LONGMEADOW — With two months to go before Longmeadow residents vote on whether to fund the new combined middle school, the Middle School Building Committee is hosting a series of informational sessions and school tours to make its case.

LONGMEADOW — It was standing-room-only in the conference room at the Longmeadow Town Offices on July 8 as more than 150 people came in person and another 70 attended online to ask questions about Longmeadow Community Electric.

SPRINGFIELD — BJ’s Wholesale Club officially broke ground at 1655 Boston Rd. on July 8, just a few weeks after announcing its plans to open the new store later this year.

HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke and Hampden County Sheriff’s Office hosted a press conference on July 9 to announce the launch of the After Incarceration Support Systems satellite office in Holyoke, a significant step in making life-changing support services more accessible to residents.

CHICOPEE — The American Junior Golf Association returned to the Chicopee Country Club for the seventh time for the FM Global Championship presented by the John D. Mineck Foundation.

NORTHAMPTON — A new exhibit at Historic Northampton is highlighting the city’s history as it relates to slavery in “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654 to 1783.”

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A recent study found that the Eastern States Exposition economic impact on Hampden County was $235 million in Gross Regional Product and a “record-breaking” $1.167 billion across New York and New England in 2024.

A recent study by the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham found that food insecurity continued to rise across the state, but especially in Western Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD — Substance use disorders are still a prevalent issue in Hampden County, but according to recent data from the Critical Incident Management System, some progress has been made.

EAST LONGMEADOW — A proposed building at 896 Somers Rd. brought about 40 residents to the East Longmeadow Planning Board meeting on July 1.