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Sep 3, 2024 | Hampden County, Local Headlines, Local News, Monson

Monson Agriculture Commission to host farmers market on Sept. 14

MONSON — The Monson Agriculture Commission is hosting a farmers’ market on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Memorial Hall to help highlight local artisans and farmers in the area.

Sep 3, 2024 | Hampden County, Local Headlines, Local News, Ludlow

Ludlow pastor calls for unity after crime at local church

LUDLOW — Pastor Ivan Cutts and his wife Jeanette Cutts of the Cathedral of Life are calling for community unification following an incident at the church on Aug. 20 when a suspect stabbed the church’s historic front doors.

Sep 3, 2024 | Hampden County, Local Headlines, Local News, Ludlow, Springfield

Ludlow mobile home park residents take their case to housing court

SPRINGFIELD — The residents at the West Street Village Community in Ludlow, a mobile home park, have taken their case of their landlord increasing the rents from $207 to $503.60 a month to Western Housing Court.

Survey seeks opinions on which Longmeadow roadway projects to prioritize

LONGMEADOW — Roadwork, including the installation of sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks, is a never-ending challenge for municipalities. Longmeadow is asking residents for their opinions on which roadway projects will help make streets “complete.”

Westfield school cafeterias excited to expand farm-to-table offerings

WESTFIELD — Rachel Kania, director of food services for Westfield’s public schools, said she is really excited about this school year. “I think it’s going to be one of the best yet,” Kania said.

‘Nuts and bolts car guys’ share passion for fixing Model As

SOUTHWICK — When David Sheehan picked up his girlfriend for their first date, he arrived in an unusual car: a 1930 Ford Model A Tudor.

‘Learn about Dementia’ classes in Huntington this month

HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Council on Aging is sponsoring a series of professional workshops called “Let’s Learn about Dementia” presented by Laura Lavoie of Our Dementia Life.

Owner of West Springfield diner damaged by fire eyes return

WEST SPRINGFIELD — On Aug. 29, District 1 Councilor William Forfa visited Charlie’s Diner, where he met with owner Michael Alfano, an employee and some friends who were helping with the rebuilding effort.

Smith’s voter eligibility complaint dismissed after hearing in Ware

Velis celebrates collaborative summer outreach for youth

HOLYOKE — State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) took a visit to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center on Aug. 27 to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the organization and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts following their summer outreach efforts that targeted youth mental health.

Tech Foundry, Comcast donate 50 laptops to residents

HOLYOKE — Representatives from Tech Foundry, Comcast and state Rep. Patricia Duffy (D-Holyoke) gathered in downtown Holyoke on Aug. 22 for a donation of 50 laptops to help residents in Holyoke, Springfield and surrounding towns gain access to the skills, technology and reliable high-speed internet needed to succeed in today’s increasingly digital world.

Cartledge officially named permanent police chief

NORTHAMPTON — A new era for the Northampton Police Department is officially underway after Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced that John Cartledge has officially become the city’s next permanent police chief.

Debbie Gardner honored with Age of Excellence Award

EAST LONGMEADOW — It’s been said, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. As an editor and writer with Reminder Publishing in East Longmeadow, Debbie Gardner, 67, loves what she does and can’t believe she’s being saluted for doing it well into her 60s.

Laura Mason

Scantic River Artisans to host Fall Into Art show on Sept. 13, 14

HAMPDEN — Local art association Scantic River Artisans will be hosting its Fall Into Art show at Thornton W. Burgess School, 85 Wilbraham Rd., on Sept. 13 and 14 to highlight Western Massachusetts artisans and their work.

Mike Lydick

Teen rep. on Agawam board wants student perspective heard

AGAWAM — Christina Ritter believes that the student representative on the School Committee is...

G. Michael Dobbs

Program would honor celebrated singer from Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield native and singer Adele Addison may not be as familiar to people today as other hometown heroes such as Dr. Seuss or dancer Eleanor Powell but a proposed program aims to change all that.

