Academy Youth Productions heats up
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — An instant classic is making its way to Northampton during the last weekend of May. As part of the Academy of Music’s Youth Production series, community youth actors will grace the stage for “Legally Blonde, Jr.” on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, at 7 p.m.
The production, which features actors between the ages of 12 and 17, is based on the hit film and 2007 Broadway musical by the same name.
The musical follows the adventures of sorority girl Elle Woods, who tries to win her ex-boyfriend back by earning a Harvard law degree. Once at school, she is challenged by her peers, professors and her ex, but with the help of some new friends, Elle realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.
The Academy rendition is co-directed by Academy Education Director Kyle Lawrence and Academy Associate Education Director Zazie Tobey, with music direction provided by Lauren Fleit and stage management from Madison VanDeurzen.
According to the theater, “Legally Blonde, Jr.” music and lyrics come from the work of Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach. The musical is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture. The production is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International, and all authorized performance materials are also supplied by the group.
Lawrence said working with such passionate youth makes the Academy Youth Productions so successful and a worthwhile program for the community to come out and support, especially with such a beloved classic like “Legally Blonde.”
“There’s something to be said for the show itself; it’s a very optimistic, joyful message of people’s expectations of you based on image or just your place in the world, defying expectations and having power in yourself,” Lawrence said. “There’s a lot of crap going on in the world that we can’t really control or have any say in a lot of ways, but at least
for these four hours every week in rehearsal, we’re able to come together and work on something that’s joyful, work on something that’s fun [and] rewarding.”
The show is part of the theater’s Academy Youth Production series, which started in 2011 in an effort to invite young actors
The Academy of Music Theatre.
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, Holly Mulligan, Whitney Conlon
Look Park to launch Community Tag Sale
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — Look Park will blossom on May 30 from 1-7 p.m. thanks to its Community Tag Sale at Springtacular Festival event, which will feature an afternoon of community gathering and family fun for all.
According to organizers, this is the first time Look Park will host a sale, and the event will supplement the Springtacular Festival, which features live music, food trucks, train rides and fun in the sun at the park.
Look Park Operations Director Mark Penney told Reminder Publishing that an effort to establish this event last year was cancelled due to weather, which is why they are trying to jumpstart it again this year. Penney said the goal is to make an event in
EASTHAMPTON — Back by popular demand is “Bingo and Brews with the Queens.” Held this year at Fort Hill Brewery — 30 Fort Hill Road — in Easthampton, the event is presented by Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity and House of Hors.
Held Sunday, June 14, from noon to 3 p.m., the afternoon festivity will feature rounds of Bingo, quality craft beers, and an opportunity to win great prizes, as well as meeting and interacting with the queer community. The event will be emceed by drag queens of Western Massa-
the spring that is similar to Look Park’s Fall Festival.
“Basically, in a lot of regards, it’s a mirror image of our Fall Festival at Haunted Train in October, which we’ve done for three years now. The model is the same, and in the same location, it’s in the train lot. We’re partnering with the Northampton Parks and Rec., where for three hours they’ll staff a ‘KidzLand’ which will be arts and crafts, games, bouncy houses,” said Penney. “The rest is in the train lot here in the park, and we’ll have live bands, food trucks. We won’t have the haunted train, but we will have the train and even more activities.”
Penney said the Community Tag Sale element gives the event its own identity. Instead of 20 to 30 craft vendors on site, there will be tents for community members to set up their own
chusetts Tytannia Lockhart and Fanny Midnight Lockhart.
Tickets are $30 per person. To buy tickets, visit bit.ly/40NiUid
“Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity has always strived to provide a safe, welcoming environment for all volunteers, partner families, and supporters. Our goal is to represent and include individuals from across a diverse spectrum including all to take part in our programs and help us to advocate for affordable housing,” said GSHFH Executive Director Aimee Giroux.
“Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to call
individual tag sales. To secure a space for the tag sale, visit lookpark.org/events/. There is a $20 fee to secure a space, and sellers are invited to sell any gently used items from their homes. Smaller craft vendors will also be on site and can apply at the same link.
“We haven’t done that [a community tag sale] before. Back in the Fall Festival, we had a vendor fair, so we had about 20 to 30 craft vendors, but we’ve kind of been sitting on the back burner for a while with the idea to have a tag sale, as it feels like a good thing to do in the spring when people are cleaning up. So we love the idea of incorporating that into the event instead of the craft vendor vibe,” added Penney.
Performances from children entertainer Mr. Liam and cover bands The Avenue and Maxxtone will enrich the event throughout
home. We invite everyone to be a part of helping us to achieve that vision.”
Hors D’oeuvres, co-founder of House of Hors, agreed.
“Drag performers have always been activists around issues impacting the LGBTQ+ communities. We are overjoyed to be a part of this event to raise awareness about the mission of Greater Springfield Habitat and all the work they do to help people from all walks of life,” Hors said. “It’s going to be a fun afternoon for a great cause.”
GSHFH is dedicated to strengthening communities by
the day. Penney said for season pass holders of the park, the entire day is free to get in, and general entry is $10. “You can just come and listen to music and be outside. It doesn’t cost a lot, and kids can do the KidzLand or ride the train, get some good food. You can spend seven hours here and have a pretty inexpensive day, connect with other community members and friends. There’s going to be a lot of fun stuff going on that people can partake in,” Penney said. “I know when we had sunny days for the fall event ... we’ve had like 2-3,000 people come through on those days, so we can see this being just as successful, and we want to have it be successful this year so it gets kick-started as a tradition and expectation for years to come.”
empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through homeownership and home preservation opportunities. Since 1987, Greater Springfield Habitat has built or repaired 135 homes in Hampden County. House of Hors is a Western Massachusetts-based company focused on curating fun and accessible events that highlight queer entertainers.
For more information, contact Olga Callirgos, homeowner services manager, at callirgos@ habitatspringfield.org or 413739-5503 ext. 1003.
River Valley Co-op purchases land under original store
NORTHAMPTON — River Valley Co-op has announced announce the successful purchase of the property beneath its Northampton store, securing the co-op’s longterm home in the community it has served for more than two decades.
The purchase follows the expiration of the co-op’s original 20-year land lease at the end of December 2025. Through an option built into the original lease agreement, the co-op had the opportunity either to renew the lease at a higher rate or purchase the property outright. After careful consideration, River Valley Co-op turned to its community of member-owners for support in funding the purchase.
Productions
Continued from page 1
to embark on a journey of artistic expression, self-confidence and teamwork. It has since become a beacon of creativity by educating school-aged students in theater, music and dance.
Lawrence told Reminder Publishing that the program has consistently grown over the years, and they plan to put on four separate productions over the course of the calendar year. As for “Le-
In December 2025, the co-op announced it had surpassed its $1.5 million loan campaign goal through individual loans from coop owners. Those funds made it possible to complete the land purchase, cover associated legal fees, and address needed property maintenance projects, including rock wall and parking lot repairs.
“We are deeply grateful to our member-owners whose enthusiasm and financial support made this purchase possible,” said Emma Woebbe, president of the River Valley Co-op Board of Directors. “This milestone ensures that our community-owned co-op remains permanently rooted in Northampton.”
gally Blonde Jr.,” the goal was to appeal to youth ages 12-plus, but the mission is to incorporate youth of all ages.
“Anyone who wants to register can come and join. Our focus has been more towards slightly younger [kids] in kind of thinking that it kind of seeds into the high school, but that’s not really the only specific thing,” Lawrence said. “[’Legally Blonde’] is our first show to include high schoolers in that capacity. Most of the shows in the past have been about 14 and younger, and this one is our first to specifically be for the teenager group.”
While working with the youth performers for the current show, Lawrence said the passion for the production was immediately palpable.
“We were looking at doing shows with the older kids, we were asking, ‘What would they want to do? What kind of show would that age group bring in?’ And when talking with the kids that were currently involved and about to age out, a lot of them
While payments to member lenders will be comparable to previous rent expenses, ownership of the property is expected to save the co-op hundreds of thousands of dollars over time by avoiding escalating lease costs. More importantly, the purchase protects the co-op from future uncertainty related to lease renewals or unaffordable rent increases.
River Valley Co-op also expressed appreciation for its longtime landlords, Bill and Marcia (last names withheld by request), whose support helped make the Northampton location possible from the beginning.
“At a time when our startup food co-op faced rejection after
enthusiastically brought up, well, we should do ‘Legally Blonde.’ They weren’t necessarily pushing for a show for the older kids; they just wanted to do ‘Legally Blonde,’” Lawrence said. “It’s the perfect one to kick off something for the older group specifically.”
The Academy Youth Production series provides students with the experience of learning how to be in a show, and the cast is often made up of youth actors of all skill levels and experience. For Lawrence, he said it’s important to still have a quality standard to meet and show kids what is possible when they come together and work hard in creating a production.
“I don’t like the thought that because it’s youth theater, we don’t need to worry about putting as much into it or worry about it. I really don’t like that, I believe we’re putting on a show, and whether the age group is for adults, we’re going to put our best efforts into it, and we’re going to have a good quality experience, and that’s my overall goal
rejection in trying to secure a location, Bill and Marcia welcomed us into the old quarry property and worked with us to make our vision a reality,” Woebbe said. The Northampton site carries deep local history. The property was originally a city-owned rock quarry operating from 1870 to 1921, and stone from the quarry helped build many Northampton roads. Today, River Valley Co-op says it is “rock solidly” rooted in the community thanks to the support of its member-owners, customers, staff, and supporters.
River Valley Co-op extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to and championed this historic achievement.
with the programming is that it is a quality theater experience for youth,” he said.
Additionally, the historic Academy of Music Theatre stage gives students who want to pursue art in the future the exposure they need.
“The Academy of Music is a gorgeous historic theater that has been restored. It’s just a beautiful stage, and there’s a lot of pride and joy in being able to perform and be a part of something in such a beautiful, full theater. It’s a big audience, there’s the gorgeous chandelier in there, and we rehearse and perform on a stage where many, many actors have performed on,” said Lawrence. “The experience does get a lot of people involved in arts through those doors that might not otherwise have come into a place like that.”
Tickets for “Legally Blonde Jr.” are available at aomtheatre. com or by calling the box office at 413-584-9032. Ticket prices range from $15.16 to $23.95, including all fees.
Healey appoints former revenue chief to lead reshaped CCC
By Colin A. Young State House News Service
BOSTON — Given the unique chance to reshape the Cannabis Control Commission, Gov. Maura Healey has tapped a former revenue commissioner who more recently has been steering the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to chair the new-look, downsized panel.
The governor on May 19 appointed Christopher Harding as chair of the new three-person CCC and also picked as commissioners Western Mass. economic development official Xiomara DeLobato and cannabis law advisor Anthony Wilson. Healey in April signed a law dissolving the original, five-commissioner structure of the CCC and replacing it with a three-person panel appointed entirely by the state’s executive.
“The cannabis industry plays an important role in our economy, and this law gives us an opportunity to strengthen the Commission so it can better support businesses, workers and consumers,” Healey, who opposed the 2016 legalization of marijuana, said in a statement. “This industry supports thousands of jobs and small businesses across Massachusetts, and it’s important that we have a regulatory structure that is effective, accountable and built to meet the needs of a growing industry. These appointees bring strong leadership and management experience, and I’m confident they will help move the Commission and industry forward.”
Harding was Department of Revenue commissioner during Gov. Charlie Baker’s tenure and most recently has been working as chief of staff and undersecretary at EOHHS, the largest secretariat under the governor’s executive arm. DeLobato works as vice president and chief of staff at the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Coun-
cil, where Healey’s office said she helps lead regional economic initiatives, business partnerships and workforce development efforts. Wilson has advised a range of cannabis operators, entrepreneurs and startups navigating Massachusetts’ regulatory landscape through a private practice, and has worked in local government, including as associate city solicitor and city clerk in Springfield and as city clerk in Cambridge.
The Healey administration noted in its announcement that Harding was a founding member of the Cannabis Advisory Board as revenue commissioner and that he chaired its industry subcommittee. The administration said his background in “operational leadership and organizational management will help guide the Commission through its next phase of reform and modernization.”
Under the new CCC framework, the chair is to serve coterminous with the governor, meaning Harding could be on the job only through the end of the year unless Healey wins reelection this fall. Healey’s office said Harding “will be sworn in and begin immediately overseeing implementation of the reforms signed into law earlier this year,” including an increase in the possession limit and a raising of a common ownership license cap.
The CCC had a public meeting scheduled for May 21.
Cut out of the process now are the treasurer and attorney general, who each had an individual appointment and a say in two joint appointments from the CCC’s 2017 launch until this year’s shakeup.
The new CCC law designates the chair as the person responsible for personnel and administrative matters at the agency and makes explicit that the executive director is to report directly to the chairperson. Executive Di-
rector Travis Ahern was hired last year by a vote of commissioners active at the time.
The lawmakers who negotiated the new structure made clear in the legislation that Ahern “shall continue in their role with all the powers and duties authorized in statute or delegated by the commissioners and in place at the time of transfer” until or unless the newly-appointed chair takes other action.
Frustration with a slow pace of regulatory changes, headline-grabbing internal conflicts, and a plea from the inspector general for the Legislature to intervene at the “rudderless agency” combined over the last two years to get lawmakers to move for changes for the CCC, an agency created after voters in 2016 approved legal non-medical marijuana.
The CCC developed a reputation among lawmakers — who were unanimous last year in voting to reorganize the agency —
as an ineffective regulator and as an organization beset with personnel conflicts and scandals.
From September 2023 until September 2025, Shannon O’Brien was exiled from the commission as chairwoman after Treasurer Deborah Goldberg suspended and then fired her based in part on clashes with the former executive director, who had previously worked for the treasurer. A Superior Court judge ruled last year that Goldberg acted unlawfully, and ordered O’Brien reinstated to her position with back pay.
O’Brien’s return revealed fresh clashes with Ahern, who was hired during O’Brien’s absence. Though the internal strife was what got the most attention, the CCC has also been busy in recent years trying to tailor policy to a maturing and evolving industry.
The previous set of regulators — which included Bruce Stebbins, Kimberly Roy and Carrie Benedon aside from O’Brien —
was working on issues related to fraud in the mandatory testing of legal marijuana sold here, tried to peel away some of the red tape that makes it tough to do business here and paid particular attention to supporting social equity programs. The agency is also in the midst of launching long-awaited venues where adults can buy and consume marijuana in a social setting. In one of its final acts, the last iteration of the CCC voted last month to stop issuing cultivation licenses in a bid to help businesses that have struggled to stay afloat as oversupply sunk the price of an ounce of marijuana. Those issues — and others including ramifications of potential shifts at the federal level — await Healey’s new CCC. Colin Young is the deputy editor for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach him at colin. young@statehousenews.com.
Former Revenue Commissioner Christopher Harding was appointed by Gov. Maura Healey as the next chair of the Cannabis Control Commission.
State House News Service photo by Sam Doran
EASTHAMPTON
Council approves ordinance changes to modernize housing rules
By Tina Lesniak Correspondent
EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton City Council approved a series of amendments on May 20 to the city’s Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership Zoning Ordinance, advancing changes supporters said will modernize local housing rules, reduce barriers to development and better align the ordinance with state law and contemporary definitions of family and neighborhood design.
All five proposed amendments passed after discussion among councilors about housing affordability, inclusivity and the role zoning language can play in shaping who feels welcome in a community.
One of the simpler updates references in the ordinance from the state Department of Housing and Community Development to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, reflecting a recent administrative restructuring at the state level.
Another amendment is centered on parking requirements for multifamily housing developments.
The amendment establishes a blanket minimum of 1.5 parking spaces per unit for all multifamily housing projects, while allowing the requirement to be reduced to an average of one space per unit depending on unit mix and project location.
The previous standard required one parking space per bedroom plus one additional space for every 10 units.
Ordinance Committee Chair Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid explained that reducing parking minimums could help lower housing costs while encouraging greater use of public transportation.
Parking spaces often function as a “hidden tax,” Jamrog-McQuaid said, because the cost of the parking space is included in the rent even if it’s not used.
The council also approved language changes intended to ensure local zoning regulations align with and defer to state housing law where applicable.
Another amendment updated the ordinance’s definition of “family” to include “all the people who occupy a single housing unit, regardless of their relationship to one another.”
Supporters said the revision reflects changing household structures and more inclusive understandings of family life.
“Families have changed,” said Councilor Nathan Markee during the discussion.
Councilor Thomas Peake said the updated language removes the city from making subjective judgments about residents’ personal relationships.
“It’s not our job to tell people what a family is,” Peake said.
Councilors spent significant
time discussing revisions to language referencing “community character” throughout the zoning ordinance. The approved changes remove or clarify vague references to neighborhood “character” and replace them with more objective and specific criteria.
Jamrog-McQuaid argued that the phrase “community character” can be overly subjective and potentially discriminatory if left undefined.
The councilor warned that such language can be “weaponized” to justify racial or class exclusion under the guise of preserving neighborhoods.
Councilors emphasized that the revisions are not intended to eliminate legitimate land-use considerations such as density, scale or design standards, but rather to encourage more precise language focused on measurable aesthetic concerns.
Peake illustrated the issue by recounting the story of his own
“ugly house,” noting that buildings and neighborhoods evolve over time as materials, construction methods, economics and available supplies change. Rather than relying on broad appeals to “character,” councilors said zoning ordinances should clearly define what qualities are expected or prohibited in a development.
Workhub on Union seeks artists for new exhibits
By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Artists in the region who want their work featured now have a new opportunity to do so. The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce is making a call to local artists about a new opportunity that celebrates and supports arts in the community at The Workhub on Union on a rotational basis.
Beginning in July, the chamber will feature rotating visual art exhibitions on its walls showcasing the work of local and regional artists through quarterly exhibits. Executive Director Jon Kostek told Reminder Publishing that the chamber wants to further connect with the local arts community and bring more exposure to the chamber’s Workhub and its offerings.
“We’re trying to get more involved and more recognized in the community. We’re trying to connect more with the arts community in Easthampton because Easthampton has such a vibrant community here for the arts, and as a chamber, we’re thinking, how can we help?” said Kostek.
As part of their continued commitment to the creative spirit that makes Easthampton special, the exhibitions will offer artists a welcoming space to share their work with the community and bring even more creativity and inspiration
to downtown. Kostek said the walls inside the Workhub will feature with various pieces of visual displays, from photography to paintings and drawings. The showcase will also be part of the monthly Easthampton Art Walk.
“It’ll pretty much fill up most of the available space that we have,” Kostek said, adding they have 52 linear feet of space available on its walls for artists.
A three-person committee will parse through applications before choosing artists. The plan is to fill a full year of featured work and rotate the work on a quarterly basis.
The application deadline is June 10, and applicants will be notified by June 15. To apply to get their visual art displayed, artists can go to the Greater Easthampton Chamber’s Facebook page to find the link or reach out to info@easthaptonchamber.org.
Aside from further connecting with the community’s vibrant arts scene, Kostek said the opportunity will also help bring more exposure to the Workhub and its mission within the community.
“We’re always trying to expose the Workhub, the co-working space. Connecting with the arts community, having art displayed here, we feel that it will make a connection there, and then as we open up to invite people in to do the artwork, that
will also bring the community in, and hopefully people can see the space and recognize the space. Just in general, we want to let people know the chamber is here, we have this Workhub coworking space. The chamber’s getting more involved in
the community, so we want to showcase local art, the chamber, the work hub,” Kostek said.
“Since I started about a year ago, this is something that’s been talked about, getting artwork here in the Workhub, and we’ve finally got this process going,
so we’re really excited, and we hope a lot of people apply to have their artwork displayed here. We’re excited to get it up here and kind of liven up the space. I just think, also, it’s just going to be good for the community and good for everyone.”
Workhub on Union.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
The Easthampton City Council met on May 20 to discuss and eventually approve housing ordinance changes.
Photo credit: E-Media
Downtown Sounds to celebrate 50th anniversary
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — To mark half a century as a staple of the Northampton music community, Downtown Sounds Workers Coop is hosting a 50th anniversary celebration event on Monday, June 1, at the Iron Horse.
Located on Pleasant Street since 1976, Downtown Sounds has been the go-to place for musicians to help cover any guitar, percussion, orchestral and other musical needs. It became a co-op in 2019 following the retirement of original owner and founder Joe Blumenthal. Offering general sales, repairs and lessons, Downtown Sounds has stuck around over the last 50 years by delivering music services as a hub for the arts and the live music scene.
“We are a local community-based store, a place where people can come and get good advice on instruments, repairs or lessons. There is a strong musical and artistic community [in Northampton], so it really helps to be in a place that really appreciates being able to come in and have a face-to-face interaction with somebody instead of just using their phone or going online,” said Aaron Borucki, who works
in sales for Downtown Sounds and has been an employee at the shop since 2004.
Borucki is also a multi-instrument musician who writes, plays, and sings for Behold! True Believers, one of the acts set for the celebration. He told Reminder Publishing it was important for the co-op to host this event as a celebration for Downtown Sounds history. He added that it is also a celebration of the music community that has been so foundational to Northampton and part of why Downtown Sounds has existed for so long.
“The event is twofold. It is just a way for all of us to celebrate all the hard work that we put into this for such a long time. Everybody here from the store is a musician one way or another, and we are excited to have a celebration. We have a mutual relationship with the Parlor Room, the people that run the Iron Horse now too, so we are using this opportunity to do a show celebrating Downtown Sounds, but it’s also a benefit for the Iron Horse,” said Borucki.
“We’re not taking any money, and all the proceeds are going to go directly to the Parlor Room to help out with the wicked expensive ask it is to run that venue. In a way, we’re giving back to
the community and at the same time being able to celebrate all the hard work that we’ve done over the years.”
group will bring bombastic blasts of color and light through four melodic instruments and three vocals with their performance.
Donations open for Northampton Summer Clothing Drive
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to support the community’s most vulnerable population, Northampton has announced the launch of its Summer Clothing Drive through its Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Community Care. According to the city, the drive will specifically assist those experiencing financial hardship, housing instability and other challenging life circumstances as temperatures continue to increase.
“I think these efforts are so important because the work of the Division of Community Care is to support the community, and this drive is doing exactly that. We are trying to collect donations to support our most vulnerable community members and make sure that everyone in Northampton has the clothes and supplies they need,” said DCC Coordinator Anna Ganote.
The drive kicked off on May 18, and donations will be accepted until Friday, June 5.
Ganote said that as the cost of living continues to rise and many individuals struggle to have their basic needs met, DHHS has seen an increasing demand for essential clothing supplies through its outreach and community response efforts. Donations will be distributed locally through DHHS programs and community partner organizations serving vulnerable residents throughout Northampton. Community members are encouraged to donate new or gently used items, including shirts, shorts and pants, raincoats, hats, blankets and sleeping bags.
“Those are the big things, particularly as the season changes,
having that seasonally appropriate clothing, with the heat wave we’ve seen this week, we see how important that is now more than ever,” said Ganote. “Really, anything that people have that’s new or gently used that they think that their neighbors could benefit from are things that we will accept and are greatly appreciated. We’ll definitely accept sunblock, bug spray, really anything that will help keep people safe and protected during the summer months.”
Ganote said that while all donations are appreciated, men’s clothing is currently the greatest area of need to address through this drive.
“There is a particularly high need for men’s clothing and items right now. If there are folks with a lot of men’s items that they are not using, those are very needed in the community right now. And of course, anything people have, we really appreciate, and we are really appreciative of the community for participating in this,” she said.
Donations may be dropped off at the following locations across
Northampton:
• Forbes Library
• Lilly Library
• Northampton Fire/Rescue Department Headquarters
• Northampton Police Department
Northampton Senior Center
• Division of Community Care
• Thrones Marketplace
Limited donation pick-up may be available for community members unable to travel to a drop-off location. For more information or to arrange a pick-up, contact the Northampton DHHS at healthdept@northamptonma.gov or call the DCC at 877-322-0413.
Ganote emphasized that the
Summer Clothing Drive is an opportunity for the Northampton community to once again come together in support of neighbors in need. Every donation helps provide comfort, dignity and practical support to community members navigating difficult circumstances.
“It really does mean a lot for us to see our more fortunate neighbors show up for their community and really see the community come together and support each other in this way,” Ganote said. “I think, like I mentioned, the work of the Division of Community Care is to support the community,
and we really see everyone doing that in this, and it really does make such a difference for folks who are in need of these items, and we’re just really happy to see that. There is such great appreciation for those who are able to donate who are doing that.”
Borucki’s
They will be joined by other acts, including
Downtown Sounds.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
HAMPSHIRE REGIONAL VS PITTSFIELD
SOFTBALL
Hampshire Regional softball swept past Pittsfield 20-2 in the quarterfinals of the Western Massachusetts Class B Tournament on May 19.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY SAM BLAKE
Charlotte Carr slides into home plate and scores a run during the first inning.
Chelsea Vanasse fields the bunt and throws the runner out at first.
Lucy Trombley gets the ball from the catcher and tags the runner out.
Ryanne Dubay gets the start in the Western Mass Quarterfinals against Pittsfield.
Catcher Reagan Dubay frames the pitch for a called strike.
Chelsea Vanasse throws across the diamond to get the runner out.
Taylor St. Pierre runs to home plate and scores a run.
Catcher Reagan Dubay and pitcher Ryanne Dubay talk to each other during a mound visit.
Rachael Hickox hustles down the first baseline and beats the throw.
Lucy Trombley connects with the ball and hits it to the outfield.
Reagan Dubay fist bumps her first base coach after reaching first base safely.
Kalin Dubay looks into home plate and leads off of first base.
Barney Frank, 86, left mark as trailblazer in politics
By Colin A. Young and Sam Drysdale State House News Service
BOSTON — Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out publicly as gay and a liberal bulldog who left his fingerprints on the nation’s banking regulations, died May 20. He was 86. Frank announced in early May that he had begun hospice care at his home in Maine.
“He has been such a tremendous asset for not only Massachusetts but the entire country. This makes us very sad,” Senate President Karen Spilka said when she heard the news on the morning of May 19. “He stood out and stood up and was a voice for so many people when they had no voice.”
A Democrat, Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House in 1972 after winning a four-person Democratic primary and besting Republican Virgil Aiello in the general election. He brought to the House his experience as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Kevin White.
Frank represented Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill until 1980, when he won election
to Congress after Father Robert Drinan heeded the pope’s call for priests to leave electoral politics and did not run for reelection.
Redistricting soon pitted the freshman Frank, then a Newton Democrat, against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Margaret Heckler in his first congressional reelection campaign, in 1982. He won that contest.
Frank was a member of Congress in 1987 when he became the first to voluntarily come out as gay. Fellow Massachusetts delegation member U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds was the first congressman to be outed, but his revelation came in connection with the 1983 congressional page sex scandal rather than on his own accord.
“While some in our community knew Barney was gay before he came out publicly, it was extremely meaningful when he did so. Times were very different in the 80s. Most people didn’t realize that they knew LGBT folks,” said Arline Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Political Caucus. “So, when Barney came out publicly, it was earth shattering to many. Certainly, in the halls of Congress and our State House, most legislators and staff were
shocked. It was likely the first time many in Congress learned that they knew a gay man. Barney was a role model for us.”
In 1990, Frank was reprimanded by the House in connection to his two-year relationship with Steven Gobie, a male prostitute who had run an escort service out of their apartment. After an 11-month investigation, the House Ethics Committee found that Frank was unaware of the criminal activities but had lied in an unrelated memo about how he and Gobie met.
Despite the scandal and public calls for his resignation, Frank won reelection with 66% of the vote that year. And he didn’t shy away from scandal and controversy.
During the “Contract With America” phase of the mid-1990s, Frank often sparred with U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and later in the decade was one of the leaders of Democrats’ attempts to block GOP efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.
With Democrats in control of the House, Frank was elevated to the chairmanship of the House Committee on Financial Services,
serving in the post from 2007 to 2011 — giving him tremendous influence over the nation’s banking system as the 2008 financial meltdown took hold.
In its aftermath, he and U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut wrote legislation aimed at a sweeping overhaul of the financial services industry. President Barack Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Act into law in July 2010, though Republicans have since chipped away at some of its provisions.
Frank retired from Congress and did not seek reelection in 2012.
“Barney Frank was a trailblazer — someone who never hesitated to stand up for what he believed in or speak his mind. Our Commonwealth and our country were better because of his service,”
Congressman Seth Moulton said on Wednesday. “I was grateful for the chance to know him over the years. We should honor Barney by continuing to fight for more affordable housing and consumer protections.”
Frank is also remembered as one of the most quotable elected officials from the Bay State.
“There are three lies politicians
tell,” he told a real estate group in 2009, according to reporting in The New Yorker. “The first is ‘We ran against each other but are still good friends.’ That’s never true. The second is ‘I like campaigning.’ Anyone who tells you they like campaigning is either a liar or a sociopath. Then, there’s ‘I hate to say I told you so.’ ... Everybody likes to say ‘I told you so.’ I have found personally that it is one of the few pleasures that improves with age. I can say ‘I told you so’ without taking a pill before, during, or after I do it.”
When informed of his passing by reporters on May 20 during an unrelated press availability, state Sen. Michael Rush also quoted the late congressman.
“We shared a district,” Rush said, “and when I got elected to the House of Representatives, he said one of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard in public life, he said, ‘The last time I voted for a politician I agreed with 100% of the time was myself, but only during my first term in office.’ “ Colin Young is the deputy editor for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach him at colin.young@ statehousenews.com.
Summer jobs for young people riding on budget decisions
By Katie Castellani State House News Service
BOSTON — Advocates say thousands of jobs are expected to get cut unless lawmakers restore funding for a program that supports employment for at-risk young people.
The current state budget includes $15.24 million for a line item (7002-0012) supporting a jobs program for at-risk youth. That funding is expected to provide 3,800 youth summer jobs this year, according to state officials. That’s down from 6,500 jobs funded by $23 million in fiscal year 2025 ($16.24 million in legislative appropriations and the rest from unspent or unobligated funding from previous years and unspent ARPA funds).
Youth advocates are calling on senators to boost funding during
next week’s budget debate. They are backing a state Sen. Sal DiDomenico amendment that raises the Senate Ways and Means Committee’s allocation of almost $15.4 million to $20 million. This is enough to add back 1,150 jobs, said Lewis Finfer of the Youth Jobs Coalition and Massachusetts Action for Justice.
About $25 million is needed to fund the 6,000 jobs that advocates desire, but that ask didn’t seem “politically feasible” in a tight budget year, Finfer said. The House-approved FY27 budget funds the program at about $17.6 million. Gov. Maura Healey’s budget proposal matches the Senate’s at almost $15.4 million.
During a rally held in a packed hearing room at the State House, Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Marlborough backed the amendment,
TheReminder.com
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NORTHAMPTON
Janet R. Cleary (Aldrich)
Dr. Jane Marie Zapka
SOUTH HADLEY
James W. Armstrong Jr.
noting he represents a district where fewer families rely on youth jobs for additional income. Eldridge said he was motivated to support the funds after learning about the different challenges young people face in areas where they feel more pressured to get a job and support their family.
“It really moves me to advocate for these programs,” he said.
For Amani Henry — who migrated to the U.S. two years ago — job opportunities and support he’s received from the youth organization MissionSAFE are crucial to helping his mom back in Jamaica.
“This is my only way to help my family at the moment, and I know there are plenty of kids who need these types of programs for many other reasons,” Henry said.
ARPA funds have been exhausted and Healey launched
Anniversary
Continued from page 5
alternative country group the Lonesome Brothers, indie pop and Northampton-based group King Radio, and Klezamir, a Klezmer-based band in Western Massachusetts, which features Blumenthal on acoustic and electric bass guitar.
“It just so happens that June 1 is actually the 50th anniversary to the day, so it’s nice that it’s a Monday. It helps out the Iron Horse because we’re not taking up a weekend where they could be pulling in a big crowd,” added Borucki. “I’m hoping that we’re going to sell the place out and it’ll
other programs aimed at support youth workers, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said. This includes a program that provides $900,000
be a big blowout, but it just all kind of came together that way. It’s going to help them, it’s going to give us a venue to be able to perform in a professional environment that cultivates music and art, so I think it’s going to work out pretty nicely for everybody.”
As part of the special guest performers, Borucki shared that some of the co-op’s younger employees, Ari Benjamin and Adam Ives, will also get some stage time. He said, overall, the celebration of 50 years will highlight both old and new from the music community behind the shop.
“We’re really glad to have some of our younger staff involved and not have it just be the old hat and the old traditions. We’re going to be having a marriage of the old guard and the future generation of the store coming together all to celebrate, and it’s going to be really great to get everybody that has been part of this for such a long time under the same roof to get to celebrate; we’re really excited about it,” Borucki added.
The benefit for the Iron Horse and celebration of Downtown Sound’s 50th anniversary are a perfect match, according to
to six organizations for job training, placement and other services for 116 young adults with disabilities.
Borucki, because he said the coop is grateful to still be around and in their Pleasant Street location. He shared that the community support is apparent and appreciated, and it only made sense to celebrate the shop’s milestone in a way that gives back to the local music community.
“We’re grateful to be here. The fact that we’re a co-op is something that I think means a lot to a small community. People tend to really appreciate the fact that we are worker-owned ... we are just extremely grateful for all the support we’ve had over the years from customers and students and people coming in to get stuff repaired or even just families out of town coming through on the weekend,” said Borucki. “What we are doing is something that I think is really special, and it’s really pretty awesome to get to be your own boss. It’s more work than it’s ever been, but for the most part it is extremely rewarding.”
Doors will open for the celebration at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $24, but prices will increase on the day of the event. To purchase tickets beforehand, visit theparlorroom. my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/ events/a0SV500000BNpbNMAT.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge speaks during a rally for more funding for youth jobs on May 14.
State House News Service photo by Katie Castellani
STRM: Pride Month events in Western Massachusetts
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet sat down with Holyoke Pride Committee members Jeffery Bianche and Jeffrey Anderson-Burgos, while Chris Maza and Dennis Hackett sat down with Springfield Pride Parade Founder and CEO Taurean Bethea to chat about what’s in store for Pride Month in their respective communities.
Holyoke
Holyoke will host its Pride flag raising on Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 536 Dwight St., and there will be a Youth Queer Prom on Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at the Holyoke War Memorial, 310 Appleton St. The latter event is for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies between the ages of 1324 who want to “celebrate freely and joyfully.”
Other Pride events in Holyoke include a Buen Provecho Drag Brunch on Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m., at Fame Lounge, 386 Dwight St. and a Rainbow Run 5K and 1-mile fun walk on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m., where participants can hit the ground running, or walking, at Ashley Reservoir in their brightest rainbow gear.
Anderson-Burgos, who said he is interested in running, created this event and shared he is looking forward to seeing it continue to grow. “I know that runners are constantly looking for the next race, so going into it, I knew it was going to be, if you build it they will come. Just putting in on the race calendar, people are immediately signing up for it.”
All ages and abilities are welcome. Readers can register for the event on the committee’s website until June 12.
A Drag Story Hour event will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St. Residents are encouraged to bring the family to library to experience heartwarming stories that celebrate acceptance and diversity.
The marquee event, Holyoke PrideFest, will take place on Saturday, June 27, from noon to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, 536 Dwight St. The day will include live per-
formances, local food vendors, nonprofits, small businesses, art and community connections.
Bianche said there will be between 60-70 vendors at the event. He added that PrideFest has continued to grow since the first year, and he expects around 2,000 people.
The celebration continues at a Pride After Party from 6-11 p.m. at The Wauregan, 420 Dwight St., with music, dancing and “unforgettable vibes.” Tickets for the after party are available on the website.
For the latest updates and event details, readers can visit holyokepride.org. Vendors and performers can apply on the website as well. Readers looking to donate, sponsor, or volunteer can do so on the website, as well.
Bianche said he still needs to add a couple events to the website’s calendar for people to check out. He explained that the celebration has grown a lot, and he and Anderson-Burgos wanted to sponsor and create events to support people of all ages.
“We’re trying to just get anyone who’s working in this realm to just sort of submit their event and get it listed to become part of this bigger Holyoke Pride umbrella,” Bianche said.
Springfield
Springfield is hosting its LGBTQIA+ flag raising on Thursday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Springfield City Hall, 36 Court St.
Bethea said this will be the fifth year that Springfield Pride Parade will host events to celebrate Pride Month.
Instead of the annual Gala, this year’s schedule will feature the first ever “Pride Strikes,” a charity bowling classic on Friday, June 5, at Tap’s MGM Springfield from 7-10 p.m. Readers can register their teams at springfieldprideparade.com.
The fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade is taking place on Saturday, June 6, starting at noon. The parade starts at the Springfield Technical Community College campus and proceeds to downtown Springfield, where guests can continue the celebration at the fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade Block Party from 1-6 p.m. at Stearns Square and the Pride Lands in downtown
Springfield.
Outside of those events, Bethea said he is looking forward to the youth community panel. “Just hearing their thoughts on different things, and I feel like there’s always something to learn,” Bethea stated. “It’s like what’s happening in the world from their perspective, where we’re just like, ‘Oh wow I didn’t know that.’”
Bethea said Springfield Pride’s work is much more than the parade. It’s also an opportunity to create “safe spaces” programming throughout the city for the youth and residents.
Although this year’s event in Springfield coincides with Boston’s celebration, Bethea said he expects a great turnout of about 5,000-7,000 people rain or shine.
He joked, “If you’re from Springfield, you are obligated to be here. A few years people have been like, ‘We went to Boston in the morning and ended up in Springfield,’ so there’s enough to go around.”
More details and information on each event can be found at springfieldprideparade.org.
To hear the full episode, visit thereminder.com/our-podcast
City’s inaugural Lupus Awareness
By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — Community members, families, advocates and local organizations will come together on Sunday, May 31, at 2 p.m. for the first Holyoke Lupus Awareness Walk at the city’s Heritage State Park on 221 Appleton St.
The walk became a reality after lead organizers Lianexis Charles and Stefany Garcia, who were both diagnosed with the disease in 2014, discussed an event to raise awareness about lupus, and to support individuals and families affected by the disease. They also wanted to promote education around an oft-misunderstood autoimmune illness that affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States.
In December 2025, Charles experienced a life-threatening lupus flare-up that she said deeply impacted both her and her loved ones. She said that through the power of prayer, her medical team, the knowledge her parents gained following her diagnosis in 2014, and the unwavering support of her fiancé, Charles regained her strength and continued moving forward.
“So, for me, this walk represents more than awareness — it is a celebration of life, resilience, faith, and the incredible support system that carried me through one of the most difficult mo-
ments of my journey,” Charles stated. “I am honored to stand alongside friends, family, and the community to help educate others and bring greater awareness to lupus.”
The walk will feature educational displays, lupus awareness materials, and personal stories from local individuals living with lupus, creating an opportunity for the community to learn, connect and show support for those impacted by the disease.
Charles explained that Lupus is an unpredictable and often silent autoimmune disease that can affect the body both externally and internally, leaving those living with it physically and emotionally vulnerable. The physical impact depends on which organs or systems are being affected, as well as the treatments required to manage the disease.
“Mentally and emotionally, lupus can be especially challenging because it is a lifelong condition that requires continuous strength,
or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform. Some other Pride events taking place during the month of June in the Pioneer Valley include:
• Westfield Pride Month events: Harlot Queen’s Album Release party at Westfield Women’s Club; a Pride flag raising at Westfield City Hall on Monday, June 1, at 5:15 p.m.; Pride Karaoke on Tuesday, June 2, at Shortstop Bar & Grill at 6 p.m.; Family Gift Card Bingo at the Senior Center on Wednesday, June 3, from 6-7:30 p.m.; Comedy Night at Hutghi’s on Thursday, June 4, from 4-7 p.m.; Out & About Social event at Fame, 386 Dwight St., Holyoke on Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m.; Rainbows over Elm Pridefest will take place on June 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and there will be an ecumenical service at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 7, from 6-7 p.m. Chicopee Pride Festival, presented by the Chicopee Queer Consortium — Saturday, June 13, noon to 6 p.m. Includes its inaugural Chicopee Pride Parade, which will kick off the day at 10 a.m. The parade will
step off at Dana Park on Serman Street and process down Springfield Street, Fairview Avenue, Academy Street and Front Street and into Szot Park. Franklin County Pride — Saturday, June 13. Parade begins at noon in Greenfield, starting at the intersection of Sanderson Street & Federal Street and finishing at Energy Park. The festival begins at 1 p.m. All of Miles Street down to Energy Park for the festival.
• Belchertown Pride Festival, hosted by the Belchertown DEI Task Force and Belchertown Police Department — Saturday, June 20, noon to 5 p.m. at the Belchertown Common.
• Amherst Pride Parade and Celebration — Sunday, June 28, noon to 3 p.m. The parade begins at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and processes to the Amherst Town Common. This is not a comprehensive list of every event going on in Western Massachusetts. Readers are encouraged to check out events within their local communities for other celebrations taking place during Pride Month.
Walk to take place on May 31
adjustment and resilience,” Charles explained. “Treatment can also involve regular infusions, depending on the severity and areas affected by lupus.”
Organizers hope the event will not only raise awareness but also help reduce stigma surrounding invisible illnesses while building stronger community understanding and support.
Charles said, “Our goal with this event is to raise greater awareness about lupus, as many individuals diagnosed with this silent and unpredictable autoimmune disease often attempt to battle it alone. The truth is that lupus is not a fight anyone should face without support, understanding and education about what the disease truly involves. We want every person affected by lupus to know that they are not alone in this journey.”
Charles also said she had the privilege of knowing Emma Hernandez, who lost her battle with Lupus. “Her story serves as a
powerful reminder of why awareness, support, and community are so important. Through this walk, we hope to encourage and uplift those living with lupus so they feel supported, empowered and strong enough to continue fighting,” Charles stated. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend and wear purple in support of lupus awareness. The event will also support the mission of the Lupus Foundation of America through awareness and fundraising efforts dedicated
to improving quality of life, advocacy, education and research for those affected by lupus. According to Charles, donations will help improve the quality of life for those affected by lupus, support research for better treatments, find a cure, and provide education, resources, and support for individuals and families impacted by the disease. Readers can register to participate in the walk and/or make a donation to support the Lupus Foundation of America at www. tinyurl.com/4xadty22.
Lobster Feasts
June
Springfield Pride Parade founder Taurean Bethea (center) joined Chris Maza and Dennis Hackett to discuss the fifth annual event.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
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