Markey, Moulton clash in first debate
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — U.S. Sen. Ed
Markey and challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton clashed over leadership, policy and experience during their first head-to-head debate on July 8 at the WWLP TV-22 Studios.
The format, which offered voters a preview of the race ahead of the Sept. 1 primary, included a panel of Tony Fay from WWLP, Dave Madsen from Western Mass News, Elizabeth Román from NEPM and Jim Kinney of The Republican-MassLive asking the candidates questions. The debate covered a range of topics, including age and experience, ethics and finances, healthcare, transgender athletes, infrastructure, immigration and the West-East Rail.
Markey, the incumbent, is looking to secure another sixyear term. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1976. He has served in the Senate since 2013. If victorious, Markey said this would be his last time running for reelection,
“I need one more term to finish the agenda, this progressive agenda,” Markey stated. “And then I will step down. But we need to complete the agenda. We need Medicare for all, we need a green new deal, we need to make sure that we are fighting for every family who is out there who justifiably feels that they have been left behind.”
Moulton said he thinks the U.S. Senate could use a bit of a
tune-up and argued for a new generation of leaders. Moulton is currently the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ Sixth District, which is composed of most of Essex County, including Tewksbury, Lynn and Gloucester.
“A lot of people in Massachusetts feel like they don’t have a voice in politics, and they’re struggling to afford basic needs, and we need a fighter,” Moulton said. “We need someone who’s going to change the playbook, invest in a new generation of the years and start making Democrats win again.”
On the topic of his age and if it could affect his ability to serve the commonwealth, Markey stated, “This is the most energized I’ve ever been. Fighting [President] Donald Trump every single day, fighting his agenda to undermine families all across our country.”
Moulton stated that the focus should not be on Markey’s age
but rather on the fact that the playbook has not been working for the last 50 years.
“We need new ideas and a new playbook because a 50-year-old playbook is just not delivering for our country, for Massachusetts,” Moulton stated.
Moulton spoke about his American Affordability Agenda, a comprehensive plan focused on housing, healthcare and education. He said he believes housing, healthcare and education should be human rights.
Markey said he supports Medicare for all and has supported the Millionaires Tax in 2022 that raised $5 billion to pay for education for kids in schools in Massachusetts. He also opposed the defense budget seven months ago, giving $1 billion to conduct the wars in Venezuela and Iran.
“My goal is to continue to fight for every day, to make sure every child has a very strong floor
and an unlimited ceiling, and we’re going to need the healthcare and education money in order to accomplish that goal,” Markey stated.
The topic that caused the most debate between the two candidates was the issue of transgender athletes. The Supreme Court recently upheld state laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ sports at public schools and universities.
Fay noted that Moulton publicly condemned the Supreme Court ruling, but in 2024, he was quoted in the New York Times saying that Democrats “spent too much time trying not to offend anyone” and that he wouldn’t want his daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athletes.”
See DEBATE on page 8
LONGMEADOW Task force requests feedback on uses for Longmeadow buildings
Longmeadow’s Future Building Use Task Force is getting the public involved in three community forums.
6
EAST LONGMEADOW Planning Board approves Firestone project
The Firestone Complete Auto Care construction project at 546 North Main St. is moving ahead.
8
WILBRAHAM Police officer seeks donor after kidney disease diagnosis
A decorated officer in the Wilbraham Police Department is seeking a kidney donor after an unexpected rare kidney disease diagnosis.
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (left) and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (right) talk to reporters after their first debate. Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet
EAST LONGMEADOW
EAST LONGMEADOW PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the East Longmeadow Public Library, 60 Center Square. For more information or to register, head to eastlongmeadowlibrary.org or call 413-525-5420.
Children programs:
• Little Sprouts @ The Depot — Monday, July 20, at 9 a.m. For ages 3-6.
• Yoga @ The Depot — Tuesday, July 21, at 9:30 a.m. For ages 3 and up.
Breezy Seeds Engineering Challenge — Tuesday, July 21, at 4 p.m. For ages 6 and up.
Create-A-Critter — Wednesday, July 22, at 10 a.m. For ages 5 and up.
• Reptile Time — Wednesday, July 22, at 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. For ages 3 and up.
Tinker Playtime — Thursday, July 23, at 10 a.m. For ages 3-6
• Nature Storytime at the Apple Place — Friday, July 24, at 9 a.m.
PLEASANT VIEW SENIOR CENTER
The following events will be held at the Pleasant View Senior Center,
328 North Main Street, East Longmeadow. For more information or to register for programs, call 413-5255436.
PleasantBREW (memory) Café — Tuesday, July 21, at 11 a.m.
This month the café will celebrate Christmas in July, put on your best Luau wear and there will be “reindeer games.” The Memory Café is for individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. It is an opportunity to share in a fun and safe activity and meet others that share similar experiences. It’s free and open to other neighboring communities. RSVP for lunch is required by 1 p.m. on July 20.
• Adult Coloring — Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m.
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.
Puzzle Palooza — Tuesday, June 21, from 1-3 p.m. Work in randomly assigned teams to see which team can finish a 300-piece puzzle the fastest.
• Memory Café: Ukulele with Amy — Friday, July 24, at 10:15 a.m.
• Infinnite Hair by Katie — by appointment Thursday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. Services offered include: Dry (Spritz) Cut — $15; and Style — $5; Men’s Cut — $12; Waxing Services Available: Brow, Lip and “Nose Detail” — $5 per service. A fast,
low-discomfort wax to keep the stray hairs at bay.
• Free tailoring — Friday, July 24, 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.
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: Youth Chess (for kindergarten and up) — Monday, July 20, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Read Cross: Stuffed Animal Hospital- Stuffed animal drop off — Tuesday, July 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stories and Movement (ages 2 and up) — Tuesday, July 21, 9:30-10 a.m.
• Board Book Baby Time — Tuesday, July 21, 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Food Explorers — Tuesday, July 21, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Lil Bug Club — Wednesday, July 22, 9:30-10 a.m.
Teen Crochet Together: Simple Stitches — Wednesday, July 22, 3:30-4 p.m.
• Legos at the Library (for kindergarten and up) — Thursday, July 23, 3:30-4:15 pm
• Book Worms — Friday, July 24, 9:30-10 a.m.
Dino Day — Friday, July 24, 2:30-4:15 p.m.
Adult programs: Traveling Library — Monday, July 20, 2:15-4:30 p.m.
• LHS Presents: Stroll America Series: Longmeadow Architecture with Derek Strahan — Monday, July 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• VIRTUAL Celebrating America’s 250th: The Black experience of the Revolution w Herstorian Gracia Rich — Monday, July 20, 7-8 p.m.
