Regional Notebook: Feb. 24, 2022

GREENFIELD — The League of Women Voters of Franklin County will hold a virtual Legislative Coffee event on Saturday, March 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

State Sens. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, as well as state Reps. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, Paul Mark, D-Peru, and Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, will attend the event, to be held on Zoom.

To RSVP, visit bit.ly/3HcsC1K.

The Beta Zeta At-Large Chapter of Sigma, an honor society for nursing, has received the 14th Chapter Key Award that was presented to chapter President Mary Ellen Burke, from Conway, at the Sigma Convention in November.

According to a press release from Publicity Committee member Jean Walachy, the Chapter Key Award was established in 1991 to honor Sigma chapters that excel in chapter-related activities such as membership recruitment and retention; publicity and programming; professional leadership and development; and local, national and international collaboration.

As one of the largest international nursing organizations with chapters in more than 90 countries around the world, Sigma works to foster, develop and connect nursing scholars and leaders worldwide to improve health care. The Beta Zeta At-Large Chapter includes the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing, American International College, Westfield State University and Elms College.

Applications are now available for academic scholarships, as well as health and agriculture grants, funded by the Fred W. Wells Trust. Applications are due March 20.

Wells, a longtime Franklin County resident who died in 1946, established the trust fund to aid local residents in three areas. First, he wanted to provide monetary support for individuals seeking to obtain an education, according to a press release from Deerfield trustee Margaret Doyle. Wells also wanted to contribute to organizations that provide care for the sick or elderly, and offer grants to groups organized primarily for the advancement of agriculture.

Scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 cycle can be obtained at Greenfield Savings Bank locations in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Conway and South Deerfield, at many local school guidance offices, or by emailing Prudence Blond at PBlond@Greenfieldsavings.com. Only residents of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Northfield, Rowe or Shelburne who have resided or whose parents have resided in any of these towns for not less than two years immediately prior to the date of application are eligible for academic scholarships.

Applications for health and agriculture grants can be obtained by contacting Prudence Blond by phone at 413-775-8243 or by email at PBlond@Greenfieldsavings.com.

SPRINGFIELD — Pathlight, a Springfield-based human services organization, recently won two awards for its work highlighting the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in western Massachusetts.

First, a video celebrating life at home made last year in the depth of the COVID-19 pandemic won a gold medal from AVA Digital Awards, an organization that honors excellence in digital communication, according to a Pathlight press release. The winning music video was a compilation of clips submitted by more than 40 people in the Pathlight community dancing an homage to their home.

Additionally, the Portraits of Pathlight project was recently recognized with a silver medal in the diversity, equity and inclusion category of the Anthem Awards. According to the release, these awards honor purpose and mission-driven work from an international pool of organizations. Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

The portrait project included 33 black and white portraits by local photographers that were intended to convey the strength, beauty, complexity and personality of people served by Pathlight. The photos hung in several exhibits and were used to create three calendars.

“We are thrilled that both of these projects, which involved over 100 people in our community and highlight the strength, skills and talents of people with disabilities, have been recognized with these international awards,” Pathlight Executive Director Ruth Banta said in the release. “We are proud of the work we do every day and continue to strive to ensure that people with disabilities are visible in our community, even during a pandemic.”

The Community Health Center of Franklin County is offering three $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from any of the eight high schools in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. Applications are due May 6.

Applications are available online at bit.ly/36tIgJb or at the guidance offices at each of the eight schools (Greenfield High School, Mohawk Trail Regional School, Pioneer Valley Regional School, Turners Falls High School, Franklin County Technical School, Ralph C. Mahar Regional School and Athol High School). Completed forms can be submitted by email to KembleScholarship@chcfc.org or mailed to the Community Health Center of Franklin County, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 102 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301.

The scholarships, which were first offered in 2018 and are named in memory of the Community Health Center’s founder, are awarded to applicants who plan to pursue a career in health care.