outlook2026

J |

P

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

eople in business know the one constant is change. The smart ones get an early read on what’s coming down the pike — and find new ways to prosper.

Today, in this installment of The Republican’s prizewinning special February business sections, you’ll hear from dozens of people doing just that: scouting for savvy next steps by tapping into the best new tools and techniques.

We asked our reporters to sniff out the “next big thing” in local business. As you might guess, artificial intelligence leads that list. AI is helping doctors in Western Massachusetts take notes as they see patients. In schools, educators are eager to benefit from AI, while guarding against its misuse. Banks, though ever conservative, are using AI to accelerate reviews of loan applications.

Beyond AI and other tech, our team came back with all kinds of “next big thing” reports. At the Springfield

J

Health Care, Economic Outlook, Tech, Workforce, GOVERNMENT

K

Education, Energy, Cybersecurity, Quantum computing, Cannabis

Museums, for instance, new tech is changing the visitor experience, including through virtual and augmented reality. Insurers are using apps to bolster their policyholders’ health and well-being.

Take a peek at the Index on Page J2 for a quick read on what reporters found.

Amid all the tech wizardry they describe, let’s not overlook the thing that’s not new — and not even a thing.

People! You’ll find many voices in Outlook 2026 calling for us to treasure personal relationships in our work lives.

(A column by Evan Plotkin on Page L5 explores this in depth.) I say bravo to that.

I hope you find today’s report useful and meaningful.

Please reach out to me with suggestions on how my colleagues at The Republican can best serve you in our 201st year.

L

— Larry Parnass, Executive Editor lparnass@repub.com, 413-588-8341

Banking, Insurance, Crypto, Nonprofits, Commercial And Residential Real Estate

M

Retail, Food And Hospitality, Tourism, Casinos, Farming, Arts And Entertainment, Fashion And Design

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

J2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Here is a guide to some of the stories you will find inside this year’s edition of Outlook It is using AI and TikTok to help launch media campaigns for law firms across the country. L1

SECTION J: Health care, economic outlook, workforce, government

• HEALTHY POLICYHOLDERS: Life insurance companies have good reason to care about a policyholder’s health. New devices and apps give them an edge. L1

• WEATHERING WASHINGTON’S BLOWS: As the Trump administration rolls back health care access, Baystate Health, the region’s largest employer, braces for a $147 million impact. J4

• CRYPTO PRIMER: Cryptocurrency — money that exists only online — has its place in the pantheon of currency, but does it have the footing to become the prime choice for consumers? L4

• CODE NEW: The basics of K-12 computer science education vary across Mass. Why Westfield High School is making it a priority. J6

• THE RICE STUFF: Roger Crandall, president and CEO of MassMutual, recalls the “next big thing” created 175 years ago by company founders George and Caleb Rice. L4

• LISTENING DEVICES: The next big thing in your doctor’s office is AI notetaking. It’s called “ambient listening.” J8 • WORKING OUR WAY: Namu Sampath, a reporter for The Republican and member of Gen Z, reflects on what she sees as qualities of the ideal work culture. J8 • INNOVATION AS PRESERVATION: Peter Banko, the president and CEO of Baystate Health, describes how the institution “You may know Hazen for our mainstream holography — things like is innovating, in the face of “the golf ball cartons and lottery tickets,” said Don Havourd, chief opersingle largest rollback of health care ating officer of Hazen Paper Co. “But Hazen's really invested in the next wave of technology via in our lifetimes.” J8

A new market for paper company

• LOWDOWN FROM HOSPITAL INSIDERS: Leaders of three Western Massachusetts hospitals — Robert Roose of Mercy Medical, Spiros Hatira of Holyoke Medical and Chika Anueyiagu of Cooley Dickinson — describe this moment in health care. J10 • FIT TO BE FIT: Jessica Vieira, coowner of Grit24 in Ludlow, believes the next big thing in fitness is “total integration.” J12

SECTION K: Education, energy, cybersecurity, public safety, digital equity, cannabis • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION: The next big thing in classrooms, educators say, is a duty to balance use of AI — using it for your benefit without letting it do the work for you. K1 • CYBERSECURITY’S WMASS HOME: The Cybersecurity Center at Union Station in Springfield is

holography for security, I.D. and authentication. What that means is we really have increased the DPI (dots per inch) of our holography to actually hold and produce covert images for things that you would see on your passports and global documents. That's a huge new market for us, and it will certainly be prominent in 2026.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

Portraits of people at work by freelance photographer Michael J. Fiedler, including the one on this page, appear throughout Outlook 2026. ground zero in training people to handle this 21st century threat. Also, a look at quantum computing in the Pioneer Valley. K2 • PEOPLE STORIES: Veteran marketing hand Darby O’Brien says no advertising message truly connects if it leaves this one thing out. K2 • EVOLUTION OF TOWN-GOWN RELATIONS IN AMHERST: An appraisal of long-standing efforts

by UMass and Amherst to win each other over. What’s working best? K4 • SMALL COLLEGES ADJUST: A look at how higher education institutions like Elms College in Chicopee and American International College and Western New England University in Springfield are contending with demographic and policy changes. K5

• PAYING THE PIPER ON DATA CENTERS: The next big thing for the energy sector is how to power AI. How are local providers preparing? K6 • A REBIRTH FOR NUCLEAR POWER?: The next big thing in power generation could be a return to nuclear energy, some say. K6 • MANY STAKEHOLDERS: Westfield State University looks to join goals of meeting its educational mission with “advancing the health and well-being of our region,” writes the school’s president, Linda Thompson. K6 • CAMPUS PRIORITIES IN 2026: Holyoke Community College President George Timmons and Joseph Hartman, the incoming president of Western New England University, each reflect how they

see higher ed’s mission today. K8 • A NEW CANNABIS MARKET: How will “social use” policies recently approved by the Cannabis Control Commission affect the industry in Massachusetts? K9 • A LEASH ON ROBOT POLICE DOGS?: Police departments in the Pioneer Valley are mixed on how to use new technology in crimefighting. K10

SECTION L: Banking, insurance, nonprofits, real estate, entrepreneurship • ALL-IN ON TECH TOOLS: AI “spokespeople” proliferate in spots created by a Pioneer Valley company, Big Voodoo Interactive.

• THE RELATIONSHIP ECONOMY: Evan Plotkin, the president and CEO of NAI Plotkin, says he’s heard decades of talk about the “big new thing” in commercial real estate. He says an older principle still applies. L5 • STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: In the face of reduced federal funding, nonprofit groups in the region are beginning to collaborate more to be efficient. L6 • BROKERING SUCCESS: In a tight market with scant inventory, how do real estate agents try to level up and beat the competition?

L8 • VERSATILE VENUES: Sean Dolan, general manager at the MassMutual Center, writes that “the next big thing in the venues and events sector is not a single technology or trend. It is the intentional use of flexible, shared spaces that bring business activity, community life, and economic impact together in visible and accessible ways.” L9

SECTION M: Retail, food and hospitality, tourism arts and entertainment, fashion and design, casinos, farming

• STEWARDING THE FUTURE: Rick Bossie, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Big Y Foods Inc., believes the times call for conscientious business “stewardship.” M1 • THE ARTS ENGINE: David T. Slatery, leader of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, believes arts and culture deserve “a seat at the table” in policy discussions across the state. M1 • HOW TRAVEL’S VALUE HOLDS UP: Mary Kay Wydra, president of Explore Western Mass, writes that even with the advent of AI, leaders in the hospitality sector “understand the importance of providing a more human touch wherever possible.”

M2 • TWEAKING THE CASINO EXPERIENCE: Since online gaming is the next new thing for the industry, how is MGM working to keep the casino experience alive? M2 • PRESSING FARM QUESTIONS: Claire Morenon, communications manager for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, writes that the next big thing is a list of big questions. They include: How can we stay afloat as costs rise faster than incomes? M4 • MODERNIZING MUSEUMS: Kay Simpson, president and CEO of the Springfield Museums, says institutions like hers are rapidly integrating emerging technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, spatial audio, holograms and artificial intelligence. M6 • WIDER CULTURAL NET: Entertainment venues are pursuing more partnerships and collaborations, even with non-arts organizations. M6

• DOING MORE TOGETHER: Diana Szynal, president and CEO of the Springfield Regional Chamber, sees synergy in institutional connection. She writes that “when the region’s schools and business community • SEEDING SUCCESS, DESPITE CLIMATE: What’s the next big thing work in alignment, the benefits for Western Massachusetts farmers reach far beyond individual organizations.” M11 facing a changing climate? M1

The future of our republic is written in the past

I

N JULY OF 1774, IN THE the Butch Lewis Act, which wake of the British Parsaved the pensions of more liament’s response to the than one million workers, Boston Tea Party with the retirees and beneficiaries; enactment of the Intolerable the Bipartisan Infrastructure Acts, the citizens of Western Law, which delivered the and Central Massachusetts most significant investment turned to local self-governin our nation’s infrastructure ment as an act of defiance. since President Kennedy was They gathered at the courtin the Oval Office; the Inflahouse in Springfield, where tion Reduction Act, which Richard E. Neal the MassMutual Center now marked our nation’s largest stands, for a town meeting investment to combat clithat would mark our region’s mate change; the CHIPS and place in the growing moveScience Act, which delivered ment toward independence. the U.S. House of Representa- $53 billion to reinvigorate our During the meeting, the supply chain for semiconductives, there was a great sense townspeople adopted a resotors; the No Surprises Act, of shared purpose among lution that read in part, “We my fellow members. Regard- which established critical assert that we are (entitled) safeguards against surprise less of party, we were there to and ought to forever enjoy medical billing, enhancing to serve as a check on the all the liberties and immuexecutive and represent those consumer protections and nities of any of his majesty’s promoting transparency; who had elected us to public subjects … some of the most office. We wanted to faithfully SECURE and SECURE essential of which are that they shall not be taxed, but with their own consent …”

These ideals would ultimately form the foundation of a nation whose experiment in self-government would change the course of history.

As that experiment continues 250 years later, we celebrate not only the 351 communities across the commonwealth, including the 83 cities and towns in the First Congressional District, and the role they each played in the founding of our republic, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal arrives at the TD Bank building on but also what that republic Main Street in Springfield to discuss the state of health care in represents: the enduring Massachusetts on Dec. 15. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN) promise of liberty and self-governance, fundamental uphold the principles of our 2.0, which strengthened ideals such as free speech and representative democracy, and expanded retirement the right to due process, and savings opportunities for just as those who walked the a government, comprised of millions of Americans; the halls of Congress before us three co-equal branches, that had done.

PACT Act, which marked the These are the principles exists to serve the public good. largest expansion of veterans that guided my Democratic As I look to the year ahead benefits in a generation; and colleagues and me when we and the question of what the the repeal of the Windfall enacted a slate of legislative “next big thing” will be in Elimination Provision and Government Pension achievements that comgovernment, I’m reminded Offset, which ensured that plement those of Lyndon that the next big thing is not Johnson’s Great Society. The something new. Quite the more than two million contrary. For the future of our American Rescue Plan, which public servants, including 130,000 Bay Staters, Republic is written in the past. invested billions of dollars When I was first elected to in our local communities; SEE NEAL, PAGE J12

As I reflect on this past year, I remain committed to standing up for programs that matter most to our communities throughout the First District of Massachusetts. Whether it be safeguarding access to affordable health care, defending SNAP benefits, or strengthening Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, we must remain vigilant in the face of renewed threats to these vital programs.

Thank you for your continued support.

It is an honor to represent the people of western and central Massachusetts in the United States Congress.

PAID FOR BY THE RICHARD NEAL FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J3

Here’s to the future — built on the strength of the past.

For 175 years, MassMutual has stood beside families and businesses in the greater Springfield community, guided by the principle of mutuality — where we all grow stronger together. Our roots run deep here, and our purpose remains unchanged: helping people secure their future and protect the ones they love.

As we mark our 175-year anniversary, we look forward to being a steady source of strength you can count on for generations to come. Because trust and integrity aren’t trends — they’re timeless.

© 2026 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual®), Springfield, MA 01111-0001.

All rights reserved. www.MassMutual.com.

COR3401 126

MM202902-314900

OUTLOOK 2026

J4 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

HEALTH CARE

Baystate braces for loss of $147M

By Jim Kinney

“So we have to have a single voice with the federal government and with the state government.

So I think it’s an opportunity for competitors to cooperate a little bit more.”

jkinney@repub.com SPRINGFIELD — Baystate

Health President and CEO Peter D. Banko was making progress in 2025, closing a $225 million hole in the health care giant’s finances.

Expenses too high, revenue too low. He cut jobs, and searched for efficiencies and ways to grow revenue.

Then came President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill. Now passed into law, it threatens to cost Baystate Health $146.7 million, once the bill fully takes force after the November elections.

“It’s the single largest rollback in our lifetimes of health care programs,” Banko said in a recent interview. “The work we did last year and the work we’re doing this year, that gets totally wiped out.”

“So we’re almost starting from scratch,” Banko said.

“You know, I’ve worked my whole career to try to expand access and coverage, and now it just got undone.”

Access to care means insurance. And Baystate estimates an increase in the uninsured population, as people lose Medicaid, will cost the hospital system $53 million.

Then another increase in the uninsured population will come as people lose insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which will cost Baystate about $10.4 million.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, has predicted that the ACA subsidies will be back.

That’s a help, said Banko, who added that he’s lobbying state politicians in Boston.

He’s hoping that Democratic wins in Congress in November will change health care policy in Washington. He first disclosed the eye-popping $147 million figure back in December in a forum with Neal.

The $146.7 million in lost federal money will represent 4.8% of Baystate’s bottom line. Last year, the profit margin Baystate relies on to fund capital projects and as a cushion against future misfortune

Effects from White House health care rollback loom

ter-based insurer Fallon Health.

If not combining outright, Massachusetts hospitals are combining their efforts.

“So we have to have a single voice with the federal government and with the state government,” he said. “So I think it’s an opportunity for competitors to cooperate a little bit more.”

Baystate works with the public, so Medicare and Medicaid recipients are up to date on new paperwork and work requirements.

“You have to fill out paperwork every year to show you qualify,” Banko said. “They’ve Peter D. Banko, Baystate Health president and CEO made that every six months.”

The problem is, recipients Baystate Health President and CEO Peter D. Banko, right, meets with U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal don’t do it now, even though on Dec. 15 to discuss health care in Western Massachusetts. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN) it’s only once a year. years that could result in an “Every six months is going acquisition or merger.

Banko can’t discuss a Mercy to be a burden,” he said.

Baystate’s trying other deal, citing nondisclosure things to build more business. agreements. And Dr. Robert Its flagship — Baystate MedRoose, president of communiwas 3.5%. ty hospitals for Trinity Health ical Center in Springfield with 780 beds — is nearly always Additional financial fallout of New England, canceled a full. But Baystate Noble Hosincludes the 340B reduced interview with The Repubcost drug program, at $45 lican on related health care pital in Westfield is not.

So in 2025, Baystate piloted million; decreases in fundtopics. ing for Medicaid, $298.6 In an essay for The Repuba program. It started paying for transportation, encouragmillion; and increased cost lican, Roose spoke about the ing patients in the Springfield sharing for Medicaid, $98.2 need for transformation and hospital who live close to million. change in the industry.

Baystate’s problem is that But Mercy’s decisions Westfield to transfer and be Springfield, Holyoke and already are affecting Baystate, treated there.

It opens up beds in SpringWestern Massachusetts in after Mercy closed its matergeneral have a high percentnity and newborn services field and cuts wait times in the age of people on these govemergency room. in December, citing a lack of Ambulances fill all the bays at the Baystate Medical Center ernment-provided or govern- emergency room in 2024. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE) Banko also announced staff. ment-subsidized health care Patient volume a few blocks plans this month to expand plans. chemotherapy. Are you going needs to keep patients, and back into Ware, building a away at Baystate’s childbirth “What are we going to tell to show up if you can’t pay for money, here. primary care and convenient center went up 16%, Banko care practice there, taking the people when 25% of our com- it?”

It will take efficiencies, like said. munity is no longer covered?”

But eventually, people arrive AI customer service. Expect to Beyond Mercy, Banko said place of the closed Baystate he said. “We say, ‘Good luck. at the emergency room. And schedule with a chatbot. economics of scale will be Mary Lane Hospital.

Banko said Baystate also You don’t have that coverage Baystate can’t turn them It’ll also take growing even more important. And or access.’?” away. insurer Health New England, managers in all of health care hopes to tap the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund People without coverage “So the reality for us is those which Baystate nearly sold know it. delay care. So, conditions get people will not have reimlast year. It’s about a third of “We see ourselves as a safe- and expand a family mediworse. Cancer, heart disease, bursement,” he said. the size it needs to be, Banko ty net for some of the organi- cine residency program from each gets worse and more For Banko, bracing for said. zations that are struggling,” Greenfield to Ware.

The program trains 12 new expensive to treat. impact is his full-time job in Health care providers he said. “Everybody’s talking medical residents — taking in “If you lose coverage in the 2026. will cope with mergers and to everybody right now. middle of your pregnancy, That’ll take more maximiz- acquisitions. And the best Mass General Bingham, four new doctors a year — at Baystate Franklin in Greenare you (going to) continue to ing of revenue, like making way to survive is to get bigger. which includes Cooley Dickget prenatal care if you can’t operating rooms more effiBaystate and Mercy Medical inson Hospital in Northamp- field. The plan would be for faculty and residents to staff a pay for it?” he said. “Let’s cient to increase the number Center, Springfield’s other ton, announced in January clinic in Ware. say you’re in the middle of of procedures in a day. Banko hospital, have been in talks for that it’s acquiring Worces-

Springfield, moving forward

Domenic J. Sarno Springfield mayor

barriers via a cell phone, diagnose diseases and create images from imagination. AI however remains constrained by existing computer processing methodologies. Quantum computing explodes those constraints and replaces them with exponential processing speed that seems almost limitless.

Unlocking the potential of quantum computing will allow us all to learn, problem solve and analyze faster and deeper than ever. Quantum computers process information differently and can quickly analyze huge amounts of data simultaneously, reducing months of computation and modeling down to hours.

So why is this important to Springfield?

Western Massachusetts has been designated by Gov. Maura Healey as a Quantum Technology Tech Hub, through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Further, Springfield Technical Community College was recently awarded a $1 million grant to advance a feasibility and design study of a Quantum Computing Supply Chain Accelerator. The accelerator will be located in the Springfield Technology Park and will be the first regional facility to drive quantum computer commer-

cialization, support start-ups and strengthen the advanced manufacturing supply chain in Western Mass., which to me means the creation of jobs.

Adding to this, in June 2025 the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) announced the graduation of the first class of students from its Quantum Training Academy.

Further leveraging Springfield as a high-tech city is the Richard E. Neal Cyber Center at Union Station, the foundational training offered by The Tech Foundry, and the current installation of fiber service across Springfield by GoNetSpeed. All of this investment in technology creates current and future opportunities for new economic development and job creation.

These efforts do not happen overnight. They represent years of work with our state and regional partners including the Western Mass Economic Development Council (EDC), STCC, PVPC, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the Pioneer Valley Innovation Hub, the entire Western Mass legislative delegation, and the City Council.

Challenges remain to achieving practical quantum AI. But progress is rapid as international companies race toward the quantum advantage.

Our collective history with technology suggests that these types of transformative technologies often come sooner than later once thresholds are crossed. Think how quickly the internet went from being an academic curiosity to directly impacting the world’s population.

This suggests an urgency to

put in place the infrastructure to support the impending growth. Springfield continues to support and assist those efforts that bring the Western Mass. region closer to the intersection of practical quantum AI and the tangible economic development benefits it can have for the city, its residents and businesses.

Quantum computing AI ... a very big, next big thing, indeed!

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, a native son of Springfield, is the longest serving mayor in the city’s history.

3217800-01

T

HERE IS SO MUCH that I consider to be big things for Springfield as I look ahead.

The city continues to respond to the local need for housing by increasing housing opportunities at all income levels across the city.

We are aggressively strengthening our educational infrastructure by preparing for a new elementary school, to be located in the North End. The city has helped bring a significant new retail development to the Boston Road corridor with the opening of Springfield Crossing, an approximately 400,000 square foot, $80 million development, by creatively employing District Improvement Financing and thus creating hundreds of jobs for Springfield residents.

The forthcoming selection of the site for the new Regional Justice Center in downtown Springfield will bring significant positive change to downtown.

The city continues to monitor and respond to the ongoing uncertainty that currently defines the federal government and its potential impacts upon state and local government.

These are all big things that will impact Springfield’s future.

Looking more expansively, I would be remiss not to raise the impacts related to Practical Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential global impact. I am the first to say that I am not computer savvy. But I do sense that we are coming upon a precipice of technological transformation.

AI is already a part of our everyday lives. It has the ability to break down language

Domenic J. Sarno, left, in 2001, and others await their inauguration as members of the City Council and School Committee.

From left are Sarno and Carol Lewis-Caulton, School Committee member Thomas M. Ashe and Councilor Daniel K. Kelly.

(THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Pieroway’s

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J5

DESIGN A BEDROOM THAT’S TRULY YOURS. Select Storage Options, Dresser Size, Chest Size, and Choice of Custom Finishes.

Build Your Bedroom 1. STYLE 2. PIECES 3. COLOR 4. HARDWARE

Pieroway’s gives you guaranteed savings every day!

You’ll be amazed at the comfort!

SAVE UP TO $

800 OFF

Luxurious Sleep

SAVE UP TO $500 OFF

On Select Adjustable Mattress Sets

MATTRESS SALE ENDS FEBRUARY 24, 2026

SPECIAL FINANCING

0

20 East St • Ludlow, MA 413.589.0955

*See sales associate for details.

139 Myron St • West Springfield, MA t a e r Two G 413.739.1101 ! s n o i t a c o L 3108420-01

Mon, Tues & Thurs – 10 AM - 7 PM Wednesday & Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM •Sunday 12 PM - 5 PM

% ONE FULL YEAR! INTEREST FOR

Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 8 PM Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday: 12 NOON - 5 PM

3218380-01

PIEROWAYFURNITURE.C OM

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

J6 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Holyoke is ready for liftoff in 2026

T

charter to modernize the way our financial resources are managed. The changes will be systematic and will align with our vision to strengthen internal controls, reduce liability, and maximize our resources to better support services for constituents and reduce harm.

When passed by the full City Council, the changes will result in departments realigned to meet today’s needs, key positions renamed Front and center is the and duties reassigned, and Municipal Finance Modern— at long last — addressing ization Act. After well over concerns raised in decades of a year of council resistance, independent audits. delays, and postponements, The overhaul will be budget we are finally positioned to implement a suite of changes neutral in fiscal year 2026 and to city ordinances and the city will bring about $100,000 HE NEW YEAR IN Holyoke got off to a brilliant start thanks, in large part, to the results of the most recent city elections. The newly elected and re-elected city councilors have indicated a willingness to move forward on an array of initiatives to address community concerns.

Holyoke has plenty planned for 2026, including its annual St. Patrick’s Parade in March. Above is a scene from a past year’s St. Patrick’s Parade. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

by eliminating inefficiencies that have contributed to Holyoke being maligned as “business unfriendly.”

Also high up on the agenda is the continuation of our work to resolve blight and housing needs and strengthen code enforcement to protect tenants. Thanks to the leadJoshua A. Garcia ership in our police and fire Holyoke mayor departments as well as our in cost savings in FY27, while building department, Board reducing reliance on contrac- of Health, and the DPW, we tors to perform basic functions continue to maintain our and ensuring timely year-end commitment to aggressively closing and filing of all state respond to code infractions and federal documents. that contribute toward comWe are looking forward to munity concerns about public zoning and special permitting safety and quality of life.

I am proud of the reforms to facilitate sensible SEE GARCIA, PAGE J12 and responsible development

Above, Lucy Alger, 16, and Natalie Dansereau, 15, work on coding for their robot in Renee Sweeney’s Principles of Engineering class at Westfield High School. At right, Ethan Houle, 17, works to install a sensor on the robot in Renee Sweeney’s Principles of Engineering class at Westfield High School in mid-January. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

Positioned to win the tech game?

Bay State’s K-12 computer science ed varies widely; some groups are trying to change that

By Greta Jochem

of CSforMA, a nonprofit agency that works on WESTFIELD — On a recent educator professional morning, students in Renee development and aims to Sweeney’s engineering class at Westfield help schools increase their computer science High School tinkered with their robots. They class offerings. worked on writing code to tell the robots how In fact, Crawford’s agency would like to see to move. computer science be a statewide high school Soon, more students in the high school will graduation requirement. be learning to code.

Massachusetts is above the national averStarting with next year’s freshman high age for percentage of high school students school class, taking a year of computer sciwho have taken a computer science course, ence will be required, said Christina Smith, but not in the top 10, according to a report the district’s supervisor of science technology from the Code.org Advocacy Coalition. and engineering for grades five through 12.

With a top-notch education system and as a “We are preparing our kids for their real hub for the tech industry, the commonwealth lives after school,” she said. should have better computer science educaNot all districts in the state require a course tion, Crawford said. to graduate.

Even with artificial intelligence increasWhile the commonwealth does have frame- ingly being able to write code, Crawford still work for computer science and digital literacy sees it as a useful area of study. education, there’s no state requirement to “People still need and deserve a basic unteach computer science in K-through-12 derstanding of how it works underneath. Just schools, according to the Massachusetts like we still teach calculus and basic arithDepartment of Elementary and Secondary metic, even though we have calculators,” she Education. said. “We will always need people who know The percentage of K-through-12 students in how to open it up and build new models.” each district who have taken a computer sciA state-commissioned report from SageFox ence course ranges from about 80% to zero, Consulting Group, of Amherst, and CSforaccording to DESE data.

MA, of Marshfield, looked at the possibility Some groups are trying to change that. of making a computer science course a high Schools offerings are “all over the place,” school graduation requirement. The 2024 SEE TECH, PAGE J14 said Shaileen Crawford, executive director

gjochem@repub.com

Best Florist for 12 years in a row!

HAPPINESS, HANDCRAFTED Fine Italian Confestions Since 1988 Fresh European style cakes, cookies, pastries and wedding cakes.

Visit our bakery and see why it’s a mainstay in the community.

Order Online 10 Years of the Best

255 Elm Street, W. Springfield 413-781-1139

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm • Sat. 8am-3pm • Sun. 9am-2pm

413-785-5148

184 Union Street, West Springfield • www.DurocherFlorist.com

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J7

Thanks for making 90 years so sweet.

You’re the Y.

3219601-01

J8 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

A Gen Z employee’s view of the ‘ideal workplace’

M

Y NAME IS Namu, and I am a part of Generation Z. We Gen Zers have heard all the stereotypes. We’re lazy and entitled, we’re on our phones too much, and we don’t want to work.

Peter Banko

Stronger together: Building a healthier future for WMass

B

SEE BANKO, PAGE J11

A different kind of physician’s assistant For doctors, AI ‘ambient listening’ takes notes, so they can focus on the patient

Maru uses AI software to help with his patients' check-ins.

“It kind of works like an artificial intelligence medical scribe,” he said.

(DOUGLAS HOOK / THE

By Jim Kinney

SEE SAMPATH, PAGE J11

REPUBLICAN)

jkinney@repub.com HOLYOKE — What brings you in today?

Dr. Sundeep M. Shukla can now ask that question with his head up, not buried in a screen taking notes.

“I make eye contact,” he said. “I look at the patient.”

Shukla, an emergency room physician at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, uses the hospital’s new AI listening technology not just to record conversations with patients but to help organize all of the notes that must be charted at the end of a busy shift.

“It has to be proofread,” Shukla said. “Nothing is 100%.”

The technology doesn’t work perfectly with young patients or those who don’t normally use English as their first language. Someone who is in a lot of pain or is just not speaking clearly might have trouble making a coherent recording.

“It kind of works like an artificial intelligence medical scribe,” said Dr. Sandip Maru, a vascular surgeon at Holyoke Medical Center who might see as many as 25 patients on a busy day in the office.

That can make it hard at the end of the day to remember who said what and when.

“And a lot of it is from memory,” he said. “The new technology takes away some of that administrative work.”

Relatively recent use Doctors across the Pioneer Valley, including those at Holyoke Medical Center and Cooley Dickinson in Northampton, started using AI ambient listening technology in 2025.

Maru said he needs to edit the text. The program is not perfect. But it saves him hours of work after the clinic day.

In the old days, doctors would take notes on paper or record notes on tape recorders then either listen to themselves or send them out to a transcriptionist.

It was hard to reconstruct what was said.

“And a lot of it is from memory,” Maru said. “The new technology takes away some of that administrative work.”

He always tells patients he’s using a recording device. The recording and the AI software used to transcribe and organize it are compliant with Health Insurance Portability

“I think it can only enhance patient safety. It doesn’t make treatment decisions. We’re not there yet.”

Spiros Hatiras, president and chief executive officer of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems

and Accountability Act of 1996.

Spiros Hatiras, president and chief executive officer of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems, said Holyoke piloted the programs in 2025 and will roll them out more fully in 2026.

“It eliminates the busywork,” Hatiras said.

He added that the technology is even good at ignoring the opening, getting-toknow-you portions of the conversation, such as when a doctor asks about the Patriots or the weather.

Holyoke Medical Center uses another piece of AI technology to double-check medical records.

It scans for missed steps or abnormalities, or tests that would normally be ordered that haven’t been.

“I think it can only enhance patient safety,” Hatiras said. “It doesn’t make treatment decisions. We’re not there yet,” he said.

Baystate Health is making AI part of its cost-savings push, said CEO Peter D. Banko.

The largest healthcare provider is inserting AI into all of its information systems, making more operations self-service.

“So being able to schedule, being able to fill out your paperwork, being able to refill your prescriptions, being able to interact with your physician more real time through some AI agents,” Banko said.

Nearly three-quarters — or 71% — of doctors and nurse practitioners report some use of AI for patient visits, according to an August MGMA Stat poll.

But opinions were divided on its impact on staff workload: About 44% said it has not reduced workload,

39% said it has, and 17% were unsure.

Namu Sampath, a reporter at The Republican, discusses a story with Enterprise Editor Dan Jackson in the paper's Springfield newsroom on the morning of Jan. 8.

(DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

dine. sstay. st tay ta ay. y.

rrelax. re lax ax. ax x.

the beauty of the delaney house and d. hotel.

www.lcdhhospitalitygroup.com @dineatdelaney @d.hotelsuites 3219183-01

AYSTATE HEALTH is committed to delivering compassionate, quality and accessible care — advancing our communities’ health for all. We have been an economic and health pillar of our community for more than 140 years.

Over the past year, we have made meaningful progress to achieve financial stability and long-term financial resilience.

This has required difficult decisions by our governance and leadership. We have asked our 13,000 incredible team members to challenge the status quo, embrace new ways of thinking and act decisively to improve our system.

Our transformation has been impactful on the organization, the communities that we serve and our neighbors this past year.

Yet, one thing remains consistent — safety first, every person, every moment.

As we look ahead this year and beyond, familiar challenges like workforce, inflation for supplies and pharmaceuticals and a large, growing government (Medicare and Medicaid) payor population remain in our markets. Then, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 and became the single largest rollback of health care in our lifetimes.

After decades of working to expand coverage, access and affordability, the new law threatens the most poor and vulnerable in our community, raises cost shifting to those with commercial insurance and devastates safety net health care providers.

As I think about innovation, the words and writings of the late Clayton Christensen, a renowned Harvard Business School professor, come to mind. He was an academic and business consultant who developed the theory of disruptive innovation.

Dr. Christensen said, “The breakthrough innovations come when the tension is the greatest and the resources are the most limited. That’s when people are actually a lot more open to rethinking the fundamental way they do business.”

In 2026, our breakthrough innovations will come in four areas where we are fundamentally rethinking the way we do our core business – access, quality and safety, “payvider” and technology.

First, access is defined by you — our customers.

When, how and where you want care. Access is the ease with which you can get the care you want and need at Baystate — timely, available, affordable and culturally appropriate. This year, we will make improvement in hospital access (emergency and surgery) and physician access.

Second, we will deliver highly reliable care — Leapfrog A and CMS 4 or 5 Star care. In January, we started the design process for what’s known as a High Reliability Organization (HRO). All team members will be trained in 2026 on universal HRO skills. This journey involves a zero-harm goal, a proactive safety and just culture, rigorous process, systems

Dr. Sandip Maru, chief of vascular surgery at Holyoke Medical Center, has started using AI software to aid him with his patients’ notes. Maru said it is useful at catching things the patient says that he might have otherwise missed. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

I’m here to tell you that that’s far from the truth.

We’re go-getters, we’re digitally savvy, we care about the world, and we just want to find our place in it.

Unfortunately, that goal is getting harder and harder.

The national unemployment rate is 4%, but among those 18 to 25, that rate is 8%, says Adaora Ubaka, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management, whom I spoke with recently.

Part of the reason the rate is so high, she said, is because companies are outsourcing entry-level jobs that have historically gone to recent college graduates to artificial intelligence. It’s a major source of anxiety for her students, most of whom are in their final year of college and beginning to apply to jobs.

Ubaka describes herself as an “elder millennial,” but her work revolves around Gen Z. She is fascinated by this generation, one she says is by no means lazy.

“They are actually part

of what’s called the hustle gen(eration),” she said.

That’s the ability to have a job and also a “side hustle,” or a secondary job that makes money. Gen Z is more entrepreneurial than previous generations, in her view.

In her work, she looks at what research has to say about Gen Z entering the workforce, and how this generation — my generation — is shaping workforce culture.

The oldest of us are nearing the end of our 20s; the youngest are just entering high school.

By 2030, Gen Z will make up about a third of the workforce across the U.S., according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Of my fellow reporters in the newsroom here at The Republican, I’m the youngest at 26. We’re evenly split between millennial (also known as Gen Y) employees born between 1981 and 1996, and Gen X employees, born 1965 to 1980. And there’s one baby boomer, born between 1946 to 1964.

It’s no secret that the “traditional workforce” is changing. The COVID-19 pandemic had a role to play in that.

For example, companies that previously expected employees to be in-person five days of the week can now take on a hybrid approach. But the pandemic also eroded Gen Z’s trust in institutions,

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J9

* See Dealership for details. Sale ends 2/28/2026. Dealer and/or Publisher not liable for any typographical errors. All images used are for illustrative purposes only, actual vehicle may vary from image used.

3218378-01

OUTLOOK 2026

J10 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

I

Our chrysalis moment in health care

COULD TALK ABOUT the many changes reshaping health care in 2026 — inadequate reimbursement, workforce redesign and new delivery models. These are all real, and they matter. But the real inflection point for our health care system isn’t about individual hospitals or structure; it’s about purpose and alignment.

To truly create health for generations to come, health care must integrate cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, with human connection and lifestyle medicine, so we can emerge from the “caterpillar” fee-for-service models of treating illness into the “butterfly” value-based future built for long-lasting well-being. This is our chrysalis moment where transformation is paramount — to be both high-tech and high-touch, grounded in innovation and trust, driven by strategic collaborations in ways we have not seen before.

Health care has long been focused on optimizing care and experience inside the walls of hospitals and office buildings. We’ve gotten better at treating illness and have more tools at our disposal to prolong life than ever before. Yet we know that hospital visits or prescription medications alone don’t result in quality of life or true health, and neither will nostalgia for “the way things were” — especially in the context of ever-rising costs and increasingly inadequate reimbursement.

Health care needs a new

Machine and medicine, working together Spiros Hatiras

Dr. Robert Roose approach with both immediate results and a long-term view: to adopt innovations that free up time and reduce fragmentation, and a focus on foundational lifestyle principles that make healthy choices and social connection the default. And we need to do it in partnership with others.

Why now? Because the stakes could not be higher.

Nearly half of U.S. physicians report symptoms of burnout — which is a risk to access and quality. There are workforce shortages in many key disciplines, like primary care providers, registered nurses, and radiology techs, that threaten to limit access. The gap between lifespan (duration) and healthspan (quality) is widening, and loneliness has been declared a public health epidemic, with health impacts comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. These aren’t side issues; they are upstream drivers of chronic disease and cost. If we want healthier communities, we must treat purpose like a clinical vital sign and wellness as a core business strategy.

SEE ROOSE, PAGE J14

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Waltham-based Boston Dynamics said that its Atlas robot will be deployed in Hyundai car factories starting in 2028. The CEO of Holyoke Medical Center envisions machine helpers at the hospital within three years. (BOSTON DYNAMICS PHOTO)

W

HAT IS THE next big thing in health care? My generation knew a world without internet or iPhones, where the fax machine was a new and novel idea. In fact, when I was a young adult, telephones without wires that you could carry in your hand and see the person you were talking to were the stuff of science fiction legends. When I see self-driving cars, spacebased internet coverage anywhere in the world, a push for Mars, robotics and aggressive AI development, I wonder, “How does that apply to health care and what does it mean for the health care industry?”

I believe that we are on the verge of a new era in health care, given that we already have seen real world applications of “machine” intelligence (I prefer to call it that rather than “artificial”). And while I don’t think humans or human intervention is going

omous robots at hospitals like Holyoke Medical Center, and that is for difficult or repetitive jobs. One such application is to watch over patients who are confused or restless and are at risk of getting up from their beds and falling. Despite all the efforts of using technology, like bed alarms and cameras, as well as human “chaperones,” many patients in every hospital across the country suffer falls, sometimes with significant injury. The technology is helping, but often the warning that someone is getting out of bed comes too late. The job of the human observer is one of the most tedious at our hospital.

Imagine having to sit for hours watching a patient without being able to do anything that would distract you, not even reading a book ... for hours. It is no wonder it is very difficult to recruit and retain staff to do this job. Now imagine the Optimus Patient Observer that will not only watch out for your safety 24 hours a day without getting bored or distracted, but also can entertain you with music, trivia and even board games, be your personal encyclopedia, make calls for you and so much more. And, all it will ever need is to be plugged in and charged, and have an occasional software update.

It might sound futuristic, but I predict we will deploy this technology at Holyoke Medical Center in less than three years’ time.

The future will certainly be exciting, and who knows what’s next after robots? Beam me up, Scotty?

much harder to identify. A machine can look at an endless stream of data, like lab results, to become obsolete anytime vital signs, symptoms and past soon, I can see a synergy history in mere seconds and between human and machine do that for many patients at a that will make health care time; a task that would take a safer, more efficient and more human hours or days. It also effective. can search vast databases to As an example, at Holyoke find matches for particular Medical Center we are already patterns or disease manifestausing machine learning to tions to inform decisions. Very help our clinicians be more importantly, it can do this 24 efficient with the ever-increas- hours a day, seven days a week ing burden of documentation. and 365 days a year without We employ a technology that tiring. relies on ambient listening I think the next big step will during an office visit to create be robots with machine-learnan appropriate note for the ing capabilities, like the “Opchart that captures everything timus” announced by Tesla. necessary, thus leaving more You might have heard for years time for face-to-face cliniabout “robotic surgery” and cian-patient communication. “robots,” but the reality is that We also are piloting technolit describes machine-assisted ogies that, while not directly surgery; a mechanical “pupdiagnosing a patient or sugpet” operated by a human gesting care, perform a kind surgeon.