• VIRTUAL: Play Along Ukulele from Home! — Monday, July 20, 7-8 p.m. Tech Tuesdays — Tuesday, July 21, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
• Fiber Arts Meeting — Tuesday, July 21, 6-7:30 p.m. The Older and Wiser Driver w/ AAA Northeast — Tuesday, July 21, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Music Appreciation with Rob Humberston: Ages of Music History: Middle Ages — 20th Century — Wednesday, July 22, 1-2:30 pm “Printing Revolution” with Andrew Volpe — Wednesday, July 22, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Longmeadow Gardeners Present: Growing Figs in Cold Climates with Dave Marinelli — Thursday, July 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Storrs Stitchers (Drop-In) — Friday, July 24, 10-11:30 a.m. Dungeons & Dragons — Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
STORYTIME ON THE SIDEWALK
Families are invited to join The Longmeadow Shops and Storrs Library
John Boyle O’Reilly Club to host annual
SPRINGFIELD — All are welcome to attend the annual music festival of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the club located on 33 Progress Ave.
sic will be indoors.
for a free Storytime on the Sidewalk event on Wednesday, July 23, (rain date July 30) in front of J.Crew Factory (738 Bliss Road). From 10-11:30 a.m., children can enjoy free glitter tattoos from Dazzle Day Face Painters. At 10:30 a.m., Storrs Library will present a special Storytime featuring stories, movement activities and take-home craft kits while supplies last. No registration is required, and all ages are welcome.
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.
• Pathways for Parents: Music and Movement — Monday, July 20, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wellness That Works: Simple Habits for Feeling Your Best — Monday, July 20, from 5-6 p.m. VIRTUAL: America’s 250th: The Black experience of the Revolution — Monday, July 20, from 7-8 p.m.
• Henna Tattoos for Kids —
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance for $10 for club members and $15 for non-members.
Various bands will play at the outdoor pavilion, and some mu-
There will be music, dance and other activities for children and adults during the afternoon and evening. The festival opens to the public at 1 p.m.
The festival includes various food options, and crafts for purchase from local vendors. There is free parking. The bands and performers include:
• Kiltie Band 1:30 p.m.
• Dee Reilly: 2-3 p.m. The Healys: 3:15-4:15 p.m.
• Jimmy McArdle and Jerry Murphy: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Billy Eagan and The Rising: 6-7:30 p.m.
• Brass Attack: 8 p.m. to closing.
• Brendan Riley: 9-11
p.m. Downstairs
The John Boyle O’Reilly club also has free weekly summer concerts on Thursdays in its pavilion from 6-9 p.m., open to the public. The not-for-profit club also offers its Rose Hall and/or pavilion for rent for special occasions.
Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. taproom to
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. has announced final call on its West Springfield taproom as it prepares to stop operations due to rising costs.
In that announcement, the business said it will continue brewing and distributing original beverages.
The brewery opened in 2017 at 110 Bosworth St., followed by the taproom in 2019. The company said in its closure announcement that the taproom will remain open “as long as we have beer left.”
Founder and head brewer Mark Avery began Two Weeks Notice after years of independent brewing in a journey that began on Christmas morning in 2011. The name comes from Avery’s wish to quit his desk job and pursue owning and operating his own brewery.
“It started with a simple homebrew kit that my wife bought me for Christmas after expressing, you know, wanting to homebrew at some point,” Avery said. “As I started brewing more and more at home, I started buying more equipment. A lot of people will say, ‘the bug bit me,’ with brewing and then around 2014, 2015, is when the big boom of breweries started to happen.”
Avery began entering homebrew competitions and winning, bringing the thought into his mind that he could take his craft
to the next level.
“It took about two or three years to get Two Weeks Notice off the ground, we had a hard time finding a spot,” Avery said. “West Springfield actually reached out to us when they knew that we were looking to start a brewery somewhere here in Western Massachusetts. They’ve been great to us. It felt great to have somebody wanting to have a brewery in their town.”
The brewery first sold original canned batches out of a makeshift frame in a garage door before eventually expanding to the taproom in 2019. Avery said he knew he wanted a spot with music and events, and the taproom’s space was perfect for it.
The taproom would go on to put on events like Oktoberfest, St. Patrick’s Day parties, emo nights, open mic nights and wrestling matches. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Avery said sales continued through a drive-through window.
“We kept pushing forward, building events and building a community,” Avery said. “We got a bigger brew system and shifted more into distribution, so then our beer started getting sent all over the state of Massachusetts.”
Avery said it started to become tougher to break even due to utilities, taxes, payroll and the rising cost of raw goods, which led to the difficult decision to close the taproom.
“Since the announcement of closure, we’ve had nothing but an
outpouring of support from our community,” Avery said. “I think that shows what Two Weeks Notice meant to a lot of people. It’s a very unexpected thing to happen because when you’re running a business, you don’t really see it and then you realized how much this place meant to a lot of people and it’s pretty humbling to see.”
He added the taproom’s closure will “hopefully save us on a lot of things and we’ll be able to right the ship on our end” as distribution continues.
“Hopefully someday the taproom reopens, we don’t really know,” Avery said. “We’re not saying that it’s never going to reopen, but we don’t really know with the way the beer industry is now. I wish we all had a crystal ball because I know a lot of people within the industry were waiting for it to turn around again … we’re kind of doing what we can to keep rolling.”
He said there are too many memories to count, and the regulars have all become family.
“We’ve become so close to so many people,” Avery said. “Good beer isn’t a good business plan, but providing a space that’s warm and loving for people and providing memories is. There’s people who have been commenting on all the posts, talking about their favorite things. I’m eternally grateful for being able to provide events and memories like that for people. That’s something I never really expected when I started homebrewing. I started seeing
what it was doing to people and what it was providing for them, that’s always going to be the greatest accomplishment we’ve ever had here.”
This isn’t the end for Two Weeks Notice, and Avery said the business has always fought back and come out on top during tough times. He said the outpouring of support is “lighting a fire under my butt to right the ship even more and get this place back open
for people that have supported us throughout the years.”
“It’s gonna be a very emotional time,” Avery said. “I know a lot of people that are gonna be coming here and there’s gonna be a lot of tears shed and a lot of laughs talking about the past. We hope to continue providing those times eventually at some point … I’m forever grateful to everybody that’s walked through these doors. I’m just very thankful.”
By 4 p.m.
Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
Task force requests feedback on uses for town buildings
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s Future Building Use Task Force is getting the public involved in three community forums across the next few months to get opinions on how the town should move forward with uses for the Community House, Old Town Hall and Town Hall.
The task force held the first forum on July 15, after Reminder Publishing’s deadline.
Residents will have two more chances to attend the forums, with the next on Aug. 19 from 7-9 p.m. at the Greenwood Center, 231 Maple Road, and the third forum on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. in the Longmeadow High School auditorium. Pre-registration is not required.
The Select Board began developing the task force in December 2025, with members
By Peter Tuohy
ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — The new
Longmeadow Middle School enabling phases are well underway and project managers are preparing for when large-scale construction begins in September.
