Fenton stages bid for Governor’s Council seat
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton has announced that he will run against incumbent Tara Jacobs to represent Western Massachusetts on the Governor’s Council, an influential body that reviews judicial appointments and advocates for the state’s judicial infrastructure needs.
The Governor’s Council is a body of eight members, presided over by the lieutenant governor. The council meets once a week to consent on the governor’s choice of judges, clerk magistrates and members of the Parole, Appellate Tax, Industrial Accident and Industrial Accident Reviewing boards, as well as public administrators, notaries and justices of the peace. Governor’s Council members also advise the governor on major outlays from the state treasury, such as building courthouses, and on pardons and commutations.
“The Governor’s Council is really a check on the governor,” Fenton said. “It’s the perfect complement of my skill set. This position really needs someone who has legal training to scrutinize judicial appointments.”
Fenton has been an attorney for 17 years, most recently with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin. He is also a professor at Western New England University School of Law. He added that his 14 years spent on the City Council have provided him with the experi-
ence to thoroughly vet decisions based on facts and information.
For Fenton, reviewing the governor’s selection of judges is among the most consequential decisions. The process of being named a judge is “rigorous and invasive,” he said. “It is deemed by many to be the highest accomplishment of an attorney.” He said candidates must demonstrate that they have the “highest ethical standards, the appropriate demeanor” and the requisite background.
“Life-changing moments happen in these courtrooms,” Fenton said.
Because the districts are population-based, District 8 is the largest geographical district, consisting of 102 cities and towns west of Palmer. Fenton said the Governor’s Council provides “a chance to elevate Western Massachusetts people to more positions.” Fenton said no current members of the state Supreme Judicial Court, the Appellate Tax Board or the Parole Board hail from Western Massachusetts.
“The council should be doing more than just reacting,” Fenton said. “They should be recruiting members of the bar, so vacancies don’t occur, or if they do, they are as short as possible.”
As a member of the Governor’s Council, Fenton said, “Investing in our judicial infrastructure would be a top priority.” He referenced the courthouses in Pittsfield and Springfield as just two of those in need of review.
Particularly close to home for Fenton is the replacement for the
Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse, Springfield’s district court.
“When I ran for this position four years ago, it was a campaign issue. We still don’t have a site. We deserve a first-class hall of justice for Hampden County,” Fenton said. “For a while, the state refused to acknowledge there was a problem with the Springfield courthouse. Meanwhile, people are going to work in a sick building.”
Fenton said there are also smaller courthouses that should
Mayor presents FY27 budget
Mayor Salem Derby presented an overview of two proposed budgets for fiscal year 2027.
Garden Tour to bloom in June
The annual Northampton Garden tour returns
June 13.
also be reviewed, including ones in Chicopee and Northampton.
Aside from courthouses, he said, “If there are large projects that have gone unfunded — roads, bridges — I could use the position’s proximity to the governor to advocate for that.”
For Fenton, the position in Boston would be all about Western Massachusetts. He said, “If the Governor’s Council isn’t going to advocate for this, who will?”
Michael Fenton is a Springfield City Councilor and is running for Governor’s Council for District 8.
STRM: Gonzalez reacts to Baystate’s merger with Mercy
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health’s recent acquisition of Mercy Medical Center, set to become official on Nov. 1, is making waves throughout the region as people scramble to prepare for what this will mean for health care in Western Massachusetts.
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez sat down with hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet to discuss what is on the horizon in light of this announcement and how he plans to gather more information about the merger.
As of press time, Gonzalez met with Baystate Health President and CEO Peter Banko to gain more clarity about the impact the merger may have and how the decision may affect personnel, services and the role Mercy has in the region. He shared that he’s also privately met with the speaker of the state’s House of Representatives and is working with the Department of Public Health and personnel at Baystate to determine the best path forward following the announcement.
“We’ve been trying to make
sure that we are in tune to what are the needs of that potential merger, but also more importantly, upon getting the notification, what changes we may potentially see that can adversely affect the services of the personnel at Mercy,” Gonzalez said.
The Springfield Democrat foresees a bevy of potential health impacts hitting the area when this merger officially takes shape. He mentioned the birthing center closing at Mercy and the overflow of people in the region’s hospitals as potential concerns for people who need hospital services in a prompt manner.
“Sometimes we may have seen in the past a bulging of people going to emergency rooms across our hospital systems, and that may have a negative impact,” Gonzalez said. “And that’s a five-minute to 20-minute delay on providing medical attention to somebody in an emergency situation, [which] could, you know, cost lives.”
On the topic of whether he thinks the merger will prevent Mercy from shutting down, a concern delegates and residents have had in the past, Gonzalez said that “mergers are like marriages,” and “many marriages
end up in divorce and changes need to happen.”
“That’s why it’s important that we get answers directly on what they foresee are potential changes or challenges, and how can the state be impactful and find a system through this process,” Gonzalez said.
He noted that Baystate and Mercy are economic engines for the region “in so many ways,” whether it be through the birth centers or local pharmacy at Mercy. In that same breath, Gonzalez said the merger carries some potential drawbacks such as a loss of jobs, a problem he said will hopefully be addressed in future discussions with hospital leadership.
“We hope that whatever bargaining rights [doctors and nurses] have at Mercy can continue to remain,” Gonzalez said.
He shared that his job as a state representative is to serve the people, and although some are excited about the merger, he wants to make sure it doesn’t negatively impact residents in our region.
“I believe that government is for the people, by the people,” Gonzalez said. “Now is the prime time to be echoing your sentiments as to what you feel is a need. And if we can attach a cost
to it that can be obtained, then we need to work on those efforts.”
Readers can listen to the full podcast episode with Gonzalez by visiting thereminder.com/ our-podcast or searching “So That Reminds Me” on your fa
vorite podcasting platform.
Festival of Art and Music ‘tent event’ to connect local artists
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Local independent band Elephant’s Eye will lead a festival of art and live music inside CitySpace’s Blueroom in Old Town Hall on Saturday, May 16. The event will celebrate art, music, and multimedia in what band lead Todd Sinclair is calling a “tent event” for local artists and musicians.
A lifelong artist and musician who first started performing in the region in the 1980s, Sinclair said the barrier of entry to get your work seen and finding op-
portunities to perform in public venues has been a long struggle with a lot of give and take. The reality of the scene he came up in and what exists today has led Sinclair to develop a mindset of “if you build it, they will come.”
“Long story short is for me, I do a lot of art and think about things holistically and try and include like-minded people. I would much rather put on my own show and set up my own event that I feel like I have control over,” said Sinclair. “Kind of like that Andy Warhol thing, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, where you’ve got all this stuff happening that’s
kind of over the top, but it leaves people with something to kind of go away with.”
The festival of art and music inside CitySpace’s Blue Room will feature art exhibits, live music from local bands, local artist exhibits and spoken word performances. The event is free and open to the public and will take place from 6-8 p.m. A suggested $5 donation will be collected at the door.
Sinclair said Elephant’s Eye plays dozens of eclectic original songs along with an extensive set list of fun, engaging and creative interpretations of well-known
cover songs. The band’s sound is described as an amalgamation of The Beatles, Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan.
Elephant’s Eye Band is not an elephant, nor is it an eye. According to the band, it is a well-oiled professional band with human eyes, big hearts and catchy melodies that will linger long after the show concludes.
The night kicks off at 6 p.m. with Dr. James Hartley performing “Symbols of the Modern Era: TS Eliot and the visual art of poetry.” Hartley is a professor of economics at Mount Holyoke College and has also taught multiple courses using the Great Books.
Sinclair said his performance does a great job of making audiences reconsider different perspectives about TS Eliot’s work.
“That’s really important to me,
how the words are almost visual and musical. He kind of gets your head going in some other way,” said Sinclair, about Hartley’s performance.
Following that performance will be Jonny Allen, A.K.A. Johnny Allen, from 6:30-7 p.m. Allen is a singer, writer, illustrator, storyteller and immigrant from the Northampton-based band Big Bad Bollocks. The performance at the festival will include Alien’s squeezebox. “He’s just straight out of working-class northern England,” added Sinclair, who said Allen is a can’t-miss performer.
From 7-7:45 p.m., Kentucky Dave Chandler will step on stage and perform his blend of songwriting and art therapy. Sinclair
-
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez joined the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me.” Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Elephant’s Eye Band is the mastermind behind the upcoming festival of art and music event at CitySpace on May 16. Left to right: Christopher Street on drums, Shane Sinclair on bass/flute/vocals, Todd Sinclair on guitar and vocals and Angelo Quaglia on guitar and vocals.
Photo credit: Elephant’s Eye Band.
EASTHAMPTON
Mayor presents overview of challenging FY27 budget
By Tina Lesniak Correspondent
EASTHAMPTON — At the May 6 Easthampton City Council meeting, Mayor Salem Derby presented an overview of two proposed budgets for fiscal year 2027 — one for if a $6.9 million override passes on June 9 and one for if it does not. He called both options “difficult.”
While both show increases from FY26’s budget of just under $62 million, the larger budget of $65.4 million demonstrates more level services and the $62.5 million budget would mean significant cuts to personnel and services. They mayor did not elaborate on exactly what those cuts would look like during his budget presentation.
CitySpace
Continued from page 2
said that Chandler’s performances focus on the healing powers of music, and this show is a great showcase of his talents.
Closing the show from 7:459 p.m. will be Elephant’s Eye Band. Sinclair said that during the group’s performance, paintings will circle the stage with symbolism. The art will serve as a backdrop while the band performs covers and some of its own music. The band is currently working on a new full-length vinyl album set to be released later this year.
Sinclair said the mix of performers creates a multimedia space where art and music can be celebrated and indulged in. While
The council voted to accept the budget presentation and move it to the Finance Committee, where it will be analyzed and discussed in great detail, and then brought back to the full council for full approval before the start of the fiscal year on July 1.
Derby called the coming year’s budget “the most consequential budget” he hopes to ever have to create, with an eye toward improvements in coming years. He noted that the budget can’t be fixed by ignoring the problems in it and he hopes that everyone stays engaged in the process and “asks the difficult questions.”
“We don’t have a lot of options,” said Derby. “It’s really going to be an all hands on deck effort.”
there will be seating available for performances, Sinclair shared that attendees are encouraged to walk around the Blue Room and view the featured art while performers are on stage.
“Really, I’m liking the idea that it’s sort of open-ended a little bit. It’s not necessarily entertainment; it’s more like we offer these ideas, and you can sort of make your own conclusion,” said Sinclair.
He added that compared to shows at traditional venues or in the bar scene, this show will serve as an alternative way for performers to get their work out in front of the public. Sinclair said he hopes this “tent event” can show local artists what is possible as a way to combat a perpetual feeling like the odds are against you.
“If you were just an up-andcoming band that just wanted to
Derby also praised the department heads for their work in coming up with two budgets to share with his office — one that reflected what they needed and one that reflected significant cuts if the override fails.
The mayor described the $65.4 million budget as “lean,” but one that preserves much of the current levels of services and staffing. He described the $62.5 million option as a “severely cut budget” even though it appears as flat. However, due to rising costs, this budget would mean deep service reductions and would require moving $2.5 million from the general stabilization fund and would “not be sustainable beyond FY27.”
The Finance Committee will hold a series of public hearings
get some gigs, anything, it was so hard. So now, I’m a teacher, I ended up getting married and having kids and trying to do the rock and roll thing was not going to be supportive for the family, but I never ever stopped making art and music, and now we just kind of want to put together what I call a tent show, where it’s just we put some people together, and depending on the venue, we sort of conceptually think about it,” Sinclair said. “Honestly, the biggest thing is being able to include people and being able to sort of not make it hard to access. If someone is genuinely doing something that is real and is authentic, I feel like they should have a place [to share their work] somehow.”
Sinclair said he hopes the event can also help build up a community of like-minded people through the connections made, potentially
on the budgets over the next several weeks broken up by the different department. The body encourages people to join and ask their questions. In a prior interview with Reminder Publishing, Derby said that the budget deficit has been exacerbated because of inflation costs, 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. He also said 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
leading to a shift in how the art scene operates locally. He credits CitySpace for embracing Elephant Eye’s festival idea.
“It’s the artist in me that wants to sort of communicate at that level. I think art communicates more than just one time looking at something, or music, it has a spiritual quality, and that’s what I hope to ultimately unload on people. We have this positive thing that we want people to get something, hopefully good, out of it,” said Sinclair.
Elephant’s Eye’s performance will also feature its newest member, Eric Remschneider, a nationally acclaimed cellist who has worked with the Plain White T’s and Smashing Pumpkins on their 1993 album “Siamese Dream.”
Sinclair said Remschneider is a “stellar musician” and has added great value to the band’s work on
the city to get through the near term without devastating cuts.
“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.”
The City Council will vote on the final budget in June, after the June 9 override vote.
its upcoming new album. Sinclair and his fellow bandmates hope this festival of art and music can set a new trend moving forward and create spaces for artists to gather, connect and share their passion for work.
“I’m hoping that we can kind of catch a break and get some momentum, get out there a little bit and spread what I believe is a positive thing to other people. It’s not just Elephant’s Eye, we’re this tent show, so join us and see how you fit in, and maybe you’ll bring some new people in and new year’s, and we can sort of just create a thing that is positive for everyone and not so selective or a one-off kind of deal,” said Sinclair. “I try to think outside the box. Do it yourself. Make up these things, and people will say oh there is value there.”
Operations Director: Curtis Panlilio
Executive Editor: Chris Maza
Managing Editors: Dennis Hackett, Ryan Feyre
Staff Writers: Sarah Heinonen, Deb Gardner, Amy Porter, Trent Levakis, Cliff Clark, Tyler Garnet, Peter Tuohy
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh, Lorie Perry, Sophia McClellan, Susan Bartlett, Jim Johnson-Corwin, Molly Arnio
Sales Manager: Scott Greene
Account Executives: Matt Mahaney, Paula Dimauro, Lisa Nolan, Jeanette Grenier, Paul Poutre, Andy Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
Sales Support: Carolyn Napolitan
Financial Department: Nancy Banning
Circulation Department: Nate Halla
Northampton Garden Tour to bloom June 13
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — With spring now in full force, the 32nd annual Friends of Forbes Library
Northampton Garden Tour will once again bloom for garden lovers across the region. The event returns Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to give people the opportunity to support the library and explore six diverse and delightful home gardens across the community.
The tour raises funds to support the city’s historic public library through a designed tour to inspire and educate, with a variety of landscape styles, plants and gardening methods on display. The event started 32 years ago as part of the celebration of activities that were planned for the then centennial of Forbes Library. The event has remained an annual community favorite over the years.
Plant descriptions, volunteer guides and master gardeners will be available at each garden to answer questions and educate the public about home gardening. The several locations on the tour will feature live music and pleinair painting for enjoyment, and all gardens are located within five miles of the library. A map of the tour is provided after purchase of a ticket.
“There’s about eight to 12 committee members who work all year to make this tour happen, and our priority is to have gardens that feel possible for the average gardener,” tour Chair Jody Rosenbloom told Reminder Publishing. “We also
NORTHAMPTON — Transhealth — the only independent, nonprofit health care organization in the U.S. devoted solely to serving transgender and gender-diverse communities — marked its fifth anniversary on May 4. Based in Northampton, the health care center stands proudly as a lifeline for Massachusetts and Greater New England amidst growing federal attacks on health care for trans youth and adults.
“When we first opened, our mission was to lead the way with a trans-led model of care that expanded access to health care for our community,” said CEO Jo Erwin, RN BSN (any pronouns).
“In just five years, the landscape has shifted dramatically, but we haven’t lost focus on why we’re here and who we’re here for. In celebrating this milestone, we stand proudly in service to our patients and our community.”
In celebration of its fifth anniversary, Transhealth will host its Freedom to Be Ourselves annual benefit on Saturday, May
like it to have some educational dimension in that we’re connected to the library, so we try and have a variety of gardens for a variety of gardening styles and abilities.”
Tickets are $20 if bought in advance and $25 on the day of the event. They are available online at friends.forbeslibrary.org or in person through June 12 at Bay State Perennial Farm in Whately, Cooper’s Corner in Florence, State Street Fruit Store in Northampton, Sugarloaf Gardens in Sunderland or at Forbes Library.
Tickets purchased online can be picked up in person at Forbes during library hours from Thursday evening to Sunday morning on the week of the tour. Day-of tick-
16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Music in Northampton. The event will feature speakers from Transhealth, an awards ceremony celebrating local trans community leaders and a fireside chat with social media star and advocate, Mercury Stardust (she/they), widely known as the “Trans Handy Ma’am.”
“Everything we do at Transhealth is centered on holistic care for our patients,” said Erwin. “And that includes opportunities for joy and coming together in community. We hope this event inspires resiliency and a feeling of refuge for the moment we all find ourselves in.”
Since opening its doors in 2021, Transhealth has grown to serve over 3,000 medical and mental health patients and thousands more through their community services and programming. In that same time, access to medically necessary health care for trans and gender-diverse youth has come under growing attack. Last year, the Supreme Court’s Skrmetti decision green-
ets are only sold at Forbes Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 13.
Tickets provide garden sites and parking guidance, and attendees must provide their own transportation to all gardens on the tour. Carpooling and bicycling are encouraged.
“Each person, when you come, you can get a description of highlights written by the gardeners themselves about sort of what inspires them and what challenges they have had in gardening,” said Rosenbloom. “It’s the biggest fundraiser that the Friends does for the library.”
In recent years, money raised from the tours has supported the construction of the new outdoor
lit state-level bans on trans health care for youth across the country. Further attacks have escalated on the federal level, with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposing new rules that, if implemented, would block all Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals that provide trans-related health care for patients under the age of 19.
“These attacks are based in cruelty and are indicative of government overreach into the rights of families to make health care decisions with their own providers,” said Erwin. “The care we provide is proven, medically necessary and backed by every major medical organization in the country, and we are unwavering in our commitment to this care.”
Transhealth has seen an influx in families seeking their services over recent months. Numerous families have relocated from states with hostile policies towards trans people to Massachusetts in order to seek care with Transhealth. Just within Massa-
Performance Stage at Forbes and renovations of the library’s youth programming room, among other things.
“Over the last five years, some of the other highlights are something as simple as water bottle filling stations, to supporting a new collection of archives after getting a lot of materials from the Iron Horse Music Hall. And during COVID, a lot of the money went to upgrading computer and accompanying hardware and software that allowed patrons a hub, helping people find jobs, stay in communications, and we’ve always supported things that the
chusetts, many families and patients are traveling from all sides of the state to Transhealth as other health care organizations and providers have ceased care in the face of mounting political pressure and financial concerns.
“We’re doing everything we possibly can to meet the moment and to make sure those who need this vital care can access it,” said Mel DeSilva (they/them), vice president of Development and External Affairs. “This is a massive undertaking, and to make it possible, we need support from our communities and allies on every level.”
Tickets to Transhealth’s Freedom to Be Ourselves annual benefit event can be purchased at the Academy of Music website. Over 100 free tickets have already been provided to Transhealth patients and those belonging to the trans and gender-diverse community. Those who cannot attend are encouraged to make a donation in support of Transhealth’s critical work.
Hess
The Friends of Forbes Library Garden Tour returns on Saturday, June 13.
Photo credit: Friends of Forbes Library.
See GARDEN TOUR on page
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
New theater group introduces itself with first production
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — In an effort to bring fresh, queer and gender diverse stories to the local theater scene, a new theater group, Why’s It Gotta Be?, has formed here in Western Massachusetts.
The group, which started in the fall, is gearing up for its first production, the dark comedy “Legoland,” which will run at CitySpace from May 22-31.
Founder, actor and president of Why’s It Gotta Be?, Devin Dumas, told Reminder Publishing that he, along with fellow peers who are now on the board of the new group, saw a gap in consistent productions related to queer and gender diverse stories and thought, why not fill this need with a fresh new group committed to offering just that?
“We really just wanted to create a consistent space for queer theater, for new theater, for gender diverse theater that we weren’t really seeing in the area,” said Dumas. “And that’s not at anyone else, there’s absolutely wonderful theater in the area, like K&E does great stuff, Easthampton Theater Company does great stuff, Exit 7 does great stuff. But some of us found ourselves in a position where we always seemed to be waiting to see who would announce the next queer-based show, or the next gender diverse show, or the next new thing, rather than something that had been done several times before. So, I grabbed a couple people that I was close with and was like, ‘hey why don’t we just make something that’s consistent for that,’ so we did.”
Dumas explained that he wanted the mission and goals of the group to be clear and present in its name.
“I came up with it because I’m 27, and I’m very vocal about wanting to see queer relationships expressed healthy in media, and I was often asked, ‘Oh, well, why’s it gotta be gay? Why’s it gotta be queer? Why’s it gotta be trans? Why’s it gotta be all these things?’ And you get so tired of hearing that to a point that it’s almost like how queer used to be a slur and we reclaimed it as an identity. I’m almost reclaiming that for us now. You can’t tell us ‘Why’s it gotta be’ anymore because that’s the whole point now. ‘Why’s it gotta be queer?’ Because that’s our whole thing,” said Dumas.
With that said, Dumas and the group feel that the best way to kick things off is with a production of Jacob Richmond’s dark comedy, “Legoland.” The play tells the story of Penny and Ezra Lamb, siblings who have been home-schooled on a hippie colony their whole lives and dying to get out.
After a failed attempt at connection in Walmart, the commune is busted, and the siblings — each seething with repression — are enrolled in a Catholic private school where they are instant social outcasts. A cross-continental adventure ensues for the two siblings through this irreverently dark story bursting with originality, bringing audiences along for the ride in an engaging fashion as the Lamb siblings are prying for connection any way
they can get it.
“Legoland” opens at CitySpace on Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. The rest of the shows will take place on May 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., May 24 at 2 p.m, May 29 at 7:30 p.m., May 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on May 31 at 2 p.m. The show contains adult language, according to organizers.
General tickets are $25 and available for purchase online at wigbtheater.org/legoland. During the run on May 26 at 7:30 p.m., the group will also host a fundraiser called Mid-Run Drag Trivia night inside CitySpace to support the newly formed group.
Dumas is directing “Legoland” and shared that this play has always been a production he wanted to be a part of.
“I actually said I didn’t want to do ‘Legoland’ first because I knew people knew it was something that I really, really wanted to do. I didn’t want to seem like I started this theater group so I could do ‘Legoland.’ But then ... we decided that ‘Legoland’ from a public-facing standpoint was the most approachable title out of anything,” explained Dumas. “The play has nothing to do with Legos, but we figured a dark comedy that really gets a little gritty and is just fast paced backto-back-to-back, and has this cool title ‘Legoland,’ that draws people in, and we can just make this really colorful, fun, inviting and interactive immersive show. We just decided, let’s try that.”
Julia Adamo and Terrance Peters are starring in this production as Penny and Ezra Lamb. Both actors have worked with Dumas before and with some of the other local groups as well. Both shared that they are eager to be part of the first production from the group.
“The wonderful thing about both the Massachusetts and Connecticut community theater is it’s a very small world, and so I had known Devin a little,” said Peters. “When I’d seen this new group that a lot of folks that I respect and like working with were very supportive, and then [I] saw they were doing ‘Legoland,’ a script that has been on my radar for so long and is very rarely done, even though I think it’s such a fantastic script, I decided to put my foot through.”
Peters said he is a big fan of any group that puts its community first, and added that when he learned about the story behind the group’s name and mission statement, he knew Why’s It Gotta Be? is committed to creating a welcoming environment.
Adamo, also a board member for the group, shared similar sentiments about the opportunity to be a part of the group’s first production. Having worked with Dumas through a production he directed through Exit 7, Adamo considers Dumas a great connector in the local theater space.
“He has this remarkable way of just bringing people together and creating such a sense of community around queer art that I was like anything I can do with Devin I want to do,” she said.
Adamo said that Dumas’ vision for the group is meaningful as it adds a niche within the larger and overall healthy local theater
scene in the area.
“There is such a robust theater scene in the Western Mass. area, and we’re really grateful for that, and there’s so many enthusiastic performers, and there are so many amazing productions going on, so it’s a really wonderful and supportive community with a lot of people who are doing really cool, really fresh and interesting work,” Adamo said. “But the idea that we can find our niche within this larger scene while consistently prioritizing really fresh and diverse work, just feels really exciting.”
Future goals
Dumas already has long-term visions for what is possible for the new cadre. Specifically, he hopes to one day purchase sound and lighting equipment for the cadre, offer stipends to makers and artists, produce in-house and audio film productions, and ultimately secure a space to utilize for performances and rehearsals to outsource to other developing and independent artists.
Dumas said that he hopes the group can add a multimedia aspect to their work, as well. Along with his background in theater, Dumas also has a background in audio drama storytelling and hopes to add that to their repertoire.
“I really view audio drama as a form of theater art, film as a form of theater art. I’d really like to see us at some point further down the road be able to reach out to people who are interested, if not performing on stage, perhaps performing behind a screen or behind a microphone, and creating space to tell fresh stories, queer stories, different stories in that format,” Dumas added. “We’re doing this for us, we’re doing this to share art, we’re doing this to tell stories, we’re doing this for audiences. We’re not doing this to make fortunes, we’re doing this to share visions, so if we can help other artists by providing a space five, 10, 15 years down the line, that’s the goal too.”
In the meantime, as the group grows from its infancy, Dumas hopes to facilitate more shows. Simultaneously, the plan is to keep an eye out for a permanent home, hopefully in Easthampton or Northampton, but the group is open to any opportunities
in the region.
“We definitely are gravitating a little bit more towards Northampton and Easthampton when we do events just because there’s a lot of performance space and a lot of people that we feel will resonate with these stories, but we’re open to anywhere within the area,” said Dumas. “We really hope that we can get audiences in that these stories resonate with, but also performers that these stories resonate with, because we do it for both of them. And just really hoping we can continue with our long-term creative goals as well.”
To learn more about Why’s It Gotta Be? visit wigbtheater.org.
Terrance Peters (left) and Julia Adamo (right) star in
“Legoland.”
Group
SOFTBALL
EASTHAMPTON VS BELCHERTOWN
Brooke Skowron catches the throw from the catcher and tags the runner out trying to steal.
Lily Foster catches the ball from the catcher and attempts to tag the runner out.
Melinda Day hustles to third base after her teammate gets a base hit.
SAM BLAKE
Lucy Graham runs down the first baseline after hitting it to the outfield.
Meaghan Bixby runs to second base and steals the bag.
Brooke Skowron jumps up and stretches to catch the ball.
Maya Pajak watches the ball go high for a called ball.
Maya Pajak stretches out and catches the ball for an out.
Summer Routhier gets ready to throw a pitch.
Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair celebrates 50 years
CUMMINGTON — The Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair Committee announced that the 50th annual Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair will also mark the final chapter of this cherished event. After half a century of celebrating fiber arts, shepherding, and rural heritage, organizers have made the difficult decision to conclude the fair following this milestone year.
Founded in 1976, the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair has grown into a beloved regional tradition, drawing thousands of visitors, artisans, farm-
ers, and fiber enthusiasts from across New England and beyond.
Known for its vibrant marketplace, sheep shearing demonstrations, workshops, and community spirit, the fair has played a vital role in preserving and promoting the region’s agricultural and craft traditions.
“This 50th fair is both a celebration and a farewell,” said Lisa Dachinger, co-chair of the MSWCF. “We are incredibly proud of what this event has meant to so many people over the years. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, we are committed
to making this final fair the most memorable one yet.”
The 50th Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair will feature many of the traditions attendees have come to love, including:
• Live sheep shearing and herding demonstrations Fiber arts demonstrations and hands-on activities
• A curated marketplace of local wool, yarn, and handcrafted goods
• Livestock exhibitions and educational displays
• Food vendors and family-friendly entertainment
TheReminder.com
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
EASTHAMPTON
Daniel P. Parent
FLORENCE
Betty Lynne Wolfson
HAYDENVILLE
Tom Masters
Roxanne:
rmiller-longtin@thereminder.com
LEEDS
Lee Goldstein
NORTHAMPTON
Carol J. Bevan-Bogart
Brendan Flynn
Melvin Lafrance Jr.
SOUTH HADLEY
Karen Adams
Alexandra L. Brannan “Ali”
Brunelle
Dorothy N. Schenker
WESTHAMPTON
Ethel Hurd
WILLIAMSBURG
Ruth A. Fountain
Organizers are also planning special commemorative events and exhibits to honor the fair’s rich history and the generations of farmers, artisans and volunteers who have contributed to its success.
The decision to conclude the fair was made after careful consideration of evolving logistical challenges, volunteer capacity, and long-term sustainability. The committee expressed deep gratitude to the community for its decades of support.
“We hope this final gathering will be a time for reflection, con-
Garden Tour
Continued from page 4
library budget may not cover, often some staff development training. So, there’s a wide range,” Rosenbloom said.
Northampton Garden Tour T-shirts will also be available for $25, or two for $40. at the library and at the garden tour. All proceeds from the tour, raffle and T-shirt sales benefit the Friends of the Forbes Library, Inc. to support library programs, events and projects that could not otherwise be funded.
“Proceeds from the Garden Tour provide significant source of funding for the library each year that we use towards projects that better serve our community,” Forbes Library Director Lisa Downing told Reminder Publishing. “I know how hard the committee works to raise those funds, and I am so grateful to them and to everyone that comes out and supports the tour.”
Refreshments and raffle opportunities will be available during the tour, including a wooden garden bench and other gift cards in support of local businesses.
Rosenbloom said that the event has grown over time, to the point where about a third of yearly attendees are visitors from the greater New England region.
“Word gets out and we have a great reputation,” she added. “We would say two-thirds of the
nection and celebration,” added Dachinger. “Whether you’ve been attending for years or joining us for the first time, we invite everyone to be part of this historic farewell.”
The 50th and final Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair will take place on May 23-24 at the Cummington Fairgrounds in Cummington. For more information, including event details and schedules, visit masheepwool.org or follow facebook.com/masheepwoolcraftfair or instagram.com/masheepwoolcraftfair/.
people who come to the tour are local, and many of them are parent-child combos, and I’m talking like a 60-year-old bringing their 80-year-old parent because it’s a really nice way to spend time with your elders. Many of them really appreciate the gardens.”
Rosenbloom said the event is great for social connection during what is typically a nice spring day. She added that all the gardens are fairly accessible for a variety of mobility needs. She shared that attendees should keep in mind that the event is not always as fun for little kids.
For more details on this year’s garden tour, visit friends.forbeslibrary.org/events/garden-tour/ or on the Forbes Library Facebook page.
“I know that the committee members love to garden and love supporting the library. Forbes is a very unique and special community service. We tend to get community organizations or things connected with gardening involved through sponsorship, and it promotes gardening and supports [the event]. It’s a win-win-win,” said Rosenbloom. “I think that it’s something active and gets people outside. It’s not big competition, it’s come and relax, learn something and see something beautiful. I know I have learned much from my fellow gardeners and from seeing the different neighborhoods [featured in tour], and I think everybody just feels more comfortable [about] the experience they have enjoying a garden on a lovely day.”
