WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS.

Hilltowns vigil commits to making domestic violence a thing of the past

HUNTINGTON — The annual Hilltown Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil was observed inside Stanton Hall on Oct. 16. As community members entered, they were encouraged to sign a banner and write a message on a prayer flag to victims of domestic violence, which were then attached to clotheslines across the stage.

Agawam high schoolers working to improve academics, behavior

Marlene DeJesus, the district’s director of social emotional learning, and Sadie Petta, an English teacher at Agawam High School, told the School Committee at its Oct. 15 meeting that the project, Caught in the ACT, is an initiative centered around giving students a voice and being involved in some decision making.

Oktoberfest supports East Longmeadow’s Brown Farm Recreation Area

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow’s third annual Oktoberfest celebration took place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Brown Farm Recreation Area in support of increased usage and improvement of the park’s nature trails. Organized by the East Longmeadow Recreation Commission with support for East Longmeadow Recreation Foundation, the town’s Oktoberfest featured food and activities for children and adults alike.

‘Endless’ benefits to fiber, says Longmeadow task force, provider

LONGMEADOW — Cities and towns across Western Massachusetts are exploring municipally owned internet networks. Chicopee, Westfield and South Hadley operate networks, while Hampden, East Longmeadow, West Springfield, Wilbraham and Southwick are at various stages of municipal fiber projects with different internet service providers.

House of Koolada’s welcomed to Chicopee with ribbon cutting ceremony

CHICOPEE — On Oct. 1, Chicopee welcomed a new business to the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony for House of Koolada’s, 738 Chicopee St.

Holyoke Health celebrates jumpstart to careers training center

HOLYOKE — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Malden) visited the Paper City on Wednesday, Oct. 16 to tour and share remarks at Holyoke Health Center in a highlight of the $1 million he secured in fiscal year 2024 to jumpstart the Holyoke Health Careers Training Center.

Officials break ground on new water treatment facility

WESTFIELD — For years, the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission has been developing a vision for improving operations at its West Parish Water Treatment Plant, but as U.S. Sen. Ed Markey noted, “A vision without funding is a hallucination.”

Basketball legends,‘SuperFans’ honored during enshrinement weekend

SPRINGFIELD — The rain could not dampen the spirit in Springfield on Sunday, Oct. 13 as some of the world’s biggest and brightest basketball stars shined in a gathering and celebration at Symphony Hall for the 2024 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.

Smith College educators officially unionize

NORTHAMPTON — The early childhood educators at Smith College Center for Early Childhood have officially unionized, joining five other groups of Smith College workers that have unionized over the past 10 months.

Conference in Agawam offers opportunities to enhance writing skills

The “yWrite! 2024 Writers’ Conference” is an all-day, in-person conference designed to enhance the skills of beginning and seasoned writers. There will be morning and afternoon sessions that will give participants the choice of classes and workshops presented by professional and experienced facilitators.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

The Big 3: A Halloween candy bag of R&B and rap

The last column I wrote featured a limited scope in genre, but with Halloween just around the corner, I want to provide a mixed bag of treats this time around. Below are some of my favorite R&B and rap songs I have been listening to over the past couple weeks.

What I’m Eating: A New Haven pizza showdown

I always dreamed of venturing to New Haven, Connecticut, one day to indulge in what many consider the world’s pizza capital. New Haven boasts a rich pizza history, with the narrow Wooster Street roadway housing two indelible icons — Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Sally’s Apizza.

Opinion

What determines how you vote in an election?

What goes into your process of determining how you are going to vote? Now, I realize many people instantly would talk about party or their self-described political status such as conservative, liberal, libertarian or other, but it’s historically clear that many factors come into play.

Why not 40 hours for Senior Center?

Here’s a scenario: Suppose you want to start a school because you believe you have courses that people would like and benefit from. So, you build a school and conduct courses during the hours of 8 a.m. to noon. People (young and old) come and like the courses. You consider it a success!

Yes to fiber

At our Nov. 12 fall special Town Meeting, Longmeadow residents will have the chance to vote on two articles to bring fast, reliable, affordable, town-owned fiber internet to our community. One article will be the second of two necessary votes to create a Municipal Light Plant, which will allow the town to build and own its own fiber network. The first vote passed at our May annual Town Meeting with 96.5% of the vote. The second article will be to provide funding for the initial steps of the project.

Vote ‘no’ on Senior Center project

I support renovation of the Hampden Senior Center, but the current proposal of millions of dollars is not a prudent use of Hampden’s resources. I am concerned that this proposal does not respect the wishes of the residents who voted “no” at both the 2024 Annual Town Meeting and the spring override election, and is simply a way around the will of the people.