UMass researcher seeking people aged 14-20 in MA for confidential, zoom interviews about perspectives on and experiences with the school-based discipline and/or criminal justice system involvement for cannabis-related offenses. $30 gift card upon successful completion of interview. Contact Faith English at fenglish@umass.edu or text 802-387-0634.

Hi a friend of mine is trying out doing a triathlon but does not have a wetsuit. They are not super flush with cash either . At 6'4" they would need an XL.

Can anyone recommend a place to rent one for the day?

Thanks

What's your favorite ice cream in the area, and why?

Some of you may have already filled this out online or a paper survey that you may have received in the mail or was available at a drop box. If you have not already filled it out, this is a reminder to fill out the community solar surveys if you are a resident of one of the participating towns. Make sure you take time to communicate your preferences for solar development, incentives, benefits, and your concerns before the survey closes!

Town Surveys (about 15 min)

Ashfield

Colrain

Deerfield

Heath

Leverett

Leyden

Montague (including Lake Pleasant, Millers Falls, Montague Center, Montague City, Turners Falls, or those living in more rural parts of town)

Monterey

Northfield

Whately

Feel free to post this in neighborhood groups or send this to friends who are residents of any of these towns. We are looking for as many responses as possible to get a sense of what the town residents want. This survey is led by UMass students and the UMass Clean Energy Extension (CEE) related to the Community Planning for Solar planning process. If you have questions about survey participation and consent, please contact Dwayne Breger (energyextension@umass.edu, 413-545-8510). If you have any other questions about this project, please contact River Strong (gcstrong@umass.edu, 413-545-8513). 

The Center for Addiction Medicine is currently conducting a confidential research study to examine the effects of marijuana on mood in adolescents aged 12 - 25. Individuals who are between the ages of 12 – 25 and who use marijuana are being asked to participate.

The study consists of 12 visits over the course of approximately two months, and participants can earn up to $845. The research study will involve answering questionnaires and interviews, and daily surveys during select periods of the study, and an optional activity watch component.

For more information about whether you or someone you know may be eligible, please contact sjknoll@mgh.harvard.edu or 617-643-3575.

https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/mj_and_depression

Hello! We're Gamut Pins, a small business based in Easthampton, MA that provides pronoun pins to people both locally and internationally. We are committed to supporting and improving the lives of gender-expansive and LGBTQ+ individuals wherever we can, so we wanted to share this list of Events and Resources that are local to Western Massachusetts. This might be useful resource not only for yourself but to friends and/or family that needs more support or inclusive spaces where they feel safe to express themselves.

Events:

Noho Pride (May ? 2023)

Noho Pride's annual Parade and Pride Day is an event celebrating the spirit and strength in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ) communities in Western Massachusetts. They have been on hiatus but are revisioning the festival for 2023, so we'll be keeping an eye out for news.

Holyoke Pride (June)

Holyoke Pride is an annual month-long series of events that commemorate the contributions of the LGBTQ+.

Springfield Pride (June 3, 2023)

Now in its second year, the Springfield Pride Parade is a chance to walk together in a community-driven movement of support, inclusivity, and public recognition to remind our LGBTQIA+ youth that they are safe, they are loved, and they are not alone. We had a great time tabling at Springfield Pride in 2022!

Longmeadow Pride (September 17, 2023)

The Longmeadow Pride Alliance runs this event, which is now in its third year. They are supportive, community focused non-profit serving the Longmeadow, MA area for the benefit of the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Organizations:

Translate Gender (Northampton)

Translate Gender holds holds lots of events and offers support from individual therapy to youth and family gatherings. They are a collective-based consensus-run organization that works to generate community accountability for individuals to self-determine their own genders and gender expressions. If you stop by their offices in person, they have free pronoun pins from us available for visitors while supplies last.

Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce (Western MA office in Easthampton)

The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit powered by hundreds of brilliant LGBT-owned businesses. They have a directory of businesses in Massachusetts that you can support, and they can help you become a member and get your business LGBT certified.

