Easthampton's Override - Juneteenth Jubilee - World Cup Watch Parties
By Neal Quesnel ·
Mid-June, many Western Mass schools let out for summer this week, and Sunday brings the longest day of the year, as the summer solstice arrives at 4:24am. Friday at 3pm the US returns to action in the World Cup against Australia, with watch parties across Western Mass. Friday afternoon the 17th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee anchors 43 North Prospect Street in Amherst. Easthampton voters approved a $6.9M Proposition 2½ override on June 9 by 239 votes; opponents have requested a hand recount but no formal petition has been filed. Here's the week.
This Weekend
§ 01- № 01
17th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee
Fri Jun 19 · afternoon · 43 North Prospect St, AmherstThe 17th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee returns to St. Brigid's Parish Auditorium at 43 North Prospect Street in Amherst, presented by the Black Business Association of Amherst Area and Sankofa Gumbo. Historian Dr. Amilcar Shabazz keynotes; Mass Humanities runs its Reading Frederick Douglass Together program alongside music, food, and community programming. Free and open to all.
- № 02
Western Mass Farmers Markets
15 markets · Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin countiesWe put together the full list of Western Mass farmers markets, organized by day of the week with addresses and a map link for each one. Spot one we missed or hours that changed? Drop us a note via the contact form and we'll add it.
- № 03
The Dotted Line at Luthier's Co-op
Fri Jun 19 · 8pm · Luthier's Co-op, EasthamptonThe Dotted Line plays Luthier's Co-op in Easthampton. Free, doors open before the set; the room holds about 75.
- № 04
Yellowcard at the MassMutual Center
Sat Jun 20 · 6pm · MassMutual Center, SpringfieldYellowcard brings the Up Up Down Down Tour to the MassMutual Center in Springfield with New Found Glory and Plain White T's opening. Three alt-rock bills from the early 2000s on one stage; tickets through the arena box office.
- № 05
Millside Music Showcase Night Two
Sat Jun 20 · gates 4pm · Millside Park, EasthamptonNight two of the Millside Summer Series turns from soccer to music, with a Dancenjoy salsa and bachata lesson at 5pm, Beau Sasser Trio at 7pm, and John Losito & Friends at 8:30pm. Same Millside Park footprint as Friday, no match this night. Free, online ticket required.
- № 06
Summer Solstice at the UMass Sunwheel
Sun Jun 21 · 5am sunrise & 7:30pm sunset · UMass Sunwheel, AmherstUMass astronomers host sunrise and sunset gatherings at the standing stones of the UMass Sunwheel in Amherst to mark the longest day of the year. Free, weather permitting; the 5am crowd is usually smaller than the evening one.
- № 07
Lawn Party at The Landing with Joe Macey
Thu Jun 18 · 4:30 to 7:30pm · The Landing at MassMutual Center, SpringfieldLawn Party at The Landing is the MassMutual Center's free outdoor summer music series, and Thursday's set is Joe Macey, the country and singer-songwriter performer who has been playing the regional circuit since the 1970s. Bring a blanket.
- № 08
Hooplandia at the Big E
Fri Jun 19 to Sun Jun 21 · Eastern States Exposition, West SpringfieldHooplandia's 3-on-3 basketball tournament takes over the Big E grounds in West Springfield for three days, with thousands of players across youth, high school, college, and adult divisions. Select division championships play at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Kids Corner
§ 02- № 01
Little Kid Dance Party at Chicopee Public Library
Wed Jun 17 · 10:30am · Bazan Community Room, ChicopeeAges · Ages 0 to 5Cost · FreeChicopee Public Library hosts its Little Kid Dance Party, a thirty-minute drop-in for singing and movement with caregivers.
- № 02
LibraryBEATS Drum and Rhythm Circle for Juneteenth
Thu Jun 18 · 5:30pm · Clapp Memorial Library, BelchertownAges · All agesCost · FreeClapp Memorial Library marks Juneteenth with LibraryBEATS, a drum and rhythm circle led by Otha Day.
- № 03
Summer Reading Kickoff Party at Forbes Library
Sat Jun 20 · 10am-12pm · Hess Performance Stage, NorthamptonAges · All agesCost · FreeForbes Library's Summer Reading Kickoff Party runs from 10am with a live set from the Grumpytime Club Band, then hula hooping with Wildkat Hoops at 11am, plus popsicles and sign-ups for the summer reading log.
- № 04
Bike Maintenance with Speed and Sprocket
Sat Jun 20 · 10am · Emily Williston Memorial Library lawn, EasthamptonAges · 6 and upCost · FreeSean from Speed and Sprocket Cycle Works sets up on the lawn outside the Emily Williston Memorial Library to walk people through summer bike basics. Bring your bike if it's been squeaking since April; space is limited so register ahead.
- № 05
Birds of Prey with Tom Ricardi
Sat Jun 20 · 2pm · Hess Performance Stage, Forbes Library, NorthamptonAges · All agesCost · FreeTom Ricardi of the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Facility brings live hawks and owls to the Forbes Library lawn. He's been doing these talks for decades and the birds are the real thing.
- № 06
Magical Balloon Twisting Storytime
Mon Jun 22 · 10am · Community Room, East Longmeadow Public LibraryAges · Ages 3 to 6 with caregiverCost · FreeEast Longmeadow Public Library pairs storytime with a balloon twister, and every kid leaves with a balloon animal.
- № 07
Powerful Pigments at the Westfield Athenaeum
Tue Jun 23 · 2pm · Activity Room, Westfield AthenaeumAges · Ages 4 to 8Cost · FreePowerful Pigments at the Westfield Athenaeum shows kids how to crush dandelions into watercolor paint and then use it.
Real Estate Pulse
§ 03From an agent
Even with rates in the mid-6s, well-priced homes in Western Mass are still moving, many drawing multiple offers. If you're a seller who's been waiting for the perfect moment, summer is it.
Looking to buy or looking to sell? Contact Kristina.
The 30-year ticked up 4 basis points to 6.52% in this week's PMMS, the first uptick after two weeks of declines. Year over year the rate is down 32 basis points, which is what moves monthly payments.
Monthly payment · 20% down
| $300k home | $1,900/mo | −$64/mo vs last June |
| $500k home | $3,167/mo | −$107/mo vs last June |
| $750k home | $4,750/mo | −$160/mo vs last June |
* Estimated principal & interest only. Excludes property tax and homeowner's insurance.
The 15-year rose 5 basis points to 5.84% this week. The gap between the 30- and 15-year sits at 68 basis points, and a wider gap means a 15-year saves more on the same loan. For Valley owners running a refinance comparison or buyers shortening their term, that is the math worth running.
Monthly payment · 20% down
| $300k home | $2,506/mo | −$21/mo vs last June |
| $500k home | $4,177/mo | −$35/mo vs last June |
| $750k home | $6,266/mo | −$53/mo vs last June |
* Estimated principal & interest only. Excludes property tax and homeowner's insurance.
The 10-year Treasury, which mortgage rates tend to follow, closed last week at 4.48% and sits near 4.50% as the week opens. The small uptick on the 10-year is what nudged this week's 30-year and 15-year PMMS readings higher.
World Cup Watch Parties
§ 04- № 01
The Landing at the MassMutual Center
Fri Jun 19 · doors 2:30 · USA-Australia 3pm + Scotland-Morocco 6pm · SpringfieldFree outdoor doubleheader on the big screen at The Landing in downtown Springfield: USA v Australia at 3pm, Scotland v Morocco at 6pm. Food trucks, lawn games, and music between the matches. BYO chairs.
- № 02
Greenfield Garden Cinemas
Fri Jun 19 · 3pm · USA-Australia · 361 Main St, GreenfieldGreenfield Garden Cinemas livestreams USA v Australia on the big screen, funded by a $10,000 Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism grant. Free tickets capped at 200 seats, with youth soccer teams getting priority and remaining seats opening to walk-ups. Call the Recreation Department for last-minute availability.
- № 03
Millside Summer Series · Juneteenth Opening Night
Fri Jun 19 · gates 2pm to 10pm · Millside Park, EasthamptonMayor Salem Derby's Millside Summer Series opens with a stadium-scale Juneteenth night: DJ Selector Tomas spins at 2pm, USA v Australia on the LED screen at 3pm, Bomba De Aqui at 5pm, Scotland v Morocco at 6pm, The Mighty Ploughboys closing at 8pm. Food trucks, kids' activities, lawn games, and a free park-and-ride trolley. Funded by a $100,000 state matching grant. Free, online RSVP required.
- № 04
Easthampton Breweries Pitch In
Friday and through the tournament · New City, Abandoned Building, Fort Hill · EasthamptonThree Easthampton breweries are showing matches across the tournament: New City Brewery, Abandoned Building Brewery, and Fort Hill Brewery. Bars and breweries in Lenox, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, and Pittsfield have also confirmed they'll broadcast; check each venue's social before you head over.
Around Town
§ 05- · Town
Easthampton voters approved a $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override at the June 9 special election by 239 votes (3,312 yes to 3,073 no, 6,385 ballots cast). The override funds the bulk of school and city services that had been on the chopping block if it failed. Opponents have emailed City Hall requesting a hand recount, citing concerns about mail-in ballot handling; no formal petition has been filed.
- · Town· Tonight
Chicopee Mayor John Vieau submitted a $283.5 million FY27 operating budget to City Council for review. The council takes it up at its June 16 meeting at 274 Front Street.
- · Notice· Tonight
South Hadley Selectboard holds an Override Public Input Forum during its June 16 meeting at 45 Dayton Street. Voters rejected both a $9M and an $11M override at the polls in April (58% and 65% no, respectively), leaving a roughly $3M gap in the FY27 budget. Residents are encouraged to show up, weigh in, and ask questions before the next vote takes shape.
- · Hiring
Amherst has appointed Daniel Garcia as the new director of Senior Services. Garcia comes from the town's Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service department, where he served as program manager. Town Manager Paul Bockelman made the appointment; Garcia starts July 20.
- · Town
Northampton City Council passed Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra's $152.5 million FY27 budget at its June 4 meeting. The city pulled a $3M override from the 2024 ballot when reserves came in higher than expected; it's trending back toward one within the year, like many local municipalities.
Local Wins
§ 06Tilton Library in South Deerfield is on track to open its second floor in early July, completing an expansion that nearly tripled the building from 4,366 to 12,784 square feet. The first floor opened back in January with a new Community Room for workshops, lectures, and events, plus a Children's Room with a Sensory Room, a play space, computers, and shelves for beginner readers. The second floor adds a craft space, a local history room, two quiet study rooms, and a Teen Room with reading nooks, arts-and-crafts tables, and a gaming area.
The elevator connecting the two floors is the last hold-up; once it passes inspection the library will close briefly to prepare the upstairs, then open. Construction began in April 2024, funded by a $12.3 million town vote in 2022 and $1.65 million in donations and pledges, the end of a planning process that started in 2006. Worth a drive up Route 116 in July to see what a small Franklin County town gets done when a twenty-year capital project actually closes. Address is 75 North Main Street, South Deerfield; watch tiltonlibrary.org for the opening date.
Valley Fact
Mount Holyoke's First Summit House
In the summer of 1821, roughly two hundred Valley townspeople climbed to the top of Mount Holyoke and built the first summit house in two days. The 18-by-24-foot structure went up with a dedication ceremony and a speech by Northampton native Elijah H. Mills, then a U.S. Senator. That two-day community build opened a century and a half of summit tourism: the Prospect House replaced it in 1851, an inclined railway carried visitors up later in the century, and the Summit House that still anchors Skinner State Park today traces its lineage back to that first 1821 climb.