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HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

JULY 9, 2026 | FREE

Parties in the Park returns to Northampton

By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com

NORTHAMPTON — The city’s free Parties in the Park weekly outdoor DJ series is returning with its 2026 lineup and is set to kick off July 8 for another summer of good fun and music in downtown Northampton.

The event is hosted by the Northampton Arts Council and the city of Northampton. Every Wednesday from July 8 to Aug. 26, the series will run from 6-9 p.m. at Pulaski Park, featuring a vibrant, open-air dance floor celebrating community, music and the cultural viability of the city’s downtown.

The 2026 season is set to feature an eclectic, rotating cast of premier regional DJs spinning everything from reggae and global beats to classic soul, rare grooves and disco.

“Parties in the Park is more than just a dance party — it’s a weekly celebration of community and creativity in the heart of our downtown,” said Brian Foote, director of Arts and Culture. “We invite everyone to come down early, support our local downtown businesses, grab some dinner, and enjoy the incredible energy under the summer sky.”

The 2026 lineup is set to feature:

• July 8: DeeJay Theory

July 15: Studebaker Hawk

• July 22: DJ Trends

• July 29: Apel Beats

• Aug. 5: DJ Donuts

• Aug. 12: Iosnua (with Quills)

• Aug. 19: Wooly Bully

• Aug. 26: Malik Abdul-Rahmaan

Foote told Reminder Publishing that the goal behind Parties in the Park is to activate the beautiful shared public spaces in downtown Northampton. He added that the event also aims to create an open, accessible and high-energy environment where the community can gather and connect with one another while letting loose to some good music and good vibes.

“By bringing free music and open-air dancing directly into the heart of downtown, we wanted to celebrate the cultural vitality of Northampton while offering an entirely free, multi-generational space for everyone to enjoy,” said Foote.

Russell Caldwell, a local favorite, will serve as host and bring his well-known infectious energy to the park, Foote said.

“What makes him such a fantastic host is his innate ability to connect with a crowd, read the physical energy of the space, and keep the vibe universally welcoming, casual and fun for all ages. He sets the perfect tone for our fantastic, rotating cast of regional DJs,” said Foote.

The high-energy event fits right in with other summer series set downtown throughout the season like the Salsa in the Park series and Bands on Brewster, an intentional effort from Foote and the city to build on the cultural impact downtown has on the community.

“Parties in the Park functions as a key pillar in a broader, intentional effort by the Arts Council and the city to keep downtown vibrant and alive almost every

night of the week during summer,” added Foote. “While we have Salsa in the Plaza on Mondays and Bands on Brewster on Thursdays, Wednesdays belong completely to Parties in the Park at Pulaski Park. Our ultimate goal in programming these diverse weekly series — ranging from live acoustic bands and Latin dance to cinema and electronic DJ sets — is to ensure that there is always a creative heartbeat downtown. We’ve seen an incredible impact on overall community morale; these events transform downtown into the city’s shared ‘living room,’ bringing immense joy, boosting foot traffic for local businesses and giving residents a weekly ritual to look forward to.”

All performances are weather-dependent. In the event of inclement weather, a cancellation or postponement notice will be posted by 10 a.m. on the day of the event via Instagram (@nohoarts) and on the City of

Northampton’s official Facebook and Instagram pages. Parties in the Park is presented by the city through its Economic Development Department, with organizational support from Northampton Arts Inc., and funding in part from the Mass Cultural Council, Greenfield Savings Bank and Monadnock Community Investments. For more information, visit www. northamptonartscouncil.org or contact the Arts Council office at arts@northamptonma.gov.

“Our expectations for the summer ahead are sky-high. After seeing how much people love coming together in Pulaski Park, we anticipate great crowds and a lot of high-energy Wednesday nights,” said Foote. “Beyond just being a dance party, this event brings a vital sense of shared ownership and cultural celebration to Northampton. It proves that public spaces are at their best when filled with art, music and people.”

EASTHAMPTON Arts in the Park series to return this summer

Pulaski Park will again be the site of Parties in the Park. Reminder Publishing file photo

Western Mass. is lacking programs to help trafficking victims

By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com

Not every childhood is the same. From the age of 3 until she was 13 years old, Talia, who did not want her last name used for privacy reasons, was trafficked for sex in the Baltimore area. Her trafficker was the one person who was supposed to protect her — her mother. Talia’s mother was addicted to narcotics and would trade her daughter for drugs or the money to buy them.

“I remember smells, sounds. I remember a lot of it,” she said.

