Oliveira hosts workforce summit with statewide leaders
Western Massachusetts leaders in education and economic development met with Massachusetts Secretary for Labor and Workforce Development
Lauren Jones for a summit on Jan. 13.
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Springfield receives $5.33 million in grants for variety of programs
The Springfield City Council accepted several grants, totaling $5.33 million, at its Jan. 12 meeting. Among them, there were funds to pay for Brownfields mitigation, sidewalks and gang violence reduction programs.
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Community prays at multi-faith vigil for people targeted by ICE
On Jan. 13, Pioneer Valley Project hosted a multi-faith vigil for people targeted by ICE at South Congregational Church.
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Neal addresses health care tax credits, ICE shooting
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — After months of back-and-forth, a federal government shutdown and the U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-196 to resurrect the expired Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years.
The tax credits were created as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, subsidizing the cost of health care bought on health care marketplaces. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Congress passed in July 2025, the tax credits were not renewed, and beginning in January this year, many Americans saw their premiums skyrocket. Since the fall, when Congress was negotiating the federal budget, Democrats have worked to force a vote extending the credits, allowing the House and Senate time to craft new legislation. The federal shutdown that happened in October 2025 and ended nearly two months later hinged on whether the Republicans in control of the House would allow a vote to extend the tax credits.
While House Speaker Mike Johnson would not agree to bring a House vote on the issue, House Democrats, with the help of four Republicans, passed a discharge petition, which allows a simple majority of the house to force a vote. On Jan. 8, 17 Republicans joined all House Democrats in the approving the extension of the subsidies. However, the issue is far from settled.
“There’s a great sense of ur-
gency,” said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, speaking from the Federal Courthouse in Springfield on Jan. 9. He said the issue will now go to the Senate, where Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune will decide whether to allow the vote to come to the floor. The Senate was unsuccessful in extending the tax credits in December 2025, with a vote of 5148. Now, however, Neal thinks the math has changed.
“We think they should take this measure up,” Neal said. “There could be effort between the two chambers.” He added that he believes the tax credits would pass in the Senate. Even if it does, however, the matter would be sent to President Donald Trump’s desk, where it could face a veto. It is unlikely that the required two-thirds of both the House and Senate would vote to override the veto.
Neal also addressed the shooting of a Minnesota woman by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. ICE has alleged that the woman, Renee Nicole Good, tried to intentionally hit agents with her vehicle. However, bystander video shows that when one ICE agent attempted to open her driver’s side door and reached into the vehicle, Good turned her wheels away from the agent in front of the vehicle and tried to flee.
“She was not a domestic terrorist. She was a mother of three,” Neal said, chastising Vice President JD Vance for his description of the incident. Of the
Reminder Publishing file photo
deadly interaction, he said, “It was inevitable because of the escalation” of tactics by ICE. “The tactics that are being used are, again, over the top.”
While Trump originally stated that ICE agents were being deployed to arrest “the worst of the worst,” Neal said people who are in the country legally are being apprehended after voluntarily going to courthouses for routine paperwork review.
To prevent such incidents in the future, Neal said, “There
needs to be some restraint on the part of ICE. There’s also been some lag in training,” amidst efforts to increase ICE’s ranks. He said the training is necessary as “crowd control” is not among ICE’s responsibilities.
Asked if Congress will take action to prevent more deaths during ICE’s interaction with the public, Neal said, “Congress is going to react to opinion, and opinion right now is pretty clear” that ICE’s actions are “over the top.”
SPRINGFIELD
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal speaks at a press conference in November 2025.
So That Reminds Me: Sacerdote talks Railroad Hobby Show
By Ryan Feyre rfeyre@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The largest railroad-themed trade show in North America will once again stop people in their tracks this winter.
On this week’s episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet sat down with John Sacerdote, show manager for the Railroad Hobby Show, to discuss what’s in store for the event, which is slated for Jan. 24 and 25 inside the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds.
Sponsored by the Amherst Railway Society, the show covers all facets of railroad hobbies, including model railroads, railroad art and photography, railroad history and preservation, tourist railroads, railroad artifacts and railroad books and videos.
The event occupies 350,000 square feet in four buildings on the Big E fairgrounds, and this year’s show will feature visitors from all over the world and 396 exhibitors encompassing trains of all shapes and sizes.
But according to Sacerdote, the show is more than just a “flea market.”
“Every major manufacturer on the planet is at the show; every dealer that has large hobby stores, distribution centers; they’re all at the show,” Sacerdote said. “But more impor-
tantly, all these historical societies are at the show. All these museums are at the show. All these places where you can still ride trains in the Catskills, up in Maine, all over the United States, down in Rhode Island, are at the show. So, if it’s got something to do with railroads, they’re at the show.”
Although the hobby show already has a rich history, Sacerdote noted that the Railway Society is always trying to outdo itself every year. He highlighted the Sunday morning Brunch Express, which is essentially an Amherst chartered CTrail train ride that leaves from Springfield Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrives at Hartford Union Station shortly after. It is at the Hartford station where passengers will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the station’s Great Hall.
This year’s show will also feature a Women in Model Railroading information session and reception on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m., where people will have the opportunity to meet the women that play key roles in the railroad and model railroad industries.
Attached to that will be an operating session from 6-8 p.m. where women of all ages will learn more about model railroad operations.
Sacerdote also mentioned that there will be multiple activities for children and stated that the
society is hoping to surpass last year’s turnout of 27,535 people.
“I’m really trying for 30,000,” Sacerdote said, adding that weather usually dictates the overall turnout. “When we have great weather, we have great crowds.”