Spiros Hatiras is president of surveillance to flag areas However, before we get to an of concern and early warning actual robotic surgeon, there is and CEO of Valley Health Systems/Holyoke Medical Center. signs that would otherwise be potentially a place for auton-

Building on a proud legacy at Cooley Dickinson: Investing in structure, workforce and the future of care

A

3217801-01

S A NEW LEADER at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, my first priority has been listening to staff, physicians and community partners. What I have heard consistently is a deep pride in the care delivered here and a shared desire to strengthen our foundation for the future.

Our focus is to build on this proud legacy by supporting the people who deliver care, Registered dietitian Stacey Madden receives the COVID-19 aligning leadership to the work vaccine at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton on Dec. at hand, and strengthening 17, 2020. (COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL PHOTO) systems that enable excellent Additional partnerships outcomes. These efforts are made possible through strong include collaboration with Bay Path University to train executive partnership. Under patient care assistants, with the leadership of our hospital students paid during training president and chief operating officer, Kevin Whitney, Cooley and hired upon completion.

This fall, Cooley Dickinson Dickinson remains committed will partner with the MGH to empowering our nursing and clinical teams and sustainInstitute of Health Professions to bring an accelerated ing the structures that allow Chika nursing degree program to high-quality, patient-centered Anueyiagu our campus. care to thrive.

Supported by Mass General Strengthening nursing ingful investments to support Brigham tuition reimburseleadership structure ment and hospital grant safe staffing and workforce To support the increasing support, the first cohort will sustainability. These include competitive wages, an expand- begin in September. complexity of health care, To further support safe Cooley Dickinson has revised ed nursing resource pool, and a weekend enhanced-pay pro- staffing, the hospital is using its inpatient nursing leadergram. This approach rewards ship structure to better align predictive workforce planning tools to anticipate future staff who prefer weekend leadership oversight with the needs and proactively align work, while offering greater scope and intensity of care delivered across the hospital. flexibility and fewer weekend resources. commitments for others.

This structure enables Advancing research, We are strengthening the leaders to focus intentionally leadership development on quality improvement, staff nursing and staff workforce development, patient safety, Aligned with Mass General pipeline through academic partnerships. Earlier this year, Brigham’s commitment to and workforce engagement, research, Cooley Dickinson the hospital partnered with supporting proactive work is exploring academic partGreenfield Community Colthat strengthens outcomes and sustains excellence at the lege to launch a central sterile nerships that expand nursing processing technician training research and evidence-based bedside. practices. This ensures that program taught by Cooley Investing in the care is guided by the best Dickinson’s central sterile workforce and safe staffing supervisor Marlene Gonzaavailable evidence while genlez. All three graduates were Our people are our greaterating new knowledge that est strength, and Cooley hired into full-time roles upon benefits our community.

SEE ANUEYIAGU, PAGE J14 completion.

Dickinson has made mean-

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | J11

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

How West Springfield is building a future-ready local economy

W

HEN BUSINESS leaders talk about “the next big thing,” they often point to technology, workforce shifts or market disruption. For local government, the next big thing is more practical and, in many ways, more consequential. It is building the systems that allow businesses and residents to operate with confidence in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

In West Springfield, we see our next chapter defined by a clear goal: making municipal government a reliable economic partner by modernizing operations, strengthening infrastructure and planning for growth without sacrificing affordability.

One of the most immediate ways we are doing that is through next-generation government. Over the coming years, West Springfield will continue to expand digital services, improve online access, and streamline permitting and licensing. For developers, contractors, and small-business owners, clear communication, predictable timelines and faster turnaround times make a real difference. Reducing friction in government is one of the most

development, and how the community plans to balance opportunity with sustainability.

Affordability remains central to all of this work. Rising construction costs, inflation, and deferred maintenance can quickly translate into higher taxes and fees, affecting both households and employers. Our focus has been on investing strategically, planning ahead, and avoiding William Reichelt crisis-driven decisions. That discipline has helped West West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt says the next phase of practical ways a municipality growth in town will be strongest when the public and private sec- Springfield remain one of the can support economic activity. tors work together to align infrastructure, workforce needs and most affordable communities Infrastructure is another in the region, while still delivinvestment. Above is West Springfield Town Hall. (PROVIDED PHOTO) area where the next big thing ering strong public services. streets help support a workbetter preparing our commuis already underway. Over Affordability is not a limitation nity for more frequent and the past several years, West on growth. It is a competitive force-friendly and accessible Springfield has invested heavily intense storms. For employers community. advantage.

Long-range planning is anin rebuilding roads, improving and property owners, this is Strong public schools are intersections, expanding side- about protecting investments other critical tool we are using another essential piece of the and managin g long-term risk. to support economic growth. walks and modernizing water equation. Communities that offer a high-quality education In 2026, West Springfield will Transportation and mobiland sewer systems that had ity also are evolving, and our not been updated in decades. begin a comprehensive master at a reasonable cost are better Looking ahead, we are turning infrastructure must keep pace. plan for 2050. This plan will positioned to attract families our attention to stormwater and retain talent. West Springguide decisions on housing, In the years ahead, we will infrastructure, the third and land use, transportation, open field has worked to deliver that continue expanding sidewalk long-overlooked system that space, economic development value, and we are now in the connections, improving road and climate resilience over the early stages of planning for the safety and advancing projprotects our neighborhoods, consolidation and rebuilding next 25 years. For businesses businesses and transportation ects like the Piper-Amostown of the John Ashley and Fausey corridors. Establishing a dedi- roundabout to reduce crashes and investors, that kind of cated stormwater utility will al- and congestion. As more peo- clarity matters. It signals where schools. This process will be low us to maintain and upgrade ple walk, bike and use e-bikes, growth is encouraged, how thoughtful and data-driven, this system responsibly, while with the goal of strengthening infrastructure will align with safer and more connected

Sampath

curriculum a few semesters ago — which her students appreciate. This generation, unlike any other, is much more likely to disclose mental health diagnoses, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, she said. My peers also say they want their employers to offer a clear distinction between “sick days” and “mental health days.”

• Professional development: Companies must support younger employees’ goals. Overwhelmingly, the people who replied to my informal survey said there is a widening gap between senior level employees and younger employees. Having an opportunity to develop soft and hard skills — and for companies to support that growth — is imperative to the shifting workplace; • DEI: With the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, more of my peers say they refuse to work at companies that have scaled back their support of DEI programs. On this note, companies also must promote gender equity in the workplace; • Collaborative work environment: It’s true COVID-19 stunted some of Gen Z’s socialization skills.

Employees want to work with their colleagues on projects and want to learn from all of our team members. Plus points if our team members also want to learn from us; • Differing perspectives: We also want a workplace where our opinions, concerns and suggestions are taken seriously. We are a generation of people who advocate for ourselves and others; • Flexibility: Whether employers like it or not, the pandemic opened the door to hybrid work environments and alternative career paths. Companies must be adaptable to employees’ needs for a flexible work environment; • Purpose: We are vocal about systemic injustices.

We want to work for companies that, frankly, give a damn about the world we live in. We want to feel like the work we do genuinely makes a difference; and we hope our employers care about the greater good; • More casual, more fun: And finally, work is work, but I feel it should also be fun. We want companies that encourage interpersonal friendships at work, we want less formal dress codes, and lenient policies on tattoos and piercings.

Opportunities for teams to bond — or to find common ground — are OK in doses, too.

CONTINUES FROM PAGE J8

according to Edelman, a global public relations company.

The pandemic also made room for Gen Zers to lead the charge on the boom of the “gig economy,” formerly seen as the “alternative” career path, which includes jobs like driving for Uber or Lyft, doing food delivery for companies like DoorDash or making and/or selling unique crafted items on Etsy.

According to Fortune, the gig economy is growing three times faster than the traditional workforce.

I reached out to my peers on social media to learn what the “ideal workforce” looks like to them. Some work in media, like me.

Others have STEM careers — engineers, for example — or they work in food services. Many have passions on the side that they are developing into secondary careers.

Do they work somewhere where their voices are heard and their needs are met?

Where is there room for improvement?

Here is the bottom line: We want to work for people and companies that care about us. But that means the workforce has to adapt.

I’ll close with a 10-point list of workplace qualities my generation seeks.

• Equitable pay: Gen Z wants to be paid more, and equitably, for their work. We demand salary transparency from potential employers, and we turn away from companies that don’t offer insight into the pay ladder. There is also a significant concern about the worsening economy: out-of-reach rent costs, student debt and high gas and grocery prices. Companies must be willing to understand the value we bring and pay us what we’re worth.

• Work-life blending: Our work-life balance — and, especially our lives outside of work — are incredibly important to us. Working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. means 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We have hobbies and side hustles outside of our (typically) 40-hour work weeks. Companies should offer more than 10 or 14 days for vacation time.

Research shows that Gen Z employees are “burning out” much faster than older generations. Having time to recuperate allows for higher productivity at work and promotes increased happiness outside of work; • Mental health: Employers must be more open about having conversations about this and providing support. Ubaka, the UMass professor, says she built mental health days into her

Sterile processing technician Theresa Pilat cleans surgical tools in the sterile processing area of Baystate Medical Center in 2024.

planning (ERP) systems.

By bringing together our clinical systems and our core business processes into a single, unified system, we will enhance your self-service of our system, digital health, telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and health at home.

In many ways, this path forward reflects who we have always been since 1883. We are rooted in this community and committed to building a healthier future together.

Your health is our mission!

(THE REPUB-

Peter D. Banko is the president and CEO of Baystate Health.

LICAN / FILE PHOTO)

Banko CONTINUES FROM PAGE J8

and tools, and a growth and continuous improvement mindset.

Third, you may remember headlines from a year ago at this time when we made the courageous and agile decision to retain ownership of our health plan, Health New England. Baystate and Health New England together are evolving into a more value-based approach to health care, often called a “payvider” model.

We didn’t invent this model, but we are innovating here in Western Massachusetts for our members and patients.

Our focus will be acutely on patient-centered approaches, clinician-driven and physician-led systems, clinical excellence, seamlessly accessible and coordinated care, prevention, chronic disease management, and your health (not just care).

We want to reduce friction and better connect care teams. Information will flow more smoothly and transitions of care will be easier. When care and coverage work together, people spend less time trying to access the system and more time focusing on their family and their health.

This shift isn’t just strategic, it’s necessary for Western Massachusetts.

Our region faces an aging population and growing reliance on Medicare and Medicaid for insurance coverage. A more integrated, value-based approach allows us to meet these realities head-on, maintain access to care close to home and invest back into Baystate to benefit you and our caregivers.

Finally, we are going to innovate in our core technologies — electronic medical record (EMR) and enterprise resource

our school system and ensuring fiscal responsibility for taxpayers. At the same time, continued investment in public safety, including planning for a modern police station, helps ensure the safe and stable environment that residents and businesses depend on.

Taken together, these efforts reflect how we think about the next big thing in municipal leadership. It is not about chasing trends or headlines.

It is about building capacity, reducing risk, and creating stable conditions where commerce can grow.

As we move ahead, West Springfield looks forward to working with regional employers, developers and institutions who share this long-term view. The next phase of growth will be strongest when the public and private sectors work together to align infrastructure, workforce needs, and investment. We invite the business community across the Pioneer Valley to engage with us, collaborate with us, and help shape a future that is affordable, resilient, and full of opportunity for the entire region.

William Reichelt is the mayor of West Springfield.

We are proud to announce

We’re Growing %GAN &LANAGAN #OHEN 7ELCOMES 4HESE !TTORNEYS TO OUR 4EAM

Jonathan R. Goldsmith, Esq.

Henry C. Cropsey, Esq.

Thomas E. Argenio, Esq.

Egan, Flanagan & Cohen is a century-old law firm deeply rooted in Springfield, and is growing in 2026 with the merging of two local law firms—Goldsmith, Katz and Argenio, P.C., and the law practice of Henry Cropsey.

A full-service firm, here to help since 1924, here to help now, here to help for the next hundred years. #IVIL ,ITIGATION s #OMMERCIAL AND 2ESIDENTIAL 2EAL %STATE s #ORPORATE 'OVERNANCE AND %XTERNAL 'ENERAL #OUNSEL 3ERVICES s #OMMERCIAL ,ENDING s "ANKRUPTCY s ,ABOR AND #OLLECTIVE "ARGAINING s %STATE 0LANNING AND !DMINISTRATION s 0ROBATE AND &IDUCIARY ,ITIGATION s $IVORCE AND &AMILY ,AW

-ARKET 3TREET 3PRINGlELD -! s s EGANmANAGAN COM

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

J12 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Big hopes for new building “The next big thing that I'm most excited for is a brand new building that is going to be home to our workforce development program," said Nyi’eashia Smith, workforce development coordinator for Square One, a Springfield nonprofit. "Here we have two programs, our learning program and our youth works program. So we're very excited for our new building that's going to be joining us here on William Street. … (The new building, due to open in about a year, will have a center devoted to technology, giving students access to more tech tools and equipment.) … With workforce development in particular, we are integrating more of the new technological advances here that we're seeing with social media and some of the things coming up. Especially to engage in outreach to youth.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

The next big thing for fitness is total integration

Grit24 members in Ludlow are all smiles after putting in the hard work. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

F

OR DECADES, THE fitness industry has moved in waves, each promising the “next answer” to better health and higher performance. What’s different now is that we’re finally realizing the answer was never singular. The next big thing isn’t another supplement, device, or program. It’s total immersion: fitness, nutrition, supplementation, and mental well-being working as one system.

If we look back, fitness begins as something deeply holistic. In the early 1960s, when President John F. Kennedy brought the Presidential Fitness Test into schools, performance was simple and functional: bodyweight movements, endurance, and resilience. It wasn’t about aesthetics or hacks. It was about capability.

As fitness became commercialized, it shifted. Big machines, specialized equipment, and gym memberships dominated the conversation.

Then came the 1990s, when the industry swung the other way. At-home VHS workouts replaced gyms altogether, favoring intimacy and accessibility over scale.

The early 2000s marked another turning point: the explosion of supplementation and diet science. Consumers were selling the idea that better results could come from less movement and more chemistry powders, pills, and protocols. Exercise remained important, but it became sec-

Jessica Vieira

ondary to macros, formulas, and shortcuts.

Then came reality.

Partly through science and partly through the shock of COVID, we were forced to confront something fitness had long overlooked: the brain. Mental clarity, emotional regulation, and stress management weren’t side effects of health — they were prerequisites. Burnout, anxiety, and cognitive fatigue directly limit physical performance, productivity, and resilience.

Athletes have understood this for years. The best performers in the world openly credit sports psychologists and mental performance coaches as being just as essential as their strength coaches or nutritionists.

Output isn’t determined by strength alone. It’s determined by how well the system functions as a whole.

That realization is now crossing into the workplace.

Business today is overwhelmingly cognitive. We sit, think, present, analyze,

SEE VIEIRA, PAGE J14

Garcia CONTINUES FROM PAGE J6

meaningful progress at the Holyoke Police Department under Chief Brian Keenan’s leadership. In just his first year, after looming reports brought forward in the audit of the Holyoke Police Department, the department achieved remarkable results: a 30% reduction in overtime costs (saving approximately $500,000) while seizing twice as many firearms and issuing over 2,300 traffic citations, a 143% increase from the prior year.

Arrests rose significantly in key areas, demonstrating a renewed focus on enforcement, efficiency, and community safety, all while maintaining high standards of professionalism.

These accomplishments reflect a commitment to smarter, more accountable policing that benefits every resident. We will continue to invest in officer training, modern equipment, and community-oriented initiatives to build trust and strengthen neighborhoods.

We continue to leverage our economic development strengths: inexpensive, clean energy; spacious buildings ripe for repurpose, and helpful, knowledgeable staff in our Office of Planning and Economic Development who work every day to promote the assets that make our city competitive.

STEM teacher Kevin Burke works with students in the new William R. Peck Middle School building in Holyoke on Sept. 1. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

One of the joys of living, working, and governing here is the stubborn love our citizens have for Holyoke. That love unites this city of immigrants and migrants.

And I am looking forward to continuing to do this work together with our new Planning and Economic Development Director Eric Nakajima.

Our school district has come a long way. Now under local control coupled with our investments in our school buildings — including building a new middle school — together with noticeable gains on student outcomes and attendance in our schools, we will support our educators and other public service providers through ongoing contract

negotiations to make sure our workforce remains competitive while ensuring quality services for the public.

And last but not least, we will continue to invest in the infrastructure that will transform neighborhoods in a way that improves mobility, safety, and enhances community pride.

I would like to close on the subject of community pride.

One of the joys of living, working, and governing here is the stubborn love our citizens have for Holyoke. That love unites this city of immigrants and

migrants.

You see it our endurance through challenges, in the proud celebrations of the many cultures and ethnicities that contribute to the Holyoke brand, from the St. Patrick’s Parade to the Fiestas Patronales, from our celebrations of Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Polish Independence to our Pride festival, citywide cleanups and back-to-school festivities.

2026 is shaping up to be our best year yet.

Joshua A. Garcia is mayor of the city of Holyoke.

We can invest in long-term care, ensuring that as medical research continues to extend life expectancy, our elderly can live out their golden years with dignity and security.

We can continue our efforts to modernize America’s transportation systems by investing in initiatives like west-east rail, which will connect communities and stimulate economic growth in every corner of the commonwealth.

We can protect and strengthen food assistance, delivering America’s bounty from the world’s best farmers to those who need it most.

We can improve and expand care for our veterans, honoring their service and the commitment we made to them: You protect us, and we’ll take care of you. And so much more.

Pat Dunn of the Springfield Education Association, left, speaks At times of great uncerwith the local media on the steps of City Hall, explaining the tainty, our history offers both SEA stand on the current contract talks. With her, from left, are CONTINUES FROM PAGE J2 guidance and resolve. It tells are City Councilors Peter Jurzynski, Richard E. Neal and Philip would be able to retire with us that if we recommit to the Contant. (THE REPUBLICAN / FILE PHOTO) principles that have sustained dignity after a lifetime of hard Medicare, and Medicaid, or shaped our nation’s founding, our democracy for two and a work. All of these initiatives half centuries, we can meet were guided by the founding the disregard for long-standing we can meet the challenges of the challenges of the moment principle that our government democratic norms, like checks this moment and renew faith exists to serve the public good. and balances and due process, in this unfinished democratic and fulfill our obligations as However, this past year has experiment. we have witnessed a stark great stewards of this demobeen marked by chaos and We can further advance the cratic experiment. We just have departure from the principles instilled by our Founding to turn to our history for the uncertainty, leading to the cause for universal access to health care, building on the Fathers. next big thing. steady erosion of trust in our institutions. Whether it be cuts progress we’ve seen since the U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, of However, I firmly believe to health care, nutritional asenactment of the Affordable the 1st Congressional District that if we remind ourselves of Massachusetts, is the ranking sistance programs, or medical of the ideals that guided the Care Act and the delivery of people of Western and Central health care to an additional 24 member of the House Commitresearch, attacks on bedrock programs like Social Security, Massachusetts in 1774 and million Americans. tee on Ways and Means.

Neal

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J13

M A K E YO U R DAY AT THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME! Looking for an unforgettable way to spend the day or a one of a kind place to host your next event?

The Basketball Hall of Fame is where the game’s greatest moments come to life and where unforgettable experiences begin.

Explore interactive exhibits, test your skills on the court, and walk among the legends who shaped basketball history. With hands on fun for all ages, it is the perfect destination for families, fans, and visitors of all kinds.

Beyond the exhibits, the Hall offers flexible event spaces ranging from intimate gatherings to full Hall takeovers. From weddings and corporate events to proms and celebrations, every event is elevated by an iconic setting, premium service, and an atmosphere that cannot be replicated.

GREATNESS LIVES INSIDE™ and it is waiting for you.

PLAN YOUR VISIT Call 1-877-HOOPLA or visit hoophall.com/plan-your-experience

/BBHOF

@HOOPHALL @HOOPHALL

@HOOPHALL @HOOPHALL

3219494-01

1000 Hall of Fame Avenue Springfield, Massachusetts 01105 1-877-4HOOPLA H hoophall.com

BOOK YOUR EVENT Call 413-231-5513 or visit hoophall.com/bookthehall

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

J14 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Ethan Houle, 17, works to install a sensor on the robot in Renee Sweeney’s Principles of Engineering class at Westfield High School on Jan. 15. (DOUG-

A CT-scan machine at Mercy Medical Center. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Roose CONTINUES FROM PAGE J10

LAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

Tech CONTINUES FROM PAGE J6

report recommended that the Legislature fund an initiative to make it so, as well as train educators in the subject.

Across the state, urban high schools, which often serve more low-income and students of color, were less likely to teach a class in computer science than their rural and suburban counterparts, according to a 2021 analysis done for the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.

“There’s an equity issue here, as well,” said Ed Lambert, the executive director of

the alliance.

And those who do take courses in the state tend to skew white and male, state data shows.

Expanding access to computer science education could help address wealth gaps in the state, Lambert said.

technical education.

“Things are changing pretty rapidly, but nonetheless we still see an incredible need to ramp up the number of students in STEM fields in computer science, in tech and AI. ... There simply isn’t enough of that happening for students.”

More courses In Westfield, 66% of stuneeded for teachers dents have taken either a digLambert hopes to see more ital literacy or computer sciteacher training for the cours- ence course as of last school es in the state. “We’re denying year, according to state data. kids based on the high school Springfield Public Schools’ figure was close to 50%, and they go to if we don’t do Holyoke was at 52%. more to accelerate that,” he At Holyoke Public Schools, said. courses tend to be blendAI has disrupted the field, ed computer science and too, but like Crawford, digital literacy. Holyoke High Lambert still sees value in

Anueyiagu CONTINUES FROM PAGE J10

Leadership development aligns with one of Mass General Brigham’s systemwide priorities for 2026.

Cooley Dickinson is investing in educational opportunities for front-line and senior leaders. In partnership with the Massachusetts Hospital

The future of fitness and performance is a universal package that measures physical training, internal health, and mental clarity together. Not separately. Not in isolation.

Association, interdisciplinary teams will participate in the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Healthy Work Environment Clinical Scene Investigator Academy.

A clear vision for quality and the future of nursing These investments in leadership, workforce and systems are translating into measurable results. Cooley

School North offers pre-engineering classes, for example, and the Dr. Marcella R. Kelly School teaches coding to its elementary grades, according to HPS Executive Director of Academics Rebecca Thompson.

At Westfield schools, educators are seeing a lot of interest in coding from students, said Lindsey Ayers, an elementary school STEM coach in the district.

They are drawn to platforms like Scratch, an educational coding tool for elementary school students, she said.

“Kids want to do it,” she said. “They are coding at home.”

Dickinson is a top-quartile performer on several quality outcome measures, as measured by Vizient. These achievements reflect strong interdisciplinary collaboration and physician partnership, including the leadership of Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sundeep Shukla. The hospital has also achieved Joint Commission certification as a primary stroke center.

Looking ahead, our goal at Cooley

Vieira

Jessica Vieira is co-owner of Grit24 in Ludlow. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

UN

DRED

YE

RS

ON

A

E

H

N

The First Rocky’s Location, 1926

ment models are shifting toward value. Employers and communities are demanding better outcomes at lower cost.

Consumer trends continue to highlight the importance of convenience, experience and a focus on quality of life. Health care systems are aligning to support excellence and access in times of great financial challenge — and the opportunity is now to invest in both innovation and intimacy to truly enhance well-being, for colleagues, patients, and communities.

The next big thing is not a gadget or a policy. It is a mindset. When we can adopt innovation to enhance outcomes and liberate people’s time for connection, reserve our clinical spaces for only what is critical, design our environments for wellness, and align incentives with prevention and quality of life, we won’t just treat disease — we will create health. This is our chrysalis moment. Health care should leap into it and emerge with wings.

A

I L E D

I T

!

High-tech matters — but only if it serves time, trust and equity. We have access to an infinite amount of data. Artificial intelligence is already reducing administrative burden, giving clinicians back the time that matters. Every minute reclaimed from paperwork is a minute reinvested in listening, teaching and healing. And that is the promise of technology — not replacing human care but amplifying it.

High-touch matters — as health is built long before and between visits. Lifestyle medicine offers an evidence-based framework: nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, social connection and avoidance of risky substances.

These pillars reverse chronic disease and extend life. They echo the lessons of the world’s “Blue Zones,” where longevity thrives on purpose, belonging and healthy environments.

And we can engineer those conditions locally — if we Dr. Robert Roose is the preschoose to. ident of community hospitals This is not a soft idea. It for Trinity Health of New is a hard strategy for health England. system repositioning. Pay-

Dickinson is to leverage technology and emerging applications of artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making and promote timely escalation of care. Nursing teams also will engage in strategic planning to shape a three-year roadmap aligned with hospital and system priorities using the Magnet framework. While the professional practice model is still in development, this work will be done

collaboratively with front-line nurses and leaders to guide practice, growth and shared accountability.

The future at Cooley Dickinson Hospital is purposeful, people-centered, and grounded in excellence, and we are building it together with our exceptional staff and community.

Chika Anueyiagu is the chief nursing officer at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.

tolerance, and emotional regulation. Performance will no longer be defined by a single CONTINUES FROM PAGE J12 metric — it will be defined by a balance across all three and decide. Employers have made progress by acknowledg- domains.

Fitness looks different to eving mental health and offering eryone. Some people train for wellness stipends or gym reimbursements. But most performance, others for stress relief, and others simply feel programs still treat fitness, nutrition, and mental health better as they move through as separate silos. The result is their day. As an owner, the goal fragmented care — and fragisn’t to impose a single definition — it’s to create a blank mented performance.

The next evolution will be canvas where individuals can build their own experience. different.

That’s why narrowly focused The future of fitness and fitness models struggle in the performance is a universal package that measures physlong term. They serve one ical training, internal health, outcome, one personality, one and mental clarity together. reason. Real health doesn’t Not separately. Not in isowork that way. lation. Strength will matter, The same is true in business. but so will gut health, blood If an employee isn’t feeling markers, recovery, sleep, stress well physically, they won’t

perform well. If they’re mentally foggy, emotionally overwhelmed, or chronically stressed, output suffers — whether they’re sitting at a desk, delivering a presentation, or leading a team. Performance has a ceiling, and that ceiling is defined by health.

The next big thing isn’t doing less exercise with more science. It’s doing smarter integration with better awareness. Fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being are no longer independent variables.

They are one system — and the organizations that understand that first will build the most resilient, productive, and high-performing people in the decade ahead.

Jessica Vieira is the co-owner of Grit24 Fitness in Ludlow.

THE NEXT BIG THING? We've Been Building It for 100 Years.

In an ever-changing business environment, Rocky's Ace Hardware has stayed constant for 100 years: locally owned, community-focused, and always here when you need us.

Celebrating 100 years of service.

WWW.ROCKYS.COM

3218301-01

8 WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LOCATIONS

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 J15

FOOD IS STILL THE WORK

For more than 40 years, the Food Bank has worked to build lasting food security by providing nutritious food and partnering with communities to end hunger in Western Massachusetts.

Let’s ensure everyone in our region has access to nutritious food without barriers or stigma. .

TOGETHER, WE END HUNGER

Get involved! foodbankwma.org

J16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

ADVERTISING

3218125-01

K|

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Four decades of windows “My role is just to seal the windows after the installers put them in,” said Damen Rund, a glazier working at the Ludlow Mills complex. “And I believe it's going to be the same as across the way here, where there are apartments. And then I think it's on to retail on the first floor. That's the plan. … It's really cool to see the old buildings come back to life. I've been caulking since I was 15. I'm 56 now, so that's a little over 40 years, so I guess they say I do it fairly well. (He laughs) … What does it take to be a good glazier? A lot of practice. That's all. It's a good trade. It's been good to me. … I live in Connecticut, but I will probably swing by in the future and see how these mill buildings turned out. And there's another one right over there, with the plywood, and I think that's next. Do all these windows have my name on them? Well, yeah, in a certain way. Yeah.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

‘They are all using it’ How Mass. educators are using — and putting limits on — artificial intelligence

C

By Greta Jochem

gjochem@repub.com

In the coding courses he teaches, Brian Candido was concerned about the use of artificial intelligence on assignments and making sure student work was authentic.

Candido, a professor and chair of the Computer Technologies Department at Springfield Technical Community College, came up with a plan.

He planted prompts buried in the assignment instructions that would tell the AI to stop and tell the student to do their own work. For awhile, it worked.

“I saw students scrambling,”

Seeking high marks for affordability, family friendliness

(CANVA ILLUSTRATION)

he said.

Then, AI got better, and when Candido recently fed the instructions into ChatGPT, it warned a student but still completed the ask.

“I was a little disappointed,” he said. “I put hours into this.”

Educators like Candido are all grappling with questions about AI, like how to limit the use of it, so it doesn’t do all the work for

students, and how educate students about it. Both professors at the college level and educators in the K-through-12 system are taking on those problems.

SEE AI, PAGE K12

HICOPEE continues to move forward with a wide range of projects that strengthen public safety, modernize infrastructure, revitalize neighborhoods and John Vieau position the city for long-term economic growth.

Through a thoughtful means of city investment, state and federal funding, and private partnerships, these efforts address immediate community needs, while advancing a clear vision for the future of the city and for those who live here.

Public safety remains a top priority. One of the newest advancements is the Chicopee

SEE VIEAU, PAGE K14

hcc.edu/bcs

3218725-01

Let us help you develop your workforce.

Learn more today.

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

K2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Human stories vital ingredient in best marketing

Gene Kingsley, cyber range manager at the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Union Station in Springfield, speaks in front of the Range 2 classroom on Jan. 16.

M

AYBE IT’S ALL the yabba-dabba-doing about AI or all the robocalls and junk emails clogging up our lives these days, but in the advertising business, the most effective stuff comes from real people with real stories — now more than ever. Especially on social media. It’s proven that posts with people in them get more response, and we’ve had some success recently getting clients to put their faces out there more. People can be uncomfortable at first. Nobody likes being on camera. Everybody says, “I’m not good at this.” Then they see the engagement, and they get it.

For example, our client Hot Table can post a perfectly food-styled, well-lit shot of a delicious looking panini, but it won’t get a sliver of the response that the owners and crew and customers get when they’re talking about the product themselves. Same with Donut Dip, whether it’s owner Paul Shields talking about how he eats three doughnuts a day, his daughter, Katie, explaining how a doughnut shop owner gets married to a cop, or my grandson, Flynn, reviewing the Belly Buster: It’s the genuine stuff that gets people talking.

Gone are the days of the dry corporate video with canned music, stock footage and boring talking heads.

With clients like Greenfield Co-op Bank or Surety Bond Professionals, it’s short, human, conversational videos that connect with clients and prospects.

Because it feels like your neighbor. Like someone you actually know. Our client Excel Dryer recently got a great response from a video we did about them being a family-owned company with a made-in-America product. You watch that and get a real sense of who that company is and what they stand for.

On the personal side, I’ve been doing this little “Keep Your Dukes Up” Friday

(DAVE ROBACK / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN)

Step inside the WMass cyber center

The future of threat detection is now

By Namu Sampath

nsampath@repub.com

Inside the Security Operations Center, the mission is clear: Monitor local cyber threats, thwart attacks and secure firewalls.

If it sounds like we’ve entered the realm of a James Bond movie, you’re not far off.

Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau projects that the field will see a 29% increase in employment by 2034, nearly three times the average growth rate for all occupations.

Gene Kingsley, cyber range manager at the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, inside Springfield’s Union Station, said recently that thousands of people have come through the center to better their data

security skills.

The center, which is run by Springfield Technical Community College, acts as a “teaching hospital” for cyber technology. It is the only cybersecurity center in Western Massachusetts.

The center is partnered with CyberTrust Massachusetts, a quasi-public organization working to protect governments, businesses and schools from surging cyber threats.

On a recent Friday afternoon, a reporter visited the Security Operations Center, known as the SOC, where Kingsley showed millions of live threats that were popping up across the globe. The A look inside of the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of room, which has a large disExcellence at Union Station in Springfield. Here is a lounge play at its front, is filled with area between the Range 2 classroom and conference area.

SEE THREAT, PAGE K14

(DAVE ROBACK / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN)

‘We’re building A look at quantum for what’s computing coming’ in the Valley Brendan Greeley, president of R.J. Greeley Co. at Springfield Technology Park, uses a piece of testing equipment used to examine and maintain fibrotic equipment. (DAVE ROBACK / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN)

Darby O’Brien

email for six years now.

Nothing fancy. No algorithm strategies. Just me telling stories. Stuff from my life, old Holyoke memories, family, screwups, jokes, whatever pops into my head that week. A few weeks ago, I wrote about my old grammar school Blessed Sacrament closing. Just an old family photo and some memories. Me as a kid with a bad haircut and Pat Boone white bucks. Nuns.

Old classmates. Real life.

It got more likes, shares, and replies than anything I’ve ever sent. Not because it was optimized. Because it was real. It sounded like a person, not a brochure.

That’s the difference.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not pushing cheap phone photography or sloppy production or schlocky local TV spots with a grinning spokesman. Creative still has to be done professionally with good ideas and an eye toward production values.

But the heart has to be human. It has to be authentic. Give ’em the straight story. That’s what people remember.

For more than 40 years, Darby O’Brien has led his tight-knit band of writers and designers through the creation and execution of some of the region’s most challenging and innovative ad campaigns. He has long used his advertising and PR skills in service of underdog causes and has been profiled on the “Today” show, Dr. Phil and Anderson Cooper and cited in numerous publications, including The New York Times and The Boston Globe.

Darby O'Brien's grandson Flynn tries his best to take down the Belly Buster

by West Springfield's Donut Dip. Watch the video at youtube. com/ watch?v= DlipD1Iy 6aE. (SCREEN-

will be used to do a feasibility In December, the state and study on creating a quantum the Holyoke computing cencomputing supply chain accel- ter announced plans SHOT FROM SEE QUANTUM, PAGE K11 erator, according to SpringYOUTUBE) field Technical Community College. The college is involved in the planning for F I R ST - T I M E W IN N ER the hub and tailoring training to meet the workforce needs.

Martin Hannigan, CEO of Lightboard, shows off new technol“The accelerator will help ogy during a tour at the R.J. Greeley Company at Springfield develop the next generaTechnical Park. (DAVE ROBACK / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN) tion of quantum computing

By Jim Kinney components, house a quanjkinney@repub.com tum-focused startup studio SPRINGFIELD — If you’re in and prepare local talent for jobs in the quantum industhe Pioneer Valley and watch try,” Gov. Maura Healey’s YouTube, post to Facebook or the basement of a 90-yearread this story online, all that old industrial building at One office said in a statement.

That would involve information traveled through Federal Street. “The capacity physical spaces, like the a basement at the Springfield has been adequate,” he said.

Technology Park.

“But for what’s coming, we’re Technology Park and the Massachusetts Green High And with an estimated $1 getting ahead of it.”

He said the exact amount Performance Computing million to $5 million invested invested is a trade secret.

Center Holyoke. over the last 18 months, all “Beyond quantum, everythat internet traffic is going Not so secret is the business thing these days is about faster and more efficientopportunity and the state’s desire to see the upgrades the transfer of data, quickly ly. That goes for data from to its investment utilized to and efficiently,” said BrenAmazon on your phone to dan Greeley, president of the supercomputers at the attract investment and jobs.

In November, the state des- R.J. Greeley Co., the leasing Massachusetts Green High ignated the Quantum Techagent for the Tech Park.

Speed Computing Center in Controlled by lasers, Holyoke. nologies, led by the Western quantum computing oper“The capacity needs to be Massachusetts Economic Development Council, as a ates by “puffing up” atoms bigger,” said Martin HanTechHub for the region. to thousands of times their nigan, CEO of Lightboard, the company that is doing The state designation came normal size and completthe upgrades to the fiberoptic alongside $1 million awarded ing calculations at speeds equipment and computer con- to the hub through a state eco- far exceeding conventional STAY CONN ECT ED AT CHICO PEECH AMBER. ORG nections built over decades in nomic development bill which computer processors.

BEST

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

3218160-01

Thank you for voting for us!

COMMERCIAL BANKING Equipment Financing Working Capital Financing Real Estate & Construction Financing Cash Management SBA Loans Business Credit Cards

Local

decisions

Experienced team

Listening.

Learning.

Leading.

Customized solutions

Commercial banking is more than lending money. It’s listening more than talking. Learning what makes your business unique. And leading the way with customized solutions.

Talk to us today. We’re here to help.

Always.

Member FDIC Member DIF

florencebank.com/commercial-lending 3219558-01

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

K4 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

They own town-gown relations

UMass Amherst a civic partner that’s helping drive growth in WMass

Jummy Ogundare, a junior endocrinologist working in the IVF clinic lab at the UMass Memorial Medical Center. (DOUGLAS HOOK / MASSLIVE.COM, FILE)

U

A view of the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in February 2024. (BRIDGET PEERY / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Road to a sound relationship for Amherst, UMass took a turn for better 15 years ago

By Namu Sampath

nsampath@repub.com

and responsibilities. The new contract will last until next year, and negotiations for a renewed contract will begin later this year, said Ziomek.

The town of Amherst hosts three area higher ed instiDowntown Amherst touts a mix of shops and eateries. (HOANG tutions — UMass Amherst, 'LEON' NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

“It’s an experience when they come on to campus and ... go check out the town. ... That’s part of the experience of being at UMass.”

Javier Reyes

That economic activity happens in a myriad of ways.

Universities attract faculty, staff, and students who generate economic benefits for local businesses and services.

Providing community hubs that offer cultural enrichment and entertainment through the arts, sports, SEE REYES, PAGE K15

NANCY BUFFONE

Amherst College and Hampshire College. It has or soon will have agreements with all three institutions.

Amherst is in the early stages of developing an economic development plan that will shape how the town brings business to the area and how it retains business, said Jeff Bagg, director of planning and economic development for the town.

“Harnessing the university and the colleges, I think, is part of what we want to do, but we, at the same time, want to support the businesses that we do have, and continue to draw new businesses,” said Bagg.

Open to business The town is open to businesses that will complement what already exists. But it wants help from the residents on what they’d like to see in Amherst, particularly in the arts and culture, and clean technology spaces.

Last year, as part of an economic development initiative spurred by Chancellor Javier Reyes, a career economist who joined the university in 2024, UMass Amherst worked with the town to open UMass Downtown, a retail space offering college swag and a gathering area for students, faculty and staff, for lectures, events and engagement. The area also has been used by members of the public.

“It has really drawn lots of different people into the town, and to come and hear all of these different, fascinating talks,” said Buffone.

“It’s been fun watching the space come to life, and it has tremendously strengthened the town-gown partnership.”

