Civic dialogue workshop to take place in Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — A free workshop titled “Challenging Conversations: Turning Arguments into Discussions” aims to build skills to help prevent tense conversations about hot-button local issues from escalating into arguments, and worse, contempt.
Scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at College Church, 58 Pomeroy Terrace, Northampton, the workshop will cover how to disagree without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping; how to listen to understand, not to persuade; and how to speak in ways that others will hear.
The workshop will be moderated by Braver Angels in Western Mass as part of a national initiative to work across divides, build civic trust, and find common-ground solutions to local problems.
Workshop sponsors include College Church, Edwards Church, First Churches, Unitarian Society of Northampton & Florence, Congregation B’nai Israel, Beit Ahavah, Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts, and Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership.
The workshop is limited to 50 participants. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/
HCC running two-part retirement planning class
HOLYOKE – Financial adviser Jack Yuan, senior managing director of Charter Oak Financial in Holyoke, will lead a two-part noncredit class in retirement planning at Holyoke Community College later this month.
The class meets on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 6-9 p.m. at the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.
In this comprehensive retirement planning course, attendees will learn strategies on how to: create personal goals for a successful retirement; plan their retirement income to preserve a comfortable standard of living; transfer the risk of potential losses before and during retirement; remain financially flexible during retirement; and reduce or eliminate taxes, expenses, delays and legal challenges with estate planning.
The $75 program fee includes a text/reference guide, a personal financial fact finder, and a free second seat for an additional adult household member.
Before joining Charter Oak Financial in 2019, Yuan spent 14 years at MassMutual in various capacities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master’s degree in business administration from Western New England University.
To register, please go to: hcc.edu/retirement.
Two join Dollars for Scholars board in Northampton
Northampton Dollars for Scholars has appointed two new members to its doard of directors — Connor Touhey of Florence and Jennifer Gottlieb of Northampton.
Touhey is the community engagement coordinator at Look Memorial Park, a role he has held since January. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in May 2024 before spending a year serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Cleveland, Ohio. Following his year of service, Touhey returned to western Massachusetts and joined the team at Look Park.
Gottlieb grew up in Northampton and returned 20 years ago with her husband to raise a family of their own. She and her two children are all graduates of Northampton High School and recipients of Dollars for Scholars scholarships.
After earning a degree in journalism from Lehigh University, Gottlieb began her career in Washington, D.C., where she directed communications for Americans for the Arts, a national arts advocacy and membership organization. In 1999, she launched her own business doing brand strategy and writing for nonprofits, schools and startups.
Since its inception in 1974, Northampton Dollars for Scholars, an all-volunteer organization, has awarded over $2.3 million in scholarships to more than 4,400 students from Northampton, Florence and Leeds in their pursuit of a post-secondary education. At last May’s annual Awards Ceremony at Northampton High School, 168 students received Dollars for Scholars scholarships, all from funds donated by local individuals, families, and businesses. To learn more, visit northampton.dollarsforscholars.org/.
S. Hadley’s Know Your Town forum on ballot questions
SOUTH HADLEY — Know Your Town will host a forum on the nine statewide ballot questions on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. in the large Community Room at the Council on Aging.
Speakers for and against most of the questions will present, some joining virtually. Know Your Town member Ira Brezinsky will moderate.
Cider will be provided, and attendees are invited to bring cookies or cookie bars, homemade or store-bought, for the refreshments table.