As Talia got older, she would spend as much time as possible at friends’ houses. Referring to her mother, she said, “She just kind of left me alone.”

She added, “No one stepped in and saved me or anything like that.” The trafficking eventually ended because her mother died from an overdose.

Talia did not tell anyone about her experience until she was in her 20s. Even then, while she

recognized that she was abused, she didn’t realize it was human trafficking.

“A lot of kids don’t think of themselves as being trafficked. It’s shameful. It’s embarrassing. It’s a really big stigma,” she said, adding that victims think, “Maybe you shouldn’t have been in that park or maybe you shouldn’t have been online.”

Talia is now the director of the RFK Community Alliance Human Trafficking Legacy Program in Pittsfield. She works with girls and boys whose experiences run the full spectrum of trafficking. “A lot of the kids I work with now, it’s somebody they know. In Hampden County, it’s more gang-related,” Talia said. The internet has increased the prevalence of trafficking, she said, and traffickers often reach out through gaming platforms.

“Take time to talk to your kids about internet safety,” Talia urged parents. “I want people to not be embarrassed to say, ‘My

kid’s talking to an 18-year-old on the internet.’”

RFK Community Alliance offers programs for at-risk youth in several locations from Boston to the Berkshires, but the Pittsfield location is the only site that specifically addresses the needs of formerly trafficked youth.

“In Western Mass., there’s not a ton of services. There are more in the more-populated places,” Talia said.

Margaret Tantillo is the executive director of the O’Dell Women’s Center in Springfield. The agency does not provide direct services, but funds grants and offers space to organizations that address women’s needs.

“We definitely abhor the sex trafficking of women and girls. We do try to connect them with resources,” Tantillo said. However, funding for those resources in Western Massachusetts has dwindled. “This is, unfortunately, more and more what we’re seeing. We’ve talked about

the cuts but now we’re seeing it firsthand.”

The YWCA of Western Massachusetts operated a program for people who had been trafficked but, but it was unable to continue due to funding. While operating, the program helped more than 50 women who had been trafficked for sex, labor or a combination of the two. Men are also trafficked, with 15% of trafficking victims identifying as men.

Some programs, such as those for domestic violence, may offer resources that overlap with those for trafficking. “Second chances and not victim blaming is huge,” Talia said. She added that one of the most important ways to help a child who is being trafficked is to “have one trusted adult. I know it sounds corny, but it helps.”

The following are some of the resources available to trafficked people in the Pioneer Valley:

• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, text

“HELP” or “INFO” to 233733, Available 24/7, Humantraffickinghotline.org

• Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts: 413737-2601, info@jfswm.org or jfswm.org/trafficking-victims-assistance-program

• Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County: 24 Hour Hotline: 800-792-5200, 593 Elm St., Northampton, 413-570-5989, kmcelhone@ cachampshire.com, cachampshire.org

• Baystate Family Advocacy Center: 413-794-9816, 300 Carew St., Springfield, baystatehealth.org/fac Safe Passage: 413-586-1125, 75 Carlon Drive, Northampton, Safepass.org Salvation Army of Massachusetts: 413-733-1518, 170 Pearl St., Springfield, salvationarmyusa.org/usa-eastern-territory/massachusetts/ human-trafficking

Arts Council announces 15 recipients of ArtsEZ micro-grants

By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Arts Council has announced the recipients of its latest round of ArtsEZ micro-grants, including 15 projects that span theater, music, dance, visual arts and multidisciplinary community collaborations. According to the city, every project will receive a $500 direct grant to support creative work. The micro-grants are designed to provide direct, flexible funding to local creators, ensuring that vibrant cultural experiences remain accessible to everyone in the Northampton community. From intergenerational storytelling to public street theater and inclusive art-making workshops, this year’s grantees reflect the depth and diversity of the local creative

economy, according to the city.

“We’re incredibly proud to support these 15 diverse projects,” said Director of Arts and Culture Brian Foote. “These grants represent a direct investment in the artists, performers, and grassroots organizations that keep Northampton’s cultural landscape so uniquely vibrant, dynamic and inclusive.”

The Arts Council introduced the micro-grant model this year in an effort to decrease barriers to entry for local creators. Foote told Reminder Publishing earlier this year that following last year’s grant cycle, the council received feedback from artists who highlighted the importance of the council’s endorsement and how it leverages further support and credibility. The feedback motivated the council to find the

best ways of connecting local artists with community funding for artists’ work.

“By restructuring the pool into 15 $500 flat-rate grants, we aren’t just trying to be ‘efficient’ — we are intentionally breaking down those barriers. We found that our official endorsement and validation as an Arts Council often carries immense weight, allowing artists to leverage this initial $500 to secure further support and credibility down the line,” said Foote. “It allows us to spread a wide, equitable safety net and actively invest in the ‘seedlings’ of our local culture, ensuring funding isn’t just concentrated among a few large, established organizations.”

The city has a unique history in community arts funding, as the Northampton Arts Council

was the first local cultural council in the state to raise independent funds to offer a second round of community funding every spring. While the council’s fall funding relies on state allocations, the ArtsEZ round is entirely locally funded, powered directly by the proceeds from their signature community events like First Night Northampton, the Silver Chord Bowl and Transformance.

“Over the years, this funding avenue has served as a vital launchpad. For many individual creators and grassroots groups, an ArtsEZ grant is often the very first professional funding they receive. It provides the initial seed money to cover materials, venue rentals, or artist fees, giving local projects the visibility they need to establish roots in Northampton, Florence and Leeds,” said Foote. He added, “From the Arts Council perspective, this initiative is essential for validating the incredible work happening right here at the grassroots level. It tells our local creators that their work is seen, valued, and critical to the fabric of our city. When artists feel supported by their community, it generates a massive boost in collective morale. It fosters an

environment where people feel safe taking creative risks. It also expands opportunities by actively prioritizing accessibility, pushing for projects that happen in accessible spaces and offer free or discounted admission so that everyone can participate.”

Awardees of this latest round of funding include Jay Sefton, Trudy Williams, and Mykell Walton in Theater and Performance; Joey Baron, Carolyn Abbe Smith and Edo Mor in Music; Tori Lawrence, Mikayla Archambeau and Francesca Baron in Dance; Courtney Fappiano and Gayla Berry in Visual Arts; and A.C. Weaver, Kiran Jandu, Kimberly A. Keough and Diane Procella in Multidisciplinary Arts & Community Alliances.

The full list, along with more information about each artist’s projects are available at www. northamptonartscouncil.org/ news/northampton-arts-council-announces-2026-artsez-micro-grant-recipients.

“This batch of applicants was incredibly inspiring because of its sheer diversity and deep commitment to community connec

Arts in the Park concert series to return this summer

By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com

EASTHAMPTON — The Arts in the Park Summer Concert Series will return Friday, July 10 with more summer evenings where the community can gather, enjoy the weather and take in a variety of music from local performers.

All shows will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. every Friday until Aug. 21 at Nonotuck Park on Daley Field. This year’s lineup will feature — in order of schedule — performances by Hard Knox, Jimmy Mazz, Colony Motel, the Heritage Pops Orchestra, Vaso Worship, Soiree of Western MA and Soular Eclipse.

Organized through the Easthampton Parks & Recreation Department and community partners, all shows are free and family friendly. Attendees are encouraged to bring their

own blanket, chairs, snacks or a whole picnic when they come to experience the local live music and summer weather.

Parks & Recreation Department Director John Mason told Reminder Publishing that the beloved community summer concert series has lasted for more than three decades because of its family-friendly environment and for the fact that it’s free.

“To try and provide a community-based free event for families to come out and enjoy some music has always been the intent, and to have a diverse selection of music and try to get as many folks interested in local musicians as well as spotlighting some of our local talent in the region,” Mason said. “I think the benefits for our community is certainly that this is free for them to come out. We definitely couldn’t do it with-

Lomelda, Plume

EASTHAMPTON — CityS -

pace welcomes Lomelda, joined by Plume Girl and Home Baker, for an evening of collaborative new music in the Blue Room at Old Town Hall on Friday, July 17. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at CitySpaceEasthampton.org on a $20 to $30 sliding scale.

The concert celebrates the release of “Everyday I Weave on the Great Loom,” a new recording by Plume Girl and Home Baker.

Designed in the spirit of the

album itself, the performance will feature selections from its Voice and Wind sections, alongside new music by Lomelda performed collaboratively by all three artists.

Rooted in friendship, trust, and years of creative exchange, the evening highlights the deep connections that have shaped each artist’s work.

Lomelda is the long-running songwriting project of Texas-born musician Hannah Read. Since its beginnings nearly two decades ago, Lomelda has earned acclaim for intimate,

out community support and sponsors and donations to help us fund this. It’s important that those folks who do support it get recognized because, like I said, we could not fund it ourselves. We need the community to get involved and they certainly do.”

