The City Council’s Committee on City Services, which I chair, will consider the appointment of Police Chief John Cartledge when it meets at 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23, in the City Council chambers at 212 Main St.
Here is the Zoom link for remote participation: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83366006793
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra last month appointed Cartledge as permanent police chief. He has served as interim chief this year, succeeding Jody Kasper who resigned on Jan. 1 to become chief of police in Nantucket.
Cartledge was selected from among four applicants and was unanimously endorsed by the seven-member search committee. In making the appointment, Sciarra stated that Cartledge’s “leadership has been instrumental in ensuring that Northampton’s police force remains a model of progressive policing focused on serving the community with integrity and respect.”
Cartledge has worked for the Northampton Police Department since 1995 and served as captain of operations between 2015 and 2019, when he became captain of administration. A native of Northampton who now lives in Easthampton, he has a master’s degree in criminal justice.
More about Cartledge is available here:
https://www.northamptonpd.com/about/meet-the-chief.html
DoozyDo Parade
Northampton Neighbors will sponsor the third annual DoozyDo Parade in Northampton at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, stepping off from the Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley St. and ending in Pulaski Park on Main Street.
Organizers describe it as “a joyful, inclusive, unconventional celebration in – and of – the City of Northampton” featuring people of all ages, civic leaders, local organizations, bands and other artists. It will be led by “Grand-ish Marshals” Northampton Public Schools Superintendent Portia Bonner, Rich Cooper and Linda Desmond.
The event raises awareness for Northampton Neighbors, a volunteer organization that provides programs and services to help seniors remain independent and stay engaged with the community.
Further information is available here: https://doozydo.org
League of Women Voters book sale
The Northampton Area League of Women Voters will hold its 74th annual book sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, 80 Locust St. There will be an early bird special entry fee between 8 and 9 a.m.
Returning this year is a collection of books that have been banned or challenged in school departments and libraries in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the country.
The sale of hardcover and paperback books is a fundraiser for educational and advocacy programs sponsored by the local League of Women Voters, which was founded in 1922.
Look Park roundabout
The roundabout at the intersection of Look Park, Bridge Road and North Main Street in Florence will be closed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, to Saturday, Oct. 5, for improvements.
The work will include milling and paving the road, adjusting utility structures and reconstructing pedestrian curb ramps.
All traffic will be detoured via High Street, Mountain Street, North Farms Road and North Maple Street in Florence and Haydenville during those night hours. Normal traffic patterns will resume between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day.
Stan