AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce recognized outstanding community members Thursday night. How to prepare your home for the winter cold The chamber held its annual 'A-Plus Awards Dinner' at UMass Amherst. Some awards were based on community service, lifetime achievement, and service for young professionals. The annual event aims to honor those who put their community first. "These are all working professionals. We are celebrating folks who are leaders in innovation," said Jacob Robinson, the Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's next event is the lighting of the Merry Maple. That event is scheduled to take place on December 6th in Amherst. Local News Headlines Deadline: REAL ID enforcement goes into effect in six months Coffee & Conversation event connects veterans in Chicopee Police seized 16 kilograms of fentanyl, Lawrence woman sentenced Final environmental study released on replacing aging F-15 aircraft at Barnes ANGB in Westfield WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.