Home - The Reminder

Sarno threatens to end free buses after Union Station incident

Jun 4, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield

Sarno threatens to end free buses after Union Station incident

SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of an incident involving dozens of youth at gathered Union Station and resulting in the arrests of eight teens, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced a crackdown on young people using the location as a “meet up.” Seeing fare-free buses as part of the problem, he also announced he would seek to eliminate them in the city. However, elected officials have pushed back on that plan.

Sarah Heinonen

sheinonen@thereminder.com |

+ posts

Dennis Hackett

dhackett@thereminder.com |

+ posts

Residents push for rent control, participatory budget process

Jun 3, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield

Residents push for rent control, participatory budget process

SPRINGFIELD — City residents crammed into the City Council Chambers for the Public Speak Out portion of the June 1 council meeting.

Sarah Heinonen

sheinonen@thereminder.com | + posts

Youth Commission structure would leave City Council in the cold

Jun 3, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield

Youth Commission structure would leave City Council in the cold

SPRINGFIELD — Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris is hoping to resurrect the city’s Youth Commission.

Sarah Heinonen

sheinonen@thereminder.com | + posts

Sarno threatens to end free buses after Union Station incident

Residents push for rent control, participatory budget process

SPRINGFIELD — City residents crammed into the City Council Chambers for the Public Speak Out portion of the June 1 council meeting.

Youth Commission structure would leave City Council in the cold

SPRINGFIELD — Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris is hoping to resurrect the city’s Youth Commission.

Longmeadow voters once again say no to fiber through override

LONGMEADOW — The unofficial election results are in for Longmeadow’s annual town election on June 2, which saw no contested races but did make an attempt at a Proposition 2½ override to continue the chance of a town-owned fiber internet network.

Unofficial election results show tight victory for East Longmeadow Town Council

EAST LONGMEADOW — It was a three-way race for two open spots in the East Longmeadow Town Council, and the unofficial results from the June 2 election show a victory by only 15 votes.

Salsa series returns to heat up summer in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to fill the streets with a lively atmosphere through music and dance, the Salsa in the Plaza and Salsa in the Park series will return to downtown Northampton this summer.

Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

CHICOPEE — Aurora’s Pizzeria has a new home down the road from its old storefront, and to celebrate, it hosted a grand reopening ceremony on June 2 at its new 1782 Westover Road location.

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Juneteenth Festival is returning to the EJ Gare Plaza on Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in another year of the vital community gathering dedicated to honoring Black liberation and excellence.

Chicopee School Committee approves $139.4M budget for FY27

CHICOPEE — The School Committee approved an approximately $139.4 million fiscal year 2027 budget during its June 1 meeting, an increase from $136.7 in FY26.

Roasted Beanery brews community with a side of coffee

SOMERS — At first glance, the Roasted Beanery may appear to be another independent coffee shop serving handcrafted drinks and breakfast sandwiches.

Tyler Garnet

Herald communities prepare for Fourth of July celebrations

Chicopee, Holyoke and South Hadley are preparing to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks displays that bring residents together for an evening of festivities, family activities and summer tradition.

Sarah Heinonen

Symphony orchestra to play live at Star-Spangled Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — This July 4, as children play in the grass, families picnic on blankets and fireworks light up the sky over the Connecticut River, Springfield will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the sounds of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra playing live at Riverfront Park.

Peter Tuohy

HWRSD students attend One8 learning showcase in Boston

WILBRAHAM — Students in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District recently expanded their STEM knowledge by completing hands-on projects and attending the One8 Applied Student Learning Showcase in Boston with Project Lead The Way.

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield City Council approves $1.04B budget

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council voted 10-3 to approve the $1.04 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, the first budget in the city’s history to top $1 billion.

Tina Lesniak

Enfield Community Market focuses on more than shopping

ENFIELD — On any given Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors to the Enfield Community Market can browse fresh vegetables, locally raised meats, handcrafted wood products, artisan jewelry, baked goods and specialty coffee.

Mike Lydick

West Side man urgently needs living kidney donor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Fifteen years ago, routine bloodwork revealed that Theodore “Ted” Pinkerman had kidney damage.

Longmeadow voters once again say no to fiber through override

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 3, 2026

Unofficial election results show tight victory for East Longmeadow Town Council

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 3, 2026

EAST LONGMEADOW — It was a three-way race for two open spots in the East Longmeadow Town Council, and the unofficial results from the June 2 election show a victory by only 15 votes.

Salsa series returns to heat up summer in Northampton

By Trent Levakis | Jun 3, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to fill the streets with a lively atmosphere through music and dance, the Salsa in the Plaza and Salsa in the Park series will return to downtown Northampton this summer.

Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 2, 2026

CHICOPEE — Aurora’s Pizzeria has a new home down the road from its old storefront, and to celebrate, it hosted a grand reopening ceremony on June 2 at its new 1782 Westover Road location.

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

By Trent Levakis | Jun 2, 2026

Longmeadow voters once again say no to fiber through override

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 3, 2026

Unofficial election results show tight victory for East Longmeadow Town Council

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 3, 2026

EAST LONGMEADOW — It was a three-way race for two open spots in the East Longmeadow Town Council, and the unofficial results from the June 2 election show a victory by only 15 votes.

Salsa series returns to heat up summer in Northampton

By Trent Levakis | Jun 3, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to fill the streets with a lively atmosphere through music and dance, the Salsa in the Plaza and Salsa in the Park series will return to downtown Northampton this summer.

Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 2, 2026

CHICOPEE — Aurora’s Pizzeria has a new home down the road from its old storefront, and to celebrate, it hosted a grand reopening ceremony on June 2 at its new 1782 Westover Road location.

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

By Trent Levakis | Jun 2, 2026

Chicopee School Committee approves $139.4M budget for FY27

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 2, 2026

CHICOPEE — The School Committee approved an approximately $139.4 million fiscal year 2027 budget during its June 1 meeting, an increase from $136.7 in FY26.

Gándara Center opens new women’s recovery residence in South Hadley

Easthampton superintendent: 35 positions will be cut without override

Stamborski set to retire in June; Cross to become next Chicopee fire chief

Retiring educators honored by West Springfield School Committee

Healey tours Veterans Home in Holyoke to highlight progress

Ryan Feyre

Northampton mayor presents $152M budget to council, warns of override in FY28

NORTHAMPTON — Amid “historic financial pressures” levied on cities and towns across the state, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra unveiled a $152 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 to the City Council.

Tyler Garnet

Holyoke looks to fill School Committee vacancy

HOLYOKE — The city aims to fill a School Committee vacancy on June 17 after Ward 7 School Committee representative Ellie Wilson recently announced her resignation.

Trent Levakis

CAPA receives $4M grant for NHS geothermal project

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton’s fight against climate change and global warming just received a vital boost.

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield Symphony Orchestra announces free Juneteenth celebrations featuring Avery Sharpe

SPRINGFIELD — On June 19, the walls of Tower Square will reverberate with the sounds of the Juneteenth Freedom Concert and celebrations scheduled throughout the afternoon.

Sarah Heinonen

City Council approves restaurant parking lot over landlord concerns

SPRINGFIELD — A pair of landlords in Indian Orchard vehemently opposed a zone change to create a five-car parking lot at 376-378 Main St., citing concerns about noise and traffic.

Amy Porter

Drabiuk voted in as new member of Huntington Board of Selectmen

HUNTINGTON — At the May 9 annual town election, a total of 203 votes were cast for 13 positions and one ballot question.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

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.

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.”

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

Local Headlines

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

Opinion