Community Corner

🌱 How a simple Northampton walk is helping neighbors carry their grief

You won't want to miss Looky Here Calendar Show on the Northampton Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
Tuesday December 16th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Northampton! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a simple Northampton walk is helping neighbors carry their grief
  • How Northampton’s cancer center quietly transformed local care over ten years
  • How Northampton shops are helping families stretch Toy Fund vouchers

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Northampton? Post it to Northampton photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Find out what's happening in Northamptonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Northamptonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Clouding up; not as cold, with a high of 32 and low of 21 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 42, low: 26.
  • Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 41 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. < The 'magic' of walking with grief (npr.org) — A bereavement walking group meets regularly in a Northampton park, giving grieving residents a judgment-free space to talk while they move together outdoors. Led by a Cooley Dickinson Hospital counselor, the year-round walks help participants cope with loss, loneliness, and life after a partner’s death by blending gentle exercise with candid, supportive conversation.
   

2. Cooley Dickinson Hospital marks ten years since opening of cancer center (wwlp.com) — Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is marking ten years of its cancer center, which brings Mass General Brigham’s oncology expertise directly to local patients. Residents can access chemotherapy, radiation, support services, and even a free shuttle to Boston while receiving most care close to home. The hospital recently added complimentary valet service to ease visits for patients and families.
   

3. Though disbanded after 42 years, Pelham Lions Club's work lives on through Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund (gazettenet.com) — Families in Northampton and across Hampshire County can again use the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund to get $65 vouchers per child, redeemable at local shops including A2Z Science and Learning and Blue Marble/Little Blue downtown. The story looks back at the now-disbanded Pelham Lions Club, whose decades of fundraising still echo through ongoing donations that help low-income families provide holiday gifts.
   

4. Indoor track: Hampshire County athletes compete in PVIAC's first meet of the season (gazettenet.com) — Northampton High’s Blue Devils opened their indoor track season strongly at Smith College, with standout runs from Maddalena Figueroa-Starr and Maya Zink plus multiple top finishes in jumps and relays. They competed alongside Amherst, Hampshire, South Hadley, and Holyoke athletes in the first PVIAC meet, setting an early tone for the winter season.
   

5. Experts weigh in on viral question: Is having a boyfriend embarrassing? (westernmassnews.com) — Local experts and Smith College students in Northampton are weighing in on a viral question about whether having a boyfriend is embarrassing, tying it to women’s rights history and changing expectations in relationships. Voices from campus describe how social media, empowerment, and pressure around heteronormativity shape how young women think about dating today.
   

📸 Around Northampton

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Northampton

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Northampton Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We NEED science and here’s one reason why:
    “Progress fighting pancreatic cancer — one of the deadliest malignancies. Better outcomes may come from new drugs, strategies to rev up the immune… (Nextdoor Downtown Florence)
  • Discover Japan’s Best Music on #IHEARTJROCK #jrock #jpop
    IHEARTJROCK is a live radio show airing every Saturday at 10 p.m. EST, focusing on Japanese music across various genres. On November 15, 2025, the… (Nextdoor Downtown Florence)
  • McDonald's posted a job opening for Shift Manager in Northampton. Apply here.
  • NY Staffing posted a job opening for Manager Quality Management in Northampton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Northampton here.

Ok Northampton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Northampton