Holyoke
Enchanted Circle announces organizational pause
HOLYOKE — Nonprofit arts education organization Enchanted Circle has announced plans for a strategic pause, effective July 1, as part of a border initiative to strengthen the organization’s operational strategies to better serve the community in the long term, amidst financial insecurity.
Holyoke City Council approves fiscal year 2025 budget
HOLYOKE — The City Council has passed a budget of just over $172 million for the fiscal year 2025 operating budget, about a $9 million increase from FY24.
Sheehan appointed to vacant Holyoke School Committee seat
HOLYOKE — In a special joint meeting between the Holyoke City Council and the School Committee, the two bodies voted to appoint Devin Sheehan to fill the vacancy created when At-Large committee member Erin Brunelle resigned last month.
New middle school building topped off, new check point in project
HOLYOKE — Community leaders and members gathered at the site of the former Peck Middle School on June 24 for an official “topping off” ceremony as the final, and highest, steel beam of the framed two-story new middle school building was placed.
Police pedal 300 miles in Unity Tour for fallen officer fund
In May, a team of five Western Massachusetts police officers honored all fallen cops — 23,785 throughout American history, according to the memorial fund — by pedaling more than 300 miles from northern New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Agawam resident, Holyoke principal gains heroine award
HOLYOKE — Roseanne “Rosie” Caracciolo, principal of Dean Technical High School in Holyoke and a resident of Agawam, has received the Community Heroine Award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.
New MiraVista campaign brings attention to teen mental health
HOLYOKE — A teen mental health campaign was announced at a June 18 press conference at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke where representatives from the organization and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts spoke on how this work can help young people’s emotional wellness.
Velis amendment protects veterans from predatory “claim sharks”
HOLYOKE — State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) saw a successful amendment adopted to the expanded HERO Act that would protect veterans from predatory “claim sharks” that target veterans who are seeking assistance filing the claims with the federal Department of Veteran Affairs.
Balanced budget set for Holyoke schools’ FY25 proposal
HOLYOKE — Discussion during the School Committee’s June 10 meeting on the recently proposed fiscal year 2025 school budget, committee members shared positive sentiments on the financial health of the district and the work that went into forming this balanced budget proposal.
Holyoke Local Control Subcommittee continues DESE meetings
HOLYOKE — Discussions continued on the exiting of state receivership for Holyoke Public Schools during the June 10 Local Control Subcommittee meeting where conversations steered to the process of hiring a new superintendent once receivership is over.
