City increases property tax exemption for disabled veterans
The City Council approved adopting the provision to the HERO Act that will increase the property tax exemption available to qualified disabled veterans to as much as $2,000.
See Page 4
HOLYOKE:
City Council makes final cuts before approving budget
The City Council passed a budget of approximately $180 million for the fiscal year 2026 operating budget, about a $8 million increase from FY25.
See Page 5
Holyoke receives state funding to expand work-based learning
The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced that they have awarded $281,000 in WorkBased Learning grants to 14 school districts across Massachusetts, including $24,976 to Holyoke Public Schools.
See Page 5
Holyoke officially exits state receivership
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — After 10 years, Holyoke Public Schools exited state receivership on July 1, following an announcement made by Massachusetts Education Secretary and interim Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Dr. Patrick Tutwiler during the June 23 School Committee meeting and June 24 state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting.
“While school improvement work will continue in Holyoke, it is time for local officials to take the lead,” said Tutwiler, “Community stakeholders have consistently shared their input into the district’s decision-making processes, and the School Committee partnered with a Community Advisory Team as part of the capacity-building plan. This experience is a strong foundation for the district’s future.”
The announcement follows a provisional determination in October 2024, by then-acting Commissioner Russell Johnston, to remove Holyoke Public Schools from chronically underperforming status and that the district would be ready if the School Committee completed its capacity building plan.
Since then, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has supported the School Committee as they completed a capacity building plan to return to local control.
The Healey-Driscoll administration made the determination official on June 23.
“Holyoke has worked hard to regain local control of its schools, and this is a great moment for the city, students, educators and families,” said Gov. Maura Healey in
a press release.
Holyoke is the first school district to exit state receivership, and the district will be under the School Committee’s governance as of July 1.
DESE will continue to support and monitor the district’s progress under the terms of the exit assurances document that Tutwiler issued on April 28.
The exit assurances keep in place selected provisions of Holyoke Public Schools’ Turnaround Plan for a transitional period of up to two years after the department’s formal exit from receivership.
The exit assurances address areas including professional development for educators, the creation and implementation of an early literacy plan, two-way communication with families, including families who do not speak English; policies related to teaching and learning time; and educator compensation and evaluation.
Anthony Soto has served as receiver of the district since 2021.
On May 12, the School Committee approved a contract to keep him as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year.
When Soto was first appointed, he said, “I think this has been a long journey, we’ve been all in it together — some more than others — but I’ve expressed right from the beginning, even in my response to the commissioner when we talked about my recommendation to transition to local control ... I made a commitment to this body and to the Holyoke community that I want to make sure whatever role I play, I do everything I can to make sure it’s a strong transition and I’m glad we can continue making sure that happens and I appreciate your confidence in me.”
The district released a list
of their accomplishments since 2015 which include an increase in the district’s four-year cohort graduation rate, a decrease in outof-school suspension rates, an increase in percentage of students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework.
Other accomplishments include an increase in the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework, the expansion of the district’s dual language program, the expansion of pre-K programming to offer more than 500 seats to families in 2024-25 through either district-operated or partner-operated classrooms.
The district has also redesigned Holyoke High School to offer a Freshman Academy for a
more personalized entry to high school, as well as full enrollment in the career technical education pathways at the Holyoke High School Dean Campus after nearly a decade of underenrollment.
The district has also rezoned into separate elementary and middle schools, supported by the construction of a new middle school that is scheduled to open in fall 2025.
“This is a proud day for Holyoke,” said Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, who also chairs the School Committee. “Our dedicated educators, resilient students, supportive families and engaged community have united to drive this success, reflecting our shared commitment to the bright future of our schools.”
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler announces that Holyoke Public Schools will be exiting state receivership on July 1 during the June 23 School Committee meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
Embrace of nuclear energy follows gov’s link to anti-nuke group
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey detailed on June 25 her support for an “all of the above” energy strategy that includes nuclear energy.
Healey, who recalled that her parents allowed Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant demonstrators from the anti-nuclear Clamshell Alliance to camp out on her family’s property when she was a child in the 1970s, said her position on nuclear power is “not a new position.”
“I think you’ve got to have the conversation about what nuclear looks like today, and nuclear today is different than, you know, some of the specter of Three Mile Island, of what we grew up with — and I grew up actually, in the shadow of Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant,” Healey, who grew up in Hampton Falls, N.H., said on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” program.
“Today we have the potential
of small, modular nuclear production. And you know, there are places that are bringing that online,” Healey continued. “We need to have the continued work around storage and what we do with waste, but nuclear has to be part of the equation.”
Energy affordability and diversification is a recent theme for the Healey administration. Healey joined the show just hours before she was set to testify at the State House on an energy affordability bill she filed in May, meant to reduce energy bill charges, adjust electricity procurement practices and open the door to new nuclear energy technologies.
Healey’s bill would repeal a 1982 voter law that requires proposed new nuclear facilities in Massachusetts to secure approval of a majority of voters on a statewide ballot. Healey’s office said the bill envisions “an all-of-theabove energy approach including nuclear,” though not a return to facilities like Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, the state’s last nu-
clear plant which ceased operations in 2019.
“As we look to decarbonize, as we look to provide more energy into our reaches, we are all-consuming — everybody out there, I’m looking at folks, everybody’s got a phone. Some have iPads, laptops. We talk about AI, and all that AI is doing and generating,” Healey said on June 25.
Earlier in the day, Healey said she isn’t focused on federal artificial intelligence policy, but instead on the state’s investments in AI technology. Healey and lawmakers included $100 million in a 2024 economic development bond law to create a Massachusetts AI Hub.
“That takes a heck of a lot of energy, and so our energy consumption as a world, as a country, has gone way up, and we need to find ways to bring more energy online, cleaner energy online,” Healey continued Wednesday.
At the June 25 hearing on Healey’s energy affordability bill, Energy and Environmental Af-
fairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper similarly said nuclear technology today is “very different from the technology that was available many years ago.”
“There are many, many states who have repealed their laws just like this for the purpose of exploring [nuclear],” she said. “That doesn’t mean there’d be any nuclear built in the state without a tremendous amount of review and oversight. It would still get reviewed by the federal government, it would still get reviewed by the state government. Nobody’s just putting up a nuclear [facility]. This simply would allow us to not have to have a ballot initiative to consider having this in the state.”
“We’re far from being able to have it in the state right now, but we’d like to have the option to consider it,” Tepper added.
Healey said continued investments need to be made, and more energy needs to be pulled into the region, in order to maintain grid reliability. The governor called
on the Trump administration to not bar potential energy sources.
“If you want to talk about American energy independence, it seems to me you shouldn’t be taking energy sources off the table. I’m all of the above,” Healey said. “So, Mr. President, don’t take wind off the table. We need wind. We need wind to lower costs, to power our businesses and to make this region, to make America more energy independent. I thought that was the goal there.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that temporarily halted offshore wind lease sales and paused approvals, permits and loans from being issued for offshore and onshore wind projects. In Massachusetts, concerns have arisen about whether the state will be able to reach its clean energy targets without federal support for offshore wind.
Chris Lisinski of the State House News Service contributed to this report.
‘We can do better than that:’ Healey takes on recent antisemitism
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey on June 25 defended the upcoming launch of an Israel-based health care accelerator in Massachusetts and condemned antisemitism as she referenced recent vandalism of a kosher grocery store in Brookline.
Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital in the Middle East that’s located outside of Tel Aviv, plans to open an “ARC Accelerator” facility in Greater Boston in January to support health care startups. At a State House press conference last month, Dr. Yitshak Kreiss, Sheba’s director general, said the accelerator can be a tool for tackling antisemitism as Bay Staters start to see the benefits stemming from innovation and economic growth.
In a radio interview on June
25, a caller from Boston asked Healey why residents should “trust the company actively supporting genocide.” The caller said Sheba supports the Israeli military, which she said has bombed “every hospital in Gaza and killed more than 1,200 Palestinian health care workers through systematic targeting.”
“I think it’s really cool that a company that is so focused on health care and innovation is coming to Massachusetts,” Healey responded on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” as a pro-Palestinian demonstrator yelled from the audience at the Boston Public Library.
“I’m proud that we’re the global hub. I’m proud that people come, as they did last week from BIO, all over the world to Massachusetts because of that ecosystem,” Healey continued,
referring to the BIO International Convention. “And so when there are investments that others want to make, no cost to us, but investments that others want to make -- first off, I’m not surprised that people want to set up shop in Massachusetts because of that incredible ecosystem. And I welcome those investments, those jobs, and importantly, the lifeline that those treatments, and those therapies, and those cures can provide to residents in Massachusetts and people all over the world.”
The American Friends of Sheba Medical Center website describes the hospital as “tightly integrated with the IDF,” or the Israeli Defense Forces. Injured IDF soldiers are treated at Sheba for rehab, prosthetics and physical therapy. Future IDF medical providers are also trained at Sheba. Kreiss previously emphasized
that Sheba treats all patients, including Jews, Christians, Muslims and Palestinians. He said Sheba is “ready every day, every minute to accept the remaining hostages.”
The Israel-Hamas War — which began after Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and kidnapped 251 people – has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties. The United Nations has accused Israel of destroying Gaza’s health care system, while Israeli officials have argued Hamas uses hospitals in Gaza as command centers, according to Reuters.
Healey did not directly discuss the conflict in Gaza, but radio co-host Jim Braude scolded the demonstrator for shouting over the governor.
“By the way, time to say we just had a brief pro-Palestin-
ian demonstration, and I should make clear anybody’s entitled to ask any question that they want without disturbing the show,” Braude said. He urged listeners to “respectfully” speak with the show producers if they want to ask Healey a question.
Healey quickly chimed in to point out that a brick — which had “Free Palestine” written on it — was thrown through the Butcherie, a Jewish business in Coolidge Corner, earlier this month.
“We’ve seen antisemitism incidents here in Massachusetts. I don’t tolerate it as governor, I didn’t as attorney general,” Healey said. “We can do better than that. We can have agreements and disagreements about policy issues. But at the end of the day, you know, let’s remember that there’s no place for antisemitism in Massachusetts.”