Aside from showcasing some of the major facets of the show, Sacerdote also highlighted the
decades-long journey that has defined the railroad show from its humble beginnings at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the mid-1950s to the extravagant celebration it has become today. Tickets are now available for the show on its website. It is $18 for adults and free for ages 15 and under. Events throughout the two days are held at the Big E’s Better Living Center, Young and Stroh Buildings and the Mallary Complex. Readers can listen to the full episode by visiting thereminder. com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
Springfield Garden Club to host gardening series
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Garden Club will host a series of four programs for anyone interested gardens and gardening or just escaping the winter for an hour.
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. will kick off the series with Jana Milbocker presenting “The Garden Tourist’s New England”. New England has a rich gar-
dening heritage and Milbocker will present a travelogue to inspire us all as we spend the winter months dreaming about summer. Author of “The Garden Tourist’s New England,” and a garden designer, she will take you on a fantastic tour of gardens and nurseries in New England and will provide all the information you need to make the most
of your visit. From the breathtaking flower gardens of Mount Desert Island in Maine, to Colonial Revival gardens in Connecticut and New Hampshire, topiary gardens in Rhode Island and botanical gardens in Vermont and Massachusetts, there is something for every gardener to enjoy in a tour of the region.
Milbocker is the principal of
Enchanted Gardens, a lecturer and author. She combines horticulture, design, and travel tips to educate, inspire and delight both new and seasoned gardeners. Milbocker loves to visit gardens and historic sites in the U.S. and abroad, and share her trips through her books, photos and blog. She has written four garden travel guides: “The Garden Tourist: 120 Destination Gardens and Nurseries in the Northeast”, “The Garden Tourist’s New England”, “The Garden Tourist’s Florida” and “The Garden Tourist’s Mid-Atlantic”. She also organizes and hosts group garden tours in the US and abroad. Milbocker will have her book for sale at the program.
The program will be co-hosted with the Springfield Museums and will be held in the auditorium at the D’Amour Museum, 21
Edwards St. Admission is free to Springfield Garden Club and and Springfield Museum members and $10 for the public. Tickets are available via Eventbrite. The remaining three programs will be held at The Monkey House in Forest Park at 10 a.m. Admission is free to all with paid park admission. More information can be found on the club’s website springfieldgardenclubma.org or on Facebook.
• Saturday, Feb. 28 — 10 a.m. “The Most Beneficial Late Winter Garden Chores” presented by Melissa Pace. Saturday, March 28 — 10 a.m. “Vegetable Gardening 101” presented by Gretel Anspach. • Saturday, April 11 — 10 a.m. “Planning and Growing a Bountiful Flower Garden” presented by Becky Sadlowski.
NORTH ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEAN’S LIST
HAVERHILL — Karina Perez of Springfield was named to the dean’s list for fall of 2025 at Northern Essex Community College. To be included, students must attain a grade point average of 3.3 or higher within the term, carry six or more credits within the term, and be matriculated in a degree program.
ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
WORCESTER — Assumption University has announced those who have been named to the University’s Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 for a five-class, 15-credit semester to be included on this prestigious list, which is announced at the completion of the fall and spring semesters. The following Springfield students were named to the list: Cathal Carney, Keira O’Sullivan of Springfield, Norah Santos and Aaron Foy.
LASELL UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
NEWTON — The Fall 2025 Dean’s List includes students who have completed at least 12 credits as a full-time student in that semester and have achieved a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. The following Springfield students were named to the list: Kasandra Gonzalez of Springfield, Keyllee Iraheta and Julio Vasquez.
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Southern New Hampshire University has announced its fall 2025 dean’s list. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer. The following local students have been named to the list: Lakesha Jordan of Indian Orchard, Alejandro Stephens, Halle Watt, Katie Shea, Vanessa Rivera and Marisa Nieto of Springfield.
Railroad Hobby Show show manager John Sacerdote (left) joined hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet for the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me.”
Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
Oliveira hosts workforce summit with statewide leaders
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Western Massachusetts leaders in education and economic development met with Massachusetts Secretary for Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones for a summit on how to grow the region’s workforce to meet the needs of today and the future.
The meeting, hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and led by state Sen. Jake Oliveira, identified the need for a robust bridge between education and the workplace, in the form of educational pathways, internships and registered apprenticeships.
Jones said the roundtable was an opportunity for “candid conversations on how we can advance labor force participation, grow our workforce in this region by tapping into the great talent that studies in our higher ed institutions right here.”
Speaking about the higher education partners at the summit, Oliveira said, “They’re the folks that are training the next generation of workers here in Western Massachusetts, and I wanted to make sure that our higher ed institutions, our workforce development leaders know that they have a partner in the state government — the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Executive Office of Education and the Skills Cabinet.”
The Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet coordinates the work done in the state offices of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, and Housing and Economic Development to create a cohesive agenda.
Bay Path University President Sandra Doran said, “We need to think about our students. That is our only focus, making sure our students are successful. We know that a good internship leads to a better job and career. Students who have internships frequently start at more of a mid-level position than a junior position, at a higher salary, and I don’t think that’s completely understood. Where you start in the marketplace, the workforce, has a direct relationship to where you’re going to end up.”
Oliveira pointed out, “A lot of their students can’t afford to take the time, that might be working full-time jobs already, to do unpaid internships. To find ways that we can get more paid internships here to students in Western Massachusetts with Western Massachusetts employers, I think is another very important piece.”
