New principal chosen for Westfield Technical Academy
Superintendent
Stefan Czaporowski has announced the appointment of Daniel Paquette as the new principal of Westfield Technical Academy.
Page 3
SOUTHWICK
Pick-up truck fell through ice in Middle Pond in Jan.
On Jan. 24, a man visited the police station to report an incident that had occurred two days before. He had driven his truck on the ice on Middle Pond and crashed through the ice.
Page 4
The Wick 338 Roars back to life beginning in late March
While this year’s schedule for The Wick 338 features many of the exciting events held over the last several years, several other events will bring even more racing to one of the world’s most famous motorcross tracks.
Page 4
Healey, Driscoll make Holyoke campaign stop
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE — On Feb. 17, Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim
Driscoll visited the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke as part of two campaign stops in Western Massachusetts.
The stop in Holyoke and the one later that day in North Adams provided Healey and Driscoll the opportunity to discuss state investments in new housing projects and local arts and culture, in addition to the duo’s affordability agenda and their reelection campaign.
“The bottom line is both Kim and I feel incredibly privileged to be in these positions,”
Healey stated. “We also deeply, deeply love our state, and we want to work and stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone and anyone who believes in our state and who wants better for their community, for their family, and we’ll work so, so hard to get that done.”
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia opened the event by endorsing the duo and highlighting some of the work they and the state have done to help Holyoke achieve certain goals. He specifically highlighted advancements in housing, regaining local control for its school district and construction advancements at the Victory Theatre as major milestones in the community.
Garcia recalled a similar event four years ago at the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, where he first endorsed Healey for governor.
“Today, I stand here once again alongside our governor to reaffirm my full support for Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll as they seek reelection, because their leadership has been
clear, their vision has been strong and their commitment to not only Holyoke, but communities everywhere in the commonwealth.”
Other legislators at the event endorsed Healey and Driscoll, including state Reps. Pat Duffy and Brian Ashe, Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby, Holyoke City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti and Holyoke City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos.
Healey emphasized some important accomplishments from her first term, including tax cuts, the passage of a “historic” housing bill, and improvements in health care costs and economic development.
Healey said the housing bill has resulted in 100,000 housing starts, in other words, new housing units either built, permitted
or constructed around the state in the last three years. She further explained that experts said when they started, Massachusetts needed to build about 220,000 units around the state by 2035 to get to where they need to be.
“We’re focused on affordability, we’re focused on building more homes as quickly as we can to drive down costs,” Healey said. “Build more housing, we drive down costs.”
First-time homebuyers can also receive $25,000 towards the purchase of a new home.
Healey also recently announced an increase in the production of Accessory Dwelling Units in Massachusetts to expand housing options, support homeowners and increase affordable housing.
For economic development, Healey talked about a key eco-
nomic driver in the state.
“One thing that we’re really excited about in this region is the opportunity for more investment in arts and culture. This is a great example. What Victory Theatre is going to yield; what that’s going to become is just going to be so awesome,” Healey said.
Healey also announced that her administration is focused on lowering the cost of energy bills. “Standing up to utility companies, we’ll oppose any rate hikes out there. I filed energy legislation, which will reduce energy costs by $13 billion.”
Healey discussed the completion of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line that is now delivering affordable, stable hydropower
Gov. Maura Healey discusses some accomplishments during her current term while at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
See HEALEY on page 2
Fire Commission to interview new fire chief candidate
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — With current Fire Chief Patrick Egloff set to retire in April, the Fire Commission is holding a special meeting on Feb. 26 to interview Deputy Chief Eric Bishop for the position, but that wasn’t an assurance he will be appointed.
Bishop is the only member of the department who is qualified to serve as chief, and on Feb. 10 graduated from the Fire Service Leaders Complete Management Training Program, according to the city.
He is also the only member of the department who has met the Civil Service requirements to serve as a chief.
During the commission’s meeting in early January, the city’s Personnel Director Anne Larkham said that because there was only one candidate on the hiring list, she considered it “short,” but the commissioners weren’t compelled to hire from it.
However, if they wanted to interview additional candidates, “things would have to be done to make it happen through Civil Service because it is a Civil Service position,” according to the minutes of the meeting.
As the commission was preparing for the interview, it sought help from the department’s members, asking them to complete a survey of what they believed were the important qualities the next chief should have,
according to the minutes of its January meeting.
Commission Chair Jeffrey Trant said during the meeting that 18 members responded to the survey, which asked: What qualities and leadership characteristics do you believe are most important for the next chief?
• What are the key strategic challenges the department will face in the next three years?
