SOUTHAMPTON — Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk’s office to those interested in serving in an elected position in town. The deadline for returning a nomination is March 31 by 5 p.m.

Those interested in serving in an elected position may also be nominated at the town caucus with a nomination on the floor.

The positions that will be up for election on the May ballot are moderator, two Select Board seats, almoner, three Board of Assessors seats, a Board of Health seat, cemetery commissioner, two Finance Committee seats, two Housing Authority seats, six Library Trustees seats, a Park Commission seat, a Personnel Policy and Procedure seat, two Planning Board seats, three Hampshire Regional High School Committee seats, tree warden and water commissioner.

Term lengths vary. All community members are encouraged to run.

Church fundraiser dinner ahead of Asheville mission

SOUTHAMPTON — The First Congregational Church of Southampton will host a shepherd’s pie and salad dinner on Wednesday, March 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to support a rebuilding mission in Asheville, North Carolina.

Church member Dave Prova will work with the Fuller Center for Housing Disaster ReBuilders out of Danvers, Massachusetts to provide disaster relief and rebuild for a week in the Black Mountain area in April.

The church has previously done fundraising for Asheville, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene. Previous efforts have included delivering backpacks with blankets, funding a Habitat for Humanity project, collecting thousands of dollars from similar free dinners at the church through donations and free will donations that were sent to Asheville area churches to provide funds for families impacted by the storm.

Another church member, Susan Teece, visited the area around Christmas and said in an email to the Gazette that she “witnessed first hand what was still an area in very dire need of support,” like what Prova and others seek to provide with their upcoming mission.

Donations for sister library in Belize

WESTHAMPTON — A Westhampton Library volunteer recently visited a library in Hopkins, Belize, where librarians expressed that they would appreciate donations of children’s craft supplies such as craft sticks, markers, craft paper and beads. Small card games, educational games and puzzles are also welcome.

Lightweight donations can be brought to the library to be added to the collection box under the book display table.

City to hold pre-application hearing for CDBG grant

EASTHAMPTON — The Planning Department will hold a pre-application hearing on March 25 at 5 p.m. via Google Meet to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant application. This hearing is a required part of the application process and allows community members to provide input on how funds are spent within the city.

The proposed grant application will be filed to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for up to $850,000 in FY2025 CDBG funds. The project being considered for inclusion in this application is the first phase of construction on Emerald Place between Ferry and Lincoln streets, which could include new water lines and drainage, and new street paving along with a shared-use path.

This proposed project is part of a multiyear effort to rehabilitate infrastructure in the New City neighborhood.

The application will be filed by April 14. Those unable to attend the meeting should send questions and comments to jstacy@easthamptonma.gov.

The meeting can be joined at the following address: https://meet.google.com/nzz-jfgx-pcb.