HAMPDEN — With the November 2025 move into the new Town Hall at 85 Wilbraham Road, the building formally known as the Thornton W. Burgess School, the Hampden Selectboard began the conversation of what will become of the old Town Hall in its Jan. 5 meeting.

SPRINGFIELD — The city of Springfield has reached a settlement with the families of two children in two civil suits stemming from 2023 criminal child sex abuse charges against Robert Gayle, a then-social studies teacher at STEM Middle Academy in Springfield.

EAST LONGMEADOW — For three weeks from November through mid December, The Nest, a boutique gift store at 60 Shaker Road, collected items for their first stocking charity event.

NORTHAMPTON — The American Farmland Trust in Northampton was awarded close to $274,000 in grants to support farmland protection in various capacities.

WESTFIELD — The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced $350,000 to support dam removal studies in seven municipalities.

HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke hosted a Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 26, the first day of Kwanzaa in City Hall.

SOMERS — As Somers turns the page to a new year, town leaders are preparing for a mix of fiscal decisions, infrastructure improvement, and community-focused initiatives aimed at strengthening quality of life for residents.

LONGMEADOW — On Jan. 5, Ivan Kobzar was recognized with a cake and a card by Longmeadow Council on Aging Director James Leyden and Vice Chair Sandra MacFadyen.

AGAWAM – Agawam City Clerk Vincent Gioscia swore in Mayor Christopher Johnson, City Councilors Dino Mercadante, Robert Rossi, George Bitzas, Anthony Suffriti, Edward Borgatti, Anthony Russo, Thomas Hendrickson, Peter McNair and Christine Rickmon, and School Committee members Heather Zielenski, Shelley M. Borgatti-Reed, Wendy Rua, Michael Perry, A.J. Christopher and Dawn DeMatteo on Jan. 5

CHESTER — The Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center will offer a free class for small business owners on how to prepare the Small Business Schedule C form with Certified Public Accountant Rosemarie Goyette.