• Is there any additional information the commission should consider when making an appointment?
Those who responded wanted the chief to have integrity, be honest, demonstrate ethical leadership, be empathetic and have respect for the department’s members, and be team-oriented and collaborative, according to the survey results.
The responses about what challenges the department is facing were clear: recruiting and retention of its members, and budgetary constraints and funding.
As for additional information, nearly half the respondents suggested considering outside candidates.
While noting the low response rate, an assessment of the survey indicated the department is facing significant challenges,, particularly in recruitment and retention, morale and facilities.
“The recurring theme is the need for a change in culture and a more open and transparent leadership style,” according
to the survey.
There were also responses about issues raised last year in a report on the department by the New Hampshire-based Municipal Resources, Inc.
The 178-page report offered 140 recommendations to enhance the performance of the department, prioritizing over a dozen “critical challenges” facing the department and offering recommendations to address each one.
The challenges and recommendations were developed by interviewing nearly every member of the department to get their feedback on the department’s strengths and weaknesses, and “how to help improve things for the future.”
One finding was the department’s lack of hardware and software technology, and MRI recommended that the department “explore the implementation of a multi-faceted software package that streamlines” administration, inspections and reporting.
The second challenge the respondents pointed out was the lack of engagement and investment by many local government officials. They noted that there was a lack of communication between some of the fire staff and those officials.
MRI suggested holding “regular” meetings between fire staff and officials with varying levels of responsibility to “share information and work towards common goals.”
MRI had several recommen-
dations about adding personnel to the department, including hiring a new assistant fire chief or a non-union lieutenant or captain at Station 2, also known as the Little River Station.
The firm also identified a lack of, and outdated, standard operating and response procedures, and rules and regulations for the department to follow, and suggested creating a joint labor-management team to review those procedures and add and/or update them as needed.
For the department’s headquarters, MRI said a “spatial study” was needed to analyze the space needs for the facility now and what might be needed in the future, and to conduct an “overall review of current facility, operational needs [and] in-
frastructure.”
Other recommendations included having the city consider removing the fire chief’s position from Civil Service, which Mayor Michael McCabe has endorsed, and eliminating the Fire Commission.
Egloff was appointed in 2019 and was part of a sexual assault investigation that included three Westfield firefighters. A report from an outside attorney that investigated the allegations cleared Egloff of any wrongdoing.
Those firefighters filed complaints in January that the city and the Fire Commission fired them in 2019 in retaliation for an allegation of sexual misconduct by Egloff. A lawsuit filed by the three was settled in April 2023 for $2.3 million.
from Canada to Massachusetts. According to mass.gov, the NECEC line will provide Massachusetts with nearly 20% of its overall electricity, deliver $3.38 billion in total net economic benefits to Massachusetts ratepayers over the life of the contracts and reduce ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year.
got rid of prior authorizations for “a whole bunch of staff.”
On the topic of health care, Healey said they are the first team to eliminate copays and deductibles for people on their health care. They also recently
She explained, “If you got diabetes, you no longer have to wait for some insurance company to OK your receiving insulin. We’re trying to make it easier for people to get access to care, and we fundamentally believe in this.
At a moment where the president and Congress have taken a trillion dollars out of health care, we stand here united in support of making sure that we’re doing everything we can to get health care to our residents who need it.”
When it comes to the federal administration, Healey said they will continue to look for ways to work with them, but stated, “Where the president and federal administration do things to harm people, we’re going to stand up and defend Massachusetts.”
She continued, “I’m excited about some of what we’ve been able to accomplish. We know that these are hard and challenging times. Both of us were college basketball players, so we do a little bit about taking lumps and getting back up and throwing the necessary elbow when necessary, or pick when necessary, but fundamentally, whether it’s volleyball or basketball, it’s about teamwork, and that’s the vibe
we’ll continue to bring, not only to the campaign — as we seek to grow more support — but also to the that way we look to govern.”
Driscoll said she and Healey work hard to make sure the decisions they make at the State House reflect the needs of each community in Massachusetts as they continue to uplift and empower local governments.
“We can have the best policies, and I think we have a lot of them. We can make significant investments in things like housing and infrastructure, but none of that gets done unless we [have] a strong team locally,” Driscoll said. “That’s why it’s such a privilege to be serving in a time when we have the ability to work with amazing leaders, shape policies, shift resources, and do things that are going to help communities lower costs, drive high quality of life, and make Massachusetts the best place to live to raise a family [and] to come visit.”
Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff, seen here opening the 9/11 memorial service in 2024 at the Central Fire Station, is retiring in April.
