Holyoke

By Trent Levakis | Jul 10, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

By Trent Levakis | Jul 10, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

New middle school building topped off, new check point in project

By Trent Levakis | Jul 1, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Police pedal 300 miles in Unity Tour for fallen officer fund

By Staasi Heropoulos | Jun 25, 2024

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.

Staasi Heropoulos

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Staasi Heropoulos has been a broadcast and print journalist as well as a corporate communications practitioner, in Western Mass. and internationally for more than 40 years. He loves writing feature articles on local people and places but also welcomes story ideas about corporate and government malfeasance. Staasi can be reached at Staasi.Heropoulos@gmail.com.

Agawam resident, Holyoke principal gains heroine award

By Tina Lesniak | Jun 25, 2024

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.

Tina Lesniak

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New MiraVista campaign brings attention to teen mental health

By Trent Levakis | Jun 24, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

By Trent Levakis | Jun 24, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

By Trent Levakis | Jun 18, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

By Trent Levakis | Jun 18, 2024

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.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Holyoke Farmers Market kicks off 45th season

By Trent Levakis | Jun 18, 2024

Holyoke Farmers Market kicks off 45th season

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Farmers Market has returned and kicked off its 45th season over two days on June 11 and 12, marking another year of serving the greater Holyoke community with accessible, fresh produce.