IN THIS EDITION
WEST SPRINGFIELD
The
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Reichelt holds road safety forum in West Springfield West Springfield residents gathered at Town Hall for a road safety public forum, led by Mayor William Reichelt on Jan. 12.
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Mittineague Elementary School to close at end of 2025-26 school year
After more than two years of debate, analysis and impassioned pleas from a group of West Springfield residents, the School Committee voted to accept the recommendation of the Enrollment Advisory Committee to close Mittineague Elementary School. Page 4
Residents ask questions of battery energy storage
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — Agawam residents came to a set of presentations on the proposed Longroad Energy battery storage facility armed with questions and a fair amount of skepticism.
Each session at the Agawam Senior Center had more than 100 attendees, who reviewed the plans and asked questions of the Longroad team, as well as landscape architects BSC Group and fire safety consultant Ken Scanlon.
The battery units will occupy 8 acres of the 17-acre property at 769 Silver St. Each of the roughly 200 units contains lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells, wired into modules, similar to an electric car battery, and housed in a cabinet. The cabinets are connected to equipment that converts the DC energy to AC current. The energy will be fed into a substation on the property, near the property line, then travel a short way to the Eversource substation. The facility will produce 250 megawatts of electricity every four hours, enough to power 285,000 homes.
The project is still in its early stages, with construction not beginning until mid-2027. Chad Allen, director of development at Longroad Energy said the public will have multiple opportunities for input over the next year. Allen said the facility will provide Agawam with employment during construction and operation, revitalization of a vacant property and the tax revenue that comes with it and limited pressure on town services.
Allen emphasized that Longroad Energy’s model is to operate the sites it builds. This is a multi-hundreds of millions
of dollars investment,” he said. Speaking to concerns about safety and abandoned equipment, he added that it is in the company’s best interest to maintain the facility.
Mayor Christopher Johnson took the microphone to address the crowd. “This project is coming whether you want it or don’t want it,” he said, explaining that the land is zoned for the use, and under state law, the city cannot block it or impose unreasonable restrictions. “This is part of a state plan to bring energy storage to Massachusetts,” he said. With the ever-increasing demand for electricity, Johnson said it would only be a matter of time before residents saw rolling blackouts, adding that he had been informed of that from the state Department of Energy Resources.
The company chose to follow the municipal permitting process, which Johnson called, “The strictest in the industry.” Agawam will benefit from a community-host agreement through this process, unlike the state permitting process. He added that the cost of the new high school will impact the tax rate at the same time the facility will begin generating tax revenue. Referring to Longroad Energy, Johnson said, “When they started knocking at the door two years ago, I had to do what I thought was best for the town.”
Allen explained that the site, a former lumber yard, was chosen because it had previously been developed, was in the industrial zone and adjacent to an Eversource substation with the capacity to connect to the project. The proximity to the substation limits the infrastructure, and therefore the cost, needed to transmit the energy to the grid.
Allen said the project was pushed back as far from Silver
Street as possible, while also maintaining the 100-foot buffer around the wetlands at the rear of the site. The existing building on the site will be used as an office. A solid fence and native vegetation will visually block the units from the street. Chain-link fence will encompass the remainder of the property. The only non-permeable surface will be the access road that will loop the property, said Tom Hennigan, a member of the team. The units will be set on crushed stone. This will limit water runoff and, combined with surface gradings and a retention pond, will protect surrounding properties and the wetlands. A small portion of the property is classified as natural heritage land, as there is a population of endangered reptiles inhabiting the site. Melissa Kaplan of BSC Group said Longroad is working with the state to adhere to all restrictions.
Scanlon reviewed the safety of the units, the main concern for
most residents. He explained that the units will have multiple safety features and adhere to the main national standards of safety for such facilities. Testing forced the units to fail at each stage of energy production to ensure the safety features were satisfactory. There will be an emergency response plan for first responders. Each cabinet will have its own audible and visual fire alarm, and employees will be on site to monitor them. Because an electric battery fire releases hydrogen, the cabinets will be fitted with a system to vent the gas, limiting the danger of explosion. The units are designed to contain any failures.
“The old ones didn’t have that,” Scanlon said, “The rest of the country got to learn from California’s mistakes.”
One resident asked, “Why should Boston tell us we have to have it?” Kaplan explained that rising energy demand is a “global issue” not limited to eastern Massachusetts, or even New England.
Caseylee Bastien of BSC Group answers a resident’s questions about the proposed battery energy storage site.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
So That Reminds Me: Sacerdote talks Railroad Hobby Show
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The largest railroad-themed trade show in North America will once again stop people in their tracks this winter.
On this week’s episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet sat down with John Sacerdote, show manager for the Railroad Hobby Show, to discuss what’s in store for the event, which is slated for Jan. 24 and 25 inside the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds.
Sponsored by the Amherst Railway Society, the show covers all facets of railroad hobbies, including model railroads, railroad art and photography, railroad history and preservation, tourist railroads, railroad artifacts and railroad books and videos.
The event occupies 350,000 square feet in four buildings on the Big E fairgrounds, and this year’s show will feature visitors from all over the world and 396 exhibitors encompassing trains of all shapes and sizes.
But according to Sacerdote, the show is more than just a “flea market.”
“Every major manufacturer on the planet is at the show; every dealer that has large hobby stores, distribution centers; they’re all at the show,” Sacerdote said. “But more importantly, all these historical societies are at the show. All these
museums are at the show. All these places where you can still ride trains in the Catskills, up in Maine, all over the United States, down in Rhode Island, are at the show. So, if it’s got something to do with railroads, they’re at the show.”
Although the hobby show already has a rich history, Sacerdote noted that the Railway Society is always trying to outdo itself every year. He highlighted the Sunday morning Brunch Express, which is essentially an Amherst chartered CTrail train ride that leaves from Springfield Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrives at Hartford Union Station shortly after. It is at the Hartford station where passengers will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the station’s Great Hall.
This year’s show will also feature a Women in Model Railroading information session and reception on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m., where people will have the opportunity to meet the women that play key roles in the railroad and model railroad industries.
Attached to that will be an operating session from 6-8 p.m. where women of all ages will learn more about model railroad operations.
Sacerdote also mentioned that there will be multiple activities for children and stated that the society is hoping to surpass last year’s turnout of 27,535 people.
“I’m really trying for 30,000,”
Sacerdote said, adding that weather usually dictates the overall turnout. “When we have great weather, we have great crowds.”
Aside from showcasing some of the major facets of the show, Sacerdote also highlighted the decades-long journey that has defined the railroad show from
its humble beginnings at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the mid-1950s to the extravagant celebration it has become today. Tickets are now available for the show on its website. It is $18 for adults and free for ages 15 and under. Events throughout the
two days are held at the Big E’s Better Living Center, Young and Stroh Buildings and the Mallary Complex. Readers can listen to the full episode by visiting thereminder. com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
Community Foundation distributes $3.3 million to nonprofits
SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts announced the distribution of $3,347,000 in unrestricted grant funding through its Flexible Funding cycle, supporting 123 nonprofit organizations across Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. Funding may be used at the nonprofit’s discretion to advance its mission, strengthen operations, support staff or respond to evolving community needs.
“Flexible Funding has played a critical role in strengthening our nonprofit sector,” said Denise Hurst, vice president of Community Impact and Partnerships. “Our approach has helped us to support the sector’s stability, responsiveness, and the longterm impact they have in their communities.”
This round of Flexible Funding comes at a time when the majority of nonprofit applicants reported federal funding losses. Flexible Funding enables nonprofit leaders to make informed, strategic
decisions based on their in-depth understanding of the challenges they face. It reflects the Community Foundation’s commitment to supporting its grant recipients in ways that align with their priorities and long-term goals.
The Community Foundation has also announced that it has received an increase in support for its next grant cycle. The MassMutual Foundation has committed $1,000,000 towards 2027 Flexible Funding grants, which will help address barriers to financial well-being in Springfield while expanding the total amount available for next year’s Flexible Funding recipients. Through this grant, the MassMutual Foundation aims to increase access to social and economic opportunities in its local community. The increase builds upon steady growth in philanthropic support from the
MassMutual Foundation since 2024 and allows the Community Foundation to support nonprofits on a greater scale.
“Our investment in the Flexible Funding program reflects our confidence in the foundation’s deep understanding of the region and its ability to listen closely to nonprofit leaders,” said Dennis Duquette, president and CEO of the MassMutual Foundation. “By staying attuned to evolving community needs tied to the financial stability of families, the foundation is able to direct resources where they can make the greatest impact. We are pleased to place our trust in the Community Foundation’s stewardship of this funding to strengthen organizations and communities in Springfield.”
“The MassMutual Founda-
PARK SQUARE REALTY TOP PERFORMERS — Park Square Realty is proud to recognize the company’s top producing agents for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the West Springfield and Westfield offices. Ted Cassell, president of Park Square Realty is pleased to announce the company’s top producing agents for the fourth quarter of 2025. The agents to gain this recognition in the West Springfield office are Melissa Lemanski, Paul Taylor and Luiza
Railroad Hobby Show show manager John Sacerdote (left) joined hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet for the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me.”
Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
TOWN EVENTS
Please email your community listings to: dhackett@thereminder.com Items are printed on a space available basis.
AGAWAM
AGAWAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the Agawam Public Library, located at 750 Cooper St. All events are free and open to the public. Some programs require registration. For more information or to register, head to agawamlibrary.org or call 413-789-1550 ext. 3.
• Brian R. Solomon book signing for “Irresistible Force: the Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon” — Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m.
• Library Tech Class: Learning About Libby — Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. Learn how to find and borrow new eBooks and audiobooks, along with some helpful hints and tips. You will need your library card and your PIN/password to set up Libby, so please try to make sure you
www.TheReminder.com
have those ready to go in advance.
• Virtual Author Talk Series — Liz Moore, author of “The God of the Woods” — Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the West Springfield Public Library, located at 200 Park St. For more information or to register for programs, visit wspl.org or call 413736-4561 ext. 4. Kids programs:
• Family Movie Matinee — Saturday, Jan. 24 starting at 10 a.m.
Pajama Story Time (for ages 0-5) Monday, Jan. 26, from 6-6:45 p.m.
• International LEGO Day (for ages 3-12) — Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 3-6 p.m., Drop by for a free LEGO sample pack. A child must be present to receive a gift. One prize per child. While supplies last.
Adult and teen programs:
• Bead Therapy Workshop with Zangar “Z” Freeman — Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. The West Springfield Public Library will host a Bead Therapy Workshop using jewelry making as a form of art therapy. Participants will learn basic beaded jewelry techniques and explore the creative and grounding properties of semi-precious stones while creating a wearable piece of art. Registration is required. This program is generously funded by the Kathleen and Walter Miller Trust.
Teen LEGO Club Kickoff — Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 6-7 p.m.
TIP-A-COP FUNDRAISER FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS
MASSACHUSETTS
On Friday, Jan. 23 the Longhorn Steakhouse on Riverdale Street in West Springfield will have a few new waiters. Law enforcement officers from the West Springfield Police Department along with officers from surrounding police departments will volunteer at this unique and popular fundraising event as
“celebrity waiters” to raise money for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Local Special Olympics athletes will be serving as door greeters, welcoming customers to the restaurant. Customers are encouraged to dine as usual, and if compelled, to give an additional tip in the envelopes provided for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Regular tips to their servers are not impacted.
INDOOR WALKING & JOGGING AT WEST SPRINGFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL
The West Springfield Park and Recreation Department is excited to announce that the indoor track located at West Springfield High School, 425 Piper Road, will be open to West Springfield residents for walking and jogging on Sunday, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 22, March 1, 2026 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Children 13 and under may walk or jog with an adult. For any questions or information, please contact the Park & Recreation Department (parkandrec@tows.org or 413-2633284).
Fire marshal warns bars, clubs of sparkler hazard
STOW — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine on Jan. 6 sent a notice to Massachusetts bars and restaurants regarding the fire hazard posed by sparklers, which are believed to have contributed to the tragic New Year’s Eve fire that claimed dozens of lives in a Switzerland bar.
“Please be advised that sparklers and other pyrotechnic devices, including so-called ‘cold spark’ pyrotechnics, are illegal for possession, sale, and use in Massachusetts without professional licensing, certification and permitting,” Davine wrote in a notice to proprietors of restaurants, nightclubs, bars and discotheques. “This includes small sparklers that have been sold as novelties or party favors
Community
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tion’s increased investment allows us to expand and refine our Flexible Funding support so that it best responds to the needs of the moment,” said Megan Burke, Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “It comes at a time when many nonprofit organizations are navigating reduced or uncertain federal funding this
to accompany champagne bottles, which are believed to have caused the New Year’s Eve fire that claimed 40 lives and injured more than 100 people in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.”
The marshal thanked the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which has provided the notice to local licensing officials for distribution to licensed establishments, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which is distributing the notice to its members.
Separately, the Department of Fire Services issued a notice to a Hialeah, Florida business that markets sparklers online. This business, King of Sparklers LLC, reportedly sold and shipped sparklers that were later recovered by
year and allows us to shape resources in ways that increase their impact, strengthen leadership, and ensure organizations have what they need to serve their communities today and into the years ahead.”
For the list of organizations that have received Flexible Funding, visit communityfoundation.org/funding-for-community-grows-as-community-foundation-distributes-3-3-million-to-nonprofits/
LE MOYNE COLLEGE FALL 2025 DEAN’S LIST
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK — Elinore Inacio, a Freshman Biology major from West Springfield has been named to the Le Moyne College Fall 2025 Dean’s List. To make the list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.5 or above.
SUNY ONEONTA FALL 2025 DEAN’S LIST
ONEONTA, NEW YORK — Avery Perry of Agawam was one of 1,299 SUNY Oneonta students who earned Dean’s List honors for the fall 2025 semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK — Leylanis Barbot of West Springfield excelled during the fall 2025 semester at Hofstra, achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 to earn a spot on the Dean’s List.
Fall River Fire Department inspectors at a local establishment.
“The shipment of prohibited fireworks products into the commonwealth constitutes a violation of Massachusetts General Law and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Code and presents a significant public safety concern,” the notice stated.
Davine said that sparklers burn at temperatures of over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and cast sparks that can easily ignite furnishings, decorations and other flammable materials. They can remain hot enough to start a fire even after they’ve been extinguished, as happened in 2022, when the unsafe disposal of illegal spar-
klers caused a three-alarm fire in Dracut that displaced nine people. They are classified as fireworks in Massachusetts and their possession, sale, and use require professional licensing and certification.
“The tragic fire in Switzerland has a chilling similarity to the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island, which led to numerous safety reforms in Massachusetts bars and clubs,” Davine said, noting the sprinkler regulations, inspection schedules, and crowd manager requirements that are now in place in Massachusetts. “We just want to help these businesses keep their patrons and staff safe.”
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WEST SPRINGFIELD
Reichelt holds road safety forum in West Springfield
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — West
Springfield residents gathered at Town Hall for a road safety public forum, led by Mayor William Reichelt on Jan. 12.
The forum’s purpose was to give residents the opportunity to share ideas, concerns and suggestions on road safety throughout the town.
Reichelt held a similar presentation in 2023 and said he has since had a number of conversations internally with DPW Director Trevor Wood and Town Engineer Connor Knightly about further traffic safety.
“I want to have more of these opportunities to talk briefly, and then hear from you, kind of, if what we’re doing is what you like, or if you want us to go in a different direction,” Reichelt said.
There were over 3,000 traffic citations and 261 parking tickets issued last year, but Reichelt said speeding in the town still hasn’t been fixed. He said people are slowing down in areas with police cruisers, but they want to build the roads to where that isn’t required.
Reichelt said $6 million has been put into traffic calming projects in the past two years,
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — After more than two years of debate, analysis and impassioned pleas from a group of West Springfield residents, the School Committee voted to accept the recommendation of the Enrollment Advisory Committee to close Mittineague Elementary School.
The school building was first built in the 1800s to serve as a firehouse, before being converted to a school after the Civil War. Over the years, the building was expanded to suit the needs of the community. In recent years, however, the school has fallen prey to the same issues as other small, neighborhood schools across the
such as the Elm Street roundabout completion in 2024, which makes traffic flow consistent and the street safer to cross. He said the biggest project for the coming year is the Main Street reconstruction, which includes bump outs and raised sidewalks.
Current planned projects for 2026 include a sidewalk extension from Morgan Road to Kelly Drive, a Bear Hole railroad bridge replacement, raised crosswalks on Main Street, Dewey Street, Morgan Road and possibly Morton Street, and speed humps on Lancaster Street and other streets identified by Town Council. The forum also introduced a peanut roundabout at Amostown Road and Piper Road, a roundabout that is built in the shape of an in-shell peanut.
