Hampton Ponds Association to celebrate July 4
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — The Hampton Ponds Association will host its 68th annual Fourth of July parade to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, featuring decorated floats, clip-clopping horses, a tribute to local veterans and speeches by local officials.
“The theme of this year’s celebration is the country’s 250th birthday,” said Hampton Ponds Association member Rick Epstein about this year’s parade, which takes place rain or shine.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at Hampton Ponds Plaza, marches down North Road on Route 202 and finishes in the Froggy’s Saloon parking lot.
This year’s parade marshal is Sean Gaffney, who has been the field operations team leader at Hampton Ponds State Park since 2018. He also oversees the Robinson State Park in Feeding Hills and the Chicopee Memorial State Park.
“Sean has been an effective park supervisor and a good friend to the Hampton Ponds community. He is always responsive, helpful and cooperative when issues arise,” said Susan McFarlin, president of the Hampton Ponds Association.
Like a traditional parade, Epstein said there will be fire trucks from the Westfield and Southampton Fire departments, with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring; cruisers from the Westfield Police Department; local farmers with their tractors; friends and neighbors participating, representatives from the Whip City Animal Sanctuary; and, of course, floats.
Epstein said the association’s float will also feature a 250th-birthday theme.
This year, the parade will have several decorated boats, floats from various organizations and music in the parade performed by Sarah the Fiddler and the Aquatudes. The latter is a surfrock band from central Connecticut that plays rock ‘n’ roll.
New this year will be a visit by Sam MacMunn, a member of the reenactment group, the Knox Artillery Regiment.
There will also be horses from Westfield’s AJ Stables and big rigs from K&J Tree Service Southampton.
He also encouraged children in the area to decorate their bicycles, tricycles or scooters and
participate in the parade.
“We’ll be awarding trophies to the kids who have the best decorated bike or scooter,” Epstein said.
Those who attend can also show their appreciation for local veterans who will march, representing the country and their veteran organizations.
After the parade, there will be a celebration at Froggy’s Saloon and a ceremony to honor veterans with free refreshments and snacks.
During the veterans’ ceremony, Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe and state Sen. John Velis will make remarks. Southamp-
WESTFIELD
Assistant fire chief request nixed
The City Council doesn’t want to fund an assistant fire chief.
Page 3
Wyben organizers announce lineup
The theme for Wyben’s Fourth of July parade is “Let’s ALL Celebrate USA’s 250th Anniversary.”
8
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
ton’s Carol Barcomb will sing “Proud to Be an American.”
The culmination of the celebration will be a scholarship presentation by the Hampton Ponds Association to local high school students. The recipients of the Hampton Ponds Association Scholarship, a $750 award, are Sophia M. Lentini, a Westfield High School graduate who will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study biotech engineering; Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk, a Westfield High School graduate who will attend College of the Holy Cross
PARADE on page 2
For the 68th year, the Hampton Ponds Association will hold its annual Fourth of July Parade. Here is a photo from a past parade.
‘Pay-As-You-Throw’ trash program start date pushed back
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Citing logistics challenges, the Board of Health recently pushed back the start of its “Pay-As-You-Throw” program from July 1 to Sept. 1.
“We knew it wasn’t going to happen by July 1,” said the city’s Director of Public Health Debra Mulvenna about the program that was included in a host of changes made to the city’s solid waste regulations in March.
The primary reason for pushing back the date was that the Health Department had yet to line up vendors to sell the bags needed for the program.
“We didn’t want to take the chance and not have the vendors in place,” she said.
The department is aiming to have at least one of the city’s larger grocery stores sell the bags residents will need once the program starts.
Starting on Sept. 1, every resident who throws away household trash will be required to purchase and use orange bags that will come in five-bag rolls in two sizes: 33-gallon bags for $15 and 15-gallon bags for $7.50.
Mulvenna said the new program is a way to encourage residents who use the transfer station to recycle, which is already required.
“It’s all about cutting down the amount of trash,” Mulvenna said.
The board believes that if people have to pay to throw away their trash, they won’t generate as much, Mulvenna said.
“It’s important that residents reduce, reuse and recycle,” she said. “We just can’t continue to
have residents throw away unlimited amounts of trash.”