Local sponsors of this year’s Arts in the Park Summer Concert Series include the Helping Hand Society, Easthampton Savings Bank, Greenfield Savings Bank, Easthampton Police Association, Whitely Electric, Graham Funeral Home, Canon Landscape Architect, Canon Real Estate, Finck & Perras Insurance, Fleury Lumber, Florence Bank, Taylor Real Estate and Big E’s.

Mason explained that this year’s Arts in the Park summer concert series will take place on Daley Field inside of Nonotuck

emotionally resonant songs that explore connection, vulnerability, and human relationships. Read’s acclaimed releases include “Hannah” (2020), “M for Empathy” (2019), “Thx” (2017), and “4E” (2016), with a new album expected in 2027. Plume Girl is the experimental music project of singer, dancer, and performer Sowmya Somanath. Drawing from Indian classical music and dance traditions alongside ambient folk, experimental pop, and musique concrète, her work explores sound,

improvisation, and the emotional landscapes of love, mortality and spirituality. Her recent releases include In the “End We Begin” (2023) and “Unnameable Glory” (2025). Home Baker is the project of Walter Nichols, whose music reflects the quiet rhythms of everyday life. Combining synthesizers, wind instruments and field recordings, Nichols creates contemplative soundscapes informed by his work operating a sourdough bakery and his fascination with the beauty of ordinary moments.

Jimmy Mazz is one of the acts set

at the Arts in the Park Summer Concert Series.

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Executive Editor: Chris Maza

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Staff Writers: Sarah Heinonen, Deb Gardner, Amy Porter, Trent Levakis, Cliff Clark, Tyler Garnet, Peter Tuohy

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NORTHAMPTON

DC Station offering workshop on EVs

By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com

NORTHAMPTON — Ten months after opening DC Station at 5 Fulton Ave., owner Bruce Volz wants people to know that the EV hub is not only a place for charging, but also education.

To accomplish this effort, DC Station will host a free workshop on buying or leasing EVs on July 11 from 1-2 p.m. inside the station building.

With hundreds of thousands of EVs coming off lease this summer, and as state incentives approach $6,000 in cash, Volz and EV Basecamp Team member Greg Goff said that now may be the perfect time to purchase an EV.

The EV Basecamp exists inside the station office space and is the hub for workshops, orientations, and other educational opportunities around EVs, according to Goff.

“What I was hearing from my clients is that there was a need for more information [on EVs]. When people come to me asking about a different car they want to get, they’re almost always EV curious. I’d say over 90% of new customers. It doesn’t mean they all end up in an EV, but they want to know about it. The more I learned about how much people wanted to know, the more I learned about how much misinformation was out there,” Goff explained.

He said that many don’t realize the full capabilities of EVs after purchasing, and those without an EV are often in the dark when it comes to the incentives and value from purchasing an EV. The switch from internal combustion engine cars to EVs is a financially efficient option, according to Goff. The goal is for this upcoming workshop to help spread education on what’s possible in purchasing or financing an EV

“The deals now are kind of no-brainers if you can wrap your head around what it’s like to live with an EV day to day, and that’s I think the other thing, is really trying to get into people’s head that this is not just a couple of things you need to learn, it’s a lifestyle change going to an EV.

It’s a different way of thinking about how you use your transportation and having workshops where people can just come in

Park to avoid the construction of the new skate park at Millside Park, which has been home to the concert series for the last 17 years. Before that, the series took place at Pulaski Park.

“This year, we didn’t want to cancel the series because it’s an

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tion. We have everything from site-specific contemporary dance

and ask questions and not having to search all over,” he added.

At the upcoming workshop, people will discover the ins and outs of financing and leasing electric vehicles, plus tips on how to save money in the long term, and what money is available to install a home charger. While this is a free event, Goff and Volz said that they hope to eventually find more partnerships with EV dealers. Just recently, the station hosted a “demo-day” with Rivian Automotive, an American EV manufacturer, where the dealer showcased and demonstrated some of its offerings to charging station users throughout the day.

“We’re in a neutral place. These cars, we don’t own them. I don’t care if you buy them or not, but they are here so you can try them out without a salesperson asking you when you’re going to buy it, or asking what do I need to do to get you to do this today? Having that zero-pressure, information-only space, I think, is really important for people who are curious about it,” Goff said.

Volz added, “We want to work with dealers because the goal is to get more EVs on the road, so we developed this dealer partnership program that we are starting

to approach dealers about, which we think is beneficial to everybody involved … what we’re presenting to them is that we would do the orientation for a fee. They sell the car, they [the buyer] come here, and Greg spends an hour with them going through the vehicle, all the apps, charging info, so all the things that’s important about your vehicle and the EV world in general, Greg would go through in that hour.”

