Area Briefs: Mount Holyoke to host Spring Flower Show

Mount Holyoke’s 54th annual Spring Flower Show

SOUTH HADLEY — The Botanic Garden at Mount Holyoke College is holding its annual Spring Flower Show starting Saturday, March 7, and ending Sunday, March 22. The show is held in the Talcott Greenhouse on campus and is free and open to the public. 

This year’s show is the 54th annual event. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the vibrant colors and fragrances of this floral spectacle. Visitors also will be able to stroll through other parts of the Talcott Greenhouse complex including the surrounding three acres of gardens. 

“The show will feature thousands of vibrant tulips, cheery daffodils, fragrant hyacinths as well as other spring bloomers all set amidst and in combination with plants from the permanent living collection,” said Tom Clark, the director and curator of the Botanic Garden. “The Flower Show is always a welcome burst of spring-like exuberance in the waning days of winter! We encourage visitors to explore the entire Talcott Greenhouse as it has a rich and diverse collection of plants from around the world.”

During the show, the Talcott Greenhouse will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 

Educators to be recognized at celebration

HOLYOKE — Wistariahurst is joining thousands of schools and organizations across the country to celebrate Civic Learning Week, March 9–15, by hosting a recognition ceremony of Holyoke Civic Educators on Monday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m., at the 238 Cabot St. museum.

This event will kick off a series of upcoming events about our civic rights and responsibilities this year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

At the ceremony, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, state Rep. Pat Duffy, and Sen. John Velis will honor the work of Holyoke educators Vanessa Martínez, professor of anthropology at Holyoke Community College, and Nicholas Cream, ethnic studies and history teacher at Dean Technical High School and president of the Holyoke Teachers Association.

To prioritize civic learning, Martínez encourages students to get involved in and advocate for their communities. Her academic work is rooted in cultural humility and she teaches students how they can learn more about community organizations and use their skills to raise awareness and fundraise for community needs.

Cream also has encouraged civic learning and participation. Throughout his career, he has taught his students about the importance of civic engagement. He has also advocated for teachers in his community, striving to improve education in Holyoke.

Civic Learning Week is an annual nonpartisan event held the second week of March that brings together students, educators, policymakers, and leaders in the public and private sectors to highlight and further energize the movement for civic education in states and communities across the nation.

HCC fundraising campaign to be held March 4

HOLYOKE — Auto dealer Gary Rome is again partnering with the HCC Foundation for a one-day campaign to raise money for student support programs and academic resources at Holyoke Community College.

The sixth annual “Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives” campaign is set for Wednesday, March 4, and will run for 24 hours from 12:01 a.m. to midnight. With a goal of 500 donors, this year’s success would put the campaign’s six-year cumulative support total over $1 million.

Donations can be made through a secure portal on the HCC website: hcc.edu/drive 

The campaign supports six critical areas that directly support HCC students: academic excellence and innovation; scholarships; the Thrive Center and Food Pantry; the President’s Student Emergency Fund; the President’s Fund for Opportunity; and the HCC Foundation’s general fund.

The campaign has already received pledges for challenges and matching funds in excess of $125,000.

Rome, who is a member of the HCC Foundation’s Board of Directors, has pledged an additional $50 for every first-time donor. To help promote the event, Rome will be visiting the “Together HCC” celebration on campaign day from 11 a.m. – noon on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center.

Free screening of ‘Kundun’ at UMass

AMHERST — A free screening of “Kundun,” a 1997 biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese, will take place on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the UMass campus. Doors open at 5 p.m.

“Kundun” follows the early life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as a young spiritual leader during China’s invasion of the country. The screening, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the University of Massachusetts Amherst chapter of Students For A Free Tibet and the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts.

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