LONGMEADOW — The fourth annual Longmeadow Pride festival took place on the Town Green on Sept. 15. The crowds came out to the event, organized by the Longmeadow Pride Alliance, heard music, sampled food truck fare, played games and learned about community resources and municipal projects.

Sue deVillier of Agawam and Laurie Houle Isham of Hampden met 25 years ago, after their youngest daughters were born with a genetic disorder called Down syndrome. Like many mothers in their situation, they were looking for information and resources.

HUNTINGTON — Reading specialist Margaret Petzold arranged a special visit to Littleville Elementary School on Sept. 12 in advance of the school participating in “One School One Book.”

BLANDFORD — Town officials and neighbors gathered at the new patio outside the Porter Memorial Library on Sept. 10 to get acquainted with Cristina Ferrera, the new town administrator who started in the position on July 8.

Ten American teenagers traveled to the Dominican Republic this past July to not only play baseball with 10 teenagers from this island country, but also to work together as teammates on a community service project.

“Everyone needs to do their part, that every time you see a man or woman who wears that uniform, to always remember to say thank you and to never let your memories of 9/11 fade away,” Mayor Christopher Johnson said at the town’s annual memorial ceremony this year.

CHICOPEE — Chicopee police officers and firefighters, EMTs, state and city officials, employees and community members gathered on the morning of Sept. 11 at the Public Safety Complex to remember and honor all those who those who sacrificed and lost their lives after the tragedies that took place 23 years ago.

HOLYOKE — In a celebration of historic investments for veterans in Western Massachusetts, the Holyoke Veterans Home received a visit from Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Veterans Services Secretary John Santiago and other legislative and local leaders on Sept. 13.

MONSON — In remembrance of the tragic events that occurred on 9/11, the Monson Free Library partnered with Project 351 and the Massachusetts Military Hero Fund to honor those lost.

SPRINGFIELD — Memories are made of sights, smells and sounds. Twenty-three years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, members of Springfield first responder community remembered where they were on what John Sjoberg, chair of the Spirit of Springfield, called, “A day when time stood still, but our first responders did not.”