HOLYOKE — The Veterans Home in Holyoke gave Gov. Maura Healey a tour of the facility six years removed from a “travesty” during the coronavirus pandemic and just months away from the opening of a new stateof-the-art facility.
Healey, Veterans Services
Secretary Eric Goralnick, Mayor Joshua Garcia, state Sen. John Velis, and state Rep. Pat Duffy visited the home on May 27 to highlight major improvements in veteran care, staffing, safety and resident satisfaction that now place the facility among the strongest long-term skilled nursing facilities in the nation, according to delegates. “We can say that this home, this home in Holyoke, is really leading the way for the rest of the country,” Healey stated.
The elected officials toured the facility alongside Executive Director Michael Lazo and Director of Nursing Kelly Jones, and met with veterans, staff and families. Throughout the tour, they discussed how investments in staffing, technology, safety and resident-centered care are improving daily life for residents.
The visit comes as Healey continues to lead a transformation of veterans services across Massachusetts following years of crisis and mismanagement at the state’s veterans homes.
In spring 2020, at least 76 military veterans who lived at the Veterans’ Home at Holyoke died of COVID-19. These deaths prompted multiple investigations, terminations and resignations, regulatory reforms and lawsuits.
“What happened here in 2020 during COVID was an absolute travesty, it was a tragedy, and there was a lot of loss,” Healey stated. “I was your attorney general at the time, I was here for
it, and I promised that I would do whatever I could to make that better.”
Healey created the Executive Office of Veterans Services in March 2023 to restore trust and deliver stronger care for veterans across Massachusetts.
“One of the missions we had early on was to make sure that we were doing everything that we could to turn around our veterans homes,” Healey said. “To give the staff, the teams, and the residents of our homes, in Chelsea and in Holyoke, the facility that they deserved.”
She claimed that Holyoke is one of the top-rated veterans homes in the entire country and has received a perfect rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In addition to the perfect score from the Department of Veteran Services, the Veterans Home has achieved full state and federal licensure and certification from the Department of Public Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department
of Veterans Affairs. It has also posted some of the strongest clinical and quality-of-life outcomes in the country.
Healey said that the nursing-to-patient ratio is double the national average, hospitalization and emergency room visits are down nearly 50% below the national average, safety benchmarks are above the national average, and the home currently has a 100% satisfaction score from the residents.
The performance measures were drawn from internal clinical and operational data tracked by the home, veteran satisfaction surveys conducted through Pinnacle Quality Insights, and external federal reviews and safety benchmarks from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
In addition to the operational and clinical progress made at the Veterans Home over the last three years, construction continues on the new Veterans Home at Holyoke as part of a $482 million
6th
to 5:00
Healey tours Veterans Home in Holyoke
investment in veterans care infrastructure in Massachusetts.
The new facility will welcome its first residents this fall, according to Healey, with full project completion expected by summer 2028. The new Veterans Home will feature 234 long-term care beds, a specialized memory care unit, and a 40-person adult day health program designed to support both residents and veterans living throughout the surrounding community.
Healey said, “We owe [veterans] the very best care; we owe their families the assurance that they will be cared for like a family, and that’s why we’ve set out to build these brand new facilities.”
Healey added that the current home in Holyoke has been transformed thanks to the staff and team.
“Touring through this facility, and I’ve been here a few times, today, I just felt this overwhelming joy. The residents are so happy, so peaceful. You can tell that
CHICOPEE
Singing Bridge conducts topping off ceremony
Chicopee’s soon-to-betallest residential building reached a significant milestone on May 26. Page 4
HOLYOKE
City looks to fill School Committee vacancy
The city aims to fill a School Committee vacancy on June 17 after Ward 7 School Committee representative Ellie Wilson recently announced her resignation. Page 6
Gov. Maura Healey and other elected officials talk about the current level of success that Veterans Home of Holyoke is experiencing after touring the facility on May 27.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
Superintendent proposes using free cash for four positions
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY — Several days after Town Meeting decided to use free cash to help save school services, Superintendent Jennifer Voyik explained how additional funding might be used to maximize the district’s potential in fiscal year 2027.
At the May 20 School Committee meeting, Voyik proposed that the town should use the $300,000 in free cash approved by Town Meeting to fund four positions in the school district, including a vocational director at the high school, a dean of students and family engagement position at the middle school, an adjustment counselor at Mosier Elementary School and a digital literacy teacher at the middle school.
Voyik’s proposal came seven days after Town Meeting approved a $61.4 million FY27 budget — including $27.5 million for schools — and approximately $1.2 million in free cash to fund the gap for FY27. According to the town, the FY27 budget, which will take effect on July 1, will represent a 6.71% increase from FY26.
The idea to use free cash was first introduced by Town Administrator Lisa Wong before the Appropriations Committee approved the recommendation on April 28. The Selectboard then approved putting it on the warrant before Town Meeting members made the final approval in the FY27 budget article. Voyik explained that free
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they love being here, they love one another, they love the staff, and you can see and really feel a sense of community.”
Although Goralnick applauded the executive team, staff and residents, he stated that the num-
cash only funds the budget for this upcoming fiscal year and is not guaranteed for future years.
The $1.2 million in free cash will save multiple positions in FY27, including an assistant superintendent, assistant director of student services, an athletic director, an assistant principal, a mental health coordinator, a high school math teacher, a high school English teacher, a high school history teacher, a high school science teacher, a high school/middle school music teacher and four administrative assistants.
Programs such as high school sports, extracurriculars at all schools, electives, middle school and high school music and honors/AP classes are also saved in FY27 following Town Meeting’s vote.
Aside from that $1.2 million, Town Meeting also approved an additional $300,000 in free cash for strategic investments in schools to try and create positions that would accrue revenue or reverse School Choice.
During the May 20 School Committee meeting, Voyik proposed that the town use the $300,000 to add those four positions in FY27.
Voyik explained that the vocational director can expand Chapter 74 programming for South Hadley students and argued that the dean of students and family engagement allows the principal to focus on instructional leadership and classroom visits. She said the latter position would also provide additional support for
bers are only part of the story.
There are currently 119 veterans who reside at the Veterans Home in Holyoke. At any given time, 40 staff members come for three shifts throughout the day. Goralnick also highlighted the team of nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dietary professionals, maintenance, social workers, ad-
student behavior, discipline and school climate.
The adjustment counselor at Mosier school would reduce the current counselor caseload, according to Voyik, who said that the current counselor supports 61 students. The digital literacy teacher, meanwhile, would broaden access at the middle school library and create separate dedicated classes for digital literacy, research skills and responsible technology use, Voyik said.
“By providing us with the ability to teach the course that we’re running now from another individual other than the librar-
ministrators [and] mental health professionals.
“What makes this place special are the people,” Goralnick said. “I’ve worked at some of the finest institutions in this country, and I can say wholeheartedly, the staff here is beyond reproach, the team here is of the highest caliber. They deliver that care with love and compassion every single day.”
ian, it opens up our library for all our students to come down to,” said Michael E. Smith Middle School Principal Luis Martinez regarding the digital literacy teacher position.
Martinez explained that the current curriculum only allows its fifth and sixth-grade students access to the librarian. He said the seventh- and eighth-grade students do not have that luxury.
Voyik explained to the School Committee why she felt funding these four positions was the best proposal amongst all the plans her administrative team discussed.
“I am very nervous about pro-
Veterans Home Executive Director Michael Lazo said all the positive reviews and statistics are because of the 317 staffers who value their jobs. Garcia also commended the staff and local and state government for helping the Veterans Home reach its current success.
“For a very long time, we always hear from people, veterans, their families, people in
posing positions for the use of these funds. However, I think that they will have the biggest impact on the school,” Voyik stated. “When we’re thinking about what this money was supposed to be used for, myself and the administrative team feel like these four positions would have the biggest impact on our school community.”
The School Committee approved the vocational director position but wanted to wait two weeks until its next meeting to hear community feedback on the use of the additional funds for the other three positions.
our communities, everywhere, talk about what is it that government is doing for them?” Garcia stated. “I think that’s a wonderful and perfectly asked question because sometimes it does feel like government isn’t doing enough, but that’s not the case here in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, particularly here at the Soldiers’ Home in the city of Holyoke.”
Superintendent Jennifer Voyik discusses four proposed positions that will be funded for FY27 with the free cash approved at Town Meeting.
Photo credit: SHCTV15
Gándara Center opens new women’s recovery residence
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY — For women working to rebuild their lives after addiction and hardship, Hermanas Del Rio is offering more than recovery services. It will also provide a space to regain stability, independence and hope for the future through supportive residential care.
Gándara Center officially celebrated the opening of the new women’s recovery residential program with a ribbon-cutting and open house on May 15 at 87 Canal St.
Community members, local legislators, elected officials, partners, and supporters attended and toured the newly established program space designed to support women on their recovery journey in a safe, welcoming and culturally responsive environment.
Hermanas Del Rio, which translates to “Sisters of the River,” reflects healing, connection and the strength found in community. The opening of Hermanas Del Rio represents Gándara Center’s continued commitment to expanding access to compassionate, community-rooted recovery services for women across Massachusetts.
The program creates a space where women are supported with dignity, care and connection throughout their recovery journey, according to the organization.
Vice president of behavioral health, substance use and Recovery services, Chelsea Bryant, talked with Reminder Publishing about the newly opened facility.
“There’s a lot of thought into making it look like a home and not just another facility,” Bryant stated.
The space includes a 19-bedded co-occurring program so the team can serve women who have a substance use and a mental health diagnosis. One of the beds is identified for pregnant and postpartum mothers.
The facility also has a well-
ness room so individuals can have some peace, and a dining room where they can eat as a family, according to Bryant.
Hermanas Del Rio provides on-site treatment, case management, and wraparound services to help individuals on their path to recovery with housing and financial stability. They also connect women with the community.
“It’s really a safe place for individuals to continue on their path to recovery and finding stability
in their life,” Bryant stated.
Bryant said that community, local, and state government support are important to helping women in recovery.
“It’s really important to have community partners in our state legislation behind us because we have so many things going against us with insurance, with all sorts of staffing issues, so it’s always nice to be able to open a program and have your community wrap around you, because that’s what
the individuals that we’re going to serve are going to need. They’re going to need that same community and that same legislation pushing to support substance use treatment and mental health treatment,” Bryant explained. Those looking to get help or learn more about Gándara Center can visit gandaracenter.org. Bryant said they can call the number on the website. The organization also takes self-referrals or referrals from other providers.
Bryant explained that there is an intake team that will review the request to determine which of the center’s eight programs best helps the individual.
For nearly 50 years, Gándara Center has provided culturally responsive behavioral health, substance use recovery, prevention, and educational services to more than 18,000 individuals, families and children annually across Massachusetts through more than 70 locations statewide.
Community partners, state officials and the Gándara Center leadership team gather at the grand opening of Hermanas Del Rio on May 15. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Singing Bridge Residences conducts topping off ceremony
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Chicopee’s soonto-be-tallest residential building reached a significant milestone on May 26 when city officials, development partners, and community leaders gathered for a topping off ceremony for the redevelopment at the River Mills district.
The project, known as Singing Bridge Residences, will represent a transformative investment in the Chicopee Falls neighborhood, according to developers, who congregated with the public officials at the Western Buildings construction site for the ceremony.
Chicopee has partnered with developer Hammad Graham of BD Singing Bridge LLC and Brisa Builders Development LLC of Brooklyn, New York, to advance the redevelopment project and deliver much-needed housing opportunities in the River Mills redevelopment area.
Located on the former Facemate site along the Chicopee River, the 4-acre property will transmute to 105 mixed-income affordable housing units. The city has committed $800,000 in local HOME funds to support the development.
Chicopee Planning Department
Director Lee Pouliot discussed the project, stating, “This property is a part of our River Mills redevelopment project that we’ve been working on since 2010. This is another milestone, and we’re really excited it’s moving forward.”
The developers are financing the project with a $37.3 million loan
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — After 29 years of service, Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski is set to retire from the Chicopee Fire Department on June 16. Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Cross will be appointed as the new chief around that same time.
Stamborski joined the Chicopee Fire Department in 1997 with 14 other recruits, including some who went on to become officers in the department and others who have since retired. He worked his way through the ranks before he was sworn in as fire chief in 2019. He discussed why he was so passionate about joining the fire service.
“I got into the fire service because my father was a 28-year veteran with the department,” Stamborski said. “I just felt like I found my calling when I started
working here 29 years ago and absolutely loved it.”
Stamborski said he has worked with so many amazing, kindhearted, caring and brave individuals during his “amazing experience.”
He told Reminder Publishing that he is now ready to spend more time with friends and family.
Stamborski shared that his time as chief was both challenging and rewarding at the same time. He made significant changes with the help of the mayor and City Council, including adding some additional ambulances to the city’s fleet and getting all the fire trucks licensed at the Emergency Fire Responder level.
He also credited the people he worked with over the years, stating, “A lot of people don’t realize our call volume last year was over 15,000 emergency responses, and you do the math over six stations, the men and women on our de-
from MassHousing. Once completed, Singing Bridge Residences will include 16 studio apartments, 21 one-bedroom apartments, 57 two-bedroom apartments and 11 three-bedroom apartments.
Western Builders President Bryan Hughes talked about the regional significance this residential
partment work extremely hard every day, and I’m proud to be part of that.”
Cross, meanwhile, is a lifelong Chicopee resident who joined the Chicopee Fire Department in 1996 and has served the community for over three decades, rising through the ranks as lieutenant, captain and deputy chief since 2015. Most recently, he earned the highest overall score in the Civil Service Assessment Center process.
“He certainly earned it. He’s an outstanding man, good dad, good person, we’re good friends,” Stamborski said of Cross. “He’s got more time on the job than I do. He’s got 30 years of experience right now and [he’s] well-qualified to serve the city.”
More information regarding the promotional ceremony for
project can have.
“To the mayor’s point, this is technically a high-rise by only a few feet, and I’ve been saying it’s a beacon of hope, a beacon of light for what can be done in Western Massachusetts for housing,”
Hughes stated. “You can think big, and you can think about turning what was once unused property for decades into something really special.” Residents will also benefit from the location’s proximity to local amenities and transit options, according to developers. Nearby
Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Cross (left) stands with current Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski, who is set to retire on June 16.
Photo credit: Chicopee Fire Department
Mayor John Vieau stands with the development partners and construction workers at the Singing Bridge Residences topping off ceremony.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
See MILESTONE on page 5
Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre returns after 25 Years
SOUTH HADLEY — After a hiatus of 25 years, the curtain is rising once again on an ambitious and exhilarating new chapter of summer theatre at Mount Holyoke College. Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre will open this summer with two productions, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” adapted by Ken Ludwig and “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow. More than a summer stock company, this initiative is designed as a professional launching pad, bridging the gap between academic theatre training and the realities of the professional industry.
“It’s deeply exciting to bring
Fire Chief
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Cross will be announced soon, but Stamborski said it is tentatively scheduled for June 16.
Stamborski left a heartfelt message to the city.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be the chief and serve the city for the last 29 years,” Stam-
Milestone
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Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
bus stops and the short two-mile distance to Chicopee Center made this site particularly appealing to project organizers.
Mayor John Vieau said he has only been to a few topping off ceremonies, but he noted the importance of this one.
“The significance of this one is really special because there’s such a demand for housing here in Western Massachusetts, especially right here in Chicopee,” he said.
Beyond residential housing, the complex will provide dedicated parking for both bicycles and motor vehicles. Future development for the site also includes proposed spaces for a brewery, an indoor athletic center and professional offices.
summer performances back to Mount Holyoke College,” said Noah Tuleja, associate professor of Film Media Theater and chair of the Film Media Theater department at the College, and former participant of the original Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College. “Mount Holyoke students will be collaborating with alums, faculty, staff and local theatre professionals as they hone their craft by working on professional theatrical productions.”
The Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College was founded by James T. Cavanaugh, professor emeritus of theatre arts, at Mount Holyoke College
borski said. “If you ever encounter a firefighter from any town or city, shake their hands and tell them thank you for their service, much like they do for the military members, who are amazing, because they do a very difficult job every day. I’m just proud of every one of the members of our department. I think they do an amazing job for the city every day that they come to work.”
The development is the third major revitalization effort undertaken by the city in the Chicopee Falls area, following the River Mills Senior Center and a nearby assisted living facility.
Vieau said the topping off ceremony symbolizes both the physical progress of the building and the continued momentum of the broader River Mills redevelopment initiative, as well as the former Uniroyal project down the street.
RiverMills is the largest brownfields redevelopment project to be advanced in Chicopee’s history.
“As this beam gets put into place, it’s truly a reminder of progress, and that’s exciting for me as mayor.” Vieau said. “I’m excited to see this, again, turning a what was once contaminated site into something special and repurposing it. That progress is just going to keep continuing right down the street. This is going to be a hub of activity that it used to be.”
in 1970. Cavanaugh founded the theater for students who wanted more practical experience in acting and technical skills during a summer internship in the department. A usual summer season would consist of eight plays for adults and two or three plays for children. Former patrons will remember that the plays were performed in the round in a large orange and white striped tent.
Reviving the spirit of a once-thriving summer theatre tradition, thanks to the support of a generous anonymous donor, this new company will now be staged in the Kendall Sports & Dance Complex. Even though this reimagined theatre will
look and feel different from the company under Cavanaugh, it still focuses on being a training ground for the next generation of theatre artists. Students from various colleges and universities will work alongside professional theatre artists, fostering a collaborative atmosphere rich with mentorship and creative exchange. This company also aims to become a cultural destination for the city of South Hadley, bringing audiences together with a renewed commitment to live theatrical performances during the summer season. With a legacy reborn and a new generation ready to take the stage, Mount Holyoke College is once again poised to become a summer home for community engagement and entertainment.
Performance Information: • “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” will run June 30 to July 11. • “The 39 Steps” will run July 17–25 Tickets: $15 General Admission (Starting June 1, 2026); $25 Season Passes (Available now). For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit mhcsummertheatre.ludus.com or contact them at MHCSummerTheatre@mtholyoke.edu.
Holyoke looks to fill School Committee vacancy
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — The city aims to fill a School Committee vacancy on June 17 after Ward 7 School Committee representative Ellie Wilson recently announced her resignation.
Wilson sent her letter of resignation to the City Council and School Committee on May 16. She stated in the letter, “My life has significantly changed over the past several months. I am no longer able to dedicate the time required to be effective. I am proud of the work that the Holyoke School Committee has accomplished to come out of Receivership. Most importantly. I am proud of the work the committee does to remain student-focused and support the HPS staff.”
Candidates for the seat will be interviewed on Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. at a joint meeting of the Holyoke School Committee, Holyoke City Council and the mayor. The appointed applicant will complete Wilson’s term, which expires in 2027.
Garcia and other elected officials discussed Wilson’s time on the committee and the vacancy.
“We thank Mrs. Wilson for her service and commitment to the
students, families, and residents of Holyoke during an important period for the district,” Garcia said in a statement. “Her contributions supported the continued work of strengthening public education and advancing the district’s progress.”
Garcia also highlighted how this transition comes at a critical time as Holyoke continues its transition toward local control and out of receivership.
“The work ahead will require strong leadership, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the responsibilities of School Committee service. It is essential that the individual appointed to fill this vacancy is prepared to dedicate the necessary time, effort, and focus to the role and to the longterm success of Holyoke Public Schools,” Garcia said. “As the district moves through this historic transition, engaged and consistent leadership will be critical to ensuring stability, accountability, and continued progress for students and families.”
The city is inviting interested residents to apply for the Ward 7 School Committee seat.
Those interested are asked to send their letters of interest, accompanied by a resume to City of Holyoke Personnel Office, 20
Korean Veterans Plaza, Holyoke, MA 01040. Letters of interest and resumes can also be submitted by email to personnel@holyoke.org.
For additional information, residents and readers can contact the city of Holyoke Personnel
Office via email or by phone at 413-322-5555.
School Committee Chair Dr. Yadilette Rivera Colon stated,
“We invite members of the community, if they are interested and are neighbors in Ward 7, and they are excited about School Com-
mittee to come in and put their name in there and come and let us know why we should pick them.”
The City Council received and accepted the resignation during its meeting on May 19, and the School Committee did the same during its meeting on May 26.
Holyoke Credit Union members awarded Pioneer Valley Chapter scholarships
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Credit Union is proud to announce that members Leo P. (not shown) and Emma T., have been named recipients of the 2026 Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Cooperative Credit Union Association Scholarship.
Each year, the Pioneer Valley Chapter awards scholarships to 10 students, each receiving $2,000 to support their higher education goals.
“We are incredibly proud of
Leo and Emma for this well-deserved recognition,” said James Wolohan, president & CEO of Holyoke Credit Union. “Their dedication, leadership, and commitment to their future reflect the credit union philosophy of people helping people.”
Holyoke Credit Union remains committed to supporting education and investing in opportunities that help students pursue their goals and strengthen the
Reminder
communities they serve.
For more information about Holyoke Credit Union and its community initiatives, please visit holyokecu.com.
The School Committee discusses Ward 7 School Committee representative Ellie Wilson vacancy left by her resignation during its May 26 meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
Scholarship Recipient Emma T. (right) officially receives her scholarship award from Holyoke Credit Union Vice President of Retail Adrienne S. (left).
Publishing submitted photo
CORRECTION
In the May 28 edition of the Chicopee/Holyoke Herald in the story titled “Holyoke mayor gives state of the city address,” Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia’s name in the photo caption was mispelled. Reminder Publishing regrets the error.
AG says ballot question vetting ‘has to change’
By Alison Kuznitz
State House News Service
BOSTON — After certifying a record 44 initiative petitions as eligible for the ballot last fall, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said on May 27 the vetting process should be reformed to enable her office to weigh in on whether the actual questions propose policies that are constitutional.
Campbell’s office greenlights questions based on criteria outlined in the Massachusetts Constitution, such as ensuring the initiative petitions don’t relate to religion, powers of the courts, appointment of judges or a specific appropriation from the state treasury. Proposed questions also cannot infringe on constitutional rights. But the AG told hundreds of business leaders that she thinks there’s a big gap within the Article 48 process.
“They designed a process that actually doesn’t see if the question itself is constitutional before we send it to voters,” Campbell said at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf.
“Nowhere in our analysis and certifying the question do we have to ask is this constitutional…which is ridiculous,” Campbell said. “So, you have folks voting on something where the implementation of it could be unconstitutional parts of it. And
CHICOPEE
how do you explain that to a voter who’s going and exercising their civil right to vote?”
During a radio appearance this month, Campbell called ballot question certification a “stupid process founded by some other people” that needs to be “revamped.” Campbell did not reference specific ballot questions on May 27. But constitutional separation of power concerns have dogged the voter-backed law allowing Auditor Diana DiZoglio to probe the Legislature, although lawmakers have not opted to seek an advisory opinion from the high court on that law’s constitutionality.
This election cycle, Campbell’s office recently had to backtrack its certification of an initiative petition that looked to overhaul the legislative stipends system. In an advisory opinion sought by lawmakers, the Supreme Judicial Court said the petition was improperly certified because it proposed a rule change rather than a law — and therefore overstepped the constitutional parameters of what ballot questions can do.
Other potential ballot questions are still awaiting SJC decisions, including whether Campbell’s office botched legally required summaries for petitions to slash the income tax rate and to repeal the 2016 legalization of recreational marijuana. The high
court is also deliberating whether a proposed all-party system crosses constitutional lines and if a rent stabilization measure improperly ties to religion.
Campbell asserted that some policy changes are constitutional while others are not, but said “never at the outset is that a part of our analysis of approving the question.”
“That has to change,” Campbell said. “So that when a voter gets a ballot question, there’s some type of analysis of the constitutionality of it at the outset, or it’s just done differently, so that when they vote for something, they know it will actually happen, and so they don’t feel as though they’re being shut out of the process or that their voice is not being heard.”
She did not describe how the process might specifically be changed.
Campbell used her chamber appearance to also spotlight her office’s 57 lawsuits against the Trump administration, as she recapped efforts to protect federal funding for public schools, transportation infrastructure, public safety and public health.
“The federal administration has threatened to take away $4 billion from the commonwealth — a gap that the state and Senator Spilka would say the same when she shows up in June — the state could never be able to close that gap,” Campbell said.
COUNCILOR TO HOST MEETING ON BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE
PROJECT
“My office has helped protect over $3 billion of that $4 billion threat.”
Spilka is slated to speak at the chamber’s government affairs forum on June 11.
Campbell also promoted her $500,000 Phone-Free Schools Support Grant, designed to help public schools, charter schools and educational collaboratives create more engaging learning environments without electronic distractions. She said the effort will mitigate online bullying and harassment, while also limiting children’s access to “addictive” social media platforms.
“Right now, some school districts in Massachusetts have phone-free school districts, like Ipswich where I was recently visiting, where you go in and the young people have to put their phones away throughout the school day and focus on learning,” Campbell said. “And we have educators focused only on teaching and not being cellphone police.”
Grant applications are due June 5, with the grant expected to start on Sept. 1, according to Campbell’s office. Legislation implementing a statewide school cellphone ban is in conference committee.
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
CHICOPEE — City Councilor Bill Courchesne will host a public community information meeting regarding the battery energy storage facility under construction at 425 Meadow St. Representatives from Silo Electric LLC and Uriel Renewables will present information about the project and respond to questions. The event will occur on Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen on 170 Pendester Ave. The meeting will include a project overview, construction and operations timeline, and site safety, followed by a public question-and-answer period. All members of the community are welcome. Donations to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen are welcome.
Iconic piano finds new home after years at Polish Home
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — After many years gracing the stage inside the Polish Home on 27 Grove St., a history-making piano has found a new home with a local resident. The home’s Lester Mahogany
Baby Grand Piano is now in the hands of Zaida Valdez-Santiago, a local resident who plans to take lessons with it in her own home.
According to Chicopee resident Matthew Roman, the piano brought joy to the Falls Polish Home for many years. He said recently, the Polish Home Board
of Directors voted to move the piano out of the home to make more room.
“It has been part of the building for many years,” he said.
The piano is the brainchild of the Lester Piano Company of Philadelphia, a major contributor to the American piano
industry during the golden age of piano-building. The firm is most famous for its “Betsy Ross Spinet,” a small spinet piano manufactured for years after The Great Depression. According to information provided to Reminder Publishing, it is speculated that the Betsy Ross Spinet
May 27 and Mayor John Vieau was in attendance to honor the momentous occasion.
Credit union launches food drive to support local families
SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is once again stepping up to support local families by hosting a summer-long food and donation drive to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. From June 1 through Aug. 31, community members are invited to visit any Freedom Credit Union branch to contribute nonperishable food items or monetary donations.
The drive is open to everyone, and donations can be made at all Freedom Credit Union branch locations across the region.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties for more than 40 years. The organization distributes more than 17 million pounds of food each year, which equates to more than 14 million
meals. Through a network of nearly 200 partner pantries, meal sites and shelters, the Food Bank works to ensure individuals and families have access to nutritious food while also addressing the root causes of hunger.
The need is especially acute in the communities served by Freedom Credit Union. According to the most recent Food Access Report from the Greater Boston
week
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Gerald F. Forcier
Michael J. Gaunt
Alice M. Kovitch
Jeannine M. Martell
Leshia A. O’Neill-Wolcott
John C. Sullivan
Francis J. Stasiowski
John S. Strom Jr.
Chester P. Strzepa
EAST LONGMEADOW
Richard A. Caney
Sandra Quadrozzi
James John Zarlengo
HAMPDEN
Joan M. Butler
HOLYOKE
Theresa Asselin
Ann Marie Flynn
Mark S. Scagliarini
Leon B. Shippee Jr.
Carmen M. Zayas
LONGMEADOW
Kenneth Norman Kinsley
Peter Richard Kranz
Joseph G. Maruca
Pauline L. Sample
Elizabeth A. Tyson
LUDLOW
Belmira N. Clemente
Wade E. Lamberton
Linda May Veratti
Karen A. Wytas
Helen J. Ziencina-Slicer (Sroka)
SOUTH HADLEY
Phyllis A. Babula
Noreen Klekotka
Jerome “Jerry” Myers
SPRINGFIELD
Mary C. Collins
Gwendolyn McNeill
Barbara J. Murphy
Allan Gordon Peck
Carter Lee Powell
George E. Sampson
Joseph T. Sanky
Cynthia M. Soja
Judith E. Vecchiarelli
Dwayne Yearby
Food Bank and Mass General Brigham, the number of households experiencing food insecurity has gone up by as much as 54% in some counties since 2019. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts also reports that pantry usage has tripled since then, underscoring the growing demand in the region.
“Access to nutritious food is a basic need, yet a growing number of individuals and families in
ST. JUDE’S NOVENA
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day. By the eighth day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude for granting my petition.
our region continue to face food insecurity,” said Glenn Welch, president of Freedom Credit Union. “We are proud to partner with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to support their critical work. This annual initiative gives our members and the broader community a simple way to make a meaningful impact this summer.”
In addition to distributing food, the Food Bank provides services such as SNAP enrollment assistance, nutrition education and advocacy efforts aimed at creating long-term solutions to hunger.
Freedom Credit Union encourages individuals, families and local businesses to participate by donating what they can throughout the summer months. Even small contributions can help make a difference for neighbors in need.
saved The Lester Piano Company from closing. Falcetti Pianos of Springfield came to the Polish Home to help move the grand piano out on
From left to right: Resident Zaida Valdez-Santiago (back left) joins representatives from Falcetti Pianos (back right) and Mayor John Vieau (sitting at piano) on May 27 to honor the iconic Lester Mahogany Baby Grand Piano that has graced the Polish Home for years. Valdez-Santiago is the new owner of the piano and said she will take lessons with it. Zaida Valdez-Santiago (left) Matthew Roman (middle) and Mayor John Vieau (right) stand in front of the Lester Mahogany Baby Grand Piano at the Polish Home on May 27.
SPRINGFIELD — On June 19, the walls of Tower Square will reverberate with the sounds of the Juneteenth Freedom Concert and celebrations scheduled throughout the afternoon. The concert will feature Springfield’s own Grammy award-winning jazz bassist Avery Sharpe and the Extended Family Choir.
Juneteenth, a federal and state holiday, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops under Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to deliver news to the last community of enslaved people that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Juneteenth celebrations will begin on June 18 at 5:30 p.m., when there will be live music at White Lion Brewing Company. A portion of the proceeds of this Juneteenth kick-off party will benefit Springfield Symphony
SUFFIELD, CONNECTI-
CUT — The Suffield Players is seeking a bold, dynamic, and fearless cast for its upcoming production of “Angel Street (Gaslight)” by Patrick Hamilton, being performed this October at Mapleton Hall.
Youth Orchestras programming.
At 11 a.m. on June 19, Mayor Domenic Sarno and State Rep. Bud Williams will conduct the annual Juneteenth flag raising on the steps of City Hall. Moving to Tower Square, at 12:30 p.m., School Committee member Ayanna Crawford will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Juneteenth program of events.
The Springfield Prep Dance Team will perform and the inaugural Juneteenth Innovation Panel will take place. Small business vendors will be set up in Tower Square throughout the afternoon’s events.
The concert is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Avery Sharpe Quintet and a quartet of strings will play, while vocals are to be provided by the Extended Family Choir and the Springfield Symphony Chorus.
“I love collaborations because that is what America is about or supposed to be about,” said Avery. Sarno later said, “Avery has
never forgotten his home here.”
The concert will be conducted by Kevin Sharpe, Avery’s brother, who has been the Extended Family Choir’s director since its inception in 1996. “It is great to collaborate with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra,” he said. The program’s music will include Lift Every Voice and Sing — widely considered the African American nation anthem — three pieces by Florence Price, African American spirituals, Avery compositions and choral works. Kevin said, “It’s sounding good. It’s going to be a great program. I’m looking forward to it.”
The free concert is organized in partnership with White Lion Brewing Company owner Raymond Berry Jr. and Payton Shubrick, owner of 6 Bricks dispensary. Sarno said Berry and Shubrick have been “good corporate citizens... they always step up.”
While the spirit will be one of celebration, there will also be
memorials for Rosemary “Tracy” Woods, founding director of “Art for the Soul Gallery,” and the late Ruby Maddox, co-founder of Gardening the Community and Direct Your Purpose. State Rep. Benjamin Swan and Henry Thomas, III, a longtime leader of the Springfield Urban League, who both died on May 25 will also be remembered. Sarno said he first learned about Juneteenth several years ago from then-state Rep. Raymond Jordan and community leader Robert “Cee” Jackson. Since then, he said, state Rep. Bud Williams “shepherded through the Juneteenth legislation in the statehouse.” More than a day off, Sarno said, “It’s more important that it is recognized, and the story of history is told.”
Williams said, “Black people have always celebrated Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Day, you call it what you want to call it. We’ve always celebrated it.” He said Springfield
has changed since he was a child, when it was “very segregated, very racist.” Now, he noted, the city has a Black superintendent of schools in Sonia Dinnall and Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers is the city’s first Black individual to hold that position. Referring to the symphony, Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra said, “This industry is struggling right now. This country is struggling a bit right now. What we can do is bring joy back into the world. We can bring it through music. We can bring it through partnership. We can bring it through collaboration. We bring joy to the world by keeping alive the history, celebrating tradition and also exploring everything that’s new out there.” She said, “We’re so lucky to call Springfield our home.” Sarno declared, “Plenty of good things are happening in Springfield and you’re all a part of it.”
“We are looking for actors who understand the difference between performing a period piece and inhabiting a story that transcends one,” said Bernier.
This is not simply a drawing-room thriller in corsets and candlelight. Director Krystle Bernier is searching for actors who can bring emotional truth, danger, vulnerability, wit and psychological depth to a story that remains startlingly modern beneath its Victorian setting.
Auditions will take place June 28 and June 30, with callbacks on July 1. Actors should be prepared for cold readings from the script as well as unscripted and improvisational exercises performed in character for the role they are pursuing. Performers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend, This production aims to as-
semble an ensemble of committed actors ready to collaborate, take risks and create a gripping theatrical experience for audiences. Whether you are a seasoned performer or an emerging talent looking for a challenging and rewarding role, the production team encourages you to audition. Performance dates for “Angel Street (Gaslight)” are Oct. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24. In addition to sending theater resumes to the director, all auditioners will be required to complete an online audition application through suffieldplayers.org. Step into the shadows. Bring your instincts. And come ready to play.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to host Filipino folklore ballet
BOSTON — Boston audiences are invited to journey through the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to experience Gabi sa Gubat, an immersive ballet inspired by Filipino folklore. The Asian American Ballet Project will perform at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. during the Museum’s Free First Thursday event on June 4, with an artist conversation at 6:10 p.m. in the Calderwood Theatre between presentations.
AABP premiered Alexa Capareda’s Gabi sa Gubat in June 2025. The ballet imagines a Philippine forest and the fantastical creatures said to roam at night, reflecting on the magnetism of shared cultural mythologies and how they capture the human psyche. In this reimagined version of the ballet, audiences move through the museum with the dancers, from the iconic courtyard, through
the glass connector and finally into the New Wing’s Calderwood Theatre.
“We’re excited for audiences to see the Gardner Museum in a new light as the ballet unfolds throughout the space,” said Beth Mochizuki, AABP’s Artistic Director and 2025 ISGM Neighborhood Salon Luminary. This is AABP’s second time participating in Free First Thursday; in December they presented Recla-
mation, a film premiere. During their artist talk, choreographer Alexa Capareda and Artistic Director Beth Mochizuki will discuss adapting Gabi sa Gubat for the Gardner Museum
and how Filipino folklore informs the ballet. Event tickets are available at gardnermuseum.org/calendar/ free-first-thursday-202606.
Grace Bechard gets a hit and tries to beat the throw to first base.
Holyoke High senior Samantha Rodriguez gets a piece of a West Springfield pitch. Bella Lachat pulls
Purple Knight relief pitcher Leon Tapion loads up a pitch
Alanna Bonilla focuses on an incoming pitch.
Neyvieliz DeJesus Sanabria beats the throw to second base.
The Holyoke High Purple Knights softball team has a spirit moment before the game.
Starting pitcher Lily De Jesus in the circle for Holyoke High.
Holyoke's Alanna Bonilla tries to tag West Springfield's Aryana Santinello.
Zomaris Robles gloves a fly ball. Zomaris Robles gloves a fly ball.
