SPRINGFIELD
FEBRUARY 5, 2026 | FREE
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EDITION Fabulous February invites families to enjoy winter at Forest Park
It is winter, but that does not mean there is nothing to do at Forest Park. The Springfield Parks, Buildings and Recreation Department has organized its annual Fabulous February, two days of activities for all ages to entertain families and children of all ages.
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Book highlights importance of middle school connection Vincent Tulloch has authored a book, “Engage to Excel: Building Trust, Belonging and Success in the Middle School Years” to spread the core lesson that “care, trust and togetherness build connection.”
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AMR answers calls, faces challenges during snowstorm
After Winter Storm Fern dumped over a foot of snow onto Western Massachusetts, AMR discussed the challenges faced with this type of storm and some of the calls it receives in the event of severe winter weather.
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BHN opens center for youth behavioral services By Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — On a cold January morning, elected officials and Behavioral Health Network leadership gathered outside the doors of its new facility at 583 East Columbus Ave. to cut the ribbon, officially opening the Abilities Learning Center. The first of its kind for BHN in Western Massachusetts, the center offers dedicated space for children and youth who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome to have individualized behavioral services. Working with the family, board certified behavior analysts and registered behavior technicians work to provide structured learning, peer interaction and access to calming sensory spaces, helping young people build social and life skills. “Our program helps families with children who have behavioral needs who need help,” said BHN President and CEO Steve Winn. “There’s not enough places like this in the community.” A testament to that is the center’s client log of 35 families, with about 90 more on a waitlist. In his remarks at the opening, Winn recalled that BHN was born out of the needs of the community. In 1937, several families whose children had special needs pled with the state to provide aid at a time when there was none locally available. In response, Massachusetts opened the Child Guidance Clinic. It would later grow into BHN, which served 33,000 people in 2025. The Abilities Learning Center was, again, created out of an unmet need of families. While BHN has long worked with families in See BHN on page 2
Above, Lamari Jackson, district director for state Sen. Adam Gomez, Abilities Learning Center Director Matthew Matroni, Springfield City Councilor Zaida Govan, state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, BHN President and CEO Steve Winn, Senior Vice President Michelle Michaelian and Senior Director of Children’s Outreach Programs Robert Churchill celebrate after cutting the ribbon at the Abilities Learning Center. At right, Abilities Learning Center Director Matthew Matroni shows one of the rooms at the center. Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen