Hilltowns

Chester Elementary named 2024 School of Recognition

By Amy Porter | Apr 23, 2025

Chester Elementary named 2024 School of Recognition

CHESTER — Chester Elementary School took advantage of its picture day with O’Connor Studios on April 17 to take a group shot of the majority of its 113 students proudly wearing T-shirts proclaiming Chester Elementary as a 2024 Massachusetts School of Recognition, a designation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Amy Porter | Apr 9, 2025

Littleville Fair announces Easter Egg Hunt, Pancake Breakfast

CHESTER — On Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m., the Littleville Fair, the Chester Hill Association, and the Chester Recreation Committee will host an Easter Egg Hunt at the Littleville Fairgrounds, 15 Kinnebrook Rd. in Chester.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Children’s author visits Littleville Elementary in fun-filled assemblies

By Amy Porter | Apr 2, 2025

Children’s author visits Littleville Elementary in fun-filled assemblies

HUNTINGTON — Children’s author and performer Daryl Cobb visited Littleville Elementary School on March 24, to share stories and songs and encourage the students to write about their own experiences. Cobb is the author of 18 books for children, who does in school visits and literacy-based assembly programming for K-8 students.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

For most districts, state ed funding has ‘left us out’

By Sarah Heinonen | Apr 2, 2025

For most districts, state ed funding has ‘left us out’

AMHERST — The Healey administration’s education leadership was grilled by the Joint Ways & Means Committee in front of a standing room-only crowd at a hearing on school funding and local aid, hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Sarah Heinonen

sheinonen@thereminder.com | + posts

Littleville Elementary students study the birds around them

By Amy Porter | Mar 26, 2025

Littleville Elementary students study the birds around them

HUNTINGTON — Littleville Elementary spent the month of February learning about citizen science and birds from around the area, said reading specialist Margaret Petzold.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Gateway health ed teacher receives Grinspoon Excellence in Teaching award

By Amy Porter | Mar 18, 2025

Gateway health ed teacher receives Grinspoon Excellence in Teaching award

HUNTINGTON — Gateway Regional Health Education teacher Abbey Keeler received a visit last month in her sixth grade classroom from High School Principal William Sullivan, who presented her with the Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Talks scheduled for 70th Westfield River Wildwater Races

By Amy Porter | Mar 18, 2025

Talks scheduled for 70th Westfield River Wildwater Races

HUNTINGTON — In honor of the 70th running of the Westfield River Wildwater Races, the race committee is hosting a series of talks on three Thursday evenings in Stanton Hall, celebrating the past, present and future of the Westfield River.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Tolland Cultural Council offering up Music in the Hills 2025

By Cliff Clark | Mar 10, 2025

Tolland Cultural Council offering up Music in the Hills 2025

TOLLAND — Each month on Saturday nights the Tolland Cultural Council will offer the community its Music in the Hills — 2025 concert series featuring some of region’s most unique acoustic musicians like Andy & Judy who will perform on Saturday, March 15.

Cliff Clark

cclark@thereminder.com | + posts

Gateway Regional presents FY26 budget at public hearing

By Amy Porter | Mar 10, 2025

Gateway Regional presents FY26 budget at public hearing

HUNTINGTON — During a lightly attended public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget of $18.25 million for Gateway Regional Schools, Superintendent Kristen Smidy said the figure represents a 1.57% increase over last year’s budget.