HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
JULY 2, 2026 | FREE
Coca-Cola plant to close in December
By Ryan Feyre and Trent Levakis rfeyre@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The Coca-Cola plant on Industrial Drive in Northampton will officially close on Dec. 15, marking the end of an era where the company delayed its departure multiple times over the last couple of years.
According to a recent state filing, 175 employees will be terminated because of the closure, and layoffs will officially start on Aug. 15, according to Habib Chaudry, the Northampton plant manager.
Chaudry said “it is possible that one or more employees will remain employed for a limited time — no more than 60 days — after the facility is closed to assist with administrative tasks related to the closing of the facility.” The workers are not represented by a union, he said.
The announcement comes after the plant said it would close its facility in 2023 after serving in the city since the 1950s. Northampton DPW Director Donna LaScaleia said at a City Council meeting in the spring that the announcement of Coca-Cola’s closure as “devastating” for the city because the company represented 25% of the city’s water and sewer enterprises.
The initial announcement led to the implementation of new base rate fee structures in both water and sewer enterprises, which began on July 1, 2023. Since this change was made, costs have shifted to residents, with the average residential household
seeing a $128 annual increase to their water bill and a $115 annual increase to the sewer bill.
According to previous Reminder Publishing reporting, LaScaleia explained that FY22 was the last year of stable operations at the Coca-Cola plant; by FY23, usage began tapering. When building the budget for FY24, LaScaleia explained that the DPW began anticipating $0 in revenue from Coca-Cola to the budget, per its announcement of departure. The goal has been to shift the lost revenue to base charges to remain at a consistent revenue level.
In March, the City Council voted to maintain the same water and sewer rates that were set over the last couple fiscal years for most users in Northampton. LaScaleia said the new base rate fee structures and the city’s ability to maintain those structures have allowed the city to successfully remain at a consistent revenue level as Coca-Cola has greatly
diminished its operations.
“We shifted their lost revenue quite successfully … All we were trying to do is make up for their lost revenue in the best way possible with the least terrible impact to the rest of the city,” LaScaleia said.
Before Coca-Cola announced this month that they are officially closing in December, the company was working in diminished capacity. As of FY26, they accounted for 14% of the city’s water usage, compared to 25% during the height of its operations.
Reminder Publishing attempted to reach Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s office for comment about the closure a few days after the announcement but did not hear back as of press time. At a March council meeting, Sciarra expressed frustration about the amount of times the plant has delayed its departure.
In her budget summary for fiscal year 2027, Sciarra said that she will “continue to work
closely with our state and federal partners to advocate for a sale of the building to another user that will support our enterprise funds and contribute in a positive way to our city.”
State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa backed those sentiments, stating that the focus of area officials will be to find another employer for the bottling facility, not just to replace the jobs, but to identify a buyer that uses high volumes of water.
“It is our great hope that Coca-Cola can continue to work with us and find a high-water user,” Sabadosa said following the closure announcement in June. “We’ve been trying to impress upon them that we need to find a high-water user now, not when the plant shuts down, and not have it become a warehouse.”
A Coca-Cola representative said in a statement that the company is “grateful to have been part of the Northampton community for many years.”
EASTHAMPTON
City to hold recount of override vote on July 2
The story of Easthampton’s fiscal year 2027 budget season is not fully told yet. Page 3
NORTHAMPTON
Kimble appointed as new Housing Authority director
Sharon Kimble has been named to the role permanently.
5
A truck leaves the Coca-Cola bottling plant at 45 Industrial Drive, Northampton, in 2021. The plant will officially close on Dec. 15.
Human Scale Art Space nonprofit finds permanent home
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — A local community art organization using multiple ways to emphasize visual arts through workshops and exhibitions has found its new home.
Human Scale Art Space announced the grand opening of its Northampton gallery and workshop space at 245 Main St., Suite 201, with an opening exhibition set for Saturday, July 11, from noon to 8 p.m.
Nearly two years after the nonprofit corporation was founded, Human Scale Art Space now has its dedicated home space for workshops, classes, presentations and exhibitions. The founder of Human Scale Art Space is Rick Colson, a lifelong photographer who started the nonprofit with his wife, Marcia, two years ago.
Since then, the nonprofit has partnered with the Parlor Room and the Iron Horse to use their space for workshops around different visual arts. The new space on Main Street now allows the nonprofit to exhibit and promote some of the best work from artists locally and from afar while continuing to provide its educational offerings.
Colson told Reminder Publishing that the effort to start the nonprofit and open this space stemmed from wanting to put his time and passion toward a worthwhile endeavor. Colson said he grew up in the photography business thanks to his father and has built a multi-decade career as a
veteran photographer in various roles with some of the biggest companies in photography. He also started his own company and currently holds an Ed.M from Harvard University.
“That came about as the result of some personal struggles, which had to do with health and aging and thinking a lot about if I have a limited amount of time left, which we all do, of course, what did I really want to do with that time? And I decided to start an arts nonprofit, primarily education-based, but also really wanted to have some capacity to exhibit, and that’s been the biggest challenge since we started, trying to find a way to exhibit,” said Colson. “I’ve been a photographer my whole life. I’ve exhibited pretty widely. I’ve had my own solo show at the Griffin Museum of Photography. Photography, in particular, to me is really best served live. It’s great when you actually see the quality print up close, perhaps even handle a print. The texture of the paper, the quality of the surface, those are all things you really can’t convey online. So, we wanted to try and find a way to exhibit art.”
The 400-square-foot space at 245 Main St. will allow the nonprofit to fulfill its dream of securing a permanent exhibition space. Colson said plans are to exhibit all forms of visual arts, but especially photography, since that’s where the bulk of his knowledge comes from.
“To me, it might as well be the Taj Mahal,” said Colson with a laugh. “I am so excited to actually have a space of our own, it’s just great.”
The nonprofit will continue to offer workshops and educational opportunities alongside its showcases at the new space.
“I think that there is a wide range of abilities, talents, experiences in the arts, in this area, and we see lots of people who are beginning. We see lots of people who have been artists for a long
time, but they’re still working all the time on perfecting their arts,” Colson said. “I’ve dealt with over the years countless of the world’s best artists and photographers and can bring some of their expertise to training and education, so why not do that if we have the capacity to?”
The opening exhibit will feature work from Vartus Varadian, a Boston-based painter who spent her early career as a graphic designer and art director for Fortune 500 corporations and leading advertising agencies. She transitioned from the corporate world into fine art after discovering a passion for spontaneous Chinese painting at the Wellness Community of Greater Boston.
Having studied under several Asian masters, Varadian captures the essence of her subjects through deliberate, minimalist brushwork. Today, she shares the joy and meditative calmness of this art form by teaching fellow cancer survivors and painting enthusiasts. Colson, who has known Varadian for a long time, said that the quality of Varadian’s work speaks for itself.
“You owe it to yourself to see
her fine paintings up close and in person. We’re delighted to bring her calming work to The Pioneer Valley,” said Colson, adding that readers can discover more of Varadian’s work at vartusdesign.com. “She became really intrigued with the calming power of the particular kind of Chinese-style watercolor paintings that she does. She had an experience with cancer and really turned toward this style of painting watercolors as a means of expressing herself during that time … I’m just honored she was willing to and wanted to do this. Her work is spectacularly good.”
Varadian’s exhibit will be free and open to the public, as will all future exhibits through the nonprofit as they rotate in the future.
Human Scale Art Space plans to offer pay-what-you-can prices for attendees, and they plan to never charge a set fee. They are also participants of the Cards to Culture program, which gives EBT users discounted admissions by using their card.
For more information on this upcoming exhibit, future exhibits and workshops, or to learn more about Human Scale Art
Space in general, visit https:// humanscaleartspace.org or call 413-206-1855.
Colson said he hopes that visual artists and art lovers from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Springfield, east to Boston, and especially those in the Five College communities, join the grand opening celebration and look to Human Scale Art Space as a new reliable community space for visual arts showcases and workshops in the future.
“As people are painfully aware, these are difficult times in the arts and for nonprofits. In a kind of reaction to these difficult times, there’s a real grassroots swelling of artists, people involved in the arts, people using arts to express themselves as an outlet, a resource for improving declining mental health, for dealing with the stresses and depression related to our present political situation,” Colson said. “I think that it’s an honor to be able to do something in that realm that helps people have an outlet, express themselves, and learn new ways of expressing themselves, improving the ways they can express themselves visually.”
Rick Colson
Vartus Varadian Reminder Publishing submitted photos
Easthampton to hold recount of override vote on July 2
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — The story of Easthampton’s fiscal year 2027 budget season is still not fully told yet. On June 26, the city’s Board of Registrars unanimously agreed to hold a recount of the $6.9 million override vote at noon on July 2 inside City Council Chambers at 50 Payson Ave.
The board’s decision came after a formal effort by members of the Easthampton Active Citizens and Easthampton Republican Committee to trigger a recount was successful. Petitioners gathered at least 10 signatures from registered voters in each of the city’s five precincts, which is required by Mass. General Law for a recount to happen in communities that have precincts and more than 2,500 voters.
“We’re making history here, people,” said Board of Registrars
member Jackie Brousseau-Pereira following the board’s vote of the July 2 recount date.
Easthampton voters approved of a $6.9 million override during a special city election on June 9 by a tally of 3,312-3,073, but days after that election, Republican Committee Chair Cathy Wauczinski said claims were made that various residents received empty mail-in ballots or didn’t receive any at all leading up to election day.
Wauczinski, who spearheaded the “Vote no” campaign and the effort to collect signatures that triggered a recount, argued that a recount was necessary to make sure the voting process is fundamentally sound and for transparency in the election process.
“I think the biggest reason for the recount is the fact that there are people who are eligible voters who did not get an opportunity to vote. These individuals raised a
concern with me, saying ‘I have no idea if my vote was counted or not,’” said Wauczinski. “Was anybody denied the opportunity to vote?”
City Clerk Mary Ann Giza confirmed to Reminder Publishing that there was an error on the city’s part where some mail-in ballots sent out did not include the ballot itself. She said about nine total residents called the clerk’s office to report empty envelopes, and those claims were indeed validated. She added that all residents who called to report they were sent an empty envelope were then sent a new mail-in ballot leading to the special election, which is what the process calls for.
For those who claim they never received any ballot, Giza said that may be because each new year, voters must once again sign up to receive the mail-in ballot.
Giza said the clerk’s office must account for every mailed
ballot through a state computer system, the date it was sent and if it was received. If a person claimed they did not receive a ballot, then that is also accounted for, and a new one is sent out to the voter.
Giza said the clerk’s office sent a new ballot to all the voters who reported empty envelopes. The errors that did occur on the city’s end have already been reported to the state, according to Giza.
The reason why the recount is happening on July 2 is because the city needs to give at least three days’ written notice before the recount can occur, according to Mass. General Law. Giza said during the June 26 vote that there will be 10 teams of two election workers counting and reading the ballots with the help of the Board of Registrars, and the recount should take about four to six hours.
The public will be allowed to
witness the recount inside City Council Chambers, but there may be a barrier and a certain distance they will need to stand. Representatives from the city and those who petitioned for the recount will be spectators on that day.
The Board of Registrars vote happened two days after the City Council approved the city’s $65.3 million budget with the successful override accounted for. According to previous Reminder Publishing reporting, 47% of Easthampton voters came to the polls on June 9.
It is estimated that there will be an annual increase of about $1,200 to the average Easthampton home, which is valued at $418,000, because of the override. However, the city avoided major cuts with the override, including 35 positions in the school district.
Reminder Publishing will have more on this situation in the next edition.
SJC clears major election reform for November vote
By Michael P. Norton State House News Service
BOSTON — The state’s highest court on June 22 rejected a challenge to a ballot question proposing an all-party primary voting format, clearing a major election reform for a statewide vote on Nov. 3.
The court upheld Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s certification of the proposal as eligible under Article 48 of the state Constitution.
“We conclude that the challenged petition does not significantly interfere with the constitutionally protected right to vote or the interrelated right of individuals to seek elected office,” the Supreme Judicial Court ruled. “Further concluding that the initiative petition bears a real and substantial relation to legitimate State interests, we affirm
the Attorney General’s certification of the initiative petition and remand the case to the county court for entry of a judgment declaring that the Attorney General’s certification complies with the requirements of art. 48.”
The proposal would replace the current system under which candidates affiliated with a recognized political party — mainly Democrats and Republicans — can reach the general election ballot by winning their party’s primary, and candidates not affiliated with a recognized party may gain ballot access by gathering the required number of nomination signatures.
Under the proposed system, a single all-party primary would be held in September in which all candidates would appear on the same primary ballot and all voters, regardless of party reg-
istration, would cast votes on that ballot. The two candidates who secure the most votes in the primary election would proceed to the general election, and the others could try to stay alive as write-in candidates.
Plaintiffs in the case unsuccessfully asserted the ballot question contained matters excluded from the initiative process under the constitution and that it was “inconsistent with the freedom of elections” under Article 9 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.
“In November, Massachusetts voters will be the ones who decide whether their elections are run by party insiders or by the people,” Jesse Littlewood, campaign manager for the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, said in a statement. “The political insiders who sued to block
this reform lost today. Massachusetts has the least competitive elections in America, and when politicians don’t have to compete, they don’t have to fix what’s broken. All-Party Primaries replace the restrictive, privately controlled party primary system with one open to every voter and every candidate, regardless of affiliation: more candidates, more competition, more real choices. That’s how we get elected officials to prioritize real solutions instead of the sameold politics.”
The coalition’s honorary cochairs are former Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a Democrat. Others affiliated with the coalition include former Gov. Deval Patrick, former Treasurer Steve Grossman, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, New
Lenny Mirra and Mathew Muratore.
The plaintiffs in the case were Martina Jackson, the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s platform chair last year, and Ann Roosevelt, who sits on the Democratic State Committee.
The convening chair of the coalition behind the question is Danielle Allen, who slammed the Democratic Party’s nomination process on her way out of the 2022 race for governor that ended with Democrat Maura Healey coasting through the primary and then defeating Republican Geoff Diehl.
Michael P. Norton is the editor of State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach him at mnorton@ stateaffairs.com.
Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia and former Reps.
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
EASTHAMPTON
Dog Park construction to begin this fall
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — The future
Easthampton Dog Park will officially begin construction this fall after the City Council approved $135,000 in CPA funding for the project at its June 17 meeting.
The proposed park needed $335,000 for construction to begin; the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park had already secured just over $200,000 primarily through donations and fundraising efforts. The group received a $200,000 donation toward the project last fall from Richard Boyle, a former Easthampton resident who now lives in Southampton. Along with its ongoing fundraising efforts, the newly secured CPA funding allows construction to begin within Nonotuck Park.
Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park President Joan Kurtz spoke at the meeting and expressed much gratitude to the CPA Committee and the city for supporting its effort to bring a dog park to Easthampton.
“We appreciate all the work that Eva [Gerstle, CPA Coordinator] and the commission have done to get us to this point, City Council for approving us way back when, and the support that the city has shown us,” said Kurtz.
Gerstle said at the meeting that the Dog Park Committee will be responsible for some maintenance costs associated with running the park once it is constructed and open.
“While the matching contributions of $205,000 to this CPA appropriation of that $135,000
BOSTON — This week, state Rep. Mindy Domb and state Rep. Aaron Saunders celebrated Sara Barber-Just with an inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award, a newly-founded annual event sponsored by the Massachusetts Legislature’s LGBTQ+ Caucus. The event celebrates the rich accomplishments and talents of Massachusetts’ LGBTQ+ community.
Barber-Just is the English department chair at Amherst Regional High School, where she has been a teacher for 28 years, and developed the first LGBTQ+ literature course for a public school in the nation in 2002. She has taught approximately 2,000 students about LGBTQ+ literature and culture over the past 25
are primarily from that substantial donor gift, I know the Dog Park Committee is doing a lot of work to ensure the continued maintenance, success and beautification of the dog park through the raising of additional funds,” Gerstle said.
Councilors expressed excitement about the project moving forward and credited the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park and its efforts for bringing this project to life.
“I just wanted to point out that there have been significant funds that have been contributed by the Friends of the Dog Park and significant funds by community members, and we haven’t made any mention of that tonight, but I think this is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the funds,” said Precinct 1 Councilor JP Kwiecinski. “I think it would help to inform the public that we’re not building a dog park with these funds, but these are being used to help leverage additional funds that have been placed for the project and are going forward.”
Council President Koni Denham added that it was important to highlight all the fundraising efforts the Friends group has made, including pet food drives and other in-kind work for the community to support animal lovers and to help bring a dog park to the city.
“We really appreciate all the dedication and work you have put into this project,” said Denham. “Certainly, I think this is one more opportunity for people in the community to get to know
their neighbors and to make connections, and it’s not lost on me that we have a number of seniors who have been working very diligently to make this an opportunity for them. And this is a community that they would like to create and to foster, and it’s a resource for other individuals in the community who may or may not know this is happening but will likely take advantage of that both now and in the future. Again, your hard work and most importantly your persistence [are] very much appreciated.”
Kurtz told Reminder Publishing that the Parks and Recreation Department deserves a lot of credit for its help throughout this process. She added that Director John Mason has been consistent in wanting to wait to begin construction on the project until the Friends have the full amount needed to get it done in an effort to create a seamless construction project. Once the park is constructed, any future additions to the park, such as additional benches, pet rinse stations, or dog waste stations, will come from additional fundraising efforts.
To learn more about the donation and sponsorship opportunities through the Friends group, visit easthamptondogpark.org/ donors-and-sponsors.
“We’re smiling because the heavy work is done. We don’t have to go in front of the CPA anymore, we don’t have to ask for any more money from the city, and we’ll just continue to do our fundraisers,” added Kurtz. In an effort to remain visible in
the community, the Friends have scheduled outreach efforts and different events to continue raising funds and support for the future park through the summer and into the fall. One of these efforts will come through an information table for the Friends at Celebrate Southampton on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Conant Park in Southampton. The Friends will also host Harvest Fest at Nonotuck Park this fall on Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 5 p.m.
Also, throughout July, shoppers at Big E’s Super Market can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar in support of the Easthampton dog park as well.
“We’ll be around. We’ll have our pet food drives and other events which are always very successful and show it’s not just about the dog park, it’s about the community and how the Friends can support the community as the community supports the dog park,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz reiterated that it feels great to move forward and be another step closer to the construction of the dog park at Nonotuck Park.
“I am amazed [by the support]. I am originally from Long Island, a very good community, but this community here has been extremely supportive from day one,” Kurtz said. “They are waiting breathlessly as we are. It’s good for everybody who just needs their dogs off a leash. We’re all excited about it and waiting for that last decision, and can’t wait to break ground.”
years. Additionally, Barber-Just has served as the Sexuality and Gender Alliance advisor and long-time adviser to the Amherst Regional High School newspaper, The Graphic. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching numerous times: Barber-Just received The Robert Frost Teaching Award from Amherst Regional High School in 2004 and again in 2023, the Yale Educator Award in 2011, The Williams College George Olmsted Jr. Award for excellence in teaching in 2014 and was a 2022 finalist for Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
“I was thrilled to nominate, along with Rep. Aaron Saunders, Sara Barber-Just for an inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award,” said Domb. “Her extraordinary work in Amherst Regional High School has had a significant impact on the community and lives of thousands of students from the 3rd Hampshire District. Through her efforts as an educator, a curriculum developer, student advisor and an all-around force for good, she has provided students with an exciting education, an introduction to the power of literature and solidarity, and a path to inquiry and meaningful investigation. Her guidance has offered students a safe space to explore who they are and what is important to them, and has led to increased community awareness and real change. Sara Barber-Just is a community hero.” Saunders, who represents students at Amherst Regional High School from Shutesbury and Pelham, shared, “I am grateful to Sara and her continual support of LBGTQ+ youth in our
community. Her impact on her students is immeasurable, and it was an honor to co-nominate her for this prestigious award with Rep. Domb.”
“It’s such an honor as a queer teacher of LGBTQ Literature to be nominated for this award. I consider myself deeply lucky to be a teacher, because every day of my work life involves supporting and hopefully inspiring my students so they can be the best versions of themselves. I love creating safe and creative spaces where students can take risks, grow, and flourish — and also learn from people who might seem different from them about things they have never thought about before. Having LGBTQ teachers and learning about LGBTQ subjects is affirming and even life-saving for queer students but it is equal-
Sarah Barber-Just
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
NORTHAMPTON
Kimble appointed as new Housing Authority director
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON —
Northampton Housing Authority acting Executive Director Sharon Kimble has been named to the role permanently after the authority’s Board of Commissioners voted to appoint her during its June 11 meeting.
The Northampton Housing Authority is a quasi-public agency maintaining public housing at the McDonald House, Forsadner and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights.
Before the vote, the Board of Commissioners interviewed four candidates for the position. The search effort was supple-
mented by the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The mission of MassNAHRO is to educate, support and advocate for its member agencies to ensure the preservation, protection and expansion of public and affordable housing.
Northampton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chair Patty Healey told Reminder Publishing that in total, 19 applicants across eight states applied for the position before the board narrowed the options down to four candidates.
“We reviewed all of the qualifications in the resumes, the information they gave us in the interviews, and discussed what about each candidate would
best meet the needs of our organization,” Healey said.
The housing authority is tasked with managing housing of the federal government under Housing and Urban Development. Featuring about 1,500 units in total, the NHA is one of the largest groups in the state.
Kimble served as acting executive director since the fall of 2025 and was the authority’s chief accounting officer before that. She has been with the organization for 14 years. Reminder Publishing did not receive a response from Kimble about her new position by print time.
Healey said Kimble offers a unique stability for the NHA due to her history with the organization and her experience in the interim role already.
“Given we had no leadership for almost a year and a half, there was concern that the housing authority needed to have a leader who could start right away and step into the role. We feel very confident that this is the right decision,” Healey added. “We’ve been able to observe and work with Sharon for the last seven, eight months or so, and what was most notable is that she has had to run this organization without a full staff. We had to think about the accomplishments that she had without a staff. That informed our decision that she was able to handle a number of crises, identify the problems and separate them, prioritize them and move forward. I would say that she also acted as an acting director
during the times when the previous administrator was out on leave several times in the two years before the former director. I don’t think people realize how much she actually did.”
Healey said that Kimble’s background with NHA was a “very significant factor” in the decision. Noting that two of the three other final candidates lived out of state, Healey added that Kimble gives the organization stability following a time of inconsistency with the position.
“Given the need to be available face to face often and to understand the politics in the community of Western Mass., we thought it was pretty essential to have someone who is pretty local,” she added.
Northampton adds 72 acres to Mineral Hills Greenway
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — After receiving a $297,330 Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity grant last November, the Office of Planning and Sustainability announced that Northampton has officially acquired and permanently preserved 72 acres in the Mineral Hills Greenway.
The acquisition and preservation efforts build on the decades of work to protect forested land, wildlife corridors and habitats citywide while creating quality outdoor recreational opportunities for residents. The work was made possible through the LAND grant along with local Community Preservation Act funding.
LAND grants help cities and towns acquire land for conservation and passive recreation purposes, and the project costs for the acquisition of land in fee or for the reimbursement of a conservation range from 48-70%.
The parcel will fill a gap in a multi-town open space corridor and connect to an adjacent 300 acres of the Mineral Hills Greenway in Northampton alone. The trail work and stewardship already completed by the Crescione family mean that its robust trail network is set to fit seamlessly into the surrounding trails in the rest of the Saw Mill Hill.
“The parcel includes a host of plant species not commonly found in Northampton, few invasive plant species, a great trail system, and a shrubby meadow that is ideal for bird watching, checking out exposed bedrock and plants that thrive in those acidic conditions, and for views of the Holyoke Range,” Planning and Sustainability Assistant Director Sarah LaValley told Reminder Publishing following this latest announcement. “The Mineral Hills south did not exist as a greenway two decades ago. Permanent protection of forests, wetlands, and habitat in the southwestern corner of the city is now part of a 300-plus-acre block that provides a wildlife corridor and recreational resource. Large contiguous forested blocks are critical to the ability of many species to thrive.”
LaValley told Reminder Publishing in the fall that the city has worked for many years to expand protected open spaces
in the western segment of the city to preserve habitat connections, provide recreational access, maintain viewsheds and preserve a sense of place. She further explained that as the area has grown over the past two decades, a critical gap of unprotected land in the open space puzzle has developed, and the city has now filled it through this grant opportunity.
“It is a large parcel within a jigsaw puzzle of already protected land in multiple towns, fostering partnerships and collaborative stewardship,” LaValley said in November. “It directly abuts 150 acres of permanently preserved land in Northampton and is only a few hundred feet from NEFF’s Harnett-Manhan Memorial Forest complex in Easthampton and Southampton.”
She added that the parcel is within a much larger forested block, and said one could walk north from Northampton for more than six miles through the woods and only cross three roads before approaching the Williamsburg line. From there, Lavalley said someone could hike another two miles to the Brewer Brook Wildlife Management Area.
The area will be owned and managed by the Northampton Conservation Commission, and a conservation restriction will be held by the Kestrel Land Trust. The new Crescione section of the greenway can be accessed from Drury Lane.
The city has partnered with Kestrel since 2018. The land trust said they are committed to helping permanently conserve up to 1,000 acres of Northampton’s most ecologically valuable lands together, while promoting good stewardship and the continued public enjoyment of these critical and natural resources.
“The Crescione section of the Mineral Hills Greenway is a wonderful addition to these protected lands,” said Kestrel’s Conservation Director Mark Wamsley. “It builds upon an important network of forests that support wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation, and is a fitting stepping stone for continuing our partnership with Northampton to help meet the city’s conservation, climate and open space access goals in the coming years.”
This parcel also includes headwater streams and wet-
lands that are important sources for water quality and quantity to both Hannum Brook and the Manhan River. Both are recognized as coldwater streams, a critical and threatened resource.
“Changes in land and water use can reduce the ability of waters to support trout and other kinds of coldwater fish. Forested headwaters limit deposition of sediment into streams, and create the shade necessary for them to thrive,” LaValley added.
For more information about this work, contact the Office of Planning and Sustainability via email at planning@ northamptonma.gov.
A locus map of the property within the Mineral Hills Greenway that the city just acquired.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
HAMPSHIRE REGIONAL VS WAHCONAH REGIONAL
SOFTBALL
The Hampshire Regional Softball team defeated Wahconah Regional 7-1 on June 6 at Hampshire Regional High School to advance to the final four.
Hampshire Regional poses for the camera with the Final Four poster and trophy.
Kalin Dubay fields the groundball and throws the runner out.
Chelsea Vanasse catches a pop out for the second out of the inning.
Lana Parsons beats the throw and gets to
Rachael Hickox lays a bunt down the third base line.
Lucy Trombley slides into home plate and is
Ryanne Dubay gets the start for the Raiders.
SOFTBALL
The Southampton 10U Softball All-Star team battled Westfield on June 17th at Sadie Knox Field in Westfield, but came up just short in a hard-fought 7-6 game.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY SAM BLAKE
Avery Adamski gets ready to throw the ball to first base.
The Southampton 10u team high fives each other after getting a strikeout. SOUTHAMPTON VS WESTFIELD
Mckenna Lemoi picks up the groundball and runs to first to get the out herself.
Peyton Fortier leads off of first base and watches the pitch go to the catcher.
Parker Snape makes a great snow cone catch while colliding with her teammate.
Raya Gauthier (18) gets ready to catch the ball in right field.
Madison Fitzherbert (1) gets ready to face the pitcher.
Emily Gay (26) hustles down the first baseline.
Campaign plans to counter ‘stuffy dudes’ with grassroots effort
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — Cannabis entrepreneurs, municipal leaders and health experts joined forces on June 25 to launch a campaign against the ballot measure to repeal legalized recreational marijuana, comparing their push to the American Revolution.
“Two hundred fifty years ago, we had to chase some stuffy dudes with red coats out of the city, and today we’re going to chase some stuffy folks from red states out of this city,” said Tito Jackson, a former Boston city councilor and owner of a Boston cannabis dispensary. “They don’t have our vision, they don’t have our voice, and in the words of Kendrick Lamar, they are not like us, ladies and gentlemen.”
The Stop the Repeal campaign will rely on grassroots efforts to encourage Bay Staters to “vote no” against the ballot measure funded by “out-of-state” interests, said Chair Ryan Dominguez, the executive director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition. The ballot question seeks to roll back commercial marijuana legalization that voters authorized a decade ago.
The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts that’s advancing the measure received $1.55 million last year from Virginia-based SAM Action, Inc., according to campaign finance reports. The nonprofit is “dedicated to promoting healthy marijuana policies that do not legalize drugs” and is affiliated with Smart Approaches to Marijuana that aims to educate the public about the “harms” of legalized cannabis.
“First and foremost, we’re dealing with SAM, which is
Pride Award
Continued from page 4
ly important for students who are not LGBTQ+ — to grow their un-
Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national prohibitionist group that has over $20 million in the bank,” Dominguez said at a press conference on the State House steps. “They’re also the ones that are suing the federal government to stop rescheduling.”
A Coalition for Healthy Massachusetts spokesperson did not respond to a News Service request for comment. The campaign website says marijuana legalization has contributed to rising rates of impaired driving, and points to heightened risks for children, teens and pets.
Dominguez made a donation plea, and detailed a strategy in which cannabis retailers, cultivators and licensees should share campaign materials with patients and customers. He urged supporters to call friends and family, and keep the public informed during community events this summer.
“I need you to call everyone you know and ensure that they understand how serious this is,”
Jackson added. “This is very real, and I actually also need you to speak to everybody in the cannabis industry because I’ve been talking to some folks that are like, ‘Na, that can’t happen, that won’t happen.’”
A University of New Hampshire poll in February found 63% of Massachusetts voters somewhat or strongly oppose the ballot measure.
Dr. Benjamin Caplan, founder of CED Clinic that provides “medical cannabis care,” said cannabis, which was prevalent before legalization, will not disappear if the ballot measure passes.
“It will make cannabis less regulated, less visible, and harder to control,” Caplan said, as he pointed to the existing regulatory
derstanding of the lives, history, and culture of queer people. We have survived and resisted in the darkest and most difficult times and also shown incredible love for our community and stood in
framework that ensures cannabis products are tested and labeled, and are legal for people ages 21 and older.
“I’d rather counsel a patient using a tested labeled product than a mystery product from an illegal market,” Caplan added. “The alternative is an illegal market with no required testing, no standardized labeling, no licensed seller, no recall pathway and no meaningful public accountability. That is not public health — that’s going back.”
Since legalization, cannabis sales have grossed more $9 billion, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. In fiscal year 2024, Fitchburg Mayor Samantha Squailia said the city collected nearly $700,000 in cannabis excise tax revenues.
solidarity with other marginalized people. After 29 years as a high school English teacher, I am still so excited to wake up every day. If I could pick a second career to start all over with, I’d
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
EASTHAMPTON
Candice P. Girouard (Candi) FLORENCE
James A. “Fin” Finley Jr.
Claudine A. Veistroffer (Boulais) NORTHAMPTON
Esta Smith Busi
SOUTH HADLEY
Harvey L. Cook
Donald R. Dausch
Judith A. Higgins
“These dollars help support the broader local revenue picture at a time when cities and towns are facing steeply rising costs for health insurance, infrastructure, public safety, solid waste, education and just basic services,” Squailia said. “Removing this regulated industry would have major fiscal consequences for all of us: licensed businesses would be affected, people losing their jobs, local revenue would cause service disruptions or disinvestment in our communities.”
The initiative petition recently survived a legal challenge that sought to prevent it from reaching the November ballot.
A handful of participants in a social equity program for entrepreneurs disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition
pick this one again. It’s the best job there is!”
For the first time ever, the caucus was proud to host the Commonwealth Pride Awards: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Excellence on the Hill. The event is slated to occur annually during Pride Month. The event honored 110plus community leaders, each nominated by their state legislators. The group spanned an enormous breadth of achievement and included public servants, advocates, doctors, authors, filmmakers, educators, historians, entrepreneurs and religious leaders, highlighting the collective impact of the LGBTQ+ community.
“We are proud to recognize all of the incredible LGBTQ+ leaders who make Massachusetts stronger every day. Here in Massachusetts, we’ve been leading the nation in the fight for freedom over generations. It began 251 years ago when we started a revolution that spearheaded our nation’s democracy, and has
and enforcement argued Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s constitutionally required summary was “grossly deficient,” and that the ballot measure contained multiple subjects that are not related or mutually dependent. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled Campbell’s summary was fair and that the petition’s provisions are related.
“I think we had some very valid points in our SJC challenge,” Dominguez told the News Service. “It was a little sad to see, I think, with the rent control and the tax initiative getting thrown out. I think we had just as strong of a case.”
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
continued as the state that led on abolition, women’s rights, Civil Rights, and LGBTQ+ rights,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Today, we’re proud to be the state at the forefront of our nation’s freedoms and we will continue to ensure that Massachusetts remains a safe and welcoming place for all. We’re grateful to the LGBTQ+ Caucus for recognizing the impact of our state’s LGBTQ+ trailblazers and offer a deep congratulations to the inaugural group of Commonwealth Pride awardees!”
Massachusetts has long served as a nationwide leader for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. In 2004, it became the first state to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Massachusetts became the first state in the country to support transgender protections through popular vote in 2018. It consistently ranks highly among U.S. states and territories in LGBTQ+ rights and social acceptance.
Ryan Dominguez, chair of the Stop the Repeal campaign that opposes the ballot measure to roll back legalized commercial marijuana, speaks during a press conference on the State House steps on Thursday, June 25.
State House News Service photo by Alison Kuznitz
Springfield takes center stage for Jazz & Roots Festival
By Miasha Lee Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is returning to the historic Court Square. On July 10-11, get ready for an unforgettable weekend of music, culture and community. This year’s festival has an artist lineup spanning New Orleans funk, Afro-Cuban jazz and global roots.
Executive Director Kristin Neville of Blues to Green, the nonprofit organization that presents the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, said, “Attendees can expect an exciting mix of nationally acclaimed artists and outstanding local talent, along with youth performances, family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a welcoming downtown atmosphere full of energy and discovery.”