Removing recyclables from the household waste stream lowers the amount the city pays each year to have its trash hauled to a waste-processing facility such as a landfill.
Currently, the city pays $118 per ton, which doesn’t include hauling costs.
Last year, the transfer station had nearly 760 tons of municipal waste hauled away, and that doesn’t include what’s picked up curbside.
She said the Board of Health began discussing the transfer station regulations after she couldn’t, despite her best efforts, find out whether there had ever been any regulations for the transfer station.
There was also a need to protect transfer station staff and city residents.
When regulations were not in place, residents sometimes had problems at the station: if a station employee told a resident they could not dispose of a particular item there, the employee could not refer the resident to any regulations.
It was hoped that having regulations in place would minimize the occasional problems.
“We’re doing this for public health, not to punish people,”
Mulvenna said, adding that residents have been calling the department with waste-related questions since the new regulations were announced in March.
Transfer Station Rules and Regulations:
• Proof of residency, whether it be a driver’s license, state ID, tax or utility bill, is required to
graduate who will attend Sacred Heart University to study physical therapy.
the vehicle.
to study pre-med; and Emma M. Tisdell, a Smith Academy
The recipient of the Lambert-Pezzini Memorial Scholarship is Maggie G. Leen, a Westfield High School graduate who
use the station.
• All vehicles must have a sticker affixed to the back of their rearview mirror, but no permit is needed if they are dropping off grass clippings or leaves.
• Walk-ins are not allowed.
All household trash must be in a city-approved bag and tied before disposal. No loose trash, other than bulk items, will be accepted.
• Bags are for one-time use only and cannot be reused after being dumped into the container.
• All residents using the facility should be able to do so on their
will attend Clark University to study psychology.
The recipient of the Nelson and Jean Dionne Family Scholarship is Haleigh E. Johnson, a Westfield High School graduate who will attend Bay Path Univer-
own. If not, residents should bring someone to help them.
• Trash disposal of any kind outside the posted operating hours, 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday, is not permitted. Unacceptable materials left behind after hours are illegal.
• Foul language, gestures or honking of horns will not be tolerated.
• Scavenging, salvaging or removal of any materials from the transfer station is prohibited.
• All children under the age of 12 and pets must remain in
sity to study interior design.
The recipient of the Michael P. Peretti Memorial Scholarship is Annabeth G. Lemberg, a Saint Mary’s High School graduate who will attend the University of St. Joseph to study nursing.
• Materials that are not accepted at the station include construction, demolition or commercial waste; household hazardous products, such as tile, toilet, counter, or window cleaners; and tree branches, brush or wood. While most of these rules are already in effect, on Sept. 1, use of the orange bags will be required. For more information, call the station at 413-568-1159, the Health Department at 413-5726210, or visit Recycling Program & Twiss Street Transfer Station.
“People who want to have a great time should bring a chair and come early for the best place to enjoy the parade. There are plenty of places to pull over on the parade route,” Epstein said.
The Health Department’s “Pay-As-Your-Throw” trash program, which will require residents using the Twiss Street Transfer Station to purchase bags to dispose of household waste will now start on Sept. 1. Reminder Publishing file photo
WESTFIELD
Council nixes request to fund assistant fire chief
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Although an outside firm recommended that the city hire an assistant fire chief and the chief requested funding for the position, the Westfield City Council still voted unanimously against it, though for different reasons.
“I really don’t think with him just getting this job that we need to create another job when he hasn’t even had the chance to warm up his seat,” said Councilor James Adams, referring to Fire Chief Eric Bishop, who was appointed to the position in late April.
At the council’s June 16 meeting, the body was making final adjustments to the fiscal year 2027 budget when it considered the $170,000 Bishop requested to fund the new position.
When Bishop made the request at a meeting of the council’s Finance Committee, not only did he ask for funding, but he also wanted the assistant chief position to be filled without qualifying through the civil service process.
For Adams, the $170,000 wasn’t enough to cover the salary and benefits needed to hire an assistant fire chief.
“If they take it from within, it won’t be [$170,000] because the firemen get 30% more for education, which is about $50,000 more. So, you’ve got to add $50,000 to [$170,000],” Adams said.
He was referring to a 10% to 15% bump in base pay for any firefighter who has completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree, which is typically required of candidates for captain or deputy chief positions.
Adams added that if the council were to fund the position, “you’ll never get rid of it … even if it doesn’t work out, good luck getting rid of it.”
He also referred to the analysis of the department’s operations by an outside consulting firm that recommended adding several new positions to the department, including an assistant chief.
“I sat here when they did the study, and this job was supposed to be from the outside. This job wasn’t supposed to be from the inside. This was a retired fire chief,” he said.
The assistant fire chief position is mentioned nine times in the analysis.
In one instance, it is recommended that the department encourage its firefighters to earn fire officer certification to meet the requirements for advancement to lieutenant, captain, deputy chief or assistant chief.
The analysis doesn’t mention whether the candidate for the position should come from inside or outside the department.
It recommended that the city “make it a priority to negotiate with the local bargaining unit for the purpose of establishing a non-union position of Assistant Fire Chief, delineating a clear number two position in the WFD, and to provide the Chief with another confidential management position to assist him with leading the Department. This position should be an executive management position that is also exempt from the firefighters’ and officers’ respective collective bargaining units.”
“The intent was you might need some help, but it wasn’t from the inside, because from
Stanley Park seeking sponsors and auction donations for annual fundraiser
WESTFIELD — Stanley Park is currently seeking event sponsors and donations for the online auction and raffle portion of its annual gala and fundraiser, Heritage in Bloom, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 12.
This evening will bring together community members, supporters, businesses, and friends of the park to celebrate Stanley Park’s rich history while raising critical funds to support its gardens, trails, educational programs, wildlife sanctuary and free community events. Local businesses, organiza-
tions and individuals are invited to support the event through sponsorship opportunities or by donating items, services, experiences, gift certificates, themed baskets, or other unique offerings for the online auction and raffle. These contributions play a vital role in the success of the fundraiser and help generate essential revenue for the park’s ongoing operations and preservation efforts.
As a private nonprofit organization, Stanley Park relies on the generosity of donors, sponsors
See DONATIONS on page 8
the inside, that is a big number. So, I definitely will be a no,” he said, adding, “I think the chief and the men down there can figure out how to run a good department, and they probably won’t need this job.”
Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane initially argued for the funding, citing an analysis that recommended one and noting that every department in the region has an assistant chief.
She also said that when Bishop requested the funding, he told the committee he considered it a “money-generating position for two reasons.”
She said the assistant would monitor ambulance rates to ensure they matched or were lower than those in surrounding communities so as not to lose ambulance runs to other fire departments.
Matthews-Kane said Bishop wanted the assistant to focus on writing grant applications for funding opportunities.
“I see cutting this as penny-wise and pound-foolish,” she said.
Adams challenged Matthews-Kane’s assertions.
He said, in speaking with Bishop, that the department had paid a grant writer $1,500 to secure a grant of $40,000 to $50,000, and that the ambulance rate had already been adjusted.
“On the two things you’ve said, it makes no sense,” Adams said.
Councilor William Onyski said Bishop was aware that more focus was needed on grant writing and that he recognized the ambulance rates were too low.
“So, every month, two months, six months, [he] puts it on his calendar, and he checks.
And I think this money can come in without an assistant chief,” Onyski said.
Councilor Michael Burns agreed with Onyski and said he had already told Bishop he wouldn’t want to fund the position.
“I can’t, in good conscience, vote for $170,000. I don’t care what department it is — new job, old job — that we’re going to stick it on the taxpayers again,” he said, mentioning increases in trash, water and sewer rates over the past year.
Matthews-Kane said that during her conversations with Bishop, he said there was a fire-safety grant he wanted to apply for but couldn’t because he didn’t “have enough manpower to get all this done.”
“I think it’s a wise investment,” she said.
Councilor Kristen Mello was emphatic in her opposition.
“I am a no vote on any [hiring] until regular taxpaying citizens are not worried about how they’re going to make their ends meet. No new jobs,” she said.
Councilor Ralph Figy questioned the recommendations in the 180-page analysis conducted by Municipal Resources, Inc.
“In my opinion, any study that solves a problem by adding personnel didn’t do a thorough job evaluating that department,” Figy said.
“[The department should] look at the command structure to see if they actually need all those deputy chiefs. I think they need to look from within to evolve that department to where it could be, so that I am against a new position at this
See REQUEST on page 5
Select Board member proposes original purchasing system
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — Select Board member Joseph Deedy received pushback from fellow member Russ Anderson after proposing that the town’s department heads submit a purchase order for every purchase, no matter how small.
“I disagree,” Anderson said in response to Deedy’s proposal, which would have department heads go back to a purchasing system used by the town’s accounting department for decades.
“I mean, it slows down the system terribly … waiting for purchase orders [when] you’re trying to do something … there’s no added value to it,” Anderson said during the board’s meeting on June 22.
Deedy said on June 23 he requested that the purchasing policy be put on the agenda to “just have a discussion” about it.
When he started the discussion during the meeting, he said that the town had used purchase orders in the past and “had gotten away from it.”
“I think we need to bring them back, especially if our money’s going to be tight as it looks,” said Deedy, who also serves as chair of the town’s Finance Committee.
A little over a year ago, Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker decided to change the purchasing policy to make it more efficient and create less work for the department heads and the accounting department.
On June 23, she explained the purchasing process that was in use when she was appointed in April 2024.
For any amount from $1 to $10,000, when a department head
wanted to buy anything for operations, they would fill out a purchase order and get it to the accounting department, either by hand or email.
The accounting department would check to ensure there were sufficient funds in the department’s budget for the purchase. The purchase order would be submitted to Parker for approval. Parker would sign it, return it to the department head, and the purchase would be made.
After her first several months as the town’s CAO, Parker asked the department heads what they would change if they could.
She said that “across the board,” department heads wanted the purchasing policy to be easier.
With that, she proposed to the Select Board that departmental purchases below $5,000 not require a purchase order.
The board was hesitant to sign off on the $5,000 threshold but agreed to $3,000.
Deedy said at the June 22 meeting that going back to the original system would “help with accountability and checks and balances.”
However, he said the system wasn’t perfect and could “use some updates.”
“But I think you need purchase orders,” he said.
“Here we are at the end of the [fiscal] year, and I’m sure [the accounting department is] still getting bills in. The system now doesn’t seem to account for anything until after the fact,” he said, prompting an immediate response from Anderson.
“What, so you mean by ‘after the fact,’” he asked, which Deedy answered with another question.
“Well, how does it work now without a purchase or-
der?” Deedy said.
Anderson said the department head buys something under $3,000 and submits the bill to accounting.
“But the department heads [are] responsible for his budget or her budget,” Anderson said.
Deedy then asked what would happen if there were an “issue” with the purchase, to which Anderson answered, “what’s the issue?”
Deedy asked what would happen if a purchase was made and needed to be returned.
“You can’t return the product, return what you bought,” Deedy said.
Anderson shot back: “You wouldn’t with a PO either.”
“True,” Deedy responded.
Parker clarified that for purchases under $3,000, “no purchase order is necessary.”
heads … it makes things much more efficient,” she said, which prompted Deedy to ask how it was more efficient for the department heads.
“Because they can buy something and they can pay for it,” Parker answered. “They don’t have to wait days, or however long it takes [for the accounting department] to get the purchase order back [to her] for a $40 box of paper.” Anderson said the town’s technology needs to improve.
to spend what they’re looking to spend,” he said.
Parker said department heads get bimonthly printouts of their spending.
However, she said she is working toward having all department heads use the town’s MUNIS system, which integrates core administrative operations like fund accounting, human resources, payroll and purchasing into a centralized database to eliminate data silos.
“I’m working on getting everybody access to MUNIS, and not that they can manipulate MUNIS, but then they can just go in in inquiries and look at account numbers and things like that,” she said, adding that department heads wouldn’t be able to change the program, “just make inquiries and look at account numbers.”
“And I think there needs to be,” Deedy said, adding later that having the original system would provide “accountability” for everyone.
“A department head can’t look up and see what the balance of their account is. They have to wait a month to get a readout of what their balance is,” he said, adding that other municipalities have systems that allow department heads to keep track of their spending daily.
That prompted Anderson to ask, “Who’s not being accountable?”
Deedy didn’t answer the question.
Select Board Chair Douglas Moglin, who had yet to join the discussion, asked Parker when the town stopped using the original system.
Parker said about a year ago that she believed department heads were responsible for managing their own budgets.
“We’ve really emphasized that it’s important that we give this responsibility to the department
Deedy then recanted his proposal that all purchases need a purchase order, suggesting the threshold should be $500 instead of $3,000.
Parker said $3,000 was a “good amount,” adding that she believed $10,000 was the best amount.
According to state law, every municipal purchase over $10,000 requires three bids.
Moglin said that department heads’ inability to easily access and monitor their budgets in real time was an issue.
“That’s an important piece of it. They should have access to that data so that they can see if they have the money in their budget
Because Parker must sign off on every purchase under the current system, Moglin asked whether Parker had vetted the “merits of the purchase.”
She didn’t answer directly, but on June 23, after the meeting, said that she believes department heads can make “sound decisions.”
Before Moglin suggested that any decision on changing the system should be pushed off at least until the board’s next meeting, Parker said: “I can assure you the department heads are happy that they don’t have to do it. If we wanted to raise it to $5,000 or $10,000, that’s even better, but I don’t suggest that we lower it.”
Select Board member Joseph Deedy.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
Huntington Summer Music series kicks off with picnic
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
HUNTINGTON — The 2026 Huntington Summer Music Series in the Gazebo at Route 20 and 112 will kick off on July 9 from 5:30-8 p.m. with entertainment by Sam Chevalier and Ray Dolat of Acoustic Thunder, who will play favorites from many genres. The annual appreciation picnic will also occur that night and will offer hamburgers or hot dogs, popcorn, lemonade and cake for a $1 donation.
The remaining music series runs every Thursday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. The 2026 lineup includes rock ‘n roll performer Meredith Robinson on July 16, Jon Berman playing beach favorites and original songs on July 23, classic rock band Rock 201
on July 30, Cover Daddys’ mix of pop and classics on Aug. 6, and Moon Hollow playing folk and American, bluegrass and early jazz on Aug. 13.
The series will wrap up with the popular, homegrown band The 413s, playing rock ‘n roll and originals on Aug. 20.
Baked goods are on sale every week and will be provided by local nonprofit groups. Bring your own lawn chairs, but no pets are allowed. All performances will be moved inside Stanton Hall in case of rain.
The free Huntington Summer Music Series, which is approaching its 20th year, is sponsored by the Huntington Community Events Committee and supported by the Huntington Cultural Council.
Southwick Recreation Center needs volunteers for The National
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — When the annual Southwick National comes to town on July 11, it brings more than just the best professional motocross riders in the world; it also brings crowds of people with cars and trucks that need parking, which the Southwick Recreation Center has and uses for its largest and only fundraiser each year.
“We need people to volunteer to help us parking the cars and trucks,” said Lisa Whitehead, who is a member of the nonprofit’s board of directors.
“We don’t turn away anyone who wants to volunteer for us for a few hours on Saturday,” Whitehead said, adding that the center, as it is every year during the Crestview Construction Inc., Southwick National at The Wick 338, is desperate for volunteers.
Those who volunteer will
Request
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point in time,” he added.
Councilor Cindy Harris said Bishop’s presentation at the Finance Committee meeting was “excellent” and that she liked that he was trying to change the atmosphere in the department.
“However, the information I’ve received, I am going to vote yes to cut [the proposed funding],” she said, adding that she would consider it again when the next fiscal year’s budget is being drafted.
Finance Committee Chair Daniel Knapik said he wasn’t necessarily against funding the position.
However, he said that because there are still ongoing negotia-
collect money and park cars and trucks before and during the race.
Whitehead said those interested can volunteer for a full six-hour shift, a two-hour shift or just an hour.
While many of the programs the center offers are funded through tuition and fees, such as the before- and after-school programs for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and the T-ball and kickball leagues, the fundraiser and tax-deductible donations keep the facility in tip-top shape.
