HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
JUNE 18, 2026 | FREE
Voters pass override, avoid ‘catastrophic’ cuts
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton voters have approved the $6.9 million tax override during the special city election on June 9, securing the bulk of school and city services that would have been drastically cut if the vote had failed.
Residents approved the override through a 3,312-3,073 vote, and according to unofficial results, 47.5% of Easthampton voters came out to the polls.
Notably, if the override had failed, the city would have been looking at the loss of at least 35 positions across the school district, at least five positions between the Fire and Police departments, two public works positions and cuts across the board for other municipal departments.
The $6.9 million increase to property tax revenue will result in an estimated annual increase of about $1,200 to the average Easthampton home, which is valued at $418,000.
Following the election, Mayor Salem Derby told Reminder Publishing that he is relieved that the community stepped up during this unfortunate situation.
“I’m relieved that we don’t have to make catastrophic cuts. To the schools, it would have been so devastating. We would have lost students, students that come here from out of district would have left. Having no art, music, P.E., sports; it’s such a dismal life being a student [without these extracurriculars]. So, for me, that really is one of the most
important parts of this, being able to keep the services that are so critical. Between Police and Fire, keeping our response times are so important,” said Derby.
The passing of the override still means that there will be some cuts made around municipal departments so that the city can reorganize its financial foundation for the future. Derby, however, said these will be minor
in comparison to the drastic cuts that would have occurred with a failed override. For example, with the override now passed, the school district will have to cut about six total positions.
The $6.9 million ask for taxpayers has been coined as a “shared sacrifice” by Derby during the process, as the city will be adding $1.5 million from stabilization funds to help meet
NORTHAMPTON Council passes $152.5 million FY27 budget
The City Council passed the FY27 budget just weeks before FY28 override conversations take shape. Page 4 City prepares for nicotine-free generation policy
The city is currently educating people about the new policy. Page 5
the budget deficit in full. He added that while the results show this was a divisive ask for the community, he hopes moving forward with the approved override that he and other city officials can show this was a meaningful investment for the city.
“I think on the other side of that, understanding that this is
Voters lined up outside of City Hall and the polls at Easthampton High School to express support both ways for the city’s special election override vote, which ended up passing by a 3,312-3,073 tally. Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
Senior Center makes call to senior artists for solo shows
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The Senior Center is presenting senior artists with an opportunity to have their work displayed inside the center’s hallway gallery through a series of solo shows set to begin in October and run until September of next year.
Twelve artists and one alternate will be selected, and artists’ work will be displayed inside the center for two months. There is no submission fee, and the submission deadline is Friday, June 26.
Artists looking to submit their work must be 55 or older, and priority is given to the artists living in or near Northampton. Submissions must be flatwork such as drawings, painting, pastel, photography, fabric or mixed media. A minimum of 12 pieces of work must be read to hang, and artists are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the features and limitations of the gallery space before applying.
To submit work, visit forms. gle/TkUEGF1uonU7Bbvr8. Artists will be notified by July 17 and randomly assigned months and spaces for shows. The Northampton Senior Center takes no percentage of sales, but they encourage a donation if a show is financially successful.
Senior Center Assistant Director Nancy Yesu and Jeanne Henry-Hoose, organizer behind the center’s call to artists, spoke with Reminder Publishing about the opportunity for local seniors looking to showcase their work.
Yesu credited Henry-Hoose for her leadership behind this effort since 2017 and for bringing senior artists’ work in the building while adding to the charm of the community space.
Henry-Hoose, who also serves on the Council on Aging, said the gallery hallway has always been a popular feature for those looking to engage with local art.
When she began organizing the effort, she established a volunteer committee made up of artists that helps select submitted art for solo shows like this one.
“It’s definitely a beloved program. I feel like it gives seniors in the area an opportunity to shine in a space that is going to be seen by a fair amount of people. We have 200 people a day walking through the building, and so it’s just an honor to recognize older adults in the community that are doing creative, beautiful work,” said Yesu.
“With the help of Jeanne’s volunteer committee, it’s a nice variety.
One month it could be quilts, the next month it could be photography. There’s lots of creative folks who are older adults, and
we just want to give them a space to shine and a space for people to enjoy the work, so it kind of goes both ways. Hopefully it’s a good experience for the people who are showing their work, and then it’s a beautiful experience for those who are seeing it.”
Over the last two years, the center has also begun offering additional gallery space within its Bistro and Coffee Shop spaces inside the building. According to organizers, the space has become popular in tandem with Arts Night Out Northampton, and has morphed into a secondary exhibit location for some of the artists chosen for the solo shows.
Alongside the shows, Northampton Senior Center will also sponsor six joint receptions in conjunction with Northampton Arts Night Out, giving artists during certain months additional exposure from the visitors coming through as part of that program.
“That also gives us exposure in the community. We always like to make people aware that we’re down here and what we offer here, and I will say, it does draw folks here for that, and every time, there are folks who enter our building for the first time and say, ‘I didn’t know you were down here,’ or ‘I didn’t know the senior center existed, we came because of Arts Night Out,’” said Yesu.
Regarding the Arts Night Out events, Henry-Hoose added, “We combine two artists so the draw for people is even bigger. It brings more people here and then each artists gets the benefit of the other person’s crowd.”
Yesu said that in general, showcasing local arts at the Senior Center has been a positive and enjoyable time for the community. She added that she sees people stop and observe the work on display every day, and she hopes artists recognize the amount of exposure their work receives from this experience.
“Sometimes I feel bad because I feel like the artists don’t know that that’s happening every single day, but the staff sees it and how enjoyable it is for folks and the comments that we get,” said Yesu. “In a world that sometimes isn’t as joyful as you would hope, this sort of little bit of joy is so special, and that’s why I said it’s just beloved.”
Henry-Hoose, who began painting after retiring from her career, said that an opportunity like this, with no application fee or commission being taken, makes it a less intimidating and more accessible showcase opportunity for artists of all skill levels.
“Some people have done it as a hobby their whole lives, and some people have been profes-
sionals, and some people have just started. It’s a wide range,” added Henry-Hoose. “As somebody who has started painting, having a juried show, it’s a risk to send your stuff out and have people judge it, but it’s also an important step in order to find validation.”
Yesu added that many senior artists have flourished in the space thanks to the positive nature and welcoming environment the center has created around its hallway gallery space.
“We do love that aspect of encouraging older adults to tap into their creative side and hopefully be motivated by what they see,” Yesu said. “We could show anybody’s work. We could show the kids from the high school and that would be great too, but that’s not what our purpose is here at the Senior Center. It’s to highlight what people are doing in their advanced years and just trying to be, in some ways, motivating and supportive of the possibilities.”
For more information, visit the Senior Services’ Facebook page.
“Jeanne’s been instrumental. Without her it would be an entirely different situation and we’re so grateful to her and her committee. It’s been wonderful collaboration and it’s just absolutely beloved,” added Yesu.
Hadley Media releases Charter Spectrum FY27 revenue amount
HADLEY — Hadley Media is currently seeing a significant cut in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. Every year, Hadley Media receives franchise fees from Charter Spectrum to fund its operations. This year, the loss for Hadley Media was 10% with only $83,780 coming in for fiscal year 2027.
“We are grateful to both Town Meeting and Hadley voters for approving the override measure that gave us $40,000 to subsidise our enterprise fund,” said Director Alex LaMarche. “This will only get us through fiscal year 2028; we would need to request more money to keep operating past 2029.”
For many years, community media centers like Hadley Media have made an imprint in the community fiber when it comes to documenting important meetings and events; all while creating community and bringing people together through media. For more than 40
years, Community media centers have received funding through cable revenue. This is because of the Cable Act of 1984, which has been the only funding mechanism for community media with no federal update in the foreseeable future. According to Statista, cord-cutting has seen a steady decline since 2018, with Nielsen reporting that streaming surpassed cable and broadcast television for the first time in May of 2025.
Community media centers in Massachusetts and beyond have been known for covering municipal meetings, high school events such as sports and music events, and being a pillar of First Amendment activity for those community members who wish to have their voices heard on their local cable channel. Examples of some projects that have helped the town include a compilation video of police interactions and an informational video on a fire
truck purchase.
Upcoming projects include a documentary on the Hadley Amherst 12U Softball team and a project by Hadley Elementary School third graders to make asparagus the state vegetable. Hadley Media has also been working with local musician Harry Remer and the Hadley Public Library for a concert series called “Inside the Song”. “This is just a taste of what Hadley Media does,” LaMarche added, “We push our hours upon hours of content every year, with much of it being vital information that impacts community services and your wallet.”
Currently, MassAccess is leading an effort to change how Community Media Centers get their funding. In both the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees in the Massachusetts Legislature, they are housing S. 2556, H. 106, and H. 91, all entitled “An Act to Modernize Community
Media Funding,” in an effort to ease the loss of revenue Community Media Centers are facing. This bill would help supplement Hadley Media’s funding as cable revenues go down. “Families enjoy putting their Hopkins Academy athlete’s game on in their living rooms. Families across the country are able to watch their young family member score a goal, play an instrument, graduate, etc. Hadley Media has become a database for many boards and committees in town, such as Planning, ZBA, Conservation, Bylaw Committee, etc. Without funding, we won’t be able to put these important moments and meetings up for the public to view.” LaMarche states. One important moment was Master Police Officer John Robatille’s final sign-off before he passed away from ALS in December.
“I feel that through media, we are bringing the community to-
gether. We help build community in our own unique way. This is something we must not take for granted and we must keep up the momentum from this month’s ballot vote and continue to keep Hadley the small but mighty media center we are.”
At the time of release, an attempt was made for the bill to be a part of the House of Representatives budget bill under the labor and economic development consolidated amendment. The bill failed to pass that avenue; however, it is still urged that readers contact their local state representatives and senators to continue advocating for the passage of this bill.
Residents and/or the media are encouraged to reach out to LaMarche at 413-584-1203 or lamarchea@hadleyma.gov with any questions, concerns, and/ or comments.
Easthampton receives grant to complete municipal fiber loop
EASTHAMPTON — The city of Easthampton has been awarded $191,718 through the HealeyDriscoll Administration’s Community Compact Municipal Fiber Grant Program to complete the city’s municipal fiber loop for Water Department in-
not a mandate, and almost half the community that voted did not support this, so we really need to be mindful of that and be respectful of that. Understanding that we have to be as fiscally responsible and transparent as we move forward, so people start to regain some of that trust that maybe they didn’t have over the last few years, and show them that this administration is ready to tighten our belts and to do the real work to make government run more efficiently,” Derby said.
He added, “One of the things that I tried to use as a message, because I think it’s really true, is the idea of preventative maintenance. You invest a little bit to prevent catastrophic breakdowns. That’s why you do preventative maintenance on your car, and on your house, and the city’s the same. If you don’t invest in it, if you don’t do preventative maintenance, then you’re going to have catastrophic failure, and so the override is investment in the city’s financial future. Really, it will help us protect [ourselves] from catastrophic failure, because if the school fell apart, people’s property values would go down. If we don’t have a properly staffed Police and Fire, then response times go down, and
frastructure.
This new award builds on $500,000 in grant funding secured over the past three years, bringing outside investment in Easthampton’s fiber network to $691,718.
The project will connect crit-
critical incidents are not going to be addressed in the way they should be. I’m hoping people can see this as a worthwhile investment for the community.”
Reminder Publishing reached out to the local “Vote No” campaign against the override, but did not receive a response by press time.
Residents against the override vote had been vocal in saying it would leave some of the community’s most vulnerable populations compromised. They argued that seniors and those with disabilities living on fixed incomes may not be able to afford the increase in property taxes. Derby said those concerns are valid and the city will work to find assistance for those in need.
For example, Derby said that he has been working on a two-tier plan titled Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Part of this effort, according to Derby, would be to adopt Chapter 60, Section 3D, which would allow for taxpayers to donate money through their tax bill toward a city property tax fund. Once this fund meets a specific threshold, elderly and disabled homeowners would apply for this money to get assistance, thus offsetting the cost of the override toward their tax bills.
Derby said he and the City Council are also focused on creating other avenues for people experiencing financial hardships,
ical Water Department facilities, including pumps, wells, and tanks, to the city’s secure municipal fiber network. Completing the loop will improve reliability, strengthen cybersecurity, and reduce long-term communication costs by allowing city facili-
ties to communicate over a private network.
“This is a great example of City staff finding grant opportunities, bringing outside funding into Easthampton, and turning it into lasting improvements for the community,” said Mayor
Salem Derby. The city is grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Community Compact Cabinet for supporting this important infrastructure project, which will benefit Easthampton for years to come.
and he said that he understands the burden some face.
The city will also focus on finding new businesses and opportunities for revenue, and Derby said he and department heads will be “working hard, and we’re going to put our best foot forward every single day,” to avoid being in this position again in the future.
In an effort to add more transparency around the budget process moving forward, Derby said the city is utilizing grant funding for budget-building software, called ClearGov, which is designed to help local governments have an automated process that provides more detail and trans-
parency for the public on the budget cycle process. This will be accessible on the city’s website and will help bring more transparency to financial operations and the budgeting process each year.
The City Council was expected to approve a final budget for the city at its June 17 meeting, which was after press time.
Derby said he is thankful for this experience and for having come out on the other side on a better financial path forward for the community.
“It was a good turnout, and I think that shows that people are engaged. People care about this community, and I think that really just highlights again that
Easthampton is a special place. Not only is it a beautiful place that has experienced so much growth in the last 20 years, but it’s a place where people come together when things get tough,” said Derby. “I know that the people that voted yes are going to be out there trying to help the people struggling. I really have high confidence that we’re going to be able to earn the people who voted no’s trust back, and we’re going to show them that we can do this in a way that’s respectful, and were going to try and minimize the impact as much as we can, but I think it’s just another reason why Easthampton is a special place.”
Voters lined up outside of City Hall and the polls at Easthampton High School to express support both ways for the city’s Special Election override vote, which ended
City Council passes $152.5 million FY27 budget
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — With about a year to go before an override vote pierces Northampton, the City Council approved Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s $152.5 million budget for fiscal year 2027 during its June 4 meeting.
The acceptance of the budget, which constitutes a 4.6% increase over FY26 and a 6.7% increase over last year’s school budget, comes after the City Council held public hearings on May 27 and June 2 to hear from department heads and residents.
“The budget that you have before you is a solid and a balanced budget,” Sciarra said to the council before the vote on June 4. “In a time when cities big and small across the state and the country are struggling with inflation and the climate crisis, with an unstable and vindictive federal government and with the corrosive economic impacts of online retail and online entertainment, we are facing up to these challenges
and we’re building a sustainable city that attracts new families and new visitors and supports the services that those who have very deep roots here also rely upon.”
According to Sciarra, “careful planning and prudent investing” dictated the FY27 budget process, but it also foreshadows the likelihood of an override in FY28. In her remarks, Sciarra shared that the city had to pull another $1.9 million from the Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund reserve account to fill a deficit.
That total, according to Sciarra, adds to the $5 million used in reserves during the previous two fiscal years. Although an override vote is not a surprise, according to Sciarra, it’s something the city must think about right when the FY27 budget kicks in on July 1.
“As soon as this budget goes into effect, we all need to turn towards a community conversation about the override vote Northampton will need to support the fiscal year 2028 budget,” Sciarra said.
However, before those con-
versations can begin, the City Council first had to deal with FY27. Following long reflections of where the city currently stands financially, the City Council passed the FY27 budget by a 7-2 vote, with only Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Stratton and At Large Councilor Meg Robbins against it.
City Council President Rachel Maiore, who’s voted against a few budgets during her time on council, acknowledged the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the district’s struggles to meet special education needs. Despite that, she emphasized her support for a level services budget, which the mayor’s proposal provides, and therefore ultimately voted for it.
“I’m grateful that we were able to reach level services for our schools,” Maiore said. “And I appreciate the mayor’s efforts to do so early enough to avoid pink slips and additional uncertainty and stress for our students, families and staff.”
Ward 1 Councilor Gwen
Nabad also emphasized the importance of voting for a balanced budget that prioritizes the city over personal values.
“My choice to vote for this
Nabad echoed Maiore’s appreciation for a level services budget and emphasized her commitment to helping the city maintain a balanced budget every year. She highlighted the eventual exit of Coca-Cola, the elimination of American Rescue Plan Act funds and a decrease in free cash over time as reasons to be as fiscally responsible as possible.
DHHS seeking new Hampshire HOPE coordinator
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is looking for a new Hampshire HOPE coordinator after the position recently became vacant. The city announced that it seeks someone who will help support the organization’s regional efforts.
Hampshire HOPE is a multi-sector coalition addressing the rise in prescription opioid misuse, heroin use, addiction and overdose deaths in the Hampshire County Region through policy, practice and systems change. The coordinator position will lead coalition-building, strategic planning, community engagement, grant development and partnership efforts that help advance evidence-based prevention and public health initiatives
throughout the region.
DHHS Director of Prevention Taylor McDonough told Reminder Publishing any ideal candidate would include someone who has an interest and background in public health, has been personally impacted by opioid use and is interested in working with a diverse group of partners.
“The coalition is made up of representatives from health care, public safety, the justice system, education, local legislators, youth health programming and numerous community organizations, which allows the HOPE Coordinator to form really deep connections throughout the region,” said McDonough. “A key tenant of the coordinator would also be someone who recognizes the intersections of what we refer to as the Social Determinants of Health — how things like
stable housing, transportation, job opportunities and access to health care all play a role in how someone is impacted by substance abuse disorder.”
To McDonough’s point, the position also offers the opportunity to work with municipalities, health care providers, schools, community organizations and residents to help create healthier communities through collaboration and systems change. The role of the HOPE Coordinator is really to be a facilitator for this type of change, according to McDonough. The coordinator will meet with partners and work with those who have lived or living experience, and identify strengths, challenges and recommendations for key regional leaders.
Potential goals and outcomes could include local policy change, public awareness
campaigns, grants, and decreasing the stigma and misunderstanding that still exists around substance use and recovery.
McDonough said that the coordinator will also deal with the Opioid Settlement Funding that cities and towns are receiving through national settlements with Rx manufacturers and distributors.
“Historically, Hampshire HOPE has helped to collect and share local data on overdose and drug trends, as well as support the capacity of boards of health and municipal leaders in promoting harm reduction across communities,” said McDonough. “More recently, Hampshire HOPE has also conducted regional surveys and interviews in partnership with Tapestry, to hear directly from community members on what types of programs and interventions should be prioritized
with these funds. I can imagine that in the next few years — as funds will continue through 2038 — that Hampshire HOPE will continue to support local communities on how funds can be spent, what evidence can tell us from past experiences, and how we might be able to collaborate across the county to regionalize certain initiatives.”
The application deadline for this position is Friday, June 19, and the plan is to conduct interviews during the following weeks and fill the position sometime over the next month, according to McDonough. For complete position details and application information, visit governmentjobs.com/careers/ northamptonma.
McDonough said that anyone with questions or looking to learn more can also reach out to DHHS directly at 413-587-1214.
The City Council voted in favor of the $152.5 million FY27 budget during its June 4 meeting. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra warned during the meeting that an override is needed in FY28.
Photo credit: Northampton Open Media
City prepares for nicotine-free generation policy
By Sydney Wietecha Correspondent
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Board of Health has approved a nicotine-free generation regulation that will prohibit residents born after July 1, 2005, from purchasing tobacco or nicotine products in the city.
The policy, which the Northampton Board of Health voted to adopt during its April 16 meeting, will officially go into effect on July 1.
Northampton Commissioner of Health and Human Services Merridith O’Leary said the regulation intends to address ongoing nicotine addiction and limit tobacco companies’ ability to attract new generations of users through evolving products and marketing strategies.
“It’s to remind people that smoking and nicotine addiction remains among the leading causes of preventable disease and death in the United States. The tobacco industry continues to evolve its products and marketing strategies to attract new users, meaning our youth. I saw campaigns
like the Marlborough Man giving away promotional giveaways,”
O’Leary said. “Then we saw this big explosion of cheap flavored cigarettes, right? And then we had an explosion of flavored tobacco products, and then we had the explosion of electronic cigarettes, specifically Juul, with all of these flavors that were directly marketed to our youth because their names were like gummy bear, cotton candy, etcetera.”
While the new policy will prohibit individuals born after July 1, 2005, from purchasing nicotine or tobacco products, residents born before that date will retain the legal right to purchase those products.
“It’s important to say that NFG is not about taking the rights away from people who currently use tobacco or nicotine products. We’re not doing that. Anyone who can legally purchase these products today retains that right. This policy focuses on preventing our future generations from becoming addicted in the first place,”
O’Leary said.
The regulation places Northampton among a growing
number of Massachusetts communities that have adopted nicotine-free generation policies. O’Leary said Northampton is the 26th municipality in the state to pass the measure and noted that Easthampton is considering a similar policy. If approved, approximately 60% of Hampshire County residents would live in communities with such regulations.
City officials have worked to inform retailers and residents about the regulation through Board of Health meetings, public forums, and mailed notices to ensure community awareness before the policy takes effect.
Compliance with the new policy will be monitored through twice-yearly inspections and youth compliance checks, according to O’Leary.
“So that means they’ll have an adult tobacco control officer who will go out with someone who’s under 21 and we typically choose youth that are, you know, 17, 18,” O’Leary said. “We don’t want them. It’s not a sting operation. We’re not trying to entrap them, but we really want kiddos
that look their age, not someone that looks older, and send them in to buy a tobacco or nicotine product.”
“If they’re under 21 and a retailer sells to them, obviously that’s a violation,” O’Leary continued. “But now, we’re going to be doing a compliance check where we’re going to be going to the communities that are part of our collaborative that have NFG passed and doing a separate check for that to make sure that they are not selling to someone who is over 21 but prohibited from purchasing under the NFG regulation.”
As Northampton prepares to implement the Nicotine-Free Generation regulation on July 1, city officials suggest education and community outreach will remain a key part of the rollout. O’Leary encouraged residents with questions about the policy to contact the city’s Health Department and learn more about its goals.
“I encourage folks, like the general public, to reach out to us. We are happy to sit down and educate them,” O’Leary said. “We have to break the cycle.”
New Directions Cello Festival comes to Bombyx
NORTHAMPTON — Bombyx is delighted to once again host three days of performances as part of New Directions Cello Festival June 26-28.
Now in its 31st year, the annual festival has presented a veritable who’s who of creative cellists in New York City; Boston; Connecticut; Wisconsin; California; Cologne, Germany; Ithaca, New York; and now Northampton. Over 100 cellists and their groups have graced the stages of the fes-
FY27 Budget
Continued from page 4
budget today is not a reflection of my own personal experiences or impacted by my own personal trauma or personal interests and is entirely based upon my observations of the needs of all city departments,” she said.
After thanking the city workers who dedicate their lives to Northampton every day, Robbins lamented the lack of time to “intensively go through” the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan and budget with the Finance Committee before making the vote. She also expressed concerns about the rising costs of the Picture Main Street project and said the city’s fiscal stabilization plan needs rethinking.
“We’ve received some excellent financial background for our attention to this budget, but not enough. We have heard from some department heads, but not all. We have for the first time been allowed to watch the presentations to the mayoral-picked advisory committee on capital planning, but oddly, not their prioritizing deliberations,” Robbins said. “Mayor Sciarra informs us tonight that this is the beginning
tival over the years.
Since its inception at New York City’s Knitting Factory in 1995, the New Directions Cello Festival has provided an international forum for the exchange of music and ideas for creative and alternative cellists of all ages, levels and backgrounds. With a “big tent” ethos, New Directions embraces all styles of music, particularly those not commonly taught at conservatories and music schools and especially those
of a community conversation. And while I applaud that, I query why that conversation has not been ongoing. We need to be very wary of operating a voting by ‘I think’ and not, ‘we know.’”
Stratton, the other dissenting voter, keyed in on schools, arguing that the budget is level in “sustaining the consequences of previous deeply harmful cuts,” ostensibly referring to the reduction of 20 positions in Northampton Public Schools during FY25.
In her budget proposal, Sciarra said that those 20 reductions from FY25 were a result of an overreliance of nonrecurring revenue sources during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she said the district has regained some of those positions back.
For FY27, the School Committee recommended a base budget of $50.3 million, or a 15.3% increase over the FY26 budget. In her summary, Sciarra argues that this number is more than what the city can “responsibly and sustainably provide.”
She said such a budget would drain all reserves in two years and create an $8 million deficit.
Stratton, however, appeared dubious of the schools’ current situation.
“We are underserving our chil-
that incorporate improvisation. Cellist participants come from all over the U.S. and abroad for a weekend of workshops, concerts, panels and jam sessions with some of the most innovative cellists working today.
The evening of Friday, June 26, will see performances by Helen Gillet; Shannon Hayden; and Nassem Alatrash with Ize Trio and Saturday evening by the Intergalactic Cello Quartet (Jeremy Harman; Dave Haughey; Stijn
dren, that’s a fact,” Stratton said. We’re going to be going to the people for an override. But before we do that, we need to justify that we’ve used the money they already pay in the most strategic way to meet their priorities and not only our own. Our stubborn split between how we spend on people versus capital projects does not do that.”
That tension of “projects versus people” is not something Ward 3 City Councilor Laurie Loisel said exists. Instead, she sees a pothole that needs to be fixed as an opportunity for families to walk their children to school.
“I don’t feel like we have to pit those things that our children need against the schools,” said Loisel, who lauded the city’s fiscal stability plan and added that she happily supports the budget.
Councilor Garrick Perry joined
Kuppens & Gunther Tiedemann); Brent Arnold and Ben Sollee.
The third and final concert will showcase guest artists and festival participants alike. Solo and small group performances by participants will be followed by the Cello Big Band, an approximately 20-piece all cello ensemble, led by Artistic Director Jeremy Harman. Livestream tickets are available for Friday and Saturday evening’s performances.
the six other councilors who voted yes on the budget and agreed with Loisel’s assessment that the budget is a “document of people.”
“All of these budgets primarily represent people who are working for our city,” Perry said. “And I’ve said a lot of times that our greatest strength is our people. And I think for me, what again stands out is that if we want to move forward, we have to do it together.”
Reminder Publishing will have more on the budget after the School Committee’s official vote on the $47 million school budget during its June 11 meeting. In the meantime, readers can visit thereminder.com for previous coverage or visit the budget page on the city’s website: northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/37095/Budget-FY2027-Final-Product-5_14_26.
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The Hampshire Regional softball team cruised to a 12-0 victory over Monument Mountain in the Round of 32 of the MIAA State Tournament on June 1st at Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY SAM BLAKE
The Hampshire infield high fives each other after a strikeout.
Lucy Trombley (15) scores a run on a passed ball.
Lucy Trombley (15) receives the ball from the catcher and tags the runner out.
Catcher Raegan Dubay (33) throws the ball back to the pitcher.
Rachael Hickox (7) tries to beat the throw after she bunts down the third baseline.
Ryanne Dubay delivers the pitch for a strike.
Shortstop Lucy Trombley (15) stops the throw from going to the outfield. Raegan Dubay (33) tosses the bat behind her after getting walked.
Ryanne Dubay (1) high fives her teammate Brooke Labrie (12) after she scores a run.
Raegan Dubay (33) smashes a homerun.
Rachael Hickox (7) slides into home and scores a run.
Mariah Pacinella (11) greets her coach after reaching third base safely.
Lucy Trombley (15) looks at the catcher and walks back to first base.
Raegan Dubay (33) gets ready to face the opposing pitcher.
NPS nutrition department honored with ‘Terrific Tray’ award
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — On the heels of the National School Lunch Program’s 80th anniversary, the Northampton Public Schools has been named winner of the state’s 2026 “Terrific Tray” award.
The highlight goes to school districts that offer outstanding nutritious, locally-sourced free school meals with the help of federal and state support. Northampton has been awarded this year thanks to its new field pea fritter meal, which was developed by CommonWealth Kitchen with peas grown in Maine, accompanied by carrots grown in Hadley, apples from New York, lettuce from Shirley, tzatziki and allergen-free hummus.
CommonWealth Kitchen is a nonprofit food-business incubator located in Dorchester focused on building an inclusive, equitable and sustainable food economy.
“Congratulations to Northampton Public Schools on being named this year’s Terrific Tray of the Year winner, and thank you
to all of the school nutrition professionals across Massachusetts who work every day to keep students healthy and ready to learn,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Massachusetts is proud to have made universal free school meals permanent in our state, which helps students succeed in the classroom and also creates opportunities for local farmers. This recognition highlights the incredible partnerships that make nutritious, locally-sourced meals possible for children across our state.”
Healey and the state Legislature made universal free school meals permanent in 2023. Since then, schools like Northampton’s have seen increased meal participation and reduced stigma around school meals, according to Healey, who added that greater financial stability has allowed schools to use fresher foods and get creative with their menus.
Northampton Public Schools
Nutrition Director Mistelle Hannah said it was exciting for she and her team to be honored with this recognition, because it reflects the efforts they’ve made to
improve district offerings.
“Northampton Public Schools
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.
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FLORENCE
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Nutrition Department, we’ve been working really hard to increase our local purchasing and making sure there’s more fresh fruits and vegetables accessible to students every day in both breakfast and lunch, and just overall trying to improve the program over the past several years,” said Hannah. For this school year alone, according to Hannah, almost 30% of all district meal offerings were locally sourced, a huge increase from the less than 1% of locally sourced items offered in 2018.
Sponsored by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office for Food and Nutrition Programs and Massachusetts Farm to School, the Terrific Tray competition invites school nutrition programs to submit a photo of visually-appealing, culturally-relevant menus that include foods sourced from regional farms, dairies and fisheries. Each month’s winner receives $2,500 from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation to reinvest in their school nutrition program and is featured on social media. The public votes on a winner from among the monthly honorees.
Hannah added that this was the first year the district got involved in the Terrific Tray competition and it has been great to have their filed pea fritter dish highlighted. Members of Northampton’s school food service program, Freshampton, were presented with the Terrific Tray award at the statewide Healthy Kids, Healthy Programs Summit last month.
“On a state level, they’re really trying to highlight districts that are doing this type of work. That being sourcing locally, culturally relevant meals, things that are healthy, visually appealing, fresh, all those things,” Hannah said. “It’s a product that we really love. It’s a field pea fritter that is made in Massachusetts at the CommonWealth Kitchen. And then every day, we’re offering local carrots, local apples and local lettuce. We grow lettuce hydroponically … We felt very proud of that tray. Even though it kind of from [photo] perspective looks a little bland, its actually quite unique and its delicious, the kids love it.”
The tray was recognized by the state in November as that month’s winner, and this “Terrific Tray” 2026 honor was awarded to the district following a public vote on the monthly recognitions
from the school year.
“I truly believe in that a healthy community is the start in trying to keep things as local as possible, and helping our local farmers and producers is definitely part of that healthy community aspect. As far as our journey, we’ve just been biting off really small chunks until we’ve gotten to where we’re at,” said Hannah.
In addition, DESE and Massachusetts Farm to School launched the Northeast Food for Schools Challenge, a statewide initiative that encourages schools to buy more regionally produced food and to participate in a new local food purchase tracking effort to track local food origins, and enhance transparency of where school meal ingredients come from.
According to the state, during this school year, approximately 588,000 students ate lunch and 292,000 ate breakfast every day across the state. Over 12 million lunches and six million breakfasts were served each month.
“A huge congratulations to our incredible Freshampton team led by Mistelle Hannah,” said Northampton Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner. “The team’s dedication to the Terrific Trays initiative ensures that healthy, locally sourced, and completely free school meals aren’t just a district goal — they’re a daily reality for our students. We remain committed to nourishing our community’s future, one fresh, delicious tray at a time.”
Freshampton is the team within the district’s nutrition department and was branded as such back in 2018 in an effort to help raise awareness of the farm to school efforts the district has been making. Hannah said that from their work, they have prioritized student input and feedback in tandem with connecting locally-sourced and nutritious food options to the district in a more accessible fashion.
“I always try to make sure it’s aware that it’s not just Mistelle Hannah doing this work; we have an amazing team called the Freshampton team because without a really proactive team that’s invested in their students, these things can’t happen,” said Hannah. “So, I think it’s important to give them the kudos as well for the work they do every day, because not a lot of times do the school lunch workers get those kudos they deserve.”
Northampton is the winner of the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year award for its school lunch tray featuring the new field fritter developed by CommonWealth Kitchen, with peas grown in Maine, accompanied by carrots grown in Hadley, apples from New York, lettuce from Shirley, and tzatziki and allergen-free hummus.
Photo credit: Northampton Public Schools / DESE
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Thunder in the Valley returns with fireworks, music festival
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — In celebration of the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of America, the Thunder in the Valley concert and fireworks festival returns to Easthampton to provide the community with its biggest celebration yet.
The concert and fireworks event will take place on Saturday, June 27, at Molitoris Orchard on 95 Park Hill Road in Easthampton. The festivities celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Baystate Children’s Hospital.
Advance tickets cost $20, while tickets purchased at the gate will cost $25. Children ages 6-15 can get tickets for $10, and children 5 and under get in for free. For tickets and more information on this year’s event, visit thunderinthevalleyma.com.
The festival is organized by nonprofit organization Unbroken Wings, whose work is committed to supporting children who have experienced physical or emotional trauma by providing comprehensive programs that nurture the mind, body and spirit of children recovering from trauma. The annual fireworks celebration has been a consistent supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Baystate Children’s Hospital over the last five years.
Unbroken Wings Board Director Mike Perrier told Reminder Publishing that the event has become a beloved community celebration for the Fourth each year, and the jam-packed day is filled with great vibes, great music and is capped off with a great fireworks show.
“It’s definitely the fireworks, people love fireworks, that’s the big draw, but we try to make it so much more, and each year we’ve gotten bigger and bigger artists to come in who don’t usually play this area,” said Perrier. “We just have a great community around us, granted, a lot of people come from outside this area to see the show. I would say this is more like an old-fashioned festival. It has that feel to it. People are all friendly, they take care of the grounds, they don’t trash nothing, it’s all respectful people. It’s cool and has a great atmosphere.”
The festival and music kick off at noon, and concerts run all through the afternoon and night.
The celebration eventually culminates in the fireworks show.
Before the festival kicks off, the Children’s Miracle Kruze, which starts at Metro Jeep in Chicopee, will lead Jeep-driving attendees to Molitoris Orchard right in time for the start of the festivities. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the Jeep rides begin by noon. Tickets for the ride will cost $20 per person and include admission to the Thunder in the Valley. According to Perrier, they can be purchased on the event’s website.
“It’s all Jeep people who love their Jeeps. We have the Sheriff’s Department that comes and helps us, and it’s a nonstop right through lights and intersections from Metro in Chicopee all the way to Thunder in the Valley,” Perrier added.
Starting things off on the event grounds at noon is Change-Up, which performs pop, rock and dance music. At 2:30 p.m. Traveler, a Chris Stapleton tribute group, alongside Bluebird, a Miranda Lambert tribute singer, will perform together on stage, fol-
lowed by Shania Twin, a Shania Twain tribute band at 5:30 p.m.
Closing the night of performances will be Bruce in the U.S.A., the world’s No. 1 Bruce Springsteen tribute band. Perrier said the musical acts have evolved over the years, and organizers are always looking to give audience members a great bang for their buck.
“We wanted to make sure people are getting more than their money’s worth. Each of these artists, if you go to see elsewhere, they’re like $65 a ticket to go see each one separately, so we’re trying to keep it at one price level as cheap as we can and still be able to pay for everything, and still have those donations,” he added.
The festival will have vendors of all types, including food trucks, beer and wine available to go along with the event. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed, but no easy-ups or tents of any kind are permitted.
Limited free parking is available, but carpooling from the center of Easthampton is recommended to combat parking woes. There will be an ATM on site, and the event will also feature many raffle prizes.
With another action-packed celebration set for June 27, Perrier said the fireworks are poised to be better than ever, and he added
that it will be great to see people and their families enjoying the celebration of America.
“We want to thank the community, the people that volunteer and
help, and the people that support it because it’s been a good cause and it keeps us going. Gives us old people something to be proud of,” Perrier said.
Photos from previous Thunder in the Valley festivals.
Photo credit: Thunder in the Valley
Architects of clean energy policy take stock of landscape
By Katie Castellani
State House News Service
BOSTON — Boosting the supply of renewable energy in Massachusetts is crucial to driving down rising prices, three experts who played roles in formulating the state’s energy policies said on June 9.
“Certainly, no one looks at their utility bill now and says the way it is is good,” former state Sen. Ben Downing, now CEO of the quasi-public Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, said during a panel discussion at the Boston Globe’s Tech Innovation Summit. “We have to find a way to address it, but I fundamentally believe that one of the best ways, if not the key way, to address it is to find more ways to expedite the deployment of clean energy across the state.”
Downing was co-chair of the Joint Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee from 2011 through 2016 and helped draft the 2016 law that entered Massachusetts into the offshore wind industry.
Downing was joined by panelists Ian Bowles, managing director of the climate-focused investment firm WindSail Capital, Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton and Kelly Friend, senior vice president of policy and markets at Nexamp. Bowles was the secretary of energy and environmental affairs under former Gov. Deval Patrick and worked with the Legislature to pass several clean energy policies and Barton was CEO of MassCEC from 2012 to 2015.
The panelists agreed that existing state policies offering energy efficiency grants to municipalities that meet clean energy criteria and benchmarks, and statewide greenhouse gas emission reduc-
tion standards contributed to a boom for the wind and solar industries. Since then, state officials have built upon frameworks those policies created.
Downing noted there were two megawatts of solar energy in Massachusetts in 2008, now there’s 3.5 gigawatts and there are more than 10,000 clean energy businesses in the state that are providing energy and building supply chains.
“It hasn’t been just one party keeping at it. It’s been a consistent bipartisan commitment to these issues, because we know that not only is there huge opportunity in Massachusetts, but it’s the right thing to do as well, and we can both grow our economy and reduce emissions at the same time,” he said.
However, to make further progress, panelists say the state needs to be more deliberate in how it deploys resources to support clean energy projects.
“Right now, as energy bills continue to rise, we need to be much more intentional and thoughtful about all of the policy decisions we make, because there are unintended consequences,” Friend said. “So, if we want to grow more solar, if we want more wind, we have to be smart, thoughtful, and kind of take on, I would say, systemic structural challenges to how we build things quickly and cheaply.”
Addressing energy affordability remains a policy goal in the Legislature, but solutions are not coming quickly or easily.
The House approved an energy affordability bill (H 5175) on a vote of 128-27 in February. It includes a $1 billion cut from the MassSave program. Senators are still trying to develop an affordability bill, with scheduled formal sessions set to end July 31.
In recent years, the Legislature has enacted a batch of laws aimed at lifting clean energy and decarbonizing the economy but now those laws are being reexamined for contributions to rising costs. Senate President Karen Spilka said in May the Senate is “committed to balancing climate leadership, economic competitiveness and cost savings in our forthcoming energy bill.”
On a federal level, President Donald Trump has led a push to bolster fossil fuel-based energy and opposed offshore wind power generation. The shift in federal policies has contributed to uncertainty for future projects and a “number of headwinds to investments” in the sector, Barton said. She also noted that projects often take years to complete — usually spanning longer than presidential terms — and executives are going to have to “wait and see” how
unified federal lawmakers are behind clean energy.
“If we’re going to build large infrastructure in this country, like we need to, even including the data centers, we’re going to need to get to a more stable place in terms of that type of federal policy swing. Congress continues to debate bipartisan proposals for federal permitting reform, something like that could help quite a bit,” she said. “But we are going to have to wait and see, and see I think the political will of both parties to try and create again a more, a more stable investment environment for large scale infrastructure.”
Over the past 15 years, Bowles said he’s seen a lot of “boom and bust in the climate-oriented venture market” and now investors are wary of the industry.
“Today, I’d say is more of a skittish period for those inves-
Springfield Technical announces dean’s
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College and celebrates the 1,455 students who were named to the spring
2026 dean’s list. The dean’s list is published each semester to recognize excellence in academic performance.
To be considered, degree-seeking students must earn 12 or more college level credits in the current semester, or a total of 12 or more combined college-level credits earned during the fall and spring semesters, and achieve a 3.3 or above grade point average.
Student names are listed under the towns or cities in which they reside.
tors, and we’re also facing a lot of macroeconomic uncertainty with high fuel prices, prospects of inflation,” he said. “So, I think a lot of my day is spent around kind of managing risk and working with entrepreneurs to get them to a stable spot.”
Meanwhile, Friend said federal challenges to the industry can create an opportunity to garner support for offshore wind and solar projects because they are quick to build and are needed to curb prices and supply energy for new technologies like data centers.
“What we’ve seen is the kind of retreat from federal policy has had an impact on wholesale energy prices, which makes it more attractive to build new energy projects,” Friend said.
Katie Castellani is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro reach her at kcastellani@statehousenews.com.
list for spring 2026
Chesterfield
Esther G. Stewart.
Easthampton
Marlon E. Arauz, Irish M. Bartolomei, Owen M. Bourbeau, Bridget A. Cauley, Colby J. Clapper, Ryan T. Cowan, Morgan E. Denis, Kaiden G. Dion, Catherine M. Hennessey, Weston O. Hill, David H. Ferland, Amanda Groblewski, Ivanna Kabushka, Tiudy C. Kamau, Anna Marie D. Light, Keane Lowell, Anthony D. Manganaro, Timothy J. O’Keefe, Maria Ortega, Katherine Paradis, Ava G. Roberts, Emily M. Rodriguez and Eva S. Romero.
Florence
Heather L. Antonelli, Claire
Blakely, Benjamin Fowler, Sara Paiva, Jonathan J. Mendez Palacios, Catherine Plaza, Karen M. Plaza, Molly P. Smith-Eilenberg and Kristofer D. Thibedau. Haydenville Alexander Podel.
Northampton Giordano L. Caldieri, Dimitra A. Chatman-Gray, Sarisa Ford, David Hetzner, Karina L. Rivera and Abigail Walker.
Southampton Benjamin S. Apodaca, Elizabeth M. Barcomb, Jason W. Jones, Ron D. Madsen, Rebecca A. Mooney and Jacob B. St Pierre. Westhampton Hailey Bergeron.
(From left to right) Ian Bowles, Kelly Friend, Ben Downing and Alicia Barton participate in a panel discussion moderated by Boston Globe reporter Jon Chesto (far right) during the Boston Globe’s Tech Innovation Summit on June 9.
