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EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow ballot for the annual town election is small in size, but the School Committee and Town Council are showing big races.

Peter Tuohy

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Northampton License Commission to host liquor license lottery in July

May 14, 2026 | Hampshire County, Local News, Northampton

Northampton License Commission to host liquor license lottery in July

NORTHAMPTON — The License Commission will hold a lottery for Northampton’s remaining on-premise all-alcohol liquor license in what the city is calling a special opportunity for businesses in Northampton.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Dean Technical unveils apprenticeship program wall for union trade jobs

May 14, 2026 | Hampden County, Holyoke, Local News

Dean Technical unveils apprenticeship program wall for union trade jobs

HOLYOKE — Dean Technical High School students will have an easier pathway to learn about and apply for apprenticeship program opportunities with local trade unions.

Tyler Garnet

tgarnet@thereminder.com | + posts

East Longmeadow election ballot includes races for Town Council, School Committee

EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow ballot for the annual town election is small in size, but the School Committee and Town Council are showing big races.

Northampton License Commission to host liquor license lottery in July

Dean Technical unveils apprenticeship program wall for union trade jobs

HOLYOKE — Dean Technical High School students will have an easier pathway to learn about and apply for apprenticeship program opportunities with local trade unions.

NORTHAMPTON — Several months after the initial Main Street project, the city is looking to continue the Northampton Banner Project by welcoming another round of artwork from talented artists across the region.

Elected officials fight Pine Point post office closure

SPRINGFIELD — For residents of the Pine Point neighborhood, particularly those who do not drive, being able to walk to Gateway Hardware to mail packages, buy stamps and send priority mail is “critical,” said state Rep. Bud Williams, whose legislative district includes the business.

HTA officially votes in favor of new contract with salary increases

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a contract that makes new Holyoke teachers among the highest paid in the area and increases teacher salaries over three years by 20%.

Hampden School Committee candidates talk issues

HAMPDEN — Hampden’s town election is upcoming on May 18, and Reminder Publishing sent questions to the two candidates for Hampden representatives in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee.

Longmeadow voters say no to town-owned fiber

LONGMEADOW — A town-owned fiber network has been a hot topic of debate in Longmeadow since the idea began in 2024, and especially for the months leading up to the Annual Town Meeting.

Wilbraham approves FY27 budget, school projects at Town Meeting

WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham’s Annual Town Meeting is officially in the rearview, but it didn’t leave before sparking conversation and debate amongst residents on multiple articles, including the town’s fiscal year 2027 budget and multiple school projects.

SPRINGFIELD — Four years after the Springfield Police Department came under a consent decree by the federal Department of Justice resulting from a lawsuit, a judge has dismissed the oversight agreement.

Tina Lesniak

New district chef brings farm to cafeteria approach

WILBRAHAM — At a time when school cafeterias are being reimagined across the country, District Chef Cynthia Normandin is helping lead that transformation in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District through fresh ingredients, local partnerships and scratch cooking that introduces students to healthier foods and new flavors.

Chris Maza

Hampden voters approve budget, vote down HWRSD capital costs

HAMPDEN — The town of Hampden conducted its annual Town Meeting on May 11, approving 18 of the 20 articles on the warrant.

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield School Committee chooses new Gerena site

SPRINGFIELD — German Gerena Community School will stay in the North End.

Sarah Heinonen

Think you know what a human trafficker looks like? Guess again.

Human trafficking happens in Western Massachusetts. That is the number one message Amber Estelle, deputy COO and clinical director of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, wants to share.

Tyler Garnet

HG&E receives approval for liquefied natural gas expansion project

HOLYOKE — After three years of deliberation, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board has approved, with conditions, Holyoke Gas and Electric’s Liquefied Natural Gas Infrastructure and Resiliency Project.

Tyler Garnet

Herald communities prepare for Memorial Day events

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia speaks on the importance of Memorial Day during the 2024 ceremony....

Center for the Arts makes call to artists for Northampton Banner Project

By Trent Levakis | May 14, 2026

Elected officials fight Pine Point post office closure

By Sarah Heinonen | May 14, 2026

HTA officially votes in favor of new contract with salary increases

By Tyler Garnet | May 14, 2026

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a contract that makes new Holyoke teachers among the highest paid in the area and increases teacher salaries over three years by 20%.