With sales down, lower Mass. Lotto prizes boost May profit
By Colin A. Young State House News Service
BOSTON — For the fourth consecutive month, sales were down at the Massachusetts Lottery in May.
Executive Director Mark William Bracken told the Lottery Commission on June 24 that the agency sold $572.7 million worth of its products last month, a decrease of $3.5 million or 0.6% compared to May 2024. The last month to post a year-over-year sales increase was January. The only products to post
a sales increase in May were Keno, which saw its sales climb by $1.9 million or 1.5% to $125.8 million for the month, and scratch tickets, which were up $1.5 million or 0.4% to total $386.4 million in sales. Together, those two product categories accounted for 89.5% of all Lottery sales last month.
Bracken said the Lottery turned an estimated profit of $117.5 million in May, a $3.2 million increase over last May that the executive director attributed to a $7.9 million decrease in the value of scratch
ticket grand prizes claimed last month compared to May 2024. Through 11 months of fiscal year 2025, the Lottery’s yearto-date sales are down $182.4 million or 3.2% compared to the same time period in FY24. Jackpot-dependent multi-state draw games are posting some the most severe declines this year — Powerball sales are down $119.5 million or 58.5% and Mega Millions sales are down $37.4 million or 26.9%. Scratch tickets sales so far this year are down $52.4 million or 1.42%.
Bracken told the commission
on June 24 that the Lottery’s prize payout percentage, which affects how much revenue is converted to profit to be returned as local aid to cities and towns, remains elevated as the end of the year approaches. That figure has been on the commission’s radar for most of FY25.
“Our estimated year-to-date prize payout for the first 11 months is 74.24% compared to 73.46% for the first 11 months of last fiscal year. And ... you’ll see, as we’ve been watching the trend, the overall prize payout is tapering down, but it is still our
highest prize payout that we’ve had in the last five fiscal years,” he said on June 24. With just one month’s results left to count towards FY25, Bracken said the Lottery has so far generated an estimated profit of $990.1 million, which he said trails last year’s pace by $88.8 million. The Lottery produced $1.159 billion in net profit during FY24. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has told lawmakers they can expect the Lottery to generate $1.05 billion in profit for FY25, and she’s also projected “flat” retail sales and profit for FY26.
LOCAL RESIDENTS EARN DEGREES AT CLARK UNIVERSITY’S COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
WORCESTER — Clark University awarded 468 undergraduate degrees and 1,014 advanced degrees during two ceremonies as part of the university’s 121st Commencement exercises, hosted at the DCU Center in Worcester, on Monday, May 19. Stephen J. Gibbons, of Holyoke, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts. Fatima Alejandra Oseida, of South Hadley, graduated with a master of arts.
Gomez announces ‘Fair Share’ for Hampden district
SPRINGFIELD — On June 24, Gov. Maura Healey and the Massachusetts State Legislature signed into law
$1.39 billion in new investments in public transportation and public education across the commonwealth. The supplemental budget — funded by surplus revenue from the Fair Share surtax on incomes over $1 million, allocates $716 million for transportation and $593.5 million for education at every level.
To allocate the surplus, this supplemental budget makes significant investments in the MBTA, regional transit authorities, water transportation, roads and bridges — with the goal of advancing affordable, safe and reliable transit
for all residents. It also provides critical support for public colleges and universities, expands vocational education programs and strengthens services for students with disabilities.
A breakdown of the amendments secured by Gomez can be found here:
• Alfred G. Zanetti Montessori School. $40,000 for playground safety improvements.
Early Childhood Education Center. $50,000 for replacement heat and cooling units.
• Chesnut Accelerated Middle School. $100,000 for partial control upgrades to the Building Management System.
• City of Chicopee. $100,000 for
placement of a traffic light at the intersection of McKinstry and Chicopee Street.
• Margaret C. Ells Elementary School. $150,000 for exterior accessibility improvements.
• Springfield Public Schools. $210,000 for enhanced school safety, communication systems and instructional audio-visual infrastructure.
“Addressing local issues that affects the lives of educators, students, and commuters alike in gateway cities across Massachusetts, is exactly the kind of project the legislature intended these funds for,” said Gomez.
“Since its passage by residents in 2022, the Fair Share amend-
ment has generated more than $1 billion over initial projections in fiscal years 2023 and 2024,” said Gomez. “I am thankful to Governor Healey, Senate and House Chairs Rodrigues and Michlewitz for their continued commitment to regional equity.”
In November 2022, the voters of Massachusetts approved a new 4% surtax on income above $1 million annually, known as the Fair Share amendment. This new revenue source is constitutionally dedicated to quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.
CPA applications open for Holyoke’s FY26 grant cycle
HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke Community Preservation Act Committee is pleased to announce the opening of their fiscal year 2026 grant cycle.
Potential applicants are invited to submit eligibility application forms by Aug. 15.
Created by the state of Massa-
chusetts in 2000 and adopted by the city of Holyoke in 2016, the purpose of the CPA is to support historic preservation, recreation, open space and community housing within Holyoke. The Holyoke CPA has funded a variety of popular projects throughout the city including the Miracle
League Playground, restoration of Lady Liberty at Veterans Park, the ongoing upgrades to Scotts Tower and surrounding park and many others.
