Crash in Huntington kills Becket woman

HUNTINGTON — A 74-year-old woman from Becket died as a result of injuries sustained in a head-on collision on Pond Brook Road shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.

The crash occurred near Old Town Road, when a cement truck being driven by a 59-year-old Huntington man and a compact car collided. The driver of the car was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton and then transferred to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where she died around 11:30 p.m.

The crash remains under investigation by Huntington Police, State Police detectives attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, and State Police troopers with the Crime Scene Services Section and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

Rowing group to enhance annual regatta with grant

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Rows Inc. has landed a $5,640 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation that it will use to enhance its annual rowing regatta, transforming it into the Shad Row River Festival.

The event aims to connect the Holyoke community with the Connecticut River through a variety of activities, including rowing races, kayaking clinics, fishing and guided river tours. By promoting accessibility and targeting the Latino community, the festival seeks to engage at least 200 attendees, with a goal of 50% being Latino.

The initiative also includes four weekends of free kayaking to encourage ongoing participation and raise awareness about river health and recreational opportunities.

The state grant is among $164,900 in funds that went to 17 organizations statewide to support equitable access to outdoor recreation events.

Another western Massachusetts group, Charlemont-based Pride Day on the River, landed a $10,000 grant to enhance its annual event on June 14-15.

This year’s festivities on the Deerfield River will feature rafting, kayaking, and community paddles for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, promoting inclusivity in outdoor recreation. The grant will support rafting activities, an after-raft celebration, and transportation, aiming to engage 100-120 participants and foster connections within the queer community.

Thoreau Foundation offers $26K environmental scholarships

The Henry David Thoreau Foundation awards collegiate four-year scholarships of up to $26,000 to eight to 10 students graduating from public or private high schools in Massachusetts. As Henry David Thoreau Scholars, these select high school seniors may enroll in any college and university in the world while they major or minor in an environmentally-related field.

Henry David Thoreau Scholars are encouraged to enroll in internships or study abroad to broaden their awareness and understanding of environmental issues. Scholars have studied a wide variety of environmentally related areas, including biology, epidemiology, oceanography, international affairs, and environmental law, and upon completing their undergraduate degrees, they became members of the Henry David Thoreau Society.

The Henry David Thoreau Foundation further assists its scholarship winners by identifying environmentally-related internships, offering internship stipends, and providing networking opportunities. A sign of success of the Henry David Thoreau Foundation’s mission to foster environmental leadership is the support past scholarship winners provide to present scholarship winners.

To learn more about the Henry David Thoreau Foundation and the Henry David Thoreau Scholarships, visit thoreauscholar.org. Students have until Feb. 1, 2025, to apply.