Plan changes for store, gas station OK’d
By Cliff Clark clcark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — With a significant restructuring of the Exit 41 interchange occurring in the next five years, the Planning Board recently approved minor changes to the special permit for the company planning to build a Pride convenience store and gas station on the site of the old Friendly’s.
“We really are looking forward to redeveloping this area and getting rid of the Friendly’s,” said Robert Levesque of Levesque Associates, Inc., referring to Kayrouz Petroleum LLC, the company developing the project.
When the special permit for the development was approved in 2015 by the Planning Board, the redesign of Exit 41 had yet to be proposed.
The restructuring of Exit 41 has three major components: roundabouts at the intersection of Southampton Road and Friendly’s Way, a roundabout at the entrance to Holyoke Road and a roundabout where Friendly’s Way intersects with Westfield Industrial Park Road.
“If those plans come to fruition, they would need space. So, we’ve adjusted our plan accordingly,” Levesque said.
Kayrouz Petroleum is planning to build a 5,700-square-foot Pride gas station, convenience store and visitor center at the location of the former Friendly’s restaurant on 33-39 Southampton Road, with a large diesel fueling area for trucks in the rear.
Levesque said that now that the company had obtained a license to store gasoline and diesel fuel in underground tanks, the special permit needed some minor revisions.
“Some curb cuts have changed, and a lot of that has been in concert with our discussions with MassDOT District 2, as well as with the city,” Levesque said.
He said one of MassDOT’s “big concerns” was traffic movement at Friendly’s Way and Westfield Industrial Park Road.
Because the traffic doesn’t move naturally through the intersection, Levesque said the site plan includes accommodations for the roundabout.
“We have truncated our site to accommodate if there is a roundabout [built] at this particular location,” he said.
Another change is the entrance to the convenience store.
In the original plans, there was no entrance or exit off Southampton Road (Route 202); one has since been added.
That was a source of confusion for some of the board members.
According to the site plan, the property will have an entrance and an exit on Westfield Industrial Park Road. There will be an entrance and an exit on Owen District Road, which is the road on the north side of the property that has the entrance to the Hampton Inn.
It will also have an entrance and exit on Friendly’s Way, but only for motorists using it to access Interstate 90. Those who turn right off Southampton Road
The orange line represents part of the proposed redesign of Exit 41 to alleviate commuter congestion and reduce vehicle emissions that might include a slip ramp to access eastbound Interstate 90. With the Pride convenience store and gas station project nearing its start, its site plan needed to be amended to allow for a roundabout where Friendly’s Way intersects with Westfield Industrial Park Road.
Reminder Publishing screenshot by Westfield GIS
onto Friendly’s Way will not be able to cross the oncoming traffic lane to gain access.
Levesque was hoping to have the changes to the special permit approved at the meeting because “time was ticking,” as an agreement was being negotiated between Robert Bolduc, who has a 100-year lease on the property, and Kayrouz Petroleum.
“Not to rush anybody, but [learning] that there is not a meeting for another month is concerning because that, I believe, will push into the due diligence period where they cannot get out of this project, and that would be a concern for them,” Levesque said, referring to Kay-
WESTFIELD
WPS superintendent earns high marks
Stefan Czaporowski was recognized as a studentcentered leader.
Page 3
SOUTHWICK
Turtle returns to wild following injury
A severely injured snapping turtle was found on a town road last October.
4
rouz Petroleum.
Board members also said they wanted the landscaping “beefed up,” especially because the intersection is a gateway to the city.
Levesque said the company would be happy to work out a plan once the negotiations between Bolduc and Kayrouz Petroleum were completed.
He told the board he had “a fear” as a city resident.
“I fear that if this [project] goes away because of the MassDOT vision for this area, it will be very hard or impossible for someone to develop this site in the next decade because of these roundabout plans,” Levesque said.
Western Mass. is lacking programs to help trafficking victims
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
Not every childhood is the same. From the age of 3 until she was 13 years old, Talia, who did not want her last name used for privacy reasons, was trafficked for sex in the Baltimore area. Her trafficker was the one person who was supposed to protect her — her mother. Talia’s mother was addicted to narcotics and would trade her daughter for drugs or the money to buy them.
“I remember smells, sounds. I remember a lot of it,” she said.
As Talia got older, she would spend as much time as possible at friends’ houses. Referring to her mother, she said, “She just kind of left me alone.”
She added, “No one stepped in and saved me or anything like that.” The trafficking eventually ended because her mother died from an overdose.
Talia did not tell anyone about her experience until she was in
her 20s. Even then, while she recognized that she was abused, she didn’t realize it was human trafficking.
“A lot of kids don’t think of themselves as being trafficked. It’s shameful. It’s embarrassing. It’s a really big stigma,” she said, adding that victims think, “Maybe you shouldn’t have been in that park or maybe you shouldn’t have been online.”
Talia is now the director of the RFK Community Alliance Human Trafficking Legacy Program in Pittsfield. She works with girls and boys whose experiences run the full spectrum of trafficking. “A lot of the kids I work with now, it’s somebody they know. In Hampden County, it’s more gang-related,” Talia said. The internet has increased the prevalence of trafficking, she said, and traffickers often reach out through gaming platforms.
“Take time to talk to your kids about internet safety,” Talia urged parents. “I want people to
not be embarrassed to say, ‘My kid’s talking to an 18-year-old on the internet.’”
RFK Community Alliance offers programs for at-risk youth in several locations from Boston to the Berkshires, but the Pittsfield location is the only site that specifically addresses the needs of formerly trafficked youth.
“In Western Mass., there’s not a ton of services. There are more in the more-populated places,” Talia said.
Margaret Tantillo is the executive director of the O’Dell Women’s Center in Springfield. The agency does not provide direct services, but funds grants and offers space to organizations that address women’s needs.
“We definitely abhor the sex trafficking of women and girls. We do try to connect them with resources,” Tantillo said. However, funding for those resources in Western Massachusetts has dwindled. “This is, unfortunately, more and more what we’re
seeing. We’ve talked about the cuts but now we’re seeing it firsthand.”
The YWCA of Western Massachusetts operated a program for people who had been trafficked but, but it was unable to continue due to funding. While operating, the program helped more than 50 women who had been trafficked for sex, labor or a combination of the two. Men are also trafficked, with 15% of trafficking victims identifying as men.
Some programs, such as those for domestic violence, may offer resources that overlap with those for trafficking. “Second chances and not victim blaming is huge,” Talia said. She added that one of the most important ways to help a child who is being trafficked is to “have one trusted adult. I know it sounds corny, but it helps.”
The following are some of the resources available to trafficked people in the Pioneer Valley: National Human Trafficking
Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733, Available 24/7, Humantraffickinghotline.org
• Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts: 413737-2601, info@jfswm.org or jfswm.org/trafficking-victims-assistance-program
• Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County: 24 Hour Hotline: 800-792-5200, 593 Elm St., Northampton, 413-570-5989, kmcelhone@ cachampshire.com, cachampshire.org
• Baystate Family Advocacy Center: 413-794-9816, 300 Carew St., Springfield, baystatehealth.org/fac
• Safe Passage: 413-586-1125, 75 Carlon Drive, Northampton, Safepass.org
• Salvation Army of Massachusetts: 413-733-1518, 170 Pearl St., Springfield, salvationarmyusa.org/usa-eastern-territory/massachusetts/ human-trafficking
Ready to wade into summer? Town Beach opens to the public
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — For any fami-
ly, couple, or person looking for a place to spend a day relaxing or hanging out, Town Beach just opened last week for the public’s enjoyment this summer.
“We have everything needed for a great day at the beach,” said Karen Shute, who has served as the beach manager for nearly two decades.
The beach, at 14 Beach Road, officially opened at the end of June and will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until late August — around the time school starts.
Shute said the beach, which is on South Pond, is the perfect place for parents to bring their children.
“The water is shallow and safe, and there is a lifeguard on duty at all times the beach is open,” she said. There is also a buoy line that defines the swimming area.
The beach was opened last Thursday after the water was tested by the Board of Health to ensure it was safe for swimming. Testing will continue weekly. If high levels of bacteria are detected, the beach will be closed until it clears, Shute said.
Folks can also fish at the beach, and while the Snack Shak doesn’t sell bait, it is available just around the corner at several businesses along Congamond Road.
The Snack Shak does offer grilled hamburgers, chicken nuggets and patties, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and the state’s unofficial sandwich, the
“fluffahnuttah”.
She said there are also candy bars, chips, drinks and ice cream, all at reasonable prices. For those who prefer to cook
themselves, there are several grills available for use — grillers should bring their own charcoal — and over a dozen picnic tables. Shute wanted to remind those
who are planning to use the beach this summer that there are indoor and outdoor showers and bath-
Southwick Town Beach is open to the public.
Reminder Publishing file photo
See TOWN BEACH on page 8
School Committee gives Westfield superintendent high marks
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — At the School Committee meeting on June 29, its last regular meeting until Aug. 24, vice chair Michael Tirrell gave a summary of the committee’s annual superintendent’s evaluation. He reported that overall, “Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski is recognized as an effective and student-centered leader who consistently demonstrates performance at a proficient to exemplary level.”
Tirrell said every year from May to early June, all of the School Committee members, except the mayor, who chairs the committee, complete a full evaluation of the superintendent based on goals and progress the district has made.
Mayor Michael McCabe has chosen not to participate in the annual evaluation during his tenure, arguing that he considers Czaporowski to be “the mayor of the school district.”
Tirrell said there is also a written portion of the evaluation where members can give ideas, thoughts, compliments and suggestions, from which he creates a summary, acknowledging that it is not always an easy task.
“As far as the process goes, it has changed a little bit through the years, but the general process is that each committee member does an independent evaluation, and then we combine the ratings to come up with an overall summative rating for each category and also an overall rating. We also evaluate each of the goals set forth at the beginning of the year and determine whether or not they have been met. Aspects of everyone’s notes are used to generate supporting comments for each rating category as well as the overall rating,” Tirrell explained after the meeting.
Reading from the summary at the meeting, Tirrell said Czaporowski has made meaningful progress in advancing key district priorities, including improving attendance, expanding early learning opportunities, and introducing innovative initiatives, such as the district’s focus on artificial intelligence.
“His leadership is characterized by a strong commitment to data, informed decision making, thoughtful management of financial and operational change challenges, and the ability to foster a transparent, collaborative culture that builds trust with staff, the School Committee and
the broader community,” Tirrell said, adding, “Across all performance standards, Stefan has established a solid foundation for continued success by maintaining stability, strengthening partnerships, and aligning district efforts around clear goals for student achievement.”
Tirrell said the evaluation identifies opportunities for continued growth by further translating strategic planning into measurable student outcomes, enhancing alignment between resources and priorities, and expanding inclusive engagement efforts.
“With this forward-thinking approach, strong communication and focus on continuous improvement, Stefan is well-positioned to sustain and build upon the district’s positive trajectory,” Tirrell said in conclusion.
Bo Sullivan, chair of Finance for the School Committee, thanked Tirrell for putting together the evaluations, summarizing them succinctly and staying on top of members to make sure it got done.
“I think we’re lucky to have you, I really do,” Sullivan said to Czaporowski. “After all these years that you’ve had the job, and the potential for growth is always there in every job, I think everybody would agree with that.”
Sullivan also commented on the exemplary staff that Czaporowski has assembled and the leadership roles they have taken in the city, which he added is also a reflection of the superintendent.
School Committee member Kathleen Hillman thanked Czaporowski for his work. “I just want to say to Stefan, I’m so proud of you, how you lead our district. You are a rules person, and you try to do everything that is appropriate statewide, and you encourage us to be better people here, too,” she said.
“All of our staff, I think, loves your leadership. Thank you so much for all you do,” Hillman added.
Newly-elected School Committee member Jeffrey Gosselin, who had previously served on the committee before starting again in January, also commented. “When I first came back on the School Committee, I had come to your office, and you welcomed me in, and said your door is always open for communications,” Gosselin said. He said he appreciated the superintendent’s newsletters and updates, which he found to be very helpful.
With no other comments from members Kick Sullivan and Jeffrey Gunther, the latter of whom was absent, McCabe weighed in.
“So, as for me, most of you know that I work with Stefan pretty much daily. Every day we’re talking with one another, and for the last four and a half years, it’s been my pleasure to work with you. I find that your ability to understand and comprehend complex problems is really second to none,” McCabe said, thanking him for his service.
“As a school district, we continue to face yearly budget pressures— from unfunded mandates and aging facilities to rising costs
—which require careful prioritization and creativity to protect and prioritize student learning. Stefan and the administrative team continue to provide steady leadership in navigating these challenges effectively,” Tirrell said after the meeting.
Czaporowski first joined Westfield Public Schools in November 2008 as the district social studies supervisor. He became the assistant principal at Westfield Vocational Technical High School in July 2009 and then the principal of Westfield Technical Academy in July 2012. In March 2016, he was named superintendent of schools. As superintendent, Czaporowski is
responsible for the leadership, administration, and management of approximately 4,750 students, nine schools, 867 employees and a $78 million budget.
“I am grateful to the School Committee for their confidence and support. It has been an incredible honor to serve the students, staff, families, and community of Westfield for the past 10 years. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I remain committed to building on that success as we continue providing outstanding opportunities for every student,” Czaporowski said after the meeting.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski addresses the class of 2026.
Reminder Publishing photo by Marc St. Onge
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh, Lorie Perry, Sophia McClellan, Susan Bartlett, Jim Johnson-Corwin, Molly Arnio
Sales Manager: Scott Greene
Account Executives: Matt Mahaney, Paula Dimauro, Lisa Nolan, Jeanette Grenier, Paul Poutre, Andy Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
Sales Support: Carolyn Napolitan
Financial Department: Nancy Banning
Circulation Department: Nate Halla, Holly Mulligan, Whitney Conlon
Turtle returns to wild after recovering from injury
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — It was only by fate or luck that a severely injured snapping turtle was found on a town road by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator last October.
“Danielle [Sullivan], a fellow licensed rehabilitator, found it on the road on its back,” said Melissa Stevens, a fellow licensed rehabilitator whose specialty is helping turtles recover, usually after they have been struck by a vehicle.
The snapping turtle, eventually named Freedom, was huge, weighing in at 24 pounds, said Stevens, who rehabilitates turtles under the name My Little Turtle Rescue.
The turtle had a fractured jaw, which is not unusual for large snapping turtles struck by vehicles.
Stevens explained that when
most drivers see a turtle — if they are paying attention — they will straddle it as they drive over it to avoid hitting it.
“That is a surefire way to wack the face of a turtle, especially a snapping turtle,” she said.
Stevens explained that when a vehicle starts to drive over a snapping turtle, the turtle will stand as tall as possible and throw its head up, often high enough to strike the undercarriage of the vehicle, which is what happened to Freedom.
Occasionally, when it happens, the turtle will be dragged along the road, increasing the severity of its injuries and the chance that it will die, she said.
Stevens was called by Sullivan, a Southwick resident who specializes in rehabilitating opossums and operates the nonprofit Country Critters Re-
Company looks to build College Hwy solar field
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — Town officials recently met with representatives of an energy company that has plans to build a solar field on property that fronts College Highway and Nicholson Hill Road.
“We had a pre-planning meeting with the company that included the Fire Department, Board of Health, Building Department and DPW,” said Town Planner Alvin Allen this week.
The company that met with the town officials is Agilitas Energy, which is a Wakefield-based company that bills itself as a “leading independent power producer with a mission to accelerate the energy transition” that develops, finances, builds, owns, and operates utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems and hydropower nationally, according to its website.
Allen said that during the meeting, the company showed the officials preliminary drawings featuring the size of the field. They asked that those drawings be kept confidential because the plans had not yet been finalized.
He said the company could apply for the special permit needed to start construction in as little as six months or as long as two years, and that this would largely depend on when the state’s Department of Public Utilities signs off on the proposal.
Allen also said the company had submitted plans to Eversource, which has a substation at 105 College Hwy.
At the Planning Board’s June 16 meeting, Allen announced that a company had contacted him about its plans to build a solar field along Nicholson Hill Road and College Highway.
While he did not name the
company, a search of the town’s geographic information system in that area identified three properties that Agilitas Energy purchased over the past 14 months.
Turtle rehabilitator Melissa Stevens and Danielle Suvillian, who is a wildlife rehabilitator in Southwick, are with the snappy turtle Freedom moments before she is released back into the wild. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
These are the three properties that Agilitas Energy has purchased over the last 14 months on College Highway and Nicholson Hill Road. The company has approached the town about building a solar field on those properties.
Reminder Publishing screenshot from Google Earth
See SOLAR on page 8
Top row, from left: Luna, an English Cream Golden Retriever, enjoys the night out with owner Tom Condon.The Ingram Family of Russell gets ready to enjoy the fireworks at Blandford’s Happy Birthday America 250 Celebration on June 26 on the grounds of the Blandford Fair. Roger Hubbard buys a Blandford T-shirt from Linda Barnard of the Blandford Historical Society. Bottom row, from left: Several hundred people at the Blandford Fair midway during the Happy Birthday America 250 Celebration on June 26. Sophia Barnes with grandmom Christian at Blandford’s Happy Birthday America 250th celebration. Leo and Corinne Shartrand tour the Blandford fairgrounds.
by Marc
In American Legion baseball, Westfield Post 124 beat Aldenville Post 337, 14-0, on Dulchinos Field in Chicopee’s Rivers Park on June 26.
REMINDER
Audrey Amaral (4) gets a piece of an Aldenville pitch.
Starting pitcher Keith Drzyzga on the mound for Westfield Post 124.
Keith Drzyzga (37) tries to beat the throw to first base.
Brandon Barnes (17) flies in for a Westfield run.
Brandon Barnes (17) gloves a fly ball.
Jakob Elmer (16) makes a safe slide into second base.
Noah Amaral (38) scores a run for Westfield.
Jakob Elmer (16) gets a hit.
Joe Breguet (34) taps out a bunt.
Jacob Maynard (41) tries to beat the throw to first.
Brandon Barnes (17) beats the throw to first base.
Noah Amaral (38) goes airborne to avoid the tag at home plate.
Continued from page 4
habilitation.
Once Freedom arrived at Stevens’ home in Williamsburg, she made several attempts to secure her jaw to allow it to heal.
Nothing worked, so she took Freedom to a veterinarian who could lightly sedate her while her broken jaw was wired shut.
It took her jaw nearly seven months to heal, after which Stevens and Sullivan decided to meet and release Freedom back into the wild.
They released her at one of the ponds along the edge of The Ranch Golf Club.
“We were thinking she’d slip into the water, but it was really
anticlimactic. She just buried herself in the muck, which is common,” Stevens said.
Because Freedom had been spending so much time at Stevens’ home, Stevens was asked whether she had formed a bond with Freedom like one would with a pet.