Reichelt said projects under design include a sidewalk extension and traffic calming on City View Avenue, intersection redesign at Park Avenue, River Street and South Boulevard and sidewalk extensions from Birnie Avenue to Prospect Hill Conservation Area. Piper Road corridor improvements include raised crosswalks, bump-outs and intersection upgrades. There will also be a complete redesign for the remainder of Elm Street.
Many residents took the time
state: they have become too expensive to maintain and operate. Mittineague won a brief reprieve from closure in April 2024 after a parent-led campaign to keep the school open resulted in the School Committee reversing its 2023 decision to close the school. At its Jan. 13 meeting, the School Committee again considered whether to keep the school open for another year. Superintendent Stefania Raschilla explained that, if open, it would have only housed fourth and fifth grade students. The first grade was shuttered in the fall of 2024, and as of the current school year, there are just 62 students enrolled. Staffing and program adjustments would have been required to ensure equi-
to give their concerns as well for the majority of the forum, such as Roland Desrochers of Bridle Path Road. His main issue was with the lack of attention towards speeding on Dewey Street. He said the bumps on Dewey Street need to be high enough to truly slow people down or make the street closed to commercial vehicles.
“I would suggest any of you, try it, go out there and walk in the morning on the sidewalk,” Desrochers said. “You still wonder whether or not you’re gonna get blown away by traffic because people on that street, they go at least 45, if not 50 or more.”
Scott Raymond of Chester Street said that the speed bumps have made a huge difference, slowing drivers down from going as fast as 80 miles per hour. Raymond also said that the sidewalks are horrible and are impossible to keep clean in the winter.
“It’s all dips,” Raymond said. “The last thing I need is somebody coming down from somewhere else to go to the little store, and slipping and falling because it’s ice and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
John Avgoustakis of Pease Road said that he really appreciates the sidewalks and that they’ve increased safety tremen-
table resources for the few remaining students. Instead, the school will close at the end of this school year, and students will be reassigned to either Coburn or Fausey elementary schools. Over the next six weeks, the School Department will host open houses at the schools for Mittineague families and will welcome parent input on which school they prefer. There are other factors in the student assignments, however, including enrollment capacity, target class sizes and transportation needs. By the end of March, school assignments will be finalized, and families will then be notified.
There are also considerations for the staff of Mittineague. Raschilla said there are no plans for
dously for his family. He said, however, that he would like to see speed bumps on the hill section of Pease Road to ensure safety when entering and exiting their property. He also said that his daughter needs to cross the road to get on her school bus and he is concerned about crossing over the busy road. Looking ahead, Reichelt said the long term goal is a “fully
layoffs, while also acknowledging that staffing is adjusted each year as enrollment and programming needs change. She said Mittineague staff are encouraged to apply for open positions in any of the schools.
Resident Erin Placey said the groundwork for the decision to close Mittineague was laid when the School Committee chose not to bolster its enrollment over the last two school years. She felt the committee was “less than transparent” in its decision making. “Families need time and support to make the best decision for their kids,” she said, crying.
Another Mittineague parent, Rachel Knowles, said she and others have been “working hard in the best interest of our children” for the past two years, while the School Committee has repeatedly told them that closing Mittineague is in the best interest of taxpayers. She lamented not knowing until May where her son will go to school in September.
“He’s going to enter a school where he knows nobody, where he knows no teachers,” Knowles said. “He’s going to have to start over again.” She asked that the School Department agree to send children to the school that parents prefer.
Resident Meredith Lewis asked that students who attended Mittin-
connected community” with safe walking routes for everyone. This includes a state-led redesign of Route 20, working west to east and future roundabouts at Sibley Avenue, Rogers Avenue, Lancaster Avenue and Kings Highway. He said the previous road diet work on Route 20 was a resounding success and slowed traffic in the entire corridor.
eague be placed in classrooms together, ideally with familiar staff, for continuity.
When discussing enrollment, Mayor Will Reichelt, who chairs the School Committee, pointed out that, under the policies of President Donald Trump, the city is not expecting more refugee and immigrant families to settle there, which is what has been driving enrollment in recent years.
The city created the Enrollment Advisory Committee in early 2025 to examine the needs, challenges and opportunities of all West Springfield Schools. The committee’s other phase one recommendations, also accepted by the School Committee, included replacing John Ashley and Fausey elementary schools — work that is already underway. It also advised the city to relocate the main office at Tatham and add a double door entry for security, add four modular classrooms to Memorial School so the school can accommodate a kindergarten and apply for a $12 million Green Grant to replace Memorial’s electrical and HVAC systems, windows, hot water heaters and the roof, while adding solar panels and heat pumps for energy efficiency. The School Committee did not vote on the phase two recommendations to build a third and consolidate others.
West Springfield’s Main Street, where new sidewalks, bump-outs and raised crosswalks will be implemented to increase safety.
Photo Credit: Town of West Springfield
Provisions Picks: Big Italian reds from Campania
We’re back in the cold weather everyone, and you know what that means: big reds. Big Italian reds to be specific!
I’d like to turn your attention to Campania in Italy. It’s located right on the Mediterannean in the south along the boot’s ankle, and it is one of Italy’s oldest wine regions, dating back to the 1100s B.C. As you may have guessed, this makes for a hot and dry climate with a long growing season perfect for bulking up the wines from their local red variety Aglianico. While Aglianico has remained a popular wine grape for centuries, it actually achieved its greatest acclaim in the days of the Roman empire
when it was used to make the famous wine Falernum. Interestingly, the Romans chose not to use Aglianico’s thick, tannic skins in Falernum winemaking, opting instead to directly press the freshly picked fruit in order to produce a white wine. Today, however, the most acclaimed versions of this grape are mostly red in color, richly ripe, tannic, high in natural acidity due to volcanic soils and full-bodied with a tendency to reveal a great deal of complexity when aged. In fact, top-tier red appellations such as Taurasi produce wines that can happily age for decades, although not all of the wines require it. Don’t be fooled by the
richness and ripeness described here though; Aglianico is more than a simple fruit-bomb. Look out for notes of plum, cocoa, medicinal herbs, leather, pipe tobacco, meat and dark cherry.
We’ve loved the wines of Casa di Baal for many years now, and their reds offer an excellent introduction into the region for the curious. The Salerno family own and operate this small vineyard and winery producing a mere 2,000 cases of wine each year with their primary business being in olive orchards and olive oil production. In the early 2000s, the family’s daughters decided that they wanted to stop selling grapes to other local wineries in
order to establish their own wine program and Casa di Baal was born. They are excellent farmers who care tremendously for their land and have been farming the vines organically since 2006 before converting to biodynamic agriculture back in 2014. While this article focuses on their reds, the Salernos also produce some excellent white and sparkling wines that you won’t want to miss either!
• Casa di Baal Rosso di Baal 2022 ($19.99) — 40% Merlot and 40% Aglianico with the remainder made up of Barbera, this was the first wine produced at Casa di Baal, and it serves as an approachable
introduction to the region’s red wines. Rosso di Baal offers notes of red berries, plum, ample spice, and wet earth with lively acidity. Excellent with sharp Italian cheeses like Pecorino, red sauce pasta dishes or pizza.
• Casa di Baal Aglianico di Baal 2019 ($24.99) — Entirely composed of Aglianico and aged in a mix of stainless steel and used French oak barrels, this wine is bold and full-bodied with rich tannins now softened by age. Look for notes of leather, high quality tobacco, and dark fruit with a backbone of minerality. Pair with red meat or truffle dishes.
UMass Amherst to host the return of Five College Opera
AMHERST — When the cast of “The Marriage of Figaro” takes the Bowker Auditorium stage for the first of two performances on Feb. 6, it will mark an important return for the opera community in the Pioneer Valley.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Five College Opera will be mounting a full stage production, bringing together cast, crew, orchestra and resources from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College and Mount Holyoke College to present one of the pillars of the operatic canon.
“The Marriage of Figaro’s story and beautiful music have continued to resonate with audiences for more than 200 years since its premiere,” said Jamie-Rose Guarrine, professor of voice and interim associate chair of the UMass Department of Music and Dance. “It’s a universal story of people falling in love, falling out of love and finding each other again, told with wit, warmth and a shared humanity that has stood the test of time. It’s comic and iconic, and the perfect story to experience live, told in the theater.”
Melanie Bacaling, guest stage director for “Le Nozze di Figaro,” has described the design concept as “stylized period, focusing on how the themes of the opera transcend time.”
The performance on Friday, Feb. 6 will start at 7:30 p.m. There will be a second show, on Sunday, Feb. 8, beginning at 3 p.m.
The Five College Opera is a collaborative production in which faculty from across the campuses join together to plan an opera, and students in music and theater from all of the campuses have the opportunity to study and perform. Students learn operatic techniques from experts and perform in a production which is open to the public.
