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Study on removal of Manhan River Dam to be funded by state A dam removal study for the Manhan River Dam will be funded through the state after the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $350,000 toward supporting dam removal studies in seven municipalities.
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NORTHAMPTON
District seeks members for superintendent search committee The Northampton School Committee is inviting the public to consider joining a Preliminary Superintendent Search Committee as the district seeks to hire a permanent superintendent to begin duties on July, 1, 2026.
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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Heartbeat Theater aims to bring more intimate theater to valley A new theater company established by a group of passionate area stage actors and crew is debuting its inaugural production, “Proof,” to kick off the new year .
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Project aims to protect endangered species By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — As part of a recent grant, students at Smith College have completed a project focused on helping the endangered Eastern rat snake, Massachusetts’ only tree snake. The habitat-restoration project at the college’s MacLeish Field Station will help keep endangered snakes warm in the winter after the installation of a hibernaculum, or a winter shelter, designed to help the species survive the elements and stay protected from predators. The project is part of a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and Mutual of Ohama’s Wild Kingdom to support higher education institutions focused on conserving endangered or at-risk species and habitat. Smith’s Center for Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability, or CEEDS, were supported by an $8,500 grant. “I really love this program because we are able to provide grants to support those efforts on campus. With Smith College, one of the things that stood out was they were focusing on an endangered species, a reptile in Massachusetts. They also put a lot of emphasis on their proposal and in the project over the last several months on engaging students. Students are participating in this project, learning about the species, and also learning with hands-on skills,” National Wildlife Federation Wildlife and Nature Director Kristy Jones told Reminder Publishing. Jones has been with the NWF for 20 years, mostly working with colleges and universities on conservation and sustainability projects, anything from habitat restoration to energy conservation. The eastern rat snake has be-
From left, MacLeish Field Station manager Paul Wetzel leads his team of students out for installation of the hibernaculum. Smith College students on the project help install the hibernaculum to help protect the endangered eastern rat snake. Photo credit: National Wildlife Federation
come an endangered species in the state primarily due to habitat degradation and fragmentation. In Massachusetts, the rat snake is severely imperiled and unlikely to be observed except at a handful of mountainous locations in central and Western Mass. Adult rat snakes in Massachusetts are large, muscular, shiny black and is non-venomous. As explained by MacLeish Field Station manager Paul Wetzel, the newly installed hidden hibernaculum is a place where snakes, both the endangered rat snake and other snake species, can comfortably spend cold days when they go through brumation, a state of dormancy where they are not fully asleep but metabolically slowed down. This allows snakes to conserve energy until the winter months return. Wetzel said the history of the 250-acre property at the MacLeish Field station is tied to its current ecological makeup today. The property was first purchased by the school in the 1960s to build the field station and it included a pasture for about 30 to 40
acres that was mowed or grazed consistently before the college purchased it. As time went on, Wetzel said the college wasn’t really doing much with the property outside the addition of the observatory until about 15 years ago, a concerted effort was made to take advantage of the nature available, as well as conserve the space. “They eventually decided we should do more with this. Let’s develop this as an educational resource for experiential learning. Let’s put a stake in the ground. It’s 12 miles from campus and could be something that is a real asset for students,” said Wetzel. Wetzel said now the MacLeish Field Station is the home for scientific research for students at Smith, art and nature projects, and recreational opportunities on the property. Overall, the outdoor educational opportunities have made for unique work from students and opened the door for this project around the eastern rat snake. Wetzel said if the property’s fields had been abandoned generations ago, the space would have gone through the traditional plant
succession. The composition of the forest might change over 150 years, but in essence, a forest would return. “That didn’t happen because the abandonment occurred in the ’60s and ’70s, and by that time there were invasive species in the ecosystem,” added Wetzel. With this already in mind, Wetzel began conservation efforts on the property starting several years ago to try and control the invasives that had made their way on the property. Wetzel explained the four main invasive species seen on the property included multiflora rose, round leaf bittersweet vines, autumn olive trees and Japanese barberry bushes. All of these species produce red berries that are then eaten by songbirds who end up dispersing seeds around the area through their droppings. For example, the bittersweet vines end up growing and strangling other plants. Some of the multiflora rose bushes end up growing around 8 feet tall and are so dense that virtually nothSee SMITH on page 3
JANUARY 8-14, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE
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By Dennis Hackett
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SPRINGFIELD — From Jan. 9-11, the Boar’s Head Festival will take place at Trinity United Church in Springfield. The festival is based on a medieval festival in England celebrating the Epiphany — the birth of Christ and the arrival of the Three Wise Men. On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” host Chris Maza sat down with Boar’s Head Festival Artistic Director Steve Hays to discuss the event. Hays said their version of the festival came into fruition in 1984 after one of the initial organizers had been to another festival and realized Trinity United Church would be the perfect place for it. “The architecture, which is kind of medieval, renaissance in flavor, we had a big music program, and we thought it could be a viable program,” he said. “We opened in 1984 with a pretty complete visualization of what it is today. It was quite a crazy time with making hundreds of costumes, organizing the fundraising, but it has paid off.” Hays also explained what attendees can expect from its twopart program and said that the performance is set in 1526 in England in the Cheshire area. “The first, which we call the festival preparation, is the assemblage of a community that is going to put on the presentation. The festival preparation is about how they work together to pull this off,” he said. “Then there is the festival … and it involves a lot of wonderful music, dance, animals, we have three camels coming down the aisle for the arrival of the kings, a horse, sheep goats, chickens, geese.” As the director, Hays discussed one of the challenges of the festival performance. “As director, I’m trying to make it a blend of highly religious observation, but also earthiness. These are very earth-bound people, they are doing their best to make this festival work,” he said. Hays also spoke highly of the architecture in making the festival a “special event.” “We have wonderful stained glass and at the end of the festival when The Wise Men are there at the alter and everybody is presenting their attention to the Christ child, above the altar comes a stained-glass window of Christ and it’s lit from outside in the backyard and it’s a lovely moment,” he said. “It’s a wonderful area to present this kind of
A photo from a previous Boar’s Head Festival. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
a festival.” Each year a committee of eight to 10 people does all of the planning for the festival each year, which can include an average of 200-plus people involved in the performances each day, according to Hays. Hays said that directing the festival is “like directing a circus.” “So much goes on throughout the building, it’s not focused on one particular area, it might be focused on about five or six. And that’s part of the fun of this, is that people who come see something going on all around and
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they enjoy it,” he said. The festival also includes a Madame Elixir with potions for attendees to “increase their life and enjoyment,” mind readers, a falconer and free cookies baked by the committee. “We have a lot of ways to interact with the audience and make them feel that they are part of this community that has put on this festival,” he said. Hays said one of the most important parts of the festival is the interaction between the cast and the audience. “My job is to keep that interaction within restraints. I want it to be true to the era, to the purpose of this and remind us all that our job is to create an Epiphany celebration, and I that I think is what ultimately motivates our cast to make it a religious experi-
ence,” he said. One thing that Hays called “sobering” is how long people have been participating in the event for the course of over four decades. “It’s a little sobering — this is the 42nd year I’ve done this — to see people now in their 40s who weren’t born when we started this. Some of them started with children’s roles, teen roles, adult roles and now they’re moving even beyond that,” he said. Tickets for the festival can be purchased online at eventbrite. com/e/boars-head-festival-ticket s-1219649948829?aff=oddtdtcreator To listen to the full conversation, head to thereminder.com/ our-podcast or go to your favorite podcasting platform and search “So That Reminds Me.”
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HAMPSHIRE | JANUARY 8-14, 2026
20 local firefighters graduate from State Fire Academy SPRINGFIELD — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy leadership on Dec. 19 announced the graduation of 21 firefighters from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. “Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.” “Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director JP Seivane. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, today’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to work seamlessly with veteran firefighters in their home departments and in neighboring communities as mutual aid.”
The graduating firefighters of Class S43 represent the fire departments of Agawam, Athol, Charlton, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Greenfield, Holyoke, Marblehead, Southampton, Southborough, Southwick and Westfield. Kyle Rondeau of the Southampton Fire Department was one of the graduates. The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one recruit in each graduating career recruit training class, was presented to Firefighter William Kipp of the Southborough Fire Department. The award is named for a longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit’s academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 10-week program.