Since adoption, the Holyoke CPC has disbursed over $4.5 million dollars to preserve Holyoke’s character and improve
quality of life for its residents. Visit holyokeCPAC.org for more information. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact CPAC Administrator Naomi Klayman at klaymann@holyoke.org with questions and for support in the application process.
Granby resident named All-Region 5 in baseball
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVA-
NIA — Muhlenberg College student-athlete Jack Kent of Granby earned All-Region 5 recognition this season while studying finance and business administration at the college.
Muhlenberg was one of only four schools in Region 5 with more than one player on the D3baseball. com all-region first team. A sophomore outfielder, Marc Quarrie was a first-team selection on both the D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association all-region squads; senior Brendan
Hughes made the D3baseball. com first team as a utility player and graduate student outfielder Kent earned second-team honors from the ABCA. Kent returned from an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 season to hit .351, tying for the team lead in stolen bases (17) and ranking second on the Mules in run scored (39), doubles (14), home runs (four), and slugging percentage (.541) while finishing third in batting average, RBI (34 from the leadoff position), extra-base hits (19), and on-base
percentage (.479). He recorded multiple hits in 19 of 39 games, including a 5-for-5 effort at Gwynedd Mercy in which he tied the school record of three doubles in a game. Kent ended his career with 126 hits, tying for seventh on the program’s all-time list with 39 career stolen bases and recording a .434 career on-base percentage, the best by a Muhlenberg player in 12 years.
The Mules finished the 2025 season with a 19-20 record and were in contention for a Centennial Conference playoff berth on the
last day of the season. The 10-win improvement from 2024 tied for the second-best ever, topped only when the 2008 team went 20-20 after going 9-25 the previous season.
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, four-year residential, liberal arts college in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with nearly 2,000 bachelor’s and master’s degree-seeking students. The college’s curriculum and experiences are designed to open doors to new ideas, discoveries, friendships and a lifetime of personal and intellectual growth.
UMassFive introduces new AVP of account operations
HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union recently announced that Christina Reynolds has been promoted to assistant vice president of account operations. Reynolds began her career at UMassFive 15 years ago as a part-time online banking specialist in the Contact Center. Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, including positions in our branches, as card services manager, and most recently as digital and payments manager.
In her new role, Reynolds will oversee several key areas: digital banking (including online and mobile banking), payments (ACH transactions, wires, and checks), card services (debit and credit cards), and Account Services (focused on fraud prevention, compliance, and risk management). Outside of work, Reynolds enjoys gardening, cooking, taking pottery classes, reading, and attending Pure Barre classes.
LOCAL STUDENTS NAMED TO STONEHILL COLLEGE’S SPRING 2025 DEAN’S LIST
EASTON — Stonehill College is pleased to recognize the students named to the spring 2025 Dean’s List. To qualify for this recognition, students must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better. They must also have successfully completed all courses for which they were registered during the term. Ananda Hudson and Riley Shea, of Holyoke, and Paige Marjanski of South Hadley were named to the list.
She especially cherishes traveling to Washington state to spend time with her family and grandchildren.
“I’m excited to work with my team to deepen the level of positive impact we can have with our products and services — by helping to drive innovation, fostering collaboration, and leading efforts that help our organization fulfill strategic goals, and our mission to better the financial lives of our members,” said Reynolds.
Graphic
Graphic
Sales
Classified
Sales
Circulation
Christina Reynolds Reminder Publishing submitted photo
City increases property tax exemption for disabled veterans
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — The City Council approved adopting the provision to the HERO Act that will increase the property tax exemption available to qualified disabled veterans to as much as $2,000.
The HERO Act, which was adopted by the state legislature in August 2024, is a comprehensive and expansive legislative package dedicated to the welfare of veterans in Massachusetts.
Since its filing, additional provisions have been added by the Senate and House to create over 30 provisions, including spending, policy initiatives, tax credits and statute changes, organized into four categories.
Chicopee City Assesor Laura McCarthy was at the meeting to explain the provision. She explained that the city files an accounting of the exemption the assessors do for veterans, elderly and disabled at the end or April and needed to see what those numbers were in order give an estimate of the cost.
Right now, veterans receive exemptions depending on their disability, anywhere between
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Historical Society announced that it will be releasing a book this fall called “Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts.”
The 40-plus-page booklet will tell the story of one of Chicopee’s eminent figures, largely forgotten, from its 19th century industrial heyday.
Richard Bates Inshaw was a silver engraver and gunsmith who worked for the Ames Manufacturing Company and did freelance work for a number of other large firms.
$400 and $1,000 off their real estate tax bill.
McCarthy said “most” of the veterans are in the $400 range.
The adoption of this HERO Act section would double the real estate tax exemption range, so it would be $800, up to $2,000, that would be exempted from the property tax bill.
The same qualifications and proof of disability would remain, but the city would be fully responsible for the additional cost since this is a local option.
McCarthy calculated the costs from prior years, and said it would have cost the city $295,200 in fiscal year 2024 and $277,100 in FY25.
The cost that the city is bearing comes from the overlay account and McCarthy said every year when they do reconciliation in the fall for taxes and budgeting, $1 million is allocated to the overlay account.