Goff said the workshop will offer up-to-date information in an industry where advancement continues to happen at a rapid pace.

“We figure that it could save people a lot of frustration because you’re basically buying a computer on wheels, and there is stuff to learn to make your life easier if you do it and understand what you’re doing,” said Volz.

Goff shared that he hopes those interested come out to the workshop on July 11 and are eager to learn about the pros around leasing an EV versus a traditional car.

Since it opened, the station — named DC for Direct Current — has offered 10 fast, level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles and has space for two different businesses to open.

The space also offers users

event that gets a couple hundred to 500-600 people for a big show, and we have the infrastructure here on Daley Field to provide the concert series,” Mason added. “I think once again we’ve put together a wide variety of music for folks, and they’ll enjoy the show whether it’s their type of music or not. It’s showcasing the talent that’s out there which is important.”

in public libraries and intergenerational creative writing to largescale public street theater and inclusive printmaking workshops designed specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Foote.

Mason said that every year, he and his team of organizers are proud to offer a family-friendly and free community event that also helps bring the spotlight to some local talent. He shared that this year’s series will once again accomplish that.

a place to grab coffee or a meal while waiting for their charge. Currently, a coffee/convenience store style business is working on securing one of the spaces, while Volz is looking for an interested business for the other space. Both spaces in the building for businesses are 1,400-square feet. For more information about filling an application for business space available at DC Station or general information, email info@ thedcstation.com or visit https:// thedcstation.com.

Those interested in attending the workshop can sign up by visiting https://EVBasecamp.com.

Volz said he hopes to see the public take advantage of the event and future educational offerings from the station.

“We started this because we believe in EVs,” said Volz. “I think even though it’s a slow start and politically things are much different than when we started, all the original issues about climate change and global warming and wanting to be more sustainable, all those factors are still relevant today, even though they don’t have the same level of discussion. EVs are something that people can do to kind of respond to those concerns.”

“The ability to put something on for the community at no cost is really important to us. Our philosophy around here is to try and do as much as we can for the community at a reduced cost or free, between our Harvest Fest that we have in October, the Rag Shag, Arts in the Park,” Mason said. “Providing these types of events for families to come out and enjoy is our mantra, so we’re happy to continue that.”

“What stands out most is how these projects place community dialogue and inclusivity at their center. From an artist’s perspective, an opportunity like this goes a long way because it provides upfront, flexible funding right

Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.

Carol Joyce Gotwals

WORTHINGTON

Jacob J. Brady

Blake Dorian Fill

when they need it most, giving them the momentum to bring a vision to life over the next year.”

For more information about upcoming events, grant cycles or how to support local public art initiatives, visit www.northamptonartscouncil.org.

“For our team, it is incredibly rewarding,” said Foote on what it means to be able to offer these microgrants. “The ecosystem we work to maintain is vital because it sustains the independent, vibrant spirit that defines Northampton. Being able to hand over direct, flexible funding to 15 exceptional creators – knowing that these projects will directly enrich our public spaces, sidewalks, libraries, and stages – is exactly why we do this work. It keeps our cultural landscape dynamic, inclusive and uniquely our own.”

EMAIL YOUR

A shot of a DC charging station.

Reminder Publishing file photo

DINING ENTERTAINMENT

Panel discussion to follow autobiographical play about clergy abuse

By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com

NORTHAMPTON — This July, Easthampton resident Jay Sefton will stage a production of his one-person show “Unreconciled” at the Academy of Music in Northampton.

The play, about the sexual abuse Sefton experienced as a child at the hands of a priest, will be followed by a panel discussion with renowned author, researcher and educator in the field of trauma treatment, Bessel van der Kolk.

“It was really born out of political things that happened in 2021,” Sefton explained. Several times before then, the state legislature in Pennsylvania — where Sefton is from — had considered a constitutional amendment creating a two-year lookback window in the statute of limitations for adults who had experienced child sexual abuse. Sefton said that in 2021, the amendment was as close as it had ever been to being passed.

“I really thought it was going to happen this time,” Sefton said. “When it didn’t, I didn’t know what else to do. I was filled with rage.”

Sefton started writing about his experiences. It began almost as a thought experiment, akin to one writing a letter they never mean to send to someone who wronged them.

“I was in that mindset, ‘I don’t have to perform it.,” he said, explaining he told himself, “There’s a chance nothing will happen with this.”

When the opportunity arose to workshop the play at the Chester Theatre Company, Sefton said he experienced hesitation. It would not be the last time. At each level of the play’s production — when it was first staged, when he performed it at a bar down the street from where the abuse happened in Philadelphia — he encountered another moment of hesitation.

“It’s rather hard to get people to come see a one-person show about clergy abuse, surprisingly,” Sefton said with a chuckle. “I thought no one would want to see it.” But he pushed forward. Unexpectedly, he said, “It started to not become mine.” At the discussion he holds after each performance, people began voicing their own experiences of abuse, some for the first time.

After a production he staged on Cape Cod, a psychologist who was friends with van der Kolk approached him. Van der Kolk is the author of the 2014 book, “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma,” a popular book about how trauma reshapes the body and brain. The author lives in the Berkshires and after meeting with Sefton, agreed to join him for the discussion panel after the

July 25 show.

Sefton said he no longer feels hesitant about the play. “What was born in rage has become a joy,” he said. “I enjoy performing it ... The play doesn’t feel like I’m screaming into the void anymore. It feels more profound than anything else I’ve done on stage.”

Reflecting on what he wants people to take away from “Unreconciled,” Sefton said he wants them to have a full theatrical experience, filled with a wide array of emotions. “I would like survivors to feel heard and seen, if that’s possible,” he said. Sefton also wants people to be moved to urge their legislators to support legal mechanisms that provide an opportunity for adult survivors of child sex abuse to have their day in court.

In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, bill H.1829 would eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases. Current law provides a limit of 35 years to bring a civil suit for child sexual abuse “or within 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was cause.” Sefton said that in the case of clergy abuse, the Catholic church lobbies legislators to protect their institutions.

Sefton said, “It’s not good for survivors. It’s not good for

communities.”

Having performed the play at venues around Western Massachusetts, Sefton said the Academy of Music show will likely be

the last time the play will run in the area. Sefton said he is going to perform in England and Ireland in the fall. After that, the play will run off Broadway.

Lomelda, Plume Girl, Home Baker celebrate new music at CitySpace

EASTHAMPTON — CitySpace

welcomes Lomelda, joined by Plume Girl and Home Baker, for an evening of collaborative new music in the Blue Room at Old Town Hall on Friday, July 17.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m.

The concert celebrates the release of “Everyday I Weave on the Great Loom,” a new recording by Plume Girl and Home Baker. Designed in the spirit of

the album itself, the performance will feature selections from its “Voice and Wind” sections, alongside new music by Lomelda performed collaboratively by all three artists. Rooted in friendship, trust and years of creative exchange, the evening highlights the deep connections that have shaped each artist’s work.

Lomelda is the long-running songwriting project of Texas-born musician Hannah Read.

Since its beginnings nearly two decades ago, Lomelda has earned acclaim for intimate, emotionally resonant songs that explore connection, vulnerability and human relationships. Read’s acclaimed releases include “Hannah” in 2020, “M for Empathy” in 2019, “Thx” two years earlier and and “4E” in 2016. A new album is expected in 2027.

Plume Girl is the experimental music project of singer,

dancer, and performer Sowmya Somanath. Drawing from Indian classical music and dance traditions alongside ambient folk, experimental pop, and musique concrète, her work explores sound, improvisation, and the emotional landscapes of love, mortality and spirituality. Her recent releases include “In the End We Begin” in 2023 and 2025’s “Unnameable Glory.”

Home Baker is the project

of Walter Nichols, whose music reflects the quiet rhythms of everyday life. Combining synthesizers, wind instruments, and field recordings, Nichols creates contemplative soundscapes informed by his work operating a sourdough bakery and his fascination with the beauty of ordinary moments.

Ticket prices are $20–$30 and are available at CitySpaceEasthampton.org.

PPH Museum’s Wednesday Fold Traditions to welcome Tim Eriksen

HADLEY — The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum continues its 45th season of Wednesday Folk Traditions on Wednesday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m. with the return of Grammy-nominated ethnomusicologist, experimentalist and legend in folk music, Tim Eriksen. His music ranges from the heartbreaking to the rollicking, weaving a tapestry of shape note hymns, ballads, traditional fiddle and banjo, Balkan love songs and striking originals. Concerts are held Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Sunken Garden. Admission is $12, $2 for children 16 and under. Picnickers are welcome on the museum’s grounds starting at 5 p.m. The museum and its grounds are a smoke-free site. Tim Eriksen’s music springs from fierce curiosity and radical exploration, and he is best known as a pioneer of postpunk American folksong. He received a PhD in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in 2015 and has published related work on early New England music in connection with 19th-century Abolitionism, apocalyptic religion, technology and the birth of science fiction. He has crafted his own distinctive, hardcore Americana sound that combines thrilling vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bajo sexto — a Mexican acoustic bass. Using this sound, Eriksen has

transformed the American folk tradition with his unmatched interpretations of love songs, ballads, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from both New England and Southern Appalachia. His own compositions, dubbed “strange and original works” by NetRythems UK, have been featured in numerous films, including the 2004 Oscar-winning film “Cold Mountain,” directed by Anthony Mingella. Eriksen has worked with legendary producers such as T-Bone Burnett, Joe Boyd and Steve Albini, and several of his songs have been covered by folk innovators such as Alison Krauss and Joan Baez. He is the only musician to have performed with both Kurt Cobain and Doc Watson. Along with his extensive performance career, Eriksen is a prolific educator: he has taught multiple courses on songwriting and music history at Dartmouth College, Amherst College, Smith College and others. He regularly appears at festivals, museums, art centers and universities all over America and across Europe to teach workshops on American music history, shape-note harmony, and ballad singing, and instrumental accompaniment.

Nicole Kidman, Elvis Costello, and Sting are among his previous students. Eriksen is also the founder of the world’s largest Sacred Harp singing convention in

Northampton, the Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Convention. Above all, Eriksen’s work, in both performance and education, is an investigation into the human experience and an unapologetic expression of its truths.

Wednesday Folk Traditions continues on July 22 with WHISPER IN THE MID-ZONE featuring Jim Matus, Bob Markey and Michel Moushabeck — a master Lebanese percussionist — who blend the sonic traditions from their diverse trainings to create a “musical-midzone.” Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla will close the series on July 29.

The Porter-Phelps Huntington Museum sits on ancestral Nonotuck lands. The House was built in 1752 by Moses and Elizabeth Porter and was central to the 600acre farmstead known as “Forty Acres.” Today, the 114=acre property is “Forty Acres and Its Skirts”, a National Register of Historic Places district that in-

cludes the PPH museum and its homestead and neighboring Phelps farm, surrounded by protected farmland, forest and river frontage. The Museum contains a collection of the belongings of seven generations of one extended Hadley family, and portrays the activities of family members, enslaved people, artisans, household servants and farm laborers who made “Forty Acres” an important social and commercial link in local, regional and national

cultural and economic networks.

The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers, one of the largest collections of family papers in the country, are now housed at Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum is located at 130 River Drive, Hadley, just two miles north of the junction of Routes 9 and 47 North in Hadley. For more information, call 413-584-4699 or visit pphmuseum.org.

Jay Sefton presents his one-person play, “Unreconciled,” at the Academy of Music on July 25.

Photo credit: Google Meet

SOUTHAMPTON VS WESTFIELD SOFTBALL

The Southampton 12U All-Star softball team fell to Westfield, 13–0, on June 21st at Sadie Knox Field in Westfield.

REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY SAM BLAKE

Delaney Latour goes to the fence and grabs the ball for the pitcher.

Taylor Leary gets the runner out from her knees.

Keira Farrar (25) ducks out of the way and the ball just misses her.

Delaney Latour talks with her third base coach during a timeout.

Alivia Gimaldi runs into her first baseman but still catches the ball.

Alivia Gimaldi gets the start against Westfield.

Taylor Leary stands up on second and safely steals second.

Keira Farrar under hands the ball to first mid stride.

Delaney Latour fields the ball and throws the runner out.

Alivia Gimaldi hustles down the first baseline to beat the throw.

Olivia Bowen gets ready to bat.

New tracker shows progress toward housing production goal

By Katie Castellani State House News Service

BOSTON

— A new statewide housing production tracker shows Massachusetts is about 15.6% of the way to reaching its goal of adding 222,000 housing units between 2025 and 2035.

This represents the clearest picture of home production progress Massachusetts has seen in decades as the state continues to grapple with a housing affordability crisis. According to the tracker, which the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities launched on Thursday, Massachusetts added 34,561 homes in 2025 - representing around 15.6% of the state’s 222,000 goal.

“Reliable data is essential to understanding where we are making progress and where more work remains,” Housing Secretary Juana Matias said. “This tracker will help us measure housing production across Massachusetts as we work to increase supply and lower costs, while also providing researchers, policymakers, and residents with a transparent view of what’s happen-

HADLEY — Community Action Pioneer Valley opened a new office of the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program at 4 Bay Road in Hadley. A formal opening and ribbon cutting is planned for early September.

ing in their communities.”

