Northampton City Briefing: Preparing for Election Day; resident honored by Clean Water Action; Arts Council seeks input

Julia Scalera of Northampton receives the 2024 John O'Connor Award for Canvassing at Clear Water Action's fall celebration at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Science.

Julia Scalera of Northampton receives the 2024 John O'Connor Award for Canvassing at Clear Water Action's fall celebration at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Science. CONTRIBUTED/OMESA MOKAYA

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

Staff Writer

Published: 10-02-2024 2:57 PM

The Northampton Board Registrars is gearing up for what it says will be “very high” turnout on Election Day, Nov. 5, with voters picking a new president and weighing in on a state general election and five initiatives on the ballot.

City Clerk Pamela Powers is advising residents to check their voting status to make sure they are listed as active, which can do by visiting the state secretary of the commonwealth’s website. If listed as inactive, residents can fill out a form at the city clerk’s office to make them active.

“Considerable planning is done to assure that our elections are efficient, fair and conducted according to the local, state and federal regulations,” Powers said. “Where possible we can provide unbiased information and assistance. To learn more about the pros and cons of candidates or ballot questions, please refer to local newspapers or candidate websites.”

Early voting for Northampton residents begins on Oct. 19 at the hearing room inside city hall and lasts until Nov. 1.

Mail-in ballots received by the city clerk until the office closes on Nov. 4 will be counted at the polls on Nov. 5.

Mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 8 will be counted at a public meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the city hall hearing room.

Residents who ordered an early vote ballot can the status of their application online at sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/TrackMyBallot. Residents who did not request a mail-in ballot but want one are encouraged to return the postcard that was mailed recently by the secretary of the commonwealth. The last day to request vote by mail ballots is Oct. 29.

City resident honored by Clean Water Action

A Northampton resident is one of several awardees this year by the Massachusetts branch of Clean Water Action, a national organization the advocates for environmental protection and against water and air pollution.

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Julia Scalera, who joined Clean Water Action in 2019 as a community organizer, has worked her way up to becoming a trainer, then field manager, and now works as the canvass director for the organization’s Northampton office. Scalera received the organization’s John O’Connor Award for Canvassing for her efforts in Northampton during a ceremony held at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation.

“Over her five years of organizing with Clean Water Action, Julia has not only personally reached thousands of residents of western Massachusetts and Connecticut, but also trained and mentored hundreds of first-time advocates,” said Elizabeth Saunders, the state’s co-director for Clear Water Action in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor Julia and all of our 2024 honorees.”

The award is named of John O’Connor, an environmental activist in Massachusetts who died in 2001. The organization also gave out the John O’Connor Grassroots Leadership, awarded to the Truro Community Kitchen in Cape Cod. State Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer served as the guest speaker for the event.

Arts Council seeks inputon arts, cultural programs

The Northampton Arts Council is seeking input from the community regarding local arts and cultural programs at an open house scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at A.P.E. Workroom, 33 Hawley St.

Arts council members and staff will be available to answer questions about the upcoming Local Cultural Council grant round and other initiatives aimed at supporting the arts in the city. As part of the event, the Arts Council will distribute a community input survey to gather feedback on local priorities. For those unable to attend, the survey will also be available online.

Brian Foote, director of arts and culture for the city of Northampton, said in a statement that the event will help build connections between residents, artists, local businesses, cultural nonprofits, and civic organizations.

“These connections create multiple channels of access that support local programming and decision-making,” Foote said. “Community input elicits thoughts and opinions and builds connections among residents, artists, local businesses, cultural nonprofits, municipalities and other civic entities.”

For more information, contact the Northampton Arts Council at arts@northamptonma.gov, call 413-587-1069, or visit northamptonartscouncil.org.