HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
JANUARY 29, 2026 | FREE
WWW.THEREMINDER.COM
FOR DELIVERY CONCERNS OR TO STOP DELIVERY, CALL 413-788-1100 OR EMAIL CIRCULATION@REPUB.COM
IN THIS
EDITION EASTHAMPTON
City Council hears about safety public concerns During a meeting on Jan. 21, the Easthampton City Council focused most of its time on the safety of the city.
Page 4
NORTHAMPTON
Hampshire HOPE offers free Narcan training A community naloxone training hosted by Hampshire HOPE and the Drug Addiction Recovery Team will take place on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity.
Page 5
DCC asks to ‘share the warmth’ with clothing drive With the winter season in full swing, the Division of Community Care is seeking community support and donations toward its “Share the Warmth” clothing drive.
Page 5
Derby talks future goals for Easthampton By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Having already served in an interim capacity for several months, Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby said he’s already found his footing in his first official term at the city’s helm. “Now that I’m about seven months in, I’m feeling like I’m really starting to hit my stride, which is great because this is where most mayors are actually literally in their first two weeks, so I have a head start,” he said. Derby officially became interim mayor of Easthampton last July following the resignation of former Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. After eventually deciding to throw his hat in the race in the fall, Derby was ultimately elected as the fourth mayor in Easthampton’s history during the November election. In a recent check-in with Reminder Publishing, the 22-year City Council veteran said his time as interim mayor allowed him to further accentuate his resourcefulness and communication skills. He said he is now ready to work closely with department heads as the budget season evolves over the next several months. “They all know that we’re trying to be as mindful as we can about how we spend money and getting value for the money that we do spend. That’s been one of my priorities from the get-go,” said Derby. “Mayors right now are just getting into the, ‘this is what I’m about,’ but I’m at the place where they kind of know what I’m looking for, and now they’re able to come to me as we’re getting to the budget season.” Derby said his leadership and
what the shared mission for the community will ultimately be are two of the many focuses he has in his first official term as mayor. “Leadership is not done in a vacuum. Leadership is based on relationships and expectations, and it’s really so much easier when everyone is on the same page, and when you have clean, open lines of communication and mutual respect,” Derby said. With the added focus, Derby noted this effort will be a work in progress as he aims to continue growing and learning from his new position. As a third-generation teacher who has taught physical education and wellness at Northampton High School for two decades, Derby said his life has always been about understanding leadership and the dynamics and interpersonal communications that come with his previous roles. “If I can help people be able to feel good about coming to the job and feel good about the work that they’re doing, and if I can have even a little part in that of making them feel good about that, that’s huge,” said Derby. “One of the things I’ve learned about being mayor is there’s no typical day. It is dynamic. It is exciting. It is scary. All of the above. But when you have the pieces in place that allow you to be successful, all of those things are manageable.” Derby said another focus in his first term as mayor is building on the city’s relationships with state and federal partners. Derby called these relationships critical. He said that although the federal government is currently “in a place of chaos and craziness,” having relationships with federal representatives is still
Mayor Salem Derby Reminder Publishing file photo
crucial because there are earmarks that could benefit the city in the future. “We need to make sure that we not only can access those funds, but can advocate for those funds. For me, one of the things I see as an important piece in my role is to advocate for Easthampton every opportunity I can,” said Derby. Looking ahead to the new year, Derby said he is focused on reestablishing the city’s social media presence to improve communications so citizens are better informed on what’s going on in Easthampton. Derby shared excitement for a new Easthampton city app that will help mitigate any communication gaps. “We are … creating a city app where it will be an integrated app. We haven’t decided on a name yet, but what it’s going to
do is have all of city services incorporated into a one-stop shop. Paying water and sewer, paying real estate taxes, excise taxes, getting permits — whether it’s a burn permit from the Fire Department or a tag sale permit from the clerks. Mountain Road closed? You get a push notification to your phone. Emergency communication goes out, you get a push notification to your phone,” Derby explained. Information regarding recycling and trash hauling options will also be included on the app, as well as press releases from city officials and departments. There will also be a way residents can report potholes or un-shoveled streets. “Part of the functionality is, See DERBY on page 3