Neal, transportation officials deliver update on Compass Rail
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and state officials joined legislators from Worcester County, the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley at a roundtable to discuss updates to Compass Rail.
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AGAWAM
Agawam author publishes first in ninebook fantasy series
One choice can change the fate of the world, and in “Unleashed,” the first book in local author Travis Kuffel’s “Tales of Ganden” series, a young warrior must heal the damage he has done amid long-buried secrets, a wartorn land, ancient magic and vengeful giants.
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WEST SPRINGFIELD
School Committee restores positions in FY27 budget
On March 31, the West Springfield School Committee voted to support the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 after a final hearing spread across three meetings.
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Sheriff’s Dept. funding woes end many partnerships
By Sarah Heinonen and Tyler Garnet sheinonen@thereminder.com tgarnet@thereminder.com
Municipal police departments around Hampden County have long received help from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, but Sheriff Nick Cocchi recently announced that his department can no longer fund those partnerships.
The Sheriff’s Department is facing the loss of $26.5 million that was cut from its fiscal year 2026 allocation from the state.
Hampden County Sheriff’s Department Director of Communications Robert Rizzuto said Hampden County is not alone. Sheriffs’ departments across the state have lost roughly $100 million in expected funding. The cessation of partnerships with municipal police departments was framed as the first phase of cuts, reducing the workforce by 50 positions and saving about $4 million.
“The Legislature is quite clear; they do not think law enforcement support in these communities is worth funding. Not our delegation,” Rizzuto said, referring to the state senators and representatives from Hampden County, “legislative leadership — they have their own priorities.”
Rizzuto said the commonwealth is under financial constraints, largely due to cuts in federal spending. Massachusetts lost $3.7 billion in federal funding last year, with about $3.3 billion in cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill and $398.9 million cut by the Trump administration. The cuts included $96.9 million in funding for public safety and security.
Across the county, 26 POST-certified deputies regularly staffed 28 shifts to reinforce agencies with insufficient personnel. These staffing gaps will no longer be filled, unless paid or reimbursed
by the agency or municipality. The Sheriff’s Department filled specific roles in some communities.
Among the municipalities that the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department had been supporting are Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield and Holyoke.
“The sheriff’s presence was an asset to our community, allowing us to concentrate on calls for service and traffic enforcement in other areas of town.” said West Springfield Police Chief Jay Gearing. The Sheriff’s Department had provided targeted speeding details and traffic patrols, as well as patrols of Bear Hole Reservoir and the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway.
“The Police Department will have to cover the reduction in coverage provided by the sheriff. The positions will not be unfilled,” Gearing said. “The sheriff’s absence will be felt more as a reduction in services,” but he assured, “West Springfield will continue to be a safe place to live and visit based on our current patrol model.”
Springfield Police Department Public Information Officer and Media Relations Specialist Ryan Walsh told a similar story about the impact on that city. The Sheriff’s Department will no longer provide personnel to serve restraining orders during the day shift, which it has done since 2023. Instead, Walsh explained, Springfield police will take over issuing those 10 to 20 restraining orders per day, as they do on other shifts.
The Sheriff’s Department has had a permanent presence in Forest Park, often including the mounted units, since 2020, and Walsh said that their high visibility was useful. Now, the park will be included in regular patrols of the area, and bike units will patrol the park in the summer months.
The relatively new Safe Trav-
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno discusses the importance of the city’s partnership with the Sheriff’s Department in patroling Forest Park during a 2023 press conference as former Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and Sheriff Nick Cochi listen. Behind them are members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit. Reminder Publishing file photo
els program, begun in September 2025, saw officers from the Springfield Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Amtrak Police Department collaborate to have a dedicated presence at Union Station. With the end of Sheriff’s Department participation, Walsh said, “We’re just losing a handful of personnel there.” Walsh said the changes were not expected to affect the Police Department’s budget. Some overtime hours may be redirected to cover the bike patrol units. Walsh said he did not believe the other ways in which the Sheriff’s Department supports the Springfield Police Department would be affected by the cuts. These include having deputies assigned to warrant teams and the transfer of some arrested individuals to the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.
In Holyoke, the Sheriff’s De-
partment has regularly assigned deputies to assist the Holyoke Police Department during large events such as the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race and Parade.