“They are wild animals who will be returned to the wild. I spend as little time as possible with them,” she said.
She also offered tips to drivers who spot a turtle in the road.
Don’t drive over them; drive around them.
She said that if a driver wants to move a turtle off the road, the best way is to cover the turtle’s head with a T-shirt or towel — or “the shirt off your back” — and lift it onto the shoulder of the
Allen confirmed Agilitas Energy was the company involved.
The properties are zoned residential.
On April 25, 2025, Agilitas Energy purchased a 2.7-acre parcel of land at 85 College Hwy. for $150,000.
On May 6, 2025, Agilitas Energy purchased an 18.8-acre parcel of land at 22 Nicholson Hill Road for $250,000, and on the same day, it purchased 3.89 acres of land at 99 College Hwy. for $40,000.
Allen said state guidelines allow solar fields with small battery energy storage systems, also known as BESS, to be sited in areas zoned residential.
Those systems are excluded from construction in areas zoned agriculture/conservation.
In January 2026, Town Meeting approved a moratorium on the construction of new solar fields or the installation of BESS
road in the direction the turtle was heading.
She said a driver could also use a floor mat to cover the turtle’s head and another mat to scoot the turtle onto, then gently pull it to the side of the road.
However, people should avoid one thing when moving a turtle.
“Do not grab it by its tail. It is a part of the spine, and pulling on it risks breaking it,” Stevens said.
If a driver spots a turtle on its back, she said that the driver should make sure the turtle returns to its proper position.
When a turtle is on its back, it compresses its lungs, which can cause dangerous temperature fluctuations and leaves them vulnerable to predators.
She also wanted to get the
through May 2027.
As with all articles adopted during town meetings throughout the commonwealth, town-approved bylaws and charter amendments must be reviewed by the attorney general’s office to ensure they comply with state laws and the constitution.
The AG’s office found that the town’s moratorium bylaw lacked “articulated public health, safety, or welfare justification sufficient to justify the moratorium [even for a short amount of time],” according to the ruling — a finding Planning Board Chair Jessica
Town Beach
Continued from page 2
rooms available.
With so many years spent at the beach, Shute recalled when rowboats would be rented and when waterskiers would fly off a ski ramp anchored in the pond.
“The water skiers would come across here stacked in a pyramid,” she said, pointing at the pond.
She has also watched many
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
Paul A. McDonough
Joanne Marie Simone
FEEDING HILLS
David Richard DeLancey
Robert R. Madison SOUTHWICK
Judith A. “Judy” Olbris WEST SPRINGFIELD Sylvia DeMaio
WESTFIELD
Steven G. Kamyk
Penilee H. Lam
message out about the service wildlife rehabilitators provide.
“A lot of people don’t know wildlife rehabilitators exist,” she said.
If someone encounters an injured animal, they shouldn’t assume they cannot do anything.
“There is a whole network out there of people who do this. And we’re all volunteers,” she said.
Spring and fall are the busiest times of year for all wildlife. She said they are just like people who crave the sun after a long, dark winter.
“Remember, we’re not the only species on this planet,” she said.
Nearly all wildlife rehabilitators are helped by individual donations, and Sullivan and Stevens are no different.
Thornton said at the time was not unexpected.
“While disappointing, it was not unexpected,” she said, considering that a similar moratorium adopted by Town Meeting in Blandford was also disapproved.
She said if an application for a renewable energy system was made, the Planning Board would use the town’s current bylaw when making decisions about issuing a special permit. The board’s focus would be to try to keep them from being visible from roadways, especially at the southern end of town.
young children who visited the beach grow up and now have their own families.
“It was fun to see them each summer as they grew up,” Shute said.
The area where the beach is located was once the site of a restaurant and dance hall.
“In the summer, it would be packed,” Shute said.
She also acknowledged the beach isn’t as busy as it once was.
“It was COVID. Before it, we were packed, but since, it’s just not as busy,” she said.
Shute is hopeful residents will come back.
Southwick residents with valid
Donations to Sullivan can be made at www.paypal.me/danielles7975 or on Venmo @Danielle-Sullivan-108.
Last year, Stevens, with considerable financial help from donors, installed a dedicated water source at her home.
“It was a game-changer. Now I’m hoping to complete the next step: installing a utility sink right where all the work happens,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Stevens has set up a gofundme site to raise the $2,500 needed for the sink.
“If you’re able to contribute, no matter the amount, you’ll be helping create a cleaner, safer, and more efficient rehabilitation space for the turtles that depend on us,” Stevens said.
The location of the solar field is directly across the street from the Southwick Historical Society’s Moore House and the 10.7 acres that the Southwick Historical Society purchased last year to prevent it from being developed for industrial or commercial use. The proposed location is 0.8 miles from the Connecticut state line, 0.77 miles from a solar field west of Goose Pond and 1.5 miles from the solar field on the southern side of Congamond Road. An email and a message left with Agilitas Energy were not returned by press time.
proof of residency can enjoy the beach for $3 per person per day. Non-residents can visit for $6 per person. For seniors 62 or older and active military members, it’s $2. Children under 2 visit for free. Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Pets, alcohol and smoking are not allowed on the beach. In case of inclement weather or predicted thunderstorms, or if there are no beachgoers by around 4:30 p.m., the beach may close early. For more information or to learn whether the beach is closed because of inclement weather, call 413-569-1213.
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Panel discussion to follow autobiographical play about clergy abuse
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — This July, Easthampton resident Jay Sefton will stage a production of his one-person show “Unreconciled” at the Academy of Music in Northampton.
The play, about the sexual abuse Sefton experienced as a child at the hands of a priest, will be followed by a panel discussion with renowned author, researcher and educator in the field of trauma treatment, Bessel van der Kolk.
“It was really born out of political things that happened in 2021,” Sefton explained. Several times before then, the state legislature in Pennsylvania — where Sefton is from — had considered a constitutional amendment creating a two-year lookback window in the statute of limitations for adults who had experienced child sexual abuse. Sefton said that in 2021, the amendment was as close as it had ever been to being passed.
“I really thought it was going to happen this time,” Sefton said. “When it didn’t, I didn’t know what else to do. I was filled with rage.”
Sefton started writing about his experiences. It began almost as a thought experiment, akin to one writing a letter they never mean to send to someone who wronged them.
“I was in that mindset, ‘I don’t have to perform it.,” he
NORTHAMPTON — Bombyx will once again host the threeday-long Etchings Festival. Now in its 17th summer, The Etchings Festival showcases cutting edge contemporary music across a wide variety of genres. Join the center for concerts on July 1012, featuring guest composers and virtuosic performances. On July 10 and 11, the center will be nestled under the pines at Look Park’s Sanctuary at Willow Lake. On July 12, they’ll be back in the Bombyx Sanctuary.
The festival opens with an evening of new music and genre-defying collaboration featuring Ecce Ensemble and the boundary-pushing artistry of Amaury Acosta’s King Klavé Trio. At the center of the evening will be Acosta’s Pepe Suite, a large-scale work blending modern jazz ensemble writing, electronic sound, Afro-Cuban musical traditions and the rhythmic influence of Chicago footwork culture. Drawing inspiration from artists including Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Maria Schneider, Gerald Clayton, DJ Rashad, DJ Manny and Traxman, the work creates an immersive sonic landscape that is both deeply rooted and strikingly futuristic.
Day two features Surface of Sphere, a Boston-based jazz sextet led by pianist Pandelis Karayorgis. SoS brings together a multigenerational lineup of longtime
said, explaining he told himself, “There’s a chance nothing will happen with this.”
When the opportunity arose to workshop the play at the Chester Theatre Company, Sefton said he experienced hesitation. It would not be the last time. At each level of the play’s production — when it was first staged, when he performed it at a bar down the street from where the abuse happened in Philadelphia — he encountered another moment of hesitation.
“It’s rather hard to get people to come see a one-person show about clergy abuse, surprisingly,” Sefton said with a chuckle. “I thought no one would want to see it.” But he pushed forward. Unexpectedly, he said, “It started to not become mine.” At the discussion he holds after each performance, people began voicing their own experiences of abuse, some for the first time.
After a production he staged on Cape Cod, a psychologist who was friends with van der Kolk approached him. Van der Kolk is the author of the 2014 book, “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma,” a popular book about how trauma reshapes the body and brain. The author lives in the Berkshires and after meeting with Sefton, agreed to join him for the discussion panel after the July 25 show.
Sefton said he no longer feels hesitant about the play. “What was born in rage has become a
collaborators: improvisers Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet, Noah Campbell on tenor sax, Bill Lowe on trombone, Nate McBride on bass and Luther Gray on drums. Both nights will showcase the work of Etchings Fellows, emerging composers participating in a weeklong series of masterclasses, rehearsals and workshops to hone their craft. Ecce Ensemble closes the festival with Sonic Translations, an afternoon performance featuring some of classical concert music’s new voices. In a program that explores how contemporary music translates and connects cultural experience, Ecce will spotlight works by David Sanford, Kate Soper, Julia Werntz, Michael Djupstrom and Stratis Minakakis, culminating in a performance of Gerard Grisey’s 20th Century masterpiece Talea.
In addition to the three concerts, visitors to Look Park are invited to explore a SOUND WALK. At eight sites throughout the park, visitors can listen to a new work by one of the Etchings Fellows as well as an original composition by Amaury Acosta. Think of it as a musical treasure hunt. In each location, visitors will find information about the composer and their piece as well as a QR code to scan to listen to the work. Maps will be available at the entrance gate. This information will also be available on both Bombyx and Etchings’ websites.
joy,” he said. “I enjoy performing it ... The play doesn’t feel like I’m screaming into the void anymore. It feels more profound than any
thing else I’ve done on stage.”
Reflecting on what he wants people to take away from “Un
reconciled,” Sefton said he wants them to have a full theatrical experience, filled with a wide array of emotions. “I would like survivors to feel heard and seen, if that’s possible,” he said. Sefton also wants people to be moved to urge their legislators to support legal mechanisms that provide an opportunity for adult survivors of child sex abuse to have their day in court.
In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, bill H.1829 would eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases. Current law provides a limit of 35 years to bring a civil suit for child sexual abuse “or within 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was cause.” Sefton said that in the case of clergy abuse, the Catholic church lobbies legislators to protect their institutions.
Sefton said, “It’s not good for survivors. It’s not good for communities.”
Having performed the play at venues around Western Massachusetts, Sefton said the Academy of Music show will likely be the last time the play will run in
Works will be installed in time for the July 4 holiday and remain in place until early September. For this series, Bombyx is teaming up with ReVision Energy to power this summer’s concerts at Look Park entirely with solar energy. For each show, ReVision will bring their all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, fully charged with solar power, to run the concert’s lighting and sound — quietly, cleanly and emissions-free. You’ll also spot their solar-powered LED lights drifting on the pond during the concert. ReVision Energy said they are proud to support this unique blend of music, community and climate action. They are a Certified B Corp and 100% employee-owned.
Pastor Marisa Egerstrom from Florence Congregational Church is creating responsive LED flora — called a “Glorb Organ” — that will be part of the set design, lighting up Look Park with a larger than life visual installation.
the area. Sefton said he is going to perform in England and Ireland in the fall. After that, the play will run off Broadway.
Westfield
Jay Sefton presents his one-person play, “Unreconciled,” at the Academy of Music on July 25.
Photo credit: Google Meet
Bernardo Ortiz Rodriguez and Nereida Alvarado
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