Humane society reducing adoption fees through July 11
SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society is reducing adoption fees for all cats, kittens and Tiny Spirit Kittens by 50% from Tuesday, July 7, through Saturday, July 11, according to Executive Director Meg Talbert.
“Summer is always Dakin’s busiest season, and although we’re still early in the season, we’ve seen the number of animals in our care steadily increase over the past several weeks,” Talbert said in a statement. “Last year, we welcomed just under 1,500 kittens — the highest number we’ve seen in many years — and all indications suggest we’ll experience another exceptionally busy season. We currently have many cats, kittens and Tiny Spirit Kittens waiting for loving homes, and by reducing adoption fees, we hope to help more of them find the families they deserve.”
Tiny Spirit Kittens are born outdoors to feral (wild) mothers and have had little to no contact with humans. They are initially shy and fearful of people. Tiny Spirit Kittens brought to Dakin are helped by volunteers to become used to the company of people, to become comfortable with being touched and to be able to trust that people are a positive presence in their lives.
Cat and kitten adoption fees as listed on Dakin’s website (dakinhumane.org) will be cut in half. Dakin is open for adopters to visit Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:30 to 3 p.m., but they are advised to visit the website first to see which animals they are most interested in to help minimize their waiting time at the shelter.
Feline adoption fees include a variety of services and treatments, including a veterinary exam, spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip and registration, a rabies vaccine (if the pet is over 12 weeks old), access to behavior support, a free post-adoption veterinary exam at participating clinics and a food starter pack. Other features include a feline leukemia test, FIV test, flea and ear mite treatment, and deworming.
Church awards five scholarships
GREENFIELD — The Second Congregational Church of Greenfield has awarded scholarships to Estefany Argueta Herrera, Shannon Ramsey, Eliandra Snape, Cooper C. Whitney and Samuel C. Whitney for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Argueta Herrera, of Greenfield, is in a PhD program for organismic and evolutionary biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ramsey, a resident of Turners Falls, is entering a three-year social work program at Westfield State University. Snape, from Colrain, takes classes at Southern New Hampshire University to augment her current work as a first responder. Cooper Whitney, of Greenfield, enters UMass Amherst to pursue a degree in sociology and psychology. His brother, Samuel Whitney, will be a junior at Boston College, with a goal of pursuing a career in law.
Funds are available to members and affiliates of the Second Congregational Church through the Frances W. and Charles W. Saunders scholarships, Florence V. Leach Scholarship, and the Memorial Scholarship. This money has helped 77 different recipients with a total of 229 scholarships since 1979.
July 27 program to discuss practical considerations for presenting photography
BELCHERTOWN — The Quabbin Photo Group will present “Getting Your Photos Off Your Hard Drive and Into the World” on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at the Belchertown Recreation Department, located at 66 State St. The program is free and open to photographers of all experience levels.
The evening’s presenter, Kelly Ackerman, vice president of strategic growth and development for Frame It Easy, will discuss practical considerations for presenting photography. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the custom framing industry, Ackerman will share ideas and techniques to help photographers showcase their work, whether it’s for their homes, exhibits, gifts, galleries or sales.
Topics will include selecting print materials, choosing framing and matting options, understanding paper choices, planning single- and multi-image displays, and preparing photographs for presentation. Ackerman will also discuss considerations for photographers who exhibit or sell their work, along with ways to simplify the printing, framing and fulfillment process.
The Quabbin Photo Group (QuabbinPhotoGroup.com) is a community of photographers with a shared interest in nature, wildlife and landscape photography, particularly within the Quabbin Reservoir region. The group hosts regular meetings, guest speakers and workshops designed to help photographers of all experience levels improve their skills, share their work and connect with others who appreciate the natural environment.
July 28: Learn about adult education at Franklin Tech
GREENFIELD — Residents can stop by the Greenfield Public Library on Tuesday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to noon to learn about the five programs being offered this fall at Franklin County Technical School for adult learners in Automotive Technology, Building Maintenance, Electrical, Plumbing & Heating, and Welding & Metal Fabrication.
The 12 weeks of evening classes will begin on Sept. 14, running each Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m.
Gagne expands gift card match after 17-minute sellout
GREENFIELD — What began as a $10,000 donation from Gagne Wealth Management Group founder Merrill Gagne proved to be a great success when, on June 10, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s second annual “Buy-$25-Get-$50” gift card promotion sold out in just 17 minutes, generating $27,000 in spending power for participating local businesses.
The promotion, which doubled the value of Franklin County Gift Card purchases through a $10,000 match from Gagne Wealth Management Group, started at 9 a.m. By 9:17, all 400 matched gift cards had been claimed.
“The chamber office felt like Vegas. By 9:03, we had a line out the door, the phones were ringing off the hook, and our computers sounded like slot machines from all the online sales notifications,” Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. “When the match was met, we still had more than 100 customers waiting in line at the chamber and in the process of completing purchases online.”
Rather than dismiss thousands of dollars in local spending, Gagne came through with an additional $3,500 to honor those purchases already underway, covering a total of 540 gift cards and expanding his original commitment by more than 30%.
“The point of this promotion is to get people excited about shopping locally,” Gagne said in a statement. “I’m always happy to help those who support Franklin County.”
Gagne’s special one-day promotion is an extension of the Franklin County Gift Card, a community-wide gift card program accepted by an expanding list of local businesses. Since relaunching the Franklin County Gift Card program in November 2024, the Chamber of Commerce has sold more than 2,000 Franklin County and Gagne Gift Cards, generating more than $100,000 in local purchasing power for participating businesses like Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop, Hope & Olive and The Brewery at Four Star Farms.
Since the May 2025 debut of the Gagne Wealth Gift Card promotion, more than 70% of the gift cards have been redeemed, injecting thousands of dollars into local cash registers. Chamber officials note that the actual economic impact is likely much higher, as many customers spend beyond the value of their gift cards when making purchases.
The chamber teased that the promotion is likely to return in 2027, although some adjustments may be made based on this year’s unprecedented demand. Deane shared that the three-person staff sold an average of one gift card every 2 seconds.
To view a complete list of participating businesses, visit franklincc.org. Franklin County Gift Cards are available for purchase year-round online and at 393 Main St. in Greenfield.