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Chicopee to consider quarterly real estate tax billing

Jul 9, 2026 | Chicopee, Hampden County, Local News

Chicopee to consider quarterly real estate tax billing

CHICOPEE — Mayor John Vieau recently appointed a task force team to begin reviewing and considering changes to the city’s real estate tax billing process.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Academy of Music, Play Incubation Collective, collaborate on new program for queer youth

Jul 9, 2026 | Hampshire County, Local News, Northampton

Academy of Music, Play Incubation Collective, collaborate on new program for queer youth

NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music and the Play Incubation Collective are making a call to the area’s queer youth for a new theater opportunity.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Rachel’s Table celebrates truck to help with gleaning program

Jul 9, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield

Rachel’s Table celebrates truck to help with gleaning program

SPRINGFIELD — Rachel’s Table, a food insecurity organization in the greater Springfield area, officially celebrated the acquisition of a new truck, dubbed the “Glean Machine,” with a ribbon cutting on June 7.

Sarah Heinonen

sheinonen@thereminder.com | + posts

Chicopee to consider quarterly real estate tax billing

CHICOPEE — Mayor John Vieau recently appointed a task force team to begin reviewing and considering changes to the city’s real estate tax billing process.

Academy of Music, Play Incubation Collective, collaborate on new program for queer youth

NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music and the Play Incubation Collective are making a call to the area’s queer youth for a new theater opportunity.

Rachel’s Table celebrates truck to help with gleaning program

City announces $2.6 million to stabilize Old First Church exterior

SPRINGFIELD — Old First Church, one of Springfield’s oldest and most recognizable buildings, will receive some much-needed work to stabilize the exterior of the building.

East Longmeadow Planning Board approves Firestone project

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Firestone Complete Auto Care construction project at 546 North Main St. is moving ahead after approval by the East Longmeadow Planning Board on July 7.

Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland in 31st year

NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.

Company looks to build solar field on College Highway in Southwick

SOUTHWICK — Town officials recently met with representatives of an energy company that has plans to build a solar field on property that fronts College Highway and Nicholson Hill Road.

Markey, Moulton clash in first Democratic senate primary debate

CHICOPEE — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton clashed over leadership, policy, and experience during their first head-to-head debate on July 8 at the WWLP TV-22 Studios.

Springfield Law Department: Claims against Oyola-Lopez appear as ‘witness intimidation’

SPRINGFIELD — Public allegations of potential corruption made by At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst against City Clerk Gladys Oyola were left untouched by the city solicitor, who warned that the claims could be seen as “witness intimidation.”

Turtle returns to wild after recovering from serious injury

SOUTHWICK — It was only by fate or luck that a severely injured snapping turtle was found on a town road by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator last October.

Sarah Heinonen

As Calvi preps for retirement, Sarno taps Rivera to lead Springfield Fire Department

SPRINGFIELD — It was a bittersweet moment for Mayor Domenic Sarno as he lauded Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi at a ceremony on June 7.

Amy Porter

School Committee gives Westfield superintendent high marks

WESTFIELD — At the School Committee meeting on June 29, its last regular meeting until Aug. 24, vice chair Michael Tirrell gave a summary of the committee’s annual superintendent’s evaluation.

Tyler Garnet

Chicopee City Council approves funding for Real-Time Information Center analysts

CHICOPEE — Positions in Chicopee that were originally slashed from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department budget will now be restored thanks to a recent appropriation.

Cliff Clark

Ready to wade into summer? Southwick Town Beach opens to the public

SOUTHWICK — For any family, couple, or person looking for a place to spend a day relaxing or hanging out, Town Beach just opened last week for the public’s enjoyment this summer.

Cliff Clark

Westfield Planning Board approves site plan changes for store, gas station

WESTFIELD — With a significant restructuring of the Exit 41 interchange occurring in the next five years, the Planning Board recently approved minor changes to the special permit for the company planning to build a Pride convenience store and gas station on the site of the old Friendly’s.

Tyler Garnet

Schermerhorn’s Seafood returns after 2-year absence

HOLYOKE — For many longtime Holyoke residents, the wait is finally over; Schermerhorn’s Seafood has reopened its doors at 224 Westfield Road on July 1 after a two-year hiatus.

City announces $2.6 million to stabilize Old First Church exterior

By Sarah Heinonen | Jul 9, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — Old First Church, one of Springfield’s oldest and most recognizable buildings, will receive some much-needed work to stabilize the exterior of the building.

East Longmeadow Planning Board approves Firestone project

By Peter Tuohy | Jul 9, 2026

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Firestone Complete Auto Care construction project at 546 North Main St. is moving ahead after approval by the East Longmeadow Planning Board on July 7.

Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland in 31st year

By Trent Levakis | Jul 9, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.

Company looks to build solar field on College Highway in Southwick

By Cliff Clark | Jul 9, 2026

SOUTHWICK — Town officials recently met with representatives of an energy company that has plans to build a solar field on property that fronts College Highway and Nicholson Hill Road.

Markey, Moulton clash in first Democratic senate primary debate

By Tyler Garnet | Jul 9, 2026

CHICOPEE — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton clashed over leadership, policy, and experience during their first head-to-head debate on July 8 at the WWLP TV-22 Studios.

City announces $2.6 million to stabilize Old First Church exterior

By Sarah Heinonen | Jul 9, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — Old First Church, one of Springfield’s oldest and most recognizable buildings, will receive some much-needed work to stabilize the exterior of the building.

East Longmeadow Planning Board approves Firestone project

By Peter Tuohy | Jul 9, 2026

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Firestone Complete Auto Care construction project at 546 North Main St. is moving ahead after approval by the East Longmeadow Planning Board on July 7.

Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland in 31st year

By Trent Levakis | Jul 9, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.

Company looks to build solar field on College Highway in Southwick

By Cliff Clark | Jul 9, 2026

SOUTHWICK — Town officials recently met with representatives of an energy company that has plans to build a solar field on property that fronts College Highway and Nicholson Hill Road.

Markey, Moulton clash in first Democratic senate primary debate

By Tyler Garnet | Jul 9, 2026

CHICOPEE — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton clashed over leadership, policy, and experience during their first head-to-head debate on July 8 at the WWLP TV-22 Studios.

Springfield Law Department: Claims against Oyola-Lopez appear as ‘witness intimidation’

By Sarah Heinonen | Jul 9, 2026

AJGA tournament brings nation’s best golfers to Chicopee

Hampton Ponds Fourth of July parade celebrates America’s 250th

Wyben Fourth of July parade honors the country’s milestone birthday

East Longmeadow celebrates Fourth with annual parade

Parties in the Park returns to Northampton

Tyler Garnet

Data center committee proposal sent to Holyoke City Council

HOLYOKE — Although Holyoke recently banned future developments of data centers in the city, the conversation regarding the controversial buildings continued during an Ordinance Committee meeting on June 30.

Tyler Garnet

Funding to help ease financial burden of Chicopee youth sports

CHICOPEE — A $50,000 state earmark was celebrated on June 25 for the future of Chicopee by ensuring that financial barriers will not prevent children from participating in sports.

Trent Levakis

Easthampton recount confirms $6.9 override passed

EASTHAMPTON — A recount of the Proposition 2 1/2 vote confirmed that the $6.9 million override did indeed pass during Easthampton’s June 9 Special Election.

Chris Maza

Sarno sounds off on courthouse decision

SPRINGFIELD — Days before the Fourth of July, Mayor Domenic Sarno provided his own display of verbal fireworks, taking aim at state officials’ decision to place a new courthouse on Liberty Street.

Peter Tuohy

Free concerts return to Longmeadow throughout summer

LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s “Concerts on the Green” is back for the summer, bringing live music to residents with triple the bands performing across July and August nights.

Peter Tuohy

Totally Adaptive receives grant from Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow’s Totally Adaptive will enhance programming and increase accessibility to its specialized fitness services for individuals with autism and other disabilities after receiving $6,500 through the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism’s Community Impact Grant.

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Trent Levakis

Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland in 31st year

NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.

Sarah Heinonen

Panel discussion to follow autobiographical play about clergy abuse

NORTHAMPTON — This July, Easthampton resident Jay Sefton will stage a production of his one-person show “Unreconciled” at the Academy of Music in Northampton.

Trent Levakis

Thunder in the Valley returns with fireworks, music festival

EASTHAMPTON — In celebration of the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of America, the Thunder in the Valley concert and fireworks festival returns to Easthampton to provide the community with its biggest celebration yet.

Peter Tuohy

‘La Casita Experience’ to transform MassMutual Center

SPRINGFIELD — The MassMutual Center will soon host one big celebration of community, blending music and dance, live performances, DJ sets and interactive visuals to represent the high energy nightlife experience rooted in Puerto Rican culture.

Trent Levakis

Paradise City Arts Festival returns for 31st year later this month

NORTHAMPTON — The nation’s premier destination for lovers of the handmade and high-end is once again gracing the region over Memorial Day weekend.

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.

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