Franklin County students make HCC dean’s list

HOLYOKE — The following Franklin County students were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at Holyoke Community College:

Jamie Lynn Chase of Buckland; Samantha Ann Melnik of Deerfield; Catherine Rose Freitag, Thomas Edward Martin, Nora Rose Noble, Christopher Rowell, Elizabeth Sanchez, Amber Michelle Taylor and Joeannie Valentin, all of Greenfield; Gina Anne Barnhart of Hawley; Joshua Lee Barber and Daiva Warren-Pukis, both of Millers Falls; Genesis Nicole Ocasio of Orange; Hunter Schieding of Shutesbury; Gabriel Louis Chevalier, Isabel DeCoursy and Kelsee Putnam, all of South Deerfield; Genniffer Hattie Jackson, Kellen Russell Roath, Abigail Roy and Todd Francis Van Mourik, all of Sunderland; and Wesley Berdugo, Colleen Halley Dowd and Chloe Goodnough, all of Turners Falls.

A student is placed on the dean’s list if their grade point average is 3.2 or higher.

New president, vice president take helm of Massachusetts Teachers Association

Matt Bach, an Andover history teacher, has begun his two-year term as president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. He is joined by Deb Gesualdo, a Malden music educator, as the new MTA vice president, also with a two-year term.

Bach was president of the Andover Education Association before winning statewide office. He has been a member of the MTA’s Executive Committee, board of directors and other committees.

As president, Bach said in a statement that he plans to “keep the MTA engaged in the work of making sure that the state is providing cities and towns what they need to fully fund public schools. Likewise, we will continue to advocate for debt-free and tuition-free public colleges and universities.”

Gesualdo was president of the Malden Education Association prior to her election as MTA vice president. She has served on the MTA board of directors and the National Education Association’s board of directors. Gesualdo has also been active on the MTA’s Resolutions Committee and the NEA’s Legislative Committee.

“What happens outside of the classroom significantly influences what happens inside the classroom,” Gesualdo said in a statement. “Educators can play a vital role in harnessing civic engagement and political action to help our students and their families.”

Barks & Brews to raise money for Dakin Humane Society

EASTHAMPTON — The 11th annual Barks & Brews event presented by Dakin Humane Society will take place on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton.

Barks & Brews is an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit Dakin Humane Society of Springfield. In previous years, the event has generated about $30,000 for services and programs that help animals in need.

The event will begin with a VIP Exclusive Preview Hour from noon to 1 p.m., with general admission taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. Ticket options are:

  • VIP admission tickets, priced at $65, entitle holders to on-site parking, hors d’oeuvres during the preview hour, a beer and an event T-shirt. (Ticket price becomes $75 starting Sept. 1.)
  • General admission tickets, priced at $25, include a beer. Parking is located on-street and at the local school lot. (Ticket price becomes $35 starting Sept. 1.)

Tickets may be purchased online at p2p.onecause.com/barksandbrews2026. All attendees must be at least 21 years old.

Guests are invited to bring crowd-friendly dogs on non-retractable leashes (retractable leashes are not allowed), and are asked not to bring strollers.

Other event features include a Halloween costume contest (for dogs), a hot dog eating contest (for dogs), a 50/50 raffle, musical sit (like musical chairs, but for dogs), a dog splash zone, a photo booth, dog painting canvas art, nail trims with Fur’s-a-Flyin’, dog baths with HydroDog, vendor booths (local crafts and pet-centric gifts), and food trucks.