Last year they opened a Western Mass office in Easthampton, which is how we met them. The Chamber has connected us with a lot of great resources and people, so if you are LGBT+ and have a business (even if that business is just you), you should consider joining.

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter (Northampton & online)

This chapter of PFLAG holds monthly discussion groups and support groups online via Zoom. Their mission is to offer support, education and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and those who love us.

Rainbow Elders at Life Path (Greenfield)

Rainbow Elders offers opportunities and information to build connections and find resources to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual, aromantic, and agender elders, as well as their allies, and educational outreach to agencies, businesses, and the community at large. This group is based at the Life Path, a nonprofit agency on aging based in Greenfield.

Bloom Local (Northampton)

This new art space centers and celebrates LGBTQ+ creativity in the Pioneer Valley. They just launched a new Queer/Trans Valley Emergence event series.

Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth

The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ youth advises others in state government on effective policies, programs, and resources for LGBTQ youth.

The AGLY Network of Massachusetts

The Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (AGLY) Network has grown to include groups from communities all over Massachusetts, and it collectively provides social support and direct services to more than 6,000 LGBTQ youth annually. They have meetings both in Boston and online focused on youth ages 22 and under.

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If you know of other resources or events that are not included on this list, please share them below.

Your town is currently working with UMass students and the UMass Clean Energy Extension (CEE) to conduct a survey related to the Community Planning for Solar planning process, developed by CEE to assist towns with proactive solar planning. The links below will bring you to the survey specific to your town. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.

Thank you very much for your help with this important study. If you have questions about survey participation and consent, please contact Dwayne Breger (energyextension@umass.edu(link sends e-mail), 413-545-8510). If you have any other questions about this project, please contact River Strong (gcstrong@umass.edu(link sends e-mail), 413-545-8513). 

Town Surveys

Ashfield

Colrain

Deerfield

Heath

Leverett

Leyden

Montague (including Lake Pleasant, Millers Falls, Montague Center, Montague City, Turners Falls, or those living in more rural parts of town)

Monterey

Northfield

Whately

​

Feel free to post this in neighborhood groups or send this to friends who are residents of any of these towns. We are looking for as many responses as possible to get a sense of what the town residents want.

I’m looking to supplement my diet with things I can grow myself.

Does anyone know of a local store that sells live spirulina culture? Or better yet, someone who grows their own who would like to gift me some….

I run in the woods near there often. Condoms, wrappers, towels, empty lube bottles all littered on the ground.

Look, I get that you want a nice spot to get off. It is a charming spot. Keep it nice. Clean up your litter.

Getting your rocks off is great, just don't litter.

UPDATE I ran through the other days and was much better. thankyou lads.

please vote.

(Sarcasm aside, voting in primaries is very important. Voter participation is lower which means your vote has a heavier impact.)

UMass Chan Medical School is recruiting people for a fully remote/online study to determine how e-cigarette advertising impacts responses and attitudes.

You may qualify if:

• You are between 18 and 26 years old
• You have never tried an e-cigarette
• Or-
• You have tried an e-cigarette, but not in the last 30 days

The study involves answering surveys, view magazines online and submitting results of at-home saliva tests all completed at your convenience.

The time commitment is 6-months of 1-time per week online participation.

You will be offered compensation for your time.

If you are interested, please complete eligibility screener below. If you are eligible, a study team member will contact you:

https://arcsapps.umassmed.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=L9KCY9PLCR

Thank you for your consideration!

Are you or do you know someone who is between the ages of 10-17, lives in the Boston area, and uses marijuana? Participate in this confidential research study and earn up to $420!

https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/arches

Can anyone else hear weird rumbling sounds outside? Fireworks? Techtonic plates shifting? Godzilla walking? Too regular for snow thunder. What is it? (Friday 7:15 pm). Been happening for minutes.