AGAWAM | FEEDING HILLS | WEST
West Side man urgently needs living kidney donor
By Mike Lydick Correspondent
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Fif-
teen years ago, routine bloodwork revealed that Theodore “Ted” Pinkerman had kidney damage.
The diagnosis changed his life. Pinkerman began doing everything possible to protect his health. He lost 65 pounds, improved his health dramatically — even reversed his Type 2 diabetes — and worked hard to stay active and strong. But his kidney disease continued to progress.
Pinkerman now has stage 4 kidney disease. His doctors have told him his best chance to live a longer, healthier life is to receive a kidney transplant — preferably one from a living donor. He is currently on the deceased donor transplant list, but the estimated wait is six to seven years.
Unfortunately for Pinkerman, his kidney function continues to decline, so time is not on his side. “My primary care physician as well as the staff of nephrologists and kidney surgeons at Baystate Medical Center’s transplant program have decided it would be better for me to have a kidney transplant sooner than later. The outcome would be better for me since I’ve worked so hard to stay healthy,” said the lifelong West Springfield resident.
Throughout his life, Pinkerman has always tried to help others. He spent 35 years working in information technology in addition to mentoring many young soccer players as a Pioneer Valley travel team soccer coach. He currently has his own home inspection business that helps families through one of their
Four retiring educators received applause and recognition from the West Springfield School Committee just a few weeks before their final days with the district, honoring their long-term commitment to the students and lasting impact on the district.
biggest decisions: buying a home.
Pinkerman is now reaching out for help with a deeply personal request: finding a living kidney donor. “I never thought I’d be in this position of asking for help. It’s difficult because I’m a very private person,” said the 63-year-old father and grandfather.
“A living kidney donor could save my life,” said Pinkerman. “Most donors go on to live healthy, normal lives with one kidney, and every donor is carefully evaluated
for safety. Less than one percent of people ever needs a kidney after they give one. Think about that. It’s an amazing statistic that the public needs to know to calm any fears of donating.”
Pinkerman’s immediate family members wanted to donate, but due to medical conditions, they didn’t qualify. Susan Moore, one of his sisters, who lives in Ashburn, Virginia, with her husband, wanted to help her brother in any way possible. So, both went
through the process to see if they qualified medically to donate.
“They walk you through everything, and are very careful to make sure it’s absolutely safe for the potential donor,” said Moore. “They also make it clear that you can step away from the process at any point, so there is no pressure to commit right away. We weren’t able to donate, but I hope others will consider getting tested.”
SPRINGFIELD
Theodore “Ted” Pinkerman of West Springfield urgently needs a kidney transplant from a living donor. He is shown in this photo with some of his family members. From left: Kathy Pinkerman; their son Teddy, Jr.; Ted Pinkerman; Kayla Cook (Teddy, Jr.’s fiancée) holding three-year-old Hazel. Reminder
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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. 10 Steps to Researching the History of Your House in Agawam with The Northeast House Historian — Monday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m.
TOWN EVENTS
Qigong for Spring — Tuesdays at 11 a.m.
• Chair Yoga Wednesdays at 9:05 a.m.
Virtual Author Talk: “Dungeon Crawler Carl” with Matt Dinniman — Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the West Springfield Public Library, located at 200 Park St. For more information or to register for programs, visit wspl.org or call 413-736-4561 ext. 4.
Children’s programs:
• Kids Create (for ages 6-12 with some adult help) — Wednesday, June 10, starting at 9 a.m. Pick up the materials and directions for making a fun craft for our older kids.
share a personal experience with this type of situation, would be very much appreciated,” he said.
Pinkerman’s family is concerned for him and have rallied around him to help — hoping someone can step forward to donate a kidney. “I want to see my almost 3-year-old granddaughter Hazel — the love of my life — grow up. My son Teddy, who lives three houses away from me, is planning on getting married soon and has a second little girl on the way.”
Teddy Pinkerman, Jr., said his father’s disease is “a very intense and overwhelming situation” for him and his family.
“It would be great for my dad to see us get married and watch his two granddaughters grow. He’s hoping to watch his granddaughters play soccer as they get older, as we have always been a big soccer family. We’re doing all we can to get his story out there. Anyone who can help spread the word, or
A matching kidney would be ideal, said Ted Pinkerman, but a direct match is not necessary. For example, a kidney may be donated on his behalf through the National Kidney Registry to help another person in need, but who also has an incompatible donor.
“I would receive a compatible kidney from a donor donating on behalf of an incompatible recipient. That recipient would then receive a kidney from a different unmatched donor-recipient pair,” said Pinkerman.
The NKR would issue a voucher to Pinkerman, which is like an IOU for a kidney. The NKR employs data from across the U.S. to match donors with compatible recipients. That increases the number of transplants performed yearly and makes for the best patient outcomes.
“A donor donating a kidney on my behalf would have their costs of hospital and medical care cov-
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No registration required, while supplies last.
Adult and teen programs:
• WSPL Book Group — Monday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. The group will be meeting to discuss the book selections for next year! Join us to toss your favorites into the mix and make the next round of book picks amazing! No registration, just drop in and enjoy.
• Adult Crafternoon! — Wednesday, June 10, at 6 p.m. Crafternoon is back! Drop in for a fun and unique craft coming again regularly on the second Wednesday of each month. All materials are provided for you so just bring yourself and creative spirit to have some fun! No registration, just drop in and enjoy.
WSPL FRIENDS JUNE MINI BOOK SALE
ered. In addition, Donor Shield Protections (including lost wages, room and lodging and more) available only through the NKR may also be available,” he added.
Pinkerman isn’t having any symptoms currently because he got himself in such good shape knowing that he will need a kidney transplant at some point. But his doctor recently found that his kidney function dropped below 15 — which is why he needs a new kidney.
The 1984 American International College graduate is hopeful he will find a living donor within the next few months or within a year because there are new programs within the National Kidney Foundation. These allow people to donate their kidney whether or not they’re a match to the recipient’s blood type.
“It was never talked about in the past when it was scary. Now the NKR makes sure that you’re healthy enough to give a kidney first and foremost,” said Pinkerman. “If you are, it doesn’t matter
The Friends of the West Springfield Public Library will be holding Mini Book Sales on Wednesday, June 10, 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 will be available (hardcover books for $1, and softcover books for 50 cents), with proceeds benefiting the library. The library is located at 200 Park St.
JOSIAH DAY HOUSE
STRAWBERRY SOCIAL
The Ramapogue Historical Society invites will be hositing its annual Strawberry Social on June 13, 2026 from noon to 3 p.m. Visit the historic Josiah Day House, built in 1754 and one of only two nationally registered historic places in West Springfield, Massachusetts. After the tour, enjoy the iconic straw-
berry shortcake with strawberries donated by Gooseberry Farms. Living history reenactors will be demonstrating various trades including Joanne Picard and Betsy Woods, John Richards, Maureen Richards and representatives of the 25th Continental Regiment. Trades include a live cooking demonstration over an open fire with period equipment, textile work and blacksmithing. Storrowton Village Museum will be attending, sharing information on programming and sharing history of the 19th century. Admission to the Strawberry social is $5 per person 7 years and older, 6 and under being free. Tickets can be purchased online at josiahdayhouse.com or in person. Tours will be self-guided, however, members of the RHS will be available throughout the house to answer questions.
in
what your blood type is. They do all sorts of paired matching and voucher programs and if you’re not a match, it still could save my life.” Pinkerman said the more people who can share his story with friends and family increases the number of people who may con-
sider a kidney donation. “You can also support me and other patients in need of a transplant by being screened to become a kidney donor with the NKR. The process is easy to complete and potential donors have access to the NKR’s nationwide donor support network.”
Anyone interested
learning more about how to help Theodore “Ted” Pinkerman’s get a new kidney from a living donor can go to his website that he set up through the National Kidney Registry. The address is listed above. It also can be accessed by scanning the QR code.
Reminder Publishing submitted photos
AGAWAM — The Agawam Community Artists and Artisans will host stone sculptor Bruce Kulas at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 10.
Kulas, a Southwick resident, will give a demonstration of his creative process at the meeting, which will be held at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St., Agawam, beginning at 6 p.m. The public is invited, free of charge. Light refreshments will be served.
In addition, the Gloria McLellan Memorial Scholarship will be presented to four recipients at the meeting. One of the ACAA major fundraisers, the scholarship is awarded to high school and college students pursuing a degree in the area of visual arts
Kulas looks to nature for inspiration and leans mostly toward realism when sculpting his Steatite (Soapstone) creations. A locksmith/cabinet maker by trade, he has a well-rounded knowledge of tools and materials that leads to making his own tools and repurposing others to fill the needs in creating his art.
Kulas has received honorable mentions in the Friends of the Agawam Public Library’s 3D juried Art Show. He has displayed at the Southwick Public Library and the West Spring-
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College is proud to celebrate the students who earned honors and awards for their outstanding achievements during the 2025-2026 academic year.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College celebrated the graduation of 43 students from its Associate in Science in Nursing degree program on May 21.
The students were recognized during a pinning ceremony in HCC’s Leslie Phillips Theater, during which they were formally inducted into the health care field as soon-to-be registered nursing professionals. During a traditional pinning ceremony, new nursing graduates light candles, receive their nursing pin and recite
field Kiwanis Art Festival, and has a piece on permanent display at the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum in Washington, Connecticut.
His work was recently on display at the 25th Annual Art Exhibition at the Southwick Town Hall. Bruce has exhibited in this exhibition since 2009.
Kulas has taught adult education classes on stone sculpting, presented to high school AP classes about soapstone sculpture and the ancient technology of the early native peoples. For further information contact Ceil Rossi at email, tocarefree2@hotmail.com or visit agawamarts.com.
Awardees were honored on May 20 during a ceremony in the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation. Below is a list of HCC honorees and award recipients for the 2025-2026 ac-
the Nightingale Pledge.
The graduates, many of whom are already working, will sit for their exams before becoming licensed as registered nurses. Holyoke Community College Associate of Science in Nursing degree graduates for 2026: Agawam Scott Kelly, Innessa Schneider. West Springfield Sophia Boardway, Hannah Bonifacio, Denisse Vazquez.
ademic year. Some students received multiple awards. A full list of students along with their specific honors and awards can be found at hcc. edu/awards-2026
HCC honors and awards for 2025-2026: Feeding Hills Sophia Hunt.
West Springfield Savannah Comstock, Chase Cummings, Matt Howe, Grace Jeronimo, Madison Moore (two awards), Alicia Ricks.
The HCC ASN class of 2026.
One of Bruce Kulas’s stone sculptures.
Credit union launches food drive to support local families
SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is once again stepping up to support local families by hosting a summer-long food and donation drive to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. From June 1 through Aug. 31, community members are invited to visit any Freedom Credit Union branch to contribute nonperishable food items or monetary donations.
The drive is open to everyone, and donations can be made at all Freedom Credit Union branch lo-
cations across the region.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties for more than 40 years. The organization distributes more than 17 million pounds of food each year, which equates to more than 14 million meals. Through a network of nearly 200 partner pantries, meal sites and shelters, the Food Bank works to ensure individuals and families have access to nutritious food while also addressing the
root causes of hunger.
The need is especially acute in the communities served by Freedom Credit Union. According to the most recent Food Access Report from the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham, the number of households experiencing food insecurity has gone up by as much as 54% in some counties since 2019. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts also reports that pantry usage has tripled since then, underscoring the growing
demand in the region. “Access to nutritious food is a basic need, yet a growing number of individuals and families in our region continue to face food insecurity,” said Glenn Welch, president of Freedom Credit Union. “We are proud to partner with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to support their critical work. This annual initiative gives our members and the broader community a simple way to make a meaningful impact this summer.”
In addition to distributing food, the Food Bank provides services such as SNAP enrollment assistance, nutrition education and advocacy efforts aimed at creating long-term solutions to hunger.
Freedom Credit Union encourages individuals, families and local businesses to participate by donating what they can throughout the summer months. Even small contributions can help make a difference for neighbors in need.
As teens graduate, parents reminded of underage drinking risks
SPRINGFIELD — As graduation season approaches and celebrations begin across Hampden County, the Hampden District Attorney’s Office is reminding parents, guardians and caregivers that allowing underage drinking or marijuana use at their homes can carry serious criminal and civil consequences under Massachusetts law.
The District Attorney’s Office regularly presents on social host liability during community prevention programs, including its annual “Stop the Swerve” event, which focuses on the dangers and
consequences of impaired and distracted driving among teens.
