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Chicopee St. Patrick’s Parade Committee prepares to name its next colleen

CHICOPEE — In less than two weeks, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Chicopee will name its next colleen to represent the city at the 73rd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on Sunday, March 22.

Bombyx Brass Collective presents pre-spring concert “Musical Flurries”

NORTHAMPTON — The Bombyx Brass Collective is gearing up for its next show, a pre-spring concert called “Musical Flurries,” on Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at the Bombyx Center in Florence.

Submissions welcomed for April’s Northampton Youth Cinema Festival

NORTHAMPTON — Calling all young filmmakers aged 21 and younger, the Northampton Youth Cinema Festival is returning this April and is now accepting submissions for the upcoming 2026 showcase.

Longmeadow film screening to show the invisible threat of microplastics on human health

LONGMEADOW — On Feb. 25 in the Longmeadow High School auditorium, a coalition of town committees and organizations will be showing “Plastics People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics” to inform the public on the impact microplastics have on human health and the planet.

East Longmeadow School Committee moves ahead to next budgeting steps

EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow School Committee voted to formalize step one of its fiscal year 2027 budget at its meeting on Feb. 9.

Springfield City Council to rescind ‘tainted’ vote, Whitfield apologizes

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council called a special meeting to rescind a vote, after Springfield City Council President Tracye Whitfield failed to recuse herself from deliberation of a matter that she had financial and familial connections to.

Book highlights importance of middle school connection

SPRINGFIELD — For several years, Vilenti Tulloch has been training teachers and working with schoolchildren to learn vital lessons about creating environments in which children can learn. Now, Tulloch has authored a book, “Engage to Excel: Building Trust, Belonging and Success in the Middle School Years” to spread the core lesson that “care, trust and togetherness build connection.”

HOPE Center for the Arts receives $5 million earmark to improve building

SPRINGFIELD — An organization providing free arts and literacy education, and college preparation services to Springfield students has received a $5 million windfall of federal funding to continue its mission, repair its facility and expand its reach.

Holyoke discusses Finance Department changes, provides fiscal status updates

HOLYOKE — Following the recent approval by the City Council to improve the city’s Finance Department, Mayor Joshua Garcia and others hosted a press conference on Feb. 9 to talk about the newly improved department and the city’s current fiscal standing.

Workers brave frigid temps to protest ICE actions around the country

SPRINGFIELD — Bitterly cold temperatures did not stop more than 150 members of area unions from coming out on Feb. 7 to rally against actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota and elsewhere under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Patience pays off for Agawam’s new colleen

AGAWAM — Waiting with the five other contenders vying to become Agawam’s 2026 colleen, Ava Levesque was nervous, but tried her best to stay calm. Her anxiety quickly turned to joy when her name was announced as the new colleen.

Student art made into mural at Memorial Elementary School

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A couple weeks ago, people who walked into Memorial Elementary School saw red brick walls with cream-colored cinderblock. Now, visitors, students and staff are greeted with the sight of a peace sign, hearts floating up the wall and a reminder to “Bee Kind.” Further down the hallway is a blue dog with spots, a rocket ship, a basketball wearing a graduation cap, more bees and a school bus. What makes this piece of art more than just a mural is that the images all came from the students’ imaginations.

Book highlights importance of middle school connection

SPRINGFIELD — For several years, Vilenti Tulloch has been training teachers and working with schoolchildren to learn vital lessons about creating environments in which children can learn. Now, Tulloch has authored a book, “Engage to Excel: Building Trust, Belonging and Success in the Middle School Years” to spread the core lesson that “care, trust and togetherness build connection.”

Book highlights importance of middle school connection

SPRINGFIELD — For several years, Vilenti Tulloch has been training teachers and working with schoolchildren to learn vital lessons about creating environments in which children can learn. Now, Tulloch has authored a book, “Engage to Excel: Building Trust, Belonging and Success in the Middle School Years” to spread the core lesson that “care, trust and togetherness build connection.”

Longmeadow appoints members to future building use task force

LONGMEADOW — With the Longmeadow future building use task force now appointed, work will soon begin to find a use for Town Hall, Old Town Hall and Community House. Voted in by the Select Board were Paul Dunkerley, Sara Gregg, Ryan McCollum, Earl Godfrey, Zach Kushner, Leonard Shaker and David Lipke.

VINS Dog Show returns for 18th annual show at NHS

NORTHAMPTON — Volunteers in Northampton schools will host its 18th Annual Dog Show on March 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at Northampton High School. According to organizers, the event is once again expected to bring “high levels of tail-wagging fun” in support of the nonprofit’s work.

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Heartbeat of New Orleans music comes to Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — An all-star ensemble of musicians are coming to Springfield with the “Take Me to the River: New Orleans” concert at HOPE Center for the Arts on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. The concert is inspired by the 2022 documentary of the same name, which will be shown for free on Jan. 3 at 4 p.m.

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