Smith
Continued from page 1
ing else can grow up against them. These invasives have only spread during the last 60 years or so, leading to other impacts to the ecosystem like the endangering of the eastern rat snake. “It can happen pretty fast, but it’s been 60 years where no one has done anything so there’s 30 acres of that property or so that is just sort of stagnant in a plant ecosystem that doesn’t allow trees to grow very well and much less anything else. It’s a pretty low diversity area,” said Wetzel. “I need to get rid of the seed source, especially for the bittersweet. It’s this huge seed source and if it grows up these trees, you’ve seen it, it’s
safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. Upon successful completion of the Career Recruit Program, all students have met the national standards of NFPA 1010, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and are certified to the levels of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
The most recent class of graduates from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Springfield. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Basic firefighter skills Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life
Today’s firefighters do much more than fight fires Modern firefighters train for and respond to all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to gas leaks to industrial chemical spills. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice, an office
worker stuck in an elevator, or a motorist trapped in a crashed vehicle. They test and maintain their equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus, hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus. At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, recruits learn all these skills and more, including the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics, from certified fire instructors. They also receive training in public fire education, hazard-
ous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive, 10-week program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice. The MFA provides recruit and in-service training for career, call, and volunteer firefighters at every level of experience, from recruit to chief officer, at campuses in Stow, Springfield and Bridgewater.
just a waterfall of vines and every fall it produces thousands of seeds that get carried away and spread all over,” said Wetzel. Wetzel said while it is difficult to actually get rid of the invasives, they can still be controlled through these efforts. In this process of doing this work and getting students involved as well, Wetzel was eventually made aware of the National Wildlife Federation’s grant funding for universities and colleges to improve the habitat of threatened and endangered species on campus, which he soon then applied for. “I came to an area [on the property] that had a bunch of wetlands in it and so I had to delineate the wetland. When I did that, I found out that part of the property is designated by Natural Heritage, the state wildlife organization, as be-
ing a space where you would find eastern rat snakes,” said Wetzel. Wetzel said after securing the funding he got more students involved in the work and hired junior student Alex Blaszcyk as the student leader on the project, a student who has been closely involved with the general conservation work as well. He also credited Blaszcyk for her efforts in crafting a snake reporting form to identify and monitor populations. Starting over the summer the work to control invasives expanded with students involved. The complicated work had students out there working on different areas related to this work, including planting plants and identifying areas of invasives. The hibernaculum was established through digging a hole about 5 and a half feet deep, and
is 10-feet-by-6-feet, and then adding rocks and logs in there to create cavities. There are three ways of accessing the hibernaculum through little tunnels around the area. This hibernaculum is now permanently in place on the property and will be monitored for years to come. “Will they use it? I have no idea. I’ve still never even seen a rat snake,” Wetzel said with a laugh. “It was good because it gave students a chance to learn firsthand. It’s sort of like building a bird house. Birds need one, but maybe they don’t. But what you’re doing is you’re saying, if for whatever reason the habitat isn’t there, here’s the possibility of using this as a substitute. And so, you have to start thinking about how is this animal going to interact with the environment. What
are its needs. And that’s actually a really good exercise for any student when they are interested in wildlife biology or wildlife habitat restoration. It was good example or surrogate for just the through processes when thinking about wildlife restoration.” Jones said projects such as this are important for students as well as adults in helping better understand their environment and wildlife in the community. “I think it’s really important for individuals, citizens, whether it’s a kid or an adult, to really understand what species in their community are vulnerable and learn how they can help. Because I see endangered species as kind of an alarm. It’s a warning for folks that something isn’t healthy in the
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State to fund study on removal of Manhan River Dam By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — A dam removal study for the Manhan River Dam will be funded through the state after the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $350,000 toward supporting dam removal studies in seven municipalities. The funding will help municipalities perform a dam removal study in preparation for climate change and in an effort to improve habitat for fish and wildlife. These preliminary design studies, managed by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration and funded by ResilientMass, help dam owners assess risks and opportunities associated with potential dam removal projects. “It is always excellent to bring state and federal grant funding to Easthampton,” DPW Director Greg Nuttelman told