The tracker measures progress by city and town, and by region, and largely relies on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Address Count Listing files, which housing officials dubbed as the “best available source” and measures residential address counts by block – the smallest census geographic area. Housing officials added that because homes usually receive addresses as they are nearing the end of the development process, the data offers one of the best measures for housing that has been completed and is ready for occupancy.

The Census Bureau updates its Address Count Listing files twice a year. The state tracker is set to be updated annually, according to a EOHLC staff member who spoke on background during a press briefing. To create the tracker, the agency independently validated data from the address count listings and compared it with certificates of occupancy from municipalities.

The tracker comes almost a year after EOHLC embarked on the

“first significant effort to track both ongoing production and unit completions comprehensively across the state,” according to an Aug. 19, 2025 memo. In February, an EOHLC spokesperson told the News Service that Gov. Maura Healey’s administration was building a “single, comprehensive statewide system for tracking total housing production across all communities and housing types for the first time in state history.”

EOHLC’s methods for tracking housing production has relied on the address count files and the monthly Census Building Permit Survey.

While experts have acknowledged the building permit survey can be useful, it’s flawed: data is incomplete as many cities and towns don’t respond to the survey, the results likely underestimate how many homes are in the pipeline and information is scattered because some municipalities keep paper records of permits and others rely on electronic systems.

According to EOHLC’s memo, around 71% of municipalities re-

sponded to the monthly survey from 2023 through June 2025 and 22% did not respond. The remaining 8% of cities and towns offered responses to some, but not all of the surveys.

Also in the memo, EOHLC said the address count files aren’t perfect: The lead time from listing an address to occupancy hasn’t been determined, meaning the address count could show some units that haven’t been completed. Also, the listing doesn’t account for converting units from year-round to seasonal use, which diminishes the number of units available to residents.

And while current figures show Massachusetts is on its way to reaching its production goal, the state is facing headwinds as high interest rates, labor shortages and rising costs of materials have been hindering developments.

“We know that we need to build more homes to lower costs across the state. This new data shows that we are making serious progress and helping more families, workers, seniors and young people af-

ford homes in their communities,” Healey said in a press release. “But we know there is more work to do. It’s why we’re getting after it every day to increase housing production, help more people become first-time homebuyers, eliminate burdensome renters’ fees, and make Massachusetts more affordable for everyone.”

The state housing office said “there are many ways to track housing production activity,” and that it estimated in August 2025 that about 90,400 homes had met one of three milestones - new projects proposed, funding awarded, or building permits issued - since Gov. Maura Healey’s administration began in January 2023. There’s been chatter about lawmakers making another major run at housing policy changes this session but with just a few weeks left for scheduled formal sessions major bills have not cleared either branch.

Katie Castellani is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro reach her at kcastellani@statehousenews.com.

Roxanne:

“We’re right on the fare-free B43 bus line, and there’s plenty of free parking,” she notes.

“This will make a big difference to people who may have faced

Frances Hall, director of community services at Community Action Pioneer Valley says the new site boasts a few advantages over previous sites, including location and expanded office space to serve an increased number of participants.

challenges with transportation to Community Action WIC sites in the past.”

“Community Action’s WIC has been a cornerstone of healthy starts for families in our region for decades, and this new Hadley location improves access for families across Hampshire County,” shared Lev BenEzra, executive

director of Community Action Pioneer Valley. “We look forward to welcoming families through these doors, where we can partner to improve each child’s health, and each family’s wellbeing and economic stability — through all that WIC offers, and by connecting them to other Community Action programs, like high-quality early childhood education and care, job training or fuel assistance.”

WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for people who are pregnant or have children under five years old. Participants are given a WIC EBT card that can be used at many local grocery stores on specific items such as milk, cheese and yogurt, whole grains such as bread, oatmeal and quinoa, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more. WIC provides breast/chest feeding support from the first prenatal visit forward and offers additional support when needed.

Families participating in WIC

meet regularly with WIC staff and a nutritionist to check their children’s growth and development, ask questions, and get nutrition information. WIC staff also connect families with many other helpful resources.

“WIC is much more than a food benefit program,” says Valerie O’Connell, WIC program director. “It helps families stretch their food budget by providing access to healthy foods, trusted nutrition information, personalized support, and valuable community resources that help children get a healthy start in life.”

Community Action’s WIC program serves families in Franklin and Hampshire counties and some parts of the North Quabbin. WIC offices are located in Orange, Greenfield and Hadley. Families who are interested in applying for WIC can begin on the state website, www.mass.gov/wic or call 413-376-1160 to speak to someone at their local office.