Reminder Publishing file photo
New principal chosen for Westfield Technical Academy
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski has announced the appointment of Daniel Paquette as the new principal of Westfield Technical Academy, replacing Bruce Hastings, who will be retiring at the end of the school year. Paquette has served as assistant principal at the school for the past two-and-ahalf years. He will begin his new role on July 1.
Paquette received his bachelor’s in history from Fitchburg State College, his master’s in education from Our Lady of the Elms and his master’s in school administration from Westfield State University.
Before joining WTA, Paquette served as an assistant principal at Westfield High School for six years and as an assistant principal in Palmer for one year. Before entering administration, he spent 13 years as a social studies teacher at Chicopee Comprehensive. He has also served as a head tennis coach and assistant football coach.
“I’m very excited to start. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m very prepared to
lead the school,” Paquette said.
Asked what he is most excited about, he said working with both the academic teachers and the shop teachers,“bridging that gap between them, and finding what’s best for the students.”
Regarding the School Committee’s plans to submit a proposal for Westfield Technical Academy to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, Paquette said a beautiful new building would be fantastic. “It comes with a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s never going to change what’s inside the school already — the culture and the environment.”
“The students want to be there,” Paquette said.
Czaporowski said the appointment follows an intensive and comprehensive search process led by a dedicated 12-member interview committee. The committee included representation from WTA staff, students, parents/guardians, district office administrators and a School Committee member who devoted many hours to reviewing applications, selecting semifinalists, and conducting formal interviews with four candidates.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to all who served on
the committee for their time, professionalism and commitment to the future of WTA,” Czaporowski said.
Following the initial round of interviews, two semifinalists elected to withdraw from the process for personal or professional reasons. “After careful consideration of the remaining candidates, the committee’s feedback was clear and decisive,” he said, adding that Daniel Paquette received unanimous support from the 10 committee members present at the meeting to move forward as a finalist, with less support for the other remaining candidate.
Czaporowski said given the overwhelming consensus, along with Paquette’s demonstrated leadership and experience, they elected to offer him the appointment as principal without convening a public forum for a single finalist.
According to the announcement, Paquette has demonstrated a strong commitment to curriculum development, improving student attendance, and fostering an academically rigorous and supportive learning environment throughout his career.
“Paquette is a familiar and respected leader at Westfield Tech-
nical Academy, having served as assistant principal since August 2023. His deep roots in Westfield Public Schools and extensive administrative background made him the clear choice for this role,”
said.
“We are confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen WTA as ‘the place to be’ and advance excellence for both students and staff.”
Westfield Tech honors CNA graduates in pinning ceremony
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Westfield Technical Academy celebrated its 19th Annual Pinning Ceremony on Feb. 13, which honors Allied Health students who have successfully passed their Certified Nursing Assistants certification. The ceremony — filled with tradition — recognizes the compassion and dedication the students have demonstrated on their pathway to care for people at their most vulnerable.
This year, the five students who completed the training, Karley Bullock, Alexandra Durfey, Yarianna Merced, Emilia Rohan and Laura Talbot have a wide range of goals in the health care field.
Bullock will be attending Holyoke Community College’s nursing program with a long-term goal of working in a pediatric emergency room. She is currently completing an internship with the Westfield Fire Department and will begin EMT school over the summer, with plans to continue onto paramedic training. She works at Armbrook Village as a resident care assistant in the dementia unit.
Durfey, who earned her CNA certification junior year, is work-
ing at Holyoke Medical Center as a patient care technician, where she plans to continue working while attending Holyoke Community College to major in the nursing profession.
Merced, captain of the WTA cheerleading team, plans to attend Merrimack College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology as she begins working towards her goal of becoming a pediatrician.
Rohan works as a patient care technician at Holyoke Medical Center. After graduation, she will attend the University of Vermont to major in nursing. She aspires to become a public health nurse working with individuals struggling with substance abuse. Her long-term goal is to earn a master’s in nursing and to become a nurse practitioner.
Talbot works in a co-op position at Westfield Vantage and is enrolled in the Promise Program at Westfield State University, where she takes college courses. She will attend Holyoke Community College where she plans to pursue a career as a radiology technician.
During the ceremony, each of the speakers acknowledged the perseverance required to work in health care. Career Technical Education Director Peter Taloumis welcomed family, friends and stu-
dents in the Allied Health shop to the ceremony, congratulating the students on their hard work and perseverance.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski called it more than just a program, but the beginning of a meaningful career of service. “Most recently, both of my parents are under the care of CNAs. For the first time, I get to see it firsthand,” he said.
He called CNAs the heart of health care. “The first face they’ll see. For my parents, they see them more than anyone else,” Czaporowski said, adding, “We are proud of you and cannot wait to see what you become.”
Mayor Michael McCabe, who often speaks about his mother and daughter who are in health care, called CNAs “near and dear to my heart. My own mother was a CNA her entire life. It’s not always easy, but it makes a real difference,” he said before presenting each student with a citation from the city in recognition of their certification.
Keynote speaker Maureen Baillargeon, who retired last year as head of Allied Health, said pinning ceremonies are deeply meaningful. She said the pin is not decorative, but a reminder of the trust that is placed in their hands as they serve. “I wore my pin with hon-
or,” she said. “Wear it with pride, honor and integrity. Let it remind you that even the quietest acts can make a difference.”
Baillargeon said as the sophomore and junior teacher for the class, she was incredibly proud.
“Many of you have overcome personal obstacles, and showed up anyway; you persevered and kept going. Perseverance is an important life skill.”
“CNAs play one of the most essential roles in health care. Yours is the first face they see in the morning and the last at night. You are the patient’s voice,” Baillargeon said, thanking their parents, grandparents and guardians in the audience. “Your encourage-
ment has made a real difference.”
Baillargeon also recognized the new Allied Health department head Angel Arenas Nieves, staff Jacqueline Barcomb and new teacher Amie Cashman, who all then proceeded with the presentation of pins and the lighting ceremony.
Nieves told the students they are joining a noble allegiance.
“There is no small act in nursing. A gentle repositioning, a gentle word at night, even noticing a difference in breathing. Nursing is not about grand gestures, but about dignity,” he said.’The world does not merely need more healthcare workers, it needs care givers. It needs you,” he said.
Certified CNAs Alexandra Durfey, Emilia Rohan, Yarianna Merced, Laura Talbot and Karley Bullock with WTA Allied Health staff Jacqueline Barcomb, Maureen Baillargeon, retired, keynote speaker, Angel Arenas Nieves, department head and new teacher Amie Cashman. Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
Czaporowski
Daniel Paquette, assistant principal at Westfield Technical Academy, has been selected as the school’s new principal.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
SOUTHWICK
Pick-up truck fell through ice in Middle Pond in Jan.
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK
— On Jan. 24, a man visited the police station to report an incident that had occurred two days before. He had driven his truck on the ice on Middle Pond and crashed through the ice. He was OK, but the truck is still there.
“We’re waiting until spring,” said Police Chief Rhett Bannish about when there will be an attempt to get the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 out, possibly around May 11.
“It will be a nice little training exercise,” he said with a chuckle, adding he expects it will be a joint exercise between regional, State Police and the town’s dive team to remove it.
Bannish said once the department learned about the incident, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Environmental Police were notified. The MEP will conduct the investigation.
Joel Reese, who is involved with emergency response with
the DEP, said on Feb. 17 that the agency was aware of the sunken truck.
“They will let us know if we need to get involved,” Reese said, referring to the MEP.
The truck’s driver, who was not identified, violated a town ordinance that prohibits the operation of vehicles on the ice of the three Great Ponds of Congamond Lakes and will be fined $50.
Bannish said the truck’s owner said he used the North Boat Ramp to access that pond and got a few hundred yards out before it crashed through.
While the town fine is not much, Bannish said environmental fines are different.
Owners are also legally responsible for the removal of submerged vehicles and can face thousands of dollars in penalties if fluids contaminate the water or if the incident is deemed negligent.
According to state law, a person who negligently commits an environmental violation and thereby causes serious bodily injury to another human being or a
substantial risk of damage to natural resources or to the property of another person in an amount exceeding $25,000, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more than $50,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
And when a vehicle sinks and remains underwater for weeks or months, which could be the case here, there are specific environmental hazards created, including leaking engine fluids like gasoline, transmission fluid, antifreeze — which is highly toxic — hydraulic fluids, and acids, like sulfuric acid, from batteries.
Joseph Szczepaniak, owner of Village Truck Sales in Lanesborough, has recovered several vehicles that have sunk into ponds in the region.
He said the best course is to wait until spring to get it out.
“If you don’t, it will come out in pieces,” he said.
Szczepaniak said he has removed a vehicle that was under
the ice of a pond. He took a junked school bus and used the frame as a winching point after sliding it on the ice over the vehicle. It was pulled up
The Wick 338 roars back to life beginning in late March
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — While this year’s schedule for The Wick 338 features many of the exciting events held over the last several years, including, of course, The National, several other events will bring even more racing to one of the world’s most famous motocross tracks.