Reminder Publishing. “To my knowledge, this is the first time the Easthampton DPW has received funding from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, so this is a relatively new endeavor for us.” Nuttelman added the city was made aware of the site being a high priority from MassDER after the removal of the Lyman Pond dam on the Manhan River in Southampton. The study will focus specifically on the impacts of the destruction of the Manhan River Dam and fish ladder, which in turn could help the city save on costs as well as improve the health of a major fish habitat. “Submitting for this funding was worthwhile to help the community make better informed decisions on the future of the dam and fish ladder as both structures continue to age,” added Nuttelman. Nuttelman said the destruction of the Manhan River Dam
would reconnect approximately 377 downstream miles to 79 miles upstream. There are over 3,000 dams in Massachusetts, most of which no longer serve their original purpose and many of which are in disrepair, according to the state. Dams degrade water quality, block passage for fish and wildlife, and increase flood risks and public safety hazards for communities. “Dam removal is an important part of the commonwealth’s ambitious, whole-of-government approach to conserve biodiversity,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “With every aging unwanted dam removed, we help people and nature thrive together. Free-flowing, restored rivers are critical for fish and wildlife and make our communities safer, healthier and better prepared for severe storms.” Removing unwanted dams and restoring river health aids communities in becoming more
resilient to extreme weather, eliminates maintenance costs and risks for dam owners, and boosts biodiversity. Preliminary design studies will support dam owners in gathering and synthesizing information for each dam to inform further projects. “These communities are taking the first step toward improving climate resilience, public safety and vital habitats for fish and wildlife,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “DER is proud to support these endeavors and steward dam removal efforts throughout the state that benefit both people and nature.” Nuttelman said that the dam was originally constructed sometime in the 1680s to provide hydropower and was eventually dismantled in 1947. In 1998, the dam was repaired and rehabilitated and currently the pool behind the dam is recreationally fished for trout and other species. “I am hopeful that the study
will fuel a meaningful community conversation about the dam and the long term cost/benefits associated with maintaining it in its current state versus removing it,” added Nuttelman. Nuttelman also noted that since the destruction of the former Lyman Pond Dam in Southampton, the Manhan River Dam is the final obstruction on the river from its confluence with the Connecticut River, to the Tighe-Carmody Reservoir, its headwaters in Southampton. “The fish ladder does pass fish but there may be more significant benefits to removal, and the fish ladder is dependent on consistent operation and maintenance,” added Nuttelman. “Informal conversations with Mass. Department of Fish & Game staff have indicated that removal of the Lyman Pond Dam has led to benefits in Southampton and removal of the Manhan River Dam may lead to more significant gains.”
Lawmakers push for tighter disclosure rules on ballot question funding By Sam Drysdale
State House News Service
BOSTON — Facing a potentially crowded and costly 2026 ballot cycle, lawmakers advanced legislation to tighten disclosure rules for ballot question campaigns and reveal who’s funding them. The Joint Committee on Election Laws recommended companion bills, H 868 and S 507, which are now before the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.
The votes signal interest among lawmakers in updating laws that critics say have not kept pace with the scale and sophistication of modern ballot campaigns. The Ballot Spending Transparency Act would expand what ballot question committees must report to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, increase the frequency of required filings, and more clearly define non-cash political support that currently can remain largely out of public view
for much of a campaign cycle. Sen. John Keenan co-chairs the Election Laws Committee and said the volume and scope of ballot questions moving through the initiative petition process played a role in his decision to advance the bill. “I think the number of ballot questions that have been proposed for the upcoming election kind of reinforced the need for this,” Keenan said in an interview. “These ballot questions often-
times, whether it’s one side or the other, they’re very well financed, and the public has a right to know, and should know, where the money’s coming from behind each side of the argument.” Election officials are reviewing nearly 150 boxes of signatures submitted by campaigns, and as many as 12 questions could be presented to voters in November 2026. The measures span a wide range of policy areas, including tax policy, rent control, public records access, election reforms and housing development. Keenan said that when voters are inundated with ads, transparency about who is paying for them becomes critical. “People turn on the TV or look at social media, and they’re hit with these ads about a ballot question, and they really don’t know where they’re coming from,” he said. “This makes the whole process more transparent. It allows people to get a better sense of who’s behind these ads.” Ballot question committees face less frequent reporting requirements than candidates for office, particularly during the first eight months of an election year, according to the bill summary from sponsor Rep. Daniel Ryan. Sen. Sal DiDomenico is the primary sponsor in the Senate. The legislation would close that gap by requiring more frequent pre-election reports and continued post-election filings until all debts are paid. The bills would also add a statutory definition of “in-kind contributions,” covering non-cash support such as free or discounted goods and services, staff time, or