McCarthy noted that the overlay account is used to cover these kinds of exemptions like real estate abatement costs, the senior work off program or veterans work off program.
“We certainly have the money to pay for this in the overlay account even with what
we’re doing right now,” McCarthy stated.
Besides thanking the city assessors for their work with the adoption of this provision, Mayor John Vieau also wanted to thank state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) who was a veteran himself and introduced the bill. Vieau said, “I also wanted to take a quick moment to give a plug out to our Senator John Velis who spearheaded this bill, which became a law
The booklet will contain information on Inshaw’s work, his experience as an English immigrant to this country, his family, and life in Chicopee in the 19th century, with many historic photos and maps, as well as color photos of the Inshaw Rifle.
Chicopee Historical Society
Vice President Jacqueline T. Lynch further talked about the book and said, “The booklet contains many photos, both black and white and color, as well as maps, and will take the reader on a time-travel to Chicopee in the days when the first factories were being constructed along the Chicopee River, where Cabotville was a tiny village just start-
ing, and where wild cranberries were harvested by villagers, as they had been by the Nipmucs in times past, at the edge of the village between modern-day West Street and the river. It is our hope that the book will inspire an interest in local history and a sense of pride in our community.”
This project is part of an effort to raise money to purchase a display case for perhaps his finest piece, the Inshaw Rifle.
It is a rare sporting rifle made in 1836 and richly engraved with designs and scenes in great detail. Noted arms historian and appraiser Herbert G. Houze remarked, “It is without a doubt the best pre-1850 American fire-
and is really taking care of our disabled veteran community. I’m really excited to see we’re adopting it.”
The City Council unanimously adopted the law to increase the exemptions for real estate taxes for qualified disabled veterans.
The provision needed to be adopted before July 1 to be effective for the fall tax bills.
Ward 1 City Councilor Abigal Arriaga said, “I think this
arm I’ve ever seen.”
For many years, the rifle has been in storage, but the Chicopee Historical Society hopes to put this historic artifact on permanent display at the Chicopee Public Library pending purchase of an appropriate museum-quality archival case.
Lynch explained that the booklet is a fundraiser in three aspects. First, they will sell copies of it through the Historical Society as well as it will be available online on Amazon.
Second, the Historical Society is accepting display ads in the booklet from 1/8 page, 1/4 page, 1/2 page, full page, and will need the camera-ready copy by the end of July.
The third option is meant to be a less expensive way for individuals to help. Lynch explained that they are going to have a page with donor names at different levels. Bronze donations are $10, silver is $15 and gold is $25. The page of donor names is separate from the display ads.
Lynch talked about why it is important to capture the story of Inshaw.
She said, “Inshaw represents many important facets of Chicopee’s 19th century industrial heyday, an immigrant among many immigrants to this community
is a wonderful thing for our [veterans] here in Chicopee. We are very proud, and I think this is an amazing thing we should adopt.”
Ward 9 City Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello agreed with Arriaga and stated, “This is a tremendous program. I want to thank the city assessors and the mayor. It’s a benefit for our veterans. This is one program that’s another good investment of our monies.”
who found a home and a future here, workers and industrialists alike; a craftsman whose work would become known nationwide, and an artisan in engraving whose occupation has changed with the passage of time and the advent of new technologies.”
The Chicopee Historical Society said any readers looking to sponsor the project by listing their names as supporters in the book can contact the Chicopee Historical Society at TheChicopeeHistoricalSociety@gmail.com.
The City Council discusses increasing the property tax exemption available for qualified veterans in Chicopee during its June 17 meeting.
Photo credit: ChicopeeTV
Zoomed in cover of the “Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts” book releasing this fall.
Photo credit: Chicopee Historical Society
City Council makes final cuts before approving budget
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — The City Council passed a budget of approximately $180 million for the fiscal year 2026 operating budget, about a $8 million increase from FY25.
Mayor Joshua Garcia first introduced his proposed FY26 budget on May 13 during his fourth annual State of the City address.
Residents were also invited to attend the FY26 budget hearing on June 9 to weigh in on the proposed budget by offering their thoughts, concerns or questions.
The budget was approved during a special City Council meeting on June 23 where the City Council had the opportunity to make final cuts to the budget. Passed in an 8-4 vote, City Councilors Howard Greaney Jr., Kevin Jourdain, Carmen Ocasio and Linda Vacon were opposed to passing the budget.
City Councilor David Bartley was absent from this vote as he left the meeting earlier in the evening.
Jourdain stated his reason for voting no on the budget. “This year is going to be unprecedented increases on the residents. We’re going to have an 11% water rate increase; we now see a sewer budget that’s up a million dollars.”
Jourdain also said the tax levy in the last four years is up $11 million this year “despite it going up 6% last year is now going to go up with this budget another over 4% from $67.8 million to $69.8 million, so another $2 million increase in property taxes in the residents.”
Before the final budget was voted on, the City Council made
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — The HealeyDriscoll administration recently announced that they have awarded $281,000 in Work-Based Learning grants to 14 school districts across Massachusetts, including $24,976 to Holyoke Public Schools.
