Because of the extreme heat forecast through Wednesday, cooling centers will be open in several locations throughout Northampton for the next three days.

The National Weather Service has declared a heat advisory through 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 17. Hot temperatures and high humidity cause heat-related illnesses to increase significantly.

The centers, which are open to anyone who needs a cool place, are open as follows:

Monday, July 15: Division of Community Care community room, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Forbes Library, 20 West St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Lilly Library, 19 Meadow St., Florence, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Manna Community Center, 48 Elm St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, July 16: Division of Community Care community room, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Forbes Library, 20 West St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Lilly Library, 19 Meadow St., Florence, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Manna Community Center, 48 Elm St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, July 17: Division of Community Care community room, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Forbes Library, 20 West St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Manna Community Center, 48 Elm St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Manna Community Center permits dogs if they are under control of their owner and well-behaved.

Also, the Northampton Police Department lobby, 29 Center St., is available 24/7 during the week.

Health officials offer these tips for coping with hot, humid weather.

  • Avoid strenuous activity and drink plenty of water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible.
  • If you do not have air-conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help to evaporate sweat, which cools your body.
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers.
  • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals. Avoid high-protein foods that increase metabolic rate.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors.

People needing assistance during the heat are advised to contact Northampton Public Safety at 413-587-1100.

Cooke Avenue and Hatfield Street

The City Council is scheduled to vote during its next meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 15, on installing a temporary all-way stop at the intersection of Hatfield Street and Cooke Avenue. That order, which was unanimously recommended by the Transportation and Parking Commission on June 18, was introduced to the City Council on July 11 and there were no objections.

Department of Public Works Director Donna LaScaleia, who chairs the commission, recommended that the four-way stop be installed for a trial period of 120 days beginning in September to observe the resulting traffic queues and other impacts, including on emergency vehicles that use Hatfield Street.

In my remarks supporting the proposal, I cited the long-standing concerns about the dangers of the intersection expressed by residents who live nearby, as well as the heavy traffic volume and motorists on Hatfield Street who exceed the posted speed limit of 30 mph. I also supported the trial period to determine if there are any unintended consequences, such as traffic backups in the neighborhood.

There are now stop signs on the north and south sides of Cooke Avenue at the intersection. Stop signs would be installed in both directions on Hatfield Street after a safety study was conducted last fall by the city’s consultant, Fuss & O’Neill of Springfield. It recommended that the intersection be converted to an all-way stop based on the heavy traffic volume on Hatfield Street and sight distances below the minimum state standard for southbound motorists on Cooke Avenue making left or right turns onto Hatfield Street.

In addition, the Police Department reported 14 accidents during a recent five-year period at the intersection.

Municipal budget

The City Council on July 2 unanimously approved an amendment submitted by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra to increase the Fiscal Year 2025 Northampton Public Schools budget by $1,104,750 to $40,778,585.

The vote was necessary because the City Council on June 20 failed to approve that budget when councilors Quaverly Rothenberg of Ward 3, Jeremy Dubs of Ward 4 and Rachel Maiore of Ward 7 voted against it, saying they wanted more money for the schools. That resulted in the mayor’s original $136,903,512 budget filed May 16 taking effect when the new fiscal year began July 1. That budget included $39,673, 835 for the Northampton Public Schools.

I supported the $138.2 million municipal budget approved July 2, an increase of 4.4 percent from this year. That includes the additional money for the Northampton Public Schools, so its budget matches the amount proposed by Superintendent Portia Bonner in December, an increase of more than $3 million, or about 8 percent, from last year’s school budget.

The fiscal year 2025 budget is available here:

https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/26218/FINAL-Mayors-FY2025-Budget-PDF

The budget also is available in print at the city clerk’s office, 210 Main St.; Forbes Library, 20 West St.; and Lilly Library, 19 Meadow St., Florence.

Free legal resources

Free legal services are now available at the Division of Community Care’s community room, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, through a kiosk provided by the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University School of Law in Springfield.

The kiosk allows people to apply for free legal help, browse legal resources, check their court records, complete and submit forms on their court cases, and print documents. The kiosk can connect people to resources on topics including housing, healthcare, education, family/children/divorce, immigration, debt, and employment.

The legal kiosk is available to members of the public on a first-come, first-served basis Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The kiosk is accessible to people with disabilities, offers a reliable internet connection, and has software that wipes the device after each use.

The Center for Social Justice installs legal kiosks at sites that serve the community in an effort to assist people to navigate the justice system and promote digital equity.

The Division of Community Care is completing its first year of operation as part of the city’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Stan