Rep. Blais announces October office hours
State Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, will host in-person office hours for 1st Franklin District constituents on Monday, Oct. 20, at Buckland Town Hall, 17 State St. in Shelburne Falls, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and at the John Zon Community Center, 35 Pleasant St. in Greenfield, from noon to 2 p.m.
Office hours serve as a time for constituents to speak directly with Blais and her staff regarding issues that matter to them or problems they are facing with state agencies or departments. Blais’ office regularly assists with the following: unemployment benefits, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth coverage, social service referrals, elder services, veterans affairs, public housing and vouchers, utilities and more.
Additionally, virtual office hours are held every Friday at 8 a.m. Email kelly.oreilly@mahouse.gov or call 413-362-9453 to receive the Zoom link.
If these times do not work, residents of the 1st Franklin District can reach out to kelly.oreilly@mahouse.gov to arrange for a more convenient time.
Ride to Provide raises nearly $80K
NORTHAMPTON — Cycling teams representing Jewish schools, synagogues, student groups, community organizations and local businesses came together on Sunday, Sept. 28, for the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts’ Ride to Provide 2025. The event raised nearly $80,000 to fund services for vulnerable populations across western Massachusetts, in Israel and around the world.
The ride, hosted at Lander-Grinspoon Academy in Northampton, honored Holocaust survivor and activist Henny Lewin, recognizing her decades of dedication to Holocaust education and Jewish communal life. In addition to the ride, participants and families enjoyed a community fair with food, children’s story times and opportunities to connect with the many Jewish organizations serving the region.
The Ride to Provide 2025 fundraiser remains open for donations through Nov. 1. To
donate, visit jewishwesternmass.crowdchange.co/47765.
Applications available for workforce training program
SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry, offering information technology training, has announced it now provides two workforce development programs for western Massachusetts residents.
Interested people can apply for the upcoming cohort of Tech Foundry’s IT workforce training program, now called Tech Launch, which prepares students for careers as help desk specialists, network and field technicians, and other tech-related roles.
In addition, Tech Foundry is also recruiting for its new Tech Bridge program, a college readiness and tech career training program for recent graduates of Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield public schools. Tech Bridge prepares students for career paths in IT, audio-visual and low-voltage electrical work, or for full-time college.
Tech Launch includes 14 weeks of classroom instruction followed by a four-week internship designed to give individuals the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the tech industry. Tech Launch’s spring 2026 cohort will undergo training in various areas of technology, including Windows administration, hardware troubleshooting and endpoint security. Through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on projects that focus on the development of real-world skills, students will gain expertise and practical experience. In addition to technical instruction, the Tech Launch program provides students with career readiness workshops, career coaching sessions, and access to a network of industry professionals and employer partners.
The spring 2026 cohort will run from Feb. 19 to June 12. Interested individuals are encouraged to join an upcoming information session by registering at thetechfoundry.org/the-program/learn-more.
Both Tech Launch and Tech Bridge students receive technical certifications as well as college credits at both the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s University Without Walls Program and Holyoke Community College. To apply, visit thetechfoundry.org/the-program/apply-now.