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New, delicious bites coming to the Big E By Dennis Hackett
dhackett@thereminder.com
EDITION AGAWAM
WEST SPRINGFIELD — With just a few weeks remaining until the Big E opens its doors for the 2026 season on Sept. 18, the fair hosted its annual media food preview on Aug. 27. As always, local vendors brought their latest concoctions for the media to taste test ahead of the fair. Alongside Executive Editor Chris Maza, fellow Managing Editor Ryan Feyre and Staff Writer Tyler Garnet, we taste tested everything they offered.
Car show will rev up Agawam’s Irish spirit The Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee will host a car show on Sept. 13.
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Town supports public safety with Gaming Commission funds The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is awarding West Springfield $132,900 through its Community Mitigation Fund.
tactic for eating the cream puff a much messier affair. The best bet for this one is either embracing the mess or finding a fork!” Dolly’s Honky Tonk Over at Dolly’s Honky Tonk,
attendees will have plenty of choices of cheese dogs to pick from. Located on Industrial Avenue, people will have the choice of a chili cheese dog, a classic See BIG E on page 2
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stayed light and airy,” he said. “There’s still plenty of sticky in this one, though, in the form of the marshmallow drizzle over the top. While adding the trademark Fluff sweetness to the treat, it does make my ‘smush and twist’
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Reminder Publishing photos by Chris Maza, Tyler Garnet and Dennis Hackett
ECRWSS
Top row, from left: A close up with the new peanut butter cream puff. V-One Vodka’s new Late Checkout seltzer. The fried turkey dinner from E.B.’s Restaurant. Bottom row, from left: The birria bomb from Macho Taco. The maple bacon and candied jalapeno sliders from The Paddock. The Hush Puppy Skewers from NOLA Cajun Kitchen & Raw Bar.
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Big E Bakery As always, the Big E Bakery brought their cream puffs, but with a new twist this year. In recent years, the bakery has experimented with cookies and cream and espresso cream puffs but this year was the big one for me, a peanut butter cream puff topped with a marshmallow fluff. This in my opinion was the best tasting cream puff I have had at the Big E; I’m a sucker for anything peanut butter so this was an automatic hit for me. However, it is extremely messy, and I would recommend grabbing a fork and plenty of napkins. Chris said he was also a fan but noted that his typical tactic for eating the cream puff doesn’t work with the marshmallow sauce. “The bakery does it again. So many times, peanut butter-flavored foods carry the peanut butter heaviness or stickiness. The filling packed the peanut butter flavor in while the consistency
IN THIS
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Submit your community listings online at thereminder.com/ submit-an-event/ or by emailing dhackett@ thereminder.com. Events are subject to review and printed on a space available basis.
AGAWAM AGAWAM GARDEN CLUB MEETING
The next meeting of the Agawam Garden Club will be held Tuesday, Sept, 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Agawam Public Library 750 Cooper St. After a short business meeting club member Pat Hayes will present a program on papermaking using flowers and greens from the garden. All meetings are open to the public and not restricted to Agawam residents.
Big E
Continued from page 1
cheddar cheese dog and a pulled pork cheese dog. Tyler was a big fan of the chili cheese dog. “The chili cheese dog got me excited for fall. The chili served as a warm and comforting bite, and the hot dog was a perfect vessel and partner for a delicious handheld bite,” he said. Chris opted for the pulled pork cheese dog. “What’s better than a hot dog? A hot dog topped with more meat and cheese! The Dolly’s Dog with pulled pork would certainly be a belly-filler and I would not recommend getting right on their mechanical bull after eating one of these. But if you’re looking for something you can eat on
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. All ages programs: • Family Fall Festival — Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. Fall into fun with the WSPL Trustees at the Family Fall Festival. Celebrate 110 years of WSPL, the 10th anniversary of the new addition, the library’s gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the preservation of the original Carnegie building NS the development of the library’s new strategic plan. Enjoy tasty treats, hands-on activities and festive fun for all ages. Kids programs: • Kids Create — Wednesday,
Sept. 9, starting at 9 a.m. Bagged craft with materials and instruction available for pickup in the Youth Room. For ages 6-12 (with help). No registration required. While supplies last. Adult and teen programs: • Scrabble Club — Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Play and make new friends with a little friendly competition. Materials provided. Ages 16 and up. Registration encouraged. • Adult Crafternoon! — Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. Drop in for a fun and unique craft on the second Wednesday of each month. This month will be watercolor fun. Materials are provided. • Plant Swap! — Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m. The plant swap returns for a fourth time. Bring a plant, take a plant. Plants MUST be healthy, labeled and pest free. Doors open and
swapping starts at 10 a.m. Registration encouraged.
WSPL FRIENDS SEPTEMBER ANNUAL MEETING AND TIME CHANGE
The Friends of the West Springfield Public Library will hold its annual meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m. in the library’s second floor Rotary Room, with the agenda including the installation of officers and a revision of the bylaws. Beginning in October, the Friends monthly meetings will be held in the Rotary Room on the first Monday of the month at 4 p.m., a change from the prior 6 p.m. meeting time. The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome. The library is located at 200 Park St.
WEST SPRINGFIELD COIN CLUB MEETING
The West Springfield Coin Club will meet on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. in a new location. The club
will now meet at the Tatham Social Club located at 3 Paul St. A guest speaker from the Mansfield Coin Club will speak on colonial Spanish dollars or Cobs, Refreshments will be available. Guests are always welcome. For further information, contact Peter Setian at 413-5969871.
WSPL FRIENDS SEPTEMBER MINI BOOK SALES
The Friends of the West Springfield Public Library will be holding Mini Book Sales on two upcoming Wednesdays, Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, from noon to 2 p.m. on the library’s porch entryway, or in case of inclement weather, in the 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. Also, book donations can be left in the donation box in the lobby until September 26. The library is located at 200 Park St.