expenses paid on a committee’s behalf. Ballot committees with questions on the statewide ballot would be required to itemize in-kind contributions worth more than $50, disclose new debts or liabilities, and explain why those obligations were incurred. At an October hearing on the bills, the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts urged lawmakers to act, pointing to dramatic growth in ballot question spending both nationally and in the commonwealth. “Initiative petitions are a powerful tool for direct democracy that enhance government responsiveness and increase citizen participation,” said Common Cause’s Geoff Foster. “But they can also be used by powerful special interests to buy their preferred public policies, and they often become colossal spending operations. Right now, our reporting requirements for ballot question committees are far too lax.” Dev Chatterjee of Common Cause provided lawmakers with data compiled from OCPF filings showing the scale of the increase. In 2024 alone, Massachusetts ballot campaigns received more than $43 million in cash and in-kind contributions, he said, accounting for 3.4% of national ballot question spending even though the state represents about 2.1% of the U.S. population. Analyzing six election cycles, Common Cause found that ballot committees in Massachusetts raised more than $340 million, See BALLOT on page 5
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Public asked to join superintendent search committee By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton School Committee is inviting the public to consider joining the Preliminary Superintendent Search Committee as the district seeks to hire a permanent superintendent to begin duties on July 1. Although the School Committee makes the final decision in hiring its superintendent, members of the Northampton community are being asked to get involved and play a critical role in the process. The search committee will screen applications and make decisions about who to invite for interviews and will then hold in-depth interviews and make recommendations for final-
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environment and ecosystem, and most of the time if it’s not healthy for wildlife, animals and plants, it’s not going to be healthy for humans as well,” added Jones. Wetzel said as for the overall conservation work on the proper-
Ballot Continued from page 4
with roughly $120 million of that total coming in during months when no reporting was required. “That’s a massive amount of money moving through the system with no public visibility,” Chatterjee told lawmakers. Legislative leaders, who exer-
ists to the full School Committee. Outgoing School Committee co-chair and at-large member Gwen Agna did not run for reelection and will be out of the role with the new year but told Reminder Publishing this call to the public will bring representation of the many stakeholders in the city to the table to help with this search process, especially for such a pressing community issue. “Right now, I think we are, as many districts are, concerned about budget and how we continue to be able to fund out schools to meet the needs of all our students,” said Agna. “It’s not something we see as a magic answer, but it is something that where we want to have someone who has experience in school districts and
working with the limited budgets schools have.” During the process, the committee members will be asked to sponsor listening sessions with stakeholder groups with logistical support provided. The city is calling on all members of the Northampton community of staff, faculty, students, caregivers and residents to join the Preliminary Superintendent Search Committee. “I think it will be based on the previous search committee that we had which will have representation from teachers, administrators, community members, school committee, students for sure. And we also want paraprofessionals along with regular teachers involved so that it’s
composed of everyone who has a stake in this process and who will be working with the superintendent,” said Agna. The process for screening and interviewing candidates will be transparent and collaborative and participation will require a significant time commitment. It is expected the committee’s work will be conducted from January through March to start the new year. Those interested in serving on the Preliminary Superintendent Search Committee are encouraged to email or send a letter to the district on why they are interested in serving, and what roles — faculty, staff, student, administrator, caregiver, resident — they hold in the community. This
can be sent to School Committee Clerk Cassie Eckhof who can be reached via email at ceckhof@ northampton-k12.us, or a letter can be mailed to Northampton Public Schools, 212 Main St., 2nd Floor, Northampton, MA. “I think that everyone has a stake in this, there’s no question about it, because we all care about the schools. It is the highest paid position in the city, higher than even the mayor, so there’s a lot at stake not just in terms of finding the right leader but also finding one who can lead the whole school district and understand the responsibility,” added Agna. “There’s a lot at stake here and we look forward to having somebody who can lead our district into the future.”
ty, about 15 acres are in conversion but there are still about 15 more acres to keep working at and this will continue to be ongoing work. As for his students and their experience through the installation the hibernaculum or general conservation, he hopes their takeaways stay with them as they continue to grow and enter professional careers. “I don’t know if I can speak
for students but I’m hoping they’re getting this talking about a takeaway. One of the reasons I’m doing this is if you read the newspaper or listen to the news or start searching the internet, there’s a lot of things going on in the world that could make you sit down and cry. And you could get very discouraged. And the thing is that in terms of ecological restoration, we know what
needs to happen by and large. It’s hard work and it takes resources, but we know enough about what needs to happen. Wetzel continued, “So at least for me, and I think this translates to students as well, if they can do even just for three hours plant trees, it 1. Get’s them outside, 2. They get to learn about how to plant trees, and 3. They can say they planted trees and there’s this
hope they will grow and be something beautiful in part of the landscape. That is what restoration ecology does for me and that’s what I think it does for a lot of people who volunteer. It’s a positive thing they can do instead of just like, oh the world is going to hell in a handbasket. What are we going to do?’ Well, here’s something positive you can do and we’re helping the world a little bit.
cise control over the traditional Beacon Hill agenda, have expressed unease over the role of well-financed interest groups in the initiative process. House Speaker Ron Mariano has questioned whether the state is drifting toward a California-style ballot system dominated by moneyed campaigns. “It really makes me wonder: Are we becoming California,
where you go out and get some money because there are very few financial restrictions on some of these special interest groups?” Mariano said in November, after Attorney General Andrea Campbell certified dozens of potential ballot questions. Keenan said he expects some behind-the-scenes resistance from groups that have benefited from looser disclosure rules, but predicted it would be difficult for opponents to make their case publicly. “I think it’s very difficult for those that support the ballot ques-
tions to come out publicly and say, ‘Oh, we don’t want you to know exactly how much we’re spending,’” he said. Rep. Leigh Davis of Great Barrington, a member of the Election Laws Committee, called the proposal a “no-brainer” during the October hearing. Ryan’s bill got a favorable committee recommendation in November and has bipartisan support, including from House and Senate Minority Leaders Brad Jones and Bruce Tarr. Senate Election Laws Committee members also
recommended their bill in November, with a 5-0 vote featuring support from Majority Leader Cindy Creem. With the bills now headed to Ways and Means, lawmakers will weigh their fiscal impact and decide whether to advance them at a time when they will also be asked to weigh in on the merits of the 2026 ballot questions. Sam Drysdale is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro. Reach her at sdrysdale@statehousenews.com.
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Nolan Ingram saves the ball from going out of play.
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Heartbeat Theater aims to bring intimate performances to valley By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Heartbeat Theater, a new theater company established by a group of passionate area stage actors and crew is debuting its inaugural production to kick off the new year as they will present “Proof,” opening on Jan. 16 in The Blue Room at CitySpace. Set in the early 2000s, “Proof” is a Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play by David Auburn and has received much critical acclaim due to its commanding exploration of truth, authenticity and the fine line between brilliance and instability. Jumping between past and present, the story centers on the family of a recently deceased mathematical genius. Through moments of profound revelation, deep healing, bitter judgement and good humor, “Proof” examines how we reconcile grief, question the future and make peace with the legacy left behind. “‘Proof’ confronts the burden of family legacy and how families can be torn apart by doubt and grief, only to discover deeper ties that bind,” said Director Jason Rose-Langston. “The play examines the struggle to know oneself and the need we all have to be truly known by others.” The cast features local talent, including former Ashfield Community Theater Director William Spademan as Robert, a professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago. Kimberly Gaughan joins him as Robert’s daughter and caretaker, Catherine. Anne Zager plays Catherine’s older sister, Claire. Shelton Windham rounds out the cast as Robert’s former student, Hal.
From left: William Spademan as Robert and Kimberly Gaughan as Catherine, in a recent rehearsal for Heartbeat Theater’s inaugural production of ‘Proof’. Anne Zager as Claire and Shelton Windham as Hal, during a recent rehearsal for Heartbeat Theater’s inaugural production of ‘Proof’. Photo credit: River Hambleton, Heartbeat Theater
Performances will begin on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in CitySpace’s Blue Room. Following performances will be on Jan. 17, 23 and 24, at 7:30 p.m., and matinee showings will be on Jan. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at heartbeattheater.org. Rose-Langston and Gaughan both told Reminder Publishing the formation of Heartbeat Theater stems from the recent Easthampton Theater Company’s production of “On Golden Pond” which the two directed and starred in, respectively. As that production was wrapping up, Gaughan said she remembered asking fellow cast member William Spademan if he was familiar with the play “Proof.” “From my perspective it was sort of a oh, wouldn’t it be nice if the theater company did this play some day and we could be in it, but William being as creative and gung-ho as he is, suggested that we just do it together,” explained Gaughan. “I was really taken aback by that because I’ve been an actor for almost 20 years and
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you sort of rely on casting directors and production companies to cast you. You’re always kind of at their whim and this idea that we could just do it ourselves and cast ourselves I guess is slightly narcissistic, but it worked really well.” With the motivational push to see what was possible from Spademan, Gaughan said the two of them began discussions on forming a new theater group and brought Rose-Langston into the fold thanks to the “wonderful environment” he facilitated as director of “On Golden Pond.” “They approached me with this idea, and they didn’t know actually that ‘Proof’ was on my bucket list to direct so we had this wonderful conversation over dinner where they thought they had to convince me to direct it and I thought I had to convince them to let me direct it, so it was joyous from day one,” said RoseLangston. “It sort of happened very organically that we developed this new theater company and Heartbeat Theater came out of just the beautiful collaboration we had in ‘On Golden Pond’ and the continued friendship and collaboration that we want to bring into this new venture.” Wanting to be a part of a production of “Proof” since a teenager, Gaughan said this new endeavor was the perfect opportunity to make it happen. As stated by the theater company, Heartbeat Theater’s mission is to present simple, intimate productions of great plays — one heartbeat in the evolution of human society passing ever forward its stories. “I think part of the reason I was interested once William proposed starting a theater company was that I always envisioned a theater company that produces simple productions of great plays,” explained Gaughan. “I really love to see acting forward productions, so where the focus is on the actors, the narrative, the
story. Don’t get me wrong, I love big theatrical things, you know, like ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ but I think that there is a space for more intimate shows in studio spaces with simpler sets where you really get to see the actors in their full glory. And I think ‘Proof’ is a play that really lends itself to that. It’s a forehander. Most of the scenes only have two or three people in them, so there’s a lot of focus on the story and so I thought it was a great play to start with.” Rose-Langston added that for this production, concentration on performances takes highest priority with the show’s intimate venue and story. He called “Proof” “one of those universal stories of family drama.” “The show grapples with the themes of grief, themes of loss, and really delves into the aftermath of legacy, because of the father’s legacy. What does that mean to the people who are left behind? What does that mean in terms of their own identities both connected to the father but also as separate individuals,” said Rose-Langston. He added, “It’s also a story that revolves around mental illness as well, which is one of my specialties as a professional, I’m a psychotherapist. And so that’s one of the things that drew me to the show. It’s one of the few pieces that I’ve found that really handles mental illness very accurately and also very compassionately. It doesn’t devolve into stereotypes or anything like that but really is embedded in the show in terms of mental illness and questioning your sanity is the importance of truth. The importance of understanding truth, recognizing truth, and being perceived as a truthful person, being trusted of your own mind, your own will. Those are the things that drew me to the piece.” Both Rose-Langston and Gaughan said they are eagerly
awaiting the opening of Heartbeat Theater’s inaugural production of “Proof” and hope the shows can build momentum forward for the new theater group. “What I think we offer is something that the valley has been missing for quite a while, these very intimate, minimalistic productions that focus in on performance over production value. Production value is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, I love a big splashy show. It’s really beautiful to be part of that and I’m still part of ETC’s board of directors and still heavily involved with their shows as well. But this is something different. I thought it was a nice change of pace for the valley and it really allows us to focus on craft,” said Rose-Langston. Gaughan added, “I think the running joke currently is we’re just trying to get through this first production, but I do have visions for us. We’re such a wonderful community. I feel like we’re a little family of artists who’ve come together and we all have different tastes and preferences, but I think there is a similar goal that we love really strong narratives. We love really strong tight plays, and we like doing them with simplicity.” Gaughan credited Easthampton Theater Company for their support in this new endeavor and added Heartbeat Theater is lucky to be based in the Pioneer Valley surrounded by artists who want to come together. “There’s just so much going on [in the area] and I found that people are so eager to be involved and create great art and I’ve never experienced that in my entire artistic career, this community of people coming together and uplifting each other,” said Gaughan, who moved to the area from Boston in the last year. “So, for us to be able to join this theater scene which we’re so grateful to be a part of it was very easy because everyone is so welcoming and helpful.”
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CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS THURSDAY AT NOON. LEGAL NOTICES CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION Docket No. HS25P0805EA Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department Hampshire Probate and Family Court 15 Atwood Drive Northampton, MA 01060 (413)586-8500 Estate of: Patricia A. Johnson Date of Death: 07/02/2025 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Kaitlyn Johnson of Chicopee, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Kaitlyn Johnson of Chicopee, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/21/2026. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Diana S. Velez Harris, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 17, 2025 Mark S. Ames, Register of Probate (January 8)
CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION Docket No. HS25P0489EA Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department Hampshire Probate and Family Court 15 Atwood Drive Northampton, MA 01060 (413)586-8500 Estate of: Pauline Ann Parker Date of Death: 04/26/2016 To all interested persons: A Petition for Late and Limited Formal Testacy and/or Appointment has been filed by Jonathan A. Yourga of Northampton, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Jonathan A. Yourga of Northampton, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve With Corporate Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/21/2026. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Diana S. Velez Harris, First Justice of this Court. Date: Decemeber 23, 2025 Mark S. Ames, Register of Probate (January 8)
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AMHERST
HADLEY
BELCHERTOWN
Glenn M. Gilbert and Ellen Kay Hersom to Owen D. Maguire and Elena N. Cravens, 384 Spring St. Jonathan B. Liebman and Anne G. Fine to Caren Yaffa Irgang and Sandon Hess, 25 Munroe St. Konstantinos Sierros to Susan Elena Esquivel and Douglas Arthur Fraser, 84 North Main St.
Kristy J. Daniels and Sandra Orsulic to Carmela Dunford and Dennis Dunford, 500 West St. $325,000 Marin Amundson-Graham and Dana Graham to Mordecai Jay Golin and Eliza Wing Yee Lee, 16 Rocky Hill Road $854,000 Hilda Greenbaum, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Hilda Greenbaum to Krupalu LLC, 630 Main St. $1,150,000 Betty Jacobson, trustee, and Jacobson Realty Trust to Peter Gordan Marcus and Trang N. Nguyen, 13 Harlow Dr. $475,000 HATFIELD James E. Read and Allison Read to David Sloviter and Noryn A. Resnick, 49 North St. $675,000 Cynthia Kilmer Skhiri, trustee, Patricia Kilmer Cranton, trustee, Janice L. Kilmer, trustee, and Virginia L. Kilmer Trust to Mingda Qiao and Andi Chen, 11 Sheerman Lane $750,000 NORTHAMPTON Alexandra M. Foster, Alexandra M. Weigel and Benjamin Foster to Ryan Potter, 245 Ware Road $380,000 Caitlyn G. Cameron, Caitlyn Grace Cameron and Douglas Cameron to Christopher Zenyuch, 276 Amherst Rd. $310,000 Wilfred N. Auclair and Denise A. Auclair to Douglas Cameron and Caitlyn Cameron, 399 North Washington St. $425,000 Jon C. Ventulett to Adam A. Grove and Sarah A. Grove, 45 Howard St. $374,900 Susan R. Coates and Penny L. Coates to Amaz Cleveland, 64 Gold St. $465,000 FSG Realty LLC, to Victor English and Bethany English, 37 Poole St. $133,450
EASTHAMPTON
Melissa Murphy, personal representative, and Thomas J. Murphy, estate, to Lee E. Hurter Daniel R. Carey and Melissa Carey to Michael Christopher Reynolds, 6 Newell St. Patrick A. Foley and Mary M. Foley to Daniel Carey and Melissa M. Carey, 5 Laurin Lane Kenneth P. Bachand Jr., and Karalyn E. Bachand to Christopher Aaron Viens and Kelly Yau, 56 Pomeroy St.
GOSHEN
Deborah L. Wunsch, personal representative, and Mark D. Harry, estate, to Glenn Gilbert, 125 Cape St.
GRANBY
Alicia Volel and Gregory J. Volel to Andrew James Bogacz, 55 Pleasant St. Sheila Lee Webster and Beau Charles Webster to Vladimir Ferdman, 5 Greystone Ave.
SOUTH HADLEY
Andre A. Gagne to Daniel J. Powers and Jennifer Powers, 50 Susan Ave. Green Piranhas LLC, to Halifax Capital LLC, 13-15 Canal St. Robert F. Bozek and Christine A. Bozek to April R. Lannon, 59 Alvord Place
$518,000 SOUTHAMPTON $351,000 Richard L. Truehart, Richard L. Truehart Jr., and Paul E. Truehart to Fallon Holdings LLC, 6 Parc Place $530,000 Daniel LaValley and Abigail LaValley to Christopher Hirsch and Amy M. Scott, 17 Glendale Road $761,000 WARE
Ronald H. LaRiviere to Noah Nathaniel LaFlamme, Malboeuf Road $300,000 Ronald H. LaRiviere to Noah Nathaniel LaFlamme, 26 Malboeuf Road Tericyn J. Loehr to Gary D. Bergeron II, and Cherish E. Bergeron, 35 Pleasant St.
$675,000 $860,000 $600,000 $455,000 $280,000 $100 $350,000 $520,000 $100 $100 $249,000
$292,000 WORTHINGTON $341,900 Steven B. Magargal and Diane M. Magargal to Christina Joelle Marini and Joshua Carl Flinkstrom, 32 Williamsburg Rd. $265,000
JANUARY 8-14, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE
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