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Milleron and Whalen debate ahead of elections IN THIS By Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
EDITION POLITICS
Velis sounds off on statewide issues State Sen. John Velis joined “So That Reminds Me”.
Page 2
Democrat Jeromie Whalen and independent Nadia Milleron debate on Aug. 11. Both hope to unseat Richard Neal in Massachusetts’s 1st Congressional District. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
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To protect voting access and increase turnout, Milleron said it should be made mandatory and cited Australia’s system in which there is a monetary penalty for not voting. Voters there can vote by mail, vote early or obtain an absentee ballot. Whalen said, “We have voter apathy in this country. We don’t have voter fraud.” He said he is in favor of enshrining vote by mail in law. He also said the current environment around immigration is causing people in Black and brown communities not to feel safe voting in person. Asked about avoiding gentrification as a side effect of WestEast Rail, Whalen said he fully supported expanding rail service, “But, at the same time, we need to be prepared to increase the housing stock in central and Western Massachusetts.” He said he was also a proponent of rent control to stabilize the housing industry. Milleron warned that the re-
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that comes from public opinion. He later spoke about building coalitions, saying, “We need to build that community, and that’s how we break the partisan divide that we see.” Milleron responded, “You can’t just influence people. You have to leverage, you have to pressure, you have to threaten their jobs and their reputations ... You can’t just get what you want by being nice and ... having discussions with people.” On some issues, the candidates had different ideas. Milleron said her “day one” priorities would be proposing income tax relief, “get insurance companies out of our healthcare systems,” and eliminate supply chain issues in medicine by bringing manufacturing back to the United States. For Whalen, the focus would be on passing Medicare for all, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and implementing a surtax on the “ultrawealthy,” using Massachusetts’s Fair Share Amendment as a model.
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SPRINGFIELD — Two people looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in the Massachusetts 1st Congressional House District met at a debate on Aug. 11 to discuss their politics, priorities and approach. Of those, the most daylight between Nadia Milleron and Jeromie Whalen was in their approach. Whalen, a Democrat, will face Neal in the Sept. 1 primary, while Milleron, running as an independent, will face the winner of the primary in November. During the event, hosted at 52 Sumner and sponsored by more than 40 local nonprofits, Milleron and Whalen answered questions from the community that had been collected ahead of time. Moderator G. Michael Dobbs explained to the audience that the questions all pertained to districtwide or national issues, which are the purview of members of Congress. The candidates agreed on several topics. Each would work to abolish the Electoral College to remove the outsized influence of a few swing states. Both Milleron and Whalen were proponents of universal healthcare, with that one topic being Milleron’s top priority. Both were also in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump, should the Republicans lose the majority. To address poverty in Western Massachusetts, Milleron said she favored eliminating federal income tax on the first $100,000 earned. Similarly, Whalen said he would raise the threshold, easing
the tax burden for the lowest income earners. The two also agreed that there should be term limits for representatives. While Whalen envisioned 12 to 15 years, Milleron said she would commit to six years. Whalen, who is 39, also said he felt there should be an age cap and suggested 70 years old, but also said people vary in how age affects them. At age 62, Milleron was silent on the issue of an age cap. Whalen and Milleron also agreed that Congress needs to assert its power over funding allocation, ensuring the executive branch follows through on distributing funds, and not allow the president to enter military action without Congressional approval. Where the candidates differed was in their methods. Whalen emphasized the need to create relationships with representatives on both sides of the aisle, as well as independents. “It’s not relationships that are going to make this happen. It’s pressure,” Milleron said. She said being an independent in a House with narrow margins would make her influential. And, as an independent, she said she would caucus with whichever party is in the majority and withhold her vote for leadership to accomplish her goals. “We’re in such dire straits that we have to take every angle, pressure, every advantage, every leverage we can muster,” Milleron said. Whalen took a different approach. He said there is influence through working the “halls of Congress,” but also influence
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STRM: Velis sounds off on recent statewide issues By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” state Sen. John Velis sat down with co-hosts Ryan Feyre and myself to discuss data centers, cellphone and social media policies, upcoming ballot questions and opioid settlement funds. Velis, whose current term ends in January, is running unopposed for reelection. He represents nine communities throughout the Hampden and Hampshire districts and has been in the Senate since 2020. He also previously served as a state representative from 2014. Velis was recently deployed for six months on a confidential mission along the southwestern border of the U.S. He said he couldn’t provide specifics about the trip, but he credited his office for helping him stay connected and serve his constituents during that time. He also commended his colleagues who stepped up and filed bills and items on his behalf. “One of the things that’s really, really important to me is hiring staff that’s good,” Velis said. “It was constantly checking in with my team, from when I could get away from what I was doing and see what was out there, but I have to be honest with you, I can’t take credit for it. My chief of staff ... and then my entire operation was a seamless operation.” One issue that Velis discussed, which has been prominent in many of the communities he serves, is data centers. Holyoke recently approved a ban on future development of the centers, while Agawam approved the first reading of a 270day moratorium and Westfield approved a 12-month moratorium. In the past, Velis demanded that the data centers, not residents, should pay for any energy and water strain. He also emphasized that many data centers across the country are much larger than some of those proposed and operating in
Massachusetts. Velis agreed that there is an opportunity for jobs, but in many cases, data centers lead to an increase in electrical bills, increased water usage and contamination. He also agreed with the idea of a moratorium to give each town time to learn about potential pros and cons of a development proposal. “I think what’s happening throughout the commonwealth is a beautiful thing, like, give the towns the ability,” Velis said. “[Data centers] need to pay their own way. Any uptick in electric costs is on them, any water usage above and beyond what they represent is on them, any disturbance to the environment is on them, and if they check all of those boxes in a local community through their City Council, their planning boards, their mayor, decide that we realize all the risks and the contracts are very firm that anything that goes above and beyond what you’re representing is on you, not the residents, than have that vote.” Velis also discussed regulations on youth social media and cellphone use in schools. In July, the state Senate passed a bill that essentially regulates youth social media use. “What the data tells us is that straight bans don’t work,” Velis said, comparing the Senate bill to the House bill passed in April, which bans children under 14 from using social media platforms and requires that platforms obtain consent for users ages 14 and 15. Velis explained that if you institute a ban, teenagers affected will find ways to get around it. He said the driving force is algorithms, which is why the Senate bill gives people under 16 the ability to stop, pause and say, “Do I want to continue reading, do I want to continue watching these videos, or maybe do I want to go outside?” Velis said the third-party audit could allow the attorney general’s office to ask a company like Facebook to explain its algorithms and
State Sen. John Velis sat down with hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet to talk about a wide range of issues on the most recent episode of “So That Reminds Me. “
Reminder Publishing photo by Dennis Hackett
how they work. “It’s about getting rid of these algorithmic feeds by the default settings; they’re not allowed for certain people under that age demographic, but we need to get at these algorithms, and I’m a really big believer in that the best way to do that is something that we still need to continue to do, is by having what we call third-party audits,” Velis said. On the topic of cellphone usage in schools, Velis said he often visits high school students in his communities who all admit they use their phones during the school day instead of paying attention to what is going on in class. Velis said that although bans don’t usually work, he thinks there should be little to no exception regarding cellphone usage during the school day. “When we had this debate, I was really the lead proponent of, ‘look, if we’re going to do this, we need to do it.’ And variably, what comes up is exceptions,” Velis said. “My position was we need to make the exceptions so few and far between because at some point in time, if you have all these exceptions, the exceptions swallow the rule. If 30 kids in the schools have their phones, the rest of the kids are going to say, ‘hey what’s
Mikey, what’s Sarah or what’s everybody doing with their phones, I want my phone.’” In response to parents’ concerns about the possibility of not reaching their kids during an emergency, Velis said many law enforcement members told him that cellphones could create more chaos during a major emergency because the students would be too distracted to listen to the adults or law enforcement personnel. “When cellphones weren’t a thing, we got by just fine. If a kid was sick, if there was an emergency, if something was happening,” Velis stated. “There’s no perfect solution, but with the distraction from the reading, writing, arithmetic, we have to do better. If we can do something to give that kid a fighting chance to excel in school, to engage, to maybe prevent some type of behavioral health issue, then I think we should do that; I think we owe it to them.” Velis also discussed the current and future Veterans Home in Holyoke, opioid settlement funds that cities have received, the recent economic development bill that just passed in the Senate, housing issues in Massachusetts and a ballot question that looks to eliminate political party primaries for state elections.
Debate
Continued from page 1
gion will be “flooded with people” escaping the climate crisis and that West-East Rail would bring them to Western Massachusetts. “We have to prepare,” she said. Each candidate was asked how their background qualified them for Congressional service. Milleron said her experience as an activist, mobilizing people and advocating in the halls of Congress, gave her the experience needed. Whalen said that, as a teacher, he sees first-hand how decisions made at the national level affect the youth of America. In Neal’s 37 years in the House of Representatives, “Has your life gotten better? Have your bills gone down? ... We need to go
In the case of opioid settlement funds, a recent investigation revealed municipalities have spent less than 20% of the $115 million distributed to them since 2023. Velis recently said he is prepared to file legislation to have the state reclaim unspent funds and redirect them to communities with bigger needs. “This notion that I hear from municipalities was, ‘we’re trying to figure out how to use this.’ I have no patience for that anymore for the very simple reason that they’re sitting on their tails trying to figure this out; we got people that are dying out there,” Velis said. Speaking on the economic development bill, Velis said the goal is to stop people from leaving the state for opportunities elsewhere. “Massachusetts is on the precipice, and I would argue we are already down that path of becoming a state that lacks competitiveness for any number of reasons,” Velis said. “This economic development bill was an attempt to do was to stop the bleeding.” To hear the full episode with Velis, visit thereminder.com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
in a new direction.” He added, “The people I want in Congress are the individuals embedded in this community.” Whalen’s comment was not the first time the candidates mentioned Neal and his absence from the forum. When speaking on Aug. 7, Neal said he would not attend “a forum that was organized by my opponent. They chose the site, the date and they chose the moderator.” Speaking of the forum organizers, he said, “One of them is a financial contributor, and the other is a spokesperson for the campaign, and they’re going to set the timetable?” Forum organizers Wes Weidemann and Erica Swallow are public Whalen supporters. Neal has accepted a debate against Whalen, organized and televised by WWLP for Aug. 26.
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Poetry book explores family, generational experiences By Trent Levakis
A Chicopee native and graduate of Chicopee High School in 1965, Metras’ latest work more specifically focuses on his memories growing up in the area as well as his recollection of his father’s family, his relationship with the family and the generational changes throughout his life as it relates to family, love and marriage, teaching experiences, military service and other topics. The book contains 45 poems, along with a 10-part long poem. “Family was pretty important to my father even though a lot of the brothers and sisters didn’t keep daily contact. We got together on holidays, some of them with my cousins, and we would go to local lakes, have picnics and go swimming in the summertime. My father and uncle taught all of us young kids how to swim and stuff like that,” Metras said. “There are other memories like that here and there throughout my life. They [Metras’ father, aunts and uncles] referred to each other at weddings and funerals as brother number 3, sister number 7, that kind of stuff.” Seeing his father’s family interact as he grew up and eventually living a full life himself, Metras had generational storytelling on his mind when writing this new work. These themes and thoughts were especially tangible as his own and only granddaughter was born in the midst of writing these poems. “That just got me thinking more and more deeply about generational changes in families, and family traditions and all of those important things,” Metras added. “Family and family traditions are not that important to a lot of people in America today with all the changes that have been going on
tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — An old photo can flood your mind with memories. That’s what happened to Easthampton resident and author Gary Metras when he looked at a photo of his father as a 3-yearold child from 1926, posed for a family portrait alongside his 13 siblings and their parents in the Aldenville neighborhood in Chicopee. “I was looking at them all, and I decided that the way all of the siblings were lined up by age, it almost looked like bricks in a wall, and the title poem started with that, looking at the photograph. And my own memories of my father talking about his brothers and sisters and some of their history,” Metras explained to Reminder Publishing. That photo became the book cover for “Counting Bricks,” Metras’s latest book of poetry and the 10th one he’s had published. The book explores the role of family in one’s life and the generosity, heartfelt sensitivity, compassion, sweetness and toughness that come with that role. The poems, individually and collectively, serve as a poignant testimony to family, its beauties and faults, all realistically expressed in verse but underlaid at all points with affection. The inaugural poet laureate of Easthampton in 2018, Metras taught at Hampshire Regional High School for 31 years before retiring in 2003. He then taught at Springfield College for six more years. Before getting into education, Metras worked a plethora of jobs and served in the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller.
throughout the country the last 40-50 years, with people moving here, there, and everywhere. I grew up in Chicopee, and I still live eight miles away.” By writing about his own experiences growing up in Chicopee public housing in the 1950s and 60s, Metras illustrates vignettes and memories from that time period. In the book’s long poem, “Children of the Projects,” Metras recalls the culture of his neighborhood, which was built to house returning veterans and their families like his father, and he notes the difference in class consciousness at that time. “We didn’t have any inkling of being low class or anything like that. Not even working class, as being a derogatory term. But most of the people in the projects were all working-class people; they worked in several of the factories in Chicopee and Springfield. My father was a bricklayer,” Metras said. “We didn’t look down on ourselves in an economic way, as too often what’s become of working-class people throughout our country and our culture.” Other poems in the book highlight love and marriage, his experiences as an educator, his time serving in the military and other general life topics that he said he hopes many can relate to. Metras explained that when brainstorming this new book, he decided poetry would be the best medium to recall and write about these memories in part because of his experience as a poet, but also because the writing form allowed him to capture the memories and feelings that came from so long ago. He credited his high school English teacher for helping him locate his passion
The cover of “Counting Bricks.” Reminder Publishing submitted photo
for the medium and exposing him to the greats that guided his growth in poetry. “Poetry just came to me naturally as a way of thinking and forming words, and stanzas and things of that nature,” Metras said. “But I think that since a lot of these memories [of family and life] came to me — some of them came in a dream and I’d wake up remembering something
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Applications open for FY27 CPA funding By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — With the first round of fiscal year 2027 Community Preservation Act funding set to take place this fall, prospective applicants are invited to submit a one-page eligibility form by Monday, Aug. 24, to determine whether their project qualifies for CPA funding. According to the city, full applications are due by Sept. 21. The Community Preservation Act allows communities to create a local Community Preservation Fund to raise money through a surcharge of up to 3% of the real estate tax levy on real property for open space protection, historic preservation and the provision of affordable housing. The act also created a state matching fund to supplement local revenues collected.
Office of Planning and Sustainability Assistant Director Sarah LaValley told Reminder Publishing that since its adoption in 2005, Northampton has allocated CPA funds to more than 200 projects. These include projects focused on the preservation of thousands of acres of open spaces and agricultural land, the construction of more than 350 units of affordable housing, the creation of acres of community garden plots, miles of multi-use trails, new and upgraded recreational fields and facilities, and the restoration of more than 30 historic resources and structures. LaValley added that 10% of total funding each year must be allocated to open space and recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing. The remainder can be allocated to any eligible project.
“Generally, the Community Preservation Act allows funding for activities in the following categories: The acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; the acquisition, creation and preservation of land for open space; the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; and the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of affordable housing,” LaValley explained. “The eligibility form step ensures that prospective projects are able to be funded because of the complexities of the CPA law; not all great projects are able to be funded through CPA.” LaValley shared examples of previous CPA funded projects in the city across the different categories. In open space, CPA funds were used as the local
match for a state Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity grant in 2026 for the permanent protection of 72 acres in the Mineral Hills. Regarding historic preservation, funding supported the repair and restoration of the Parsons House at Historic Northampton. “One of the oldest structures in Northampton, the house provides evidence of how generations of farm families in Northampton and New England lived, and the project will preserve the structure for generations to come,” LaValley added. In the realm of recreation, recent CPA funding has supported the Maines Field Resiliency Study. LaValley said this project is the beginning of a community-driven effort to reimagine See FUNDING on page 8
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Community Music Center event introduces youth to music By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Community Music Center’s Instrument Petting Zoo and Open House is returning for the third year of what has become a beloved community event that connects the city’s youth with instruments for the school year. The annual event, which will take place on Aug. 25 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Northampton Community Music Center, is a celebration of the center and its offerings and is once again presented in collaboration with Northampton’s JFK Middle School. Band Director and Music Teacher Shelby Serio has led the collaborative effort, inviting incoming middle school students to a firsthand look at potential instrument options as they gear up or consider joining band this fall. Students interested in woodwind or brass instruments can see NCMC faculty demonstrate the instruments before trying the strings and percussion instruments themselves. According to Serio, the exposure helps students choose their instruments of choice for their band and musical journeys. Indë Francis, the web, media and marketing coordinator for NCMC, told Reminder Publishing that the event spawned from the collaboration between Serio and JFK Middle School to welcome interested students and their musical interests.
A look inside last year’s Instrument Petting Zoo and Open House at the Northampton Community Music Center. Photo credit: Northampton Community Music Center
“The spirit of the Instrument Petting Zoo & Open House is welcome, bienvenido. When people come to the Northampton Community Music Center, they arrive full of curiosity, and it’s our mission as an organization to encourage that curiosity,” Francis said. “This event provides a warm welcome, where the open door to each teaching studio in our building will invite visitors into a new musical playground.” Francis added that the event has helped with recruitment and retention of students in school bands because students more efficiently find what works best for them. The opportunity to meet and connect with NCMC’s teaching faculty allows students and their families to explore the
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building and try all kinds of instruments during the event. “No matter the path they take, visitors will meet the friendly faces of NCMC’s teaching faculty and are sure to learn something new about music and about themselves. For example, I never knew how much I would love the upright bass until I began playing here at NCMC,” Francis said. “NCMC takes great pride in serving the musical needs of the community, and we are thrilled to
continue our collaboration with Ms. Serio through this event. Not only does this collaboration introduce kids to NCMC as a place to play, but they get to experience the instruments of the band in a low-pressure environment.” Coinciding with the instrument petting zoo is the center’s annual open house, which invites people of all ages to visit and learn more about the programs offered. See MUSICAL ZOO on page 8
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HAMPSHIRE | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026
DINING ENTERTAINMENT www.TheReminder.com
Latino Arts Festival to return to Springfield Museums By Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Ahead of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the Springfield Museums will host the fourth annual Latino Arts Festival in partnership with Mi Museo Committee. The festival, on Friday, Aug. 28, is free and open to the public. The Latino Arts Festival is designed to be a celebration of the rich Puerto Rican, Cuban, Afro-Cuban, Portuguese, Mexican, Dominican and Central and South American cultural heritage found throughout Greater Springfield. “The festival has really grown over the last four years,” said Lydia Martinez Alvarez, chair of the Mi Museo Committee. “When we started, the goal was simply to create a space where we could celebrate Latino arts and culture and bring people together. Now, it has really become something the community looks forward to.” She said more artists, performers, vendors and organizations are involved. “We’re able to showcase even more of the diversity within the Latino community.” However, Martinez Alvarez said, “The heart of the festival really hasn’t changed. It’s still about bringing people together, celebrating who we are, sharing our stories, and creating an opportunity for people to learn from one another.” The festival allows Mi Museo Committee to highlight the diverse cultures that exist within the Latino diaspora. “You’re go-
ing to see that throughout the festival through music, dance, food, art, crafts, storytelling and the different traditions that people bring with them and those traditions tell stories. They tell us where people come from, what their families have experienced and what they’ve carried with them from one generation to the next.” She added, “I also love seeing how those traditions evolve. We have people who were born here, people who came here from other countries and younger generations who are putting their own spin on traditions that their parents and grandparents passed down to them. That’s what makes Latino culture so beautiful to me. We honor where we come from, but we’re also continuing to create and define what Latino culture looks like here in Western Massachusetts.” The festival begins at 3:30 p.m. with a lecture by Dr. Ariana A. Curtis, curator of Latinx studies at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. A native of Western Massachusetts, Curtis will deliver her talk, “From 413 to DC: Springfield’s Influence on Latinx Stories at the Smithsonian,” which explores how growing up in the Springfield area shaped her work and influences Latino representation at the Smithsonian and elsewhere. “What makes Dr. Curtis such a great fit is really the perspective she brings,” said Martinez Alvarez. “Her work allows us to have a deeper conversation about Latino history, art, representation
and the role that museums and cultural institutions play in telling our stories.” Martinez Alvarez said those lessons are particularly poignant in Western Massachusetts. “We have such a rich and diverse Latino community, and it’s important that people see themselves and their experiences reflected in the institutions that serve them,” she said. Between 5 and 8 p.m., there will be guided tours of two exhibits on loan from Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico. “Legacies of Surrealism” takes a trip through the unconscious mind of Latin American artists from the latter half of the 20th century, producing dream-like visuals and perspectives. “You’re really looking at how artists use their work to express their experiences and their understanding of the world around them,” Martinez Alvarez said. “When you think about Puerto Rico, there are so many layers to that identity, history, colonialism, culture and what it means to belong.” With “Markets, Foodways, and the Essence of Place,” which focuses on Puerto Rican markets, plantations and other Latin American scenes of food and its place in everyday life, she said it “really hits home ... Food is never just food for us. There’s a story behind it. There’s a family connection. There are memories. There are traditions that have been passed down, and you see that right here in Western Massachusetts. You see it in our restaurants, our markets, our family gatherings and
Bomba de Aqui will perform at the fourth annual Latino Art Festival at Springfield Museums. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
our festivals.” She continued, “People bring a piece of home with them, and then they build something new here. I think that’s really what both exhibits help us understand that culture travels with us. We can leave one place, but we don’t leave our history and traditions behind. We carry them with us, and they become part of the community we’re building here.” The exhibits were lent through the Art Bridges’ Partner Loan Network and are sponsored by Connecticut Public. There will also be an interactive floral art experience with Idalia Long of Social Haus Displays. People can create decorative palm fans using dried floral materials. Families can take part in hands-on art activities including coloring paper fans and maracas, and there will be a book giveaway for children. People can also enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres by NOSH, a cash bar, a DJ and a photo booth by Cumba Entertainment.
At 6 p.m., there will be a live performance by Bomba de Aqui, a Holyoke-based dance and music company that teaches and performs the Afro-Puerto Rican tradition of bomba music. In bomba, the lead drummer and lead dancer work in conversation with each other to set the rhythm, with the drummer following the dancer’s lead. The Latino Arts Festival is funded largely by a state earmark sponsored by state Rep. Carlos González, state Sen. Adam Gomez and the Springfield legislative delegation. It is supported by El Sol Latino, Full Power Radio, MassLive Media, MassMutual and New England Public Media. Reflecting on the impact the festival has had, Martinez Alvarez said, “I think that’s probably the most rewarding part — seeing families, young people, elders and people from all different backgrounds come together and feel connected to the celebration.”
Majestic Theater receives NEA grant to support new Shays’ Rebellion play WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Majestic Theater is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a fiscal year 2026 grant award of $15,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. This funding will support a new play about Shays’ Rebellion in commemoration of Freedom 250 Network, the public-private partnership leading the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. Shays’ Rebellion (1786–1787) was an armed uprising of farmers in Western Massachusetts, centered around towns including Springfield, Northampton and Great Barrington. Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, the rebellion was sparked by high taxes, mounting debt and aggressive court actions that resulted in farmers losing their land and being imprisoned for unpaid debts. The rebellion reached its peak in January 1787, when the insurgents attempted to seize the federal arsenal in Springfield. The
attack was repelled by the state militia, and the uprising soon collapsed. Although the rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, it exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and helped build support for a stronger national government, leading to the Constitutional Convention later that year. The Majestic Theater is inviting submissions from playwrights interested in developing an original full-length play about Shays’ Rebellion — a defining yet often underrepresented event in American history that began in Western Massachusetts. Rooted in historical research and community engagement, the commissioned play will explore the rebellion through the voices and lived experiences of those who shaped it, creating a work that is both historically grounded and theatrically compelling. Developed in conjunction with the
national America 250 initiative, the project seeks to reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of those whose stories have too often gone untold, and invite audiences to consider the enduring themes of economic hardship, civic responsibility, power, resilience, and the future we hope to build together. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support opportunities across the country for Americans to experience and participate in the arts,” said Mary Anne Carter, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As we celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary this year, it is a moment to recognize the important role the arts continue to play in our lives, communities and heritage.” “The Majestic is honored and grateful for this opportunity from the National Endowment for the Arts,” stated Terence LaCasse, the managing director of the Majestic
Theater. “Telling a familiar story in a new way allows us to breathe
new life into a pivotal moment in American history.”
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AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE
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Patrick Schmidt (36) shoots the ball right before the 18yard box.
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Riley Florek (11) looks up to see if there are any teammates for him to cross to.
Emmett Stith (19) runs into the penalty box to win the ball in the air.
SOCCER
HAMPSHIRE VS WESTFIELD
The Hampshire Summer Soccer team wins the High School B Division Championship game with a 2–0 victory over Westfield on Aug. 1 at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow. REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY SAM BLAKE
Goalie Isaiah Isa gets named MVP of the finals after a great performance in net.
All of your favorite high school sports photos are now available for purchase! Brody Watkins (5) takes the free kick from half field.
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Brody Watkins (5) throws the ball into the opposing team’s corner.
Zack Hamel (7) makes a across the body pass to an open teammate.
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HAMPSHIRE | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026
The Hampshire team poses with each other for a picture after winning the High School Boys B Division summer soccer league.
Hampshire run to the corner and hug each other after scoring a goal late in the second half.
Isaac Stith (2) strikes the ball perfect and sends it up the field.
Patrick Schmidt (36) heads the ball forward to his teammate.
Riley Florek (11) chests the ball down to his foot.
Patrick Schmidt (36) takes the corner kick during the second half.
Riley Florek (11) pokes the ball past the defenders and keeper for a goal.
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE
Funding
Continued from page 4
Maines Field, which has been damaged by Mill River flooding several times. “By combining local knowledge, public input, and technical expertise, Parks and Recreation is exploring ways to make the field more flood-resistant, protect the park’s natural beauty and enhance the spaces people use and
Musical Zoo Continued from page 4
Refreshments will be served, and NCMC faculty will be on hand,
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THEREMINDER.COM | WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
love,” LaValley said. And in affordable housing, CPA funds were recently awarded to Franklin-Hampshire Habitat for Humanity to create a permanently affordable homeownership unit on Westhampton Road. Since CPA was established in Northampton, CPA funds have contributed to the creation of 22 permanently affordable Habitat for Humanity homeownership units.
LaValley added that, as seen through some of these examples, CPA funds are a critical component of large and small projects, filling gaps, demonstrating local support for grants or other funding sources or funding the entirety of a project when other funds are not available. “The Conservation fund, for example, provides the Conservation Commission with funding for surveys, legal research and
other soft costs related to open space acquisition that has enabled the protection of many acres that would not otherwise have been possible,” she added. According to the city’s website, interested applicants are encouraged to contact city staff to discuss their potential project in detail, review the city’s Community Preservation Plan, and consider the CPC’s Decision Guidelines and information on
previously funded projects. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact staff to talk about projects, and applicants considering a project on city property or other property not belonging to the applicant must be submitted by or with the support of the property owner. For more information on all things CPA, visit northamptonma.gov/1048/Community-Preservation-Committee.
along with musical instruments of all varieties for participants to learn about. “Last year, around 120 people of all ages came through the building during the two-hour
open house, and we expect to attract a crowd of a similar size this year,” Francis added. “With the high stress of a new school year, middle school especially, this opportunity can make a big difference for these soon-to-be
band musicians. Many of NCMC’s teaching faculty will be in the building to demonstrate the instruments they teach. So, the open house is also a chance for students to connect with teachers who can mentor them individu-
ally as they develop their musical interests.” To learn more about the Northampton Community Music Center and more of its program offerings and events, visit ncmc.net.
Poetry
compare their lives with the author’s life experiences. Same is true with any good book of poetry. There’s going to be little moments here and there, poems here and there, that both really awaken something in emotion or memory inside a reader. Others will, others will not. But there will always be some that will just open
something inside of the reader’s heart, mind and soul,” he added. Counting Bricks is now available at Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, Book Moon in Easthampton and on Amazon. Readers can also order the book directly through publisher Dos Madres Press, Inc at dosmadres.com.
Continued from page 3
“I think that’s true of any good book of poetry or fiction, and any memoir a person writes. It’s going to open up doors in the lives of all the readers so they can
TheReminder.com Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly. CHESTERFIELD Marian Baranowski CUMMINGTON Susan “Soo” Boulanger EASTHAMPTON Roger A. Longchamps Lynn Frances Parda
FLORENCE Edwin Brooks Emerson III Nancy Famigletti Jacob Ryan “Jake” Gordon Karen Louise Korvek (Lingner)
NORTHAMPTON Linda L. Netto (Kelley)
HATFIELD Roland A. Laurin Jr.
WHATELY Brenda Carr
SOUTH HADLEY Claude D. Lambert Nancy M. Pickle
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CALL 413-213-6170 TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY!
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF EASTHAMPTON WIRELESS TELCOMMUNICATION FACILITY LEASE
The City of Easthampton invites proposals from qualified firms to lease a portion of City property for the purpose of installing wireless telecommunications equipment and related apparatus pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30B, § 16. To request a copy of the RFP proposers shall e-mail mowens@easthamptonma.gov. The location is within the south tower of the former Easthampton Town Hall located at 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA. One (1) original and one (1) copy of the proposal are to be submitted no later than Monday, September 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM. All proposals become the property of the City of Easthampton. The successful proposer shall be required to submit a one-time payment of $5,000 (Five Thousand Dollars) within 30 days of completing and executing a lease agreement with the City.
All proposals must be in a sealed envelope clearly labeled and shall be submitted to the City of Easthampton, 50 Payson Avenue – Suite 115, Easthampton, MA 01027.
CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS THURSDAY AT NOON.
LEGAL NOTICES INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Docket No. HS26P0492EA Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Hampshire Division Estate of: James Edward Shea Also Known As: James Shea, James E. Shea Date of Death: May 9, 2026 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Virginia F. Daniels of Easthampton, MA A Will has been admitted to informal probate. Virginia F. Daniels of Easthampton, MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner. (August 20) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF EASTHAMPTON WIRELESS TELCOMMUNICATION FACILITY LEASE The City of Easthampton invites proposals from qualified firms to lease a portion of City property for the purpose of installing wireless telecommunications equipment and related apparatus pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30B, § 16. To request a copy of the RFP proposers shall e-mail mowens@easthamptonma.gov. The location is within the south tower of the former Easthampton Town Hall located at 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA. One (1) original and one (1) copy of the proposal are to be submitted no later than Monday, September 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM. All proposals become the property of the City of Easthampton. The successful proposer shall be required to submit a one-time payment of $5,000 (Five Thousand Dollars) within 30 days of completing and executing a lease agreement with the City. All proposals must be in a sealed envelope clearly labeled and shall be submitted to the City of Easthampton, 50 Payson Avenue – Suite 115, Easthampton, MA 01027. All proposals must be complete and in compliance with the submission requirements outlined in this RFP and shall remain valid for 120 days after the date of proposal opening. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposal responses, to waive informalities and to award a contract/ lease that is in the best interest of the City.
All proposals must be complete and in compliance with the submission requirements outlined in this RFP and shall remain valid for 120 days after the date of proposal opening. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposal responses, to waive informalities and to award a contract/ lease that is in the best interest of the City. (August 20, August 27, 2026)
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(August 20, August 27, 2026)
AMHERST
Amhad Development Corp., to Teresa West. 28 Greenleaves Drive, $310,000. Abigail E. Kessler to Paul Michael Wright, 39 Jeffrey Lane, $458,000. Michael Alexander Lewis Schurter, Michael Alexander Schurter and Rachel Sachs Riverwood to Ann Novick, 83 Crossbrook Ave., $374,000. Nicholas Karlson, personal representative, and Alfred Karlson, estate, to James F. Manwell and Joanne Levenson, 102 Fairview Way, $330,000. Zachary John Bennett and Zachary J. Bennett to Zachary J. Bennett, trustee, Radha P. Bennett, trustee, and Zachary J. Bennett Revocable Trust, 29 Amity Place, $100. Gabriel L. Smallman, personal representative, and Patricia B. Smallman, estate, to Robin Lesser Simon, 1240 South East St., $875,000. Sheldon Rothblatt, trustee, Barbara Rothblatt, trustee, and Sheldon & Barbara Rothblatt Revocable Trust to David Lawrence Porter and Sally Cooney, 70 Amity Place, $400,000. Paul Theilman, Ward Theilman, trustee, Marylou Theilman, trustee, Theilman Family Revocable Trust, Elziabeth J. Shortreed and James B. Shortreed to Paul Theilman, Ward Theilman, trustee, Marylou Theilman, trustee, and Theilman Family Revocable Trust, 345 Pelham Road, $110,000. Megan D. St. Marie, Megan D. Lambert and Sean St. Marie to Xiaoqiong Cao and Yunpeng Feng, 189 Pondview Drive, $720,000. Pauline M. Heffley to Donald LaRocca and Patricia McPeak-LaRocca, 102 Blue Hills Road, $680,000. Amhad Development Corp., to Carol G. Reznik, 28 Greenleaves Drive, $335,000. Robert W. Smyser, trustee, and Charles F. Smyser Revocable Trust to Jinsong Xiao and Xinming Huang, 49 Harlow Drive, $405,000. Claire P. Norton and Burt Ewart to Lisa Troy, 31 Pine Hollow and 208 Pine St., $585,000. Jonathan D. Solins and Mary S. Peterson to Burt Ewart and Claire P. Norton, 208 Pine St., $715,000. Jay B. Silverstein, trustee, Karen C. Silverstein, trustee, and Silverstein Family Revocable Trust to Robert Hopley and Claire Ann Hopley, 32 North Prospect St., $773,000. Marcel Sena and Leandra Sena to Srikanth Devanathan and Srividhya Kidambi, 170 East Hadley Road, $287,500.
EASTHAMPTON
Jonathan M. Conly, trustee, and Jonathan M. Conly Trust to Abigail M. Jensen and John Willoughby, 11 Fort Hill Road, $790,000. Theodore P. Stock, trustee, Theodore P. Stock, Theodore P. Stock Revocable Trust and Louise H. Perret Revocable Trust to Anne Zawacki, 359 Main St., $540,000. Susan M. Snyder and Nicholas F. Snyder, attorney-in-fact, to Ilana Cohen and Ethan Kenefick, 20 Cook Road, $385,000. Ronald J. Morneau Jr., Ronald J. Morneau, Michelle Morneau, Michelle Morneau, attorney-in-fact, and Danielle Clarkson to Envista Home Services Inc., 8 Peloquin Drive, $285,000.
NORTHAMPTON
James A. Taglia III, to Jill E. Taglia and Jill E. Bender Taglia, 10 Laurel Park, $175,000. Nicholas P. Gross and Janet S. Gross to Philip W. Elmer, trustee, and Elmer Investment Trust, 38 Round Hill Road, $835,400. Dennis G. Orenstein to Heather E. Woods and Michelle A. Gillett, 35 New South St., $543,000. Nolava LLC, to Stephanie Kowalczyk, 86 Conz St., $499,000. Paul J. Reitano and Amy J. Granquist to Sam M. Gaudet and Chloe G. Gaudet, 591 Kennedy Road, $715,500. Anne L. Zawacki to Karolina Zapal and Ryan Mihaly, 788 Burts Pit Road, $581,000. Frederick G. Dunn and Lynne Lewis to Michael Mercurio, 474 Elm St., $335,000. Donald Raymond Smith and Lisa A. Smith to Lauren Brown, 1260 Westhampton Road, $616,000. Christopher J. Hamlen and Margaret J. Scott to John R. Stifler, 17 Florence Road, $714,000. Hyde-Philbin Properties LLC, to Bridge Street Partners LLC, 81 Bridge St., $2,525,000. Robert W. Horton, trustee, Diane M. Krok, trustee, Robert W. Horton Living Trust, Diane M. Krok Living Trust, Diane M. Krok and Robert W. Krok to Wade M. Keene and Julie M. Keene, 80 Damon Road, $175,000. Sean M. Hoye to Jeffrey Rowland, 195 Westhampton Road, $350,000. Emerald City Partners LLC, to Stonewing 628 Collective LLC, 17 New South St., $510,000.
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE
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