APRIL 9, 2026 | FREE
IN THIS EDITION
SOUTH HADLEY
Committee approves
$27.5 million budget
Following some lamenting, the South Hadley School Committee approved a $27.5 million budget at its March 25 meeting. That number, however, could change depending on the results of a critical tax override vote in a couple weeks.
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CHICOPEE
Streiber School sidewalk project receives design update
BlurbStudents at Hugh Scott Streiber Elementary School may have a safer walk to and from school as soon as next year.
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HOLYOKE
Committee to host public hearings about zoning changes
The Planning Board and Ordinance Subcommittee will host public hearings on April 14 to discuss proposed changes to the city’s ordinances.
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Sheriff’s Dept. funding woes end many partnerships
By Sarah Heinonen and Tyler Garnet sheinonen@thereminder.com tgarnet@thereminder.com
Municipal police departments around Hampden County have long received help from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, but Sheriff Nick Cocchi recently announced that his department can no longer fund those partnerships. The Sheriff’s Department is facing the loss of $26.5 million that was cut from its fiscal year 2026 allocation from the state.
Hampden County Sheriff’s Department Director of Communications Robert Rizzuto said Hampden County is not alone. Sheriffs’ departments across the state have lost roughly $100 million in expected funding. The cessation of partnerships with municipal police departments was framed as the first phase of cuts, reducing the workforce by 50 positions and saving about $4 million.
“The Legislature is quite clear; they do not think law enforcement support in these communities is worth funding. Not our delegation,” Rizzuto said, referring to the state senators and representatives from Hampden County, “legislative leadership — they have their own priorities.”
Rizzuto said the commonwealth is under financial constraints, largely due to cuts in federal spending. Massachusetts lost $3.7 billion in federal funding last year, with about $3.3 billion in cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill and $398.9 million cut by the Trump administration. The cuts included $96.9 million in funding for public safety and security.
Across the county, 26 POST-certified deputies regularly staffed 28 shifts to reinforce agencies with insufficient personnel.
These staffing gaps will no longer be filled, unless paid or reimbursed by the agency or municipality. The Sheriff’s Department filled specific roles in some communities.
Among the municipalities that the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department had been supporting are Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield and Holyoke.
“The sheriff’s presence was an asset to our community, allow-
ing us to concentrate on calls for service and traffic enforcement in other areas of town.” said West Springfield Police Chief Jay Gearing. The Sheriff’s Department had provided targeted speeding details and traffic patrols, as well as patrols of Bear Hole Reservoir and the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway.
“The Police Department will have to cover the reduction in
coverage provided by the sheriff. The positions will not be unfilled,” Gearing said. “The sheriff’s absence will be felt more as a reduction in services,” but he assured, “West Springfield will continue to be a safe place to live and visit based on our current patrol model.”
Springfield Police Department
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno discusses the importance of the city’s partnership with the Sheriff’s Department in patroling Forest Park during a 2023 press conference as former Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and Sheriff Nick Cochi listen. Behind them are members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit.
Reminder Publishing file photo
See SHERIFF on page 2
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Committee approves $27.5 million budget
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY — Following some lamenting, the South Hadley School Committee approved a $27.5 million budget at its March 25 meeting. That number, however, could change depending on the results of a critical tax override vote in a couple weeks.
Superintendent Jennifer Voyik shared a brief presentation with the committee to reiterate key points from a March 11 public hearing and presentation relating to the budget. The approved budget is about a $1.7 million, or 6.71%, increase from FY26.
South Hadley is a minimum aid district, along with more than 80% of the districts in Massachusetts, according to Voyik. This means the district receives $75 per student from Chapter 70 funding.
South Hadley will see an increase of $131,325 in Chapter 70 funding for FY27. Voyik stated, “As a minimum aid district and knowing all of the conversations we’ve had, 131,000 [dollars] would not support the needs of the school district.”
Voyik’s presentation also looked at the 10-year history of the town’s appropriation to the school budget. After receiving approximately $25.8 million from the town last year, the proposal shows that South Hadley Public Schools are set to receive about $26.2 million, a 2% increase from FY26.
On average, the district experiences a 2.46% increase from the town’s appropriation each year, but Voyik stated that, conservatively, a school district needs between 4-6% to be able to sustain services in the district. Budget drivers for the FY27 school budget include health insurance,
utilities, positions moving from grants to the local budget, yellow bus transportation and contractual salary increases. Another budget driver is special education, including out-of-district placements, in-district positions and in-district contracted services.