One main sticking point — which is a concern across the state, not just between Amherst and the university — is housing. The town and university are in constant communication about housing, Buffone and Bagg said separately.

Last year, Amherst completed its housing production plan.

The challenges are “driven largely by high demand from its student population, particularly from the University of Massachusetts Amherst,” the plan says. “With limited on-campus housing, thousands of students seek rentals SEE RELATIONS, PAGE K15

Your Outlook Starts With Stronger Workplaces EANE helps employers navigate what’s next, through trusted HR guidance, leadership development, and workforce solutions that build stability today and momentum for tomorrow.

Learn more at EANE.org

Better Workplaces Start Here EANE.org

ELEVATE YOUR

IMPACT

APRIL 9, 2026 | SPRINGFIELD, MA

Impact doesn’t require a title. It requires intention.

The 2026 Leadership Summit is for anyone who influences outcomes, shapes culture, or drives change—no matter where they sit in an organization.

One conversation can shift perspective.

One decision can create momentum.

One moment of clarity can elevate your impact.

Join us for a powerful day of insight, strategy, and connection designed to help you grow your influence—and create impact that reaches

far beyond your role.

SAVE YOUR SPOT!

visit EANE.org or call 877.662.6444 3218161-01

When Nancy Buffone first visited the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she fell in love with the town.

Over the next few years, she went to the local parks, sipped coffee at cafes and spent time becoming immersed in Amherst.

“It just felt like I belonged here,” she said.

The flagship UMass campus is the largest public university in New England, home to more than 20,000 students.

The greater town of Amherst, which has a population of nearly double that number, according to the U.S. Census, boasts a bustling college-town feel, with boatloads of small businesses, including restaurants, coffee shops, retailers and a movie theater.

“I know that I would not have stayed here if it wasn’t for the town,” said Buffone, who now serves as the associate vice chancellor for university relations at UMass Amherst, her alma mater.

“It’s the town that helps us so much with recruiting our faculty and staff, and our students. It’s an experience when they come on to campus and ... go check out the town. ... That’s part of the experience of being at UMass.”

Town officials and university heads agree that the road to the sound relationship between the two has not been without its ruts, but both are stronger because of the other.

There is a mutual respect and understanding between the town and university, said David Ziomek, assistant town manager of Amherst, in a recent interview.

“The town of Amherst isn’t going anywhere, and UMass isn’t either,” he said. “We’re mutually dependent on each other to provide all the things we need to provide for students, faculty, staff and also for the permanent residents of Amherst.”

Ziomek, who has been with the town for about two decades, said town-gown relations started to solidify over the last 12 to 15 years.

But the pandemic catalyzed the need for collaboration on both ends.

It was around that time, Ziomek said, when town officials and UMass executives, including Buffone, started meeting weekly to discuss their relationship and where they could improve.

“It’s an opportunity for us to … outline all of the things we do, collaboratively in partnership with these colleges and, in this case, the university,” Ziomek said. “It’s also to outline some shared initiatives.”

In 2023, the university and town entered into their sixth strategic partnership agreement, which is essentially a contract between the town and the “gown,” or a higher education institution, highlighting shared interests

NIVERSITIES ARE more than a collection of classrooms and labs where students and faculty generate knowledge and exchange ideas. They are durable civic assets that have deep connections to the local economy.

The UMass Amherst campus, for example, generates $2.9 billion in direct economic activity for the commonwealth, much of which, according to a 2023 economic impact report by the UMass Donahue Institute, is felt right here in Western Massachusetts. Along with our Amherst campus, our Springfield, East Wareham, Gloucester and Newton locations offer the state a sevento-one return on investment.

2026_EANE_Outkook_AD_vert.indd 1

2/4/2026 8:26:11 AM

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Free community college reshapes sustainability for smaller schools

“Our focus is on providing clear pathways that support students’ next steps.”

Schools like Elms College in Chicopee Sara Vincent, and American International College in AIC Springfield see the shift not as a threat, Sara Vincent is associate vice president for strategic enrollbut an opportunity ment and retention management at American International College in Springfield. (AIC PHOTO)

By Aprell May Munford

amunford@repub.com

As free community college expands across Massachu‑ setts, smaller private colleges are rethinking how they attract and support students — particularly those planning to transfer for a bachelor’s degree.

Schools like Elms College in Chicopee and American International College in Springfield say the shift is not a threat, but an opportunity.

Looking ahead to 2026, both institutions are focusing on affordability, flexibility for students and helping gradu‑ ates land jobs. The goal: stay relevant in a changing higher education landscape.

A changing college pathway Free community college has lowered the cost of higher education for thousands of students, making two‑year schools a more common starting point. Many students now earn a two‑year associ‑ ate’s degree before transfer‑ ring to a four‑year institution.

Free community college has led to a sharp rise in enroll‑ ment across Massachusetts, with community college at‑ tendance up more than 38% since 2022, according to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

That surge is changing who fills classrooms — and how

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | K5

How 2 WMass colleges are leaning into AI enrollment management.

“They engage in their classes in the evenings, on weekends

By Aprell May Munford and sometimes early in the AMunford@repub.com morning.”

As anxiety grows nation‑ AI tools, Rojas said, help students review material, ask wide over artificial intelli‑ gence in education, some questions and access tutor‑ Western Massachusetts ing when faculty or advisors colleges say they are choosing aren’t immediately available. not to run from the technol‑ “People are at the heart of ogy — but to shape how it is what we do, and AI augments used in classrooms, advising and amplifies our effort,” Rojas said. offices and career prepara‑ The goal is to guide stu‑ tion.

Bay Path University in dents to ethical use of the Longmeadow and the College technology.

“This is much bigger than of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee say artificial copy and paste,” Rojas said. intelligence, when used eth‑ “It’s about how you use it for

“This is much bigger than copy and paste. It’s about how you use it for research, how you find your own voice and how you use these tools to create high‑impact presentations.”

Frank Rojas, vice president of enrollment management at Bay Path University

Elms College students take part in a class session. (ELMS COLLEGE PHOTO)

students 25 and older in‑ creased nearly 40% between fall 2023 and fall 2024, following the expansion of four‑year schools compete. the state’s free community Community colleges now enroll about half of all under‑ college programs, according graduates in the state’s public to state data.

As a result, four‑year higher education system, colleges such as Elms and shifting how many students American International are pursue a bachelor’s degree, adjusting transfer pathways, the agency reports.

Much of the growth is driv‑ affordability programs and academic offerings. en by adult learners return‑ At AIC, leaders say that ing to school, especially in trend has reshaped the high‑demand fields such as school’s enrollment strategy. health care, social work and “Free community college business.

Enrollment among Massa‑ has created new entry points into higher education for both chusetts community college

traditional and nontraditional learners,” said Sara Vincent, associate vice president for strategic enrollment and re‑ tention management at AIC. “Our focus is on providing clear pathways that support students’ next steps.”

Vincent said AIC prioritizes credit transfer and experien‑ tial learning, helping students move efficiently toward grad‑ uation and employment.

“In a changing higher edu‑ cation landscape, our focus remains on strong outcomes and continued access,” she said.

SEE COLLEGE, PAGE K11

ically, can expand access for working and first‑generation students, improve academic and administrative support and better prepare graduates for a workforce already being reshaped by AI. Rather than banning the technology, college leaders say they are teaching respon‑ sible use while integrating AI into student services and degree programs tied directly to labor market demand.

research, how you find your own voice and how you use these tools to create high‑im‑ pact presentations.”

“AI is a powerful tool, but it is still a tool,” he said.

AI is also helping stream‑ line administrative work, including transfer credit evaluations. “In less than two minutes, you can see how many credits transfer,” Rojas said.

That faster turnaround can help students avoid unnec‑ Bay Path: Using AI to essary classes, shorten time expand access to earning a degree and save and support money, while freeing staff to focus on advising.

Many Bay Path students balance classes with work, “It’s not going away,” Rojas caregiving and nontraditional said of AI. “If you don’t en‑ schedules. gage, it will happen to you. If “They don’t go to school you lean into it with purpose, Monday through Friday, 9 transformation is possible.” a.m. to 3 p.m.,” said Frank At Elms College, leaders are Rojas, vice president of SEE AI, PAGE K11

Your Biggest Goals Require Strong Planning.

1500 Main Street-Tower Square 25th Floor Springfield, MA 01115-5649 Tel: 413-733-5111 FAX: 413-747-2848 3218849-01

www.stgermaininvestments.com

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

K6 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Experts: AI data centers will put stress on local power grid Next big thing

could be a return to nuclear energy

Linda Thompson

Experts: Nuclear power does not create any carbon emissions

Innovative funding, strategic planning drive future of higher ed

W

ESTFIELD State University is a state-supported public institution dedicated to serving the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Guided by the founding principles of Horace Mann, since 1839 our university has provided an affordable, equitable and inclusive learning environment where diversity is embraced and every individual is valued, respected and supported.

Part of the university’s mission is to strengthen the region by contributing economic and educational resources that foster resilient communities, innovative enterprises and a stable economy. Central to this mission is the preparation of leaders equipped with strong reasoning and communication skills, integrity, empathy, vision, accountability, confidence, resilience and the ability to adapt in an evolving world.

Over the past several years, we have developed our five-year Strategic Plan, Infinite Opportunities, which serves as a blueprint for future success. The plan is grounded in four interconnected goals: fostering innovative learning by aligning institutional resources with relevant academic programs that prepare students for emerging careers and a rapidly changing world; advancing student success by ensuring all students have access to the support, resources and community needed to complete their programs and secure meaningful employment; optimizing stewardship of campus resources through the strategic alignment of human, financial and facilities investments with institutional priorities; and amplifying institutional impact by cultivating an engaged community of scholars who advance innovation, applied research, creativity and transformative partnerships.

As we review and strengthen our academic programs, we remain deeply committed to advancing the health and well-being of our region in ways that align with these strategic priorities.

While uncertainties and challenges persist as the federal government revises its funding priorities, the Healey–Driscoll administration and members of the Legislature have worked diligently to provide critical support for public higher education across the Commonwealth.

A rendering of a proposed data center in Westfield. (WESTMASS AREA DEVELOPMENT CORP. IMAGE)

Data center proposed for Westfield would use more energy than entire city

By Jeanette DeForge

jdeforge@repub.com

When an artificial intelligence data center was proposed for Westfield, it got the attention of Thomas Flaherty, not just for the $2.75 billion investment or the long-term tax breaks it was seeking.

What turned the head of Flaherty, the general manager of Westfield Gas & Electric, was the massive amount of power the center would use daily.

“To put it into perspective, a 10-acre parcel would need the power equivalent (of) the entire load (of) the city of Westfield,” Flaherty said.

Westfield peaks out on the warmest summer day with an electric use of 85 megawatts.

There have been several proposals for different data centers, with the smallest consuming 87 megawatts of power a day and the largest needing some 400 megawatts of power daily, he said.

With Massachusetts power companies already facing pressure to comply with clean energy goals while struggling to meet existing power needs and dealing with transmission limitations, the idea of having something that hogs that much power gives chills to providers.

“The potential demand these facilities require is staggering,” said Thomas Barry, chief executive officer of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. “They require an output of a largescale nuclear plant, needing 1,100 to 1,200 megawatts delivered.”

While partners in most larger artificial intelligence facilities are mostly exploring locations in the South, where land and power are less expensive, the smaller facilities, such as the one proposed for Westfield, are likely to be in play in New England in upcoming years, Barry said.

“We need have a serious conversation about better power generation,” he said, adding that included expanding natural gas lines, since the existing ones do not provide the region with enough gas for power plants and homes.

Developers who want to move to New England are expected first to be looking toward communities with municipally owned electric companies, since rates are lower, said Barry, who oversees the business that joins together some 30 different power companies across the state.

That is a concern for Jason Viadero, director of engineering and generation for the Municipal Wholesale Co., because it could affect the affordability for customers.

Currently, there’s not a lot of “native generation” of power in Massachusetts. Using one example, solar panels could cover all the unused farmland in the state, and that wouldn’t be enough for a data center.

“How do we layer on AI centers while getting people off internal combustion engines and putting more carbon-free

When the wind doesn’t blow and solar panels are covered in snow, there is another source of carbon-neutral energy to be considered, even if it has a long history of being controversial.

Experts are now taking a second and serious look at expanding nuclear power as part of the push to find more reliable, climate-friendly sources of electrical power.

“It will take many hurdles, but the conversation needs to start today,” said Thomas Barry, chief executive officer of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. “I don’t think this region can have a serious conversation about power generation without discussing nuclear power.”

Two decades ago, Barry said people would laugh if he even brought up the subject of nuclear power, but that has been changing, especially with concerns about climate change, since nuclear power has no emissions.

The Municipal Electric Co., which is made up of some 30 city and town-owned power companies, owns a small part of the Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants, which provide about 14% of power to municipal electric companies statewide, said Jason Viadero,

Sukesh Aghara, professor of nuclear engineering and associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Engineering at UMass Lowell

and communications director for Holyoke Gas & Electric.

It is also home to the Massachusetts Green High Perfor(power) generation on the mance Computing Center, grid?” he asked. director of engineering and which opened in 2012 with Most municipal electric generation for the company. a 15-megawatt capacity. The companies already have met When people think of center, which has proposed the state’s 2030 goals of purnuclear energy, they think an expansion, is owned and of past accidents, but years chasing at least 50% of their of technological advances power from sources that do not operated by a college partnership, which selected the city make the power source require burning fossil fuels, even safer than it has ever but this winter’s freezing tem- because of its low energy rates been, said Sukesh Aghara, a peratures show the fragility of and green energy generation.

“If an AI center came, they professor of nuclear engithe grid. neering and associate dean For example, the Massachu- would have to pay for additional infrastructure needed,” for research and graduate setts Municipal Wholesale she said. studies for the College of EnElectric Co. purchases a lot gineering at the University of One of the biggest concerns of hydropower generated about a data center is the effect in Canada, but that country Massachusetts Lowell. it would have on Holyoke has been in a deep freeze as “You have to have reliability and resiliency, and the well, so power has not been as Gas & Electric’s clean energy readily available. Instead, the targets, since it might have to grid has to have the capacity purchase power from addicompany has been relying on that meets peak demand,” said Aghara, who is also the the Stony Brook Energy Center tional sources that are not as green, she said. in Ludlow, which can burn lead author for the state’s Back in Westfield, if the natural gas or oil, which is fired Roadmap for Advance Nuup at peak times when there proposal goes through, the clear and Fusion Energy. company would have to is more demand than power The federal Nuclear develop a direct connection available, Barry said.

Regulatory Commission is While New England has had to the transmission system, considered the gold standard data centers for decades, they rather than infrastructure that of setting high expectations the Gas & Electric company are much smaller, needing and following safety parameters. In addition, new one megawatt or less of power already owns, Flaherty said.

“It would be our customer, daily. But now studies and technologies automated a lot of the plant operations proposals are calling for those but it would have its own rate SEE NUCLEAR, PAGE K10 class,” Flaherty said. that will need 100 to 200 megawatts, and one that is some 500 megawatts of power, which is equivalent to the entire electric load of the Cape, said Jacob Lucas, vice president of transmission planning for Eversource.

The problem is federal WWW.WesternMassEDC.com regulations don’t allow power companies to say no when a business shows up with a plan for a new enterprise, even if it is way beyond their capacity. They just have to make it work, Lucas said.

Lucas said he has major concerns about the ripple effects from data systems.

Probably the biggest is about affordability, since costs to upgrade infrastructure to meet its needs is not just The mission of the EDC is to stimulate and facilitate borne by data centers in other states and is often passed a vigorous regional economy, encourage and sustaining onto all customers. capital investment and quality job growth. The EDC “Energy affordability is a crisis in New England,” he is committed to growing the Western Massachusetts said.

The capacity of electric geneconomy for all its residents. Our members are some eration is also an issue, and of the largest regional employers, schools of higher the grid is having difficulty keeping up with needs, espeeducation, nonprofit organizations and smaller cially with new commercial and industrial buildings comcompanies, the employers who drive our regional ing on board. Data centers economy. The EDC affiliates and partners are will exacerbate that problem, he said. organizations committed to regional economic growth.

“We have a generation capacity issue that is looming.

Generation (plant) retirements have significantly outpaced generation additions. We have a 2-3% growth in needs,” he said.

While places such as Texas are adding new fossil fuel generation plants, that is not happening in New England.

Most of the new generation added is in batteries, plus one small solar plant in New Hampshire, he said.

While the largest data centers are being constructed in places where power is less expensive, Lucas said the centers have to be built all across the country, because the information is traveling by fiber, so the shorter the distance, the faster and less expensive it is.

In Holyoke, 87% of its energy comes from carbon neutral sources, with much of that coming from the dam that the utility owns on the Connecticut River, said Kate Sullivan Craven, marketing

The EDC’s Mission.........

For information call Aaron Vega President & CEO (413) 755-1300

3219104-01

Testifying to the facts Over the past several months, I had the privilege of testifying before two key state legislative committees to advocate for essential investments designed to strengthen our institutional capacity and create lasting value for both our campus and surrounding communities.

In October, I testified before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies in support of the Discovery, Research, and Innovation SEE THOMPSON, PAGE K10

By Jeanette DeForge

jdeforge@repub.com

“You have to have reliability and resiliency, and the grid has to have the capacity that meets peak demand.”

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 K7

Building Strong Communities for Over 200 Years As we welcome the New Year, Liberty Bank is proud to continue building strong partnerships that strengthen our communities!

Established in 1825, Liberty Bank has stood as one of the oldest and largest mutual banks in the country. With over $8 billion in assets and a legacy spanning two centuries, Liberty Bank remains deeply committed to helping improve the lives of our customers, teammates and communities for generations to come.

Our Massachusetts team consists of experienced bankers dedicated to working closely with customers to meet their banking and lending needs. From consumer and business banking to treasury management, home mortgages and business lending, Liberty Bank delivers the advantage of local decisionmaking and personalized service from experienced bankers.

As we step into the future, Liberty Bank continues to be committed to building strong partnerships that strengthen our communities. Come visit our branch at 94 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow.

Scan to learn more about our Massachusetts Commercial Lending Team or visit liberty-bank/Springfield

liberty-bank.com

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender NMLS #459028 All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval.

3218736-01

OUTLOOK 2026

K8 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

What’s shaping the future at HCC? CI — ‘collaborative intelligence’

T

HE NEXT BIG thing in community college education isn’t a single innovation or technology — it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we work.

At Holyoke Community College, we’re discovering that the most transformative force shaping our future isn’t necessarily AI, but CI — “collaborative intelligence,” the deliberate, sustained integration of voices across sectors to solve our region’s most pressing challenges.

Throughout its history, HCC has responded to workforce needs and adapted to demographic shifts. But this moment demands something different.

As HCC develops its next strategic plan — “S.P. 3.0” — we’ve spent months engaging

population. Thirty-five percent of our students identify as Hispanic/Latine. Nearly faculty, staff, students and re- one-third have documented disabilities. The gional business average age is 25. and nonprofit These students arleaders in rive with extraorshaping our dinary potential institutional — and significant direction. barriers: transporThat’s coltation challenges, laborative childcare needs, intelligence. housing and food Why does insecurity and dethis matter mands for programs now?

George that align with Because the Timmons regional workforce challenges requirements. facing Western Our community conversaMassachusetts cannot be tions have revealed opporsolved by any single institution working in isolation. Free tunities that only emerge through genuine partnership: community college in Masemployer-driven program sachusetts has driven enrolldevelopment that allows us ment growth, bringing us an to stand up industry-aligned increasingly diverse student

that address housing, childcare, and basic needs holistically.

At HCC’s recent “Shaping the Future” summit, business leaders identified real constraints: small businesses stretched too thin to create robust internship programs, confusion about educational pathways and credentials, and the need for culturally relevant support systems.

But they also identified tremendous assets: our region’s commitment to collaboration, our growing recognition Nursing student Gabriela Artin, of Westfield, performs a wellness check on a “patient” in one of the simulation rooms at that workforce development Holyoke Community College’s Center for Health Education and requires honest conversations about living wages and our Simulation. (PROVIDED PHOTO) willingness to ask hard quescredentials quickly; transpor- vate partnerships that create tions about equity and access. tation systems coordinated seamless education-to-work Here’s what makes this the across institutions to reliably pipelines with paid apprennext big thing: Collaborative get students to evening and ticeships and internships; and intelligence acknowledges SEE TIMMONS, PAGE K13 weekend classes; public-priwraparound support models

Ensuring safer travel at Union Station “Every day is just about helping people to take the buses, helping people to take the trains — even helping people just to have a coffee, you know, and have a good conversation with us,” said Carlos Rodriguez-Lugo, a Springfield police officer. “That’s what we do here most of the time. … Since we implemented a new task force, we’ve been able to go down, make numerous arrests and help people to travel more safely in this station. They’re going to implement new rail service and that’s gonna bring a lot of people to travel through Union Station. … Since I was a kid, doing this work as an officer was a dream. I’ve always been a community service person. I like to speak with people, I like to talk to people, I like to help them out in any way that I can. Just being a police officer provides me with all those tools that I need to just keep them safe, give them direction, give them advice. They can truly see what a police officer is — a person who’s gonna serve the community, who is gonna love the community and who’s gonna be there for them as well.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

The next big thing for Massachusetts isn’t technology — it’s the people behind it

M

ASSACHUSETTS business future is frequently defined by its emerging technologies — artificial intelli-gence, advanced manufacturing, quantum systems, and the next biotech breakthrough.

But the real next big thing isn’t a single technology.

It’s the people prepared to power all of them.

Massachusetts has long been defined by the strength of its universities and the industries that grow around them. From life sciences to engineering to health care innovation, our economy depends on people who can translate discovery into practical impact. While economic cycles shift — as we are seeing today in parts of the biotechnology and information technology sectors — the long-term demand for highly skilled technical talent has not diminished.

If anything, it has become more urgent.

The challenge is not simply producing more graduates. It is preparing a workforce that is adaptable, industry-ready and capable of leading in rapidly evolving sectors.

That requires a broader view of the talent pipeline — one that connects technical expertise with the human skills that allow innovation to translate into real-world impact.

It is not enough to spark student interest in science or engineering. We need a coordinated system that supports access, hands-on readiness and leadership development at every stage of a career.

Community colleges play a vital role in expanding entry points and widening opportunity. Universities extend that pathway by providing advanced facilities, upper-division specialization and graduate education and research tied directly to

Joseph C. Hartman emerging industries. When these institutions function as a connected ecosystem, students move more efficiently from opportunity to impact.

Massachusetts benefits from exactly this kind of ecosystem.

The question is how we continue strengthening it.

At Western New England University, our role is shaped by being a comprehensive institution with particular strengths in areas where the commonwealth needs talent most: technology and health care. That responsibility begins with ensuring that talented students can enter and remain in the pipeline.

A new $2 million National Science Foundation scholarship initiative supports academically strong engineering students who might otherwise be priced out of the field. Pairing financial access with mentorship and structured career engagement is not simply student aid — it is workforce strategy. Every capable student we keep in technical fields expands the commonwealth’s long-term capacity to innovate.

We are also investing in frontier technologies. Our work in quantum systems places students in a field that is redefining computing, security, and engineering worldwide. Preparing graduates for technologies that are still emerging ensures Massachusetts remains competitive not just in today’s economy, but in tomorrow’s.

At the same time, financial

technology, or FinTech, is reshaping how businesses operate, manage risk and serve customers. Through our growing FinTech initiatives, students gain exposure to data analytics, cybersecurity, digital finance and the regulatory landscape that supports modern financial systems. These skills are increasingly essential across industries, not just in banking, and reflect how technology is transforming every sector of the economy.

Equally important is infrastructure. Our new advanced manufacturing center creates a hub where students, faculty and industry partners collaborate on real production challenges. Facilities like this connect education directly to economic development and demonstrate how universities can serve as engines of regional growth.

At the leadership level, our doctor of engineering in engineering management prepares experienced professionals to scale innovation inside their organizations. These leaders sit at the intersection of technology, operations and strategy — the space where promising ideas become productive enterprises.

Taken together, these efforts reflect a shift in how universities must view their missions.

We are not only educating students; we are helping build the human infrastructure that sustains economic resilience.

None of this innovation happens in isolation from the human skills that make it meaningful.

The arts and humanities remain foundational to the workforce we are building.

Creativity, communication, ethical reasoning and design thinking are not separate from technical progress — they shape it.

SEE HARTMAN, PAGE K13

Wellness Is Possible.

Support Is Here.

Providing access to therapies for emotional health and wellness, services for substance use recovery, developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, and housing and residential support that helps people live their best life.

350 MEMORIAL DRIVE, CHICOPEE, MA 01020

844-MHA-WELL | www.mhainc.org

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | K9

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Cannabis’ next big thing — growth, gaps and a moment of truth

L

from scarcity; others are suffocating under it. Unlike beer or wine — industries that evolved with consistent rules and national standards — cannabis is still governed by a patchwork of state and local policies, and opinions, often pitting business owners against one another instead of aligning us around long-term sustainability.

Payton Adding to the uncertainty is Shubrick a ballot initiative currently underway that could dismantle the adult-use market entirely.

For an industry that already operates under tighter restricopportunities or opportunities tions than alcohol — despite to create economies of scale, voters passing the “Campaign purchase-limit restrictions that to Regulate Marijuana like make it harder for our adult con- Alcohol” in 2016 — this creates sumers to buy what they want, instability that would be unThe legislative and outdated regulations that thinkable in any other regulatmoment: Growth isn’t don’t reflect how mature this ed consumer market. Imagine a group project … yet market has become. trying to run a brewery or But here’s the part people winery, while wondering if the On Beacon Hill, there is active legislation aimed at fixing some don’t always say out loud: The entire system might be undone industry itself is divided. of the structural pain points at the ballot box.

Some operators want reform. holding the industry back — That’s not innovation. That’s Others fear it. Some benefit license caps that limit exit whiplash.

ET’S START WITH the obvious: Cannabis is no longer the “new kid” on the block in Massachusetts. We’re eight years into adult-use legalization, the industry has generated over $6 billion in cumulative sales, and cannabis is now a permanent fixture in our economic landscape — employing tens of thousands of residents and contributing over a billion dollars in tax revenue. Cannabis has graduated from being a curiosity to a major financial contributor on both the state and local levels.

And yet, as we look toward 2026, the next big thing for cannabis isn’t just growth. It’s a reckoning.

Social equity: The promise vs. the proof Let’s talk about the heart of legalization: Social equity.

Cannabis was legalized, in part, to repair harm done to communities disproportionately affected by prohibition. Yet today, most cannabis licenses in Massachusetts are still held by well-capitalized, non-diverse operators. Nationally, estimates suggest that fewer than 5% of cannabis businesses are Blackowned, and Massachusetts has not meaningfully outperformed that benchmark.

Yes, the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund exists. That matters. But this funding came too late into the industry’s maturation, and funding alone doesn’t fix barriers such as access to real estate, municipal approvals, legal costs, or the simple reality that cannabis businesses still cannot access traditional banking the way breweries or wineries can.

If equity is the “why” behind legalization, then access, ac-

countability and outcomes must little support.

Hope is not a business plan. be the “how.” Otherwise, we risk turning a moral promise into a Where we go from here marketing slogan.

Cannabis isn’t asking for Social consumption: special treatment — it’s asking The next big thing — if for fair treatment. The same clarwe fix the old problems ity afforded to beer. The same consistency granted to wine. The Social consumption lounges same expectation that a legal are often positioned as the next frontier and, in theory, they industry should be allowed to operate with stability, integrity should be. These spaces could and accountability. mirror tasting rooms in wine The next big thing for cannacountry or beer halls in New England — safe, social, regulated bis in Massachusetts isn’t just expansion. environments for adults.

It’s alignment.

But here’s the hard truth: It’s honesty.

You can’t continue to build the future of our industry on a shaky It’s growing up without losing sight of why we started. foundation.

Operators are already If 2026 delivers that, this ingrappling with nonpayment of dustry can finally become what invoices, unreliable vendors, it was always meant to be: Not thin margins and inconsistent just profitable — but principled, regulatory enforcement. Withdurable and worthy of the comout clearer oversight, stronger munities it serves. accountability and consistent standards, social consumption Payton Shubrick is founder and CEO of 6 Bricks dispensary risks becoming another license type with big expectations and in Springfield.

Social consumption poised to bring change to Mass. cannabis industry State and local officials are trying to figure out how to translate new policy into practice

By Staasi Heropoulos

THC is the principal psychoactive component of cannabis.

“The inequity in this business Frank Dailey is poring through makes it hard because the big new rules that could allow his cannabis dispensary in Holyoke guys control a lot of the market, to open an on-site lounge where and it’s hard for us to get a percentage of the market. It’s an customers could eat, drink and opportunity for us to be more smoke the products he sells. competitive. It gives a break to The commonwealth’s Cannabis Control Commission the smaller guys,” Dailey said.

The CCC has spent several is now allowing a range of licensed Marijuana Establish- years developing regulations ments (MEs), to set aside areas that will govern social consumption. No one under 21 where people may consume cannabis. may buy and consume canDailey owns and operates nabis. The establishments are banned from selling alcohol or Boston Bud Factory, where tobacco products and consumhe manufactures and sells cannabis products. He wants to ers must be allowed to take attract new business, including home unused products. tourists from other states, by While the commission has establishing an area where pa- legalized and laid out a social trons can indulge in his edibles, consumption framework, cities and towns must approve licenstinctures and vapes.

“We have an opportunity to es for businesses to operate in their locality. expand our client base, and “We have done a lot of that’s going to be huge for us,” he told The Republican. “That municipal outreach and they will help make us a destination, have a lot of questions about so we have a chance to survive what’s required. There are some in this industry.” communities we’ve heard from that want to hear more and are The CCC unanimously interested in taking the necesapproved regulations in sary steps to move forward,” December that allow social Stebbins said. consumption of cannabis.

While the rules went into effect in January, it could be a year or Sidelined for now more before the first lounges For now, Zori Alfonso is come online. State and local watching from the sidelines. officials are trying to figure out She manages Zaza Green Cannabis dispensary in Springfield. how to translate policy into practice.

She told The Republican her business is not among the “The regulations have been protected class of operators promulgated, they’re formalized, they’ve been published. opening first.

They’re good to go,” said CCC commissioner Bruce Stebbins.

Special to The Republican

“It’s not in the near future for us, but it’s something we’ve talked about and would like to participate in as soon as we can,” she said.

While she waits, Alfonso is watching how lounges and off-site events are being run in other states and at industry events.

“It’s always such a good vibe. We’ve seen how well they’re run in other states and it’s something we knew would happen inevitably in the industry. It’s the next step for cannabis,” she said.

The new Massachusetts regulations will not only allow dispensaries to open lounges.

They also permit cannabis consumption at sanctioned events and allow non-cannabis businesses to partner with licensees.

Stebbins says he hopes

entrepreneurs get creative by offering cannabis at places like yoga studios, bed and breakfast operations and even movie theaters, as long as they have local approval to do so.

But while the CCC has thrown open the door to public consumption, there are measures to make sure it is done safely.

Marijuana establishments and their employees are required to go through vendor safety training to keep patrons from becoming physically or mentally impaired by over-consumption. Businesses must have a plan that helps patrons who overindulge get home safely. And packaging must tell customers approximately how long it will take them to get high.

“We worked closely with the public health and safety com-

Over 150 Years of Local, Community Banking

munity and got a lot of their feedback,” Stebbins said. “Our operators want to make sure their patrons get home safely.

We’ve instituted a lot of these safeguards because, while other states are doing this, we want to be on the forefront of doing it well and safely.”

Next natural step The CCC says cannabis businesses in Massachusetts grossed more than $1.65 billion in sales in 2025, “setting a new annual record ahead of potential changes coming in 2026 including new social consumption licenses,” according to the commission.

Based in Norwood, MariMed cultivates, produces and sells cannabis products at the wholesale and retail levels. Tim Shaw, the company’s chief operating officer, expects business to blossom as lounges begin opening.

“It’s the next, natural step to normalization,” he says. “There is now an opportunity to not feel like a criminal or have to stay in your home. This promotes the ability for people to normalize

cannabis use. It’s the same as having a beer with your buddies at a social event.”

Shaw isn’t projecting how much business may increase, and he’s realistic about the cost of expanding into lounges.

MariMed will likely have to start producing smaller packages of its products, the same way bars sell bottles and cans of beer — not six packs.

“There might be some additional cost if the products have to leave the manufacturing facility in smaller packages for those locations,” he said.

Dailey, of the Boston Bud Factory in Holyoke, is also concerned the cost of opening a lounge in his dispensary could be prohibitive. CCC regulations mandate HVAC systems to filter and clear smoke from the air.

“I’ve heard reports we might be required to have a million-dollar system to ensure air quality,” he said.

While Stebbins agrees startup costs could be high, he reminds entrepreneurs that state grants may help them find ways to save money.

Dan Moriarty, President & CEO, reads to children at Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services.

As a local community bank that has been in business for over 150 years, we’re proud to support our communities, we understand the local market, and we’re experts at taking care of our personal and business customers. Let us show you the Monson Savings Bank difference. We are here to help.

413-267-4646 www.monsonsavings.bank MEMBER FDIC I MEMBER DIF 3218217-01

A head start for some According to the CCC, as of early February, there were 686 licensed cannabis operations in Massachusetts — but only 139 of them are eligible to apply for and potentially receive a social consumption license.

Candidates must fall into these categories: economic empowerment or microbusinesses; operations that only deliver products; and entrepreneurs who are part of the social equity program, which boosts entrepreneurs “disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs,” Stebbins said.

The commission is trying to give those entrepreneurs a head start by opening lounges three years before their bigger competitors.

“There were communities and populations that were disproportionately impacted either by over-enforcement of the drug laws or might have been arrested for something that is no longer a crime in Massachusetts,” Stebbins said.

Dailey’s business is in the equity program because he is from Springfield, where the arrest rates for cannabis crimes was high. He was also discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1987 for having THC in his system.

Zaza Green in Springfield, above, hopes to open a cannabis lounge after the commonwealth’s Cannabis Control Commission change of rules. At left, Frank Dailey of Holyoke’s Boston Bud Factory is concerned that the new rules over cannabis lounges are unclear. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

OUTLOOK 2026

K10 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

REGION

Is tech the answer to a WMass modernized police force?

Modern tools, old fashioned sleuthing go hand in hand

By Nicole Williams

Special to The Republican GREENFIELD — In 2019, the Massachusetts State Police became the first law enforcement department to start using robotic dogs. Equipped with sensors and thermal cameras by the Boston Dynamics team, “Roscoe” has been credited with taking three bullets in a 2024 standoff on Cape Cod. Some say that the use of modern technology has assisted in advancing departments’ capabilities when it comes to solving crimes and ensuring safety for local communities.

Other departments in the Pioneer Valley, though, are hesitant to fully embrace modern technology as a strategy.

As technology continues to advance, each department weighs out the advantages and disadvantages for its own community.

Todd Dodge, the chief of police with the Greenfield department, said that his community is apprehensive, but he also sees the benefits of using modern technology.

The city currently has two automated license plate-readers that scan plates all day, send the information to the town, and then rewrite themselves Chief Todd Dodge every 30 days, Dodge said.

He said that his department uses the license plate-reader technology to search for cases where there are warrants out for arrests, missing persons or stolen vehicles. The technology assisted in solving a homicide in Greenfield, and even helped track down a suspect

“It’s been highly beneficial in transparency,” said Walsh.

In 2018, the department launched a Real Time Analysis Center, where Walsh said the department is tied into a few hundred city cameras, Union Station and some businesses with exterior cameras that opted to join the program.

He said that in a separate protocol, the department also can access inside Springfield schools, where the school can choose to go live in the case of a serious Ryan Walsh threat, like the 2024 shooting at the High School of Science and Technology.

“The main purpose in R-TAC is when you get a 911 call of something going on, they’re able to get to a camera basically instantaneously and advise officers over the radios of what they see based on what the 911 call is saying, to provide safety Crime analyst Kyle Roy works at the Springfield Police Department’s Real Time Analysis Center in 2023. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE) for the officers who are arriving and the civilians that are in that used by the Greenfield Police area, as well,” said Walsh.

Department.

Walsh said that for the city of Dodge said he recognizSpringfield, technology is not es how the use of modern being used for data purposes, technology gives off a “George but rather for the “real-time Orwellian” surveillance feel, in the case of $150,000 stolen function” it can provide officers but that for the city of Greenfrom the Greenfield Savings responding to calls. He said field, it’s not the reality.

“Money Tree” ATM, as the that the city does not use any “We don’t have the money truck involved was identified facial recognition software. for that,” said Dodge. at Boston Logan Airport.

The department does not Dodge said the department automatically tie into personIn Springfield still has a “high success rate of al doorbell cameras, Walsh In Springfield, modern tech- said. If residents want to grant solving crimes the traditional way,” but technology has nology is being used strategipermission for the department cally, according to Ryan Walsh, to view any footage, they would made the timeline faster.

A 2-foot-tall, 72-pound robotic dog is among the members of the spokesperson for the He said the City Council has need to fill out a form that the Syracuse Police Department. (VINCE GASPARINI / SYRACUSE.COM, FILE) Springfield Police Department. would give access to detectives its concerns, though, as naWalsh said in the last two tional reports circulate about if an incident arose where their body cameras for officers, being used to find out those plate-reading companies years, the department has footage could be helpful. acquired two drones that which Dodge said has saved selling data to the U.S. Depart- seeking abortions or gender The department also uses require certified operators who ShotSpotter, an audio-based money and time in tracking reassignment surgeries. ment of Homeland Security. down interviews.

Other technology that the The issues raised look at how are trained for tactical missing cloud technology that uses persons cases, crash reconHe said there is a continGreenfield department is the Fourth Amendment is sensors to pick up gunfire in struction and meteorology. being held up regarding access using includes interior drones ued concern with residents real-time and alerts local deregarding cameras being used to personal data. In response, to ensure a building is free of He said the entire departpartments. ment has been wearing body at stoplights. In actuality, people before sending in a Flock — the maker of the Walsh said one study done by cameras as of June 2021 and those are sensors that have devices — denies sharing per- special response team, outthe department showed that in said that, while it was a “tough 70% of the cases where gunfire been placed above the lights. sonal information with federal side drones to assist in cases sell” in the beginning, now the or ballistic evidence was found, He assured residents that involving missing people and agencies. there is no locally known facial department and the communi- the department did not receive Dodge said that he has heard pets, as well as heat gauges. recognition technology being ty are both in favor of it.

The department also is using public concerns about data a 911 call.

Nuclear

“We are confident that these state investments, aligned with our updated strategic plan, will modernize our campus and position us to advance academic programs that meet the evolving needs of our students, communities, employers, and economy.”

Westfield State University President Linda Thompson

CONTINUES FROM PAGE K6

In October, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, foreground, visited Westfield State University, with President Linda Thompson, to look at Bates Hall and its need for upgrade. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

Thompson CONTINUES FROM PAGE K6

for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) initiative. DRIVE is Gov. Maura Healey’s $400 million proposal to invest in Massachusetts’ research and innovation ecosystem by supporting research at universities and hospitals while leveraging private-sector investment.

The initiative is designed to secure jobs and talent amid federal funding reductions, drive scientific advancement and maintain the Commonwealth’s global leadership in innovation and the life sciences.

In my testimony, I emphasized that sustained funding for health research — including biomedical discovery, nursing science and public health — is not discretionary; it is a national imperative and a direct investment in the well-being and security of our communities.

Publicly funded research has produced monumental medical advances, from breakthroughs in cardiovascular disease and cancer treatment to the eradication of diseases such as polio and measles and the development of mRNA technol-

ogy.

In November, I returned to the State House to testify before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets in support of the BRIGHT Act. In January 2025, Gov. Healey introduced a bond bill originally totaling $2.5 billion to modernize and repair public colleges and universities across the Commonwealth. Subsequent additions expanded the proposal to $3.65 billion. Funded through Fair Share Act surtax revenues, the BRIGHT Act is designed to address critical deferred maintenance, build state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, enhance energy efficiency and create an estimated 20,000 construction jobs statewide.

I stressed to the committee that advancing the BRIGHT Act would represent a critical step toward addressing our substantial deferred maintenance backlog and pressing infrastructure needs.

In Western Massachusetts, where the shortage of health care workers is particularly acute, BRIGHT Act investments would enable Westfield State University to develop a Human Health Hub to address this urgent workforce demand.

The proposal focuses on the removal of Bates Hall, which no longer meets the needs of contemporary science education, and would replace it with state-ofthe-art laboratories and instructional spaces.

The BRIGHT Act has already passed the House of Representatives with an amendment appropriating $100 million to Westfield State toward the Human Health Hub which is Phase I of our Campus Master Plan. We are pleased to have received support from state Rep. Brian M. Ashe, who has sponsored this amendment within the bill. The bill now advances to the Senate, and I remain optimistic that it will be pass and be signed into law by the governor.

We are confident that these state investments, aligned with our updated strategic plan, will modernize our campus and position us to advance academic programs that meet the evolving needs of our students, communities, employers, and economy.

Linda Thompson is president of Westfield State University and chair of the Massachusetts State Universities Council of Presidents. To learn more about Westfield State University, visit westfield.ma.edu.

and prevent core meltdowns without needing an operator to step in. When people bring up the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia that took place in 1986, Aghara explains a different technology was used.

There is always the issue of storing spent fuel rods, which remain radioactive for thousands of years, but he said the solution of sealing them in casks has worked.

Building a nuclear plant costs at least $10 billion, but that capital investment can be recovered in 10 years.

Now, plants are continuing to operate for decades and will be guaranteed to make money for another 20 or 30 years or even longer, Aghara said.

Currently, there are three operating power plants in New England, two in Connecticut and a third in New Hampshire. Aghara said once a plant is decommissioned, it cannot be restarted, but building a new plant at the location of one that has been closed is a workable solution.

“What we do have is several sites that have the infrastructure with the grid connection. That is a significant cost to put transmission lines in,” he said.

Adding nuclear power plants is also vital to the New England economy, experts said. If power companies cannot provide electricity needed or cannot provide it at a reasonable cost, that will drive businesses out of state or dissuade them from investing here in the first place, Aghara said.

Thomas Flaherty, exec-

The plants could help reduce the shortage of power that New England faces, especially in peak periods when the weather is very cold or hot. utive director of Westfield Gas & Electric, said he feels it is time to consider investing in nuclear power, especially with the advent of mini-plants — those that would cost $1 billion to $2 billion instead of $17 billion — that are in the testing phase.

The plants could help reduce the shortage of power that New England faces, especially in peak periods when the weather is very cold or hot, and save companies from having to fire up older oil-fueled plants needed to fill the gap in production. They also will provide additional electricity needs for business growth, especially for things like AI data centers, which are huge power hogs.

Wind is available 30% to 40% of the time, and solar is available 13% to 15% of the time. Renewable energy overall provides about 9% of the overall mix of the energy used by Westfield Gas & Electric, Flaherty said.

Adding to the difficulty is natural gas pipeline expansion has been blocked, so that resource, which is cleaner burning than oil, is limited, especially during a prolonged cold snap like this one.

“You have to start taking the politics out of power generation to ensure we have safe, reliable power,” Flaherty said.

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

College CONTINUES FROM PAGE K5

Elms emphasizes full college experience Elms College is also leaning into new ways to accommodate transfer students, but its leaders say the school’s residential campus and student life can give it an advantage.

“One thing that really sets Elms apart is the experience,” said Molly Miner, vice president for enrollment management at Elms. “It’s not just earning a degree in the classroom. It’s the full college experience.”

That includes on-campus housing, athletics, clubs and academic support — options that some community college students say they still want after starting locally.

Miner said Elms works closely with Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College, where many students complete their associate’s degrees before transferring.

“We know that even if students choose the community college pathway — whether it’s for free tuition or another reason — many still want that traditional college experience,” she said.

Quantum

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | K11

AI

“One thing that really sets Elms apart is the experience. It’s not just earning a degree in the classroom. It’s the full college experience.”

CONTINUES FROM PAGE K5

Molly Miner, vice president for enrollment management at Elms College

Making transfer easier — and cheaper To support those students, Elms has expanded transfer scholarships and advising.

Students who belong to Phi Theta Kappa, a community college honor society, can qualify for additional financial aid. The college also offers both traditional and continuing education options, including online and hybrid programs for working adults.

A key piece of Elms’ affordability strategy is the Elms Promise, which covers full tuition for eligible students.

“About a quarter of the students who enrolled in fall 2025 took advantage of the Elms Promise,” Miner said.

“Students from all 50 states are eligible.”

Elms also places advisers directly on community college campuses to help students plan ahead and avoid losing credits when they transfer.

“We really understand the value of maximizing every

center.

The upgrades will make it a large-scale resource for CONTINUES FROM PAGE K2 researchers, said John Goodwith collaborators including hue, the center’s executive director.

Cambridge Computer and “The true measure is how Dell Technologies to create the artificial intelligence com- much work do you get out of puter resources environment. it?” he said. “How many scienIt will be the backbone of the tific results do you get? That’s the most important measureMassachusetts AI Hub by supporting startups, business- ment.”

The computing center’s six es, researchers and educators university members — Boston with access to sustainable, University, Harvard Univerhigh-performance computer sity, Massachusetts Institute resources required for AI of Technology, Northeastern innovation, according to the University, University of MasHolyoke computing center.

In May, the Healey-Driscoll sachusetts and Yale University — will match the state’s $31 administration announced a $31 million grant to the million investment. By 2030,

credit,” Miner said. “That helps students finish their bachelor’s degree on time and avoid extra costs.”

Both Elms and AIC say their academic programs are tied to regional workforce needs, a focus that’s expected to grow through 2026.

Health care remains the largest employment sector in Massachusetts, with more than Elms College students and an unidentified guest at a Shark Tank 13,600 hospital job vacancies event. (ELMS COLLEGE PHOTO) statewide in 2024, according to within six to 12 months of grad- both institutions say partnera report by the Massachusetts ships — not competition — will Health & Hospital Association. uation, a statistic they highdefine the future.

At Elms, the strongest enroll- light when recruiting transfer “Elms is very confident ment trends are in health care, students.

AIC is also emphasizing cain its mission,” Miner said. social work, education and reer-oriented programs, partic- “Affordability and access to a business. ularly for students returning to high-quality education are at The college recently school with prior college credit. the core of who we are.” launched a bachelor’s degree Elms and AIC expect even “Our goal is to help stuin finance and continues to dents move efficiently toward more students to begin at comexpand nursing and RN-tograduation and employment,” munity colleges and transfer BSN paths. later — and both schools say “There will always be a strong Vincent said. they are ready. demand for health care and Looking ahead in 2026 “We’re focused on meeting human services,” Miner said. students where they are,” VinAs free community college Elms leaders say 98% of graduates are employed or becomes a permanent part of cent said, “and helping them take the next step.” enrolled in graduate school the higher education system,

the total funding is expected to exceed $120 million, according to a news release.

Goodhue said the technical upgrades in Holyoke are extensive, making this one of the largest systems to be deployed through a state-level AI initiative in the country.

The equipment is being prepared at a plant in Franklin, Goodhue said. Eighteen wheelers will later arrive in Holyoke with pallets of equipment and then begins weeks of assembly work.

“We plug them in, turn them on and make the software work,” Goodhue said.

The capacity will make research and data analysis

quicker and easier, he said.

“It’s large enough to do significant work. And for our community it will be more accessible than commercial resources,” he said.

And the computing center’s data connections, including those for internet service providers like Westfield Gas & Electric or Crown Castle, all go through the Tech Park at One Federal Street.

Hannigan said the park is well suited as a data hub for reasons that go back to when the Army built up the Springfield Armory in the 1930s with World War II looming.

Buildings, he said, were designed to take heavy floor

loads and equipped with lots of electrical capacity.

After the armory closed in the 1960s, the phone company took advantage of the cheap, available and well-suited space.

Hannigan said it all goes back to the Reagan-era breakup of the telephone monopoly and modernization of telecommunications.

“The government negotiated a settlement with the telecom companies to open their networks for voice traffic,” Hannigan said. “And part of that settlement was that the AT&Ts of the world didn’t want everyone in their buildings to exchange the traffic.”

That meant setting up third

tying AI directly to workforce demand.

The college will launch a new online master’s degree in data analytics and artificial intelligence this coming fall.

Visit elms.edu to learn more.

The program is designed for working professionals and offered in an accelerated, eight‑week format.

The degree aims to prepare students for careers in data science, business analytics and AI across industries including health care, technology and business.

“Our new master’s degree in data analytics and AI reflects Elms College’s commitment to helping working professionals succeed in fields that are changing the economy and society,” said Joyce Hampton, the school’s vice president of academic affairs.

locations like the Tech Park.

Soon fiber optic cable ran down the MassPike.

“What better place to bring all your fiber optics than the place that already has all the power and infrastructure,” Hannigan said.

Now, the park is an internet exchange, Hannigan said.

The exchange is a way to facilitate that local connection and share it.

“Instead of going to Boston to pick up your content, you come to the internet exchange and pick it up,” he said. “Instead of going 200 miles round trip, you go a meter back and forth and then out to where the users are.”

Better Banking Means Business.

You’re building something important. That’s why Westfield Bank takes the time to understand your business, your challenges, and your goals—so we can help you move forward with confidence.

Let’s grow your business, together.

Commercial Checking & Money Market Accounts – Flexible accounts to support businesses of every size Commercial and Small Business Lending – Local insight and service with the lending strength to help your business expand, acquire, or build Cash Management Solutions – more convenience and control with ACH and Wire Transfer Manager, Remote Deposit Capture, and more Positive Pay – Advanced fraud protection for greater peace of mind 25 branches across Western MA and Northern CT. Learn more at westfieldbank.com/business/industries

3218779-01

413.568.1911 | 860.838.3766 | 800.995.5734 | westfieldbank.com

OUTLOOK 2026

K12 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

AI CONTINUES FROM PAGE K1

Christian Rojas, professor and chair in the Department of Resource Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, experimented with student use of AI in economics courses. (UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST PHOTO)

al technology for the district.

“Part of our district goals this year was to incorporate AI into the curriculum,” Dutko said.

“We’re working on how to figure out how to educate our staff on what AI is, and how to use it.”

He hopes to show staff that AI is not always correct, but “can be used as a thought partner,” he said.

Recently, the district put out a survey to teachers to understand how comfortable they are with AI, and the results will be used to create professional

development, Dutko said.

On the school network, generative AI tools are not universally accessible. Staff have access to Gemini, Google’s generative AI model, and only some students in the high school and technical academy have access, Dutko said.

The school has a data privacy agreement with Google, so the company can’t use their data and inputs to train AI, he said.

One class will explicitly incorporate the technology.

Westfield Technical Academy is planning to offer a course

called “Principles of AI.” At an overall district level, though, there isn’t currently an AI use policy, Dutko said, and the committee is working on it.

There are not plans to use an AI detection tool, he said.

“Those AI checkers are not accurate,” Dutko said. “They are biased, as well.”

The district is using guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that was created to help schools draw up AI-related policies.

“The question of academic integrity is a big one for teachers, particularly once you get beyond the elementary years. That’s a big question for which there are no great answers.”

Rebecca Mazur, senior evaluation research specialist at the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton

“There’s no question about it.”

But, he found students aren’t always using it effectively.

“I try to teach them how the technology works and how they can make it work better for them,” he said.

Students did report concerns about ethics, sustainability and the privacy of their personal information, Rojas said.

“That’s another reason why the more we talk about it, the better we will be prepared to handle those risks.”

she said. “It does not have a human type of understanding or human sensibilities. ... It is a very, very sophisticated type of word-association machine.

That is not to minimize its power — it’s incredibly powerful.”

One issue she hears about a lot: “The question of academic integrity is a big one for teachers, particularly once you get beyond the elementary years,” Mazur said. “That’s a big question for which there are no great answers.”

K-12 educators and AI Many schools are working Rebecca Mazur, senior eval- on policies, she said, and what uation research specialist at might work in one course the Collaborative for Educamight not in another. tional Services in NorthampIn Springfield, school leadton, led the creation of an ers are working to come up online course on AI literacy with a districtwide approach for educators for the state’s to AI use and could not comDepartment of Elementary ment, spokeswoman Azell and Secondary Education. She Cavaan said. does professional developThis fall, Westfield Public ment workshops for educators Schools formed a committee and helped create a toolkit for to talk about teacher and ethical AI use for educators. student use of AI. The group In workshops with teachincludes teachers, principals ers, she talks about how it’s and students, said Brian Dut“autocomplete on steroids,” ko, coordinator of instruction-

your day. your way. we come to you. have the log cabin experience brought to you. with log rolling, you can enjoy the services of the region’s most impeccable wedding professionals no matter where you decide to get married.

log rolling offers: customizable menus chef-attended stations experienced waitstaff liquor license

3219317-01

Candido’s new approach to AI in his classroom is to pivot and embrace it, like by allowing students to use AI to give them feedback on their code.

He put a clear AI policy at the top of the assignments, too.

Students will have to write written explanations about their code to explain it and list what they learned, and that portion is worth about a quarter of the grade, he said.

Christian Rojas, professor and chair of the Department of Resource Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, decided to experiment with AI in his classroom last year.

In the spring semester, he taught two sections of an antitrust economics course. The classes were identical, except for one difference: In one class, Rojas allowed students to use generative AI if they disclosed their use of it, and in the other, it was banned.

Students took their midterm and final exams in class, and used paper and pencil. Rojas found no difference between the two classes on their exam scores. But, he found through surveys that students in the class allowing AI spent less time on the class and reported enjoying it more. They also participated more, he said.

He and his colleagues Rong Rong and Luke Bloomfield published a paper about the experiment.

“I don’t think we have all the answers from this course obviously,” Rojas said. “It’s a very specific course.”

AI has changed how Rojas assesses students. Take home assignments, which are more vulnerable to using generative AI, are worth less toward a student’s grade.

In the fall semester, Rojas taught a course on AI literacy and tackled topics like how to use AI tools for economics data analysis.

“They are all using it,” he said of students and AI.

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

t plan yo to y your ur event eve ev vent contact conta t ct us at: ta

413-535-5077

www.logrollingcatering.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | K13

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Hartman CONTINUES FROM PAGE K8

Engineers must explain complex systems. Scientists must collaborate across disciplines. Technologists must understand the human impact of the tools they design. A comprehensive education strengthens the very capabilities that allow technical expertise to translate into real-world solutions.

The next big thing for Massachusetts is not a single device, discovery or platform. It is a generation of well-rounded critical thinkers; engineers, scientists, health care innovators and technical leaders ready to move our economy forward.

As I prepare to join the Western New England University community this June, I am energized by the opportunity to help strengthen that workforce and deepen the partnerships that make it possible.

That work is already underway in WNE’s classrooms, labs and collaborations across the commonwealth — and its impact will define the next chapter of our economy.

Joseph C. Hartman is the incoming president of Western New England University.

Timmons

Expansion on tap for bagel company “We’ve been in this facility for nine months and looking forward to expanding and opening more cafes that we’re going to supply out of here,” said John Wilda, lead baker at Tandem Bagel Co. in Ludlow. “We’ll increase our production and hire more fellow bakers. We’ve got the big machines that do the mixing and the dividing for us, but otherwise most of our work’s pretty manual. What’s the personality of a baker? Well, dedication and focus are two of the big things. If you can’t pay attention to the details, then you’re never going to have a consistent product.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

and projects. It is partnering with K-12 districts to build career pipelines starting in elementary CONTINUES FROM PAGE K8 school and collaborating with regional nonprofits to provide that community colleges don’t students with access to resources just serve their communities — they belong to them. that support their success outHCC’s future must be written side the classroom.

The traditional community with our region, not for it. This college value proposition — acmeans convening employer cess and affordability — remains roundtables where health care essential. systems, manufacturers and But the next evolution is about technology companies help integration. Students don’t exinform educational offerings. perience their lives in silos: They It means creating employment pipelines based on market needs need education that connects

seamlessly to employment, support services that address real barriers and credentials that translate directly to living-wage careers.

Creating that experience requires institutions that can move with agility, driven by data and community insight rather than outdated academic constraints.

Our conversations have also revealed urgent questions we must answer together: How do we design partnerships that leverage individual strengths while building sustainable

networks to create competitive advantages for Western Massachusetts? How do we ensure that targeted jobs pay living wages?

How do we increase opportunities for marginalized communities beyond just enrollment to include comprehensive supports and equitable outcomes?

These questions don’t have easy answers. But collaborative intelligence means we’re asking them together and building solutions that draw on the expertise of employers who know what skills they need, community

organizations that understand barriers facing students and families, policymakers who can remove systemic obstacles and educational institutions that can respond with unprecedented speed and relevance.

The disruption isn’t artificial intelligence replacing human connection — it’s the recognition that complex challenges require collective wisdom.

As HCC moves forward, we pledge to be more than just a participant in regional development — we’ll be a catalyst, preparing

students not just for their first job but for lifelong success; modeling best practices that position us as a national leader among community colleges, creating programs so tightly aligned with workforce needs that learning and earning happen simultaneously.

This future is within reach. But only if we continue building it together.

George Timmons, Ph.D., is president of Holyoke Community College.

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE

T h e Ma s s L ive B u i l d i n g AT ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA 1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA

COME JOIN US AT 1 3 5 0 M AI N STREET •

RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES: Currently offering two 4,000+ SF prime, ground level Retail units directly on Main Street and across from the Mass Mutual Center.

•

OFFICE SUITES: 811 SF to 40,000 SF of Class A office space, including several move-in ready office suites.

•

Three-story glass covered atrium; five high-speed elevators; & a featured art exhibit in the lobby.

•

Palazzo Café on the first floor; and a state-of-the-art Fitness Center on the 9th floor.

•

Located in the heart of the Central Business District on the corner of Main and Court Streets, adjacent to Springfield’s City Hall.

•

24-Hour Access with On-site Security and Management.

•

Abundant nearby parking available including the new MassMutual Center Garage, I91 North parking garage, and MGM garage; all within one block away. Valet parking is available immediately adjacent to our building

•

The building is centrally located at the “Crossroads of New England”, near the Intersection of I-91 and I-90 (Mass Pike), between New York City and Boston. Springfield is only 25 minutes to Bradley International Airport; 30 minutes to Hartford, CT; and a 90-minute drive to Boston.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jim Reardon, Leasing Agent 1350 Main Street Springfield, MA 01103 860-508-2192| jreardon@splotkin.com 3218883-01

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

K14 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Vieau

On Feb. 26, the center is offering a public event for small-business owners to better understand cybersecurity.

CONTINUES FROM PAGE K1

A man exits the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Union Station in Springfield.

(DAVE ROBACK / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN)

Threat

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

themselves.

On Feb. 26, the center is offering a public event for CONTINUES FROM PAGE K2 small-business owners to betcomputers, so that student ter understand cybersecurity. employees and professionals This is for the mom-and-pop who work at the center can restaurants, people running fight cyber attacks together. their businesses from home, “They are using the SOC to and for anyone trying to proprotect real municipalities, tect from cyber threats. organizations and nonprof“Small-business owners its,” said Kingsley. “They can will learn how to deploy skills see an attack, thwart it, and that will secure them from the prevent future attacks.” financial fallout of a breach, Kingsley declined to give which are really hard to recuspecific examples of municperate from,” said Kingsley. ipalities or organizations the The center also frequently center works to secure. offers classes to the public Peter Sherlock, CEO of Cy- and to CyberTrust member berTrust Massachusetts, said schools, like Elms College in 90% of the customers who the Chicopee and Bay Path Uniinterns and employees help versity in Springfield. are at the local government John B. Cook, outgoing preslevel, that is, K-through-12 ident of Springfield Technical schools and municipalities.

Community College, said a “The bulk of the work the long-term goal for the Cyberinterns do is monitor and pro- security Center is to remain vide a 24/7 response to mali“sustainable,” he said on a cious activity,” said Sherlock. recent tour of the center.

But the staff also assesses “What I’m excited about is municipalities’ information ... the rising tide of community technology departments. college enrollment (that is) “(For) all the municipalities, also helping with the sustainwe work with the adminisability,” said Cook. “There is tration of their (IT) environthat pathway, that pipeline, of ments,” he explained. “That the talent in our program ... means, understanding what where we always knew there systems are on their netwas a basis.” work; making sure they are The field, while fast-evolvup to date (with technology); ing, has faced challenges managing identities and pass- in the last year, with major words; and (knowing) where layoffs and new skill sets sensitive data is.” needed, according to a study What’s lacking in these conducted by International communities, he said, is the Information System Security capacity and procedures to Certification Consortium, also run a secure environment known as ISC2.

Cook said STCC is committed to bridging the skills gap by partnering with the Springfield Public Schools and Springfield Empowerment Zone, to provide early college pathways to young learners hoping to have a career in cybersecurity.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., for whom the center is named, said cybersecurity is an “everyday conversation, every-hour conversation in Washington.”

Many agencies, businesses and industries have been a target of ransomware, a form of cyber attack that can lead to financial extortion, including the U.S. Department of Defense, and phishing, which are attempts to steal secure data, according to Neal.

Hackers are getting innovative, said Kingsley, the range manager.

To stay ahead, Kingsley, who has a master’s degree in information management and communication, said he stays connected with a network of organizations and people who can bring their expertise to conferences and meetups held at the center.

“All ships rise with the tide, so organizing events like that, at a facility like this, really helps Western Mass. stay front and center,” said Kingsley.

To register for the Feb. 26 event at the center, Kingsley said to follow the center’s LinkedIn page for details at tinyurl.com/fz85jkt2.

Police Department’s Real-Time Information Center, a next-generation Neighborhood Crime Watch that uses advanced camera technology and artificial intelligence to deter crime, enhance situational awareness, and support faster, more effective responses. This investment reflects the city’s commitment to using modern tools to keep residents and neighborhoods safe.

The city also is making major strides in traffic and pedestrian safety. Chicopee is completing its Safe Streets for All initiative, funded through a Federal Highway Administration grant with City Council support. This effort identifies high-crash locations, incorporates community input and prepares the city to pursue future implementation funding.

Guided Federal Highway Safe System approach, the program supports Chicopee’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating serious traffic injuries and fatalities. In parallel, the Department of Public Works, city engineer, and Police Department are collaborating on street-level improvements, such as flashing crosswalks, enhanced signs, refreshed pavement markings, targeted enforcement, street diets (reducing widths or lanes), and detailed streetby-street safety reviews.

Resilience planning is another critical focus. Chicopee is undertaking its required seven-year update to the Hazard Mitigation Plan to remain eligible for federal and state emergency mitigation funding. This plan will guide future investments to address risks, such as flooding, severe weather, and climate-related impacts, helping protect residents, infrastructure, and public assets.

Downtown revitalization continues to gain momentum in Chicopee Center. The Hub

at Market Square is being transformed into an active community and economic gathering place. Through ongoing programming and events, The Hub is drawing visitors, supporting local businesses, and increasing foot traffic. This project demonstrates how American Rescue Plan Act funds have successfully revitalized a once-dormant space, creating a vibrant hub for current and future generations to enjoy, learn, and prosper.

Modernizing city facilities is also underway. Phase II of the Chicopee City Hall renovation project includes interior upgrades, office reorganizations, energy-efficiency improvements, updated furnishings, and full accessibility enhancements to meet ADA and Massachusetts Architectural Access Board standards. Funded through municipal bonds and city appropriations, this multiyear effort will improve service delivery while creating safer, more functional workspaces for employees and residents.

Looking ahead, Chicopee has launched a comprehensive update of its zoning ordinances, site plan review regulations, subdivision rules, and local wetlands protection bylaws. The regulations that have not seen major revisions since 1974.

Over the next three years, the city will engage in an iterative public process to align development regulations with the goals of Envision Our Chicopee 2040. This initiative will support sustainable growth, responsible development and economic opportunity.

Infrastructure and connectivity remain strengths for Chicopee. The Chicopee Electric Light Department continues to provide some of the lowest electric rates in the region, helping keep the city affordable for residents and businesses alike. CrossRoads Fiber, the city’s municipal broadband network, offers some of the fastest

and most reliable high-speed internet in the state. With demand-based expansion continuing through 2025, the network has surpassed 6,150 customers and plans to add another 1,200 customers in 2026, strengthening access, innovation, and opportunity.

Significant investment is also taking shape at Frank J. Szot Park. The city is completing the Szot Park Master Plan, funded through ARPA, and finishing design plans for Phase I improvements, while preparing for future phases. A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application was submitted in January, reflecting the city’s commitment to high-quality recreational spaces that promote health, safety, and quality of life.

Private redevelopment is further fueling economic growth. Construction is underway on a 105-unit workforce housing development at the former Baskin property, with additional phases planned for a brewery, food hall and an indoor sports complex. Early planning also is underway for the redevelopment of the Uniroyal parcel, where four historic mill buildings are proposed for mixed-use reuse, supported by a MassWorks Infrastructure Grant and an estimated $200 million private investment.

Chicopee’s progress is grounded in affordability, safety and opportunity. The city was recently recognized by a national publication as one of the most affordable places to live, reinforcing Chicopee’s reputation as a safe, accessible and family-friendly community. To grow, we need economic development, good jobs and great people. Our goal is to retain talent, attract opportunity and showcase Chicopee’s value as a pillar of Western Massachusetts as we look ahead to 2026.

John Vieau is the mayor of Chicopee.

Meet MAX, Your New Money Sidekick

EVERY BUSINESS SAYS EVERY BUSINESS SAYS THEY’RE BETTER. THEY’RE BETTER. EVERY BUSINESS SAYS THEY’RE BETTER. TRUST THE ONES THAT TRUST THE ONES THAT BACK IT UP. IT UP. THAT TRUSTBACK THE ONES BACK IT UP. BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity, promises, andare telling the truth. you with wonder BBB® honoring Accredited Businesses committed toMakes operating why all businesses BBB integrity, honoring promises, andaren’t telling theAccredited? truth. Makes you wonder why all businesses aren’t BBB Accredited?

BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed operating with Always look for the BBB Accredited Businessto Seal, because it’s SM integrity, honoring promises, and telling the truth.

Makes you wonder looking out for you.

That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better Business Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal, because it’s . why all businesses aren’t BBB Accredited? looking out Find for you.

That’sBusiness why it’s The Signat ofBBB.org. a Better BusinessSM. a Better anytime Always look fora the BBBBusiness Accredited Business Seal, because it’s Find Better anytime at BBB.org. looking out for you. That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM.

EVERY BUSINESS SAYS THEY’RE BETTER. Find a Better Business anytime at BBB.org.

Find a Better Business

Become a Better Business

Find a Better Business

Become a Better Business

2022PrintAds_TSOABBLook.indd 5

Find a Better Business

Become a Better Business 11/10/22 8:26 PM

2022PrintAds_TSOABBLook.indd 5

11/10/22 8:26 PM

2022PrintAds_TSOABBLook.indd 5

11/10/22 8:26 PM

TRUST THE ONES THAT ALWAYS LOOK FOR A BACK IT UP. ALWAYS FOR A BETTERLOOK BUSINESS. BETTER BUSINESS.

Need answers fast? MAX, our always-on virtual assistant, helps you navigate banking with ease—online or by phone. Plus, enjoy full access to Freedom@Home, mobile banking and more.

Get started now at freedom.coop.

BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity, honoring promises, and telling the truth. Makes you wonder why all businesses aren’t BBB Accredited?

BECAUSE THEY’RE BECAUSE THEY’RE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU. LOOKING OUT FOR YOU. Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal, because it’s looking out for you. That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM. Find a Better Business anytime at BBB.org.

Find a Better Businesshonoring promises, and telling the truth. Makes you Become a Better Business integrity, wonder

Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal, because it’s why all businesses aren’t BBB Accredited? looking out for you. That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM. Always look fora the BBBBusiness Accredited Business Seal, because it’s Find Better anytime at BBB.org. looking out for you. That’s why it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM.

2022PrintAds_TSOABBLook.indd 5

11/10/22 8:26 PM

freedom.coop Freedom Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA. Shares and deposits in excess of NCUA limits are fully insured by MSIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #478769.

3219380-01

BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity, honoring promises, and telling the truth. Makes you wonder why all businesses BBB Accredited?

BBB® Accredited Businesses aren’t are committed to operating with

Freedom is yours.

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | K15

There’s so much more that a university can contribute that is directly tied to our mission. We can bring attention to critical issues and work with communities to solve public problems. We can be a positive force for change.

Reyes CONTINUES FROM PAGE K4

Many students personalized their mortarboards for the 2025 graduation ceremony on May 16 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At right, UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes attends a ceremony on Sept. 10. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

Relations CONTINUES FROM PAGE K4

in town, placing intense pressure on the local housing market.”

But the plan offers solutions, which were implemented by the town in December, including more subsidized housing; increasing types of housing offered (student housing, workforce housing, housing for older adults, to name a few); and building more housing, which is required in the entirety of Western Massachusetts.

The demand for on-campus housing at UMass Amherst has grown since the pandemic, up 8.5% since 2018, according to Emily Gest, a university spokesperson.

The university is also among the top five largest residential programs in the country, building up its portfolio for two decades by thousands of beds, including 150 student-family apartments, creating dorms for the Commonwealth Honors College and opening Fieldstone — the

first public-private partnership housing project for the university — which added 623 undergraduate beds and 201 graduate student beds, Gest said.

Bagg said the town’s housing plan and future economic development plan will help start initiatives that will benefit Amherst, the university and the other colleges in the area.

He also said the town is open to work with residents and business owners — current and potential future retailers — on how to develop the downtown and other shopping areas of the town to make Amherst unique. “(What) we want to accomplish with the economic development plan is (to) get community engagement.

What do residents want to see? What do businesses think is viable, and what would, ultimately, be complementary to the other things that are surrounding?” he said.

Buffone said both Amherst and UMass Amherst are a part of the International

Town Gown Association, an organization that helps municipalities and their higher education institutions across the United States develop and maintain partnerships that support community engagement and mutual interests.

“We’ve worked really hard on this (relationship),” she said.

Reyes, the university’s chancellor, Buffone said, is passionate about taking UMass Amherst beyond the town, emphasizing an interest in creating opportunities for the workforce in the broader Western Massachusetts region and the state.

“He said, ‘I want to see more of UMass in the community, and more of the community at UMass,’” Buffone said. “That has, in many ways, been this guiding light for us. It allows us to not worry about any boundaries. We’re just going to work together.”

conferences and other events. They attract visitors and they help shape local markets through construction projects, investment and procurement.

But there’s so much more that a university can contribute that is directly tied to our mission.

We can bring attention to critical issues and work with communities to solve public problems. We can be a positive force for change.

This fall, UMass Amherst launched an Economic Development Initiative to more formally leverage the university’s core missions — teaching, research and service — to advance sustainable growth through talent cultivation, innovation and tech transfer, and community development in Western Massachusetts.

We’ve gotten a head start by expanding degree completion pathways for workforce participation with Tech Foundry in Springfield and strengthened youth and STEAM pipelines with programs like TEACH 180 Days in Springfield, which combines graduate course work with fulltime teaching.

There’s also the Energy Transition Institute (ETI), which connects experts from over 50 university departments with partner communities and organizations to create actionable climate solutions, and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), which translates fundamental research into real-world, commercial products and therapies that improve human health and well-being.

IALS has already led to the development of vibrant startups like florrent, which makes next-gen high energy ultracapacitor modules, and Myrias Optics, a pioneering manufacturer of flat optics.

These major interdisciplinary, campus-wide research hubs are focused on translating academic research into real-world solutions, thereby creating new industries and jobs with a long-term economic benefit to the region that are not accounted for in the Donahue estimate.

We also are activating the Henry M. Thomas III Center in Springfield as a coworking/startup hub where like-minded individuals and businesses can converge, collaborate and thrive.

And we are exchanging ideas about economic development with regional public and private organization leaders, who are members of our Amherst Campus Council.

But there are challenges.

We are working with regional partners to develop collective responses — whether it’s

A robotic hip exoskeleton device is shown on Banu Abdikadirova, who is working on an engineering project at the UMass Amherst Engineering Lab on July 19, 2024.

devising ways to make it easier for students to travel to Springfield for internships, co-op experiences and project-based learning opportunities, or determining how to align curriculums with workforce needs.

We also need to assess how the university can support the commonwealth’s economic priorities that include investing in infrastructure and housing; retaining and attracting the world’s top talent; and supporting sectors that power the state’s economy — from health care to advanced manufacturing and robotics, climate technology — and envision the future of food and agriculture in Western Massachusetts and beyond.

Thinking of a university as an economic engine might surprise some. But a dynamic education landscape, including rapid advancements in technology coupled with changing attitudes about the value of a college degree, requires new approaches.

As a land grant institution, we have a responsibility to our surrounding communities, and the commonwealth, especially as it relates to economic vitality. By engaging faculty and their research, leveraging the creativity and energy of our students, and working with the community, we can create a vision for the social and economic future of the region and our state.

Fortunately, we have a great foundation on which to build for the future for Western Massachusetts and the commonwealth.

Javier Reyes is the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Tax-Free Growth, Confident Retirement

Enjoy tax-free income in retirement with a Roth IRA conversion.

Once you convert to a Roth IRA, your withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, provided certain conditions are met.

Keep your savings growing Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs do not require you to take minimum distributions starting at age 73.

Convert Today, Prosper Tomorrow Roth IRAs can be passed on to heirs tax-free, making them a great tool for estate planning.

Take the first step towards a brighter financial future.

Contact us today to learn more about Roth IRA conversions and how they can benefit you.

Mark W Teed, WMS, CRPC® Senior Vice President, Investments 1500 Main Street, Suite 1700 // Springfield, MA 01115 413.372.6610 // teedcapitalmanagement.com Unless certain criteria are met, Roth IRA owners must be 59½ or older and have held the IRA for five years before tax-free withdrawals are permitted.

Additionally, each converted amount may be subject to its own five-year holding period. Converting a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA has tax implications.

Raymond James does not provide tax or legal advice. You should contact your tax or legal advisor concerning your particular situation. All investments carry a degree of risk, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. © 2026 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC

K16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Recycle More

RECYCLE MORE. At USA, we are committed to staying at the forefront of recycling innovation, continuously finding better ways to repurpose the everyday items we throw away.

Like our Food Scraps Recycling Program, which allows us to take discarded organic material and turn it into renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendments.

Current and new USA customers can sign up now for Curbside Food Scrap pickup services. Please call USA Customer Service at 800-998-0983 or visit our website usarecycle.com for more information.

Keeping waste out of our landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to a cleaner planet – it’s all part of our mission to transform the way we recycle and create sustainable communities for generations to come.

Some See Waste, We See Possibilities.

ADVERTISING

L |

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Life insurance goes high-tech

do they have in common? their trust,” said Ed Donahue, presFrom AI-backed tests to mobile apps, What Insurance companies see these ident and CEO of the Life Insurance of Massachusetts. services as ways that can help poliinsurers describe new offerings as a cyholders live longer, healthier lives Association Insurance is an old industry in in turn, help their bottom lines. Massachusetts, as the state is the win-win for companies, customers and, Massachusetts companies like second oldest regulator of the John Hancock, Berkshire Life and MassMutual in the last few years djackson@repub.com have been looking for programs to A blood test that can screen for help boost the health of their policycancers. An app driven by artificial holders. intelligence aimed at helping people “Because the market is so comwith their mental health. A test of petitive, many good companies are someone’s saliva that can identify trying to distinguish themselves as possible health issues in the future. very good places for people to put

By Daniel Jackson

An app helps policyholders with Berkshire Life Insurance Co. work to improve their health and wellness. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

industry in the nation, Donahue said. Today, the industry is a big economic player in the state. It also is a major purchaser of state and municipal bonds.

“This is a very complicated business because it’s been around so long,” Donahue said. “People have

SEE INSURANCE, PAGE L9

WMass banks on front lines against high-tech fraud Scams abound, from AI-powered deepfakes to lowtech check fraud

By Ben LeBlanc

Special to The Republican

Enhanced star-gazing at Planetarium “We have some really cool new planetarium shows coming up, as well as the ones that we have now," said Daniel Moraski, a docent at the Springfield Museums. "We're going to introduce a home-generated one, too, which is really amazing. I'm waiting to see that one. We did one last year about Van Gogh and the stars that was amazing. So I'm expecting something similar for this one. And of course we always have the traveling exhibits that come through here. ... The planetarium is quite amazing. We have a new device that goes along with the star projector that we've had since the ‘30s. We also have sophisticated Zeiss Velvet LED projectors. When the two of them work together, it's just amazing. … An interesting thing is that the original star globe, which is the oldest one in operation now anywhere, was made in the ’30s by a gentleman, Frank Korkosz, who was self taught and a machinist. He made little metal patterns for star clusters and constellations by hand and put them in a machine that projected them on the wall in such great detail. Recently, when we got machines like the Zeiss projectors that are very expensive and highly technical, when they turned the two on, they were pretty much in sequence. So some guy in the ’30s figured out what the universe looks like to the point where we are now, though we're a little more technically advanced today than we were in the ‘30s. … To be a good docent, you have to really love people. I do.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

Big Voodoo big believers in AI Big Voodoo Interactive, an Easthampton marketing firm, is using AI-generated spokespeople to help market its clients.

(SCREENSHOT)

The Easthampton marketing firm — which touts itself as a leading digital agency for law firms — has struck a partnership with TikTok and is using “spokespeople” made with artificial intelligence now more than ever.

The firm experimented with AI influencers more than a year ago, but they didn’t look human, credible or convincing enough to star in the agency’s digital ad

By Staasi Heropoulos campaigns.

Special to The Republican “The technology wasn’t When the creative team at where it needed to be. We Big Voodoo Interactive wants weren’t going to put out an advertising spokesperson something that was glitchy to speak a different language, or didn’t sound natural,” said change its accent, darken its Megan Sheldon, managing complexion or swap genders, director of operational serit’s as simple as a few clicks vices at Big Voodoo. on a computer.

“It’s come a long way,

Company jumps feet first into 21st-century marketing with AI ‘spokespeople’

and when you’re scrolling through a platform like TikTok, it’s not blatantly obvious this is an AI influencer.

It looks and sounds human, and we’re confident in how it performs,” she told The Republican.

Big Voodoo also is using real celebrities like William Shatner, Matt Walton and Eric Pierpoint along with actual clients in its advertising campaigns.

While anyone can create content and post it for free on TikTok, Big Voodoo has struck a formal partnership that gives the firm broader and deeper access to the platform, its audience and experts.

The revenue-sharing

SEE VOODOO, PAGE L14

The bad actors behind financial fraud are getting smarter. But so are banks.

Banks across Western Massachusetts are finding new ways to root out attempted fraud amid a nationwide surge in scams, from AI-powered deepfakes to low-tech check fraud.

“AI has changed the game for fraudsters,” said Heather Arbour, vice president and fraud compliance manager at Monson Savings Bank, a community bank founded in 1872. “They can now create highly convincing emails, texts and even voice calls that mimic legitimate businesses or individuals.”

“AI has changed the game for fraudsters.”

Heather Arbour, vice president and fraud compliance manager at Monson Savings Bank

In an interview, Ben Wagoner, head of corporate security at Westfield Bank, ran through a list of types of fraud.

Phishing occurs when a consumer receives an email from someone masquerading as a bank, utility company or some other official entity.

The email might include a link to a webpage, where users are asked to divulge sensitive information — like a Social Security number or a password — that can then be used by a thief to access bank funds.

Smishing is a variation of phishing done over text.

“In Mass., there was one going around for turnpike tolls, ‘Click on the link here ... you’re overdue for (toll payments),’” he said.

SEE BANKS, PAGE L9

L2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Above, from left, a movie ad that appeared in the Springfield Union on Aug. 31, 1936; in the last full year of World War II, in 1944, the Yale Clothing Co. promoted Christmas gift ideas for men in this ad in the Springfield Union; and a Nov. 30, 1944, ad in the Springfield Union featured a professorial dog.

They wanted you to buy.

Years ago.

Above is an ad for a doubly awful beverage offered last century by Friendly Ice Cream.

At left is an advertisement for “The Checkered Game of Life,” one of Milton Bradley’s earliest board games.

T

Above, from left, with this unadorned ad, which appeared in the Springfield Union, the Albert Steiger Co. was all business, thinking that value alone can drive sales; and a 1944 ad from the Springfield Union advertised a “big new thing” — bread from Dreikorn’s.

his year’s Outlook theme (the “next big thing”) got me wanting to hop in the Wayback Machine and see how Western Massachusetts companies used to promote their new products. For this page, I culled a sampling of advertisements from the former Springfield Union, which was later incorporated into The Republican, that reveal how companies pitched products in the 1900s.

In an interesting essay on Page K2, ad guy Darby O’Brien writes that amid today’s allure of tech, the best way to reach potential buyers is to relate to them. (He says it better, albeit longer.) In that sense, a “big thing” today connects to a timeworn goal of getting customers to see themselves in your advertising.

I sense that was the motive in Hampden Beer’s testimonial ad, in Yale Clothing’s fanciful (and oh-so dated) appeal to a woman shopper and in Bayer Aspirin’s sofa chat.

Often, humor loosened wallets, as in Friendly Ice Cream’s promo for its “Awful Awful” beverage and in Dreikorn’s playful wartime street encounter.

Meantime, Hollywood had new movies to sell and a very staid Steiger’s department store had goods to move.

Enjoy this trip down memory lane.

— Larry Parnass, executive editor At left, from far left: Hampden Beer resorted to testimonials to sell its dry lager in this Springfield Union ad from 1952; and safety and a claim that it would not “affect the heart” were featured in this aspirin ad, which appeared Nov. 30, 1925, in the Springfield Union.

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 L3

The Secret Is Out. HMC is the best place for care and the best place to work.

Holyoke Medical Center has evolved—from a hidden gem in Western Massachusetts to the hospital of choice for patients, employees, and physicians. That’s because we’re dedicated to providing the very best care to area residents, while empowering our employees through an environment valuing respect, leadership, belonging, and emphasis on exceptional care.

Today, Holyoke Medical Center is stronger than ever. With many new primary and specialty outpatient care locations for patient convenience. A growing reputation as an employer of choice for medical professionals. And a renewed commitment to providing the very best healthcare for our community in the Pioneer Valley — and beyond.

We’ll meet all of your healthcare needs.

Call 413.534.2500 or visit holyokehealth.com

Primary Care & Family Medicine Now accepting new patients.

27 PCPs. Six Locations.

One Standard of Excellence.

Holyoke

Chicopee

South Hadley

Springfield

3219697-01

Call 413.535.4800 to make an appointment today!

Westfield

OUTLOOK 2026

L4 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

MassMutual at 175: Reflecting on our past, embracing our future

“They call up, they (instill) this sense of urgency to the victim, get them in fear that it has to be fixed now. Maybe they panic, maybe they don’t want to get in trouble themselves.”

SPRINGFIELD DETECTIVE CHAD JOSEPH

FINANCE

I

From left, Springfield Police Sgt. Donald Denault, Detective Chad Joseph and Detective Adam Provost have been working on combating cryptocurrency scams for the last two years. They urge the public to be vigilant when it comes to giving up sensitive information over the phone.

(DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

There are two sides to cryptocurrency It has exploded over the last few years, but still comes with challenges

By Liam McLoughlin

Special to The Republican

The penny has seen its final days of production, and fewer people than ever are walking around town with wads of cash tightly folded into the crease of their wallets. It’s not far-fetched to think that sometime soon, physical money as we know it will take its final bow.

Cryptocurrency — an almost two-decade-old form of money that exists only online — has its place in the pantheon of currency, but does it have the footing to become the prime choice for consumers?

Taking the form of online tokens or coins that people can buy and sell in open marketplaces, cryptocurrency is similar to more traditional stock market indices.

Crypto isn’t tied to the U.S. dollar. It’s stored using blockchain technology — a digital ledger — which tracks every transaction made in real time.

When Bitcoin was launched in 2009 as a decentralized alternative to the stock market, it cost mere cents to purchase.

Now, if people wanted to purchase a single Bitcoin, they’d need to fork over close to $67,000.

Other coins include Ethereum, Tether, Solana and Dogecoin, costing considerably less than Bitcoin.

“Crypto has undeniably moved into the mainstream,” said Daken Vanderburg, certified financial analyst, head of MassMutual Private Wealth and chief investment officer of MassMutual Wealth Management.

Vanderburg said that its explosion has propelled crypto investors to number into the hundreds of millions across the world, offering them various advantages as an in-

vestment position, including speed, global accessibility and diversification.

“Transactions settle quickly, markets operate around the clock, and investors gain exposure to entirely new ecosystems,” he added.

Crypto can be bought using centralized exchanges like Crypto.com, Binance or Coinbase, through brokerages, and more recently, at ATMs designed to purchase crypto with cash.

The former — investing through established platforms — is a big component to being safe and successful, Vanderburg believes. The latter, unfortunately, has led to more trouble than many would have hoped for.

Crypto kiosks have popped up in convenience stores and gas stations as of late, and are the focal point for many scams across the country.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported 149,686 complaints of crypto scamming in 2024, according to their 2024 annual report, which was released last April.

This equated to $9.3 billion in total lost money, $246.7 million of which stemmed from scams involving ATMs and kiosks.

In Springfield alone, police estimate that 29 people have fallen victim to cryptocurrency scams since January 2024, which generated losses of $624,000, most of which went unrecovered.

Springfield Police Detective Adam Provost thinks the problem is actually bigger, more than what filed complaints indicate.

“Let’s just say that’s what was reported,” said Provost, suggesting that many people

Bitcoin tokens. (RICK BOWMER / ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE)

might be too embarrassed or afraid to report a crime.

Provost is one of three Springfield detectives who have these crypto ATM scams atop their traditional case loads of larceny, breaking and entering, check scams and other crimes. They’ve tracked stolen crypto currencies as far away as Turkey.

Detectives Chad Joseph and Christian Cicero work alongside Provost to investigate these scams throughout the city.

The scams have more to do with fear than they do a lack of investment knowledge, police said.

Victims of this form of crypto scam commonly receive phone calls or emails from people they don’t know, sometimes falsely claiming to be law enforcement or government officials, saying there’s a warrant for their arrest, or an unpaid traffic fine they need to take care of.

“They call up, they (instill) this sense of urgency to the victim, get them in fear that it has to be fixed now,” Joseph said. “Maybe they panic, maybe they don’t want to get in trouble themselves.”

Scammers often will remain on the phone for extended periods of time, officials say, walking their victims through a step-by-step process of

transforming cash into digital currency. It starts with withdrawing a sum of money from their own bank, before visiting a nearby crypto kiosk to make a deposit.

Provost said some banks are beginning to implement failsafes, but generally there’s not much that can be done.

“If someone goes into my bank, and takes money out of my account, fraudulently, I’ll probably get that back because it can be proven,” Provost said.

“If I walk in and take out that money, that’s on me.”

In the scams, the scammer directs the victim to a crypto kiosk, which then provides them with a QR code granting access to an online wallet and, once given to the scammer, the money is gone.

If police are unable to begin investigating within 24 to 48 hours — using a process called a “blockchain analysis” — the chances of tracking the money drops close to zero. It’s said that tracking the information is like trying to follow the lines in a cracked windshield.

“Scammers want you scared enough to act fast, and once they have your money in cryptocurrency, it’s nearly impossible to get it back,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi.

SEE CRYPTO, PAGE L10

N 1851, A YOUNG INsurance agent from Springfield named George W. Rice saw what he viewed as the next big thing.

At the time, Springfield was a small, growing town of about 12,000 with industrial breakthroughs — from precision tools to rail connections — which brought prosperity to local families. Rice saw the need for a way for people to protect their loved ones from the hardship that came with the loss of a family provider.

With that bold, audacious idea, Rice and his cousin, Caleb, raised $100,000 from 31 local investors, and MassMutual was born.

As we celebrate our 175th anniversary this year, the Rice cousins could hardly fathom the MassMutual of today. That initial $100,000 in capital has grown to approximately $34 billion. We manage more than $570 billion in assets, with more than $1 trillion of life insurance in force. And we have more than 4 million policyowners and customers relying on us each day.

But while the numbers have grown, we’ve never lost sight of the meaning behind them.

Every dollar we invest or benefit we pay connects to a life MassMutual has touched, whether it’s helping people create a legacy for their family, turn their idea into a successful business, or enjoy the retirement they’ve dreamed about.

That kind of perspective is important, as being in business for 175 years is more than a marker of time. It’s a testament to a simple but powerful idea that’s guided us from our very first day: When friends and neighbors look out for each other, we all come out stronger on the other side.

For MassMutual, that idea has always been the next big thing. And while we celebrate our milestone this year, we do so with an eye toward growing and evolving to ensure we can best serve generations of people to come, as well as continuing to make a meaningful impact on the community we’ve long called

Roger Crandall

home.

To do that, we call upon our foundation as a mutual company, which means we operate for the benefit of our policyowners. While public companies answer to shareholders and analysts, MassMutual’s interests are aligned with the long-term needs of those who rely on us. And our purpose — to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love — has guided us from the start.

This has enabled MassMutual to take a disciplined, decades-long approach to navigating challenges and uncertainties — from world wars, to economic booms and busts, to global pandemics — ensuring we can deliver on our commitments and serve as a source of strength and stability when people need it most.

What’s more, our longterm mindset has given us the foresight and freedom to see where the world was going so we can get better at what we do. This has enabled us to build a company that remains relevant in people’s lives as the world continues to shift — from providing digital capabilities that foster better conversations, to offering a broader set of solutions to help people protect their loved ones and grow their wealth, to using data analytics and artificial intelligence to provide a better experience and insights to help our customers lead longer, happier lives.

At the same time, as we’ve grown and evolved throughout our history, Springfield hasn’t just served as MassMutual’s headquarters, but our heart.

SEE CRANDALL, PAGE L10

MassMutual’s headquarters on State Street in Springfield in November 2010. (GREG SAULMON / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

A hometown model of courageous leadership for the greater good

I

become a largely Puerto Rican community. Today, Latinos are the largest cultural group in Springfield, yet census data consistently shows poverty rates significantly higher than Vanessa Otero those of other groups and the citywide average. do, your body of work. As hisThe organization’s role, theretorian Doris Kearns Goodwin fore, remains indispensable. has described, inherent in Late last year, I was apcourageous leadership is amproached to help lead NNCC bition for the greater good, an as interim executive director aspiration that enables leaders during a period when the to take risks others may not. organization needed stabiRivera went on to serve res- lization. I consulted several idents of Springfield’s North mentors, each of whom End for more than 30 years. advised me not to take the poAlong with others, she helped sition. In making my decision, establish the New North I considered the people who Citizens’ Council Inc. to meet depend on NNCC’s services, the needs of what would later the organization’s potential,

The late Barbara Rivera, a community activist who served as the New North Citizens’ Council’s executive director for many years, in her office in 1991. Rivera died in 2005. (THE REPUBLICAN / FILE PHOTO)

and its history.

In my first weeks, the organization’s immediate needs have become clear, including the need for a framework that continues what Rivera and many others began long ago: the preservation of human dignity.

SEE OTERO, PAGE L10

3219412-01

N MARCH 2005, WADE Rathke, founder of ACORN, blogged about the passing of Barbara Rivera. He recounted a moment from October 1969, when Rivera led a group of welfare rights members onto a picket line during what could only be described as a riot.

The members chanted for winter coats and to “Free Wade” after he was arrested during a sit-in at the welfare office. Rathke wrote, “Barbara imposed herself, if ever so briefly, through the chaos of thousands of people, creating calm with her courage in that moment,” adding, “She had to have been scared to death, but she rose like a mountain to the moment.”

This story reminds me that leadership is not defined by who you are, but by what you

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Evan Plotkin, president and owner of NAI Plotkin, a Springfield-based real estate brokerage and management company.

He is in the lobby of 1350 Main St. that he manages. (DON TREEGER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | L5

Entrepreneur.

Tech enthusiast.

Science tutor.

/ THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Reckoning with ‘The Next Big Thing’ — after 45 of them

I

HAVE SPENT 45 YEARS working in the commercial real estate business in Springfield. And over that time, I’ve been told at least 45 times that everything was about to change — forever.

The fax machine would eliminate the need for in-person meetings to sign documents.

The internet would make local expertise obsolete. Mobile technology would render office space unnecessary.

Each “next big thing” arrived with breathless predictions and genuine disruption — and each, ultimately, reshaped our industry without replacing its core.

Now comes artificial intelligence: I’m not a technology skeptic. At NAI Plotkin, we’ve invested in AI-powered market analysis, predictive maintenance tools and data platforms that would have seemed like science fiction when I started in this business in 1981. These tools are genuinely transformative. They compress weeks of research into hours. They identify patterns in property performance that human analysis might miss. They allow a Springfield-based firm to serve clients all over the country with sophistication that once required big-city resources.

Evan Plotkin decade ago. Experiential space, fulfillment hubs, service-oriented tenants. The fundamentals of retail real estate have been genuinely overhauled.

Last month, we walked a property with a client who had done extensive AI-assisted research before our meeting.

Impressive analysis. Detailed projections. Within 10 minutes on site, we identified a loading dock that couldn’t accommodate their equipment and an adjacent property — which I knew from local relationships was likely coming to market — that could solve their long-term expansion needs. No algorithm surfaced that.

My father, Sam Plotkin, built some of Springfield’s first medical office buildings. He understood something that

Each “next big thing” arrived with breathless predictions and genuine disruption — and each, ultimately, reshaped our industry without replacing its core.

But here’s what 45 years in business teaches you: The question isn’t whether new technology is powerful. It always is. The question is what can it do, and perhaps, more importantly, what it cannot do.

AI can analyze every commercial lease signed in Hampden County last year. It cannot tell you that the landlord at that State Street property is difficult to work with, or that the owner of the industrial building you’re considering is likely to sell within 18 months, or that the health care system expanding in the region has specific requirements that aren’t captured in any database.

That knowledge comes from relationships built over decades.

From showing up. From being part of a community.

remains true: Commercial real estate is a physical business conducted through human relationships. The buildings are real. The problems are real.

The solutions require judgment, local knowledge and trust built over time.

At NAI Plotkin, we’ve made a deliberate choice. We use every technological tool that makes us more effective. But we don’t use technology to avoid the fundamentals — we use it to do more of them.

The time AI saves on data analysis is time we spend in face-to-face meetings with clients. The efficiency we gain is reinvested in relationships, not headcount reduction. The Springfield market faces genuine challenges. Downtown office and retail vacancies begs the question of what more ‘Fundamentals’ can be done in smaller cities under pressure to overcome the challenges in a remote-work world. The The Outlook 2026 editors MassLive building has recenthave asked contributors to ly attracted a STEM school to examine which longstanding 1350 Main St. business fundamentals are Absorbing class A&B office “coming up for an overhaul.” In space in Springfield for other commercial real estate, the list is significant. educational programs, that can The traditional office lease — fulfill student needs is one way.

We have to be creating “out five to 10 years, fixed footprint, of the box” thinking on adappredictable terms — is being fundamentally reconsidered. tive reuse in this city.

The “next big thing” in Tenants want flexibility. They commercial real estate isn’t want space that can expand artificial intelligence. It’s the inand contract with their needs.

They want locations that justify tegration of powerful new tools with timeless practices — local the commute in a world where remote work remains an option. expertise, personal service, Property management is long-term relationships and the irreplaceable value of knowing being transformed by sensor a community deeply. technology and predictive analytics. We can now anticipate After 45 years and 45 HVAC failures, water leaks and supposed revolutions, I’m consystem degradation before they fident in this: Technology will become emergencies. Clients continue to transform how we expect this capability. It’s no work. It will never transform longer a competitive advantage. why the work matters.

The retail apocalypse narrative has given way to something Evan C. Plotkin is the presimore nuanced — a recognident and CEO of NAI Plotkin, a commercial real estate comtion that physical retail serves different purposes than it did a pany based in Springfield.

Your unique life, planned.

Understanding what people are passionate about is how we help them plan for what’s most important. Backed by sophisticated resources, a Raymond James financial advisor gets to know you and everything that makes your life uniquely complex. That’s Life Well Planned.

Mark W Teed, WMS, CRPC® Senior Vice President, Investments 1500 Main Street, Suite 1700 Springfield, MA 01115 T 413.372.6610 rjaspringfieldma.com

© 2024 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. 24-BDMKT-6351 KS 2/24

OUTLOOK 2026

L6 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Let the ‘Economy of Real Tomorrow’ begin here

togetherness In a time of uncertain funding, nonprofit groups share more, including key staff

By Daniel Jackson

djackson@repub.com

Table Talk Pies employees package cooked and frozen pies in boxes at the company’s factory in Worcester. (TRÉA LAVERY / MASSLIVE.COM, FILE)

A

S WE BEGIN THE celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the first manifestations of the American Revolution began right here in Massachusetts. Recall the words of Capt. John Parker as he and his ragtag militia faced down the British Army at the battle of Lexington and Concord: “If they mean to have a war, let it begin here!”

Let it begin here.

That phrase became a guiding principle for our commonwealth throughout the birth of the United States and has continued to this day. It has defined the leadership imperative that has characterized Massachusetts in everything from the social contract to government to the economy.

It also defines what is next for the Massachusetts economy.

“Let it begin here” is the principle that has made Massachusetts a global center of wealth, innovation, education, research, re-invention and prosperity for the past 200 years. It has defined a unique system that has made Massachusetts an economy of firsts — from the World Wide Web developed at MIT to anesthesia for surgeries to the integrated circuit to liquid-fueled rockets to the first gas-powered automobile to the computer spreadsheet.

To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, “I do not speak with any fondness but the language of coolest history, when I say that (Massachusetts) commands attention as the place which was appointed in the destiny of nations to lead the civilization of North America.”

That destiny will not change in 2026, despite the fact that the Massachusetts economy has become a punching bag in the national political debate.

The headwinds facing the Massachusetts enterprise are unmistakable as the Trump administration and Congress have eliminated some $2.6 billion in federal research grants from hundreds of institutions and hollowed out another $3.7 billion from the state budget.

We acknowledge the structural challenges we face toward sustaining economic growth — the high cost of living and doing business continue to drive companies and workers to lower-cost states. The prohibitive price of housing, energy, health care, transportation and business regulation threaten to drain the lifeblood of talent that makes Massachusetts the most productive state in the nation.

But despite these external and internal challenges, Massachusetts will prosper because this commonwealth owns the Economy of Tomorrow.

• Our world class colleges and universities mean people come here to learn.

• Our renowned scientific research institutions and cutting-edge companies mean

Brooke Thomson people come here to innovate.

• Our top-ranked K-12 public-education system means companies come here to hire people.

• And our vibrant manufacturing sector means people come here to make everything from jet-engine components to revolutionary pharmaceuticals.

All of these assets will outlast the political expediencies of the moment. They will provide opportunities for us and for our children and grandchildren even as we navigate a new era of economic growth.

The evidence of the Economy of Tomorrow is found everywhere in Massachusetts.

In Sunderland, a 6-year-old startup company called florrent is designing and building high-performance supercapacitors using biomass waste that is sourced in the U.S., diverted from landfills, and put through a patented process to create a material that unlocks better performance at a lower cost when applied into these supercapacitor systems. florrent supercapacitor solutions are used for applications like grid modernization, energy storage systems and uninterruptible power supplies to improve power quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Founded by Jose LaSalle, Joe Hastry and Alex Nichols and started at their alma mater of UMass Amherst, florrent is seeking to capture its share of a multibilliondollar global market for supercapacitors.

Meeting the surging global demand for electricity with local and sustainable sources of supply seems like a winning path forward for Massachusetts.

As we look ahead, it’s clear that Massachusetts stands on a strong foundation of world-class talent, our culture of innovation and our shared commitment to progress. From the labs of UMass Amherst to the factory floors of Greater Springfield, from the clean energy startups on the South Coast to the thriving small businesses in every community, our economy is evolving, adapting and growing stronger.

So, let’s move forward with confidence. Let’s invest in our people, in our communities, and in the industries of tomorrow. Because if there’s one thing history has shown us, it’s that when Massachusetts leads, the world follows — and our brightest days are still to come.

Brooke Thomson is the CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

It’s not just sharing space.

Some share key staff. Others are simply meeting to brainstorm about common problems. brainstorm about common problems.

Having the other agencies in the same building — and others, such as housing nonprofit Way Finders, a few blocks away — helps each other’s missions, Monroe Naylor said.

“It’s this idea of it takes a

Above, LaTonia Monroe Naylor, co-founder of Parent Villages Inc., works at her desk in the Whitcomb Building on Hampden Street in Springfield on Jan. 8. At top, the Whitcomb Building is home to various nonprofit agencies, groups seeking to serve people of color. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

by the cuts in spending by the federal government. It’s a move that has sent ripples through the nonprofit space as some scramble for new funding, with more competition for state and private dollars.

It also has left some Funding uncertainty helps agencies worried about the drive recent changes future of the funding they do More and more nonprofit receive, Markham said. The groups are discussing how to sentiment, he said, is that support each other, and some philanthropy alone cannot are even going after grants bridge the gap left by disruptogether, according to Jeff tions in funding.

Markham Jr., senior program There are obstacles to officer at the Community collaboration. Local nonFoundation of Western Mas- profit leaders described sachusetts. how years of competing for “This idea of mutual aid in funding left them distrustful supporting community is not of other organizations. If they new, but this idea of mutual collaborate, would their ideas aid and nonprofits is somebe taken by another organithing that’s emerging and zation? Would collaboration that we’re hearing a lot more lead to a merger? of,” Markham said.

“But at the same time, our Of the 40 nonprofit agenmain function is to make sure cies Markham works with that our organizations and during the grantmaking the services that are provided process, about half of them continue to be available to the have discussed collaborating community,” said Fred Warwith other businesses. About ren, CEO at United Arc. a quarter have taken steps to Megan L. Moynihan, presido so, he said. dent and CEO of United Way A few trends are driving the of Pioneer Valley, said she has change. Over the last year seen nonprofit leaders turnor so, part of the increased ing to each other to learn best collaboration has been driven practices and to ensure they

village in real action,” Monroe Naylor said. “Like, we are not trying to be a silo. We’re not trying to do all the things. We’re doing what we do well. And then we want to be able to bring other folks in to do what they do.”

don’t duplicate their services.

For decades, United Way has worked as a resource hub for nonprofit groups, offering trainings or opportunities to network. (For instance, it operates a job board for volunteers.)

Sometimes, nonprofit groups will outsource financial services. While many such businesses lack capacity to hire their own chief financial officer, they might share a CFO. “Fiscal sponsorship has been a very big topic amongst the nonprofit world,” Moynihan said. “Many emerging nonprofits and smaller nonprofits just don’t have the funding to be able to operate as their own 501(c)(3).”

Such fiscal sponsorship, in which the group’s finances are administered by a third party, is a service offered by United Way for more than a decade, Moynihan said, but the program has grown because of recent changes.

Sharing an employee between them Significant funding cuts were coming down at the state Department of Public Health last year, said Amanda SEE NONPROFIT, PAGE L10

Aaron Posnik

AUCTIONEERS•APPRAISERS

“Honesty, Integrity and Reliability” Since our inception in 1932,

Aaron Posnik & Co.

has been active Nationwide and is New England’s oldest and most respected Commercial and Industrial Auction, Appraisal and Liquidation firm!

Over 94 years of Experience 1932 - 2026 Asset Recovery Professionals Appraisal Specialists Nationwide Service Aaron Posnik & Co. delivers the “Proven Package”

West Springfield, MA • Philadelphia, PA 413-733-5238 • 610-853-6655 MA Auc. Lic #161 • PA Auc. Lic. #AY000241L

www.posnik.com • E-Mail:info@posnik.com

3219686-01

But despite these external and internal challenges, Massachusetts will prosper because this commonwealth owns the Economy of Tomorrow.

Thanks to a somewhat unusual move by Parent Villages last year, its building on Hampden Street has become a nonprofit center home to a handful of culturally specific organizations, groups seeking to serve people of color.

“Our leases are really low … because we want nonprofits to be able to focus on … the mission of the organization, not trying to figure out how to pay a lease every month,” said LaTonia Monroe Naylor, president and CEO of Parent Villages.

Families Against Violence, which offers support to families who have lost loved ones suddenly because of violence, operates from the fourth floor. Academic Leadership Association, which provides mentoring and tutoring to students, works from the first.

A church pastored by Monroe Naylor’s husband meets in the back of the building. A second-floor space is being renovated into a space for youth.

It’s an arrangement that some are pointing to as an example of a strengthening trend among nonprofit agencies: At a time of increased demand for services and when funding is increasingly uncertain, area nonprofit groups are collaborating to reduce operating costs and to streamline services.

It’s not just sharing space.

Some share key staff. Others are simply meeting to

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 L7

of Western Massachusetts The YWCA of Western Massachusetts is a powerful advocate and champion for families providing a safe haven for women and children in crisis for nearly 160 years.

We serve survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking and homelessness.

Fifth Largest YWCA in the country

OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Community-Based Programs:

Residential Programs:

Children Who Witness Violence Community-Based Domestic Violence Services (CBDV) Coordinated Entry Emergency Food Pantry Healthy and Empowering Relationship Education (H.E.R.E.) Project Hotline Medical Advocacy: SAFEPLAN Sexual Assault Counseling Supervised Visitation Women and Girls Count Young Parent Support (YPS)

Domestic Violence Shelter (DVSS) Supportive Housing Program (SHP) Young Parent Residential Programs (Springfield and Holyoke)

To learn more about our programs and services, visit ywworks.org or call 413-732-3121.

24-Hour Hotline Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault

(413) 733-7100 (800) 796-8711 Llamanos Spanish-language

(800) 223-5001

11,895+ The YWCA has served 11,895 people annually in supportive programs offered locally.

Serving nearly 12,000 individuals annually, the YWCA’s trauma-informed, client-centered approach reduces as many barriers to services as possible, giving agency back to survivors and empowering them to become self-sufficient and financially independent.

Additionally, we help survivors obtain permanent housing, education, and lead successful and fulfilling lives.

Scan to Donate Today!

Subscribe to our Newsletter Today!

3218745-01

www.ywworks.org | 1 Clough Street, Springfield, MA 01118 Tel: (413) 732-3121 | Fax: (413) 747-0542

OUTLOOK 2026

L8 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

REGION

AI is reinvigorating personalized service in community banks It’s shaking up day-to-day responsibilities of bankers, too

By Liam McLoughlin

The median price for single family homes in the Pioneer Valley, which includes Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties, increased 7.7% to $374,950 in December, compared with $348,000 in December 2024, according to the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Special to The Republican

Artificial intelligence is reimagining what it means to be a banker.

In this modern era, community banks, focused on delivering good customer experiences, are no longer worrying themselves with as many of the mundane tasks of the past.

These jobs are being erased thanks to a single question: “Can we build agents to understand that?”

When Marco Bernasconi Jr., chief operating and innovation officer at Country Bank, was in school, the role of a banker was different.

“When I grew up through the industry, we had a seat in every chair and we were looking in the bowels of everything, at all the individual data,” he said.

Now with technology on their side, bankers have the ability to automate time-consuming and repetitive tasks by creating AI bots and agents to take care of the crunching numbers, and tasks otherwise referred to as “grunt work.”

Monson Savings Bank President Dan Moriarty praises this reshuffling of the office, and believes more time will be spent with customers because of it.

“The heart of community banking hasn’t changed: trust, advice and local commitment,” Moriarty said. “What’s evolving is the toolkit.

Bankers use AI to prepare better, spot needs earlier, and personalize service.”

Realtors: WMass sellers will have a good year

By Lori Stabile

Special to The Republican

Nevaeh Price, right, is branch manager at Beacon Bank in Springfield. When the bank launches its AI program, it might study things like employee and user trends using AI-powered behavioral analytics, in part to improve cybersecurity. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

tomers. Tools like this allow our team to spend less time on manual review and more time on judgment, coaching and customer conversations, the human components that really matter.”

‘Watching, looking, listening’ Preparation remains the name of the game for many banks, as they get their data storage set up and begin to put the policies and guardrails in place to make sure customer information, and their money, is safe.

“Institutions are cautious and are doing it like Country Bank — watching, looking, listening, putting all the appropriate protocols in place to use it at the right time,” said Bernasconi.

Even the banks that have implemented AI admit to needing to be careful not to jump into the shiny, new tech too quickly.

AI is helping to speed and simplify work for bankers at institutions like Country Bank, which has yet to launch its program.

“When I went up, grew up through the industry, we had a seat in every chair, and we were looking in the bowels of everything, at all the individual data,” said Marco Bernasconi Jr., chief operating and innovation officer at Country Bank.

employees, we don’t use it.”

like you can get up to speed pretty quickly on a particular Hours, not days industry, if you’re going to With AI implemented, go out and try to win some business — you just get more banks are looking forward to informed.” higher efficiencies and more time to spend on work that “I do see it helping folks, and Only as good as your data adds value. at least lenders and bankers (will) be better prepared,” he Soon, it’s likely that AI will Artificial intelligence needs fully automate the process of added. This preparation reone thing to play the role of sults in more meaningful face clients securing a mortgage the banker — data. or loan, while also being able time with prospective clients “A strong data strategy is to monitor transactions in to foster better and more cuscertainly fundamental to any tomized financial outcomes. real time to minimize risk of AI use and future AI use,” “If AI doesn’t make fraud.

But, he said, it’s still up to Bernasconi said. the individuals using AI to “Instead of a credit analyst At Country Bank, Bernabanking easier, … spending weeks culling check the work to ensure sconi and his team aren’t yet safer, or more through the financials, writing accuracy. using AI in their day-to-day personal for our the credit memos and the “The risk is making sure the life, but are in the process information is accurate ... it’s like, let’s automate that,” of building their data warecustomers, and Bernasconi said. “AI can both pulling from everything on house, which he calls a “data more helpful for bring that data in and do the the internet and you have to lake.” In this lake lives all our employees, we spreads automatically, but it make sure it’s relevant and the company’s core data, as can also produce credit mem- truthful,” Hickson added. well as data collected from don’t use it.”

SEE BANKS, PAGE L15 os, and the like, from reading third-party vendors used for Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings our past.

Instead of spending analytics.

Bank president weeks doing that, let’s spend “That’s our single point so hours.” that we can bring all our data “We’ve added AI into our Robot Process Automatogether and then leverage workflow slowly and thought- tion – a software that mimics longer term, as appropriate human actions to complete fully,” Moriarty, of Monson and within our policies, to Savings, said. “We didn’t repetitive, rules-based tasks drive outcomes — to drive jump in just because it’s new – already helps banking actionable tangible value for organizations optimize their the organization,” Bernasconi or exciting. Instead, we’ve efficiency on a day-to-day used it in places where it can said. genuinely help our team .…” basis through the automation Down the road, artificial Country Bank has had an AI of routine work. intelligence will dip into this This process will be able to lake, using the collected data policy and controls in place integrate with AI in the future for AI for the last three or so to make independent decito increase its intelligence to sions and work to fulfill tasks. years, Bernasconi said. But the bank is still taking time to handle more complex tasks, At Beacon Bank, recently Melle said. understand its full capabiliformed by the merger beties and where it will be most “That’s where it does those tween Berkshire Hills Bantasks, those mundane tasks beneficial. corp and Brookline Bancorp, They’ve created an internal like filing reports or clicking Ryan Melle is excited to study a button all day or copy and user guide and formed an AI employee and user trends Technology Group to decide pasting, data entry,” he said. using AI-powered behavior “RPA plus AI helps improve how AI will benefit the comanalytics when the bank pany and how employees can those efficiencies and elimilaunch an AI program in the remain “ethical, compliant, nate some of those risks out future, for example, which and trustworthy,” while using there.” can be especially helpful for AI, he said, shifts the role the tools. cybersecurity purposes.

“We’re trying to understand of the bankers, with “responMelle, the bank’s chief real world use cases that sibilities now [placing] more security officer, said AI can emphasis on interpretation, deliver results for the orgalearn “an employee’s behavcoaching, and complex probior, or a user’s behavior. What nization,” he said. “Certainlem-solving, and less on data does this person do all day? It ly, we’re working to define entry.” learns the patterns. If [a user] requirements for success as Jim Hickson, the Springwe begin to dig into AI. We deviates from [their] normal define who owns it, the roles, field and Hartford regional behavior, it can flag it and president at Beacon Bank, the responsibilities, and enprompt us to investigate.”

Monson Savings Bank uses suring the effectiveness of AI, believes AI will drastically improve his employees’ but also the controls and the AI-powered PositivePay to workdays, primarily through risk factors and the security automatically detect check of that.” research and client face time. fraud, which has replaced an “A few years ago, if I (was) But banks have to remememployee’s need to complete looking at doing some busiber that AI isn’t a one-sizea review themselves. ness with a particular pros“AI is taking over the repet- fits-all solution.

“At the end of the day, our pect and they’re in a certain itive tasks that might be voluindustry, there were various minous,” Moriarty said. “The rule is easy to understand,” industry tools that we were example we are most proud of Moriarty said. “If AI doesn’t is PositivePay, an AI-powered make banking easier, safer, or members of that we would to plan your event more personal for our custom- use to do research,” Hickson tool that helps prevent check contact us at: ers, and more helpful for our said. “Now, with AI, it looks fraud for our business cus-

SPRINGFIELD — Local real estate agents say 2026 will be another seller’s market, with home prices continuing to increase, but not on the same level as years past.

The median price for single family homes in the Pioneer Valley, which includes Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties, increased 7.7% to $374,950 in December, compared with $348,000 in December 2024, according to the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley.

Overall, single-family home sales fell 4.8% yearover-year for that time period, to 394 from 414. In addition, houses spent an average number of 42 days on the market versus 39 days the year before. The inventory of available property also decreased in December to 565 homes for sale, compared with 657 for the prior year period, a Judy Nevarez 14% drop.

While the Realtor Association did not have exact estimates of how much home prices are expected to increase locally, home prices nationally are estimated to rise between 2% and 3%, according to the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors.

Judy Nevarez, president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley and sales associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in East Longmeadow, expects a “more grounded market” for 2026.

Nevarez said the additional days that homes are spending on the market are giving buyers “a little more breathing room” along with “more negotiating ability and decision time, while still keeping the market competitive.”

There are still bidding wars, but mostly on homes that are “turnkey,” or movein ready, according to Erica Swallow, managing broker of Swallow Real Estate in Springfield and president of the Springfield Preservation Trust.

Nevarez said bidding wars also are still happening in popular areas, such as Amherst, Longmeadow, Northampton and parts of Springfield.

Nevarez, Swallow and Peter Ruffini, broker/owner at RE/MAX Connections in Wilbraham, emphasized the importance of accurate pricing, as the selling frenzy of years past — where homes sold for considerably over their asking price — has subsided. Some sellers might want to inflate their home’s price, but that just results in longer days on the market, they said.

Ruffini said the real estate “feeding frenzy” of 2021 and 2022 has ended (for example, in June 2021, the median price increased 20.4% and sales increased 20.7% year over year).

However, he said it’s still a seller’s market and expected to remain one. An accurate price will help the property sell more quickly, Ruffini said.

SEE REALTOR, PAGE L15

3219184-01

sto stop t p looking to start and d sta t rt ta planning.

our facilities include:

elegant ballroom crystal cry r sta ry t l chandeliers ta indoor ceremony back up personal event eve ev vent consultant consulta t nt ta dedicated dedicate t d banquet manager te award awa w rd winning boutique hotel wa hote t l & spa te exceptional exc ex xceptional customer custo t mer service to serv r ice rv

413-535-5077

www.lcdhhospitalitygroup.com

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | L9

The Landing expands what’s possible for downtown Springfield

A

T THE MASSMUTUal Center, our work has always focused on bringing people downtown. Each year, concerts, sporting events, conventions and community gatherings draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Springfield, supporting local businesses, hotels and jobs across the region.

The Landing in Springfield, opposite the MassMutual Center. Located next to the MassMutual Center and the Convention Center Carpark, the 12,900-squarefoot open air plaza is available from midApril through October and was designed to make downtown gatherings easier, more flexible and more connected to the surrounding city. (DOUGLAS

WWE’s Slam Jam pre-party, the Springfield BID’s Harvest Festival and Boomer’s Block Parties before Springfield Thunderbirds games. These gatherings brought energy to downtown, supported nearby businesses and demonstrated how outdoor programming can complement major venue events while creating new points of connection for the community.

In 2026, we are building on

that momentum.

The Landing creates space for live music, cultural events, networking receptions and seasonal activations that can be ticketed, open, or a combination of both depending on the event. This flexibility allows the space to serve public programming, private bookings and business objectives while remaining adaptable throughout the season.

For downtowns across the region, adaptable outdoor spaces like The Landing represent a shift in how venues support both commerce and community. They allow events to move fluidly between structured and open formats, inviting participation while supporting local economic activity.

As the MassMutual Center looks ahead, we believe this blend of flexibility, visibility and community connection is the next big thing for our sector. The Landing is how that idea comes to life in Springfield.

For more information on The Landing, visit MassMutualCenter.com.

Sean Dolan is the general manager of the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

MassMutual’s headquarters on State Street in Springfield in November 2010. (GREG SAULMON / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Besides early cancer screening and an app for meditation and sleep, the program offers full-body MRIs and discounts on fruits and vegetables at certain grocery stories. The company discounts the cost of life insurance premiums for customers who practice everyday health — similar to how car insurance companies have safe driver programs, a spokesperson wrote in an email.

The company offered its vitality program after observing that leading causes of death

reviews and approves policies and riders that contain these types of wellness programs before insurance companies can offer them to the public.

A department spokesperson said it tends to support insurance companies offering wellness services or access to health technology — as long as they are intended to help policyholders. For instance, the state prohibits insurance companies from requiring residents to take a genetic test before they are issued a policy, the spokesperson said.

Berkshire Life Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Co., focuses on several disability insurance offerings. While Guardian employs more than 7,500 people, about 188 work out of its office in Pittsfield.

Guardian offers a digital platform called GuardianWell that offers wellness resources, such as discounts and, for instance, a half-year access to Peloton App One. The company was one of the first to offer cancer care support that included

in the U.S. were diseases often influenced by lifestyle, such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

The results? About 80% of John Hancock policyholders participating in its Vitality program said their health was about the same or better than what it was 10 years ago.

Brooks Tingle, president and CEO of John Hancock, said in a statement in May that the company will continue to explore how to integrate developments in personal technology and health with its insurance products.

“This has forever changed the trajectory of our business,” he said.

Sean Dolan As our industry continues to evolve, so does our approach.

For us, the next big thing in the venues and events sector is not a single technology or trend. It is the intentional use of flexible, shared spaces that bring business activity, community life, and economic impact together in visible and accessible ways.

The Landing is a direct expression of that belief.

This year marks the first full season of programming at The Landing, Springfield’s newest outdoor event space.

Banks CONTINUES FROM PAGE L1

REPUBLICAN)

Located next to the MassMutual Center and the Convention Center Carpark, the 12,900-square-foot open air plaza is available from midApril through October and was designed to make downtown gatherings easier, more flexible and more connected to the surrounding city.

With built-in lighting, seating, electrical access, staff support and infrastructure for tents, risers and activations,

“We’ve been (discussing) internally that we need to fight AI with AI.” Aleda De Maria, executive vice president of PeoplesBank

ing national trends.

Fraudsters typically steal checks from mailboxes and use household chemicals to remove the recipient’s name and the amount, adding in their own, according to a joint report by the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In a more sophisticated scheme, fraudsters doctor photos of stolen checks with photo-editing software and attempt to cash the doctored checks.

Arbour said Monson Savings uses image-analysis technology to spot duplicate or altered checks. The bank also uses Positive Pay, an optional service that compares checks presented for payment against a database of checks obtained from the issuing parties.

Westfield Bank offers Positive Pay to business customers, said Senior Vice President Dan Marini.

In a similar strategy, PeoplesBank uses technology that ensures checks don’t have a routing number that was previously flagged as suspicious.

Local bankers stress that customer awareness is a critical component in any effective response to fraud.

Monson Savings runs a detailed safety and security blog. At PeoplesBank, customers fill out a checklist designed to spot any red flags before committing to a wire transfer.

Wagoner said that if a customer is ever unsure of whether they’re talking to a bank representative, they should hang up the phone and call the number on the back of their bank card — or visit a local branch.

Though Monson Savings has seen a reduction in successful fraud attempts, Arbour said the battle is far from over.

“We’re proud of the progress,” she said, “but we know this is an ongoing battle that requires constant vigilance.”

The Landing allows events to extend beyond traditional walls. It can function as an extension of an arena or convention center event or stand on its own as a destination for concerts, festivals, fan experiences and community celebrations, with event layouts and access determined by the needs of each individual event.

The Landing is also available for private bookings, offering businesses and organizations

a unique outdoor setting in the heart of downtown Springfield. Events are supported by the MassMutual Center’s experienced event services team and exclusive on-site catering, allowing planners to host outdoor events with the same level of coordination and quality expected indoors.

The impact of this approach was evident last summer following The Landing’s grand opening. Early events included

Insurance CONTINUES FROM PAGE L1

been innovating, and government has been responding — or government has been responding and people have been innovating … for a very long time.”

Enter artificial intelligence.

Enter, too, recent advancements in medical technology.

For an example, look no further than the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, which in 2021 began exploring a couple of pilot programs to help their policyholders interested in personal health.

More and more, people were interested in personal wellness — wearing fitness trackers, for instance.

“Against the backdrop of those trends, we began to take a closer look at wellness interventions that we could offer our policyholders at no charge,” said Michael Gallary, head of digital health and fintech at MassMutual.

MassMutual created its Health and Wellness Program in 2023. This year, it is looking to offer the program as a rider to all its eligible life insurance policyowners.

Gallary said the company is trying to find programs that have a “really meaningful impact” for health. That means partnering with a company that provides an at-home saliva test to determine, based on genetics, whether someone is at risk for certain diseases.

MassMutual also offers an app, powered by AI, that nudges people to a set of positive mental health practices, such as journaling and meditation.

MassMutual says about 20% of the policyholders that took genetic testing learned that they were predisposed to certain medical conditions, such as heart disease.

Life insurance companies around the nation are interested in offering wellness programs to policyholders because it’s a win-win.

“We’re in the mortality business,” Gallary said. “And if we can provide policyholders with additional value that can help them with their health, which is a big driver of mortality, that has a financial benefit to a life insurance company, but also a personal benefit to the policyholder.”

There are limits to how insurance companies can use this information. For instance, MassMutual only receives general, anonymized data on its wellness program from the providers of the testing.

The Massachusetts Department of Insurance

“If we can provide policyholders with additional value that can help them with their health, which is a big driver of mortality, that has a financial benefit to a life insurance company, but also a personal benefit to the policyholder.”

Michael Gallary, head of digital health and fintech at MassMutual

access to a health coach for some of its long-term disability coverage, Guardian spokesperson Katelyn Lichorat wrote in an email.

“Guardian’s purpose is to inspire well-being, and technology enables us to redefine the role insurance plays in customers’ lives,” Lichorat wrote.

Meanwhile, when it comes to artificial intelligence, the technology can help personalize and streamline the customer experience, Lichorat said.

Boston-based insurance company John Hancock has been offering policyholders wellness incentives through its John Hancock Vitality program for over a decade.

G E N E R A L C O N T RACTORS

TRUCKING EXCAVATION

•Stone 40 •Loam a Ye rs In •Fill Business •Sand •Gravel •Landscape Material •Title 5 Material

02566196

Fraud victims might also get a call from a doctored caller ID in a scam known as vishing or spoofing. With AI, spoofing scams can now include highly realistic voice impersonations.

In 2024, reported losses nationally from phishing and spoofing scams topped $70 million, a nearly threefold increase from the 2023 total of $18.7 million, according to the latest report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Though local banks were hesitant to elaborate on losses they’ve suffered, they said beefing up security has been top of mind.

PeoplesBank, a large community bank with branches in Massachusetts and northern Connecticut, is shifting away from manual fraud detection toward more automated, machine-driven tactics, said Executive Vice President Aleda De Maria.

“We’ve been (discussing) internally that we need to fight AI with AI,” she said.

The bank has been using ZYNLO, its national digital bank app, as a proving ground since the fall, testing its security systems that will be introduced at PeoplesBank once refined, she said.

Among the features: a system that leverages AI and machine learning to identify if a transaction is likely to be fraudulent, or if the action does not match the customer’s typical online banking behaviors. Once deployed, deviations from the model could trigger the transaction to be reviewed by a human being or, if the action meets certain criteria, the technology will “hard block” the transactions from originating.

The system can even tell if a fraudster is at work by how much time they spend on the transaction history screen or which phone they’re using, De Maria noted.

“Just in the fourth quarter alone, we saw a very significant reduction in account-to-account transfer fraud within ZYNLO using the new technology,” she said.

Westfield Bank has a similar system in place to detect anomalies, with a human being interpreting results and making a final decision, Wagoner said. Ditto with Monson Savings.

Alongside the spread of AI-powered fraud, check fraud continued to hassle local banks in 2025, reflect-

HOOK / THE

(413) 583-8393

P.O. Box 109, Palmer, MA 01069 Office: 19 Poole Street, Ludlow

OUTLOOK 2026

L10 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Otero

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Nonprofit

CONTINUES FROM PAGE L4

This work is not solely about service delivery; it is about organizing for systems change and building pathways to shared prosperity that were unimaginable in 1969. NNCC must strengthen its institutional capacity and move through this transition because the work is not finished. Springfield residents deserve a bridge to a quality of life that includes living wages, health and shared prosperity.

That is the framework I will return to when difficult decisions must be made, specific to accountability.

It is the expectation I hold for myself and for the staff entrusted to serve this community. Our success will not be measured by an individual or organizational brand. The NNCC board of directors and I are far more invested in an organizational culture that understands our interdependence with the community and the measurable impact of our work on people’s lives. Time is fleeting, and our responsibility is to seize every opportunity to help those in need.

One might argue that what is new in nonprofit leadership is the deliberate recalling of the past to propel us toward an inclusive future.

Where residents are provided with opportunities to build the skillsets that right now seem out of reach. To do so, what is required is ambition for the greater good and a willingness to take the risks necessary to get us there.

Vanessa Otero is the interim director of the New North Citizens’ Council in Springfield.

have to be kept “audit ready” every year, Sanderson said.

And different grants will CONTINUES FROM PAGE L6 impose different reporting requirements.

Sanderson, executive direc“There can’t be any questor at the Resilience Center tion on where your money is of Franklin County. going, why it’s going there, While the governor evenwho it’s going to,” Sanderson tually reversed those cuts, said. the announcement brought Sanderson reached out to with it a lot of contingency Warren at United Arc, which planning among places like the Resilience Center, which is an organization that ensures support for people with relies on the state funding. intellectual disabilities.

The only unfunded posiWarren said United Arc tion was the Resilience Center’s administrative manager, was looking for an adminisGabi Sanchez, who “does an trative specialist who could work part time in their office. incredible job,” Sanderson Because the organization said. needed someone highly “We’re human services. skilled, hiring for the position We’re mission-driven. Just would have been difficult, because the budget spreadWarren said. sheet says this isn’t going to The solution? A memowork doesn’t mean that that’s going to be our final answer,” randum of understanding governs the relationship Sanderson said. between the two agencies.

Even though the position United ARC pays for part of might not directly interact Sanchez’s salary, and the first with victims of domestic violence, the administrative half of the week is spent in manager plays an important their offices. The second half of the week, from Wednesrole.

A nonprofit agency’s books day onward, is at the Resil-

Crandall

efforts after the 2011 tornado, or offering free term life insurance to front-line health care CONTINUES FROM PAGE L4 workers during COVID-19 with MassMutual paying the As such, we remain committed to our community and premiums.

What’s more, we bring that have risen to the occasion in times of need throughout same forward-thinking approach in our work to build a our history — whether it was turning our home office gym thriving, financially resilient community for the long term into a shelter for families — from our support of Bayduring the Great Flood of state Health to help residents 1936, supporting rebuilding

Crypto

dust where they once stood.

The Massachusetts State House currently has a number CONTINUES FROM PAGE L4 of bills, including S.804 and H.1247, being discussed in the “People deserve to understand not just the method, but Legislature’s 2025-2026 session to enact stricter guidelines over how quickly these crooks can use of crypto. No laws have turn a moment of panic into a been enacted as of yet. life-altering loss.”

When the scams were at their This lack of regulations has led law enforcement to struggle height, the detectives were with jurisdictional disputes, as receiving between six to eight many victims travel across state complaints a day.

“It’s probably one of the most borders to use city kiosks, some frustrating things I’ve ever seen as far as Wisconsin, the Springfield detectives noted. in law enforcement,” said Sgt. There’s also the question Donald “Denny” Denault, who retired after 28 years of service of who has authority online, at the end of January. “We took to hold or seize transactions. this job because we like to take While police have said compacharge of a scene and help the nies like Bitcoin are cooperative, personnel or charge somebody a lack of standard protocols can that’s suspected of a crime, help lead to piled-up paperwork and a victim — but there’s only so lost time during investigations, much we can do.” where timing means everyDenault said the department thing. has been teaching its officers “The courts don’t really know who has jurisdiction because about the intricacies of crypto it’s in cyberspace,” Denault scams as they come across them, but it largely remains said. “They’re leery of signing a seizure, when they don’t know unbroken ground with many unknowns. where the money is.”

Even if the money is tracked Despite being legal, cryptocurrency and its accompanying along its digital splintering into ATMs lack strict licensing or various electronic wallets across regulating, allowing victims to the world, there’s sometimes deposit thousands, sometimes nothing the police can do to tens or hundreds of thousands, return it to the victim. of dollars into gas station kiosks Joseph said that it’s one of the at a time. gray areas that the law hasn’t Because of the inherent dan- caught up with. “It’s not governger, some gas stations have even ment regulated; it’s not governtaken it into their own hands to ment protected,” he said. make visitors think twice, with Despite its age and popularity, posters hung on nearby walls. crypto still seems to have a long Others have gotten rid of them way to go until it’s as unanialtogether, preferring a ring of mously accepted as the dollar.

For now, financial advisers and police both say the same thing — take it slow.

Cryptocurrency markets change by the day based on public sentiment, supply and demand, among other factors, and offer much more risk than the average investor might be comfortable with.

The benefits of these types of investments “coexist with the fact that major crypto assets have repeatedly fallen 70 to 90 percent in downturns, a level of volatility not typical in traditional markets,” Vanderburg said. “The risks are significant and require caution with a clear understanding of what you’re buying.”

At the time of this writing, the price of bitcoin continued its monthslong slide, falling another 11% to $67,000, and is now worth less than it was when President Donald Trump was elected into his second term of office.

After the election of Trump in November 2024, Bitcoin prices chugged higher for the better part of a year, in part due to investors’ expectations of a more crypto-friendly administration in Washington.

But those gains have now been erased.

Vanderburg said that even the most knowledgeable, risk-tolerant investors only hold about a 2% position in their portfolio, with the understanding that it could vanish at any moment.

“Crypto may have a future in the financial system, but direct exposure is not for everyone,”

Since 1970

We are looking to hire a

Service Technician

dhogan@turfproductscorp.com

Turf Products (TPC) has been providing our valued customers with the knowledge, tools and equipment to protect and preserve New England’s most beautiful outdoor environments.

As the exclusive representative for The Toro Company’s Golf Irrigation Products, Commercial Equipment, Landscaper and Home Owner Products we play a vital role in our customers success.

3219794-01

157 Moody Road Enfield, CT•860-763-3581

Families Against Violence Executive Director Francena Brown, right, and Program Manager Rhonda Gilbert operate out of the Whitcomb Building on Hampden Street. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

ience Center.

It’s been an adjustment.

For instance, the two organizations observe slightly different holidays.

Warren said the collaboration among Franklin County nonprofit groups began even before the funding uncertainty seen in 2025. In the aftermath of the pandemic,

staffing and operating costs rose. Warren said he told a summit of nonprofit leaders that collaboration was key to addressing the rising expenses.

“If we didn’t find ways to be able to mediate some of our administrative costs, then some of us were going to be out of business,” War-

lead healthier, more vibrant lives, to FutureSmart, our financial literacy program which has taught money and life skills to more than 6 million students, to our ongoing support of efforts to redevelop properties and make them available to first-time homebuyers.

Ever since George Rice brought his next big thing to life, MassMutual has stood

behind people as they’ve faced challenges and pursued possibilities. We’ve helped them protect what matters, plan for what’s next, and pass on what endures. And we’re just getting started.

Wherever the world takes us, one thing is certain for MassMutual: a strong, enduring foundation and bold, ambitious approach will continue to be a vital part of

Vanderburg said.

Meanwhile, Joseph noted that it’s common for scam victims who to walk into a Cumberland Farms with thousands in cash on hand.

“Who goes to a gas station to invest $50,000?” Joseph said.

Police advised would-be scam victims to second-guess themselves about what they’re being asked to do, and to use their common sense.

Local law enforcement urges residents not to answer unsolicited calls or emails, and to verify any suspicious activity with local law enforcement.

“The human sense is a powerful thing,” Denault said. “When the hair (stands up), when it doesn’t sound right, and you question it, just call the police.

Call us.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

ren said.

The arrangement between the two organizations wouldn’t have worked without the relationships that developed in the years prior, Sanderson said.

According to Sanderson, the nonprofit collaboration in Franklin County has appeared in different ways. One business shared furniture it no longer wanted with another. HR professionals from one organization held an hourlong consultation with another group.

As for Sanchez, who is splitting her time between United Arc and the Resilience Center, everyone has been supportive of the arrangement.

“I think it’s a creative solution to a problem that a lot of nonprofits all over the country are facing right now,” Sanchez said. “I just hope that maybe someone will read about this and think, ‘Oh, this might be a solution to a problem that we’re having as well.’”

who we are and how we show up in the world — one person, family, and community at a time.

Roger Crandall is chairman, president and CEO at MassMutual in Springfield.

HOLYOKE COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL 2200 Northampton Street Holyoke, MA 01040 • 413-533-0111

Attention Parents

Lottery for Student Placement.

Applications can be received up to Monday March 2, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pick-up your application at the School or download at www.hccs-sabis.net Lottery will happen on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m.

---------------------------------------------

Atención Padres

Lotería para Ubicación de Estudiantes.

Aplicaciones serán recibidas hasta el Lunes, 2 de marzo del 2026 a las 12:00 p.m. Recoja su solicitud en la Escuela o imprima en www.hccs-sabis.net Lotería Martes, 3 de marzo, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m.

Mrs. Claritza Coriano-Baez cbaez@hccs-sabis.net Admissions Officer

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 L11

Our chamber is evolving with our thriving community and businesses.

Coming together as a stronger and more resilient Holyoke for everyone.

3218205-01

JOIN TODAY Build connections and grow your business.

Business support and technical assistance.

Opportunities to advertise and network.

Special events with sponsorship opportunities.

hello@holyokechamber.com ● 413-534-3376

SCAN CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION

OUTLOOK 2026

L12 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

University doing its part to keep the Earth green UMass researchers are working to help the state reach its climate, energy goals

By Namu Sampath

nsampath@repub.com AMHERST — Thousands of households in Massachusetts are burdened by soaring utility bills. Some households limit use of heat in winter to avoid exorbitant costs, according to data from the state.

The Energy Transition Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is one group working to change that.

“We like to look for progressive ways that we can actually help the lower-income people, (and) renters, be a part of the energy transition, where they can actually make money, or, save money,” said Erin Baker, faculty director of the institute.

In December, the institute was awarded close to $1.2 million from the state. The goal is to shape equitable and sustainable energy sys- The Holyoke Dam is a granite dam built in tandem with the Holyoke Canal System at Hadley Falls on the Connecticut River, tems in Western Massachu- between Holyoke and South Hadley. It is operated by Holyoke Gas & Electric. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN) setts and beyond.

40,000 has a municipal now relief is on the way,” Students and faculty with Healey said in a statement backgrounds in the physiutility, Holyoke Gas & Electric, that sells electriclast month. “We also know cal and social sciences are that long-term help is needworking in Holyoke to design ity for about half of what ed. That’s why we’re going an energy system that better their neighboring investo keep working every day to serves the needs of low- and tor-owned utilities do.

“In some ways … the combring more energy into our moderate-income housemunity can interact with their state, oppose rate hikes and holds. More than a quarter get charges off of bills.” utility in a more active way of Holyoke residents live in With a median monthly poverty, according to census than you do if you’re under an investor-owned (utility),” bill of $481, the Bay State is data. one of the most expensive The Holyoke project could said Baker, an engineering professor at UMass Amstates in the nation for utilibe used as a model by other ty costs, Newsweek reportherst. “But they’re also very low- or moderate-income ed, citing data compiled by focused on supporting the communities across the third-party bill payment people of Holyoke.” state, Baker said. service doxo.

This project was a long A secondary project Erin Baker is the faculty director of the Energy Transition Institime coming. The institute That’s well above the through the grant looks at tute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. (DOUGLAS HOOK / has been working in the national median of $347 a how to “elevate equity” in THE REPUBLICAN) community for about seven month, according to that the energy transition. That analysis.

Commonwealth address, years, building trust with generation of change-makmeans moving away from ers,” she said.

Mike Kennealy, a GOP Gov. Maura Healey promised fossil fuels to solar, onshore residents. to reduce electricity bills by The institute is fostering gubernatorial candidate and offshore wind and batthe next generation of people What has Gov. Healey said 25% and gas bills by 10% for running against Healey tery storage. about energy in Mass.? every customer of the state’s this year, has been critical ready to tackle projects like Baker said she finds of Healey’s goals for clean The institute will also help utility companies as early this, said Zoe Getman-PickHolyoke’s energy picture ering, the program coordina- the state achieve some of its as February or March of this energy, calling energy costs interesting. “It has a lot of “unacceptable.” He claims year. tor of ELEVATE, the group’s energy and climate change hydropower, so it’s actually energy prices could rise as goals.

“I called on the utilities to energy equity program. pretty clean.”

In her recent State of the lower bills this winter, and “(We’re) training the next much as 126% by 2050 unThe city of close to

With a median monthly bill of $481, the Bay State is one of the most expensive states in the nation for utility costs, Newsweek reported, citing data compiled by thirdparty bill payment service doxo. der her policies.

“Massachusetts must end its 2050 green energy mandate and focus on reality-based solutions, and that must include next-generation nuclear energy and natural gas,” Kennealy said.

Over the last year, Healey has established several climate and energy goals.

In May 2025, she signed the Energy Affordability, Independence and Innovation Act, which she said will “save customers money, bring more energy into Massachusetts, increase accountability and drive innovation.”

The law, coupled with the state’s nearly $3 billion, five-year investment into the environment, could help ratepayers save more than $10 billion over the next 10 years, she said.

Healey has also worked on initiatives like a solar incentive program and a partnership with Canada on the New England Clean Energy Connect line — a billion dollar project which delivers hydroelectricity from Canada to New England — that could help reduce prices.

Other steps include siting and permitting reforms for energy infrastructure.

Several proposed bills support a vision of Massachusetts that is cleaner and greener. For example, advocates of a climate bank bill being heard in legislative committees say it is a linchpin measure for “the clean energy transition.”

䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㄀㌀㈀㌀ 뜀 䌀漀渀猀甀洀攀爀 䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀㈀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 渀漀琀 愀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 氀椀猀琀椀渀最 뜀漀昀䌀漀渀猀甀洀攀爀 䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀攀搀 䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀攀猀⸀ 䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㄀㌀㈀㌀ 䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀㈀ 䈀䈀䈀䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 搀漀攀猀 渀漀琀 攀渀搀漀爀猀攀 愀渀礀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀Ⰰ 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀 漀爀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀⸀ 䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㄀㌀㈀㌀ 뜀 䌀漀渀猀甀洀攀爀 䠀漀琀氀椀渀攀㨀 㠀㘀㘀ⴀ㔀㘀㘀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀㈀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 渀漀琀 愀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 氀椀猀琀椀渀最 漀昀 䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀攀搀 䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀攀猀⸀

CABINET REFACING

HOME HEALTH CARE PLUMBING & HEATING SECURITY SYSTEMS TRUCK/MOTORHOME REPAIR 吀栀椀猀 渀漀琀 椀猀 渀漀琀 愀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 氀椀猀琀椀渀最 漀昀椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀Ⰰ 䄀挀挀爀攀搀椀琀攀搀 䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀攀猀⸀ 䈀䈀䈀 搀漀攀猀 攀渀搀漀爀猀攀 愀渀礀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀 漀爀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀⸀ CARING SOLUTIONS, LLC S.G. RACETTE PLUMBING & HEATING EASTERN ELECTRONICS & SECURITY, INC. DAVE’S TRUCK REPAIR 䈀䈀䈀 搀漀攀猀 渀漀琀 攀渀搀漀爀猀攀 愀渀礀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀Ⰰ 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀Ⰰ 漀爀 MA 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀⸀ Stay at home...We can help Southwick, MA 01077 540 Main瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀 Street, W. Springfield, 01089 649 Cottage St.,, Springfield, MA 01104

INTERSTATE CUSTOM KITCHEN & BATH 558 Chicopee Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 131 Elm Street, W. Springfield, MA 01089 (413) 786-6764 (413) 532-2727 (413) 733-5588 www.sgracetteplumbing.com www.interstatekitchens.com www.Caring-Solutions.com

CARPENTRY

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PHILIP BEAULIEU & SON HOME IMPROVEMENT 217 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (413) 592-1498

PHILIP BEAULIEU & SON HOME IMPROVEMENT 217 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (413) 592-1498

HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING

INSULATION

PRECISION SHEET METAL FABRICATION CUSTOM POWER COATING R.R. LEDUC CORPORATION 100 Bobala Road, Holyoke, MA 01040 (413) 536-4329 www.rrleduc.com

ROOFING

INTERSTATE CUSTOM PHILIP BEAULIEU & SON KITCHEN & BATH O’CONNELL OIL HOME IMPROVEMENT 25 Texas Road, Northampton, MA 01060 558 Chicopee Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 217 Grattan Street, (413) 568-6800 (413) 532-2727 Chicopee, MA 01020 Oconnelloil.com www.interstatekitchens.com (413) 592-1498

(413) 736-5181 / (800) 536-7328 www.ees-security.com

(413) 734-8898 www.davestruckrepairinc.net

SIDING

WINDOWS

PHILIP BEAULIEU & SON HOME IMPROVEMENT 217 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (413) 592-1498

PHILIP BEAULIEU & SON HOME IMPROVEMENT 217 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (413) 592-1498

TUB & SHOWER REPLACMENT INAUGURAL HOME IMPROVEMENT

151 East Street Chicopee, MA 01020 (413) 307-0153

WINDOW WORLD OF WESTERN MASS., INC. 20 Daniel Shays Hwy, Belchertown, MA 01007 (413) 485-7335 WindowWorldofWesternMass.com

If you are a member of the Better Business Bureau and would like to be listed on this page call 413-735-1689.

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 L13

2026

GAIN KEY INSIGHTS, ENGAGE WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS, AND EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

MARCH 6TH | 11:00– 2:00 PM MASSMUTUAL CENTER

Join us for a premier legislative and economic forecasting event that explores what lies ahead from local, state, and federal perspectives.

This year’s program features an exceptional keynote speaker, Susan M. Collins, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a participant on the Federal Open Market Committee. Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate, connect, and gain timely economic insights from one of the nation’s most respected leaders in monetary policy and economic research.

REGISTER TODAY

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

SUSAN M. COLLINS

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON

3217798-01

springfieldregionalchamber.com/outlook

OUTLOOK 2026

L14 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

The next big thing for insurance isn’t what you’d expect

B

E IT PERSONAL OR commercial insurance lines, everybody has their eye on the AI ball in 2026. The publicly owned providers are already aggressively pushing premium increases to create shareholder value, but artificial intelligence’s true potential is to reduce costs across the board, and that will be one of the primary uses in the coming year.

For consumers and business owners, that means no real cost relief in the foreseeable future, but also that the digitalization of claims processing, including “straight through processing,” promises greater speed as manual intervention is eliminated.

That also means call centers will be reduced, and working with AI agents or automated attendants will be normalized for many insurance transactions at the carrier level. For many, the 24/7 availability of AI agents, such as chatbots, means added convenience for routine tasks like billing and getting basic questions answered.

AI will hyper-personalize insurance for both commercial and personal lines. Telematics pricing will track how personal lines’ customers actually behave, and businesses that invest in cybersecurity monitoring might see lower premiums.

Other tools, such as smarthome technologies, will help consumers avoid problems associated with leaks or frozen pipes. Drivers already are reducing their costs with safe-driving monitors, and our business customers are frequently using AI tools to manage the risks that drive premium increases.

The real change is when it comes to a claim. Younger users are generally more open to AI tools, but for the rest of us, close to 75% of consumers, they would prefer a human over AI to help them with their claim. User behavior for self-managing claims just isn’t there yet, and insurers risk losing business by pushing AI tools too hard in this area.

During the stress of a claim, consumers, whether in business or personal lines, prefer an empathetic human to a convenient AI agent.

That’s not to say that the AI customer service experience will not improve. It will and rapidly.

In a short time, many of our daily financial transactions will be processed through an AI agent, and the benefits of speed and convenience will overcome the

Sam Hanmer

worries of unfamiliarity. What matters in the end is that your claim gets processed quickly and to your satisfaction, and there is no question that AI tools and partners are facilitating both. It just takes some getting used to.

We expect that. What won’t be expected is an elevation of the human touch. Indeed, we see that as a competitive advantage at the agency level. As things get more digital, we intend to be more hands-on. That is not to say we are not investing heavily in back-office systems and processes to run more efficiently.

We are, and it is painful at times, as we have to learn new software and abandon old procedures.

Innovation is not only a fact of doing business, but it’s also a competitive advantage.

Conversely, while insurance carriers are scaling back on employees because of AI, at the agency level, there are careers to be made. Agency jobs pay well, new employees receive training and mentoring, and there is a rewarding aspect to the work — you are helping people. We are starting to actively develop the next generation of the insurance agency workforce by developing collaborations with community colleges and even starting pitching careers with high school students.

What we are not going to do, however, is lose the personal touch. As gatekeepers to sophisticated insurance markets, we realize we have to navigate the new realities of AI-driven applications, risk assessment and claims management. We just don’t expect our clients to do it alone.

Sam Hanmer is a seasoned insurance professional and the current president of Rush Insurance Group. He is known for his leadership in the regional insurance market, and his efforts to grow and sustain locally focused independent agencies.

Smart changes in Agawam warehouse “This year, they’ve lowered the racks to make it easier for a selector to pick, instead of going up and down on the ladders,” said Ine Jiles, a parts selector with Specialty Bolt & Screw Inc. in Agawam. “And they made certain areas — where we pick (parts) only for one company — all in one area. So that way, we don’t have to be walking all around the warehouse. … Yes, they’ve streamlined the warehouse and that helps us do our job faster. If we don’t know the parts, there’s a second screen that you can look at, with pictures. You can scan your item and look at it.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

Voodoo

further.

“No one even gets to the websites anymore. AI just CONTINUES FROM PAGE L1 answers questions right portion of the deal is confithere, instead of Google dential, but the agreement sending traffic to websites.

All of a sudden, website exgives the Easthampton firm posure has decreased by as direct access to TikTok experts, who help with strategy much as 30%,” said Jake Del and expanding Big Voodoo’s Hagen, founder and CEO of audience beyond what Big Voodoo Interactive. non-partners can achieve.

In many cases, consumers are avoiding Google The platform also shares altogether, dropping search analytical information that helps inform and improve its terms directly into TikTok, future campaigns.

Instagram and others.

The ad firm offers what it “TikTok is new territory for us, but it’s appealing because calls a turnkey solution to its clients, identifying both huof its younger crowd,” said man and digital spokespeoJoseph Morelli, a partner in the Law Offices of Mark E. ple, writing scripts, producSalomone and Morelli, which ing content and placing it all is a Voodoo client. on digital platforms.

“Young adults in their 20s Influencers have long been seen by marketers as having and 30s seem to be using more credibility than adthat as a primary way to get their information. We’re vertising, even as it is nearly getting good results from impossible to tell whether a Facebook and Instagram. spokesperson is real or fake This is just a natural exten— which gives new meaning sion of that,” said Morelli. to the phrase, “send in makeup.”

Not so long ago, Google Big Voodoo says that gathered and dropped consumers at the doorsteps of made-up spokespeople are corporate, government and just as credible and no less nonprofit websites. But AI is legitimate than human pitchoverriding what Google had men and women. been providing and is actual“It’s almost the equivalent ly now an obstacle between of an actor standing in there and telling a story or readconsumers and websites.

When web users put search ing a testimonial, because terms into Google, artificial that’s essentially how we intelligence is now presentare viewing influencers.

They’re telling a story for our ing answers that include summaries and bullet-point clients,” said Sheldon. information, without immeAccording to Big Voodoo, diately sending readers any AI is allowing the company

“There’s not one method that reaches everybody. At that moment when they’re looking for a personal injury attorney, if we somehow have made an impression on them, whether it be TikTok, Facebook, TV or newspaper, hopefully at that moment they think back and remember us.”

Joseph Morelli, a partner in the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and Morelli, a Big Voodoo client

Big Voodoo Interactive is using AI-generated spokespeople to help market its clients. (SCREENSHOT)

the inside of a studio or even a computer.

“We’ve hit a point in our to slice up demographic ple down and finding them own technology, as well areas and drop spokespeowhere they live and work. as the industry, where (AI ple into a Spanish-speaking Many Big Voodoo clients section of one city or another specialize in personal injury, spokespeople) look super believable. You can build a market where Arabic, French workers’ compensation, brand around it, and more or Italian is the predominant family law and civil litigalanguage. tion. AI allows its messaging importantly, they can speak This type of advertising to be clear and on point. It multiple languages. When can target people right down also reduces costs by moving you’re a law firm, you still want to work with those clito their ZIP codes and neigh- production away from exborhoods. It is tracking peo- pensive on-location shoots to ents, they deserve represen-

tation,” said Del Hagen.

The shift to digital might be seismic, but it’s not absolute. While AI spokespeople are the hot new stars, clients continue appearing in their own commercials along with noted actors. Law firms are still running ads on television, radio and in newspapers.

“There’s not one method that reaches everybody,” said Morelli. “At that moment when they’re looking for a personal injury attorney, if we somehow have made an impression on them, whether it be TikTok, Facebook, TV or newspaper, hopefully at that moment they think back and remember us.”

The competition for clients is hotter than ever, said Del Hagen. The need to be efficient, nimble, focused with precisely targeted messages is crucial, he added.

Sheldon said the TikTok partnership is helping Big Voodoo move away from an approach where advertisers are throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks, to a surgical strategy that finds and markets directly to potential clients.

“We are seeing real results,” said Sheldon. “You’re always going to get impressions and views, but we’re also seeing them convert for our clients, who are getting people who actually need their services or are interested in learning more.”

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | L15

Embracing tech in metal recycling “This year, 2026, is a big year for ACME Metals & Recycling,” said Jake Albert, the company’s owner. “As of this past October, this almost 100-year-old company is under new management. The volumes of metals recycled since October have exceeded expectations — and we’re excited to continue to grow our brand and reputation in the community. “We are not using AI technology as of now,” Albert said. “However, we use handheld devices to identify the types of metals we are purchasing. We also have highly efficient operation equipment such as a baler, a Bobcat, a crane, a forklift. As much as we will continue to embrace technology, we will always lean on our roots of treating our customers like royalty and ensuring we have a personal and thoughtful touch in everything we do.”

(MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

Banks CONTINUES FROM PAGE L8

Seeking higher value Bernasconi hopes the addition of AI will allow bankers to find their “higher purpose, higher value,” which he believes will lead to a greater career growth and better pay.

“We have to grow effectively by bringing in talent for this new age, but also training up the talent we have and reducing the mundane work they have,” Bernasconi said. “We’ll give them a higher purpose, pay them more, and enhance their skills as we move forward.”

For Hickson and Melle at Beacon Bank, technical AI training will be added to their employees’ onboarding workload when their program launches.

Training, however, shouldn’t just deal with the technical aspects of using AI, Bernasconi said. It’s up to the banks to equip employees with skills they need to elevate their role as bankers, which in turn will optimize what banks are capable of accomplishing.

Hickson agrees. He thinks the integration of AI will not only streamline a customer’s experience with the bank, but

Erica Swallow is managing broker of Swallow Real Estate in Springfield and also the president of the Springfield Preservation Trust. She’s seen here at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Forest Park before opening the building to tours in August. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Realtor CONTINUES FROM PAGE L8

THE REPUBLICAN)

It’s up to the banks to equip employees with skills they need to elevate their role as bankers, which in turn will optimize what banks are capable of accomplishing.

in their day-to-day job, which can hopefully unlock their potential in terms of their specific job or career path they want to pursue,” Hickson said.

At the heart of what it means to be a banker, however, is the customer.

“Personal service is what sets community banks apart, and it’s the most important part,” said Moriarty, the Monson Savings president. “AI helps with the easy, routine will help employees achieve tasks, but when a customer faces with a real life financial their goals. situation or decision, a real AI “will help the average banker augment their job, help person should always take the lead.” them become more efficient

Realtor Peter Ruffini stands in front of one of his company’s listings in Agawam in 2024.

(DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Artificial intelligence also has infiltrated the industry, and Realtors are still struggling in how to appropriately fit it into the business, and make sure it presents a “true and accurate picture of our marketing,” he said.

For example, Ruffini said some agents and “The market is adjusting, not companies are using it to promote themdeclining. We’re very resilient in selves in creative ways, such as creating a spy movie scene to accentuate home the Pioneer Valley … the market features. But those videos will not be found is not as volatile.” on MLS — the multiple listing service of available homes — because photos of people Judy Nevarez, president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley cannot be used, Ruffini said. Those are relegated to social media, he said.

Ruffini said sellers need to put their best “That’s one thing agents are upping their game on,” Swallow said. “Drone photografoot forward when selling their homes. phy and videography have blown up in the They need to declutter, and fix things, like broken doorknobs and locks, or buyers will last few years. We used to see it in the highquestion what else the homeowner might er-end markets out east and in Boston, but it’s become a bigger part of marketing in the have neglected.

Swallow puts together an upgrade and Pioneer Valley.” improvement list, which helps reduce risks Swallow said the quality of photography for buyers, who want to know if properalso has improved. One of Swallow’s specialties is historic homes, and she tells her ties have been maintained, and can help photographers to make sure they capture move listings faster in a slowing market. the beauty of the homes, specifically unique Swallow also has videos on YouTube of touches, such as brass hardware and ornate her “Best in the Nest” series about what woodwork, that make a property memoramakes Western Massachusetts special, from food and entertainment to outdoor ble. activities. She directs prospective buyers A 30-year veteran of the real estate industry, Ruffini said he’s seen marketing advance to the videos to find out more about the from print advertising to technology-based area. methods. Today, social media also is used to Overall, the Realtors are optimistic for advertise properties. There’s “an art form to 2026. marketing,” Ruffini said.

“The market is adjusting, not declining,” “I want to show you enough that you come Nevarez said. “We’re very resilient in the Pilook at it,” Ruffini said. oneer Valley … the market is not as volatile.”

your y yo ur day, your y ur way. yo w y. wa

whether you choose the log g cabin or our tented upper vista you are guaranteed to have the wedding of yyour d dreams! reams! the log g cabin venue sits on the top of the scenic ballroom mt. tom with breathtaking breathtakking views. our bal llroom offers a p private outdoor ceremony site and terrace. upper vista sits on the highest the g peak of th he property t and provides ty unforgettable views off the pioneer valley.

3219315-01

“It’s definitely a different market than it was,” Ruffini said.

Still, Ruffini said, his company had its best year ever in 2025.

The Pioneer Valley real estate market remains at an all-time high price-wise, Swallow said. Statistics from the Realtor Association show that last year, July had the highest median sales price for single-family homes at $400,000.

Nevarez, Swallow and Ruffini said they use a variety of marketing techniques to make properties stand out to potential buyers.

Videos and professional photographs showcasing properties are key marketing tools.

Three-dimensional virtual tours also are popular, Nevarez said.

More agents are getting better at video marketing, too, Swallow said.

Nevaeh Price is branch manager at Beacon Bank on Allen Street in Springfield. Banks like Beacon are looking forward to higher efficiencies with the introduction of AI. (DOUGLAS HOOK /

to plan your event contact us at:

413-535-5077

www.lcdhhospitalitygroup.com www.lcdhhospitality t group.com ty

L16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

ADVERTISING

3218120-01

M |

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Kat Chang of Reed Farm in a massive chicken coop at the Sunderland farm, which she co-owns. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

Valley farmers resilient in face of climate change

Growers are taking a variety of approaches to adjust

By Daniel Jackson

djackson@repub.com

When it comes to how farms in the region are respond‑ ing to the impacts of climate change, each one does it a little bit differently.

It could mean installing giant fans to move air

around an orchard to shoo away an unseasonable frost. It could mean switching to farming techniques that sequester more carbon in the soil. It could mean solar panels to guard against power outages.

And the greenhouse has become a critical tool.

“Across the agricultural world, pretty much every crop or production method that I can think of has some area where the climate change im‑ pacts are affecting them,” said Claire Morenon, communications manager for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture.

Morenon said the topic of climate change

SEE FARMERS, PAGE M12

Mass. arts agency touts economic impact, as well as a creative one Sector has 100,000 jobs, contributes billions to the economy

A Big Y team poses at the opening of a new store in Middletown, Connecticut. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

A Springfield-area grant recipient, Fresh Paint, has received support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

By Aprell May Munford

groups include nonprofit or‑ ganizations such as museums, theaters and art centers, as The Massachusetts agency well as for‑profit industries like that funds arts and culture fashion, design and architec‑ says its work goes far beyond ture. creativity, supporting a work‑ David T. Slatery, who recent‑ force of more than 100,000 people and shaping economic ly became the council’s acting executive director, said arts and equity policy across the and culture are deeply con‑ Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Cultural nected to other parts of every‑ Council funds more than 1,500 day life and public policy.

“Art and culture do not exist arts and cultural organiza‑ alone,” Slatery said. Artists tions statewide, according to SEE ARTS, PAGE M9 a recent assessment. Those amunford@repub.com

“Art and culture do not exist alone.”

David T. Slatery, acting executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council

INSIDE: Five initiatives aim to bolster Massachusetts creative sector in 2026. Page M9

The next big thing for Big Y: A

stewardship approach to the future

W

Rick Bossie

HEN CONVERSATIONS TURN TO “THE NEXT big thing,” attention often goes to the newest breakthrough or emerging trend. At Big Y, we believe the next big thing in our industry, and in leadership more broadly, is something much more fundamen‑ tal: being a good steward.

For a family‑owned company like Big Y, now in our 90th year, stewardship is not a buzz‑ word. It is a responsibility, one instilled in us by our founders, Paul and Gerry D’Amour.

They believed that the most honorable and rewarding way to lead, to do business, and to find true purpose in our work was by helping our fellow neighbors. Their example continues to guide how we care for what we’ve built, and how we serve those who rely on us every

SEE BIG Y, PAGE M11

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

M2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

In an uncertain economy, tourism focuses on delivering value

O

UR NATIONAL economy faces job losses, ongoing inflation, slower retail activity, less visitation from Canada and overseas, political uncertainty and more.

December 2025 marked the fourth consecutive month of declining consumer confidence. Consumer sentiment and spending for non-essentials will likely remain volatile, impacting leisure travel trends in 2026.

However, even in tighter economies, history shows that Americans remain determined to enjoy vacation time.

They’ll take shorter and/or fewer trips, but the vast majority will still travel.

And those travelers will be

with a whopping 35 million more under four hours away.

One-of-a-kind attractions and events are another perennial Western Mass. strength.

Our Basketball Hall of Fame, Yankee Candle Village, Springfield Museums, Big E, MGM Springfield, Six Flags New England, Bright Nights Mary Kay Wydra at Forest Park and others attract many millions annually.

Our diversified accommodations, dining and retail sectors benefit from that profound seeking maximum value for drawing power. With so much their dollar. to see and do in one compact Western Massachusetts is region, consumers perceive — in many ways — perfectly big value. built to fare well in harder As savvy travelers find ineconomic environments. Our easy-access location is a major novative ways to stretch their A view across the top of the Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame north toward MGM vacation dollars, Western key; almost 6 million people SEE WYDRA, PAGE M14 Springfield and downtown Springfield. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE) live within a 90-minute drive,

Western Massachusetts is — in many ways — perfectly built to fare well in harder economic environments.

Some live for in-person thrill; others phone it in

MGM Springfield dealer Julio Mejia-Perez works the blackjack table, at left, and above, a Springfield customer plays a slots game on the casino floor.

(DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

As sports gambling scores, what happens to brick-and-mortar MGM?

By Jim Kinney

jkinney@repub.com SPRINGFIELD — Gamblers wagered a total of $1.17 million at MGM Springfield’s in-person sportsbook in December.

BetMGM’s online and mobile sports handle — gambling lingo for the total amount bet — for December was $50.4 million.

It’s a snapshot. But the snapshot shows how the mobile part of sports betting — bet from anywhere you can use your phone — is overshadowing the in-person experience.

There is another number, this one national, compiled by the American Gaming Association. As of November, gross gambling revenue at casinos was tracking up 2.8% nationwide from calendar year 2025 compared with January through November of 2024.

For that same time period, sports betting was up 17.4%.

In July, researchers at the University of Massachusetts issued a report on sports betting and its impact on problem gambling, quoting economists’ findings that sports betting reallocated $333 million a year across the country in betting away from casinos and into sports books, costing jobs at the resorts.

“The only growth is sports gambling. It’s skyrocketing,” said the Rev. Richard McGowan, a Boston College professor and nationally recognized expert on casino gambling, who is also a Jesuit.

Gross gambling revenue at MGM Springfield from slots and table games totaled more than $282.35 million in 2025.

That was up from $272,000 in 2024.

Tower Building at Main and State streets, and 1163-1167 Main St. That’s a $68 million planned investment.

Legalized it The U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports gambling nationwide in 2018. That was the same year MGM Springfield opened its $970 million casino in Springfield.

There is relief that MGM appears to be keeping its stake in Springfield. Reports surfaced in 2024 that parent McGowan said. company MGM Resorts It’s not just Springfield.

Visitorship to Las Vegas is International was marketing two casinos — in Springfield down 5.2% compared with a year ago, according to Nevada and Ohio.

In October, MGM sold tourism officials.

MGM, however, can point its Ohio property, and its CEO told Wall Street that to good numbers in the management is happy with state Gaming Commission’s year-ending revenue numits current roster of regional properties, including MGM bers.

Springfield.

Gross gambling revenue at And, in general, the city MGM Springfield from slots and table games totaled more seems happy with MGM. than $282.35 million in 2025.

“They are performing strong and better than they That was up from $272,000 in 2024. were in prior years,” said But McGowan said it’s a City Councilor Michael bigger problem for a regional Fenton, who has headed casino like MGM Springfield. the council’s committee on Vegas-style resorts have a the casino over the years. “I 50-50 split. Half their revenue think that MGM has a pretty good marketing portfolio. comes from gaming and half from everything else, includ- They have honored their ing entertainment, restaucommitments in terms of entertainment.” rants, retail and hotels.

At MGM Springfield, the mix is tilted toward gambling. Complementary businesses “They have to get much more first-rate entertainLouis “Louie” Theros, ment,” McGowan said. president and CEO of MGM Upwardly mobile Springfield, said sports That’s tough news for betting and casino businessAnd sports betting is mobile Springfield, where city offi— as close to you as your cials welcomed MGM because es are complementary, not competitive. cellphone is. it would bring people and “We share customers be“If you thought sports money to a part of the South End that still bore the scars of tween the bricks and mortar gambling could be translata June 2011 tornado where the and the online sports betting ed to visits to casinos, that’s customer,” Theros said in an nonsense,” McGowan, nickcasino was built.

City Hall still hopes for more interview. named the “Odds Father,” ripples of economic activity.

The BetMGM customers said in a recent telephone interview. “By far, it’s online.” More buzz will bolster devel- get enrolled in the MGM ReAnd online is the world of opers like McCaffery Interests wards loyalty program. That Inc., which is rehabbing four means they get discounts to the young.

“Let’s face it, casinos are ba- buildings across State Street, visit the property, as well sically for an older age group,” including the historic Clock SEE MGM, PAGE M11

The Loomis Communities opens doors to worlds of positive aging.

For over a century, we have defined excellence in Western Massachusetts senior living. With locations in South Hadley, Amherst, and Springfield, our welcoming communities combine the best of both worlds: peaceful, natural settings with easy access to cultural, educational, and recreational activities.

And as one of the only full continuum-of-care communities in the region – offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing – you can take comfort knowing you’ll always have access to the care, services, and resources you need to grow, explore, and be inspired every day.

Contact us today at 413-588-5178 to learn more about The Loomis Communities. We’d love to help you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.

loomiscommunities.org

EXPERIENCE THE ALL-NEW W YCKOFF. From Course to Cuisine, We’ve Raised the Bar.

Newly renovated and nestled at the base of Mount Tom in Holyoke, Wyckoff Country Club has been a distinguished fixture in the community since its founding in 1898.

BECOME A MEMBER!

Enjoy unlimited golf with the freedom to play any day and any time.

Members receive preferred tee times, access to men’s and ladies leagues, weekly member shop games, and exclusive member tournaments.

Golf members enjoy dining discounts, 1/2 off facility fees for room rentals, and access to member social events. No initiation fees, no monthly food minimums.

Most importantly, our golf membership offers a strong sense of camaraderie— enhancing time spent both on and off the course.

New in 2026- Exclusive Member Only Golf Menu!

DIVINE DINING - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

We cordially welcome you to The Heritage Greens, our newly imagined restaurant offering a fresh and elevated dining experience in a beautiful setting.

Led by Chef Andrew Brow, owner of HighBrow Wood Fired Kitchen & Bar in Northampton and The Kitchen by HighBrow at White Lion Brewing Company – The Heritage Greens brings Chef Brow’s creative culinary vision to life right here in Holyoke.

Chef Brow has prepared for you a casual, creative American breakfast and lunch menu, perfect for a quick bite or a leisurely mid-day meal. In the evening, you can enjoy a delicious, approachable refined American-style dinner that’s perfect for any occasion.

HOST YOUR NEX T EVENT AT W YCKOFF! Make your next event unforgettable with picturesque views, delicious culinary options, and impeccable service. We’ll be your partner in planning here at Wyckoff. Our expert team focuses on every detail from beginning to end. We assist you through the planning process from managing the timeline to helping you select the perfect menu to complement your event. Connect with our Sales and Events Director, Michele Holl (micheleholl@wyckoffcountryclub.com) to see the exquisite space and meet our dynamic team.

3219080-01

233 EASTHAMPTON ROAD • HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS WYCKOFFCOUNTRYCLUB.COM • 413.536.5364 • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

OUTLOOK 2026

M4 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

CULTURE

Why we stand with WMass farmers

A

As environmental pressure mounts, designers are rethinking how clothing is made

By Aprell May Munford

amunford@repub.com

As the fashion industry grapples with waste, overproduction and credibility, designers across New England are quietly redefining what comes next — trading fast trends for reclaimed materials, smaller runs and sustainability stitched into the design process.

Since 2022, a Massachusetts ban on textile disposal, along with renewed interest in reclaimed fabrics and handcrafting, has pushed fashion toward durability, accountability and innovation.

Instead of fast trends The shift is changing how local designers source and use materials.

Joseph Charles, owner of Paper City Fabric in Holyoke, said the amount of textile waste in the fashion design industry is “huge.”

Fast fashion materials burden landfills because much of it is made from vinyl and polyester, which do not break down naturally.

“It’s the stuff you throw in the washing machine and after wearing it twice, it starts falling apart,” he said.

Charles said many small designers are turning to “slow fashion,” which focuses on use of sustainable fabrics.

However, not everyone has access to sustainable fabrics. Before Jo-Ann Fabrics closed last year, that chain outlet was the only fabric store in many small communities, he said.

Joseph Charles at Paper City Fabrics in Holyoke goes through materials that have been donated to the store. In 2022, Massachusetts passed a law that prohibits the disposal of textiles in the trash, making it the first state to ban these items from landfills and incinerators. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

... There is something beautiful about taking fabric that is (more than) 100 years old and making a pair of shoes out of it,” Charles said.

is still developing, but local talent is starting to match global values like reuse.

He pointed to an “Afro-couture” brand out of Hartford, ROOTSWEAR, that uses sustainGlobal influence on local fashion able and biodegradable materials like mud and Kente across its collection.

The shift is changing how local designers New York designers like Cameron Hughes source and use materials.

Fashion producer and modeling agent Travis also bring fashion to life with technology, creBivans said sustainability and innovation are ating pieces such as a purple feather dress that not new concepts globally, pointing to Nigeria rises and falls like breathing. and Denmark as leaders.

Bivans said much of New England’s fashion “Nigeria is a hotbed of trends,” Bivans said. community works independently or in small “Sustainability has always been part of the groups. He hopes to help build a more sustainculture.” able fashion industry in which creators can Designers in those regions have long worked connect and share their work through a new with biodegradable materials derived from Editorial Fashion Week event. tree bark, fruit fibers and natural dyes. These The events will run year-round and extend practices are gaining attention as Western beyond New York City, Bivans said. fashion grapples with environmental conseSmaller runway shows will pop up in places quences. like Hartford’s Union Station, alleyways and city “Designers there (in Nigeria) are literally streets, with some free to attend and announced peeling fruit, taking the fibers, turning it into by text hours before they begin. Spring and fall thread to sew in clothing,” Bivans said. seasons will each last two weeks, alongside Bivans said New England’s fashion industry events held throughout the year.

UniqueVenues

Rise of slow and circular fashion India Anderson, founder of Level-Up Designs and owner of the Fashion for Everyone show, said that although there is a distinction between “fabric” and “textiles,” the state law has become increasingly important.

Textiles are heavier, furniture-grade materials, whereas fabric is made with elements like cotton, wool and silk, Anderson said.

When designing, Anderson frequently deconstructs denim and other larger garments, rebuilding them into entirely new pieces.

The approach, she said, turns waste into raw material and embeds sustainability into the design process.

For instance, instead of simply adding trim to an old pair of jeans, she said she takes them apart at the seams, then uses the fabric to cut something new, such as a halter top.

“The finished piece is not just upcycled pants but something completely different,” she said.

Extra-large and bigger garments can be used to create smaller items, such as a size-8 skirt or dress.

With large fabric retailers like Jo-Ann’s closing in many communities, designers have increasingly turned to donation-based suppliers and exchanges.

LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE OUT OF THE ORDINARY Anderson participates in informal fabric swaps with other “friendly” designers, FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT OR MEETING? bringing unused yardage to trade, rather than letting it sit idle. “We will get together for cofSpringfield Parks is proud to share these fee and switch off, so that we are not leaving fabric sitting there,” she said. unique venues right in the heart of Springfield.

Paper City Fabric has emerged as a hub for reclaimed textiles in Western Massachusetts, selling donated, unused fabric — some from Whether you’re looking for an inspiring Broadway productions and film sets — for asTHE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT THE BARNEY ESTATE little as $5 a yard. location to host a private special event Charles said the store saves even the smallor a corporate meeting or retreat, est scraps, hosting periodic sales that allow we offer 3 unique venues. customers to fill a bag with fabric for a flat fee.

“People line up around the block,” he said.

Sustainability does not have to be expenImmerse your guests in old world elegance sive or exclusive. He builds many of his own brought to life by the Carriage House at the outfits from thrifted and vintage pieces, often Barney Estate, surrounded by the natural spending less than $20.

“It’s about personal style,” he said. beauty of Forest Park.

THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT THE BARNEY ESTATE Technology and hand work While sustainability is reshaping materials, Stay focused on the moment amidst the technology continues to influence how fashion is made — though not without skepticism. rustic, historic charm of Emma’s Place on Charles previously worked for designer Zac Wilder Pond, a homey atmosphere with Posen during the development of a fiber-optic gown worn by actress Claire Danes to the breathtaking treetop and aquatic views.

2016 Met Gala. While he acknowledges the EMMA’S PLACE ON WILDER POND innovation, Charles said technology should Or, breathe in the natural splendor of enhance, not replace, human labor.

King Philip’s Stockade Pavilions, an “I still cut and sew by hand,” he said.

He compared automation in fashion to outdoor venue, surrounded by winding self-checkout lanes in grocery stores — effipaths and lush forestlands.

EMMA’S PLACE ON WILDER POND cient, but impersonal.

Still, designers continue to experiment with emerging tools, from mechanical garments to wearable tech. we look forward to He pointed to the movie “Back to the Fuhelping you discover ture,” noting that Nike eventually created the self-lacing shoes worn by the character Marty the natural beauty McFly. With the push of a button, the shoes outside your door. actually lace themselves, he said.

It may take another 10 years before that kind of fashion is widely available or affordable, he said.

Technology can support creativity in fashion, he said, but should not replace human work or fuel overproduction.

KING PHILIP’S STOCKADE PAVILIONS KING PHILIP’S STOCKADE PAVILIONS Despite advances, Charles believes fashion’s future lies in revisiting older practices — durable materials, handwork and intentional call us at 413-787-7733 to schedule your private tour design.

To move forward, you have to look back, he for more information visit barneycarriagehouse.com said. “Christian Dior couture just sent shoes down the runway made of 18th century silk.

LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT OR MEETING? Springfield Parks is proud to share these unique venues right in the heart of Springfield.

UniqueVenues

Whether you’re looking for an inspiring location to host a private special event or a corporate meeting or retreat, we offer 3 unique venues.

Immerse your guests in old world elegance brought to life by the Carriage House at the Barney Estate, surrounded by the natural beauty of Forest Park.

Stay focused on the moment amidst the rustic, historic charm of Emma’s Place on Wilder Pond, a homey atmosphere with breathtaking treetop and aquatic views.

Or, breathe in the natural splendor of King Philip’s Stockade Pavilions, an outdoor venue, surrounded by winding paths and lush forestlands.

we look forward to helping you discover the natural beauty outside your door.

3219377-01

S MASSACHUSETTS FARMERS look ahead to the 2026 growing season, worry is creasing a lot of foreheads. For this industry, the next big thing is a series of big questions: how can we stay afloat as costs rise faster than income?

How can we adapt as climate change brings more erratic, extreme weather? How will trusted, valued coworkers be affected by the federal government’s terror campaign against immigrants?

And of course, as they grapple with these big questions, farmers are doing what they’ve always done: growing food for their communities, innovating in their businesses and responding to challenges.

Massachusetts farmers make immense contributions to the Commonwealth.

They put food on our Claire Morenon tables, generCISA ate millions of dollars in economic activity and steward thousands of acres of agricultural land, wildlife habitat, and waterways. Fresh local food, open views and vibrant community centers like farmers’ markets are some of the true joys of life in western Massachusetts. We all have a shared incentive to help farmers keep doing what they do best: growing food and feeding their communities.

The agricultural industry faces a core challenge: costs are high and rising while consumer spending power remains stagnant, and extreme competitive pressure on food prices is squeezing local farm businesses. Massachusetts farmers have some tools to manage this, including access to a broad web of support (including nonprofits like CISA, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) that provides direct expert assistance on topics like financial planning, enterprise analysis and marketing. With these skills, often paired with grants and tax credits, many local farmers have found niches that work.

Programs like HIP, the state’s Healthy Incentives Program, which provides an instant rebate when shoppers use SNAP to purchase produce from participating local farms, serve a dual purpose of providing nourishing food to low-income families and a meaningful income stream to local farms. These types of support are smart investments for our tax dollars and philanthropic giving.

Climate change is here, and local farmers are feeling the effects of wild temperature fluctuations, increased precipitation and more extreme storms. In response, we’re seeing a wide variety of adaptive strategies.

Some farmers are investing in infrastructure, like new greenhouses to protect crops or massive fans to keep unseasonable frost from settling on delicate fruit tree buds.

Others are making major changes to how they grow: remapping crop plans to account for sections of their land that are especially vulnerable to floods, droughts, or freezes; experimenting with no- or low-till methods for soil health and water management; or developing agroforestry parcels where livestock graze among fruit trees for soil fertility and shade.

These adaptations are creative, optimistic and costly. Farmers need financial support and expert guidance as they invest in extensive planning and implementation, purchase new equipment or structures, or absorb the costs of additional labor or lost efficiencies.

Agriculture is one of several industries in the United States that would not function without immigrant labor — which means that every one of us relies on immigrant workers for our food. According to the USDA, around 70% of crop workers in the U.S. are foreign-born and 42% do not have work authorization.

Recent federal immigration actions have left many farm and food workers, regardless of immigration status, terrified of being harassed or detained by ICE, perhaps without warrants or due process. In addition to its obvious human costs, this is undermining food production and farm and food businesses. At CISA, we’ve been working with farm owners to make sure they understand their rights and responsibilities as business and landowners.

Still, many farmers and workers are looking towards the next growing season with a sense of instability and anxiety.

These challenges are immense. So is the capacity of our local farmers for hard work, adaptation, and grit. As consumers and community members, we have many opportunities to support them: with our dollars, with our voices in advocating for funding and other resources, and with resolve in standing with our immigrant neighbors.

Claire Morenon is the communications manager for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, of South Deerfield.

Fashion’s future, from NE to global runway, is sustainable by design

call us at 413-787-7733 to schedule your private tour

for more information visit barneycarriagehouse.com

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | M5

AGRICULTURE

CISA helping valley farmers with planning for future

By Angelica J. Core

Special to The Republican

In Agawam, Rooted Flowers is more than a flower farm: It is an expression of creativity and sustainability.

Founded in 2020 by first-generation farmer Rebecca Sadlowski, the farm specializes in seasonal, specialty-cut blooms grown without synthetic chemicals, offering bouquet subscriptions, wedding florals and on-farm workshops.

Sadlowski’s path into farming began in 2018, when she started growing and selling vegetables at a small farm stand in Hadley. Looking for ways to differentiate her stand, she began experimenting with flowers, an experiment that eventually reshaped her business.

“When I started, local flowers weren’t really a thing,” Sadlowski said. “People didn’t realize that most flowers in New England aren’t grown locally. If you go into a florist shop, they’re likely imported.”

Starting without inherited land or a family history in agriculture, Sadlowski faced many of the same barriers confronting new farmers today: high land costs, market uncertainty, and limited access to financial and technical resources. Support from Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture helped her navigate those early challenges and grow Rooted Flowers into a viable business.

Through CISA, Sadlowski gained marketing support and increased visibility, including being featured as a Local Hero farm.

“The searchable online directory organized by product and location has helped connect me with customers

on a five- or six-year business plan. It helps you see what’s working, what’s not, and where your time is actually going.”

For Kadis, programs like APR paired with organizations like CISA represent real pathways for young farmers to stay in agriculture. While many organizations offer resources, he said CISA stands out for its practical, consistent support.

The agency has been active in the Connecticut River Valley for over 30 years, providing technical assistance to farmers, including marketing and branding, business planning, workforce management, and climate resilience, said Claire Morenon, CISA’s communications manager.

“Farming has very narrow margins and a lot of uncertainty,” she said. “Whether someone is taking over a family farm or starting fresh, they need guidance and resources Mary Sadlowski, left, helps her mom, Rebecca pick tulips that are growing hydroponically at their Rooted Flowers farm in Agato make their business viable.” wam in 2024. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE) CISA also serves as a hub for the broader local food Rebecca system, connecting farmers Through CISA, Kadis gained actively seeking to buy local,” Sadlowski, access to its online directory, to complementary programs, she said. Just as important, the owner such as the University of Local Hero signs and radio she added, was access to a of Rooted opportunities, allowing him to Massachusetts Extension for network of fellow farmers Flowers in share his story with a broader crop research, Land for Good willing to share advice and Agawam, with audience. for land access, and various support. greenhouses specialty associations, includ“Getting a chance to get on When unpredictable weathbehind her the radio and talk about myer wiped out her entire dahlia ing dairy and organic groups. where she Partnerships are essential, self and what I’m doing, that crop three years ago, CISA grows flowers really helps,” he said.

Morenon said, because no stepped in with a zero-interyear-round.

Kadis purchased his farmest loan, helping her cover single organization can meet (DON TREEGER / THE land through Massachusetts’ the diverse needs of a growing the cost of restarting the lost REPUBLICAN, FILE) local food system.

Agricultural Preservation crop at a time when financial Restriction program, which assistance was limited.

Sadlowski noted that CISA helps farmers stay up to date ensures land remains in “It’s going to take a lot of agricultural use while making on industry changes. ingenuity and pivoting,” “In the last year, they had ownership more attainable for of managing crops, sourcing farmer and owner of Farmer Sadlowski said when asked workshops on marketing local products and staffing the new farmers. As part of the Clark’s, has been building what advice she would give process, he submitted a fivestand day after day. his business for years. Kadis to someone considering and technology, the things Kadis connected with CISA year business plan to the state, that can get lost when you’re established his seasonal farm farming. “Farming is always focusing on growing your an exercise he said helped stand independently, eventu- in 2025, when his business changing, so you have to be was established but ready for him think more strategically ally expanding to two locarelentless in your motivacrops,” she said. about the future. its next phase. The organition. There has to be a strong tions before joining CISA. For more information about programs and resources for “You have to wear so many “It’s easy to grow it; it’s hard zation amplifies its reach ‘why.’” local farmers, visit CISA onhats,” Kadis said. “I do my through marketing, visibilto sell it,” Kadis reflected, In Hampden and Monson, own accounting, I’m working line at buylocalfood.org.

Clark Kadis, a first-generation describing the early demands ity and outreach support.

Buckle up for the best winter yet.

J O I N T H E FU N :

Where the lakes and mountains sparkle with snow. Where hearty people celebrate winter traditions with neighbors and welcomed strangers alike.

Where time seems to waver between nostalgia and now. For generations, families and friends have been drawn to this place, again and again.

Outhouse Races at Brant Lake Winter Carnival | Photo Credit: Brandon Himoff 3218214-01

OUTLOOK 2026

M6 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Springfield Museums and emerging trends in tech

O

NE OF THE MOST compelling trends shaping museums today is the rapid integration of emerging technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, spatial audio, holograms, and artificial intelligence.

Ablaye Cissoko, from Senegal, does a sound check with his kora before performing to a full house at the Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity in Florence. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)

The reach of virtual and augmented reality on curatorial practice is demonstrated in the traveling exhibition “Space Explorers: The Infinite” at the Springfield Museums.

REGION

Focusing on partnerships to sustain WMass arts

By Aprell May Munford

amunford@repub.com

For a pair of arts leaders in Western Massachusetts, the question heading into 2026 isn’t what’s next — it’s what’s sustainable.

The Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity in Florence and the Northampton Jazz Festival are two groups in the region that are rethinking how they support artists and engage communities amid rising touring costs, housing challenges and post-pandemic realities.

Leaders say those pressures are driving a shift toward longer artist stays, deeper partnerships and expanded access to live music, all aimed at keeping the region’s creative ecosystem viable.

SEE PARTNERS, PAGE M15

Kay Simpson

Springfield Museums

As competition for people’s time and attention intensifies, museums are increasingly adopting these tools to create immersive, interactive experiences that engage visitors more deeply. The Springfield Museums, with their diverse collections spanning art, science, and history, are particularly well positioned to benefit from this shift toward experience-based interpretation.

• Outside to inside: Traditional museum displays are increasingly perceived as static and outdated for contemporary audiences. Visitors today often want more than to walk through galleries filled with objects in glass cases or paintings on walls.

Instead, they seek opportunities to step inside a historical moment through virtual reality, explore three-dimensional reconstructions of ancient environments, or encounter dynamic, life-like representations of the past.

For a multi-museum complex like the Springfield Museums, which already offers a wide range of narratives and disciplines, immersive technologies provide new ways to connect collections across buildings and to tell stories that resonate emotionally as well as intellectually.

• Talking to displays: One of the most innovative developments in this area is the use of holographic installations that enable simulated dialogues with historical figures.

These experiences invite visitors to ask questions and en-

gage directly with narratives from the past, transforming passive observation into active participation. The Milken Center in Washington, D.C., for example, features AI-powered holographic displays in its “American Dream Experience.” Life-like holograms of figures, including Serena Williams and Sara Blakely, share their stories and respond to visitor questions using prerecorded material combined with sophisticated projection systems.

Similarly, the “Wonderful Things … The Return of King Tut” exhibition at the Elliott Museum in Florida includes an avatar of archaeologist Howard Carter situated within a recreated tomb environment. Visitors have described interacting with this avatar as emotional and inspiring, even likening the experience to meeting history in person.

These examples suggest compelling possibilities for institutions like the Springfield Museums, where historical figures, artists, or scientists connected to the collections could be reintroduced through immersive interpretation.

• Soaring into space: The growing impact of virtual reality and augmented reality on curatorial practice is vividly demonstrated in the traveling exhibition “Space Explorers: The Infinite.”

The exhibition demonstrates the power of immersive storytelling by placing visitors inside a three-dimensional recreation of the International Space Station using real NASA footage, 360-degree video, and spatial audio. Visitors can float alongside astronauts, explore daily life in orbit, and

view Earth from space. The exhibition has attracted more than 500,000 visitors worldwide and has frequently been extended due to its popularity. Many visitors describe the experience as deeply moving or even life-changing, underscoring the strong connection between emotional engagement and learning retention.

Our ISS exhibition at the Science Museum could be updated to include more technologically advanced features, and similar approaches across our campus could enhance historical narratives, artistic interpretation and cross-disciplinary learning by allowing visitors to experience complex subjects in visceral, memorable ways.

For example, our historic but little understood George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum could feature immersive

SEE MUSEUMS, PAGE M15

CHRIS AUTO $ALE$ Celebrating 46 years in business

We’ll buy your car, truck or SUV - even if it doesn’t run!

Ask About Our

100% GUARANTEED CREDIT APPROVAL Many Makes And Models Including SUVs & Trucks

76 Boston Road, Springfield

(413) 739-7760

chrisautosales.net

3196700-01

At Bombyx, Executive Director Cassandra Holden said bringing internationally touring artists to the stage now requires rethinking how — and how often — those tours happen as costs continue to rise.

The center is changing how it handles touring to make it easier on artists, especially those with families.

“Streamed music puts greater pressure on artists to tour, which does not often leave time to rest and create,” she said.

That concern has led Bombyx to experiment with longer artist stays rather than quick, one-night performances.

Some visiting artists now stay several days or up to a week, giving them time to rest, develop new work and connect with the community before ending their residency with a performance.

“Artists need time to make new work and make mistakes without an audience watching,” said Holden. “They also need time with family, friends, faith and personal health — just like anyone else.”

Grants and equity funding help support artists during that downtime, which leaders say develops stronger work and more sustainable careers.

Bombyx and other organizations are also working to reduce travel stress by booking performances closer together and partnering with nearby schools and local groups, allowing artists to spend more time in one place instead of rushing from town to town.

Beyond touring, arts organizations across Western Massachusetts are collaborating increasingly on larger challenges, including affordable housing and access to studio space.

Housing remains one of the biggest obstacles facing artists, Holden said, noting that affordable housing is often misunderstood and unfairly associated only with Section 8 or certain groups of people.

“The stigma is real,” said Holden, who has worked in housing for years. “People don’t always understand who lives in these homes or how important stable housing is to a healthy community.”

Rising rents are forcing many artists to take on extra jobs, leaving less time for creative work, and some already have left the region in search of more affordable places to live.

In response, arts organiza-

tions are working with groups such as MASSCreative and local lawmakers to push for change. Last year, artists, teachers and housing advocates traveled together to meet with state leaders and share their experiences, she said.

“Art is a pillar of the community,” Holden said. “It’s as important as schools, food access and stable homes.

Without it, the future looks bleak.”

Holden said transportation and regional identity also matter. Easier travel between towns and a stronger sense of Western Massachusetts as a connected arts destination could help attract both residents and visitors, much like people travel across New York City to see performances.

That same focus on collaboration and access is shaping how live music is presented in Northampton, where the Northampton Jazz Festival has grown far beyond a single weekend event.

Now in its 15th year, the Jazz Festival presents live jazz throughout the year in addition to its two-day fall festival, with many performances free and open to the public.

Unlike a single venue, the festival functions as a network. Festival President Ruth Griggs said partnerships with a wide range of venues have allowed live jazz to reach new audiences.

Performances now take place not only in traditional music spaces, but also in museums, restaurants and other locations throughout the city.

Griggs said live music has seen a strong comeback across the region since the COVID-19 pandemic, and she expects that growth to continue, though funding remains a concern.

“One threat would be state and federal funding cuts or too many organizations competing for the same fundraising dollars,” Griggs said. “At the same time, cities are seeing how the arts bring visitors, support local businesses and add life to downtowns.”

The festival works closely with the city of Northampton to draw visitors downtown and create a welcoming atmosphere.

The festival showcases performers ranging from world-class, Grammy-winning musicians to high school students from Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School.

Griggs said that range gives students, local musicians and regional performers a chance to share the stage while introducing audiences to a wide spectrum of talent.

She said the festival also supports Northampton’s economy and spirit by bringing visitors, energy and live jazz downtown.

“Live music lifts people’s spirits in a way that’s hard to measure but easy to feel,” she said.

The festival’s core remains its two-day event, scheduled this year for Sept. 25 and 26, but it has expanded through partnerships with venues including The Iron Horse in Northampton, and The Drake and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.

(PROVIDED PHOTO)

digital displays and intriguing atmospheric effects that captivate visitors.

• Understanding visitors: Another significant development is the increasing use of motion sensors and mobile-device analytics to study visitor behavior. These technologies allow museums to understand how people move through galleries, which exhibits attract the most attention, and where there is a lack of engagement.

This data can help curators and educators design more effective and inclusive experiences. On a campus as expansive as the Springfield Museums, such tools could be especially valuable in improving wayfinding, balancing visitor flow, and ensuring that all collections are accessible and compelling.

• Ethics and transparency: At the same time, the adoption of these technologies raises important ethical considerations. Tracking visitor movement, even for research purposes, can feel intrusive if not handled transparently. Similarly, artificial intelligence, while offering enormous potential for personalized interpretation, poses risks related to accuracy, bias, and trust. Museums have long been regarded as reliable and authoritative institutions and maintaining that trust depends on ensuring that AI-generated content is historically accurate and responsibly curated.

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | M7

To be worthy, ‘next big thing’ should elevate society

A

RTIFICIAL INTELLIgence. That is the big thing, and the next big thing.

The sooner you get on board, the sooner you can prosper from it. Think Intel in 1970, Apple in 1980. In either case, $1,000 invested in those days would have made a million or more by now.

Outlook 2026 has challenged us to contemplate “the next big thing.”

That is a subject we spend a fair amount of time considering and it should be, because as a society, we want to be prepared for what is next.

In commerce, integrity builds enduring relationships.

Customers return to brands they trust not to deceive them, and employees commit to organizations that value ethical leadership.

The clincher is that while we focus on what is ahead, we can lose sight of what is as important and unchanging: Honesty and integrity. Together they form the foundation that allows society to function with common trust upon which all growth — commercial, physical and intellectual — can occur.

We are quite a distance from being able to trust artificial intelligence, but we should never be far away from being able to trust one another.

What does this erosion reveal? It signals a profound crisis of principles, where honesty and integrity, once assumed as societal defaults, are in retreat. Honesty is the commitment to truthfulness, even when inconvenient. Integrity is the alignment of actions with ethical values, resisting compromise for gain. These principles are practical societal necessities.

They create the common trust essential for cooperation where individuals and businesses can thrive based on mutual honor in a place without endless litigation, where innovations spread and ideas are shared without

Eugene Cassidy

Above, fairgoers stayed after the rain had subsided to enjoy rides in Midway at The Big E on Sept. 24 in West Springfield. At right, Gov. Maura Healey, center, tours The Big E with Eugene Cassidy during her visit to the fair on Massachusetts Day in 2024. From the left are state Rep. Michael Finn, Cassidy, Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. (SEBASTIAN RESTREPO / MASSLIVE; THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)

fear of theft, where communities can prosper as participants and neighbors rely on one another’s word.

In commerce, integrity builds enduring relationships. Customers return to brands they trust not to deceive them, and employees commit to organizations that value ethical leadership. Historical examples abound: We at Eastern States Exposition have used the same electrical contractor (Collins Electric) since we were founded in 1916. The same law firm (Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas) since 1923. Companies rooted in integrity become enduring institutions built on transparent, fair dealings and they prosper across generations.

Short-term profits when valued over honorable practices create a

ment, academia and science have also suffered. When principles erode, society fragments, discourse turns adversarial, collaboration stalls and progress slows. We fixate on “next things” and neglect the foundations that foster the greater good for the sake of all. The very foundations that make society sustainable.

At this juncture I am partly compelled to invoke lessons I learned in my youth at St. Thomas the Apostle School. Those lessons taught by religious sisters whose lives were dedicated to Christ by inspiring youth to pursue faith and reason. That education helps me see society’s push toward the legislation of morality versus the installation of moral values and the means by which the individual should pursue personal intellectual and moral development.

I’ll expound no further on that observation and simply suggest that rebuilding requires deliberate recommitment to honesty and integrity at every level.

In public discourse, this means prioritizing accuracy and fostering accountability. In academia and research, it calls for personal responsibility, the verification of information, the admission of errors and having the moral grace to be charitable in every circumstance.

The next big thing should be the restoration of that which we all value We have become divided and the sugar high, and lead organizations, most; principled human judgment businesses and people down a path of fragmentation breeds cynicism where based on honesty and integrity. I continuous compromise that leads to facts become flexible and negotiable, call on all to reclaim these values honest debate is quashed, thereby failure. Physical growth, from infrato ensure that the “next big thing” creating a space where misinformastructure to public health, depends elevates society rather than underon trust, shared facts and expert con- tion flourishes. mines it.

