EASTHAMPTON — Three Easthampton farms have been recognized by The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation as recipients of this year’s Local Farmer Awards. Underline Farm, Mountain View Farm and Park Hill Orchard are among the 116 recipients of the community-funded grant initiative, which aims to support farm improvements across western Massachusetts.

The program is now in its 11th year, and has awarded a record amount of almost $268,000 altogether to farmers across the region this year. Each grant awards a farm up to $2,500 for necessary improvements. For example, Underline Farm plans to use the funds for new grain silos.

The majority of these awards has gone to farms in Hampshire and Franklin counties, funding projects ranging from upgraded grain storage and new equipment for livestock farming to technological upgrades.

These grants are awarded in collaboration with Big Y, the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation and a network of local donors.

Senior Center Building Committee applications

EASTHAMPTON — The city is accepting applications for its newly formed Senior Center Building Committee. The committee will work toward the building of a new senior center.

Members will help with years of work related to planning, construction and even operations after the center opens.

This committee has been formed in response to the limitations of the current Senior Center located in the old Post Office on Union Street, as identified by the Easthampton Council on Aging. In collaboration with the UMass Boston Gerontology Institute, the Council on Aging published a planning study on the needs of older adults in the community, and how those needs continue to grow.

A subsequent feasibility study by EDM Architecture and Engineering with Lifespan Design Studio brought to light the limitations of the current facility and encouraged the city to look at other potential sites for a new building, as renovations would likely not be enough to allow the current center to meet community needs.

The new committee will review community input and existing research, evaluate potential locations for the new center, collaborate on design planning, build community awareness and engagement, and help to shape this new community facility.

All interested community members are welcome to apply. The city has stated that those with experience in architecture, engineering, construction, urban planning, public health, social services, aging, community engagement, law and accessibility are encouraged to submit applications.

For a full description of committee roles, contact the mayor’s office or the Council on Aging. Applications can be found and submitted online at easthamptonma.gov, or they can be mailed or hand-delivered to the mayor’s office.

Live sprinkler demo set for Saturday

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris, alongside other Easthampton firefighters and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, will demonstrate how home sprinklers can save lives at an event on Saturday.

The firefighters will show attendees two real fires in simulated home environments, and display how sprinklers combat these crises using their side-by-side sprinkler trailer. The event is being held to kick off Home Fire Sprinkler Week, which runs from May 11-17.

“Changes in building construction mean that today’s residential fires burn faster than ever before,” the city said in an announcement of the event. “Synthetic furnishings release toxic chemical smoke when they burn. As a result, a typical house fire can become deadly in three minutes or less.”

At the event, two common house fires will be set in rooms that are identical except for one difference: one of them has a sprinkler system. The demonstration is meant to show spectators how sprinklers can contain or extinguish fires in their early stages, giving residents more time to get out of the house and protect themselves.

“In Massachusetts, more than 70% of all fire-related injuries and deaths take place at home, yet residential occupancies are the least likely to be protected by fire sprinklers,” the announcement reads. “There has never been a multiple-fatality fire reported in a home with properly installed fire sprinklers.”

The demonstration will begin at 11 a.m. in the Williston Northampton School parking lot at 18 Payson Ave.

Library book and bake sale

SOUTHAMPTON — The Edwards Public Library is hosting a book and bake sale this month. Community members are encouraged to attend and pick up a new read and a sweet treat.

The book sale will be open to the public from 2-4 p.m. on May 16 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 17 at the library. The bake sale will be open from 12-4 p.m. on May 16 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 17.

A Friends of Edwards Public Library members-only preview will occur from 5-7 p.m. on May 15 and from 12-2 p.m. on May 16.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.