ELA-20260528 by the-reminder

EAST LONGMEADOW | LONGMEADOW | HAMPDEN | WILBRAHAM

EL Recreation and Rotary Club prepare for 250th

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — East

Longmeadow Recreation, in partnership with the Rotary Club, has a long list of upcoming events for residents to celebrate 250 years of the United States.

Inspired by the town’s annual Oktoberfest comes the first Summerfest on June 6 at Brown Farm, 64 Hampden Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East Longmeadow Recreation

Director Donna Prather said there have been four Oktoberfests and each of which have been very popular, so Summerfest felt right with the 250th celebrations and the 1976-2026 time capsule opening approaching quickly.

“It was like one day, we said ‘hey let’s duplicate Oktoberfest and have Summerfest,’” Prather said. “I start planning Oktoberfest, you know, 10 months in advance. This one’s falling together quite well, just because of the success, I believe, of Oktoberfest, but it certainly was not on my radar until about a month ago maybe.”

Prather said that the Historical Commission will attend the event, giving people the chance to submit items for the new 2026-2076 time capsule, set to be buried in Heritage Park on July 18.

East Village Tavern will be there to provide adult beverages, along with a variety of food trucks, such as Jeannie’s Weenies and Dev’s Mac N’ Eats. The Rotary Club will also be serving concessions.

“Then we’ll also have just fun

stuff, like a bounce house, a dunk tank, Busy Bees Preschool always sets up games for the kids,” Prather said. “We’ll have pony rides and goats that people can cuddle from Cloverbrook Farm.”

The event will include a fair amount of vendors, such as Blake’s Creation selling hand knit items, PaperPie selling children’s books and puzzles and Kathy’s Sweet Bites selling dirty soda and mini pancakes.

Prather said vendors, sponsors or educational groups can still apply by contacting 413-525-5437 or emailing recreation@eastlongmeadowma.gov. Vendors who are selling items have a $25 fee for a table but tables for educational groups looking to speak about what they offer to the communi-

ty are free.

She added that the event is trying to organize with sports groups and different people in town as well to participate in the dunk tank, with all proceeds going to East Longmeadow events and charities of their choice.

The end of June also sees a week of events at Center Field from the Rotary Club leading up to Independence Day. Each event runs from 5-7 p.m. with different bands performing every night at 7 p.m. and an East Village Tavern beer garden until 10 p.m.

June 26 is a car and truck show, June 27 has yard games with East Longmeadow Recreation and a town bonfire, June 28 is a corn hole tournament and June 29 is a veterans appreciation dinner.

The Center Field Carnival runs from June 30 to Independence Day, open from 6-10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Independence Day. The beer garden and live bands will also be at the carnival during the same times as the previously listed events, with the exception of Independence Day beer garden hours from noon to 4 p.m.

July 3 at 9 p.m. is the laser light show at Mapleshade School and the Independence Day Parade kicks off at East Longmeadow High School from 10 a.m. to noon on July 4.

The full calendar of events with live bands can be viewed in one place at elrotaryclub.org under “summer 2026 events.”

IN THIS EDITION

LONGMEADOW

Witness Stones Project returns for third year

The Longmeadow community has memorialized the lives of two people who spent parts of the 1700s enslaved in the town as part of the Witness Stones Project.

Page 6

EAST LONGMEADOW

Town election

With East Longmeadow’s town election set for June 2, candidates for the Town Council and School Committee were given the opportunity to respond to questions.

Page 7 and 9

HAMPDENWILBRAHAM

Paraeducators reject contract settlment

Paraeducators working in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District are still pushing for new contracts. Page 11

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo told Reminder Publishing that he is confident and very prepared going into his 10th reelection race for the 12th Hampden District seat, stating that this is “nothing new.”

Puppolo is currently in his 19th year of representing Wilbraham and parts of East Longmeadow, Monson and Springfield, and sees his first Democratic primary challenger since 2006 in Springfield resident Michael Lachenmeyer. The primary is set for Sept. 1 with the general election on Nov. 3.

Puppolo’s 2006 challenger was write-in candidate James Driscoll, who received 375 votes to Puppolo’s 3,667.

“I am seeking reelection to the House of Representatives to continue the progress we have made,” Puppolo said in a press release. “I have the experience and the relationships in the legislature to continue bringing more resources to our area, and I am not afraid to speak up and fight when it comes to advocating for our district. I have been able to make generational progress on some of the biggest challenges facing our district and the commonwealth, but that work continues, and we need a proven leader who knows how to get real results. I’m energized to continue working for our district and be your voice fighting for all of us — as it’s important that we continue to have experienced, strong leadership in Bos-

ton — now more than ever.”

He added in the press release that he believes it is incumbent upon elected officials to be accessible and responsive to the people they serve, which is why he established a full-time local constituent service office in Wilbraham on day one. He stated he is “always available to respond to constituent needs and concerns and to help.”

Puppolo told Reminder Publishing that one of the biggest things to focus on for the remainder of this term and for the next year, in the case he is reelected, would be to make sure strong leadership is continued, especially during “uncertain times.”

He said it is “critically important that we have a strong leader that knows how to stand up and fight, but can also be listened to,” adding that his experience allows him to get his points across and get real results.

“It’s not easy to begin with, but with all of the changes and all the uncertainy coming out of the administration in Washington, D.C., we need to make sure that we are prepared for unexpected, sort of, changes that normally would not occur,” Puppolo said.

Finishing the PROTECT Act is also on Puppolo’s radar, which he said the House passed to protect citizens from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or other unforeseen acts. The act is a civil rights and immigration package that establishes statewide standards defining how local police, courts and government

agencies interact with federal immigration authorities.

“[The PROTECT Act] does a number of things in terms of making sure we have internal protections in there for citizens that are here, and making sure that the federal government and our ICE agents do not overreach.” Puppolo said. “If the person’s a criminal or habitual offender, that’s a whole different ballgame, but to target innocent people I think is wrong. We had a number of positive work related results with that, in terms of working with law enforcement, working with other agencies.”

Puppolo is also a strong advocate on establishing the WestEast Rail, which he cites as a “gamechanger for economic development.” The rail would bring a 171-mile passenger train route along the corridor of Pittsfield, Springfield, Palmer, Worcester and Boston.

“It’ll open up a number of opportunities for growth, for jobs, for employment,” Puppolo said. “I think it’s gonna be a huge benefit for Western Massachusetts to be able to get that done, but it’s got to be done right. It’s got to be a reasonable time frame to get to Boston and it’s got to have, obviously, stops but stops that are targeted to make sure that it allows for a relatively quick transit, quick commute to Boston. We’ve got everything out here, you know. Great housing stock, it’s a lot more affordable, I think you’re gonna see people going both ways, in terms of working here and living out in Boston, vice versa. ”

He said one of the things he is most proud of during his time in office is the marriage equality vote, which has been a “critically important bill moving forward for individual rights.”

He added that a lot of the environmental bills and reforms that he’s worked on have been able to expand clean, green renewable energy and that he’s proud to

have established a connection to his constituents.

“We get a tremendous amount of calls every week, and that’s where I’m really most proud to be able to help residents when they really have nowhere else to turn,” Puppolo said. “They get bundled up in a lot of the red tape. They don’t know how to navigate the system, and that’s where I leap in and help with the constituent services … I work very, very hard to make sure that I can do all that I can for my constituents.”

Puppolo is also still very active in establishing increased funding

for education, special education and school transportation, expanded access to free community college and high-quality affordable preschool, no-cost school meals and increased programs and support for seniors and veterans. He also pushes to prioritize public safety and support of police, firefighters and EMTs, expanded access to affordable health care and housing, equal protection for all and marriage equality, increased cybersecurity privacy laws and guide rails for AI usage and protection.

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo. Reminder Publishing file photo

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:

• Movie Matinee: “Song Sung Blue” — Wednesday, June 3, from 1-3 p.m.

• Board Game Night for Adults — Wednesday, June 3 from

5-7:30 p.m.

• Cookbook Club — Saturday June 6, at 12:30 p.m. THis month the group will be cooking recipes from Jacques Pepin cookbooks.

Teen programs: Paws & Pencils — Monday, June 1, at 2:30 p.m.

• Teen Pride Party — Tuesday, June 2, at 2:30 p.m.

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: Beyond the Basics Creative Studio Students

— Monday, June 1, through Thursday, July 30. This exhibit showcases the art created by local students of Joycelin Raho’s Beyond the Basics Creative Studio. A reception will be held on Monday, June 4, at 6 p.m.

• Puzzle and Board Game Swap Collection — Friday, June 5, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Looking for something fun to do this summer? Longmeadow community members of all ages are invited to choose a new-to-you puzzle or board game. Please note that the library cannot guarantee that every puzzle or game will be complete.

Youth programs:

• Grow Play Learn (ages birth to 5 years) — Wednesday, June 3, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

• “KPop Demon Hunters” Dance Party — Wednesday, June 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• Legos at the Library (kindergarten and up) — Thursday, June 4, 3:30-4:15 p.m.

Adult programs: Traveling Library — Monday, June 1, 2:15-4:30 p.m. On the first and third Mondays of the month, residents of Emerson Manor and Genesis House can swing by the courtyard next to the office and check out books, magazines, books on CD, and DVDs.

Climbing Your Family Tree:

An Introduction to Genealogy — Monday, June 1, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Adult Center Book Club — Tuesday, June 2, 12:30-1:30 p.m. This month’s selection: “Evensong” by Stewart O’Nan Tech Tuesdays — Tuesday,

June 2, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• VIRTUAL: The Seven Wonders of the Universe with Joe Rao — Tuesday, June 2, 6-7:30 p.m.

• Fiber Arts Meeting — Tuesday, June 2, 6-7:30 p.m.

VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group — Wednesday, June 3, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Library Virtual Speakers: Your Ticket to the Best State Fair Crafts with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig — Wednesday, June 3, 2-4 p.m. LHS Presents: New England Militia in the Early Republic — Wednesday, June 3, 6:307:30 p.m. Bocce on the Lawn — Thursday, June 4, 11 a.m. to noon. • Storrs Stitchers (Drop-In) — Friday, June 5, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Community Foundation announces $1 million for nonprofits

SPRINGFIELD — Across nearly every sector in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties, federal and state funding cuts are quietly reshaping the local nonprofit sector. As a response, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts two weeks ago, with the support of an anonymous donor, quickly moved to distribute a one-time $1,000,000 investment to provide urgent, flexible support to frontline community organizations. This initiative, intended to help nonprofits meet the moment and absorb the impact of these cuts, is

grounded in a simple but powerful belief that organizations doing the vital work of providing essential services deserve to be fully resourced.

“This is precisely what community foundations were built for,” said Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts CEO Megan Burke. “We have both the responsibility and the privilege to step in quickly, decisively and with the full support of community members who care about their neighbors.”

Last September, nearly half of the 250 nonprofit organizations that applied for the Com -

munity Foundation’s Flexible Funding Grant reported that it had experienced the ripple effects of cuts to intermediary agencies, loss of multi-year support, equity retrenchment, and rising administrative loads.

The same sense of urgency and responsibility shaped the Community Foundation’s decision to launch its Community Resilience Grant opportunity. Results from its application revealed similar data. Of the 178 organizations that applied, 147 reported that the impacts of federal funding cuts had already arrived, disrupted services, and

strained budgets. An additional 41 organizations indicated that significant impacts were still on the horizon.

For organizations on the receiving end of that investment, the impact has been as much about being seen as it is about the financial support itself.

“This $50,000 grant is not just funding; it is a lifeline at a moment when we needed one most,” shared Nancy Boyle, interim associate director for the Franklin County Community Meals Program. “This grant arrives as we are doing the hard, necessary work of strengthening

our organization with skilled leadership, tightened systems, and a renewed commitment to the communities we serve.

The [Community Foundation’s] support tells us that our work is seen, that it matters, and that we are not doing it alone.”

The Community Meals program provides over 25,000 free meals annually and serves over 2,800 households in Franklin County who depend on their services across its meal sites and pantry.

To learn more about Community Resilience grants, visit communityfoundation.org.

Witness Stones Project remembers lives of two enslaved people

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow community has memorialized the lives of two people who spent parts of the 1700s enslaved in the town with brass plaques, becoming the fifth and sixth people to be remembered and honored so far in Longmeadow by the Witness Stones Project.

This ceremony marks the third year of Longmeadow’s Witness Stones Project, an educational initiative by the organization Historic New England to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities.

The ceremony was held at First Church of Christ on May 21, with the project being a collaboration between the church, the Longmeadow Historical Society and Longmeadow Public Schools. It was funded by the Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation. The plaques are placed in the grass outside of the church.

The two people honored this year are Zickery Prince and a man named James. Seventh grade students at Williams Middle School have spent the past several weeks researching them through primary sources like diary entries, church records, census materials and wills.

Since 2024, the town has also memorialized enslaved people named Phillis and Peter, a couple who married inside the First Church of Christ, a person named Nicholas and a second person named Peter.

These six people are the first to be memorialized out of the 16 known individuals enslaved in Longmeadow during the 18th and 19th centuries. The project intends to say the names and honor each one.

Not much is known about James, besides that he was enslaved around 1719 by the Rev. Stephen Williams, Longmeadow’s

first minister of the First Church of Christ. Some of the only proof of James’ life came from three entries in Williams’ diary and a household accounting record noting the 10 pounds that Williams paid to purchase James.

Williams wrote about James’ behavior, mentioning James being “out of frame” and once about him being out late at night. James disappeared from the record after the diary entries and it is unknown what became of him.

One student said that James wasn’t property or an object, he was always a human being “capable of love, happiness, emotions and making decisions for himself” and that he found ways to show humanity while he was dehumanized and denied freedom.

Prince has a much more documented life with records that span across 40 years. He was enslaved

as a child in Longmedow by an elderly man named Nathaniel Bliss in the 1730s and 1740s. The first piece of evidence for Prince’s life came from a 1737 probate that valued him at 110 pounds.

Records show that Prince was enslaved in seven different households throughout his life, marrying a woman named Citty along the way. He joined the Continental Army during the American Revolution in 1777 after Abel Forward, Prince’s enslaver, promised his freedom in exchange for taking the place of his son.

He died in the winter of 1779 in a hospital at the Fishkill Supply Depot in New York. A Continental Army payroll listed Prince’s salary as “received his freedom.”

One student spoke about how records show the price for Prince changed as he progressed through life and that it is belittling and de-

humanizng to put a price of value on a human being. Another student said Prince’s time in the war showcased his bravery and the sacrifices that enslaved people made “for freedom and for the country that abused them.” She added that Prince “died for a country that was never his own.”

First Church of Christ Reverend Doug Bixby said that these ceremonies are done in the spirit of “humility, honesty and responsibility,” and avoiding “denial, deception and disassociation from this sad part of our own history.”

“So often in the north, we want to disassociate ourselves from the sad history of slavery and the painful realities of it,” Bixby said.

“But the truth is, before the Abolitionist Movement, slavery was a part of life in New England as well as in the south. This history is in danger of being forgotten.”

Witness Stones Program Director Patricia Wilson Pheanious said these programs strengthen one another and recover what has been lost, permanently placing that history into the landscape of everyday life.

“This work deeply matters, perhaps now more than ever, at a time when some would narrow, dismiss or erase difficult parts of our shared history, these programs insist that polar proof matters,” Pheanious said. “They remind us that understanding history is not about assigning blame, it’s recognizing humanity … These men were here. Their lives and free labor supported this community’s prosperity. They helped shape Longmeadow and free our country, and know that today we’re taking action to help Zickery and James’ names and contributions never to be forgotten again.”

The two new plaques honoring Zickery Prince and James on the grass outside of First Church of Christ in Longmeadow.

Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Tuohy

Town Council candidates respond to questions ahead of election

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow town election is happening on June 2 and the Town Council sees a three way race for one open seat.

Councilor Jonathan Torcia is up for reelection for a second term, but sees challengers in former Councilor Matthew Boucher and Carolyn Ferros.

Reminder Publishing: What are the most important things the Town Council should tackle in the next year?

Torcia: One of the most important things the Town Council will be considering is a proposed mixeduse town center district which is currently being reviewed by the Planning Board. This will tap into a key area of the community in the center of town to allow for mixeduse development, offering new business locations and market-rate housing spaces. We also will be further exploring municipal fiber which can be an opportunity to offer stronger internet access to the community.

Boucher: Over the next year, the town needs to finally pull the mixed-use center district across the finish line. This has been discussed since my previous term on the council from 2022 to 2024, and it’s time we finally get it done - both to further develop an enjoyable space around the center of town and to increase property tax revenues, reducing the tax burden on homeowners.

Ferros: The most important thing the Town Council should tackle in the next year would be to find common sense ways to increase revenue to slow the economic downturn that East Longmeadow and so many other communities are facing. We are at risk of needing to continue to eliminate teachers and staff from our schools and we need to find ways to combat that.

RP: Is there anything that you could add to the discussion and planning of the town center mixed-use district?

Torcia: The Town Council recently voted to send the proposed mixed use district by-law to the Planning Board and it’s important to have a thoughtful conversation that ensures we are getting a bylaw that has strong consensus. Any district should be developed so that we are cognizant of traffic and safety issues, other communities have begun developing similar districts. I’m excited about the new projects already beginning such as an expanded Frigo’s Marketplace on Shaker Road.

Boucher: The discussion and planning for the mixed-use district around the center of town needs to be locally controlled and aware of the impacts it will have on the residents already living there. I support the Town Council’s rejection of state-directed development through 40R. The upcoming development at 95 Shaker Road - including a 5,000 sq. ft. Frigo’s, a bank on the second floor and four to six condos on the third floor - should be our model for what “mixed-use” and “increased density” look like around the center of town. I also love the Pafumi’s development off Main Street in Wilbraham, which includes a restaurant, liquor store and several housing units, all wrapped up in a classic New England aesthetic. East Longmeadow needs to redevelop its center to improve quality of life and increase revenue while retaining the town’s small-town feel. Additionally, all industrial zones around the center should be rezoned - nobody wants their new condo overlooking a dump. I think the “market-rate” mixed-use proposal currently making its way through the Town Council and Planning Board is a good start.

Ferros: I am passionate about the Center Town District, which is why I sat on the Steering Committee. I helped with the mapping of the proposed Center Town District and feel that the work we did on the Steering Committee was important to encourage community involvement. I’m excited that the discussion is continuing and hope

to be a part of seeing it come to fruition. I have a background in real estate so I have seen what is possible in surrounding communities and how we could implement those same ideas here in East Longmeadow. A mixed-use district would encourage small businesses to open up here instead of neighboring towns.

RP: Is there anything in the town that you think could use the most improvement?

Torcia: We must continue to push as a Town Council on updating our critical infrastructure, the council is currently planning as part of our annual budget to target a few key roads for repair. Knowing we had a challenging winter this past year, I would advocate for continued road funds. We also have some important questions and oversight we must look closer at regarding water and updating the antiquated infrastructure that has impacted the quality of our water. The town should also continue to look for grant opportunities that exist at the state and federal levels.

Boucher: The biggest issue needing immediate improvement is East Longmeadow’s relationship with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Right now, our residents are effectively treated like bystanders. We are expected to pay the bills for a regional system while having absolutely no say in how it is governed. We are seeing constant rate increases - such as the proposed 7.5% hike for 2027 to cover management failures like the delays and PCB contamination at the West Parish Water Treatment Plant - yet we are left in the dark regarding operations and long-term financial risk. We deserve clean water, competent management and protection from preventable financial harm. The town needs to stop accepting these costs as inevitable and start using every tool available to protect our ratepayers. This starts with actively backing state legislation, like the bill filed by state Rep. Aaron Saunders (H. 2330) and amendments 38 and 42 of Senate Bill

3050 proposed by state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, now reprinted as S. 3064, to restructure the commission and ensure we finally have a seat at the table. East Longmeadow contributes significantly to this system, and it is past time we had meaningful representation so we can hold the commission accountable to our residents rather than just the interests of Springfield.

Ferros: I believe communication and transparency could be improved. We have a large population and the majority of them don’t know what’s happening until it’s already happened and someone posts it on one of the dozens of social media forums. There is a level of responsibility on the individual, however, finding the information is no easy task. When I listen to people throughout the community I hear their concerns that they don’t feel they are being heard and they don’t feel included in what’s going on in town.

RP: What is your long-term vision for the town over the next few years?

Torcia: I want to continue to ensure our community keeps its small town character, while advocating for responsible growth in our vacant or dilapidated properties. We must also continue to collaborate with our town departments on making our budgets more efficient while speaking as a unified voice to advocate for more unrestricted local state aid which has been lacking in recent years.

Boucher: My long-term vision is built on resident engagement and practical, community-centered development. First, we need to end the practice of ambiguous town surveys and commit to full transparency. I feel like every six months the town publishes some type of survey asking residents what type of “mixed-use” development or “density” they prefer, and then there’s no follow-up. I can only assume the answers from the public do not align with the desires of the Planning Department, so a similar form is advertised six months later. When the town asks

for feedback, we should publish the raw data and response numbers so we know exactly what our neighbors want, rather than relying on skewed sample sizes to justify pre-determined outcomes. Governance should be transparent, representative and honest. Physically, I see the future of our town’s vibrancy centered on Shaker Road. While preserving the character of our residential corridors like North Main, Pleasant and Elm Streets, we should focus infrastructure investment on making Shaker Road a truly walkable, connected district. This means prioritizing improved sidewalks and proactive partnerships with building owners to attract profitable, local-serving businesses that keep our economy in town. Finally, we must restore our community assets to the standard our volunteers built. Heritage Park was created through the hard work and dedication of our residents, and we cannot let it continue to slip into disrepair. We need to foster a town that is a place where families have enjoyable, safe places to spend time.

Ferros: I want to expand our commercial tax base by encouraging small businesses to come to East Longmeadow while maintaining our small town feel. A broader commercial base will help to alleviate the tax burden on the single property homeowner. My longterm vision would be a robust walkable community with all the things we need right here in our own town to encourage people to stay local.

Q: Why do you think East Longmeadow residents should vote for you?

Torcia: I think residents should consider reelecting me because I have demonstrated in my involvement on the council, Planning Board and other areas I can work with all types of individuals to accomplish a shared set of goals. I’m proud to be supported by all my fellow Town Council colleagues and I have maintained a strong

See CANDIDATESon page 9

EAST LONGMEADOW

Historical Commission sets date for time capsule kickoff

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW —

East Longmeadow is preparing to dig up the past and replant a part of the present day as the town’s time capsule events rapidly approach.

The gears have been turning inside the East Longmeadow Historical Commission and Rotary Club for the past few months in preparation for the unveiling of the 1976 time capsule and the burial of a new time capsule, intended to be uncovered in 2076.

A kickoff event is being hosted at the shared grounds of Norcross House and the Historical Museum, 89 Maple St., on May 30 from 1-3 p.m. to celebrate the new time capsule ahead of its burial in Heritage Park on July 18.

Event goers will create their own time capsule contributions, such as with a photo booth for a picture of themselves. Children are also encouraged to submit drawings to the new capsule, as paper and art supplies will be provided. Attendees can also just enjoy some lawn games and light refreshments while connecting with the community.

The Historical Museum will also be open during the event for people to see some of the town’s history.

EAST LONGMEADOW —

For the fifth consecutive year, the Friends of the East Longmeadow Public Library, Inc. are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Bernard and Norma Vinick Memorial Scholarship Awards: Natalie DiMichele, Javien Lugo and Filip Czudec. Due to a previous commitment, DiMichele was unable to attend the Friends annual award ceremony. However, accommodations were made and she received her certificate on May 4 in the town library’s Conference Room. Maura Mara, a member of the scholarship committee, did the honors of presenting DiMichele with her award document.

Historical Commission member George Kingston said the event will be a big party and the time capsule events will get the whole town involved with history from 50 years ago, while also giving residents the chance to contribute in cementing our present day history.

Kingston said that he’s looking forward to having kids submit things and that the commission is working with the library and schools to encourage children to submit letters to themselves.

“If they’re 10 years old now, they’ll be 60 when this thing gets opened,” Kingston said. “It’d be interesting to look back and see what they thought 50 years before.”

Submissions for the new time capsule close on June 27, and Kingston said there will be several events where people can see the capsule and submit things.

He said there will hopefully be submission boxes at Pleasant View Senior Center as well.

Kingston said the commission reserves the right to choose what goes in the capsule because he doesn’t want anything to degrade, so he’s encouraging people to go with small or flat items like paper.

“We’re not taking anything perishable, that sounds like a no-brainer but, you know, you have to say that,” Kingston said.

Lugo and Czudec along with their proud families joined the members of the Friends on May 5 in the town library’s periodicals section. Betty MacLeod, scholarship chair, read excerpts about their accomplishments and their future plans prior to giving them their scholarship certificates.

“The officers and directors of the Friends are delighted to help with some of the expenses of higher education,” Diane Tiago, President of the Friends’ shared.

“The cost to attend a college is overwhelming and we gladly support these young people in their next phase of their educational journey.”

“No liquids, no rubber objects, no hazardous materials, nothing with batteries … specifically, we are not accepting USB drives, or thumb drives, because we don’t have the ability to scan all of those things, and we don’t want people 50 years from now getting 50-year-old viruses on their machines. The capsule is currently re-

ceiving a decorative wrap at Go Graphix and will also be featured in the parade on Independence Day. The 1976 capsule does not have a specific date for being dug up and unveiled just yet, but Kingston predicted it will occur around late July or early August.

Kingston added that the Rotary Club deserves a lot of

credit for the upcoming events and that it has been very active in planning and funding, along with Town Manager Tom Christensen for attending each meeting and providing advice. He also gave a shout out to Historical Commission Chair Christine Devlin, who has been tracking timelines and creating each schedule.

DiMichele will be attending Bentley University in the fall and will be majoring in Business Law. Lugo has been accepted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will major in Architecture while Czudec will be attending Boston University and working towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Each institution of higher education will receive $1,000 to apply towards the respective recipient’s tuition or fees.

From left: Bernard and Norma Vinick Memorial Scholarship Award winner Natalie DiMichele and scholarship committee member Maura Mara. Bernard and Norma Vinick Memorial Scholarship Award winners Javien Lugo and Filip Czudec.

Reminder Publishing submitted photos

The lid comes down on the 1976-2026 time capsule before being buried for the next 50 years.

Photo Credit: East Longmeadow Historical Commission

Cooper answers questions ahead of town election

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW —

One seat is open for a one-year term with the East Longmeadow School Committee and two people are looking to fill it after the election on June 2.

Former School Committee member Sarah Truoiolo attempts to make her way back to the committee while write-in candidate Christina Cooper looks to join for the first time. Truoiolo did not respond by press time.

Since Cooper is a write-in candidate, she said residents casting a vote for her have to write in her full name and address, 142 Meadowbrook Road, on the ballot under one-year term.

Reminder Publishing: What are the most important things you believe the School Committee should be focused on over the next year?

Cooper: I believe we need to focus on securing sources of revenue and finding items in our budget to cut that are not teaching

Candidates

working relationship with each of them. Every vote and action that I have had the honor of being a part of in the last three years I have always had the interests of the entire community in mind. I want to continue to bring a professional and experienced perspective to the Town Council. I humbly ask the residents of East Longmeadow for their vote and continued support on June 2.

Boucher: I am a former Councilor, having served on East Longmead-

positions. Because of rising costs across the board, our schools have been forced to cut 25 plus positions over the past few years, and I want to do everything I can to protect our staff from facing further reductions. Our teachers are the beating heart of East Longmeadow schools.

RP: Is there anything you’d change or improve on to ensure student success?

Cooper: I’d take a long, hard look at how we incorporate technology in the classrooms for instruction and for evaluation. For years, we’ve been part of the American experiment of providing one-toone Chromebook laptops for every K-12 student in our system, and I believe the quality of our students’ educational experience has measurably suffered. As part of our approval capital spending for IT for fiscal year 2027, we’ll be spending $147,000 to replace broken Chromebooks. Could that money be better allocated somewhere else?

RP: What do you think you could add to the FY28 budget discus-

ow’s Town Council from 2022 to 2024. In 2022, I ran on supporting the new high school project and education funding, and I was pleased to see voters overwhelmingly support the new high school in 2023. During my time on the council, I was part of implementing two level-service budgets, hiring our town manager, Tom Christensen, and supporting the high school project where I could. I decided not to run for re-election in 2024 as I felt my job was done with the passing of the high school project, and the realities of my job at the time made it difficult to commit the necessary time to the council. Additionally, I was unsure

sion in a time where many municipalities across the state are looking at making reductions?

Cooper: The FY28 budget is where I want to focus 99% of my considerable energy. I look forward to working with our new Superintendent [Dr. Joanne Menard] to bring in revenue through public-private partnerships and applying for grants, and determining costs to cut that won’t affect our staff. I’ve been studying our school’s and town’s FY26 and FY27 budgets, and I have a lot of ideas, many of which center around more resilient transportation options.

RP: Do you have a stance on the growing capabilities of AI and the role that they’ve already started to take in a student’s life?

Cooper: As a children’s book author whose copyrighted works were stolen by unscrupulous AI companies like Open AI and Anthropic, I have a very passionate stance on this topic. I will be presenting at the Generative AI in Libraries conference in July, speaking about opening students’ eyes to

if I would be in the town long-term or purchasing a home here. I made a career transition to education in 2024 with a Tech Ed teacher role at Birchland Park Middle School right here in town. My position was terminated in the 2025–2026 school year budget cuts, and I now teach at Agawam High School. I love my job. In March 2026, I purchased a home in town, officially setting down roots. Buying a home in town solidified my decision to run for Town Council because I feel we need a collaborative, moderate voice that will help usher in the town’s next phase of development while shepherding the town through a difficult couple of years

the fact that not all AI “tools” are created equal. As adults, we must ask students to join us in the fight to value human creativity above this AI mimicry built through theft, and make wise choices about what AI products we use and which we reject as harmful to the fabric of our society.

RP: Why do you think East Longmeadow residents should vote for you?

Cooper: I am a creative, comprehensive problem-solver. I know I can communicate in an engaging way about the School Committee’s work, our challenges, and our opportunities, and won’t shy away from asking people smarter than me for their help. I’m running because I want to be of service to the town, to pay forward the support my twins received over their thirteen years in the East Longmeadow school system. The reason they are now doing amazing things in college is directly due to the ELPS teachers who saw them for who they were and encouraged them to spread their academic wings as wide as they could.

financially - with less money from the state than ever and increasing inflation. Please check out my campaign page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/matt4el and I would very much appreciate one of your two votes on June 2. Thank you!

Ferros: I have a proven record of working for the community and seeing what’s possible to continue to grow while holding on to what makes East Longmeadow a great community to live in. I ran the Vote Yes ELHS campaign for the new high school, scheduled to open this fall. I want to continue to work for all of the residents, from the students to the seniors.

Veritas seniors to secure diploma, college degrees

By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — Next month, the inaugural class of seniors will graduate from Veritas Prep Charter Public School. The school has partnered with Springfield Technical Community College and Worcester State University to offer college-level courses while the students are still in high school. As such, nearly half of Veritas Prep’s 77 graduating seniors will have earned their associate’s degree as well as a diploma.

On May 15, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Department of Elementary Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez toured the school and spoke with students and faculty about their experiences with the school’s early college format.

In the college-level Spanish class they dropped in on, students were working on essays about an individual in their lives. Overseen by Westfield State University professor Marilyn Sanchez, four students shared their work with Zrike and Martinez, both fluent Spanish speakers. Martinez, who did not become fluent in Spanish until he was an adult, praised the students and said learning a language as a teen or adult is significantly more difficult than learning as a child.

In a college-level marketing class taught by Niasha Ortiz, a student presented a marketing plan for an original product — a

hoodie with cooling pads and air vents, targeted to athletes. The professor said the student had hit “the four p’s” of marketing — product, price, placement and promotion. Martinez asked the student whether price or quality would set his product apart from others on the market. After thinking about it, he decided to offer superior quality.

Not all students participate in the early college courses, Veritas Prep Principal Stephen Mahoney said, but as a wall-to-wall program, every student is eligible to take college courses, beginning in their second semester of ninth grade, provided their grades meet a certain standard. They are also required to sustain their grades to continue taking college courses. School-wide, 89 students take full-time college courses.

After the tour, Zrike and Martinez sat down with 10 students

from various grades. They listened to students express what they have gotten out of the early college courses. One student said it was helpful to “get my gen eds out of the way” before high school graduation. Many of the courses involved in an associate’s degree are general education classes that all students must take.

“I always told myself I would take every opportunity, and I have,” said one student, who cares for his younger sisters.

Students in ninth and 10th grade take college-level courses at the high school, but juniors and seniors can take classes on campus at Springfield Technical Community College or Worcester State University.

This year, senior Nicholas Grier’s classes have all taken place on the STCC campus. He said the experience has expanded his interests. He has also gained

confidence and learned time management skills. “It’s a maturity thing,” he said about waiting until junior year to attend classes on a college campus.

Mia Erazo said the ability to learn on campus is important.

“It’s a different environment,” she said. “It sets a tone.”

Both Erazo and Laysha Gonzalez were enrolled in the fifth grade at Veritas Prep Middle School through a lottery. Now, the two seniors who have gotten a head start on their future careers.

Both have earned their certified nursing assistant certifications.

Gonzalez said having the chance to take college courses while in high school “feels important. The opportunities have been so nice.”

That said, she noted, “It’s what you put into it.”

Erazo agreed. “We could have done the easy route, but we had to take night classes af-

ter a full day of high school,” she said. Both students will major in nursing, Gonzalez at Elms College and Erazo at Worcester State University.

Zrike said the state is grappling with how to deal with artificial intelligence. He asked the students for their opinion. One student said, “Don’t have AI write your English I essay for you.” Instead, she said she uses it to make her work “sound stronger.” Luis Olmeda described some of the AI tools that are available to search texts for relevant information and create study guides for exams, but he also had strong feelings about the amount of energy and resources data centers use.

Some of the students have been preparing for college since attending Veritas Middle School. Coriel Williams said she took a

Springfield honors its fallen police officers with ceremony

By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — The call of a bugle sounding taps echoed off the Springfield Police Department headquarters on Pearl Street before being carried away on the wind, while dozens of officers, dignitaries and community members looked on stoically. Following the bugle call, officers conducted a three-volley salute, firing rifles to recognize the 17 Springfield officers who have died in the line of duty.

“To all the families who have lost loved ones, we honor you today,” said Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. “Their sacrifice was not an act of chance, but an act of character. Your loved ones are not forgotten, and neither are you.”

Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “Policing is still an honorable profession and so needed.” He described police officers as “sentinels of peace.” The mayor wears a “Badge 7” pin on his lapel in remembrance of Sgt. Kevin Ambrose, who died in 2012 protecting a mother and child during a domestic disturbance. He said, “Never forget the officers who

Top row, from left: A member of the Springfield Police Department sounds taps during the memorial ceremony. Members of the Springfield Police Department pay their respects to their fellow officers. Bottom row, from left. Springfield Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Walsh, Police Chaplain William Hamilton, Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers listen as Vanessa Ford sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A man stands before the memorial to fallen members of the Springfield Police Department. His brother is among those honored. A stone memorializes the 17 members of the Springfield Police Department who have died in the line of duty. Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen

Left, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Veritas Prep Charter Public School Principal Stephen Mahoney hear from students about their early college course experiences. Right, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Veritas Prep Charter Public School Principal Stephen Mahoney and Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association Executive Director Tim Nicolette join Veritas

program. Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen

HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM

Paraeducators reject contract with HWRSD, teachers reach agreement

By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Paraeducators

working in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District are still pushing for new contracts in ongoing negotiations between the Hampden Wilbraham Education Association and the School Committee after shutting down a proposed settlement by a margin of nearly 3-1.

The HWEA represents more than 375 teachers, paraprofessionals and service providers across the HWRSD. Contracts expired at the end of the last school year despite ongoing negotiations with the School Committee since November 2024.

“Paraprofessionals working in both regular and special education settings are providing crucial support to all students,” The HWEA said in a press release. “The work they do is essential, not optional or supplemental. The district needs to improve the compensation for paraprofessionals and offer wage packages better aligned with their value and

responsibilities. The contract rejected by paraprofessionals sent a clear message that the district is not doing what is necessary to attract and retain skilled educators.

The HWEA believes that the district can be both fiscally responsible and strategically responsive when it comes to protecting the quality of our public schools.”

HWEA President and Minnechaug Regional High School English Teacher Damian Konkoly said the teachers came to an agreement in a vote on May 8 after nearly a year of work under the terms of an expired contract.

“In April, we got to a point where we felt like we needed to bring something to our members to see how they felt about it,”

Konkoly said. “We basically took where the negotiations stood for both the teachers and paraprofessionals and presented that to the members and they had ratification votes. The teachers’ vote went through, but the paraprofessional ones got voted down.”

He said there is a mediation session set for June 4 to continue

talks on paraeducator contracts and “hopefully get something that can be approved by paraprofessionals.”

“One of the issues is that, for some of the paraprofessionals that the district is, kind of, classifying as ‘regular education paraprofessionals,’ that pay raises were not satisfactory to them,” Konkoly said. “For a couple of years, the second and third year of the contract, it was gonna be a 75 cents an hour raise. I think what I heard people say afterwards and talking with them, you know, the idea that they couldn’t go another quarter and make it $1 an hour, I think that got to some people.”

Konkoly added that on the other end of things, there were some paraprofessionals who work with students that have more significant needs that currently get an additional $2 an hour, and the model for compensating them would be changing. He said they would be “breaking even over the next couple of years and not be getting much of a raise at

See HWRSD on page 14

Members of the Hampden Wilbraham Education Association demonstrated at Wilbraham’s Crane Park for contract resolutions back in December 2025.

Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Tuohy

STRM: Pride Month events in Western Massachusetts

By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com

On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet sat down with Holyoke Pride Committee members Jeffery Bianche and Jeffrey Anderson-Burgos, while Chris Maza and Dennis Hackett sat down with Springfield Pride Parade Founder and CEO Taurean Bethea to chat about what’s in store for Pride Month in their respective communities.

Holyoke

Holyoke will host its Pride flag raising on Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 536 Dwight St., and there will be a Youth Queer Prom on Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at the Holyoke War Memorial, 310 Appleton St. The latter event is for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies between the ages of 1324 who want to “celebrate freely and joyfully.”

Other Pride events in Holyoke include a Buen Provecho Drag Brunch on Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m., at Fame Lounge, 386 Dwight St. and a Rainbow Run 5K and 1-mile fun walk on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m., where participants can hit the ground running, or walking, at Ashley Reservoir in their brightest rainbow gear.

Anderson-Burgos, who said he is interested in running, created this event and shared he is looking forward to seeing it continue to grow. “I know that runners are constantly looking for the next race, so going into it, I knew it was going to be, if you build it they will come. Just putting in on the race calendar, people are immediately signing up for it.”

All ages and abilities are welcome. Readers can register for the event on the committee’s website until June 12.

A Drag Story Hour event will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St. Residents are encouraged to bring the family to library to experience heartwarming stories that cele-

brate acceptance and diversity.

The marquee event, Holyoke PrideFest, will take place on Saturday, June 27, from noon to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, 536 Dwight St. The day will include live performances, local food vendors, nonprofits, small businesses, art and community connections.

Bianche said there will be between 60-70 vendors at the event. He added that PrideFest has continued to grow since the first year, and he expects around 2,000 people.

The celebration continues at a Pride After Party from 6-11 p.m. at The Wauregan, 420 Dwight St., with music, dancing and “unforgettable vibes.” Tickets for the after party are available on the website.

For the latest updates and event details, readers can visit holyokepride.org. Vendors and performers can apply on the website as well. Readers looking to donate, sponsor, or volunteer can do so on the website, as well.

Bianche said he still needs to add a couple events to the website’s calendar for people to check out. He explained that the celebration has grown a lot, and he and Anderson-Burgos wanted to sponsor and create events to support people of all ages.

“We’re trying to just get anyone who’s working in this realm to just sort of submit their event and get it listed to become part of this bigger Holyoke Pride umbrella,” Bianche said.

Springfield Springfield is hosting its LGBTQIA+ flag raising on Thursday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Springfield City Hall, 36 Court St.

Bethea said this will be the fifth year that Springfield Pride Parade will host events to celebrate Pride Month.

Instead of the annual Gala, this year’s schedule will feature the first ever “Pride Strikes,” a charity bowling classic on Friday, June 5, at Tap’s MGM Springfield from 7-10 p.m. Readers can register their teams at springfield-

prideparade.com.

The fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade is taking place on Saturday, June 6, starting at noon. The parade starts at the Springfield Technical Community College campus and proceeds to downtown Springfield, where guests can continue the celebration at the fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade Block Party from 1-6 p.m. at Stearns Square and the Pride Lands in downtown Springfield.

Outside of those events, Bethea said he is looking forward to the youth community panel. “Just hearing their thoughts on different things, and I feel like there’s always something to learn,” Bethea stated. “It’s like what’s happening in the world from their perspective, where we’re just like, ‘Oh wow I didn’t know that.’”

Bethea said Springfield Pride’s work is much more than the parade. It’s also an opportunity to create “safe spaces” programming throughout the city for the youth and residents.

Although this year’s event in Springfield coincides with Boston’s celebration, Bethea said he expects a great turnout of about 5,000-7,000 people rain or shine.

He joked, “If you’re from Springfield, you are obligated to be here. A few years people have been like, ‘We went to Boston in the morning and ended up in Springfield,’ so there’s enough to go around.”

More details and information on each event can be found at springfieldprideparade.org.

To hear the full episode, visit thereminder.com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.

Some other Pride events taking place during the month of June in the Pioneer Valley include: • Westfield Pride Month events:

Harlot Queen’s Album Release party at Westfield Women’s Club; a Pride flag raising at Westfield City Hall on Monday, June 1, at 5:15 p.m.; Pride Karaoke on Tuesday, June 2, at Shortstop Bar & Grill at 6 p.m.; Family Gift Card Bingo at the Senior Center on Wednesday, June 3, from 6-7:30 p.m.; Comedy Night at Hutghi’s on Thursday, June 4, from 4-7 p.m.; Out & About Social event at Fame, 386 Dwight St., Holyoke on Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m.; Rainbows over Elm Pridefest will take place on June 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and there will be an ecumenical service at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 7, from 6-7 p.m.

• Chicopee Pride Festival, presented by the Chicopee Queer Consortium — Saturday, June 13, noon to 6 p.m. Includes its inaugural Chicopee Pride Parade, which will kick off the day at 10 a.m. The parade will step off at Dana Park on Serman Street and process down Springfield Street, Fairview

Avenue, Academy Street and Front Street and into Szot Park.

• Franklin County Pride — Saturday, June 13. Parade begins at noon in Greenfield, starting at the intersection of Sanderson Street & Federal Street and finishing at Energy Park. The festival begins at 1 p.m. All of Miles Street down to Energy Park for the festival.

• Belchertown Pride Festival, hosted by the Belchertown DEI Task Force and Belchertown Police Department — Saturday, June 20, noon to 5 p.m. at the Belchertown Common.

• Amherst Pride Parade and Celebration — Sunday, June 28, noon to 3 p.m. The parade begins at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and processes to the Amherst Town Common.

This is not a comprehensive list of every event going on in Western Massachusetts. Readers are encouraged to check out events within their local communities for other celebrations taking place during Pride Month.

Springfield Pride Parade founder Taurean Bethea (center) joined Chris Maza and Dennis Hackett to discuss the fifth annual event. Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet

Continued from page 11

all, if any.”

“There has been some movement together, you know, getting closer together,” Konkoly said. “I think that the work of paraprofessionals is more intense and more

Veritas

Continued from page 10

seminar block that prepares students for high school and college. “They make you think a lot about where you want to go,” she said.

complex than it traditionally has been so they’re doing a lot more that is really involved with instruction, they’re not just helping kids with things, so I think the changes to the pay don’t totally reflect the change of the nature of their work … some of the frustration on the part of the paraprofessionals, is that they know how

Martinez said that, while there are 10,000 high school students engaged in early college programs, the state has a goal of 100,000 student participants. He explained that 40% of children live in poverty, and DESE’s goal is to provide them with access to

Celebrate Life

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ELIZABETH A. (Burke) TYSON

LONGMEADOW - Elizabeth A. (Burke)

Tyson 87, wife of over 50 years to the late Forrest Clark Tyson III, passed away on May 18th, 2026, with her children by her side. Elizabeth, known as Ellie, was born on July 17, 1938, in Augusta, Maine to the late Arthur F. and Mary K. (Major) Burke. She was a 1959 graduate of Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine. Ellie worked for many years in banking then later in food service for the Longmeadow Schools systems for 10 years and Springfield Technical Community College for another decade. When her husband was a faculty member at Springfield College, she led the Faculty Women’s Club, raising money to support student scholarships. A longtime resident of Longmeadow, Ellie was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the choir for over 30 years. She enjoyed working the voting polls for the town of Longmeadow and serving as a clerk/ warden in the town offices.

Ellie was Secretary for the Council on Aging and a staunch advocate for the building of the new Longmeadow Adult Center. She volunteered there every week, hosting in the café. She enjoyed reading, bowling, family vacations and attending her grandchildren’s many dance recitals, school and athletic events. She was proud of each and every one of them and always had cookies available when they came to visit.

She leaves her two children, Matthew C. Tyson and his wife, Julie, Kimberly A. Lavallee and her husband Rod: her beloved grandchildren, Mary Lavallee, Jake Lavallee, Nate Tyson, Sam Tyson, sister Nancy (Burke) Clifford and several nephews/nieces and great nephews/nieces.

Calling hours will take place from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29th at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place in St. Michael’s Church, 128 Maple Street, East Longmeadow starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 30th. (Due to renovations being done at St. Mary’s). Burial will follow in Longmeadow Cemetery, Williams Street, Longmeadow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Longmeadow Adult Center, 211 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. (In memo section please write in memory of Ellie Tyson). www.forastiere.com

their work has changed and become more difficult but then they feel like we’re having to, kind of, scratch away at getting raises for them.”

Konkoly said that it was important for staff to have fair contracts because the working conditions for everybody plays into how well the job is able to get

early college.

“We want to send the message that if you do the work, there’s an early college seat for you,” Martinez said. “Early college is for everyone.”

Speaking with Veritas Prep founder and CEO Rachel Romano and other Veritas educators, Martinez said, “I’m a huge early college champion.” Statewide, he said the implementation of ear-

Fallen

Continued from page 10

gave the ultimate sacrifice for people they didn’t even know.”

Police Chaplain William Hamilton remarked, “Behind the badge, there are wives, husbands, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers.”

Michael Vigneault, son of fallen officer, Richard Vigneault, spoke about absence felt by children who have lost a parent. “Never forget the price of peace,” he said.

Maura Schiavina, whose brother, Michael Schiavina, was killed in the line of duty, thanked Sarno for his “unwavering support and dedication” to the families of fallen Springfield police officers. Referring to the ceremony, she

done and how well they’re able to meet student needs. He added that making sure everybody is treated fairly makes it known that everybody is on the same team.

“I’m hopeful that the School Committee will be able to recognize that making a little more space in the budget for paraprofessionals isn’t going to be any-

ly college programs is “all over the board ... Veritas is the strongest I’ve seen.”

Romano said it took several years to grow the program to this point. Many of the obstacles were related to the differences between union contracts for teachers and college professors. She added, “It took a lot to get the [memorandum of understanding] to where it is. If you have the right rela-

said, “These kinds of things give us comfort. I feel like I’m here with Michael.”

While the Police Department recognizes its fallen officers each year as part of National Police Week, May 13’s memorial ceremony included the unveiling of new memorial plaques for the officers. The plaques were funded by donations from the Hockey for Heroes Foundation, the IBPO Local 364 Patrolman’s Union and the Springfield Police Supervisors Association.

A contingent of officers was absent from the ceremony, as they were representing the Springfield Police Department at the funeral of State Police Trooper Kevin Trainer who was recently killed in a wrong-way crash responding to a call.

thing that wrecks the budget,” Konkoly said. “It’s very much money well invested for the multiple roles that their paraprofessionals play in order to help the schools run smoothly, because they really do wear a lot of different hats. It’s not that huge of an investment, given what their pay already is, but it’s well worth it.”

tionship and the right attitude, you work it out.”

Romano said the school has worked hard to strike a balance between accountability and the flexibility needed to spur innovation. Tim Nicolette, executive director of Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association, said Veritas Prep began with one model before pivoting to an early college model.

