EASTHAMPTON — Local Burger’s Easthampton location is gearing up to celebrate an exciting new expansion: the opening of Beveridges Cocktail Lounge.

Beveridges is already open for business, but its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 6 will celebrate the bar as a new evening scene for the Easthampton community, as well as the fun events coming to the venue in the near future.

“The whole kind of point of a bar here was to pay homage to the original Eastworks owner — his name was Frank Stanley Beveridge,” said General Manager Tabitha Saalfrank. “We tried to embody the kind of 50s theme they had going.”

The bar will feature posters from Stanley Home Products magazines throughout the establishment to serve as reminders of the cosmetic and cleaning supply company’s place in the building’s history as the previous owner.

The new bar will not only provide a place to relax and enjoy a refreshing drink, but staff at Local Burger have plans to host events such as weekly Bingo nights and other gatherings that will bring community members together for some friendly competition. Saalfrank said the staff is hoping to provide a variety of prizes, including the potential grand prize of catering an event for with the Local Burger food truck.

“We’re hoping we can create kind of a tournament vibe,” said Saalfrank, who noted that the staff is experimenting with the idea of tournament punch cards that qualify frequent players for game nights with bigger prizes like the food truck service.

Currently, the first bingo night is scheduled for Aug. 15, and will likely take place weekly from there.

Saalfrank and her fellow Local Burger staff members have also been gratified by the professional development opportunities offered by the restaurant’s several expansions. In opening an Easthampton location in the old Riff’s Joint space in EastWorks, some seasoned staff members were able to take on leadership positions. With the opening of a new bar, Saalfrank said more of the staff can “explore avenues that they’re interested in” by becoming bartenders.

Local Burger now has locations in Northampton, Haydenville, Easthampton and the New Hampshire town of Keene.

Beveridges Cocktail Lounge opens on weekdays at 4 p.m. and on weekends at noon. The ribbon cutting will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 5 p.m., followed by refreshments and ice cream from Ice Cream Emergency.

Westhampton community aggregation hearing

WESTHAMPTON — There will be a virtual hearing for Westhampton’s municipal aggregation plan on Monday. The plan, submitted for approval by the Department of Public Utilities on May 21, would enable eligible electricity consumers who are not already enrolled with a competitive supplier would be automatically enrolled in the program unless they decide to opt out and continue to receive basic services from Eversource Energy.

Municipal aggregation is a process through which “a municipality purchases electricity in bulk from a competitive supplier on behalf of the residents and businesses within the community,” according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities website. Other municipalities in the region have adopted this type of program in an effort to provide stable, competitive energy pricing for their residents.

The hearing will take place over Zoom on Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. Those interested can join at the link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88074281427 from a computer, smartphone, or tablet, or dial in to the number 312 626 6799 and enter the meeting ID number 880 7428 1427. To submit comments during the meeting, email Lauren.Morris@mass.gov by 5 p.m. on Friday with your name, email address, and mailing address.

Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Department of Public Utilities by 5 p.m. on Aug. 5, to Mark D. Marini, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, Boston, MA 02110. The comments will be posted online without redacting personal information.

For further questions regarding the town’s filing, contact attorney James M. Avery at javery@pierceatwood.com or 617-488-8100.

Riverside Arts returns for first time since pandemic

EASTHAMPTON — Riverside Industries Inc., an Easthampton nonprofit focused on empowering individuals with disabilities, will be displaying artwork made by program participants in their first official show since the pandemic.

The collection, entitled “Riverside Arts: REGROWTH,” will be available for viewing in the Easthampton City Arts Gallery for the full month of August, beginning with an opening reception on Saturday taking place from 4 to 7 p.m.

Westhampton FD to celebrate 75th anniversary

WESTHAMPTON— To celebrate 75 years of serving the community, the Westhampton Fire Department will host an open house and chicken barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Members of the Westhampton community are invited to socialize, enjoy good food, and explore the Fire Department at the Public Safety Complex. The open house will be from 2 to 6 p.m. and the barbecued chicken will be served at 4 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made through the town website.

Barbecue tickets are $10 per person, but kids 10 and under eat for free.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.