Jones said registered apprenticeships, which combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom education, are a “proven model” that has long been used in trades and is becoming more common in other fields. In December 2025, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $1.8 million in grants for registered apprenticeship opportunities in the field of early childhood education. The funding went to eight organizations to train and place more than 300 apprentices.
Holyoke Community College Vice President of Business and Community Services Jeff Hayden said, “HCC has a fairly strong infrastructure in relation to the current employment market, much of it at the entry level.” However, he said some entry level positions do not offer a family-sustaining
wage. “What we need to do is to build pathways so that people can not only get a job but get into a career where they can advance. How do we get them more education and more employment for them to get that sustaining wage.”
One example of such a pathway would be to become a licensed practical nurse. He said the program would be designed for people who work in health care fields but not providing direct medical care. The pathway would allow them to further their education and work in the field with the goal of becoming an LPN.
Among the challenges that the summit explored was connecting people with what Oliveira called “the changing economy,” and ensures the workforce continues to meet the future employment demand in various sectors, including quantum computing and food science. He said the colleges and universities in Western Massachusetts are positioned to meet those needs.
Jones said that her office takes “a sector-based strategy” and looks to prepare people entering the workforce for the fields where there are opportunities, such as health care, education and advanced manufacturing in Western Massachusetts. She described it as “building a bridge.”
Jones said it was important in designing a strong network of pathways to “understand what the gaps are in our skills for our current talent as well as our future talent. Linking that to sector strategies and making sure that we are closing that immediate gap that we know employers are looking for today, but also leveraging our workforce infrastructure, our education ecosystem, that we’re
preparing our future students for opportunities that we know will also be here down the road.”
Doran said the three principal areas of study at Bay Path University are health care, education and entrepreneurial management. “Our programs are intentionally aligned with needs of this community,” she said, “That’s our mission, for our students and for the region. We are ready to go. We’ve always been career focused, for 125 years. We’ve got the infrastructure, the programming, we’ve got the personnel. We just need more internships.”
Funding will be critical to creating those internships, Doran said, adding, “We’re looking to some of our closest friends and donors. We’re looking for grants. We know that the federal government may not be a partner in this.”
Likewise, Oliveira said funding will be key to making pathways work. “Funding is always a challenge, especially when the federal government is pulling away from a lot of grant programs that go to help institutions of higher education, nonprofits and the workforce side,” Oliveira said. While the state cannot fill that funding gap, he said, “What we can do is identify proven programs that have worked in the past and build off of that.” He cited Westfield State University’s internship incentive program, which provides funding that is matched by the university to provide paid internships as one such proven program.
When it comes to funding, Jones said, “I think it’s an opportunity to understand, what do we want to do, how can we do it and how can we be more efficient with the tools that we do have?”
Gonzalez wants to support microbusinesses, fears cuts
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Legislature often deals with big-picture challenges, but state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez is thinking small for 2026.
“For the past 10 years, I’ve been trying to codify into law the term ‘microbusiness,’ separately from small business,” said Gonzalez, who represents the state House of Representatives 10th Hampden District, which includes the neighborhoods of Brightwood, Memorial Square, Metro Center, the South End and parts of Forest Park and Six Corners.
He explained that to be categorized as a microbusiness under the legislation he filed, an entity would have less than $250,000 in annual net profit and fewer than 10 employees. Sixty-eight percent of businesses in Massachusetts fit this definition, he said. “It’s the fabric of inner cities, like Springfield,” he said.
Gonzalez’s bill H. 3108 would create a tax incentive program to encourage microbusinesses to “hire formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals receiving transitional benefits.”
“We provide tax incentives for small and large-scale businesses, why not microbusinesses?” Gonzalez asked.
A related bill, H. 3111, would establish a fund through which qualifying microbusiness owners would be eligible to loan-to-grant program. If the funds are used for the creation of a business plan,
professional development, technology, workforce development, procurement and contracting aid or market research, the loans would be converted to grants and would not need to be paid back.
When a microbusiness opens, Gonzalez said 88% of its employees come from the community where it is located. Further, when microbusiness owners purchase a home, more than 70% buy property in the same municipality as their business. “That’s a huge ROI,” Gonzalez said about the return on investment associated with supporting microbusinesses.
While Gonzalez is passionate about helping microbusinesses, he acknowledged that federal funding cuts may put those goals on the back burner.
“I think the challenges of the budget will supersede any personal priorities of the legislators,” Gonzalez said. He said the number one priority will be to defend and safeguard the Chapter 70 school funding aid, Chapter 90 road aid and funding for public safety.
In the latest state budget, he said Springfield received $545 million in Chapter 70 aid. This covered roughly 80% of the School Department budget, he said. When asked if the Chapter 70 funding formula was working, Gonzalez said it has improved since instituting the Student Opportunity Act, which prioritizes districts with large populations of low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Springfield got $47 million in unrestricted Chapter 90 funding. Gonzalez said federal cuts to transportation services under President Donald Trump will
hurt municipalities in the fiscal year 2027, as will cuts to clean energy programs and healthcare.
“It’s an ongoing slaught of ever-changing programs,” Gonzalez said of the funding cuts.
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez represents the House of Representatives 10th Hampden District, which includes the neighborhoods of Brightwood, Memorial Square, Metro Center, the South End and parts of Forest Park and Six Corners.
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council accepted several grants, totaling $5.33 million, at its Jan. 12 meeting. Among them, there were funds to pay for Brownfields mitigation, sidewalks and gang violence reduction programs.
Two grants from the state One Stop for Growth program were received to address contamination at 140 Wilbraham Ave., a Brownfields site. Deputy Development Officer Brian Connors explained that $100,000 would cover the cost
of environmental testing at the property, while the $300,000 grant would be used for site engineering so the property can be redeveloped.
A $3 million MassWorks Grant will pay for public way improvements, including sidewalks and tree plantings in the areas surrounding the 364-space parking garage at Willow and Cross streets. Sidewalks will also be installed on Roosevelt Avenue between Alden Street and Wilbraham Road, using a $269,749 Complete Streets grant. The project is designed to better facilitate children walking
to area schools. Work is expected to take place this summer. Springfield Police Lt. Brian Elliott presented the council with information about how the department plans to use the $860,688 Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant it received. The Shannon Community Safety Initiative is a comprehensive program to address gang and youth violence through social intervention, suppression and community mobilization, while also providing opportunities for young people. The city is responsible for a $215,172 match.
Elliott said 69% of the funding will be distributed to community-based organizations with missions that align with the Shannon program’s goals. The remaining funding will be used for “suppression and prevention.” Councilor Justin Hurst asked which organizations would benefit from the funds. The list had not yet been finalized, Elliott said, but some are “legacy partners” that the city has worked with in the past. Elliott said that the department was unable to fund as many programs as it has previously because its Shannon allocation
was reduced by 31% from last year. Hurst inquired whether the funding reduction was part of blanket cuts to the program. Elliott was only able to say that it was the first year Springfield received less than $1 million for the initiative, and that some other cities saw allocations above that threshold. Councilor Zaida Govan asked to see data on the efficacy of the community partners’ programming.
The council also accepted grants for state library aid and funding for the SHINE program administered by the Department of Elder Services.
Puppolo aims for affordable health care, budget work in 2026
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
State Rep. Angelo Puppolo has his eye set on bringing more affordability and accessibility to health care across the board in 2026.
Puppolo worked towards health care reform in 2025, introducing bills to assist the copay costs of prescription medicine, dental insurance coverage and clarifying the delivery of health care and dentistry, but he said he wants to keep the momentum going.
“I’m getting more calls than I’ve ever had from constituents on not having access to primary care physicians, having to wait too long to go into a specialist,” Puppolo said. “Too many doctors have been retiring or leaving the area and they’re leaving a big shortage for primary care.”
Puppolo said that it’s time to look at incentives to keep and
bring more primary care doctors into the area to ensure residents have reliable access to health care. He also said he would like to lower the cost of health care and prescription medicine, which seems to continually be “out of control and in some cases, untouchable.”
“We gotta make sure that people get the care and treatment they need,” Puppolo said. “I think that’s gonna be, hopefully, a big goal that we can accomplish this year.
Puppolo also looks to do more environmental work with clean green energy and the budget, which he said might still be a challenge in 2026. He said that even though revenue has been pretty robust, some of the biggest challenges have stemmed from uncertainty coming out of Washington D.C. and the Trump administration relating to unexpected cuts in places such as edu-
cation or health care.
“We’ve gotta make sure that we have the funding to put together our budget,” Puppolo said. “We’re doing that right now, we’ve looked at consensus revenue figures, but we’re trying to put that together and I think that is going to be a challenge moving forward.”
Puppolo said that he stays mindful that funding can always be cut from Washington, and that the uncertainty and unpredictability is keeping him, and every state, in a mindful era. He said Massachusetts is fortunate enough to have the Commonwealth Stabilization “Rainy Day” Fund, which serves as a reserve account to stabilize fiscal stability, but he doesn’t want the need to draw on that if it can be avoided.
He said in 2025, he was proud to accomplish his budget bill and bring “the bacon” back into the district.
“It’s the bread and butter and the lifeblood of a lot of organizations and groups,” Puppolo said. “Without that money, especially given a lot of the cuts that have been coming down from Washington, without that funding, it’s been draconian in terms of what the future may hold and being able to provide the services in the community that they do.”
For 2026, Puppolo said he looks forward to continuing his work and being a part of the house leadership team. He said the open door policy that leadership has with Western Massachusetts and the Springfield delegation is second to none and it enables results when concerns are given.
“My district and all of Western Mass. has a great seat at the table,” Puppolo said. “We’ve got experienced legislators and, especially in these turbulent times, it’s important to have consis- tent leadership that continues to get results.”
Community prays at multi-faith vigil for people targeted by ICE
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Cars
streamed into the parking lot of South Congregational Church on the evening of Jan. 13. When the church’s parking lot was full, people parked a block away and hustled through the cold back to the church. Inside, about 150 people packed into a space on the ground floor, leaving it standing room only. Members of several different faiths and religious traditions gathered to pray together, not for any one person, but for the those who have died in interactions with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the millions of people in America who are living in fear. “Friends, this is a nightmare,” said Bishop Douglas Fisher of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. “We catch people when they fall, and right now, in the country, as they fall into fear.” He paraphrased Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe as say-
ing that the Episcopal Church is the “church of resistance” against the “rising tide of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism” in the federal government.
“The people in this room are suffering right now,” said Sister Melinda Pellerin of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield and a board member of the Pioneer Valley Project, which organized the vigil. She spoke of the “terror” people are experiencing throughout the country, particularly immigrants. “We must name the injustice. These are holy times. We are the better angels,” she said, referencing President Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inaugural address calling for unity in the country.
Prayers were also offered by South Congregational Church’s Rev. Lindsey Peterson, Rev. Dr. Atu White of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Rev. Jason Seymour of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield.
State Rep. Angelo Puppolo. Reminder Publishing file photo
Sister Melinda Pellerin of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield and a Pioneer Valley Project board member pours water to honor Indigenous people, enslaved Africans, people who have suffered under oppression and those killed by “police violence” and ICE.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Provisions Picks: Big Italian reds from Campania
We’re back in the cold weather everyone, and you know what that means: big reds. Big Italian reds to be specific!
I’d like to turn your attention to Campania in Italy. It’s located right on the Mediterannean in the south along the boot’s ankle, and it is one of Italy’s oldest wine regions, dating back to the 1100s B.C. As you may have guessed, this makes for a hot and dry climate with a long growing season perfect for bulking up the wines from their local red variety Aglianico. While Aglianico has remained a popular wine grape for centuries, it actually achieved its greatest acclaim in the days of the Roman empire
when it was used to make the famous wine Falernum. Interestingly, the Romans chose not to use Aglianico’s thick, tannic skins in Falernum winemaking, opting instead to directly press the freshly picked fruit in order to produce a white wine. Today, however, the most acclaimed versions of this grape are mostly red in color, richly ripe, tannic, high in natural acidity due to volcanic soils and full-bodied with a tendency to reveal a great deal of complexity when aged. In fact, top-tier red appellations such as Taurasi produce wines that can happily age for decades, although not all of the wines require it. Don’t be fooled by the
richness and ripeness described here though; Aglianico is more than a simple fruit-bomb. Look out for notes of plum, cocoa, medicinal herbs, leather, pipe tobacco, meat and dark cherry.
We’ve loved the wines of Casa di Baal for many years now, and their reds offer an excellent introduction into the region for the curious. The Salerno family own and operate this small vineyard and winery producing a mere 2,000 cases of wine each year with their primary business being in olive orchards and olive oil production. In the early 2000s, the family’s daughters decided that they wanted to stop selling grapes to other local wineries in
order to establish their own wine program and Casa di Baal was born. They are excellent farmers who care tremendously for their land and have been farming the vines organically since 2006 before converting to biodynamic agriculture back in 2014. While this article focuses on their reds, the Salernos also produce some excellent white and sparkling wines that you won’t want to miss either!
• Casa di Baal Rosso di Baal 2022 ($19.99) — 40% Merlot and 40% Aglianico with the remainder made up of Barbera, this was the first wine produced at Casa di Baal, and it serves as an approachable
introduction to the region’s red wines. Rosso di Baal offers notes of red berries, plum, ample spice, and wet earth with lively acidity. Excellent with sharp Italian cheeses like Pecorino, red sauce pasta dishes or pizza.
• Casa di Baal Aglianico di Baal 2019 ($24.99) — Entirely composed of Aglianico and aged in a mix of stainless steel and used French oak barrels, this wine is bold and full-bodied with rich tannins now softened by age. Look for notes of leather, high quality tobacco, and dark fruit with a backbone of minerality. Pair with red meat or truffle dishes.
UMass Amherst to host the return of Five College Opera
AMHERST — When the cast of “The Marriage of Figaro” takes the Bowker Auditorium stage for the first of two performances on Feb. 6, it will mark an important return for the opera community in the Pioneer Valley.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Five College Opera will be mounting a full stage production, bringing together cast, crew, orchestra and resources from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College and Mount Holyoke College to present one of the pillars of the operatic canon.
“The Marriage of Figaro’s story and beautiful music have continued to resonate with audiences for more than 200 years since its premiere,” said Jamie-Rose Guarrine, professor of voice and interim associate chair of the UMass Department of Mu-
sic and Dance. “It’s a universal story of people falling in love, falling out of love, and finding each other again, told with wit, warmth, and a shared humanity that has stood the test of time. It’s comic and iconic, and the perfect story to experience live, told in the theater.”
Melanie Bacaling, guest stage director for “Le Nozze di Figaro,” has described the design concept as “stylized period, focusing on how the themes of the opera transcend time.”
The performance on Friday, Feb. 6 will start at 7:30 p.m. There will be a second show, on Sunday, Feb. 8, beginning at 3 p.m.
The Five College Opera is a collaborative production in which faculty from across the campuses join together to plan an opera, and students in music and theater from all of the campuses have the opportunity to study and
perform. Students learn operatic techniques from experts and perform in a production which is open to the public.
Previously produced every three years, the Five College Opera’s operations were postponed indefinitely when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Last year, a steering committee was formed with representatives from all five institutions to re-envision the direction of the organization. The result was the decision to return with a show that highlighted the unique talents of an all-student cast.
That cast was auditioned with “Le Nozze di Figaro” in mind, with the added consideration that performers will be able to capitalize on learning these core arias of the opera canon in their future careers, including in upcoming graduate auditions.
At UMass, opera is on the rise,
following last spring’s production of “Fairy Tales and Magic”, a collaboration between the vocal and orchestral programs in the Department of Music and Dance. It’s a career pipeline that’s still being built, but Guarrine sees it as on an upward trajectory.
“Opera is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to prepare our students for the career landscape, whether as performers, educators, choral, oratorio, or opera singers,” she noted. “What has been nice about Five College Opera is that it strengthens that area, but it also provides a connective force to the operatic experience by uniting us with the Five College community.”
Guarrine also hopes that this year’s production will provide a scaffolding for the future of the Five College Opera. At a time where budgets are stretched, the production team of “The Mar-
riage of Figaro” is exploring out of the box solutions and documenting best practices of the massive logistical undertaking of mounting an opera, hoping to create a roadmap for future productions.
The Marriage of Figaro is Mozart’s sparkling comedy of love and class, set during a single chaotic day. When Figaro and Susanna’s wedding plans are jeopardized by Count Almaviva’s entitled advances, a whirlwind of disguises and misunderstandings ensues, culminating in a joyous celebration of wit, compassion, and the triumph of love. Tickets for “Le Nozze di Figaro” (“The Marriage of Figaro”) can be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office (in the lobby of Frederick C. Tillis Hall), by calling 413-545-2511, or by going to UMasstix.org/ musicanddance.
After Switzerland tragedy, marshal warns bars. clubs of sparkler hazard
STOW — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine on Jan. 6 sent a notice to Massachusetts bars and restaurants regarding the fire hazard posed by sparklers, which are believed to have contributed to the tragic New Year’s Eve fire that claimed dozens of lives in a Switzerland bar.
“Please be advised that sparklers and other pyrotechnic devices, including so-called ‘cold spark’ pyrotechnics, are illegal for possession, sale, and use in Massachusetts without professional licensing, certification and permitting,” Davine wrote in a notice to proprietors of restaurants, nightclubs, bars and discotheques. “This includes
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Pellerin, Laraine Shore-Suslowitz of Sinai Temple and Adan Abdi, a leader in Springfield’s Somali Bantu community led the gathered people in a lamentation ritual.
Seymour drew a line from the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the murder of Rev. James Reeb, a Unitarian minister who was killed in Selma, Alabama, when he went to assist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.
Calling attention to the table at the front of the room, which held a candle and dozens of names and photos, Pellerin led the lamentation, saying, “For every person whose image and name you see here tonight who has been killed by ICE...” The group responded in unison, “We name their humanity.” The call and response continued, with those gathered pledging to “carry the sorrow” of grieving families and refuse to be silent.
small sparklers that have been sold as novelties or party favors to accompany champagne bottles, which are believed to have caused the New Year’s Eve fire that claimed 40 lives and injured more than 100 people in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.”
The marshal thanked the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which has provided the notice to local licensing officials for distribution to licensed establishments, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which is distributing the notice to its members.
Separately, the Department of Fire Services issued a notice to a Hialeah, Florida business that
Shore-Suslowitz spoke about the Jewish tradition of lamentation as a call to “repair a broken world.” Abdi read two verses from the Qur’an in both Arabic and English. The first verse was a prayer to Allah to protect and rescue people from oppression. The second passage spoke of Allah not giving people more burdens than they can bear.
The vigil recognized fear and suffering beyond that of immigrant communities, also calling out the burning of Beth Israel Temple in Jackson, Mississippi, and the 2020 arson of Springfield’s own Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian Church.
Alex Blenman, a member of the Episcopal Service Corps, said he came to the vigil to become more involved in the community. “Seeing what people are going through, it seems a little unfair to say the least,” he said of the experiences of immigrants. He noted that his grandparents immigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago in the 1960s.
David Morse, a member of Sinai Temple, said he has long been active in the fight for “immigrant
markets sparklers online. This business, King of Sparklers LLC, reportedly sold and shipped sparklers that were later recovered by Fall River Fire Department inspectors at a local establishment.
“The shipment of prohibited fireworks products into the commonwealth constitutes a violation of Massachusetts General Law and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Code and presents a significant public safety concern,” the notice stated.
Davine said that sparklers burn at temperatures of over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and cast sparks that can easily ignite furnishings, decorations and other flammable materials. They can remain
rights” in the Pioneer Valley. The vigil was “a call for interfaith communities to work against the fear that is in our community, and there’s a large immigrant community in Springfield, and people are scared,” Morse said. “I wish there was more we could do to influence the political climate in the country, but we’re here as a community.”
hot enough to start a fire even after they’ve been extinguished, as happened in 2022, when the unsafe disposal of illegal sparklers caused a three-alarm fire in Dracut that displaced nine people. They are classified as fireworks in Massachusetts and their possession, sale, and use require professional licensing and certification.
“The tragic fire in Switzerland
has a chilling similarity to the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island, which led to numerous safety reforms in Massachusetts bars and clubs,” Davine said, noting the sprinkler regulations, inspection schedules, and crowd manager requirements that are now in place in Massachusetts.
“We just want to help these businesses keep their patrons and staff safe.”
POPE FRANCIS PREP VS CHICOPEE COMP
BASKETBALL
The Pope Francis Preparatory School boys’ basketball team hosted Chicopee Comprehensive High School on Jan. 5, and took home the win 64-53 at Pope Francis.
Sam Brigham floats to the rim with the ball.
Sam Brigham finds a passing lane.
Jackson Maurer drives baseline past the defender.
Jordan Dalessio keeps his eyes on the basket on the drive.
Jackson Maurer beats the defense to the basket for two.
Jaxson Edwards fights through the defense to get to the rim.
Sam Mayfield elevates at the rim.
Wes Gainer grabs the loose ball to keep the play alive.
Martin Luther King remembered
In 1983, Martin Luther King Day was made a federal holiday. This year is the 43rd celebration of the holiday. Rev. King knew racism and he experienced discrimination. He knew Rosa Parks and led a year-long boycott following her arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, one of many Jim Crow laws in the south.
In 1965, King led a march with former Congressman John Lewis. Police and bystanders brutally attacked hundreds of protesters with clubs and tear
LETTERS
gas. It is remembered as Bloody Sunday. Lewis suffered a fractured skull and nearly died. Television was new to the American people and coverage of the incident brought racial violence into living rooms across the nation. People saw racism with their own eyes. It could no longer be minimized or considered harmless.
King led scores of marches in support of desegregation, voters’ rights and other basic civil rights. His efforts influenced the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The scores of protests that King organized resulted in assaults on thousands of protesters,
Tech Foundry awarded
SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry, the regional leader in IT workforce development and training, was recently awarded multi-year grants totaling $2.35 million from The Ceres Foundation — the largest award in Tech Foundry’s history. While some of the funding will cover general operating expenses, the majority of the grant money will be used to enhance the organization’s data systems and fund stipends for alumni and students of Tech Foundry’s IT workforce training
Black and white. MLK was arrested 28 times for his activism. He was the victim of four serious assaults, including a knife attack. He was stabbed in the chest and spent weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
In 1963, Dr. King led 250,000 followers in a march to the Lincoln Memorial. On the Washington Mall he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. That day King’s words crossed racial, ethnic, and religious lines as it reached the hearts and minds of people of all colors.
Rev. King’s message of equality is taken from the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that all people are cre-
$2.35
program, which was recently renamed Tech Launch.
Research indicates that stipend programs for workforce training focusing on underrepresented people can have significant and measurable positive impact on participants, resulting in increased graduation and job-placement rates and persistence in accessing living wage jobs. Through this program, students and alumni in good standing from the 2023-2029 cohorts will be eligible for stipends
ated equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. His message is written in the Bill of Rights which guarantees the civil rights of all people. King’s dream is that no person be judged by the color of their skin. This is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Martin Luther King gave his life in pursuit of these rights. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the age of 39. During his lifetime, Martin Luther King’s dream was shared by the nation and the world. At age 35, he became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace
Prize. King delivered a speech advocating universal peace rooted in nonviolence. Like the greatest of American freedom fighters, Rev. King did not seek fame and glory, rather, he sought racial equality and justice for millions of Americans.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” — Martin Luther King on the Washington Mall, Aug. 28, 1963
million from the Ceres Foundation
based on program and milestone completion. Details about the program can be found thetechfoundry.org/stipend.
Tech Foundry CEO Tricia Canavan commented, “We are incredibly grateful to The Ceres Foundation and humbled by their faith in our mission. As an organization, we have been seeking a way to fund stipends for our students since the program’s inception. This initiative is a game-changer for those seeking alternative pathways for career
growth. It is our hope that the stipends funded by Ceres will allow individuals, who were previously unable to join our programs, the means to invest in their futures.
In addition, the operational dollars awarded by Ceres will catalyze the priorities of their new three-year strategic plan, which is focused on growth and serving more people and communities. Funding for new data systems will allow Tech Foundry to better track and analyze our programs, making real-time
strategy adjustments and evaluating longitudinal impact, which will improve outcomes for those we serve.”
Tech Foundry is currently accepting applications for its spring 2026 cohort, which begins on Feb. 9 and will run for 18 weeks. The deadline to apply is Jan. 16. For more information, please visit: thetechfoundry.org/ cohortapplication
To learn more about the Ceres Foundation and the projects they fund, go to ceresgiving.org/
Court denies motion for new trial in Commonwealth v. Washington
SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that in a written decision issued in December 2025, the Superior Court denied defendant Derrick Washington’s motion for a new trial in connection with his convictions stemming from a 2005 homicide and armed robbery. The decision followed a three-day evidentiary hearing on the motion that concluded on April 11, 2025.
HOLYOKE — Each semester, Holyoke Community College recognizes superior scholarship through the dean’s list. A student is placed on the dean’s list if their G.P.A. is 3.2 or higher. The following local students have earned dean’s list honors for the fall 2025 term:
Indian Orchard
A’mariona Anderson, Aida I. Cruz, Jailene Luzmariel Delgado, Shanice Linnehan, Cara Brie Mock, Amanda Marguerite Montalban.
Springfield
The convictions stem from a February 2005 home invasion and armed robbery in Springfield that resulted in the shooting deaths of two individuals. Following a 2008 jury trial in Hampden Superior Court, Washington was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and firearms offenses, and was sentenced to life in prison.
After a comprehensive review of the trial record, post-convic-
Shaniya T. Aaron, Alison Elizabeth Abare, Neyraliz Abreu, Owen Keel Acuff, Annalee Marie Adamick, Shaina K. Alcide, Tamia Alexander, Jolene Peek Alexander, Zyana Naje Amparo, Joshiel Enrique Aponte-Berly, Suzette Appiah, Jewel Arguello, Joelin Arias, Maitec Astacio Reynoso, Melissa Ann Austin, Benjamin Aviles, Kelsey Jean Babineau, Michelle Santos Bates, Milannie Betancourt, Acianna Bethea, Hajar Bint Farooq Carter, Alianiz Enid Bonilla, Kyra M. Caballero-Staples, Iliana Marie Caban, Yasmari Cardenales, Basilio Castro Jr., Jacob Chesbro,
tion filings, and witness testimony presented during the evidentiary hearing, the court concluded that the defendant failed to meet the legal standard required for a new trial. In its written decision, the court found that the defendant did not demonstrate that any alleged nondisclosure of evidence or newly presented information would have altered the outcome of the trial.
The court further determined
Zachary Michael Ciano, Jessie Lee Clas, Yahaira Marie Correa, Brianna Coughlin, Paola Michelle Cruz Santiago, Matthew Jr. Cruz-Guzman, Jenny Marina Cuevas, Jamal Rhoden Cumberbatch, Kayla Beth Dagenais, Shamira Davis, Nancy Ivette Dejesus, Veronica Maria Dos Reis Paulino, Joan Doucette, Jackeline Escobar, Ana Ruth Estien, Renata Fabelo, Leann Fanion, Wilma Ferrer, Yadelyn Alejandra Francisco, Tanairy Fuentes, Virginia Lane Futrell, Paola Nicole Galarza-Lugo, Nijiah Gamble, Lydia R. Gentile, Janessa Michelle Giraud-Budd, Lisa Ann Glidden,
CHICOPEE
Robert Alan Bennett
Roland H. Cloutier
Savannah A. Hatch
Robert M. Joyal
Margaret-Anne Martin
Greggory Mitchell
Susan J. Santerre
Helene C. Sears
Joan A. Skypeck
Chester J. Szetela
France E. Talbot
Lorraine D. Taylor
Michael S. Walas
EAST LONGMEADOW
Mary Ellen Goodwin (Lenilko)
William R. Fielding
Rose B. Lupi
Charles Mannheim
hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
HOLYOKE
Elizabeth A. Frisino
Vivian Y. Lagoy
Daniel A. Sudsbury
LONGMEADOW
Lawrence A. Leavitt
Diana J. Srebnick Nelson Stone
LUDLOW
Anna T. Celona
Julieta “Julie” Hoeckh
Jane Louise Machado
SOUTH HADLEY
William P. Bunnell
Eleanor C. Klepacki
David R. McKenna
Louis C. Rimbold Jr.
Richard J. Ross
Thomas R. Rudzik
Judith VanHandle
SPRINGFIELD
Jeffrey J. Albert
Agnese Basile
Robert E. “Bob” Crane II
Gloria M. Fernandes
Nicolina Ferullo
Ann Heropoulos
Marie T. Kittrell
Jean L. Provost
Dorothy Pulowski
Candice Lynn Stolpinski
Richard Wright Jr.
WILBRAHAM
Laurette Bishop
Anthony G. Laino
Cynthia Perella
Marion V. Sears
that the defendant was not entitled to relief based on claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or newly discovered evidence and reaffirmed the validity of the jury’s verdict.
“We respect the court’s careful and thorough review of the record in this case,” said District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “The court’s decision reflects the rigorous legal standards applied in post-conviction review and reaffirms the jury’s verdict, and I thank Assistant District Attorney Katharine Johnston for her diligent work on this matter.”
Arianna Gonzalez, Marisabel Gonzalez Borges, Gabriel Roberto Gonzalez Diaz, Sarah B. Haag, Keith Jonathan Hajjar, Amy M. Hall, Michael Angelo Heckstall, Sharmaine Higgs, David Hoang, Valeria I. Hodges, Kaelin Housey, Jazzaray Lee Huertas, Stephanie Huynh, Lisanne Nicoy Jackson, Kailynn Jean Jenne, Yvania Yazmin Jimenez, Tashia Sherrie Jordan-Garner, Irianty Kailola, Ellianna Makana Lani Aloha Kaimi, Esin Dilan Kiedos, Mariia Konokhovych, Destiny Michele LaBombard, Amanda R. Lafleur, Zephaniah Hatano Langley, Shayniqua Lawson, Richard Christopher Lopez, Marqueli Rachel Lopez Argueta, Michael Iverson Luciano, Antonio Luis Malave, Brendalee Mangual, Gerson Miguel Marinez Urbaez, Rachel Ilene Mayer, Camrin Meyer, Diana Estefany Morales, Matthew James Moran, Tatyana Moreno, Averie Narreau, Ilayshia Nevaeh Negron, Shauna-Kay Newell, Roberto Manuel O’Leary-Moreno, Jada Nikita Oquendo, Alanis Ortiz, Aniecia Parker, Allison Ella Pena, Eddiel Perez, Mia Elizabeth Perkins, Luz Denise Pizarro, Aidan Eric
As is standard practice, the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office respects the judicial process and the court’s ruling. The office remains committed to ensuring that convictions are obtained and upheld through fair, thorough and lawful proceedings.
Plahna, Tafari Reid, Kimberly Reyes, Camila Del Carmen Reyes, Alba E. Rios Olmedo, Linda Ivette Rivera, Katiria Rivera, J-Ivan Rodriguez, Marta Carolina Rodriguez, Britany Rodriguez, Christian Daniel Rodriguez, Adriana Zoe Rodriguez Jimenez, Mileidy Rosado, Jasmine Natalie Rosario, Sean M. Rosemond, Yaritza Ruiz, Aliana Marie Sagardia, Mushab Samir, Yaniel Sanchez, Shyrka Sanchez, Keisha Marie Santana, Jaleymis Eillen Santiago Blasini, Adriana Santiago Cruz, Lizbeth Santos-Castro, Jeynibel Skerrett, Sheyenne Leana Smith, Naileah Soler, Erika Marie Solis-Farnham, Celina Julise Sumler, Brian Joseph Sutter, Kassidy Szulc, Brandon Thompson, Adam Thurber, Wanda Enid Torres, Carla Fernnada Torres Tiburcio, Saream Toum, Sarom Toum-Rivera, Samantha Teresa Vazquez, Felix Natanael Vazquez, Erlin Yeraldo Ventura Reyes, Aleisha Dianice Vergara, Katie Whitmore, Anna Whittemore, Camile Williams, Nakisha A. Williams, James Gideon Willingham, Rodney Antonyo Wilson, Maelene Kristin Zavala.
