Resident donates over 20,000 meals to local food pantries
On Jan. 17, Suzanne Gile and a team of over 100 volunteers packed 21,633 meals for 11 food pantries across Connecticut and Massachusetts, after raising $8,500 and partnering with the agency End Hunger New England.
Scantic River Artisans to hold ‘Big Art Show of Small Works’ Feb. 14-15
The Scantic River Artisans has its first show of the year with “Big Art Show of Small Works” from Feb. 14-15 at the Hampden Senior Center, located at 104 Allen St.
7
Educators, students speak out again about contract
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee meeting on Jan. 22 was filled with those looking to give public comment on the current negotiations between the committee and the Hampden-Wilbraham Education Association.
HWEA President and Minnechaug English teacher Damian Konkoly said that there were approximately 75 educators, a dozen students and members of the community in attendance at the meeting. Three teachers, two paraprofessionals and three students spoke during the public comment section.
The HWEA represents more than 375 teachers, paraprofessionals and service providers across the district. Negotiations began in November 2024, and since contracts expired in June 2025, state mediation has been filed to bring a resolution. The two groups have reached an impasse, stuck on certain topics like pay raises for paraprofessionals and teachers.
Stony Hill Inclusion Paraprofessional Rosemary Lee, who has 25 years of service in the district, began the public comments. Lee said that teachers are professionals and should be treated that way, without having to beg for raises.
“Pay them a competitive salary,” Lee said. “In the last two years, more responsibilities have been added on to the paraprofessionals in the district. We sub for
teachers due to a shortage of substitutes, I don’t mind subbing for the teachers I work with directly under, then I can still keep an eye on the students I oversee with IEPs. However, it is very typical to catch our students up, that we provide services to, when we sub for other teachers.”
Lee said that paraprofessionals support the students and teachers by providing instruction, mentoring behavior, reinforcing lessons and help manage classrooms. She told the School Committee to do better, as it’s been over 200 days without a contract.
Minnechaug teacher Sheila Franklin spoke next and said teachers often dedicate countless unpaid hours beyond regular classroom duties. She said the commitment to fostering a rich learning environment includes giving time to various clubs and activities without pay.
“For instance, the robotics club at the middle school requires three to four hours at the year’s start, with additional hours later for coordination and paperwork,” Franklin said. “Events like the fourth grade state fair, the fifth grade science showcase and the high school Poetry Out Loud competition also demand extra time for planning and organization.”
Franklin said these commitments, which are often unnoticed, show a profound dedication that educators have towards enriching student experience and community life, underscoring the need for recognition and support for con-
tracts that gives them the means to support their own family life.
Minnechaug senior Irene Chen said that she drove three hours from a tour at New York University to give her speech. She said she hopes that shows how deeply she cares about this issue.
“As a student, I want to emphasize on how much our teachers do for us,” Chen said. “Often, it’s far beyond what’s required of them.”
Chen named teachers Karl Labadorf, Kristen Miracle, Tom Ingram and Chenda Raffaele. She said Labadorf arrives at school as early as 6:30 a.m. to meet with students one on one. Miracle, who is the only calculus teacher in the school, stays late to help students. Chen said she is part of a student band with two of her peers and Ingram has consistently stayed after school to support them with music, even though it isn’t required. Raffaele, advisor of the Asian Culture Club, paid
out of her own pockets for Lunar New Year decorations so students could feel celebrated and represented.
“There’s so much more that goes unmentioned,” Chen said. “These are actions that reflect a pattern of dedication, care and commitment that defines our teachers at both Minnechaug and all of HWRSD.”
Chen said that in the worlds of Miracle, you’ll never find another group of teachers that care so much for their students. She said that the students of Minnechaug and all of the HWRSD ask the committee to truly acknowledge what the teachers do everyday and show it where it matters most, by settling a fair contract. She said supporting the teachers is an investment in the students and the future of the community. Green Meadows School para-
Minnechaug teacher Sheila Franklin speaks at Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee meeting on Jan. 22
Photo credit: Erin Dowding
DA connects with youth through outreach programs
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The public may think of the Hampden County District Attorney’s office only when they have an interaction with law enforcement. However, District Attorney Anthony Gulluni has made it part of his mission to introduce himself to young people and connect with them on a variety of issues.
“Public safety is my end goal, but there’s a lot of ways we can get there,” Gulluni said. His office has a robust series of outreach presentations and programs, which Director of Community Safety and Outreach Antonio Simmons said is “unique” to the Hampden County district attorney’s office.
“I started talking about this when I was elected in 2014,” Gulluni said. He took office as the national opioid crisis was worsening into an epidemic. The public health and safety emergency led the office to partner with experts and begin educating young people and families.
“It proved community engagement was important to making progress,” Gulluni said. Since then, engagement, particularly with middle school and high school students, has been a key part of the office’s strategy to reduce crime and increase public safety. It has also allowed the office to pull back the curtain and be transparent about how law enforcement and the legal system work.
Negotiations
professional Carrie McConnell said having well-funded schools and highly qualified educators will maintain home values and attract new businesses and young buyers to the area.
“We are a strong community, paying into a system that prides itself on high quality education,”
McConnell said. “Unfortunate-
In 2025 alone, members of Gulluni’s office engaged with about 14,000 young people at schools and community events. Most of the engagement is done through preventative programs. Just Once explores the dangers of experimenting with drugs and prescription medicines. There is also the 1 in 11: Preventing Dating Violence presentation, and presentations about internet, social media and gaming safety.
Hoop Up Springfield invites youth to American International College Sports Complex “with the lure of a basketball game,” Gulluni said, but provides an opportunity to show them the college’s campus and encourages them to picture themselves going to college, as well as applying for a summer job.
The district attorney’s office recently launched Herizon, a program aimed at teaching girls about leadership and goal setting and giving them a safe space to share their challenges. Gulluni said it “exceeded expectations,” with more than 30 girls taking part in the voluntary program. The program is run by women in the office, providing the girls with a chance to see a potential future working in the legal system. Court tours allow students to see themselves working in the legal system, be it in law enforcement, as a prosecutor or as a judge. “Opportunities are everywhere,” Gulluni said.
Simmons said storytelling is the “key” factor in engaging with
ly, we can’t sustain a reputation without a fair contract.”
McConnell said that without the instruction of paraprofessionals, learning is often disrupted, which can result in the district falling out of compliance with educational requirements.
“Many of us are veteran paraprofessionals,” McConnell said.
“We know our students like the back of our hand. We meet our expectations daily, often going above and beyond what is expect-
youth because it lets them put themselves in the situations that are discussed.
Rather than purchasing readymade presentations, the programs are all designed by the Gulluni’s office. It has allowed them to tailor presentations on the issues affecting particular towns and cities in Hampden County. Videos feature experienced local prosecutors, victims and former perpetrators.
Simmons said it is “getting harder” to present developmentally appropriate material to middle schoolers. He said young people are exposed to swearing, nudity and adult topics at earlier ages than in the past.
The “scared straight” programs that were common in the 1990s and early 2000s are the wrong approach to interacting with students, Gulluni said. Rather than intimidation, he said, “It’s talking to people at their level. There’s a lot of scary stuff out there, but we’ve been able to package it in a way that breaks that down. We’re going into schools all over the county with a fundamental philosophy that every kid can do great things.”
Gulluni shared a story about visiting Chestnut Legacy School. The crowd of 200 eighth graders were restless at the beginning of the presentation, but not long after the program began, they settled down and “they were pretty silent for 45 minutes or so,” he said, adding that the teachers were surprised at their students were rapt by the presen-
ed. A fair contract will ensure student successes within our schools and validate our hard work that is poured into this district day after day after day.”
Minnechaug teacher Julia Maturo said that when she joined the district eight years ago, it was a place everybody wanted to come to. She said that it’s starting to not feel that way anymore and that she’s worried for the district’s future.
“I’ve been saving my sick
tation. He explained, “We’ve got it down to a little bit of a science. Grab these young people’s attention, talk about interesting topics. We’ve gotten many kids to laugh, to cry, to sit there, wide-eyed.”
There is no hard data on the efficacy of the outreach programs.
Simmons said, “It’s hard to measure whether you prevented somebody from committing a crime.”
But he believes they are working. He said, high schoolers tell Gulluni that they still remember him coming to their school in fifth grade. People share the impact the programs have had on them. Young people return week after week for voluntary programs. “Some kids are showing up in our Future Lawyers of Springfield program,”
days for over seven years because, at the wise advice of some of my colleagues, they said ‘no, no, no, don’t take sick days, don’t take sick days, you’re going to need to save them,’” Maturo said.
“When I eventually do want to have a child, potentially within the next year or so, I understand that I’m going to have to use pretty much the entirety of my sick days to do so.” She said that change has been coming in Western Massachu-
Gulluni said.
Young people are not the only age group Gulluni visits. Outreach programs on elder abuse and scams are popular at senior centers and nursing homes, and there is a presentation for mandated reporters. A Stop the Swerve event is scheduled for April 2 at the Basketball Hall of Fame. People will see video presentations, enter contests, experience sobriety testing and try goggles that simulate intoxication. Such events are aimed at what Simmons called, “prevention before prosecution.” No matter which program the district attorney’s office presents, Gulluni said, “We work to make sure we’re protecting the most vulnerable.”
setts, regarding maternity and paternity leave, and that she’s hoping the district will recognize that if they want to attract, maintain and retain the staff they have, it’s something that needs to be considered.
Maturo said she loves working in the district but she needs to draw a line for a work-life balance, and she does not want to draw that line to the point where it becomes a detriment to her life or the success of the students.
District Attorney Anthony Gulluni speaks to eighth graders at Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow as part of his office’s Adopt-aClass outreach program. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
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EAST LONGMEADOW
EAST LONGMEADOW PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the East Longmeadow Public Library, 60 Center Square. For more information or to register, head to eastlongmeadowlibrary.org or call 413-525-5420.
Ongoing programs:
• Teen Spot — Fridays 2-4:30 p.m. Teen Winter Crafternoons — Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.
• Teen Writing Group — Meets the first Tuesday of the month from 2:30-4 p.m. This month’s session is Feb. 3.
Children programs:
• Origami — Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Pathways for Parents programs:
• Music and Movement — Monday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. for ages
2-5.
• Transportation Station — Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. for ages birth to 3. Grow, Play, Learn — Friday, Feb. 6 at 9:45 a.m. for ages birth to 2 and 10:45 a.m. for ages 2-5.
PLEASANT VIEW SENIOR
CENTER
The following events will be hosted at the Pleasant View Senior Center, 328 North Main St. For more information or to register, call 413-5255436.
Why Homecare & Chocolate Tasting — Monday, Feb. 2 at 12:30 p.m. Learn what homecare options are available, the differences, and when and why you might want to consider them while you savor a choco-
TOWN EVENTS
late tasting! Presented by Shiloh Angels Home Care. Registration is required.
• From Doormats to Dynasty: A Patriots Celebration — Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10:30 a.m. From the struggles of the Boston Patriots to the decades of Super Bowl crowns, this lively and illuminating program will take you on a roller coaster ride through the history of the franchise that has captured more crowns than any other. Author and veteran sports writer Marty Gitlin, who covered the NFL in the newspaper field and for CBS Sports, will discuss and show videos of the greatest and most interesting players, teams, events and moments of the team since its birth in the American Football League in 1960. Those who wear their favorite football team’s jersey will be entered into a free raffle. Light refreshments included. Registration is required.
• River Cruising — Thursday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. Come to the Senior Center for a “Fun, Facts, and Fitness” themed session that introduces this comfortable and engaging way to experience Europe. The presentaiton will explore how cruise lines differ and how to choose the one that best matches your travel style. The presentation will also highlight a variety of wellness and activity options available on several lines, including guided walks, stretching sessions, biking, and other ways to stay fit and active while discovering new places. Registration is required.
Housing Decisions in Retirement — Friday, Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. Where you live in retirement can impact far more than your comfort — it can affect your finances, independence and peace of mind. The presentation will explore options like aging in place, downsizing and senior living to help provide clarity and confidence. Learn
how to make smart housing decisions that support your lifestyle today and your security for years to come. Presented by Zenith Investment Management. Registration is required.
HAMPDEN
HAMPDEN SENIOR CENTER
The following events are organized by the Hampden Senior Center, 104 Allen St. For more information or to register for programs, call 413-5665588.
• Soup-er Bowl Lunch — Friday, Feb. 6 at noon, $3 per person. Go to the Senior Center for a lunch of Turkey Rice Soup and a sandwich made by Becky & Wendy with dessert generously donated by JGS Lifecare. Stay to play Super Bowl Trivia with The Trivia Guy, Paul Federico, with a chance to win some great prizes.
LONGMEADOW
RICHARD SALTER STORRS
LIBRARY
The following events take place at the Richard Salter Storrs Library, 593 Longmeadow St. For more information or to register for programs, call 413-565-4181, or head to longmeadowlibrary.org.
All ages programs:
• Art Exhibit: Jeff Hayes — Tuesday, Feb. 3 through Wednesday, Feb. 25. Jeff Hayes, of Longmeadow, is the artist-in-residence for the month of February. Jeff’s art is in the style of modern abstract. The composition of bold, contrasting colors make strong statements to contemplate. Jeff relates his interest in geometric, angular designs to his passion for the lines and angles that are so visually appealing in architecture. An art reception for Jeff Hayes will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m.
Youth programs:
• Zen Zone: Coloring — Wednesday, Feb. 4, 3:30-4 p.m. Looking for a calm place to destress
in the middle of your week?
Come to the Zen Zone and color while listening to soft music. All ages welcome!
Create a Character with Mr. Kevin — Saturday, Feb. 7, 10-11 a.m. Join artist Kevin Higgins to learn how to make expressive characters. Children ages 5 and up are invited to learn about Kevin Higgins’ process, and find their own art style!
Ongoing youth programs:
• Rhythm & Read — Mondays, 9:30-10 a.m.
• Youth Chess — Mondays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Stories and Movement — Tuesdays, 9:30-10 a.m.
• Newbies (ages birth to 18 months) — Tuesdays, 10:4511:30 a.m. This program is sponsored by Pathways for Parents. Pathways for Parents is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Grow, Play, Learn (ages birth to 5 years) — Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. This program is sponsored by Pathways for Parents. Tiny Tales — Thursdays, 9:3010 a.m.
Adult programs:
• Great Decisions with Vinnie Ferraro — Wednesday, Feb. 4, 4:30-6 p.m. America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy: Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy. by G. John Ikenberry
• Architect Public Info Session — Thursday, Feb. 5, 2-3 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. Come to the library for a presentation and discussion on much needed library renovations. Architects from Johnson, Roberts Associates, are
currently working on a design and feasibility study to bring Storrs Library into ADA compliance.
Library Virtual Speakers: Award-Winning Author of Island Queen and Murder in Westminster — Thursday, Feb. 5, 7-9 p.m. Come to the library for an online discussion with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, “Fire Sword and Sea,” based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye.
Ongoing adult programs:
• Travelling Library — Monday, Jan. 5, 2:15-4:30 p.m. Tech Tuesdays — Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Need help with your device? Having trouble with email? Want to learn about the library’s digital offerings? Drop in at the library every Tuesday, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Remember to bring your device, your library card and any passwords you may need to access your accounts.
• Adult Center Book Club — Tuesday, Feb. 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. This month’s selection: “Book Club for Troublesome Women” by Marie Bostwick.
• Fiber Arts: Meeting — Tuesday, Jan. 6, 6-7:30 p.m. The Storrs Library Fiber Arts Group is a generous and talented group who meet every first and third Tuesday of the month. On first Tuesdays, we work with recycled textiles to make beautiful and artistic products. Items are donated to the Friends of Storrs Library for fundraising. On second Tuesdays, we repair children’s beloved friends at the Storrs ReadCross Stuffed Animal Hospital. VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group — Wednesday, Feb. 4, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Music Appreciation with Rob Humbertson — Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m.
WESTFIELD — Advantage Truck Group has named its 2025 Pete DePina Legacy Award winners, recognizing one individual at each of its eight dealerships across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont for making an impact on their fellow employees, customers and the company.
Wilbraham resident Nick McIntire, warranty administrator, received the legacy award for ATG’s Westfield facility.
“Nick embodies our core value of excellence, particularly through the lasting customer relationships he builds. As a natural relationship builder, his thoughtful, supportive and understanding manner draws people in. His genuine empathy ensures everyone feels heard, and he always offers an open door and his undivided attention,” said ATG President & CEO Kevin Holmes.
The highest recognition an ATG team member can receive, this award is given annually to one team member at each of ATG’s eight locations who most embodies the values and qualities employee Napoleon “Pete” DePina was known for, including integrity and a quiet leadership grounded in humility, generosity and selfless service to others.
“Our ability to provide the best service for our customers reflects the dedication and contributions of our team members,” said Holmes. “It is an honor to recognize team members who go beyond expectations, and whose efforts and attitude, like Pete’s,
elevate the quality of service across our network and make a positive impact on the people around them.”
ATG team members were nominated by their peers for the award. Winners were presented with a monetary award that they will continue to receive as part of their profit-sharing bonus each year throughout their employment with the company.
The largest Daimler Trucks North America dealer in New England, ATG offers employees performance pay programs and benefits starting day one, company training programs and career
SUNY POTSDAM PRESIDENT’S LIST
POTSDAM, NEW YORK — Jaidan Kertenis of Hampden was recently named to the president’s list at The State University of New York at Potsdam. To achieve the honor of being on the President’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S LIST
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA — Longmeadow resident, Nicholas Boudreau, has been named to the President’s List at James Madison University for the fall 2025 semester. Students who earn president’s list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of 3.9 or above.
THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FALL 2025 PRESIDENT’S LIST
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Marni Freedman, of Longmeadow, was among more than 2,050 students named to the College of Charleston Fall 2025 President’s List. To qualify for the President’s List, students must earn a GPA of 3.8 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours.
NICHOLS COLLEGE PRESIDENT’S LIST
DUDLEY — Maresa Menard of Wilbraham has achieved president’s list honors for the fall 2025 semester at Nichols College. President’s List recognizes those students who achieve high grades during a single semester. Students whose semester grade point average is 3.85 or higher for at least 12 undergraduate credit-hours and no grades below B- receive president’s list honors.
SNHU FALL 2025 PRESIDENT’S LIST
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students on being named to the Fall 2025 Dean’s List. The fall terms run from September to December. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring and summer. Isabella Charette, Dominic Serafino and Audra Graham of East Longmeadow; Taylor Reeves-Lopardo and Christopher Goossens of Hampden; Malcolm Weissman and Kenneth Slade of Longmeadow; and Kathryn Dooley of Wilbraham were named to the list.
development and advancement opportunities — all in a culture that is committed to giving back to its communities.
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES FALL 2025 DEAN’S LIST
HARRISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — James Madison University is pleased to announce the following Longmeadow students made the Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester. Joseph Hiser, Samuel Santaniello and Caroline Cote were all named to the list.
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — Bucknell University has released the dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year. A student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 to receive dean’s list recognition. Bree Steiger of Longmeadow was named to the list.
THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FALL 2025 DEAN’S LIST
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Chloe Delgallo, of Longmeadow, was named to the College of Charleston Fall 2025 Dean’s List. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours.
NICHOLS COLLEGE DEAN’S LIST
DUDLEY — Nichols College is proud to recognize the academic accomplishments of students on the fall 2025 Dean’s List. Dean’s List recognizes those students who achieve high grades during a single semester. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for at least 12 undergraduate credit-hours and must have received no grades below Bduring the semester. Kyle Birks and Theo Hutchins of East Longmeadow; Charlie MacElhiney of Longmeadow; and Ryan Keating of Wilbraham were named to the list.
ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
WORCESTER — Assumption University has announced those who have been named to the University’s Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 for a five-class, 15-credit semester to be included on this prestigious list, which is announced at the completion of the fall and spring semesters. The following local students made the list: Haley Brown and Aleigh Thompson of East Longmeadow; James Jolicoeur of Hampden; and Christina Barrett and Benjamin McHugh of Longmeadow.
LASSELL UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
NEWTON — The fall 2025 Dean’s List includes students who have completed at least 12 credits as a full-time student in that semester and have achieved a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. Local students named to the list include Sofia Arillotta of East Longmeadow and Christiana Pappas of Longmeadow.
SNHU FALL 2025 DEAN’S LIST
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students on being named to the Fall 2025 Dean’s List. The fall terms run from September to December. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired eight-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring and summer. Paige Coite of Wilbraham and Elizabeth Roman of East Longmeadow were named to the list.
FURMAN UNIVERSITY’S DEAN’S LIST
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Allison Shayna Kandel of Wilbraham earned a place on Furman University’s dean’s list for the 2025 fall semester. Furman’s dean’s list is composed of full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system. Kandel’s parents and/or guardians are Anthony Kandel and Anne Kandel.
Nick McIntire, warranty administrator at Advantage Truck Group in Westfield, receives the Advantage Truck Group 2025 Pete DePina Legacy Award for making an impact on his fellow employees, customers and the company. Shown (from left) are ATG employees Mike Ramian, Chris Marsh, Kevin Holmes, Nick McIntire and Chris Pentedemos.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — On
Jan. 17, Suzanne Gile and a team of over 100 volunteers packed 21,633 meals for 11 food pantries across Connecticut and Massachusetts, after raising $8,500 and partnering with the agency End Hunger New England.
Gile got the idea after volunteering at meal packing events that local rotary clubs, partnered with End Hunger NE, put on in September 2025. She reached out to the agency to get a sense of what it would take to do one herself.
“I was told that for $4,000, raising $4,000, you could pack 10,000 meals,” Gile said. “That was the minimum, and I go, ‘I can raise $4,000.’”
After speaking with St. Michael’s Parish in East Longmeadow and receiving approval on a location for the meal packing event, Gile decided to shoot for 20,000 meals instead of 10,000. To put together the money, she organized gift raffle baskets and raised $8.500.
EAST LONGMEADOW —
Birchland Park Middle School physical education/health teacher Kelly Fydenkevez, East Longmeadow High School biology teacher Mary Jo Renear and physical education teacher Diane Lussier have been nominated for National Life Group’s 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year award.
National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence,and leadership.
Fydenkevez was nominated by her principal, Steve Pearson, for her outstanding work as a PE and health teacher. Known as “Mrs. Fydo,” she creates engaging, inclusive lessons that inspire students to challenge themselves
and embrace healthy lifestyles. Her leadership of the Unified PE class brings together students with and without disabilities, fostering a strong sense of community and inclusion.
“Kelly Fydenkevez is an asset to the school community and sets an exemplary standard with her consistency, empathy, and competence,” said Pearson.
Renear and Lussier were nominated by their friend, Robert Marchewka, for their passion, creativity, and dedication to students.
Through engaging lab experiences and real-world applications of science, Renear consistently makes learning meaningful. Beyond the classroom, she is a strong supporter of the school community, regularly attending student events and affirming students for who they are both academically and personally.
Known for her energy, inclu-
sivity and leadership, Lussier inspires students of all abilities to value teamwork, wellness and personal growth. As a coach and MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) tournament director, she is respected for her integrity, fairness and commitment to student-athletes both on and off the field.
About LifeChanger of the Year
Since 2011, LifeChanger of the Year has recognized and rewarded more than 8,600 K-12 teachers, administrators, and school employees in 2,300-plus school districts. The program has awarded over $850,000 in cash prizes to winners and their schools for making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership.
• (1) Grand Prize Winner – will receive $20,000 to be shared
“I literally went around to a bunch of local businesses, basically pitching the idea of what I wanted to do and what they’d be
with their school/district.
• (4) Grand Prize Finalists – will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• (10) LifeChanger Award Winners – will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• (1) Spirit Award Winner – This award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• (1) Spotlight Award Winner –This award is given to a nominee in a specific discipline each year. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school or district.
Winners are chosen by a selection committee composed of former winners and education professionals and will be announced in early 2026. Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district
employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must
• Make a positive impact on the lives of students
• Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride
Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level
Possess a proven record of professional excellence
• Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning
• Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards
A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at lifechangeroftheyear. com/showspirit/.
To view Fydenkevez, Renear, and Lussier’s LifeChanger of the Year nominee profiles, or to nominate someone from your school community, visit LifeChangeroftheYear.com.
Photo Credit: Suzanne Gile
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM
Wilbraham Select Board Chair names goals for 2026
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham
Select Board Chair Michael Squindo listed different goals for the Select Board moving forward into 2026.
Squindo said that the town is currently awaiting a grant for two projects, one for the Stony Hill School sidewalk, connecting Boston Road to the existing sidewalk, as well the corner of Springfield Street by Town Hall, heading up towards Stony Hill.
“Ideally, those are awarded and we’re able to finish off those projects in the 2026 calendar year, as I understand it,” Squindo said. “Those are also, as I understand, significant pri-
orities for our DPW director, so if for some reason those grants weren’t awarded, I think we will be having a discussion about putting those directly into the tax budget for next fiscal year.”
Squindo said a challenge and an opportunity for 2026 will be seeing the progress with Wilbraham Middle School and what choices are on the table through the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s core program.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to work out some sort of final resolution on the regional agreement to put before the two towns,” Squindo said. “Again, I think these are big goals and challenges that simultaneously exist.”
The regional agreement will
look at the lease agreement for Wilbraham’s ownership and usage of the middle school and how it works within the vision of the future. Squindo said there isn’t a timeline yet on when anything might get done, but he thinks everyone is in agreement that they will be done right and done quickly.
Squindo named goals for the Select Board, including the payment in lieu of taxes program and establishing relationships with entities, such as nonprofits, who don’t have an obligation to pay taxes.
“We try to engage in some sort of recognition that that’s a huge benefit to them,” Squindo said. “Can we engage in a relationship that says, ‘hey, can we get something from you
on a contractual basis to help with the financial obligations of providing you basic public services?’”
Squindo also said the Select Board is committed, in the current fiscal year, to look at the pros and cons of separating the Sewer Commission from the Select Board. He said that the duties of the Sewer Commission are inherently the Select Board’s responsibility.
For town-owned buildings and properties, Squindo said he’s hopeful that the Building Utilization Committee will have some concepts for opportunities for usages.
“From what I understand from the building utilization committee and where they’re at, I think in 2026, we will start
to see tangible ideas put out there for public consumption and feedback,” Squindo said. Public engagement is on Squindo’s radar with the rollout and usage of the FlashVote program, a surveying entity that allows the solicitation of public feedback on various topics. Wilbraham adopted the system in 2025 and Squindo said it fits into the goal of more public feedback.
The Economic Development Committee is continuing work on, what Squindo is calling, the downtown and Crane Park intersection design remodel to create a more vibrant area. He said it is nearing the point in 2026 where the public can start giving feedback on what they envision for the area.
HWRSD School Committee takes a look at FY27 budget
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and Human Resources Douglas Slaughter ran the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee through the district’s initial budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 during its Jan. 22 meeting.
“It’s still very early in the process,” Slaughter said. “There’s a number of things that still haven’t come in as information for us yet, so there’s a number of assumptions we made.”
Slaughter began with Chapter 70 funding, a major program for state aid that also establishes minimum spending requirements for each school district and minimum requirements for each municipality’s share of school costs. Slaughter said the amount has not been released yet so there
isn’t a baseline for what support might be, but he has assumed $100 per student is a reasonable starting place.
Due to the ongoing contract negotiations with staff, Slaughter also had to make approximations on what he thinks will happen when those are settled. He said the numbers will be looked at again and finalized based on the contract resolutions.
Slaughter is also making estimates relative to health insurance, which has been trending at a double digit increase in most insurance plans. The district has a plan with Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust, where a trust pays the bills out as they come in.
“There’s a level of funding we try to retain within the balance of that trust,” Slaughter said. “That balance has been higher than our standard for the last couple years, and so our members have voted
to take more moderate approaches to increase to health insurance in order to use that resource that’s on hand.”
Slaughter said that two years ago, there was a 0% increase in the health insurance because there was enough balance in the bank of that trust to accommodate needs. For the current year, there was a 4% increase, and if the resource wasn’t in the trust, the increase would have been 12%.
“The trends in insurance are continuing to be fairly high, what I’ve done in projecting for this is to predict, or project, a 13% increase,” Slaughter said. “I’m hopeful that we may, when we meet in early February again and make the decision about where we’re gonna go, that the current performance of the trust, as well as our own health trends and insurance trends are such that we will be able to take it 13% or
hopefully something less.”
He added that a change of just one percentage point is about a $68,000-$70,000 increase or decrease on insurance.
“If it comes in at 10% instead of 13%, that’s $210,000 of lowering cost,” Slaughter said. “At present, that’s a pretty significant driver of our budget costs.”
Drivers for the increase in costs are benefits and insurance at an increase of $4 million, with the insurance alone making up a quarter of that. Factored in as well are staff moving up steps in their contracts and inflationary pressure. Also pointed out were revenue sources, such as transportation reimbursement, Medicaid funding, interest revenue and excess and deficiency funds. Slaughter noted that the prior year’s E&D fund is being reduced by about $500,000 from what was used
this year. E&D funds accumulate anytime the expenditures are less than the budgeted amount.
“We used a pretty significant amount of E&D to support the budget this year,” Slaughter said. “We don’t have as much resource as we had, and so I put in a place holder of $700,000 of E&D support to the budget, but that’s another $500,000, or 10-11% of the increase is driven by that change as well.”
Slaughter said that the offsets are holding fairly steady, such as the School Choice revenues and circuit breaker funding. He said the anticipation of those resources to help are holding steady, with a few that may drop or increase.
The overall budget is projected to go up about 7%, and if the sources of revenue go up less than that, more burden will be placed on the local communities to provide the resources.
Scantic River Artisans to hold ‘Big Art Show of Small Works’
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
HAMPDEN —The Scantic River
Artisans has its first show of the year with “Big Art Show of Small Works” from Feb. 14-15 at the Hampden Senior Center, located at 104 Allen St. On Saturday, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 11 a.m to 3 p.m. on Sunday. There will also be a reception with music and refreshments from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, with awards presented at 2 p.m. SRA has over 65 members from Wilbraham, Hampden and the surrounding towns. In a press release, they said their mission is to connect the community through diverse, dynamic and creative experiences while providing opportunities for local artists of all ages and skill levels to explore, develop and market their creations.
“Celebrate Valentine’s Day by buying something for your sweet-
heart or yourself,” SRA said.
The event features works that are 10 inches by 16 inches or smaller across a wide range of artistic mediums, such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media and photography. It also includes works that aren’t hung on the wall, such as pottery, jewelry, metal sculptures, painted glass, cloth and woodworks.
Assistant to the Publicity Chair Roger Kellman said most of the artists are fairly realistic in their work, so visitors can expect scenes and still life art often from photos the artists have taken. Kellman said that those who received a postcard from SRA can bring it and be entered into a raffle to win a painting.
The event will also be hold-
ing a silent auction, with all proceeds going towards the club and their needs, such as the purchase
of another art hanging rack. The auction will consist of donated artwork from SRA members with bidding sheets in front of each
LONGMEADOW
On Jan. 17, music students at The Music Cellar in West Springfield played at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the final round of the Crescendo International Music Competition. Longmeadow students that participated were Clara Choi, LeMei Mao, Sebastian Rodriguez and Nicholas Rodriguez. Choi and Mao Scored so high that they were asked to join the International Student Music Exchange Program in either Beijing, China or Italy, Germany and Switzerland at the Trento & Padova Conservatories. Above, from left: Clara Choi. LeMei Mao. Sebastian Rodriguez. Nicholas Rodriguez. At right, Music students from The Music Cellar in West Springfield played at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the final round of the Crescendo International Music Competition.
Reminder Publishing submitted photos
Simmons looks ahead to Fiberspring vote, future use of town
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons is looking ahead into 2026 with finding a use for Old Town Hall, Town Hall and Community House, along with moving forward on the Fiberspring project.
On Dec. 15, 2025, the Longmeadow Select Board began the process of developing a future building use task force, with the purpose of evaluating, envisioning and recommending the future use of the three buildings.
The goal is to ensure each building is used in a manner that best serves the community, reflects long-term municipal priorities and preserves or enhances the town’s cultural, historical and economic vitality.
Simmons said the task force will hopefully begin work at the end of February, and the Select Board initially said that work will ideally wrap up between December 2026 and February 2027. “That will guide a lot of the work in the coming years,” Simmons said. “Those three buildings are either fully vacant or very underutilized … they’ll fully dive in and decide what the next life is for those three parcels.”
Longmeadow partnered with Fuss & O’Neill, a Springfield-based engineering firm, in May 2025 to assess each buildings’ improvement needs and the “perfect renovation” for all three buildings is estimated to be around $12 million.
Simmons also said she is pretty certain that approval for the
Fiberspring project will be on the warrant for Town Meeting in May. Longmeadow has partnered with South Hadley Electric Light Department since 2024 to provide the town with a local fiber network.
“I think if the town can vote to approve this, years from now we’ll look back and feel that this is one of the best decisions that we made,” Simmons said. “I think that internet and fiber to your home is truly a necessity now, and for [our] municipality to be able to pull something like this off is a huge achievement.”
Simmons added that she believes each voter can make the decision based on what they think and can afford for their own, but she’s looking forward to the town vote to see if the project can
move forward.
“This is a pretty monumental thing to be able to set up a new utility,” Simmons said. “I’m really curious to see how the vote goes in May, and if it’s successful there, it would move on to a ballot question at the June election.”
Simmons said many of the questions she receives are about the plan for Glenbrook Middle School when the new middle school is complete. She said there have been discussions on it and to stay tuned for that decision.
“We will likely be forming another task force to take a look at how we should use that parcel for the future as well,” Simmons said. “No decision has been made on that yet, and I can anticipate that we will be seeking public input over the next year or two.”
buildings
Town recognizes Oliveira for receiving municipal advocate award
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board recognized and congratulated state Sen. Jake Oliveira in its Jan. 20 meeting for being awarded the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s 2026
municipal advocate award at the MMA Connect 351 conference.
The conference ran from Jan. 2224 in Boston’s seaport district. According to the MMA’s website, it is the “voice of cities and towns in Massachusetts.” They bring local leaders together to ar-
ticulate a clear and unified municipal message, develop and advocate for shared policy goals, share information and best practices and work together to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal service delivery.
The Connect 351 Conference
LONGMEADOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET HEARING
The Longmeadow School Committee invites and encourages all residents to participate in a public hearing on its FY27 budget on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Longmeadow Central Office, Room A15, 535 Bliss Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. The meeting can also be accessed through the Zoom platform at: Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile: 13017158592, 83709082434#, 321653# US
This hearing provides residents the opportunity to listen, learn and provide feedback on the current and future fiscal challenges of the Longmeadow Public School system.
The School Committee is proposing an FY27 budget of $46,247,249. This budget proposal reflects an increase of $1,286,054 from the FY26 Revised Budget.
Copies of the proposed budget can be obtained during normal business hours at the Longmeadow Public Schools Central Office, 535 Bliss Road, and online at www.longmeadow.k12.ma.us.
is a gathering of over 1,000 municipal offices and offers workshops, learning labs, a large vendor exhibition and meetings with state officials. In 2025, the MMA recognized six legislators, with two winning legislator of the year and four winning municipal advocate awards.
“This recognition is a testament to Sen. Oliveira’s steadfast commitment to empowering and supporting cities and towns across the commonwealth, and to his deep understanding of municipal government rooted in decades of public service,” Longmeadow’s certificate of recognition said.
The certificate of recognition also said that Oliveira has been a tireless advocate for public education, municipal resources and local decision-making.
“His leadership has delivered tangible results for communities, including securing more than $3 million in additional state aid for regional public libraries over the past two fiscal years and advancing legislation to protect access to books in public libraries across Massachusetts,” the certificate said.
Select Board member Dan Zwirko introduced the recognition and said this award was a good opportunity for them to recognize Oliveira for his work, and thank him for making their jobs a little bit easier and keeping an open line of communication.
“I just wanted to say thanks to Sen. Oliveira,” Zwirko said “He’s been doing a great job and some of the things, personally, that I like about Jake is that he’s very accessible, I think everyone on the board knows that, acknowledges that, and if there’s ever some issue we need help with, Jake is always quick to make a text or a call.”
Select Board Chair Josh
Levine said recognizing him was a great idea and that the attentiveness Oliveira has shown, without being a resident of Longmeadow, is fantastic.
“He’s great to engage with, but he’s really attentive and cares a lot, and just a real boon to us,” Levine said.
Oliveira said that receiving this award is a meaningful honor because local government is often where public service has the most immediate impact on people’s lives.
“Having spent 16 years in municipal government before joining the Legislature, I have seen firsthand how cities and towns deliver the services residents rely on every day,” Oliveira said. “Now that I have the privilege of representing 12 diverse communities, my focus has remained on supporting our municipalities as they support strong schools, public safety, infrastructure, libraries and the full range of local services that keep our communities thriving.”
State Sen. Jake Oliveira.
Reminder Publishing file photo
Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons.
Reminder Publishing file photo
LONGMEADOW STUDENTS PLAY AT CARNEGIE HALL —
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
A delectable breakfast style pizza comes to Indian Orchard
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
The diabolical blend of mushrooms on a pizza is about as common as snow this winter, but a breakfast style pizza is somehow rarer than witnessing a polar bear crossing the Massachusetts turnpike. Eggs, cheese and bacon on any kind of crust is a breakaway layup, a meatball down the middle, a 75-yard touchdown with nothing but green grass in front of you. But for whatever reason, the scrumptious concoction is typically nowhere to be found. Truth be told, I kind of understand why. There are many factors restaurant owners must reckon with, including demand, price of ingredients and if the style of pizza even makes sense within their brand or hours of operation. Maybe everything does make sense for them to have the item on the menu, but they’d rather be 2012 Nick Young than 2018 Jayson Tatum dunking on LeBron in Game 7. I don’t know, maybe I’m just clueless and there is a plethora of locales that serve it.
In any event, my lamenting recently ceased when one of my colleagues sent me a press release about a newly minted restaurant in Indian Orchard called “Taste of Traditions.” My interest in the establishment piqued when I was apprised of their win at the Latino Economic Development Corporation Cook-off competition, but my curiosity reached its apex when I saw that the new diner-style restaurant featured the coveted breakfast pizza on its menu. My head perked up like a dog that just heard its owner lock their car.
The item’s original makeup is scrambled eggs with melted provolone and mozzarella on naan bread, topped with arugula and tomatoes. But my eating habits are questionable, so I substitut-
Taste of Traditions’ breakfast style pizza.
ed the tomatoes with bacon. My short-term memory isn’t always sharp, but it was probably the best decision I made that day.
The texture clash was what I wanted. The eggs’ fluffy perfection runs up against the tantalizing crisp of the bacon bits; the melted provolone and mozzarella counterbalances that texture dichotomy by offering a buttery
willing to donate,” Gile said. “I was able to create four separate baskets, sold raffle tickets for $20 a piece and then raffled those off the weekend before Christmas to four different lucky recipients.”
Gile said the event was planned in about two months, and the local businesses completely stepped up in a very short period of time, all responding to her requests and donating within 10 days. Busi-
Art Show
Continued from page 7
item. The highest bidder will be the winner to purchase the piece.
Nan Hulbert, an award winning artist and longtime member of SRA, was featured in the press release and will be displaying work at the event. Hulbert is skilled in oil, watercolor, pastel and color pencil. Hulbert said she paints all subjects, but still life and animals are favorites. Hulbert has recently been working in jewelry design and owns the company, Tangled Vine Jewelry.
“Painting skills are not the limit of Nan’s artistic efforts,” the press release said. “In her early life, she learned sewing skills
nesses that donated include The Pizza Shoppe, Grapevine Restaurant, Shaker Bowl, Beauty Times, My Main Squeeze, Tre Olive, Added Attractions, Gilbert’s Stationary, Giftology, Escape Therapeutic Massage, Healthtrax, Frankie’s Pizza, Ink N Thread, A. W. Brown’s, Comb and Collar and St. Michael’s Players. She also collected donations through Venmo after publicizing the event and collections after mass at St. Michael’s Parish. She said that bankESB in Easthampton donated $500.
and pattern making, ultimately becoming a garment designer and developing a garment manufacturing company.”
sweetness to the dish’s base. And although the naan bread could’ve maybe been a tad crispier, I found the flatbread to be the ideal canvas to buttress the flavors above it. Hunger abated, I had finally found the coveted breakfast style pizza I’ve been looking for.
As for the ambience, Taste of Traditions provides an extremely welcoming space, as evidenced
Gile said End Hunger NE uses the terms meal and servings interchangeably, so each bag held six servings of items like Rice-aRoni or Hamburger Helper so the only thing people would need to cook the food is boiling water.
“What End Hunger NE does is provide us with all of the products,” Gile said. “They delivered all of the food that we used, like the beans, the oatmeal, pasta, soy, dehydrated apples, dehydrated vegetables.”
The main meals packed were apple cinnamon oatmeal and min-
SRA said to visit the show to meet Hulbert and many of the other artists and artisans whose work will be displayed.
by the bevy of plants and many puzzles available for customers to ostensibly solve. The spot, located at 174 Main St. in Indian Orchard, invokes a classic diner feel, but there’s an added tranquility and warmth to how everything is presented. When I have the time, I’ll have to bask in its glow a little more.
And when I do, I’ll also have
estrone soup. Gile said End Hunger NE comes to the event with a coordinator that sets up assembly lines to help pack, and noted that she learned that meals can be packed incredibly fast. By the end, it only took two and a half hours to pack the 21,633 meals.
“They have it down to a science beyond any science,” Gile said. “It was absolutely amazing.”
She said that in this day and age, it’s important for the community to look outside of their own homes and figure out ways to help others and spread kindness.
to explore its menu. Aside from the pizza, Taste of Traditions serves a breakfast sandwich, Cuban sandwich, a brisket biscuit, grilled cheese, kafta and much more. The restaurant is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all day and also cater for larger events.
“Whether you have $5 or $500 to contribute to this event or other events like this, it makes a difference,” Gile said. “Each meal costs 40 cents, and so that package of $2.40 is going to feed a family an entire minestrone soup dinner … a small effort can make a huge impact.”
Gile said she plans on making this a yearly event, but needs to catch her breath a little bit after planning this one, for the most part, independently. Next year, she wants to double the meal count.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
MLK’s dream kept alive in Springfield at celebration
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration was filled with song, remarks by elected officials and the words of the city’s schoolchildren, all celebrating accomplishments while acknowledging how far the United States has yet to go.
The theme of this year’s celebration was “Restoring Justice: Reclaiming the Dream.” Springfield Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said children are “the carrier of the dream.” True to her roots as an educator, Dinnall said, “Reclaiming is a verb. It is an action word.” She continued, “It takes the collective efforts of each and every one of us in this room today to do our part to reclaim the dream. And guess what? I dream without action is merely a fantasy.”
Speaking of King, Mayor Domenic Sarno said his principles are universal, but that the laws that came from King’s work and the Civil Rights Movement, namely the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, “are now all under siege.” He said, “It is up to us, each and every one of you, in what you do every day to continue to carry on the legacy of Dr. King.”
Echoing Sarno, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said, “The hard-won gains of the Civil Rights Movement are being stripped away.”
Pointing to Dinnall and City Council President Tracye Whitfield, both the first Black women to serve in their respective roles, Driscoll said, “Representation changes outcomes.”
Reflecting on civil rights leaders, Whitfield said, “I’m standing here today because of the work they did on voting rights.” She said King believed change starts with everyday people and so the job of children is “being kind when it’s hard” and “standing up when something’s wrong.”
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez fired up the crowd. He challenged them to think of the world in 10 years’ time and asking what they would be able to tell the children of today that they did to make their voices heard. He said Springfield is a “great” city because the mayor and other leaders are the children of immigrants. “That’s the American Dream,” the Springfield Democrat said. “America is
Top, The “Songstress of Springfield,” Vanessa Ford, sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song known as the African American national anthem, at the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. Second row, from left: Tracye Whitfield, Springfield’s first Black woman City Council president, speaks at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, flanked by City Council President Tracye Whitfield and state Rep. Orlando Ramos, speaks to the crowd on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Third row, from left: A booth for the Executive Office of Veterans Services is set up next to a booth selling T-shirts. Someone adds a photo to an oversized piece of artwork with the message, “Justice looks like me.” At right, Artist Frankie Borrero works on a painting at a booth at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
a great country where we all rise to the top.”
The program included music from the children from Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence, the Community Music School of Springfield and
Children’s Chorus of Springfield. The Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence Steppers also performed. Youth from Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services’ King’s Kids program read letters to King,
while those from Parent Villages read poems. Mah’dee Naylor Jr. finished his poem, saying, “The
It was meant to be lived, defended and reclaimed.”
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — It was only the second year of operation for the O’Dell Women’s Center Foundation, but it made a substantial impact in the city of Springfield and surrounding communities. In 2025, the foundation awarded $550,000 in grants and emergency funding to nonprofits that improve the lives of women.
The O’Dell Women’s Center was established in 2023 to aid the circumstances and future prospects of women in Springfield.
Located at 45 Lyman St., the center offers educational and career opportunities and community support programs. It also houses Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, a nonprofit that helps women prepare for job interviews. In its first year of philanthropic giving, the foundation distributed $250,000. After more than doubling that amount in 2025, the organization has set goals to distribute $750,000 at the end of this year and $1 million in 2027.
Executive Director Margaret Tantillo explained that the foundation’s funding cycle opens to applications in July and closes in September. In 2025, $450,000 in grants were awarded to nine organizations and institutions for programs that help remove barriers to educational, economic and social stability.
• Bay Path University — to support a new emergency assistance initiative for Springfield-based students facing unexpected crises, which will help women remain enrolled.
FOUNDATION on page 11
dream was never meant to be framed.
Springfield woman creating ‘ecosystem’ of trucking, trades
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Asiala Rivera has a vision. Where others may see truck driving, electricians and blighted properties, Rivera sees an opportunity to create a workforce development ecosystem.
Six years ago, Rivera worked for the national dairy manufacturer HP Hood, but as was the case for so many people, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country’s business, she lost her job.
“COVID really shook me up,” Rivera said. “I knew life had changed.” In addition to being out of work, Rivera had three children at home and would become pregnant with her fourth in 2023.
Rivera’s husband was a truck driver, and she realized that many
of the skills and knowledge she had acquired in her old job could be used in trucking. She decided to create her own freight brokerage firm, CCR Freight Logistics.
A freight brokerage is a company that acts as an intermediary between manufacturers or shippers and trucking companies who transport the goods to their destinations. She said CCR Freight Logistics is the first Black-owned brokerage in Massachusetts.
Because Rivera can work from her living room, she said freight brokering gave her the opportunity to be home and “be present” with her youngest son throughout his first year. She said, “That’s something I didn’t have with any of my other kids.”
Rivera threw herself into the freight industry, researching the industry and making connections.
Dress for Success Western Massachusetts — to provide a continuum of career support and help women achieve longterm financial independence.
• Girls Inc. of the Valley — to support the Eureka! Program, a no-cost, five-year STEM initiative.
• The Gray House — to strengthen adult education services for low-income migrants and refugees.
It Takes a Village — to expand basic needs programming that fills critical service gaps for low-income women and families.
• MassHire Holyoke — to im-
plement the GLOW program in Springfield, a holistic workforce initiative combining intensive case management, job placement and wraparound support.
• South End Community Center — to offer safe, reliable childcare through afterschool, vacation, summer and school-closure programs, supporting parents’ ability to work and pursue education.
• Tech Foundry — to deliver digital literacy instruction, professional development and career mapping for women participating through YWCA programming.
• United Way of Pioneer Valley — to increase food pantry access and strengthening Thrive Financial Wellness program-
She said, “Anyone can get started. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of door knocking, a lot of cold calls, a lot of research.”
During Rivera’s research into the freight industry, she discovered how rampant the issue of predatory truck leasing is. Companies often lease their trucks to drivers who are paid by the mile, but Rivera said some companies use predatory practices to lock drivers into exclusive contracts and pay a fraction of the going rate.
“It’s a flat-out scam,” she said. While a bill to address this problem is working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives, Rivera decided to raise awareness of issues like these. She started a “Truckucation” program,to educate people who are new to the trucking industry about their rights, opportunities and how to
ming through individualized financial coaching for underserved women.
“These partnerships reflect our belief that economic stability is built through coordinated, community-driven solutions,” Keely Krantz, founder and president of the O’Dell Women’s Center Foundation, said in a press release about the funding. “When women have access to basic needs, education, and career opportunities, entire families and communities are strengthened.”
pursue their goals. She said it is a pathway into the industry beyond simply helping people obtain their commercial driver’s license. Not content to focus only on the freight industry, Rivera said she is looking to build a workforce development program and revitalize housing at the same time. Rivera, whose father was a tradesperson, wants to “reinvigorate a love of the trades,” including plumbing, electrical and carpentry. To do this, she is working with investors to pilot a pre-apprenticeship program at a three-level house on Fort Pleasant Avenue in Springfield. The ground floor will act as a learning hub for tradecraft; the second floor will have opportunities for hands-on, supervised learning, and the third floor will allow people to renovate the apartment and put what they have
learned to use.
“There’s a lot of red tape under apprenticeship programs” and “it can be hard to get a slot,” Rivera said. She believes her pre-apprenticeship program could give people an advantage.
Rather than selling the building when done, Rivera said she wants to create low-income housing opportunities. She foresees the housing helping people who are reentering the workforce after incarceration, and perhaps some of those people would enter the trucking industry. Using this model with multiple multi-family homes, she plans to build a portfolio of properties in Springfield and beyond.
“It all kind of wraps around in its own ecosystem,” Rivera said. “We need to have such a push for trucking and trades.”
“The shelves were literally bare,” Tantillo recalled. The foundation distributed $100,000 in emergency funds to several food pantries in the Springfield area, helping them restock.
In the year ahead, Tantillo said, the O’Dell Women’s Center is planning to expand the use of its 10,000-square-foot building, allowing no-cost use for “like-minded” organizations and
While it was outside the planned funding cycle, the foundation found itself in a position to help when the federal government shutdown in October 2025 and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program funding was withheld the following month. Families across the country found themselves without enough money to feed their families. With nowhere else to turn, people flooded into food pantries.
individuals whose work aligns with the center’s mission.
“It’s so special to me,” Tantillo said. “It’s another way that we deliver philanthropy.” She said the center is also piloting its “Bridging Navigator” program, a one-on-one peer mentorship for “women who are stuck where they’re at,” largely due to socio-economic reasons. She explained that the mentors, women who have experience with similar circumstances, will help people see and pursue a path forward. For more information about volunteering or receiving services through the O’Dell Women’s Center, visit odellwomenscenter.com.
TheReminder.com
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
CHICOPEE
Dcn. Gerald S. Campion
Jean J. Croteau Sr.
Nora Bridget Healy
Robert J. Hopkins
Teresa A. Perlak
France E. Talbot
Carol Voyik
Antoni Wieczorek
Donna M. Woods
John J. Zajdel
EAST LONGMEADOW
Brian A. Falk
William R. Fielding
Rose B. Lupi
Antoinette M. Maccarini
HOLYOKE
Patricia Curran
Richard Guyott Sr.
Susan Sheehan
Helen M. Werenski
LUDLOW
Daniel D. Bator
Patricia Faulds
Irene M. Smith
Kevin R. Woods
LONGMEADOW
Eugene G. Loncrini
Janice G. Orszulak
Diana J. Srebnick
SOUTH HADLEY
Mateem Ul Haq Malik
James Patrick Shea
Anne J. Szafranowicz
SPRINGFIELD
Jeffrey J. Albert Cira “Gilda” Cardenuto
Dolores A. Costello
Gloria M. Fernandes
Nicolina Ferullo
Margaret M. “Peggy” Fitzgerald
Frank A. Gentile Jr.
Sheryl L. Karolinski
John S. Musiak
John Naberezny
Jean L. Provost
Jordan H. Rosenkrantz
Phyllis Ann Skorka
WILBRAHAM Laurette Bishop
Anthony G. Laino
Marion V. Sears
the horn sounds Rhys Kindle begins the 50 Free.
The Lancers Lux Doherty swims the back stroke as she competes in the individual medley.
The Lancers participate in the pre-meet cheer.
Mason Hong swims the breast stroke for Longmeadow.
Lilah Doherty approaches the finish of the 200-yard freestyle.
‘Meadow’s Mary Rosemond “flys” to the finish.
Butterfly specialist Aarav Nandakumar competes in the medley relay.
Riley Greenman tumbles high above the pool during the diving competition.
Lorenzo Trotta freestyles to the turn of the 50-yard race.
Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
