Slavery North to host book launch for ‘Joe the Pressman’
AMHERST — The Slavery North Initiative at UMass Amherst will host a book launch for “Joe the Pressman: The Incredible True Story of an Enslaved African Boy Who Became a Heroic Freedom Fighter,” on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at its offices on campus at 472 N. Pleasant St.
Authored by Charmaine A. Nelson, founding director of Slavery North and provost professor of art history at UMass Amherst, the children’s book explores the history of slavery in Canada.
“Joe the Pressman” recounts the life of an African boy enslaved in the Caribbean, Philadelphia and Quebec City, where he worked as a pressman for the Quebec Gazette. Historical records document his repeated escape attempts and resistance to enslavement.
Nelson’s nine previous books include “The Color of Stone” (2007) and “The Precariousness of Freedom” (2024). She has delivered over 340 lectures and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Copies of the new book will be available for purchase at the launch. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
More information about the Slavery North Initiative can be found at slaverynorth.com.
State opens reservations for camping season at DCR Parks
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will open reservations for the 2026 state park camping season on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m. Camping season at DCR’s 25 campgrounds will begin in April and continue through October.
Campers should note the following prior to booking a reservation: Reservations are available up to four months in advance of arrival; same-day reservations are available until 2 p.m. daily through ReserveAmerica; campers should fill out all required fields of the reservation application at the time of booking to ensure a smooth arrival; visitors without a reservation are not allowed in campsites; however, day-use areas are available for gathering and outdoor activities; and all pets must have physical proof of valid rabies vaccination. Entry may be denied at check-in if paper verification cannot be provided.
A list of DCR campsites can be found at DCR’s camping webpage. Campsites vary in offered accommodations, including showers, flush toilets, and R.V. water and power hook-ups. About 20 of DCR’s campgrounds have accessible campsites that all provide accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and a flat, firm and stable surface for camping. For more information on accessible campsites visit DCR’s accessible camping webpage.
Last year, DCR accepted nearly 65,000 camping reservations at parks across the state. For more information and questions about the 2026 camping season, visit the agency’s website or email dcr.campinginfo@mass.gov.
MLK Day food drive collects 4,600-plus pounds of food
AMHERST — State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, announced last week that the second annual MLK Day community food drive resulted in 4,672 pounds of food donated to the
Amherst Survival Center by residents of Amherst and neighboring towns.
Led by Reps. Aaron Saunders, D-Belchertown, and Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow, Belchertown participated in the drive this year and collected 1,654 pounds of food. These donations joined the generosity of participants including Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, the town of Amherst, Wildwood Elementary School, residents of Applewood at Amherst, the Sunderland Human Rights Committee and Friends, and the Sunderland Woman’s Club.
Domb extends her gratitude to all who donated and the volunteer team at the Amherst Survival Center for sorting and processing these donations. The center serves more than 10,000 people annually, and offers services such as a food pantry, daily community meals, fresh food distribution, showers, lockers, information and referrals for other community agencies, and a variety of other services.
For more information on food assistance available to the residents of the 3rd Hampshire district, visit https://repmindydomb.com/freefood/.
St. Patrick’s Committee picks grand colleen
HOLYOKE — More than 350 guests filled the Log Cabin Saturday evening for the annual Grand Colleen Coronation Ball and Awards Night, a signature celebration marking the start of Holyoke’s St. Patrick’s season. The event honored several distinguished community members and culminated in the crowning of Jadyn Lois Christie, of South Hadley, as the 2026 Grand Colleen.
This year’s award recipients also included the following awards: Citizenship Award: The Miracle League of Western Massachusetts; Thomas F. Rohan Award: Tessa Murphy‑Romboletti; George E. O’Connell Award: DJ O’Connor; and Daniel J. Gallivan Award: James Menard.
The 2026 Colleen contestants, presented in order of appearance, were: Olivia Rose Royland, 20 (Holyoke); Bridie Bowler, 22 (Holyoke); Jadyn Lois Christie, 19 (South Hadley); Paige Brady Leahy, 19 (Holyoke); and Anna Mary Evans, 22 (Holyoke).
All contestants answered the judges’ question: “Resilience, faith, family, and community have long defined Irish heritage in Holyoke. Which of these values would you carry forward most strongly as Grand Colleen and why?”
Parade President Jim Wildman, 2026 Grand Marshal Michael J. Moriarty, and 2025 Grand Colleen Moira Reardon had the honor of crowning Christie as the 2026 Grand Colleen.