Holyoke schools join the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s pilot program that aims to build systems and strategically align resources to expand impactful work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and pre-apprenticeship programs, that prepare students for success in college and careers.
Jules Gillis, advanced learning manager at Holyoke High School-North and Erin Linville, chief of strategy at Holyoke Public Schools, talked about how the funds will be used.
The funding will be strategically used to strengthen and expand Holyoke Public Schools’ workbased learning infrastructure. This includes increasing student internship placements, broadening the types of industries and pathways available to students and enhancing career-readiness training through our continued partnership with Signal Success.
A portion of the funds will also support the development of a collaborative referral system between Holyoke Public Schools Work-Based Learning staff and MassHire, to ensure students are properly matched with mean-
$148,838 worth of cuts during its final budget hearing.
Two of the cuts were from the mayor’s budget. The first cut was $25,000 in contracted services, leaving $25,000 in the budget and the second cut was approximately $3,000 in dues and subscriptions, leaving $5,162 in budget.
Another cut came from the Police Department budget for $10,000 for Special Events Overtime, leaving $60,000.
The DPW City Property bud-
ingful internship opportunities that align with their interests and aspirations.
Gillis said, “This initiative is directly aligned with our mission to ensure that every student has a clear and personalized pathway to post-secondary success. Through expanded internship placements and enhanced career-preparation training, students, particularly those from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, will gain access to hands-on, real-world experiences that prepare them for success in both higher education and the workforce.”
Linville said that this year, 134 high school students participated in work-based learning, 59 at Dean and 75 at North, and they will be able to expand this number with this financial support.
In 2017, Holyoke Public Schools released a high school redesign plan to create high interest pathways for students that result in a competitive advantage after high school. The plan was developed by nearly 100 educators, students, community members and national experts with support from the Barr Foundation.
Across all high school campuses, every pathway prepares students for career and college success, has applied learning opportunities in the classroom and
get was cut by $55,000, leaving $265,889 and the Department of Parks and Recreation budget for overtime was cut by $10,000, leaving $10,000
The most notable cut was from the insurance, claims, benefits, travel, transfers, and other budget. Life Insurance was cut by $20,000, leaving $70,000 and claims and damages was cut by $25,000, leaving $75,000. Although the budget was passed on June 23, the budget
the community, is aligned to 21st century education and industry-based standards and provides opportunities for students to earn stackable credentials.
Gillis said, “We are building a stronger foundation for Holyoke’s future workforce. We are excited to continue this work and grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the lives of our students.”
Besides benefiting the students, Gillis explained that this initiative can also benefit the teachers and staff because this funding helps deepen its integration of My Career and Academic Plan, MyCap, and MEFA Pathways, a college and career planning website, into personalized student planning.
MyCap is a student-centered, multi-year planning tool designed to provide middle and high school students with ongoing opportunities to plan for their academic, personal and career success in high school and beyond.
This pilot also prioritizes the use of MEFA Pathway as a statewide portal for their work-based learning plans and aligns them with statewide efforts to integrate YouthWorks to expand student access to work-based learning opportunities.
Teachers will have more re-
approval process may not yet be done. On June 30, after Reminder Publishing’s print deadline, there will be one more special meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to take final votes on some financial transfers that must be approved before the end of the fiscal year.
The other reason is partly for the City Council to consider several ordinance and charter proposals that were tabled on June 23.
The tabled orders all had to do with creating a central finance de-
partment. If those proposals get adopted, the budgets of several of the city’s departments that deal with the city’s finances would require changes. With the Municipal Finance Modernization Act, Garcia talked about the need to create a new position, a chief financial administrative officer. That meeting will be covered in the next edition of The Reminder.
work-based
sources and structured support to guide students through the career exploration and internship placement process.
“Holyoke Public Schools will
also benefit from a stronger partnership with MassHire, allowing us to streamline processes and expand our offerings without duplicating efforts,” Gillis stated.
The City Council discusses the proposed FY26 budget at its special meeting on June 23.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
SOCCER
Lusitano Red faced off against Villa FC in the Pioneer Summer Soccer League. Playing through the sunset, Lusitano Red started off cold, giving up two goals in the first half, but heated up in the second scoring one. Villa FC came out with the win, with a score of 2-1.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY DEREK WESLEY
Davin Kendall puts in a slide tackle on the ball.
Khalid Rose brings the ball up on a fast break.
LUSITANO RED VS VILLA FC
Joe Albano passes the ball up the field.
Dave Serafino works to keep the ball inbounds.
Ian Belles receives a pass at midfield.
Dave Serafino passes the ball around the defender.
Davin Kendal of Lusitano Red fights for possession of the ball.
Goalie Gianluca Cersosimo boots the ball downfield.
Bob Roccanti
Nostalgia, Love Of Music Breed Success
Most people dream of being their own boss and Raspberries Records owner Bob Roccanti has achieved that goal by opening two record store locations that offer new and vintage vinyls.
After retiring in 2022, Roccanti said he had the idea to open a small record shop. He had a small collection of records but began accumulating more collections and inventory before opening his first location in Ludlow in May 2022.
Roccanti opened his second location in East Longmeadow in May 2024 and has received nothing but positive feedback since opening his first store due to what he called a “resurgence” in vinyls.
“We found out that there were a lot of people out there who were kind of getting back into vinyls after years of listening to music on Spotify and things like that. They were kind of getting the bug back kind of like I did,” Roccanti said.
Roccanti has always loved record stores since he was a kid and has a lot of good memories of skimming through vinyls while he spent his time there.
He remembered the excitement he felt while visiting record stores and uses that feeling to help with the success of his business.
“I was always excited whether I had to get a ride to the store or later on when I was driving. Even up until five years ago before I opened the store and I was hitting record stores, there was an excitement. You get out of your car, you go in and you start looking around and with that excitement I had, I see it in the eyes of my customers now as they come in,” Roccanti said.
Roccanti has also achieved another goal most peoples strive for, working at a job that doesn’t feel like a job.
“It never felt like work,” Roccanti said, “It always felt like kind of a fun thing to do. Getting into work, turning on the music, talking music with customers, putting records out and you’re getting excited about acquiring collections and putting records out and watching customers come in and say, ‘Oh, I was looking for this’ or ‘I had this album, this Beatles album years ago.’”
Roccanti accredits a lot of his success and love for his business to his customers who all love music.
He said, “Customers that are passionate about vinyls and collecting and listening. We’re all the same as far as we’re all excited about being in a store. Our customers are awesome, they talk about music. They’ll tell us stories. I think it is just the fact that you go to work, we listen to music, we have music in the background, we’re chatting up with our customers and they’re telling us their stories whether it’s about a concert they were at. It’s really great because we’re all sharing a common love of music.”
In celebration of Independent Retailer Month, Reminder Publishing is highlighting independent business owners in the Pioneer Valley who have made a positive impact and contributions to the community. For more, visit thereminder.com.
DA urges caution as serious crashes in Hampden County surge
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni is sounding the alarm after a disturbing mid-year update: the number of serious motor vehicle incidents has reached 42 as of June 24, a staggering figure that puts this year on track to exceed previous annual totals.
The Hampden District Attorney’s Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit responds to fatal, and potentially fatal, motor vehicle crashes to assist in investigations with police that could lead to criminal charges, including motor vehicle homicide. A motor vehicle homicide is defined as operating a motor vehicle in a negligent or reckless
manner that causes injury resulting in death. As of this week, the office has responded to 42 major crash incidents, averaging 1.6 per week. So far this year, 28 of the 42 incidents to which the Hampden District Attorney’s Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit has responded resulted in death.
With summer and fair weather underway, an increase in road activity is typical. Projections suggest that this year’s fatal motor vehicles incidents in Hampden County could surpass totals in recent years.
The total annual crash callouts in past years are:
• 2024: 68 — This lower trending
number was potentially impacted to unusual weather patterns –a rainy, cold spring followed by extreme heat.
2023: 82 • 2022: 83 • 2021: 79 • 2020: 58 — This lower trending number was due to pandemic-related lockdowns and reduced travel.
“These numbers are not just statistics, they represent people and families whose lives have been forever changed,” said District Attorney Gulluni. “What’s most heartbreaking is that almost every one of these crashes could have been prevented.”
While operating under the influence remains a consistent issue, the office has identified other increasing problems: distracted and inattentive drivers and plain disregard for traffic laws. Contributing behaviors include:
• Texting and cellphone use while driving. Drivers fail to recognize how far their vehicle can travel in just a few seconds of distraction.
• Speeding and failure to obey traffic signals, including red lights, stop signs, and proper lane changes.
• Bicyclists, motorcyclists, and scooter riders unpredictably weaving between sidewalks and
streets, ignoring traffic laws.
• Pedestrian behaviors, such as crossing against signals or outside crosswalks, assuming drivers will see them and stop — a dangerous gamble that too often ends in tragedy.
“We all share responsibility for road safety,” Gulluni said. “It only takes one moment of negligence, one distraction, one bad decision to cause a crash. Whether you’re behind the wheel, on a bike, or on foot, we urge everyone to stay alert, follow the rules of the road, and take responsibility for your safety and the safety of others. One person’s moment of inattention can become another person’s tragedy.”
Special Legislative Commission on Xylazine conducts first meeting
WESTFIELD — On June 23, the Special Legislative Commission on Xylazine, co-chaired by state Sen. John Velis, hosted its first public meeting. The commission, which is tasked with studying and making recommendations on ways to address the public health and safety concerns posed by the proliferation of xylazine as an ad-
ditive to illicit drugs, was established in the omnibus substance use disorder bill that was signed into law last session.
The Westfield senator, who is also Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, served on the conference committee last session that negotiated the final substance use disorder bill and created the commission.
“This commission has a really important task in front of us, as we continue to see the proliferation of xylazine grow in our commonwealth’s drug supply. Last year, xylazine was found in a record-high 34% of lab-tested samples tested statewide. And in 2023, xylazine was found in 9% of opioid-related overdose deaths,” said Velis. “It is clear that our commonwealth must acknowledge the dangers that xylazine presents and the disturbing increases we are seeing, and I am grateful that the work of this commission is beginning.”