Previously produced every three years, the Five College Opera’s operations were postponed indefinitely when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Last year, a steering committee was formed with representatives from all five
institutions to re-envision the direction of the organization.
The result was the decision to return with a show that highlighted the unique talents of an all-student cast.
That cast was auditioned with “Le Nozze di Figaro” in mind, with the added consideration that performers will be able to capitalize on learning these core arias of the opera canon in their future careers, including in upcoming graduate auditions.
At UMass, opera is on the rise, following last spring’s produc-
tion of “Fairy Tales and Magic”, a collaboration between the vocal and orchestral programs in the Department of Music and Dance. It’s a career pipeline that’s still being built, but Guarrine sees it as on an upward trajectory.
“Opera is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to prepare our students for the career landscape, whether as performers, educators, choral, oratorio, or opera singers,” she noted. “What has been nice about Five College Opera is that it strengthens that area, but it also provides
POHORYLO RECEIVES AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE — Isabella
Pohorylo is the recipient of the 2025 Music Cellar Lawrence C. Sullivan and Joseph A. Buoniconti Memorial Award for Excellence. Pohorylo delivered a haunting and powerful performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Baba Yaga” at the Music Cellar’s Winter Recital. She is also a first-place winner of the 2024 Crescendo International Piano Competition, a winner of the Young Artist Piano Competition, and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in January 2025. Pohorylo is a sophomore at Agawam High School and studies under the guidance of Ellen Buoniconti at the Music Cellar in West Springfield. She is the daughter of Lyuda and Jan Pohorylo of Agawam, Massachusetts. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
a connective force to the operatic experience by uniting us with the Five College community.”
Guarrine also hopes that this year’s production will provide a scaffolding for the future of the Five College Opera. At a time where budgets are stretched, the production team of “The Marriage of Figaro” is exploring out of the box solutions and documenting best practices of the massive logistical undertaking of mounting an opera, hoping to create a roadmap for future productions.
The Marriage of Figaro is Mo-
zart’s sparkling comedy of love and class, set during a single chaotic day. When Figaro and Susanna’s wedding plans are jeopardized by Count Almaviva’s entitled advances, a whirlwind of disguises and misunderstandings ensues, culminating in a joyous celebration of wit, compassion, and the triumph of love.
Tickets for “Le Nozze di Figaro” (“The Marriage of Figaro”) can be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office (in the lobby of Frederick C. Tillis Hall), by calling 413-545-2511, or by going to UMasstix.org/musicanddance.
WEST SPRINGFIELD VS HOLYOKE
SWIMMING
On Jan. 9, the West Springfield boys swim team defeated Holyoke 138-34; the West Side girls team defeated Holyoke 116-25.
Brynn Leclair anchors the victorious girls medley relay squad.
Elisa Rolandini begins the girls 200-yard Medley Relay for West Side.
Declan Lynch posted a time of 2:35.02 in the 200-yard Individual Medley.
Brett Walder won the boys diving competition with a score of 195.8.
West Springfield’s Brady Walder swims the fly during the boys MR.
Elise DiStefano approaches the turn as she swims the breast stroke. Evan Plosky looks up at the score board and realizes he has won the 50-Free in 23.34.
Isabella DiStefano performs the butterfly in the 200-yard MR.
Emma Casey launches herself from the spring board as she performs Dive #201 A: Back Dive Straight.
Elisa Rolandini swims the breast stroke during the girls IM.
EAST LONGMEADOW - HOOK DELIVERY
THURSDAY
144 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Tracey Ln., Pembroke Terr., Abbey Ln., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln.,
Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd.
129 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Mereline Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
45 Papers: Partial-Allen Street
166 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Villanova St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only)
LONGMEADOW - HOOK DELIVERY THURSDAY
83 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St.
84 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St.
109 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.
54 Papers: Bliss Rd.
87 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd.
157 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk. & Rd., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd., Hillside Ter.
96 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.
99 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd.
100 Papers: Norway St., Nevins Ave., Partial - Maple Rd.
WILBRAHAM - HOOK DELIVERY THURSDAY
35 Papers: Arbor Ln., Greenwood Rd., Oak Ridge Dr., Old Orchard Rd., Russell Rd.
61 Papers: Gary Dr., Pidgeon
