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Sep 25, 2024 | Hampden, Hampden County, Local Headlines, Local News

Hampden Fall Fest offers day of family friendly activities

HAMPDEN — Hampden’s 2024 Fall Fest will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 12-5 p.m. at Thornton W. Burgess School on 85 Wilbraham Rd. and feature new attractions, such as hot air balloon rides.

Sep 25, 2024 | Hampden County, Hampshire Hilltowns, Local Headlines, Local News, Westfield

Pease, Matthews-Kane differ in focus on community needs

WESTFIELD — Republican state Rep. Kelly Pease and his opponent, Democratic candidate Bridget Matthews-Kane, are both focusing on community needs in their campaigns. They define those needs differently, however. Pease, who has occupied the 4th Hampden District seat...

Sep 24, 2024 | Hampden County, Local Headlines, Local News, Monson

Public Safety Night Out will be ‘bigger and better’

MONSON — The Monson Police and Fire departments will jointly host the fourth annual Monson Public Safety Night Out on Oct. 5 from 2-6 p.m. at Veteran’s Field.

Westfield art walk features flame-painted copper, pub-loving fiddler

WESTFIELD — ArtWorks Westfield’s annual ArtoberFest art show will return to downtown Westfield from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with around 80 artists, artisans and authors along Elm Street from the Westfield Athenaeum to Arnold Street.

Senior Center leader gets to know clients at Southwick BBQ

SOUTHWICK — Nearly 100 clients of the town’s Senior Center enjoyed a barbecue lunch and live music during the center’s annual get-together on Sept. 19 at Whalley Park. “Everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Lisa Anderson, the newly appointed director of the Senior Center.

Fairgoers flock to Big E for West Springfield’s special day

Sept. 16 — the first Monday of the Big E’s 2024 season — was warm and sunny. It was perfect fair weather for the 67,034 people who attended. That number was four times higher than the Salute to West Springfield in 2023, when only 16,549 people attended because of rainy weather, setting a record low attendance.

Holyoke observes Childhood Cancer Awareness month

HOLYOKE — Through a proclamation made inside the mayor’s office on Sept. 16, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia recognized September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

Chicopee honors dancers representing Team USA in November

CHICOPEE — On Sept. 17, Mayor John Vieau presented Thea Cosgrove, Karielys Rivera, Madisyn Vazquez and Paige Bordeau with certificates of achievement after being chosen to represent Team USA at the International Dance Organization World Championship.

Fr. Gentile honored by St. Patrick’s Citizens Award

HOLYOKE — Continuing the buildup to the 2025 Green Season in the city, the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke has announced the 56th Citizenship Award winner is Fr. Robert Gentile, Jr. during a ceremony on Sept. 10.

Springfield Museums partners with Irish heritage center to explore ties

Recycling initiative donates boxes of school supplies to Springfield teachers

It started with a conversation between commission members. Elizabeth Bone and Dawna Jenne, both members of the Longmeadow Recycling Commission, were speaking one day when Jenne told Bone about her work with Springfield Public Schools’ Tools 4 Teaching, a nonprofit that organizes the donation of gently used school supplies to Springfield teachers.

Northampton hosts groundbreaking for Prospect Place housing

NORTHAMPTON — A project that promises 60 family housing units at the former nursing home site on 737 Bridge Rd. is one step closer to reality after representatives from the city, region and state gathered on Sept. 18 to celebrate the project’s groundbreaking.

Run/walk aims to raise awareness about addiction

ENFIELD — Outrun Addiction’s seventh annual 5K run/walk is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 9 a.m. at the Enfield Town Annex, 124 North Maple St.

Miasha Lee

Somers Town Wide Tag Sale returns on Oct. 5

SOMERS — This fall, the Somers Town Wide Tag Sale returns on Saturday, Oct. 5, rain or shine. Each person that participates chooses their time and are provided with a listing of all the locations by street name in alphabetical order, which will be posted on the town website (somersct.gov) and Facebook page on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Sarah Heinonen

Estelle Jordan to fill vacancy on Longmeadow School Committee

LONGMEADOW — At a joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee, Estelle Jordan was chosen to fill an empty seat on the committee. The vacancy opened after former School Committee member Mary Keene won reelection in June but was unable to fulfill the role due to health issues. Jordan will serve in the seat until the townwide elections in June 2025.

Mike Lydick

Agawam panel mulls geothermal system, layout of new high school

AGAWAM — The School Committee recently got an update on the progress of the new high school...

Miasha Lee

Ludlow’s Haviland Pond blooming with blue algae

LUDLOW — On Sept. 13, a message was released on the Ludlow website stating that toxic algae may be present at Haviland Pond.

Sarah Heinonen

DA donates to recovery house, pledges to support future women’s house

SPRINGFIELD — District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office awarded a Community Support Grant of $20,000 to Christian and Brian’s House, a recovery house in Springfield. In total, Gulluni’s office has awarded $45,000 to the house.

Tina Lesniak

Excitement grows for the annual spelling bee in Oct.

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Education Foundation is seeking speller teams and sponsors for its annual spelling bee fundraiser on Oct. 22. Funds raised by the event support the Small Grants for Educators program which provides different activities and special learning opportunities for Northampton students.

Local Headlines

Hampden Fall Fest offers day of family friendly activities

Pease, Matthews-Kane differ in focus on community needs

Public Safety Night Out will be ‘bigger and better’

QueerCore Fest a celebration for LGBTQ+ and allies

MCAS question to grace ballots in November

Mike Lydick

Westfield cruise night presents $2,500 to vet organizations

WESTFIELD — As the son of a veteran, Bruce Marshall supports missions of local veteran organizations, especially those that help veterans in need. That’s why he wrapped up the 2024 season of his “Cruisin’ with Bruce Marshall” car show at Hampton Ponds Plaza by presenting three local veterans groups with a donation.

Amy Porter

Huntington Food Pantry running raffle to meet year-end needs

HUNTINGTON — Since the spring, the Huntington Food Pantry has been reaching out to the communities that it serves for support, something that it has not often done in its decades-long service of providing food to families in more than a dozen area Hilltowns.

Trent Levakis

HCC reopens, expands on food pantry, Thrive Center

HOLYOKE — The relocation and expansion of HCC’s Thrive Center and Food Pantry was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 10 with school and community leaders in attendance.

Tyler Garnet

Chicopee, Westover host exercise to prepare for hypothetical EMP attack

CHICOPEE — Many department heads and representatives from different participating agencies took part in Chicopee’s Local Emergency Planning Committee Electromagnetic Pulse Tabletop Exercise to prepare for a potential electromagnetic pulse event.

Tyler Garnet

Elms College, Square One sign agreement to enhance opportunities

Dawn DiStefano (left) and Harry Dumay (right) officially sign a memorandum of understanding between Square One and Elms College.Reminder...

Ryan Feyre

Hatfield Select Board selects bidder for Main Street culvert project

HATFIELD — Nearly a week after the public approved the borrowing of money for the project, the Hatfield Select Board officially awarded the bid for the Main Street Cowbridge culvert repair to E.J. Prescott during its Sept. 17 meeting.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

Matt Conway

What I’m watching: frightful fall features for all

My plans to attend the Big E this year were thwarted by record-breaking attendance and, by my estimation, record-breaking traffic. For everyone like myself who lacks the patience to wait through lines, here are some fall films that will scare you into the Halloween spirit!

Sarah Heinonen

Fright Fest’s scare actors: your terror is their labor of love

AGAWAM — Willow Farber and Aimee Meunier sat on stools with their eyes closed. The table between them was littered with bottles of paint and airbrush applicators. While Entertainment Supervisor Gregory Seymour put the finishing touches of Meunier’s face with a brush, Melissa Wassell began spraying blue lines on Farber’s skin.

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield Museums partners with Irish heritage center to explore ties

The exhibit, “Gone Now, to Springfield,” on display at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History through...

Provisions

Provisions Picks: Italy’s Emilia-Romagna has more than cheese to offer

For September, we are heading to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Emilia-Romagna is a region of northern Italy located...

Lauren LeBel

Go Local Marketplace features vendors, food trucks, music, free trip giveaway

EAST LONGMEADOW — More than 25 local businesses will showcase their specialties through products, baked goods, crafts and more at the first Go Local Marketplace.

Matt Conway

What I’m Eating: Frolicking through fall festivities

The days of summer heat waves are finally over! Like most New Englanders, I consider fall the best season for the region. The sound of wrestling leaves and their beautiful color gradient. The cool chill in the air that washes over like a comforting wave. Through these and other sensations, fall truly exudes a sense of place that feels so evocative to the senses.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

Memorial Ave. rail crossing a real safety hazard

Last week, I met with Chris Tyrrell, a locomotive engineer with CSX Transportation and a legislative representative for...

G. Michael Dobbs

The Paramount deserves being saved by a new owner

Earlier this summer, I made a trip to Rome, New York, to attend a multi-day vintage film festival.

Letters to the Editor

Yes, freedoms are lost in liberal administrations, unequally

The author says; “I really get tired of people claiming they have lost their “freedoms” during liberal administrations...

Letters to the Editor

In support of schools as polling locations

In response to the article “School Committee (Chicopee) public input speakers seek change” (published Sept. 12-18) regarding the use of school buildings as polling locations, Bowe Elementary Physical Education Teacher Kate Moss, at the Sept. 4 School Committee meeting, presented valid concerns for student safety during election days at Bowe School, a designated voting place.

G. Michael Dobbs

And now to the main political event of the fall

So, last Tuesday evening — Primary Election Day — I was at Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge, known the world-wide, having my usual Tuesday stogie and a beverage with some of the smartest guys I know and yet despite enjoying myself, I felt like the retired horse that pulled the fire wagon when there was an alarm going. I had an itch, a feeling that I should be in the fray.

Letters to the Editor