SATURDAY, MARCH 7
CHAPIN AUDITORIUM 2:00PM AND
7:30PM
The Jazz Ensembles of
Mount Holyoke College Starring Brian Lapis as
Emcee Fred Kelley Mark Gionfriddo, Creator and Director
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
FEBRUARY 26, 2026 | FREE
WWW.THEREMINDER.COM
TICKETS AVA BOOKSHOP IN SOUTH HADLEY, ONLILABLE AT THE ODYSSEY INE AT MHC.LUDUS.COM AND AT THE DOOR, SUBJECT TO AVAI LABILITY.
FOR DELIVERY CONCERNS OR TO STOP DELIVERY, CALL 413-788-1100 OR EMAIL CIRCULATION@REPUB.COM
IN THIS
EDITION NORTHAMPTON
Community Music Center auction is open The Northampton Community Music Center’s annual online auction, where the public can bid on a plethora of items from locally beloved businesses, is now open until March 7.
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EASTHAMPTON
Easthampton City Council shelves school funding act At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Easthampton City Council dismissed the adoption of an act that would have allowed additional funding methods for the School Department.
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Tenants win eviction cases through pre-trial mediation Two Pine Valley tenants have won their eviction cases following what they and many other tenants of Pine Valley Realty have called unfair hikes in rent.
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Healey, Driscoll make Holyoke campaign stop By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — On Feb. 17, Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visited the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke as part of two campaign stops in Western Massachusetts. The stop in Holyoke and the one later that day in North Adams provided Healey and Driscoll the opportunity to discuss state investments in new housing projects and local arts and culture, in addition to the duo’s affordability agenda and their reelection campaign. “The bottom line is both Kim and I feel incredibly privileged to be in these positions,” Healey stated. “We also deeply, deeply love our state, and we want to work and stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone and anyone who believes in our state and who wants better for their community, for their family, and we’ll work so, so hard to get that done.” Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia opened the event by endorsing the duo and highlighting some of the work they and the state have done to help Holyoke achieve certain goals. He specifically highlighted advancements in housing, regaining local control for its school district and construction advancements at the Victory Theatre as major milestones in the community. Garcia recalled a similar event four years ago at the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, where he first endorsed Healey for governor. “Today, I stand here once again alongside our governor to reaffirm my full support for Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll as they seek reelection, because their leadership has been clear, their vision has
been strong and their commitment to not only Holyoke, but communities everywhere in the commonwealth.” Other legislators at the event endorsed Healey and Driscoll, including state Reps. Pat Duffy and Brian Ashe, Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby, Holyoke City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti and Holyoke City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos. Healey emphasized some important accomplishments from her first term, including tax cuts, Gov. Maura Healey discusses some accomplishments during her curthe passage of a “historic” housing bill, and improvements in rent term while at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyhealth care costs and economic oke. Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet development. Healey said the housing bill has resulted in 100,000 housing example. What Victory Theatre got rid of prior authorizations for starts, in other words, new hous- is going to yield; what that’s go- “a whole bunch of staff.” ing units either built, permitted ing to become is just going to be She explained, “If you got or constructed around the state so awesome,” Healey said. diabetes, you no longer have to in the last three years. She furHealey also announced that wait for some insurance compather explained that experts said her administration is focused on ny to OK your receiving insulin. when they started, Massachusetts lowering the cost of energy bills. We’re trying to make it easier for needed to build about 220,000 “Standing up to utility compa- people to get access to care, and units around the state by 2035 to nies, we’ll oppose any rate hikes we fundamentally believe in this. get to where they need to be. out there. I filed energy legisla- At a moment where the president “We’re focused on affordabil- tion, which will reduce energy and Congress have taken a trility, we’re focused on building costs by $13 billion.” lion dollars out of health care, we more homes as quickly as we Healey discussed the comple- stand here united in support of can to drive down costs,” Healey tion of the New England Clean making sure that we’re doing evsaid. “Build more housing, we Energy Connect transmission erything we can to get health care drive down costs.” line that is now delivering afford- to our residents who need it.” First-time homebuyers can able, stable hydropower from When it comes to the federal also receive $25,000 towards Canada to Massachusetts. Ac- administration, Healey said they the purchase of a new home. cording to mass.gov, the NECEC will continue to look for ways Healey also recently announced line will provide Massachusetts to work with them, but stated, an increase in the production of with nearly 20% of its overall “Where the president and federal Accessory Dwelling Units in electricity, deliver $3.38 billion administration do things to harm Massachusetts to expand hous- in total net economic benefits to people, we’re going to stand up ing options, support homeowners Massachusetts ratepayers over and defend Massachusetts.” and increase affordable housing. the life of the contracts and reShe continued, “I’m excited For economic development, duce ratepayer bills by around about some of what we’ve been Healey talked about a key eco- $50 million each year. able to accomplish. We know nomic driver in the state. On the topic of health care, that these are hard and challeng“One thing that we’re really Healey said they are the first ing times. Both of us were colexcited about in this region is the team to eliminate copays and opportunity for more investment deductibles for people on their in arts and culture. This is a great health care. They also recently See HEALEY on page 3