■The First Congregational Church of Hatfield, fourth oldest church in the Pioneer Valley, will be celebrating its 300th anniversary with numerous activities this month. It was preceded only by the Old First Church of Springfield, the First Church of Northampton, and its “mother church,” the First Church of Hadley.
■The Rev. Elmo F. Young, administrator of Rockridge at Laurel Park, a new retirement residence under construction on North King Street, is attending a workshop for administrators of Homes for the Aged, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, through Wednesday. With the exterior of the three-story building now completed, it is anticipated that Rockridge will be ready for occupancy early in the new year.
■Born of a political experiment 30 years ago, the now well-established Hampshire Community Action Commission faces an uncertain future, its leaders and advocates say. Its challenge for survival is two-fold: to secure federal grants at a time when federal spending for social programs is in upheaval, and to attack complex issues of poverty in an era of global economies and a shrinking base of low-skilled jobs.
■In hiring its new tax collector, the Northampton City Council last night picked someone familiar with the position: the assistant collector, Joanne Lobdell. Lobdell, 48, replaces Richard F. Newman, who retired Sept. 4 after 17 years in the position.
■Saving the historic Upper Roberts Meadow Dam in Leeds and harnessing its water for a small-scale hydropower plant is not financially feasible, according to a report from Tighe & Bond. Engineers said preserving the 127-year-old dam off Chesterfield Road and paying for ongoing maintenance with proceeds generated by the sale of electricity would result in an unacceptable payback period for the city.
■Amherst Town Manager John Musante began his first week in his new job by informing department heads that he has lofty expectations. Musante told the Select Board that he used a morning department head meeting to tell these employees he wants them to put best practices in place, be highly responsible and use cutting-edge approaches.