Hampden
Upset HWRSD parents ask LPVEC ‘what are we doing?’ about bus delays
WILBRAHAM — Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District families upset with the tardiness of buses will have to wait until the start of the 2025-2026 school year before a permanent fix is in place. In the meantime, transportation provider Lower Pioneer Valley Collaborative’s Executive Director Alvin Morton was on hand to answer questions at the Jan. 9 School Committee meeting.
Hampden leaders discuss potential town offices move
HAMPDEN — Members of Hampden’s town leadership are considering repurposing Thornton W. Burgess School to house the town’s offices. At the second meeting on the topic, on Jan. 7, Selectboard Chair Donald Davenport went over several considerations.
Town evicts resident on public health, sanitary code grounds
HAMPDEN — In its capacity as the Board of Health, the Selectboard voted to order a Scantic Road resident to leave their property due to inadequate housing and a risk to public health.
Students’ view of schools, academic achievement is mixed
WILBRAHAM — The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District has made some gains since last year, but there is still work to be done. That was the takeaway from the accountability report presented by Superintendent John Provost at the Dec. 19 School Committee meeting.
Change is the theme of this year’s Year in Review
Change — or resistance to it — was a common theme in the area in 2024. Reminder Publishing took a look back at some of the stories that took precedence over the past year in East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Hampden and Wilbraham.
Toy for Joy donations surge with deadline looming
The Toy for Joy campaign is in its final stages, but a late surge in donations will make countless children and families happy this Christmas.
Hampden leadership talks FY26 budget needs, tax bill increase
HAMPDEN — The Hampden Selectboard met with department heads on Dec. 9 to discuss where the town’s finances stand and what is anticipated for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025. The meeting was a key step in creating that year’s budget.
Local families and organizations make generous Toy for Joy donations
The Phelon family and the Roberts family come from different backgrounds to share the desire to help children.
New HWRSD finance head plans to be ‘transparent,’ ‘open and honest’
WILBRAHAM — After an exhaustive search, the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee authorized Superintendent John Provost to hire Douglas Slaughter to be the district’s new assistant superintendent of Finance, Operations and Human Resources.
Hampden residents defeat Senior Center issue at Town Meeting
HAMPDEN — A capacity audience at the Hampden Town Meeting on Oct. 13 rejected for a third time an effort to put on the next ballot a question approving a Proposition 2 1/2 override to borrow money to pay for renovations and expansion of the town’s Senior Center.
