Four Agawam teachers are among more than 100 Western Massachusetts educators being honored with a 2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.
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WEST SPRINGFIELD
West Springfield
Friends of the Library prepares for annual spring book sale
Book lovers and bargain hunters alike will have plenty to browse when the Friends of the West Springfield Public Library hosts its Spring Big Book Sale on April 25.
Historic Deerfield’s 2026 season is centered on bringing the Revolutionary era to life as a lived, local experience in Western Massachusetts.
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AGAWAM | FEEDING HILLS | WEST SPRINGFIELD
CARE learns substance use prevention methods
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — West
Springfield CARE Coalition
student representatives Maya Burque and Shayla Crump are expanding their knowledge on how to create a safer and healthier community with youth substance use prevention.
Burque and Crump, alongside CARE Coordinator Liz Monopoli, traveled to Maryland to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum in February 2026, sharing what they learned and what the coalition’s plans are moving forward at the School Committee meeting on April 14.
The CARE Coalition is a group that works to strengthen community capacity to support positive youth development and reduce risky behavior. It collaborates with schools, police and other organizations with a youth voice at the center of prevention work.
CADCA’s website states it was “born from a nationwide need to mobilize communities against rising drug use.” It represents over 7,000 coalitions in the United States and more than 28 countries, equipping them with tools, knowledge and support needed to create positive community change.
“Going to CADCA, it gave us the opportunity to hear from other leaders, youth from all over the country,” Burque said.
“We met people from other places in Massachusetts, all the way to Texas, Missouri, Guam. It was honestly really educational hearing how substance use affects people in other communities and how they are actively trying to
battle it.”
Burque added that the coalition met with Belchertown’s coalition and are staying in contact for a future partnership. She added that the learned skills and training involved “leveling up communication, importance of project evaluations to make future ones better, building future-proof youth coalitions and designing creative strategies for prevention competencies.”
Crump said the most impactful training programs were building communication skills to confidently communicate everywhere, a coalition ideas fair to see what other coalitions are doing in their communities and exploring how social media influences mental health and substance use trends.
Burque said the “biggest part of CADCA” was Capitol Hill day, in which people get the chance to meet with members of the U.S. Congress to share what their coalition is actively doing.
Both students had the opportunity to speak with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren about “why youth prevention funding was our most important factor and the challenges students our age and younger face today — vaping, drinking, mental health struggles and social pressures,” according to the coalition’s presentation.
Burque added that they had a “very lengthy” conversation with a member of Warren’s office local to the area who “understood how underrepresented the area can be in a lot of legal processes.”
“They understood we needed funding and promised they would keep in touch and try their best to get us what we needed,” Burque said.
There are plans moving forward to host a summit with every Massachusetts coalition to share strategies and successful programs, build stronger inter-coalition partnerships and encourage youth-to-youth collaboration. The coalition also made a request to open middle and elementary school sectors and to expand future CADCA trips by bringing more students. Crump said more students on the trip would make it more impactful by allowing the opportunity to do more of what’s offered. Burque added that you can only “conquer and divide so much when there’s two people.”
“Some of the days there were like, eight different trainings you could go to and obviously we could only go to two,” Burque said. “We had to pick the ones we thought would benefit us the most out of the many options.”
The coalition created a board after inspiration from CADCA training that includes a vice president, social media and marketing managers, youth engagement coordinators, project managers and an event planner. Burque said the board helps to bring more ideas in because “the more heads you have, the more the creative juices can flow.”
Burque said what resonated with her from the CADCA trip was that the goal “wasn’t just to recruit youth but to grow leaders who build other leaders,” and Crump added that the trip opened her eyes to other strategies the coalition can be doing more on top of what is already done.
“We’ve gotta build the community,” Crump said. “We can’t just be the only person that speaks up for the youth, because eventually they’re gonna have to do it. Why not help them and guide them to it much earlier?”
From right: Care Coordinator Liz Monopoli, Maya Burque and Shayla Crump.
Photo credit: West Side Media
Please email your community listings to: dhackett@thereminder.com Items are printed on a space available basis.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the West Springfield Pub-
TOWN EVENTS
lic Library, located at 200 Park St.
For more information or to register for programs, visit wspl.org or call 413-736-4561 ext. 4.
Youth programs:
• Pajama Story Time (for ages birth to 5) — Monday, April 27, 6-6:45 p.m.
Adult and teen programs: Stitch Club for Teens and Adults — Monday, April 27, from 6-7:30 p.m.
www.TheReminder.com
• Everlasting Herbarium — Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m.
• Beginner Embroidery Class Series with Kaitlin Kenyon — Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m.
WEST SPRINGFIELD CLEAN
UP DAY
The 16th Annual West Springfield Clean Up Day will be held rain or shine on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., hosted by the West Springfield Environmental Committee along with the DPW and Park & Recreation Depart-
ment. Volunteer check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at the West Springfield Middle School cafeteria 31 Middle School Drive. Safety vests, litter grabbers, gloves and refreshments will be available. Volunteers, who must provide their own transportation, will clean up public sites of their choice or as assigned, with the DPW handling trash pick up the next business day. Online registration is via the events link at wsenvironmentalcommittee.org. Contact person: Todd at wsgsd@ comcast.net or 413-301-2256 (text
or call).
WEST SPRINGFIELD COIN
CLUB COIN SHOW
The West Springfield Coin Club will hold its semi-annual Coin Show at theDante Club, 1198 Memorial Ave., West Springfield from 9:30am to 3pm on Sunday, April 26. Coin Dealers will be exhibiting as well as buying and selling coins and giving free appraisals. Admission and parking is free. For further information, contact Peter Setian at 413-596-9871.
Dental practice treats cavities without drilling, sedation
WEST SPRINGFIELD — A new pediatric dental practice in West Springfield is taking a different approach to treating tooth decay that can help children avoid traditional “drill-and-fill” procedures and even the need for sedation. Montshire Pediatric Dentistry focuses on minimally invasive care, using techniques that aim to stop or manage early tooth decay without removing large amounts of natural tooth structure. This approach can be especially helpful for young patients who experience
BOSTON — While there are only a few meetings left for the school year, the HERizon program is not slowing down yet, with several more important topics to be discussed.
HERizon, which launched at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, is a leadership and empowerment program for young women across Hampden County. The initiative aims to equip participants with tools, confidence and community to navigate life’s challenges and opportunities with purpose.
During the March 24 meeting, it kicked off with a presentation from Alexandra Maggio, chief of community engagement for the United Way of Pioneer Valley.
Maggio explained the work United Way does, which brings people together to create change in the region by connecting volunteers, supporting youth leader-
dental anxiety or have difficulty tolerating conventional treatment.
Dental caries remains the most common chronic disease in children — more prevalent than asthma or allergies — and is often treated with surgical intervention.
For some children, particularly those with severe decay or behavioral challenges, treatment plans in traditional settings may lead to recommendations for IV sedation in a hospital.
“It’s not uncommon for me to see a child who was previously
ship, and more. She also emphasized the importance of nonprofit work and volunteering, asking the young women if they have volunteered before.
The HERizon group then took part in a “Nonprofit Building Workshop,” using existing nonprofits in the area and essentially creating a spinoff of that — utilizing their own ideas to create a new nonprofit under the same umbrella. The workshop allowed the groups to think outside the box — coming up with a name for the nonprofit, a targeted audience, skills needed to operate it, and so on.
When it was time to share, Maggio noted a common theme throughout all the group’s responses: it involved and served members of the community, but most importantly, all local.
Maggio finished by encouraging the HERizon girls to volunteer and noted that United Way of Pioneer Valley has a portal on their website with many volunteer opportunities.
“Volunteering is good for your health,” she said, receiving smiles from the group.
told they would need to be put to sleep to have all their teeth treated,” said Dr. Jonathan Norris. “Then they come to us, and we’re often able to treat most, if not all, of those cavities using minimally invasive methods. That can be a total game changer for families.”
The practice’s child-centered, low-stress model emphasizes prevention, early intervention and education for families. By focusing on managing decay in its earlier stages and building trust with young patients, Montshire is often
able to complete treatment in-office with minimal or no anesthesia. In addition to clinical care, the practice works closely with parents to improve at-home habits and reduce the likelihood of future dental issues.
“We have the tools and the medicines to solve the problem in a much less invasive way,” said Dr. Colin Boswell. “Our goals are simple: we want children to enjoy coming to the dentist, to be free of pain, and to support healthy development of their teeth — all
while doing as little as necessary to achieve those outcomes.”
The model may also help improve access to care. Minimally invasive treatments are increasingly supported by insurance programs, including Medicaid, helping make this type of care more available to families across Western Massachusetts. Montshire Pediatric Dentistry is now accepting new patients and aims to serve children who may have previously struggled to receive care in traditional dental settings.
Alexandra Maggio, chief of community engagement for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, talks with HERizon members at a recent meeting.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Educators honored for exceptional teaching skills
By Mike Lydick Correspondent
AGAWAM — Four Agawam teachers — Rebecca Bergeron, Alissa Easton, Melissa Kriebel and Tammy Rumplik — are among more than 100 Western Massachusetts educators being honored with a 2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.
Selected from 30 Agawam teachers nominated for the award for their exceptional teaching skills, they will be formally recognized at an award dinner and banquet May 12 at The Log Cabin in Holyoke.
Teachers from Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties are recipients of this award from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation. During the past 23 years, more than 1,000 teachers have been honored.
A first-grade teacher at Sapelli Elementary School, Bergeron has always believed teaching is a profession that chooses you — that it’s part of one’s DNA. “My mother recognized this in me when I was very young. She was a constant source of encouragement and support along my journey to fulfill the dream of becoming a teacher. Now my husband, Normand, is an unwavering source of support and encouragement.”
Bergeron said it’s an “honor and a privilege” to be a part of a child’s life — to educate them, encourage them to do hard things
and help them become the best version of themselves.
Some of Bergeron’s proudest moments have been when she’s connected with families of her students and they have worked as a team to help ensure their children had the best educational experience possible. “I’m also very proud to be working at the elementary school my own children attended and where I am a member of the most amazing, dedicated and professional team of educators.”
Bergeron added that recognizing excellence in teaching is important because it validates the dedication and commitment individuals make to educating children. “I was stunned to learn I was being given this award. I’m deeply honored to be recognized in such a way for doing a job I truly love.”
Easton’s decision to become a teacher was “deeply influenced” by her aunt, a third-grade teacher. “Growing up, I watched her dedication to her students, but it wasn’t until I was able to complete an internship in her classroom during high school that I truly understood the impact of the profession,” said Easton, who teaches fourth grade at Granger Elementary School.
Seeing her aunt and other teachers navigate the complexities of a classroom with both empathy and leadership served as Easton’s role model. “They showed me that teaching is more than just delivering the curriculum. It’s about building a com-
munity where every student feels seen and capable.”
A second-year teacher at Granger, Easton said as a new teacher she often finds herself wondering if she is truly “getting it right.” She said receiving this award is important to her because it reminds Easton that although she is still learning, she’s on the right path.
“There’s a lot of work that goes on both during and after work hours to prepare lessons and materials to meet the needs of all students,” said Easton. “It’s important to note that there’s an entire group of staff and colleagues beside me who help and encourage me each day and that bring me so much guidance.”
Easton said the best thing about being a teacher is when students have a “light bulb” moment. “It’s such a pivotal moment in their learning process. You can see the student’s whole demeanor change in a positive way and their confidence boost. It makes all of the lesson planning worth it.”
Receiving the award has filled Easton with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “To be recognized by my peers and the community so early in my career is a profound motivator that I will carry into my classroom each day.”
Kriebel, a Spanish teacher at the junior high school, credits her “fantastic” Spanish teachers at Agawam High School and her professors at Assumption College
for inspiring her to pursue a degree in Spanish. She added that while she always enjoyed the process of learning Spanish in their classrooms, her first career was working in marketing communications. During that time, a friend asked her to tutor her younger brother, who was at risk of failing his high school Spanish class. “As I began working with the student, and watching his success grow along the way, I realized I had a passion for helping students fall in love with learning languages. That student ended up minoring in Spanish in college,” said Kriebel.
Rebecca Bergeron Alissa Easton
Melissa Kriebel
Tammy Rumplik Reminder Publishing photos by Mike Lydick
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Friends of the Library prepares for annual spring book sale
By Tina Lesniak Correspondent
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Book lovers and bargain hunters alike will have plenty to browse when the Friends of the West Springfield Public Library hosts its Spring Big Book Sale on April 25, offering thousands of gently used titles while supporting programs that extend far beyond the library’s shelves.
The Friends, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, operates with a clear purpose: to support the West Springfield Public Library and enhance its role in the community. Through fundraising efforts like its book sales, the group helps sponsor library programming, cultural events and special initiatives that might otherwise fall outside the library’s budget. Its contributions reach a wide au-
dience, from children’s reading programs to adult education and community celebrations.
The April 25 sale, running from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library’s Community Room at 200 Park St., is the organization’s largest event of the season. While smaller “Mini Book Sales” are held regularly throughout the year, typically featuring a curated selection of books on rolling carts, the spring sale expands significantly, filling tables with a broader range of genres and a much larger inventory.
Shoppers can expect a well-organized layout, with clearly marked sections that make it easy to navigate categories such as fiction, nonfiction, mystery, romance and children’s literature. Volunteers are on hand throughout the day to help visitors locate specific authors
or genres, and a dedicated children’s books specialist is available to guide families toward age-appropriate selections. Behind the scenes months of preparation go into ensuring the quality and organization of the sale. Donated books from the public are carefully reviewed by volunteers, who clean and inspect each item before determining whether it meets standards for resale. Books are then sorted, categorized and alphabetized. Popular genres tend to reflect current reading trends, with thrillers and general fiction drawing the most interest among adults, while fantasy titles are especially sought after by teens and young readers.
The inventory itself depends entirely on community generosity. Donations are collected during designated periods leading up to the spring and fall
sales, with additional opportunities announced as needed. Residents can drop off books at the library or coordinate larger donations directly through the Friends.
Proceeds from the sale have a tangible impact across the community. Funds raised help support a variety of library offerings, including English for Speakers of Other Languages programs, author talks and seasonal events. The Friends also provides museum passes and local attractions tickets for public use, contribute books to community initiatives like Operation Santa, and sponsor activities such as the Summer Reading Program celebration. Recent efforts have included funding for an Earth Day seed giveaway and participation in holiday cultural events.
Organizing an event of this
scale requires a strong volunteer base. While a core group manages ongoing operations, additional volunteers step in to handle the increased activity of major sales, assisting with setup, customer service and breakdown throughout the day.
Despite the scale of the event, the focus remains on accessibility and community engagement. Prices are kept low, generally $1 for hardcover books and 50 cents for paperbacks, and volunteers aim to make the experience welcoming for all attendees, even assisting with carrying purchases when needed.
With its combination of affordability, variety, and community impact, the Spring Big Book Sale continues to be a staple event for local readers and a meaningful way to support the library’s expanding role in West Springfield.
Former governors praise bipartisan effort behind Romneycare
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — Joined by his predecessor who signed the landmark health care insurance access law, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick quipped that Romneycare should actually be named in his honor.
“I used to joke, Governor Romney, that we’d done so much to make Romneycare a reality, we really should call it Patrickcare,” Patrick said as Mitt Romney gave Patrick a thumbs-up and the crowd erupted in laughter.
The gathering was held at Faneuil Hall where Romney two decades ago signed the law that sought to expand access to overage by establishing an insurance mandate, launching the Health Connector exchange and fortifying public insurance programs. The state law laid the groundwork for the federal Affordable Care Act.
The commemorative event brought together former and current Beacon Hill leaders, health care officials, business executives and insurers to celebrate the bi-
partisan effort that made Chapter 58 possible — and the law’s role in helping to ensure the vast majority of Bay Staters have health insurance. The governors in attendance — Maura Healey, Romney, Patrick, Bill Weld and Michael Dukakis — drew a standing ovation as they entered the hall and then lavished praise on one another’s accomplishments.
After ribbing Romney, Patrick told the former U.S. senator, “As I bring you to the podium, let me say on a serious note that I honor your role, not only in signing Chapter 58 but in setting the tone for its success, for the broad coalition of policymakers, business, medical and labor leaders, academics and grassroots organizations that you and Senator (Ted) Kennedy, and (Senate) President (Robert) Travaglini, and Speaker (Salvatore) DiMasi brought together to invent health care expansion in Massachusetts, then stuck together to refine it and to strengthen it in the years that followed.”
Nearly 10% of residents were uninsured before the law was enacted, according to Healey’s
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office. The state’s uninsured rate is now 2.1%, compared to the national rate of 8.2%.
Romney credited three elements that shaped the law’s development and passage: politicians who worked together, political rivals who respected each other and “buried political weapons,” and staffers that navigated roadblocks and negotiations.
Romney recalled that he used to meet every Monday with Travaglini, House Speaker Tom Finneran and DiMasi to “build trust, update progress and solve problems.” Those once-weekly meetings with Beacon Hill’s bipartisan Big Three have now become a rarity. The former governor also reflected on his relationship with Kennedy, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate for almost 50 years.
“Senator Kennedy, the widely acclaimed dean of health care, collaborated with us, and I knew that without his blessing, this law would never become a real change element for the people of our state,” Romney said. “Matter of fact, on this stage at the celebration, there’s only one line I remember from all the speakers, and that came from Senator Kennedy. He said when Mitt Romney and Ted Kennedy are celebrating the same piece of legislation, it proves one thing: One of us didn’t read it.”
Beyond their weekly meetings, Travaglini recalled speaking with DiMasi and Romney every day.
“We told the truth — occasionally,” Travaglini said. “Sometimes we kept a few things quiet, but in the end, we all shared an understanding that what we were doing was historic and never done before, and it was going to save people’s lives.”
When negotiations hit a bitter standoff about employer requirements for health coverage, Travaglini jokingly reminisced about the weekend when Romney paid visits to his and DiMasi’s homes.
“When he knocked on my
door, I thought he was drunk and lost,” Travaglini said, sparking laughter. “I said, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’”
Addressing myriad stakeholders — Cabinet secretaries, agency officials, Health Connector staff, hospital and insurance leaders, advocates and clergy — involved with Chapter 58, Healey said they proved what can happen when policymakers “look past partisanship and instead set our eyes on the common good.”
Healey said the 2006 law is enabling residents to live healthier, longer lives, but said Massachusetts and the rest of the country is facing a “cost crisis.” The governor said “too many people” are asking whether they can afford coverage — not whether they can access it.
“Our nation’s health care system is broken, and Washington is not going to fix it, certainly not anytime soon,” Healey said. “And that’s a revolution I think that we need to lead again right here from Massachusetts.”
Health care affordability is straining residents’ wallets, as they contend with high deductible health plans, steep out-ofpocket costs and medical debt. The state’s uninsured rate could
also double under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act that contains new MassHealth work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks.
Solutions have been slow to emerge and Healey is looking for affordability ideas from a work group whose members joined the event on April 13. Initial recommendations are expected in June.
“I hope today, all of you members and those of you providing input on subcommittees, leave with an enthusiasm that we can get this done, that we can actually do something to make it better for folks in our state,” Healey said. “And maybe doing so, as we’ve done for centuries, lead the way for others to follow. Because the lesson of Massachusetts health care reform is that big changes require trust, and courage, and collaboration from everyone who has a stake. So, on this anniversary, I am calling on everyone here to help us meet the moment once again.”
House Speaker Ron Mariano, who helped broker the 2006 law, suggested Massachusetts faces another opportunity to “lead the way again.” The Quincy Demo-
Former Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Romneycare on April 13, 2026, at Faneuil Hall. State House News Service photo by Ella Adams
Healey plan aims to limit youth social media use
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — Less than a week after the House moved to ban social media for users under 14 years old, Gov. Maura Healey proposed her own, “complementary” proposal in an attempt to crack down on youth social media use.
Healey tucked language into a $227.3 million supplemental spending bill (HD 6042) filed on April 14 that would require social media platforms to have a “default” setting that disables addictive practices and imposes a two-hour time limit on users under the age of 18.
“Kids are spending an average of three and a half hours a day on social media. We know that even with three hours a day spent on social media, kids are twice as likely to suffer from depression and anxiety,” Healey said at a State House press conference.
Healey’s proposal would require platforms to implement an age assurance system to determine whether a user is a minor, as well as a review process to allow users to appeal an age designation. Platforms would be barred from using information collected and stored in the age assurance system, or in appeals, for anything but age assurance, and would have to delete the information within 10 days of an age determination or appeal resolution, per the bill text.
Once determining that an account belongs to a minor, platforms would impose default settings, which include restricting the visibility of the account, and limiting the sharing of content and direct messaging, to only connected accounts; disabling the visibility or sharing of “precise geolocation data” with others; disabling autoplay and infinite scroll; and both disabling notifications and restricting platform access between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and during hours “when school is typically in session.”
Minors would get periodic reminders about the impacts of social media on their health, and reminders after they’ve been on platforms for more than an hour. Default settings could be changed with parental consent for minors who are 15 years old or younger. Minor users who are aged 16 and older would be able to change their own default settings.
“This isn’t a ban, but it is deactivation,” Healey said on April 14 at a press conference.
Lawmakers across the country have pointed to negative mental health impacts of social media on youth. In a landmark social media addiction trial in March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harms to youth using their platforms, per the Associated Press. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on April 10 ruled that Meta must face a lawsuit by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, according to Reuters. Campbell’s suit alleged that the company purposefully designed their apps to addict young users.
The industry has widely challenged social media age verification laws. Tech trade association NetChoice has argued on several occasions that the laws violate First Amendment rights.
“This proposal raises serious constitutional concerns and mirrors a growing trend of laws that courts are increasingly rejecting across the country. In state after state, efforts to restrict minors’ access to online services or micromanage platform design have been enjoined or struck down for violating the First Amendment and imposing sweeping, unworkable mandates,” NetChoice Vice President of Government Affairs Amy Bos told the News Service.
“Courts have been clear: the government cannot block Americans’ access to lawful speech or compel private companies to redesign their services in ways that burden protected expression. The proposal announced today appears to follow that same legally vulnerable path,” Bos added.
Healey Senior Advisor Gabrielle Viator said, when asked about legal precedent, “There certainly have been other approaches taken in other states that have faced legal challenge. I think we’re fortunate here to have worked closely with the attorney general’s office and feel that we have an approach focused on the default features that we feel is strong and will hold up.”
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page said MTA members agree that the state needs “some consistent baseline policies on cellphone usage and social media across all districts, so it doesn’t fall on individual educators to make rules for their classrooms.”
“Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that one change, or even a few changes that were just outlined by the governor, will be a magic elixir for curing what is a deeper societal malaise,” Page
said. “But let’s also not make the mistake that the problem is too big.”
Healey said implementation would be “pretty straightforward.”
Pressed about how a two-hour limit on all social media would work in practice, she said, “When you pass laws, you expect companies to abide by laws, so it’s something that they’ll have to do. I also don’t think it’s that hard as a technical matter.”
Asked by a reporter how TikTok would know how much time a user has spent on Instagram, Healey retorted, “You don’t think TikTok knows?”
Deputy Attorney General Sara Cable then took the podium and said, “I don’t know.”
“I think anyone who has used social media understands that the apps know a whole lot about you, not just from your use of the app, but from your use of the device off-app, or from your use of other apps. There is an ability to talk to each other,” Cable said. “I think, to the governor’s point, we are not tech people, nor should we. A law cannot do their job for them, but can set the standard.”
Healey’s bill would direct the attorney general to create regulations and would monetarily punish social media companies that violate the restrictions it lays out.
Healey told reporters that she supports the House’s social media proposal passed last week and hopes both proposals become law. The House voted to ban social media for children under 14, require that platforms obtain parental consent for users aged
14 and 15, and ban student cellphone use during the school day. Reps added language in the final bill aimed at addressing addictive feeds and protecting certain vulnerable groups.
“And you know, there may be other good ideas as we go forward with — we’ll see what happens in conference,” she added. “I think that the good news here is that across government and government leadership, you see a recognition, like, we get it. Parents, we get it. Kids, we get it. This is out of control.”
The House bill (H 5366) passed on a 129-25 vote leans heavily on the attorney general for implementation. Democratic Reps. Erika Uyterhoeven and Mike Connolly voted against the bill, citing concerns about data privacy and big tech. The majority of the Republican caucus also voted against it. Should the bill go to conference committee as anticipated, the Senate would have to determine whether to go along with the social media aspect.
The digital advocacy group Fight For the Future called the House bill “draconian and laughably unconstitutional” on the basis that it “would ban minors from social media, force social media platforms to enable parental surveillance of teenagers’ online activity, and subject everyone to privacy-invading online ID checks in order to access information or speak out online.”
Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service and State Affairs Massachusetts. Reach her at ella.adams@statehousenews.com.
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crat said Massachusetts is grappling with a new slate of health care challenges that require bipartisan cooperation.
“I hope that today’s celebrations can inspire a renewed commitment in all the stakeholders here today to come together and tackle the fundamental questions in health care about what we pay, how we pay it, and who gets left behind when it doesn’t go right,” Mariano said.
The Legislature wrote a health care cost containment law in 2012, though spending continues to far outpace the spending target. House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz called health care expenditures a “huge
component of our budget,” with the issue magnified by Massachusetts not having a “reliable partner from the federal government.”
“That has obviously, certainly made us have to look and try to be strategic going forward,” Michlewitz told the News Service. “I don’t know what that answer is yet. I think there’s a lot of discussion that’s being had amongst legislators, amongst the working group that the governor mentioned, but we do have to have some long-term stability related to the cost component, and we don’t have that right now. That’s something that is still missing from the discussions of today.”
Mariano commented last week that the state of Massachusetts’ health care system now reminds him of the ecosystem in 2006, when Romneycare was signed into law.
Asked on April 13 if his remarks meant that the Legislature is working on health care legislation, Mariano said, “No.”
“That does not mean anything other than some of the things, the problems we had in 2006, we’re starting to have again,” Mariano said. “People showing up in the emergency room, hospitals, uninsured. That’s a big problem, because hospitals still have to treat you, and they get the bill.”
Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw said April 13’s event was a celebration of “consensus-building.” He suggested policymakers can use that lens to tackle a “lot of challenges ahead.”
“We continue to need to work together to address meaningful change around affordability in the health care market. I think that was acknowledged by the participants even 20 years ago, a decade ago and now,” Caljouw told the News Service. “I like to consider myself a blunt optimist, and I think we can tackle those same challenges, and we will.” Ella Adams of the State House News Service contributed to this report.
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
Gov. Maura Healey (center) speaks at a press conference about social media legislation on April 14, 2026, in
House.
Filomena Stellato regains control of the ball as she moves into scoring territory.
Olivia Govoni helps defend the Brownies goal.
Bella Santaniello leads the Agawam attack.
Taeva Brogan disrupts the East Longmeadow attack.
Lucia LaRocque passes the ball out of the Agawam end.
Finn Mahoney (6) of the Brownies defends East Longmeadow goalkeeper Julia Gray behind the Spartans net.
Agawam’s Makayla Rosario scores one of her 2 goals on this shot.
Agawam’s Cecelia Litz withstands Abigail Meehan’s attempt to dislodge the ball.
Lily Charest gathers up the loose ball.
General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant to visit historic site
AGAWAM — The grounds of the historic Thomas Smith House at 251 North West St. in Feeding Hills will be the site of a first-person visit from General & Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant on Saturday, May 2. An open house at the National Register-listed property will take place from noon to 3 p.m., with a presention by General & Mrs. Grant at 1 p.m. This event is suit-
able for all ages; 19th century-style clothing will be available for children to try on and have their photos taken with the general.
After a brief introduction and survey of the general’s life by Mrs. Julia D. Grant, the engagements, habits and contributions of the great Civil War general will be explored by Sam Grant through the use of lively and often humor-
ous anecdotes, letters and impressions of the times. Since 1989, Sam Grant has dedicated his life to understanding Ulysses S. Grant, one of the greatest leaders this nation has ever known. After years of study and experience, and portrayal of Grant, his professional interpretation of the general’s physical stature and character have won
him the intellectual admiration and heartfelt appreciation of novice spectators and the most serious students of Civil War history alike. A highly acclaimed academic and motivational speaker, film producer, and United States Navy veteran, Sam Grant’s inspiring and informative presentation will leave you with the overwhelming sense you have experienced the
true General Grant, up close and personal, as history should be. Photo opportunities with the general and Mrs. Grant will follow the presentation. This program, free and open to the public, is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
DA’s office opens applications for community support program
SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden District Attorney’s Office is now accepting applications for its Forfeiture Community Support Program, which provides funding to local nonprofit organizations working to promote public safety, prevention and community well-being across Hampden County. Applications are due by May 8. The program is funded through assets forfeited as a result of drug-related investigations and prosecutions. Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 94C,
Excellence
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After doing her student teaching at AHS during the 2006-07 school year, Kriebel began teaching seventh and eighth grade Spanish at Baird Middle School in Ludlow. In 2023, she became an eighth grade Spanish teacher at Agawam Junior High School.
“This is my hometown, and I love giving back to the community that shaped me to be the teacher I am,” Kriebel said. “I really try to infuse joy in my classroom. I like to make students smile in my lessons, and then really celebrate their learning every day.”
Section 47, funds connected to drug offenses may be forfeited following a court proceeding and judicial order. The statute allows a portion of those funds to be retained by the District Attorney’s Office, including up to 10% for community-based initiatives that support prevention and public safety.
Through this program, the Hampden District Attorney’s Office directs a portion of those forfeited funds back into the community by supporting organizations that are working on the front lines
Kriebel said speaking in Spanish can be intimidating and any effort at all to try to speak another language in front of others should be celebrated. “This year, I had a former student, who is taking career exploration in high school now, ask to shadow me for the day because he loved my teaching methods when he was a student. He said I inspired him to be a language teacher.”
Emails Kriebel receives from former students makes her feel proud her class leaves a lasting impact on them. “I hope it inspires them to continue learning languages and also to believe in themselves in whatever they do,” she said.
Kriebel said being recog-
of violence prevention, youth development, education, mentorship and neighborhood improvement.
“Turning the proceeds of crime into meaningful investments in prevention and opportunity is one of the most impactful tools we have,” said District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “These funds allow us to support organizations that are doing critical work every day to strengthen our communities and create safer environments for young people and families across Hampden County.”
Eligible applicants include
nized with this award is “both validating and motivating.” She added that receiving it “felt like my efforts were seen and valued — and it inspires me to continue doing the best I can for my students. This is not a job where you can earn spot bonuses for going above and beyond in the classroom. Awards like this make you feel appreciated.”
For Rumplik, teaching is a family affair. Her grandmother was a substitute special education teacher in Springfield and her husband is a science teacher at AHS.
“My mom spoke very highly of education and my grandmother’s job. My husband was the one who encouraged me to teach science and STEM. He said I was
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.
AGAWAM
Robert A. Helin
Susan A. O’Hare
Paul S. Vadnais
FEEDING HILLS
Rose A. Gasteyer
Ashley Poitras-Marrero
Adam J. Tietze
John Wagner (Ronnie) HUNTINGTON
Michael F. Ziter
SOUTHWICK
Shirley L. Holl
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Martin G. Balboni Alberic Jean Brisson
Ronald R. Kwiatkowski
Margaret Muzzy (Smith) WESTFIELD
Thomas “Gunner” Laptew
Richard Pisano Sr. (Dick)
Marsha Ann Ryan Maria Torres
nonprofit organizations that serve Hampden County residents and align with the program’s goals of promoting safety, prevention, and positive community outcomes.
Funding requests should clearly outline how the proposed program or initiative will contribute to these efforts.
Applications must be submitted by May 8. The application form and full program details are available at hampdenda.com/forfeiture-grant -program-2024/
Last year, the Hampden Dis-
smart and creative and would be good at it. He helped me realize I was smart enough and capable to do it — even though during my educational years in junior high and high school I didn’t have the confidence to challenge myself and take risks.”
Now a STEAM (science, technology, arts, engineering and math) teacher at Doering Middle School, Rumplik has been working with Agawam students for 27 years — the first two years as a paraprofessional.
“I became a teacher because I knew I liked it from coaching and teaching Sunday School. One of the things I like best about being a teacher is encouraging students to be challenged, be confident and take risks,” said Rumplik. She tells students not to be afraid to try new things and become more aware of the “amazing careers and futures” that are
trict Attorney’s Office awarded $91,175 in forfeiture funds to 17 local nonprofit organizations, supporting a wide range of programs focused on youth development, mentorship, violence prevention and community engagement.
Since taking office, District Attorney Gulluni has directed hundreds of thousands of dollars forfeited through drug prosecutions back into Hampden County communities, reinforcing the Office’s commitment to prevention, education and long-term public safety.
out there for them. “Some of my proudest moments as a teacher have been hearing students and parents let me know that their child has been inspired because of me or they want to go into robotics or engineering as a career.”
One of Rumplik’s proudest achievements is starting a summer science camp. “Parents and students love it. I’ve had kids tell me that my camp program was their ‘childhood.’ That’s a pretty awesome thing to hear.”
Rumplik said it’s important to recognize excellence in teaching because education is very important and should be held in the highest regard like it is in some other countries. “Education is going to give people skills that you take with you into all aspects of your life — whether it be career, college or even family. Things like critical thinking, creativity, perseverance and so much more.”
DEERFIELD — As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Historic Deerfield’s 2026 season is centered on bringing the Revolutionary era to life as a lived, local experience in Western Massachusetts.
Starting April 18, visitors can explore the era through a new series of exhibitions that examines the Revolutionary period from multiple perspectives: political, cultural, aesthetic and deeply personal.
Drawing from its extensive collections and the stories of local residents, Historic Deerfield’s upcoming exhibitions illuminate how the Revolution was experienced, debated and understood both in New England and across the Atlantic world.
The three exhibitions include “Picturing the Revolution, Dressing the Revolution, Fashion and Politics 1760-1789” and “A Town Divided, Deerfield in the Age of the Revolution.” The first two exhibitions will run from April 18 to Jan. 3, 2027 while the third exhibition will run from April 18 until Jan. 2, 2028.
Together, the exhibitions reveal how images shaped political narratives across the Atlantic world; how garments, textiles, and adornment became declarations of allegiance; and how one rural Massachusetts town grappled with the upheaval transforming an empire into a republic. Ac-
cording to organizers, by placing Deerfield within the wider currents of Revolutionary thought and commerce, these exhibitions illuminate Western Massachusetts’ essential role in the birth of the nation.
Historic Deerfield Marketing and Communications Director Danaë DiNicola said that during the spring and summer, Historic Deerfield is offering hands-on and immersive programs that connect visitors directly to 18th-century life. These programs include weekly trade demonstrations like blacksmithing, tailoring and pottery; hearth cooking programs featuring historically significant foods like election cake; and family-focused activities at the Discovery Center that explore Revolutionary espionage through coded messages and invisible ink.
Special events include Wooly Wonders in early May, which highlights the agricultural and textile traditions that underpinned the colonial economy, and a Juneteenth Witness Stones Walking Tour that expands the Revolutionary narrative by honoring the lives of enslaved people in Deerfield, including Prince, an enslaved man who sought self-emancipation.
Later in the season, Historic Deerfield is collaborating with Plays in Place to present “A Stake in the Ground: 1774,” a series of outdoor, site-specific performances set on the eve of the Revolution.
“Altogether, the season invites visitors to explore the Revolution
not as a distant story, but as something that unfolded in homes, workshops and communities like Deerfield,” DiNicola stated.
Historic Deerfield is a museum of early American life located in an authentic 18th century New England village in the Connecticut River Valley. Through its preserved historic houses and extensive collection of decorative arts, it offers visitors a chance to engage directly with the material and cultural history of early America.
DiNicola said Historic Deerfield generally offers a robust lineup of exhibitions, demonstrations, and public programs, but has unified the theme of the American Revolution into a lot of its offerings this season. “Recognizing the 250th anniversary
of the American Revolution was quite important to Historic Deerfield, particularly because this region played a meaningful role in that history,” DiNicola stated. “Our goal is not just to commemorate the anniversary, but to encourage thoughtful engagement with it.”
She continued, “This 250th anniversary of the Revolution has given us the opportunity to unify our offerings and allowing us to explore a topic from unexpected angles.”
DiNicola said most of Historic Deerfield’s daytime offerings, including exhibitions, trade demonstrations, hearth cooking programs, and Discovery Center activities, are included with general admission and do not require advance registration.
Historic Deerfield is open Wednesdays through Sundays, as well as Monday holidays, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors can purchase tickets upon arrival at the Hall Tavern Visitor Center or at the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. However, certain special programs and events, such as “A Stake in the Ground: 1774,” do require advance tickets, which can be purchased through Historic Deerfield’s website. Readers can find more information at historic-deerfield.org.
General admission is $20 for adults and $5 for youth ages 1317; children 12 and under receive free admission as do Historic Deerfield members and Deerfield/South Deerfield residents.
Provisions Picks: New wave of domestic Chardonnay hits shelves
As wine professionals we often face terrible misconceptions and slanders against our favorite grapes. We hear that cabernet sauvignon is a graceless fruit bomb (tell that to Bordeaux), that riesling is too sweet (there is a whole category of dry riesling called “trocken”), and that zinfandel is overwhelmingly heavy (not so in the hands of California’s new generation of winemakers!). However, no grape is more frequently misunderstood than our dear, beautiful chardonnay. Too often we’re told that it’s too buttery, too oaky, or too sweet. It is true that there was a time when many California wineries made a name for themselves by making the biggest and boldest examples of chardonnay out there, using large percentages of new oak barrels and malolactic fermentation to maximize the butter and vanilla notes in their white wines. This, along with California’s famous sunshine and the ripeness that can result from it, led to wines that, while sometimes finely crafted, were out of balance.
This grape is famously versatile and flexible though, known in the industry as “the winemaker’s grape” because of it’s ability to
express itself in so many different ways. For example, cool climate chardonnays from places like Santa Barbara and Chablis are generally crisp, refreshing and bone-dry white wines with ample acidity. Explore Burgundy or Oregon and you’ll find chardonnays of unparalleled complexity and balance that integrate with oak so beautifully that you’ll barely notice that it’s there. Furthermore, many chardonnays do not undergo malolactic fermentation, the conversion of malic (apple) acid to lactic (buttery) acids, at all.
As you may be gathering, many of the features of the grape that some don’t care for are in fact decisions made in the winery rather than innate traits of the variety. Which leads me to three of our favorite domestic producers that are producing medium-bodied and balanced chardonnays that will change your mind about the grape.
First up we have Osmote’s Cayuga Lake Chardonnay. Osmote is the project Ben Ricardi, a Finger Lakes native who initially worked in California until returning home in 2017 to make wine in upstate New York. This is a cool climate region, one that you’d ini-
tially think would be inhospitable to wine grapes, but in the Finger Lakes the proximity to large bodies of water moderates the chill of winter slightly, allowing the grapes to reach ripeness. The Cayuga Lake chardonnay is light bodied and thirst quenching with a lean angularity more reminiscent of Chablis than California. Mineral with a touch of citrus peel. This is as light an ethereal as chardonnay gets. ($21.99)
Next we have Scar of the Sea’s Vino de Los Ranchos Chardonnay. Scar of the Sea is the project of up and coming star Mikey Guigni, a young winemaker rapidly gaining attention for a hands of winemaking style that yields supple, balanced wines that sing with food. Sourced from a pair of organic vineyards on California’s central coast, this wine is aged on the lees for a year and a half before being bottled unfiltered. Crisp but textured, this wine showcases cool climate minerality with hints of golden apple and brioche. ($34.99)
Catch and Release produce their Fair Trade Chardonnay from a vineyard located between the Russian River and the north end of the Mayacamas mountain
range in Mendocino County. This wine comes in at a low 11.8% alcohol, proving that California chardonnay can in fact be light on its feet. The wine undergoes a mild malolactic fermentation and aging in neutral oak barrels that impart no flavor while allowing
the wine to breath, softening the edges of the wine and adding a bit of mouthfeel. The result is a chardonnay that is easy-drinking and refreshing with a bright acidity and mouth watering notes of lime, minerality, and a touch of saltiness in the finish.($39.99)
From left: Picturing the Revolution. A blacksmithing exhibit taking place during Historic Deerfield’s 2025 season.
Reminder Publishing submitted photos
AGAWAM
Duda Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, and David M. Duda, trustee, to Holly Steinmetz, 144 River
Ginette M. Poirier, Melissa Poirier and Melissa Harpin to Aleksandr Govor, 2-4
John Houle and Julie Houle to Vitalii Tverdokhlib, 1077 Main St.
Lisa Cecchini to Jane White, 178 Brookfield Lane Unit 178
Matthew Battista and Rena M. Battista to Sell 2 Us LLC, 30 Barberry
Walter S. Pieciak Jr., to Julian Trenholm and Stephanie Mercorelli, 354 Rowley St.
SOUTHWICK
Jeremy Pepin and Hayley Pepin to Steven Gardner and Jennifer Gardner, 5A Sawgrass Lane
Robert E. Wheeler to IHI Wave LLC, 368 Granville Road
Sharon Mae Dunn to Christine Frappier, John F. Frappier Jr., and Laura A. Gioscia, 27 Rosewood Lane Unit G-3
U S Bank Trust, trustee, and LSF10 Master Participation Trust, trustee of, to Ruslana Popa, 8 Curtis Road
Wicked Deals LLC, to Madison Shelby Girouard, 3 Evergreen St.
SPRINGFIELD
2024R&L LLC, to Hammond Business Center LLC, 2220 Main St.
Aileen Ramos and William Guilbe to Marimar T. Cedrez, 42 Marquette St.
$1,500,000
$290,000
Andrew K. Agyemang, representative, and Kofie Afriyie, estate, to Ashley R. Desjardins, 60 Jeanne Marie St. $305,000
Angela Streeter to Naples Home Buyers Inc., 51-53 Suffolk St.
Carmen L. Montalvo to Amanda Lee Blake and Roxanne Lee Cramer, 1730 Carew St.
Carol E. Nicholson to Kenneth R. Close Jr., 46 Puritan Circle
Colleen O. Quintyne to Gary McDonald-Williams, Lee Kimball and Emily Kimball, 410 Allen St.
Dalin Ou and Noeun Touey-Ou to Robinah K. Nantale, 40 Byers St.
Elizer Vasquez to Dayana Yubilee Lugo Medina, 134-136 Woodlawn St.
Emma G. Mesa-Melendez and Julio A. Melendez to Cole Walker and Tiffinie Walker, 35 Carlton