There are 5.5 positions totaling $385,000 that are moving from grants to the local budget, according to Voyik.
With South Hadley residents set to vote on a potential tax override on April 14, Voyik broke down how each override option would impact the schools.
If the $9 million tax override option is approved, there would be a 6.71% increase in FY27 and a 3% increase to the school budget each year from FY28 to FY31. An $11 million override would include an increase of 6.71% in FY27 and a 4% increase each year from FY28 to FY31.
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.
Voyik explained, “The $9 million and the $11 million override budget both have a starting budget and a recommended level service budget for FY27 of $27.5 [million]. That allows the district to move all of those salaries, add those new positions to keep them on the budget and not have any cuts.”
The FY26 budget is approximately $25.8 million. Before vot-
ing on the $27.5 million number, the committee voted 4-0 against an FY27 deficit budget of $26.7 million, or a 2% increase.
The passage of the deficit budget would have led to severe cuts, including the reduction of 10 positions and four administrative assistant positions, the elimination of high school sports, the elimination of extracurricular activities at all schools, a reduction in electives, the elimination of middle school and high school music and the reduction/elimination in honors/AP classes.
School Committee Chair Eric Friesner stated, “I would be embarrassed to vote affirmatively for the deficit budget and send that to the town and say that we can run the schools on that.”
The School Committee also publicly endorsed the $11 million tax override option at a recent School Committee meeting. Friesner added that people need to go out and vote on April 14.
School Committee member Tracie Kennedy stated that if the deficit budget passed, South Hadley would be the only community in Massachusetts that does not offer athletics. “That is crazy to me,” she stated. “The majority
of the girls’ basketball team that just won the championship are straight-A students who take AP classes, and I think about not just that group of students, but in that moment, it was so eye-opening, because we are taking everything from them. Everything. AP classes. We are taking their athletics, and that’s just unacceptable.”
The FY27 budget is still subject to change based on what happens during the town election on April 14, when residents will vote on one of the potential override options. The budget will also eventually go to Town Meeting in May. Voyik said in a past presentation that a math coach, ELA coach and 1.5 para-fulltime equivalents will have to be reduced, no matter which budget option is approved.
The town has stated in the past that complications from increasing costs, such as health insurance, has caused this volatile budget situation. All past presentations and documentation related to the FY27 budget can be found at the South Hadley Public Schools website, southhadleyschools.org, under the business page.
Public Information Officer and Media Relations Specialist Ryan Walsh told a similar story about the impact on that city. The Sheriff’s Department will no longer provide personnel to serve restraining orders during the day shift, which it has done since 2023. Instead, Walsh explained, Springfield police will take over issuing those 10 to 20 restraining orders per day, as they do on other shifts.
The Sheriff’s Department has had a permanent presence in Forest Park, often including the mounted units, since 2020, and Walsh said that their high visibility was useful. Now, the park will be included in regular patrols of the area, and bike units will patrol the park in the summer months.
The relatively new Safe Travels program, begun in September 2025, saw officers from the Springfield Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Amtrak Police Department collaborate to have a dedicated presence at Union Station. With the end of Sheriff’s Department participation, Walsh said, “We’re just losing a handful of personnel there.”
Walsh said the changes were not expected to affect the Police Department’s budget. Some overtime hours may be redirected to cover the bike patrol units. Walsh said he did not believe the other ways in which the Sheriff’s Department supports the Springfield Police Department would be affected by the cuts. These include having deputies assigned to warrant teams and the transfer of some arrested individuals to the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.
In Holyoke, the Sheriff’s De-
partment has regularly assigned deputies to assist the Holyoke Police Department during large events such as the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race and Parade.
Additionally, the sheriff typically has two deputies who run programs to connect at-risk individuals with addiction recovery and treatment resources. During the last fiscal year, that unit recorded 2,857 successful outreach contacts, 1,049 referrals and transported 338 people to treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment programs.
Those positions will no longer be staffed unless the city funds them, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said the announcement came as a surprise.
“I was shocked,” Keenan said.
“Our mantra here is doing more with less, so we’ll get through it.
My concern is the recovery center
where our detectives go out with sheriff’s deputies and meet with people [who] have overdosed. It’s going to be a little more challenging to get done, but we will.” Keenan said he is concerned about the future of the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Basketball Program, which is funded and staffed by the Sheriff’s Department.
“I’m hoping that won’t go and starve because that really helps a ton of kids that don’t have a lot of other things to do,” he said.
He added that the city could also lose community service support provided by the Sheriff’s Department, including maintenance work at municipal buildings.
“They do a great job helping with municipal buildings and cleaning up, painting, and really filling the gap where DPW work needs to be done with the community service
The School Committee discusses the proposed FY27 budget for South Hadley Public Schools.
Photo credit: SHCTV15
stuff,” Keenan said.
Other programs could be affected by these cuts at the Sheriff’s Department, according to Keenan, including a couple that were introduced last year.
In July 2025, Holyoke and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office launched an After Incarceration Support Systems satellite office at 310 Appleton St., bringing reentry and support services closer to city residents. The programs included Holyoke Police Department’s Street Outreach Program, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department’s All Inclusive Support Services for formerly incarcerated individuals, and Holyoke’s Community Response Advocate, a newly created position providing guidance, referrals, support services and answers to individuals with questions or difficulties.
Keenan said the location has made services more accessible, and the AISS program has been especially valuable.
“It makes it a lot easier because somebody getting out of jail doesn’t necessarily have a license or transportation,” he said. “If you live in Holyoke and have to take two buses to Springfield, it’s going to take you four hours.”
Although he stated you can’t always quantify wins and losses, Keenan credited those sheriff-supported programs for reducing overdose deaths in the city.
“The reduction of overdose deaths, which was 18% last year, is directly attributed to a lot of the programs the Sheriff’s Department funds and works in conjunction with the Holyoke Police Department,” Keenan said.
The Holyoke Police Department will look for grant funding to help offset these service losses that were announced, according to Keenan. He said the recent developments may also affect overtime spending.
“It certainly won’t be optimal, but we’ll limp through it,” he said.
Keenan shared a message to the residents who may be affected by the loss of programs and reaffirmed his support for Cocchi and his department.
“Your city is safe. Holyoke Police officers work hard for you; we’re out there 24 hours a day, and we support the Hampden County Sheriff,” Keenan said. “We’re thankful for our partnership with Nick Cocchi. We’re confident he’ll get through this. I’ve known Sheriff Cocchi for 32 years. He’s an incredibly resilient person, an incredibly smart person, and if anybody can figure this out, he can. He’ll get through this, we’ll get through this.”
Chicopee also finds itself in a difficult situation following the cuts. The Sheriff’s Department currently staffs three full-time analysts at the city’s Real-Time Information Center, a five-person operation that uses camera networks and AI-assisted software to support investigations and public safety efforts across Hampden County.
Additionally, POST-certified deputies serve 209A restraining orders in Chicopee and act as force multipliers when city patrol staffing is down. Those positions will no longer be filled unless reimbursed by the city or another agency.
Travis Odiorne, speaking on behalf of Interim Police Chief Eric Watson, said the department would not comment further at this time.
“I spoke to the chief about this, and he feels that everything was covered in the sheriff’s news conference and doesn’t want to make any comments on it,” Odiorne said. “Since the cuts mainly affect the sheriff’s office, he believes all comments should come from his office.”
While the potential for further rounds of cuts certainly exists, Rizzuto said, “We’re hoping we don’t have to. We’re waiting to see what happens with the budget” which the Legislature is working currently on. “We’re hoping for a dialog with the governor’s office.”
CHICOPEE
Streiber School sidewalk project receives design update
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Students at Hugh Scott Streiber Elementary School may have a safer walk to and from school as soon as next year.
MassDOT hosted a design public hearing on March 31 to discuss a proposed project near the school that will improve and expand the sidewalk infrastructure.
MassDOT Project Manager Jon Freeman joined MassDOT Right of Way Agent Shirley Shiver, MassDOT member Daryl Amaral and Howard Stein Hudson Civil Engineer Jason Roose to give a presentation about the proposed project.
Freeman said there is a “need to construct or reconstruct side-
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Michelle Theroux has been appointed as the next president and chief executive officer of Sunshine Village. She began her role on March 30, succeeding Gina Kos, who will retire at the end of April after more than 30 years of leadership.
Sunshine Village Board of Directors Chairman Peter S. Benton announced the appointment on March 30. Theroux brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in nonprofit, healthcare and educational organizations. Most recently, she served as CEO of Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley for more than 12 years.
Theroux talked with Reminder Publishing about her recent appointment. “It’s certainly an honor to take the helm of such an organization with a deep-rooted legacy here in Western Massachusetts, providing the services that they do,” she stated.
Established in 1967, Sunshine Village is a CARF [Commission
walks that are either non-existent or in poor condition along Streiber Drive, Telegraph Avenue, Irene Court and Debra Drive, to facilitate safe walking to and from school.”
The proposed project consists of installing new sidewalks, replacing existing sidewalks and improving crosswalks that will expand connectivity to Hugh Scott Streiber Memorial School along Telegraph Avenue, Streiber Drive, Irene Court, Debra Drive and connecting paths.
Roose stated that there are only two crosswalks in the project area, and neither meets the current standards. Speeding vehicles pose a threat to sensitive groups such as students, he said.
The project aims to improve safety for students who walk to and from school by adding
on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities] accredited organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum. With several locations throughout Western Massachusetts, Sunshine Village serves more than 400 individuals each year through employment, community integration and day habilitation services.
Theroux said the transition to her new role should go smoothly because she and Kos have known each other for 20 years as “colleagues and friends.”
Before taking this role, Theroux held senior management positions at the Center for Human Development and Child and Family Services of Pioneer Valley, where she oversaw multi-site operations and expanded clinical services.
She currently serves as chair of Mercy Medical Center, is a regional board member for Trinity Health of New England, and sits on the boards of the ERC5 Chamber of Commerce and MicroTek. She also serves as chair of the South Hadley Redevelop-
roadway crossings, improving pedestrian safety, improving accessibility for pedestrians with disabilities and slowing vehicular traffic around the school.
A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. The city is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. Shiver said that Chicopee accepted certain responsibilities after the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division indicated that it would accept this project for funding.
Those responsibilities include acquiring the necessary rights in private and public lands for the design, construction and public use of this project.
The purpose of this hearing was to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed
ment Authority.
Theroux’s contributions have been recognized by BusinessWest, where she was named a 40 Under Forty honoree and a Woman of Impact. She also has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Springfield College and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and politics from Assumption University.
Theroux said her first goal at Sunshine Village is to get to know the clients and employees, and learn why they choose the organization and how she can build off that strength.
“I really am going to take the first several months to acquaint myself with our community and our stakeholders and really get a sense of their perspective, and incorporate it into what I would like to see alongside our board of directors,” Theroux stated.
After that, she said she plans to evaluate the different services Sunshine Village can provide, and how those services can expand to as many populations as possible.
Theroux also highlighted the fact that Sunshine Village is
Office of Community Development
Draft Annual Action Plan 2026-2027
Opportunities to give comment on the draft Plan
Draft available from April 10- May 12
Copies at the Office of Community Development & Posted on City Website https://www.chicopeema.gov/187/Community-Development
Public Hearing - Wednesday, April 22 @ 6PM Central Library, 449 Front Street
Virtual Hearing - Tuesday, May 5 @ 11AM
Meeting link: https://teams.live.com
Meeting ID: 931 460 243 527 2 • Passcode: x57fF7
Public Comment welcome until May 12, 2026 to JDias@chicopeema.gov
Those who need special assistance to participate should contact Office of Community Development at 413-594-1490
project and allow residents the opportunity to submit comments to help the design and construction team.
At this stage of the design, the Right-of-Way process has not been finalized. The public meeting was an opportunity for the public to comment on any impacts on their properties.
Property owners affected by this project will be contacted by the city of Chicopee.
The preliminary Right-ofWay plan will be made available on the city’s website or the Department of Public Works office.
The design is expected to be completed in fall 2027. Construction is expected to start during Summer 2028 and finish within one to two years.
The estimated project costs
celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. She noted that the transition into her new role will be easy due to the organization’s well-established legacy in multiple communities.
“Sunshine Village has been an amazing place where every day is a great day, and that certainly will continue,” she said. “It is a very strong organization financially, culturally, and it’s a great space for somebody to come in and have the privilege of taking some time to get to know the people, to get to know the programs, and then make really some thoughtful and strategic decisions after that.”
In a farewell message on the Sunshine Village website, Kos stated, “It has been my greatest honor to serve this organization and to witness the dedication, passion and generosity of the extraordinary community that surrounds us.”
Kos also stated that the organization is in good hands with Theroux taking over.
“Our new president/CEO will be starting on March 30, 2026, and as I step away, I do so with
are $2.6 million, which will come from federal aid funding. According to the project runners, the Federal Highway Administration is funding 80% of the total construction cost. MassDOT will fund the remaining 20%. Because the project is currently in the design phase, residents’ feedback is still welcome and encouraged. Roose said Howard Stein Hudson will prepare the 75%/100% design, which is scheduled to be submitted this fall.
Readers can email comments to MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us by including project file number 612079 in the subject line. For project information and updates, readers can visit the MassDOT Highway Division website at mass.gov/ orgs/highway-division/events.
deep confidence in the future,” Kos shared. “Sunshine Village is in capable hands, both new and familiar, and I know the days ahead will be bright. The opportunities before this organization are tremendous, and the journey forward is filled with promise.”
For more information on the organization, readers can visit sunshine.us.
Michelle Theroux Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Committee to host public hearings about zoning changes
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — With the city of Holyoke working on updating its Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Board and Ordinance Subcommittee will host public hearings on April 14 to discuss proposed changes to the city’s zoning ordinances.
“From my very first days in office, I made a clear commitment to the people of Holyoke that we would update our long-overdue Comprehensive Plan — what many have traditionally known as a master plan — to guide our city’s future with intention, clarity and community input,” Mayor Joshua Garcia said on his Facebook page. “For too long, Holyoke has operated without an updated roadmap for growth and development. That is now changing.”
Massachusetts, under MGL
Ch 41 Sec. 81D, requires cities and towns to maintain a compre-
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Pride Committee is showcasing a special screening of the acclaimed documentary, “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture,” followed by a live Q&A with the film’s composer, multi-platinum artist and LGBTQIA+ advocate, Mary Lambert.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. at the Holyoke Senior Center, 291 Pine St. Tickets are available on a sliding scale with a $25 minimum. Senior and student tickets are available at a reduced cost. Readers can get tickets at holyokepride.org/1946.
“1946” explores how the word “homosexual” was first introduced into the Revised Standard Version of the Bible in 1946, a translation decision that helped shape decades
hensive plan for their long-term physical development. Holyoke last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 1999.
Holyoke Planning Board Chairperson Lauren Niles stated in the zoning change package that, for the last 24 months, an Executive Committee, along with the Planning Board, has been working with an outside consultant to create an updated Comprehensive Plan for the city of Holyoke, which they hope to have ready for adoption in the next few months.
As part of the process, the Planning Board has conducted a thorough review of the city’s zoning ordinances, including use tables and zoning maps, to ensure alignment with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.
Over the next six to nine months, residents can expect a series of zoning updates to be presented to the City Council that reflect this alignment. The first
of misunderstanding, stigma and harm toward LGBTQIA+ people.
Through the work of researchers, historians and faith leaders, the film traces the origins of this mistranslation and its lasting cultural impact.
The screening is part of Holyoke Pride’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive, community-centered programming that encourages dialogue, education and connection across diverse audiences, according to event organizers.
Following the screening, attendees will engage directly with Lambert during a live Q&A, offering deeper insight into the film’s themes of faith, identity and resilience.
In a press release, Lambert shared a message ahead of the event on April 16 to show her excitement and share her thoughts about the project and its impact.
“Bad theology has been used
package includes 47 proposed updates. The changes range from technical and grammatical improvements to more substantive updates that clarify definitions, align ordinance language with use tables and modernize how the city will approach permitting.
According to Niles, the Planning Board has also identified many special permits granted by the City Council that should either be allowed by right or become special permits of the Planning Board since they are more dimensional in nature and require a deep knowledge of the zoning ordinance.
The City Council will retain special permits, which are primarily a matter of neighborhood character. Niles said the Planning Board wants to lessen the workload on the City Council and make the process clearer to residents and developers as they approach Holyoke with new projects.
On Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30
as a justification for discriminating against queer people for generations,” Lambert said, “and the religious trauma for so many of us in the queer community is incredibly painful.”
Lambert also reflected on her time putting together the music for the documentary, stating, “I loved composing this music. It was life-changing from the beginning, just learning about this documen-
p.m., the Planning Board and the City Council’s Ordinance Committee will open respective public hearings on a package of changes that include shifting the zone designation of addresses throughout the city and updating entries in the city’s zoning ordinances. Readers can visit Holyoke.org to see a summary of the proposed changes, initial explanations and parcel maps showing the areas of the proposed changes.
For proposed orders 2-8, the goal is to move more parcels into compliance and reduce the number of overall zones for a clearer zoning map that is easier to understand, reduces spot zoning and reflects the future hopes for Holyoke development.
For orders 11-21, in addition to the stated changes, the city is looking to remove all zones from the use chart that were previously ordered to be removed in orders two through eight.
For orders 22-40, the city is
tary that actually found concrete evidence for what so many of us already knew, that God’s love is universal and is not restricted to straight people, and anything that contradicts that truth is the work of human error and bigotry. Can’t wait to share it with you all.”
The event also serves as a fundraiser supporting Holyoke Pride’s year-round programming, which continues to grow in scope and
updating the narrative section of the zoning ordinances to reflect the changes to the principal use chart in the previous orders. In some orders, there will be a submission update to reflect the new body that is responsible for the special permit.
Property owners within 300 feet of any of the parcels should have or will receive letters informing them of the proposed change(s), the date, time, location and Zoom credentials of the hearings, the addresses proposed to be changed, and contact information for where they can send their questions or concerns to be added into the public record for these hearings.
Residents may also attend the public hearings to hear further information from relevant city departments, ask questions, and provide concerns and feedback for the public record.
impact each year, according to the organization.
The program is also supported in part by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is a state agency. The Holyoke Pride Committee is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride in Holyoke through inclusive events for the community.
Lyndrei Balingasa loads up a serve.
The Chicopee High Pacers boys volleyball team comes together after scoring a point.
Maxwell McCormick watches as Krisztian Reyes sends the ball back across the net.
Jadian Diaz and Christian Reyes defend the net.
Pacer Alex Garcia spikes the ball past Gavin Daily and Erich Arroyo.
Alex Garcia spikes the ball with Christian Reyes and Lyndrei Balingasa looking on.
Pacer senior Lyndrei Balingasa gets ready to bump the ball.
Krisztian Reyes serves up a shot.
Senior Maxwell McCormick returns an SICS serve.
Flanked by Alex Garcia and Austin Lind, Christian Reyes bumps an SICS serve.
Transportation officials deliver Compass Rail update
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and state officials joined legislators from Worcester County, the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley at a roundtable to discuss updates to Compass Rail, the state’s ambitious plan to connect Boston, New York City, Albany, New York, Connecticut and Vermont with a passenger rail.
Much of the conversation focused on West-East Rail, which would create round trips from Boston, through Worcester, Palmer, Springfield, Pittsfield, to Albany. At Springfield’s Union Station, passengers would be able to connect to north-south routes that would build off the existing Amtrak Vermonter, Valley Flyer and Hartford Line/Northeast Regional. Amtrak is one of the
partners involved in the Compass Rail expansion, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Rail Administrator Meredith Slesinger said Amtrak was “a really good partner for us.”
Currently, there are no round trips between Worcester and Springfield, or Springfield and Pittsfield. There are three round trips from Springfield to Greenfield and nine from Springfield to New York City, via Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. Despite the limited service, there are 230,000 trips on existing Massachusetts rail lines each year, with trips from Springfield to New York City representing the largest percentage of these.
Phase I will begin in 2030, with the Inland Route, a line that will include two round trips from Boston to Springfield to New Haven. In 2033, a station is set to
be built in Palmer, and proposed enhancements to the Hartford Line will increase the number of round trips between Springfield and New Haven to 16. To reach this milestone, there will need to be an enhanced New Haven layover, in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Operating costs are expected to increase by $3.5 million, to $15 million annually. Massachusetts Department of Transportation expects ridership numbers in Massachusetts to reach 575,000 per year.
Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng jokingly quoted the movie “Field of Dreams,” saying, “If you build it, they will come.”
In 2045, Phase III will bring full service to West-East Rail, with five round trips between Boston and Springfield and two
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.
CHICOPEE
Theodore J. Beauregard
Edward Brayley
Joyce A. Grycel
Jeannine M. Martell
Darlene J. Peck
EAST LONGMEADOW
George Thomas Herberger
Kathleen M. Snow
GRANBY
Jeannette A. Boczon
George R. Hodgins
HAMPDEN
Cynthia M. Crum
Robert G. Nelson
Stanley Witkop Jr.
HOLYOKE
Joseph M. Jaworski
Robert E. Lafrenaye
LONGMEADOW
John Richard Brodacki III
Jack Arnold Goldberg Henry Nowick (Hank)
LUDLOW
Edward J. Cislak
Nancy S. Enos
Jennifer Anne Norwood
SPRINGFIELD
Jessie Desmarais
Betty V. Dubay
Leon Houston Jr.
Margaret Kazalis
Adelia Kordzikowski
Nancy L. Martin
Felix Salzano
Katherine Spada
Joanne M. Staton
Carmen M. Taylor
Joyce Eleanor Trench (Robinson)
Ralph J. Valenti
between Springfield and Albany. To accommodate the new traffic, Boston’s South Station will be expanded, two or three additional trainsets will be purchased, and track infrastructure upgrades will be needed along the West-East Rail tracks.
West-East Rail Director Andy Koziol noted, “The work may not always happen in Western Massachusetts,” but projects in various locations will make the whole expansion possible. Eight projects are underway to prepare for the next decade of changes. Koziol said, “These projects grew upon each other.” They include first steps of the Inland Route, the Boston & Albany Corridor ID Program and track reconfigurations in Springfield. Planning and design work for the Palmer Station and a second platform in Pittsfield is in the works.
The CSX railroad crossing in West Springfield, which has long led to traffic delays, will receive a flyover rail bridge. Finally, a passive crossing improvement project is slated for Longmeadow. Koziol explained that some of the projects include straightening stretches of track, adding a second track or changing the signaling system.
Funding for the rail upgrades has been sourced from state, federal grants and earmarks, and through Amtrak. Slesinger said the expansion is “very reliant on discretionary grants.” To date, $157 million has been secured in federal rail grants, including $108 million from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2024 to plan, design and construct the Inland Route. A $3.5 million grant paid for the identification of service levels and needed capital projects for the Boston and Albany Corridor. An award of $36.8 million is pending from the Federal Railroad Administration for the final design of the Springfield track reconfigurations.
After the roundtable, Neal, Slesinger and Koziol announced a $1.2 million federal earmark for Knowledge Corridor Positive Train Control design, which Slesinger said is required under federal law and Eng called “critical technology.”
“This earmark is just the latest round of funding in what has been a sustained federal investment in passenger rail over the last several years,” said Neal. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was written in the Ways and Means Committee during my time as chairman, which is why I take great satisfaction in seeing Massachusetts continuing to realize the benefits of our historic efforts.”
An additional $173.2 million
in grants for maintenance modernization for Springfield’s tracks are being sought.
After presenting the updates to Compass Rail, the state officials took questions from the legislators and stakeholders in the room.
State Rep. Kelly Pease, who represents Westfield and Southampton, asked if any additional stops would be added between Springfield and Pittsfield. Koziol said none are currently planned, but a study is planned to help determine need.
State Sen. Jake Oliveira, representing the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District, asked if it was possible to construct the Palmer station earlier than it is now planned. Koziol said the right funding opportunity would be needed. “Things can change quickly, especially when dealing with federal funding,” he said. Plans for the Palmer station have not been finalized, but Koziol said it is “more real than it’s ever been.”
State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, representing Pittsfield, asked about a route through the northern Berkshires. Slesinger said rightof-way track ownership between multiple entities increases the difficulty of planning such a route. Referring to the partnerships between MassDOT, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Amtrak and CSX, Eng said, “The public doesn’t care” which agency runs the transportation, only that it is “seamless.”
“No matter where you are, transportation is essential,” said Eng, and “rail is a key component.” Eng also emphasized the need to shorten trips and an express service. “If we want to have further distances, we have to have faster trips,” he said.
Eng said that every $1 billion spent on transportation supports 40,000 jobs. He lauded Neal’s efforts to have CSX rail cars released from U.S. Customs, which had them impounded for the better part of a year due to concerns over forced labor. The allegations have since been cleared, and the cars were released.
In a press release about the Compass Rail update, Gov. Maura Healey said, “West-East rail is about more than transportation. It is about connecting people to jobs, education and opportunity across our state. Our administration has made this a priority because stronger rail connections mean a stronger economy for every region of Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Congressman Neal for his continued partnership in advancing this work and helping move this investment forward as we deliver reliable, modern rail service that people can count on.”
tions should be emailed to City Council Administrative Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos at anderson-burgosj@holyoke.org and Planning Department Head Clerk Brianna Tejada at tejadab@ holyoke.org.
Campaign aims to secure assisted listening device system
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — Those with auditory and visual disabilities may soon have the necessary equipment to fully enjoy live performances at the Academy of Music Theatre.
The Northampton performance venue has launched an April fundraising campaign to help secure funding for the purchase and installation of the building’s first assisted listening device system.
The “Let’s Hear It!” campaign aims to raise $10,000 during the month of April, which will then enable the Academy to acquire the equipment needed to provide assistance to more than 30 patrons at one time during any event on the historic Northampton stage.
Academy Executive Director Debra J’Anthony said she is confident this project will accommodate audience members with auditory and visual disabilities who have previously been unable to fully experience performances, or who have opted not to attend live performances because of the lack of equipment.
“We had visited providing assisted listening devices, and in the begging, there were not as many options to accommodate the variety of programs that we offer, and it has only been recently, over the last 10 years or so, that we are able to provide a device that could cover film, band and theater,” J’Anthony told Reminder Publishing J’Anthony said that enhancing accessibility at the theater has been a priority for over a decade now, as seen through the
wheelchair accessible additions made to the building inside and out over that time. In the last several years, the Academy tried to secure grant funds to help bridge the accessibility gap, but had no luck.
But now, with The Beveridge Family Foundation already contributing $2,000 to the campaign, and the Academy itself contributing another $2,500, the theater is now asking the public to rally around the cause and help them close this campaign in April.
“We’re reaching out to the community to say, we would really like to provide a fuller experience for our patrons [who] require an assisted listening device. Not only those with hearing disabilities, but also, we are newly collaborating with Valley Eye Radio to hopefully provide, for certain shows, descriptions of what is going on stage so they can hear through the listening device,” added J’Anthony.
Valley Eye Radio is a nonprofit service for blind and visually impaired listeners with the mission of keeping Pioneer Valley neighbors informed and connected by being a 24/7 accessible source of local news. The Academy’s partnership with the service is an effort to expand its reach to local venues that bring in live performances. The hope is to provide live remote broadcasts and collaborative events that bring community storytelling and live performance directly to listeners.
“Partnerships like this one between the Academy and Valley Eye Radio reflect what’s best about our region — organizations
coming together to remove barriers and make culture, learning and connection accessible to all,” said Valley Eye Radio Executive Director Chloe Collins.
The two organizations will coordinate efforts for select performances during the 2026-27 theater season. Other venues or individuals interested in partnering with or volunteering for Valley Eye Radio can visit its
website at valleyeyeradio.org for more information.
J’Anthony added that the Academy is also seeking community amplifier sponsors who want to get involved. She said they can reach out for more information by emailing development@aomtheatre.com.
“It is a very short campaign. We do hope to meet our goals and then purchase the devices in
May at some point, and then have them installed hopefully by early June,” added J’Anthony. “We’re very grateful for the community support.”
Anyone interested in donating to this campaign can visit the donation page on the Academy website at aomtheatre.com/ donate-lets-hear-it/ or email development@aomtheatre.com for more information.
The Academy of Music
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
EAST
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
144 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Pembroke Terr., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln., Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd.
129 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
166 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only)
131 Papers: Shawmut St., Mayfair St., Westminster St., Thompkins Ave., Partial-Gates Ave
64 Papers: Anne St., Helen Cir., John St., Vadnais St., Converse Cir.
327 Papers: Melwood Ave., Chestnut St., Bluegrass Dr., Maple St., Powder Hill Rd., Fairhaven Dr.
174 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St.
150 Papers: Breezy Knoll Rd., Elm St., Mapleshade Ave., Pleasant St., Oak Bluff Cir.
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
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84 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St.
109 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.
54 Papers: Bliss Rd.
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96 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.
99 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd.
100 Papers: Norway St.,