the go and will definitely satisfy your hunger, this high-quality dog topped with tender pork and melted cheese definitely fits the bill,” he said. E.B.’s Restaurant E.B.’s Restaurant, which will be located at the Food Court, is bringing a fried turkey dinner to the fair this year. This fried concoction is turkey, craisins and stuffing, rolled in panko crumbs, fried and topped with turkey gravy, served with a side of cranberry sauce. I was a big fan of the dinner and was amazed with what they were able to stuff into a fried ball. It really was Thanksgiving dinner in a single bite, and I will return for more when I make my trip to the Big E this year. While I am not the biggest fan of cranberry sauce, I thought the combination of turkey, stuffing and the
The “Stack” from The Paddock. Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
craisins, along with the gravy
was excellent. Chris said the meal was balanced. “It’s Thanksgiving dinner packed into a deep-fried ball. The stuffing in some bites overtakes the flavor of the ground turkey and is a bit salty for my taste, but the tart cranberry sauce creates a nice balance,” he said. Ferrindino Maple Over at Ferrindino Maple, which will be located at the Better Living Center, they were sampling their maple creemee bacon waffle, which is their maple creemee soft serve topped with a toasted Belgian waffle, then finished with maple bacon pieces and drizzled in maple syrup. Ryan said that this was his favorite thing he tried. “I thought this would be too sweet, but honestly the smoky bacon flavor is welcome contrast to the sugary storm of Maple Creemee and maple syrup. It’s the inverse of how you should eat your meals. By the time you get to the caramelized Belgian Waffle, you’ve essentially hit
your calorie mark for the day. It’s devilishly good, and as a waffle lover, probably my pick of event,” he said. Chris said it was a sweet treat that eats like a hearty breakfast. “The classic creamy ice cream and maple drizzle you’ve come to love from Ferrendino Maple now comes on top of a Belgian waffle, topped with bacon for good measure. The bacon adds that little bit of savory to cut through all the sweetness and complexity. They don’t skimp on anything with this one, so bring your appetite (or a friend) to tackle this one,” he said. Harpoon Beer Hall Harpoon Beer Hall, which will be located on New England Avenue, offered a Maple Bourbon Bacon Corned Beef Sandwich. The sandwich came smoked on rye, topped with a maple bourbon glaze, candied bacon and powdered sugar. If you’re looking for a combination of sweet and savory, this See BIG E on page 8
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DiZoglio ostracizes Legislature for ‘patronizing’ voters By Ryan Feyre
rfeyre@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — State Auditor Diana DiZoglio does not believe Massachusetts is immune to the federal government’s threat to democracy. In fact, she thinks the state is very much part of the problem. “I do think that democracy is under attack across our nation at the federal level, of course,” DiZoglio said on the “So That Reminds Me” podcast at Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s picnic on Aug. 19. “But it’s also under attack here in Massachusetts in our own state government. And it’s not being talked about enough. We, the people, have rights. Our rights are being violated. The law is being broken by the lawmakers.” Her consternation stems from what she perceives as the Massachusetts Legislature’s total neglect of the state’s voters. Almost two years ago, 72% of voters said they wanted the state Legislature
to be audited. Yet, DiZoglio said that the Legislature is using its power to patronize and undermine those voters. This year alone, the state’s House of Representatives passed a bill that outlines the administrative functions of the Legislature to audit but said constitutional functions could not be audited. The bill also does not apply the existing public records law to the Legislature. Over a month later, the state Senate passed its own bill that creates a formal process for requesting legislative records and adds a press shield to protect journalists. But like the House bill, it stops short of applying the state’s public records law to the Legislature. Instead, it’s more limited in scope, covering records that are largely already available, according to the State House News Service. In her interview with the “So That Reminds Me” hosts, DiZoglio argued that these bills are
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. Reminder Publishing file photo
meant to overturn the audit Massachusetts residents voted for and sabotage the November ballot question asking if the governor’s office and Legislature should be subject to the public records law. “The sheriffs that are here today, every city councilor, every select board member, every single municipal official and state official, we all follow the public
records laws, but the Legislature and governor’s office exempt themselves from the same laws,” DiZoglio said. “And this allows for financial receipts to be hidden from the general public, the taxpayers. It allows for state contracts to be hidden from the general public.” DiZoglio believes these recent actions go beyond just the audit and the public records law at this point. If the governor’s office and Legislature have the power to pass bills that nullify ballot questions, she fears that people are losing their constitutional protections. She said the constitution is there to protect people, not politicians. “That ballot process is in place to actually make sure that the people are protected from government tyranny,” DiZoglio said. “And when you have a legislative body that says, ‘oh, well, that’s not really what we’re doing, and you all just don’t understand,’ not only is it dismissive of the voters
and patronizing to the voters who very much know what they’re going to vote for, but it also is anti-democratic.” The roadblocks have made her job difficult, DiZoglio said. Most politicians, when they run for office, need to appear infallible as they stroll the campaign trail. In her case, however, DiZoglio said she almost considered not running for reelection this November because the bullying and retaliation toward her office have “gotten out of hand.” Still, she said the public galvanizes her to keep going, so that’s exactly what she plans to do. “I really feel a responsibility at this point to keep carrying the torch on this issue,” DiZoglio said. “I helped to start this … I lit the match, and I’m carrying the torch now, and I want to see this through. So I am running for reelection, and I am also working to pass the ballot question into law that will subject the statehouse to the public records law.”
Rising food costs squeeze childcare providers, report finds By Alison Kuznitz
State House News Service
BOSTON — Childcare providers are financially struggling to keep up with escalating food costs, and yet many early education programs are choosing not to participate in a federal nutrition assistance program due to administrative hassles, according to an upcoming report from Boston-based researchers. While Massachusetts lawmakers have celebrated their investments to make universal free school meals possible, state policymakers are “generally unaware” the initiative does not extend to young children in childcare settings, according to a new study from Children’s HealthWatch, a research and policy network that’s headquartered at Boston Medical Center. One large center provider reported spending over $400,000 on food expenses that are only partially reimbursed, and lamented that money cannot be saved and instead invested in teacher salaries. Researchers, who plan to release the full report later this week, highlighted their findings on Aug. 25 during Strategies
for Children’s 9:30 Call. The study incorporates interviews and focus groups with 26 childcare professionals who live and work in Greater Boston, central Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., said Children’s HealthWatch Executive Director Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba. A key theme of the study was that childcare providers are “severely financially constrained by the cost of food,” a long-running problem that’s grown more acute with inflation, Ettinger de Cuba said. One state administrator quoted in the study said it’s become “much more common than before” for programs to report spending part of their Commonwealth Cares for Children state grants on food. The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program provides reimbursements for meals and snacks that are served to eligible individuals at participating childcare centers, day care homes and adult day care centers. The program is also available for meals served to children and youth at participating afterschool programs, children living in emergency shelters, and adults over
age 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in daycare facilities, a federal webpage says. Reimbursements are calculated based on factors such as the facility type, the income level of participants and the area income level, according to the CACFP Association. The Children’s HealthWatch study found the program is a “vital but flawed resource with administrative burden, insufficient reimbursement, and sometimes intrusive oversight,” said research and policy analyst Carley Ruemmele. Still, children attending programs that participated in CACFP were more likely to consume a “diverse” diet and to eat fruits and vegetables, she said. Ruemmele said only 36% of childcare providers nationally participate in CACFP. The study captured a string of program hurdles, including “intense” recordkeeping requirements and family childcare providers struggling to find sponsor organizations to enable them to enroll in CACFP. “Given the rise in costs of living and unaffordability generally, not participating in CACFP leaves federal dollars on the table,” Ruemmele said. “But for
some, we heard that the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.” The study recommends policy solutions such as allocating state dollars to support CACFP sponsors, conducting a review of any additional CACFP requirements from the state, and creating a state or regional technical assistance collaborative network focused on early education and care nutrition. Gov. Maura Healey’s Anti-Hunger Task Force earlier this year called for boosting participation in CACFP, plus creating a public data dashboard on nutrition program participation to track access and gaps. The report says the number of suppers provided through CACFP has not rebounded since the pandemic. Nearly 1.2 million suppers were served in 2016, compared to 760,000 in 2024. Healey’s office last week announced a partnership with Project Bread to help more eligible childcare and afterschool programs unlock federal funding through CACFP. “Providing access to nutritious food is an essential part of high-quality programming for our youngest learners,” Early Educa-
tion and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw said. “We are excited to support this partnership that will help more child care programs connect with resources to provide healthy meals and snacks, while reducing barriers for providers and strengthening the supports available to children and families across Massachusetts.” Project Bread will also work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to identify participation barriers and conduct outreach to eligible programs, the Healey administration said. The food security organization will support new and existing participants, including offering training to strengthen meal service and helping to develop nutritious menus within program budgets. Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
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Committee’s car show will rev up Agawam’s Irish spirit By Mike Lydick Correspondent
AGAWAM — Car shows are popular events — both for people who enjoy showing their vehicles and for the people who enjoy coming to the shows to admire them. That’s why the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee decided to organize a car show as one of its 25th anniversary fundraising activities. “Car people really enjoy getting together, hanging out, sharing their passion and showing off their vehicles,” said Todd Arslanian, a member of the committee. “It’s a fun way to bring together people with a common interest.” Abbie Fiore, the committee’s president, said they were looking for fundraising options that were different from their usual ones. Arslanian and several other committee members who own classic cars or motorcycles — or have an interest in them — suggested the car show. The show is slated for Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Polish American Club of Agawam, 139 Southwick St. in Feeding Hills. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and also will include a vendor fair that will support local businesses and vendors throughout Agawam and surrounding towns. Arslanian, who plans to show his customized 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle, said what he enjoys most about his motorcycle is riding it. “It’s the freedom, the wind on my face, and just being out on the road. I’ve always wanted a motorcycle,
and I especially enjoy riding with friends and family.” As a car enthusiast — he also owns a 1965 Chevy Bel Air sedan — Arslanian said he was trying to think outside the box when he suggested the car show. “I thought it could be something fun for everyone while also raising money for a good cause. We’ll test drive it this year and if it is a success, we’ll probably do it again,” he said. The committee hopes to attract 50 vehicles of all types. The entry fee for cars and trucks is $20 while motorcycles are $15. There is no admission fee for spectators. Fiore said the committee’s overall fundraising goal for this year is $15,000. “We’re hopeful the car show will help make a big impact on this goal. This season is the 25th Irish Season in Agawam and we are currently working on the production and development of the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee’s tartan.” She added that much of the committee’s fundraising will be used to create a tartan unique to Agawam. The St. Patrick tartan is a traditional Highland pattern honoring Ireland’s patron saint, with variations in color and weave that reflect centuries of dyeing techniques. Agawam is one the few local St. Patrick’s committees in the area without a tartan. Funds also will be used for building the committee’s float for the 2027 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade as well as activities and opportunities for the colleen and her court. Ava Levesque, Agawam’s
Todd Arslanian, a member of the St. Patrick’s Committee organizing a car show in Feeding Hills, sits on his customized 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster. He will show the bike at the Sept. 13 event at the Polish American Club of Agawam. Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
2026 colleen, and her court — as well as some colleens and court members from past seasons—– will be at the event throughout the day along with Agawam’s 2026 “Irish Monopoly”-themed float. Doug Reed, the committee’s past president and a local DJ, plans to spin his platters of music on the float. Food and beverages will be
available to purchase from the club. The committee also will be doing a raffle with prizes from local businesses and vendors as well as a 50/50 raffle. The vendor fair will include a variety of small businesses from Agawam and surrounding areas. Items will range from gift baskets to Irish gifts to coffee creations to car pipes to dog treats. Among
the vendors: Graceful Designs (a gift basket and all-occasion gifts), Highland Card-Irish Shop in Agawam, The White Shanty (a mobile coffee bar) and S&S Handmade Soap. Show vehicles and motorcycles should plan to arrive at 9:30 that morning. For more information email agawamstpatricks317@gmail.com
Cooper’s accepting donations and rounding up for TJO Animals AGAWAM — For a limited time, Cooper’s Gifts, Apparel, Home of Agawam, is accepting shelter supply donations for Foundation for TJO Animals, which is located at 237 Memorial Drive in Springfield. The Foundation for TJO Animals raises funds to provide resources and support for critical veterinary care and enrichment for the animals at the Thomas J.
O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. It is a 501c3 organization. Donations will be collected at Cooper’s now through Sept. 30. “We invite everyone to help out the animals at TJO and be entered to win a $100 Cooper’s Gift Card.” said Kate Gourde, owner of Cooper’s Gifts, Apparel, Home. Items to keep the shelter clean
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and well stocked; paper towels, bleach, pet food, treats, toys and litter, are their current needs. “We hope that while people are out purchasing items for themselves, that they will consider picking up a few extras for the Foundation for TJO Animals. And, you’ll be entered into our raffle!” said Gourde. “We will swap a raffle entry for every item donated to the Foundation for TJO Animals. One lucky winner of a $100 Cooper’s gift card will be notified on Oct. 1. Entry tickets can also be purchased at the store for $1 each, or 6 tickets for $5. All ticket sales will also be do-
nated to the Foundation for TJO Animals. Especially for people outside the Greater Springfield area, it’s easier for them to bring donations here.” Gourde said. Items may be brought to the shop anytime up until Sept. 30. Cooper’s is located at 161 Main St. and is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. (Note: Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and closed on Sundays, during the Big E Fair) “This drive coincides with Foundation for TJO Animals as our September Round-Up charity; so, it’s the perfect time to spread the word about their mis-
sion and really help them out,” Gourde said. Each month Gourde chooses a local charity to receive the profits of the store’s Round-Up Program through which customers are invited to round up their purchase total to the nearest dollar amount. Gourde will then match 50% of the total collected. The program has donated more than $69,000 to local organizations since its inception in 2014. More information on the Round Up program and how to nominate a charity may be found on Cooper’s website coopersgifts.com/round-up/.
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Symposium highlights autism orgs, resources The Agawam Reminder is published weekly by Reminders Publishing, LLC. The Agawam Reminder is available for delivery by mail for $9/month or $104/year. To subscribe visit TheReminderbymail.com
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AGAWAM — Fundraising is hard work, but for Elizabeth Poggi, it is worth it. The 7-year-old has run a lemonade stand for the past three summers, helping the animals at Dakin Humane Society one sip at a time. Dakin is near and dear to Poggi’s heart. “Both my cats are from Dakin,” she said. “I have Sunny, who is four right now, but we adopted her when she was a kitten. She’s an orange kitty who also made me start thinking about the lemonade stand. Then, in March of 2025, we got Lasagna, the calico, and she is 1 year old.” Poggi first decided to run a lemonade stand in 2023, “because I love lemonade.” She knew from the start that she wanted to donate the money to the humane society, and wanting to encourage their daughter, her parents committed to matching every dol-
lar she earned. In the first year, Poggi was able to donate $420. Since then, her fundraising skills have grown considerably. This year, she gave $1,070 to help an-
quire substantially separate programming. He assured families that their student would not be required to switch schools, but said, “You give the opportunity to families to have some common and lasting effects, to know that their child ... or adult has the opportunity to enter the world positively.” Sarno said rates of autism diagnosis have increased in recent years. Sarno said, “But just because maybe he or she has autism does not mean they cannot achieve. They can achieve.” Among those who spoke at the symposium was state Rep. Jay See AUTISM on page 7
imals in need. Poggi’s philanthropic mission is teaching her about setting reasonable goals for herself. Thinking about next year’s lemonade
stand, she said, “I would really like to reach $2,000, but I feel like I won’t be able to reach that, so if I can’t reach that, I’m hoping for $1,500.”
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wandering can allow families to take proactive steps to minimize danger. Crowley said alerting first responders is important and can include face-to-face meetings with local police and fire officials. Otherwise, a disability indicator form can be filled out and submitted to the local 911 municipal coordinator. This alerts emergency services that a vulnerable person lives at the address. To find the local 911 municipal coordinator, call the city or town’s emergency services administrator. Mayor Domenic Sarno said Springfield Public Schools is working to create a day school for students with autism who re-
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Elizabeth Poggi sits with one of the kittens at Dakin Humane Society.
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7-year-old sells lemonade to raise money for Dakin By Sarah Heinonen
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Elizabeth Rodrigues and Bob “The Bike Man” Charland, both of whom work with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department’s Triad Division, display the Project Lifesaver wristband transmitter and receiver.
WESTHAM PTON
SPRINGFIELD — Half a dozen experts working in the field of autism spectrum disorder gathered for a symposium on wandering among the young people with the condition. The event was organized by state Rep. Angelo Puppolo and hosted at Greenleaf Community Center in Springfield. The symposium was open to the public and brought together individuals with autism, down syndrome, their families, caregivers, educators, advocates, first responders and healthcare professionals. Speaking at the event were experts from the state Department of Developmental Services Central/West Region, Autism Society, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department Autism Safety and Outreach Resources, Service Net and Autism Connections, Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and Office of the Child Advocate. “Our goal is simple ... it’s to ensure that every family member leaves here tonight with new knowledge, valuable resources, contact information ... and connections,” the Springfield Democrat said. “My office is always available.” Cathrine “Cat” McEachern, research and professional training coordinator with Service Net/ Autism Connections, said wan-
dering, or “elopement” is “super common.” She said, “The behavior is a communication of a need.” Youth who elope may be trying to escape an overwhelming stimulus or situation. McEachern, who is autistic, said that when she was a child, she used to hide in clothing racks in department stores because it felt less overwhelming than the store’s large, open space. The other reason young people with autism often wander is in search of an interest. McEachern said that when she was 5 years old, she nearly drowned because she was able to wade into a pool when her parents were not looking. The Office of Child Advocate has been working in conjunction with the Department of Developmental Services to create an awareness campaign around the increased risk of drowning among autistic youth. She said that for many people with autism, light sparkling off water can be attractive. Water can also be soothing, akin to a waited blanket. Because of these reasons, many autistic people are drawn to water. Meg Crowley of the Office of the Child Advocate said being in or near water unsupervised is always dangerous, but adaptive swimming lessons are one tool families can employ to help protect their child or teen. She said every YMCA in the state offers adaptive swimming lessons. Knowing a child is prone to
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Gaming Commission funding to support public safety By Peter Tuohy
ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SRPINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is awarding West Springfield $132,900 through its Community Mitigation Fund, supporting public safety throughout the town. The Community Mitigation Fund supports communities and governmental entities in offsetting impact costs related to the construction and operation of gaming facilities. The fund has granted around $79.5 million since 2015 toward advancing needs in transportation, community planning, workforce development and public
safety initiatives for municipalities and government entities located in the vicinity of casinos. West Springfield has received $432,700 from the Community Mitigation Fund since fiscal year 2025 across six different areas of support for public-safety. Funding will be used for eligible FY27 costs, incurred between July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The grant will support personnel costs surrounding West Springfield’s public-safety response to impacts and increased calls for service since the opening of MGM Springfield, which West Springfield Chief Finance Officer and Municipal Grant Manager Sharon Wilcox identified on the grant application.