Colliers Project Manager Adam Dalessio, Jones Whitsett Architects Principal Kristian Whitsett and Fontaine Bros. Project Executive Jason Boudreau provided project updates to the Middle School Building Committee at its meeting on July 8.
Dalessio’s presentation split the timeline into seven Massachusetts School Building Authority modules, with the middle school currently on module six — detailed design. Module sev-
finalized in February. Its goal is to ensure each building is used in a manner that best serves the community, reflects long-term municipal priorities and preserves or enhances the town’s cultural, historical and economic vitality.
The task force will wrap up work between December 2026 and February 2027, concluding the process with a final report to the Select Board with findings and recommendations.
Future Building Use Task Force member Paul Dunkerley said the task force has a member base with a variety of different skill sets, such as real estate to property development.
He said the task force has taken the current building uses into consideration to establish what they can be used moving forward.
“We have been reviewing a lot of documents that were made available to us, engineer-
en — construction — begins in September and continues for 32 months into 2028. The schedule is subject to change.
The plumbing enabling phase involves removing Williams Middle School’s underground gas main from the new school’s construction area and moving it to the roof. The work will cost $28,050.
Colliers conducted a qualification process to put the work out to bid, receiving Harold Brothers, General Mechanical, Boulanger’s, BG Mechanical, Harborview and TJ Conway as qualified bidders. KMD, Royal Steam, Kleeberg and Stallion did not qualify.
“The companies that did not get qualified were based on experience,” Dalessio said. “Some of them were missing some of the
ing studies, surveys, things like that, to try to build a foundation,” Dunkerley said. “We’ve also been working with some members of the town, like the DPW, to get a better understanding of what the structural needs are for these buildings, both from a co-compliance standpoint and an ADA compliance standpoint. A lot of the buildings are older, and they’re just in need of general updating beyond those two major categories.”
The forums include an overview of each building and presentations, such as videos showing the interior of the buildings. Residents will then have the chance to share what they would like to see, needs that are unmet in the town and the best use for each property.
“Once we complete that portion, we are charged with making a series of recommendations to our Select Board as to what the future use of these buildings may or may not be,” Dunkerley said. “That includes everything from the financial considerations associated with what we can or cannot do structurally with these buildings, how do we make them compliant, how do we meet the needs in town that are unmet at this point or the new opportunities that we might be able to address as well.”
information in the qualification packets, those types of things. We feel that we have a good selection of qualified bidders here for when this goes out.”
The committee unanimously approved the qualified bidders in order to continue with the request for proposal process, allowing qualifiers to start submitting bids.
Dalessio also provided a financial status report, detailing the budget through each phase. The anticipated budget is around $151.5 million, which the MSBA and the town approved. The paid to date total is around $5.2 million.
Whitsett gave a design update and said the 90% cost estimates are set, citing it as a major milestone with 507 sheets of drawings and 3,254 pages of specifications.
Dunkerley said the task force also ensures that it acts appropriately toward the buildings’ historical significance and how they “add to Longmeadow
The drawing sheets cover the floor plans and are duplicated to add details like electri-
The Longmeadow Community House, one of the three buildings under review by the Future Building Use Task Force. Reminder Publishing file photo
struction.
EAST LONGMEADOW
East Longmeadow Planning Board approves Firestone project
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW — The Firestone Complete Auto Care construction project at 546 North Main St. is moving ahead after approval by the East Longmeadow Planning Board on July 7. East Longmeadow Vegetable and Fruit Bin previously occupied the site, which will be torn down to make way for the 6,600-square-foot Firestone.
Zaremba Group, the real estate developer working alongside Firestone and its parent company, Bridgestone, first submitted an application to the Planning Board for a site plan review on May 21.
The project brought a crowd of resident backlash to the Planning Board meeting on June 16, Residents were concerned about an increase of traffic, pedestrian safety, noise levels and small business success.
The Planning Board also recommended changes to the project on June 16, including reorienting the building so that the eight service bays face North Main Street, downcast lighting to avoid spillage onto neighboring properties, a one-way traffic flow through the parking lot, closed bay doors during service, no truck deliveries or pickups before 7 a.m. and after 6 p.m. and a fence at the southern most part of the site.
Zaremba Group Senior Vice President of Construction and Development John Wojtila, Attorney Seth Stratton and Pare Corporation Managing Engineer Herman Peralta explained the updated project plans at the Planning Board meeting on July 7.
A poster board at the meeting said that the Planning Board can only take into consideration the site features, landscaping screening, the building and structure, stormwater design, traffic and site access parking. Proposed uses for the site, hours of operation and a limit on tenants were not up for consideration.
Wojtila presented the updated site plan showcasing the reorient-
ed building, which he said would violate the granted variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A variance increase of 35.7 feet from the residential district setback on the site’s southern side and 3.5 feet from the setback facing Londergan Place would be required with a new plan.
“When we originally designed this and we presented the plan to the Zoning Board, we were trying to be very sensitive to the variances that we were looking to obtain,” Wojtila said. “That’s why we site-planned it the way we did, trying to minimize the amount of variances that we ultimately needed and ultimately obtained.”
Former Director of Planning Rob Watchilla wrote in a July 2 memo to the Planning Board that reorienting the building would require an amendment hearing with the Zoning Board, and that the proposed stockade fence behind the building would provide adequate screening from the nearest residences.
Denver also asked if reducing the amount of service bays would fit within the approved variances, and Wojtila said he doesn’t think it would be possible because of backside setbacks.
He added that he is disappointed the building isn’t able to be reoriented toward North Main Street. He said going back to the Zoning Board for additional variances and more trees in the landscaping would help the noise concern, and Planning Board member Robert Tirrell said reorienting would “be the best option for us.”
Reorienting would cause business parking to be pushed back into the residential district, which Town Councilor Ralph Page said isn’t an allowed use in the town bylaws. Page said it would need a zone change for the residential parcel behind the lot as well as the variance change.
Stratton said that bay doors could be closed during service to address that noise concern, along
with you because I always stood with you. I have seen the pain you are going through because of this hateful Trump administration.”
with adding a 6-foot fence and additional trees in the back.
Peralta did not recommend changing the parking lot traffic flow to a one-way, stating twoway flow allows easier emergency vehicle access, minimizes traffic redistribution and eliminates wrong-way driving.
He evaluated other potential land uses and compared their traffic generation to Firestone’s estimated 58 trips a day. Trips are based on how many cars will enter and exit the lot.
A high turnover sit down restaurant would generate 120 trips a day, a coffee and donut shop with no drive-through window would generate 300 trips, a fast-food restaurant would generate 380 trips and a convenience store gas station with eight fuel pumps would generate 235 trips.
Peralta also said the Firestone in Attleboro brings 39 trips a day, which is in a similar sized area as North Main Street. Wojtila said that he looked at other Firestones and none of them generate traf-
fic “to the point where anything was done to alleviate or mitigate traffic.”