In addition to serving on the conference committee that negotiated last session’s substance use disorder bill that established this commission, Velis noted that
Joaquina A. Bergeron
Lois Ann Grindle
William Hawk
George Z. Gajewski
Alberta E. Jordan
Justine J. Jurek
Reverend Francis M. Kennedy
Wayne R. Myslinski
Marian A. Pniak
George J. Sedlak
Brian H. Stilwell
EAST LONGMEADOW
William Lee Burnett
Amato Daniele
Raymond E. Kemple
Joy A. Roman
HOLYOKE
Irene Sue Grinnell “Sue” Baskin
Robert F. Boardway Jr. Nancy T. Konis
Stephen Larrow
Raymond James Lynch III
Henry G. Seidel
LONGMEADOW
Julienne M. Mishol
SOUTH HADLEY
Margaret M. Breault
SPRINGFIELD
Marilou Chenaille (McConville)
Sandra M. Guzzo
Carole Jean Jonaitis
Yvette Jordan
Louis Kerlinsky
Charles James “Chickie” Murty
Brenda D. Nichols
Eleanor B. Parke
Dorothy F. Sowa
WILBRAHAM
Judith Morrison
Mary Corinne Stark
he has prioritized focusing on drug supply contamination and the proliferation of xylazine and other contaminants throughout his time in the Legislature. This includes securing funding in the fiscal year 2023 state budget to allow Tapestry Health in Western Massachusetts to purchase a Mass Spectrometer device to analyze drug supplies, as well as securing funding in the FY25 state budget for the Department of Public Health to carry out a public awareness campaign on the contaminated drug supply in Massachusetts.
The commission, which is made up of state legislators, public health officials, and law enforcement personnel, discussed its statutory requirements and goals during the first meeting, before turning it over to a series of
speakers. The list of speakers included Director Deirdre Calvert from the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), Traci Green from the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream (MADDS), Sarah Wakeman from the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Initiative at Mass General Brigham, and Officer Heather Longley from Northampton Police Department’s Drug Addiction Response Team, among others. Velis stated that the commission plans to continue to hold public meetings to hear from subject matter experts, as well as individuals impacted, as it works to compile information on xylazine in Massachusetts and what the commonwealth can do to help combat this rising contamination.
‘Still’ set to premiere in Northampton on July 12
After two previously sold out staged readings, the New England premiere of “Still,” a performed musical memoir, written and composed by Marcia Gomes, and directed by Roberta Uno, will open with two performances on Saturday, July 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. at the A.P.E. Workroom Theater at 33 Hawley St., Northampton.
“Still,” portrays a Black woman’s journey to heal herself and liberate the women in her family from a cycle of generational trauma. Through storytelling and original songs, the path to healing is revealed as the wisdom of her ancestors lights the way to wholeness.
For reservations, visit justkeepclimbingmusic.com/performances. Admission is a suggested donation of $25 or $30.
Clarinet Quartet
The Springfield Chamber Players Clarinet Quintet will perform at the Sevenars Summer Concerts on Sunday, July 27, at 4 p.m. The Clarinet Quintet features clarinetist Christopher Cullen, violinists Masako Yanagita and Miho Matsuno, violist Yuko Naito-Gotay, and cellist Melissa Westgate. This performance will be dedicated to Mark G. Auerbach, who was the director of public relations and marketing for the Springfield Chamber Players since the organization’s founding.
The Clarinet Quintet’s program for Sevenars encompasses programmatic music and popular music by contemporary composers. It will feature a work by Oscar-winner Bernard Herrmann, who wrote music for Alfred Hitchcock’s films.
Live Concerts are hosted at the Academy, 15 Ireland St., just off of Route 112, in Worthington.
Breakdancing Shakespeare
Hartford Stage will kick off its summer education programming with its 19th season of Breakdancing Shakespeare. This year, Breakdancing Shakespeare takes on one of Shakespeare’s most iconic tragedies: “Hamlet.”
Performances will run July 25, 26, and 27, at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford. General admission tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at HartfordStage.org or by calling 860-527-5151.
Wednesday Folk Traditions
The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum continues its Wednesday Folk Traditions concert series on Wednesday, July 9, with ReBelle. ReBelle’s multi-instrumental arrangements combine Rasta, soul, folk and poetry.
Concerts take place on
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., outside in the Sunken Garden at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum, 130 River Dr., Hadley. Admission is $12, $2 for children 16 and under. Cash only.
Picnickers are welcome on the museum’s grounds starting at 5 pm. The museum and its grounds are a smoke-free site. For more information, call 413-584-4699 or view pphmuseum.org.
Living Room Series
TheaterWorks Hartford, under the direction of Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, will present the sixth and final performance in the 2024-25 Living Room Series, featuring local jazz artist Haneef Nelson. The Living Room Concert Series at TheaterWorks Hartford is an intimate concert experience that brings local musicians, visiting artists, and the Greater Hartford community together.
Nelson will take the stage with Tyler Sherman on bass and
Scott Sasanecki on guitar, preforming a mix of jazz, bossa nova and R&B. Tickets start at $20.
More information is available at twhartford.org.
Top row, from left: “Still” will premiere at Northampton’s A.P.E. Workroom Theater. Cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare 2024: “Much Ado About Nothing.” Bottom row, from left:
