Over the weekend, the 413 Takeout campaign was featured in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. In the article, several local restaurant owners are quoted, noting an increase in takeout orders over the past month. While we cannot be certain the uptick is due to this campaign, we do want to say, “Thank you!” and encourage you to keep up your support of local, small businesses and use of the #413TakeOut hashtag.

Now, let's get to the #413TakeOut Weekly Challenge Winners! Each week, all those who have taken the "413 pledge" to support restaurants will be entered to win one of two, $25 Northampton Gift Cards. This week's winners are Jody Doele and Helen Stauder! 

It's time for another Visit Hampshire County Tuesday Take-Over, and this week SHOP NOHO will be taking over the @OtherSideMA Instagram Channel and Facebook Page! They will highlight retail shops that are featured on SHOPNOHO.com where you can shop online and local! Follow along.

The Community Engagement Committee (CEC) of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) began the "Nice Tuesdays" initiative in the midst of the pandemic, and now they are inviting businesses and nonprofits in Northampton and Florence to participate.

Nice Tuesdays are just what they sound like: doing good things in, with, and for the community, and sharing about it every Tuesday. There’s no cost, just a one-day commitment and a little of your time to uplift the things that make Northampton a great place to live and work. 

Learn more and sign up to Adopt a Nice Tuesday here.

The Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) is delighted to welcome spring sunshine and the promise of warmer weather with the return of our Downtown Ambassador program this coming Tuesday, March 23, 2021, just in time for Nice Tuesday.

A new program launched last year shortly before COVID hit, the Downtown Ambassadors are a volunteer team of individuals with bright red aprons, friendly smiles, useful information and - frequently - giveaways! Their goal is to provide a welcoming source of information to people visiting downtown, and to spread some joy throughout our community. If you're a local with little ones, you might recognize one of our Downtown Ambassadors this coming week from A2Z Science and Learning Store (and rumor has it, they might be carrying a special giveaway or two)!

On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Mayor David J. Narkewicz announced that the City of Northampton has launched two online surveys designed to identify the current and future broadband needs of Northampton’s residents and businesses. All Northampton residents and all businesses located in Northampton are encouraged to complete the survey by April 23, 2021, to help the city evaluate the potential for municipal broadband.

SURVEY LINKS:

The residential survey will also be made available to every household in Northampton via a paper version sent through the U.S. Mail. Again, all Northampton residents and businesses are encouraged to complete the survey by April 23, 2021.

On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, Mayor David J. Narkewicz and the Northampton Arts Council announced the award of 35 grants totaling $21,960 in support of art projects and programming in Northampton. Funds were allocated to the city by the Massachusetts Cultural Councils' Local Cultural Council (LCC) program.

“I am pleased to continue Northampton’s long tradition of support for the arts community,” shared Mayor Narkewicz, “I look forward to enjoying, along with our city residents, the outcome of these exciting projects.”

The Arts Council received 78 applications for a total of $108,269 in requested funding. Grants were awarded in the following categories: Dance, Literature, Media Arts, Multidisciplinary Arts, Music, Theater and Visual Arts. View the full list of recipients in the press release.

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the Daily Hampshire Gazette featured GNCC's Vince Jackson, Executive Director, dubbing him a "difference-maker" in the community and noting his recent honor as a recipient of the Black Excellence Award, given by the MA Black and Latino Legislative Caucus in February, 2021.

Speaking about his role in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the Chamber Vince shared, “I’m the first African American leader of a 100-year-old organization, and what that means to me is that I have a unique opportunity to make a difference." Read the article.

Visit the City of Northampton's website for updated, accurate information on vaccine availability for Hampshire County residents at Northampton clinics.

Last month, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts would advance to Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan on Monday, March 1, 2021, and also announced its plan to transition to Step 1 of Phase IV on Monday, March 22, 2021. With public health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction, including drops in average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and vaccination rates continuing to increase, the Administration is taking steps to continue to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy. Find updates.

The Hilltown COVID Relief Fund is designed to assist businesses with 25 or fewer employees (including the owner) that have been negatively impacted due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide one-time grants of up to $15,000. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Funding will be awarded on a first come, first eligible, completed application basis, subject to the availability of funding.

The Hilltown COVID Relief Fund is available to businesses, nonprofits, artists, and farmers in the towns of: Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Granville, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Peru, Plainfield, Russell, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington. For more information, email Michele Kenney.

Get training and expertise from local professionals including attorneys, loan officers, realtors, home inspectors and insurance agents. Learn tips about how to improve your credit. Get support and ask questions to help you proceed and protect your own interests as you approach this life decision.

WEBINAR SCHEDULE:

Thursday, March 18, 2021, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Presented by Valley Community Development. Sponsored by PeoplesBank. Questions? Email fthb@valleycdc.com or call Donna at 413-586-5855 x180.

Join Backyard ADUs for a FREE virtual open house of their newly completed Florence Backyard Tiny Home on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 5:30 PM (rescheduled from 3/11/2021).

Ever think of adding a guest house, In-law apartment, or Tiny Home? Get your questions answered about the approval process, what you can build on your land, what building a backyard home looks like, as well as best practices in small home design.

The fourth session of the MS+MA series with Mississippi Humanities will bring together poet laureates from both states for a conversation about the role of poetry in public life.

This Live Online Program from Smith Executive Education will help you build skills for leading through these times of uncertainty. Develop tools and strategies for building resiliency and thriving during change.

March 23-25 / Live virtual sessions 1-3 pm ET each day

This program is for leaders at all levels.

The community is invited to try the Y during the month of March! Register for a free, 7-day trial membership and gain access to all areas of the facility, reconfigured to allow for increased spacing and safety protocols. Their new reservation system guarantees a safe space to work out. Former members are welcome to take advantage of this opportunity to get reacquainted with the Y.

Come try out all the Y has to offer the Hampshire County community! Visit their website or Welcome Center for more information, or give them a call at 413-584-7086.

Cooped-up caretakers and kids in Western Massachusetts long yearly

for the annual Meltdown! The River’s Family Music and Book Bash, an early springtime event extravaganza featuring A-list children’s book authors and illustrators and children’s

musicians. Typically held in multiple buildings on the Smith Vocational School campus in Northampton, this year’s raucous send-off-to-winter will be safely streamed straight into viewers’ homes on March 27, 2021 with more interactive elements than ever before.

Meltdown! The River’s Family Music and Book Bash, will stream live at www.rivermeltdown.com on March 27, 2021, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM.

Cutchins Programs for Children and Families Inc. is proud to present their 4th Annual Dancing with the Local Stars: Silent Auction and Fundraiser and this year they are going virtual!

Over the course of three days, Cutchins Programs will host an array of local talent showcasing dances from around the world. They will also host a virtual silent auction with nightly raffles, musical performances, and more!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cutchins Programs has had to adjust to extraordinary circumstances but the quality of their care has persisted.

Be a community hero and support children's mental health services locally while enjoying this fantastic annual event!

To commemorate Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County and Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan invites you to participate in “This Little Light of Mine” a luminaria display at Childs Park in Northampton, and throughout our community.

On April 1, 2021, 2,000 luminarias will be lit to represent the number of child abuse survivors the Children’s Advocacy Center has served since opening its doors in 2006.

To participate, you can drive by the luminaria at Childs Park that evening or put out lights of your own.

Visit www.cachampshire.org for more information.

Please join us Friday, April 9th, 2021, for the start of the 17th Annual Riverside Auction to be held virtually. As much as we all enjoy our in-person event, we know it is best to hold the event online. The event will run through April 16, 2021, ending with a short live-streamed program, filled with the energy you are used to at the in-person event. If you choose to accept this mission, please stay tuned for more . . . Please consider supporting the auction with a cash or item donation or sponsorship, go to our auction page. Thank you.

The Daffodil Run for Big Brothers Big Sisters is going virtual again on April 25, 2021! We will celebrate our community and raise funds for essential 1:1 mentoring services for young people in our area. FREE giveaways, fun contests, and training classes available for all participants!

We know that dining and buying local to support our small business community is vital to a thriving community. For those who love local, Northampton.live is a hub that makes finding Northampton's small businesses simple, and includes information on how your favorite shops, salons, and restaurants are currently operating. Keep it local, and stay informed with Northampton.live.

Adventure East is a new outdoor adventure company in Western Mass and is developing hiking, biking, paddling experiences for all ages and experience levels. They would love to have your input as they prepare to launch in June. They need 10 minutes of your time to complete their online survey. The information you share will only be used for their product development and will not be shared. To show their appreciation, if you provide them with your email, you will be eligible to win one of five Northampton Gift Cards worth $50 each. The deadline for replying is March 31, 2021. To complete the survey, click here. More info: info@adventureeast.com.

Have you heard about the campaign to save Northampton's restaurants? Learn more and take the "413 pledge" here.

2021 event and communication sponsorship opportunities are still available for investors. Contact Jessica Thompson, Director of Investor and Community Relations to discuss your options today!

Interested in joining our virtual events, but just can't make it to the computer during your busy day? Check out our archive of program recordings on YouTube to learn on your own time.