Springfield’s fallen officers are:

• Thomas Miller, Oct. 3, 1675

• Daniel Donovan, Sept. 29, 1908

• Adelbert St. Marie, Aug. 31, 1934

Carl Rolf, Nov. 2, 1938

• John P. Sullivan, Sr., Feb. 2, 1940

• Thomas F. Murphy, Feb. 2, 1940

Raymond Moriarty, Sept. 2, 1946

• John W. Connors, Feb. 20, 1953

• Leo Hamel, Oct. 31, 1955

• Francis Sears, Sept. 11, 1967

• Walter C. Juskiewicz, June 21, 1969

William R. Berte, Jan. 8, 1973

• Richard D. Vigneault, April 11, 1973

Paul F. Mawaka, Oct. 30, 1973

• Michael Schiavina, Nov. 12, 1985

• Alain Beauregard, Nov. 15, 1985

• Kevin Ambrose, June 4, 2012

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

Diane P. Adams

Jeannine M. Martell

Jeffrey J. Owczarski

Albert W. Ruel

EAST LONGMEADOW

Joan Bobrowicz

Richard A. Caney

Maureen Cratty

Maureen T. Ferriter

Mary Ellen Franz

James John Zarlengo

HAMPDEN

Anthony J. Corigliano

HOLYOKE

Marie T. Donoghue

LONGMEADOW

Donald Clarke Hutchins

Kenneth Norman Kinsley

LUDLOW

Kurt Lempke

Gerald J. Murdza

John A. Pisarczyk

SOUTH HADLEY

James W. Armstrong Jr.

SPRINGFIELD

Mary C. Collins

Joseph I. Gumlaw

Gerald Joseph Kane Jr.

Mark Brian Leak

Jason Lopez

Roussell Moussignac

Ruth I. Nuñez

George E. Sampson

Ann H. Taylor

WILBRAHAM

Jane C. Appleby

Beverly Ann Presz

EMTs, paramedics graduate from AMR’s Earn While You Learn

By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — American Medical Response, an emergency medical services provider, graduated a class of emergency medical technicians and paramedics from its Earn While You Learn program. The ceremony was hosted at AMR’s Springfield location on Cottage Street during National EMS Week.

The keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, recalled an experience he had several years ago, riding along with an ambulance crew responding to a call in Springfield. He said a man had fallen and become wedged between his bed and the wall, and his wife could not lift him. “It was a beautiful summer night. The windows were open ... and the game was on in the background on the radio,” Neal remembered. The crew had Neal ask the man his name to judge his cognitive state. “I leaned into him and said, ‘Can you please tell me your name.’ And he said, ‘Are the Red Sox still ahead?’” After a laugh from the crowd, Neal said, “We knew he was going to be okay.”

Neal said first responders are required to be “polite, kind and always empathetic,” no matter the situation. “Time and again, as we’ve witnessed what EMTs have been able to do, as they have been able to mitigate and calm some of the emotions that surround the challenging situation in which they find them-

selves,” Neal said. He said it requires “an extraordinary amount of patience.”

Neal said everyone in the room was “united in our quest for better and more affordable health care for the American people.” He said life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past 125 years. Because of that, many patients that EMTs and paramedics respond to have dementia and other maladies associated with aging. Often, those patients rely on Medicare and Medicaid. He said he would fight against the cuts to those programs that are expected in November.

Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno said AMR has been there for Springfield through the tornado, gas explosion and coronavirus pandemic. When he addressed the graduates, he referred to the city’s police and fire services and said, “You’re part of the team. You’re part of the partnership. People are looking to you for guidance, to let them know, ‘You’re going to be okay.’”

Self-care was a running theme throughout several of the speeches. Sarno said, “You need also to take care of yourselves, too. You have to have those stress relievers — whatever hobby you do, whatever family support you have. And families, thank you for your understanding, because they’re going to see things that you couldn’t imagine. But, yet, they’re going to be there to save those lives.”

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez congratulated the graduates, describing them as “new unsung heroes.”

Springfield Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi joked that he had been a paramedic longer than many of the graduates had been alive. Both he and Baystate Health Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Seth Kelly began their careers as paramedics. Calvi told the graduates that emergency services is a field they can parley into several careers.

Calvi also reminded the graduates to take care of themselves.

“Don’t let the bad days get you down,” he said. While these emergencies are tragic, they’re not your emergencies.” He told them, “It takes a lot of support from families to do this career.”

Springfield Police Lt. Eleni Barbieri congratulated the new

EMTs and paramedics on behalf of Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. She said, “The work you’re preparing to do truly matters” and it “demands not only skill and knowledge, but compassion and professionalism.”

The Earn While You Learn program pays people while they train to become EMTs and paramedics. AMR Massachusetts Regional Director Patrick Leonardo said the EMTs go through a three-month program and are contracted to work full-time for AMR for one year. Then, they have a choice to go elsewhere, continue with AMR or go into the Earn While You Learn paramedic program. After graduation, 99.9% are guaranteed to get a job in the field.

Sarno praised the Earn While You Learn program, and said, “The diversity of the program

is very strong.” He added that a substantial number of the people who complete it are from Springfield.

In the beginning, Leonardo said it seemed like it would be complicated to attract people to the program, but after the first class graduated, new people heard about the program through word of mouth. Multiple people have enrolled after a family member told them about the program. After the graduates shook hands and received certificates, the dignitaries and AMR recognized EMS, police and fire personnel from Springfield and Greenfield who saved lives in 2025. Many of the honorees had previously graduated from the Earn While You Learn program. Several Springfield cardiac patients who had been saved, and one paramedic delivered a baby.

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.

161 Papers: Burbank Rd., Farmington Rd., Ellington Rd., Oakwood Rd., Partial-Converse St.

174 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St.

207 Papers: Dover Rd., Birchwood Ave., Benedict Ter., Roseland Ter., Colony Rd.

62 Papers: Magnolia Cir., Primrose Dr., Merriweather Dr., Vanguard Ln., Ridge Rd.

229 Papers: Blueberry Hill Rd., Concord Rd., Green Willow Dr., Tanglewood Dr., Redfern Dr. LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY

83 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St.

84 Papers: Chandler Ave., Partial - Longmeadow St.

109 Papers: Birnie Rd., Brookside Dr., Crescent Rd., Longview Dr., Fairhill Dr., Partial - Longmeadow St.

54 Papers: Bliss Rd.

87 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd.

157 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd.

96 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.

99 Papers: Barbara Ln., Quinnehtuk Rd., Village Dr., Pioneer Dr., Partial - Maple Rd., Frank Smith Rd., Wolf Swamp Rd.

100 Papers: Norway St., Nevins Ave., Partial - Maple Rd.

157 Papers: Birch Rd., Yarmouth St., King Philip Dr.,

Dr., Wilkin Dr., Grassy Gutter Rd. 65 Papers: Park Dr., Brittany Rd., Normandy Rd., Partial-E. Greenwich Rd., Colony Rd. 149 Papers: Prynne Ridge Rd., Wyndward Rd., Wildwood Glen, Maplewood St., Partial-Maple Rd. WILBRAHAM - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY

35 Papers: Arbor Ln., Greenwood Rd., Oak Ridge Dr., Old Orchard Rd.

61 Papers: Gary Dr., Pidgeon Dr., Raymond Dr., Ruth Dr., Sawmill Dr.

228 Papers: Echo Hill Rd., Highmoor Dr., Meeting House Ln., Rice Dr., Ridge Rd., Highridge Rd., Hitching Post Ln., Partial - Mountain Rd., Monson Rd., Tinkham Rd., Main St.

A first responder is congratulated by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal for saving a life. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi, Baystate Health Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Seth Kelly, Police Lt. Eleni Barbieri and AMR Regional Director Patrick Leonardo look on.

Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen