March Concert Series at BHMA

Berkshire Hills Music Academy presents an inspiring evening of classical music, community connection, and authentic artistic expression featuring talented BHMA students and instructors. The performers include the BHMA Classical Ensemble and the “Idle Hands” piano duo, which comprises of Tom Slowick, an accomplished pianist and instructor at BHMA, and Franklin Nichols, a multi-talented BHMA musician. Free entry, suggested donation at the door.

Margarita Madness

Mix, mingle, and network at our largest signature event of the year, presented by Western Mass Heating, Cooling & Plumbing! Enjoy an evening of tasty margaritas and vote for your favorite. Local restaurants showcase their fare and there are dozens of great raffles prizes donated by our Amherst Area Chamber Members. The premiere networking event in the region. Live Music! Food! Games! Raffle! And, of course, Margaritas! 

Our featured nonprofit is Way Finders, an affordable housing organization dedicated to bringing home stability to people across Western Massachusetts since 1972.

Hampden County Housing Forum

Hampden County faces urgent housing challenges — and meaningful opportunities. Join us for the Hampden County Housing Conversation – a regional conversation about where we are, what the data tells us, and how we move forward together.

At this event you will:

Learn about housing in Hampden County

Be among the first to explore key findings from Building Homes. Building Futures., the new four-county regional housing study conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute and join a conversation to help shape future housing strategies for the region. At this event, you’ll gain:

  • A clear picture of current housing trends and needs in Hampden County
  • Insights into regional gaps and growth opportunities
  • New tools communities can use to plan, produce, and preserve housing
  • A chance to discuss practical strategies you can apply locally
  • An opportunity to provide input on the next Regional Housing Plan
Help create a regional housing plan

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is leading the update of the Pioneer Valley Regional Housing Plan to help communities in Hampden and Hampshire Counties address today’s housing challenges and plan for long term housing needs. This event will serve as the public kickoff of that effort.

Grounded in regional data, local knowledge, and community input, the plan will establish shared priorities and practical strategies to increase housing supply, improve affordability, support a range of housing types, and strengthen coordination across municipalities.

Input gathered at this forum will directly shape the goals, strategies, and implementation actions of the Regional Housing Plan.

Northampton DHHS Community Forum

The City of Northampton Department of Health and Human Services and the Northampton Board of Health will host a community forum on Thursday, March 5, providing an opportunity for open dialogue and public discussion about a proposed Nicotine-Free Generation (NFG) policy. Community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the proposal, ask questions, and share perspectives. No deliberations or votes will occur at this forum. The Nicotine-Free Generation policy is a forward-looking public health approach that would gradually phase out the sale of nicotine products to future generations by establishing a birth-year cutoff for legal sales.

Autism Connections’ 34th Annual Autism Conference

We are pleased to announce the 34th annual Autism Conference on April 30, 2026!

This exciting event is designed to foster a sense of community among a diverse group of attendees, including parents, caregivers, individuals with autism and autistic individuals, extended family members and friends, educators, social workers, and other professionals.

The Autism Conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with exhibitors and presenters who will share valuable insights and resources, providing knowledge, inspiration and motivation to expand your circle of supports. We are dedicated to focusing on resources that address the needs of individuals across all life stages.

We are particularly excited to announce our keynote speaker, Dr. Daniel Wendler, PsyD, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and autistic self-advocate, who brings powerful insights on neurodiversity, inclusion, and human connection through both professional expertise and lived experience. In addition to the keynote, participants can look forward to an all-new and expanded line-up of 18 Breakout Sessions!

We strive to make this event available to as many people as possible. If you are experiencing financial constraints and are interested in attending the conference at a discounted price, let us know by checking the Request Financial Support box on the registration form. Thanks to a generous grant from the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism we are able to offer up to a 100% discount on a limited number of tickets.

For all general event questions, please email us at AutismConference@servicenet.org.