Easthampton will hold a special election on June 9 to vote on a proposed $6.9 million Proposition 21/2 override, which would increase property taxes but likely save crucial services throughout the city.
Page 6
Corsello Butcheria transitions to subscription model
An Easthampton staple is starting a new journey after spending the last decade serving its signature dishes to downtown patrons.
Page 6
NORTHAMPTON Construction work at Bombyx Center to modernize space
Bombyx Center for the Arts & Equity is on the verge of setting the foundation for its future.
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Azarloza slated to be next superintendent
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The School
Committee has chosen Annie Azarloza as Northampton Public Schools’ next superintendent following a vote during a special meeting on April 30.
Azarloza, who will now enter into final negotiations with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, has a master’s in education from American Intercontinental University and is currently securing her doctorate in educational leadership with a focus on Health and Wellness from American College of Education.
She began her career in education as a teacher in 2005 before eventually working in school administrative positions over the last 15 years between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She served as superintendent of schools in Rochester, New Hampshire, during the 2024-25 school year and previously served as interim superintendent of the Stratford, Stark, Northumberland School District in New Hampshire.
Azarloza’s time as the Rochester superintendent sparked debate among School Committee members due to a recent controversy.
The city of Rochester filed a complaint for breach of contract in Strafford County Superior Court against Azarloza following her departure from the district. When she voluntarily resigned from the position at the end of that school year after having been placed on paid administrative leave in February 2025, Azarloza and the city entered into a Settlement Agreement
and Release of Claims on June 23, 2025, which ended her employment and included provisions limiting additional public statements and releasing certain claims.
The city alleged in the complaint that Azarloza violated the agreement by making additional public statements, including comments made during a podcast appearance and on social media following her departure. The city also alleged that Azarloza filed a separate complaint against the Rochester School Department despite releasing such claims under the agreement. The lawsuit claimed breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and sought injunctive relief, attorney’s fees and costs.
The Rochester School District eventually commissioned a report to investigate Azarloza. The findings, released April 13, cleared Azarloza of the claims. The majority of committee members who voted for her said the report made them comfortable moving forward with her as the district’s next leader.
During the committee’s public interview with Azarloza on April 28, she acknowledged this information but could not delve into specifics. Still, she wanted to make a clear statement about the controversy.
“I know you all have looked me up, and you know what’s going on,” said Azarloza in reference to news reports on the complaint and subsequent report from her time as Rochester’s superintendent. “I have been fighting a long
time for the release of my investigative report. I want you to know it was finally released on April 13, and I will say there was a reason I was fighting for it. And although I can’t talk about it, I encourage you all to look at it and see what I’ve always said that if there’s one thing I want to be remembered for when I retire, it’s my integrity, and I stand by that.”
The Northampton School Committee chose Azarloza from three candidates during its April 30 special meeting, voting 6-3-1.
At large member Tiffany Jewell, Alena Bartoli of Ward 1, Amy Martyn of Ward 5, Cindy Mahoney of Ward 6, Valerie Reiss of Ward 7 and Sciarra, the chair, backed Azarloza. Ward 2’s Anat Weisenfreund, Renika Montgomery-Tamakloe of Ward 3 and Michael Stein of Ward 4 voted for candidate Thomas Danehy. At large committee member Robbie Saner Sullivan was the lone vote for the third finalist,
Bethany Silver.
Jewell said the district has an “intense need” for transparency and that all the candidates clearly prioritized this, but ultimately, she voted for Azarloza.
“Primarily because I’ve been thinking about what are the top priorities and that is around family engagement, and she has a clear plan for that. She’s curious, she’s open to hearing from all stakeholders and wants to have conversations,” said Jewell. “The other thing that is really important to me is listening to the experts in our schools, and I know that our union leadership is advocating for Annie Azarloza, too, and that feels really important to me as we’re hiring an expert to take on our schools, that I listen to the experts that are in our schools right now.”
A shared sentiment from the committee was that all three finalists were quality candidates de-
Annie Azarloza at a prior Northampton School Committee meeting.
Photo credit: Northampton Open Media
See AZARLOZA on page 3
Baystate Health to absorb Mercy Medical Center
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center, which has been affiliated with Trinity Health of New England for more than a decade, is slated to become Baystate Mercy Hospital by the end of the year.
In announcing Baystate Health’s acquisition of Mercy, Baystate Health President and CEO Peter D. Banko stated, “Mercy and the Sisters of Providence have been a fixture in our community since 1874. This is an investment in both the past and the future of health care and economic development in Western Massachusetts. Today, access forces too many patients to leave the region to seek care, and we need to ensure that care is compassionate, high quality, affordable, and local.”
A joint press release from Baystate and Trinity about the transition cited “inadequate reimbursement for care, industry-wide shifts — such as declining payment rates, changing consumer preferences toward outpatient services and persistent staffing shortages,” at Mercy as reasons behind the move.
Mercy has taken steps in recent years to bolster its financial position. Among them, Mercy Medical Center’s Certified Nurse Midwives moved maternity delivery services to Baystate Medical Center in December 2025. Baystate’s website states, “We have rigorously prepared for an additional 800 deliveries annually, including actively recruiting more OB/GYNs, midwives and nurses.”
Mayor Domenic Sarno released a statement on the merger. “I am very thankful to Baystate Health’s efforts to preserve two hospitals in the city. There was a distinct possibility that Mercy/ Trinity would simply close down. That was unacceptable,” Sarno said. “From the beginning, with my continued interaction with Baystate Health and Mercy/Trinity officials, as well as state officials, notably Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, I indicated that it was imperative that Springfield and the region must preserve two top notch hospitals for health care accessibility for the residents of Springfield and the surrounding areas. I am thankful to Baystate Health Pres-
ident & CEO Peter Banko, Gov. Healey, Lt. Gov. Driscoll and all parties involved for their efforts, and after long negotiations, that this has come to fruition.”
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who represents the state’s first congressional district, including the greater Springfield area, also praised the move. “I am pleased that Baystate Health and Trinity Health have reached an agreement that will allow these two vibrant hospitals to continue serving our communities,” Neal said. “As the country continues to grapple with unprecedented health care cuts resulting from President Trump’s One Big, Ugly Law, this acquisition will expand access to health care and improve services throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond.”
Neal continued, “Together, these institutions represent more than three centuries of service to western and central Massachusetts. Ensuring their viability and continued success is vital
to the health of our families and our local economies, and this announcement represents a critical step in strengthening our regional health care system for generations to come.”
Baystate issued a statement thanking the Healey-Driscoll administration, Neal, Sarno and the Western Massachusetts Legislative delegation “for their steadfast and unwavering support of this hospital partnership in Western Massachusetts.”
Despite this statement, some members of the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation have questions about the change. State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez said he has reached out to Banko to request a meeting with himself and the rest of the Springfield delegation to discuss the implications for local health care services and personnel.
“The announcement of the acquisition raises significant concerns regarding the future of our health care landscape,” said Gon-
zalez. “It is vital that we ensure the continued operation of both hospitals in Springfield. Protecting our dedicated workers and staff is essential, as is guaranteeing that our community retains access to critical medical services.”
Like Gonzalez, state Sen. Jake Oliveira, who represents portions of Springfield, also said he has many questions about Mercy becoming affiliated with Baystate. However, he said the priority is to ensure that both Mercy and Baystate Medical Center continue to operate.
“If Mercy shut their doors, it would send a ripple effect” through Western Massachusetts health care, he said, adding that the hospital serves a lot of people on Medicare and Medicaid. “It’s my hope that we have two hospitals operating in Springfield because there is such a great need.”
Oliveira said he hopes that Mercy will keep its character, as he said other hospitals have done after being absorbed by Bay-
state. He said many people seek treatment at Mercy because it is a Catholic hospital and people “value that kind of care.”
The legislator said he was concerned about health care consolidation but pointed out that Baystate hospitals are not people’s only options in the Pioneer Valley. Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is affiliated with Mass General Brigham and Holyoke Medical Center is an independent hospital.
Trinity Health of New England stated on its website that no immediate staffing changes are planned. The health care group declined to make any other comment. Reminder Publishing reached out to Baystate with questions about staffing and personnel changes, but did not receive a response by press time.
Provided that the transition is approved after the regulatory review process, Mercy will be absorbed on Nov. 1.
Baystate Health recently announced that it will absorb Mercy Medical Center (pictured), which has been operated by Trinity Health of New England since 2015.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
spite some disagreements on the final choice.
“They each bring different strengths, and I feel strongly that any one of them would be an excellent leader. Tom Danehy’s experience with ACES really resonated. Annie Azarloza’s preparation and commitment to diverse learners was clearly evident. Bethany Silver’s compassion and data inference skills are a powerful combination. So, thank Bethany, Annie and Tom for making our decision such a difficult one,” said Mahoney. “As a School Committee member, I was elected to represent Northampton’s students, staff and caregivers. And there are no wrong choices here.”
Montgomery-Tamakloe said she was not on the committee to be popular; she was there to do what is right for students, which was why Danehy was her choice, crediting him as the only candidate who laid out their communication plan clearly and succinctly.
“He has his committee, he meets with them and he sends out that information after every meeting. He listens and validates what people say,” said Montgomery-Tamakloe. “He was the only one that, when talking about mentoring, talked about physiological safety and having outside coaching. One of the big issues in the district and why we’ve had to look outside of the district for a number of years for admin., is because we do not have coaching, and we do not have people who feel like they can grow in this district. Northampton should be growing leaders instead of importing them out of state.”
At the end of deliberations, Weisenfreund said she was not satisfied with the thinking behind backing Azarloza due to the controversy surrounding her.
“I’m a little perplexed, given that things have been so very difficult in our district, and so contentious, why wouldn’t we give our community some grace and
select another extremely qualified candidate who doesn’t come to us right now at this point in time with so much baggage. What is it that is so incredibly convincing? We all agreed we have three very good candidates, three very qualified candidates. I’m not adverse to taking risks, but I don’t want to take that kind of risk here again because we just don’t know. I’m not judging her, but why do you feel compelled to take such a risk in the middle of a situation that is already so difficult here in our city when we have other really good choices?”
Committee member Valerie Reiss responded to Weisenfreund, saying it’s a good question for the “incredibly fragile” moment the district is in.
“I think, as has been said, every single candidate is a risk. I think with Azarloza, we know what we’re getting to a certain degree, and it has been explored, and she has been exonerated. Any of these candidates could run into something at some point. We just don’t know with any of them, so why not go with the one that some of us feel enthusiastic about and who our community has expressed connection with and enthusiasm for.”
Stein shared similar concerns with Weisenfreund.
“We have failed every term I’ve been on this committee on having a meaningful evaluation process and having any meaningful oversight or a shared understanding about how we manage someone as a collective body,” Stein said. “And so that ups the risk potentially in this choice as well, and I would like to be proven wrong that the risk didn’t pan out, but for posterity, these are the things that you’re going to hear if things do go wrong from the community.”
Azarloza will now enter into negotiations with the mayor to become the next superintendent of Northampton Public Schools. Recordings of the public interviews with candidates, as well as the April 30 special meeting and discussion leading to the selection of Azarloza, are available on the Northampton Government Video Archive YouTube channel.
SENIOR LIVING OPTIONS
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By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton will hold a special election on June 9 to vote on a proposed $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override, which would increase property taxes but likely save crucial services throughout the city.
The City Council voted unanimously on the date during its April 27 special meeting.
According to the city, the proposed $6.9 million override and increase to property taxes was recommended by a Budget Task Force assembled by Mayor Salem Derby that was led by the chairs of the Finance Committee, School Committee and Board of Assessors.
Easthampton is facing a budget deficit of $6.4 million for its fiscal year 2027 projections, and Derby explained that the $6.9 million override — plus an additional $1.5 million from the city’s stabilization fund — will help meet that gap and create a new path of sustainability for the community so city officials don’t have to come back for another override ask next year.
The deficit has been exacerbated because of inflation costs, specifically significant increases in special education and transportation costs, along with health insurance. Derby added that the override and additional city funding would help prevent mass layoffs and disruptions in city services.
“I think it’s really important for us to recognize that times are not easy right now. Gas, food, everything costs more, and asking for more money right now is a significant ask, and I don’t think it’s responsible for the city to say, ‘well, we need this amount of money, please give it to us,’ without us saying, ‘well, what can we do to sacrifice,’” Derby told Reminder Publishing. “Really, we need $8 to $8.5 million, but we’re only going to ask for $6.9 [million], and we’re going to make up the rest. We’re gonna cut, shave, and trim things and go without if we’re gonna ask other people to do the same. I think it’s only fair for us to say, ‘we’re in this together.’”
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — An
Easthampton staple is starting a new journey after spending the last decade serving its signature dishes to downtown patrons. Corsello Butcheria has closed the doors to its retail shop on Cottage Street after nine years and has shifted to a new meat share subscription model of business. Owners Vincent and Kasey Corsello
Derby told Reminder Publishing this recommendation for the override is a “shared sacrifice” for the community and noted this override ask is $2.1 million less than the lowest proposal from South Hadley’s failed override ballot in April.
While an approved $6.9 million override would help bridge the gap in the budget, Derby said the city will still be looking at potential cuts to save money and set a new standard in budgeting for the city moving forward. If the override were to fail, cuts would become “catastrophic,” according to the mayor. Derby presented two budgets for both potential outcomes to the City Council on May 6.
While South Hadley failed to pass both a $9 million and $11 million override, the town is currently looking to have a second special election for a new override. Derby said if Easthampton voters decide not to pass this upcoming override vote, the implications on schools and municipal positions would be similar to what the anticipated impact is in South Hadley.
“Similar to South Hadley, we’d have to cut a significant number of teachers, all specials disappear, sports disappear,” Derby said. “It’s going to hit the schools the hardest for sure. And I think one of the things we wanted to do was we wanted to come in and say listen, we could’ve been like South Hadley and asked for $9 [million], but we were like, we need to be as respectful as we can be, and that’s why we reduced $2.1 million less than what South Hadley’s lowest ask was, because we are acknowledging the fact that that’s a lot of money, and that we saw that other communities are struggling with trying to do that, so we want to find that middle ground where we’ll sacrifice, the taxpayers will have to sacrifice, and then we can kind of come together to make a plan going forward.”
Derby explained during the council’s special meeting that the median house in Easthampton is valued at $418,000, and the passing of this override would lead to an average increase in property taxes of $1,200 a year, $99.97 a month and $3.27 a day.
said they will always be thankful for the community they live in for being a part of their lives for so many years.
“I think what was amazing is kind of the community that we built around the shop. Customers became friends,” Kasey told Reminder Publishing. “Initially, the vision is from when we went to Italy, and we became friends with our butcher, and we felt that way, and so building a customer base that felt more like friends.
Derby told Reminder Publishing that if the override passes, it would give Easthampton a little room to breathe so that they are not in the position of coming back with another override ask next year, allowing for the city to get through the near term without devastating cuts.
Additionally, Derby said that because many municipalities face similar budgeting issues, it would be beneficial for the state to assist in some way down the line in order to make a fundamental change to operations.
In the meantime, Derby said the city is committed to exploring every revenue option and will go line by line through each department’s budget to see where savings are possible.
“Like I said, from my perspective, it’s about finding more revenue and leaving no stone unturned. It’s about cutting costs and trimming away things that we kind of don’t need,” Derby said. “I think it’s really important for us to shift our mindset. We’re not going with the status quo, we’re not gonna do things that’ve always been done. We’re gonna innovate, find new ways to bring more money in, find new ways to save money, and find ways to elevate Easthampton so we can become the city that everyone wants to live in, but also can live in.”
Derby added, “We want to be showing people that you know what, we may be down, but we’re not out.”
City Council President Koni Denham told Reminder Publishing that the City Council will use budget season to look for additional costs and ways of saving. She added that she has concerns that some residents will be naturally priced out regardless of the override’s passing. She said it was vital for the community to have the most vulnerable in mind when budgeting.
“One of the reasons I moved to Easthampton was because it’s an economically diverse community. I can see that, I can feel that. That’s why I moved here, because I wanted to be in a community where anyone could live. And this, I question the future of that
That was the vision, and it’s like, wow, these people are part of our community.”
Vincent explained that over the last couple of years, he became interested in what a meat share subscription model could mean for the business. Having already branched out to the Urban Food Brood in Springfield and featured at local farmers’ markets, Vincent soon saw an opportunity to shift the business model and consolidate as they pivot to the subscription service.
“We’ve always wanted to do some kind of regular subscription. In today’s world of business, subscriptions are great because it gives you a certain guaranteed income, or at least a more predictable income as far as what you’re going to do,” said Vincent. “So, we found that there’s lots of people using these subscription services, particularly in delivery, but they’re getting their meat shipped to them, or getting standard things they’re buying online. And so that’s what really encouraged us to do that.”
He added that during the pandemic, Corsello launched a meat
and whether or not that diversity economically, if that’s going to be continued or sustainable within the community,” said Denham. Denham also called for more state support moving forward, adding that the region specifically is struggling to keep up with inflation and the change of costs.
“Do I think that we need more state aid? Absolutely, because Western Mass., it’s not sustainable. We can’t keep up with the same prices that are in Boston. When you have people who are moving from those places, and they have built up a lot of equity, and they sell their homes, and they’re moving out this way, it’s driving up all of our costs, and the people who live here have nowhere to go,” said Denham. “Absolutely, we need more support from the state, especially for our schools. Education is an economic driver, so it needs more support. Particularly for small communities like Easthampton, we don’t have a lot of industry. We really need our schools to be well-funded, and we also need people who have lived here their entire life. People are proud of that. They were born here and want to die here. Those folks need support too, and small communities like Easthampton can’t continue just to tax residents because it’s driving people out.”
According to the city’s election turnout records, the last time Easthampton had a special city election was in 2010 to vote on the Easthampton High School debt exclusion. Before then, it was in 2001 to vote on the Aquifer referendum.
Denham added that this situation has led to high stress for the community at large and that the council is ready to step up and work hard to find a resolution to the city’s financial outlook.
“We’re city councilors, but we’re residents too, and these are our neighbors, and we care about them, and we’re trying to figure that out, so they should know the days of City Council rubber-stamping things, allowing passes, letting things go, and just saying ‘oh well, it makes sense
share service in the community, an effort more in line with the traditional meat shares offered locally. The experience provided a glimpse into alternative modes of business and offered some transferable skills.
The subscription service offers subscribers the opportunity to build a meat share out of 10 cut categories, and gives them the ability to select multiples of the same cut. After making seven selections, subscribers can then choose to pick up every two weeks or once a month at one of four locations: Tip Top Wine Shop in Easthampton, Easthampton Farmer’s Market, the Urban Food Brood in Springfield and the Farmers Market at Forest Park. The subscription covers two pick-ups for $220. All the meat offered through the new meat share is locally raised by farmers known and trusted, and within about 40 miles of Springfield. Every share is packed with care, frozen at peak quality, and ready for any family’s table, according to the Corsellos. Vincent shared that he hopes to
NORTHAMPTON
Construction work at Bombyx Center to modernize space
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — Bombyx
Center for Arts & Equity is on the verge of setting the foundation for its future. According to leaders of the entertainment staple, the venue is in the process of undergoing infrastructure upgrades through a campaign called “The Little Dig.”
The team at Bombyx is assuring the public that this project was designed to be swift, cost-effective and a vital step forward for the organization in addressing safety concerns, replacing outdated infrastructure and paving the way for future growth.
“We are gradually renovating a historic church built at the start of the Civil War,” explained Bombyx Executive Director Cassandra Holden. “Each step takes time and careful planning. There are always surprises. And these upgrades, which will last for generations to come, open up new possibilities for the building’s use, dancing in the Sanctuary, flexible seating for new types of performances, and of course, restrooms that make everyone in our community feel welcome and included.”
Holden told Reminder Publishing that the project is almost three years in the making and a result of thoughtful planning with Architect Marc Stemick, general contractors from DA Sullivan & Sons and Bombyx leadership. She added that Bombyx is deeply grateful to have received a Cultural Facilities grant from the Mass Cultural Council and the support of its generous community for meeting the grant’s 1:1 match to fund this project of almost $300,000.
Holden said that several different intersecting concerns are being addressed with the upgrades. This includes prioritizing the upgrade of the building’s fire safety, enhancing the experience for users of the center through its various programming and conjuring a more sustainable property.
“That’s a key piece of what we’re doing since the building was built in 1861, and a lot of in-
Override
Continued from page 6
to me,’ those days are gone. Residents should know that we are going to do everything we can to make sure that Easthampton stays affordable,” said Denham.
Derby said he will share more specific details on the potential impacts from cuts, both with and without the override passing, when he presents the budget options on May 6 to the City Council.
frastructure is very old. Not all of it is 160 years old, but most of it is not new,” said Holden. “We’re trying to bring all of those concerns and others together so that, as we’re moving forward, we’re making choices that prepare the building for the next 160 years.”
The first stretch of work on this project took place from April 20-24, as the crew from Karl’s Excavating replaced the existing “vintage” clay sewer pipes with modern infrastructure, and everything has already been reconnected. This essential work will support the center’s current needs and lay the groundwork for future growth, including highly anticipated artful, accessible restrooms later in the year.
Work continued from April 27 to May 1 with the installation of new connections to municipal water, which brings the building’s sprinkler system online.
Holden said the new connections to city water will help properly pressurize the sprinkler system and establish a more robust water supply for the building that will support the future new restrooms and the building’s kitchen.
This work also helps lay the foundation for a change in how the building gets its energy.
“We’re going to bury our overhead power, and we’re looking at switching from single phase to three phase. That would mean that we can take our three gas-powered furnaces offline, replace them with something electrical, and then eventually get those supported by a solar installation, which we hope to do next year,” explained Holden. “It’s energy efficiency. It’s more modern, it’s more efficient. It’s addressing all these things at the same time.”
Holden said that a highlight of the first week of construction was “Touch a Truck Story Time” with High Five Books on April 22, where, despite the drizzle, over 100 families came out to safely explore the job site, ask questions about the construction equipment and listen to stories about trucks read by the team at High Five Books.
“It’s a wonderful way to in-
“This is not the place I wanted to find myself in the first few months of my first term. But really, the can has been kicked down the road. It’s time for us to deal with this issue and not extend it any further, and I really hope that people can recognize the really amazing work the people in the city do to provide services that are valuable and that protect a lot of our most vulnerable people, our kids, our senior citizens, keeping our roads clear,” said Derby. “Re-
vite the community in. Kids were here talking to the construction crew, looking at the holes in the ground, asking questions about the excavators. There was also a mound of dirt. Sometimes it’s really simple. There were half a dozen kids playing on a mound of dirt, because they can,” said Holden. “It was a great day for us to be able to talk about the project. While kids are exploring stuff, their parents are asking questions about what this is and why. It was a really informal, fun way to share about that, and it happened to be a rainy day during school vacation, so it was a great opportunity for families to get out of the house for a short time and do an activity.”
Holden shared gratitude for the construction team for their ability to connect with the youth and the families who are part of the Bombyx Center’s community.
I want people to get as
Those looking to support the center’s renovation work on the 160-year-old landmark can make a donation, purchase tickets to an upcoming show or donate solar credits by contacting hello@ bombyx.live. Holden said that the team at Bombyx is already planning the next upgrade for the historic building and hopes the completion of this project serves as another building block forward.
“I think in New England, one of the things that is particular about this environment is that most of our built environment, most of our infrastructure is 150 to 200 years old. We have a lot of beautiful historic buildings like this one, like the brick buildings
you see in downtown Northampton or in downtown Florence that were built in the mid-19th century, and there’s so much embodied energy and history and love for those buildings and community, so it’s important as we move into the future to bring those buildings into the 21st century,” said Holden. “These projects take a long time, and I’m excited because this particular one poises us for some exciting opportunities for growth. Digging the electrical trench means that we can move ahead and install solar; it means that we can move ahead and replace our outdated heating system, things like that. This is setting the foundation.”
Elia Almeida watches the ball go past him for a called ball.
BY SAM BLAKE
Maceo Nteta grabs the ball in the outfield and throws it into the infield.
Catcher Bradyn Rios frames the pitch for a called strike.
Chris Weismoore jogs into the dugout after scoring a run and high fives his teammates.
Matthew Walko runs to third base after his teammate hit the ball in the outfield.
Jackson Romanowski gets ready to catch the ball from the catcher and tag the runner out.
Dylan Lawrence-Riddell catches the pop out and throws the ball to first base for a double play.
Dylan Lawrence-Riddell attempts to pick off the baserunner on first.
Oliver Yau comes into the game for relief during the fifth inning.
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Scoreboard oozes traditional sports bar feel at every corner
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — No matter the season, an avid sports fan such as myself usually spends their weekends on the lookout for the perfect spot to watch the game. There are very few things more exhilarating than experiencing the highs and lows of your favorite team with total strangers at a local spot. Heck, why spend hundreds of dollars on gas, parking and tickets, when you can capture a thrilling atmosphere five minutes away?
When I first walked into the newly renovated Scoreboard Bar & Grille in Agawam, I had a feeling the place could accomplish just that. Boston sports memorabilia graced every corner of the 15 King St. restaurant, TVs ran highlights of the prior night’s Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics playoff games, and the wood-
Corsello
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soon expand on this model and offer deliveries of the meat share subscription orders.
“Running a retail shop and waiting for people to walk in the door is extremely challenging. We weren’t a grocery store, but we offered meat and a lot of products, but people go to the grocery store and buy their pasta, they buy the things we didn’t have, their vegetables, and then they just buy their meat there,” said Vincent. “We felt that the way people shop in this place, in this time, under my management, it wasn’t sustainable as the meat share would be.”
en rectangular bar invited guests to chat about their daily minutiae. Between the decorations and the exterior ambience generated by the Front Street rail crossing just outside, it truly felt like I was pregaming at a bar adjacent to Fenway Park.
Despite it being 3 p.m. on a random Tuesday, I could immediately sense the vibe the bar is going for. The owners’ sister bar, Murphy’s Pub on 664 Suffield St. in Agawam, has become a staple weekend gathering spot for those in Western Massachusetts who want drinks and a late-night bite while the big game is on.
Although Scoreboard captures a similar sentiment, I noticed that the new renovations yielded much more space to walk around, and based on its location and compact menu, it appears the bar is trying to capture a chiller, more localized atmosphere.
Most of the food is standard
The Corsellos had been living in Easthampton for four years before opening the retail location and said the decision to plant the roots of their business in their home community was an easy one.
“We love the community, it’s a great little town, and we actually didn’t really consider other locations. We thought, if we’re going to open a butcher shop, let’s open it in Easthampton,” said Vincent.
Kasey said they will always hold a special connection to the butcher shop and their home community.
“I think what is bittersweet is we built this place,” she said. “Early memories didn’t look like this at all, and we did the work to create this. The kids were little,
bar fare. Handheld sandwiches, burgers and classic appetizers like mozzarella sticks grace the brief menu. I opted for a bacon cheeseburger and fries on my solo adventure, but patrons have the option of building the burger however way they want. My personal preference is a burger that‘s cooked to medium, but the one I had at Scoreboard was essentially well-done. Still, I thought the charred fusion of blackened burger, crispy bacon and ooey-gooey American cheese in between a warm and slightly toasted brioche bun was enough to satiate my hunger, even if the taste profile’s uniformity didn’t elevate it to a higher status.
The fries, in my opinion, were the best part of my meal because they embodied that perfect blend of crispy and fluffy, while the seasoning accentuated the flavor without diminishing the core qualities of the side dish.
and you can see that transformation over the years; they grew up here. Those early memories were really sweet, and just seeing the growth of the community over time has been special.”
Vincent said he also has bittersweet feelings about the closing of this chapter for Corsello Butcheria and will miss the interactions with residents who would stop in and see what cuts were available. He said he’ll also miss the banter with customers and the tips he shared with them about how to best cook the meat.
“I’ll definitely miss that. I’ll miss everything about it. That being said, we have that in Springfield. What Springfield offers us is in the Urban Food Brood, it’s almost a food circus. It’s an area where lots of small businesses have come together to accentuate their strengths and support the other ones in the area where they’re not,” said Vincent. “My original vision came from the markets in Rome, of a butcher stall in the markets in Rome. And now, I’m actually a little closer to that, there.”
Vincent said that in the world of business, you have to keep moving forward, and that is what Corsello Butcheria plans on doing with the shift in its business model. He shared that his mission is to still offer quality meat through trusted farmers.
“We have a food system in the U.S. that’s quite literally killing us, or at the very least, it’s making us very unhealthy and therefore, very unhappy. My vision is to bring back that idea that people can cook their own food, and cook
Like any good fry, it carried that addictive quality where, even when full, you don’t want to stop picking at them.
Food aside, I do think Scoreboard’s strengths lie in its atmosphere and proximity to the Agawam and West Springfield border. They truly nail the tradi-
tional sports bar feel without relegating itself to a Murphy’s 2.0. One day, I’ll have to visit on a Friday and Saturday night to really experience the local spot at its fullest capacity. Maybe by then the Red Sox are out of this early season slump.
really good, delicious food, and get good quality food, and keep it simple,” he added.
To learn more about the new meat share subscription model, or to subscribe, visit corsellobutcheria.com.
Vincent expressed gratitude to the community for embracing the business as part of Easthampton for the last nine years.
“I would like to say thank you for nine years of continued support, and I really enjoyed being able to feed your families, and what’s fun is we can continue that,” said Vincent. “Check out our subscription service and check out our online ordering, and you can still get that same local quality meat from farmers we know and trust. Don’t be a stranger.”
The bacon cheeseburger and fries at Scoreboard Bar & Grille. Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
Vincent Corsello of Corsello Butcheria poses with the store’s closed sign as the business has closed it’s retail location after nine years. Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