Funding will go toward additional staffing in the West Springfield Police Department, Fire and EMS Department and emergency dispatch operations. The award will also offset salary-related costs for eight firefighter and EMS personnel, four police patrol officers and three dispatchers. The town’s public safety personnel has increased since the casino’s opening between the FY17 and FY26 budgets. The Fire Department staffing has increased to 56 from 48, patrol officers in the Police Department have increased to 71 from 60 and dispatchers have increased to eight from five. A press release states that the
award will help “reduce, though not eliminate, the local operating-budget burden associated with maintaining these necessary service levels.” Funding can also go toward other uses in the public safety category, with the town’s application noting increased traffic can contribute to congestion, crashes and conflicts between vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. The release also stated that “casino and hospitality-related business can create added law-enforcement and emergency-service demands, including pressures related to certain criminal activity.” “Maintaining strong police, fire, EMS and dispatch staffing is
essential to protecting the safety and quality of life of our residents, businesses and visitors,” Mayor William Reichelt said in the release. “We are grateful for this Community Mitigation Fund award, which will help West Springfield continue meeting the increased public-safety demands experienced in our community.” West Springfield has also prioritized public safety with its new Central Dispatch Center. The center links 911 calls for all emergency departments under the same roof instead of separate facilities, improving response times with easier coordination between the police, fire and EMS units.
Cultural Council now accepting grant applications for 2027 WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West Springfield Cultural Council is now accepting applications for its 2027 grant cycle. Applications will be accepted from Sept. 1 through Oct. 15. Grants range from $250 to
$3,000 or more and are available to individuals, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities proposing projects that provide a public benefit to the West Springfield community. This funding is made possible by the Massachusetts
Cultural Council, a state agency that supports arts and culture in Massachusetts communities. Funding may support a wide variety of artistic projects and activities, including exhibits, festivals, concerts, short-term artist
residencies, workshops, lectures and performances. Eligible venues for programs include local schools, the senior center, the public library and other West Springfield locations open to the public. Interested applicants can apply
online and find complete guidelines at: massculturalcouncil.org/ local-council/west-springfield/ For questions, please contact the West Springfield Cultural Council at culturalcouncil@tows.org.
Massachusetts fire departments earn fourth highest reporting rate STOW — The Department of Fire Services announced that Massachusetts fire departments have achieved the fourth-highest reporting rate in the country for the National Emergency Re-
sponse Information System. 90% of Massachusetts fire departments have reported more than 1.3 million apparatus responses to more than 788,000 incidents. This achievement reflects the
state’s commitment to leading the nation in public safety data collection and will help local and state officials make informed decisions about operations, policies, fire prevention messaging,
grant applications and budget proposals, and updates to fire and life safety codes. A project of the U.S. Fire Administration and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute, NERIS provides unprecedented public access to incident response data through its newly launched public website. Unlike its 50-yearold predecessor, which required a lengthy data validation process, NERIS allows users to view near-real-time incident data from cities and towns across the country and conduct independent analysis using dozens of data fields. “Adopting an entirely new data reporting system was a seismic shift for fire departments across the country,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “They have done a phenomenal
job of adapting to NERIS and bringing Massachusetts to the nation’s forefront. I also want to recognize our staff for helping to bring the state’s fire service onboard in a matter of months. The data that local fire departments are reporting will support funding requests, effective resource allocation, community risk reduction efforts, and much more.” NERIS rolled out in geographic phases throughout 2025. Most Massachusetts fire departments began transitioning to the new system in October and several volunteered to serve as early adopters, including Belchertown, Beverly, Bourne, Dudley, Gill, Greenfield, Huntington, Pittsfield, Sandisfield, Springfield and Walpole. See STATE FIRE on page 7
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Autism Continued from page 5
Livingstone, the House chair on the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. While introducing him, Puppolo said his colleague “not only advocates, but listens. And he gets it.” While he thanked Puppolo for his introduction, he said, “One of the things you learn in this, is no one knows it. No one can know it. You need a village.” Livingstone, a Boston Democrat, praised the symposium for bringing together experts from different governmental and community organizations. “Events like this bring these great service providers in the area together.” Livingstone urged people to contact him and the committee to share the service gaps they see and how the state can help. Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi shared that he lives with his brother, who “struggles tremendously with mental health.” He said, “For families caring for someone who is prone to wandering, an ordinary day can become
State Fire Continued from page 6
The new system replaces the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and its Massachusetts-level system, the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System. Under the former systems, it could take months to obtain reliable incident and response statistics. NERIS will also help local, state and regional agencies understand the impact of large-scale events and prepare for increased emergency activity during major
|7|
an emergency in seconds. A door opens, somebody gets distracted, a child becomes overwhelmed and they take off through the door. Suddenly, a family is facing one of the most frightening situations imaginable.” The Sheriff’s Department’s Triad Division works with Project Lifesaver International, a nonprofit that outfits people at risk of wandering, whether due to autism, dementia or another cause, with a wrist- or ankle-worn device that transmits a radio signal. If the person elopes, families call 911 immediately and first responders report to the person’s last known location with a receiver that can pick up the device’s signal within a two-mile radius. Cocchi emphasized that the technology is not GPS, nor is it a replacement for other safeguards. It is a tool, used along with canines and drones, to help search teams locate a missing person. He said six in 10 people found while using the device are recovered within 20 minutes. “When someone is missing, every minute matters,” he said. “Hope isn’t a public safety strategy. Preparation is.”
The radio transmitter costs about $400 with some continuing costs, but Cocchi said the Sheriff’s Department uses money seized through drug forfeitures to cover the cost for families. “There should never be haves and havenots when it comes to protecting and caring for a loved one,” Cocchi said. Triad’s Elizabeth Rodrigues said about 100 people have obtained the device through the Sheriff’s Department. Wandering is not the only dangerous situation people with autism may find themselves in. Puppolo authored the Blue Envelope Law, which was recently signed into law. It provides for people with autism to carry a special blue envelope as a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle. During a traffic stop, the person can alert
AGAWAM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026
the officer that they have a Blue Envelope, on which is written the behaviors or responses they can expect from people with autism. Inside the envelope are instructions for the driver on what to expect during a traffic stop. Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council Deputy Director Jennifer Bertrand called the Blue Envelope Law one of the year’s “really good wins.” Gyasi Burks-Abbott, with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities program at Boston Children’s Hospital, shared a story from his own life illustrating why such programs are essential for those with autism and communication challenges. When Burks-Abbott was 13, he went to the store by himself for the first
time. The grocery manager mistook him for someone who had previously stolen shopping carts. When approached by the police, Burks-Abbott was confused and broke out into “a Cheshire Cat-like grin,” a common reaction when he is nervous. The police took that as an admission of guilt. Had the police known Burks-Abbott has autism, his response may not have been misunderstood, saving him and his family undue stress. To learn more about the drowning risk among youth with autism, visit mass.gov/autismwatersafety. For more information about Project Lifesaver, call the Triad Division at 413-858-0060. More about the Blue Envelope Law can be found at mass.gov/info-details/ blue-envelope-program.
celebrations, disasters and other incidents. This summer, NERIS implemented a “special incident modifier” to collect information about emergency responses related to World Cup matches, watch parties and other gatherings. During that event period, Massachusetts fire departments reported 65 related incidents across six cities and towns, including 31 medical calls, 25 service calls and two elevator rescues.
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SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN THIS EDITION. ALL PUZZLES & SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT WWW.THEREMINDER.COM/PUZZLE-CORNER/
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026 | AGAWAM | 8 |
Big E
Continued from page 2
may be the pick for you. Alongside the traditional corned beef flavor, there is a pleasant burst of sugar biting into the sandwich. I would consider it a steady, safe pick if you don’t want to go too crazy but want something that represents the best of both worlds. K’s Japanese Restaurant K’s Japanese Restaurant is making its debut at the Big E this year and will be located at the Food Court on East Road. Hearkening back to a push pop ice cream, K’s is offering sushi in a push up tube with a side of soy sauce. In terms of the sushi, they offer spicy tuna, tuna with avocado and topped with shrimp. While I did not give this a try, I have to say it may be the most convenient, hands-free item you can get walking around the fair. Tyler called it one of the most interesting food items he has ever seen at the Big E. “The push-up sushi contains multiple pieces of sushi inside of a tube. Outside of the tube is also a smaller tube of soy sauce. When you are ready to eat, you pop off the plastic lid, dump some soy
sauce in if you choose and use the tube of soy sauce to slowly push the sushi to the top of the tube. This makes it easy to eat while at the fair and no chopsticks are needed. Besides the entertaining process of eating a piece of sushi, it also tasted delicious,” he said. Macho Taco Macho Taco is bringing a birria bomb to the Big E this year, and they will be located on East Road. The birria bomb is a deepfried ball of rice, slow-simmered shredded birria beef and nacho cheese coated with Hot Cheeto dust and served with a birria broth for dipping. This was the first thing I tried, and nothing came close to topping it. I always have an eye on what Macho Taco is going to bring after being blown away by their birria tacos a few years ago. The combination of the fried rice, nacho cheese and a Hot Cheeto dust coating is just unbeatable. Tyler also pointed out that there is an incredible cheese pull when pulling the ball apart. Moolicious Moolicious, located on West Road and Springfield Road this year, is bringing a new ice cream concoction in the campfire on a stick. The campfire on a stick is
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two graham crackers that are piled with marshmallows and torched until they are golden and gooey. Finally, the smore is topped with vanilla ice cream before it is rolled into a warm chocolate. Chris was the lone member of the team brave enough to take a bite of the campfire on a stick. He said, “Ice cream packed between two graham crackers on a stick covered in chocolate. Need I say more? OK, I will. This is a cool, sweet treat that plays on those classic s’mores flavors and figures to be a real crowd pleaser. A word to the wise, though, if it’s a warm day, you’ll want to eat it quickly, unless you’re like my 8-year-old, in which case, the messier the better!” Moolicious will also offer salted butter popcorn soft serve. NOLA Cajun Kitchen & Raw Bar NOLA Cajun Kitchen & Raw Bar, which will be located on New England Avenue, is bringing a Crawfish Po’ Boy, which includes crispy crawfish on a fresh roll with lettuce, tomato, Cajun slaw and remoulade along with Hush Puppy Skewers made with lobster tail coated in hush puppy batter, flash-fried, drizzled with Mike’s Hot Honey butter and fin-
The Uncrusta Double Burger from White Hut and the Maple Bourbon Corn Beef Sandwich from Harpoon Beer Hall. Reminder Publishing photo by Dennis Hackett
ished with Cajun remoulade. Tyler said the hush puppy was the best thing he tried all day. “The hush puppy batter was not too sweet and worked really well with the Mike’s Hot Honey Butter and Cajun remoulade. The Cajun butter poached lobster stayed soft and buttery through the flash fried process. The entire dish hit a lot of different flavor profiles and worked so well. I can’t wait to look for this food item when the Big E officially starts,” he said.
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 Clinton S. Corbin Christine C. Girard Patricia A. Rescigno
Francis H. “Hank” Arenstam James P. Fenton
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|9|
AGAWAM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026
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From left:The push-up sushi from K’s Japanese Restaurant. Fried Oreos from Simply Gluten Free. The homemade fried chicken with Chef Vin’s Special Sauce from the Storrowton Soup Shack. The Yankee Boy colossal centennial lobster roll. Reminder Publishing photos by Chris Maza, Tyler Garnet and Dennis Hackett
Big E
Continued from page 8
“Let it be known that my first corn dog ever was at the Big E media taste and was gluten-free to boot. And it was downright enjoyable. The deep-fried Oreo wasn’t overtaken by batter and grease, which can sometimes be the case with those kinds of treats, and the flavor of the chocolate cookie and cream filling were still very prominent,” he said. Storrowton Soup Shack Storrowton’s presence at the Big E has gotten a bit of a mythological status from Reminder employees past and present with many of us looking back fondly on the cheeseburger chowder they offered years ago. This year, they are bringing homemade fried chicken with a side of Chef Vin’s Special Sauce. Chris said the chicken was perfect. “The Storrowton Soup Shack’s fried chicken is perfectly done. I’m not a big fan of heavily breaded, heavily fried foods in general, but this version is light and flavorful and the Chef Vin’s Special Sauce for dipping adds some extra flavor and a little kick,” he said. The Paddock The Paddock will set up shop on West Road and will bring their stack, which is four specialty sliders topped and stacked, then drizzled in smoky, spicy scauce made with ancho chiles, barbeque sauce and crispy onion straws. At the preview, they offered a maple bacon slider along with a slider with candied jalapeno. While most of our crew opted for the maple bacon one, I knew I had to try the candied jalapeno one, and I was not disappointed.
The blend of the kick from the jalapeno and the sweet, candied flavor was an impressive mix of sweet and spicy. The burger also had a great flavor. Ryan said he enjoyed the maple bacon version. “I don’t know why, but I guess I was just infatuated with the salty-sweet combination today, even if my stomach doesn’t want me to be. The Paddock’s maple burger with cheddar cheese and bacon was another delight in that canon thanks to the intersection of those disparate flavors. I also like the handheld portion; it’s the perfect amount of sweet and savory; one flavor never subsumes the other,” he said. V-One Vodka As always, V-One Vodka brought a variety of drinks to this year’s preview, including their new Late Checkout Vodka seltzer, a caramel espresso martini and a spirited Christmas bar. I went for the raspberry seltzer and I was impressed with the flavor. I felt the raspberry flavoring was natural and had the signature taste of V-One Vodka, but it wasn’t overpowering. It was the perfect palette cleanser after a bunch of food and will be a refreshing grab to bring with you throughout the fair. Chris gave the caramel espresso martini a try. “I am not a martini drinker, but I am certainly a coffee fan, so this was one I had to try, albeit with some trepidation. My bravery paid off, however. The caramel sweetness and bitterness of the espresso play off each other really nicely in this drink, complemented by some alcoholic bite that is present but not overpowering,” he said. V-One Vodka will be located at the Young Building this year.
SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE “SHORT MONTHS”
White Hut This year, White Hut is bringing an Uncrusta Double Burger, which is exactly what it sounds like. A burger with two fried Uncrustables serving as the buns. Chris said the burger is a good flavor for people looking to try new things. “It’s sweet, savory and salty, all rolled into one. At times, the peanut butter and jelly can overwhelm the burger patties on the pallet, but then your next bit might do the opposite. It’s an interesting change-up and if you’re one who heads to the fair with a flair for the adventurous, this is worth taking a bite,” he said. White Hut will be in the Food Court.
Yankee Boy Yankee Boy, which is celebrating its 100th birthday, is bringing a colossal centennial lobster roll with lobster meat sauteed in warm butter and served on a brioche roll with lemon and Old Boy/garlic aioli. They also offered honey barbeque sticky wings. While Tyler said he loved the lobster roll, he wished he could’ve had one of the full size ones. “My only complaint about the lobster roll is that we were only allowed a small sample bite because I wanted more. The lobster itself was super soft, warm and buttery and had all the qualities you look for in a good lobster roll. The bun we had at the media preview was not the one that will be served during the actual
fair, so I will be going back for a lobster roll when the Big E starts,” he said. Ryan said he enjoyed the wing and was surprised it wasn’t messier. “The flavor profile snuck up on me here. I’m so used to sweet barbecue sauce that I was not ready for how tangy the wing was right off the bat. By the time you’re done with that first bite, though, you’re graced with that classic sweet barbecue flavor. Surprisingly, I enjoyed that roller coaster ride,” he said. Yankee Boy will be located on Springfield Road. Readers will have the opportunity to try all of these new menu items when the Big E kicks off on Sept. 18.
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026 | AGAWAM | 10 |
THEREMINDER.COM | WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
Diamondbacks lead-off hitter Alex Baez blasts a first inning homer over the left field fence on this pitch.
Grizzlies shortstop Briere Mutti fields the ground ball and then throws to first for the out.
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Grizzlies second game starter Tim Hurley rears back and fires.
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AGAWAM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026
Aiden Breen slides past D-Backs catcher Matt Souvigney to score a run for the Grizzlies.
Pops Febus the Diamondbacks dives safely back to first on the pick-off attempt.
Axel Ofray plays the bad-hop grounder off his shoulder and recovers in time to get the out at first base.
Jayden Blackburn bunts for a base hit.
James Rocca races to the backstop in an effort to catch the foul pop-up.
Angel Filpo takes the throw but it’s too late to catch Joe Bogli.
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026 | AGAWAM | 12 |
THEREMINDER.COM | WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
CALL 413-213-6178 TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY!
classifieds community
CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS THURSDAY AT NOON. APARTMENTS FOR RENT WESTFIELD: Beautiful, Bright & Sunny, Second Floor, 2 Family, 5 Room/2-bedroom Apartment, Wood floors, Insulated, Private porch, Washer/dryer Hookup, $1400/month (plus utilities) First/Last/Security. NO pets, Non-smoking 413-562-6549
APPLIANCE REPAIR
AUTO SERVICES
ELECTRICIAN
FIREWOOD
HANDYMAN
CASH FOR JUNK AND REPAIRABLE CARS
FLOREK'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE
AFFORDABLE FIREWOOD
Four Seasons Handyman Services 40-years experience in carpentry. Recently retired but want to stay busy helping you with any job you are afraid to ask help for. Todd 413-433-5319
Free Towing! Friendly, Fast, Same Day Service!
Call/Text 413-219-6839 Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398
ALLEN ST. JEAN APPLIANCE
BUSINESS PROPERTY
Repairing all major brands of appliances. New Appliance Sales! A+ BBB Rating. Feel free to leave a quote on our services! www.allens-appliance.com
FOR SALE: 35,000 square foot office/light industrial building on 4.5 acres of land in Concord, Massachusetts. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, this property is 15 minutes from Rte. 128 and 20 minutes from Rte. 495. Not only is there town water and sewer but the town of Concord has its own electric company. In addition, Concord has underground Concord fibre optic internet. 7 minutes from historic Concord center, enjoy Walden pond, Louisa May Alcott's house and many other historic sites as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Use the entire building or keep some of the tenants already occupying the building. Mowing, plowing, and other maintenance already in place could remain. Call with any questions: 978.580.1895
Senior/Military discounts available. 413-562-5082
ARTICLES FOR SALE
Raymour & Flanagan Lamont Reclining Power Sofa Removable backs. Recliners & USB charging on both ends. Like new/7 months old. Beige, 88"L X 37"W. Asking $900. Call 413-562-6514 or text 413-250-8731
Fully experienced for all your electrical needs, in your home or business. No job too small or too big. Electrical service upgrades, new construction or additions, emergency generators; new installation and maintenance service. Fully insured/licensed. Call Jason, Master Electrician 413-568-6293
All types of wiring. Free estimates. Insured. SPECIALIZING IN PORTABLE AND WHOLE HOUSE KOHLER GENERATORS, SERVICE UPGRADES, SMALL JOBS, POOLS. Gutter de-icing cables installed. All calls answered! Best prices, prompt service. Lic. #A-16886 (413)562-5816
FIREWOOD
JAMES FERRIS ELECTRICIAN
Wood Chopper Bob's Firewood Green and Seasoned Hardwoods Cut to length, Split, and Delivered (413)426-7529 or (860)463-6519
Insured. 50 yrs. experience. No job too small. Call 413-330-3682
Call: 413-530-4820
POEHLMAN ELECTRIC
ELECTRICIAN Lic.#E16303
Seasoned and green. Cut, split, delivered. Half-Cords/FullCords/Multiple-Cords. Now ready for immediate delivery. Senior, Veteran and Bulk discounts apply!
GENERAL SERVICES A.R.A. JUNK & FURNITURE REMOVAL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DEMOLITION SHEDS/PATIOS HOUSE CLEANOUTS Appliances & Garage We Recycle & Donate
PETE 413-433-0356
Free Estimates Credit cards accepted Same day service! RICHIE’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Contractor/Mechanical Services/ Handyman Replacement windows, vinyl siding, roofing, gutters installed/cleaned, remodeling, painting, flooring/carpeting, masonry, carpentry, powerwashing & ceramic tiling. Residential/commercial. No job too small. Lic#148425/Insured 413-746-2171/413-246-0927 OLD SCHOOL WINDOW & GUTTER CLEANING Gutter Cleaning $95 any home; Power washing starts at $99; Window Cleaning starting at $75; Roof Moss Control $99. Call Bob 413-896-6442. FULLY INSURED www.windowcleanup.com
PART-TIME DRIVERSNEEDED NEEDED PARTIME DRIVERS We are looking for Home Delivery Drivers to join our team.
Tell them you saw it in The Reminder! Let our advertisers know that this is where you found them. They appreciate it, and so do we!
HEALTH & MEDICAL Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with 1 - 8 5 5 - 5 2 6 - 1 0 6 0 d e t a i l s ! www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258
HELP WANTED Westfield Area Landscape Company seeking landscape laborer and winter help. Starting immediately, top pay, must have license and own transportation. Experience preferred. Call 413-209-0270
HOME IMPROVEMENT A-1 AFFORDABLE BUILDING CONTRACTOR Light carpentry, Framing to finish carpentry. Specializing in decks, barn repairs, log cabin repairs, garage repairs, sheds, basement conversions, interior renovations; exterior repairs. 29 Years Experience Licensed & Insured Veteran Owned & Operated 10% Sr. Discounts
Call Dave: 413-568-6440
DALE'S STRUCTURAL Termite damage, sagging floors, rotted beams, basement columns, foundation repairs, homes, garages, barns. Small jobs welcome. 413-667-3149
• $15/hour plus mileage reimbursement • 16-24 Hours per week. • Delivery experience preferred (newspaper delivery, USPS, Amazon, etc.), but not required, as well as knowledge of Northampton- Florence, and/or Westfield. • Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle. If interested, please contact Nate Halla Nhalla@thereminder.com • 413-213-6175
AGAWAM
Eugene Mankin and Svetlana Mankin to Sandra Dakis-Fiore, 19-A Mansion Woods Drive, $285,000. Giuseppe Tirone, Geraldine Tirone and Geraldina Tirone to Brightway Realty LLC, South Westfield St., Lot 1, $125,000. Haskell Holdings LLC, to Winchester Real Estate LLC, 18-20 Summer St., $405,000. Kimberly A. Cahalan, representative, Florence Margaret Stroiney, estate, and Florence B. Stroiney, estate, to Dennis J. Cahalan III, 385 North Westfield St., $297,000. L. William Fradet, trustee, and L. William Fradet Trust, trustee of, to Vitaliy Buryak and Olga Buryak, 629 River Roa d, $370,000. Michael G. Lyman and Laurie J. Lyman to Erik Genest and Elizabeth Hurley, 63 Columbia Drive, $455,000. MV Holdings LLC, to Maple Tree Industrial Properties LLC, 609 Silver St., $6,400,000. Robert M. Krieger and Dorothy Krieger to Sean Alessandri, 9 Fernwood Drive, $450,000. Ryan Spencer and Alison Spencer to Aylin Elvan Candir and Aylin Candir, 75 Clematis Road, $465,000. Thomas A. Wisniewski and Joanne M. Wisniewski to KLT Real Estate LLC, 60 Peros Drive, $265,000. Tracy Lynn Daborowski, Brittany Ann Cesan, Brittnay Ann Dudley and Christopher Robert Dudley to Kimberly Kingsley, 145 Corey Colonial, $285,000. William A. Jaaskelainen and Bobbie Jo A. Jaaskelainen to Tyler James Zering, 171 Thalia Drive, $382,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Adrian Acevedo to Tia Mitchell, 501 Berkshire Ave., $280,000. Andrew J. Hogan and Jo-anne M. Hogan to Christopher Tranghese and Michelle N. Tranghese, 1542 South Branch Parkway, $500,000. Brandon M. Basdeo and Pedro Caraballo Jr., to Benjamin Laronce Gonzalez and Keon Ahmani Hall, 881 Roosevelt Ave, $277,000. BTS Realty LLC, to Ortins Capital Partners Group LLC, 67 Johnson St., $360,000. Carmen A. Batista to Mario Ramos Morales, 32-34 Montmorenci St., $400,000. Christopher Gebhardt to Javier Gonzalez and Maria Gonzalez, 227 Arcadia Boulevard, $320,000. Cig2 LLC, to Oraka Wellington, 57-59 Pomona St., $505,000.
Claude Dion to Jamecia Almarie Estes, 116 Derby Dingle, $333,000. Daniel N. Provost, Alan J. Provost and Lynn A. Cressotti to Carmen A. Batista, 91 Daviston St., $257,000. David D. Place to Lindsey Place, 53 Burns Ave., $165,000. Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Amenadiel Realty Trust, trustee of, to Anthony A. Sanchez Ramirez and Luisanny M. Reynoso Ramirez, 341-343 White St., $465,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Adam Herbert and Tori Herbert to Bruce Douglas Pendergast, 76 Nelson Circle, $288,000. Anne E. Millett to Anne E. Millett, life estate, Valerie Payes and Alexander Payes, 40 Rochelle St., $100. Carissa L. Tilton to Katherine Pinkerman, 75 Adrian Ave., $380,000. Catherine E. Sotolotto and Mario A. Sotolotto to Linden Grenier and Jessica Grenier, 24 Circle Drive, $435,000. DNM Properties LLC, and 425 Union Street In Massachusetts to Waystar 425 Union LLC, 425 Union St., $2,050,000. Douglas A. Guyett to Maya Birks and Anthony Muse, 291 Forest Glen, $450,000. Jeanelle Santiago, Michael J. Ruiz and Michael Ruiz to Owen Ludlam, 38 Ames Ave., $370,000. A. Osborne, Jodie A. Sullivan and Patrick Sullivan to Jennifer Seymour and Steven Seymour, 42 Allison Lane, $475,000. Joy Becker and Jordan Becker to Ryan Spencer and Alison Spencer, 53 Highland Lane, $750,000. Matthew A. Wanat to James Stewart Karl-Morin, 326 Dewey St., $423,500. Olga Buryak, Olga N. Kuznetsova and Svetlana Kabysh to Elvira Kazimirova, 477 Cold Spring Ave., Unit 477, $170,000. Sara Simonoko and Jessica Myers to Daniel DiStefano, 42 Ohio Ave., $426,500. Shirley F. Lascala, Eugene E. Fitzgerald Jr., estate, and Robin Brown, representative, to Saddam Al Akraa and Alyaa Saleh, 59 Lathrop St., $240,000. Steven Seymour, Jennifer Seymour and Jennifer Wojcik to Larkspur LLC, 75 Althea St., $200,000. Tania L. Mendez-Gross and Stephen M. Johnson to Carmen O. Soto De Pena, 105 Pine St., $371,000. West Springfield Town, Mary Jean Vielmetti, estate, and Roxy Corp Inc., receiver, to Roxy Corp. Inc., 106 Chestnut St., $158,326.
WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS | THEREMINDER.COM
(413) 626-6122 or visit: www.haggerscape.com
MASONRY
Fully Insured · Free Estimates
413-351-1147
MASONRY AND CHIMNEY REPAIR Stucco/Repointing/Small Chimney Repairs/Rebuilds.
GET DISH SATELLITE TV + INTERNET! Free install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade. 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-299-7135
HOME MAINTENANCE JOSEPH'S HANDYMAN COMPANY Carpentry, remodeling, kitchen, baths, basements, drywall, tile, floors, restoration services, doors, windows, decks, stairs, interior/exterior painting, plumbing. Small jobs ok. Projects designed to fit your needs, all types of professional work done since 1985. Call Joe (413)364-7038
HOUSE PAINTING ALWAYS CALL FIRST!!! M&M SERVICES 29 Years serving the Westfield area. Painting, staining, house washing, interior/exterior. Wall coverings. Water damage and ceiling/wall repairs. Commercial/residential. Free estimates. Insured. References. Call Carmine at: (413) 537-4665 No job is too small!!!
Call or Text Chris 413-977-9041
MASONRY / CONCRETE ABC MASONRY & BASEMENT WATERPROOFING All brick, block concrete; concrete steps & walk-ways; new paver walk-ways; paver patios & retaining walls. Chimneys, foundations, hatchways, new basement windows installed and repaired. New hatchway & bulkhead doors. Sump pumps and french drain systems installed. Foundations pointed and stuccoed. Free estimates (413)569-1611 or (413)374-5377 TMR MASON CONTRACTOR All types of masonry and concrete: brick, block, stone stucco. Chimney repairs, foundation repairs, bulkheads, concrete sidewalks, stairs and patios, Fully licensed/ insured. Todd: 413-575-3839
MISCELLANEOUS LETOURNEAU & SONS PAINTING ONE CALL DOES IT ALL! Family owned and operated, painting/home improvements. Serving Western MA since 1986. Specializing in residential/commercial , exterior/interior painting and staining. Exterior home repairs/carpentry of all type. Call Bill for your FREE no obligation estimate (413) 977-9633 or (413) 562-5727 www.Ls-painting.com
LANDSCAPING 2 Old Guys & A Dump Truck Fall-cleanup, re-seeding/aeration, pruning/trimming, weeding, mulch/stone, sod installation, bobcat services. Free Estimates. (413)575-7052-NEW NUMBER
Trimming Edge Lawncare Now Booking for Fall Clean-Ups 413-551-9653
DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK, BOAT, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1888-305-7286 today! NO MORE CLEANING OUT GUTTERS! Guaranteed! LeafFilter is backed by a non-clog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty. Call today 1-855-925-2643 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Plus, Military & Seniors get an additional 10% off. Limited time only. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details. AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 877-461-0698. Have zip code ready when calling! BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1877-543-9189 Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No longterm contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866 Need cash quickly? We buy houses in any condition. Get a fair cash offer within 24 hours! Call today. Liz Buys Houses: 833-359-4707
CONTRACTED SUB WANTED FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY DELIVERY OF THE REMINDER NEWSPAPER.
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208 MobileHelp, America's premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you're home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936 No more cleaning gutters. Guaranteed! LeafFilter backed by no-clog guarantee & lifetime warranty. Call 1-833-610-1936 to schedule FREE inspection/estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Military & Seniors get additional 10% off. Limited time. Restrictions apply, see rep for details.
Call (413)562-6639 Monday-Friday, 9-5.
VACATION RENTAL
PETS
WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free Consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 877-621-7517
Trimming Edge Pet Care Dog Walking, Pet Sitting, Grooming, Drop-In Visits, Medication
WANTED
413-551-9653/Call or Text
Always buying antiques watches jewelry gold coins art military signs posters cameras toys video games action figures Star Wars vintage electronics amplifiers receivers' radios HAM equipment speakers' musical instruments guitars saxophones horns amplifiers sports memorabilia clocks plus more one item or entire estates. 413-206-8688
PLUMBING DAVID ROSE PLUMBING & HEATING
WANTED TO BUY
For ALL your plumbing needs. No job is too small! Veteran Owned and operated MA Licensed and Insured
Wanted! CASH for: ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE! Machinist, Specialty, and Mechanic Tools, Electronics/Audio, Sports Cards, Vintage Toys, Antiques/Collectibles, much more! Call/Text Sam 413-531-5381
Call Dave 413-579-4073
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a free 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
SunSetter. America's Number One Awning! Instant shade at the touch of a button. Transform your deck or patio into an outdoor oasis. Up to 10-year limited warranty. Save $350 today! 855-914-1148
KEITH'S UPHOLSTERY & REPAIRS 40+ years experience for home or business. 25% Discount off all fabrics. Get quality workmanship at a reasonable price.
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior, exterior, wallpapering, minor carpentry. Low, low prices. Free estimates. Steve 413310-5099; 860-741-5588
Pest control: Protect your home from pests safely. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders & more. Locally owned & affordable. For service or inspection today! 877-916-2103 Have zip code ready!
Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the ADS Network! For more information www.communitypublishers.com/category/all-products
UPHOLSTERY
PAINTING & WALLPAPERING
Peace of mind & early detection - Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life Line Screening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 877-484-8583
413-579-5619 Cell: 413-530-2982
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
TAG SALES
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ESTATE SALE BLANDFORD: 84 Chester Road 9/4-9/7, 9a.m.-3p.m. Everything must go! Housewares large and small, tools, indoor and outdoor furniture, and much more. 3 miles from Blandford Fair grounds.
News@TheReminder.com
HUGE MULTI-FAM TAG SALE FRI-SAT 9/49/5. 9-4. 108 Court Street, Westfield. Household, tools, furniture, trading cards, toys, games, clothes, books Loungefly Backpacks & more!
PLACE YOUR LEGAL ADS WITH REMINDER PUBLISHING & THE WESTFIELD NEWS! AFFORDABLE RATES AND PERSONAL SERVICE!
TO PLACE YOUR LEGAL AD CALL:
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Evan: 413.213.6170
413-788-1316
MO
GO
GRANBY
SOUTH HADLEY
HOLYOKE
ME
BLANDFORD
OTIS
NORTHAMPTON
SOUTHAMPTON
NT
RY
LUDLOW CHICOPEE
RUSSELL
TOLLAND
emarcyoniak@thereminder.com FOR: HAMPSHIRE REMINDER AND CHICOPEE-HOLYOKE HERALD
Call Holly at
CHESTER
AMHERST
PTON
Remodeling Kitchens, Baths, and so much more! Residential/Commercial
Water damage cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family & home value! 877-318-6832. Have zip code ready!
EASTHAM
- INTERIOR & EXTERIOR -
Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit cards. Medical bills. Car loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief and find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: Call 1-844-955-4930
American Tree & Shrub Removal, pruning, bucket/crane work. Light excavation and tree planting. Fully Insured/Free Estimates. 24-hour Emergency Services. 20+ years Experience
PTON
FULLY INSURED FREE estimates!
Home Break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don't wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/day! 1-877-9070316
TREE SERVICE
WESTHAM
When it's time for a change
Mulching, brush removal, lawn restoration and seeding, Bobcat services. -------Landscape design, decorative stone, plantings, patios, walkways, retaining walls and more!
End your tax worries today. Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Free consultation. Priority Tax 855959-2267
TOP DOLLAR PAID for old vintage Guitars! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Grecsch, Rickenbacker, Epiphone, Etc. 1930's to 1980's. Call 866433-8277
GTON
REMODELING & PAINTING
HAGGER’S LANDSCAPING SERVICES, LLC
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB games! Choice Pkg $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devic-es. HBO Max included for 3 mos w/Choice Package or higher. No contract or hidden fees! Restrictions apply. IVS 866-859-0405
AGAWAM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026
HUNTIN
LANDSCAPING
HOME IMPROVEMENT
CHAMELEON
| 13 |
WESTFIELD
GRANVILLE
MASSACHUSETTS
SOUTHWICK
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WILBRAHAM SPRINGFIELD
AGAWAM LONGMEADOW
CONNECTICUT
EAST LONGMEADOW
HAMPDEN
SOMERS ENFIELD
443B SHAKER ROAD • EAST LONGMEADOW, MA • 413.525.6661 (DENSLOW ROAD ENTRANCE)
181 ROOT ROAD • WESTFIELD, MA • 413.562.4181
CARRIERS & PART-TIME SUBS NEEDED! WE ARE OFFERING A BONUS INCENTIVE TO NEW CARRIERS AFTER COMPLETING 4 WEEKS!
EAST LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
132 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Pembroke Terr., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln., Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd. 103 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St. 128 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only) 58 Papers: Anne St., Helen Cir., John St., Vadnais St., Converse Cir. 131 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St. 135 Papers: Baymor Dr., Edmund St., Fifth St., Glendale Rd., Knollwood Dr.
68 Papers: Woolworth St., Woodside Dr., Blokland Dr., Wilkin Dr., Grassy Gutter Rd. 57 Papers: Park Dr., Brittany Rd., Normandy Rd., Partial-E. Greenwich Rd., Colony Rd. 149 Papers: Prynne Ridge Rd., Wyndward Rd., Wildwood Glen, Maplewood St., Partial-Maple Rd. 158 Papers: Burbank Rd., Farmington Rd., Ellington Rd., Oakwood Rd., Partial-Converse St. 201 Papers: Dover Rd., Birchwood Ave., Benedict Ter., Roseland Ter., Colony Rd. 61 Papers: Magnolia Cir., Primrose Dr., Merriweather Dr., Vanguard Ln., Ridge Rd. 230 Papers: Blueberry Hill Rd., Concord Rd., Green Willow Dr., Tanglewood Dr., Redfern Dr. 80 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St. 108 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
WILBRAHAM - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
73 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St. 85 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd. 146 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd. 95 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd. 97 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd. 100 Papers: Norway St., Nevins Ave., Partial - Maple Rd. 155 Papers: Birch Rd., Yarmouth St., King Philip Dr., Sheffield Ave., Partial-Wolf Swamp Rd. 105 Papers: Hopkins Pl., Hawthorn St., Fairfield Ter., Laurel Ln., Partial-Laurel St.
228 Papers: Echo Hill Rd., Highmoor Dr., Meeting House Ln., Rice Dr., Ridge Rd., Highridge Rd., Hitching Post Ln., Partial - Mountain Rd., Monson Rd., Tinkham Rd., Main St.
Call Holly @
413.788.1316
443B SHAKER ROAD, EAST LONGMEADOW, MA · 181 ROOT ROAD, WESTFIELD, MA
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2026 | AGAWAM | 14 |
THEREMINDER.COM | WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
Nominate the hero in your life. We could reward them for all they do with a brand new Hyundai TUCSON. Nominations end September 13, 2026.
Scan QR code or go to HyundaiSaluteToHeroes.com
Nominations Deadline: Sunday, September 13, 2026 Balise Hyundai
683 E. Columbus Ave. Springfield, MA 01105 413-306-3699 balisehyundaispringfield.com
Country Hyundai 347 King Street Northampton, MA 01060 413-300-9972 countryhyundai.com
Gary Rome Hyundai 150 Whiting Farms Road Holyoke, MA 01040 413-536-4328 garyromehyundai.com