the Connecticut River. From free all ages kayaking days to a free learn to row week for Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield middle and high school students, there are endless options to enjoy the outdoors from the boathouse at Holyoke Rows, 25 Jones Ferry Road.
Free Community Kayaking Days will take place on July 4-5, from 12 to 4 p.m. All ages are invited, and all equipment and instruction provided. Beginners welcome. No registration needed. Events run rain or shine, but will close during inclement weather or thunderstorms.
Free Summer Nights for Youth and Families: Mondays and Wednesdays, July 7-Aug 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Children, youth and families are invited for free kayaking, fishing and more. No registration needed, all equipment and instruction provided. This program is offered as part of the Massachusetts DCR Summer Nights grant program.
NORTHAMPTON — Registration is open for Group Dance and Community, a series of four drop-in workshops based on Mettler-based creative dance that prioritizes accessible movement and teaches ways to understand the natural movement resources of individuals and groups through developing freedom, awareness, and control in improvisational group dances.
The workshops are open to all levels and those 18 and over, including folks with no dance experience, and advanced dancers looking to improve improvisatory technique. They will be held on July 5, 12, 19 and 26, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley St., in Carole’s Dance Studio. The cost is $25-$80 for all four workshops, or $5-$20 per session. Register by going to tinyurl.com/julygroupdance.
This program, taught by Joshua Swift, is supported by the Hadley and South Hadley Cultural Councils. Swift is a disabled dance artist and teacher with seven years of dance training in modern, contemporary, and improvisational dance techniques. Recently, they performed with Abilities Dance Boston and attended the AXIS Dance Summer Intensive in 2023 to study in the company of other disabled dancers and to learn more about integrated dance.