“This summer, the ceilings in the classrooms are being replaced, and the building’s fire escape is being rebuilt,” she said.
There are also plans to repaint the facility, which is on Powder Mill Road, and replace the floor in the gym used for basketball and floor hockey.
“We also donate our gym to the schools for dances,”
tions with the department’s union to allow it to hire a non-Civil Service candidate, he didn’t think allocating the funding for a position that doesn’t technically exist was wise.
“I appreciate the argument, but I don’t support appropriations on something that’s not quite over the finish line yet,” Knapik said. “And I do agree, everybody’s comment, let’s give the chief some time.”
“I think we’ve all seen he’s done some interesting things since he’s taken over. Maybe he’ll come back. Maybe there’ll be a change of heart. I don’t know yet, but let’s give it some time [and] let the [union] negotiation get done, and see where we are in January, February, and we can take a look at it,” Knapik continued.
said.
The money from last year’s fundraiser was used to purchase solar panels, which were installed in March on the center’s new roof.
“One of our biggest costs, of course, is electricity,” said Russell Fox, who is also a board member and the vice president of buildings.
Whitehead and Fox wanted to stress that the Rec Center is not a part of the town of Southwick.
“We’re a private, nonprofit and not affiliated with the town,” Whitehead said.
For those interested in making a difference for the Rec Center and gifting a few hours of time, Whitehead can be reached at 413478-8795, or she can be emailed at tinytoe3@comcast.net.
Concertgoers groove to the sounds of Greg Hall and Miguel Santiago on the Huntington Town Common in a prior Summer Music Series year.
Reminder Publishing file photo
Whitehead
Kris Corey (#834), of Southwick, rips through the sand on his way to finishing 31st overall in the 450 Class at the 2025 Nationals. Reminder Publishing file photo
WESTFIELD LITTLE LEAGUE
BASEBALL
The Westfield Little League Air Compressor baseball team defeated Advance MFG 11-2 for the Majors Championship on June 14 at Ralph E. Sanville Field in Westfield.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY MARC ST. ONGE
The Westfield Little League Majors Championship team, June 14, at Ralph Sanville Memorial Field.
Air Compressor starting pitcher Angel Villanueva (16) fires one in.
Luke Miller (32) safely steals second base.
Advance MFG.'s Cooper Csekovsky (7) connects for a fly ball.
Rowan Bodurtha (93) glides in for an Air Compressor run.
Quentin LaBorde (83) tries to beat the throw to Brayden Getty (11) at first base.
Dylan Pais (55) focuses on an incoming pitch.
WESTFIELD STARFIRES VS NEW BRITAIN BEES
BASEBALL
The Westfield Starfires lost to the New Britain Bees 15-1 on June 21 at Bullens Field in Westfield.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY MARC ST. ONGE
Center fielder Anthony Armenia gloves a hard hit ball.
In a cloud of dust, States Farr (1) tries to get the out at second on Tim Hennig (22).
Starfires relief pitcher Casey Williams (47) in the wind-up.
Starting pitcher Jayden Ortiz (6) fires in a pitch at the June 21 Fathers Day game with the New Britain Bees.
Easton Sanders (16) gets the out at first on Jack Kane (2).
Vance Bonior (40) gets under a long Bees' fly ball. JJ Fox launches a fly ball early in the game with the New Britain Bees June 21.
Wyben Fourth of July organizers announce lineup, marshals
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — The theme for Wyben’s Fourth of July parade is “Let’s ALL celebrate USA’s 250th Anniversary.” Participants for the parade, which is always on July 4, rain or shine, are asked to line up at the junction of Montgomery and North roads beginning at 4:30 p.m. The march starts at 5 p.m. on Montgomery Road and will finish on West Road.
“All are welcome to join, march and celebrate this Independence Day, a huge milestone. Because there are varied ways to honor such a feat, the sky’s the limit on how everyone wants to observe our 250th,” said Sue Crane, a member of the parade committee.
LaRee and Joe Collingwood,
the 2026 parade marshals, will lead the parade, followed by the American Legion Post 124, Mayor Michael McCabe, City Councilor Karen Fanion, state Rep. Kelly Pease and state Sen. John Velis.
