WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS.

Dec 18, 2024 | Enfield, Local Headlines, Local News

Local food pantry provides over 55 years of service to reduce food insecurity

ENFIELD — The Enfield Food Shelf has been established in town since 1968. It is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of different food and basic needs for Enfield families who find themselves with a need. They provide weekly grocery-style food assistance and basic needs as donations permit, such as toiletries, cleaning products, clothing and shoes.

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Boundaries drawn for East Longmeadow’ Center Town District after public input

EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Center Town District Steering Committee took the first concrete step toward creating the district by mapping out the district’s boundaries, using input from residents.

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Springfield celebrates 10th anniversary of Purple Heart designation

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield officials, state lawmakers and the Military Order of the Purple Heart gathered at City Hall to celebrate the city’s 10-year anniversary of receiving the Purple Heart designation.

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West of the River Chamber hosts ugly sweater party

WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West of the River Chamber of Commerce hosted its “ugly sweater” holiday party at the Springfield Country Club on Dec. 10 for a night of networking.

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Wreaths Across America convoy makes stop in Agawam

AGAWAM — With Wreaths Across America taking place on Dec. 14, WAA’s annual “Escort to Arlington,” the nation’s longest veterans’ parade, made a stop in Agawam on Dec. 10.

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Chicopee welcomes Gándara’s Los Campeones program

CHICOPEE — On Thursday, Nov. 22, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, Gándara Center CEO Lois Nesci, state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield), Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, and a representative from the office of state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), along with a host of community members, joined together for the grand opening of Los Campeones, a residential treatment program for men.

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HCC celebrates grand opening of new program for adult learners

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College celebrated the grand opening of its Marieb Adult Learner Success Center, a new support program for adult learners and student-parents, on Dec. 11.

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Suzette French Creperie joins Thornes Marketplace

NORTHAMPTON — Suzette French Creperie is the newest addition to Thornes Marketplace and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 12.

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Amherst Senior Center unveils mural by college students

AMHERST — The Senior Center was the gathering spot for an unveiling of a new mural within the center’s community room on Dec. 10 in thanks to a partnership with an Amherst College Public Art and Collaborative Practices course.

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High school Show Choir shares holiday spirit with preschoolers

WESTFIELD — Before the Show Choir began its program at the Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center on Dec. 9, Director Korey Bruno introduced her students to the preschoolers.

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Help the Westfield Food Pantry keep hope alive

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Food Pantry, run by Director Rebecca Hart and her sister, Program Director Melissa Cahalan, is seeking the support of the community in order to maintain operations this holiday season and beyond. Particularly needed are monetary donations to offset costs.

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Tina Lesniak

Chicopee National Night Out achieves national recognition

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Police Department is celebrating an exciting milestone as the city’s National Night Out climbed to 13th place in the country this year. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of city departments, community members and organizers who collaborated to make the event a resounding success.

Local Headlines

Tyler Garnet

James “Jim” Meenaghan named 2025 Gallivan Award recipient

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Committee announced on Dec. 10 that James “Jim” Meenaghan is the 52nd recipient of the Gallivan Award, which is awarded to a long-standing member of the association who, while not a resident of the city of Holyoke, has made significant contributions to the overall success of the parade and the association.

Amy Porter

New deer technician at Huntington weigh station loves her job

HUNTINGTON — Some hunters checking their deer at the weigh station in the parking lot of 22 E. Main St. outside of B&D’s the first week of shotgun season were surprised to meet MassWildlife technician Kalina Flood of Worthington at the scale in place of stewardship biologist Jacob Morris-Siegel, who manned the station for the past 16 years.

Amy Porter

Westfield councilor opposes lithium battery storage

WESTFIELD — During public participation at the City Council meeting Dec. 9, Councilor Dan Allie spoke about the Department of Public Utilities hearing at Westfield State University on Dec. 5 to consider exempting Jupiter Power, LLC. from the city’s zoning regulations for a lithium battery energy storage system on Medeiros Way. He also announced his intention to make a motion to have the council consider a resolution opposing the project.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

Matt Conway

What I’m watching: ‘Wicked’ disappointing holiday films

The quintessential Broadway showstopper “Wicked” is now following a well-traveled yellow brick road by venturing onto the big screen. A “Wicked” adaptation remained a priority project for Hollywood studios over the last two decades, undergoing countless pre-production iterations before finally forming into a two-part final product.

Matt Conway

Dinner and Show: Gourmet grinders and gladiators

The bristling cold of winter often leaves me blue. Seeing the sky turn pitch-black by 5 p.m. daily leaves me in a malaise as I pine for warm days where I could bask in the outdoors. During this hibernation period, I crave comfort food more than ever.

Opinion

Payton North

Continuing to build a life rich in what matters most

As January 2024 approached, I wrote a column candidly sharing that I did not know what made me happy anymore. At the time, I was dealing with a big loss. My grandfather John, who was more of a best friend than a typical grandpa — had passed away a few months earlier. I was starting a new year — a year without him — and I felt as though everything I knew and was comfortable with had changed.

G. Michael Dobbs

Additional train service is a long time in coming

So, a couple of weeks ago as I stood on the train platform at Union Station listening to elected and transportation officials talk about the status of additional passenger train service between here and Boston, I realized that no one acknowledged former state Sen. Eric Lesser.

Letters to the Editor

Wrong location for middle school

Article 6 is a wakeup call to Longmeadow residents signed by over 300 citizens who agree that the current Williams Middle School site is the wrong location. At the Nov. 12 Town Meeting, voters will get to decide whether they support a new consolidated middle school to be built on the current (WMS) property site despite some major disadvantages which threaten long term consequences for the town.

Letters to the Editor

Find a better solution for middle school

I would like to address last weeks Letter to the Editor, asking Longmeadow residents to vote yes on Article 6. Contrary to the opinion of the MSBC, we are not trying to derail the process, we are trying to find a better solution and location for the proposed new combined middle school. Let me address each of their points.