Additionally, the sheriff typically has two deputies who run programs to connect at-risk individuals with addiction recovery and treatment resources. During the last fiscal year, that unit recorded 2,857 successful outreach contacts, 1,049 referrals and transported 338 people to treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment programs. Those positions will no longer be staffed unless the city funds them, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said the announcement came as a surprise.
“I was shocked,” Keenan said.
Neal, transportation officials deliver update on Compass Rail
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep.
Richard Neal and state officials joined legislators from Worcester County, the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley at a roundtable to discuss updates to Compass Rail, the state’s ambitious plan to connect Boston, New York City, Albany, New York, Connecticut and Vermont with a passenger rail.
Much of the conversation focused on West-East Rail, which would create round trips from Boston, through Worcester, Palmer, Springfield, Pittsfield, to Albany. At Springfield’s Union Station, passengers would be able to connect to north-south routes that would build off the existing Amtrak Vermonter, Valley Flyer and Hartford Line/Northeast Regional. Amtrak is one of the partners involved in the Compass Rail expansion, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Rail Administrator Meredith Slesinger said Amtrak was “a really good partner for us.”
Currently, there are no round trips between Worcester and Springfield, or Springfield and Pittsfield. There are three round trips from Springfield to Greenfield and nine from Springfield to New York City, via Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. Despite the limited service, there are 230,000 trips on existing Massachusetts rail lines each year, with trips from Springfield to New York City representing the largest percentage of these.
Phase I will begin in 2030, with the Inland Route, a line that will include two round trips from Boston to Springfield to New Haven. In 2033, a station is set to be built in Palmer, and proposed enhancements to the Hartford Line will increase the number of round trips between Springfield and New Haven to 16. To reach this milestone, there will need to be an enhanced New Haven layover, in conjunction with
the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Operating costs are expected to increase by $3.5 million, to $15 million annually. Massachusetts Department of Transportation expects ridership numbers in Massachusetts to reach 575,000 per year.
Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng jokingly quoted the movie “Field of Dreams,” saying, “If you build it, they will come.”
In 2045, Phase III will bring full service to West-East Rail, with five round trips between Boston and Springfield and two between Springfield and Albany. To accommodate the new traffic, Boston’s South Station will be expanded, two or three additional trainsets will be purchased, and track infrastructure upgrades will be needed along the West-East Rail tracks.
West-East Rail Director Andy Koziol noted, “The work may not always happen in Western Massachusetts,” but projects in various locations will make the whole expansion possible.
Eight projects are underway to prepare for the next decade of changes. Koziol said, “These projects grew upon each other.” They include first steps of the Inland Route, the Boston & Albany Corridor ID Program and track reconfigurations in Springfield. Planning and design work for the Palmer Station and a second platform in Pittsfield is in the works.
The CSX railroad crossing in West Springfield, which has long led to traffic delays, will receive a flyover rail bridge. Finally, a passive crossing improvement project is slated for Longmeadow. Koziol explained that some of the projects include straightening stretches of track, adding a second track or changing the signaling system.
Funding for the rail upgrades has been sourced from state, federal grants and earmarks, and through Amtrak. Slesinger said the expansion is “very reliant on discretionary grants.” To date, $157 million has been secured in federal rail grants, including $108 million from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2024 to plan, design and construct the Inland Route. A $3.5 million grant paid for the identification of service levels and needed capital projects for the Boston and Albany Corridor. An award of $36.8 million is pending from the Federal Railroad Administration for the final design of the Springfield track reconfigurations.
After the roundtable, Neal, Slesinger and Koziol announced a $1.2 million federal earmark for Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control design, which Slesinger said is required under federal law and Eng called “critical technology.”
“This earmark is just the latest round of funding in what has been a sustained federal investment in passenger rail over the last several years,” said Neal.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was written in the Ways and Means Committee during my time as chairman, which is why I take great satisfaction in seeing Massachusetts continuing to realize the benefits of our historic efforts.”
An additional $173.2 million in grants for maintenance modernization for Springfield’s tracks are being sought.
After presenting the updates to Compass Rail, the state officials took questions from the legislators and stakeholders in the room.
State Rep. Kelly Pease, who represents Westfield and Southampton, asked if any additional stops would be added between Springfield and Pittsfield. Koziol said none are currently planned, but a study is planned to help determine need.