“We’ve been able to add the Loretta Lynn MX,” said Rick Johnson, the manager of The
Wick 338, during his annual visit with the Select Board to discuss the 2026 schedule.
The Lorreta Lynn is the amateur version of the national championship, which is held in August in Tennessee, he said.
“We’ve always had the area qualifier at The Wick, but this year we’re going to have the regional qualifiers, so that means every rider who wants to compete in the national championship in Tennessee in August will have to go through Southwick,”
Johnson said.
He said that includes all the racers from all of New England, New York, as far west as Ohio and down to Virginia.
“So, it’ll be a well-attended event,” Johnson said of the qualifier that will be held on the weekend of June 6-7.
The Wick will also host its first-ever AMA Massachusetts State Motocross Championship.
“Believe it or not, there’s never been one in the state in all the years that racing has been
up here,” he said of the spring event on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26. There is also another new event, Johnson said.
The Wicked Hare Scramble is a form of off-road motorcycle racing that varies in distance and time, with the riders completing multiple laps around a marked course through wooded or other rugged natural terrain.
“It’s a little bit of woods and a little bit of track,” Johnson said about the event on Nov. 1.
And to kick off the season’s schedule, which opens on March 27 and closes on Dec. 5, the Wicked Woods O’Cross will be held on March 28 and May 10.
It’s an off-road motorcycle racing event featuring woodsstyle racing (cross-country) rather than traditional stadium motocross, utilizing the natural terrain, loamy sections and wooded areas surrounding the famous motocross track.
Johnson always lets the board know about the success of The Crestview Construction Inc. National, which is being held this summer on July 11, “a couple of weeks later” than usual.
Because online sales of tickets were “disappointing” last year, Johnson said there was a switch in ticket vendors from Feld Entertainment to TicketSpice.
“I’m very happy to report they are pretty far ahead of last year’s [ticket sales], so that looks good,” he said.
As for the attendance at The National, Johnson said the attendance was about even from the year before.
Board member Russ Anderson asked Johnson if he thinks the attendance at the race has “maxed out.”
Johnson said there has been a “nice increase” over the last few years.
He said the coverage by
NBC’s Peacock channel has been great, but it’s hard to compete with them.
“If you’re gonna have a real hot day, they’re not gonna show up,” he said of The National fans. “They’re gonna sit on the couch in the air-conditioned room and watch it, so that’s always a challenge for us. And we never know what to expect until the day before.”
He said every year, they invest in [The National] like it’s going to be the biggest event in the world.
“And then you hope it comes through,” he said.
Mother nature is always a challenge for the sand track, and Johnson said 10 events were cancelled because of rain.
But he singled out Crestview Construction, Inc., for its help.
“We’re fortunate that we have [them] as a title sponsor for the National Crestview Construction, and they’re with us all year, helping take care of some of that stuff. It’s really nice to have them on our side,” he said.
Returning events
The Wicked Mudder is a 5K full of fun, mud, slides, ropes and more mud, according to its Instagram page Aug. 23.
The mountain bike racing series called Race Day XC, which is sanctioned by USA Cycling and has 10 events scheduled throughout New England, will stop at The Wick 338 on April 12 for the Wicked XC.
The J Day Off Road series continues and will visit The Wick 338 twice this season: Sunday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 11.
A new event two years ago, the Wheel Life Rally, New England’s premier personal electric vehicle series — a highly powered electric unicycle — is returning on the weekend of Aug. 14 and 15.
with a tow truck on shore.
And a diver had to go in to attach the line to the vehicle.
“It’s not an easy thing and not cheap,” Szczepaniak said.
Spectators watch the 2019 Southwick Motocross National at The Wick 338.
Publishing file photo
Somewhere under the ice and snow is a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck that was driven on the ice using the North Boat Ramp on Jan. 22 and crashed through. The driver was unhurt. An attempt to get it out won’t happen until May.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
Wanted: Residents to tell Southwick’s stories
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — Recognizing that the town’s public access station, Channel 15, is underutilized, Select Board member Russ Anderson is reaching out to residents to get them involved in creating content specific to Southwick to broadcast.
“We want to broaden Southwick’s exposure. There are so many positive things going on here, and we don’t always tell those stories,” Anderson said about trying to attract residents, young and old, to help with the effort.
In December, Anderson made a PowerPoint presentation to the Select Board about his vision of what Channel 15 should be.
“Southwick Community Television needs to be redesigned in a relaunch plan and a roadmap for telling our local stories,” he said during an early December board meeting.
He said the town already has the tools it needs to overhaul the channel’s programming.
It has the equipment, including video cameras, editing equipment, and funding from franchise fees paid by Comcast, the town’s cable provider.
The Comcast funding is de-
signed to pay for the town to produce and broadcast government, education, and community television, which it has been doing on Channel 15, but it has very little Southwick programming.
“It’s supposed to be just for Southwick residents, but we really have never supported it the way it needed to be supported,” he said.
To make that goal a reality, Anderson hopes to attract residents who want to tell the town’s story using those tools.
He’s looking for residents interested in television and video recording, camera work and editing, studio operations and graphics, producing local programming and learning new skills.
“And no experience is necessary,” he said.
“If you can press a button, you can make TV,” he added.
Anyone can get involved — residents, students, creative types, tech-curious folks and absolute beginners.
“We want to give residents the opportunity to produce their own TV shows or short multimedia presentations,” he said.
He said a short multimedia presentation would consist of a story about a specific subject, like farming, that would be 10 to 15 minutes long, and there is a rea-
son for a particular format.
“People don’t want to sit down and watch something for an hour. This is the wave of the future,” he said.
He is also currently in discussions with the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District School Committee to get students involved in the project.
“We hope to be working closely with the schools,” he said.
He envisions students covering school events, including sports, School Committee meetings, and music and drama productions for Channel 15.
This would be a hands-on opportunity for school students that prepares them for pathways in modern careers in broadcasting, journalism and graphic production. There are so many things that the kids could be involved in, Anderson said during the December meeting.
He said if the steps are taken, the town can rebuild its programming with the Southwick-first model, create original community-focused content, increase transparency and message consistency and use the town’s equipment more effectively.
During the December presentation, Anderson lamented the consolidation of media out-
lets that has led to reduced coverage, not only in Southwick, but most small- and medium-sized communities.
That can lead, he said, to a misinformed public, a loss of trust in government, a reduction in civic engagement — like volunteering or running for office — higher municipal costs and a polarized public.
Those negatives can be overcome with “proactive” communication that builds trust, prevents misinformation — which he blamed mostly on social media platforms — and ensures accountability.
Once he gets a batch of volunteers, Anderson said they’ll be given hands-on training and behind-the-scenes access to television production during classes that will be announced soon.
The town made a call for volunteers on Feb. 17, and it has already gotten four individuals who want to get involved, said Select Board Executive Assistant Margaret McCarthy. She said on Feb. 19 that two of those interested have previous experience in the broadcasting field.
For those interested in helping tell the stories of Southwick, email McCarthy at mmccarthy@ southwick.ma.gov.
Southwick Village receives Best of Senior Living Award
SOUTHWICK — Southwick Village has been recognized with the A Place for Mom 2026 Best of Senior Living Award, honoring communities that consistently deliver high-quality care and experience as reflected in reviews from seniors and their families, according to a press release from the StoryPoint Group that owns and operates the property.
“APlaceForMom.com plays an important role in helping StoryPoint Group share real stories from residents and their fam-
ilies,” said Erin Kessler Mir, customer insights and reputation marketing manager at StoryPoint Group. “Being recognized through this award is especially meaningful because it represents the confidence families place in us and helps more people discover a community where their loved ones can truly feel at home.”
Southwick Village is an active adult, independent living and assisted living care options community located at 1 Sawmill Park, Southwick.
Southwick Village is one of 75 StoryPoint Group communities nationwide to receive the distinction, making it the third consecutive year StoryPoint communities have led the nation in total award recipients.
To qualify for the A Place for Mom 2026 Best of Senior Living Award, communities must have an overall review score of 9.5 or higher and 10 or more reviews during the award period, which runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. Award recipients repre-
sent the top-reviewed senior living providers across the country, based entirely on consumer ratings and reviews from residents and their families. A Place for Mom is a nationally recognized program connecting families with trusted senior care options. With access to over 15,000 communities and home care agencies nationwide, A Place for Mom uses thousands of verified reviews to help families make informed decisions about senior living.
Pickleball tournament to benefit Habitat for Humanity
WESTFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) is hosting a high-energy pickleball tournament at The Picklr, at 415 E. Main St., Westfield Shops, Retail A-1, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 29, bringing together players of all skill levels for a full day of fun in support of affordable housing in Western Massachusetts.
The tournament is a two-player, teamed Round Robin event, with the day divided into timed
sections based on skill level to ensure competitive and enjoyable play for everyone. Registration is required, and tickets are $50 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit Greater Springfield Habitat and its mission to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
In addition to tournament play, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and Habitat merchandise throughout the day.
“This tournament is about more than pickleball — it’s about community,” said Aimee Giroux, executive director of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.
