Mercy Medical Center, which has been affiliated with Trinity Health of New England for more than a decade, is slated to become Baystate Mercy Hospital by the end of the year.
Page 2
AGAWAM Committee adopts ‘fiscally responsible’ $55 million budget
The Agawam School Committee recently approved a budget that avoids cuts to staff and programs.
Page 6
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Garden Club to host annual plant sale
The Garden Club has been working since March for its annual plant sale on May 15-16.
AGAWAM | FEEDING HILLS | WEST SPRINGFIELD
Councilors, residents ask about intersection project
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — The community turned out in force on April 27 to ask questions of Mayor Christopher Johnson and department heads about the need to change an intersection at the cost of a beloved business’s parking lot.
Pajer Superette, referred to by residents as “Pajer’s,” sits on the corner of Cooper and Rowley streets where they meet Suffield Street. In 2023, the city was approved for a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund to design an updated intersection with safety improvements because Suffield Street is a throughway from Connecticut to the MGM Springfield casino. A subsequent $889,100 community mitigation grant was awarded for construction of the project, and the town would need to provide an $800,000 match. The grant funding expires on June 30, DPW Director Mario Mazza said, adding that he was trying to secure an extension, but the town “needs to show construction starting soon.”
Mazza said early in the design process, the town considered a roundabout. However, the idea was scrapped because it would not fit well in the available space, and the town would need to take a significant amount of private land. Instead, the team working on the project settled on improvements to the signalized intersection. The improvements include dedicated left turn lanes,
technology that would change the light to green when an emergency vehicle’s flashing lights approach and crosswalks that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While most of the sidewalk would be flat concrete that is level with the street, the corner of the lot would need to be rounded, and a curb and bollards would be installed to protect pedestrians waiting to cross the street.
Most of the city councilors and residents who spoke at the April 21 meeting expressed support for updating the traffic lights, and some were in favor of a left turn lane. However, nearly everyone who spoke was against adding sidewalks and updating the crosswalks at the intersection because it would require an easement and a sidewalk that would cut into the corner of Pajer’s parking lot.
Mazza explained that easements do not involve taking the land. Instead, the town pays the property owner a one-time fee to
access the land, sometimes temporarily, other times, as with Pajer’s, it is permanent.
Town Engineer Michelle Chase presented mock-ups of the parking at Pajer’s and the number of spaces the shop would lose due to the sidewalk and curb at the corner. Because the lot is unstriped, she estimated there are currently nine 10-foot wide parking spaces in front of the building, two on the side and another seven in back, totaling 18. She said the plan would result in the loss of the two spaces in front of the building, closest to the street corner. If the spaces were striped and shrunken to a standard 9-foot width, she said, there would still be 16 spaces and room for a legally required accessible space.
Councilor Anthony Suffriti pointed out that Chase assumed there were four parking spaces in front of a house that is adjacent to the shop. If Pajer sold the house in the future, those spaces would
not be available. Chase acknowledged that, reducing her estimate to 14 existing parking spaces and 12 spaces if the sidewalk were constructed.
Pajer disagreed with Chase’s assessment. He said four cars park on the side of the building, and he would lose two of those as well as the ones in the front. He estimated that to be a loss of $120 worth of sales per week.
Chase said she, Mazza and engineering company VHB, with which the town contracted for the project, took an in-depth look at Pajer’s property when drafting the design. Mazza and Chase said they have been in conversation with business owner Alfred Pajer over the past few years, and compromises have already been made, including trimming the curbed area by 3 feet on one side of the corner and 12 feet on the other.
Several city councilors at-
From left: DPW Director Mario Mazza, Mayor Christopher Johnson and Town Engineer Michelle Chase listen to resident questions. Alfred Pajer, owner of Pajer Superette, argues with DPW Mario Mazza about plans to update the intersection in front of his shop.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen See PAJER’S
Baystate Health to absorb Mercy Medical Center
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center, which has been affiliated with Trinity Health of New England for more than a decade, is slated to become Baystate Mercy Hospital by the end of the year.
In announcing Baystate Health’s acquisition of Mercy, Baystate Health President and CEO Peter D. Banko stated, “Mercy and the Sisters of Providence have been a fixture in our community since 1874. This is an investment in both the past and the future of health care and economic development in Western Massachusetts. Today, access forces too many patients to leave the region to seek care, and we need to ensure that care is compassionate, high quality, affordable, and local.”
A joint press release from Baystate and Trinity about the transition cited “inadequate reimbursement for care, industry-wide shifts — such as declining payment rates, changing consumer preferences toward outpatient services and persistent staffing shortages,” at Mercy as reasons behind the move.
Mercy has taken steps in recent years to bolster its financial position. Among them, Mercy Medical Center’s Certified Nurse Midwives moved maternity delivery services to Baystate Medical Center in December 2025. Baystate’s website states, “We have rigorously prepared for an additional 800 deliveries annually, including actively recruit-
Pajer’s
Continued from page 1
tempted to find further compromise. “I would like to see if we can come together,” said Councilor George Bitzas, urging people to use “common sense.
Councilor Cecilia Calabrese asked if the town could update
ing more OB/GYNs, midwives and nurses.”
Mayor Domenic Sarno released a statement on the merger.
“I am very thankful to Baystate Health’s efforts to preserve two hospitals in the city. There was a distinct possibility that Mercy/ Trinity would simply close down. That was unacceptable,” Sarno said. “From the beginning, with my continued interaction with Baystate Health and Mercy/Trinity officials, as well as state officials, notably Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, I indicated that it was imperative that Springfield and the region must preserve two top notch hospitals for health care accessibility for the residents of Springfield and the surrounding areas. I am thankful to Baystate Health President & CEO Peter Banko, Gov. Healey, Lt. Gov. Driscoll and all parties involved for their efforts, and after long negotiations, that this has come to fruition.”
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who represents the state’s first congressional district, including the greater Springfield area, also praised the move. “I am pleased that Baystate Health and Trinity Health have reached an agreement that will allow these two vibrant hospitals to continue serving our communities,” Neal said. “As the country continues to grapple with unprecedented health care cuts resulting from President Trump’s One Big, Ugly Law, this acquisition will expand access to health care and improve services throughout the Pioneer
the traffic signals and crosswalks but not include the rest of the project. Johnson said the crosswalks cannot be done without the easements. City Council President Anthony Russo asked if the other crosswalks at the intersection could be done, leaving Pajer’s corner alone. Mazza later explained that pedestrians must be able to access all locations in
Valley and beyond.” Neal continued, “Together, these institutions represent more than three centuries of service to western and central Massachusetts. Ensuring their viability and continued success is vital to the health of our families and our local economies, and this announcement represents a critical step in strengthening our regional health care system for generations to come.”
Baystate issued a statement thanking the Healey-Driscoll administration, Neal, Sarno and the Western Massachusetts Legislative delegation “for their steadfast and unwavering support of this hospital partnership in Western Massachusetts.”
Despite this statement, some members of the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation have questions about the change.
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez said he has reached out to Banko to request a meeting with himself and the rest of the Springfield delegation to discuss the implications for local health care services and personnel.
“The announcement of the acquisition raises significant concerns regarding the future of our health care landscape,” said Gonzalez. “It is vital that we ensure the continued operation of both hospitals in Springfield. Protecting our dedicated workers and staff is essential, as is guaranteeing that our community retains access to critical medical services.”
Like Gonzalez, state Sen. Jake Oliveira, who represents portions
the intersection, or the crosswalk would not be ADA compliant. If the intersection is not ADA compliant, the state will take back the funding, leaving Agawam on the hook for the whole project cost.
Councilor Ed Borgatti suggested moving the crosswalks back from the corner, but Mazza said “mid-block” crosswalks are dangerous because vehicles
of Springfield, also said he has many questions about Mercy becoming affiliated with Baystate. However, he said the priority is to ensure that both Mercy and Baystate Medical Center continue to operate.
“If Mercy shut their doors, it would send a ripple effect” through Western Massachusetts health care, he said, adding that the hospital serves a lot of people on Medicare and Medicaid. “It’s my hope that we have two hospitals operating in Springfield because there is such a great need.”
Oliveira said he hopes that Mercy will keep its character, as he said other hospitals have done after being absorbed by Baystate. He said many people seek treatment at Mercy because it is a Catholic hospital and people “value that kind of care.”
are traveling at full speed, rather than slowing as they approach the light. Borgatti also suggested removing a utility pole owned by Eversource to create more parking. Johnson said he had spoken to Eversource, and they agreed to move the pole, but it would not likely happen until 2027.
Councilor Tom Hendrickson asked about creating parking on property Pajer owns across the street. Mazza told him, “We offered to do it for him.” However, residents nixed the idea of parking across the street, saying it would be dangerous to cross two roads to get to the store.
“I understand the need for ADA compliance,” said Councilor Robert Rossi, but because the intersection is “not a hotbed of pedestrian activity,” the sidewalks are not needed. “The City Council has a right to reject or even modify any portion of that, and we won’t lose one nickel,” Rossi said, before addressing Johnson. “Don’t shake your head, Mr. Mayor, because that happens to be the law,” he said, receiving a round of applause from the residents.
Chase spoke to the idea that pedestrians do not walk in the area. She said she has received requests to extend the sidewalks that already exist on Cooper, Rowley and Suffield streets.
Councilor Christine Rickmon asked a series of questions before declaring that the application for the project contained false in-
The legislator said he was concerned about health care consolidation but pointed out that Baystate hospitals are not people’s only options in the Pioneer Valley. Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is affiliated with Mass General Brigham and Holyoke Medical Center is an independent hospital.
Trinity Health of New England stated on its website that no immediate staffing changes are planned. The health care group declined to make any other comment. Reminder Publishing reached out to Baystate with questions about staffing and personnel changes, but did not receive a response by press time. Provided that the transition is approved after the regulatory review process, Mercy will be absorbed on Nov. 1.
formation because stakeholder engagement had not been completed prior.
Pajer said the town was basing the project off estimates and did not have firm numbers, but Chase explained, “That is the process.” Borgatti defended Chase, saying she has been “nothing but transparent.” Russo agreed, saying she has always been “open and honest around this project.”
When asked by Pajer, Mazza estimated that upgrading only the lights would cost about $900,000. Pajer said the town’s estimate for the project showed the lights would cost a third of that. The two began to argue when Mazza said the town can only have the lights done for less because it is part of the larger project.
While most residents spoke against the project, one person said that if Agawam decided not to install the ADA accessible sidewalks and crosswalks and an accident occurred, the town would be liable because it had the opportunity to do so.
The easements must be voted on by the second week in May if the town is to meet the expiration deadline. If the project is approved, Mazza said construction would begin in June and be “substantially” complete by November, although if the weather causes delays, some work may be needed in spring 2027.
“This is not a done deal,” Russo assured the residents.
Baystate Health recently announced that it will absorb Mercy Medical Center (pictured), which has been operated by Trinity Health of New England since 2015.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
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Committee adopts ‘fiscally responsible’ $55 million budget
By Mike Lydick Correspondent
AGAWAM — While many communities in the region struggle to approve school budgets that don’t put services, resources, programs and teaching positions on the chopping block, the Agawam School Committee has once again avoided that scenario.
At its April 28 meeting the committee approved a $55.1 million budget for fiscal year 2027 presented by Superintendent Sheila Martin that has no cuts to staff, services resources or programs. The new budget increases school spending by 2.80% from the FY26 budget of $53.5 million. The difference between the budgets is $1.5 million. In April 2025, the committee approved a FY26 budget increase of 3.78%.
Martin told the committee that the FY27 budget is “strategically designed” to support the district’s core values and priorities, rather than a list of cost centers. “This budget holistically outlines an investment in our most valuable asset: our educators and the resources they need to deliver high quality instruction to every student every day,” said Martin.
She said the FY27 budget prioritizes three interconnected areas of instructional success: professional time with colleagues, high-quality instructional materials and high-quality professional development.
“Research consistently shows
By Alison Kuznitz
State House News Service
BOSTON — Dozens of lawmakers wearing denim jackets and denim jeans gathered on April
that teacher collaboration is a primary driver of student growth. In the FY27 budget, we are restructuring our scheduling models to protect and prioritize professional learning communities, and this comes in different forms across the different schools.”
Martin said the intention is to maximize collaboration time when teachers are already working with high quality instructional materials. “This budget continues the district’s commitment toward evidence based, rigorous curricula that are aligned with state standards.”
Beyond physical textbooks, Martin said this budget supports adaptive digital platforms that provide real time feedback to students and actionable data to teachers. In addition, the district will continue to provide consistent K-12 literacy and math assessments throughout the year. Reoccurring costs of manipulative kits, lab supplies and workbooks have been factored into the budget.
Martin said new materials are only as effective as the instruction behind them. She said the FY27 professional development strategy shifts toward continued, sustained job embedded coaching. This includes instructional rounds in all the district’s eight schools throughout the year, providing the beneficial opportunity for educators to learn from one another. It also includes 14 instructional coaching positions throughout the
district to lead the embedded professional development.
The FY27 budget also continues a commitment to use data driven decision making through data collection and analysis for use in instructional and social emotional interventions.
• Special services out of district tuitions: $722,927
• Information Technology: $114,508 Athletics, $4,000
• Regular ed out of district programs: $40,116 Increases to building based budgets: $15,010
Following the superintendent’s presentation on the proposed budget, Mayor Christopher Johnson, the committee chair, opened a public hearing on the budget. When no one came forward to speak in support or opposition to the budget, the hearing was closed.
At the end of the hearing, the committee proceeded to vote on the proposed budget. The vote to approve it was six in favor, with Johnson abstaining. Several committee members also commented on the FY27 budget.
School Committee member
A.J. Christopher, chair of the Budget/Finance Subcommittee, which helped to prepare the bud-
get, said the cost of three factors that the committee can’t control — salaries, transportation and out of district tuition — cost the district $1.45 million, accounting for most of this year’s budget increase.
“The fact that we were able to retain all our staff, continue to put the programs out there with costs that are out of our control is just a great testament to how well we prepared these budgets year after year after year, especially when you look at the surrounding communities that are having five, six, seven percent budget conversations, looking for all these overrides and laying off teachers left and right.”
Christopher added that it was the district’s “great use” of money received during COVID and all the grants that were applied for and awarded that have helped to make a difference with the budgets.
He also said Agawam is one of seven districts that participate in bus service provided by the Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative. The cost of the service is split among those districts.
Christopher said Agawam has consolidated its routes to make bus runs more efficient. “So, that’s a pretty big thing to highlight. A lot of the public has been saying transportation cost is just ridiculous, because we don’t see a lot of people on the busses. We’re continuing to work on that.”
Committee member Shelley Borgatti-Reed thanked the superintendent and her staff for a “fiscally responsible” budget. “We keep our staff. our services. We’re still able to add resources and programs that benefit our students. That’s pretty hard to do with the rising costs of things, and some of our surrounding towns are not in as good a shape as we are.”
Michael Perry, a member of the Budget/Finance Subcommittee, said the regular out of district education increase, is attributable to a lot of students going into the trades that Agawam has to send out to other districts and pay the tuitions for them. “That’s something I think everybody here generally supports, is kids getting an education that’ll help them in the future. So, overall, a 2.8% increase in an economy where we’ve seen inflation sort of out of control is extremely impressive.”
The budget now heads to the City Council to be incorporated into the town’s FY27 budget. Residents can view the school budget on cable Channel 15. It’s also available for the public to review at the Agawam Public Library, the city clerk’s office at Town Hall and the superintendent’s office at the Agawam Junior High School. It also will be posted on the district’s website: agawamed.org.
29 on the Grand Staircase for an annual photo op, with their unusually casual outfits in the midst of House budget week offering symbolic solidarity with sexual assault survivors.
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka and a sexual assault survivor stood at the front, with rows of male and female lawmakers from both branches sporting their denim attire.
Falling at the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Denim Day is marked globally as an ongoing rebuke of a 1999 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction. The court found the 18-year-old victim was wearing such tight jeans that “she must have consented,” Rep. Natalie Higgins claimed.
A former rape crisis counselor, Higgins stressed the importance of uplifting survivor stories, believing survivors and calling out victim-blaming.
“Denim Day is a harder day for me because it is rooted in the challenges with our legal system that for so many survivors, it isn’t a place where they see justice,” the Leominster Democrat said at the event organized by the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators.
“There are days that I’m so proud
of the work we have done,” Higgins continued. She added, “And then there are days that stop me in my tracks, where I have to explain to an assistant district attorney what the legal definition of rape is, and how they don’t get to determine that because they don’t believe the survivor because of the facts that led up to the assault.” Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier said the advocacy event lands during House budget week to generate as much awareness as possible and to confront rape culture.
“It doesn’t matter what you are wearing, right. And you’re never allowed to touch my body without my consent,” the Pittsfield Democrat said. “It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing — and quite frankly, if you’re wearing nothing at all. You are not allowed to touch my body without my consent. Period.”
WEST SPRINGFIELD
New activities, plant selection come to plant sale
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — It’s officially that time of year where April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, and if they don’t, the West Springfield Garden Club definitely will.
The Garden Club has been working since March for its annual plant sale on May 15-16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until sold out, located at Mittineague Park, Route 20 and Fife Lane across from Santa’s House. All proceeds from the event go toward the planting and maintenance of 15 town gardens, as well as the club’s educational programs.
Shoppers will select from a wide selection of annuals, grown in the club’s greenhouse, or perennials from the club members’ gardens. There will also be a large selection of vegetables, such as summer squash and zucchini, along with five varieties of tomatoes, herbs and hanging flower plants.
Annuals are plants that have their entire life cycle in one growing season and perennials are plants that live for more than two years.
The Garden Club is a volunteer organization, founded in 1963 with a mission to advance the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening and to promote civic beautification and conservation.
This sale is one of the club’s biggest events, but it also holds an annual picnic in the summer, public speakers to teach gardening methods and member field trips to places like rose gardens, parks or other greenhouses. The club also awards two scholarships a year to graduating seniors pursuing a career in horticulture.
“We are very active in town and we are very busy, especially this time of year planting for the beautification of the gardens all over time,” Greenhouse Manager Patti Bessette said.
Greenhouse Manager Eileen Adams said the greenhouse benches are currently bursting with color and that the event will feature new and exciting selections, such as the ornamental oregano and purple majesty millet.
She added that all the plant prices will be relatively the same from last year, despite a price increase on things like fertilizer, soil and the pots.
A new aspect of the sale includes pre-planted “drop and grow” containers, which includes combinations of plants that work well together, hand selected by club members. Shoppers can purchase these and drop them right into their own decorative containers at home.
Another new part of the sale this year will be soil testing on May 16 with a master gardener, a gardener trained in horticultural science.
The 15-minute test checks the pH levels, the measure of acidity in the soil, and suggests if gardeners need to add anything to correct any pH imbalance. The tests are $2 per bag and participants fill them with one cup of dry soil, labeling if it’s from a vegetable, flower, lawn or shrub.
Bessette said soil testing can be important so that a plant can get the right nutrients to thrive.
“Some soil is clay soil, so you’ve got to amend that soil with things that will lighten it up,” Bessette said. “Clay solid is very heavy and plants planted in it, not all plants like it, they
won’t get oxygen through the roots. That’s why soil testing is important.”
She said that information like that can be helpful for new gardeners as well and always encourages new gardeners to join the club to get some advice on how to get started.
“Sometimes it’s overwhelming,” Bessette said. “If you were to look at all the plant varieties we have available, some people don’t know where to start. It’s like look at a blank canvas, so I like to help people put together the color combinations that will look good for months and months so that they can enjoy these beau-
tiful plants in their gardens.”
Publicity and Social Media Manager Suzi Silver gave a shout out to the DPW for lending a hand in preparation for the sale.
“This is a massive amount of plants to move out of the greenhouse, up the hill and onto picnic benches,” Silver said. “So the DPW is very gracious and they bring their flatbeds and trucks and we load them up and portage them up the hill to across from Santa’s House.”
Silver said people should come to the sale to enjoy affordable prices, receive expert advice, meet neighbors and to shop locally.
Second Chance to host West Side pet vaccine clinic
WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Springfield area pet owners can now register for a low-cost Community Vaccine Clinic for cats and dogs hosted by Second Chance Animal Services. The clinic will be held on Friday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 99 Westfield St., the site of the former Walgreens and will offer $10 rabies vaccines, free distemper/ parvo vaccines and $19 Leptospirosis vaccines, along with microchipping for $5, to help protect pets and keep families together.
Second Chance is committed to making veterinary care accessible for all pet owners. These vaccines protect pets from preventable and often deadly diseases, helping them live longer, healthier lives. With an estimated 30% of pet owners unable to bring their pets to a veterinarian each year for preventive care, many animals remain at risk for serious illnesses such as rabies, and parvovirus in dogs and panleukopenia in cats.
Parvovirus is highly contagious and can be deadly, especially for young or unvaccinated
dogs. Cats face similar risks from viruses that can cause severe illness. Vaccinating pets helps reduce the spread of disease and keeps more animals healthy in the community.
Microchipping offers a simple and reliable way to identify pets if they become lost. Pets with microchips are far more likely to be reunited with their owners, giving families peace of mind and helping lost pets return home safely.
“More than 50 million pets in the United States live with families who do not have access to veterinary care,” said Lindsay Doray of Second Chance Animal Services. “Second Chance operates four veterinary hospitals that provide affordable care, including subsidized pricing for those who qualify, but we know many pet owners still face barriers to getting that care. Our local clinics bring life saving vaccines into the community to protect pets from diseases like parvo and distemper, along with microchips that help lost pets find their way back home.”
The clinic is open to pets from any community. Advance registration is encouraged, as space is limited. Walk-ins will be permitted as time allows. Pet owners can register online at secondchanceanimals.org/scascon
nect-springfield/. This community vaccine clinic is funded in part by Petco Love, Teddy Bear Pools & Spas, and the city of West Springfield. For more information, visit secondchanceanimals.org.
Staff
Lisa Nolan, Jeanette Grenier, Paul Poutre, Andy Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
From right to left: Greenhouse Managers Patti Bessette and Eileen Adams stand in front of the upcoming plant sale collection. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Please email your community listings to: dhackett@thereminder.com Items are printed on a space available basis.
AGAWAM
AGAWAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the Agawam Public Library, located at 750 Cooper St. All events are free and open to the public. Some programs require registration. For more information or to register, head to agawamlibrary. org or call 413-789-1550 ext. 3.
Community Art & Paint Session for the New England Mosaic Project — Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. to noon. Paint or decorate a canvas that will be donated to the New England Mosaic Project. The canvases will be auctioned and proceeds will fund scholarships for local art students.
The Emancipation of Hannah Faythe Winslow: A Woman’s Journey in Colonial America — Monday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m.
TOWN EVENTS
Opening with a dramatization of a young colonial woman, Karen Warfield will introduce us to her historical fiction novel which begins in Agawam and meanders through Hartford, and down to the area of Gales Ferry. The book tells the story of orphan Hannah Winslow and her survival in a time where the things she experiences make her question her religious upbringing in a patriarchal society.
Virtual Author Talk: Dr. Vivienne Ming — Tuesday, May 12, at 2 p.m. Dr. Vivienne Ming will discuss her new book, “Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People.”
• Chair Yoga — Wednesdays at 9 a.m.
Qigong for Spring — Tuesdays at 11 a.m. through June 23.
AGAWAM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PLANT SALE
Agawam Congregational Church, located at 745 Main St. is having a Mother’s Day Plant Sale to be held on May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Come bright and early for the best blooms. We will have over 50 hanging plants, hypertufa planters with sedums, Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, Hostas, hypertufa lady bugs, pine cone flowers that last forever.
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S CLUB BANQUET
The annual May Banquet for the Catholic Women’s Club of Agawam will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at Storrowtown Tavern in West Springfield,. It will begin with a social time at 6 p.m. and the buffet will be served at 6:30. The menu will consist of fruit & cheese platter/ veggie & dip platter, salad, bread and butter, potatoes, seasonal vegetables, chicken francaise, yankee pot roast, broiled scrod, tea, coffee and dessert ice cream puff. The price is $38 per person and checks payable to CWC can be placed in the St. John’s collection baskets at Mass or mailed to Paula Raiche, 181 Leonard St., Agawam, MA 01001, no later than May 10. There will be no refunds. The club’s monthly business meeting and annual meeting will follow the dinner.
AGAWAM GARDEN CLUB MEETING
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
Dorothy M. Bassette
June M. Guenette
Mary Kiefer
Ann G. Lincoln
Kathleen K. McCreary
FEEDING HILLS
Jennifer Elizabeth Chagnon
Joseph Anthony Lombardi
MONTGOMERY
MaryAnn Sharrow
SOUTHWICK
Roland R. Allen
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Kyle Stephen Boardway
Todd D. Gardner
William J. Heelon
Barbara A. Leshinski
Vincent Rizzo
WESTFIELD
Michael J. Cadello
Emily “Mickey” Murawski
Margaret E. Osowski
The next meeting of the Agawam Garden Club will be held Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St. After a short business meeting Ed Sourdiffe, Western Massachusetts Green Thumb Guru, Master Gardener, and Garden Educator will present a talk on organic gardening. He is the go-to gardening expert on WWLP 22’s lifestyle program, “Mass Appeal.” Covered will be the basics including how to make your garden work for you instead of against you. How to save money and have amazing results with age-old and modern gardening techniques. It’s all about creating a healthy environment for you, your plants, and the planet.
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:
• Magic Colors & Flowers: Silk Painting with Lidia Mikhaylova — Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. Come tap into your inner creativity and paint a unique flower on a silk canvas perfect for spring. Observe how the paint lives and reacts on the fabric, using your imagination as a guide for your paint and brush. Join Lidia in this easy, magical and relaxing adventure into a painting world of freedom and creativity. All materials will be provided, class is set to run about three hours. Registration required.
• Teen Monthly Self-Care and Chill — Monday, May 11, from 6-7 p.m. Join us for a warm beverage and a calming craft! Open to ages 13 and up.
Children’s programs: Mother’s Day Drop in Craft (All ages) — Saturday, May 9, 1-3 p.m. Materials and directions for making a fun craft for mom. No registration required, while supplies last.
• Lego Creations: The Great Outdoors” Challenge. (For ages 5-8) — Tuesday, May 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kids Create (for ages 6-12 with help) — Wednesday, May 13, starting at 9:00 a.m. Bagged materials and instructions for making the craft are available for pick up outside the library. No registration necessary, while supplies last. Lego Club: The Great Outdoors Challenge (for ages 9-12) — Thursday, May 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
WSPL FRIENDS MAY MINI BOOK SALES
The Friends of the West Springfield Public Library will be hold a Mini Book Sale on Wednesday, May 13, from noon to 2 p.m. on the Library’s porch entryway. In case of inclement weather, the sale will be held in the library’s Community Room. Several genres of adult and children’s books as well as DVDs will be available (hardcover books and DVDs for $1, and softcover books for 50 cents), with proceeds benefiting the library.
Teen and Parent DIY Fragrance Workshop — Saturday, May 9, from 3-4 p.m. Come make your own unique perfume in this fun and interactive scent workshop! Learn about how perfumes are designed and take your creation home to enjoy.
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY RUTH M. PECK INTERNSHIP
This internship takes place over seven weeks in the summer. Interns will learn the inner workings of a public library and collaborate on a self-designed project that benefits the library. Go to tinyurl.com/wsplpeck2026 to apply! The internship is open to teens entering grades 10, 11 and 12 in fall 2026.
Scoreboard oozes traditional sports bar feel at every corner
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — No matter the season, an avid sports fan such as myself usually spends their weekends on the lookout for the perfect spot to watch the game. There are very few things more exhilarating than experiencing the highs and lows of your favorite team with total strangers at a local spot. Heck, why spend hundreds of dollars on gas, parking and tickets, when you can capture a thrilling atmosphere five minutes away?
When I first walked into the newly renovated Scoreboard Bar & Grille in Agawam, I had a feeling the place could accomplish just that. Boston sports memorabilia graced every corner of the 15 King St. restaurant, TVs ran highlights of the prior night’s Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics playoff games, and the wooden rectangular bar invited guests to chat about their daily minutiae. Between the decorations and the exterior ambience generated by the Front Street rail crossing just outside, it truly felt like I was pregaming at a bar adjacent to Fenway Park.
Despite it being 3 p.m. on a random Tuesday, I could immediately sense the vibe the bar is going for. The owners’ sister bar, Murphy’s Pub on 664 Suffield St. in Agawam, has become a staple weekend gathering spot for those in Western Massachusetts who want drinks and a late-night bite while the big game is on. Although Scoreboard captures a similar sentiment, I noticed that the new renovations yielded much more space to walk around, and based on its location and compact menu, it appears the bar is trying to capture a chiller, more localized atmosphere.
Most of the food is standard bar fare. Handheld sandwiches, burgers and classic appetizers
like mozzarella sticks grace the brief menu. I opted for a bacon cheeseburger and fries on my solo adventure, but patrons have the option of building the burger however way they want. My personal preference is a burger that‘s cooked to medium, but the one I had at Scoreboard was essentially well-done. Still, I thought the charred fusion of blackened burger, crispy bacon and ooey-gooey American cheese in between a
warm and slightly toasted brioche bun was enough to satiate my hunger, even if the taste profile’s uniformity didn’t elevate it to a higher status.
The fries, in my opinion, were the best part of my meal because they embodied that perfect blend of crispy and fluffy, while the seasoning accentuated the flavor without diminishing the core qualities of the side dish. Like any good fry, it carried that
addictive quality where, even when full, you don’t want to stop picking at them.
Food aside, I do think Scoreboard’s strengths lie in its atmosphere and proximity to the Agawam and West Springfield border. They truly nail the tradi-
tional sports bar feel without relegating itself to a Murphy’s 2.0. One day, I’ll have to visit on a Friday and Saturday night to really experience the local spot at its fullest capacity. Maybe by then the Red Sox are out of this early season slump.
The bacon cheeseburger and fries at Scoreboard Bar & Grille.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
Jayla Lewis plays defense near mid-field.
Emma Chapman looks to add to her total of 7 goals scored.
Cat Nguyen helps defend the West Springfield goal.
West Side’s Jillian Keough (R) vies for the ball with Reese Raymond of Mt. Greylock.
West Side’s Molly Finn (5) wins the ball against Sofia Asch of Mount Greylock.
Riley Freeman from West Springfield collides with Mt. Greylock’s Sofia Asch and goalie Teigan Brady during a battle for the ball.
Campbell Connelly carries the ball into scoring territory.
Calleigh Johnson brings the ball out of the West Springfield end.
The Terriers’ Kelsie Duncan attempts to thwart Amelia Art’s scoring bid.