State Sen. Jake Oliveira, representing the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District, asked if it was possible to construct the Palmer station earlier than it is now planned. Koziol said the right funding opportunity would be needed. “Things can change quickly, especially when dealing with federal funding,”
he said. Plans for the Palmer station have not been finalized, but Koziol said it is “more real than it’s ever been.”
State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, representing Pittsfield, asked about a route through the northern Berkshires. Slesinger said rightof-way track ownership between multiple entities increases the difficulty of planning such a route. Referring to the partnerships between MassDOT, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Amtrak and CSX, Eng said, “The public doesn’t care” which agency runs the transportation, only that it is “seamless.”
“No matter where you are, transportation is essential,” said Eng, and “rail is a key component.” Eng also emphasized the need to shorten trips and an express service. “If we want to have further distances, we have to have faster trips,” he said.
Eng said that every $1 billion spent on transportation supports 40,000 jobs. He lauded Neal’s efforts to have CSX rail cars released from U.S. Customs, which had them impounded for the better part of a year due to concerns over forced labor. The allegations have since been cleared, and the cars were released.
In a press release about the Compass Rail update, Gov. Maura Healey said, “West-East rail is about more than transportation. It is about connecting people to jobs, education and opportunity across our state. Our administration has made this a priority because stronger rail connections mean a stronger economy for every region of Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Congressman Neal for his continued partnership in advancing this work and helping move this investment forward as we deliver reliable, modern rail service that people can count on.”
Top, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal announced a $1.2 million federal earmark for Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control design on Platform C at Springfield’s Union Station on April 1. Below, from left: An Amtrak train pulls into Springfield’s Union Station in advance of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal announcement of a $1.2 million federal earmark for Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control design. A graphic outlines eight Compass Rail projects underway.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen, Chris Maza
Agawam author publishes first in nine-book fantasy series
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — One choice can change the fate of the world, and in “Unleashed,” the first book in local author Travis Kuffel’s “Tales of Ganden” series, a young warrior must heal the damage he has done amid long-buried secrets, a wartorn land, ancient magic and vengeful giants.
“Unleashed,” the debut novel by the Agawam resident, is the first in what he expects to be a nine-book series. Kuffel’s experience writing the series, however, has been anything but what he expected.
Kuffel began creating the fantasy world of Ganden in 2014. “The story was there just waiting to come out,” he said. In 2022, he said decided to put his ideas down on paper and wrote three books over six months, only to realize, “I was
in the middle of the story.” At that point, he began writing “Unleashed.”
Kuffel independently published “Unleashed” in 2024, but he acknowledged that there was much about the publishing industry he did not know. The following year he met a publisher from Jumpmaster Press while at Springfield ComicCon. After discussions about the book and Kuffel’s vision of the series, he said, “They signed it. They signed the whole thing.”
The “Tales of Ganden” books are Kuffel’s first foray into writing. When he began penning the first book, he said, “I thought I was writing one book. I was writing by the seat of my pants.”
At some point, he realized that the story he wanted to tell could not possibly fit in a single book. Even with a series planned, he said, there are characters with backstories that he expects to flesh out in short stories sepa-
rate from “Tales of Ganden.”
Rather than begin by building out the world or the characters, Kuffel started with the in-universe magic system, called “hadrek.” He explained that he has synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense triggers involuntary experiences of another sense. People with synesthesia may see colors while listening to music or associate words with assorted flavors. “I wanted people to be able to see what I see,” Kuffel said of how he designed the magic within the book.
“The story created itself, and I needed characters to fit it, and they developed personalities along the way,” Kuffel said. One of the characters is based on his daughter, said the father of five. He said that after he bought her a sword and a bow, she began “fighting dragons” in the backyard.
While the series is “very vi-
olent,” Kuffel said it was important to write books without graphic sex or gore, topics that are common in fantasy genre. Instead, he said much of that content is simply alluded to in the text. He said, “You have to trust that the readers are intelligent enough to know what happens off screen.”
Kuffel said part of the fun of writing a series has been hinting at future storylines. “I leave a lot of breadcrumbs along the way. I like to add many layers of nuance.” It gives readers Easter eggs to find when thinking back on the books and makes them book re-readable. He said, “I want it to be fun every read.”
Asked if it was easy to drop hints since he wrote the books out of chronological order, Kuffel said it has actually made writing the first few books more difficult. Rather than letting his character arcs take various turns, he must ensure they even-
tually align with the storylines that he already laid out for them.
Kuffel counted J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Brandon Sanderson as some of his influences, but said much of his writing is influenced by the Bible’s Old Testament. “It’s rough, it’s harsh, but there’s always hope,” he said of those bible stories. He said he wants readers to feel like “no matter what’s around them, there’s hope. It’s a grim world, but the humans rise up.” Kuffel said that resonates with the current landscape. “The world today is dark, but people bring hope. You can’t let the darkness overwhelm you.
“Unleashed” is available at JumpmasterPress.com, TalesOfGanden.com, Amazon.com and at local bookstores and libraries. A public book signing will take place on Friday, April 11, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Circuit Coffee in Westfield.
Pain at pump adds to list of voter cost concerns
By Michael P. Norton State House News Sercice
If affordability concerns are a top issue for voters in 2026, many are likely finding new reasons to be upset.
Citing its weekly survey, AAA reported on March 30 that the average price of a gallon of gas in Massachusetts rose to $3.80, or 90 cents a gallon higher than a year ago at this time. The auto
club attributed the price spikes to the ongoing U.S. war with Iran and the higher demand for gas that occurs each spring.
“As the national average nears $4 a gallon — rising more than $1 in one month — crude oil prices remain elevated amid uncertainty about the direction of the war, settling above $100 a barrel when markets closed on Friday,” AAA said. “Continued attacks on infrastructure
across the Persian Gulf region and Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz are keeping pressure on oil and gas prices around the globe.”
Higher prices at the pump are adding to the cost pressures playing out in household food, housing, energy and electricity bills.
Republican candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve recently called for the state gas tax to be suspended until prices come
down but there’s been fewer calls on Beacon Hill for gas tax relief compared to a significant push that took shape in 2022 when the Russian-Ukraine war sparked in a surge in gas prices.
Sen. Edward Markey this week called on executives at ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell and BP to “refrain from awarding executives profits generated from rising oil prices during Trump’s illegal war
in Iran.” Markey also called for the reversal of a “time-limited” 8% increase in transportation-related postage prices that was approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on March 24.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp earlier in March expressed an openness to pausing gas taxes to mitigate spiking prices due to the war in Iran, Pluribus reported.
School
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — On March 31, the West Springfield School Committee voted to support the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 after a final hearing spread across three meetings, choosing to bring back nine full-time equivalent positions for teachers and paraprofessionals while reducing a clerk position.
The committee increased the budget $553,000 in order to restore these positions, which were initially slated to be cut in the $58.45 million budget Chief of Finance and Operations Adam Tarquini proposed on March 24. That proposal called for the reduction of 34 FTE positions to save $2.04 million. Instead, the School Committee supported a reduction of 25 positions, equaling $1.48 million.
Mayor William Reichelt initially asked the School Committee to reduce the level service budget of $61.5 million by $3 million to create a level funded budget, which is where the position reductions stem from.
“That got us to level funded compared to FY26,” Tarquini said. “The addition to that is our hope and assumption that once
the governor’s budget makes its way through their approval process, that they will increase the minimum per pupil from $75 to $150, and that would yield about an additional $300,000. That’s what makes up the difference between our original amount we proposed and this one.”
Superintendent Stefania Raschilla said that the district has retirements and positions that are not renewed based on perfor-
mance every year.
The district also looks at class sizes to determine whether it needs as many teachers as it currently employs. Raschilla added that there is a drastic difference in the number of students from three years ago in kindergarten through third grade, going from 310 students to 240 students.
“We’re able to eliminate some of those positions, not necessar
ily educators, but because of re
tirements and non-renewals, they are still reductions in the unit A and unit D force,” Raschilla said.
“When we look at admin and [school nurses] and [clerical], we also have to think about, that we will be closing a building and so those are positions that will be eliminated.”
School Committee member Robert Mancini said in the discussion portion after the hearing was closed that “we still have cuts to make, and those cuts should come from administration before they come from the classroom.”
“I understand the financial reality our schools face, losing $3 million in state aid is a serious challenge. That is why I will support restoring classroom positions back into the budget,” Mancini said. “When we cut classroom positions, we are getting away from West Springfield values. After going through the budget line by line, I have recommendations to reduce the budget.”
Mancini made several failed motions to reduce the budget through other various cuts, in-
cluding a $162,915 reduction targeting an assistant business manager and a grants manager, and a $113,796 cut to the middle school vice principal position. He said the school is underperforming and that eliminating the English language arts and math coaches to hire one vice principal was not the right move, stating “I don’t think that trade off was good at all, and the data shows it, period.”
