Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons presented her fiscal year 2027 budget presentation to the Select Board on March 23. Page 7
EAST LONGMEADOW
PFLAG chapter to hold Community Art Festival
East Longmeadow’s new PFLAG chapter is propping up artists in the LGBTQ+ community in its first annual Community Art Festival. Page 8
WILBRAHAM
Excellence in Teaching Award goes to three HWRSD teachers
Three teachers in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District are being recognized with the 2025-2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award for going above and beyond, in and out of the classroom. Page 9
Stranded resident offers aid in Lebanon
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
BEIRUT, LEBANON — It is hard to be away from home for extended periods. Harder still when one is in a war zone. Hassan Mourad, a Springfield resident who traveled to Lebanon on business in late February, became stranded in the country amid the Iran War. However, he has turned his circumstances into action, working to help displaced people however he can.
On March 17, Reminder Publishing reached out to Mourad via
Zoom. He stood in front of a wall of windows. In the background, the setting sun cast a warm, hazy glow over the skyline of Beirut. The haze, he explained, was from the plumes of smoke that rise from the hourly air strikes in Douha, Lebanon, a couple miles south of Beirut. Throughout the course of the interview, Mourad repeatedly looked behind him into the distance as the sound of air raids carried across the city.
Mourad, a first-generation Lebanese American, is a 33-yearold business owner and father of
two who was born and raised in Springfield. He went to Lebanon to strike distributing deals for his uncle’s line of hair care products. Less than 48 hours later, the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks against Iran. After Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the first wave of attacks, Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party and banned paramilitary group, launched missiles at its neighbor and long-time adversary, Israel. Israel responded by stepping up its attacks against Lebanon and
launching a ground invasion. Many Americans left Lebanon immediately after the war began, Mourad said, but a few days later when the American embassy closed, commercial flights largely stopped. The only flights available now are through Beirut-based Middle East Airlines. He had booked a flight to Turkey, but it was canceled. He said if he were able to successfully catch a flight, it would likely take him to Cyprus or Egypt, and he would
See LEBANON on page 2
From left: Hassan Mourad hands food to a child whose family is sheltering at a school. Hassan Mourad talks about the humanitarian need in Lebanon. Smoke rises from a nearby airstrike in Lebanon.
Photo credit: Hassan Mourad
Area chambers of commerce partner to Fill the Food Bank
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
For the past few years, six area chambers of commerce have banded together to address a need that affects the people they serve across Hampden County — food insecurity. This year, the Greater Westfield, Greater Holyoke, West of the River, ERC5/East of the River, Springfield Regional and Greater Chicopee chambers of commerce are working together again for the third annual Fill the Food Bank event.
The fundraising and networking event, taking place on Tuesday, March 31, benefits the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, a nonprofit which sources, stores and distributes foodstuffs to many of the local food pantries across the four counties of Western Massachusetts. In 2025, the pantries in the Food Bank’s member network served more than 122,000 people.
Lebanon
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need to make his way to the United States from there.
Mourad is less concerned with fleeing the country, though, and more focused on helping people in Lebanon, much to the dismay of his family. He said his parents are worried, particularly when they hear reports of aid workers killed in air strikes. His mother calls him every day asking him to come home. “I tell her, ‘I have to help our people,’” he said.
Mourad’s children also fear for their father. While he tries to assure them that he is safe but said they are old enough to understand news reports. “They tell me, ‘No one is safe. Look at what happened in Gaza.’ Once I feel like my mission here is complete, I’ll be more focused on getting home.”
When asked how he is faring,
For every $1 donated, the Food Bank is able to supply three meals to the people who visit food pantries. Jillian Morgan, director of development for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, explained that the Food Bank’s return on investment is possible due to partnerships with the US. Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program and local grocery stores and businesses. The event is designed to bring together local leaders, businesses and the community. The proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the Food Bank. Food donations are also collected at the event. In each of the past two years, the roughly 150 guests have collected close to 2,000 pounds of food ahead of the event. Each year has had a theme regarding what types of foods to collect. The first year was focused on rice and beans. Last year, there was a peanut butter and jelly theme.
Mourad said, “I’m still alive, so that’s good. It’s a surreal experience for me.” He admitted, “It takes a lot of courage to be out here.”
This is not Mourad’s first time in Lebanon while the country is at war. Israel crossed into Lebanon in October 2024, and despite a ceasefire signed roughly two months later, there have been consistent air strikes since. Mourad’s parents left Lebanon to escape war with Israel, which has been recurring since 1978.
“In 2024, I was very unhappy with the situation in the Middle East. It bothered me to pay taxes and have that money go to weapons used to kill people here in the Middle East,” Mourad said of Israel’s use of American-made arms to strike Lebanon. He began a GoFundMe campaign to raise money and then distributed food, diapers and baby formula to the people who were displaced by the fighting.
This year, donations are centered around soup and pasta. Diana M. Szynal, president and CEO of the Springfield Regional Chamber, said the chambers check with the Food Bank prior to the collection to determine what goods are most needed. Monetary donations are also welcome. Last year’s event raised $10,511 and “several hundred pounds” in food donations were collected, Morgan said.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to network with businesses in Hampden County.” Morgan said. It gives people an opportunity to take a tour of the facility and meet the staff. Morgan said, “We just make it a really fun environment.”
Szynal said it is a relaxed setting with brief remarks. Partners Restaurant & Catering will provide a baked/mashed potato bar. There will also be raffles, which feature prizes donated by members of each chamber.
“Maybe it’s God’s plan putting me back here,” Mourad wondered aloud, and not for the first time.
Mourad said the current air strikes have once again displaced the same people who fled their homes in 2024. Given just 30 minutes of warning, many did not have time to gather possessions, Mourad said. Pushed north to the Litani River, up to 35 miles from their homes near Lebanon’s border with Israel, an estimated 1 million people — 19% of the country’s population — are displaced, sheltering in schools, sleeping in cars and camping in tents.
“In winter in Lebanon, it rains,” Mourad explained. The few belongings of people living in tents along the side of the road are often washed away in rainstorms. That is why Mourad has focused on providing people with blankets and pillows. “My parents raised us to give to the poor,” he said. He is also focusing on making
The raffle proceeds will benefit the Food Bank.
“It’s a great opportunity for six chambers to work together,” Szynal said. “All chamber events are networking events, but this is next level because you’re networking with people from other chambers.” Reflecting on the cyclical nature of organizational networks, Szynal said many of the nonprofits supported by the Food Bank are chamber members.
“We do a lot of third-party events throughout the year,” Morgan said. Collectively, these fundraisers contribute about $1 million to the Food Bank’s operating budget. “When other businesses fundraise for the Food Bank. It amplifies our success. We’re taking advantage of their network,” Morgan said, “so we’re not always going to the same people” for donations. Morgan said food insecurity continues to grow.
and delivering meals to people, as it is the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan. During Ramadhan, observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Each evening, Mourad distributes the meal to break the fast, called Iftar. He also hands out food for Suhoor, the meal that is eaten before the fast begins again at sun-up.
“It’s the month when you recalibrate. You might get off the path of God, but in Ramadhan, you are with family, you celebrate and you get back to God,” Mourad said, tearing up. After a moment, he collected himself and said, “They turned what was supposed to be one of the best times of the year for Muslims into hell, honestly.”
Mourad has been working with local social media influencers to help share the situation on the ground in Lebanon. He has also worked alongside organizations, including Amity Foundation, Banin Charity Association and
Szynal shared a similar sentiment, “Things are getting so expensive for people, people who may not normally find themselves coming up short.”
Citing the rising cost of living, Szynal said the number of people using the Food Bank now is equal to or surpasses figures from the coronavirus pandemic. She said the Food Bank is bracing itself for even more users in summer 2026 when federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program take effect and policy changes make it more difficult to apply.
Szynal thanked the sponsors of the event: Baystate Health, Country Bank, People’s Bank, Canopy Management Group, GoNetSpeed and All States Materials Group. “They step up. They want to support the chambers; they want to support the Food Bank,” she said.
To purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/fill-the-food-bank.
Wish Foundation, to help provide displaced people with necessities. While the current fighting has led to the displacement, Mourad said the people he sees have grown used to the danger they have faced over the past few years. “I just feel like everybody’s numb here. They’re just waiting to die,” Mourad said. As the father of an 11-year-old and 7-year-old, he said it is “heartbreaking” to watch fathers try to comfort their young children. Mourad said the narratives he hears from United States politicians and pundits about people in Lebanon hating Americans is not true. “That doesn’t exist, and it upsets me,” he said. Referring to people who spread such narratives, he said, “I don’t think they know who we are, how the Lebanese people are. They love us, to be honest.” He said that he walks around wearing a shirt emblazoned with
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EAST LONGMEADOW
EAST LONGMEADOW PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the East Longmeadow Public Library, 60 Center Square. For more information or to register, head to eastlongmeadowlibrary.org or call 413-525-5420.
Ongoing teen programs:
• Teen Spot — Fridays 2-4:30 p.m.
Teen Spring Crafternoons — Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.
• Banned Book Club — Wednesday, April 1 at 4:15 p.m. This month’s selection is “Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out” by Susan Kuklin.
Children programs: Origami — Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m.
HAMPDEN
VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY COFFEE SOCIAL
The Friends of Wilbraham–Hampden Veterans will host a Vietnam War Veterans Day Coffee Social on Saturday, March 28, from 9-11 a.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9397, located at 190 Main St. The event will feature coffee and a light
Lebanon
Continued from page 2
“USA” and has never faced any negativity around it. “People don’t hate Americans. They hate Ameri-
breakfast in a welcoming, informal setting. Wilbraham’s Director of Veteran Services, Patrick Renna, will be on site to answer questions and provide information about resources available to veterans and their families.
LONGMEADOW
RICHARD SALTER STORRS
LIBRARY
The following events take place at the Richard Salter Storrs Library, 593 Longmeadow St. For more information or to register for programs, call 413-565-4181, or head to longmeadowlibrary.org.
All ages programs:
Art Exhibit: Marlene Rye — April 2-25. An art reception for Marlene Rye will be held on Monday, April 6, at 6 p.m.
Newbies (ages birth to 18 months) — Tuesdays, 10:4511:30 a.m. This program is sponsored by Pathways for Parents. Pathways for Parents is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
• Grow, Play, Learn (ages birth to 5 years) — Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. This program is sponsored by Pathways for
can foreign policy. I think Americans hate American foreign policy, too. I have friends in the Army. I don’t want to see them die in Iran.”
Mourad insisted that the issue is not a partisan one. “I voted for Trump. All I cared about — that he sold me on — was stopping wars.
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• Hungry for More Book Club (grades 6-8) — Tuesday, March 31, 3:30-4 p.m. This month’s book is “Happy Town” by Greg Van Eekhout. Ongoing adult programs: Traveling Library — Monday, March 2, 2:15-4:30 p.m.
• Tech Tuesdays — Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Adult Center Book Club — Tuesday, March 3, 12:30-1:30 p.m. This month’s selection: “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. Fiber Arts: Meeting — Tuesday, March 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
• VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group — Wednesday, March 4, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Music Appreciation with Rob Humbertson — Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Weekly Writers Group, Thursdays, 9:30-11 a.m.
• LHS Presents: “Dragoon, Musketeer, Prisoner: The Hessians of the Revolutionary War in Western Massachusetts” — Tuesday, March 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Great Decisions with Vinnie Ferraro: Ukraine and the Fu-
Now, we’re seeing the opposite of what we voted for. Why do we not, as Americans, extend compassion to other people? We’re very more similar than different.” He added, “I just want people to live in peace here.”
People can follow Mourad’s
ture of European Security — Wednesday, April 1, 4:30-6 p.m.
Library Virtual Speakers: On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal — Thursday, April 2, 2-4 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 413565-4160 option 1.
• The World on the Brink: JFK & The Cuban Missile Crisis — Tuesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. US Foreign Policy Series: The Impact of Technology in World Affairs — Wednesday, April 1 at 6 p.m.
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. • Veggie Gardening for Beginners — Monday, March 30, from 6-7 p.m.
VIRTUAL: “The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto” — Monday, March 30 from 6-7 p.m. Learn to Crochet for Teens — Tuesday, March 31, from 5-6:30 p.m.
humanitarian efforts and see updates from Lebanon at instagram. com/hassan.mourad. Donations to Mourad’s crowdfunding campaign can be made at tinyurl.com/ lebanese-aid-alliance-2026. As of press time, he has raised $8,794.
LONGMEADOW
Budget presented to Select Board as vote approaches
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — With town expenses increasing at a higher rate than revenue, Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons said the town is “unable to find new revenue” during her fiscal year 2027 budget presentation to the Select Board on March 23. Budget preparations began in December 2025 at a joint meeting with the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee.
Simmons said the budget is balanced without the use of reserves and added it was important to note that first because “this was a really challenging budget.” According to Mass.gov, reserves are “used to hold money for specific future purposes, to finance unforeseen or emergency needs, sustain operations during difficult economic periods, or in limited instances, to provide revenue sources for the annual budget.
The FY27 will maintain current service levels and currently
uses the full allowable levy limit of a 2.5% property tax increase under Proposition 2½, according to the budget presentation.
The current operating budget is $83,220,896, a 3.68% increase from FY26. The total recommended budget is $93,377,135, a 5.66% increase from FY26.
“You’ll see as I go further on, we had to make some pretty serious decisions on projects we really wanted to keep moving forward, but did have to put a pause on in order to not tap into those one time funds,” Simmons said.
The breakdown shows revenue increases at a total of $2,556,659 from things like property tax and state aid, while non-negotiable expense increases are at $2,949,687 from insurance, retirement contributions and the schools. As a result, $393,028 needs to be cut from the general fund to balance the two.
“Off the start, we did not have any surplus to work from,” Simmons said. “We were looking at cuts to offices and where we could make this work.”
Simmons made several items of note, such as entering a fleet leasing program for new DPW and Fire Department vehicles rather than purchasing in full to turnover outdated vehicles at a much faster rate.
“Previously, we were only funding these vehicles through capital or free cash,” Simmons said. “There is just not enough capital to make all of this stuff work, and the fleet was aging at a rate that we just could not support, and the cost of vehicles since really coming out of [COVID-19] has just increased so drastically that one truck is $100,000 and that’s just not sustainable.”
The cost of living adjustments for non-union town employees is going to be built into the operating budget, instead of being a stand-alone warrant at the town meeting and applied after the start of a fiscal year. The health insurance rates from Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust were also an 11.2% increase, substantially higher than the 7.5% originally projected.
“That was not any fault of ours with that projection number,” Simmons said. “Our health insurance increases have always been 7% or below. We have not had anything even close to 11.2%.”
Simmons said there were challenges in the process, the first being the School Department increase. She said the schools get “a lot of flak” for high budgets, but noted the 2.6% increase for FY27 is the smallest since FY21. In FY26, the DPW received “significant investments,” according to Simmons, at about $700,000 to further work on reports, studies and infrastructure needs. For FY27, the investments will be rolled back to balance.
Bay Path to host Trauma-Informed Practice in ABA Conference
LONGMEADOW — The graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis is set to host the fourth annual Trauma-Informed Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis Conference on Friday, April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The fully online event will bring together experts from across the country to explore connecting research in trauma informed ABA to practice in homes, schools and clinics. With hundreds of registrants already signed up and registration still open, the con-
ference promises to be an exciting event for professionals and students alike.
The remote conference will feature seven presentations addressing various topics related to the research and practice of trauma-informed approaches into ABA.
Among the many notable presenters is Dr. Adithyan “Dithu” Rajaraman, Ph.D., BCBA-D who is a lead trainer and consultant for FTF Consulting. He will be discussing interventions for
self-injurious behavior aligned with trauma-informed care. Dr. Jennifer Austin, Ph.D., BCBA-D from Georgia State University will be the first presenter of the day and will be highlighting future research directions for trauma-informed ABA. Later, Dr. Jeannie Golden, Ph.D., BCBA-D of East Carolina University will describe proven trauma-informed strategies for making rural schools safer.
Faculty and graduates from Bay Path University and Cam-
bridge College will be represented in a panel from Dr. Maureen Hurley CC ‘25 and Dr. Valeria Armendariz CC ’25, graduates of the Cambridge College doctoral ABA program and Dr. Trudy Georgio, a Bay Path University ABA program faculty member. Their panel presentation will highlight research topics including self-advocacy, trauma-informed functional analysis in school settings, and the extent of restrictive measures by behavior analysts.
Dr. Gabi Morgan, BCBA-D, of Bay Path University’s Applied Behavior Analysis program, expressed that she is excited about the conference and its lineup of speakers, “We are honored that this group of incredible presenters will be speaking at this year’s conference and we hope that it will help attendees to make connections from published research to their own practice.”
For more details and to register for the conference, visit: Bay Path University ABA Conference.
Your Trees – Our Passion
• Tree Removal
• Tree Pruning
• Tree Cabling
• Storm Damage
• Crane Work
• Stump Grinding
• Lot Clearing and More
Over 45 Years Of Combined Experience
WE SERVICE : Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, and parts of Wilbraham and Hampden
“We take great PRIDE in the QUALITY of our work and our Exceptional Customer Service”
Town Manager Lyn Simmons presents the FY27 budget at the March 23 meeting
Photo credit: LongmeadowTV
EAST LONGMEADOW
PFLAG chapter to hold Community Art Festival
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow’s new PFLAG chapter is propping up artists in the LGBTQ+ community in its first annual Community Art Festival. The free event is being held at the historic Norcross House, 89 Maple St. on March 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Patrons will be able to view and purchase art from local artists, try hands-on art activities for all ages and help support the chapter in continuing its work supporting the community’s LGBTQ+ kids, friends and parents. It will also feature live music from the band Date Night and free sandwiches, provided by Frigo’s.
PFLAG is the “nation’s first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them,” the website states.
East Longmeadow’s chapter is a community of parents, families, allies and LGBTQ+ individuals working together to create a safer, more inclusive world — starting in East Longmeadow and surrounding towns. It holds monthly support meetings, community outreach and educational events to promote understanding and acceptance for all.
Founding member and Chapter President Erin Chrusciel said PFLAG’s main message is to “lead with love” and that the chapter began while finding ways to be more proactive in the com-
munity and sharing the passion with people.
She also said her child, who identifies as nonbinary, started a pride club at school. This led to thinking about ways to get more involved townwide.
“They’ve had good support in the school system, and we’re grateful for that, however, the LGBTQ+ community is facing an unprecedented surge in legislative attacks, discrimination and increase in hate crimes,” Chrusciel said. “People are scared. We want people to feel safe. Fellow parents, Tara Spence, Carolyn Ferros and I decided to look into what organizations would be appropriate for us to get involved with, and that’s where I did some research on PFLAG.”
She added that since establish-
ing the nonprofit, they were lucky to add Treasurer Christina Uss, an author, librarian and parent. While the art festival is
Start of demolition nears for high school building project
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — Por-
tions of the current East Longmeadow High School are being prepared to come down as the new building is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 school year.
The East Longmeadow School Building Committee met on March 19 to discuss updates with the project, such as the new press box installation, demolition of the school annex and the spring move in. Construction Manager Mark Hogan from Fontaine Brothers Inc. briefed the committee about the demolition process for the building.
As of the previous meeting on Feb. 25, the financial status of the project remained in good state, with $91,471,408 being submitted to the Massachusetts School
Building Authority out of the $97,336,034 invoiced. The town has been reimbursed $42,246,905 and project contingencies are monitored regularly to ensure the budget remains in good shape.
The annex is set to be demolished earlier than the rest of the building and includes things like the graphics classroom, the committee meeting room, student support services and the East Longmeadow Cable Access TV office and studio. This will occur late April or early May.
That part of the building is going to be sealed off with power, gas, water and sewer disconnected before demolition. Abatement, which is the removal of any hazardous materials before demolition, will be done while the students aren’t at the school during the April break.
“We’ll do all the abatement when no one’s here and off time,
we’ll have a parting wall,” Hogan said. “We’ll try to do as much, if not all, during the week … we’ll take care of that when no one’s here that week and then we’ll look at talking with you before we actually start the demo, what that’ll look like.”
The plan is to demolish when students aren’t in school, but Hogan said that could still change. During the process, the metal, brick and foundation are all separated and the building will be demolished towards the field and away from the part of the building not being taken down.
“We actually try to do a disconnection when no one’s here,” Hogan said. “Once that’s disconnected, it’ll be pulled away. There will be no problems.”
There was a question about the painted art bricks in the graphics classroom and if it was possible to save them, which is unlikely because of the feasibility, scheduling and cost implications. The bricks will be photographed and displayed on a monitor in the new building. Alumni will also have the chance before demolition to go in and take a picture with their brick during the April 11 open house.
For the spring move, money is already allocated in the budget and Skanska is recommending Chicopee’s Pioneer Moving through the six proposals received. The school move lease agreement for the annex is approved for the Cartamundi site, which has enough space for the things designated for temporary storage.
PFLAG’s first sponsored event in the town, the chapter has been
The School Building Committee meets with Fontaine Brothers Inc. and Skanska to discuss demolition and the spring move.
Photo credit: ELCAT01028
From left to right: Tara Spence, Carolyn Ferros and Erin Chrusciel at PFLAG’s tabling event at Longmeadow Pride. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Excellence in Teaching Award goes to three HWRSD teachers
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — Three teachers
in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District are being recognized with the 2025-2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award for going above and beyond, in and out of the classroom.
This year’s recipients are Mile Tree Elementary School kindergarten teacher Amy Hale, Stony Hill Elementary School special education teacher Lynn Mayotte and Minnechaug Regional High School licensed school library teacher Dr. Georgina Trebbe.
The press release said the recipients are “selected by a committee of local administrators and past recipients based on criteria related to excellence in teaching, professional development, contributions beyond the classroom and respect by peers, parents and students.”
For the past 23 years, the awards program has been made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Chariable Foundation in partnership with MassMutual and
WILBRAHAM VOTING REMINDERS
the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, recognizing over 100 educators in Western Massachusetts each year.
Trebbe said she feels grateful in a “really sincere way” to not only receive the award, but to be nominated. She said she doesn’t always have direct exposure to students every day and the position doesn’t always get recognized.
“I am extremely grateful that someone would consider that I’ve contributed to education in such a profound way,” Trebbe said. “The congratulations from peers, not just at Minnechaug but throughout the district, has been an outpouring. I’m extremely touched by that.”
She said that part of bringing excellence to education requires recognizing what each student needs and strategizing how to give it to them, such as identifying specific learning styles, approaching students where they are and giving them the tools they need to achieve.
“I know that a lot of people say that individualizing is hard, but when you get used to it as a practice, you really recognize what students need,” Trebbe said. “If you can bring that to them, it opens up their world in such a tremendous way that they can achieve what they want to … there’s a lot of little nuances we use to figure out how students both engage and learn.”
WILBRAHAM — The Wilbraham Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. and the annual town election will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., both at Minnechaug Regional High School. If you are a Wilbraham resident, but not a registered voter and would like to vote in the meeting or election, you must register by Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m. The Wilbraham town clerk’s office would like to remind voters that vote by mail applications for the town election are available on the town’s website and at the Town Clerk’s office. Alternatively, you can apply for a vote by mail ballot online at sec.state.ma.us/ MailInRequestWeb/MailInBallot.aspx, to have a ballot mailed to you. The last day to request a vote by mail ballot for the Annual Town Election is Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m. The ballot will be finalized Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m. A sample copy of the ballot will be posted to the town’s website and at the Town Hall. Any questions can be directed to the Town Clerk’s office, 413-596-2800 ext. 200.
Every day is not the same and Trebbe added that teachers are always engaging in different strategies and trying something new, but the overall objective stays the same — that students can gain the skills to transition through school until they leave and engage with the world.
She said it’s rewarding when there are still gains within challenges, and it shows that she’s really working towards building a better cultural and learning environment for the students and her peers.
Hale said she was shocked and honored to even be considered for the award, and that she’s grateful to all the educators she has “the pleasure of working with and
learning from everyday.”
“I feel like ‘excellent teaching’ is giving students what they need, while also challenging them to be the best versions of themselves,” Hale said. “I think students remember teachers that they feel like them. I think the ‘stuff’ they learn is important, but having them know that I love them and ultimately want the best for them is the goal.”
One thing Hale said she finds rewarding about teaching is seeing a student catch on to something they may have been struggling with.
“Seeing confidence grow in a student as they know they can do it is inspiring,” Hale said. “It makes more of the challenging times less significant.”
Mayotte said she was “extremely honored to receive the award” and that she works with “so many educators that are excellent teachers.”
“They go above and beyond each and every day for their students,” Mayotte said. “The educators at my building, Stony Hill,
do this every day and I am privileged to work with such a dedicated staff.”
She said that she hopes her students understand how excited she is for them to reach their goals and would love to be that teacher “they talk about to their own children, that teacher they remember as making a difference in their own learning.”
“I have teachers that I have remembered throughout my career that I still talk about and the difference they made in my own life,” Mayotte said.
She added that every day brings a new reward and a new challenge, but that she believes those are reasons she continues to be an educator.
“I love the reward of watching each and every one of my students grow,” Mayotte said. “I love the challenge of finding ways to make that happen.”
From right: Amy Hale, Dr. Georgina Trebbe, Lynn Mayotte Reminder
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Spring in New England is pothole season and this year the roadway nuisance has been particularly egregious.
At the City Council’s March 17 Sustainability and Environment Committee meeting, Chair and Ward 6 Councilor Victor Davila made the case that potholes are more than a nuisance, affecting not only driving conditions but the environment. He said potholes cause drivers to swerve, brake suddenly and repeatedly slow down and speed up, leading to higher fuel consumption and emissions. The water in potholes collects oil, heavy metals and other fluids from automobiles, as well as road salt, which seep into the ground. Additionally, he said, “You have people honking their horns,” vibrations and noise from vehicles that hit potholes negatively impacting neighborhoods’ quality of life.
Even repairing potholes has
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums presents “Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover: A Hands-on Journey with Donna Castellanos,” an immersive exhibition that invites visitors to step inside artist Donna Castellanos’s imaginative world, where once-cherished books are transformed into vibrant works of art and interactive experiences celebrating creativity and storytelling. The exhibition will be on view March 28 through Sept. 6 at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.
“We are thrilled to showcase Donna Castellanos’ visually captivating and engaging work to our guests,” said Curator of Art Kris Ludwig. “Visitors will be amazed by the creativity behind each piece, but perhaps even more impressive is the artist’s talent for inspiring viewers while also providing moments that encourage them to discover their
environmental impacts. More roadway material must be manufactured, transported and laid down, generating fossil fuels and consuming energy at each step.
Davila listed a few streets in his ward surrounding Forest Park that have pothole damage, including Cliffwood, Orange, Lenox and Tiffany streets and Pineywoods Ave. Grenada Terrace “looks like a war zone,” Davila said, “like somebody dropped grenades.”
DPW Director Christopher Cignoli explained that a perfect storm of conditions this year has led to potholes that are excessive in number and severe in size. He said many roads in Springfield are older with cracks that allowed water from the heavy amounts of snow the city received to seep in. Extreme cold locked frost below ground level.
Potholes occur throughout the year but are particularly a problem in the spring. Once temperatures begin to rise during the daytime, the frost and ice melt, but harden again as temperatures dip below
own creative voices.”
Designed as an unfolding journey through Castellanos’s “Book of Wonder,” the exhibition invites visitors to explore a series of imaginative environments that encourage deep looking, playful discovery and creative participation. In the Book of Nature, visitors encounter paper poppies assembled from book covers, schools of paper fish, and an immersive schoolhouse environment. In Read the Room, a cozy living room installation features bookbinding chair rails and a life-size dog constructed from recycled materials.
A celebrated mixed-media artist, curator and educator, Castellanos works across sculpture, jewelry and textiles, often giving overlooked materials new life.
Using salvaged books, found objects and personal keepsakes, Castellanos creates witty and imaginative works that explore
freezing at night. This freezethaw cycle causes the asphalt to expand and contract, damaging it and resulting in potholes.
Because there was so much snow this winter, Cignoli said the parking ban was left in effect longer than usual. The Springfield Police Department towed three times the number of vehicles as usual over the winter. Cignoli said it is important to keep vehicles off the streets, not just so plow crews can clear them, but also because they block sunlight from hitting the asphalt and slows the time it takes snow to melt.
Davila asked Cignoli to about how the DPW is combating the pothole problem. Cignoli explained that three crews, one more than normal for this time of year, had been filling potholes with “cold patch,” which is essentially a gravel and asphalt mix that is designed to temporarily cover the holes. Until the weather is consistently above freezing, he said, permanent asphalt material cannot be manufactured or ad-
people, animals, and abstract forms while inviting audiences to see everyday materials in new ways. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she frequently leads community-based art projects and workshops that emphasize collaboration and creative expression. Her sculpture “Bertha, I’d like to know where you got the notion” received the People’s Choice Award in THE OUTWIN 2022: American Portraiture Today at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and was featured in the exhibition when it traveled to the Springfield Museums in 2024.
Describing the inspiration behind her book-based artworks, Castellanos says, “I want others to be able to see and experience what I see when I flip through an old book that has had its own journey, that has been touched, held, and read by many different people. Not just the written words inside the book, but its history, its previous owner, the beauty of the bindings, the embossing, and the wonderful illustrations.”
In “Book of Wonder,” visitors are not only observers but collaborators. Throughout the
hered to road surfaces. Cignoli expected hot patch to be available within a week. Pothole repair is largely tackled based on the order in which they are reported, but major potholes may be prioritized, he said. Davila brought Cignoli’s atten-
exhibition, guests are invited to take part in a variety of hands-on installations that encourage creativity through drawing, writing, storytelling and collage.
• Playbook — Magnetic picture frames invite visitors to create surreal collages using encyclopedia illustrations.
Check Book — A playable checkers game constructed from repurposed books in the Read the Room installation.
• Tell Me About It — Guests choose a whimsical “Silly Sculp” sculpture that reminds them of someone in their lives and add their reflections to a corresponding book in the gallery library.
• Homework — Visitors create personal collage books using pages from dictionaries to describe their feelings, accomplishments, or dreams before placing their finished books on the gallery shelves.
• I Can’t Even Draw a Stick Figure — Guests complete the bodies of historical portraits clipped from encyclopedias, contributing their drawings to a growing “Springfield volume.”
• Scavenger Hunt — A search
tion to the X, a busy intersection in the Forest Park neighborhood. Cignoli explained that responsibility for those potholes falls to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which is partway
for hidden elements within artworks that are not made from paper or books.
Reinforcing her belief in the importance of participation, Castellanos explained, “I want people to feel they have been invited and welcomed to freely express themselves, be part of the conversation and share their thoughts and experiences in a creative way.”
Building on the exhibition’s emphasis on creativity and engagement, the Springfield Museums will host several special programs with Castellanos that invite audiences to learn more about her artistic process and connect with the themes of the exhibition.
• Book of Wonder: Artist Talk with Donna Castellanos — Thursday, April 2, 12:15 p.m. Part of the ongoing lecture series Museums à la Carte, Castellanos leads the audience through her creative process and provides insight into the exhibition. Attend in person or on Zoom. Members free, nonmembers $4.
Play by the Books: A Novel Night of Creative Crafting — Thursday, May 7, 5–7:30 p.m. Meet the artist, go on a gallery tour, and get creative at the art-making stations where book pages become the materials for costume collages, crafty bookmarks and origami creatures. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Reservations suggested. Members $15, nonmembers $20. “Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover” is sponsored by PeoplesBank and supported by the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.
A vehicle drives past large potholes at the intersection of Grenada Terrace and Ventura Street.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
See
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Back Porch Festival returns March 27 for its 12th year
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — More than 60 artists will perform at 12 walkable venues in the city’s downtown when the 12th annual Back Porch Festival returns to Northampton from March 27-29.
The Back Porch Festival is a collaborative effort between Signature Sounds and the Parlor Room Collective. Founded in 2014 as a one-day event at the Academy of Music Theater in Northampton, the event has since grown into a multi-venue celebration featuring the best in American roots music. Each year, the festival includes a live broadcast of the Back Porch radio show before a live audience, and this year’s will take place on March 29 at 9 a.m. at The Iron Horse.
Back Porch Radio host Jim Olsen has been on the airwaves of WRSI since 1984, serving as the station’s program and music director from 1985 to 1996. When the station moved to Northampton in 1996 and became 93.9 The River, the Back Porch came with it.
In the first year of the Back Porch Festival, Olsen and organizers were looking to put on a one-day concert for the community, and when their booked act canceled at the last minute, organizers improvised and turned the single show into split performances between three different artists.
The festival officially expanded to the format that is currently celebrated in 2023.
“In this day and age, when
you book so many bands, it’s kind of inevitable that something will happen with someone and they can’t make it. We haven’t had one yet this year, but you never know,” said Olsen. “Part of putting on an event like this is just having the flexibility and the foresight to have a plan when problems arise.”
The lone multi-day winter musical festival in New England will kick off the festivities on March 27 with the first headliner show at the Academy of Music featuring BERTHA: Grateful Drag, the world’s first Grateful Dead Drag band. The show begins at 8 p.m. and includes an allstar collective of queer and allied East Nashville talent coming together in full force for a good cause, according to organizers.
Headlining the second day of the weekend is the Back Porch Bluegrass Spectacular featuring Peter Rowan and Sam Grisman Project playing music from Old & In The Way and more. Old & In The Way was a short-lived but groundbreaking bluegrass band featuring Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Vassar Clements, John Kahn and Peter Rowan. The show will celebrate their influences and classic repertoire. It begins at 7 p.m. inside the Academy of Music.
I’m With Her, the harmony-rich, Grammy-winning supergroup of Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins, will close the weekend as the final headliner with a performance inside the Academy of Music on March 29. Special guest Olive Klug will also be featured.
“The thought process in plan-
ning this is, let’s do this at a time of year where everyone could really use it. You never know in New England what you’re going to get with the weather. You can’t rule out a snowstorm during the last weekend of March,” Olsen said with a laugh. “I feel like March is just that month where it’s sort of no longer winter, but it’s also not really spring yet. So, it’s this long month where you’re kind of waiting to get back outside, and this is a little emphasis to get back outside and enjoy.”
Special to this year’s Back Porch Festival will be the debut
of the new concert film, “You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine.” Playing March 29 at 11 a.m. at the Academy of Music, the tribute concert film captured in October 2022 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium honors the legendary songwriter’s enduring legacy. The film brings together family, friends and acclaimed artists like Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell and Bob Weir to celebrate Prine’s life and music on the iconic stage. The film screening
is included with a Ramble Pass, which grants access to every show at the festival except for the evening headlining shows at the academy. “This film has been released this year, and they’re doing select premieres in certain markets, so we’re lucky here in Western Mass. to show this film at the Academy of Music,” Olsen said. “It’s a cool new wrinkle we have this year that we haven’t had in the past.”
Also new to this year’s festi-
See FESTIVAL on page 16
From left: Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams perform during the 2024 Back Porch Festival. The Willie Nelson Tribute performance from the 2024 Back Porch Festival. Las Cafeteras performing at a previous Back Porch Festival.
Photo credit: David Molnar.
No more overrides
This is in response to the letter to the editor “Local school funding is not enough” from the Hampden Wilbraham Education Association.
In the first three paragraphs they strongly imply they want to push through yet another Proposition 2½ override. I couldn’t disagree more. I have to question this need when according to The Reminder, the Superintendent of Schools Mr. John Provost said enrollment has declined over 21% in the last 18 years. To say the least, the optics of trying to burden the taxpayers with an override at a time when enrollment has dropped so steeply is beyond poor.
I am not a person who opposes tax increases just because it is a tax increase. However, this is the same school department who IMMEDIATELY after giving us not one, not two, but three overrides votes would not even initially
LETTERS
close Thornton Burgess School to save money. It was this middle finger to the tax payers that made me determined not to support any tax increase or 2½ override from this school department under any circumstances whatsoever.
And when two of these overrides failed, they still managed to repair the roof at Wilbraham Middle School and address the issues at Soule Road Elementary School. It is my opinion that they didn’t even try to find alternate sources of funding before trying to stick it to the tax payers.
We need to send a strong message to this school committee that we will no longer tolerate this blatant disregard towards their responsibilities to the tax payers, and their blatant disregard towards the meaning of the word ‘budget’. They also need to learn that the taxpayers are not their personal ATM to use whenever they please.
Have they ever considered
selling one of the closed down schools? It would generate money plus eliminate maintenance costs for that building. Memorial School would be a good candidate, which has been closed since 2010, and according to a google search has “high maintenance costs and deterioration”.
NO MORE OVERRIDES!
Al Levinson
Wilbraham
I support Longmeadow’s municipal fiber efforts
I am writing to express strong support for Longmeadow’s ongoing efforts to develop a municipal fiber-optic network.
High-quality broadband is essential infrastructure, direct-
ly influencing property values, business attraction, and quality of life. Today, Longmeadow’s broadband landscape highlights why this investment is so important. The town is overwhelmingly dependent on Xfinity as the sole high-speed internet provider. This lack of competition can limit affordability, reliability, and service quality for residents and businesses alike.
A municipally controlled fiber network offers a powerful alternative, and the advantages are significant. Municipal fiber introduces meaningful market competition, which can drive down prices even among existing providers. It also delivers gig-speed connectivity capable of supporting remote work, telehealth, education, and business growth for decades.
As an investment, it is not without costs. However, it is important to recognize that a project like this is very different
from something like our recent decision to build a new middle school. With a project like this, much of the total cost is paid through subscriber revenue rather than general taxation. Current modeling estimates the town’s potential financial exposure at $1.5–$4.3 million, depending on adoption rates—far below the total projected cost of the project. Municipal fiber is not just about faster internet—it is about investing in Longmeadow’s future. It strengthens local independence, improves affordability, and ensures that critical infrastructure is guided by the needs of residents and businesses. I encourage all residents to prioritize building infrastructure designed for long-term public benefit rather than short-term profit and to keep this initiative moving forward.
Forest Park Zoo’s annual Easter event returns April 4
SPRINGFIELD — The Zoo in Forest Park will host its annual Eggstravaganza, presented by M&T Bank, on Saturday, April 4 ,from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The family-friendly event invites children to hop along the “Bunny Trail” collecting prize-filled Easter eggs and other goodies. There will also be crafts and coloring pages, face painting, a scavenger hunt, ani-
Potholes
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through construction on a multiyear redesign of the area.
mal encounters and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny.
Link To Libraries, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to distribute new books to the school and home libraries of children in need, will be handing out free books to every child at the event.
“We are so excited to kick off our 2026 season with our most popular event,” said Gabry Ty-
Returning to the environmental impacts of potholes and winter road maintenance, Davila asked about the quality of road salt used by the DPW and if there were more environmentally friendly alternatives. Cignoli did not ad-
son, assistant executive director at The Zoo in Forest Park. “Eggstravaganza is the perfect way to shake off the winter blues and welcome back spring.”
Advance registration is required to attend the event. Registration closes April 3 at noon or when all tickets are sold. Tickets are $13 for adults, $8 for children and $9 for seniors, and are available at forestparkzoo.
dress alternative options but explained that the city buys raw salt and treats it with varying portions of liquid calcium depending on road conditions and the type of precipitation expected. It takes DPW crews about 12 hours to
org/eggstravaganza. Discounts are available for zoo members.
Kids are encouraged to bring a bag to collect prizes. In the event of severe weather, Eggstravaganza will be moved to April 5. If the rain date is not utilized, the zoo will be open to the public on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Zoo in Forest Park officially opens to the public on Sat-
pre-treat Springfield’s arterial roads. Cignoli said his department does not have the resources to treat the residential streets, except for dangerous hills.
Council President Tracye Whitfield, who joined the meeting remotely, along with At Large Councilor Justin Hurst and Ward 2 Councilor Michael Fenton, asked if there had been a moratorium on digging this winter as there had been previous years. Cignoli confirmed that the only digging or trenching needed for emergency utility work had been allowed. The moratorium was due to be lifted on March 23.
Cignoli urged residents to re-
urday, March 28. The zoo is open weekends only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3:30 p.m. The zoo will be open daily for both Connecticut and Massachusetts spring vacation weeks — April 11-26. After Mother’s Day, the zoo will move to its full daily operating schedule. For more information, contact Tyson at gabry@forestparkzoo. com or visit forestparkzoo.org.
port potholes to the city’s 311 system using a nearby address so crews can easily locate them. If a vehicle is damaged by a pothole that has been reported to 311 but not fixed, Cignoli said people can file a claim with the city for repair costs. Cignoli agreed to Davila’s request that the City Council be provided with a weekly “progress report” on which potholes have been addressed.
To report a pothole, call 413736-3111 or email 311@springfieldcityhall.com. Davila also said people can reach out to him at councilorvictordavila@ gmail.con if the pothole goes unaddressed.
Aaron Root Longmeadow
• Acrylic Tubs • Acrylic Shower Walls
• Tiled Shower Walls
• Walk-in Showers & Handicap Showers
• Walk in Tubs w/Doors
• Whirlpools • Lighting
• Vanity Tops & Bases & Faucets
• Grab Bars • Towel Bars
• Highmount Toilets & Specialty Seats
• Shower Doors & Handheld Showers
• Tiled Bathroom Floors & Walls
• Walls & Ceilings & Carpentry & Painting
Hall Of Fame announces Western Mass. high school players of the year
SPRINGFIELD — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the recipients of the 15th annual Western Massachusetts Player of the Year awards: Sam Brigham of Pope Francis Prep and Emersynn Cage of Longmeadow High School.
“The talent across Western Mass. never ceases to impress, and this year’s All-Star class is no exception,” said John L. Doleva,
president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “A special recognition goes to Sam and Emersynn, whose standout seasons earned them Player of the Year honors. We can’t wait to see where their drive and dedication take them on the court and beyond.”
A two-year starter at Pope Francis, Brigham finished as the second all-time leading scorer in Western Massachusetts history
with 2,107 points — including a school-record 48-point performance during his sophomore season at St. Mary’s School. Along the way, he earned back-to-back Western Mass. and league titles (2025-26), a state Elite Eight (2025) and Final Four (2026) appearance, and two First-Team All-Western Mass selections. Averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game,
Brigham also collected MVP awards at the Hoophall Classic, Brick City and Windsor tournaments in 2026, and served his school community as a member of the Key Club and Special Olympics program.
Despite tearing her ACL halfway through her sophomore season, Cage went on to score 1,220 career points as a four-year varsity starter for the Longmeadow
Lancers. A four-time First-Team All-Western Mass. selection and three-time Super 7 honoree, Cage led her team as a senior captain to the Western Mass. Class A semifinals and the state round of 32. This season, Cage averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game. She was also the leading goal scorer on the Longmeadow soccer team, which finished as the state runner-up this fall.
Longmeadow Historical Society to host annual daffodil fundraiser
LONGMEADOW — It’s spring so it must be time for the daffodil fundraiser! For the sixth year, the Longmeadow Historical Society will be the beneficiary of this annual fundraiser. Daffodil Days will feature the gardens of Jeff and Nancy Hayes at 56 Williams St. Many hundreds of daffodils are there for the cutting. The property will be opened to the public for cutting from April 9-26. The gardens are opened
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She said that in coming years, it will become increasingly difficult to guarantee current service levels will be maintained.
The presentation adds that the “cost of doing business” is far
PFLAG
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tabling in the community, such as at Longmeadow Pride and the Celebrate East Longmeadow Festival. The monthly groups also help people who may just need some support or want to get involved more.
Chrusciel said an art-focused
for three weekends in April, only on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. There are numerous varieties of daffodils available, from early bloomers to later in the season.
There are hundreds of classic yellow flowers and double yellow flowers, but also many more unusual whites with orange, pink or yellow centers. The public is welcomed to walk the
outpacing the revenue collected for the town and limited revenue sources will continue to be a challenge while operating costs grow.
“This isn’t a Longmeadow problem, this is a municipality problem across the state,” Simmons said. “There are just so few revenue sources that don’t go after the same people over and over, that just can’t keep pace
event was inspired by reading the book “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us,” by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen. The book looks at the science behind how engaging with art can reduce stress, boost creativity and improve overall well-being, citing research showing that just 45 minutes working on an art project can lower cortisol, the stress hormone, by 25%.
entire yard. Some people share that they have come every year and some return more than once during the cutting season. Please bring your own flower clippers.
President of the Longmeadow Historical Society, Al McKee, said the society has been very pleased with the public’s support of this fund raiser. It is the single largest fund raiser of their year. “We have been impressed with the number of
with the actual cost of running a business. We’re a municipality but we still have employees and we still have overhead, and we still have employee benefits that we have to pay, and those are going up at a rate that our revenue is not keeping pace with.”
Future considerations that are being watched are potential increases or decreases to the state
“One of the things I always thought of, having grown up in Massachusetts, is we have LGBTQ communities that are so rich with art, like Northampton and Provincetown, and it just made me think there’s something there,” Chrusciel said. “I feel like creating an environment for people to create and view art is something a little different that can help build community.”
people who come to the Jardin de Juliemilaire — the garden is named for three granddaughters — at the Hayes’ beautiful property to cut spring bouquets and support the Historical Society.” said McKee. Participants tell the homeowners that they look forward to this walk in the spring garden each year. It has become a community event.
After you cut a bouquet, attendees are asked to leave the
budget, unrestricted general government aid and Chapter 70 aid, along with changes to programs and grants with federal funding.
Finance Director Ian Coddington said that when looking at state aid as a whole, it has been on a steady decline over the last 20 years.
“It’s something that our advocates are looking at and are push-
She said there are a lot of festivals where people can purchase art, but that she wanted adults and kids to get into the art.
“We have woodworkers, we have people who have done textile art, and we have people who are gonna guide people creating very non-traditional portraits,” Chrusciel said. “We also have people who are in the LGBTQ community who are there to sell art because we want to highlight and support those folks … we really hope that it’s very interactive.”
The event, and PFLAG as a whole, is a way to bring people together, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community who may feel alone in uncertain times.
“One of the things we decid-
Festival
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val is Secret Planet, a community-supported music group bringing borderless, underground artists to Western Mass. Olsen said the group gathers bands from all over the world to the region and that they will be featured on Saturday through a new “Global Back Porch” performance at 33 Hawley St.
“We’re always looking for interesting ways to shake things up,” Olsen said.
When it comes to booking artists, Olsen explained that the festival’s lineup is filled with a good mixture of national touring and local acts. He said that around 4,000 tickets are typically sold for the event, which therefore brings additional business to downtown.
“The reason we do this is to give it more of a festival feeling. That idea that usually when you go to a music festival it’s an open field or somewhere where there’s a lot of things happening around the ground so we just use downtown Northampton as our festival grounds. It makes for a more social event because rather than sitting in a seat and watching a show, you’re up and moving around,” said Olsen. “You have so many choices of different things to go see. Having a walk-
contribution of their choosing in the available containers. All donations will go directly to the Historical Society to support its programs. Checks may be made to the Longmeadow Historical Society and cash donations left in the donation jars in the yard. The Historical Society would like to thank all of the people who participate in this fundraiser each year.
ing our state legislators to give us additional funds,” Coddington said. “We know how important it is, as local leaders, to have funds available for us to take care of projects.”
The FY27 budget will be voted on at a joint meeting with the Finance Committee on April 6 and then by voters at Town Meeting on May 12.
ed to do is create T-shirts that say “I’m a proud, blank,” so at the festival you will see proud parents, proud friends and proud allies,” Chrusciel said. “The idea is that we are your neighbors, your coaches, your kids’ friends. Life is difficult right now for this community and we hope we can use art to bring people together through the arts.”
She said that the chapter received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is helping to make this event free. “We’re not charging anything,” Chrusciel said. “We’re just asking for donations.” Information on the chapter, monthly meetings and upcoming events can be found at pflageastlongmeadow.org.
able downtown in Northampton and having everything within walking distance just makes it so that not only do you go to different venues and see music, but you might stop at a café and get a coffee or stop at a restaurant for some food or check out a store. It really enlivens the whole city, which was the idea.”
Olsen said it is rewarding for him and fellow Back Porch Festival organizers to see the event’s growth over the years and what it has turned into most recently. He added they look forward to another great festival weekend.
“It means a lot because when we started this, it started very small and humbly, and we’ve been able to grow it a little bit every year. Now we’re getting recognition all around the U.S. for it and from artists that really want to come and play it. It’s just exciting,” said Olsen. “For many years, our group produced Green River Festival, which is and was a wonderful festival that has become a really big deal. It’s fun to get to sort of grow another festival with a totally different format and feel into something that’s exciting and that people are really enjoying, so it’s been great.”
For more information on this year’s Back Porch Festival, its schedule, full lists of performers and venues, or to purchase tickets or a ramble pass, visit backporchfest.com.
DA’s office encourages parents to attend Stop the Swerve event
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden
District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni is encouraging parents and guardians across Hampden County to attend the upcoming Stop the Swerve prevention event alongside their high school, driving-age students.
The free event will take place on Thursday, April 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Stop the Swerve is focused on addressing the dangers of drunk, drugged and distracted driving for our community’s teenagers. The initiative brings together students, families, law enforcement and community partners with one shared goal: preventing tragedies on our roadways before they happen.
A central component of the evening will be a new, locally produced documentary that examines the devastating impact of a real crash in our community.
The documentary centers on the tragic death of Jemyliana Vargas, a young Springfield wom-
an who lost her life following a crash on Interstate 91 in Longmeadow in 2023. The incident underscores how quickly a routine drive can turn fatal and the devastating ripple effects these crashes have on families, friends and the broader community. By sharing her story, with the support of her loved ones, the program aims to put a human face to the consequences of impaired and distracted driving and reinforce the importance of making safe decisions behind the wheel.
Following the documentary, an assistant district attorney who specializes in motor vehicle homicide cases will speak about the legal consequences of impaired and distracted driving, as well as the long-term impact these incidents have on victims, families and entire communities.
“This event is not just for students, it’s for families,” said Gulluni. “Parents play a critical role in shaping safe driving behaviors. Stop the Swerve is an op- portunity to come together, learn from real life events, and have conversations that can ultimately save lives.”
In addition to the presentation, students will have the opportunity to participate in interactive safety
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
Sharlene M. Benson
Nadine Como
Virginia E. Farley
Marion J. Grenier
Chong Sun Lawrence
Robert Prouty
EAST LONGMEADOW
Annette R. Levesque
Bernice J. McNiff
Joan M. O’Shaughnessy
Regina Retynsky
Thelma Jean Rogers
Catherine M. “Cathy” Zawrotny
HAMPDEN
Carolyn G. Whipple
Michael J. Sullivan
S. Cohen
Lee Kulig
HADLEY
M. Roberts
Stephen J. Collins Jr. Allene Begley Curto Vincent A. Falcone
Dorothy Louise “Dotti” Hershman
Elizabeth Ann Lagasse
Richard N. LaPierre
William M. Lavato
Dianne Evelyn MacLure
Assunta “Sue” Messier
Elsie Paschal Nespor
Norman A. Provost Jr.
Joan C. Ruane
WILBRAHAM
Thomas F. Landers Jr.
Joanne Wynande Rostowski
Brian J. Shapiro
Martha-Jane C. Toelken
activities, including driving simulators, impairment-goggle exercises and a pedal cart challenge designed to demonstrate the effects of impairment and distraction behind the wheel.
While students engage in these activities, parents will have the opportunity to attend a presentation by an assistant district attorney about the risks and liabilities associated with underage drinking and hosting teen gatherings.
The evening will also include the announcement of winners from the 2026 Stop the Swerve Public Service Announcement and Billboard Challenge, recognizing local students who have created impactful messages promoting safe driving.
All attendees of driving age can enter a raffle for free driving school tuition through AAA. The Stop the Swerve event is free and open to all Hampden County parents and high school students. No registration is required.
More information can be found at hampdenda.com/ or on the Facebook event page: facebook.com/share/1L2NxFqEPV.
Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni poses
a photo with teenagers at the 2025 Stop the Swerve event.
By Katie Castellani State House News Service
BOSTON — State Sen. Cindy Friedman heard enough of the arguments over what will really help the state’s housing affordability crisis on March 17 and pressed the opposing sides to get to the bottom of it themselves.
After hearing testimony for and against a ballot initiative (H 5008) capping annual rent increases, she urged proponents and opponents to get together and find a middle ground. That scenario could yield the kind of compromise that could take the ballot question off the table for November.
“I am just so frustrated by the extremes,” Friedman, the Senate chair of the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, said during a hearing Tuesday.
The proposed ballot question would limit annual rent increases to the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is lower.
Opponents have said it would stymie housing production in the state while proponents say the reform is crucial to keep residents housed comfortably and from fleeing for less expensive states.
“Somewhere in the middle is the truth. What would be really wonderful for the Legislature is if you all got together and figured out what a middle ground is,”
Friedman said. She added, “This is why it is so hard to figure out how to solve these problems. It would be incredibly helpful if these two groups got together and said, ‘You know what, let’s find a way to do some of both,’ and I urge you to do that.”
Friedman’s comments reflect lawmakers’ hesitation to adopt the controversial measure.
State Sen. Paul Feeney said the issue of housing affordability is nuanced and there are “a lot of questions” that need to be addressed.
“It is evident to all of us in the Legislature that we need to act boldly, but we need to do it and vet these issues so that we don’t affect housing growth downstream,” Feeney told the News Service after the hearing. “That is kind of that sweet spot: How do we make the commonwealth affordable for people, but at the same time increase production. And that is something that I think a lot of us are grappling with. Today’s hearing showed that for everyone to see.”
During the hearing, Feeney noted he was not passing judgement on the measure when he asked proponents how to make sense of the fact that investors have said they will no longer fund projects in Massachusetts while it’s widely agreed the state needs more supply.
Mark Paul, an associate professor of economics at Rutgers University, responded by saying there is no peer-reviewed study published in the U.S. that shows rent control leads to a drop in housing supply and new construction. He related the issue to debates from decades ago over whether establishing a minimum wage would cause employers to layoff workers.
“The same thing is happening with rent control,” Paul said. “When we see states considering it, developers are saying ‘we’re going to leave’ but that really hasn’t played out.”
Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, senior researcher at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies who testified as a neutral expert, said studies have found regulations on rental prices are associated with a drop in rental supply. She also said evidence suggests the policy has little effect on new construction and, in Massachusetts, the end of rent control in 1994 didn’t have a significant impact on building trends. However, the concept has been shown to deter new construction when newer buildings are not exempt from rent caps.
The ballot measure this year includes an exception for units built within the last decade and is somewhat stricter compared to those recently passed in other states like Washington, California and Oregon. In those states, rents are capped at the lower of 10% or the CPI plus 5% to 7%, and there are exceptions for units built within the last 12 to 15 years, according to Airgood-Obrycki.
While they agree boosting the housing supply is important, proponents say residents facing steep rent hikes can’t afford to wait years for new homes to be built.
“This is a fair policy that will create stability for residents, protect communities from displacement, and ensure that Massachusetts remains a place where working families can afford to live, while allowing landlords to operate and profit and preventing the worst corporate actors in the housing market,” said Carolyn Chu, executive director of Homes For All Massachusetts, the campaign backing the proposed ballot question.
State Sen. Barry Finegold said Denver and Raleigh, North Carolina, have seen a drop in rents and asked supporters: “Shouldn’t those be the models that we follow to have rents actually fall and make it more affordable for people?”
Tram Hoang, a senior associate at PolicyLink, said it’s important to look at rental price changes by sub-market because rents are dropping for high-income earners, as opposed to lower-income residents, because vacancy rates for higher-end rental units are rising. Also, it’s rare for someone’s rent to drop and it’s more likely a resident may move to a different unit with a cheaper rent, she said.
“Building at the top is very great because it adds housing supply. But if we want immediate benefits to those who are in most dire conditions, then building at all levels in every sub-market is critical,” Hoang said.
Along with concerns about diminishing housing supply, opponents said the measure would shift costs onto small property owners.
Tony Lopes, a small property owner and vice president of the Small Property Owners Association, said more than 60% of housing providers in the state are small property owners, many of whom own two- or three-family homes and have another full-time job.
“We are not corporations. We are your neighbors,” Lopes told lawmakers while testifying against the measure.
Feeney asked opponents “what is the answer then” to the state’s housing crisis if it’s not rent control. The panel of opponents said building more units is crucial as well as reducing red tape and making it easier to rezone properties.
Finegold also asked opponents what they believe would happen to housing production in communities that border other states if Massachusetts passed the measure.
“It’s already happening, senator, with the rumors of rent control, [developers] are already crossing over to New Hampshire,” responded Neily Soto, chair of Methuen City Council and board member of Massachusetts Housing Coalition.
Soto’s testimony aligns with observations from the Federal Reserve Banks’s Beige Book and top Beacon Hill leaders.
During an event held by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce two weeks ago, Gov. Maura Healey — who is staunchly opposed to the initiative petition — said that when the idea of rent control going on the ballot came out she got calls from six developers who had lost investment funds.
“Investors are afraid,” the governor said. “It’s totally at odds and counteractive to what we’re trying to do.”
Katie Castellani is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at kcastellani@ stateaffairs.com.
Cailin O’Brien led the Falcons with 19 points.
Brie Foisy ignites the Falcons fast break.
Manning (L-R)
Kelly Cronin goes up for the opening tap.
Zahara Wilson drives down the lane and draws the hard foul.
Ainsley Holden (L) from Minnechaug jostles for rebound position with Central’s Genesis Grimes.
Elizabeth Woytowicz looks to pass the ball to the low post.
BRIMFIELD
AJason R. Richard to Benjamin Peters, 281 Warren Road $425,000 EAST LONGMEADOW
AlAmanda Torres-Alvarado and Jennifer Torres to Thomas Vuong and Kim Vuong, 4 Millbrook Drive
Brian L. McClelland and Sarah H. McClelland to Jason Van Buren, 123 Mountainview Road
D R Chestnut LLC, to Jane Pickles, 50 Broadleaf Circle Unit III-21
$600,000
Gabrielle L. McEvoy, Gabrielle L. Mack and Seamus P. McEvoy to Susan Thibault, 19 Anne St. $375,000 HAMPDEN
Allen E. Warren Jr., and Caitlin Hutter to Heather Turcotte, Kaela Ladouceur and Bryce Ostrander, 59 Baldwin Dr.
Stephen Burke to Kelly A. Karam, 35 Greenleaf Drive $108,500 SPRINGFIELD
Aisha T. Williams-Garcia, Ivan G. Garcia and Ivan Garcia to Damarys Ocasio, 83 Gilman St.
MONSON
AJV Investments LLC, to Kristen Lombardo and Kevin Hepburn, 24 Flynt Ave.
Andre J. Cormier Jr., to Dam Nguyen, 26 Green St.
James P. Bailey to Elizabeth J. Starzyk, 221 Cedar Swamp Road
Michael A. Dupuis to George Parent and Carleen Dupuis, 115 Peck Brothers Road
Michael Grochowski II, and Michelle Leanne Grochowski to Hannah Grocott, 54 High St.
Tracy Trant Senecal and Traci Trant Senecal to James B. Howard Jr., 84 Silver St.
