The award-winning University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band will perform at halftime of the New England Patriots’ home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7. The game begins at 1 p.m.
The Minuteman Marching Band, the largest collegiate marching band in the Northeast and the only one to have received the prestigious Sudler Trophy, the highest award a college band can achieve, last performed at Gillette Stadium in 2018. Their first performance for the Patriots was in 1966.
The 350-member complement of the “Power and Class of New England” will include musicians, baton twirlers, dancers and color guard members. The band will perform the music of pop superstar Rhianna.
The day before the appearance in Foxborough, the band will march at McGuirk Stadium as the UMass football team takes on Bryant University on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Easthampton Rotary donates defibrillator to CitySpace
EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton Rotary Club has donated a public access defibrillator (AED) to CitySpace, Easthampton’s historic Old Town Hall, enhancing safety for the growing number of community events and large gatherings held at the venue.
The initiative was spearheaded by Suzi Buzzee, the Rotary’s immediate past president, in collaboration with the Easthampton Fire Department. Rotary covered the full cost of the AED and its mounting case while the Fire Department will provide free CPR and AED training to CitySpace staff and volunteers.
Buzzee said the Rotary chose Old Town Hall and Nonotuck Park because they are gathering places at the heart of Easthampton.
The AED donation reflects a citywide commitment to public safety and underscores the role of partnerships between civic organizations and cultural institutions in caring for the community.
South Hadley High lands $5K from T-Mobile
SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley High School has been selected by T-Mobile as one of the first 450 schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 prize through the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights program — a major initiative investing in high school football communities across America.
The school is one of four high schools from Massachusetts to win the prize so far, and the second from Hampshire County after Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton was a winner during the first week of the program.
South Hadley High is now in the running for a $1 million grand prize. Community engagement is key to winning the grand prize. The more local participation the more it can help elevate the school’s chance to win. More information is available at: www.FridayNight5GLights.com.
Last month, T-Mobile announced year two of its commitment to small-town sports by announcing $4 million in total prizes — including a grand prize football field technology makeover — as part of this nationwide campaign. In total, T-Mobile will award: one, $1 million grand prize for a complete field tech upgrade, a renovated weight room from Gronk Fitness, an all-expense-paid trip to the SEC Championship and more; 25, $25,000 finalist prizes for football programs; and the 450, $5,000 prizes for schools like South Hadley.
Other area schools can still enter. The submission deadline is Sept. 12.
Zonta Golf Tourney to be held in Belchertown
BELCHERTOWN — The 31st annual Zonta Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Cold Spring Country Club, 330 Chauncey Walker St.
All profits from this fundraiser are used for targeted support the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley’s mission to break down barriers and build a brighter future for women and girls.
The cost is $120 per player, and all profits go to support education, awards, grants and projects benefitting women and girls. Check-in starts at 7:30 a.m., and shotgun starts are at 8:30 a.m.
Registration details are available at www.zontaqv.org/golf/, or to register online, visit www.zontaqv.square.site. Questions and forms are available also by calling 413-219-8260 or emailing info@ZontaQV.org.
Zonta’s envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.