Volunteers sought for Northampton Ed. Foundation

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Education Foundation is seeking volunteers for its fundraising events, committees and board of directors.

Established in 1991, the NEF is a nonprofit organization created to fund projects and programs that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic experiences in Northampton’s public schools while broadening community support for our public schools.

NEF has multiple grant programs that support educator projects and professional development. Through its Small Grants to Educators program, the Endowment Fund and the NEF Book Fund the organization has awarded nearly $2 million since 1991. NEF raises money through an Adult Spelling Bee, a Trivia Bee, a spring Plant Sale, an Annual Appeal and donations to its Endowment Fund.

For more information about NEF and volunteer opportunities, visit northamptoneducation.org.

Holyoke to mark Colombian Independence Day

HOLYOKE — The eighth annual observance of Colombian Independence Day will be held at Holyoke City Hall on Tuesday, July 23, at 4:30 p.m.

Holyoke residents of Colombian descent and their families will gather on the lawn outside City Hall to share their culture and heritage. Mayor Joshua A. Garcia will read a proclamation, and the Colombian flag will be raised.

Colombian Independence Day is celebrated each year to commemorate events that took place in Colombia on July 20, 1810, in what was then the colonial capital of Santa Fé de Bogotá. On that day, Colombian patriots rose up against Spanish rule. The events of that day brought about permanent independence for Colombia. Today, Bogotá is the capital of the Republic of Colombia.

PVPA announces arts scholarship award recipients

SOUTH HADLEY — Students from Hatfield and Holyoke were among those who received Arts Scholarship Awards from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School this spring.

Each Arts Department chose one graduating senior to receive a $1,000 scholarship, based on their commitment, passion, and dedication to their art. This year’s awards represent an increase from the inaugural year scholarship awards of $250 for each department.

Hatfield resident Caraline Casey won the award from the school’s Theatre Department. She will attend Boston University’s School of Theatre, studying acting/theatre arts.

Holyoke resident Carmen Quiñones-Negroni won the award from the school’s Dance Department. She will attend the University of Vermont this fall, where she will be focusing on an exercise science major with a dance minor.

Holyoke resident Makena Ananda Holesovsky won the award from the Visual Arts/ Technical Theater Department. She will attend Smith College this fall, studying creative writing while also exploring the visual arts and technical theater departments.

50+ Job Seekers Networking Group

AMHERST — The Jones Library offers a program that can help job seekers over 50 build their job search tool kit with free biweekly skill-building and networking group meetings held via Zoom. The series begins in August and runs through December. Learn more about the different meeting topics and register at joneslibary.org/jobseekers.

Join a virtual professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment, conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each biweekly meeting features a new topic, and job seekers can attend any or all of the sessions, and join at any time.

More than 50 Massachusetts public libraries have partnered to offer the 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group program to support people 50 years and older looking for a new job, a new career direction, or a second-act career. Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, an experienced executive career coach who has facilitated 50+ job seekers networking groups since 2016.

Jones Library participation in this series is made possible by the Friends of the Jones Libraries. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413-259-3223.