Denver said before public comment began that the board is “limited on what we can approve and not approve or deny.”
“We would prefer that you have accurate information and just put it out there,” Denver said. “We certainly respect that all of you come to these meetings and give us your opinion.”
Residents echoed similar concerns to the June 16 meeting, and resident John Godwin said the project will have a traffic effect of “pouring oil on a fire.” Denver said later in the meeting that traffic increases over the years because more people are driving, stating “I don’t know how much we can do about that.”
Resident Eugene Deykin requested a continuous sidewalk and signage in front of the building for pedestrian safety, which Stratton said the “applicants would be open to.”
Denver added that the build-
ing also meets the town’s and placement guidelines after resident concerns of the building being too big.
“You’ve heard that this use is an allowed use for that property, that use can take place on that property,” Denver said. “What we’re trying to do is to mitigate as much of the impact on the neighborhood as we can do within our authority as a Planning Board.”
He said that the resident suggestions are “fabulous, just really good ideas for us to determine what we can put on as conditions on approval of the site plan.”
The Planning Board added new conditions at the end of the meeting before the board unanimously approved the site plan, including two additional layers of 6-foot green giant arborvitae, which are fast growing trees, and no test-driving vehicles in the residential zone’s side streets.
Project plans can be viewed at eastlongmeadowma.gov/286/ Planning-Board under “active case files.”
At the debate, Moulton said he stands with everyone in the LGBTQ community. “I stand
Markey claimed that the LGBTQ community has endorsed him in this race and applauded Fay’s question because
“after the 2024 election, Congressman Moulton decided that he was going to throw trans kids under the bus, the political bus, and blame them for the loss of the 2024 election.”
Looking at Western Massachusetts specifically, the candidates discussed the highly anticipated West-East Rail, which Markey said he and his colleague, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, secured $157 million in federal funding for.
portunities.
The debate also focused on rising healthcare costs and changes to Medicare and Medicaid that are taking place this fall, changes that many say will hurt beneficiaries.
have to fight to win the majority.”
Both candidates spoke against current immigration laws and agreed that they must continue to fight for those in the minority communities who feel they are under attack.
Moulton argued that the current proposed speed of the train is too slow, and the funding secured will only pay for “10 miles of rail,” which is not enough to get to Boston.
Markey said, “Next year, after we win the majority in the Senate, I will be the chair of the Health Subcommittee in the United States Senate.” He said his first order of business would be to restore all the Medicare cuts, including the $1 trillion that the Trump administration cut from the budget. He also wants to restore the $300 billion from the Affordable Care Act.
After the debate, Markey said, “It’s No Kings, it’s indivisible, and I’m a leader of this movement because we have to just have a higher vision for what the Democratic Party stands for, and that’s Medicare, that’s the green new deal, that’s taxing billionaires. That’s not self-enrichment but the enrichment of every family in our country.”
“No one’s going to ride your train because it’s too slow, and you’ve had 50 years in Washington to get this done, and it’s not done,” Moulton stated. “Meanwhile, the rest of the world is passing us by.”
Moulton argued that if Massachusetts had a high-speed rail between Springfield and Boston, one could get from downtown [Springfield] to downtown [Boston] in 40 minutes, connecting the state and enhancing job op-
“And then we have to go beyond that. We have to double funding for community health centers. We have to double the funding for [National Institutes of Health] research,” Markey said. “In Western Massachusetts, I have stood up and have fought. I have met with all the hospital leaders out here, and we are going to deliver beginning of January of next year.”
Moulton said he agreed with Markey’s ideas, but stated, “This doesn’t happen by magic. You
Moulton also provided a final message after the debate. “I thought it was great. It was a clear contrast between a senator who’s been in Washington for 50 years and is very comfortable bending the establishment and the status quo. Talked a lot about the different things that have been tried over the last 50 years, most of which have failed, and in contrast, I’m putting forward new ideas, a new vision, a new generation of leadership, with a simple acknowledgment that the old plans haven’t worked.”
Zaremba Group Senior Vice President of Construction and Development John Wojtila presents an updated site plan with a reoriented Firestone.
Photo credit: ELCAT01028
Police officer seeks donor after kidney disease diagnosis
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM — A decorated officer in the Wilbraham Police Department is seeking a kidney donor after an unexpected rare kidney disease diagnosis.
Police officer Jack Alberici was working a routine shift back in March when he started to feel cramping in his hands, later revealed as one symptom of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Alberici is 27 years old, a Longmeadow native and a Springfield College and Merrimack College graduate. He joined the Wilbraham Police Department in 2022 and received a Massachusetts Medal of Valor after responding to a domestic violence call in 2024 that led to an exchange of gunfire. The exchange left officer Cameron Prosperi wounded.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is found in only seven people per million worldwide, according to UCLA Health. The disease is genetic in Alberici’s case and causes scarring in sections of the kidneys. Scarring impairs the kidney’s ability to filter waste and can ultimately progress to end-stage kidney failure.
He said his uncle received an FSGS diagnosis around 20 years ago, but didn’t know it was genetic until being tested after Alberici’s diagnosis. This renders him unable to find a donor in his family since those who carry the gene can’t be considered.
Alberici described the initial feeling in his hands as being stuck, only able to move by force. His supervisor made a call to the Wilbraham Fire Department for an evaluation, where his
220/120 mmHg blood pressure showed a need for immediate medical attention.
“I went to the hospital and then started doing a bunch of tests and figured out I had some mysteries with my kidneys,”
Alberici said. “I was shocked, I really felt fine. I didn’t feel like I was sick or having issues with my kidneys, but obviously there were some underlying issues that were really affecting my health.”
Alberici is on dialysis three days a week and has become limited in his role as a police officer. He said the most challenging part is not being able to do what he wants to do as an officer.
“I can’t go out and patrol,” Alberici said. “I can’t be with the community, I have to be inside at the desk, and the only way I can talk to the community is if it’s a phone call. I can’t be faceto-face like that on the phone. I really miss the community aspect of it.”
He said there are misconceptions around being a kidney donor, such as some people thinking it’ll change their lives because they only have one kidney.
“There’s many people out there that live on one kidney,” Alberici said. “They continue to do all the things they want to do, and my aunt’s the perfect example of it because she donated to my uncle. She’s still doing everything she loved to do when she had two kidneys. Donating is probably one of the greatest things you can give to someone, the most selfless thing you can do.”
More information on Alberici’s story and the donor qualifications can be found at nkr.org/GXY896.
Wilbraham police officer Jack Alberici poses with an alpaca.
Rivera to lead Fire Department as Calvi retires
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — It was a bittersweet moment for Mayor Domenic Sarno as he lauded Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi at a ceremony on July 7. Sarno extolled the retiring commissioner’s accomplishments, dedication and constant advocacy for the firefighters under his command.
Sarno also announced Calvi’s successor, Miguel “Mike” Rivera, who has served with the department for nearly 18 years.
Calvi, whose last day is July 24, has been a paramedic for 38 years and first joined the Agawam Fire Department in 1995, rising up the ranks to become deputy chief in 2012. He made the transition to the Springfield Fire Department when the position of commissioner be-
came available in 2018.
At the time, Sarno said people questioned the wisdom of bringing in a “small town” deputy chief to lead Springfield’s 276 firefighters, but he told the naysayers, “You’ll see.” Sarno recalled the myriad times that Calvi dropped everything to oversee a major fire or disaster in the city, even rushing out of the Bright Nights Ball to take command of a crisis while still in his tuxedo.
Sarno also thanked Calvi’s wife, Carrie Calvi, for the “partnership” it takes to be the family of the fire commissioner.
Calvi choked up several times during his remarks. He said working as Springfield’s fire commissioner has been “the hallmark job of my career,” and aside from his marriage, “the hallmark moment of my life.”
Among Calvi’s accomplishments is going the entire 2024 calendar year without a fire-related death in the city. He oversaw a restructuring of the emergency dispatch, created an opioid overdose response protocol by equipping first responders with naloxone and created a similar response for allergies with training in the use of epinephrine auto-injectors.
Calvi said the job of fire commissioner is “all encompassing.” He explained, “It’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If my phone rings, no matter where I am, I pick it up.” He said he has taken hours-long calls while on vacation. In a moment of levity, he recalled receiving a phone call about a lightning strike at Western New England University and be-
Law Dept. says claims against clerk could be ‘witness
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Public allegations of potential corruption made by At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst against City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez were left untouched by the city solicitor, who warned that the claims could be seen as “witness intimidation.”
At the June 22 City Council meeting, At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst publicly raised questions about actions taken by City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez regarding a piece of city-owned property. Oyola-Lopez is one of two managers of Brightwood Elderly Living Loving Assistance, whose parent company, MPZ NNCC Plainfield Street LLC, is the preferred developer for the redevelopment of the former Brightwood Elementary
School. She is also the president of the New North Citizens Council Board of Directors, which is working with the city to redevelop the site. Hurst said Oyola-Lopez should have disclosed that information when the Brightwood Elderly Living Loving Assistance sought a zoning variant.
Three days after the meeting, Hurst requested City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti issue a legal opinion on Oyola-Lopez’s actions, which he characterized as “potential ethics violations, conflicts of interest, self-dealing, disclosure failures and other potential legal concerns.”
However, on July 6, Buoniconti responded that his office was prohibited from issuing such an opinion. Buoniconti mainly cited an investigation by Attorney General
Andrea Joy Cambell’s office which Hurst is the subject of. The investigation stems from Hurst’s 2023 run for mayor, during which he was accused of offering compensation in exchange for votes. Oyola-Lopez, in her capacity as the city’s elections commissioner, is a “primary witness” in the investigation.
“There is an appearance that your request for a legal opinion that targets the City Clerk could be viewed as an intimidation tactic against a witness in that case,” Buoniconti wrote in his response.
Aside from the potential optics of the allegations, Buoniconti wrote that the State Ethics Commission, and not the city Law Department, is the correct body to investigate such matters. Buoniconti, whose office recently released opinions about a potential conflict-of-interest and
actions by City Council President Tracye Whitfield, said state statutes provide the Law Department with a “narrow” authority in such matters. He wrote, “The right belongs to the municipal employee who seeks guidance about their own conduct, not to third parties seeking opinion about others.”
Meanwhile, Oyola-Lopez referred a request for comment to attorney Scott Foster at Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas, who represents the New North Citizens Council Board of Directors. Foster commented by email, “NNCC does not believe any of Councilor Hurst’s allegations have any legal merit. Rather, he seems to have incomplete and/or incorrect information and has jumped to a legal conclusion that cannot be substantiated.” He added that his office had
intimidation’
been in touch with the Law Department and had provided Buoniconti with all pertinent information. Hurst commented, “It is clear now more than ever that the City Council needs our own independent attorney. If our solicitor can’t make a basic determination for our body based on the facts presented as to whether we should vote on approving a grant for $100K because of a potential conflict of interest, then he is part of the problem.” He continued, “Our City Council voted unanimously to send this item to committee in hopes of having our legal counsel weigh in. The solicitor’s failure to act now makes him a culpable party and only reaffirms for me what I have known all along ‘something is wrong ... now to the depth of which it is wrong ... I’m not sure.’”
Retiring Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi stands with Deputy Chief Miguel “Mike” Rivera, who has been chosen to replace him.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Rachel’s Table celebrates truck to aid gleaning program
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Rachel’s Table, a food insecurity organization in the greater Springfield area, officially celebrated the acquisition of a new truck, dubbed the “Glean Machine,” with a ribbon cutting on June 7. At the same time, the organization recognized its move to new offices within the Springfield Jewish Community Center.
Rachel’s Table focuses on alleviating hunger and food waste. In addition to purchasing and growing food, it collects excess food from supermarkets, caterers, bakeries and restaurants, and delivers it to other organizations that address food insecurity.
Rachel’s Table also operates a gleaning program. Gleaning is the process of gathering food left over after a crop has been harvested. Farmers often grow more than they can sell to protect against poor crop yield. Aside from that, some produce is undersized, scarred or misshapen and not suitable for sale. Rachel’s Table partners with several area farms to gather the produce that would otherwise be tilled back into the soil.
In 2025, the organization worked with 27 gleaning farm partners. While most of them are in the Amherst and Hadley area, Cara Silverberg, director of program strategy, said Rachel’s Table works with farms throughout the Hilltowns, and from Enfield
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ing told there were “bodies in the building,” only to learn it was the medical lab and they were medical dummies.
In the time Calvi has been commissioner, he said several surrounding communities have seen three or four people rotate through equivalent roles. After doing the round-the-clock job for nearly nine years, he said, “It’s time.” He added, “I’m happy for all the work I’ve done. I’m happy for the impact I’ve made on the department and the community. And I will always be grateful for the experience I’ve had here and the support and leadership of Mayor Sarno, and that he gave me this great opportunity.”
in the south as far north as the New Hampshire border.
The gleaning program represents 65% of all fresh produce distributed by the organization. Last year, despite a gleaning goal of just 54,000 pounds, Rachel’s Table gleaned 117 pounds of fresh produce, packing it into the back seats and trunks of volunteer’s vehicles to deliver it to 82 pantries and informal distribution sites. “It wasn’t sustainable,” Silverberg said.
The Glean Machine, a $45,000 gray pickup truck emblazoned with the Rachel’s Table logo, will support its gleaning operation, allowing volunteers to distribute gleaned food more effectively. The organization will spend another $10,000 to outfit the truck for its purpose and training gleaners.
The Glean Machine was funded through donations, small and large. One of the main donors was the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
The nonprofit’s Senior Director of Community Impact Ja’net Smith said her organization was excited to be a part of helping Rachel’s Table help the community. Ryan Trask, a member of the Max Cares Foundation board of directors, said “It’s an honor” for his organization to help Rachel’s Table purchase the truck. Go Graphics offered in-kind support by volunteering to wrap the vehicle.
Asked about the level of need in the community, Silverberg
Among those in the crowd applauding Calvi were his counterpart in the Springfield Police Department, Superintendent Lawrence Akers, members of emergency medical service provider American Medical Response and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez.
Sarno pivoted his remarks to announcing the fire commissioner’s successor.
“Today, I name Miguel ‘Mike’ Rivera as our fire commissioner,” the mayor announced, noting that Rivera is the first Latino fire commissioner and only the second Latino department head in the city’s history. Sarno said Rivera, a Springfield native and Putnam Vocational Technical Academy graduate, is a “shining example” of the talent produced by Springfield Public Schools and is “well-suited” to the role. He also
Rachel’s
in front of a truck purchased for the organization’s gleaning program.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, there’s been a continued increase. The way need spiked in 2020, it just never came down,” said Silverberg. She explained, “More and more people who would not normally use a pantry are gleaning because it provides a supplemental food source. That population is rising — the band on the cusp of food insecurity.” She cited as a contributing factor the increased cost of everyday items, and particularly food. Taking a wider view, she said our society should look at the way it values commodity crops, such as corn, more than growing more nutritious fruits and vegetables crops.
State Reps. Brian Ashe and Angelo Puppolo presented Executive Director Jodi Falk with a ci-
said that promoting from within the department would provide a “smooth, seamless transition.” He also said, “We have probably — we do — the most diverse fire department. Our firefighters reflect our community.”
Congratulating Calvi, Rivera said he can rest assured that he is leaving the department in better condition than he found it.
Rivera thanked Sarno for supporting the Fire Department, emergency services and all first responders. “I also want to thank you for the confidence that you’ve entrusted in me with this opportunity to serve the city as the next fire commissioner. I’m truly honored and humbled,” Rivera said. He added, “No one reaches this moment alone,” and thanked the mentors and colleagues and family. His wife, Jacqueline Fernan-
tation from the House of Representatives and delivered a similar one on behalf of state Sens. Adam Gomez and Jake Oliveira. Ashe said he grew up food insecure, so the work of Rachel’s Table is particularly close to his heart.
During the celebration, Rachel’s Table also christened its new office. While it’s office has long been located at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, Falk explained the organization was limited to a 600-square-foot space. Recently, Rachel’s Table moved to a 1,600-square-foot office, with plenty of room to meet with donors and members of the community. For more information about Rachel’s Table, visit feedwma.org.
dez, son, Abram Rivera and mother, Rosa Ramos, watched from the audience.
Rivera said he is “deeply proud” to be the first Latino fire commissioner. “I hope every young person in our community sees this as proof that no matter where you come from, with hard work and integrity, with perseverance and a commitment to serving others, anything’s possible.”
Later, speaking about why he became a fire fighter, Rivera said, “Civil service has been my thing. I love helping people.” He said, “I’ll continue to build on everything [Calvi] brought to our department and keeping our people safe.” Rivera said he is most looking forward to teaching young firefighters, and said, “Hopefully, I can pass my baton to someone coming up under me.”
Executive
Managing
Staff
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh,
Classified
Table Executive Director Jodi Falk gathers with Director of Program Strategy Cara Silverberg, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Senior Director of Community Impact Ja’net Smith, the Max Cares Foundation board of directors member Ryan Trask, state Reps. Angelo Puppolo and Brian Ashe and a volunteer
Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland for 31st year
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.
As the only festival of its kind in the state and the second largest in New England, the day-long rain-or-shine celebration offers attendees an immersive journey into Celtic culture through worldclass music, heavy athletics and authentic traditions, according to organizers.
“It’s so rewarding, and every year we worry about so many things, but everything always comes together in the end, and the end result is that we have 5-6,000 people and there is something for everyone. It’s a family event,” festival Chair Peter Langmore told Reminder Publishing
The Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival was founded in 1994 at the Blandford Fairgrounds. Originally intended by its founding committee — which included Langmore — to be a one-time fundraiser to restore the historic White Church in Blandford, the event was so successful that it became an annual tradition that’s lasted over three decades.
The festival’s name honors the history of Blandford itself, which was originally settled in 1735 by Ulster Scots and known as “Glasgow Lands,” or “New Glasgow.” As the event grew, it moved to Stanley Park in Westfield in 1999 before finding its permanent home at Look Park in 2004. According to organizers, it has remained a premier celebration of Scottish arts, supporting local nonprofits and providing scholarships for piping, drumming and dance students.
Festivities will kick off at 9 a.m., and the Ceilidh Tent will be the go-to spot for high-energy Celtic music, continuing all day until the event’s closing at 8:30 p.m. Headliners will include Glasgow-based Albannach, Pipe Dream, and Celtic-rock bands Seven Nations and Haggis x-1. The festival will also feature popup music performed by Young Folk and a performance by the Pioneer Valley Harpers Guild. Grand opening ceremonies are set for 11:30 a.m. and will once again feature over 30 competing pipe bands and nearly 700 pipers and drummers. This year, the festival will once again host the EU SPBA Northeast Branch Amateur Drumming Championships. Also returning will be Irish Dance demonstrations from two local dance academies. Pipers will be featured in the event’s closing ceremony with their annual per formance of “Amazing Grace.”
“At the closing ceremonies, it’s really, really exciting when those bands come out, and then they have the Pipers come out front, and they play ‘Amazing Grace.’ It’s very difficult to not get emotional and get a little teary listening to ‘Amazing Grace’ with those pipers,” said Langmore.
“When they all play together, it is so amazing. It’s a wonderful tradition that we have.”
The festival will offer attendees more authentic Scottish heritage and family fun, including the Highland Games, where “tree-tossing giants” compete in traditional heavy athletics.
There will also be a Stone Lifting Try-It Station, where attendees of any age can challenge themselves by attempting to lift different weighted stones in a test of strength. One stone, all the way from Glasgow and weighing 266 pounds, will offer one of the toughest challenges at the festival. Plans are to secure a heavy stone from Blandford and have it on site at the festival as their very own version of the rock and cultural connection.
Langmore added that these “gentle giants” are deeply tied to Scottish culture and bring great entertainment for all attendees.
“They [these games] exist because, historically, the clans in Scotland; they fought, if you know enough about history. Each clan had a chief, so somebody had to fight for him and protect him. The one who would do the best in the ultimate strength test would become the chief’s protector,” said Langmore. “The
athletes absolutely love Glasgow Lands. Everybody loves it.”
Attendees will also experience living history by exploring the historic Highlanders encampment, watching sheep herding demonstrations, and learning from the Weaver’s Guild of Springfield. For those looking to learn more about the Scottish ancestry or their own, onsite genealogists and clan representatives will be on site to help trace family trees.
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy the live shows while quenching their thirst at the Celtic Pub, which features local microbrews from New City Brewery, and Wine and Mead. Another option will be a curated Whisky tasting presented by The Whisky Pirate. Tickets for this specific portion of the festival can be purchased at glasgowlands.org.
The food onsite will reflect a taste of Scotland, including a smorgasbord of authentic bridies, meat pies, scones and shortbread. According to organizers, a dedicated “Kids’ Corner” will offer a space for children for athletic games and access to the Look Park water spray park during the festival.
Funds raised during the event will support River Valley Coun-
seling Center and the Forum House, a service of Viability Inc.
The former provides vital mental health services to children and adults in Hampden County, while Forum House supports disabled and disadvantaged adults in Western Mass.
“I don’t think there are very many nonprofit organizations in this area who are able to donate $40,000-43,000 to other nonprofits,” Langmore said.
He added that it feels rewarding to give back to these community partners through the Scottish
festival and said he hopes to see another great turnout for this year’s celebration.
“When I’m able to stand up there at closing ceremonies, and thank everybody, and then have those pipe bands play ‘Amazing Grace,’ that’s just rewarding,” Langmore said. “There’s so much going on that it’s hard to explain. You have to experience it.”
For more information on this year’s Glasgow Lands Festival, its history, or to purchase tickets, visit glasgowlands.org.
Monson Savings Bank announces three promotions
MONSON — Monson Savings Bank is proud to announce the promotions of Aimee E. Kohn, Dorian Guidi and Kylie E. LaPlante, recognizing their dedication, leadership and commitment to delivering exceptional service to customers and communities throughout the region.
Monson Savings Bank has promoted Kohn, of Belchertown, to business development officer.
In her role, Kohn works directly with business and municipal customers, supporting all aspects of their banking relationships. She actively develops new business opportunities through networking and community engagement, while coordinating business banking services and supporting branch teams throughout the organization.
Kohn has been with Monson Savings Bank for 12 years. As she advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, she gained experience in multiple areas with the bank, including retail banking, and five years dedicated within the business development department assisting business customers. Most recently, she served as the bank’s business relationship manager.
A graduate of Roger Williams University, Kohn earned
a bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Psychology. She is also a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies, class of 2025, and completed the New England School of Business Banking 101 Course. Her professional achievements include nominations for the bank’s prestigious President’s Award.
An active community volunteer, Kohn serves as a Board Member of the Wellspring Cooperative and as treasurer and board member of the Cold Spring School/Swift River Elementary PTO. She is a member of the East of the River Chamber of Commerce, Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Regional Chamber, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and an active participant with the Greater Springfield Young Professional Society.
“I’m honored to receive this promotion and continue growing with Monson Savings Bank. I enjoy contributing to our team’s success,” said Kohn. “I feel truly supported and valued here, and I’m excited to continue strengthening relationships with our customers, listening to their needs, and helping them to achieve their financial goals.”
To contact Aimee Kohn for your banking needs, please call 413-893-0174 or email akohn@ monsonsavings.com.
Monson Savings Bank has promoted Guidi, of Holyoke, to commercial portfolio officer.
In his role, Guidi works directly with commercial loan customers assisting and supporting their needs. He is responsible for commercial loan underwriting, administration, and portfolio management, in addition to the coordination of participation loans. He plays an active role in customer engagement, helping identify new commercial lending opportunities while supporting departmental audits and regulatory examinations.
Guidi has over 11 years of banking experience and has been with the Commercial Loan Department at Monson Savings Bank for eight years. He began his career with the bank as an intern and has since advanced through positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he served as commercial portfolio manager, where he played a key role in supporting the growth and management of the Bank’s commercial lending relationships. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western New England
University, graduating with dual majors in Finance and Accounting. He is also a graduate and class valedictorian of the New England School for Financial Studies class of 2024. Additional accomplishments include completing the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Leadership Institute and the Massachusetts Bankers Association School of Commercial Lending.
Guidi is an active and engaged member of the local community, dedicating his time and talents to initiatives that support local nonprofits and strengthen neighborhoods throughout the region. He serves on Monson Savings Bank’s Loan Review Committee and is actively involved with several area business organizations, including the East of the River Chamber of Commerce, Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Regional Chamber and Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is an active participant in the Greater Springfield Young Professionals Society, fostering connections and supporting professional development within the community.
“I am excited to continue to be a part of the growth and success at Monson Savings Bank,” said Guidi. “I look forward to continuing to build meaningful relationships with my colleagues and our customers while helping fulfill their banking needs, as well as support the communities that we operate in and serve.”
To contact Guidi for your banking needs, please call 413267-1224 or email dguidi@ monsonsavings.com.
Monson Savings Bank has promoted LaPlante, of Ludlow, to deposit operations officer.
In her role, LaPlante oversees the bank’s deposit operations, ensuring the efficient admin-
istration of customer accounts while maintaining strong internal controls, regulatory compliance and customer protection.
LaPlante has been with Monson Savings Bank for 15 years, advancing through various roles and gaining experience across multiple areas of banking, including retail banking, business development, operations and fraud prevention. Most recently she served as the bank’s deposit operations manager and fraud analyst.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Assumption University, is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies and the Springfield Regional Chamber Leadership Institute. LaPlante has completed Monson Savings Bank’s Supervisory Skills Program, has received nominations for the Bank’s President’s Award, and was a 2026 BusinessWest 40 Under Forty recipient.
A dedicated community volunteer, LaPlante serves as an ambassador and Fund Development committee member for the Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, co-treasurer of the Salvation Army Ware Service Unit, and a house captain for Revitalize CDC’s GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild. She currently serves on Monson Savings Bank’s Employee Recognition Committee.
“Having been with Monson Savings Bank since 2011, I have grown both professionally and personally, and it has been rewarding to watch the B\ bank grow over the years,” said LaPlante. “I am excited to continue being part of MSB’s journey and contributing to its success in the years ahead.”
To learn more about Monson Savings Bank, please visit monsonsavings.bank.
Springfield Thunderbirds announce summer 2026 event calendar
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds will continue to be a busy presence in the Greater Springfield community throughout the offseason, as the team has announced its summer event calendar.
The T-Birds Community Caravan, with support from MassMutual, will host three more dates of fun throughout the summer months:
• Friday, July 24 at The Landing outside the MassMutual Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring
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and that’s what set the budget,” Whitsett said. “We did it again in design development to see how we’re tracking. We did it at 60% [construction documents], and then this is at 90% CDs. This is our last check-in with our cost estimators to make sure we’re still tracking before that final
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as a whole.”
He added that the purpose of three forums in three separate locations is to ensure as many residents as possible are able to attend and share their visions.
“At the end of the day, this is their town, and in a large respect, these are their buildings,” Dunkerley said. “[Residents] need to have input into the process, so that as we make a recommendation to the Select Board, we make sure that these folks are heard … One of the things I think makes this town what it is, is that we do a pretty good job with shared decision making, and we share it at all levels. Everybody here has a voice, and ev-
live music, local farm stands, artisans, food vendors, face painters and balloon artists. The caravan will coincide with the Thunderbirds Tag Sale (noon to 6 p.m.) inside MassMutual Center at T-Birds Merch Store — Game worn jersey sales snd special merchandise offerings and savings only available in person.
Friday, July 31, at the Basketball Hall of Fame, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids dressed in T-Birds gear receive free admission to
bid package that [Dalessio] was talking about.”
Dalessio added that the estimates so far have been doing well with budget tracking, and that they’re working with the tax consultants to ensure rebates at the end of the project.
Boudreau said this was the first “proper construction update” and that a lot has happened with on-site and off-site work over the past month, adding that
erybody here has an opportunity to provide input.”
Assistant Town Manager Michael Barbieri said community engagement on this topic started long before the task force was created.
“Community engagement was literally the first item of business that happened,” Barbieri said. “The work that the task force has started to build off of was based on people’s feedback that they originally gave before the task force fully went to work.”
Dunkerley said that the task force feels confident it is on track to present the final report to the Select Board.
More information on the task force and building data can be found at longmeadowma.gov/1636/Future-BuildingUse-Task-Force.
the Hall of Fame museum; parents will receive discounted admission. Benefiting Foundation for TJO Animals — fans are encouraged to bring dry/wet dog & cat food for donation; everyone who donates will be entered to win four T-Birds game tickets and a T-Birds prize pack
• Saturday, Aug. 22, at Amelia Park Arena (Westfield), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Caravan will coincide with T-Birds Street Hockey Tournament (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Ages 9-12; games to be played
everything is going great and is on schedule.
“We’ve mobilized with site fencing, you can see all that,” Boudreau said. “Inside the fence line, we have erosion controls for the civil and rain water containment on the site. We started stripping top soil and really been prepping for where the future driveway is going to be coming in off of [Williams Street]. You’ll see our trailers have just gotten
3-on-3. Registration includes one ticket to Opening Night and T-shirt for each player. There will be public ice skating inside Amelia Park Arena (skate rental available) Additionally, the Thunderbirds are proud to collaborate with the Springfield Hockey Heritage Society to be part of the Heritage Society’s annual HockeyDay on Saturday, July 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Better Living Center at the Big E. The annual event will kick off a celebration of 100 Years
there and set up over the past couple of days and we’re starting to coordinate electrical power and things like that.”
This work is a part of enabling phase 1A, which will continue through the summer. It will also include Williams Street improvements, such as road widening, drainage work, fencing adjustments, landscaping and line painting. Boudreau said utility deliveries are underway.
of Hockey in Springfield, dating back to the original Springfield Indians of the Canadian-American Hockey League in 1926. Numerous past Springfield Indians, Kings and Falcons are scheduled to appear as part of the celebration, which is open to the public. Tickets are available here: tinyurl.com/mrnwjtuu. Thunderbirds’ 2026-27 season tickets are available now — fans can reserve their seat by visiting SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or by calling 413-739-4625.
“Within the next couple weeks we’re going to be all wrapped up,” Boudreau said. “There is some drainage work that we just started saw-cutting for in Williams Street, so you’ll start to see that work happening over the next few days and probably be wrapped up in under two weeks.” Project updates as they occur can be found at longmeadow.k12. ma.us/school-committee/middle-school-building-project.
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
Beth Ann Donnelly
Simone N. Gilpatrick
Gerald R. Roy
Zofia Rzepka
Chester W. Swiderski
HAMPDEN
Maureen Coughlin
Eileen J. Plante
HOLYOKE
John A. Hilton II
LONGMEADOW
John R. Lyons
James W. Moulton
Rosemary A. Spear
LUDLOW
Norman L. Mackenzie Strader
Vernard F. King
SOUTH HADLEY
Joan Harp
Marilyn Ann Pryor (Zirk)
Francis W. Wagner Jr.
SPRINGFIELD
David W. Donovan
David H. Mallalieu
Overseer
Charlene Mamie
Naylor
Gary S. Thompson
Judith M. Veronesi
WILBRAHAM
Joyce Fortune Kenyon
East Longmeadow starter Jake Maurer rocks and fires.
Bobby Channing turns on the fastball.
Joey Toomey follows the flight of his poke to center.
EL catcher Kenny Rodriguez throws to second.
East Longmeadow’s Ryan Williams bats in the second inning.
Gabe Sears sends one to left center.
Joey Channing leads from third base as Gabe Sears fouls the pitch straight back.
Austin Schmidt picks the high hopper.
EAST
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
132 Papers: St. Joseph Dr., Wisteria Ln., Pembroke Terr., Rockingham Cir., Dartmouth Ln., Partial - Prospect St., Chestnut St., Somers Rd.
103 Papers: Gerrard Ave., Holy Cross Cir., Kingston Ave., Lombard Ave., Nelson St., Roderick Ave., Partial- N. Main St.
128 Papers: Braeburn Rd., Channing Rd., Tufts St., Van Dyke Rd., Wood Ave., Boulder St., Admiral St., Thompson St., Partial-Dwight Rd. (odd side only)
58 Papers: Anne St., Helen Cir., John St., Vadnais St., Converse Cir.
131 Papers: Orchard Rd., Pine Grove Cir., Partial-Parker St., Porter Rd., Allen St.
135 Papers: Baymor Dr., Edmund St., Fifth St., Glendale Rd., Knollwood Dr.
LONGMEADOW - THURSDAY, HOOK DELIVERY
73 Papers: Williamsburg Dr., Eunice Dr., Tabor Crossing, Morgan Ridge, Burns Meadow, Churchill Dr., Partial - Converse St.
85 Papers: Andover Rd., Ashford Rd., Cranwell Ln., Deerfield Ave., Willow Cir., Williston Dr., Willow Brook Rd., Partial - Frank Smith Rd.
146 Papers: Albemarle Rd., Arcadia St., Barclay St., Chiswick St., Fairway Dr., Franklin Rd., Lincoln Pk., Whitmun Rd., Woodmont Rd.
95 Papers: Brookwood Dr., Kenmore Dr., Knollwood Dr., Partial - Shaker Rd.
97 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.
155 Papers: Birch Rd., Yarmouth St., King Philip Dr., Sheffield Ave., Partial-Wolf Swamp Rd.
105 Papers: Hopkins Pl., Hawthorn St., Fairfield Ter., Laurel Ln., Partial-Laurel St.
41 Papers: Lynwood Dr., Duxbury Ln., Elizabeth Cir.
68 Papers: Woolworth St., Woodside Dr., Blokland Dr., Wilkin Dr., Grassy Gutter Rd.
57 Papers: Park Dr., Brittany Rd.,