School Committee Vice Chair Colleen Marcus said she has spoken “very clearly” about the data and expressed her concerns about the use of the vice principal position, but added the timing to remove the position is all wrong. She said that if the position was utilized in the way it was designed, it would be very beneficial for the middle school. The budget will now go to Reichelt, who will incorporate it into the town budget for Town Council review. Cuts or additions, which Reichelt said are unlikely, will go back to the School Committee for final approval in June.
West Springfield School Committee votes 5-2 to support the fiscal year 2027 budget. Photo credit:
TOWN EVENTS
a short story time followed by an art project. We will explore simple art concepts and experiment with materials. Please wear clothing that can get messy.
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.
• Scavenger Hunt: Tiger theme — April 13-18. Drop by any time the library is open. Most people spend about 20 minutes doing the scavenger hunts at the Agawam Library.
Toddler Time — For 19-36 months — Monday April 13, at 9:30 a.m. Drop-in. Join the group as they read stories, sing and play together.
Pre-K Pals — For ages 2-5 — Monday April 13, at 11 a.m. Each week, the group will focus on an area of development and provide fun activities to support your child to learn through play. This program is provided by Pathways for Parents.
Art & Stories — Tuesday April 14, at 9:30 a.m. For ages 3–5. Drop-in. This program includes
• Geometric Art — Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. for grades 3-4. Take math and make it pretty. Using masking tape, attendees will create art with sharp lines and fun shapes. Registration is required.
Baby Story Time — Thursday, April 16, at 9:30 a.m. For birth to 18 months. Drop-in. Learn a little American Sign Language, read stories, sing and play together.
• Stroller Strides with FIT4MOM — Saturday April 18, at 9:30 a.m. For parents and their child ages 1 month to 10 years old. Stroller Strides is a 60-minute total-body workout with strength, cardio and core training, all while engaging the little ones in a stroller. Registration is required.
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 413-736-4561 ext. 4.
Adult and teen programs:
• Teen Monthly Self-Care and Chill — Monday, April 13, from
Gloria McLellan Scholarship applications open
AGAWAM — The Agawam Community Artists and Artisans have kicked off their annual scholarship fundraising program, designed to be awarded to high school and college students from Western Massachusetts who are pursuing further education in Visual Arts.
The Deadline to apply for the Gloria McLellan Memorial Scholarship is May 1. Students can apply at agawamarts.com.
Anthony Nguyen of Springfield, Sarah McDonald of Longmeadow, and Charles Santiago of Chicopee were each awarded $1200 scholarships last year.
The scholarship is named af-
ter Gloria McLellan, a local artist and one of the founding members of ACAA.
Funds for the scholarship are raised through the ACAA’s New England Mosaic Project, which has just launched in local Western Massachusetts libraries. Through the libraries, anyone can pick up a blank canvas, apply art to it, and return it by May 15. The canvases become part of a 24-foot mosaic display. The canvases are sold at two events in August with net proceeds going directly to the scholarship.
Scholarships will be awarded in June for the 2026 fall semester.
6-7 p.m. Join us for a warm beverage and a calming craft! Open to ages 13 and up.
• MoneyWise: From Financial Stress to Financial Security — Two Part Financial Literacy Class with Leah Harrison — Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Take control of your financial future with Money Wise, a practical and empowering financial well-being series designed to help you reduce financial stress and build lasting security.
• Adult Board Game Night — Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. WSPL is bringing back its adult board games night. Bring a group or come to make some new friends in the spirit of warmhearted competition. Games provided by WSPL may include small pieces; intended for ages 13 and up. Registration encouraged.
Tech Help — Thursday, April 16, 2- 4 p.m. We provide guided assistance for questions about your mobile device or laptop during a 30 minute appointment. Please call 413736-4561 ext. 3 to register for a time spot. Registration required.
Puzzle Competition — Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m. The legendary puzzle competition returns once more before a brief hiatus. Complete two puzzles at dazzling speeds to win a small prize and huge
bragging rights! Groups size max of four people. Ages 16 and up strictly. Registration required.
Youth programs: Lego Creations (for ages 5-8) — Tuesday, April 14, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. What does the “Earth Day challenge” challenge inspire you to create with Legos?
