Longmeadow voters say no to town-owned fiber
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — A townowned fiber network has been a hot topic of debate in Longmeadow since the idea began in 2024, and especially for the months leading up to the Annual Town Meeting. Now that the meeting has come and gone, the debate has as well.
The Longmeadow High School lobby was filled with chatter from voters before the May 12 meeting began murmuring that Article 7 was “the big
one.” Discussion took place for an hour and the article was shot down in a 374-270 vote.
Article 7 was looking to see if the town would approve the appropriation of $8.6 million for the initial phases of the $27 million fiber project, paid for by a property tax increase of $97 per year.
Ben Brown, a member of the original Municipal Fiber Task Force, was chosen as the Select Board’s designated speaker. Brown presented a final look into the benefits of approving the project, how the town got here, why it matters and what the town
would have owned after the fact.
Brown said that other companies had filed pole applications but nobody had built anything yet, stating that the town couldn’t wait for “someone else to decide we’re worth their investment, we have to decide for ourselves.”
“Here’s the real consequences if we don’t vote yes tonight,” Brown said. “The pole applications expire, the engineering work we paid for becomes obsolete, the window closes. If we want to restart in two or three years, we reapply, we pay another quarter million for new appli
cations. We start from scratch, and while we’re waiting, someone else builds to the profitable neighborhoods, probably less than half of the town and leaves the rest of the town behind forever. We lose our chance to build equitably, to control it and to own it. We can’t get that back.” Brown also compared the asking rate of roughly $90 a month for one gig speeds of town-owned fiber to Comcast’s same speed for $110. He said one gig at Comcast is actually slower than promised
A Longmeadow High School student’s artwork is slated to hang on the walls of the U.S. Capitol for the next year.
HAMPDENWILBRAHAM
Residents vote at Town Meetings
On May 11 residents in Hampden and Wilbraham voted on various articles as part of the
The Annual Town Meeting begins at Longmeadow High School on May 12.
Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Tuohy
STRM: Gonzalez reacts to Baystate’s merger with Mercy
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Baystate
Health’s recent acquisition of Mercy Medical Center, set to become official on Nov. 1, is making waves throughout the region as people scramble to prepare for what this will mean for health care in Western Massachusetts.
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez sat down with hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet to discuss what is on the horizon in light of this announcement and how he plans to gather more information about the merger.
As of press time, Gonzalez met with Baystate Health President and CEO Peter Banko to gain more clarity about the impact the merger may have and how the decision may affect personnel, services and the role Mercy has in the region. He shared that he’s also privately met with the speaker of the state’s House of Representatives and is working with the Department of Public Health and personnel at Baystate to determine the best path forward fol-
lowing the announcement.
“We’ve been trying to make sure that we are in tune to what are the needs of that potential merger, but also more importantly, upon getting the notification, what changes we may potentially see that can adversely affect the services of the personnel at Mercy,” Gonzalez said.
The Springfield Democrat foresees a bevy of potential health impacts hitting the area when this merger officially takes shape. He mentioned the birthing center closing at Mercy and the overflow of people in the region’s hospitals as potential concerns for people who need hospital services in a prompt manner.
“Sometimes we may have seen in the past a bulging of people going to emergency rooms across our hospital systems, and that may have a negative impact,” Gonzalez said. “And that’s a five-minute to 20-minute delay on providing medical attention to somebody in an emergency situation, [which] could, you know, cost lives.”
On the topic of whether he thinks the merger will prevent
Mercy from shutting down, a concern delegates and residents have had in the past, Gonzalez said that “mergers are like marriages,” and “many marriages end up in divorce and changes need to happen.”
“That’s why it’s important that we get answers directly on what they foresee are potential changes or challenges, and how can the state be impactful and find a system through this process,” Gonzalez said.
He noted that Baystate and Mercy are economic engines for the region “in so many ways,” whether it be through the birth centers or local pharmacy at Mercy. In that same breath, Gonzalez said the merger carries some potential drawbacks such as a loss of jobs, a problem he said will hopefully be addressed in future discussions with hospital leadership.
“We hope that whatever bargaining rights [doctors and nurses] have at Mercy can continue to remain,” Gonzalez said.
He shared that his job as a state representative is to serve the people, and although some are excited about the merger, he wants to
make sure it doesn’t negatively impact residents in our region.
“I believe that government is for the people, by the people,” Gonzalez said. “Now is the prime time to be echoing your sentiments as to what you feel is a need. And if we can attach a cost
to it that can be obtained, then we need to work on those efforts.”
Readers can listen to the full podcast episode with Gonzalez by visiting thereminder.com/ our-podcast or searching “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
Fenton stages bid for District 8 seat on Governor’s Council
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton has announced that he will run against incumbent Tara Jacobs to represent Western Massachusetts on the Governor’s Council, an influential body that reviews judicial appointments and advocates for the state’s judicial infrastructure needs.
The Governor’s Council is a body of eight members, presided over by the lieutenant governor. The council meets once a week to consent on the governor’s choice of judges, clerk magistrates and members of the Parole, Appel-
late Tax, Industrial Accident and Industrial Accident Reviewing boards, as well as public administrators, notaries and justices of the peace. Governor’s Council members also advise the governor on major outlays from the state treasury, such as building courthouses, and on pardons and commutations.
“The Governor’s Council is really a check on the governor,” Fenton said. “It’s the perfect complement of my skill set. This position really needs someone who has legal training to scrutinize judicial appointments.”
Fenton has been an attorney for 17 years, most recently with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin. He is
also a professor at Western New England University School of Law. He added that his 14 years spent on the City Council have provided him with the experience to thoroughly vet decisions based on facts and information.
moments happen in these courtrooms,” Fenton said.
Because the districts are population-based, District 8 is the largest geographical district, consisting of 102 cities and towns west of Palmer. Fenton said the Governor’s Council provides “a chance to elevate Western Massachusetts people to more positions.” Fenton said no current members of the state Supreme Judicial Court, the Appellate Tax Board or the Parole Board hail from Western Massachusetts.
“The council should be doing more than just reacting,” Fenton said. “They should be recruiting
Michael Fenton is a Springfield City Councilor and is running for Governor’s Council for District 8. Reminder Publishing file photo
“Life-changing
For Fenton, reviewing the governor’s selection of judges is among the most consequential decisions. The process of being named a judge is “rigorous and invasive,” he said. “It is deemed by many to be the highest accomplishment of an attorney.” He said candidates must demonstrate that they have the “highest ethical standards, the appropriate demeanor” and the requisite background.
See FENTON on page 15
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez joined the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me.” Reminder Publishing submitted photo
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:
• Technology Help Sessions — Tuesday, May 19 at the Pleasant View Senior Center from 8-9 a.m.; at 81 Quarry Hill Road from 2-3 p.m.; and at the East Longmeadow Public Library from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Adult Book Discussion Group
— Thursday, May 21, at 11 a.m.
This month’s selection is “The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware. Teen programs: Fandom Club — Monday, May 18, at 2:30 p.m.
Children’s programs:
• Preschool Storytime — Monday, May 18, at 10 a.m. for ages 3-4.
• Wiggles and Giggless — Wednesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. for ages 2-3.
Let’s Get Messy — Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m. for ages 2-4.
• End of year book club ice cream party — Wednesday, May 20, at 4:30 p.m for kindergarten and first grade. The library is hosting an ice cream party and encouraging every kiddo to share a brief “book talk” about
a favorite book to inspire their peers. While students are welcome to bring their books, it is not required only the title and a few reasons why they loved it.
PLEASANT VIEW SENIOR CENTER
The following events will be hosted at the Pleasant View Senior Center, 328 North Main St. For more information or to register, call 413-5255436.
• Your Care, Your Choice: A Guide to Advanced Care Planning — Monday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. Learn the importance of planning for your healthcare now and in the future if you are ever unable to speak for yourself. Registration is required.
SHINE Program Table Top — Tuesday, May 19, 10 a.m to noon. Stop by to ask a Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone representative questions about Medicare.
• A Walk in Their Shoes Tuesday — May 19, at 11 a.m. Allow the dementia experts from The Reserve to take you through a simulation experience to better understand and empathize with what living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can be like. They will guide you through the challenges of compromised vision, hearing and dexterity, which all affect cognition. Registration is required.
• Senior Investment Fraud: New Scams and How to Avoid Them — Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. Hear about scams targeting seniors and practical steps to protect yourself.
EAST LONGMEADOW
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH DRIVE-THRU PANTRY
East Longmeadow United Methodist Church, located at 215 Somers Road, will be giving away a free bag of groceries every other Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Upcoming dates include May 16 and 30. Attendees are requested to enter the church parking lot from Somers Road.
DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE NON-PARTISAN
CANDIDATES FORUM
The East Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee will host a non-partisan candidates forum on Wednesday, May 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the Pleasant View Senior Center. This public forum is being held to provide residents with an opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking elected office and to learn more about the issues impacting the community. All candidates have been invited to participate. The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and become informed before upcoming elections.
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
The East Longmeadow American Legion Post #293 will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25, at East Longmeadow High School. Legion members will assemble at 10:30 a.m. and stepoff at 10:50 a.m. for an 11 a.m. ceremony, which should last about 15 minutes. After the ceremony the group will then proceed into the high school for about an hour program.
HAMPDEN
HAMPDEN SENIOR CENTER
The following events are organized by the Hampden Senior Center, 104 Allen St. For more information or to register for programs, call 413-5665588.
• Financial planning questions
with Pat Sherman from Edward Jones — Wednesday, May 20, from 9-11 a.m. This is a free service.
Chair Massage with Mindy — Wednesday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment. $10 for a 10-minute appointment.
• Lobby learning: Benchmark at Orchard Valley — Thursday, May 21. Tailoring at the Senior Center — Friday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. The Senior Center welcomes seamstress extraordinaire, Georgina Hamilton, on the second and fourth Fridays of every month to help with your tailoring needs and more.
HAMPDEN GARDEN CLUB
MEETING
The Hampden Garden Club will be hosting Jacqueline Clark, the owner/ operator of Garden Designs by Jacqueline, LLC on Thursday, May 21, at 7 p.m. Clark has been gardening and lecturing for over 23 years and will be presenting her program “Gardening for Four Seasons”. Clark specializes in design and monthly maintenance of all types of landscaping. The program will be at the club’s new meeting location at the Town Hall (formerly Thornton W. Burgess Middle School), 85 Wilbraham Road, Room A7. Guests are asked to use the library entrance. There is a $5 fee for non-members of the garden club. New members are welcome. Membership fee for the year is $15 and includes admission to all programs.
CHRISTINA’S HOUSE DESIGN PURSE BINGO
Christina’s House will be hosting a designer purse bingo on Friday, May 22. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a bag preview, bingo starts at 7 p.m.
at LifeStream Church, 216 Allen St.
To purchase your tickets, sponsor or donate, visit event.auctria.com/ d32625b1-ffbb-4a61-a51b-a3ff86a92239/. The prizes will be designer bags (i.e. Kate Spade, Coach, and Michael Kors) Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Your ticket includes 10 games of bingo and a marker. Food available for purchase includes a pasta dinner by Founder Linda Orlandi and/or Spanish rice by Executive Director Carolyn Martinez. Desserts, snacks and light refreshments (soda, water, coffee and tea) will also be available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring snacks to share with their table. No alcoholic drinks can be brought into this event. There will also be raffle prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Additional bingo cards are available for $3 per game.
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: • Rhythm & Read — Monday, May 18, 9:30-10 a.m.
• Read Cross: Stuffed Animal Hospital- Stuffed animal drop off — Tuesday, May 19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Resident takes home Howdy Award for transportation
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — Not all heroes wear capes, some drive a school bus instead.
Rick Malmborg, a Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative bus driver, is celebrating a big win after receiving the award for transportation at the 29th Annual Howdy Awards, held this year at Springfield’s MassMutual Center on April 27. Explore Western Mass created the Howdy Awards in 1996 with the purpose of recognizing and celebrating front-line employees across the hospitality industry, from food service and retail to employees at attractions like Bright Nights.
Malmborg became a bus driver with LPVEC three years ago as a retirement gig. He said he
was at the age to retire and decided to give it a shot.
“LPVEC was nice enough to train me during the day, so I could continue my job at night, and then once I got my certificate on my license to drive the bus, I retired,” Malmborg said. “I mean, my son is the one who recommended that, he’s like ‘dad, you ought to be a bus driver,’ and my daughter said the same thing.”
He was one out of 1,400 total nominations for this year’s awards, which was then whittled down to 65 finalists and 10 winners. He said he thought it was a joke when his boss handed him the nomination at work.
“I opened it up, and sure enough, I was shocked,” Malmborg said. “Come to find out, it was the high school kids I used to deliver back and forth be-
Board responded to each one at a special meeting on April 16.
and any advertised price is simply promotional and can expire.
“With town-owned fiber, you actually get what you pay for,” Brown said. “Speed that doesn’t slow down at peak hours, reliability that doesn’t drop when it rains, pricing that’s transparent, no promotional rates that quietly double after a year, no random fees, no surprises on your bill … the fiber we put in the ground today, is the same fiber that will carry whatever speed comes next.”
The Finance Committee voted twice not to recommend the project, once on April 6 and second on May 5. Finance Committee Chair Erica Weida said that the committee is not against the project moving forward in the future, but at this time, the information did not sufficiently answer multiple financial questions.
These questions were included in the warrant, and the Select
Weida added that the financial model hadn’t been fully vetted or finalized at the time of the Finance Committee’s vote on April 6, and that this should have been a requirement for moving the warrant forward.
“The article we are voting on tonight is not whether we build a municipal fiber utility, it’s on one option for how we could finance this utility,” Weida said. “The $8.615 million debt exclusion being voted on tonight, which will cost the taxpayers $12.2 million when interest is included, should be viewed as a subsidy for this utility. Through this bond, taxpayers will cover 32% of the building costs of utility. This will not be paid back to the town from the revenue, from the statute.”
Weida said if the Municipal Light Plant had to repay the full costs of this build without the subsidy, the $90 rate would not work but a $110 or $115 rate probably would. She said “so apparently, we could get it for the
tween East Longmeadow, Longmeadow to [LPVEC Career Technical Educational Center] in West Springfield. I was happy and shocked … It really didn’t sink in until I actually got to the award ceremony. I’m just doing my job, I’m just a retired guy driving a bus to kill some time.”
Malmborg said that he doesn’t think about getting awards or any gratification while he’s on the clock, and that the only gratification he needs is “getting the kids from point A to point B.” He added that to be a good bus driver, you have to have compassion and kindness for the kids on the bus.
“You want to treat the kids like you would want to be treated by them,” Malmborg said. “I got to know them, I mean, from freshmen all the way to seniors in high school, so I got to see
cost of Comcast.”
Resident Tom Shea said the $12.2 million property tax subsidy was not disclosed to taxpayers, and that the Select Board did not know about it until the meeting on April 6. He said the initial phases of fiber, construction and interest costs were originally meant to be covered by borrowings and revenue.
“It is not typical that property taxes subsidize fiber,” Shea said. “An updated financial model was provided to the Select Board on April 6 from the prior one on Jan. 5. The current model was then voted on at that same meeting, there was not enough time for discussion … Longmeadow has too much debt for its current rating. We have $321 million in debt to be issued under our fiveyear capital plan, which includes $96 million in school. This could have been done differently.”
Resident Tom Lachiusa said that so many towns around Longmeadow are moving in the direction of fiber, and that it’s more valuable to the residents to own
the progression of each kid. New kids come along every year, you try and get a rapport with them … you just have to have an open mind driving the bus. Currently right now, I do a different route, so I’m seeing a range of different kids, from high school all the way down to kindergarten. I still interact with them, high fives and what not and just trying to make them feel comfortable on the buses. Some of these little kids, they’re just paranoid on the bus, you know, paranoid in the traffic, and mom and dad not being around. You kind of have to just watch them a little bit more than you would the high school kids.”
Malmborg made sure to say thank you to his wife Kathy, his son Adam Malmborg and his daughter Lindsay Linnehan for helping him with his speeches, while also thanking his son-in-
the distribution.
“I do think about how much it would have cost Comcast to connect all these homes, as it is now,” Lachiusa said. “We know the price of everything continues to go up, and I don’t see why we should wait any longer to move forward in this acquisition of something that will give us some money in the future … this does offer an opportunity for us to make new revenue and Comcast would be against this because they are making a lot of revenue.”
Resident Curt Freedman said electronic technologies are changing rapidly and that “we cannot limit ourselves to a single technology or risk falling victim to a second best condition.” He urged the town to vote no.
Resident Benjamin Tansky asked the Select Board how the financial model was created, and Select Board member Vineeth Hemavathi said that it was first put together by Fiberspring’s finance director and then adapted by Longmeadow Finance Director Ian Coddington to fit what the
town was trying to do.
Hemavathi added that he didn’t know where any of the numbers presented by the Finance Committee came from and that they didn’t come from someone who was hired by the town.
“The model we’re working with was actually put together by folks who were paid to do this, who have experience doing this and had a track record of actually putting together a project like this and having that budget work,” Hemavathi said.
Resident Estelle Jordan was met with applause when she moved to call the question, which ends debate when there is no new information being presented. The motion passed 604-44 and immediately brought on the Article 7 vote, which did not pass.
Another big topic discussed after the fiber vote was Article 28, a snow removal bylaw amendment which had been motioned to move up in the warrant. Coverage of that discussion will be in the May 21 edition of The Reminder.
law Tim Linnehan, his grandsons Will and Owen Linnehan and all of the kids who nominated him.
East Longmeadow resident and bus driver Rick Malmborg. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
State pursuing tool to catch hospital errors before they become costly
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — A new endeavor to better track patient safety issues and overlooked medical errors at Massachusetts hospitals could lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in savings, including for MassHealth that dominates state health care spending, state officials and safety experts say.
The Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety is working on an automated monitoring pilot program at about a half dozen hospitals, using software to comb through electronic medical records and identify triggers that lead to preventable and costly “harm events” for patients, including premature discharge, medication errors and surgical mishaps. The center operates as an independent entity within the state Center for Health Information and Analysis.
Hospitals currently have their own internal systems for tracking patient safety issues, but the process of manually poring over clinical records can be time-intensive — with providers often missing harm events or failing to identify errors, said Julia Prentice, the Betsey Lehman Center’s director of research and analysis.
The technology the center plans to invest in can detect more than 100 types of harm events in almost
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College Transfer Affairs
Coordinator Mark Broadbent received a lifetime achievement award from the New England Transfer Association, a nonprofit association of transfer professionals from two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Broadbent, a resident of Longmeadow, was presented with the Dr. Mary E. Dunn Lifetime Achievement in Transfer Award at the association’s 2026 annual conference, which was held April
real-time. About one-quarter of admitted hospital patients experience at least one harm event, based on data collected in Massachusetts, Prentice said.
“If we look just at the hospitals, there are nearly 180,000 patient harm events at varying degrees of severity per year,” Prentice said on May 6 at a forum hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans.
“Considering that on average each of these events requires almost $12,000 in extra care, this amounts to over $2 billion in the annual excess cost to the payers,” Prentice continued. “Almost a quarter of that cost is borne by MassHealth. These estimates also do not include any harm that is occurring in outpatient care or in long-term care settings.”
Among recent medical mishaps in the commonwealth, a man in his 60s died after a long delay in receiving cardiac medicine in the emergency department, a new mother died of cardiac arrest when she was discharged before test results came back for a potential infection, a lab lost “irreplaceable specimens” from a mastectomy, and the wrong lens were implanted during cataract surgery, Prentice said.
Nearly 45,000 harm events could be prevented annually if all Massachusetts hospitals imple-
13-15 at the Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Mass. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to transfer in New England through their advocacy, leadership, and mentoring.
Broadbent has worked at HCC since 1990 and served as coordinator of transfer affairs for 34 years.
“This award is well deserved,” said Renee Tastad, assistant vice president of student affairs and enrollment manage-
mented automated monitoring, based on a 25% harm reduction, the center estimates. That would translate into $536 million in savings, including $111 million in savings to MassHealth.
To get started with its pilot, the center plans to equip around five to eight hospitals with technology from Pascal Metrics Inc. Barbara Fain, the center’s executive director, said the goal is to select a diverse mix of hospitals that will be required to share data about the tool’s impact on bolstering safety.
“The reason we’re doing this is we’re looking at how could this be scaled, how could this be standardized,” Fain said.
Dr. David Stockwell, chief clinical officer at Pascal Metrics, said the monitoring platform will give hospitals a comprehensive view into their “defects.”
“You’ve got the ability to triage them and to rank them in terms of what are my most frequent, what are my most severe, what are my most frequent and severe,” Stockwell said. “What are those things that are the high-harm, preventable events? And so then you can target your work depending on your own facility, those things that you find most important to work on.”
The pilot is on track to be fully funded by the Legislature in the fiscal year 2027 budget, Fain said. The pilot will cost a total of
ment. “Mark’s work has opened doors and created transfer paths for countless HCC students. He continues to elevate HCC as a college of academic excellence through our many transfer programs.”
Each year, HCC transfers hundreds of graduating students to colleges and universities both near and far, with University of Massachusetts Amherst, Westfield State University, Elms College, Western New England, Smith College, and Mount Holy-
$3.5 million, and the FY26 budget provided around $900,000 in initial funding, a center spokesperson said. The pilot will feature “rolling starts,” depending on the time frame for hospitals to integrate the Pascal Metrics platform, the spokesperson said.
“There is definitely, and we’ve heard this, there is a moral case to be made for this work,” Sen. Paul Feeney, who co-chairs the Financial Services Committee, said. “But this is one of those rare opportunities where, as a policymaker, we see where doing the right thing for the patient also begins to bend that cost curve.”
Legislative fixes have yet to emerge this session to rein in surging health care spending. Bay Staters are being squeezed by rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs, with many incurring medical debt or forgoing care due to affordability concerns.
Feeney said the vast majority of health care policy discussions have revolved around cost and affordability. Policymakers must “double down” on collecting patient harm data to guide future reforms, the Foxborough Democrat said.
“There are 200 legislators — 160 state reps, 40 state senators — that can work in our district and amplify this type of measure, so that we can actually have the
oke College being among its top transfer partners.
“It’s an honor, and it’s humbling,” said Broadbent. “It’s an outstanding award.”
Broadbent earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in psychological services from Springfield College. He started working at HCC as a Springfield College intern and then moved into Admissions and the TRIO program before landing in his current position.
conversations that bring the pressure down on cost and that realize savings in the end,” Feeney said. He added, “The significant savings that we’ll see from this, it means a lot to us, and we can certainly use a lot of that funding in the health care space going forward.”
From the perspective of providers rather than insurers, one attendee pointed out harm events are not necessarily costing money but are instead generating an additional $2 billion in revenues. He asked how that would affect the culture at hospitals to more closely focus on patient safety.
Stockwell acknowledged that fee-for-service hospitals “may have a little bit of trepidation” about patients not needing the same scope or length of care.
“I think the answer to that is you will have length-of-stay improvements. You will be able to have higher bed turnover,” Stockwell said. “You will keep heads in beds — you will actually turn them over quicker.”
Patients will end up receiving better quality care, which will “help to deliver a competitive advantage” to hospitals, Stockwell said.
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
Mark Broadbent. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Longmeadow student wins Congressional Art Competition
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — A Longmeadow High School student’s artwork is slated to hang on the walls of the U.S. Capitol for the next year after her victory in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined Superintendent Martin O’Shea and Principal Thomas Landers at LHS to celebrate and recognize student Jenny Lu as she showcased her winning piece, titled “Fisherman,” on May 5.
The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide contest that celebrates the artistic talents of high school students, where U.S. House of Represen-
tatives members honor one high school student from each of their districts.
The winning pieces go on display for 11 months in the Cannon Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol, one of the most viewed student art displays in the country and visited by millions, according to the competition’s website. Lu’s work was selected from more than 30 submissions.
“We want to congratulate Jenny,” Neal said. “We want to acknowledge the special role the Longmeadow Public School system has played in enriching this moment for all of us … this artwork is terrific.”
Neal said that athletics and the accomplishments of athletes are recognized often, and
that this piece is a great credit to the school’s art department and the staff.
“There’s another convention to our lives, and it’s the role of creativity the artists play, whether it’s a pianist, the cello or a beautiful work of art,” Neal said. “I think the other important consideration, some kinds of notes in the immediacy of the creativity. It’s lasting for all our lives.”
Lu told Reminder Publishing that she started painting when she was in third grade and went on to take art classes all throughout high school.
“Fisherman” is painted with gouache, a water-based paint thicker and more opaque than wa-
Simmons creates budget task force to tackle future deficits
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — Longmead-
ow Town Manager Lyn Simmons is figuring out strategies for the town’s financial future, creating a budget task force to ensure longterm stability.
The task force’s goal is to create a five-year sustainable fiscal plan to bridge the gap between projected revenues and the cost of maintaining town services through a combination of revenue enhancement, expense trimming, cost containment and strategic prioritization.
Simmons presented her draft for the task force to the Select Board at its meeting on May 4.
The task force is modeled after several others in the state from communities grappling with similar budget struggles, she said. It would meet from June to Decem-
ber, where it would then make a budget recommendation to the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee in a joint meeting.
“This is not just looking at next fiscal year’s budget, it is looking at the next five fiscal years,” Simmons said. “This budget deficit that we’re in is not projected to go away any time soon, and I need a consensus of people to come together and really have some tough conversations about what is a core service that we are maintaining, what are we looking at doing differently or what are some potential alternate revenue sources that we might be able to explore.”
The task force would consist of 11 members with a balance of institutional knowledge and public oversight. The members include the town manager, one represen-
tative each from the Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee, the finance director, superintendent of schools, school business manager and four public members appointed by the town manager.
The public members would be residents with experience in community advocacy, along with general knowledge of town and school responsibilities, according to Simmons’ draft.
Simmons recommends that the task force chair would be a public member or Finance Committee representative to ensure impartiality, with the town manager or finance director serving as technical advisors.
The scope of work is divided into four phases, the first being a deep dive and diagnosis for the first two months.
The first phase includes an au-
dit of existing services to catalog all town and school services, a revenue analysis to review property tax trends and new growth projections, expense drivers with a detailed briefing on health insurance and a look at historical implications to see previous decisions that put the town where it is today.
Phase two occurs in the third and fourth months and has the task force evaluate “four levers of municipal finance,” including revenue generation, cost containment, reserves and Proposition 2½.
Phase three is scenario modeling with the task force developing at least three distinct fiveyear scenarios.
Scenario A is maintenance, what an override looks like to maintain current service levels.
Scenario B is structural realignment, a balanced budget achieved through service cuts and fee increases without an override.
Scenario C is a smaller override
combined with specific efficiencies and new revenue streams.
Phase four is the final written report and presentation to the Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee.
The draft also notes key evaluation criteria, which are things the task force should weigh each option against while making recommendations, such as sustainability, equity, service impact and feasibility.
The task force would follow Open Meeting Law with meetings posted and open to the public and may also hold listening sessions with department heads to understand operations. There would also be at least two public forums or surveys, one to present findings and one to gather feedback before the final report.
Simmons said that the next step is to send out applications for the four public seats. The first meeting is expected to take place in June and go throughout the summer and fall.
MICHAEL SZWED JEWELERS
Reminder Publishing photo by Lisa Nolan
From right to left: LHS art teacher Elizabeth Mitchell, student Jenny Lu and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.
Reminder Publishing photos by Peter Tuohy
Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons presents the budget task force draft to the Select Board on May 4.
Photo credit: LongmeadowTV
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM
Hampden voters approve budget, vote down school capital costs
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
HAMPDEN — The town of Hampden conducted its annual Town Meeting on May 11, approving 18 of the 20 articles on the warrant. The articles that garnered the most discussion were those that dealt with the operating budget and the repeal of the Community Preservation Act.
Article 7 asked voters to approve the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, totaling $18.6 million. Nearly half of the budget — $9.43 million — was the assessment for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.
Resident Gary Weiner stepped to the microphone to express
his displeasure with academic achievement in the schools. He described the School Committee, state Legislature and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a “circular firing squad” and said all parties were “failing our students.” Weiner said only 41% of students in the district are reading at grade level. He lamented a time when the district was among the top five statewide. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Minnechaug Regional High School 134th out of 366 high schools in the state. This year, Niche ranked Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District 69th out of 217 districts in Massachusetts.
Gabrielle Fisk defended the
district’s teachers, saying that they are rising to meet challenges despite limited resources. Her comments earned a round of applause from residents. Meanwhile, Matthew Bean noted it was the first year in which the MCAS is not a requirement for graduation and cautioned against leaning into the rankings until more time has passed.
Select Board member Donald Davenport asked Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and Human Resources Douglas Slaughter if the district had settled its contracts. Slaughter said the only unit not to ratify their contract is the paraprofessionals.
The budget, including the school district assessment, passed
REMINDER PRESS CLUB SUPPORTED ARTICLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PRESS
unanimously. Article 8 sought $34,652 for Hampden’s portion of capital expenses for Minnechaug Re-
New district chef brings farm to cafeteria approach to HWRSD
By Tina Lesniak Correspondent
WILBRAHAM — At a time when school cafeterias are being reimagined across the country, District Chef Cynthia Normandin is helping lead that transformation in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District through fresh ingredients, local partnerships and scratch cooking that introduces students to healthier foods and new flavors.
Normandin’s journey to school nutrition was shaped long before she ever stepped into a cafeteria kitchen. Raised on an apple farm, she developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and the importance of local food systems. After her father passed away, she took over the family farm and bakery, gaining first-
hand experience of the dedication required to sustain a family agricultural business.
“I know how hard farmers work and how much better fresh, local produce tastes. Local schools bought our apples and it was a great partnership,” Normandin said.
After selling the farm and bakery last year, Normandin began searching for what she calls a “retirement job,” but she found much more than that in Hampden-Wilbraham’s food services program. Her admiration for School Nutrition Director Julie Dougal drew her to the district.
“I have worked for Julie Dougal, the school nutrition director, in the past and admired her passion about nutrition in schools,” she said. “Julie really had the vision and I just hopped on board
because I also am passionate about food and local products.”
Today, Normandin is helping expand the district’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients. Cafeterias now feature products from nearby farms and regional producers, including a pizza crust made with stone-ground wheat from New England farms.
“We are now buying many local products and produce for our school system,” she said. “The students can taste the difference. Buying local is also good for the entire area, as it supports mom and pop operations and family farms.”
Normandin also has helped introduce more scratch and “speed scratch” cooking methods into school kitchens. From homemade macaroni and cheese to locally grown butternut squash fries that
are pre-cut and ready to roast, the goal is to balance efficiency with freshness and nutrition.
“It benefits the students by experiencing new food and tastes,” she said. “It can change their eating habits for a lifetime.”
The work, however, comes with challenges. Time constraints, recipe training, and encouraging students to try unfamiliar foods can all create obstacles. Older students, she noted, are often more hesitant than younger children to embrace new menu items.
“It is hard when you spend a lot of time and effort on something, and not as many kids take it,” Normandin said. “But we know it can take kids up to nine exposures to accept something new, so we will keep trying.”
Some efforts have delivered immediate success. One stand-
out example involved locally sourced haddock fish sticks from Massachusetts fishermen, paired with a scratch-made “splashtastic sauce.” After successful taste tests at an elementary school, the dish expanded districtwide and even became fish tacos at Minnechaug Regional High School.
Looking ahead, Normandin is focused on refining recipes to meet updated federal nutrition standards, including reducing added sugar in breakfast items such as whole-grain muffins before new regulations take effect in the 2026-27 school year.
For Normandin, the work is about more than serving lunch. “The goal is to move forward every year,” she said. “It’s worth the effort and will make a difference for every student that comes through our doors.”
gional High School. The district was looking to replace a dump
Town Moderator Richard Green introduces an article to reduce the tax rate at the May 11 Town Meeting. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Wilbraham approves FY27 budget, school projects at Town Meeting
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham’s Annual Town Meeting is officially in the rearview, but it didn’t leave before sparking conversation and debate amongst residents on multiple articles, including the town’s fiscal year 2027 budget and multiple school projects.
Wilbraham residents voted to pass every warrant article besides the final article for a public shade tree bylaw on May 11. There was a heavy pour of conversation for system upgrades to Memorial School and perimeter fencing around play spaces at Soule Road Elementary School. Article 19 looked at approving the FY27 budget of $57.1 million, which passed after a presentation by Finance Committee Chair Todd Schneider and resident discussion.
Schneider said that the town is in a good financial position and that it continues to spend around $1 million below the levy limit.
He added that the challenges of this year began with funding for Memorial School, and that it would cost the town “80% more next year to keep Memorial at the current state because of the increased cost of heat and electricity.”
He discussed the budget challenges for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, which did a deep study into the budget and was able to cut $2.2 million, bringing the school assessment budget in Wilbraham to $31.7 million. Hampden’s assessment was $9.4 million, which passed in its Town Meeting as well.
The presentation closed with anticipated impacts to FY28, including over $10 million on schedule for HWRSD capital improvements, an increase of over $3 million in capital improvements for town needs, a pension increase of $300,000 and $200,000 group insurance. Schneider said that fu-
truck/sander and network switches at the school. Because it is a
ture increases of pension and insurance will cause more challenges to the budget for both the town and the schools.
Superintendent John Provost said that the budget process was a real challenge for districts and municipalities this year, with many communities seeing increases of up to 20%. He said the core HWRSD budget increased 4.58% and that offsets and income are projected to increase at a faster rate, which will bring down the assessed amount.
“Like many districts, we’re feeling the squeeze this year,” Provost said. “This budget includes reductions through both layoffs and attrition. It includes fee increases and reductions in transportation services. I think it’s fair to say it’s not the budget that anyone on the school side hoped to bring you this year. It is, however, a budget that we hope will be within the reach of the voters, for the two communities … in short, it’s a budget that allows us to continue to provide varied and high quality learning experiences for our young people.”
School Committee member
Tim Collins has expressed his disapproval of any reductions throughout the budget process, and made the room aware of his decision to vote no on the budget during discussion. He said he was proud of the work his colleagues have done, but that he had to vote against it.
“For the last two years, I’ve watched us shave away at services for the children in our school, and I can’t, in good conscience, vote for a school budget that’s gonna take us in the wrong direction,” Collins said. “The growth, academically, of our students continues to increase. That’s an amazing accomplishment. I don’t know how you keep it up when we’re going to be cutting the teacher leaders, who help train and facilitate the collaborative efforts to implement our
regional school, the financial responsibility is split to reflect the enrollment percentage for each town. Wilbraham’s portion of the $170,000 worth of costs was $135,348. The Advisory Com-
strategic plan.” Collins added that cities like Springfield and Holyoke have seen increases of 30% in state revenue, while Wilbraham has only seen 8%. He said it isn’t fair or equitable and that a child in Hampden and Wilbraham deserve the same kind of treatment.
School Committee member Sean Kennedy said he didn’t agree with Collins, but that it is very difficult to put a budget together that is responsible for the taxpayers and that the best has been done to make cuts fair to everybody and as painless as possible.
“I think we’ve done as good a job as we could do,” Kennedy said. “This has been a very long, ongoing process.”
Community Preservation Act projects covered in Articles 29-32 sparked many residents to speak up, bringing long conversation to proposed improvements at McLaughlin Softball Field, Memorial School and Soule Road Elementary.
Article 21 planned on using $75,119 on a sander truck for Minnechaug Regional High School, with Hampden’s portion being $34,652. The current truck is over 20 years old and Provost said that rust falls off of it every time a door is opened and that it would not pass inspection come July. The article did pass in Wilbraham, but failed in Hampden.
Article 29 looked to add dugouts and outfield fencing to the softball field, which did pass. Resident Kerryn Perkins called out the Finance Committee and said it was “bogus” that three members of the committee didn’t vote in favor of the article.
“They don’t matter in this, we do,” Perkins said. “If you could vote this one through for our little girls, so that they feel just as equal to everybody else.”
Article 30 for perimeter fencing around Soule Road Elementary play spaces passed with a majority
mittee recommended not passing the article and instead bring it back to Town Meeting this fall. Voters overwhelmingly voted the article down.
Advisory Committee Chair Doug Boyd presented Article 14, which asked voters to repeal the town’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act. The state law allows municipalities to charge a property surtax to be used for historical preservation, affordable housing or open space, conservation and recreation.
Boyd said it is one of the few taxes that the town has control over. In the years immediately af-
vote, but resident Karen Romano called out the Finance Committee as well, stating “if we want to talk about bogus, let’s talk about a 6-3 no vote on school fencing.”
Finance Committee member Patrick Kiernan was one of the no votes and said that the building, which sits adjacent to a main road, has already been there for a substantial period of time with no fence.
Romano said the concept of “we haven’t had an issue yet” is very short sighted and that the idea of it not being an appropriate use of funds is wrong. She said she had spoken with the principal and that there have been five instances of escaping so far this year.
Resident Melina Fortin also supported the article and added that she is the parent of a child who “thinks fast, but moves faster,” and that the distance from the playground to the road is not far.
Article 32 looked to spend $450,000 on a heating system replacement and system upgrades at Memorial School, which the Finance Committee unanimously did not recommend. The article passed by majority but brought one of the biggest discussion portions of the night.
Resident John Hegarty said that the school needed to continue as is for the time being, even if a decision had not been made for the school’s future. He said if the
ter the Community Preservation Act’s passage, the state matched 100% of the funds raised. As more municipalities have adopted the Community Preservation Act, the state funding available to match municipalities has shrunk. This year, the base match is 16.7%, Boyd said. Nonetheless, the Advisory Committee recommended not repealing the law. Boyd said the amount of money contributed by the state makes the program worth it. Likewise, Davenport said the Select Board recommended not voting for the repeal and said it costs taxpayers $0.13 per day.
boiler is shut down, all of the programs currently happening will be cut off.
“The kids are there playing basketball, they have indoor pickleball, they have wrestling, there are classes held there for kids,” Hegarty said. “I think we really need to just spend the money, get that boiler fixed, and if the building for some reason is sold in the future, at least the boiler will be fixed, then that won’t be an added expenditure.”
Building Utilization Committee Chair Jeff Smith urged the article to be passed and said that the Finance Committee hasn’t had a solid position on the disposition or use of the property. He added that capital expenditures at the school have been kicked down the road for a decade now and the building is a historical asset.
Finance Committee member Xiomara DeLobato said she supported the committee’s recommendation. She said the building would bring more costs in the future and this article was something that didn’t resonate as a necessary expense, adding that she would like investments going into other schools or “buckets that are necessary for our municipality to function.”
Wilbraham now looks toward the annual town election at Minnechaug on May 16. Polls are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Director Dan Blanchard urged residents not to repeal the adoption of the law. He listed a half-dozen projects funded through the Community Preservation Act. He added that no other community had repealed its adoption. The repeal failed. No Action was taken on several articles, including ones to pay prior years’ bills, funding the town’s 150th anniversary celebration, adding money to the General Stabilization fund and reducing the tax rate. The last of these will be taken up again in the fall.
Wilbraham’s Annual Town Meeting begins at Minnechaug Regional High School.
Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Tuohy
Hampden School Committee candidates talk issues
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
HAMPDEN — Hampden’s town election is upcoming on May 18, and Reminder Publishing sent questions to the two candidates for Hampden representatives in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee.
School Committee member Rich Rediker is up for reelection on a three-year term and is challenged by former School Committee member Maura Ryan. Questions vary slightly between the candidates.
Reminder Publishing: Can you tell me a little bit about your background, i.e. work experience, committee experience, where you’re from, and what inspired you to put your name in the running once again. Ryan: I was born and raised in Worcester and moved to Hampden in 2013, where I’ve been an active member of the community. Professionally, I work in manufacturing procurement in Springfield, where I regularly negotiate, collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders and work toward shared solutions—experience that aligns well with public service. I previously served four years on the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee and was elected by my fellow members to serve as vice chair for several of those years. During my tenure, the committee navigated significant challenges and initiatives, including the transition to remote and hybrid learning during COVID-19, the search and hiring of a new superintendent and the development of the district’s school improvement plan. I also actively participated on multiple subcommittees, including policy, negotiations and finance and operations. I’m inspired to put my name forward again because I believe our community deserves consistent, engaged and accountable representation. I am committed to showing up, in person, for meetings and subcommittee work, being well prepared and doing the necessary homework to make informed decisions. Most importantly, I believe in voting based on what is best for our district and community, guided by facts, collaboration and thoughtful discussion,
Student Art
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tercolor. It gives artwork a matte finish and is commonly used for posters, illustrations, comics and commercial design work.
The piece features blue fish strewn across a table while a person cuts one with a cleaver. A person in the background watches on as the fish is cut in half. Lu said her work was inspired by the patterns of fish at the supermarket, and the ideas started flowing from there. She added that her favorite part of the piece is the fish on the cutting board.
Lu said receiving the win is a huge honor and that she is proud of herself. She and other winners from across the country will travel to Washington, D.C., to celebrate and view their artwork in June.
rather than outside influence or someone else’s agenda.
RP: How many terms have you currently served and what has inspired you to stay in the School Committee/initially join?
Rediker: I served one term in the early-to-mid 90’s in addition to my current term. If reelected, it would be my third term. Education and working with/for students has been my passion for 58 years. After teaching chemistry at Longmeadow High School for seven years, I founded an international software company, Rediker Software, basing it in Hampden. Rediker Software has worked with schools in all 50 states and in over 130 countries. I have been fortunate to visit schools and attend educational conferences around the world, bringing my insights back to our school district. In fact, just this past week I visited schools in rural South Africa and chatted with their chemistry teacher about his 68 students in a single class and no lab for practical experience.
RP: What are your general thoughts or feelings going into election season?
Rediker: Educational funding is under attack in three major areas: From Washington with the dismantling of the Department of Education. Therefore, the federal government is sending fewer education dollars to Massachusetts which in turn is sending less to the towns. Inflation, especially health care and energy. The funding formula Massachusetts uses to disperse education dollars favors the big gateway cities and severely hurts most school districts like ours. Due to these factors, our towns cannot afford the huge increase in our budget needed to maintain the same level of service. Instead of working on ways to improve our district, our school committee and administration are pained to have to find the “least bad” cuts in our budget. And on top of this, our dedicated and excellent staff deserve a modest raise as they are also affected by Inflation.
Ryan: I’m excited going into this election season. I truly enjoyed serving on the committee previously and found the work both meaningful and rewarding. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to once again contribute, collaborate and serve our
community in a thoughtful and engaged way.
RP: Do you have anything on your mind that you would still like to accomplish with the School Committee in the case you’re reelected?
Rediker: I hope to be part of the solution towards being able to maintain or even improve our education. Towards this end, we need to continue to work with the state, as we have been, to increase funding. We also must replace Wilbraham Middle School as it is overcrowded and past its end-of-life. Our School Committee and administration have applied to the state program that can hopefully help in this major undertaking.
RP: What do you hope to bring to the position, especially during a time with the discussion surrounding the state of the middle school and ongoing budget struggles for FY27?
Ryan: I believe I can bring a thoughtful and balanced perspective to the position, especially during a time when the condition of the middle school and ongoing FY27 budget challenges are front and center. Drawing on my professional background and prior committee experience, I’m comfortable weighing complex information, asking hard questions and looking at both short-term impacts and long-term sustainability. I approach issues with a focus on collaboration, data and practical solutions, recognizing the financial realities our district faces while still advocating for what is best for students, staff and the broader community. I believe in careful planning, transparent decision-making and making sure community voices are heard as we work through these challenges together.
RP: Is there something that stands out as your favorite part of being on the School Committee?
Rediker: My favorite part of being on the School Committee is working as a team with my incredible school committee colleagues and the amazing leadership of our schools. Everyone is dedicated to providing the best possible education to our students.
RP: Is there anything that you have your eyes set on to accomplish within the School
Committee that you haven’t seen done yet?
Ryan: If elected, I hope to work closely with my fellow committee members to strengthen how we support the superintendent and assistant superintendent as they work to offer the best educational opportunities for our students. At the same time, I am committed to being fiscally responsible and thoughtful with taxpayer dollars. Supporting district leadership also means asking the right questions, planning carefully and making informed decisions that balance educational needs with our financial realities. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that we are preparing students to leave our district ready to succeed, whether that means pursuing higher education or entering the workforce, as confident, capable and contributing members of society, while remaining responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
RP: Is there anything you’d like voters to know in specific that I haven’t asked or why you hope to get their vote?
Rediker: As stated above, I look forward to helping the district provide the best possible education to all students despite the financial headwinds we are currently facing. Whenever I have to take a vote, I don’t look for the path that benefits the school committee, teachers, administration or is politically correct. Instead, I vote for the path that most benefits our students.
Ryan: One thing I’d like voters to know is how deeply engaged I was during my previous service on the School Committee. I took the responsibility seriously, preparing thoroughly for meetings, actively participating in discussions and subcommittees and working collaboratively with fellow members and district leadership. I hope to earn voters’ support because I bring experience, a willingness to listen and a steady, pragmatic approach to decision-making. I’m committed to showing up, doing the work, and making thoughtful, fiscally responsible decisions that prioritize students while respecting our community and taxpayers. I believe that consistent, engaged representation matters, and I’m ready to continue serving our district with that commitment.
Operations Director: Curtis Panlilio
Executive Editor: Chris Maza
Managing Editors: Dennis Hackett, Ryan Feyre
Staff Writers: Sarah Heinonen, Deb Gardner, Amy Porter, Trent Levakis, Cliff Clark, Tyler Garnet, Peter Tuohy
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh, Lorie Perry, Sophia McClellan, Susan Bartlett, Jim Johnson-Corwin, Molly Arnio
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Financial Department: Nancy Banning
Circulation Department: Holly Mulligan, Whitney Conlon
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
New theater group introduces itself with first production
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON — In an effort to bring fresh, queer and gender diverse stories to the local theater scene, a new theater group, Why’s It Gotta Be?, has formed here in Western Massachusetts.
The group, which started in the fall, is gearing up for its first production, the dark comedy “Legoland,” which will run at CitySpace from May 22-31.
Founder, actor and president of Why’s It Gotta Be?, Devin Dumas, told Reminder Publishing that he, along with fellow peers who are now on the board of the new group, saw a gap in consistent productions related to queer and gender diverse stories and thought, why not fill this need with a fresh new group committed to offering just that?
“We really just wanted to create a consistent space for queer theater, for new theater, for gender diverse theater that we weren’t really seeing in the area,” said Dumas. “And that’s not at anyone else, there’s absolutely wonderful theater in the area, like K&E does great stuff, Easthampton Theater Company does great stuff, Exit 7 does great stuff. But some of us found ourselves in a position where we always seemed to be waiting to see who would announce the next queer-based show, or the next gender diverse show, or the next new thing, rather than something that had been done several times before. So, I grabbed a couple people that I was close with and was like, ‘hey why don’t we just make something that’s consistent for that,’ so we did.”
Dumas explained that he wanted the mission and goals of the group to be clear and present in its name.
“I came up with it because I’m 27, and I’m very vocal about wanting to see queer relationships expressed healthy in media, and I was often asked, ‘Oh, well, why’s it gotta be gay? Why’s it gotta be queer? Why’s it gotta be trans? Why’s it gotta be all these things?’ And you get so tired of hearing that to a point that it’s almost like how queer used to be a slur and we reclaimed it as an identity. I’m almost reclaiming that for us now. You can’t tell us ‘Why’s it gotta be’ anymore because that’s the whole point now. ‘Why’s it gotta be queer?’ Because that’s our whole thing,” said Dumas.
With that said, Dumas and the group feel that the best way to kick things off is with a production of Jacob Richmond’s dark comedy, “Legoland.” The play tells the story of Penny and Ezra Lamb, siblings who have been home-schooled on a hippie colony their whole lives and dying to get out.
After a failed attempt at connection in Walmart, the commune is busted, and the siblings — each seething with repression — are enrolled in a Catholic private school where they are instant social outcasts. A cross-continental adventure ensues for the two siblings through this irreverently dark story bursting with originality, bringing audiences along for the ride in an engaging fashion as the Lamb siblings are
prying for connection any way they can get it.
“Legoland” opens at CitySpace on Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. The rest of the shows will take place on May 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., May 24 at 2 p.m, May 29 at 7:30 p.m., May 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on May 31 at 2 p.m. The show contains adult language, according to organizers.
General tickets are $25 and available for purchase online at wigbtheater.org/legoland. During the run on May 26 at 7:30 p.m., the group will also host a fundraiser called Mid-Run Drag Trivia night inside CitySpace to support the newly formed group.
Dumas is directing “Legoland” and shared that this play has always been a production he wanted to be a part of.
“I actually said I didn’t want to do ‘Legoland’ first because I knew people knew it was something that I really, really wanted to do. I didn’t want to seem like I started this theater group so I could do ‘Legoland.’ But then ... we decided that ‘Legoland’ from a public-facing standpoint was the most approachable title out of anything,” explained Dumas. “The play has nothing to do with Legos, but we figured a dark comedy that really gets a little gritty and is just fast paced backto-back-to-back, and has this cool title ‘Legoland,’ that draws people in, and we can just make this really colorful, fun, inviting and interactive immersive show. We just decided, let’s try that.”
Julia Adamo and Terrance Peters are starring in this production as Penny and Ezra Lamb. Both actors have worked with Dumas before and with some of the other local groups as well. Both shared that they are eager to be part of the first production from the group.
“The wonderful thing about both the Massachusetts and Connecticut community theater is it’s a very small world, and so I had known Devin a little,” said Peters. “When I’d seen this new group that a lot of folks that I respect and like working with were very supportive, and then [I] saw they were doing ‘Legoland,’ a script that has been on my radar for so long and is very rarely done, even though I think it’s such a fantastic script, I decided to put my foot through.”
Peters said he is a big fan of any group that puts its community first, and added that when he learned about the story behind the group’s name and mission statement, he knew Why’s It Gotta Be? is committed to creating a welcoming environment.
Adamo, also a board member for the group, shared similar sentiments about the opportunity to be a part of the group’s first production. Having worked with Dumas through a production he directed through Exit 7, Adamo considers Dumas a great connector in the local theater space.
“He has this remarkable way of just bringing people together and creating such a sense of community around queer art that I was like anything I can do with Devin I want to do,” she said.
Adamo said that Dumas’ vision for the group is meaningful
as it adds a niche within the larger and overall healthy local theater scene in the area.
“There is such a robust theater scene in the Western Mass. area, and we’re really grateful for that, and there’s so many enthusiastic performers, and there are so many amazing productions going on, so it’s a really wonderful and supportive community with a lot of people who are doing really cool, really fresh and interesting work,” Adamo said. “But the idea that we can find our niche within this larger scene while consistently prioritizing really fresh and diverse work, just feels really exciting.”
Future goals
Dumas already has long-term visions for what is possible for the new cadre. Specifically, he hopes to one day purchase sound and lighting equipment for the cadre, offer stipends to makers and artists, produce in-house and audio film productions, and ultimately secure a space to utilize for performances and rehearsals to outsource to other developing and independent artists.
Dumas said that he hopes the group can add a multimedia aspect to their work, as well. Along with his background in theater, Dumas also has a background in audio drama storytelling and hopes to add that to their repertoire.
“I really view audio drama as a form of theater art, film as a form of theater art. I’d really like to see us at some point further down the road be able to reach out to people who are interested, if not performing on stage, perhaps performing behind a screen or behind a microphone, and creating space to tell fresh stories, queer stories, different stories in that format,” Dumas added. “We’re doing this for us, we’re doing this to share art, we’re doing this to tell stories, we’re doing this for audiences. We’re not doing this to make fortunes, we’re doing this to share visions, so if we can help other artists by providing a space five, 10, 15 years down the line, that’s the goal too.”
In the meantime, as the group
grows from its infancy, Dumas hopes to facilitate more shows. Simultaneously, the plan is to keep an eye out for a permanent home, hopefully in Easthampton or Northampton, but the group is open to any opportunities in the region.
“We definitely are gravitating a little bit more towards Northampton and Easthampton when we do events just because there’s a lot of performance space and a lot of
people that we feel will resonate with these stories, but we’re open to anywhere within the area,” said Dumas. “We really hope that we can get audiences in that these stories resonate with, but also performers that these stories resonate with, because we do it for both of them. And just really hoping we can continue with our long-term creative goals as well.”
To learn more about Why’s It Gotta Be? visit wigbtheater.org.
Lobster Feasts
June 27: 5:30 July 17: 5:30 July 21: 12:30 Aug 7: 5:30 Aug 16 &23: 12:30 Fritters, Whole Lobster, Steamers, Biscuits, Corn on The Cob Salad & Dessert
Terrance Peters (left) and Julia Adamo (right) star in Why’s It Gotta Be? Theater Group’s first production, “Legoland.”
Photo credit: Why’s It Gotta Be? Theater Group
Events
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five years) — Wednesday, May 20, 9:30-10:30 a..m
Silly Art! — Wednesday, May 20, 3:30-4 p.m.
• Program for High School Juniors: Creating a Compelling College Application this Summer — Wednesday, May 20, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Adult programs: Traveling Library — Monday, May 18, 2:15-4:30 p.m.
• Longmeadow Gardners & Gardeners on the Green Present: Hydrangeas — Monday, May 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• VIRTUAL: Play Along Ukulele from Home! — Monday, May 18, 7-8 p.m. Cookbook Club — Tuesday, May 19, 1-2 p.m. This month’s selection: Nigella Lawson.
• Tech Tuesdays — Tuesday, May 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Library Virtual Speakers: Reshape Your Beliefs and Unlock Your True Potential with Nir Eyal — Tuesday, May 19, 2-4 p.m.
• Fiber Arts Meeting — Tuesday, May 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Watercolour Poppies w/PopUp Art School — Tuesday, May 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
• VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group — Wednesday, May 20, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Music Appreciation with Rob Humbertson — Wednesday, May 20, 1-2:30 p.m. Ages of
Music History: Middle Ages: 20th Century Sarah Clay & the StarCats Concert: Day Dream — Wednesday, May 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Weekly Writers Group — Thursday, May 21, 9:30-11 a.m.
Storrs Stitchers (Drop-In) — Friday, May 22, 10-11:30 a.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 413-565-4160 option 1. Benedict Arnold — Hero or Traitor?
— May 20 at 6 p.m. Arnold, the hero of the first 5 years of the American Revolution, and arch-fiend of American history afterwards, this interactive lecture by historian Stanley Svec will explore a man clouded with controversy, but saved the Revolution in its darkest hours, only to betray our country in the end.
EMERALD ASH BORER
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
WALK learn about how scientists are cur-
rently managing the invasive insect emerald ash borer using biological control with PhD student and forest entomologist Mitchell Green on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Green will lead a walk to find ash trees and identify signs of emerald ash borer and discuss how biological control seeks to protect our native ash trees. Meet at Bark Haul and Pondside roads. Wear boots and be prepared to walk on muddy trails. Severe weather cancels. Approximately one hour duration. For questions please contact Green at mitchell.green@unh.edu
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.
• Read to Mason! Therapy Dog Visit — Monday, May 18, from 3:45-4:30 p.m.
• VIRTUAL: Banning Books in America: Not a How To — Mon-
SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE
“TRAPPED WATER”
day, May 18, from 7-8 p.m.
• Adult Crafternoon: Egg Carton Herb Garden — Friday, May 22, from 2-3:30 p.m. Book clubs and discussion groups: History Book Club: Monday, May 18, from 6-8 p.m. “The Gilded Age: 1876-1912, overture to the American century” by Alan Axelrod.
• Evening Book Discussion — Wednesday, May 20, from 7-8 p.m. Caste: “The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson.
Graphic Novel Book Club — Thursday, May 21, from 3:454:30 p.m. “New Shoes” by Sara Varon.
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SO THAT REMINDS ME
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Healey nominates new judges, clerk magistrate
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey nominated Alison Silber to serve as associate justice of the Probate and Family Court, Georgia Petropoulos to serve as an associate justice of the District Court and Gregory Bartlett to serve as the clerk magistrate for the Southern Berkshire District Court. The three nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.
Silber is a domestic relations litigator, conciliator and medi-
ator. After clerking for the domestic relations calendar at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Attorney Silber opened her private family law practice in 2011 and in 2014 moved it to Western Massachusetts, where she has focused on all aspects of domestic relations law including divorce, post-divorce modification, contempt, adoption, assisted reproductive technology, child custody and child support matters. She regularly represents children as Guardian/Next Friend and through the Children’s Law Project and is one of the founding mediators of the Family Resolutions Specialty Court. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
“All three of these attorneys will bring deep legal expertise and sound judgement to the courts, and I am excited to nom-
members of the bar, so vacancies don’t occur, or if they do, they are as short as possible.”
As a member of the Governor’s Council, Fenton said, “Investing in our judicial infrastruc-
inate them,” said Healey. “I am confident that they will approach these new roles with integrity and a commitment to fairness for all our residents.”
“I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm these three nominees so that they can serve the Courts with distinction,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
The Probate and Family Court Department is responsible for family-related and probate matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, adoption, wills, estates, and guardianships. Its mission is to provide fair, equitable, and timely access to justice while assisting and protecting individuals and families. For more information about the Probate and Family Court Department, please visit its homepage. Governor Healey has previously nominated 21 judges to the Probate and Family Court: Laurel Barraco, Manisha Bhatt, Jennifer Bingham, Bethany Brown,
ture would be a top priority.” He referenced the courthouses in Pittsfield and Springfield as just two of those in need of review. Particularly close to home for Fenton is the replacement for the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse, Springfield’s district court.
“When I ran for this position four years ago, it was a campaign issue. We still don’t have a site. We deserve a first-class hall of
Colleen Carroll, Jessica Dubin, Mary Ferriter, Alexandra Flanders, Timothy Horan, Mikalen Howe, Lyonel Jean-Pierre Jr., Mark Lee, Caryn Mitchell-Munevar, Evelyn Patsos, Alessandra Petruccelli, Brian Salisbury, Carla Salvucci, Bernadette Stark, Toiya Taylor, Elena Tsizer and Michelle Yee. The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state. Healey has already nomi-
justice for Hampden County,” Fenton said. “For a while, the state refused to acknowledge there was a problem with the Springfield courthouse. Meanwhile, people are going to work in a sick building.”
Fenton said there are also smaller courthouses that should also be reviewed, including ones in Chicopee and Northampton. Aside from courthouses, he said,
nated 32 attorneys to the District Court: Heath Antonio, Patrick Burke, Tonomey Coleman, Lisa Core, Frances Dallmeyer, Frederick DeCubellis, Brian Doxtader, Mark Fabiano, Leo Fama, Lauren Greene, Stuart Hurowitz, Paul Anthony, Edward Kacasinas, Francis V. Kenneally, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Jr. Krippendorf, Cara Krysil, Courtney C. Linnehan, Hilary McCamic, Suzanne McDonough, Becky Michaels, Craig Mulcahey, Jerry Parisella, Polly Phillips, William Powers, Joanna Rodriguez, Gegory Teran, Marjorie P. Tynes, Amanda Ward, Shelly-Ann Sankar, Liza Williamson and Hector Zumbado.
Healey has previously nominated Ann Dawley, Bill Larkin, Robert E. Manning, Jr., Robert Palumbo, John P. Riordan, Dana Rutherford, Padraic Rafferty, Scott Rathbun, John Stocks and Lori Leavitt Wheeler to serve as clerk magistrates.
“If there are large projects that have gone unfunded — roads, bridges — I could use the position’s proximity to the governor to advocate for that.”
For Fenton, the position in Boston would be all about Western Massachusetts. He said, “If the Governor’s Council isn’t going to advocate for this, who will?”
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
Caroline D. Archambault
Helen M. Biglin
Yvette Harrington
Dennis J. Lajeunesse
Jeannine M. Martell
Loraine E. Pothier
Gregory J. Pray Sr.
Fletcher D. Ramsey
Barbara M. Skiba
Michael J. Soja Jr.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Sally A. Gozzi
Douglas P. Howie
Shirley Eleanor LaPolice
Larry F. Mathisen
HAMPDEN
Marcia Ronzoni Lefort
HOLYOKE
James E. Pease Jr.
Robert L. Cournoyer
Christine A. Dearborn
Lalta “William, Bill, Brother Willie” Nepal
Rodger E. Nichols
Barbara F. Randall
LONGMEADOW
Anne Marie Iellamo
LUDLOW
Rita Hogan
Sandra Lee Kulig
SOUTH HADLEY
Karen Adams
Alexandra L. Brannan “Ali” Brunelle
Dorothy N. Schenker
SPRINGFIELD
Barbara J. Cowdrey
Lauriana Lavallee (Lalli)
Joanne Elizabeth Moran
Peter J. Salier
George E. Sampson
Richard A. Stasiowski
Bruce Williams Jr.
WILBRAHAM
Marygene Byrd
Jeffrey W. Hulbert
Margaret M. “Marge” Rannenberg
Marjorie H. Weeks
James E. “Jim” Wilkinson Sr.
LONGMEADOW VS O’BRYANT
Nhan Vuong registers a second set kill for a 17-10 lead.
Elijah Albert scores to put Longmeadow ahead 22-12 in the first set.
Kessler Despain’s 2-handed kill earns the Lancers a 19-11 first set lead.
Reijuan Njoroge serves
Jason Nguyen (R) receives serve in front of Longmeadow teammate Jace Anoje.
Nhan Vuong serves in the second set.
Jace Anoje spikes the ball for a Longmeadow point.
Anthony Jackson sets the ball during the second set.
Luiza J. Hopkins, representative, and James J. Hopkins, estate, to Hitchcock Free
EAST LONGMEADOW
D. R. Chestnut LLC, to Wayne
Lemire, 58 Baldwin Drive
Ian Edwards and Sara Edwards to Michael J. McLaughlin and Julia D. Gibson, 261 Chapin Road
Christopher Knight and Nicole Damon to Dillon Hicks and Shannon E. Hicks, 15 Cherokee Road
Daniel M. Edwards to Halil Ibrahim Kuzu, 1650 Longmeadow St.
Jeffrey W. Trace to Maria E. Barrett, 112 Grassy Cutter Road
Pah Properties LLC, to Zackery Dale Michael Henry Klamn and Jennifer Klamn, 27 Massachusetts Ave.
Freida D. Ramaswamy Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Amanda J. Mercado, 60 Exeter Ave.
Pah Properties LLC, to Zackery Dale Michael Henry Klamn and Jennifer Klamn, 27 Massachusetts Ave.
Rosanna LaBonte and Walter O. LaBonte Jr., to Christopher Burger and Danielle Burger, 0 Mill Road
Victoria Ellis to Jeffrey Verge, 141 Lincoln Road
LUDLOW
Armand R. Lavoie to Daniel B. Dinis and Christina N. Dinis, 209-211 Ventura St.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Vivian Williams, 102 Swan Ave.
Carolyn Casey, representative, and Jerome W. Casey, estate, to Pah Properties LLC, 52
Helena N. Ferreira to Kazimierz Borawski and Danuta Borawski, 162-164 Highland
EAST LONGMEADOW
- THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
144 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Pembroke Terr., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln., Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd.
129 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
166 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only)
131 Papers: Shawmut St., Mayfair St., Westminster St., Thompkins Ave., Partial-Gates Ave
64 Papers: Anne St., Helen Cir., John St., Vadnais St., Converse Cir.
327 Papers: Melwood Ave., Chestnut St., Bluegrass Dr., Maple St., Powder Hill Rd., Fairhaven Dr.
174 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St.
150 Papers: Breezy Knoll Rd., Elm St., Mapleshade Ave., Pleasant St., Oak Bluff Cir.
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
83 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St.
84 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St.
109 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.
54 Papers: Bliss Rd.
87 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd.
157 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd.
96 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.
99 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd.
100 Papers: Norway St., Nevins Ave., Partial - Maple Rd.