“A lot of parents believe they are making the safer choice by allowing teenagers to drink at home under their supervision, but under Massachusetts law, that is still illegal and can have devastating consequences,” said Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “What may begin as a graduation or end-ofschool celebration can quickly turn tragic. We want parents to understand the law, understand the risks, and most importantly, help keep young people safe.”
Under Massachusetts law, a “social host” is anyone — adult or minor — who controls a property and furnishes alcohol or knowingly allows underage drinking or marijuana use on that property. Providing alcohol to a person under 21 years old is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year imprisonment and a $2,000 fine under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138, Section 34. Massachusetts law also prohibits furnishing marijuana, marijuana products or marijuana accessories to anyone under the age of
Temple Beth El to host recycling event
SPRINGFIELD — Temple Beth
El Springfield will hold an Electronics Recycling Event in partnership with Green Team Junk Removal on Sunday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the temple’s location at 979 Dickinson St. in Springfield.
The event will be held as a convenient drive-through in the temple parking lot, providing the local community with an opportunity to responsibly dispose of unwanted electronic devices for a small fee.
Everyone is invited to bring their old computers, laptops, monitors, printers, faxes, cell phones and more. Item disposal fees are as follows: computer monitors are $20 each; laptops are $10; computer towers are $10; printers and faxes are $10; and cell phones and computer accessories are $5. TVs over 40 inches can be recycled for $45 each, CRT TVs for $55, and miscellaneous electronics for $10 each. All items will be safely and properly recycled, helping to
protect the environment while supporting Temple Beth El’s fundraising efforts. Computer hard drives will be removed and shredded to ensure data is non-recoverable. Don’t miss this great opportunity to clear out your clutter, do good for the planet and the community, and support Temple Beth El. For more information, please visit Temple Beth El’s Facebook page at facebook.com/tbespringfield or the temple’s website attbespringfield.org.
21. Violations may result in a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
Parents and guardians may also face civil liability if an underage person consumes alcohol or marijuana at their home and later causes injury or death to themselves or others. Civil judgments in these cases can reach millions of dollars.
The District Attorney’s Office also emphasized that parents can still face consequences even if they are not physically present at the home if they knowingly allow underage drinking or
drug use to occur on property they control.
“We recognize this may feel overly cautious to some families, but we have unfortunately seen the devastating outcomes that can stem from underage drinking parties,” Gulluni said. “Parents have more influence than they realize, and one decision to intervene can save a life.”
For more information about prevention programming offered by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office Community Safety and Outreach Unit, visit hampdenda.com.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Retiring educators honored by School Committee
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Four
retiring educators received applause and recognition from the West Springfield School Committee just a few weeks before their final days with the district, honoring their long-term commitment to the students and lasting impact on the district.
There are 10 educators retiring from the district with four present at the School Committee meeting on May 26. They were given a chance to speak before being granted certificates of appreciation.
Present at the meeting were West Springfield High School’s Howard Benard, West Springfield Middle School’s Rebecca Bryant and Wendi Greene and John Fausey Elementary School’s Cathy Johnson.
Not present but still recognized educators include Cheryl Gale from Tatham Elementary, Pamela Gauthier and Michelle Richardson from the middle school, Christina Serrano Car-
rasco and Stan Svec from the high school and LeeAnn Sullivan from Coburn Elementary.
Johnson is a third grade teacher and spoke first, thanking the School Committee for her “years of experience.” She added that School Committee member Colleen Marcus was her mentor and Mayor William Reichelt was one of her social studies students.
“I just want to thank you, that’s basically it,” Johnson said. “I’ve had a great experience, I love what I do. I will continue to sub for you so just call me if you need me.”
Bryant is a sixth grade teacher and said she was at a loss for words and that she has been in West Springfield for her entire career. She said she also had Reichelt as a student, joking that she’d “let you know anything you’d want to know” about him.
“I really enjoy what I do, but family comes first,” Bryant said. “I will always be here if you need me for anything, and a couple people on the School Committee already know that, so thank you.”
Benard is the high school’s engineering teacher and runs the robotics club. He said it has been an awesome 30 years and that he’s really enjoyed the time, before calling back to Johnson’s point and joking that he will not be volunteering to come back as a substitute.
“People ask me that and I say, ‘no I already have a job, and I love the job I have, if I want a job I’m gonna be doing this,’” Benard said “I’m looking for-
Senate budget rider targets ‘gap’ in
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — People under the age of 18 would be unable to legally consent to sexual conduct with an adult who holds, or has held, supervisory or custodial authority over them in a public or private school setting or similar context, under a Senate budget amendment adopted on May 21.
The redrafted state Sen. Joan Lovely amendment (#841) would close a “legal gap” in state law, she said, in which criminal sentencing protections for indecent assault and battery on a child apply only to victims under the age of 14.
“Once a young person turns 16, they are presumed legally capable of consenting to sexual activity, even with an adult in a
position of supervisory or custodial authority, who may have groomed or manipulated them over months or years,” the Salem Democrat said. “This is the loophole. A 16- or 17-year-old student cannot consent to having sex with their teacher. A teenage athlete cannot consent to having sex with their coach.”
Lovely has been filing related legislation for years, and said
ward to retirement but, I too, won’t be disengaging from the schools completely I’m sure … I plan to continue in some limited capacity in retirement. Thank you all for a wonderful career.”
Greene is a speech and language pathologist and thanked the committee for the opportunity to serve West Springfield students.
“I have been so overwhelmed by the students who stay at the door and open them every
morning when I’m walking in,” Greene said. “They say ‘good morning’ to me, they ask me how I’m doing and I don’t even necessarily know their names so we have some great young people in this city and thank you for the opportunity for me to get to know them.”
Reichelt thanked each educator for their service to West Springfield, adding that they were “what make students grow into mayors.”
child sexual abuse laws
the amendment would create a new section in Chapter 265 specifically addressing sexual assault by mandated reporters against minors ages 16 and 17.
The abuse would remain a crime even if the adult is no longer formally in a supervisory role at the time of the offense, according to the amendment. It implements an up to 20year sentence for rape and up to 10 years for indecent assault and battery, Lovely said, “adding these new offenses to the definitions underlying the sex offender registry, ensuring these crimes are captured and tracked.” She said the amendment also includes “a narrow close-in-age exemption” to protect relationships between young people who are closer in age.
“The headlines have not
stopped. Across all of Massachusetts, we are seeing horrific stories of sexual abuse in schools,” Lovely said during floor remarks. She and state Rep. Leigh Davis filed companion bills (S 1163, H 1634) on the topic this session.
Citing data from child advocacy organization Enough Abuse, Lovely said there were 34 publicly reported recent cases of child sexual abuse in Massachusetts documented in the last year. She said one in five girls and one in 16 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault, and the numbers increase to one in three girls and one in nine boys when online experiences are included.
Lovely referred to recent related cases in Worcester and
See GAP on page 8
Four retiring educators stand with the West Springfield School Committee after receiving certificates of appreciation on May 26.
Photo credit: West Side Media
App-based drivers union dives into regulatory thicket
By Sam Drysdale State House News Service
BOSTON — Fresh off becoming the nation’s first certified union for app-based drivers, Massachusetts rideshare workers are already flexing their new bargaining power — urging state regulators to halt proposed industry rules until the union can negotiate its first contract with Uber and Lyft.
The App Drivers Union was certified May 22 by the Department of Labor Relations to represent roughly 70,000 Massachusetts rideshare drivers. They rallied on the State House steps on May 26 alongside Gov. Maura Healey and national labor leaders to celebrate what organizers called a landmark moment for gig workers nationwide.
“You guys made history,” Healey told drivers gathered outside the State House. “You’re the first in the United States to be a unionized rideshare driver union, and this changes the game.”
Driver and founding union member Albert Potter framed the certification as the culmination of years of organizing against companies that long resisted unionization efforts.
“A few days ago, ADU was still no more than a dream,” Potter said. “Today we proudly say, ‘Suck it up, buttercup. We won.’”
Potter said the union’s priorities include “fair pay” and “stopping unfair deactivations.”
Uber, in a statement responding to the union certification, said it would “work closely with the ADU” while seeking to preserve “driver flexibility and hard-won benefits.” Lyft said the company is “committed to engaging in good faith” and would remain “focused on helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable.”
Behind the celebration, however, a regulatory fight is already brewing with another arm of the Healey administration: the Department of Public Utilities, which is advancing extensive new regulations governing app-based drivers and rideshare companies.
The proposals, unveiled in April, would significantly overhaul rideshare oversight rules while also implementing a 2022 climate law aimed at electrifying rideshare fleets.
The package would expand background checks and documentation requirements for drivers,
require annual safety and professional driving training, create new mandatory disqualifications for certain driving and criminal offenses, limit drivers to 12 total hours of work in a 24-hour period, ban surge pricing during declared emergencies and require rideshare apps to include enhanced rider safety features like emergency access and trip-sharing capabilities.
Another proposal would require rideshare companies to submit plans detailing how they would increase electric vehicle usage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One year after final regulations take effect, all vehicles owned or leased directly by rideshare companies would need to be zero-emission vehicles, with exemptions for paratransit and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The regulations would also require companies to create financial support programs for lower-income drivers transitioning to electric vehicles.
Union leaders say the proposed rules should be paused until a contract is negotiated under the 2024 ballot law voters approved 18 months ago.
Collective bargaining has not yet started, and neither union leaders nor Uber on May 26 gave an exact timeline to begin negotiations. Under the 2024 law, once talks begin, the union and companies have six months to reach a contract or move into arbitration.
In a May 17 filing with the DPU, the App Drivers Union argued the proposed regulations “will cast a shadow over the negotiations, creating uncertainty and limiting the ability of the parties to bargain productively.”
The union also wrote that the regulations could give rideshare companies “unfair advantages in negotiations” because they could cite pending state rules “as a reason why they cannot agree to certain proposals.”
Autumn Weintraub, executive director of the App Drivers Union, said on May 26 the organization is not opposing regulation outright, but wants the DPU to coordinate with labor negotiations rather than create overlapping systems.
“The law clearly states that companies have to negotiate with the union, the certified union, around the terms of deactivations,” Weintraub said. “It’s one of the biggest priorities for drivers, is losing their livelihood at the switch of a button.”
“What we’re asking them to do is just hold off until we set the contract,” she added. “It should work in tandem with each other, in synchronization, and not diverging rules that confuse everybody.”
The unusual dynamic on May 26 resulted in Healey celebrating the unionization effort while her administration simultaneously advances regulations the union wants delayed.
Uber also criticized the timing of the DPU’s regulatory push.
“The DPU’s proposed regulations could threaten drivers’ earnings and strip away due process to appeal deactivations,” Uber said in a statement. “Strikingly, the DPU is moving the goalposts on the exact issues drivers are preparing to negotiate at the bargaining table for the very first time.”
Uber added that the timing of the changes is “entirely counterintuitive to improving working conditions and expanding rider access.”
Many concerns raised during the public comment period mirrored the union’s objections.
Uber driver Gaspar Madrazo Ortiz wrote that while he supports “reasonable safety standards and background checks,” some requirements “go beyond safety and create unnecessary burdens.” Ortiz argued requests for extensive historical licensing documentation could unfairly sideline drivers “over paperwork issues rather than actual safety concerns.”
Other drivers focused on immigration-related concerns tied to proposed seven-year background check and licensing review requirements. One Uber and Lyft driver currently seeking asylum in the United States warned the rules could create major delays for immigrants legally authorized to work but who lack seven years of U.S. driving history.
Another commenter, Marie Michelle Petion, said she was concerned about “sharing of drivers’ personal information with federal agencies” and restrictions on appealing suspensions.
Daisy Olsen, a driver from Sandwich, criticized mandatory annual safety training requirements for experienced drivers and warned that restrictions on surge pricing could reduce the number of drivers available during periods of high demand.
“If you make it ‘not worth it’ for drivers to be out, there will be fewer cars on the road,” Olsen
wrote, pointing out that rideshare is the way many people get home without drunk driving, especially in rural areas.
Other commenters supported the regulations. Driver Helder Anjos wrote that stricter oversight is necessary because “many drivers need to understand the responsibility involved in driving with passengers.”
The electrification proposal has also drawn scrutiny from the new union, though ADU stopped short of asking DPU to withdraw that package outright.
In its filing, the union said it supports the state’s climate goals but warned the regulations could create “pressures on drivers that disadvantage drivers if not carefully designed,” pointing out particular concerns for low-income drivers.
Weintraub echoed those concerns on May 26, saying drivers support electric vehicles but fear being forced into expensive transitions without adequate infrastructure or financial support.
“It shouldn’t be on the backs of drivers,” she said. “What we don’t want are mandates that get pushed onto drivers where they’re forced to buy electric vehicles without support for that, or even ways to charge their vehicle.”
She pointed to congestion at airport charging stations as an example of existing infrastructure strains.
“Sometimes there are fistfights. Sometimes there has been actual violence, because people need to get to work and feed their families, but they can’t charge their cars,” she said.
In its regulatory filing, DPU wrote, “Electrification of vehicles for hire can be an opportunity to increase utilization of charging infrastructure in communities with low-income and [Environmental Justice] population[s], paving the way for broader adoption. The Commonwealth will implement a program to electrify this subsector, including expanded incentives, support for infrastructure, and outreach and education.”
The DPU has scheduled public hearings on the regulations for June 8 in Boston and June 11 in Lawrence. Weintraub said union members plan to testify.
Sam Drysdale is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at sdrysdale@statehousenews.com.
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Scratch tickets, numbers games will feature in iLottery
By Colin A. Young State House News Service
BOSTON — The catalog of online games that will be available from the Mass. Lottery later this summer is coming into clearer view as regulators gave the green light to virtual scratch tickets and two new daily draw games.
The Lottery Commission voted on May 26 to authorize regulatory amendments that Executive Director Mark William Bracken said are necessary to set rules and regulations for so-called iLottery games conducted online. After years of lobbying for the expansion, the Lottery plans to begin offering some of its products online and through its app this summer, marking an additional widening of the state’s expanded gaming landscape.
The package of regulatory amendments approved on May 21 authorizes two existing draw games — Megabucks and Mass Cash — to also be available via the iLottery platform. They also authorize products that will be sold exclusively through the iLottery system: electronic instant-win games similar to scratch tickets,
and new three- and four-digit daily numbers games called Mass 3 and Mass 4.
“Mass 3 is a three-digit daily numbers game where a player selects three numbers and a play type (e.g., exact order, any order), and the player also has an option to play the Wicked Bonus ball which offers separate prizes,”
General Counsel Gregory Polin wrote in a memo circulated to commissioners ahead of the vote on May 26. “Similarly, Mass 4 is a four-digit daily numbers game where a player selects four numbers and a play type, and the player also has an option to play the Wicked Bonus ball which offers separate prizes.”
Retailers for years have counted on scratch ticket and numbers game players to visit stores to buy tickets, and those options will remain available although the new online games will let players more easily purchase tickets.
The regulations say specific game prices, rules and prize structures are to be laid out in individual administrative bulletins to be issued by Bracken. The regulations also give Bracken the power to start sales of the two new games
“on a date to be determined by the Director in their discretion.”
Polin wrote that the regulations before commissioners on May 21 would “make necessary updates to the Introduction section regarding iLottery-related revenues and prize payouts; address improper use of iLottery Player Accounts; and provide the procedure for claiming prizes for tickets and games that were purchased through the iLottery Platform.”
The House and Senate included online Lottery authorization in the fiscal year 2025 budget that Gov. Maura Healey signed in the summer of 2024. Lottery officials initially said they planned to launch their “iLottery” in late 2025, then bumped the timeline back to an April 2026 start of online sales and since then until “the summer of 2026” with no revenue expected from the new stream until the budget year that begins July 1.
The Lottery has not provided a specific launch date, but Polin suggested on May 26 that it is no further out than the 90 days it takes some regulations to take effect. He said he “will need to file these as an emergency to meet our
launch date.”
In March, the Lottery Commission authorized a slate of regulatory changes dealing mostly with age verification and geolocation. The public hearing on those changes was two weeks ago and Bracken said “we did not have anyone comment on them ... so we seem to be moving in the right direction with these regs.”
Polin added that the deadline for written comments on those regulations was May 22 and that he had not seen any comments come in by May 21.
Online sales are estimated to bring in $70 million in net profit in the first year of operation, with revenue flowing into the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg previously laid out her expectations for online Lottery revenue: more than $180 million by year three, more than $230 million in year five, and almost $360 million in year 10.
The five-year contract that the commission approved last summer with Aristocrat Interactive for an online lottery platform is structured around a revenue-sharing model that has not previous-
ly been used here, Bracken said, with a maximum of 5% of revenue flowing to Aristocrat. That contract, the company said last summer, starts July 1.
Bracken also walked the commission through the agency’s performance for April during Tuesday’s meeting.
The $564.3 million in sales last month was down $4.9 million or 0.9%, he said, though the Lottery saw a $3.3 million increase in net profit for the month due to differences in prize payout volumes and rates.
Lottery sales are down $52.9 million or 1.1% through the first 10 months of fiscal year 2026, Bracken said. He added that the Lottery is running ahead of last year’s profit pace by about $6.3 million. Goldberg has said the Lottery is on track to return $1.05 billion in fiscal 2026 for the Legislature to use as local aid and she has projected the same total for fiscal 2027 despite the introduction of online sales.
Colin Young is the deputy editor for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach him at colin.young@statehousenews.com.
Franconia to host 52nd annual Henry Bontempo golf tournament Sept. 4
SPRINGFIELD — For the 52nd year, the annual Henry Bontempo Four-Ball Golf Tournament will be held over Labor Day Weekend at Springfield’s Franconia Golf Course.
Henry Bontempo served as head golf professional at the city’s first municipal course, Franconia, located on Dwight Road, from its opening in 1929 to 1968. Bontempo, hired at the age of 22, remained as the head golf pro for the next 40 years, and was one of the most respected golf pros in the region.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Parks, Buildings and
Recreation Management Tom Ashe will join the to kick off the 52nd annual Henry Bontempo Four Ball Golf Tournament which takes place annually on Labor Day Weekend.
The Henry Bontempo tournament was held for the first time in 1974 and continues to this day.
Last year, over 140 golfers took part in the four-day event. Last year’s Henry Bontempo FourBall Champions were Sean Kavanaugh and Mickey Foley.
This year, the 2026 Bontempo Tournament begins Thursday, Sept. 4, and concludes on Monday, Sept. 7. Friday’s qualifying
round is an 18-hole better ball format. Learn about the FourBall tournament format and how to register you and your partner here: golfgenius.com/pages/12692358346078951358.
The Bontempo Four-Ball tournament is considered the premier golfing event in Western Massachusetts.
“This longstanding tournament brings out a great group of golfers and serves to honor the legacy of one of Springfield’s golf history greats,” shared Mayor Sarno. “Thank you and shout to Joe Phillips for resurrecting the importance of the tradition and
Every
Lois T. DePalo
Jeffrey Scott Diduk
Robert E. Forgette
Loretta D. Kashmanian
Marcia Tangredi
OTIS
Theodore G. LaBonte
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Thomas M. Gavin
WESTFIELD
Blake N. Braceland
Edward J. Florek
Michael J. Garcia
Constance Gwozdz
history of the Bontempo Tournament. I’d also like to thank PBRM Director Tom Ashe and team with Franconia Golf Course Manager Steve Carle and Greens Superintendent Anthony Kowal and the entire staff — don’t these courses look great!? It is no surprise that Franconia was honored this year with the Walter Lowell Public Golf Course Distinguished Service Award by the Connecticut Section PGA. I am so proud of our parks and golf crews who keep both our Franconia and Veterans Golf Courses so welcoming and beautifully maintained. This year marks 52nd anniversary of the longstanding, prestigious Henry Bontempo golf tournament, which honors former
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on the South Shore, while state Sens. Mark Montigny and Becca Rausch cited cases in New Bedford and Needham when rising in support of the amendment. Davis told the News Service when she took office in 2024 that she heard while knocking on doors during her campaign how many people were concerned about the issue after a story broke about alleged instances of sexual abuse at Miss Hall’s School for Girls in Pittsfield.
golf pro Henry Bontempo for a four-ball style tournament over Labor Day Weekend, and we hope to you there.”
Franconia Golf Course was built in 1929 by the city of Springfield, originally as a ninehole course, and in 1931, another nine holes were added by city officials. Visit the city’s municipal course website for more information about Springfield’s Franconia and Veterans Memorial golf courses. Register now for the 2026 52nd annual Henry Bontempo Four Ball Tournament. Space is limited. First come, first served. Registration link: golfgenius.com/pages/12692358346078951358
“Power and trust make true consent impossible,” Lovely said, noting district attorneys under existing law are unable to prosecute adults who exploit teenagers because it doesn’t recognize “the inherent power imbalance.” Montigny spoke about “ignorance in society about sexual abuse,” and Rausch spoke to her experience having a conversation about the topic with her kids after an incident at their elementary school. Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service and State Affairs Massachusetts. Reach her at ella.adams@statehousenews.com.
