Seedling sale at Tuesday Market to boost food security project

NORTHAMPTON — Shoppers at Grow Food Northampton’s Tuesday Market on May 21 can not only purchase seedlings for their vegetable gardens, but in doing so, support an important food security project.

Residents of affordable housing communities in Northampton and Florence will host a special pop-up Seedling Sale at Tuesday Market. The proceeds will go to fund the community gardens established and expanded by Grow Food Northampton at nine low-income housing communities throughout the city. Residents have organized this fundraiser to help cover future costs for things like compost, plants and tools.

Seedlings available will include tomato varieties, herbs, flowers, kale, Lebanese zaatar. eggplant, okra, and callaloo. All seedings will be $5 for a single pot or six-pack.

Tuesday Market is open from 1:30-6:30 p.m., behind Thornes Marketplace through Nov. 5. The market features over 30 vendors each week with a wide variety of local produce, farm products, prepared foods and live music.

Northampton Neighbors social event returns

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton Neighbors Mix ‘n’ Mingle events return Tuesday, from 4:30-6 p.m., to the outdoor patio at Spoleto, 1 Bridge St.

The event is an opportunity for members to gather for conversation without an agenda. At the social, people simply enjoy the company of old friends and meet new neighbors. Everyone is welcome.

Northampton presents salsa dancing in the plaza

NORTHAMPTON — The city this summer will host McCoy Jamison, a dance instructor from Latin Dance Made Easy, who will offer free salsa, bachata, and merengue dance lessons every Monday night from 6-6:30 p.m. staring June 3 through Aug. 26.

After the lessons, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., people can showcase their new moves at the Latin Dance Party curated by McCoy. This isn’t just a dance party.

Jamison is an internationally trained teacher, dancer, and choreographer, and the driving force behind Latin Dance Made Easy. As the founder, he offers online dance tutorials and hosts vibrant weekly Latin dance events that showcase a variety of styles, including salsa, bachata, merengue, and kizomba. Beyond teaching, McCoy offers expert DJ services and tailored dance lessons for various occasions, including parties, weddings, festivals, and community gatherings.

If the weather is questionable, the city will let the public known at 10 on the day of the show through @nohoarts on Instagram and on the city’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Poets to read from latest book at Amherst Books

AMHERST — Keven Goodan and Kim Burwick will read from their most recent collections of poetry on Thursday starting at 6 p.m. at Amherst Books, 8 Main St.

Goodan’s volume, “In the Days that Followed,” is just out and Burwick’s volume, “Out Beyond the Land” was published during the pandemic.

Documentary on sex trafficking to be screened

GREENFIELD — A free community screening of the Frontline documentary “Sex Trafficking in America” will be offered May 29 at Greenfield Garden Cinema.

The documentary follows investigations into cases of human trafficking and features interviews with survivors of human trafficking as well as members of law enforcement.

The film screening will be followed by a live panel discussion including a survivor of human trafficking, staff members of the two Children’s Advocacy Centers and Northampton Police Capt. Victor Caputo.

The event is set for May 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Greenfield Garden Cinema, 361 Main St.

Funding for the screening comes from a $60,141 grant from the state’s Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training Program. The grant will also fund training for area law enforcement with the goal of developing a regional group of investigators to conduct complex human trafficking investigations.

The screening is part of a community education initiative undertaken by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Hampshire County and Franklin County/North Quabbin.