Wilbraham
WMA undergoing renovations, chapel set to be dining hall
WILBRAHAM — Light streams through stained glass windows onto tables of students as they meet and share meals under arched wooden beams. That is the vision for the newest phase of Wilbraham-Monson Academy’s Campus Facilities Master Plan — a dining hall housed in what is now the campus’ chapel, along with a commercial grade kitchen and serving area.
Wilbraham Select Board discusses funding opportunities, savings
WILBRAHAM — The Wilbraham Select Board discussed a variety of issues at its Jan. 27 meeting, including possible funding avenues and the potential to save several hundred-thousand dollars.
Hampden-Wilbraham School Committee accepts tweaks to regional agreement
WILBRAHAM — The School Committee reviewed comments from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Regional Governance Coordinator Michelle Griffin regarding the proposed changes to the regional agreement.
Electric buses on hold in HWRSD until fire cause known
WILBRAHAM — A fire broke out at the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative Bus Garage at 2045 Boston Rd. on Jan. 21. The fire, reported by a passerby at 1:37 a.m., involved four electric buses housed at the site.
Wilbraham Middle School student chosen for Project 351 youth leadership
WILBRAHAM — Ian Stratton, an eighth grader at Wilbraham Middle School, has lots of ideas about how to help the people around him. Now, he has been given a chance to do just that as a Project 351 ambassador.
Mile Tree Elementary School principal leaves following no confidence vote
WILBRAHAM — Mile Tree Principal Allison Petit announced her departure at the Jan. 23 Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee meeting. She said that she was stepping down from the administrative role, and instead, had taken a position as a fifth grade teacher at Soule Road School.
Oliveira to continue work on education, transportation, health care
Massachusetts’s new legislative session has begun, and state Sen. Jake Oliveira has his eye on several issues he plans to address over this two-year term. Oliveira, who was first elected to the state Senate in 2022 and reelected in November 2024, said he wants to continue to tackle education, transportation and healthcare.
Puppolo says he plans to ‘fight for every penny’ for region
State Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield) is entering his 19th year in the state Legislature, and he said his primary goal for 2025 is the same now as it has ever been: “fight for every penny” for the people of Western Massachusetts.
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.
Wilbraham residents concerned about future of community garden
WILBRAHAM — It was standing room only at the Jan. 6 Select Board meeting as about two dozen residents attended to express their concern about the future of the community garden. For several years, Melissa Graves, the administrative assistant for Wilbraham’s Conservation Commission, has managed the garden outside her normal duties. With Graves’ impending retirement, Wilbraham’s gardeners are wondering what will become of their pastime.