Miasha Lee

Longtime member of Clapp Memorial Library staff retires

BELCHERTOWN — Ann Kuchieski, who hass been a mainstay at the Clapp Memorial Library’s service desk since 1994 is retiring from her position as circulation and reference librarian.

Tyler Garnet

Ware receives superintendent evaluation report from Chicopee School Committee

CHICOPEE — During the School Committee meeting on Aug. 14, Ward 5 School Committee member Grace Schofield read the ratings and comments that the School Committee provided for Superintendent Marcus Ware.

Deandra Rodriguez

Amherst awarded certification for sensory inclusivity through partnership

AMHERST — The Amherst Recreation Department and KultureCity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advocacy for inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs, partnered to bring sensory inclusivity to Amherst.

Local Headlines

Monson Agriculture Commission to host farmers market on Sept. 14

Ludlow pastor calls for unity after crime at local church

Ludlow mobile home park residents take their case to housing court

HWRSD moves forward with returning Thornton W. Burgess School

2025 Grand Marshal selected by St. Patrick’s Committee

Cliff Clark

Granville garage get-together to mark a century in business

GRANVILLE — It’s been 100 years since Ernest “Wad” Humphrey started working on cars and trucks in town, and to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the business, its current owner Doug Jordan and his family are having an open house and a “not retiring, yet party.”

Tyler Lederer

Repaving, pedestrian safety work set for West Springfield Main St.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — After settling issues with the funding, surveyors should be out on Main Street soon, taking the first step in a project to improve the Main Street corridor between Park Avenue and New Bridge Street.

Tyler Garnet

Ware Select Board approves potential legal action against Mary Lane demo

WARE — Resident Stephen Granlund, an outspoken critic of Baystate Health and its plans for the Mary Lane campus, met with the Select Board on Aug. 22 to seek approval from the board to send his findings, reports and research to KP Law to start the process for an injunction or cease and desist to halt demolition of Mary Lane Hospital buildings.

Tyler Garnet

Mental Health Association headquarters officially opens in Chicopee

CHICOPEE — On Aug. 13, Mental Health Association officially moved its headquarters to Chicopee with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Ryan Feyre

Weil named permanent Climate Action and Project Administration director

NORTHAMPTON — After spending the last three-plus months as the interim director of the city’s Climate Action and Project Administration department, Ben Weil is a couple of meetings away from becoming the department’s permanent director.

Ryan Feyre

Easthampton School Committee approves EHS handbook with new cell phone policy

EASTHAMPTON — A new cell phone policy will be implemented at Easthampton High School for the 2024-25 academic year.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

Tyler Lederer

Local restaurateurs bring new eateries to Big E

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Eastern States Exposition has been working on new culinary partnerships for the Big E and other events at its grounds.

Ryan Feyre

What I’m Listening To: The big 3 — Some R&B to vibe with

As I’ve grown older, I’ve become more and more enamored with the R&B genre. When done right, it can manifest immense passion and vulnerability without sounding corny.

Payton North

Feast your eyes: this year’s Big E ‘Craz-E’ culinary creations

With only a few short weeks left until the Big E begins, The Reminder staff went out and celebrated our favorite day of the year: the Big E Media Taste.

Provisions

Sicily’s Mount Etna lends wine varieties a unique minerality

Here at Provisions, we’re huge fans of the wines produced in Sicily, particularly from the island’s volcano, Mount Etna. Etna is Europe’s tallest active volcano and still has minor eruptions from time to time, creating incredibly fertile soil laden with volcanic rocks that brings a bright acidity and crunchy minerality to the wine.

Lauren LeBel

Vendors wanted for Go Local Marketplace at Brew Practitioners

EAST LONGMEADOW — In preparation for the inaugural Go Local Marketplace, Reminder Publishing is currently seeking interested vendors.

Matt Conway

What I’m Eating: A fun food tour of Polar Park

One of my favorite hobbies is soaking up America’s pastime by attending Worcester Woo Sox games. The Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox celebrated its inaugural season in 2021, one year removed from being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor