City Arts fundraiser set for Sunday

EASTHAMPTON — This weekend, community members are invited to enjoy good food, good company and live music in support of public art.

This year’s Easthampton City Arts Have a Heart for Public Art fundraiser brunch will take place on Sunday at Galaxy. All proceeds will support Easthampton City Arts’ public art endeavors, whether it means maintaining public murals and sculptures or bringing new art to Easthampton’s streets.

Last year’s brunch helped to raise $5,000 toward the restoration of a mural of Nashawannuck Pond wildlife on Pine Street, created by Peggy Grose in 2010.

The all-you-can-eat brunch will provide vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and a cash bar. It will also feature music by jazz pianist Jim Argiro and local jazz vocalists, a silent auction of local items, and some Easthampton City Arts memorabilia to commemorate its 20th anniversary.

Tickets can be purchased at easthamptoncityarts.com. There are two arrival times for the event — 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. — but guests are welcome to stay for the entirety of the event.

Sewer overflow to Paradise Pond in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — The city of Northampton announced that early Tuesday, sanitary sewer running off College Lane became partially blocked by grease and as a result overflowed and discharged into Paradise Pond.

The discharge consisted of waste that had not been treated prior to release and is estimated at less than 500 gallons. The overflow has since been resolved and there is no further discharge.

The city urges the public to avoid Paradise Pond and downstream areas of the Mill River for 48 hours.

Irish flag-raising Saturday in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — The Hibernians of Hampden/Hampshire Counties will hold their annual Irish Flag Raising ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Holyoke City Hall to celebrate Irish American Heritage Month. Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and Holyoke city officials will be in attendance.

Hibernian President Joe O’Connor will preside as master of ceremonies. Other dignitaries will include Holyoke 2025 St. Patrick’s Parade Committee Parade President John Beaulieu and Parade Grand Marshal James Lavelle; Barbara Twohig, president of the Massachusetts State Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians; Mary Kate O’Connor, president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 2, and President Sean Cahillane of the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England.

Piper Matt O’Connor will play the pipes at the event and Sheila Moreau will sing the American and Irish National Anthems.

Auto dealer joins HCC fundraising campaign

HOLYOKE — For the fifth year in a row, auto dealer Gary Rome is partnering with the HCC Foundation for a one-day campaign to raise money for student support programs and academic resources at Holyoke Community College.

The annual “Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives” campaign is set for Tuesday, March 4, and will run for 24 hours, from 12:01 a.m. to midnight. With a goal of 500 donors and $230,000, this year’s success would put the campaign’s six-year cumulative support total above $1 million.

Donations can be made through a secure portal on the HCC website: hcc.edu/drive

The goal of the campaign is to raise money for six areas that directly support HCC students: academic excellence and innovation; scholarships; the Thrive Student Resource Center and Food Pantry; the President’s Student Emergency Fund; the President’s Fund for Opportunity and the HCC Foundation’s general, unrestricted fund.

One of the key partners in the HCC campaign is Rome, an HCC Foundation board member and owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke. Rome has pledged to donate $5,000 when 125 people donate to the campaign and add the comment “#TogetherHCC” to the dealership’s Facebook campaign post on March 4.

Additionally, longtime HCC supporters Peg Wendlandt ’58 and her husband Gary Wendlandt will provide $100,000 in challenge gifts throughout the day. Altogether, the one-day campaign has the potential to unlock more than $125,000 in matching donations.