This amplifies the risk of AI perpetsensus. Intellectual progress requires Eugene Cassidy is the CEO of the uating untrustworthy data. open discourse where ideas are deEastern States Exposition and The Big Similarly, broader institutional trust E fair, the fourth largest state fair in bated on merit and are not distorted has withered. Confidence in govern- the country. by biased agendas and falsehoods.

This March at Smuggs

STAY 3 NIGHTS OR MORE and get 1 night free!

call 800.451.8752 or visit smuggs.com/deals today!

Award-Winning Kids Programs!

3218212-01

3 BIG Mountains • 78 Trails • 300+" Average Annual Snowfall 1,000+ Skiable Acres • 2610' – Northern Vermont’s Highest Vertical

OUTLOOK 2026

M8 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

How chambers can stay relevant in an on-demand world

A

S BUSINESS BUDgets grow tighter and digital marketing opportunities multiply, association memberships are often among the first line items to be scrutinized — or cut altogether.

For Chambers of Commerce and other business associations, this reality forces an essential question: Why should someone spend their time and money on your membership?

The next big thing for Chambers isn’t a flashy new program or a trend-chasing pivot. It’s simply about staying relevant. And relevance today is defined by providing meaningful value and a clear return on investment, especially for business leaders who are younger, more diverse and far less patient with “wait and see” benefits.

At the Chicopee Chamber, we believe that value starts with building community.

When I was first introduced to the Chamber world in 2013, I didn’t fully understand what it was all about.

It didn’t take long for me to learn that at its core, Chamber work is about convening — bringing people together, creating space for connection and helping businesses feel less alone.

Chambers provide resources, information, advocacy and opportunity, but what it all adds up to is community building.

I’ve always identified as a connector. I’ve never owned a business myself, but I deeply understand how critical it is to build a network and stay connected to the people and places around you. In a world where pressure seems to come from every direction — economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, rising costs — I stay grounded by

Melissa Breor Chicopee Chamber of Commerce

staying close to my community, because that’s where real change happens.

Running a business is vulnerable work, especially in challenging times. The last thing business owners need is another environment that feels intimidating, transactional or exclusive. One of the pieces of feedback we’re most proud of at the Chicopee Chamber is that we are consistently described as warm, welcoming and friendly.

That doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from being genuine, accessible and thoughtful about the kind of Jim Wachala sits at his booth selling raw honey, herbs and perennials at the Chicopee Farmers’ Market in July 2022. His space we want to create. Yes, business is called “Yarb Patch.” (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE) businesses join Chambers to grow and to see results, but Running a business is vulnerable work, especially in challenging times. The last thing business growth doesn’t happen in owners need is another environment that feels intimidating, transactional, or exclusive. One of isolation.

It starts with relationships It starts with relationships, and relationships require trust and comfort.

Today’s entrepreneurs and professionals expect transparency, accessibility and relevance. They are looking for immediate value — connections that lead somewhere, information they can act on now and opportunities that feel authentic rather than obligatory. They are less interested in tradition for tradition’s sake and more interested in impact.

That doesn’t mean Chambers must abandon their foundational roles. It means we

the pieces of feedback we’re most proud of at the Chicopee Chamber is that we are consistently described as warm, welcoming and friendly.

must communicate and deliver them differently. Advocacy must be tangible. Networking must be purposeful. Programming must respect people’s time. And community must be more than a buzzword — it must be something members feel the moment they walk into a room.

For Chambers and associations, staying relevant means continually asking hard questions: Are we meeting businesses where they are?

Are we creating spaces that are inclusive, approachable, and useful? Are we providing

value that can’t be replicated with a few clicks or an algorithm?

The next big thing isn’t reinventing who we are — it’s recommitting to why we exist.

Chambers have always been about connection, collaboration and collective strength.

In today’s landscape, those things matter more than ever.

When we focus on building genuine community and delivering real value, relevance follows — and so does return on investment.

In Chicopee, our future depends on small businesses,

entrepreneurs, nonprofits and institutions feeling supported, seen and connected — not just within our city, but across our region.

That belief is why the Chicopee Chamber continues to work closely with our peers, including collaborative efforts like the coming Hampden County Chambers Unite to Fill the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts on March 31.

It’s a reminder that the next big thing isn’t competition, it’s collaboration.

If we want our communities to grow, attract new energy

and retain the next generation of business leaders, we must continue building relationships that prioritize people, purpose and progress.

That is how we stay relevant. That is how we deliver real value. And that is the future the Chicopee Chamber is committed to building together.

Melissa Breor has been the executive director of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce since August 2022. To learn more about the Chicopee chamber and its work, go online to chicopeechamber.org.

Professional Basketball Club for Springfield, MA

Caribbean Intern ational 2X Cham pi

ons

LEARN HOW TO JOIN OR SUPPORT

www.413elite.com • #WEARE413ELITE

3219545-01

413elitefdn.org @413elitefoundation

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | M9

Initiatives aim to bolster Mass. creative sector in 2026

By Aprell May Munford

and efforts to advance legislation, such as the Creative Space Act. A state advi‑ Springfield’s Tiffany Allecia served on sory council’s Gov. Maura Healey’s Cultural Economy recommendation Advisory Council, a state‑appointed to strengthen Massachusetts’ creative body created in 2024 to develop policy economy is shaping both long‑term recommendations for strengthening the policy discussions and current legislative creative economy. efforts, including proposals to expand The Healey administration released creative space, workforce support and the council’s report and recommen‑ sustainable funding. dations in April. It was informed by What’s ahead includes a statewide Arts statewide listening sessions with artists, and Culture Summit planned for 2026, educators, cultural workers and creative continued advocacy at the State House entrepreneurs. during Creative Sector Advocacy Week, “We know the creative economy is amunford@repub.com

a multibillion‑dollar sector — about 133,000 jobs generating roughly $27 billion in revenue — and it’s doing that without extensive organization,” Allecia said.

She said creative workers are often spread across multiple systems, making it difficult to access resources and sus‑ tained funding.

“The creative sector often gets dis‑ sected into education, mental health or tourism, instead of being recognized as its own economic engine,” she said.

Allecia said the work is about more

SEE SECTOR, PAGE M14

“The creative sector often gets dissected into education, mental health or tourism, instead of being recognized as its own economic engine.” Tiffany Allecia speaks at press conference in 2020.

TIFFANY ALLECIA

Arts CONTINUES FROM PAGE M1

and cultural organizations, he added, rely on housing, trans‑ portation and energy, and the sector should be part of those policy conversations.

Culture as economic driver Data shows the arts and cul‑ tural sector plays a major role in Massachusetts’ economy.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts, arts and cultural production contributed about $29 billion to the state’s economy in the most recent reporting year and supported more than 130,000 jobs.

MassCreative, using federal economic data, found arts and culture account for more than 4% of the state’s econo‑ my — a share comparable to or larger than several major industries.

Slatery said an assessment found roughly 1,500 arts and cultural organizations operating across Massachu‑ setts, employing more than 100,000 people in some capacity, not including teach‑

(DON TREEGER /

THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

ers. While states such as New York and California have more organizations overall, Slatery said Massachusetts ranks among the highest on a per‑capita basis.

“It’s much bigger than we thought,” Slatery said. In his view, arts and culture deserve “a seat at the table” in policy discussions across the state.

The economic impact is felt at the local level. An Amer‑ icans for the Arts analysis found nonprofit arts and cultural activity in Springfield generated more than $82 million in economic activity and supported nearly 1,500 jobs in a year.

Statewide, MassDevelop‑ ment reports that cultural facility projects have sup‑ ported tens of thousands of construction and design jobs and more than $100 million in wages. Arts organizations are planning more than $1 billion in capital projects across the state.

A 2025 report from the Healey‑Driscoll administra‑ tion found the creative econ‑ omy supports about 133,000 jobs and contributes roughly $27 billion annually. The report recommended better

applications, communities The Massachusetts Cultural receive a similar share of fund‑ Council partners with orga‑ nizations across the state, ing, he said. including the Springfield Cultural districts, Museums, MassCreative and future priorities community groups in Holy‑ David T. Slatery, acting executive director of oke. One of its largest funding One focus for 2026 will the Massachusetts Cultural Council partners is Mass Humanities, be strengthening the state’s based in Holyoke. cultural district program. integration of arts and cul‑ equitable, data‑driven funding The program includes more Slatery said the council is in negotiations to sign a new ture into statewide economic and strong local decision‑mak‑ than 55 designated districts, ing in every city and town. including Holyoke’s newly rec‑ lease with its current landlord planning. ognized Puerto Rican Cultural and continues to work closely Leadership transition An equity funding model District in the downtown area. with state legislators, includ‑ and short‑term focus Slatery said diversity, equity ing state Sen. Paul Mark of Slatery said the council the Berkshires, chair of the is also paying attention to Slatery, a lawyer by train‑ and inclusion will remain ing, said he has long been central to the council’s grant emerging technology, includ‑ Legislature’s Joint Committee interested in the arts as an programs. He said all fund‑ on Tourism, Arts and Cultural ing artificial intelligence, and how it may affect artists and ing decisions include equity economic engine.

Development. points based on factors such as cultural organizations.

“I’m a lawyer by trade, but As he reflected on his time I’ve been very interested in sup‑ income level, disability status, at the agency, Slatery said he “We have to figure out how to use this new tool,” he said, remains proud of the council’s past access to funding and porting the arts and culture as historical discrimination. an economic engine,” he said. “and make sure it helps artists work.

“We are not afraid to say With the fiscal year 2026 “I’ve been here 13 years, and and cultural organizations without replacing existing art I’m extremely proud to work those words,” he said. spending plan already ap‑ with this group of people,” he The council also uses a proved, Slatery said his focus is and culture.”

While arts and culture may said. “We are committed to data‑driven model to distrib‑ continuing existing priorities while expanding the council’s ute grants based on where not receive the same atten‑ following through on the stra‑ tegic spending plan approved applications come from. role in broader policy discus‑ tion as industries such as life Slatery pointed to the local sions. sciences or transportation, for fiscal year 2026.” cultural council system, which Slatery said their reach is just “I’ve been in this role for He also encouraged resi‑ provides funding to every city as broad. about two weeks,” he said in dents to share their views. a recent interview. “The plan “If people want to talk “I’d like to see our political and town in Massachusetts — is to keep doing what we were a structure he said is unique leaders talking about arts and about art and culture and nationwide. doing before the previous offer their opinions,” Slatery culture policy the same way In Hampden County, which they talk about other import‑ executive director left.” said, “we want to hear from Those priorities include them.” ant priorities,” he said. submits about 9.3% of grant

“If people want to talk about art and culture and offer their opinions, we want to hear from them.”

WHAT WE DO WHO WE SERVE CORPORATE EVENTS BALLS & GALAS VIRTUAL EVENTS CONCERTS OUTSIDE BROADCASTS

CORPORATE / FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES ENTERTAINMENT & SHOWS NONPROFIT & FOUNDATIONS

EQUIPMENT RENTALS

HEALTHCARE

POWER DISTRIBUTION & GENERATORS

GOVERMENT

TEMPORARY NETWORKING

L ET ’S P UT O N A S H OW.

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS

413-736-6300 | JX2PRODUCTIONS.COM 3219554-01

M10 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

ADVERTISING

Entrepreneur.

Tech enthusiast.

Science tutor.

Your unique life, planned.

Understanding what people are passionate about is how we help them plan for what’s most important. Backed by sophisticated resources, a Raymond James financial advisor gets to know you and everything that makes your life uniquely complex. That’s Life Well Planned.

Mark W Teed, WMS, CRPC® Senior Vice President, Investments 1500 Main Street, Suite 1700 Springfield, MA 01115 T 413.372.6610 rjaspringfieldma.com

© 2024 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. 24-BDMKT-6351 KS 2/24

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | M11

Turning college innovation MGM into regional opportunity

A student at Springfield Technical Community College works with a patient at the school’s dental hygiene clinic on campus. (PHOTO COURTESY STCC)

osks elsewhere on the gaming floor.

“It is a boost for the busiCONTINUES FROM PAGE M2 ness,” he said.

Those same state Gaming as marketing materials for Commission statistics show Springfield.

MGM had a good 2025.

It’s about offering experi“I couldn’t be prouder of ences. this team. A really strong year,” “You can’t eat a steak through your phone,” Theros Theros said.

MGM also is supplying the said.

On property, the sportsbook entertainment McGowan calls is an attraction. for, Theros said. He pointed to “It creates a great social area the Free Music Fridays concert for our guests to enjoy watch- series and to Christmastime ing,” he said. with Trisha Yearwood at Symphony Hall in December.

Crowds gathered at MGM Upcoming shows include recently for the Patriots playoff run, and the casino comedian Chelsea Handler in March. placed “stadium”-style table Theros said MGM also has games and slots nearby to woo passersby. expanded hours at Chandler’s There are also Bet MGM ki- Steakhouse, adding Tuesday to

its schedule.

He said there are a few other improvements to come.

Fenton said he won’t let the matter rest either.

“I agree with (Sarno). We’ve got to get that cleaned up,” Under construction?

Fenton said. “I have yet to He wouldn’t comment see compelling evidence that on MGM’s building at State demonstrates that those barriand Main. The city’s first ers are structurally necessary. skyscraper at 101 State St. is “That is a long time to leave an office building owned by scaffolding and jersey barriers MGM Springfield, but it’s been up like that.” left untouched in the seven Also sticking in the craw of years the $980 million casino city officials is the state’s claw property’s been open. It’s got back of casino mitigation fund scaffolding and concrete jersey money. It’s a portion of casino tax that the state used to divide barriers.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno up among cities and towns called out MGM on the eyesore near the casinos.

But lawmakers now direct back in November, when the Gaming Commission met in that money to statewide needs the city. It’s near buildings, in- and transportation, costing cluding the McCaffrey project, Springfield alone about $3 that the city has plans to rehab. million a year.

W

Diana Szynal

tied to the emerging quantum computing sector. This effort builds on our region’s history while opening doors to entirely new opportunities.

And sometimes, the most powerful innovation is practical and immediate.

When MGM Springfield came to the region, Holyoke Community College responded by expanding its Culinary Arts Institute to help meet workforce needs in hospitality and tourism. That program continues to provide students with hands-on training and clear pathways into stable careers, while supporting an industry that remains vital to our local economy.

What connects all of these efforts is intention. Our higher education partners are listening to employers, adapting programs and creating pathways that align education with opportunity. At the Springfield Regional Chamber, we are proud to count our colleges and universities among our members and partners. Their leadership, creativity, and willingness to collaborate play a critical role in our region’s economic health.

The next big thing for the Pioneer Valley is not a single breakthrough or industry.

It is a more connected ecosystem, where higher education and the business community move forward together, investing in people, skills and innovation. By strengthening these relationships, we are not just preparing for what’s next. We are helping shape it.

Diana Szynal is the Springfield Regional Chamber’s president and CEO.

Above, Gerald E., left, and Paul H. D’Amour, co-founders of Big Y Foods, show off the merchandise in 1952 in the Big Y Supermarket in Chicopee Falls and at right, the Y Cash Market in Willimansett. (PROVIDED PHOTOS)

Big Y CONTINUES FROM PAGE M1

single day.

Technology, automation and data-driven tools will shape our future, but none of it matters without the people who care for customers, keep stores running smoothly and support our communities. As we introduce new tools, we’re committed to acting ethically and responsibly, with strong governance, clear guardrails and a people first purpose.

Our goal is simple: give teams the confidence and support they need to thrive, not replace them.

Our employees provide the helpful service and friendly atmosphere customers expect.

When they feel comfortable in their roles, well-trained, supported and confident that the tools strengthen their work, they can focus on what truly matters. We want them to believe in our direction and understand how technology enhances, not overshadows, their contributions.

Trust is something we work hard to earn every day, and

we know how quickly it can fade if it is taken for granted.

Our customers count on us for quality products, fair value and honest communication.

That responsibility guides every part of our operation.

As we adopt new technologies and AI-driven tools, we hold ourselves accountable for using them responsibly and

while preserving the warmth, reliability and local identity that make serving our community so important.

In the Pioneer Valley and across our region, communities thrive when businesses are actively engaged, visible and connected. From supporting local farmers to being pres-

At Big Y, we are fortunate to have a 90year history, a dedicated workforce, deep community roots and a noble mission. These foundations not only define who we are today, they shape how we move forward. transparently, ensuring they enhance the customer experience.

Our business is built on relationships. It is built on showing up consistently, whether it is a storm, a holiday rush, or an ordinary Tuesday.

As technology evolves, our challenge is to use these tools to support better service, not replace the human connection that defines who we are.

Customers are asking for more personalized experiences, but they also want sincerity. We embrace innovation

• Reasonable Rates •18-hole Regulation Courses • Designed for All Skill Levels • Challenging Layouts

ent at neighborhood events, our commitment is woven into the daily life of the people and places we call home.

Our giving is not separate from our business. It is part of who we are. Hunger relief, education, health and wellness and supporting local partners will always be cornerstones of our work. We approach community support as a longterm way of caring for the well-being and resilience of our valued neighbors.

At Big Y, we are fortunate to have a 90-year history, a

dedicated workforce, deep community roots and a noble mission. These foundations not only define who we are today, they shape how we move forward. Our continued growth comes from upholding the values that built this company and staying focused on what matters most: serving our customers and supporting our people.

Stewardship is not about looking back. It is about looking ahead with intention and making choices today that leave our company stronger for the next generation, the next team member, and the next family. Growth for us is not just measured in numbers, but in the quality of the experiences we deliver and the trust we continue to earn.

By honoring that responsibility, we ensure the future does not simply unfold around us.

We help influence it, guided by steady steps, thoughtful decisions and the support of our customers, employees and communities.

Rick Bossie is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Big Y Foods Inc.

• Pristine Conditions • Knowledgeable/Friendly Staff • Great Food and Drinks Recently Renovated Clubhouses • Host to USGA /Mass Golf Events

3219379-01

HEN WE TALK about “the next big thing,” it’s easy to imagine something distant or entirely new. But here in the Pioneer Valley, the next big thing is already taking shape.

It’s happening in classrooms, labs, kitchens and innovation spaces across our region, where higher education and the business community are working more intentionally together to strengthen our workforce and drive economic growth.

At the Springfield Regional Chamber, we see firsthand how closely education and economic vitality are connected. Our colleges and universities are not only places of learning. They are essential partners in preparing talent, advancing innovation and responding to the evolving needs of employers.

When these institutions and the business community work in alignment, the benefits reach far beyond individual organizations and help strengthen the region as a whole.

UMass Amherst plays a central role in this work.

As a leading research university, UMass produces graduates across engineering, business, computer science and the life sciences who go on to power local companies, startups and institutions.

Through applied research, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration, UMass helps move ideas from the classroom and lab into real-world use, ensuring innovation remains connected to the communities and employers that need it most.

As part of the recently formed Amherst Campus Council, the Springfield Regional Chamber will work directly with other business support organizations, local municipalities and business leaders to build those connections.

We see that same commitment reflected at Western New England University, where the College of Business has made strategic investments in artificial intelligence and financial technology.

Through initiatives like the FinTech Incubator and the NextGen Enterprise Academy, WNE is bringing students, entrepreneurs and established businesses together around emerging technologies. Supported by significant state investment, this work positions Western Massachusetts as a growing hub for innovation while preparing both students and working professionals with skills needed for the next decade of change.

That focus on real-world leadership and applied learning also extends to WNE’s long-standing partnership with the Springfield Regional Chamber on the Leadership Institute, which helps develop confident, capable leaders ready to guide organizations through an evolving business landscape.

At Springfield Technical Community College, the region’s strong foundation in precision manufacturing is being reimagined for the future. With new state funding supporting a proposed Quantum Supply Chain Accelerator, STCC is helping lay the groundwork for commercialization, startup growth and advanced manufacturing

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

M12 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Farmers CONTINUES FROM PAGE M1

comes up often in her visits with farmers. There’s a lot to talk about, including how funding used to help farmers make climate-related changes to their operations has changed.

Last year, CISA was about to help 35 farmers with a federal program that would have given them $45,000 each to invest in climate resiliency in the first year of funding.

But before any of them got the money, the federal government cut the program, Morenon said.

In December, a report commissioned by the Legislature found that the state’s farmers, who are considered small operations compared to agricultural operations across the nation, often are unable to receive federal assistance following a disaster. It noted that while the state established a disaster relief fund, it does not have a permanent way of funding it.

But it’s not all gloom and doom, Morenon said.

“People are working really, really hard and doing a ton and growing a lot of food. And that means there’s a lot of hope in there,” Morenon said.

Here’s a look at how several Pioneer Valley farmers are responding to climate change, as they seek ways to be resilient.

In the pursuit of chickens’ happiness Chickens are sensitive to fluctuations in the weather, said Kat Chang of Reed Farm in Sunderland. While extreme weather might not kill the birds, it could make them more vulnerable to disease.

“They’re kind of like fragile little glass sculptures,” Chang said. “We really have to keep a close eye on them.”

Chang co-owns Reed Farm with her husband. Together they manage a business that processes about 19,000 birds a year for meat. The birds

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

The modern grower’s essential tool Anthony Reiber, a professor of soil science and horticulture at Greenfield Community College, said a greenhouse is an essential tool for the modern vegetable grower.

In October, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources awarded the college a $300,000 grant for a greenhouse. The funds came from a program intended to boost food security across the region. It was the first time a college received money from that program.

The greenhouse is expected to be operational by June.

Greenhouses can be energy intensive, Reiber said, but this one is designed to reduce energy demands. Rather than using fans found in a typical greenhouse, the structure will employ a passive ventilation Reed Farm co-owner Kat Chang shows packaged chicken in the farm's USDA-approved prosystem that uses convection cessing facility in Sunderland. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN) to move air. The greenhouse will come with curtains that spend some time outdoors. descend during the evening to The farm is planning to ex“The more farmers slow the release of warm air pand the number of chickens we have with eyes during the night. it brings to market.

Produce grown in the greenIn planning new buildings, on their land, I house will be available at the the farm’s owners seek energy think the better efficiency, but also want spaccollege’s food pantry. care it will be Even an unheated hoop es with back-up generators, house, Reiber said, can help should the electrical grid go taken care of.” down. farmers cultivate crops like Reed Farm co-owner “We have a lot of refrigeratomatoes, because the enviKat Chang tion and it’s poultry,” Chang ronment can be controlled a said. “So it needs to stay cold bit more, as well as guarding in order to remain food safe.” against diseases.

Another factor in climate reWhile Reed Farm would with eyes on their land, I like to install solar panels for silience, Reiber said, is using think the better care it will be on-site energy production, plants that are disease-resistaken care of,” Chang said. tant. it would prefer to fund them through grants, and the grant Lessening the “Growing in these controlled environments can really take landscape is uncertain, Chang ‘carbon hoof-print’ A sign captures the philosophy at Barstow’s Longview Farm in said. the edge off temperature-wise, Denise Barstow Manz, a Hadley. (THE REPUBLICAN / FILE PHOTO) with controlling humidity levReed Farm is building out seventh-generation dairy els, controlling moisture levels a U.S. Department of AgriCows, too, are sensitive to its animals’ feed. farmer in Hadley, said her in the soil. And that can all culture-licensed facility that temperature. Barstow Manz Traditionally, tilling is a family’s farm has been would allow it to process said the cows on their farm are provide a healthier growing first step for farmers before adapting for generations. In environment,” Reiber said. meat from around the region the ’70s and ’80s, Barstow’s happiest on a 45-degree day. sowing seed. But the farm is and sell it out of state. The Happy cows mean better milk, Longview Farm would rely on replacing that with a method processing center will help and so the farm seeks ways to Water, water everywhere with a multitude of benefits, hay for animal feed, as New Meghan Hastings, farm the region’s livestock farmers England’s climate was dryer according to Barstow Manz. boost bovine comfort, such as prepare to sell a wider variety than it is today, she said. sprinklers and fans. manager of Dave’s Natural “We know that by having of products — from sausages And when it comes to the Gardens in Granby, agrees a lower impact on that soil, Not only has the farm that greenhouses are vital to broth — to a larger consum- switched to silage for its 600 you’re going to keep that cow waste, the farm years er base. It is also expected to head of cattle (half of which ago installed an anaerobic for a modern small farm’s soil ecosystem more intact,” benefit the regional farming digester, converting methane operation. are dairy cows), it has begun Barstow Manz said of the “If you had to ask me what no-till farming methods for economy. no-till techniques. “So all that into enough power for 1,600 “The more farmers we have the 500 acres it uses to grow good fungi and those good homes, Barstow Manz said.

SEE FARMERS, PAGE M14

bugs can really thrive. And we know carbon is in things that are alive. So if we can keep the soil more alive, we’ll sequester more carbon in the ground.

It reduces erosion. So the amount of soil that’s coming off in the wind and the rain.”

The farm began the shift around 2014. The USDA helped pay for the specialized equipment for the farm to switch to no-till agriculture, and it also studied the crop yields for five years. Now, the fields can produce even more than what was grown with traditional farming techniques.

The farm switched fully to no-till production methods in 2019. These days, the farm leases the equipment to neighboring farms that also adopted no-till production.

This isn’t the only way Barstow Longview Farm is aiming to reduce its “carbon hoofprint,” Barstow Manz said.

FREE CONCERT FREE PARKING I-91 SOUTH GARAGE

&

Seek for Yourself

CONQUER THE CHILL

SUNDAY, MARCH ARCH 1, 2026 - 2PM SPRINGFIELD D SY S SYMPHONY MPH HALL FREE REE TICKE TICKETS AVAILABLE AILABLE AT SPONSORED BY

PRESENTED BY

SPECIAL THANKS SPECI K KS

Dust off your ski boots and hit the slopes of Belleayre mountain, explore snowy small towns, or simply enjoy the winter views from the warmth of a luxurious mountain resort.

Discover all the ways to conquer the chill in Ulster County, NY. Plan your winter getaway today at VisitUlsterCountyNY.com ® I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission.

3218118-01 3205672-01

SPIRITOFSPRINGFIELD.ORG

ADVERTISING

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 M13

3218223-01

%%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE OUTLOOK 2026

M14 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Wydra

visitors access to exclusive discounts and offers at area attractions and restaurants.

CONTINUES FROM PAGE M2 There are many new ways Mass. is tailor-made for what visitors are structuring their they’re looking for. Emerging leisure time, but because hostrends include: pitality is a highly people-fo• Stay-cations: Your home cused industry, details matter.

No matter how well-planned becomes your “hotel,” while you set forth on excursions. an itinerary is, travelers typically won’t feel they’ve gotten Travelers visit local and true value from a visit unless regional favorites or search they feel acknowledged, welout something new. Without comed and appreciated. the cost of accommodations, That’s why at Explore Westthere’s more budget for acern Mass, we drive that importivities, dining and shopping.

Combined with a trend toward tance via the Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence, lower gas prices, that equals launched in 1996. The Howdy value.

• BizCations or “Bleisure” program is still emphasizing travel: Vacationers create the vital necessity of providing consistently memorable guest personal hybrid itineraries mixing work-related travel service to encourage positive

At MGM, wanting guests to leave happy “When it comes to what’s ahead for 2026, it’s a fresh set of different types of entertainment options," said Connor McDowell, executive casino host at MGM Springfield. "We'll be having Joe Bonamassa here in March — a great show that a lot of people look forward to. He comes around and does a casino tour almost once a year. … We'll also have our Free Music Friday concert series starting up around Memorial Day. It runs through Labor Day every Friday in the summertime, bringing in tons of different tribute bands all from around the New England area. … And in very exciting news, coming back from pre-2020, we have our spa opening up soon, which will be a very exciting new amenity to bring people into the casino. … When it comes to technology, we have plenty of marketing tools that we use. However, when it comes to how I handle my business, it’s about a personal touch with my guests and doing the best I can to build that player development, that relationship with my guests to ensure that they visit MGM Springfield versus a competitor. … That's always the goal.

To bring the best experience to them possible and do whatever I can to have them leave happy.” (MICHAEL J. FIEDLER PHOTO)

Farmers

perature and water — weeks before many a backyard gardener has even thought CONTINUES FROM PAGE M12 about the start of the growing the most important tool (or) season. The tomatoes will thing on the farm would be, be ready by the end of April, most people would probably Hastings said. think, ‘Oh, it’s the tractor.’

Almost all of the farm’s But to be honest with you, it’s produce is sold through its probably not. It’s probably a farmers market booth or its greenhouse, or a zip tie,” she community-supported agrisaid. culture program.

As part of its operation, The biggest effect climate the farm purchased large change has wrought on this caterpillar-style hoop houses 32-acre farm concerns water. with the help of a USDA grant The farm’s main growing area years ago.

— about five acres, where a In mid-January, the farm tractor can enter — has poorly began sowing its first batch of draining soil combined with a tomato seeds, using a green- high water table. house to control the temBouts of heavy rain the last

few years left pooling water, which leads to plants rotting in the field.

“When there’s water issues, that’s where things go to die,” Hastings said.

The farm hasn’t abandoned the fields. Instead, it might use the space to graze chickens.

The farm moved its growing operations to smaller fields.

The other fields require more manual labor, and the farm has transitioned to rapidly transplanting one crop after the other. The farm has also switched to an essentially notill operation, Hastings said.

The farm has focused on cutting down the amount of waste. Rather than planting,

Sector

It also called for capital investments to support downtown revitalization and preserve creative space, expanded business and workforce development for creative workers, and exploration of a permanent, sustainable revenue stream for the arts.

Advocacy organizations, including MASSCreative, are advancing a 2025–2026 legislative agenda that includes the Creative Space Act, which will address these long-standing issues.

“If you want to use a commercial kitchen, do pottery or glassblowing, CONTINUES FROM PAGE M9 you often have to leave than economic output — it’s Springfield — those spaces about ensuring artists and simply don’t exist here,” cultural workers can live, she said. work and create in their Recommendations own communities. and goals Key challenges include limited access to affordable The council recommendstudios and creative spaces, ed defining and mapping the state’s cultural econoshort-term training promy, and elevating arts and grams that pull creatives away from paid work, and culture within state government through stronger grants that fail to provide cross-sector partnerships. long-term support.

MAPLE HARVEST DAY

HOOPLANDIA

THE BIG E

FIBER FESTIVAL OF NEW ENGLAND

say, 3,000 lettuce plants all at once, it will plant 100 a week, calculating the amount it needs, Hastings said.

“Cutting down on the space that we’re using is actually beneficial in a lot of ways. It takes a little more planning, versus just planting a ton of stuff and harvesting until it’s gone,” Hastings said.

In the end, changes like this mean Western Massachusetts has a more resilient local food system.

“It’s important for us to have — for food safety and food security — a local food source, you know,” Hastings said. “The pandemic really showed that.”

No matter how well-planned an itinerary is, travelers typically won’t feel they’ve gotten true value from a visit unless they feel acknowledged, welcomed and appreciated. with leisure activities. It’s conference by day, with nights and weekends exploring close-by attractions. Some segments may even be a legitimate tax write-off; that adds potential value in yet another way.

• Skill-cations: Travelers with a hands-on talent or ability build a trip around enhancing those skills. Foodies take multi-day culinary classes, while anglers book fly-casting lessons, golfers hone their games with pros. Side trips to eateries, attractions and events round out the overall adventure and wider sense of value attained.

• Gig-tripping: Visitors driven largely by nostalgia and experience return to a previous job site or home, or a reunion with former colleagues. Add in fun side activities, and the sense of value is heightened.

Explore Western Mass and our members are acutely aware of these existing and emerging trends, and across our region, we’re taking tangible steps to appeal to value-seeking consumers.

Coming early this year, is the “Western Mass Pass,” a free digital “pass” that gives

word-of-mouth and return trips to our region.

Artificial intelligence has been seemingly everywhere of late. However, some Explore Western Mass members report they are de-emphasizing AI and doing away with digital chat and other impersonal tech in favor of more human contact.

One business owner told us they’re replacing phone queues with live operators.

Clearly, leaders in our hospitality sector understand the importance of providing a more human touch wherever possible.

Leaders in our regional hospitality industry are also determined to up their value proposition and service level to all who choose to come.

So, while some economic headwinds may blow in 2026, our welcome mat will still be on full display, and every visitor — new or returning — will go home with cherished memories of their time spent in beautiful, unforgettable Western Mass.

Mary Kay Wydra is the president of Explore Western Mass.

Discover Your Winter Escape

Don’t just get through winter. Go after it.

Find your momentum in the Great Northern Catskills.

#TheRealCatskills 3218371-01

ADP-0831 5.387x10 Republican Winter Quar Ad f.indd 1

11/25/25 12:06 PM

OUTLOOK 2026

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 | M15

The next big thing in Agawam is tech-savvy, streamlined gov’t

T The Vanisha Gould Quartet performs during the Northampton Jazz Festival.

(JULIAN PARKER‑BURNS PHOTO)

Partners CONTINUES FROM PAGE M6

It also has partnered with the Downtown Northampton Association to bring live jazz into restaurants during the city’s monthly Arts Night Out. Some of those venues do not usually host jazz, Griggs said, which helps introduce the music to new audiences.

She pointed to a performance last year at The Drake by pianist Sean Mason, who was playing in Western Massachusetts for the first time.

“People came up to him afterward and said they wanted to hear more,” Griggs said. “That kind of response showed us the value of bringing musicians here when we have the chance.”

HE NEXT BIG thing in Agawam and in local government in general is to try to reimagine how we do what we do given the storm clouds on the horizon. The federal government is pulling back on its support of state and local government, which is resulting in a loss of key revenue at the state level.

In addition, there is likely going to be a statewide ballot question seeking to reduce the state income tax, which will result in an estimated loss of between $5 billion and $7 billion in revenue to the state.

Local governments rely on local aid revenue from the state to deliver the services we provide to our residents.

Despite the best efforts of state leaders, cities and towns will likely bear the brunt of these actual and potential state revenue losses.

In addition to these storm clouds, every city and town is facing the challenge of maintaining and replacing aging facilities and infrastructure such as municipal and school buildings, roads, stormwater structures and water and sewer facilities. Much of this

Christopher Johnson Agawam mayor

aging infrastructure and facilities is between 50 and 100 years old.

Given the constraints of Proposition 2½, it will be impossible for local governments to continue to provide the services residents now enjoy without reimagining local government.

Whether that includes the utilization of AI to improve efficiency or a complete overhaul of what services local government is expected to provide, there seems little doubt that change is on the horizon.

Agawam enjoys a strong fis-

This watercolor rendering shows what the community wing of the new Agawam High School will look like when it is completed in late 2026. (PROVIDED IMAGE)

cal outlook based on its years of conservative management.

We believe these challenges present a unique opportunity for innovation.

Rather than merely surviving, Agawam is moving to position itself to lead by transforming these challenges into a more streamlined,

technologically advanced and sustainable model of municipal governance.

By embracing efficiency-driving tools like artificial intelligence and proactive, data-driven infrastructure management, we can redefine local service delivery to be more cost-effective.

Agawam’s history of sound fiscal management provides the solid foundation needed to not only weather these storms, but to emerge as a more adaptable, efficient and forward-thinking community for future generations.

Christopher Johnson is the mayor of Agawam.

As the organization marks its 15th year, Northampton Jazz Festival President Ruth Griggs said it is rethinking its approach with help from a new board member who works professionally in fundraising.

Griggs said Northampton’s location makes it an easy stop for musicians already touring in Boston, including an upcoming April 12 performance by the band Civil Disobedience at The Iron Horse, added after the group was invited to Amherst College for workshops and classes.

While the festival has grown, challenges remain.

Smaller restaurant spaces — especially in winter — can limit bookings, and fundraising requires constant reinvention.

As the organization marks its 15th year, Griggs said it is rethinking its approach with help from a new board member who works professionally in fundraising.

Griggs said continued collaboration will be critical as communities look for ways to bring people together.

“Music brings people out of their homes and reminds them there is still joy,” she said. “Musicians reflect the times we’re living in, and being in the presence of live music is incredibly healing.”

Museums CONTINUED FROM PAGE M6

3217706-01

As the Springfield Museums explore new technological possibilities, clear communication with visitors and strong ethical standards will be essential.

While immersive and emerging technologies have the potential to transform museum experiences, they must be implemented thoughtfully. For the Springfield Museums, the challenge and opportunity lie in balancing innovation with integrity and by using technology not as a passing trend, but as a tool to deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and strengthen the Museums’ educational mission. By doing so, technology can enhance rather than compromise the role of our museums as trusted spaces for learning, reflection, and connection.

Kay Simpson is the president and CEO of the Springfield Museums.

M16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

ADVERTISING

E T A T S E L IN REA

Cheryl C. Malandrinos, REALTOR

RealSuccess RealExperienceRealResults

“Selling Homes One Relationship at a Time ” TM

SUZANNE MOORE

• Serving the Pioneer Valley

Part icipat ed in t he sale of

OVER

1464

and Northern CT

• Accredited Buyer’s

Representative (ABR®)

PROPERTIES

Tott aling

Over 223 MILLION

• Military Relocation Professional

• Senior Real Estate

IN SALES

Specialist (SRES®)

SUZANNE MOORE CRS, GRI, CBR, QSC, REALTOR ®

413.348.5282

suesellsmorehomes@gmail.com

www.hbrealestate.net | 413-575-5751 cheryl.malandrinos@hbrealestate.net

w w w .suemoor esells.com w w w .realsat isfi ed.com/ Suzanne-Moor e

*Based on information provided to and compiled by MLS Property Information Network,Inc.covering the period 1/1/1993 through 12/31/2025

EXPERIENCE GETS HOMES SOLD!

Pat Wheway Team Leader 413-478-1166

With more than $7M sold in 2025, your next move is in expert hands.

Ask About Available Senior Discounts Rich Wheway

Dave Mulak

Kerrie Baldwin Shannon Baldwin

Call Cate Shea 413-427-6985

WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP SELLERS AND BUYERS! LET THIS EXPERIENCED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALSGUIDE YOU IN SELLING OR BUYING A HOME.

A HouseSOLD Name!

VISIT OUR NEW PLANNNED URBAN COMMUNITY 242 BRAINARD RD, ENFIELD, Ct

STONEBRIDGE COMMONS

www.CateShea.com

www.whewaygroup.com

Beth Brogle

Sharon Ofori

REALTOR® Licensed in MA & CT

ABR GRI CRS REALTOR® Since 1987

The most important quality you will need in a Realtor this year is EXPERIENCE!

443 Shaker Rd, Unit D East Longmeadow, MA, 01028 413-244-4787 direct sofori@wmasshomes.com www.BHHSRealtyPros.com

Call me for a private home buying or home selling consultation!

Office 534-0101 • Cell 626-6753 bethbrogle@comcast.net

A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

MARGE THIBODEAU REALTOR®|CBR, GREEN 413-531-0105 CELL 413-567-8931 OFFICE License # 74052 Marge.Thibodeau@NEMoves.com 136 Dwight Road, Suite 2 Longmeadow, MA 01106

COLDWELL BANKER | REALTY

Owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC

®