‘Josh Simpson: 50 Years of Glass Exploration’
set for Dec. 8
SPRINGFIELD — Shelburne Falls glass artist Josh Simpson, who is celebrating 50 years in his craft, will be the focus of a lecture at Springfield Museums, located at 21 Edwards St., on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
The presentation will trace the evolution of Simpson’s space-inspired glass from his earliest experiments to his creations of massive spheres known as Megaplanets, many of which are now displayed in prestigious museums across the United States. The talk will also cover what lies ahead for the Shelburne Falls artist.
The cost is $4 to attend, though museum members will be admitted for free. For more information, visit bit.ly/3XJOvyF.
MDAR offering training courses for farmers
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is offering three business training courses for farmers starting in January.
Farm Succession School: Offered through Land For Good, this three-part class provides an opportunity for senior generation farmers to talk with peers, learn from advisors, and get support on the challenging process of farm succession and transfer planning. Classes will be held Thursdays, Jan. 26, March 2, and March 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Fiske Public Library in Wrentham. The fee is $100 per farm. To sign up or for more information, visit bit.ly/3OLaxx9. Registrations will be accepted until Jan. 6 or until the course is full.
Growing Your Farm Business Planning Course: This hands-on course helps established farmers develop a business plan and financial projections. The course covers topics including resource assessment, marketing strategy, financial management, risk management, quality of life and goal setting. Enrollment is open to farmers who have been operating a farm business in Massachusetts for at least the two prior years. Eight classes will be held at the Department of Agricultural Resources’ offices in Southborough on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting Jan. 17 and ending March 14 (no class Feb. 21). The fee is $150 per farm. For an application or more information, visit bit.ly/3OKcg5T. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 8 or until the course is full.
Exploring the Small Farm Dream Course: This five-session course provides guidance to aspiring farmers through the decision-making process of whether to start a farm business. Participants will learn about the many aspects of starting a farm business, assess their own skills and knowledge, and get help finding resources for support, including marketing, financing and regulations. Through four guided group sessions and a farmer panel session, participants will analyze the feasibility of their small farm dream and clarify their vision. Classes will be held at the Department of Agricultural Resources’ offices in Southborough on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. between Jan. 12 and Feb. 9. The fee is $100 for up to two participants per enterprise, as space allows. For an application or more information, visit bit.ly/3OKcg5T. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 8 or until the course is full.
Local Jewish leaders attend Chicago General Assembly SPRINGFIELD — Leaders from the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts recently joined more than 1,200 Jewish communal leaders in Chicago at the Jewish Federations’ three-day General Assembly to set the shared Jewish communal agenda for the year ahead and to hear from a diverse array of voices on critical issues facing the North American Jewish community.
First held 90 years ago, the General Assembly brings Jewish leaders together for productive dialogue and debate. This year’s General Assembly focused on responses to the geopolitical challenges and global events impacting the Jewish community, as well as opportunities to build flourishing Jewish communities. Some of the topics discussed included the urgency of Jewish communal security, the Jewish Federations’ response to the Ukraine crisis, and the uncertainties faced by Jews in Ukraine and Russia, as well as new initiatives and partnerships to combat the rise in anti-Semitism.
“Coming out of the General Assembly, what struck me most is that we can prevent many of the challenges our Jewish community faces by proactively welcoming and being accessible to people so they can learn more about our faith and culture,” Nora Gorenstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, said in a statement. “We can embrace different perspectives even when we do not agree to have a better understanding of each other. The General Assembly has energized me, and I feel ready to reach across the aisle, not only within our Jewish community, but to other minorities and the larger western Massachusetts community for the benefit of our region.”
Former GCC president serving as Mass Humanities board chair NORTHAMPTON — Yves Salomon-Fernández, former president of Greenfield Community College, is Mass Humanities’ new board chair. The appointment will continue through 2024.
Salomon-Fernández, who now works as senior vice president for operations planning at Southern New Hampshire University, was first elected to the Mass Humanities board of directors in 2019.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with Dr. Salomon-Fernández, someone I’ve admired since before her time on the board and throughout her first term,” Brian Boyles, executive director of Mass Humanities, said in a statement. “Yves is a great strategist, an insightful listener, and a powerful advocate for the humanities and education. We look forward to her leadership of our talented board.”
As a board member at Mass Humanities, Salomon-Fernández advocates for a greater role of the liberal arts and also has a keen interest in the effect of the opioid epidemic on rural communities.
“It is my honor to work with an impressive board that is committed to expanding access to the humanities to those who have traditionally been on the margins and whose voices and experiences have not always been shared,” Salomon-Fernández said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting our staff in bringing our mission to life across Massachusetts.”
In 2018, Salomon-Fernández became the first woman of color to lead GCC and the first female president since Katherine Sloan in the 1990s. She previously served as president of Cumberland County College in New Jersey and was the interim president of MassBay Community College in Wellesley. She currently serves on boards for the American Association of Colleges and Universities, Double Edge Theatre and Urban College of Boston.