A warm, sunny day and about 400 supporters welcomed 54 new US citizens at the Northampton Courthouse lawn on July 4th, and our League chapter was there to congratulate them, give them voter information and assist them in registering.

LWV Northampton members Randi Klein, Vera Yanez, Anne Wedaman and Katherine Halvorsen were assisted by Barbara Pearson from the Amherst chapter who wanted to help and experience the moving ceremony. About 15 new voters registered on site and more took information on how to register on-line.

The Annual Meeting on June 2nd was our first post-COVID, in-person meeting! It was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Northampton Area LWV, all together, once again! Meeting highlights included a presentation by Regis Chandler, the lead teacher at JFK Middle School, who used the “She Shapes History” museum exhibit to develop student discovery projects on the history of the suffrage movement and the ongoing struggle for voting rights.

On display was an exhibit of historical posters created by Sharon Farmer, Zjemi Moulton, Nancy Polan, and Nancy Brady.

An entertaining trio – Brigid Glackin, Margie Riddle, and Nancy Brady – presented a lively, musical tribute to Lou Bouley, in appreciation of her decades of leadership on the Northampton LWV Board. Thank you, Lou, for always having an answer and a smile. You are the “glue” that holds the League together!

You are invited to a Candidate Forum that highlights the Primary Election race for Sheriff of Hampshire County on Thursday, August 25 at 7 pm, jointly sponsored by the Amherst and Northampton Leagues of Women Voters.

The candidates will present their views and answer questions in-person at the new Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street in Northampton as well as online. Amherst Media and Northampton Open Media will be cooperatively recording the forum which will also be accessible later from our website. We will send out links and any other pertinent info in August.

As one of the few contested county offices in this year’s Primaries, the race for Sheriff brings to light the importance of this arm of local law enforcement. Sheriffs oversee county jails and houses of correction, providing needed health and educational services to inmates. Their leadership has an impact on drug addiction and mental health treatment, vocational training and prisoner reentry back into their communities.

WE NEED YOUR HELP SORTING BOOKS. Please join us! Smith Vocational High School is air conditioned. Book Collection begins Monday, July 11. Books must be donated only in designated collection boxes in front of Smith Vocational High School (any time) and at Forbes Library and Cooper’s Corner in Florence (when open). Books can only be donated from July 11-30. Books should be clean and in good condition. Most textbooks are not accepted.

Columnist Sara Weinberger, in a recent Gazette article, “The challenge of finding hope in dark times,” urges all who despair over the state of our democracy to take action, join the LWV and VOTE.

Weinberger writes, “Democracy is on the ballot this November.” Democracy only works when each American is actively involved in advocating for a government that really is ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’. Take action, join the League of Women Voters, (which) works “to ensure that all citizens actively engage in making democracy work.”

League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

July 4th Naturalization Ceremony

CELEBRATING OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY, ANNUAL MEETING, GROUP PHOTO

Historical Posters Highlight Local Leaders in the early years of the League

Aug. 25th Candidates Forum for Hampshire County Sheriff

BOOK SALE September 24: Book collection & sorting July 11 – 30

Activist urges all to work for a stronger democracy and join LWV