• LEGO Club (for ages 9 through 12) Thursday, April 16, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The challenge this month is “Earth Day challenge.”
• Family Movie Matinee, (for all ages) — Saturday, April 18, starting at 2:30 p.m. Bring a blanket and relax to a fun movie.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
GARDEN CLUB MEETING
The West Springfield Garden Club will meet on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. in the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building, 26 Central St. Parking is available in the Municipal lot across the street. We will gather in the Justin Morgan Auditorium on the second floor. We are happy to welcome the evening’s speaker, Master Gardener Gretel Anspach who is a Trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She will provide information on lawn alternatives which can lower maintenance and provide environmental benefits. The public is welcome to attend. Please contact BeckyJean at beckyjean@ beckyjeanthompson.com to RSVP.
Operations Director: Curtis Panlilio
Executive Editor: Chris Maza
Managing Editors: Dennis Hackett, Ryan Feyre
Staff Writers:
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department:
Sales
Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
On March 7, West Springfield beat Wilbraham 58-48 to earn the Boys Suburban Basketball League (5/6th White Division) championship, capping an undefeated season.
Jayden Jreaswec yanks down the rebound.
Melvin Velez drives to the hoop for West Side as the Falcons Louis Duong defends. WEST SPRINGFIELD VS WILBRAHAM
West Side’s Tucker Sorcinelli squeezes off a shot.
Armany Lopez and his West Springfield teammates hoist the regular season and championship trophies.
Jacob Santiago in-bounds the pass for West Side.
Dylan DiCarlo leads the Wolfpack fast break.
As the clock winds down Jack Dasso (L) and Connor LeDuc begin the celebration.
The West Springfield Wolfpack - 2025-2026 Boys Suburban League regular season and play-off champions.
Henrick Assenga scores two of his 12 points giving the Wolfpack a 55-44 lead.
Top Dems huddle, and include the Republicans this time
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — Outside of the House chamber after leaving a meeting with top Democrats on March 30, two top GOP lawmakers noted it’s been “a while” since the last meetup and since they were included. There has not been public notice of a once common meeting between legislative and executive branch leaders since late November. The meetings, which usually are followed by press availabilities, have dwindled under the Healey administration and Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano.
“I would say it’s unfortunate that we’ve had this gap, because today was a lot of sort of 30,000foot conversations about things that were more generalized because we haven’t had the more specific conversations,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said. “I hope today is a pivot point, and that’s going to change, and we’re going to get back to one of the most important things I think happens in the State House.”
Tarr noted concerns in January that the minority party is not always invited to meetings between the governor and top legislative Democrats, and that the Republican perspective is not always included in policy discussions.
Asked why she and legislative leaders decided to meet, Healey, without elaborating, said, “We meet and talk regularly. So.”
While neither Republican knew why they were convened Monday of all days, House Minority Leader Brad Jones suggested it might be because they’re “kicking off the fact that we’re getting down” to the last few months of scheduled formal legislative sessions.
“You’ve got April, May, June, July. And then, under the new rules, a very kind of discrete, finite number of things that can’t come up in formal sessions after the fact,” Jones said. “It’s time to start having that conversation about, ‘What does the agenda
look like?’ So maybe that’s the reason for the meetings, to kind of have those conversations or renew those relationships.”
Tarr said there were “basic issues” addressed during the meeting, including “where revenue is, what the state of the MBTA is, the possibility of getting a basketball team.”
Interests in Massachusetts made a push to pull the Connecticut Sun to Boston, but over the weekend it was widely reported that the team is being sold and planning to relocate to Houston. It wasn’t anything “too deep,” Jones said, mentioning feedback on travel to and from the World Cup friendly game last week, and what Tall Ships coming to
Boston this summer means for tourism and transportation.
“Bruce and I talk all the time,” Jones said. “But having everybody at the table, I think, facilitates conversations and facilitates the ability to have conversations other than at the meeting. You know, you establish a relationship or rapport, and then you feel like, ‘I’m gonna call and ask him this, because it didn’t come up,’ or, ‘I wanted more information on that.’ More conversations are never a bad thing.”
Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service and State Affairs Massachusetts. Reach her at ella.adams@statehousenews.com.
“Our mantra here is doing more with less, so we’ll get through it. My concern is the recovery center where our detectives go out with sheriff’s deputies and meet with people [who] have overdosed. It’s going to be a little more challenging to get done, but we will.”