Hampden School Committee candidates talk issues

By Peter Tuohy | May 13, 2026

Longmeadow voters say no to town-owned fiber

By Peter Tuohy | May 13, 2026

LONGMEADOW — A town-owned fiber network has been a hot topic of debate in Longmeadow since the idea began in 2024, and especially for the months leading up to the Annual Town Meeting.

Center for the Arts makes call to artists for Northampton Banner Project

By Trent Levakis | May 14, 2026

Elected officials fight Pine Point post office closure

By Sarah Heinonen | May 14, 2026

HTA officially votes in favor of new contract with salary increases

By Tyler Garnet | May 14, 2026

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a contract that makes new Holyoke teachers among the highest paid in the area and increases teacher salaries over three years by 20%.

Hampden School Committee candidates talk issues

By Peter Tuohy | May 13, 2026

Longmeadow voters say no to town-owned fiber

By Peter Tuohy | May 13, 2026

LONGMEADOW — A town-owned fiber network has been a hot topic of debate in Longmeadow since the idea began in 2024, and especially for the months leading up to the Annual Town Meeting.

Wilbraham approves FY27 budget, school projects at Town Meeting

By Peter Tuohy | May 12, 2026

Northampton Garden Tour to bloom June 13

Festival of Art and Music ‘tent event’ to connect local artists

Holyoke School Committee, union reach tentative agreement following yearlong negotiation

Candidates for Southwick Select Board address issues

Agawam City Council supports utility legislation to spur competition

Cliff Clark

Residents’ input needed as Southwick reorganizes zoning bylaws

SOUTHWICK — For over six months, the Planning Board has been working with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to reorganize the town’s bylaws, which have been described as awkward due to a piecemeal approach the town has used for over 50 years.

Peter Tuohy

John Ashley School data shows expansive academic growth in students

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The John Ashley School in West Springfield is working hard to ensure academic growth in the young students for the 2025-2026 school year and the data certainly proves it.

Tina Lesniak

Easthampton mayor presents overview of challenging FY27 budget

EASTHAMPTON — At the May 6 Easthampton City Council meeting, Mayor Salem Derby presented an overview of two proposed budgets for fiscal year 2027 — one for if a $6.9 million override passes on June 9 and one for if it does not.

Amy Porter

Westfield Earth Day cleanup collects over 100 bags of trash

WESTFIELD — Conservation Coordinator Nicholas Balick said the city’s 14th annual Earth Day cleanup on April 25 was extremely successful.

Sarah Heinonen

City Council approves Johnson’s capital improvement plan

AGAWAM — Mayor Christopher Johnson joined the City Council on May 4 to present a five-year capital improvement plan.

Cliff Clark

Southwick Select Board approves MassDOT program that monitors car speeds

SOUTHWICK — The Police Department was successful in getting a state grant from the state Department of Transportation to install several speed feedback signs at fixed locations and on two movable trailers to help manage roadway speeds and safety.

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Trent Levakis

New theater group introduces itself with first production

EASTHAMPTON — In an effort to bring fresh, queer and gender diverse stories to the local theater scene, a new theater group, Why’s It Gotta Be?, has formed here in Western Massachusetts.

Ryan Feyre

Scoreboard oozes traditional sports bar feel at every corner

AGAWAM — No matter the season, an avid sports fan such as myself usually spends my weekends on the lookout for the perfect spot to watch the game.

Dennis Hackett

The Best Damn Sandwich: BBQ panini from Krave in East Longmeadow

EAST LONGMEADOW — Having worked exclusively in East Longmeadow over the past year, I have come to appreciate the town’s many lunch stops. I am happy to report that another excellent spot recently opened its doors.

Tyler Garnet

Historic Deerfield announces schedule for Revolution’s

DEERFIELD — As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Historic Deerfield’s 2026 season is centered on bringing the Revolutionary era to life as a lived, local experience in Western Massachusetts.

Sarah Heinonen

Forbes Library hosts wide-ranging fiber arts exhibit by The Fiberistas

NORTHAMPTON — The Hosmer Gallery on the second floor of Northampton’s Forbes Library is awash in colors and textures. Nine women have put their heart and soul — and thread — into a fiber art exhibit, “Bits and Pieces.”

Trent Levakis

Academy of Music’s ‘Let’s Hear It!’ campaign aims to secure assisted listening device system

NORTHAMPTON — Those with auditory and visual disabilities may soon have the necessary equipment to fully enjoy live performances at the Academy of Music Theatre.

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