WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS.

Bridget Moynahan named JFK Award recipient in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke announced that actress, author and model Bridget Moynahan is the 2025 recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Award.

Agawam students win award for new writing app

AGAWAM — Three Agawam High School students recently won a Congressional App Challenge for developing a journaling app that can serve as a safe space for students and a way to improve their level of writing.

Dress for Success celebrates new women’s career center with ribbon cutting

SPRINGFIELD — Jess Roncarati-Howe remembers the days when Dress for Success Western Massachusetts was operating out of an old dentist’s office in the now-defunct Eastfield Mall.

East Springfield library lands grant for expansion project

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Library’s East Springfield branch has received a $100,000 planning and design grant for its upcoming expansion project, which is set to take place over the next couple of years.

Southwick DPW contacting homeowners about water lines

SOUTHWICK — After a ruling by the federal Environmental Protection Agency last October that every lead or copper water line in the country must be replaced in 12 years, the DPW is continuing its effort to verify the materials used in the water service lines of every home in town with a new initiative.

Westfield School Committee straw poll favors comprehensive high school

WESTFIELD — One week after the new Westfield River Elementary School opened to students, a straw poll taken by the School Committee after a lengthy discussion revealed that members unanimously support moving forward on a plan to build a comprehensive high school on the site of Westfield High School on Montgomery Street. The straw poll was an unofficial vote to gauge the opinion of committee members.

Graduation competency, determination sought in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON — With voters in the state choosing to do away with MCAS requirements as it relates to high school graduation last November, the Easthampton School Committee began discussing the district’s graduation competency and determination requirements now needed.

CitySpace Bluegrass monthly jams return Feb. 1

The Blue Room at Old Town Hall was jamming to start 2025 as the first CitySpace Bluegrass took place, a new monthly bluegrass jam session designed to bring the community together in the spirit of music, joy and fun.

Upset HWRSD parents ask LPVEC ‘what are we doing?’ about bus delays

WILBRAHAM — Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District families upset with the tardiness of buses will have to wait until the start of the 2025-2026 school year before a permanent fix is in place. In the meantime, transportation provider Lower Pioneer Valley Collaborative’s Executive Director Alvin Morton was on hand to answer questions at the Jan. 9 School Committee meeting.

Longmeadow residents urged to ‘embrace differences’ at DEI Committee event

LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee hosted the first of six events planned for 2025 that will examine topics and issues including race, ability, gender and other underrepresented identities and communities.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

A pair of reviews crossing video games and movies

With a couple of high-profile video game turned movie and movie turned video game releases in December, I wanted to review both. As has become clear from my previous columns, one of my biggest hobbies is gaming, so I could not pass up the opportunity to talk about two of my favorite pieces of media this year, the movie “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and the video game “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.”

Annual 48-Hour Play Festival to offer theatrical tour de force

LUDLOW — Plenty of people are creative but Exit 7 Players want to know if they can be creative under pressure. Beginning Friday, Jan. 17, playwrights will have just one day to create a work for the stage, actors will have less than that to learn their lines and directors will have to make it all come together for the second Annual 48-Hour Play Festival.

Opinion

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.