by Sarah Heinonen | Feb 6, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, West Springfield
WEST SPRINGFIELD — A couple weeks ago, people who walked into Memorial Elementary School saw red brick walls with cream-colored cinderblock. Now, visitors, students and staff are greeted with the sight of a peace sign, hearts floating up the wall and a reminder to “Bee Kind.” Further down the hallway is a blue dog with spots, a rocket ship, a basketball wearing a graduation cap, more bees and a school bus. What makes this piece of art more than just a mural is that the images all came from the students’ imaginations.
by Sarah Heinonen | Feb 6, 2026 | Agawam, Hampden County, Local News
AGAWAM — The Agawam Veterans’ Service Office has completed its mission to fund a fifth monument for veterans who have served since the Vietnam War. Now underway is a campaign to identify the names of veterans, coined “No Name Left Behind.”
by Sarah Heinonen | Feb 5, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Public Schools is making incremental progress and surpassing its goals in the realm of career and college readiness. That was the report from Chief of Student Services Dr. Yolanda Johnson and her team at the Jan. 29 School Committee meeting.
by Sarah Heinonen | Feb 5, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Similar requests to discontinue the use of two Springfield streets resulted in very different discussions at the City Council’s Feb. 2 meeting.
by Sarah Heinonen | Feb 3, 2026 | Hampden County, Local News, Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Two lines of cheerleaders flanked the podium at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, rustling their blue and gold pom-poms as state Rep. Bud Williams stepped up to speak.