“Every serve, rally, and point played helps us move closer to a future where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. We’re grateful to The Picklr and to everyone who shows up to support this important work.”
GSHFH is also seeking event sponsors to help make the tourna-
ment a success. Sponsorship opportunities include four levels:
• Ace Sponsor — $1,500
• Kitchen Sponsor — $1,000
• Court Sponsor — $750
• Community Sponsor — $500 Sponsors will receive recognition and visibility while directly supporting affordable housing efforts in the region.
For registration details, sponsorship information and event updates, visit habitatspringfield. org/pickleball.
Patrick Lech works to get past Julian Fasoli.
During a timeout, Coach Martins lays out strategy for the team.
Cosmo Bond and Garrett Berube battle for a rebound.
Bomber Ceaser Quinto goes high in a group of Purple Knights.
Bomber boys basketball coach Nathan Martins on Senior Night with seniors Ethan Bargatti, Patrick Lech, Tim Gomenyuk, and Jack Madsen.
Jason Felix drives through Holyoke defenders on his way to the basket.
The 2026 Westfield High boys basketball team on Senior Night Feb. 9.
Shawn Lech focuses on an extra basket.
Swerve contest
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden
District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni is inviting high school students across Hampden County to take part in the 2026 Stop the Swerve Public Service Announcement and Billboard Challenge, a countywide initiative aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of impaired and dis-
tracted driving. The contest challenges students to create original PSAs and/or billboard designs that deliver powerful, prevention-focused messages about safe driving. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel selected by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, with first-, second- and
TheReminder.com
third-place awards presented in both categories.
Winning schools will receive: First place: $2,500
• Second place: $1,000
• Third place: $500
Prize money is awarded directly to the winning students’ schools to support educational or school-based initiatives. In past
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.
AGAWAM
Steven R. Collins
Robert E. Grindle
Evangelos “Van” Kacoyannakis
Jeanette McDonagh
FEEDING HILLS
Ann M. Clapp
James T. Ferris
SOUTHWICK
Carolyn L. Nascembeni
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Cheryl A. Howard
Marion A. Pike
Brenda Lee Seibert
years, award funds have been used for items such as classroom technology and student presentation equipment.
In addition to monetary awards, winning PSAs will air on 22News, and the selected billboard submission will have the opportunity to be displayed on one of Lamar Advertising’s digital billboards in Hampden County.
“This program gives students a real voice in preventing tragedies before they happen,” said Gulluni. “By creating messages for their peers, students are helping shape safer behaviors and stronger communities.”
All submissions must consist of original student-created content and be approved and submitted by a designated adult representative at each school. Schools may submit multiple entries, though each submission requires its own entry form. The submission deadline is March 20.
Contest winners will be recognized during the Stop the Swerve prevention event, taking place on Thursday, April 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. The event is free and open to all Hampden County parents and driving-age students, and will feature a locally produced documentary examining the real-world impact of impaired and distracted driving, along with interactive safety activities such as driving simulators and impairment-goggle exercises.
Eligible high school students in attendance will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle for free driving school tuition.
More information about the contest, submission guidelines, and the Stop the Swerve event can be found at hampdenda.com. The public Facebook event page is available at: facebook.com/ share/189Cm6LEZm/.
WESTFIELD
Brian P. Gelinas
Harriet Gilman
Elaine Kelly
Judith A. Pickford
Local independent film production company Xposse Productions will release its new psychological thriller, “Dark Places,” on March 14 at Agawam Cinemas.
Written and directed by Geno McGahee, the film centers on college student Natalie Parker, who is managing anxiety and social challenges while navigating a new relationship with fellow student Jason Evans. When two professors are murdered, the pair become entangled in a confrontation with a satanic cult as they work to uncover those responsible.
The film is produced by Rick Caride, Matt Hebert, Eric Michaelian, Brent Northup, Lorrie Bacon and McGahee, with Gregory Hatanaka of Cinema Epoch serving as executive producer. McGahee also operates the horror review website ScaredStiffReviews.com, which he founded in 2006.
The ensemble cast includes Lindsey DeLand, Jake Whitlock, Lorrie Bacon, Phil Godek, Eric Michaelian and Gabbi Mendelsohn.
Following its theatrical release, “Dark Places” is expected to be made available on streaming platforms including Tubi, Fawesome and Amazon Prime Video. Ticket information for the
Agawam Cinemas screening will be available through the theater.
Lumos Experience candlelight concert
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Longmeadow will host a Lumos Experience concert titled Step Into the Glow: A Vivaldi & Mozart Candlelight Experience on Friday, March 27.
The 60-minute performance will feature an ensemble of violin, viola and cello performing selections by Vivaldi and Mozart in a candlelit setting. Seating is limited to maintain an intimate atmosphere.
All tickets must be purchased in advance at lumosexperiences.com.
‘Hope and Glory’ production
On Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m., Young@Heart and Hope Center for the Arts will present “Hope and Glory,” a show that will combine the hope for the future as represented by the Hope Center’s students, faculty and staff at the newly renovated center in Springfield. The “lory represents the life and times of the recently deceased Evelyn Harris, who was a member of Young@ Heart for the last 2 1/2 years of her life.
Special guests for the show will include:
Members of Sweet Honey in the Rock, an all-female, African American a cappella ensemble that started in 1973. They are a three-time Grammy Award-nominated troupe who express their history as Black women through song, dance and sign language.
Harris was a member of the group from 1974-1992.
Yasmeen Betty Williams, an American gospel singer and former member of the Sweet Honey in the Rock from 1976 to 1986. After meeting in Sweet Honey in the ‘70s, Williams
remained Harris’ close friend for the remainder of her life. Kayla Staley, the director of vocal ensemble at the Hope Center’s after school. Buy tickets at the Hope Center website, hopecenterforthearts. org/events/youngatheart.
Provisions Picks: Cotes-du-Rhone from the French Rhone valley
“What should I bring to dinner?” It’s a question that customers often ask us here at Provisions. In a perfect world, one can pair the wine to the food being served, but we may not always know what to expect as a guest. No one wants to commit a faux pas by bringing something that clashes with the food, and that’s where our favorite safe bet red wine comes in: Cotes-du-Rhone.
The Rhone valley lies in eastern France just south of Burgundy, and the region has a long history of winemaking dating back to the 600s BC. The region is generally separated into two sections: the northern Rhone, where single varietal Syrah reigns supreme, and the warmer southern Rhone, where blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre dominate the production. The south contains many prestigious appellations for these blends, most notably Chateauneuf-du-Pape an area promoted from obscurity to prestige during the Avignon Papacy. The overwhelming quantity of wine, however, comes in the form of the humble Cotesdu-Rhone and Cotes-du-Rhone Village appellations, which together account for more than half of the Rhone’s wine production. Literally translating to “hills of the Rhone,” these wines are produced throughout the south, and what they lack in prestige they make up for in quality, approachability and value.
Always a red blend, Cotesdu-Rhone reds consist mostly of Grenache, a friendly and fruit-for-
ward variety boasting high levels of ripeness and generally lower levels of tannin when grown in the lower altitude areas of the region. The blend is completed with Syrah, adding spice and tannin, and Mourvedre, which contributes earthy notes and inky color. This trifecta works so well together that you’ll see the combination used in wines of many other warm climate wine regions of the world, including California, Australia, and South Africa. Together, these three varieties yield a wine that is medium bodied, dry, moderate to low tannin and food friendly with notes of berries and herbs. These wines
pair great with chicken, burgers, pork dishes, hearty stews and most anything savory, but more importantly for the purposes of this article, they’re unlikely to clash with whatever your host may be cooking. So next time you’re running to the store for a bottle before a dinner party grab one of our favorites below.
Domaine La Manarine Cotesdu-Rhone Rouge ($19.99): Located in the southernmost tip of the region, La Manarine are meticulous organic farmers and take a hands off approach to winemaking, preferring to let the grapes speak for themselves. Their rouge is a somewhat rare exam-
ple of a 100% Grenache Cotesdu-Rhone, and as a result it offers a great deal of aromatic fruit along with a pleasant amount of herbal spice. A lush and delicious crowd pleaser.
Clos du Mont-Olivet Vielles Vignes Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge ($24.99): The Sabon family have been making the wines of Mont-Olivet since 1932 and are great example of a traditional producer that isn’t afraid of new techniques. This wine is produced from three organically farmed parcels of 40-plus year old vines and primarily ages in a mix of concrete and old wood, allowing the wine to breath and develop
without imparting substantial oak flavor. This wine is the biggest of the bunch, offering more tannin, earth and spice due to the age of the vines and the higher portion of Syrah and Mourvedre.
La Cabotte Cotes-du-Rhone Colline ($19.99): Grown in a higher altitude, cooler area of the region, this blend of Grenache and Syrah is farmed biodynamically by the d’Ardhuy-Plumet family. In the cellar, the wine is fermented and briefly aged in stainless steel with an eye towards preserving the grapes’ natural fruit and acidity. Medium-bodied, aromatic and bright enough to cut through fattier cuisine.