Sam MacMunn and Cindy Bronson of the Westfield Historical Commission will represent the Westfield Militia Company of 1774 and will dress authentically as colonial farmers. They will also join other parade participants who plan to fire off blank rounds of their antique guns at the beginning and at the end of the parade.
Parade goers will enjoy the antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads, decorated floats and anything old.
Harry and Anne Rock will once again broadcast the parade
in its entirety for WCPC, Westfield Community Television, and the parade committee is hoping for a large contingency of Westfield High and middle school band students to add music to a festive day.
The Collingwoods built their house on Montgomery Road on family land in 1983 and have made it their home for the past 40-plus years. LaRee grew up in Huntington and graduated from Gateway Regional High School in 1976. Joe was raised in South Hadley and graduated from South Hadley High School in 1974.
The couple met at Digital Corporation, where LaRee was working in inventory control, and Joe was a machinist, an occupation he continues to practice and enjoy. LaRee also works part-time at many local churches, including Wyben Union Chapel, and meets bi-weekly with a rug hooking, needlework and cross stitch gathering she organized, where women attend from all over New England and New York to work on their craft.
The Collingwoods have three grown children and eight grandchildren, all of whom live locally. The family has enjoyed camping, swimming in their backyard pool, riding dirt bikes, building forts, snowmobiling and quadding. Their home remains a hubbub of activities for family and friends.
Donations
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and community partners to help maintain more than 300 acres of gardens, trails, and open spaces while continuing to provide free access to visitors throughout the year.
Crane said the Collingwoods have always embraced the Wyben community. When their children were young, they gave their time volunteering and leading children and adults in activities including Christmas, Easter and Halloween parties, hay rides and card games. They also worked in the Wyben Association booth at the Westfield Fair.
“I think it’s fitting for our 250th to have a couple big into tradition
The deadline to secure sponsorships and submit auction or raffle donations is Aug. 21. Businesses and individuals interested in participating are encouraged to contact Stanley Park’s Development Office at 413-568-9312 ext. 108 or development@stanleypark.org for additional information.
and long-time living in Wyben as our parade marshals. Their kids live close by, and the couple is so deserving of this honor,” said one friend and neighbor about the Collingwoods.
Members of the parade committee are Bob Allen, Jim Bemis, Greg Bolduc, Crystal Bryant, Carlee Collins, Tim and Sue Crane, Brian and Kathy Hartley, Deb Hayden, Ryan Karolides and Dan Puza.
Tickets for Heritage in Bloom are currently available and may be purchased online. Guests can look forward to an evening featuring dinner, raffles, an online auction, a guided garden tour, guest speaker Ward Caswell and the Stanley Park Heritage Challenge. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, auction donations, or event tickets, visit stanleypark.org.
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.
AGAWAM
Bruno D. Antico Jr.
George Paul Bellefeuille
Stephen M. Martin
Corey R. Moquin
Nadine A. Strahs
FEEDING HILLS
Jeffrey S. Eades
SOUTHWICK
William O. Bellows
Alma W. Benton
Judith A. “Judy” Olbris
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Paul R. Dupuis
Virginia Louise “Ginny” Joslin
Vivian F. Kruczek
Kenneth A. Noel
Carol Lee Santilli (Shepard) WESTFIELD
Michael Bagg
Eugene D. “Gene” Beauchemin III
Bettejane Duso
Bernard E. Paulin
Mark T. Tagliavini
2026 Parade Marshals LaRee and Joe Collingwood. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Springfield takes center stage for Jazz & Roots festival
By Miasha Lee Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is returning to the historic Court Square. On July 10-11, get ready for an unforgettable weekend of music, culture and community. This year’s festival has an artist lineup spanning New Orleans funk, Afro-Cuban jazz and global roots.
Executive Director Kristin Neville of Blues to Green, the nonprofit organization that presents the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival said, “Attendees can expect an exciting mix of nationally acclaimed artists and outstanding local talent, along with youth performances, family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a welcoming downtown atmosphere full of energy and discovery.”
They’re also excited about special offerings beyond the stage, including a talk with Etienne Charles about Gullah culture and history and its connection to America’s 250th; a Stories & Songs event with All the Rivers and the First Gen Ensemble, sharing immigrant experiences through music and theater; an Afro-Cuban music and jazz workshop led by Zaccai Curtis; and a mural paint party lifting up the stories of youth, families and immigration in Springfield.
They will also screen short films, including a Blues to Green project focused on the Puerto Rican community in Western Massachusetts and climate justice and resilience, so people can expect not only great performances, but a fuller cultural experience rooted in music, storytelling and community.
The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is a free annual music and arts festival in Downtown Springfield that celebrates jazz, roots and the cultures of the African diaspora. It brings together nationally acclaimed artists, outstanding local performers, youth ensembles, family arts activities, educational programming, local vendors and community organizations for a public gathering in the heart of the city.
From the beginning, Neville said the vision was to create a free, high-quality cultural event that would honor Black and diasporic musical traditions while also helping transform how people see Springfield. She wanted it to be a place where residents could feel pride in their city, where local artists and businesses could be uplifted, and where people from different backgrounds could come together through music in a spirit of joy and shared humanity.
“It also felt important from the start to celebrate Springfield’s cultural diversity and reflect that richness through artists from near
and far,” Neville said. “Part of the inspiration behind the festival was to spotlight the extraordinary contributions that Afro-descended communities have made to our shared culture, including so much of the music we listen to today, while also honoring the many cultures that shape Springfield itself.”
And for her, especially through her late husband Charles Neville’s life in music as a touring artist with the Neville Brothers from New Orleans, it was important not just to present the art, but to create opportunities for people to better understand the social, cultural and historical contexts out of which the music comes from. “There are stories in this music,” Neville said. “There are joys and struggles. And there is artistry and creative excellence that deserve to be recognized and honored.”
In an upcoming episode of “So That Reminds Me,” Neville also talked about her inspiration in organizing the festival.
“I felt inspired to try to work
with music as a vehicle to bring people together, foster unity, healing and awareness, and action around social and environmental issues,” she said.
Neville’s hope is that this year’s festival will once again bring thousands of people downtown for a joyful, inspiring experience and leave them feeling more connected to the music, to one another and to Springfield itself. She wants the festival to be a place not only of celebration, but also of recognition: a place where people can experience beauty and enjoyment while understanding more about the histories, communities and lived experiences carried in the art.
“This year feels especially meaningful because we’re returning to Court Square, where the festival first began,” Neville said. “I want the legacy of the festival to be that it helped show what’s possible when a city invests in culture, community and joy. If it has helped people feel more pride in Springfield, more connection to one another, and
more belief in a joyful, creative, just, and compassionate future, that would be a legacy I’d be very proud of.”
For more info and updates, go to springfieldjazzfest.com.
Neville will also talk about the Jazz & Roots Festival on the July 3 episode of “So That Reminds Me” with hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet. To listen to the episode when it airs head to thereminder.com/ourpodcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
The 2026 lineup includes:
• Dumpstaphunk: The legendary New Orleans funk powerhouse carries forward the Neville family legacy with explosive live energy.
Omar Sosa: The visionary Cuban pianist blends Afro-Cuban roots and global jazz into a rich, rhythmic sound.
• Etienne Charles: Gullah Roots:
The Trinidad-born trumpeter connects jazz with the history of the African diaspora.
• Zaccai Curtis: Cubop Lives!: The Grammy-winning pianist leads an ensemble at the intersection of bebop and Afro-Cuban jazz.
• Global & Local Standouts: From the immigrant-led ensemble All the Rivers and Uganda-rooted Zikina to Springfield favorites like Malado!, Chestina Thrower, and the vintage swing of Dan Gabel and the Gabeltones.
• David Rivera y La Bámbula: The Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and drummer blends tropical rhythms, R&B, hip-hop and Caribbean dance traditions into a bold, rhythm-forward sound.
Managing Editor Dennis Hackett contributed to this report.
From left: Endea Owens & the Cookout performing at last year’s festival. The crowd dancing and jamming along to the music.
Photo credit: Sophie Markham
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