SPRINGFIELD
JANUARY 29, 2026 | FREE
WWW.THEREMINDER.COM
FOR DELIVERY CONCERNS OR TO STOP DELIVERY, CALL 413-788-1100 OR EMAIL CIRCULATION@REPUB.COM
IN THIS
EDITION Sarno talks 2026 opportunities, challenges
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Chief Development Officer Timothy Sheehan sat down recently with Reminder Publishing to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the city in 2026.
Page 2
DA connects with youth through outreach programs
The public may think of the Hampden County District Attorney’s office only when they have an interaction with law enforcement. However, District Attorney Anthony Gulluni has made it part of his mission to introduce himself to young people and connect with them on a variety of issues.
Page 3
Springfield woman creating ‘ecosystem’ of trucking, trades
Asiala Rivera has a vision. Where others may see truck driving, electricians and blighted properties, Rivera sees an opportunity to create a workforce development ecosystem.
Page 4
MLK’s dream kept alive in Springfield at celebration By Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration was filled with song, remarks by elected officials and the words of the city’s schoolchildren, all celebrating accomplishments while acknowledging how far the United States has yet to go. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Restoring Justice: Reclaiming the Dream.” Springfield Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said children are “the carrier of the dream.” True to her roots as an educator, Dinnall said, “Reclaiming is a verb. It is an action word.” She continued, “It takes the collective efforts of each and every one of us in this room today to do our part to reclaim the dream. And guess what? I dream without action is merely a fantasy.” Speaking of King, Mayor Domenic Sarno said his principles are universal, but that the laws that came from King’s work and the Civil Rights Movement, namely the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, “are now all under siege.” He said, “It is up to us, each and every one of you, in what you do every day to continue to carry on the legacy of Dr. King.” Echoing Sarno, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said, “The hard-won gains of the Civil Rights Movement are being stripped away.” Pointing to Dinnall and City Council President Tracye Whitfield, both the first Black women to serve in their respective roles, Driscoll said, “Representation changes outcomes.” Reflecting on civil rights leaders, Whitfield said, “I’m standing here today because of the work they did on voting rights.” She
Top, The “Songstress of Springfield,” Vanessa Ford, sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song known as the African American national anthem, at the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. Bottom, from left: Tracye Whitfield, Springfield’s first Black woman City Council president, speaks at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, flanked by City Council President Tracye Whitfield and state Rep. Orlando Ramos, speaks to the crowd on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
said King believed change starts with everyday people and so the job of children is “being kind when it’s hard” and “standing up when something’s wrong.”
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez fired up the crowd. He challenged them to think of the world in 10 years’ time and asking what they would be able to tell the children
of today that they did to make their voices heard. He said Springfield is a “great” city because the maySeeMLK on page 2