Agawam

By Michael Ballway | Feb 21, 2024

Agawam early voting for presidential primary begins Feb. 24

AGAWAM — In-person early voting will be available starting Feb. 24 and continuing Feb. 26 to March 1 for the presidential primary election in Massachusetts. Early voting is open to any registered voter. Those who are registered only need to show up at the polling...

By Tyler Lederer | Feb 20, 2024

The Federal temporarily closes for renovations, tweaks

AGAWAM — The Federal Restaurant will be temporarily closing its doors Saturday, Feb. 24, to focus on rebranding the restaurant and renovating the building, as well as to open a Mexican restaurant in Longmeadow. Co-owner Ralph Santaniello said minor tweaks have been...

By Mike Lydick | Feb 14, 2024

Colleen fulfills lifelong dream: ‘Little me would be proud’

AGAWAM — Going to the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade every year as a child, Rachel Sills remembers colleens on floats giving her the “princess wave.” She would then wave back the same way. Next month, she will be the one waving to little girls along the parade route....

By Mike Lydick | Feb 14, 2024

Unified classes connect special education teens to art, peers

AGAWAM — Many high schools have created inclusive or unified sports programs that pair special education students with their general education peers. Agawam High School, however, is one of the few in the area that has gone beyond sports by adding two unified...

By Tyler Lederer | Feb 14, 2024

Lacking votes, councilor withdraws health care resolution

AGAWAM — Before Council President Rosemary Sandlin could even finish introducing a resolution to support Medicare for All in Massachusetts, its sponsor Tom Hendrickson asked for it be removed from the agenda. Had it passed, a copy of the resolution would’ve been...

By Mike Lydick | Feb 9, 2024

Well-versed: Last year’s top AHS poetry performer repeats

AGAWAM — Abigail Drumm was left almost speechless after her winning performance for the second consecutive year in an annual poetry performance contest at Agawam High School. “I don’t have words to describe how excited I am that I won this year’s contest,” said the...

By Mike Lydick | Feb 9, 2024

Robotics teams introduce teens to engineering, tech careers

The 2024 robotics season kicked off in January with student teams for Rosie Robotics at Agawam High School and Mechatronic Maniacs at West Springfield High School ramping out work to design and build their newest robots for the first round of competition in late...

By Mike Lydick | Jan 30, 2024

Colleen contestants sought now to get started on Irish Season

AGAWAM — The Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee is once again encouraging eligible young women of Irish descent to enter its annual pageant to select the 2024 colleen and her court.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

By Mike Lydick | Jan 30, 2024

Agawam district pursuing several school safety strategies

AGAWAM — To keep schools safe, Agawam is using a two-pronged strategy. The first approach concentrates on the physical safety of students and staff, while the second one centers around ways to manage student behaviors that could lead to violence.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

By Tyler Lederer | Jan 30, 2024

Speakers, councilors favor residential hen-keeping proposal

AGAWAM — City councilors voiced support for an ordinance permitting small numbers of hens on residential properties, following a Dec. 4 public hearing.