They’re also excited about special offerings beyond the stage, including a talk with Etienne Charles about Gullah culture and history and its connection to America’s 250th; a Stories & Songs event with All the Rivers and the First Gen Ensemble, sharing immigrant experiences through music and theater; an Afro-Cuban music and jazz workshop led by Zaccai Curtis; and a mural paint party lifting up the stories of youth, families and immigration in Springfield.
The festival will also screen short films, including a Blues to Green project focused on the Puerto Rican community in Western Massachusetts and climate justice and resilience, so people can expect not only great performances, but a fuller cultural experience rooted in music, storytelling and community.
The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is a free annual music and arts festival in Downtown Springfield that celebrates jazz, roots and the cultures of the African diaspora. It brings together nationally acclaimed artists, outstanding local performers, youth ensembles, family arts activities, educational programming, local vendors and community organizations for a public gathering in
the heart of the city.
From the beginning, Neville said the vision was to create a free, high-quality cultural event that would honor Black and diasporic musical traditions while also helping transform how people see Springfield. She wanted it to be a place where residents could feel pride in their city, where local artists and businesses could be uplifted, and where people from different backgrounds could come together through music in a spirit of joy and shared humanity.
“It also felt important from the start to celebrate Springfield’s cultural diversity and reflect that richness through artists from near and far,” Neville said. “Part of the inspiration behind the festival was to spotlight the extraordinary contributions that Afro-descended communities have made to our shared culture, including so much of the music we listen to today, while also honoring the many cultures that shape Springfield itself.”
And for her, especially through her late husband Charles Neville’s life in music as a touring artist with the Neville Broth-
ers from New Orleans, it was
important not just to present the art, but to create opportunities for people to better understand the social, cultural and historical contexts out of which the music comes. “There are stories in this music,” Neville said. “There are joys and struggles. And there is artistry and creative excellence that deserve to be recognized and honored.”
In an upcoming episode of “So That Reminds Me,” Neville also talked about her inspiration in organizing the festival.
“I felt inspired to try to work with music as a vehicle to bring people together, foster unity, healing and awareness, and action around social and environmental issues,” she said.
Neville’s hope is that this year’s festival will once again bring thousands of people downtown for a joyful, inspiring experience and leave them feeling more connected to the music, to one another and to Springfield itself. She wants the festival to be a place not only of celebration, but also of recognition: a place where people can experience beauty and enjoyment while
understanding more about the histories, communities and lived experiences carried in the art.
“This year feels especially meaningful because we’re returning to Court Square, where the festival first began,” Neville said. “I want the legacy of the festival to be that it helped show what’s possible when a city invests in culture, community and joy. If it has helped people feel more pride in Springfield, more connection to one another, and more belief in a joyful, creative, just, and compassionate future, that would be a legacy I’d be very proud of.”
For more info and updates, go to springfieldjazzfest.com.
Neville will also talk about the Jazz & Roots Festival on the July 3 episode of “So That Reminds Me” with hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet. To listen to the episode when it airs head to thereminder.com/ourpodcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
The 2026 lineup includes:
• Dumpstaphunk: The legendary New Orleans funk powerhouse carries forward the Neville family legacy with explosive
live energy.
• Omar Sosa: The visionary Cuban pianist blends Afro-Cuban roots and global jazz into a rich, rhythmic sound.
• Etienne Charles: Gullah Roots: The Trinidad-born trumpeter connects jazz with the history of the African diaspora. Zaccai Curtis: Cubop Lives!: The Grammy-winning pianist leads an ensemble at the intersection of bebop and Afro-Cuban jazz.
• Global & Local Standouts: From the immigrant-led ensemble All the Rivers and Uganda-rooted Zikina to Springfield favorites like Malado!, Chestina Thrower, and the vintage swing of Dan Gabel and the Gabeltones.
• David Rivera y La Bámbula: The Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and drummer blends tropical rhythms, R&B, hip-hop and Caribbean dance traditions into a bold, rhythm-forward sound. Managing Editor Dennis Hackett contributed to this report.
From left: Endea Owens & the Cookout performing at last year’s festival. The crowd dancing and jamming along to the music.
Photo credit: Sophie Markham
EV charging landscape leaves app-based drivers apprehensive
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — As regulators look to increase the use of electric vehicles at rideshare companies, Uber and Lyft representatives balked on June 22 at the existing EV charging infrastructure, arguing it could hamstring their drivers from making money.
The recently certified App Drivers Union wants a suite of state regulations — which also deal with background checks, driving limits, professional driving training and more — to be withdrawn in order to allow contract negotiations to unfold first.
Pending regulations from the Department of Public Utilities state that all fleet vehicles owned, leased or rented by rideshare companies must be zero-emission vehicles one year after the rules take effect. Rideshare companies would also need to file plans for financial incentive programs to reduce costs for drivers, aimed at “high-mileage” drivers who live in lower-income areas.
Autumn Weintraub, the union’s executive director, said the state EV goal is “very, very important to us to help to save the climate.”
“We agree with the goal,” Weintraub said during a DPU technical session. “It could be, some of the rules could be actually really good for drivers — could be. But it also could be really bad, and we don’t know that, and won’t know that until we’re able to establish rules and bargain over them.”
The forum brought together stakeholders to hash out nuanced aspects of the regulations in a “give-and-take discussion,” but without any sworn or recorded testimony, said Zach Caunter, assistant general counsel at the DPU’s Transportation Network Company Division.
“We are eager to collaborate today,” DPU Commissioner Staci Rubin said. “We want to collaborate with the companies, with the App Drivers Union, climate and environmental advocates, equity advocates and others so that we can discuss the best path forward to achieve the goal of transportation electrification.”
The state already has a financial incentive program for rideshare drivers looking to transition to electric vehicles.
Ride Clean Mass offers $14,000 rebates for purchasing new EVs and $6,500 for used
EVs, said Elijah Sinclair, senior program manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Sinclair said 360 incentives have been awarded so far, with funding left for another 150 to 300 purchase incentives. Eligible drivers must have logged 400 rides or 1,800 miles in two of the last four quarters.
Sinclair also highlighted the Ride Clean Mass Charging Hubs Program, which this summer and fall will install EV chargers in West Springfield, Worcester, Somerville, Brockton, Boston and Lowell.
“We selected the areas where they are based on high passenger pickup and drop-off frequencies, and the location of driver housing,” Sinclair said. “These are high-powered sites. I believe each plug will likely be over 100 kilowatts each, so they’ll be really fast.”
Katie Franger, public affairs manager at Uber, asked whether the state is considering extending the programs — or if there’s a limited budget.
“Right now, I’m not aware of any plans to continue either program,” Sinclair responded.
Brendan Joyce, senior public policy manager at Lyft, bristled at
the limited pool of state resources available to support fleet electrification goals.
“We need way more funding for Ride Clean Mass,” Joyce said. “We need way more funding for Ride Clean Mass Hubs — that would probably need to be 2 X’d or 3 X’d from our perspective in order to meet just the charging demand that’s going to be there and needed in order for drivers to make that transition.”
There’s not enough charging infrastructure for now to meet drivers’ needs, said Rachel Perl, Uber’s head of Northeast rides operations. She also pointed out drivers tend to work part time and use their own cars.
“What we’ve heard from drivers, including drivers who commented on these rules, is that owning an EV is challenging, and then it could be viable for them sometimes only because they have the ability to have at-home charging,” Perl said. “But even their experience is challenging once they’re actually on the road completing trips.”
Uber is offering a $4,000 incentive for high-performing drivers who switch to an EV and complete 100 rides by the end of the year.
Chiem Klot, a veteran Uber driver, said rideshare drivers can end up waiting two to three hours to use free chargers at Boston Logan International Airport. He’s seen fights and arguments break out over the lengthy waits.
“I’ve seen drivers frustrated to the point where they take a loss and trade in their electric car for a gasoline vehicle,” Klot said. “Drivers lose money during the time we spend charging our cars because we only get paid when we have passengers. We don’t make enough money to take long breaks from driving, especially when there are not enough charging stations.”
Joyce said rideshare drivers have a “really unique level of range anxiety” compared to typical consumers.
“If I get stuck somewhere in an EV and can’t get a charge, I’ll figure something out. I’ll have my laptop with me for an hour or two,” Joyce said. “A rideshare driver, that’s real money that they’re losing and leaving on the table.”
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com
Historical Society to host Declaration of Independence reading
AMHERST — The Amherst Historical Society will present a communal reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon on Saturday, July 4, from the steps of the Amherst Town Hall. The event will be marked by the ringing of church bells throughout the town at noon, followed by a summoning of the community to Town Hall by the blowing of a conch shell. Historically, a conch shell was used to call the residents of Amherst to gather to conduct town business. The Historical Society has several examples of conchs used by town officials over the years, including the original dating back to the 18th century. The conch to be used was purchased for the event and is not historic. Members of the Town Council will present a proclamation and after that, state Rep. Mindy Domb will begin the reading with the Preamble. The public is invited to join in following the opening statements, particularly with the section that begins, “We hold these truths…” Individual readers from the community will be reading in turn the rest of the document. The event will conclude with a non-denominational benediction from Father Valentine Nworah of the Newman Center and close with a musical offering. Anyone wishing to participate as a reader of one of the 27 grievances against King George III, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at info@amhersthistory.org. Copies of the Declaration will be available for all wishing to participate in the communal portion of the reading. Updates due to weather will be posted at amhersthistory.org.
Springfield College launches new communications major this fall
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College is proud to announce the fall 2027 launch of its Communications and Creative Media major, an innovative academic program designed to prepare students for leadership and creative careers in today’s rapidly evolving media and technological landscape. The Communications and Creative Media program offers students hands-on experience and industry-focused training in communication strategy, social media marketing, content production and digital design. Specifically, students will develop
social media content and create and produce podcasts, radio broadcasts, television shows, short-form content, and more.
The program will prepare students for careers in fields such as marketing, public relations, social media strategy, and, more broadly, roles in communication, creative content, and strategic brand messaging.
“In the era of AI, human creativity is more important than ever. Students in this major will develop a practical understanding of emerging and evolving technologies and learn to leverage their creativity to devel-
op messaging across a variety of media and industries,” said Anne C. Wheeler, PhD, associate professor of Composition & Rhetoric and chair of the Department of Literature, Writing, and Journalism.
Rachel Rubinstein, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, said, “This new interdisciplinary major responds to the rapidly evolving needs of industry for skilled, authentic and versatile communicators. Our students will learn from caring instructors who are experts in their fields, and will thrive in Springfield College’s
warm, supportive, and welcoming community.” Through collaborative projects, multimedia production opportunities and real-world communication experiences, students will develop professional portfolios while learning from experienced faculty and industry professionals. Students will complete a substantive internship experience and graduate with a polished professional portfolio. For more information, visit springfield.edu/ programs/communications-and-creative-media.
SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest and HealthcareNews.com are now accepting nominations for the 10th annual Healthcare Heroes awards. Nominations for the Healthcare Heroes class of 2026 are due by Thursday, July 23, and may be submitted online at businesswest.com/healthcareheroes/nominations/. The Healthcare Heroes program was created in 2017 to honor the individuals and organizations working across the region’s vast, diverse, and essential healthcare and wellness
sector. These leaders, innovators and collaborators have devoted their careers to improving the quality of individual lives and the health of entire communities. Since its inception, Healthcare Heroes has more than fulfilled its mission of identifying truly inspirational people and organizations — and sharing their compelling stories. Year after year, the program has highlighted outstanding achievements and contributions from throughout the healthcare and wellness industry.
For more information, contact Heather Leclerc, Marketing and Events director, at 413-7818600, ext. 100, or email leclerc@ businesswest.com.
