THIS EDITION
LONGMEADOW
Program is teaching young musicians the ropes early Longmeadow High School students Akul Agarwal and Rosa Wen gave a presentation on the school’s Music Mentorship Program at the School Committee meeting on Feb. 24 to discuss the program’s impact on students within the LHS music department.
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WILBRAHAM Residents hear options for Memorial School Scores of people filled a large space at the Wilbraham Senior Center on Feb. 24, all wanting to know what would become of Memorial School.
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Pleasant View Players to present ‘Charlotte’s Web’
By Debbie Gardner dgardner@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW —
“Charlotte’s Web” is more than a children’s story, especially when brought to life by the Pleasant View Players, a theater group whose company brings a lifetime of experiences to the familiar tale.
With all but one of the actors in their 60s, 70s and 80s, it’s a lot of lived experience, even if some of this season’s players are new to treading the boards.
“Someone said to me that you sound like the theater version of the Young@Heart Chorus,” joked director Fred Sokol about the age range of his actors during an interview about the group’s upcoming performance.
The Pleasant View Players will present the theatrical version of E. B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web,” adapted by Joseph Robinette, March 20-22 at the First Congregational Church, 7 Somers Road, East Longmeadow. Performances take place at 7 p.m. on March 20 and at 3 p.m. on March 21 and 22. Admission is $5 per person.
The beloved tale of a pig and the wise spider who befriends him and saves him from the butcher, sacrificing her life in the process, is the third work to be presented by the Pleasant View Players.
The group’s first production was
“Don Quixoite,” performed at the East Longmeadow Senior Center in May of 2024, followed by a production of “Back Story” at the First Congregational Church in the spring of 2025.
Sokol said the inspiration for choosing “Charlotte’s Web” as the group’s third play came from an unexpected source.
“I heard my wife reading the story version to my two granddaughters and thought, that’s wonderful,” Sokol said, adding that listening to the classic tale inspired him to look for a theater adaptation of the story.
His search resulted not only in a theatrical adaptation, but also a review of a Washington, D.C., semi-professional theater group that had mounted the play to rave reviews.
“The review said, ‘This is a children’s show, but it clearly appeals to audiences of all ages,’” Sokol shared, adding he immediately saw the play as a way to expand the group’s audience base.
“I wrote in the playbill that people from 3 to 103 will appreciate it,” Sokol said.
But any play is only as good as its cast, and Sokol had certain actors in mind for his lead characters, Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig. Deanna Congo, at 40-something the youngest mem-
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
ber of the troupe, was Sokol’s choice for Charlotte. She may be familiar to audiences, having appeared in both “Don Quixote” and “Back Story” with the players.
For Wilbur, Sokol tapped Melva Michaelian, another veteran of the Pleasant View Players’ three productions and a former student of his when Sokol was a professor at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield.
Michaelian said Sokol called her last summer to say he had an idea for the next production that
From left: Melva Michaelian as Wilbur and Deanna Congo as Charlotte in the Pleasant View Players upcoming production of “Charlotte’s Web.” Performances are March 20-22 at the First Congregational Church in East Longmeadow.
STRM: Gionfriddo and Sullivan discuss the upcoming Big Broadcast
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY — On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Ryan Feyre and Dennis Hackett sat down with Mount Holyoke College Jazz Ensemble Director Mark Gionfriddo and Maureen Sullivan, who handles public relations for the Big Broadcast, to discuss the upcoming event on Saturday, March 7. According to the organizers, performances for the event are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Chapin Auditorium at Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St.
This year marks the 21st year of the showcase, which Gionfriddo started because he thought it would be fun to do something “a little bit different.”
“We were noticing that there was really nothing like this around, and especially for a college jazz program to put something like this on is really kind of unusual right from the bottom up of writing the whole thing and costuming it, and they do the
Players
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he wanted to discuss with her.
“We met at Starbucks and he said I have an idea, but I want you to be one of the leads,” Michaelian said. He then pitched her playing the part of Wilbur.
“I asked, ‘Why did you think of me when you were thinking of the pig?’” Michaelian shared. Sokol sent her the script, which she read, then called her son, an actor, for advice and support.
“I said, ‘I don’t know if I should do this,’” Michaelian stated. “He said, ‘Don’t think of it as a play about a pig, think of it as playing emotions.’”
Sokol said from the beginning he saw “Charolette’s Web” as two plays in one, with one focusing on the emotional friendship be-
hair and the makeup and all of that stuff,” he said.
Gionfriddo, who is reprising his role as bandleader “Matt Morgan,” and the college’s jazz ensembles are polishing the best Big Band songs, solos and commercials from the 1940s.
“It’s kind of our idea of what it would be like to be in the audience of a 1940s radio variety show; this one particularly happening at a remote location,” Gionfriddo said when describing the show.
The idea was conceived after students approached Gionfriddo about how the theater department at the college only conducts a musical every four years. They asked if he ever thought of doing a semi-theatrical production.
Gionfriddo used to produce a show with a cabaret group in the 1990s called “Puttin on the Ritz,” which was a fictitious radio variety show that took place at a radio station where singers would appear as “stars” of that era to sing on the air.
After he began directing in
tween Wilbur and Charlotte that is “poignant and touching” and the other on the comedy between the two goofy families who at different points own Wilbur, the Arables and the Zuckermans.
George Newman, who portrays John Arable, heard of the Arable clan and father to Fern, the young girl who saves the runt, Wilbur, said this was his second play with Sokol, though he and the director have a long history, going back to when Newman, a carpenter, assisted with set construction for Sokol at Asnuntuck. Newman also appeared in “Back Story,” and admitted doing the monologues in that production was a different experience than learning how to react to other actors during scenes.
“It’s a little bit more of a challenge,” Newman joked,
the Jazz program at Mount Holyoke College in 1999, Gionfriddo said he felt like himself, and his students were ready to take on a similar project. The Jazz Ensembles produced the first “Big Broadcast” in 2006.
Regarding the location of the broadcast, Gionfriddo said Chapin Auditorium looks “very, very period.” He later found out that The Glenn Miller Band performed on the same stage as the Big Broadcast in February 1939.
The Glenn Miller Band and Andrew Sisters are two bands that Gionfriddo says he focuses on for the production, among other artists of the time period.
Besides the music from the 1940s, Mount Holyoke College students help write the show, including the introductions and outros for TV22 meteorologist Brian Lapis, who emcees as “Fred Kelly.” The students also select period commercials and news stories from the period for the production.
Gionfriddo mentioned how it is a great way for the students
adding he’s been drawing from both his own life experiences, and from memories of his own dad, to develop the character of John Arable.
“A part of it reminded me of my father, the kind of story we have, how he would respond and not respond to the kids, and I try to incorporate that,” Newman said. Mary Ellen Lowney, who plays Martha Arable, is also a returning thespian, having played a role in last year’s “Back Story.” At first, Lowney said she was reluctant to take a role in “Charlotte’s Web.” “Aren’t we too old to do a children’s play?” Lowney said she asked Sokol when he pitched the part of Martha to her. Now she said she’s working hard on her lines and has invited her two grandsons, who live in East Longmeadow, to see the play.
to learn about music and stories from the 1940s.
During the first few years of the show, he said a majority of the crowd were those who grew up in the time period of the 1940s and 1950s, but as the
“This is fun,” Lowney said of working on “Charlotte’s Web.”
This is also the second play for Peter Benjaman, who is cast in the role of Homer Zuckerman, Fern’s uncle and Wilbur’s temporary savior. Friends with Sokol for decades, the acting bug struck when he watched the Pleasant View Players production of “Don Quixote.”
“I said if you do something else, I’d like to be involved,” Benjamin shared. “Back Story” was his first play.
Karen Dardanelli, who portrays the wisecracking Templeton the Rat in the production, is a newcomer to the Pleasant Valley Players, though she too knew Sokol from his time at Asnuntuck. Dardanelli said Sokol approached her about playing the part of Templeton.
“I love my character; I love the physicality of it. There’s all different levels to it,” Dardanelli said. Recently retired, she’s also enjoying the chance to meet new people.
Beth Wadden is returning to the Pleasant View Players after a hiatus for health reasons. Previously in the production of “Don Quixote,” she’s playing a number of small parts in “Charlotte’s Web,” including a journalist, a photographer, a fairgoer and a spectator.
“These little parts are fun, very fun,” Wadden said.
“I was a reading teacher and I love ‘Charlotte’s Web,’” Wadden continued. “I really think that there is something in the story for every age group. It’s not just a children’s story, It’s very touching.”
years have gone on, more students have attended the performance, with some expressing interest in helping.
Sullivan talked about the au-
Maureen Sullivan (front left) Mark Gionfriddo (back left) sits down with “So That Reminds Me” hosts Ryan Feyre and Dennis Hackett. Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
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.
Adult programs:
• Board Game Night for Adults — Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The library has board games but also bring ones you would like to play. Bring a game, bring a friend, meet new people. and learn a new game! No registration needed.
• ELPL Cookbook Club — Saturday, March 14 12:30-2 p.m. This month the group is using cookbooks by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich.
Children programs: Preschool Storytime — Monday, March 9 at 10 a.m. For ages 3-6.
• Wiggles and Giggles — Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. For ages 2-3.
Pathways for Parents programs:
• Music and Movement — Monday, March 9 at 1 p.m. for ages 2-5.
• Creative Kids & Caregivers — Tuesday, March 10 at 10 a.m.
• Pre-school Pals — Thursday, March 12 from 10-11 a.m. For ages 2-5.
• Grow, Play, Learn — Friday, March 13 at 9:45 a.m. for ages birth to 2 and 10:45 a.m. for ages 2-5.
• Music with Mr. Liam — Satur-
TOWN EVENTS
day, March 14 at 10 a.m.
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 413525-5436.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Tabletop — Tuesday, March 10 1011 a.m. Stop by to speak to a representative. They will be available to answer questions related to Medicare.
• Pros and Cons of Moving vs. Staying in One’s Home — Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. Registration is required.
• The Integrated Plan Thursday — March 12 at 10 a.m. Join the discussion about how wealth management and estate planning work together, and what can happen when the two areas are not aligned. An Important Piece of the Pleasant View Puzzle — Friday, March 13 at 1 p.m. Already volunteering at Pleasant View, or thinking about getting involved? Join us for a volunteer meeting to learn how PVSC is strengthening its impact by becoming a nationally recognized Service Enterprise, where volunteers are essential partners in advancing our mission.
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.
Youth programs:
• Sticker Making — Tuesday, March 10, 3:30-4 p.m. Come and decorate your own stickers with your own design and art work!
• Kids Weaving: Bowls —
Wednesday, March 11, 3:304:30 p.m. Interesting learning how to weave with yarn? Come learn how to weave yarn into a cool crafty bowl! Legos at the Library (for kindergarten and up) — Thursday, March 12, 3:30-4:15 p.m. Children in kindergarten and older are invited to join us for a LEGO building experience. Design and build a structure, then name it and display it! Playgroup with East Longmeadow Mom Walk Co — Friday, March 13, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Children and caregivers are invited to this fun filled playgroup with the East Longmeadow Mom Walk Co.
• Movie Craft Time: “Wicked”
— Friday, March 13, 12:153:15 p.m. Middle and elementary students come have fun watching “Wicked” (PG) and doing crafts for this thrillifying movie event!
Adult programs:
• Loosely Bound Book Club Afternoons — Tuesday, March 10, 1:30-2:30 p.m. This Month’s selection: “Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann.
• How Maps Lie with Andrew Middleton — Tuesday, March 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join Andrew Middleton of The Map Center in Pawtucket, Rhode Island for a fun and informative talk on how maps tell all sorts of stories.
• Library Virtual Speakers: Book Portals and Journeys of Literary Magic with Kate Quinn — Thursday, March 12, 7-9 p.m. Library Speakers Consortium Presents: a virtual conversation with acclaimed author Kate Quinn about her latest fantastical work, “The Astral Library.”
LONGMEADOW ADULT
CENTER
The following programs are organized by the Longmeadow Adult
Center, located at 211 Maple Road
For more information or to sign up for programs, call 413-565-4160 option 1.
• The Hazard Powder Company and the Life of Col. Augustus Hazard — March 3 at 6 p.m. with Historian Elliot Levi Located just a few miles south of Longmeadow in the Hazardville village of Enfield, the Hazard Powder Company had a significant role in the nation’s expansion and wars it fought from 1835 to the final explosion in 1913. Dressed in the Victorian era attire worn by Col. Augustus Hazard, Levy will discuss the dangers of producing gun powder and the numerous explosions and the 67 deaths that occurred. The life of Hazard will be discussed. Was he a Confederate sympathizer or just a business tycoon? Actual photographs of the powder mill’s operation and a display of powder kegs and cans will enhance your knowledge of the company that produced 40% of the gun powder used by the Union Army during the Civil War.
WILBRAHAM
WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following programs take place at the Wilbraham Public Library, located at 25 Crane Park Drive. For more information or to sign up for programs, head to wilbrahamlibrary.org or call 413-596-6141.
“Erin Go Bragh: Songs From and About Ireland” with David Polansky — Monday, March 9 from 6-7 p.m. Instrumentalist and vocalist David Polansky will perform “Erin Go Bragh: Songs From and About Ireland.”
• VIRTUAL: AMA with Resume and LinkedIn Coach Virginia Franco — Wednesday, March 11 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Virginia Franco, founder of Virginia Franco Resumes, will hold an AMA (“Ask Me Anything”) for job seekers. She welcomes any questions about resumes and LinkedIn writing.
Teen Henna and Bling Your Book — Wednesday, March 11 from noon to 2 p.m. During this event, teens will get their choice of a unique henna design from Wicked Good Henna’s Mandy Roberge. Also, bring your favorite book to give it a sparkly makeover with diamond art gems! Using rhinestones and glue, you’ll transform a plain book cover into a unique treasure. Don’t forget your own book to decorate. Chill with Choo Choo Charlie: Drop-in with a Therapy Dog — Thursday, March 12 from 9-10 a.m. Choo Choo Charlie the Pomeranian, therapy dog with Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, will be available in the Brooks Room to bring a little rest and relaxation to your day. Saturday Toddler Time — Saturday, March 14 from 1010:45 a.m. The group will read picture books, learn classic children’s songs and dance, wiggle, and shake our sillies out on Saturday morning.
ST. CECILIA WOMEN’S CLUB MARCH MEETING
The St. Cecilia Women’s Club March meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 beginning with mass at 5:30 p.m. Following mass and a light supper our guest speaker will be Dr. Rob Robinson, clinical director of Family Care Counseling who will speak on “How to be Happy in Today’s World.” The club is encouraging members to bring children’s clothing to this meeting for infants and toddlers in need.
WILBRAHAM WOMENS CLUB MEETING
The Wilbraham Womens Club’s March general meeting is on Thursday, March 12, at 11:30 a.m. with a noon lunch. Erin Pincince from the Wilbraham Senior Center will provide lots of tips for keeping fit and healthy after 60. She will be incorporating some cognitive and balance exercises in her demonstration. With many tips for taking care of our bodies and boosting our wellness in daily life All welcome. Please give Pat Serra a call if you have any questions 413-530-3183.
Program is teaching young musicians the ropes early
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow High School students
Akul Agarwal and Rosa Wen gave a presentation on the school’s Music Mentorship Program at the School Committee meeting on Feb. 24 to discuss the program’s impact on students within the LHS music department.
The program is run by Agarwal and Wen, along with students Miya Wranovix and Koko Westcott, who were not in attendance. It pairs musicians at the high school with elementary or middle school students that play the same or similar instruments for lessons, to play duets and to just have a good time, according to Agarwal.
The program was started by then-student David Miller in 2005. Agarwal said when it started, it was more like a buddy system, because in addition to practice sessions and working on music together, the students would attend each other’s concerts for support.
The program has seen the most participation in recent years, with 64 middle and elementary school students paired with 45 high school students. A large number of the signups are for cello, trumpet and violin.
Agarwal discussed benefits of the program for both the mentor and mentees. For the mentee, the program can improve skills through connection with the mentor, become more familiarized with the high school music program and build a strong connection between the mentor and mentee.
“It provides an opportunity to improve skills on the instrument with an older student, who’s often more experienced, that can provide insight and guidance onto the instrument, especially if they’re newer or just picked up the instrument,” Agarwal said.
Agarwal added that it does help familiarize and connect younger students to the LHS music program because the sessions are often done in the high school’s practice rooms and students are brought to the school’s formal events.
“It allows them to get to see the high school music program a
lot earlier on when they’re still in middle school so they can know what they’re building up to,” Agarwal said.
For the mentor, the program can build collaboration, communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills by putting them in a teaching environment, along with providing a sense of accountability.
Agarwal said that being a mentor personally helps him see the instrument from a different angle, where he’s not just playing, but thinking about how he can teach it, which he said helps him get better at playing in general.
Wen said the program hosted a kick off event on Oct. 29, 2025, to welcome another year.
The event featured a tour of LHS and the music department, while fostering connections and familiarizing new parents or guardians with the program.
Wen said the tour was to plant the seed for the music department, in hopes it will have happy and interested musicians in future years.
“We encouraged people to have conversations, establish
dience and atmosphere from the past few years, sharing, “I have to say that over the years being in the front of the house that people, when they come in, that they’re just in such great moods. People are happy to be there, and it’s always a great audience.”
She added, “Some of these songs from the Great American Songbook have been done by a lot of artists over the years, so I think that younger people would be surprised to hear some of them and realize, ‘oh actually I know that song.’”
Gionfriddo also talked about why the focus of the production is on the 1940s. “We like the [1940s] because big hairstyles,
and there was a lot of stuff going on,” he stated. “Obviously it’s very, very different from contemporary times, so it’s very interesting because some of the student, they’re kind of like, ‘oh, wow there’s a lot of stereotyping, there’s a lot of provincial, some of it is rather offensive,’ but they all understand that it’s kind of a historical piece, like a typical theatre piece.”
At the beginning of the program, the Big Broadcast makes sure to note that they are not glorifying or promoting the themes of the time period, according to Gionfriddo.
Tickets are available at the Odyssey Book Shop in South Hadley, and online at mhc.ludus. com and at the door.
To hear the full episode, vis-
when they want to meet, how often they want to meet, preferences,” Wen said. “Overall, just furthering or creating that bond between mentee, mentor, parents and guardians.”
Agarwal discussed his experience as a mentor while working with a seventh grade student learning the oboe at Williams Middle School. Agarwal’s mentee said that being able to supplement what happens at private lessons amplifies what he is able to learn and develop on the instrument.
The pieces being played also help him push to become better and having a chance to tour the LHS music department shows what he can build up to and gives a sense of the resources that will become available.
“In addition to what I’ve already mentioned, in terms of benefits for mentors, one especially gratifying thing for me is just the fact that I’m able to really support the LHS music department long after I’m gone,” Agarwal said.
Wen said her sister, Bellsa Wen, is a fifth grade student at Blueberry Hill learning viola in
it thereminder.com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
the program with mentor Eric Sohn. She said Bellsa talks about how Sohn gives insight into performing and what it’s like performing in an orchestra and in front of an audience.
“Considering that she’s not as experienced as Eric is, she’s younger, she hasn’t played viola as long as he has, this is extremely valuable and I definitely see this within their rehearsals, their performances,” Wen said.
“It’s just lovely, I love their rela-
tionship … this is just what our program thrives to do. We want to further connect people within the music department, regardless of age, regardless of school.”
Going forward, the program hopes to encourage mentors and mentees to attend each other’s performances like the program started with, along with holding an end of year recital to display the music growth and cultivated connections.
LONGMEADOW SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATIONS OPEN
LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow School Committee, at its meeting on Feb. 24, voted to accept School Choice applications from students residing in the State of Massachusetts and interested in attending the Longmeadow Public Schools beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Applicants must be entering first grade next school year to be eligible to enter LPS under School Choice. There are four seats available. Grade applications are available on the Longmeadow Public Schools website: longmeadow.k12. ma.us/parents/school-choice. The application deadline is Friday, April 10, at 1 p.m.
Longmeadow High School students Rosa Wen and Akul Agarwal discuss the Music Mentorship Program
Photo credit: LongmeadowTV
Residents hear options for Memorial School during presentation
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — Scores of people filled a large space at the Wilbraham Senior Center on Feb. 24, all wanting to know what would become of Memorial School. After a presentation, talk by the Building Utilization Committee and time for questions, the crowd left still not knowing the answer.
Memorial School was shuttered for education in 2010, before the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District turned use of it over to the town. Since then, the Parks and Recreation Department has used the building to house many of its programs. But over the past 15 years, the building and its parking lot have deteriorated, with roof leaks, a broken boiler and floor tiles that are peeling up.
There are three possible futures for the Memorial property, and each has costs associated with it, Litz said. One option is to close and sell Memorial and build a new recreation center elsewhere in town. A “mothballed” building would cost about $15,000 per year until it was sold. Litz said he did not think taxpayers had an appetite for the roughly $8 million to build a new center and the impact it would have on the tax rate. Alternatively, the building could be closed and sold, and with programs relocated or cut entirely.
Litz said 1,149 people, aged 2 to 89, use the building for various sports and activities. There are programs running in the building between five and seven days of the week. Closing the building would “affect hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of residents,” he said.
Much of the department’s use of the building is focused on the gymnasium, one of few in town. “The facts are that we are tapped out with gym space,” Litz said. Aside from the gymnasium at Memorial, there is an under-
sized gym at Wilbraham Middle School and “one and a half” gyms at Minnechaug Regional High School. Meanwhile, all the sports programs are asking for more practice time.
Several sports would be eliminated solely because there would be no gymnasium to house them in, Litz said. These include futsal, indoor wrestling, indoor pickleball, N-Zone multisport and both pre-K and instructional basketball. Other programs, such as dog obedience, would also be canceled. Meanwhile, schedules and location for high school wrestling, dance, art and acting classes, and indoor track and basketball at Wilbraham Middle School would be affected. Litz said the competitive suburban basketball program would be reduced from 10 teams to eight.
Litz emphasized that he was not speaking of program cuts as a scare tactic, but instead because the limitations of available facilities made these hard facts.
The final option is to continue use of the property, which would require investing in its maintenance. The building was funded at $60,000 in fiscal year 2026. The Parks and Recreation Department had requested $100 million and was requesting the same amount for FY27, which begins on July 1. That amount is required to “maintain the status quo,” Litz said. Facilities Director Sam Boyd largely blamed deferred maintenance for the condition of the building.
Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Litz explained that a study of all the town’s buildings was undertaken in 2021. A second study, focusing on Memorial School, was completed in 2023. The studies found the building needs new insulation, gym window frames, bathroom drain, main door, air handlers and HVAC system. Some of the capital items in needed by the building and grounds include
floor tiles, flat roof replacement, plumbing, access road and parking lot improvements and a boiler. Litz explained that the backup boiler has been nonfunctional for several years. If the school’s one functioning boiler breaks, an emergency repair would cost about $250,000.
The Building Utilization Committee is currently studying all town buildings and will recommend what to do with them to the Select Board in August. Chair Jeff Smith said that the committee has hosted informational sessions and sent out surveys to get resident input. He said, “Everything is on the table” when it comes to building use. Options might include consolidating buildings, moving the town’s information technology department to Memorial School or even moving the town offices there. He noted that Hampden had done something similar with the former Thornton W. Burgess School. If the town offices moved, the existing office building, located next to the Se-
nior Center, could be converted to senior housing, he said.
With the building’s maintenance funded at $60,000, taxpayers average $10 per year to care for the school. Funding Memorial School’s FY27 maintenance at $100,000, plus $250,000 for capital expenses, as the department has requested, would cost taxpayers $58.33, or $4.86 per month.
Litz also suggested that the town could offset that by selling surplus property worth approximately $1.5 million, according to the Sustainable Budget Committee, or selling Brainard Park. The “pocket park” is a small piece of land valued at 121,000. If the Recreation Department offices were relocated from the Scantic Valley YMCA to Memorial School, it would save the town $24,000 per year. Litz said that if the building was renovated, it could be rented when not in use.
He also mentioned that the town could implement a local meals tax, although the option has been shot down by voters twice.
Alternatively, Litz said, the capital costs could be offset by grants from the state Green Communities program, the local Cultural Council or the town’s Friends of Recreation organization. Funding can also be sought from the Community Preservation Act accounts. The CPA is a program which the town funds at the beginning of the fiscal year. Money from the program can be used for recreation, historical preservation and community housing projects. Litz explained that Memorial School is registered as a historic building and, therefore, is eligible for CPA grants. He pointed out that the work done to improve and expand the facilities at Spec Pond would not have been possible without the CPA.
Litz said many people feel the user fees should be increased to pay for maintenance. He said that while the Recreation Commission considered this, it unan-
Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Litz presents options for the future of Memorial School.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Baystate pauses gender affirming care in face of pressure
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
First came changes at Colorado Children’s Hospital, NYU Langone Health in New York and Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Los Angeles. Now, the chilling effect of proposed rules from President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services has reached the Pioneer Valley. In an effort to avoid running afoul of the administration, Baystate Health has paused some gender-affirming care for youth.
Gender-affirming care is an umbrella term for health care to treat gender dysphoria, defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” as a “marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and their assigned gender, lasting at least 6 months.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, gender dysphoria can result in anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, substance misuse and other mental health concerns. A 2022 study published in the medical journal JAMA Open Network found gender-affirming care resulted in a 60% reduction in depression and 73% reduction in self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Gender-affirming care includes a wide range of treatments, from counseling and mental health services to puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Surgical intervention is also a form of gender-affirming care but one that is usually reserved for adults. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the rate of gender-affirming surgeries on teens aged 15 to 17 was 2.1 per 100,000. The study found no cases of such surgery performed on children aged 12 or younger.
While Massachusetts passed a law in 2022 that expanded protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care, the federal government’s oversight of Medicare and Medicaid has created economic pressure on hospitals. In December 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced regulations that would prohibit hospital systems providing gender-affirming care from collecting reimbursements from the federal insurance plans. While the rules are still under regulatory review, many hospital systems have decided to comply with the regulations, with the expectation that they will be approved.
In early February, Baystate sent a letter to the families of patients under 18 who receive gen-
der affirming care that explained it would no longer be providing gender affirming medicines but would continue to offer mental health counseling.
“As the health care regulatory landscape continues to evolve, we have been assessing how we can best serve the long-term needs of our patients and their families,” Baystate Health wrote in a statement, “As the regional provider for higher-acuity and safety net services, we have a clinical obligation to ensure all patients receive quality, compassionate and accessible care consistent with our mission and core values.”
Nearly 79% of Baystate’s patients are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. The health system acknowledged that the “evolving regulatory landscape” “threatens hundreds of millions of dollars” in reimbursements. It said that ceasing access to gender-affirming pharmaceutical care for children and teens will allow it to preserve “access to care for all 800,000+ residents of Western Massachusetts,” which is “a responsibility we take seriously.”
Baystate is working to transfer patient care to other providers and has partnered with Transhealth, an independent, nonprofit healthcare provider in Northampton that fo-
cuses on serving transgender and gender-diverse communities, to help facilitate the move.
“Transhealth welcomes trans youth from Baystate Health as new patients. We have hired additional providers and are ready to deliver expert, compassionate, trans healthcare to all youth from Baystate,” said CEO Jo Erwin. “We are working closely with the hospital to help make this transfer of care as smooth as possible for families.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, a supporter of a transgender bill of rights and the Transgender Health Care Access Act, and Ron Wyden of Oregon are calling on the Trump administration to withdraw its proposed regulations.
“This policy would mark an unprecedented intrusion of partisan politics and ideology into medical decision-making and severely restrict access to evidence-based, medically necessary care,” the senators wrote. “This proposed rule would place the federal government directly between physicians, patients, and families by conditioning hospital participation in Medicare and Medicaid on the denial of individualized, clinician-directed care.”
imously decided that because no other department is responsible for the maintenance of their buildings, Parks and Recreation should not be held to a different standard. As it stands, Litz said, between $10,000 and $13,000 in cleaning supplies and expenses already come out of the Parks and Recreation Department budget for expenses, which was less than $87,000 this year. Litz said that money generally runs out between January and March. From then until the end of the fiscal year in June, the department relies on user fees.
Finance Committee Chair Todd Schneider cautioned that the town’s financial position is “the worst that we’ve seen it.” He said that the committee must balance the needs of all the town departments and the schools. If the town funded all departments at their requested amounts for FY27, it would add an average $740 to the year’s tax bills, he said. He also noted that mandated costs, such as municipal employee health insurance and pensions, have increased. He said the town may face a Proposition 2½ override, to allow it to charge more than the standard yearly tax increase.
Town Administrator Nick Breault acknowledged that the school “means a lot” to everyone in the town. He said the community must decide how it wants to spend its money. Select Board member Marc Ducey said Wilbraham Middle School also needs capital projects, including a new boiler and roof expected to cost more than $1 million. Asking for voters to fund both projects will likely “kill both,” he said.
During the question–and-answer period, Friends of Recreation member John Drost asked for a figure that the town can work toward to “have a facility
that will last.” The 2023 study by CHA Consulting and BerryDunn presented a figure of $18.85 million for a completely renovated space, however, people on the Recreation Commission repeatedly stated that they were not looking to create “the Taj Mahal.”
Resident Aurora Pierangelo-Frias said, “We know that Spec Pond didn’t happen overnight.” It took “time” and “determination” to fulfill that vision. Another resident agreed, saying, “Stellar communities have stellar recreational facilities.”
The Memorial School property spans 40 acres, with a sizable
portion including the wooded land behind the building. Michael Lanchenmeyer, who grew up abutting the school, said the undeveloped area could be sold to help fund the building’s capital needs. Capital Planning Committee Chair Nick Manolakis said strategic fundraising, including naming rights at the baseball fields attached to Memorial, could build into a “seven figure” capital campaign.
“I think we can do something special with Memorial School,” Litz said, “but everyone has to get behind it.”
EAST LONGMEADOW
Town Council discusses high level budget forecast through 2032
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Town Council was joined by Director of Municipal Finance and Town Accountant Kimberly Collins to discuss the town’s high level budget forecast and what spending in the town will look like through 2032 during the council’s meeting on Feb. 24.
Town Manager Tom Christensen said projecting out is to think about the strategies that can be done now so there aren’t conversations later on, such as cutting services.
He said although spending has gone way down over the last couple years, it’s hard to keep going at the same level with inflation, considering health insurance and retirement are up over 10% per year.
“These are driving our budget, they’re driving everybody’s budget,” Christensen said. “Thankfully, when, sort of, this trend started, we were in a decent position with our excess levy, $2.7 million in 2022 and 2023, which we’ve had to eat into because of this.”
He said there has been some irregular budgeting “to the tune of $2 or $3 million” in the health insurance line item, which has
helped stretch dollar amounts over a few years. The town is in a similar spot as last year, which Christensen said is pretty miraculous.
“We keep getting there by taking our bare bones budgets and skinning another layer off,” Christensen said. “We’re getting to the point where we’re running out of that room too.”
Finding additional revenue was a topic of conversation last year, and the new growth is the most influential number. The problem with revenue and new fees is “it’s the same group of people, just paying for the different bill,” according to Christensen.
Collins said the thing she would focus on is the excess levy. In speaking of the other towns, she said East Longmeadow was one of the few in the area with any excess levy available. She added that there has been excess budgeting the town is slowly dipping into to avoid using a lot of that levy.
State aid went up about $2 million in 2024, which was a large impact to help the levy. $1.4 million was targeted last year in excess levy, which turned into $1.9 million from prior year growth and increased amount of new growth.
“If you look at the draft lev-
el, we aimed for [$1.4 million],” Collins said. “When we got our actual request for level one, we’re negative excess levy, and the majority of that was due to the fact that the school’s level budget is over a 6% increase. So as we’re reviewing everybody’s budgets in level two, bringing the school back down to that 3% target that we’re looking at for departments and school, that’s the only way we really get back up to [$1.4 million], and you’re still digging into excess levy, you know, half a million dollars, in order to support.”
Collins said that’s the whole point of looking at the projected budget, because if the town does the same thing every year, all the assumptions are there to show you projected growth. Based on historical spending, the town has been able to reduce budgets in various departments to avoid digging into the levy, because if they continue to do it, overrides could happen around 2030-2032.
“The number one thing you look at is growth,” Collins said. “How can we make some decisions that could help support growth for the town so that we’re continuing to grow and increase that levy.”
Council President Connor O’Shea said the projections are helpful because the next year’s
budget is often so fixated on, that the next five years is lost on.
“This is helpful to see the road that we’re on and what we might be able to change now instead of running into the catastrophe the year of,” O’Shea said.
Councilor Kathy Hill said that there are things they can’t control, such as utilities or health insurance, but what can be controlled are how the council negotiates bargaining contracts with each unit, such as police, fire, the several in the schools and town employees.
“In the past, I think [Christensen’s] guideline was to stick around 2%,” Hill said. “As unfortunate as it is, I think we need to look at a leaner perimeter for negotiating. Unfortunately, we have
a large bargaining unit that did not adhere to your recommendations or perimeters and that certainly cost a significant amount of additional funds.”
She went back to the point of the school level service currently being at 6%, which she said will be impossible to adjust this year. If there is an agreement that exceeds the wishes of the finance team, 6% looks like 9% or 10%, and the alternative may be to shave staff, according to Hill.
Christensen said that anybody who owns a TV or a newspaper knows that it is a difficult time everywhere, a sort of “be thankful for what we got” kind of time. He said it’s a balance of providing good benefits without taking a huge hit on the budget.
East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation to host comedy night
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The East Longmeadow Scholarship Fundation is holding the “Third Annual Adult Comedy Night” on March 6 at the Springfield Elks
Lodge at 440 Tiffany St. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The event will feature Radio Personality and Stand-up Comedian Steve Nagle, known as the co-host of the Bax & Nagle Morning Show on Rock 102 WAQY.
The organization, founded in 1961, is a small group of 12 volunteers who raise money for scholarships for East Longmeadow students. Students don’t have to attend East Longmeadow High School for the scholarships, but must be residents of the town.
Funds from the event will go directly towards funding the scholarships for East Longmeadow students, such as the Howard Moffat fund for financial support to seniors graduating high school. There are also two memorial funds, one for Christopher V. Danos for students studying science and music, as well their new Maria Meccia Memorial Fund.
They’re also paired with Kelly-Fradet Lumber for seniors pursuing careers in carpentry, architecture or forestry.
The idea for a comedy night came from East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation Secretary Kimberly Oliveri. She said the organization was looking for an event to bring in some more funds, and she had previously ran a comedy night for ELHS Cheerleading, so she threw it out to the board.
“We decided to give it a try to see if it’s something the community would enjoy,” Oliveri said. “From there, we just went and found some comedians. This will be our third one and actually looks to be maybe our most
successful and we are very happy with that.”
Oliveri said she is thrilled with the attendance goal. So far, nearly 170 tickets have been sold with a goal of 200 guests, making this the most popular comedy night yet. She said there will also be 30 raffle baskets to try for, with prizes ranging value from $225 to $700, acquired by the “generosity of all the town businesses that have donated,” according to Oliveri. Aside from events, the organization raises funds through the ELHS snack shack during football games, and although the logistics haven’t been worked out, they might lose that source of income when the new high school opens in the fall. Oliveri said this would be a huge hit to their income, and that the organization will also be holding their second annual “Bowl for a Cause” at Shaker Bowl on June 18 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. For tickets to the comedy night, contact elscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com.
Director of Municipal Finance and Town Accountant Kimberly Collins discusses budget projections with the Town Council
Photo credit: ELCAT01028
Baystate updates Play Deck for young patients
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The first thing people notice when entering the Baystate Play Deck are the colors. Jewel-toned film panels on the floor-to-ceiling windows splash colors across the floor as the sun moves throughout the day.
A colorful mural at one end of the room draws the eye up to see a tree with a squirrel, owl and birds in its branches. Further up the wall, the sky turns to stars with a lit crescent moon, and the word imagine spelled out in a constellation. The animal motif is carried through the room, past the couch and TV, and the wall stacked with board games, to an area that looks like it was lifted straight out of a kindergarten classroom. Comfortable furniture, make-believe play sets and toys invite children to play.
Play is the sole purpose of the room and accompanying outdoor deck.
It also helps prevent isolation, giving children and teens a place to go to get fresh air and spend time outside of their hospital rooms.
The Play Deck opened 14 years ago, and the well-used space was ready for an update. There was carpeting on the floor, which posed cleaning and sanitation challenges. The wall of windows floods the room with natural light, but it also made
the space heat up by midday. To address that, retractable shades were installed, a translucent coating was added to the greenhouse style glass on the ceiling and the colored film on the top half of the windows filters the sun.
The barrier on top of the curved half-wall in the room was designed to keep people safe, because, as Director of Patient Support Services Stephanie Adam said, “Kids are climbers.”
But over time, the barrier, like other parts of the room, began to show its use by thousands of children. About 20 children and teens use the room each day, as well as their siblings.
“This space is supposed to be their safe space,” said Child Life Amanda Simas. “This is strictly a place where they can be a kid.” She said no children undergo medical tests or blood draws in the room. Their vitals are not checked, except in emergency situations. Referring to the oxygen equipment on the walls and outside on the deck, Mary Ann Westcott, unit manager for Life and Healing Arts, said children are never in an area where care cannot be provided, if needed.
“It’s still a hospital,” she said. Nonetheless, the room “helps children just be children. It’s really magical,” she said. “There’s nothing more natural than for families to sit and watch their children play.”
Westcott said the entire pediatric unit has a lighter, more
colorful feel to it than the rest of the hospital, but the Play Deck is the crown jewel. She said it offers a place for the community to interact with the children at the hospital. Events and entertainers come in to enrich the lives of the young people, including sports teams. Holidays are also celebrated on the Play Deck.
Adam said, “Play is the primary way children learn” and it “helps children process complex emotions.” She described the Play Deck as a “critical,” and “beautiful, magical space” that provides “distraction from medical treatments.”
One of those distractions and a frequent visitor to the Play Deck is Baystate Medical Center’s hospital facility dog, Isabela, known affectionately as Isa. The four-year-old golden retriever has received intense training beyond that of a standard therapy dog. “She can be part of procedures,” Simas said. Adam added, “She knows when you’re not feeling great. She’ll come over and put her head in your lap and give some love.”
Simas said the patients and staff light up when they see Isa. While Westcott agreed, she joked, “It’s the first time in my very long career I’ve been aller-
gic to one of my staff.”
Kathy Tobin, interim vice president of philanthropy, thanked Country Bank for funding the mural and the Golf Committee. The annual tournament paid for many of the upgrades to the space. Tobin said registrations for the tournament sell out “pretty quickly” each year, because she said the area golfers “know how important play is.” Pediatrician in Chief Matthew Di Guglielmo spoke about how much he hated being in the hospital as a sick teen and the importance of having a space like the Play Deck.
EAST
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
144 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Pembroke Terr., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln., Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd.
129 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
166 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only)
131 Papers: Shawmut St., Mayfair St., Westminster St., Thompkins Ave., Partial-Gates Ave
64 Papers: Anne St., Helen Cir., John St., Vadnais St., Converse Cir.
327 Papers: Melwood Ave., Chestnut St., Bluegrass Dr., Maple St., Powder Hill Rd., Fairhaven Dr.
174 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St.
150 Papers: Breezy Knoll Rd., Elm St., Mapleshade Ave., Pleasant St., Oak Bluff Cir.
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
83 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St.
84 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St.
109 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.
54 Papers: Bliss Rd.
87 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd.
157 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd.
96 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.
99 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd.
100 Papers: Norway St., Nevins Ave., Partial - Maple Rd.
157 Papers: Birch Rd., Yarmouth St., King Philip Dr., Sheffield Ave., Partial-Wolf Swamp
Pediatrician in Chief Matthew Di Guglielmo and Kathy Tobin, interim vice president of philanthropy, listen as Director of Patient Support Services Stephanie Adam speaks about the importance of play.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Officials, advocates clash over rent control initiative
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — Lighthouse Holyoke’s Divine Theater was the site for a Feb. 25 press conference hosted by leaders from Holyoke and Springfield to share their opinions about the rent control initiative that looms across the state this year.
The conference was led by Housing for Massachusetts, a broad coalition of state residents, small property owners, family-owned real estate companies, affordable housing developers, housing advocates and business leaders concerned about the housing affordability and availability across the state.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, Springfield City Councilor Mike Fenton, small property owners and Pioneer Valley Developers joined the event to speak out against the proposed rent control ballot question and highlight unintended consequences from the statewide proposal.
The current statewide ballot initiative proposes a cap on annual residential rent increases at 5%, or by the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. If passed, the policy would repeal a law passed by Massachusetts voters in 1994 to ban rent control and would apply to virtually all
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Winter is the perfect time for the Run to End Homelessness, said Kevin Rams-
privately owned rental housing across the Pioneer Valley that is not owner-occupied, a point expressed repeatedly by speakers during the press conference.
Members of Springfield No One Leaves and other local protesters attended in response to the campaign, arguing the ballot question is one of the few protections available for tenants facing drastic increases to rent. According to a recent Bay State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, 56% of respondents either somewhat or strongly support the proposed ballot question.
In December, Gov. Maura Healey told Boston Public Radio she was against the initiative and said that rent control was not going to solve the state’s housing affordability crisis, arguing that the current proposal would “effectively halt production.” Healey also noted then that she has noticed that investors in housing are already pulling out of the state due to concerns with the looming ballot question.
During the conference, Chair of Housing for Massachusetts Conor Yunits explained that while the initiative was well intentioned, it was not a solution to the state’s housing crisis. Instead, he argued that in order to really start combating the issue,
dell, executive director and CEO of the Springfield Rescue Mission. “People get to experience what homeless people face every day. They get to feel the cold, feel the damp,” he said.
the state simply needs to develop more housing.
“Everyone here is concerned about housing. We know there is an affordability crisis, and that’s why many of us have been working with the governor, with the Legislature, with mayors, city councilors and policy leaders for years, to build more housing. Because when you look around the country and you see where housing prices are falling, like
For most of the past 15 years, the race was held in February but was recently moved to early March. This year, the event takes place on March 14.
While it is named the Run to End Homelessness, Ramsdell joked it is a “run, walk or crawl” along a 5-kilometer course through Forest Park. People can sign up to participate in the 5K or in the 10K, which loops the course twice. Ramsdell said many people do both.
As the Springfield Rescue Mission’s largest winter fundraiser, the organization raises money through the $40 registration fee.
In 2025, the race brought in the largest number of participants in its history, with nearly 400 people taking part. Ramsdell said he hoped to surpass that number this year.
Ramsdell said the organization also hosts a complimentary “carb-up” spaghetti dinner at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame the night before the race. In addition to fueling the athletes for the next morning, it offers a
in Austin, Texas, where rents are down 6%, or in Phoenix, where rents are down 4%, it’s because they are building housing,” said Yunits. “They have more supply than demand, here, we have significantly more demand than we have supply. Cities and states that build new quality housing see prices fall.”
Yunits also pointed out that the cap of rental rate increases does not include any exceptions for
building renovations and no appeal process for property owners to recover costs for upgrades or improvements. He noted that if increases could only match the rate of inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, most rent increases would fall well below the 5% cap, based on the average 2.6% seen over the last 20 years in inflation.
chance for participants to pick up their race bibs and find camaraderie with each other. For those who do not attend the dinner, race day check-in is at 9 a.m. The race steps off an hour later.
The Springfield Rescue Mission began more than 130 years ago. The organization feeds about 300 people each day. Another 300 people are served weekly through the mobile meal program for people who cannot visit the Mill Street site.
The organization operates a short-stay program, in which peo-
ple stay for two or three months. Ramsdell said many of the people who use this option are working but need somewhere to stay while they save up first and last month’s rent. Others may have just lost their job and are figuring out their next steps.
The long-term program sees people stay for about a year to “help then get back on their feet.” Springfield Rescue Mission assesses the education and finances of the people in this program. From there, the organization helps coordinate vocational training, continuing education, and technology and financial literacy classes. There are also in-house health care services. Ramsdell said everyone’s situation and needs are unique.
People can learn more about the Springfield Rescue Mission at springfieldrescuemission.org. To register for the Run to End Homelessness, visit runsignup. com/Race/MA/Springfield/EndHomelessness.
People participating in the 2025 Run to End Homelessness. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Protesters gathered during the press conference at Lighthouse Holyoke in opposition to the anti-rent control campaign.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis See
Rent Control
“We all know that we need to pick up the pace of housing creation, and that’s why we all support solutions that remove barriers to affordable and market rate housing, and [we] would welcome new ideas that spark construction. But we also know that any policy that constricts supply will take us backwards, and that’s what this ballot question will do,” added Yunits.
Yunits said similar efforts for rent control across the country have yielded negative consequences. Proponents of the measure have said “this is not your father’s rent control,” to which Yunits said, that is correct, it is a worse policy.
“This question, with some minor exemptions, will apply to every single residential dwelling unit that is rented out in Massachusetts. Not just every apartment building, not just housing in every city, every single residential dwelling unit in every community in Massachusetts,” Yunits said.
He shared that the measure would leave landlords unable to cover rising costs of upkeep and would give no incentive for a property owner to manage or invest, and that these issues could also lead to an eroded local tax base from reduced property values.
“And what happens when rents are capped? The value of the property is also capped. Then the property tax revenue that the property generates for the local community is also capped,” said Yunits.
Garcia added similar sentiments, saying that rent control would only discourage rent development, something a Gateway City like Holyoke cannot afford.
“We face big city challenges with small town revenue,” said Garcia, adding the city relies heavily on responsible private investment to rebuild neighborhoods and expand its tax base. “Development slows, revenue slows, and that limits our ability to
invest in public spaces, infrastructure and our schools,” he said.
Garcia shared that Holyoke is number one in the state when it comes to housing stock per capita dedicated to affordable housing.
He highlighted one protester standing in the back of the room with a sign saying, “The Rent is Wicked High.” Garcia said it was a statement that he agrees with and that there are dramatic rent increases that communities face all over the state, but while this ballot question was well-intended, he argued that there needs to be a different approach.
“The real question for me comes down to, how do we work together to establish better rent control, and the real answer is not as simple as it sounds, but it is what it is: we do need more housing development here in our community and across the commonwealth,” said Garcia. “Families, they’re all feeling the pressure [from the housing crisis] across the spectrum, and we must acknowledge that reality, no question. But this issue is a rather complex one.”
Garcia added that the pressures may be shared, but the conditions for each community vary.
“We need thoughtful, balanced solutions, not policies that are risky for communities already working hard to rebuild, and I’m talking in particular about gateway cities like Holyoke,” said Garcia. “There’s no guarantee that a rent-controlled unit would go to a low-income family or our most vulnerable residents. And this just kind of speaks to when I say there’s always unintended consequences.”
Fenton said Western Massachusetts has an affordability crisis.
He argued that the idea of rent control is an admirable one, but the problem with the referendum was in the nuances of the details.
“For cities like Springfield, we’re trying to grow and maintain our market rate housing. We can’t afford uncertainty and discouragement of investment in housing,” Fenton said. “There’s nothing in this proposal that incentivizes property owners to
reinvest in the maintenance and repairs of their homes. We can all agree that we need solutions to the housing crisis, but this proposal will not solve it.”
Despite this opposition, not everyone at the press conference was against the measure. Katie Talbot, an organizer with Springfield No One Leaves told Reminder Publishing the rent control measure is needed because it serves as a “tourniquet” for the larger housing crisis.
“Our larger housing crisis stems from the ability of corporate and LLC landlords to make egregious profit. That’s where it stems from; when we started allowing corporations and companies to buy out homes and make a profit off it, things shifted,” said Talbot. “I don’t think rent control is the say all, be all, end all of the housing crisis. It’s not. But it allows our people to stop
hemorrhaging money, to actually be able to adjust to a reasonable rent increase annually, and it also keeps our people in our communities.”
Talbot said that, while working with Springfield No One Leaves, she has heard from various tenants that they have had to move out of their communities after facing large increases in monthly rent from landlords. She said that she feels there is a disconnect from those who don’t understand what it’s like to rent in the current landscape.
“I think there’s a real out-oftouch analysis from the opponents of rent control. None of them on that stage are renters, none of them have been renters for a long time. So, I think there are a lot of folks that are pushing back against rent control that really don’t know what it’s like to be a renter these days,” said Talbot.
Talbot said it has been encouraging to see things, like the passage of the Affordable Homes Act last year, and some investments made by the state into municipal housing. She argued that more effort should be made in these areas alongside the rent control initiative.
“Tenants need it. Homeowners are identifying the need for rent control because they’re having their adult children move back home because of rent increases. We’re seeing across the country home ownership is not happening until people are 40, and that’s because they can’t save money because of rent,” said Talbot. “The folks that are opposed to it are the landlord lobby, the developer lobby and the real estate lobby, who all profit off housing, so I think it’s just a very telling and a very stark difference.”
Chair of Housing for Massachusetts Conor Yunits explained that while the initiative was well intentioned, it was not a solution to the state’s housing crisis.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
Healey K-12 education budget gets mixed reviews
By Katie Castellani State House News Service
BOSTON — While House budget writers are reviewing Gov. Maura Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, education officials have expressed optimism in the spending plan while advocates are raising concerns about unevenly distributed state funds and potential cuts due to escalating district costs.
“I’m definitely appreciative of the investments the governor is making, and I think we have the resources to really get some momentum started,” K-12 Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said during a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting on Feb. 23.
Healey’s $63.36 billion FY27 budget (H 2) fully funds the
sixth and final year of the Student Opportunity Act with $7.6 billion in Chapter 70 aid. This marks a $242 million rise over fiscal 2026 and would guarantee a minimum per-pupil aid of $75 for all districts.
Other investments include $20 million for Rural School Aid, a program that helps rural school districts address fixed costs, up from the $8 million in this year’s budget. Healey’s supplemental budget proposal also allocates $10 million for a new Accelerating Achievement school improvement initiative.
Bill Bell, the board’s chief financial officer, noted these investments, along with several others in the budget, show a commitment to try and meet the needs of local school districts.
However, educators and ad-
vocates are concerned, warning that the Student Opportunity Act funds are not equally distributed.
The Student Opportunity Act was put in place in 2019 with an eye towards helping historically underserved districts with large numbers of low-income students, English language learners and students with special needs. But in recent years many other districts have been struggling with inflation, the end of pandemic-era federal aid and rising costs for special education, health care and school transportation.
Under the proposed $75 per-pupil minimum, Berkley Public Schools would receive a $44,925 increase, which wouldn’t even cover rising fuel costs, while other districts would see funds increase as high as al-
CHICOPEE
Ronald N. Gilpatrick
Louis A. Lajeunesse
Roger D. Landry
Alice P. Forget
Cary Gray
Christos Lolos
Sheila C. Moore
Carol Ann Sakiewicz
Dorothy E. Sinkowski
Ronald A. Shunaman
EAST LONGMEADOW
Antoinette Caliento
Gerard Josef De Blok
Earl A. DeRusha Jr.
Marcia M. Kessler
Margaret A. Miller
Dolores M. Scibelli
HOLYOKE
Janet C. Douyard (Powers)
John Alan Kelleher
INDIAN ORCHARD
Stacia J. Falkowski
Gloria M. Mitchell
LONGMEADOW
Janice S. Boyer
Joanne M. Carroll
Barbara E. Morrison
Frank S. Podgurski
Stephen A. Wichrowski Jr.
LUDLOW
Kathleen V. Garand
David Henriques Sr.
Ruth F. Pancotti
SOUTH HADLEY
Dr. Francis M. Croke
Thomas Norman Hazen
Hugh Parker Hutton
Kelli Theresa Quesnel
Charles H. Turner III
SPRINGFIELD
Carl Robert Cadogan
Dennis Anthony Clarke Sr.
Raymond N. Dagenais Jr.
Leon A. Lemieux
Sandra J. Murray
Gail A. O’Brien
Joan E. Rhone
Dolores P. Santinelli
Linda A. Scibelli
Sandra A. Sullivan
WILBRAHAM
Terris J. Burnor
Nancy P. O’Neill
most $26 million, said Berkley superintendent Melissa Ryan.
“Small districts are structurally set up to run deficits,” Ryan said. “Zip codes do matter. In small districts, students are receiving less than, not because of a lack of effort, but because of a lack of structural support.”
Last year, Berkley cut three reading teachers, two math interventionists, two special education teachers, a speech pathologist and the district’s only middle school art teacher and librarian as well as a first grade teacher, Ryan said. Without a budget override this year, the district could cut ten to 15 more teachers and class sizes would approach 30 students.
The district is also making decisions about reading interventions — something state officials are prioritizing amid what they’re calling a statewide literacy crisis — based on staffing, instead of student needs, she said.
Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, acknowledged Healey’s planned investments in special education and transportation, but said it doesn’t go far enough to address increasing costs.
Last year, insufficient state aid led to layoffs in school districts across the state and class sizes reaching 30 or more students, Page said. And while the state is focused on literacy, a lack of funding has forced districts to close libraries and lay off librarians and reading specialists.
“This is an embarrassment for the Commonwealth, and it will be destructive for the life chances of our students and the economic and cultural prosperity of our state,” Page said, asking board members to advocate for more state investments in education.
Martinez said the board is supportive of districts and expressed confidence both in Healey’s investments and working with educators to address their challenges.
“I feel supported by the governor’s office, and I feel support-
ed that we can really work with our districts and really continue to elevate any challenges that come up,” Martinez said.
Board chair Katherine Craven said it’s crucial that the board makes their priorities clear when it comes to piling on to districts’ costs.
“The more we ask districts to do things that are unfunded, the worse it is for districts,” Craven said.
When House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz asked Healey during a Feb. 11 budget hearing for her thinking on what should come after the Student Opportunity Act, Healey said “As a general matter, we recognize that cities and towns across the state are really struggling with their own budgets right now ... we recognize a lot of it’s attributable to health care costs, premiums.”
Healey also said “this is an issue that everyone struggles with” and suggested it will be something she tasks incoming Education Secretary Stephen Zrike Jr. with working on.
In the FY26 budget that Healey signed, lawmakers directed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the K-12 school funding formula related to local contribution requirements. That report is due back to the Legislature by June 30, 2026.
Bell said staff are “actively” working on a draft report, which will be open for public comment before a final version is submitted to the Legislature.
The House Ways and Means Committee is reviewing Healey’s budget proposal. The Joint Ways and Means Committee has planned several hearings around the state focused on particular budget areas, with the local aid and education hearing taking place on March 23 in Lawrence.
Katie Castellani is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at kcastellani@statehousenews.com.
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
AGAWAM — On March 14, the local independent film production company Xposse Productions will be premiering “Dark Places” at Agawam Cinemas at 7 p.m. Tickets can be found for $9.75 on Agawam Cinemas’ website.
The film follows college student Natalie Parker, who grew up homeschooled and is now nervously on her own for the first time. When she meets and begins dating another introverted student, Jason Evans, college professors begin to be murdered. The two team up to figure it out, which leads to an attempt to take down the cult behind it all.
Writer and Director Geno McGahee is an award-winning filmmaker based out of Western Massachusetts and is the mind behind “Dark Places.” He first picked up a camcorder at 12 years old and released his first feature-length film, “Evil Awakening,” in 2001.
“I was always a writer, so I ended up seeing a film called ‘Galaxy Invader,’” McGahee said. “It’s a terribly low budget film, but it’s terribly charming as well … it’s really silly but it
made me want to film.”
He got the idea while working on the set of one of his friend’s films, a romance comedy, where he also met the star of “Dark Places,” Lindsey DeLand.
“This idea came into my head of something darker, of putting them into a scenario where there was a looming force,” McGahee said. “It was a moment of inspiration. I’ve always wanted to do a good cult movie. Many years ago, I made a cult movie, but I wasn’t experienced enough to really get the message out that I wanted.”
McGahee said he’s always been a fan of horror movies and cult films like “Race with the Devil,” so making a film like this has always been in the back of his mind. As far as his approach went, he said it was “Scream” inspired.
“Directing and shooting it, it was such a great experience,” McGahee said. “I have the best team in the world. We’ve worked together now for five years, this great group of people I’ve assembled. Every shoot we do is just like, I won’t say a party atmosphere, but it feels like a family atmosphere.”
He added that putting a film
together is always a crazy process with the ups and downs, from getting the schedules right and shooting in the forest through 20-degree weather. At one point during filming, the person in charge of the film’s gore couldn’t make it to the set. This led McGahee and the team to get creative with how certain things were
‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’ PLAYING AT MAJESTIC — “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” is a warm and comical play that unfolds through the letters exchanged between a young Army doctor, Jack, and an aspiring Broadway actress named Louise during World War II. As their correspondence deepens, the two begin to fall in love despite the physical distance and the challenges of wartime life. Actors Gregory Boover (left) and Alexandra O’Halloran are shown in a scene from the play, which is at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater Feb. 26 through April 4. Tickets are $35-$38 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 413.747.7797 or going online at majestictheater.csstix.com/event-details. php?e=1411.
shot, resulting in “the most impactful death scene that I’ve ever shot,” according to McGahee.
McGahee utilized places to film all over Western Massachusetts, such as a Holyoke school, as well as the Enfield Mall in Connecticut. He said he is a low budget guy, making films out of his own pocket, so he relies on the kindness of other people allowing him to use their homes or businesses.
He said he is super excited for the premiere and to have something to present to an audience. He also looks forward to getting
back with the team behind “Dark Places” to see it on the big screen. “It’s open to the public, so it’s nice to get feedback from people that weren’t involved,” McGahee said. “It’s a super exciting night. I love premieres because it’s just a party, you don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to set up lights, you don’t schedule anything, you just get to show up.”
He thanked the entire team behind “Dark Places,” and Agawam Cinemas for their generosity in holding the premiere. The film will stream on Tubi, Fawesome and Amazon Prime Video.
Photo credit: Kait Rankins
EAST LONGMEADOW VS WESTFIELD
HOCKEY
On Feb. 19, East Longmeadow defeated Westfield 3-2, earning the PVIAC Western Mass. Class “A” ice hockey championship at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY GEORGE SKOVERA CALL 733-1747 OR EMAIL GSKOVERA@COMCAST.NET
EL’s Kevin Baker (L) tussles with Westfield’s Andrew Galcynski as the puck flies by.
Goaltender Nevin Morris shows off the championship plaque.
Branden Bousquet gets tripped up as he vies for the puck, drawing the penalty.
Joe Mazza from East Longmeadow carries into the Westfield end as Andrew Galcynski defends.
East Longmeadow’s
The Spartans celebrate their victory with East Longmeadow’s student cheering section.
The Spartans Alex Romano (R) jousts with Aidan Whittier in front of the Westfield cage.
Jack Rustico absorbs the check by the Bombers Trey Lemanski.
EL goalie Nevin Morris makes the save as players from both teams crash into the net.
(March
