WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS.

State gives $1M grant for auto, IT shops at Westfield Tech

BOURNE — Westfield Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski drove down to Cape Cod on the morning of Oct. 22 to participate in the Healey-Driscoll administration’s announcement at Upper Cape Cod Tech of more than $17 million in Skills Capital Lab Modernization grants.

Westfield River interns share progress on fight with invasives

HUNTINGTON — The Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee, volunteers and river enthusiasts recently met for an end-of-season potluck at Stanton Hall to celebrate the year’s activities, and to hear from student interns about their work on invasive plants.

Athletes, coaches humbled by WSHS Hall of Fame honors

WEST SPRINGFIELD — When Emily Taylor netted the last of the 720 points she scored on the Terriers girls varsity basketball team at West Springfield High School, she never imagined she would one day be in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coaches, players reminisce on 100 years of Agawam football

AGAWAM — It was a night of Agawam High School gridiron memories as 125 people — coaches, players and supporters — gathered to celebrate the centennial of Brownies football.

Former Jamaica Plain record store coming to Market Street

NORTHAMPTON — A former staple record store from Jamaica Plain has officially moved into Northampton, with plans of opening the store by Halloween.

Hatfield names Andrew Levine as new town administrator

HATFIELD — During its regular meeting on Oct. 15, the Hatfield Select Board announced that Andrew Levine will become Hatfield’s new town administrator.

Chicopee FD celebrates two long awaited capital improvement project

CHICOPEE — On Oct. 23, the Chicopee Fire Department invited Mayor John Vieau, the City Council and public safety officers to fire house No. 5 to celebrate two capital improvement projects.

Chicopee hoists flag to raise breast cancer awareness

CHICOPEE — On Oct. 11, many gathered in Chicopee to experience the Breast Cancer Awareness flag raising ceremony and show their support.

‘Humble’ Athas appreciative of honorary street sign

SPRINGFIELD — Stephen Athas, 75, is no middle-of-the-road guy, that’s why they named a street after him in Springfield.

Warren, Velis host roundtable discussion on veteran suicide rates

HOLYOKE — A roundtable on the continuously rising rates of veteran suicide took place at Holyoke Community College on Oct. 24 as U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) and state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) hosted the discussion amongst local and statewide providers.

Belliveau ready for new adventure

EASTHAMPTON — After a successful 10-year run as executive director of the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, Moe Belliveau is set to step down next year and move into a new phase of life.

$2.8M received for West Street, Gerena project moves forward

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield was awarded a $2.8 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to reconstruct West and Plainfield streets from Main Street to the North End Bridge. At the Oct. 21 Springfield City Council meeting, DPW Director Chris Cignoli said the focus of the reconstruction will be on pedestrian traffic safety measures.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

The Big 3: A Halloween candy bag of R&B and rap

The last column I wrote featured a limited scope in genre, but with Halloween just around the corner, I want to provide a mixed bag of treats this time around. Below are some of my favorite R&B and rap songs I have been listening to over the past couple weeks.

What I’m Eating: A New Haven pizza showdown

I always dreamed of venturing to New Haven, Connecticut, one day to indulge in what many consider the world’s pizza capital. New Haven boasts a rich pizza history, with the narrow Wooster Street roadway housing two indelible icons — Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Sally’s Apizza.

Opinion

Vote yes on Article 6

At the Nov. 12 Town Meeting, Longmeadow’s progress toward building a much-needed middle school could be put in jeopardy by an article seeking to derail the work of the Middle School Building Committee (MSBC). Show your support for a new school by voting yes on Article 6.

What determines how you vote in an election?

What goes into your process of determining how you are going to vote? Now, I realize many people instantly would talk about party or their self-described political status such as conservative, liberal, libertarian or other, but it’s historically clear that many factors come into play.

Why not 40 hours for Senior Center?

Here’s a scenario: Suppose you want to start a school because you believe you have courses that people would like and benefit from. So, you build a school and conduct courses during the hours of 8 a.m. to noon. People (young and old) come and like the courses. You consider it a success!

Yes to fiber

At our Nov. 12 fall special Town Meeting, Longmeadow residents will have the chance to vote on two articles to bring fast, reliable, affordable, town-owned fiber internet to our community. One article will be the second of two necessary votes to create a Municipal Light Plant, which will allow the town to build and own its own fiber network. The first vote passed at our May annual Town Meeting with 96.5% of the vote. The second article will be to provide funding for the initial steps of the project.

Vote ‘no’ on Senior Center project

I support renovation of the Hampden Senior Center, but the current proposal of millions of dollars is not a prudent use of Hampden’s resources. I am concerned that this proposal does not respect the wishes of the residents who voted “no” at both the 2024 Annual Town Meeting and the spring override election, and is simply a way around the will of the people.