introduces possible elementary grade restructuring
The East Longmeadow School Committee discussed the possibility of a districtwide grade realignment at its meeting on March 2.
Page 4
WILBRAHAM
HWRSD School Committee discuss budget gaps
The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District could be facing a budget shortfall in fiscal year 2027 with a projected $3.5 million gap between what the towns are expected to be able to offer and a level service budget.
Page 7
O’Toole crowned 2026 Springfield colleen
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — At the annual coronation ball on Feb. 7, the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee crowned Anna O’Toole, a Minnechaug Regional High School senior, the 2026 Springfield colleen. O’Toole will represent Irish pride in the parade on March 22 in Holyoke.
“I am so proud to be this year’s 2026 colleen,” O’Toole said to Reminder Publishing. “I’m very excited to be able to represent the wonderful Springfield community that was so welcoming to my grandparents when they came over from Ireland in the ‘60s. It will be great to interact with the youth in Springfield as well, and to be able to inspire young girls to run for colleen when they are older. I want to share the love for my heritage and spark interest in the youth to do the same.”
Outside of being this year’s colleen, O’Toole said she loves to get involved with the community through the National Honor Society at Minnechaug. She also loves going to the beach, playing with her dogs, spending time with family, reading the Bible and playing volleyball.
Growing up in an Irish family, she added that she was inspired
to run for colleen from a young age, because her aunts Siobhan O’Toole and Kathleen O’Toole were crowned in 1993 and 1989.
“When I was little, my Mema would show us pictures of the both of them in their tiaras and sashes representing the Springfield community and it always sparked my interest,” O’Toole said. “What really pushed me to run for the title this year was because I wanted one grand chance to represent my grandparents before going off to college next year.”
She said that the process to becoming a colleen was nerve-wracking, but fun at the same time.
“It is really cool to be able to put yourself out there like that to gain the opportunity to represent something bigger than yourself, which is the community,” O’Toole said.
Becoming a colleen is a multistep process, O’Toole added. First, a preliminary contest featured eight competitors vying for five spots on the court through individual and onstage interviews. The court for 2026 will all ride in the parade alongside O’Toole and includes East Longmeadow’s Anna Flanagan and Sophia Dow;
Anna O’Toole after being crowned at the coronation ball on Feb. 7. On her left is her grandmother Josie O’Toole and on her right is her grandfather Austin O’Toole. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Please email your community listings to: dhackett@thereminder.com Items are printed on a space available basis.
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: Medicare Supplement vs Advantage — Wednesday March 18 6-7 p.m. This presentation, will compare Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plan coverage using helpful resources and real-life examples.
Origami Workshop — Tuesday, March 17 from 6-7 p.m.
• The Needlework Network — Wednesday, March 18 at 3 p.m.
Teen programs:
• Fandom Club — Monday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Children programs: Preschool Storytime — Monday, March 16 at 10 a.m., for ages 3-5.
• Wiggles and Giggles — Wednesday, 18 at 10 a.m., for ages 2-3.
• Let’s Get Messy — Thursday, March 19 at 10 a.m., for ages 2-4.
Children’s book groups:
Colleen
Continued from page 1
Longmeadow’s Siobhan MacDonnell; and Springfield’s Emma Westbrooks.
TOWN EVENTS
• Book Buddies Kindergarten & 1st Grade Book Group — Wednesday, March 18 4:305:30 p.m. This month’s book is “The Snow Thief” by Alice Hemming. Bookworms Book Group Grade 2 — Wednesday, March 18 4:30-5:30 p.m. This month’s book is “Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds” by Elise Gravel.
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.
St. Patrick’s Day Stained Glass Craft — Monday, March 16 at 1 p.m. Cost is $15 per person.
• Harp Lessons: 5 Week Series — Thursdays at 10 a.m. March 19 to April 16. Group classes are $15 per person per class, pay as you go. Registration is encouraged. Spirit Squad Intergenerational Craft — Friday, March 20 at 11 a.m. Registration required.
• Cooking with Ilda — Friday, March 20 at 2 p.m. $30 per person payable at the time of registration includes two servings of pasta, 1 quart of homemade marinara sauce and the recipe! Additional quarts will be available for purchase for $10 each. Registration 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 413-566-5588.
During the ball, where a colleen is crowned, there is a group interview with the judges to introduce the court, another individual interview and an onstage presentation with questions from the judges.
• Memory Café: St. Patrick’s Day Craft & Bingo — Friday, March 13 at 10:15 a.m.
• D & R Farm, Winter Farm Share — March 18. Pick-up at 9:30 a.m. New applications are required. Tailoring help — Friday, March 13 from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Lobby Learning: STCC Dental & Elms Nursing Students — Thursday, March 19.
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: Butterfly Art-tivity — Tuesday, March 17, 3-4 p.m.
• Gaming Zone: Mario Party Mini Games — Wednesday, March 18, 3:30-4 p.m.
• Pattern Stamp Making — Thursday, March 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Crochet Together: Simple Stitches — Friday, March 20, 3:30-4 p.m.
• More Than Mom’s Drop in Playgroup — Saturday, March 21, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Adult programs:
• Cookbook Club: Alton Brown — Tuesday, March 17, 1-2:30 p.m. “The Threads Remain” Author Talk with Glenn Shapiro — Tuesday, March 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Great Decisions with Vinnie Ferraro — Wednesday, March
To younger girls who aspire to be crowned the colleen one day, O’Toole said she would tell them to be “unafraid of putting yourself out there when expressing the love for your heritage.”
“It is a special thing that we
18, 4:30-6 p.m. John Reuter’s Polaroid 20x24 at the Venice Biennale — Thursday, March 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
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 413-565-4150 option 3. A Writer’s Night: Peter J. Newland — Thursday, March 12 at 6:45 p.m.
• Dukes of Hazardville — Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. The Dukes of Hazardville are an acoustic classic rock act that has been playing the CT/MA area for over 20 years. They play music from the 60’s to the 90’s and are known for their vocals including solos and harmonies.
Williamsburg: The Southern Seat of the Revolution — Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m. Join Dr. Simon Sibelman for this presentation.
LONGMEADOW DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE CAUCUS
On Wednesday, March 18, the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee will hold its caucus meeting at the Longmeadow Municipal Town Offices, 231 Maple Road, in the Greenwood Conference Room. Registration for the caucus will open at 6 p.m. and end at 6:45 p.m. The caucus meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending the caucus can join at the Longmeadow Municipal Town Offices. If you have any
should be proud of and cherish, if it weren’t for our relatives we wouldn’t be here today,” O’Toole said. “I would also share how special it is to travel to the birthplace of your grandparents or your relatives, if granted the chance.
questions, you can send an email message to longmeadowdems@ gmail.com.
PIONEER VALLEY YACHT
CLUB OPEN HOUSE
The waiting list for 2026 at the Pioneer Valley Yacht Club is short right now but will only get longer as Spring arrives so now is the perfect time to submit your application. Located on the Connecticut River in Longmeadow, the PVYC has a beautiful pool, spacious grounds, boating opportunities and lots of social activities for the whole family. Complete details on the club and membership information can be found at ourpvyc.net RSVP to Linda at lcasearch@aol.com if you would like to attend the Open House at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21.
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.
• Teen Advisory Board — Monday, March 16 from 4-5 p.m. K-3 Crafternoon — Thursday, March 19 from 3:45-4:30 p.m.
• Adult Crafternoon: Flowerpot Decoupage — Friday, March 20 from 2-3:30 p.m. Diamond Art Magnets — Saturday, March 21 from 10-11:30 a.m.
• Evening Book Discussion: “Shadow Divers” by Robert Kurson. Wednesday, March 18 from 7-8 p.m.
When I traveled to Ireland ,I was able to explore where my grandparents grew up and it made me so much more grateful for the amazing heritage they gave me. It also sparked my curiosity to learn more about Ireland as a whole.”
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EAST LONGMEADOW
Committee discusses possible elementary grade restructuring
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow School Committee discussed the possibility of a districtwide grade realignment at its meeting on March 2.
Committee member Aimee Dalenta began the discussion and said that most people in town, whether they’re a parent, teacher or a member of the committee, have probably questioned the “three-five divide” at some point.
“Why is the school district structured the way that it is,” Dalenta said. “Some people have institutional knowledge of this. If you grew up here, you know the history of how things changed over the years. Other people are, maybe, newer to town and don’t have that context, so no matter where people are at, this structure exists.”
Dalenta told Reminder Publishing that the “three-five divide” is a literal one, a socioeconomic and social divide. Since Mapleshade Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School both house grades 3-5, townwide perceptions on the two schools can be divisive.
“There’s a completely different culture at one school versus the next,” Dalenta said. “I don’t think it’s right for that to be occurring in the same district with two schools and two separate sets, potentially, of learning experiences.”
She said Mapleshade has dou-
ble the students on free and reduced lunch, with a lower median income than Mountain View, and the way the district breaks up the students in grades 3-5 creates a long-lasting social perspective impact through middle and high school. Mapleshade has a 34.1% low-income population while Mountain View has 18%.
She said she has been asking Committee Chair Gregory Thompson for this to be on the agenda to discuss for a while.
“I don’t have children this age anymore, so I don’t have anything personally invested in this, other than just what might be best for the students in our district,” Dalenta said. “I don’t want people to think, whether it be in this room or people that are listening or hearing reports about this meeting, that I’m pushing for some-
thing. What I’d like to push for is a conversation, the start of a conversation. What would it look like if we made the decision, or did some research about restructuring the grades to make it so the students in this town all attended the same schools throughout their experience here in East Longmeadow Public Schools together.”
She said that the separate schools cause a divide between not only students, but families as well, and that she has anecdotal evidence to show for it. She added that the data seen in the mid-year status report, which will also be reported in the March 12 edition of The Reminder, provides another look at what the divide can look like, from a social-emotional, academic and attendance standpoint.
One piece of data she wrote down specifically during the re-
ports is the chronic absenteeism rate, which is 3.4% at Mountain View and 7.7% at Mapleshade.
“There are glaring discrepancies in the way that, the outcomes that are occurring between Mountain View and Mapleshade,” Dalenta said. “The way that the people in the town see those two schools is unbelievable. It’s totally negative, in a lot of ways. The way that it’s compared, Mountain View versus Mapleshade and the perception in the community is kind of disgusting, and I just wanted to have a discussion about it.”
She reiterated that she isn’t pushing for anything yet, but that she has done a ton of research on the situation and would love to dig deeper into implications, such as financial and transportation. She did say what she would love to see is pre-kindergarten
through first grade at Meadow Brook, second and third grade at Mountain View and fourth and fifth grade at Mapleshade. The middle and high school system would stay the same.
Dalenta noted challenges, such as families being disturbed by the change, students having to go through an extra building transition, which may not be ideal. Director of Student Support Services Jenny Sullivan said the change could have a really positive impact for longterm goals in special education.
“I’m not tied emotionally or otherwise to this idea,” Dalenta said. “I’m just wondering if this would allow the students in our town to have a more equitable experience in East Longmeadow Public Schools from start to finish.”
East Longmeadow schools present mid-year status updates
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — At the East Longmeadow School Committee meeting on March 2, Mountain View Elementary School School, Mapleshade Elementary School and Meadowbrook Elementary School presented their mid-year status reports.
Mountain View Principal Elaine Santaniello presented first and began with an update on the
SMART goals for the school year, which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound achievements.
The first goal is to “support the whole child.” This is so students feel valued, connected and ready to learn. The goal is to increase daily attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.
To see an achievement in this goal, the daily attendance looked at meeting 95% or higher and student reported percentages on belonging would be 90% or higher.
The attendance rate is currently at 96.7% with chronic absenteeism at 3.4%, equating to 11 students.
“Last year, our chronic absenteeism rate, at the end of the year, was 4.5%, and we had exceeded our target with [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education],” Santaniello said. “As long as we stay on track where we are now, we should meet or exceed our target this year.”
For the belonging percentage, 90% reported being happy, which is down 4% from the fall, 90% reported feeling welcome, up 1% from the fall and 82% reported they feel as if they can be themselves, down 8% from the fall.
Santaniello said the school’s councilors are able to see the names of students who answer the survey, and meet with them in groups or individually to talk about anything that might be going on.
Forty-seven percent of students are at or above grade lev-
el for reading, according to the i-Ready statistics. She said third and fifth grade are in the high performance/high growth quadrants, while fourth grade is in low performance/high growth.
“Not sure why they are there, instead of in the other category with third and fifth,” Santaniello said. “Historically, fourth grade has always been the tougher year
Mountain View Principal Elaine Santaniello presents to the East Longmeadow School Committee.
Photo
Mapleshade and Mountain View elementary schools. Reminder
Fiber proposal moving faster than the facts
As a Longmeadow resident, it feels to me that this fiber proposal is moving faster than the facts.
So far, we are talking about an internet network that is now being discussed as costing the town of Longmeadow roughly $30 million, already growing from earlier numbers. That is on top of the $97 million the town has just committed to for the mid-
LETTERS
dle school. At some point, this becomes more debt than a town like ours can responsibly stack up, especially when we all know interest costs are real and they stick around.
My concern is simple: every new big debt commitment makes it harder to keep up with the basics like our roads, funding our town departments, dealing with stormwater problems, mold in town building maintenance, you name it.
I’m asking you to pause and reconsider whether it makes sense
to bring a town-owned internet network warrant article forward this year. Even if someone thinks a town-owned internet network is a good idea in theory, the timing is wrong and the debt load is too heavy.
From what I’ve watched and read, there are still major unknowns: final make-ready costs, full operating expenses, insurance, marketing, staffing, and what the town is responsible for versus what FiberSpring handles.
What worries me most is the idea of asking Town Meeting to
with classmates.
for students to adjust to the rigor and curriculum.”
Fifty-one percent of students in math are at or above grade level, with third and fourth in the high performance/high growth area and fifth in the high performance/low growth area.
Ninety-four percent of students reported feeling safe at Mountain View, 93% said they keep trying when work is hard, 91% said there is an adult they can talk to and 91% said the school enforces rules against hurting others. A noticeable change from fall was the reported percentage with “students treat each other with respect.” In the fall, 45% reported always and 52% reported sometimes, which moved to 33% always and 66% sometimes.
Santaniello spoke on the school’s newer and popular chess club, which was initiated by a student in the 2024-2025 school year. She said that around 70 students stay after school to play and even take the boards out to recess. The knitting club is new and was started by a fifth grade student interested in learning. Every Friday afternoon, the student’s grandmother comes to the school to teach students how to knit.
Mapleshade Principal Conor
Martin said the school follows a similar goal in supporting the whole child as Mountain View, with an attendance rate goal of 95% or higher and a reported belonging at 90% or higher. Attendance is currently at 95.7% and chronic absenteeism is at 7.7%.
“Unfortunately, we’re not where we would like to be with chronic absenteeism,” Martin said. “With that being said, we do understand the story behind each of the students who are contributing to the absenteeism.”
Martin said that he looks at the data at the beginning of month to see which families may need a little bit of outreach with attendance.
School Committee Chair Greg Thompson asked how students can achieve academic success with chronic absenteeism, and Martin said that is the struggle, especially at the elementary level. Thompson asked what happens longterm for those students and Martin replied that the school tries to catch them up the best they can.
“Some are able to get by with innate talent, and then others, it is a struggle,” Martin said. “We see that reflected in their own scores.”
In the January student survey, 88.3% of students reported feeling welcome, 85.2% said they felt safe and 89.4% said they learned ways to resolve problems
Additionally, 82.5% reported feeling safe, 97% said they treat each other respectively, 95.1% said the staff treat students respectfully, 92.4% said they keep trying when the work is hard, 84.8% said there is at least one adult at school they can talk to and 84.8% said the school enforces rules against hurting others.
To reach their teaching and learning goals at Mapleshade, the school has implemented various action steps, such as the new GO Time, where each grade level has additional time built into the schedule for growth and opportunity based on student needs. The school also has 71 students currently in after school assistance across reading, math and Add+Vantage Math Recovery.
Martin said the third and fourth grade is currently outperforming the Massachusetts’ average and national norm in reading, while fifth grade is outperforming in reading the national year-to-date but just below the national norm and Massachusetts average. Similar success is seen in math.
To create an inclusive and supportive climate, the school offers things like clubs and affinity groups, community events, Wayfinder social emotional curriculum and academic adventuring awards.
Meadow Brook Principal Re-
vote before these numbers are nailed down. Once a project like this is approved, it becomes very hard to stop or unwind, even if the real costs come in higher than expected. Please do not advance this to Town Meeting until there is a clear, complete, and honest plan that shows exactly what the total project cost is, what the annual impact will be, and what gets pushed aside to pay for it.
Gail Shapiro Longmeadow
nee Lodi and Assistant Principal Kathleen Leydon presented and showed similar attendance numbers from 2024 and 2025, with a 95.8% rate so far for this year. The current chronic absenteeism rate is at 6.6%, which is down from last year’s 10%.
The school also utilizes the Devereaux Student Strength Assessment to support students in making academic, social, emotional and behaviorial progress. DESSA helps find students that may need additional support. 6% are in need of additional support, 69% are in the “typical” section, and 25% are in the social and emotional strength range.
At the beginning of the year, 14% of students were on or above grade level, which has increased to 40%. Students performing below grade level have decreased from 16% to 5%. As of right now, 41 students are currently receiving math intervention and more than half of each cohort has left intervention due to progress.
The school has focused on an inclusive and supportive climate, celebrating the diversity of the town’s community. Shandria McCoy, the coordinator of METCO, family engagement and student belonging has been spending time at Meadow Brook to meet with students during lunch to build relationships and foster connections.
CORRECTION — In the
Longmeadow DPW in process of swapping trash, recycling carts
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow DPW Business Manager Lisa Okscin discussed updates and recommendations on the trash and recycling in town with the Select Board at its meeting on March 2.
The town’s new automated curbside program began in July 2025, and the DPW has been working with residents to swap recycling carts for a different size since December 2025. The requests are about 45% through, with around 164 houses left.
“Right now, we’re just swapping to what you requested,” Okscin said. “If you have a different change, we’re giving you what you want and we’ll deal with a second swap later if that’s what we want to do.”
So far, the swaps have been
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — At the Longmeadow Select Board’s March 2 meeting, a public hearing determined two dogs on Anthony Road were a nuisance.
A dog is defined as a nuisance if it is found to have a vicious disposition; engages in excessive barking; chases cars; runs in packs with other dogs; breaks or damages shrubbery, damages gardens; bites or theatens a person or persons; or enters unrestrained onto the property of persons other than the owner or keeper of the dog.
On Jan. 13, Pioneer Valley Yacht Club Vice Commodore Mary Breeding filed the request
done by appointment with residents going to the DPW with their current cart to pick up their new one. Okscin said there are considerations of working outside business hours to swap the carts if people work during the day, as well as transporting the carts to homes if residents don’t have a vehicle to transport.
Also being looked at are lost or damaged carts and what the price will be to replace those, along with if there will be a charge to residents who did not sign up for a swap and will want one in the future. The purchase of the carts costs the DPW $60 for the 96-gallon, $57 for the 64-gallon and $53 for the 48-gallon.
“Do we want to set prices to pay for, if, you know, your car drove into your garage and just smashed the cart and they need a new one,” Okscin said. “We will need to set a price for that and de-
cide if all cases require a price.”
Okscin said that the DPW is still collecting cardboard at the recycling center while it’s open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. During the holidays, some residents had to be turned away because of the high amounts of cardboard, but the DPW plans to resolve that for the next holiday season with additional dumpsters or more hours during the week with the dumpsters being emptied more often.
The recycling center will return to its full hours in April, which will be Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The DPW is also looking at an issue with Waste Management, the national waste hauling company it signed a contract with in early 2025, where the new blue bags for overflow trash are diffi-
cult to get into the truck.
Okscin said the trucks empty at the top, rather than the old trucks, which emptied at the side,
for a hearing against the dogs, who are both golden retrievers, for instances that date back nearly 10 years.
Breeding said in the request that the two dogs have “continuously escaped their yard and roamed freely on the PVYC property and the conservation area on a regular basis … the dogs have acted aggressively toward children and adult members of the PVYC on numerous occasions.”
The request added that Animal Control Officer Marty Caramante has cited and fined the owners for having “unlicensed and unrestrained dogs on too many occasions to count” and that Breeding has a stack of at least 100 complaints filed with
the Longmeadow Police Department, dating back to 2016.
The Select Board included the police logs for each complaint in its March 2 agenda, which is 101 pages in length, with the first complaint being on May 23, 2016, and the latest on Jan. 3 of this year.
Attorney Stephen Chaplin explained that under state law in Massachusetts, the town’s board is the hearing authority for investigating any complaint that arises relative to the behavior of a dog. Longmeadow does have bylaws that define the process if a dog is defined as a nuisance or dangerous.
“If the board finds that there’s some measure of guilt, so that the dog or dogs fits within the
nuisance definition or the dangerous definition, then we proceed to a second phase, which you could liken to a sentencing phase, where the board would order remedial measures upon the owner of the dog to ameliorate the impact that the dogs have had on the community,” Chaplin said. Breeding and Caramante attended the meeting, along with PVYC Controller Ed Weagle. Because these hearings operate as court hearings, the three were sworn in for their testimony.
and throwing the bags by hand is difficult. Additionally, trying
“They growl, they charge at cars when our members pull up to the club,” Breeding said. “You can go there, probably, just about any day of the week and see at least one of the dogs on the property.”
She said the dogs scare their members, with some not being able to get out of their cars, and have damaged at least one car by jumping up. She included that other individuals in the community take their own dogs to the park, for example, and have found the dogs to be aggressive, with one report of another dog being bit.
“My biggest concern is the safety of people in the club and in the area,” Breeding said. “Especially now with the new town park, I can only see an increase in the number of community members who are going to be going down to that area and the
Longmeadow DPW Business Manager Lisa Okscin speaks at the Select Board meeting on March 2.
Photo credit: LongmeadowTV
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM
School Committee discusses budget gaps, potential reductions
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School
District could be facing a budget shortfall in fiscal year 2027 with a projected $3.5 million gap between what the towns are expected to be able to offer and a level service budget.
With the budget entering its late stages ahead of town meetings in May, Superintendent John Provost presented some cost cutting measures at the HWRSD School Committee’s March 5 meeting. Certain objectives look to raise fees, leave vacant positions unfilled and cut funding to certain positions and extracurriculars.
Committee member Michael Tirabassi said it’s not unusual that the level services budget, which is to keep everything the same, is “coming out at more money than the towns are in a position to support, or prepared to support.”
“What is unusual this year is that, sometimes the gaps I’ve seen have been like $200,000 gap between the two, or $500,000 gap between the two,” Tirabassi said. “We’re looking at a $3.5 million gap right now between what would be needed for a level service budget to run the school district and where the towns, I think are, somewhat prepared.”
He added that Provost was directed to make a list, because “regardless of what happens, we are
going to be looking at some form of reductions to things that are offered in the district because of financial constraints,” according to Tirabassi.
Members of the committee met with the Hampden Selectboard during its March 2 meeting. The Selectboard said it could handle about a $450,000 increase in the budget, and a $750,000 increase from Wilbraham would leave the district with a $2.46 million budget gap.
“Wilbraham felt they were in a position to offer an increase in the budget of $1.5 million,” Tirabassi said. “To be able to accept that, Hampden would have to be in a position to do a [$662,000] increase, and that would leave us with a $1.45 million budget gap.”
Provost began his presentation on ways to bridge the shortfall and said that one of the things he hopes people take away from it is that most of government is about money.
“I remember being told that, you know, you have three resources as an administrator,”
Provost said. “You have people, time and money, but really you only have one resource that counts, which is money, because money will buy you more people or more time.”
He said over the past 18 years, the district’s foundation enrollment has declined by 21.2%. In response, the district has had to implement a managed contrac-
tion, reducing its teacher workforce by 19.3%, going from 257.6 full time equivalent teachers to 208, closing two schools and eliminating at least seven bus routes.
“The challenges faced by HWRSD are not the result of a sudden financial crisis, but rather a decades-long, forced contraction of programming necessitated by an unsustainable funding model,” Provost said. “The foundation formulas high sensitivity to overall student enrollment has led to a gradual erosion in state support, effectively forcing the district to downsize its educational capacity, despite strong local commitment to quality education.”
Provost said he doesn’t consider what he brings to the committee to be recommendations, but just ideas, adding that he hopes the committee thinks some are horrible ideas because they all have to do with reductions that “will make the district not as good as it is now.”
The presentation named one objective to reduce assessments by increasing budgetary offsets, including a 5% athletic fee increase, 5% preschool fee increase, 10% class C and D building use fee increase, School Choice account offset increase and an excess and deficiency fund utilization increase. These would reduce Hampden’s bud
get by $48,133 and Wilbraham’s
by $181,867, for a $230,000 total reduction.
“We’re looking at 280 communities, or districts, out of 350 in the commonwealth that are in the same position we’re in due to this funding, including Boston,” Provost said. “One of our strategies, not listed here, is increasing revenue from the state … anything that we can do to add on the revenue side allows us to get to where we need without having to go into these strategies.”
Some reductions could happen, like cutting back on additional paid duties and not funding certain extracurriculars or positions, such as not funding coaching positions for teams that have not run for several years, like the freshman girls basket-
wouldn’t be funded.
Provost said there are several steps if nothing was reduced and the budget didn’t pass by both towns. The first step would be the committee reconsidering the budget to bring it down to a number it thinks will pass, and then a districtwide meeting with voters from both towns to see if the budget passes. If none of the steps work and the budget isn’t passed, Provost said the commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education comes in and decides the budget.
Hampden Veterinary Clinic to host rabies clinic for dogs and cats
HAMPDEN — A Rabies Clinic
will held at the Hampden Veterinary Clinic at 28 Somers Road, on Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $25 per cat or dog for one year. You may have heard rumors of rabies vaccine causing cancer in cats. The Hampden Veterinary Clinic carries the Purevax rabies vaccination. It is the only nonadjuvanted rabies vaccine available for cats and kittens and is specifically designed for cats. The cost for a three-year vaccine is $50
Dogs
Continued from page 6
dogs are just running loose all the time … my biggest concern is that someone is going to get hurt.”
Caramante said the owner’s fence is falling apart and not tall enough. Caramante added that one of the dogs would scare someone who’s “not a dog person,” because she has been on the property and around the dogs and hasn’t been bit. She said she doesn’t believe either dogs are dangerous, but does think they are nuisance dogs.
“One of them barks loudly, kind of appears to be aggressive,” Caramante said. “I can just walk past it and say ‘oh, calm down,’ and it doesn’t bite me or anything, but I’m a dog lover. To somebody who’s not okay with that, it looks like this big dog, loudly barking and coming at you.”
She said she has been ticketing the owners with bylaw violations to no avail, with no payment for the fines. The dogs were briefly licensed in 2024 but have not been since.
Select Board member Vineeth Hemavathi said that by looking at the police logs, it’s mind-boggling that this could go on for so long and that there is such a level of disregard for the town’s rules and processes.
“The fact that these dogs haven’t been licensed for so many years, just something basic like that, that we expect of every dog owner, that’s not even being accomplished, is very concerning,” Hemavathi said. “I will say too that I have concern that no matter what we even order tonight, if
and the cost for a one-year vaccine is $25.
By Massachusetts state law, all cats over six months of age should be vaccinated.
A rabies vaccination is good for one or three years, depending on the dog’s or cat’s previous vaccination history.
Make sure you bring your two most recent rabies certificates for the doctor to review.
All cats should be in a carrier. All dogs must be on a leash. Town Clerk Eva Wiseman will
they even comply with that, and then where does that lead us to?”
Chair Josh Levine said there have been cases in the past where it’s clear when a dog is dangerous, which isn’t the case here. He said that the evidence does show the dogs being a nuisance to the neighbors and people on their own private property being approached, barked at and made to feel scared. He said that with a nuisance dog designation, the Select Board can be more creative with the approach to mediate it.
Board member Andrew Lam said the nuisance classification seemed appropriate, and that it seemed clear to make the dog owners construct an effective fence. He said the main question would be how to enforce it.
Board member Dan Zwirko said the attention should be around the fence, and when looking at the bylaws, it’s discouraging that the owners ignored the fines for several years.
If a civil action were to be taken to enforce the fines, Chaplin said a lawsuit would be filed against the owners in the district court. If that isn’t complied with, a complaint for contempt is brought, which would mean jail time or a court sanction.
The Select Board moved to enforce remedial actions for the two dogs, such as building a 6-foot stockade fence by May 1 to enclose the dogs within the property, a contract for the fence be executed by March 20, the dogs be restrained on the property, the dogs becoming licensed by the end of March and that if the order is ignored, civil action will be brought against them.
be available to sell dog licenses. The license costs $10 for male or female dogs and $5 for neutered or spayed dogs. A rabies certificate is required to obtain a dog license.
ball and robotics teams. A freshman football assistant coach, strength and conditioning, assistant director for drama club or table tennis, to name a few, also
Superintendent John Provost presents ways to bridge budget shortfalls on March 5.
Photo credit: Erin Dowding
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Exhibit allows people to experience painting in new way
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — An exhibit at the Springfield Museums allows people to explore an old painting in a brand-new way — with their hands.
The name of the exhibit, “Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,” a play on signs reading “Do Not Touch” that are commonly found in museums. An interactive exhibit, it allows people to physically explore a three-dimensional recreation of an artwork that is usually only experienced through the eyes.
The mural, an enormous 25foot by 7-foot plaster fresco, came about when the Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, now the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, hosted an international mural contest in 1943. At the time, mural art was popular in the United States, spurred on by works commissioned by the federal Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. More than 80 artists from the United States, Mexico and Canada submitted designs to the contest that celebrated culture and art, but Gra-
ziani’s vision was unanimously chosen by the jury of judges. The fresco was painted in 1947.
The figures depicted in the work represent the arts scene of Springfield in the 1940s, highlighting painters, sculptors, photographers, architects, musicians, actors and dancers. Many of the individuals in the mural are not simply generic artists, but rather, are based on Graziani’s contemporaries and friends. These include sculptor Leonard Baskin, who was Graziani’s college roommate, and Springfield’s own soprano vocalist Adele Addison. Also included in the crowd were then-museum director Frederick Robinson and a depiction of the artist himself, as a child.
Meanwhile, in the mural, two walls are being erected, reflecting the growing, evolving nature of the museum. The walls visually divide the painting into three sections. In the background of the painting, there are well known Springfield buildings, including Old First Church and the Alexander House. The Van Norman Tool Company, which sponsored the mural contest, is seen on the right side of the mural.
The interactive exhibit presents museum goers with a
three-dimensional recreation of the artwork laid flat on a table in front of the mural. The layered relief adds a realistic quality to the art. Every bumpy rock, sharp-edged stair and rippled fabric is brought to life, making it feel as though the viewer just interrupted the movement of the scene’s subjects.
Beyond giving the mural more depth, the exhibit allows people with limited vision to experience the artwork, allowing fingertips to explore the people and their contributions to the arts. Buttons are set into the tactile recreation. When one runs their hands over a figure or object, it triggers an audio commentary about the painting, the art forms depicted, the mural competition and the artist.
The exhibit was made possible with support from FedEx, the National Federation of the Blind, MassCultural Council and Tactile Images, an organization that creates three-dimensional art to allow people living with limited sight to expand their enjoyment of art.
“Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural” is on display in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts through July 26.
Springfield Museums to unveil new dinosaur
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums is proud to announce the debut of a bold new permanent exhibition at the Springfield Science Museum, Dinosaurs Still Live: The Story of Archosaurs, opening March 13. This dynamic, 1,400-square-foot gallery invites visitors of all ages to uncover the surprising connections between dinosaurs, birds, crocodilians and pterosaurs.
Dinosaurs Still Live blends hands-on discovery, immersive environments and engaging storytelling to spark curiosity and inspire learning across generations. With a contemporary design, a vibrant color palette, and family-focused interpretation, the exhibition marks an exciting new chapter for the Science Museum and reflects its commitment to inclusive, innovative education.
“Dinosaurs are one of the most popular topics at Springfield Museums! Our visitors have asked to learn more about animals that were alive at the same time as dinosaurs, and this exhibit illustrates the process of evolution while highlighting two other important reptile families,” said Jenny Pow-
ers, director of the Springfield Science Museum. “The most requested new dinosaur was velociraptor, and I am proud to say that this exhibit will also fulfill that request. I hope that our visitors will consider this new exhibition as educationally rich as it is fun.”
Archosaurs are a group of animals that includes all birds and crocodiles, as well as their extinct relatives like dinosaurs, pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and some ancient reptiles that lived in the oceans or on land during the age of dinosaurs. Scientists define archosaurs as all animals that come from the most recent common ancestor of today’s birds and crocodiles.
Dinosaurs Still Live unfolds as a journey guided by four characters, each introducing a different chapter of the archosaur story:
• Hoot, Keeper of the Flock, introduces modern-day birds as living dinosaurs, featuring ro-
tating displays of birds, along with their nests and eggs.
• Spike, Your Prehistoric Pal, leads visitors through the feathered dinosaurs and early evolutionary roots of flight, showcasing sculpted models and tactile learning experiences.
Snap, King of the Crocs, brings mighty crocodilians to life — from the massive prehistoric Sarcosuchus to today’s American alligator — through climbable sculptures, skull replicas, and dramatic size comparisons.
• Breezy, Queen of the Skies, explores the awe-inspiring world of pterosaurs, including full-scale silhouettes of Que zalcoatlus, a suspended Pteranodon, nesting scenes and a dramatic volcanic horizon.
exhibit March 13
Throughout the space, scenic elements and hands-on components encourage active learning, discovery and playmaking complex science approachable and exciting for children and caregivers alike.
Presented in both English and Spanish, Dinosaurs Still Live ensures accessibility for a wide audience and reflects Springfield Museums’ dedication to inclusive community engagement. Rotating displays, tactile features and interactive learning stations offer repeat visit value and fresh experiences year-round.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional support was provided by the commonwealth of Massachusetts
through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, with funding secured through the efforts of Senator Adam Gomez; and generous contributions from Harry and Lynne Ahern, Laurence and Barbara Derose, Bill and Patti Kelliher, and Susan Piccin.
“We are deeply grateful for the generous support that made this project possible,” says Kay Simpson, president and CEO of the Springfield Museums. “Funded in part by federal and state sources, along with the contributions of dedicated supporters, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening our ability to serve the community and provide enriching cultural experiences for all.”
The interactive layered relief of Sante Graziani’s painting, with the mural in the background.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee has been working over the past year to bring the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities to the community.
Committee President Caitlyn Dubay-Martin said the committee holds meetings from August to May and devotes a lot of time to preparing every aspect, such as designing the float, voting on the award winners, getting colleen applications out and preparing for the coronation ball and marshal’s reception.
“It’s not really a rush moment,” Dubay-Martin said. “We take our time and put all of our time into multiple different events and being able to represent our Irish culture at the events.”
On Feb. 7, the committee hosted the annual coronation ball, where the 2026 colleen is crowned and members of the community are recognized for their dedication to Springfield’s Irish Heritage.
Dubay-Martin said the Coronation Ball Sub-Committee does a fantastic job at handling every aspect, such as the venue and caterers, and are able to see it all come together on the night of.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a press release, “This is always a beautiful night with so much to be proud of. Thank you to the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee and all involved for your efforts to keep these important cultural traditions alive.”
Minnechaug Regional High School senior Anna O’Toole was crowned the 2026 Springfield colleen, with finalists Sophia Dow, Anna Flanagan, Siobhan
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — City Council
President Tracye Whitfield survived a vote of no confidence held by the council one month after she presided over the body’s discussion of a petition by her son to discontinue a street, a move that would have financially benefited the company she co-owns. The single conflict of interest snowballed into an investigation by City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti, memos sent to the state Ethics Commission and an effort to remove her from the post of president. She has since stepped down in her role as a managing agent from JETS Property Development and vowed to not do business with the city during the remainder of her time as an elected official.
The City Council chamber was full during the March 2 vote on a resolution that would have asserted the councilors did not have confidence in Whitfield’s “fitness to continue serving as the presiding officer” and asked her to step down from the presidency. Those who could not find
MacDonnell and Emma Westbrooks in the court. For the first time this year, each finalist received a $500 scholarship from Wellpoint. Dow was also selected to receive the annual Mossie & Kathleen Murphy Scholarship, recognizing “dedication to heritage, education and community,” according to the press release.
“The ladies who were chosen as our five finalists have already done such an amazing job representing Springfield and the surrounding towns,” Dubay-Martin said. “The same goes for our award winners. We are super grateful to have this group of award winners this year, they are absolutely fantastic and everyone seems to get along super well, which is something we are always grateful for.”
The program for the 2026 coronation ball provided descriptions of each award and who the award winners are.
Dubay-Martin said the parade marshal leads the Springfield contingent through the streets of Holyoke during the parade. Also included in the parade are local schools, bands and sports teams.
The role this year went to Beth Hawley, a 26 year East Springfield resident. Hawley grew up in East Forest Park and has had a career in teaching since 1985, getting her start at St. Bernadette School in Hollywood, Florida.
Hawley returned to Western Massachusetts in 1986, where she began a 24-year chapter at Our Lady of Hope School, teaching grades four through eight, serving as director of development and directing the extended care and summer programs. Since 2023, she has been principal at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield. Hawley has also coached soccer, basketball
seats stood along the back wall or watched the proceedings from an overflow room. Before discussion on the matter began, Whitfield recused herself and City Council Vice President Jose Delgado took the gavel. The typically ceremonial tool was used heavily during the meeting to quell arguments between councilors and outbursts from those gathered to watch the vote.
Councilor Victor Davila, who had spearheaded the effort to pass a no confidence resolution, said his position had not been taken lightly. Buoniconti laid out in memos to the council several conflicts of interest involving Whitfield over the past five years. Whitfield has repeatedly stated that she misunderstood the conflict of interest laws and that she has taken steps to ensure compliance in the future. Despite that, Davila said, “This was not a mistake, but rather a clear pattern of self-interested behavior.”
Davila said residents were under the perception that he and his fellow councilors knew about and simply ignored the conflicts of interest that became public after
and softball at the high school and collegiate levels.
The 2026 John & Agnes Burke Award is in honor of John and Agnes’ memory and their lifelong commitment to Irish heritage. Both were also active members of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. The award is presented to those who make “outstanding contributions to the Irish people of the City of Springfield,” the program said.
This award was presented to Springfield native, Irish citizen and current Wilbraham resident, John Ford. Ford has been the president of the East Longmeadow Soccer Association for 14 years and a soccer coach for Chicopee AJACS, Western United and Stars of MA. He is also a member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club and serves on the Gaelic Athletic Association Committee, honor guard, players guild and works as the Ireland trip co-coordinator.
Ford is also a 39-year coach for the Springfield and Massachusetts’ Special Olympics team, taking the 1999 Special Olympics soccer players to Ireland for the goodwill soccer tour. He also took the 2009 U14 girls team to Ireland for the Limerick Cup Tourney.
Paul G. Caron founded the Springfield colleen contest in 1968 and the award in his honor is presented each year to an individual who has contributed greatly to the greater Springfield community. This year, the Paul G. Caron Award was presented to Joe Christofori.
Christofori grew up in Hungry Hill and found a 35-year-long career in the film industry, working on films, documentaries, commercials and music videos. Since 2006, he has traveled to Ireland nearly every year, managing the
Buoniconti released his findings. That undermined the public’s trust in the body, he said, adding, “I’m not going to pay for someone else’s mistakes. I will only pay for my mistakes.”
Councilor Justin Hurst said that if the memos had come from anyone else in the Law Department, he would “accept it as gospel.”
However, he said Buoniconti “has no moral standing.” Hurst said, “He can’t possibly be the one educating us on any ethical standards considering his own transgressions.” Hurst referred to a 2016 reprimand by the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers for signing a loan on behalf of his thenwife without permission and failing to disclose his position with the Hampden County Regional Retirement Board while serving as a state senator. Hurst said Buoniconti, whom he described as Mayor Domenic Sarno’s “political appointee,” should be disbarred for his previous conduct. He also noted that Buoniconti had sent his findings to the Ethics Commission and the media before sharing it with the council.
Hurst then set his sights on
John Boyle O’Reilly Club tours alongside Ford in recent years.
Christofori also leads the Hungry Hill hikers on the 10k Holyoke Road Race to “help celebrate the High Holiday, get people out and earn their pints for the day’s festivities,” the program said. He also drives his 1968 Newport convertible in the parade to help award winners who may not be able to physically march.
The final award, the Mary B. Troy Award, honors longtime committee member Mary B. Troy, a native of Hungry Hill and daughter of Irish immigrants Michael and Bridget Begley.
“She was immensely proud of her Irish heritage and loved and lived it every day,” the program said. “Mary worked selflessly to preserve and promote Irish cultural activities and the Irish spirit.”
City Line Cafe, a historic Springfield Irish pub, received the award this year. City Line
opened in 1939 and is one of the oldest bars in Springfield. Marty Cunningham, a standing member in the Irish community, purchased the bar in 2013 and continues to honor Irish history. Each Wednesday, City Line hosts a traditional Irish music session with a rotating group of musicians. The committee still has plenty of events coming up, such as a “Battle of the Parade Committees: Springfield vs. Agawam” on March 12 at 6 p.m. A range of events will be starting at 9 a.m. on March 17 and include mass at Sacred Heart Church, a flag raising at City Hall, lunch at the Student Prince and Fort Restaurant and “Shin Dig on the Hill” at the Hungry Hill center.
The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race will be held on March 21 at 1 p.m. while the annual St. Patrick’s Parade takes place on March 22 at 10 a.m. and will feature each award winner.
Councilor Michael Fenton, who co-sponsored the no confidence resolution with Davila and Councilor Melvin Edwards. Hurst said Fenton had been party to a similar vote to discontinue a street without disclosing that he would benefit by absorbing a portion of the street into his property once discontinued. He also said Fenton had improperly spoken with department heads, which is also among the allegations against Whitfield laid out in Buoniconti’s memos. He finished his comments
by stating the Davila, Fenton and Edwards were “on the wrong side” “of history.” Fenton responded, saying he was “not going to dignify” Hurst’s allegations, but then said that a neighborhood council had been the petitioner in the matter involving his street, that he recused himself and that the discontinuance did not pass, and therefore he did not “directly benefit” as Hurst had alleged.
The 2025 Springfield colleen Ayslin Dziedzic and her court on their float titled “Springfield’s Dr. Seuss.” Reminder Publishing file photo
Jose Delgado presided over the City Council’s discussion regarding a vote of no confidence in President Tracye Whitfield.
Photo credit: Focus Springfield
Continued from page 10
Later, Fenton told Reminder Publishing that he was “shocked” by Hurst’s comments. “It’s materially untrue” and “an attempt to deflect from the issue that’s at hand.”
Gonzalez reminded the councilors of the body’s rules and said, “We’re not supposed to attack each other.”
Striking a conciliatory tone, Councilor Malo Brown said all the councilors are “good people.” Regarding the resolution, which he pointed out was non-binding, Brown said, “I do believe this thing has become too much of a distraction.” He said, “Of course, we’re going to make mistakes,” and “It’s not up to me to judge.” He went on to say that if the councilors feel strongly, they can vote for a different council president in January 2027.
On the resolution, Fenton said the matter was settled when Whitfield recused herself from the discontinuance on Feb. 5. He
DPW
Continued from page 6
to put the bags into the cart after it’s been emptied is difficult when bags are filled in a way that doesn’t fit into the small trash barrel.
“[Waste Management] have reached out to us and want to know if we’re willing to look at our program and see if there’s anything we can do,” Okscin said. “We obviously can say, ‘we’re taking no action, this is our program, they signed the contract that’s what you got to do,’
asserted that his only concern regarding that discontinuance was that Whitfield’s son, Jelani Bland, had stated he wanted to build on the land, which is generally not a reason for street discontinuance. Were the matter “an error or mistake,” Fenton said he would not support a vote of no confidence. However, two incidents detailed in Buoniconti’s memos caused him concern. He said her participation at a city auction the day after the recusal misstep showed she understood that the there was a conflict of interest regarding her company having business with the city that morning, when she emailed councilors and reached out to the Ethics Commission, but not that evening, when she and her son successfully bid on city property.
The second incident occurred in December 2025, when Whitfield, interceding on behalf of a constituent, wrote in an email that she would contact the city to have the Old Hill Citizens’ Council audited. Fenton said that was “particularly threatening.” Taken with the other information, he said
but we do know from residents, a lot of people say the trash carts are so small.”
She said the DPW could look at the option for people to pay for and get a larger trash cart, or to receive a second 35-gallon cart. She said they do get grants for having the 35-gallon cart, which comes out to $4,400 of the MassDEP grant.
“We will actually have about 200 extra 64 gallons when we do all the recycling swaps just because that was one of the defaults and not many are taking it back,” Okscin said. “We could always put black lids on those carts, then we wouldn’t really need to be do-
Whitfield disregarded the conflict-of-interest laws with “reckless abandon.”
Councilor Zaida Govan advised waiting for the Ethics Commission to make a decision regarding the matter. She said no “crimes” were identified in the solicitor’s findings. “I’m not condoning unethical behavior,” Govan said, but added, “we have to give grace” and not “rush to judgment.” She noted Whitfield is the council’s first Black woman president and said that if it were any other councilor, the matter would not have gotten to the point of a no confidence vote.
This comment reflected a narrative that had developed that the controversy was racially motivated. Edwards pushed back on that. “I am not convinced of character assassination,” he said. Addressing the “small, but vocal group” of people who had been espousing the idea, he said, “Feel free to speak your truth, but you do not speak for all Black people, nor do I. Please note, we all live in glass houses, so be careful throwing stones.”
ing a whole other purchase and it would lessen the inventory that we have at the DPW.”
Okscin said her recommendations to the Select Board are to set a price for the swaps, replacement carts and any future swaps, as well as a transportation charge if the carts need to be dropped off at the house. She said West Springfield charges $25 and she suggests $15. She also asked the Select Board to look at a direction to move towards for the trash carts, if it’s something worth doing.
Board member Vineeth Hemavathi asked if the town would be paying Waste Management for every cart if residents were
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
William R. Parenteau
Ruth Esther Bennett
Christine M. Gariepy
Brenda D. Garrity
Ronald N. Gilpatrick
Louis A. Lajeunesse
Roger D. Landry
Sheila C. Moore
Mark E. Powers
EAST LONGMEADOW
Jane Sonack Bedard
Marcia M. Kessler
Leonard Napier Palmer Jr.
Sandra J. Russell
Michael J. Del Viscio
HOLYOKE
Sr. Ruth McGoldrick SP
Robert Matthew Rose Jill Stough
LONGMEADOW
Janice S. Boyer
Dr. William “Bill” Harbison
Steve Trikas
LUDLOW
Barbara M. Frederick
Donald K. Mayou
Martha M. Nowakowski
SOUTH HADLEY
Thomas Norman Hazen
Hugh Parker Hutton
Barbara L. Roy
SPRINGFIELD
June Bowman
Gerald J. Martin Sr.
Marion G. Minchella
Robert L. Preston
Jeffrey A. Sheehan
Sandra A. Sullivan
Allen G. Zippin
Melissa Zavala
Brown agreed. “We can’t make it a racial thing,” he said. “Just because someone has a different view, it does not make them racist.”
Edwards said, “For me, this vote is about the fact that the council president’s personal, professional business dealings and the associated investigations have resulted in, clearly make it impossible for her to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the presidency at this time.”
Before a vote on the question could be called, a verbal altercation broke out between two people in the audience. Another person stepped between them and de-escalated the situation, at which point Gonzalez called a three-minute recess. During the recess, Whitfield returned to the chamber to thank people for supporting her but encouraged them to “calm down for a little bit.” She also asked them to allow the council to proceed with its business without interruption.
Following the recess, the council voted 4-7 against the resolution, with Councilor Gerry Martin
able to buy a second trash cart. Okscin said if the program stays the same, there will be no renegotations, but a second cart is changing the way trash pickup goes, so there is potential that they would add around $2 extra per cart. She added that upsizing the carts, such as from 35 to 64 gallons, isn’t changing much so there wouldn’t really need to be any renegotiations.
Select Board member Andrew Lam said his concern is that there could be a lot of pitfalls, such as a limited number of 65-gallon carts.
“Let’s say we had, you mentioned 65-gallon carts, well we
absent. Only the resolution’s three sponsors and Councilor Maria Perez voted no confidence, despite Perez’s earlier comments that she wanted to leave the matter to the Ethics Commission.
After the vote, Whitfield said, “I feel like I’m ready to just move forward, get to business of the city and just let everything go.”
Davila said he was disappointed with his colleagues that voted no and opined that they were “looking for political coverage. But this is not a time to hide, this is a time to lead, and now the council is going to continue to have a cloud over us.” He said the councilors would “have explaining to do” to the voters.
Fenton acknowledged that it was a “very sensitive subject” but also said, “I don’t think it’s going to be a productive rest of the year for us to have Councilor Whitfield as the council president.” That said, Fenton assured that he harbored no ill will toward Whitfield. Similarly, Davila said that it would be up to Whitfield whether there would be any awkwardness among councilors.
have 200 of them,” Lam said. “When you start doing this, we give out 200, then people are going to be very upset that they wanted to do it. Second thing is, you say ‘oh, you can buy another 45-gallon cart for $60,’ but then the town pays extra ultimately for every time.”
Okscin said there would have to be a fee on adding a cart because the resident is using more trash for hauling the second cart and tonnage of going over. The hope for the fee would be to cover all that, which Lam asked for how many years with Okscin replying as long as residents have it.
The Spartans’ Weston Murray (12) battles for the rebound with Noah Medina from West Side.
Jaxon Grasso assumes a defensive stance.
Michael Maurca dives to floor and wins the loose ball.
East Longmeadow’s Frankie Morrill (11) jostles for rebound position with Clinton Vo from West Springfield.
EL’s Luke Rizas (R) goes for the steal.
East Longmeadow’s Nathaniel Frimpong attacks the hoop and scores.
