West Springfield

Regional awardee at middle school credits positive attitude

By Staasi Heropoulos | Jul 2, 2024

Regional awardee at middle school credits positive attitude

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Emma Chapman was in the car with her mother on the way to being dropped off at West Springfield Middle School in June when mom told Emma the principal wanted to see the eighth grader that morning.

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.

By Mike Lydick | Jul 2, 2024

Trail walking book club offers exercise for both mind, body

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Book lovers can exercise their bodies and minds while discussing books in a new program offered by the West Springfield Public Library that puts a new spin on the traditional book group.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

Council votes unanimously for $11M boost to West Springfield fiber

By Michael Ballway | Jun 25, 2024

Council votes unanimously for $11M boost to West Springfield fiber

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Despite the billboard, the mailers and the warnings of “false promises” and “blank checks,” town councilors on June 17 voted unanimously to borrow $11 million to continue building a municipal fiber-optic network.

Michael Ballway

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By Tyler Lederer | Jun 25, 2024

West Springfield downtown vibe attracts fried chicken restaurant

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A Connecticut-based Southern fried chicken chain is planning to open a franchise in West Springfield this month. It will be located at 164 Elm St., the former location of Ichiban Asian Bistro. “We’re coming for Massachusetts,” said Lou Sterling,...

By Michael Ballway | Jun 25, 2024

West Springfield councilors can’t override veto of school cuts

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Four town councilors stood by their school budget cuts, but it wasn’t enough to override the mayor’s veto, averting layoffs to five “interventionist” educators. “The need for interventionists in our schools is huge, to make up for the lost...

Elks honor Agawam youth for patriotic essay contest win

By Mike Lydick | Jun 25, 2024

Elks honor Agawam youth for patriotic essay contest win

WESTFIELD — Ava Skowron, a sixth grader at Doering School in Agawam, is one of two statewide winners of an annual Americanism essay contest to be sponsored by the Westfield-West Springfield Lodge of Elks.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

By Staasi Heropoulos | Jun 19, 2024

West Springfield cancer survivor’s fundraiser to help others

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Cindy Sheridan Murphy, 63, had just come home from hiking and running with friends and she noticed one of her breasts was sore. Murphy said she’ll never forget the day she discovered the lump: June 29, 2014. “I found a lump the size of a golf...

By Mike Lydick | Jun 19, 2024

West Springfield teacher will miss diverse challenges, successes

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Lisa Maccrone always wanted to be an elementary physical education teacher. It took her 10 years to achieve that goal after starting in 1986 at West Springfield Middle School as a health teacher. When there was an opening for a physical education...

By Miasha Lee | Jun 19, 2024

‘Read, Renew, Repeat’ is summer theme at West Springfield library

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West Springfield Public Library began its Summer Reading Program on June 18. The program runs until Aug. 2. The theme this year is “Read, Renew, Repeat,” with a focus on protecting the environment. “For us as a library, we have so many...

Council of Jewish Women awards $70K in scholarships

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 17, 2024

Council of Jewish Women awards $70K in scholarships

Nearly 50 students will have an easier time paying for college this fall with scholarships totaling $70,000 from the Springfield Council of Jewish Women.