Selectboard approves ballot with two override options
The Selectboard officially approved language for its April 14 town election ballot, which will ask residents to consider a Proposition 2 1/2 override to save jobs, town buildings and extracurricular activities.
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CHICOPEE
Anna E. Barry school project receives MSBA approval
The Anna E. Barry Elementary School project officially moved to the schematic design phase after the Massachusetts School Building Authority met on Feb. 25.
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HOLYOKE
Council withdraws proposal after members cite concerns
On Feb. 17, the Holyoke City Council voted against a proposal that would remove councilors from any leadership position on the City Council.
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Councilors file order to resume WWII Siren tradition
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — The World War II siren that many residents have become accustomed to hearing every Friday for decades at noon may soon blare again after two City Councilors filed an order to the Ordinance Subcommittee that would amend city ordinances to allow the siren to sound.
During the March 3 City Council meeting, councilors Patti Devine and Michael Sullivan filed an order to amend the code of ordinances and add “(11) Sounding or permitting the sounding of any signal from any bell, chime, whistle, or similar device, intended primarily for nonemergency purposes from any place, for more than 3 minutes in any 7 day period.”
The move comes after a recent noise complaint cease and desist was issued to The Wherehouse for its longstanding practice of blaring an air raid siren every Friday at noon for about two minutes.
On Feb. 17, Mayor Joshua Garcia laid out the timeline on his Facebook. On Jan. 13, the city sent a cease-and-desist order to The Wherehouse to stop the weekly siren.
The Holyoke Police Department notified the zoning official from of the Building Department of an anonymous complaint received on its SeeClickFix system regarding the air raid siren.
After review, the zoning official said that the air raid siren conflicts with the city of Holyoke Code of Ordinances; Appendix A, Zoning; 6.5 Performance Standards.
Part of the passage reads, “In no district will any use be permitted, which will produce a nuisance or hazard from fire or
explosion, toxic or corrosive fumes, gas, smoke, odors, obnoxious dust or vapor, harmful radioactivity, offensive noise or vibration, flashes, objectionable effluent or electrical interference, which may affect or impair the normal use and peaceful enjoyment of any property, structure or dwelling in the neighborhood. All industrial uses and uses accessory thereto shall be subject to the following performance standards and procedures. Any other use, existing or proposed, which the Building Commissioner or the Board of Appeals adjudges to be violating or likely to violate these standards shall also be subject thereto.”
Garcia stated that the city solicitor’s office is currently eval-
uating the opinion of the zoning official to weigh in and reaffirm the decision.
Assuming it stands, there are two paths potentially identified to be able to navigate this concern. The first is for the City Council to amend the ordinance.
Garcia said he is also exploring whether this concern can be resolved by obtaining a noise permit from the Holyoke Police Department.
“Both of these options are paths to have the practice in compliance. There is also the option of an appeals process through the local Zoning Board of Appeals that the owner can pursue,” Garcia stated. “I have always shared with the broader public that when unique quality-of-life sets of cir-
cumstances appear that create a divide in people’s perspective on an issue, that my commitment to the public is enforcement of our local laws and less about how I personally feel on an issue or how loudly people can be to apply public pressure.”
There is currently no date for the ordinance subcommittee yet, but Reminder Publishing will continue to monitor the situation and update the readers when there is a resolution.
Although a formal noise complaint was submitted and other residents have agreed with it, on Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, vehicles gathered in The Wherehouse parking lot to honk their horns for two minutes as a replacement for the WWll air raid siren.
The WW2 Air Raid Siren found at The Wherehouse off Lyman Street.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Selectboard approves ballot with two override options
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY — The Selectboard officially approved language for its April 14 town election ballot, which will ask residents to consider a Proposition 2½ override to save jobs, town buildings and extracurricular activities.
In a 3-2 vote on March 3, the Selectboard approved two override options that residents will vote on come election day: the $9 million option or the $11 million option.
The decision came after the board was presented with four different options on how the override question should be listed on the ballot.
This included deciding whether the Selectboard wanted one option listed, two options listed or three options listed on the ballot. Throughout the past couple of months, the Budget Task Force and town have come up with a $3 million tax override option, a $6 million tax override option, a $9 million tax override option and an $11 million tax override option.
At the Special Town Meeting on Feb. 25, Town Meeting members voted for their tax override preference: 66% voted for the $11 million override option, 19% voted for $9 million override, 9% voted for $6 million override and 6% voted for $3 million override.
The Town Meeting vote was to see the town’s preference. The Selectboard ultimately had final say on what appears on the ballot
for April 14, as evidenced by the March 3 vote.
For residents voting in April, the ballot will include two separate questions. Voters may vote for or against each question independently. A majority is required for one of the questions to pass. If both questions pass, the $11 million override will prevail.
Each question will read “Shall the Town of South Hadley be allowed to assess an additional $____ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of operating the Municipal Government and Public Schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026?”
The blank will have $9 million as one option and $11 million as the other. The residents will vote either yes or no.
According to the Budget Task Force report that was submitted in February, a $9 million override would be raised over four years and produce “limited cuts” and a $2 million deficit in FY31.
An $11 million override over five years would yield “few cuts” and a $1.5 million deficit in FY31.
According to the report, an $11 million override would also be the closest thing to maintaining current service levels, barring any major cost impacts.
After the Selectboard approved the ballot during its March 3 meeting, the questions were sent to the town clerk.
Selectboard member Nicole Casolari talked about the future during the meeting, stating, “I do think that our board now has a
task of putting forward an action plan for those options for people to really understand what they’re voting for or against.”
The Selectboard will continue its budget public hearing and have a budget vote on Tuesday, March 17. The School Committee will host its budget public hearing on Wednesday, March 11, before voting on Wednesday, March 25. There is also a community meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Town Administra-
tor Lisa Wong said the meeting will serve as an opportunity for residents to hear more extensive reports on the budget and provide comments.
Wong explained how residents can stay involved going forward.
“People can voice at any time, but there are three different points in which they influence a board,” Wong said.
Residents can either talk at the budget hearings or send emails to board members.
Wong said residents could
also reach out to those committee members if they would like to see a certain recommendation.
The Annual Town Meeting, which is set to take place in May, is “when this body will actually appropriate a budget for the following year based on the levy limit that is either going to stay the same or increase if there is an override vote,” Wong explained. Readers can learn more about the South Hadley budget process this year by visiting previous coverage at thereminder.com.
MIFA Victory Theatre to sponsor Boston premiere of ‘Five Suns’
HOLYOKE — MIFA Victory Theatre announces the premiere of commissioned piece Five Suns, by Boston-based composer J. Andrés Ballesteros on March 20-21. Inspired by the an-
cient Aztec myth of creation, destruction, and rebirth, Five Suns brings together new music, animation, and storytelling for an immersive concert experience suitable for all ages.
Five Suns tells the story of a set of gods that attempt to build a new world, led by wise Quetzalcóatl, god of wind. However, Tricky Tezcatlipoca, the god of chaos, has other ideas.
Performed by the MIFA Victory Players under the musical direction of Tianhui Ng, with narration by Veronica Robles, a leading cultural figure in New England’s Latino arts community, and original animations by Mexico City-based visual artist Mario Martínez.
Five Suns is produced by Ballesteros and was made possible thanks to support from a Live Arts Boston grant through the Boston Foundation, sponsorship by MIFA Victory Theatre, and the Open Doors Residency at CROMA Space, a project of Ágora Cultural Architects and the Arts Action Consortium.
The performance narrated in Spanish is scheduled for Friday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Veronica Robles Cultural Center 282 Meridian St., Boston. Saturday, March 21, 2026.
The performance with English narration is presented as part of the Open Doors Residency at CROMA Space and is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 from 7-8 p.m. at CROMA Space @ Ágora Cultural Architects, Public Alley 438, Boston.
Ticket are available at jaballesteros.com/five-suns
“At a time when questions of destruction and renewal feel especially urgent, Five Suns provokes reflection on our era while placing Mesoamerican culture and mythology center stage. It has been an honor to collaborate with amazing artists Tianhui Ng, Mario Martínez, MIFA Victory Players and Veronica Robles in bringing this work to life.” said Ballesteros.
Ballesteros is a Boston-based
composer, educator, and producer whose work chases threads of curiosity and social justice. His compositions, praised for their “versatility of style and memorable hooks” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), blend classical music with diverse genres, narrative arcs and a collaborative approach. Andrés has also been a leader on issues of equity, community, and representation in music, as well as a lifelong teaching artist.
The MIFA Victory Players concert premiere of Five Suns in June of 2025 and the upcoming Boston premiere furthers MIFA’s mission to commission, develop, and present new music through the Victory Players, a project of MIFA and a key feature of the festival’s conception for Holyoke, a city currently witnessing the revitalization of the historic Victory Theatre, a 1,600 seat theater opened in 1920 which MIFA is restoring as a home for national and International groundbreaking performance and Broadway tours. MIFA brings musicians and composers from around the world to an annual residency, where they rehearse and develop new musical works around a central theme. Coming May 2026: Victory Players’ residency and concert, “The Golden Age.” “We are thrilled to have commissioned this powerful piece from Andrés and are excited to sponsor its Boston premiere at VROCC and CROMA Space, two major Latin American cultural venues,” said Donald T. Sanders, executive artistic director of MIFA Victory Theatre.
The Selectboard discusses different tax override options to place on the April 14 town election ballot.
Photo credit: SHCTV15
Coalition launches effort to tackle community inequities
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Advancing Chicopee Together/Adelantando Chicopee Juntos community coalition hosted a launch event on Feb. 27 to introduce their organization and its goals to bring residents, organizations and local leaders together to help improve health and advance equity in Chicopee.
The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and Chicopee announced the collaborative coalition at Chicopee City Hall. After extensive community feedback and collaboration, ACT will initially focus on two priority areas: access to nutritious food and maternal/perinatal health.
According to the coalition, Chicopee has higher rates of hypertension and obesity than the state overall, contributing to higher premature mortality. Additionally, the city has higher rates of gestational diabetes and is currently experiencing a shortage of OB providers, limiting access to prenatal and postpartum care.
“We know that access to nutritious food and quality maternal and perinatal care are foundational to strong families and strong communities,” Mayor John Vieau stated. “By bringing residents, health care providers, community organizations, and local leaders to the same table, we are taking meaningful, data-driven action to address health inequities in Chicopee. I am proud to partner with the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and our community stakeholders as we work together to build a healthier, more equitable future for all who call Chicopee home.”
ACT was formed as part of Addressing Health Equity in Mas-
Community partners,
beyond.
sachusetts, a statewide initiative centered on regional and racial equity in health. AHEM currently prioritizes maternal health and the social determinants of health, using a place-based framework that allows communities to identify their own strengths and solutions.
The project is funded by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.
Chicopee is one of 30 AHEM communities, and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts has been leading the development of ACT. The institute’s executive director, Jessica Collins, outlined what has recently happened to “work and uplift the tremendous organizations, city leaders and departments in efforts already going on in Chicopee.”
The coalition plans to improve
awareness, coordination and connection, expand education and increase awareness and access to doula services.
Collins explained, “Our goal is basically to continue to strengthen the work by bringing more and more people and entities, not just in Chicopee, but regional entities as well who are doing fantastic work. We are not a marginalized community. I think what happens is we are working so hard on what we’re doing that we become an isolated community because we don’t have time to look up and say, ‘oh we can actually work smarter and harder together.’ So that’s what we’re doing here, and we will continue to foster togetherness, capacity building and interventions to achieve what has been called out.”
The Steering Committee consists of resident advisors and representatives from Baystate Health, Breaking Oppression, the city of Chicopee, Chicopee Health Department, Chicopee City Council, Chicopee Parks and Recreation Department, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Elms College, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Holyoke Health Center, Tapestry Health and the Valley Opportunity Council. ACT currently has two events planned. They will host a food resource fair at The Hub at Market Square, 31 Springfield St., on Wednesday, April 22, from 4-7 p.m. They will also host a community baby shower on Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location is to be determined.
Breaking Oppression Director Luz Lopez said that ACT has also started a food resource page on 413cares.org/ for Chicopee residents to access and find local food pantries, meals, get help with enrolling in SNAP benefits and access the resources that are available.
A maternal and prenatal health page will be uploaded to the same website. “We are looking for ways on making sure that the residents of Chicopee have what they need,” Lopez stated. There is also a series of education workshops planned to support pregnant and postpartum individuals and help them navigate the right resources they need. To learn more about the coalition, readers can visit publichealthwm.org.
Anna E. Barry school project receives MSBA approval
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — The Anna E Barry Elementary School project officially moved to the schematic design phase after the Massachusetts School Building Authority met on Feb. 25.
In the schematic design phase, the MSBA and the district will look at possible options to replace the existing school.
State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and MSBA Executive Director/Deputy CEO Mary L. Pichetti talked about the decision in a press release announcing the vote.
“Thanks to our collaborative work with local officials, we are working to build a 21st century educational facility that will provide Chicopee students with a top-notch learning environment,” Goldberg said.
The proposed project would replace the existing Anna E. Barry Elementary School with a new two-story building, serving students in kindergarten through grade 5, plus pre-kindergarten, on an alternative site adjacent to the Szetela Early Childhood Center.
The district had identified in its statement of interest numerous deficiencies in the existing
facility, including problems with the building envelope, accessibility issues and problems related to outdated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
In addition to the physical plant issues, the district reported that the existing facility does not support the delivery of its educational program.
“The potential new Anna E. Barry Elementary School will mean a better learning and teaching location for students and teachers,” Pichetti stated.
Chicopee has been working in partnership with the MSBA since 2022 to build or renovate a new elementary school to replace the Anna E. Barry Elementary School and be partially reimbursed for the project.
On Dec. 27, 2022, the MSBA unanimously accepted Anna E. Barry Elementary School as one of the 10 recipients of the organization’s annual efforts to support the design and construction of public school facilities.
Chicopee will receive 80% reimbursement toward the construction of a new school building or extensive renovations in place of Anna E. Barry’s aged facilities on 44 Connell St.
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally appropriate,
flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public-school facilities.
Since its 2004 inception, MSBA has approved over 1,200 projects and has made over $18.6 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects
across the commonwealth.
Reminder Publishing reached out to Chicopee Public Schools and Barry School Building Commission for further comment. They did not offer any further details at this time, but the com-
mission will be hosting its next meeting on Thursday, March 12, in the City Hall auditorium. Readers can also check out previous meetings and frequently asked questions at the project’s website at chicopeeps.org.
Chicopee and
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
HOLYOKE
Council withdraws proposal after members cite concerns
By Sydney Wietecha Correspondent
HOLYOKE — On Feb. 17, the Holyoke City Council voted against a proposal that would remove councilors from any leadership position on the City Council when charged with a crime.
This proposal arose amid an ongoing OUI case involving City Councilor Israel Rivera. Rivera has resigned from his own leadership positions, vice president of the City Council and chair of the Development and Government Relations Committee, since his arrest.
The order, proposed by Councilor Linda Vacon, failed in a 9-4 vote. After the vote, councilors discussed why they opposed the measure. City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti allowed the discussion but limited it to five minutes.
Newly appointed vice president, Councilor Meg MagrathSmith, was the first of several members to raise concerns about the ethics and due process implications of Vacon’s proposal.
“It is important in our country where we believe innocence before being proven guilty,” Magrath-Smith said. “But it’s
not possible, nor is it advisable for us to take actions ourselves when someone is charged with a crime because the process is still ongoing.”
Councilor Anne Thalheimer pointed out the proposal’s broad terminology. While she did not oppose the general idea, she stressed that any steps should be precise and involve the city’s legal department. She voted against the measure, saying the language was “too vague to move on in the present.”
Vacon responded, clarifying that her proposal was not intended to remove council members entirely, but only from
leadership positions.
“During the discussion, I thought I heard that we should be taking steps so that we would be consistent should things like this arise ... I’m not understanding what the objection of the body is to have a discussion on setting a standard,” Vacon said.
Other councilors echoed concerns about timing and due process.
Councilor Mimi Panitch said, “I am troubled by bringing something like this forward now where we have an actual situation in front of us that has not been resolved … it would essentially be removing the choice of the voters from dis-
cussions that must have been in people’s mind when they voted for them.” She added, “I think at minimum we should want to take up something like this, but we should probably do it after any current difficulties have been resolved.”
Councilor Richard Purcell emphasized the role of due process and the potential for individuals to rectify past mistakes, stating, “I believe in due process. I believe in human redemption. All of us make mistakes in life, and we have to have the ability to redeem ourselves.” Rivera did not comment during the discussion.
Holyoke celebrates Irish Heritage Month with flag raising
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, the Ancient Order of Hibernians James A. Curran Division 1 and the Ladies Order of Hibernians Division 2 of Hampden/Hampshire counties gathered at Holyoke City Hall on March 2 to celebrate Irish American Heritage Month.
Hibernian President Joseph O’Connor presided as Master of Ceremonies. St Patrick’s Parade President Jim Wildman, Parade Grand Marshal Michael Moriarty, Ladies Order of Hibernians President Mary Kate O’Connor, and President Sean Cahillane of the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England all spoke to the efforts of the LAOH and AOH in keeping the Irish heritage strong.
2026 Grand Colleen Jadyn Lois Christie and her court were also present at the event. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, state Rep. Pat Duffy and other city officials showed their support at the celebration.
Last year, Garcia served as the grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Holyoke’s sister city, Tralee, Ireland.
“Irish hospitality cannot be described in just a few words,” Garcia shared. “They were welcoming and they were extremely generous. We were treated like family, and when our parade contingent marched past the reviewing stand on March 17 last year, the loudspeakers blasted out ‘Massachusetts’ by the Bee Gees and the crowd went crazy.” Garcia then reflected on the present day, stating, “Today, we celebrate heritage, resilience and the generations of Irish Americans who helped build Holyoke; brick by brick, canal by canal, neighborhood by neighborhood.”
Approximately 31.5 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. The green on the flag symbolizes Roman Catholics and nationalism; the orange represents Protestant minority; and the white in between the two colors symbolizes hope for lasting peace between the two.
The U.S. Congress designated March as Irish American Heritage Month in 1991 to recognize the contributions Irish Americans have made to the country.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was founded in New York City in 1836 and established in
Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet
Holyoke in 1880.
With green season in full swing and the Saint Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke gearing up for a month full of events leading up to parade weekend, Wildman shared his excitement.
“On one weekend a year, the parade, the road race and all the activities generate over $20 million in a single weekend, which is nothing but great for the city and the region,” he stated. “We’re
looking forward to keeping that going. Thank you everybody for having us here, and we look forward to the next three weeks leading up to the road race and the parade.
The 49th Annual St. Patrick’s 10k Road Race will take place on Saturday, March 21, followed by the 73rd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on Sunday, March 22.
Moriarty shared he is looking forward to leading the parade and
joked that in February, he used whatever “mojo you get from being marshal” to manifest all of the snow so “we could get it out of our system.”
The event concluded with LAOH Woman of the Year Catherine “Kit” Collamore and AOH Man of the Year Jordan Lemieux raising the Irish flag at City Hall as the crowd sang the Irish National Anthem. Guests were invited inside for refreshments.
City of Holyoke Office for Community Development Draft FY2026 Annual Action Plan
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Holyoke-Chicopee-Westfield HOME Consortium (HOME)
Public hearing, review and comment of the draft prior to submission to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development on how the City of Holyoke and the Consortium intend to allocate Federal funds.
Public Hearing on Monday March 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84266843088 OR +13017158592,,84266843088# US (Washington DC)
Public Hearing on Monday March 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
In Person: Holyoke Public Library, Community Room 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke MA
Draft available at www.holyoke.org, in person by appointment, or will be emailed upon request starting March 9, 2026. Public comment on the draft is welcome until April 13, 2026 at 4:00pm EST. Send comments to zoellera@holyoke.ma.us or call 413-322-5610. Translation or accessibility services upon request.
Borrador del Plan de Acción Anual para el año fiscal 2026 de la Oficina de Desarrollo Comunitario de la Ciudad de Holyoke
Subvención Bloqueada para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG) Consorcio HOGAR Holyoke-Chicopee-Westfield (HOGAR)
Audiencia pública, revisión y comentarios del borrador antes de su presentación al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos sobre cómo la ciudad de Holyoke y el Consorcio pretenden asignar fondos federales.
Audiencia pública el lunes 16 de marzo de 2026 a la 13:00 horas. Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84266843088 OR +13017158592,,84266843088# US (Washington DC)
Audiencia pública el lunes 16 de marzo de 2026 a las 17:00 horas.
En persona: Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke, Sala Comunitaria 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke MA
El borrador está disponible en www.holyoke.org, en persona con cita previa, o se enviará por correo electrónico a solicitud a partir del 9 de marzo de 2026. Se aceptan comentarios públicos sobre el borrador hasta el 13 de abril de 2026 a las 16:00 EST. Envíe sus comentarios a zoellera@holyoke.ma.us o llame al 413-322-5610. Servicios de traducción o accesibilidad bajo solicitud.
From left, The Holyoke community gathers to kick off Irish Heritage Month with a flag raising at City Hall on March 2. Hibernian President Joseph O’Connor leads the Irish Heritage Month celebration event in Holyoke.
House gets earful about protecting immigrants
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — Between courthouse concerns, public safety obligations and state interaction with federal immigration officials, law enforcement, sheriffs, immigrants, lawmakers and advocates weighed in on March 3 on how they want the state to move on reforms affecting immigrants.
In December alone, there were 87 arrests in the Chelsea District Court, according to state Rep. Judith Garcia, who represents the small city of more than 40,000 just north of Boston.
Brenda Romero, who has lived in Chelsea for 12 years, said her husband was detained by agents while walking out of a courthouse after being approved for political asylum.
“In a matter of minutes, our joy turned into terror. For six months, my daughters have lived without a father,” Romero said in Spanish, translated into English. Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Andy Vargas explained the strife in Massachusetts courts while testifying for the so-called PROTECT Act (H 5158). He was one of a chorus of people who said immigrants are fearful of federal enforcement at courthouses, and so are choosing to not testify or show up as witnesses.
“Violent and unconstitutional immigration enforcement is ravaging our community,” Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez told House members of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Close to 400 children have left the Chelsea Public Schools in the past year, as families “are afraid to leave their homes to go to work and send their children to school,” he said.
President Donald Trump’s administration has increased immigration action over the past year, pursuing the deportations promises he made as a candidate. The increasingly violent tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have caused protests to unfold across the country in recent months.
Some Massachusetts lawmakers rebuked Trump’s actions and ICE’s tactics, but it’s been more than a month since major proposals were offered to protect immigrants. The caucus unveiled its bill in January with safeguards for court proceedings, consistent due process and enforcement authority for the attorney general.
Gov. Maura Healey in January signed an executive order and filed a proposal as part of a spending bill that was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The timeline for a proposal and votes is not clear. House Speaker Ron Mariano on the morning of March 4 said in a statement that the House will vote “this spring.”
He said he expects “pragmatic legislative solutions that seek to protect Massachusetts residents from federal immigration agents, within the confines of state law.”
There were 614 federal immigration enforcement arrests in courthouses across Massachusetts last year, Vargas said. Committee member Rep. David Linsky recalled being stopped at the door of Framingham District Court by ICE agents as they were dragging a man out of the courthouse.
“I don’t know why he was there,” Linsky said. “But because he got brought out of the courthouse, what that means is that somebody else didn’t get justice that day.”
Rep. Priscila Sousa noted that while some immigrants are in federal custody, they miss their immigration appointments that would make them compliant. And speaking of a young pregnant woman in her district who was detained, despite attempting to go through proper legal channels to get charges dropped, Sen. Liz Miranda said, “If this isn’t state terror, I don’t know what actually is.”
While states can’t pass bills directing the conduct of federal immigration officials, “the Legislature can act to make sure the state’s resources, institutions and spaces are not co-opted in ways that are inconsistent with our commonwealth’s values, constitutional guarantees and the
protections of our residents,” Deputy Attorney General Abby Taylor said.
Asked by state Rep. Steven Xiarhos about whether she agrees that people should be arrested for violent crimes, Taylor said she did but that the question at hand was about civil immigration enforcement.
“The vast majority we’ve seen since the beginning of the Trump administration has not been about violent criminals at all. It’s been about people who’ve committed no crimes or who committed low level offenses,” Taylor said. She added that she thinks ICE agents are being put “in a very bad position,” as they’re not being trained and told to arrest as many people as possible.
Under the 2017 Lunn court decision, Taylor added, state agencies can’t hold individuals on the basis of civil immigration detainers.
Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley said that from the sheriffs’ perspective, concern arises when ICE is able to detain immigrants mid-legal process.
“If someone is in our facility, regardless of what the charges are, and they’re eligible for bail, and they post bail and they have a detainer, if ICE takes possession of that person, it trumps our criminal justice process,” Buckley said. “So yes, they may be charged with serious crimes, but we never get to finish the process. And I think that’s part of what we
should be considering, because it’s not fair to the victims.”
The Massachusetts Sheriffs Association testified in favor of the bill, but suggested its name be changed. Law enforcement officials also fielded numerous questions about how immigration enforcement is impacting their work and public safety.
Local police have no authority to remove federal officials from a space or to interfere with their job, officers said. State Reps. Michelle Ciccolo and Linsky asked how police would respond to an ICE officer breaking and entering private property while enforcing a civil detainer without a judicial warrant.
“If someone’s being harmed, then we’re going to intervene. If another law enforcement agency is attempting their arrest, then our body cameras will be on and we’ll document the situation,” Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone said.
“I want to be clear that we’re not going to interfere with federal officials in federal law unless there is an absolute crime being committed,” Calderone explained.
“The worry is in the back of everybody’s mind: ‘What if we are charged with a federal crime?’” Calderone continued.
“And I need to stress to this panel as strongly as we possibly
Modesto Galindrez takes an
shot at the basket.
Colt's Jacoby Haney shoots for a 3-pointer.
Jacoby Haney works to
McGrath.
Francis Jordan splits
Senior Colby Paul fires a fadeaway jump shot over Ian McGrath.
Chicopee Comp boys basketball coach Gavin Miller advises the team during a timeout.
The Comp Colts cheerleading squad brings excitement to the game.
Elijah Kleps leaps for a basket.
Comp senior Modesto Galindrez slips past Tyler Garipay.
Students elevate on AP exams and Healey celebrates
By Sam Drysdale State House News Service
BOSTON — Massachusetts
continues to grapple with early literacy woes and school budget cuts but its students once again have topped the nation on Advanced Placement exams.
New data released in March 3 by the College Board show that 35.8% of Massachusetts public high school graduates scored a 3 or higher (out of 5) on at least one AP exam — the highest rate in the country and the highest in state history.
Participation also climbed, with nearly half of graduates taking at least one AP test, and state officials spotlighted steep gains since 2021 among Black and Hispanic students as exam fee subsidies expanded.
The milestone lands as the state faces sobering academic and fiscal headwinds.
Achievement gaps between demographic groups persist, early literacy scores remain deeply concerning with many elementary students off grade level, and districts from Boston to the Berkshires are grappling with educator layoffs and shrinking student enrollment.
With the landmark Student Opportunity Act nearing the end of its scheduled funding rampup, lawmakers are confronting questions about whether — and how — to sustain equity investments that have underpinned recent gains.
“We’ve been really intentional about increasing these AP exam scores,” Gov. Maura Healey said at a press conference. “Now there’s a lot of work left to do. We’re still recover-
ing from the pandemic, as all states are, and we’re working to close any learning gaps. But for me, the ultimate goal is not the number one ranking, actually, it’s knowing that we have the very best prepared students in the country when they leave high school.”
Massachusetts has been at the top of the metric for the most public high school graduates who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam every year since 2021. Many colleges award students college credit for AP scores above a 3.
Nationally, 24.8% of public high school graduates reached this achievement, compared to Massachusetts’s 35.8%.
“That ranking is being driven because more tests are being taken across the state,” said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page. “Worcester, Quincy, Springfield. It’s good to see that students are being given the opportunities and taking the opportunity.”
However, achievement gaps remain wide.
Of the 34,870 white students who took AP exams in Massachusetts in the 2024-2025 school year, 82% of them received a 3 or higher, according to data from the governor’s office. That is compared to 63% of the total 10,753 Hispanic or Latino students who took the exams; 57% of a total 4,540 Black students; and 89% of the 9,092 Asian students who participated in the AP in Massachusetts last year.
Asked about these persistent gaps, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Pedro Martinez said that the first step is ramping up partici-
pation across districts.
“We’re exposing our students to the rigor, and so that is the first step, and the fact that we have AP courses in 86% of our high schools that we’re seeing such significant increases,” Martinez said. “What we’re doing in Massachusetts is all of our students are rising. Yes, there’s some gaps there, but if we keep doing this, and we keep going forward, and you combine this with early college courses, you now have this magic formula.”
Page said these disparities are strongly influenced by the “intersection of class and race,” and persistent challenges despite recent state investment in low-income districts.
“Pushing for better housing and health care and all of those things, that’s a core part of access to opportunities. But clearly, if we continue to invest as we have through the Student Opportunity Act, we can see what happens in communities like Springfield and Worcester, who got a lot of money,” Page said. “This was a very durable problem, and it still is ... but we still see clearly, we have a long we to go still, because ideally we’d like to see no gap.”
Gov. Maura Healey’s office promoted gains made among Black and Hispanic or Latino students, who are taking the exams at higher rates and receiving higher scores over the past four years.
Between 2021 and 2025, the number of students of color participating in the AP exam increased by 49%. Massachusetts was the highest ranked state, though still behind Washington D.C., for the percentage
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can, speaking for 20,000 law enforcement officers, that should or when this law is put into effect, please put a piece in there about indemnification for the men and women we represent.”
The caucus proposal bans any creation or renewal of 287(g) agreements that allow local law enforcement to carry out federal immigration officers’ responsibilities. It includes an exception for an agency seeking to work with federal enforcement agents, which Sheriff Buckley said “doesn’t make any sense.”
“There’s no need for us to be
of Black students who graduated in 2025 and took at least one AP exam.
Between 2021 and 2025, the number of students of color who received a score of 3 or higher grew 93% in Massachusetts.
The number of students overall taking the tests grew by 26% in those four years, “in part because the state expanded fee waivers available to help students afford the tests,” according to the governor’s office.
AP exams cost almost $100 without a fee subsidy. Under the Healey administration, the state has started subsidizing the fees, resulting in low-income students paying $22 per test. It’s paid for through the 4% surtax on high earners.
“Under this administration, Massachusetts has subsidized 90,783 AP exams for nearly 50,000 low-income students. Students who take AP courses in high school are more likely to enroll in a four-year college and perform better in introductory college courses,” it says.
The Student Opportunity Act, passed in 2019, was designed to phase in more than $1.5 billion in additional aid to districts over seven years, aimed at closing gaps between the lowest-income districts and the wealthiest. The budget state budget bill that is under deliberation will carry the sixth and final year of the infusion, with total investments reaching roughly $2.3 billion over its lifespan.
Page raised concerns that milestones like the announcements made on March 3 could be at risk from a fiscal cliff effect caused by the end of the SOA without another long-term
doing the work of ICE anywhere in Massachusetts,” Buckley said. The Department of Correction is partnered with federal immigration enforcement through the agreements.
Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald’s facility is the only one holding detainees on behalf of ICE. There are 474 men in ICE custody in his facility, their average length of stay is 20 days, and 243 of them claim an address in Massachusetts as their primary residence, McDonald said.
He agreed there’s no need for 287(g) agreements, and said that everyone in his facility has access to resources like medical care, prescriptions and attorneys, though sheriffs don’t have the au-
plan for reformed education investment.
Many education activists say the Legislature is taking too long to come up with a new plan for K-12 school funding adaptable to current pressures — such as declining enrollment and high inflation.
“I’m worried about our districts having to lay off educators and pull back on programs at the very moment we’re seeing success,” Page said. “It’s incumbent upon the Legislature to build on what the governor proposed and do a lot more to stave off the fiscal crisis.”
The state has also invested heavily in recent years in literacy initiatives for early readers, buoyed by the surtax on high earners. So far, the youngest Bay Staters are still far behind expected reading benchmarks. Lawmakers are currently considering legislation to reform early literacy curriculum across the state.
Healey said her administration has focused on early education investments to start closing the learning gaps reflected in AP exam data at a young age.
“This is why it’s so important that we’ve made investments in child care and early education, investments in literacy and high dosage tutoring, so that, from the start, all students — Black, white, Latino, it doesn’t matter. All students in Massachusetts have the tools, have the training, have the resources from the start,” she said.
Sam Drysdale is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at sdrysdale@ statehousenews.com.
thority to transport someone in federal custody to hearings without ICE’s signoff.
“This can be problematic, and I think in some other parts of the country may well become problematic, and something that we’re going to have to have some fairly high level discussions about going forward,” McDonald said.
Asked about the potential for virtual hearings for those in ICE custody, McDonald suggested more conversation and said “that’s something that we certainly could accommodate.”
Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service and State Affairs Massachusetts. Reach her at ella.adams@statehousenews.com.
William
Ruth
Landry
Sheila C. Moore
Mark E. Powers
EAST LONGMEADOW
Jane Sonack
Marcia M. Kessler
Napier Palmer Jr.
Janice S. Boyer
Dr. William “Bill” Harbison
Steve Trikas
LUDLOW
Barbara M. Frederick
Donald K. Mayou
Martha M. Nowakowski
to
SOUTH HADLEY
Thomas Norman Hazen
Hugh Parker Hutton
Barbara L. Roy SPRINGFIELD
June Bowman
Gerald J. Martin Sr.
Marion G. Minchella
Robert L. Preston
Jeffrey A. Sheehan
Sandra A. Sullivan
Allen G. Zippin
Melissa Zavala
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — An exhibit at the Springfield Museums allows people to explore an old painting in a brand-new way — with their hands.
The name of the exhibit, “Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,” a play on signs reading “Do Not Touch” that are commonly found in museums. An interactive exhibit, it allows people to physically explore a three-dimensional recreation of an artwork that is usually only experienced through the eyes.
The mural, an enormous 25foot by 7-foot plaster fresco, came about when the Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, now the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, hosted an international mural contest in 1943. At the time, mural art was popular in the United States, spurred on by works commissioned by the federal Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. More than 80 artists from the United States, Mexico and Canada submitted designs to the contest that celebrated culture and art, but Graziani’s vision was unanimously chosen by the jury of judges. The fresco was painted in 1947.
The figures depicted in the work represent the arts scene of Springfield in the 1940s, highlighting painters, sculptors, photographers, architects, musicians, actors and dancers. Many of the individuals in the mural are not simply generic artists, but rather, are based on Graziani’s contemporaries and friends. These include sculptor Leonard Baskin,
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums is proud to announce the debut of a bold new permanent exhibition at the Springfield Science Museum, Dinosaurs Still Live: The Story of Archosaurs, opening March 13. This dynamic, 1,400-square-foot gallery invites visitors of all ages to uncover the surprising connections between dinosaurs, birds, crocodilians and pterosaurs.
Dinosaurs Still Live blends hands-on discovery, immersive environments and engaging storytelling to spark curiosity and inspire learning across generations. With a contemporary design, a vibrant color palette, and family-focused interpretation, the exhibition marks an exciting new chapter for the Science Museum and reflects its commitment to inclusive, innovative education.
“Dinosaurs are one of the most popular topics at Springfield Museums! Our visitors have asked to learn more about animals that were alive at the same time as dinosaurs, and this exhibit illustrates the process of evolution while highlighting two other important reptile families,” said Jenny Pow-
who was Graziani’s college roommate, and Springfield’s own soprano vocalist Adele Addison. Also included in the crowd were then-museum director Frederick Robinson and a depiction of the artist himself, as a child.
Meanwhile, in the mural, two walls are being erected, reflecting the growing, evolving nature of the museum. The walls visually divide the painting into three sections. In the background of the painting, there are well known Springfield buildings, including Old First Church and the Alexander House. The Van Norman Tool Company, which sponsored the mural contest, is seen on the right side of the mural.
The interactive exhibit presents museum goers with a three-dimensional recreation of the artwork laid flat on a table in front of the mural. The layered relief adds a realistic quality to the art. Every bumpy rock, sharp-edged stair and rippled fabric is brought to life, making it feel as though the viewer just interrupted the movement of the scene’s subjects.
Beyond giving the mural more depth, the exhibit allows people with limited vision to experience the artwork, allowing fingertips to explore the people and their contributions to the arts. Buttons are set into the tactile recreation. When one runs their hands over a figure or object, it triggers an audio commentary about the painting, the art forms depicted, the mural competition and the artist.
interactive layered relief of
The exhibit was made possible with support from FedEx, the National Federation of the Blind, MassCultural Council and Tactile Images, an organization that creates three-dimensional art to allow people living with limited sight to expand their enjoyment of art. “Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural” is on display in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts through July 26.
ers, director of the Springfield Science Museum. “The most requested new dinosaur was velociraptor, and I am proud to say that this exhibit will also fulfill that request. I hope that our visitors will consider this new exhibition as educationally rich as it is fun.”
Archosaurs are a group of animals that includes all birds and crocodiles, as well as their extinct relatives like dinosaurs, pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and some ancient reptiles that lived in the oceans or on land during the age of dinosaurs. Scientists define archosaurs as all animals that come from the most recent common ancestor of today’s birds and crocodiles.
Dinosaurs Still Live unfolds as a journey guided by four characters, each introducing a different chapter of the archosaur story:
• Hoot, Keeper of the Flock, introduces modern-day birds as living dinosaurs, featuring rotating displays of birds, along with their nests and eggs.
Spike, Your Prehistoric Pal, leads visitors through the feathered dinosaurs and early evolutionary roots of flight, showcasing sculpted models and tactile
learning experiences.
• Snap, King of the Crocs, brings mighty crocodilians to life — from the massive prehistoric Sarcosuchus to today’s American alligator — through climbable sculptures, skull replicas, and dramatic size comparisons.
Breezy, Queen of the Skies, explores the awe-inspiring world of pterosaurs, including full-scale silhouettes of Que zalcoatlus, a suspended Pteranodon, nesting scenes and a dramatic volcanic horizon.
Throughout the space, scenic elements and hands-on components encourage active learning, discovery and playmaking complex science approachable and exciting for children and caregivers alike.
Presented in both English and Spanish, Dinosaurs Still Live ensures accessibility for a wide audience and reflects Springfield Museums’ dedication to inclusive community engagement. Rotating displays, tactile features and interactive learning stations offer repeat visit value and fresh experiences year-round. This project was made possible
in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional support was provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, with funding secured through the efforts of Senator Adam Gomez; and generous contributions from Harry and Lynne Ahern, Laurence and Barbara Derose, Bill and Patti Kelliher, and Susan Piccin.
“We are deeply grateful for the
generous support that made this project possible,” says Kay Simpson, president and CEO of the Springfield Museums. “Funded in part by federal and state sources, along with the contributions of dedicated supporters, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening our ability to serve the community and provide enriching cultural experiences for all.”
The
Sante Graziani’s painting, with the mural in the background. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