Keenan said he is concerned about the future of the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Basketball Program, which is funded and staffed by the Sheriff’s Department.
“I’m hoping that won’t go and starve because that really helps a ton of kids that don’t have a lot of other things to do,” he said.
He added that the city could also lose community service sup-
port provided by the Sheriff’s Department, including maintenance work at municipal buildings.
“They do a great job helping with municipal buildings and cleaning up, painting, and really filling the gap where DPW work needs to be done with the community service stuff,” Keenan said.
Other programs could be affected by these cuts at the Sheriff’s Department, according to Keenan,
including a couple that were introduced last year.
In July 2025, Holyoke and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office launched an After Incarceration Support Systems satellite office at 310 Appleton St., bringing reentry and support services closer to city residents. The programs included Holyoke Police Department’s Street Outreach Program, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department’s All Inclusive Support Services for formerly incarcerated individuals, and Holyoke’s Community Response Advocate, a newly created position providing guidance, referrals, support services and answers to individuals with questions or difficulties.
Keenan said the location has made services more accessible, and the AISS program has been especially valuable.
“It makes it a lot easier because somebody getting out of jail doesn’t necessarily have a license or transportation,” he said. “If you live in Holyoke and have to take two buses to Springfield, it’s going to take you four hours.”
Although he stated you can’t always quantify wins and losses, Keenan credited those sheriff-supported programs for reducing overdose deaths in the city.
“The reduction of overdose deaths, which was 18% last year, is directly attributed to a lot of the programs the Sheriff’s Department funds and works in conjunction with the Holyoke Police Department,” Keenan said.
The Holyoke Police Department will look for grant funding to help offset these service losses that were announced, according to Keenan. He said the recent developments may also affect overtime spending.
“It certainly won’t be optimal, but we’ll limp through it,” he said.
Keenan shared a message to the residents who may be affected by the loss of programs and reaffirmed his support for Cocchi and his department.
“Your city is safe. Holyoke Police officers work hard for you; we’re out there 24 hours a day, and we support the Hampden County Sheriff,” Keenan said. “We’re thankful for our partnership with Nick Cocchi. We’re confident he’ll get through this. I’ve known Sheriff Cocchi for 32 years. He’s an incredibly resilient person, an incredibly smart person, and if anybody can figure this out, he can. He’ll get through this, we’ll get through this.”
Chicopee also finds itself in a difficult situation following the cuts. The Sheriff’s Department currently staffs three full-time analysts at the city’s Real-Time Information Center, a five-person operation that uses camera networks and AI-assisted software to support investigations and public safety efforts across Hampden County. Additionally, POST-certified deputies serve 209A restraining orders in Chicopee and act as force multipliers when city patrol staffing is down. Those positions will no longer be filled unless reimbursed by the city or another agency.
Travis Odiorne, speaking on behalf of Interim Police Chief Eric Watson, said the department would not comment further at this time.
“I spoke to the chief about this, and he feels that everything was covered in the sheriff’s news conference and doesn’t want to make any comments on it,” Odiorne said. “Since the cuts mainly affect the sheriff’s office, he believes all comments should come from his office.”
While the potential for further rounds of cuts certainly exists, Rizzuto said, “We’re hoping we don’t have to. We’re waiting to see what happens with the budget” which the Legislature is working currently on. “We’re hoping for a dialog with the governor’s office.”
Campaign aims to secure assisted listening device system
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — Those with auditory and visual disabilities may soon have the necessary equipment to fully enjoy live performances at the Academy of Music Theatre.
The Northampton performance venue has launched an April fundraising campaign to help secure funding for the purchase and installation of the building’s first assisted listening device system.
The “Let’s Hear It!” campaign aims to raise $10,000 during the month of April, which will then enable the Academy to acquire the equipment needed to provide assistance to more than 30 patrons at one time during any event on the historic Northampton stage.
Academy Executive Director Debra J’Anthony said she is confident this project will accommodate audience members with auditory and visual disabilities who have previously been unable to fully experience performances, or who have opted not to attend live performances because of the lack of equipment.
“We had visited providing assisted listening devices, and in the begging, there were not as many options to accommodate the variety of programs that we
offer, and it has only been recently, over the last 10 years or so, that we are able to provide a device that could cover film, band and theater,” J’Anthony told Reminder Publishing
J’Anthony said that enhancing accessibility at the theater has been a priority for over a decade now, as seen through the wheelchair accessible additions made to the building inside and out over that time. In the last several years, the Academy tried to secure grant funds to help bridge the accessibility gap, but had no luck.
But now, with The Beveridge Family Foundation already contributing $2,000 to the campaign, and the Academy itself contributing another $2,500, the theater is now asking the public to rally around the cause and help them close this campaign in April.
“We’re reaching out to the community to say, we would really like to provide a fuller experience for our patrons [who] require an assisted listening device. Not only those with hearing disabilities, but also, we are newly collaborating with Valley Eye Radio to hopefully provide, for certain shows, descriptions of what is going on stage so they can hear through the listening device,” added J’Anthony.
Valley Eye Radio is a nonprofit service for blind and visually impaired listeners with the mission of keeping Pioneer Valley neighbors informed and connected by being a 24/7 accessible source of local news. The Academy’s partnership with the service is an effort to expand its reach to local venues that bring in live performances. The hope is to provide live remote broadcasts and collaborative events that bring community storytelling and live performance directly to listeners.
“Partnerships like this one between the Academy and Valley Eye Radio reflect what’s best about our region — organizations coming together to remove barriers and make culture, learning and connection accessible to all,” said Valley Eye Radio Executive Director Chloe Collins.
The two organizations will coordinate efforts for select performances during the 2026-27 theater season. Other venues or individuals interested in partnering with or volunteering for Valley Eye Radio can visit its website at valleyeyeradio.org for more information.
J’Anthony added that the Academy is also seeking community amplifier sponsors who want to get involved. She said
they can reach out for more information by emailing development@aomtheatre.com.
“It is a very short campaign. We do hope to meet our goals and then purchase the devices in May at some point, and then have them installed hopefully by early June,” added J’Anthony. “We’re
very grateful for the community support.”
Anyone interested in donating to this campaign can visit the donation page on the Academy website at aomtheatre.com/ donate-lets-hear-it/ or email development@aomtheatre.com for more information.
Youth Theater Workshop in session for school vacation weeks
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Majestic Theater announced its Majestic Youth Theater Workshop will hold one-week sessions April 13-17 (to align with Connecticut schools’ vacation week) and April 20-24 (to align with Massachusetts schools’ vacation week) at its Baldwin Street Studios in West Springfield. Available sessions are:
Theater as Play, Round 2 — for students 7-10 years old
A week of theater games, improvisation, and playmaking with some favorite children’s stories that will culminate in a short performance of a stage adaptation of a children’s story created by the students. (Participation in Round 1 of this session is not a requirement). Held Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon — $160.
Triple Skills (Acting/singing/ movement) Prep — for students 11-15 years old
This week-long workshop is designed to bolster the actor’s “toolkit” and delve deeper into the importance of audition prep, text analysis, improv, music and movement. Perfect for young actors who are looking to have a meaningful — and fun — week totally immersed in theater. Held Monday through Friday,
1-4 p.m. — $260
Both workshops are available during both vacation weeks.
To enroll participants online for the workshops, please visitmajestictheater.com/mytw Otherwise, contact the Majestic Theater box office at 413-747-7797.
The Majestic Youth Theater Workshop is overseen by Producing Director Sue Dziura, who noted about the program, “As a longtime theater educator, one of the things I love most about our Majestic Youth Theater Workshop vacation programs is how dynamic they are. In just a few days, young people come together to create something meaningful — building skills, confidence and a real sense of ensemble, all while having a lot of fun along the way.”
Both sessions of Theater as Play, Round 2 will be led by Rachel Lamarre, a recent graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she majored in theatre arts and management. Mike King, a local performer last seen onstage at the Majestic in the 2025 production of Waitress, will lead the April 13-17 Triple Skills Prep program. The April 20-24 Triple Skills Prep program will be led by Dziura and will feature daily workshops
by MYTW educators/performers including Chelsie Nectow and Myka Plunkett.
Most Majestic Youth Theater Programs are held at the Majestic Theater’s rehearsal space, Baldwin Street Studios 168 Baldwin
St., West Springfield, which allows small groups of young actors to work with an experienced staff of theater educators. The 12,000-square-foot building is also home to the Majestic’s set construction and costume shops, and the rehearsal hall has a floor that is painted with an outline that is the exact dimensions of the Majestic’s stage, making it the perfect place for participants to learn and grow as performers.
The Academy of Music Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
