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Kingston named East Longmeadow parade marshal

Jun 24, 2026 | East Longmeadow, Hampden County, Local News

Kingston named East Longmeadow parade marshal

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow Historical Commission member George Kingston is set to ride in style as this year’s parade marshal for the annual Fourth of July parade, one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in Western Massachusetts.

Peter Tuohy

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East Longmeadow’s time capsules to reveal yesterday, capture today

Jun 24, 2026 | East Longmeadow, Hampden County, Local News

East Longmeadow’s time capsules to reveal yesterday, capture today

EAST LONGMEADOW — What would you want people in 2076 to know about life in East Longmeadow today?

Debbie Gardner

dgardner@thereminder.com | + posts

Holyoke City Council approves FY27 budget with minor cuts

Jun 24, 2026 | Hampden County, Holyoke, Local News

Holyoke City Council approves FY27 budget with minor cuts

HOLYOKE — The City Council passed a budget of approximately $213 million for fiscal year 2027, an increase of $8.97 million, or 4.4%, over FY26.

Tyler Garnet

tgarnet@thereminder.com | + posts

Kingston named East Longmeadow parade marshal

East Longmeadow’s time capsules to reveal yesterday, capture today

EAST LONGMEADOW — What would you want people in 2076 to know about life in East Longmeadow today?

Holyoke City Council approves FY27 budget with minor cuts

HOLYOKE — The City Council passed a budget of approximately $213 million for fiscal year 2027, an increase of $8.97 million, or 4.4%, over FY26.

HTA claims teacher was let go as retaliation for union involvement

HOLYOKE — Members of the Holyoke Teachers Association and other educators gathered outside the School Committee meeting on June 22 to protest what they say was the retaliatory nonrenewal of Bob Williams contract, alleging the decision was intended to target master teachers for their union activity.

South Hadley Selectboard provides tax override updates during public feedback session

SOUTH HADLEY — While the town mulls over the possibility of hosting another tax override vote on Sept. 1, the Selectboard hosted a public input session during its regular meeting on June 16 to hear people’s feedback about this possibility.

Kimble appointed as new Northampton Housing Authority director

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton Housing Authority acting Executive Director Sharon Kimble has been named to the role permanently after the authority’s Board of Commissioners voted to appoint her during its June 11 meeting.

Wilbraham improvement projects will produce summer traffic impacts

WILBRAHAM — The town of Wilbraham is advising residents to expect and plan for “major traffic impacts” this summer due to intersection and sidewalk improvement projects at the Springfield Street and Stony Hill Road intersection.

Agawam City Council passes voter ID resolution

AGAWAM — Twenty-nine people took turns speaking for more than an hour and a half on June 15 about a City Council resolution to support “reasonable voter identification requirements” at both the state and federal levels.

Molina fills Ward 7 seat on Holyoke School Committee

HOLYOKE — Latitia Molina will join the Holyoke School Committee after the committee and City Council hosted a joint meeting on June 17 to finalize her appointment.

Agawam City Council questions Flock cameras in Agawam

AGAWAM — Dozens of residents came to the June 15 City Council meeting to express concerns about Agawam’s use of license plate reader cameras from the company Flock Safety.

Peter Tuohy

Longmeadow Farmers Market props up local businesses through October

LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s one-stop shop for local goods is officially back for the summer and remains through the fall, offering items from fresh-baked bread to skin care products.

Peter Tuohy

Proposed Firestone construction sparks concern from East Longmeadow residents

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow residents are voicing concerns about a proposed Firestone Complete Auto Care on North Main Street and its potential effect on traffic, noise and small business success, with some residents citing existing traffic conditions as “dangerous” and a “big problem.”

Trent Levakis

Academy of Music names Dumont as new executive director

NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music Theatre’s Board of Trustees has announced that Raymond Dumont will take over as executive director of the theater on July 1 after current executive director, Debra J’Anthony, announced she will step down after 18 years in the role.

Trent Levakis

Nye named new Northampton veterans’ services director

Daniel Nye was appointed by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra as the next director of veterans’...

Trent Levakis

Easthampton petitioners trigger override vote recount

EASTHAMPTON — The city will officially hold a recount of votes from the June 9 Special Election override after petitioners collected enough signatures to trigger such a situation.

Ryan Feyre

Easthampton City Council approves two tax relief orders after override vote

EASTHAMPTON — A little over a week after Easthampton voters decided to adopt a $6.9 million override, the City Council passed two action items that aim to alleviate some of the burdens Easthampton residents face when property taxes eventually rise.

HTA claims teacher was let go as retaliation for union involvement

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 24, 2026

South Hadley Selectboard provides tax override updates during public feedback session

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 24, 2026

Kimble appointed as new Northampton Housing Authority director

By Trent Levakis | Jun 24, 2026

Wilbraham improvement projects will produce summer traffic impacts

By Chris Maza | Jun 23, 2026

Agawam City Council passes voter ID resolution

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 23, 2026

HTA claims teacher was let go as retaliation for union involvement

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 24, 2026

South Hadley Selectboard provides tax override updates during public feedback session

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 24, 2026

Kimble appointed as new Northampton Housing Authority director

By Trent Levakis | Jun 24, 2026

I’m voting for Jeromie Whalen

By Letters to the Editor | Jun 23, 2026

I first encountered Jeromie Whalen at a No Kings rally in Westfield back in October 2025. His passion and energy were captivating, and I was surprised to learn that he was running for Congress in the primary against the incumbent, Richard Neal. As he navigated...

Don’t purchase clothes decorated with feathers

By Letters to the Editor | Jun 23, 2026

Before regulatory laws were finally passed in the early 20th century, birds were indiscriminately killed globally for their feathers, to be used for fashion. Unfortunately, birds are excluded from our present U.S. animal welfare act, and the demand for their...

Wilbraham improvement projects will produce summer traffic impacts

By Chris Maza | Jun 23, 2026

STRM: East Longmeadow July 4 celebrations are bigger than ever

Westfield Police captain updates City Council on department

Cross outlines vision as new Chicopee fire chief

Westfield patrol officers will soon wear body cameras

Bumpa Built: A 3D creation of the imagination

Cliff Clark

Freedom Truck canceled after losing parking spot

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Police Department decided not to host the Freedom Truck Mobile Museum last week after Westfield State University rescinded its initial decision to allow the tractor-trailer to park in the south parking lot on its campus.

Peter Tuohy

Smith wraps up 16 year career as East Longmeadow Public Schools superintendent

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow Public Schools is closing a nearly two-decade chapter at the end of June with the retirement of Superintendent Gordon Smith as it prepares for a new era under Dr. Joanne Menard.

Cliff Clark

Winter’s snow cover contributes to explosion of ticks

SOUTHWICK — It may sound counterintuitive, but the amount of snow the area got this winter has contributed to the dramatic increase in the number of ticks being reported by area health departments, including in Southwick.

Sarah Heinonen

City Council, organizers support free buses, but youth are split

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council passed a resolution supporting far-free buses with a vote of 10-0 at its June 15 meeting, overwhelmingly rejecting Mayor Domenic Sarno’s June 2 call for an end to the program, a statement he has walked back in the two weeks since.

Sarah Heinonen

Community Legal Aid receives $200k to battle housing discrimination

SPRINGFIELD — Seven Massachusetts organizations that work to expand access to fair housing protections, recently received funding from the first...

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield City Council supports proposed rule to appear in person

SPRINGFIELD — A month after Springfield Ward 7 City Councilor Gerry Martin proposed limitations on remote participation in meetings and faced significant pushback from colleagues, the council voted 10-2 to approve the resolution.

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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.

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.

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