HOLYOKE – While the Old Farmer’s Almanac and the Farmers’ Almanac have different weather predictions for this winter, it’s still going to be cold and with energy prices continuing to rise, the Valley Opportunity Council and the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund have started accepting applications for heating assistance.

“Our goal is to ensure households are safe and warm this winter, and also that they can stretch their dollars a little further,” said Melissa White, the director of programs for the Valley Opportunity Council, which administers the Home Energy Assistance Program for Hampden County.

HEAP helps eligible households challenged by the high cost of home heating fuel pay a portion of their winter heating bills and provides assistance through a fixed benefit amount for the

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