State Rep. Brian Ashe spoke on what he is carrying into 2026, while taking a look back on what he accomplished in 2025.
Page 2
Requests to permanently close roads cause City Council much debate
Similar requests to discontinue the use of two Springfield streets resulted in very different discussions at the City Council’s Feb. 2 meeting.
Page 3
Schools surpass goals in college and career readiness metrics
Springfield Public Schools is making incremental progress and surpassing its goals in the realm of career and college readiness.
Page 4
FEBRUARY 13th - 16th
Putnam names gym after state Rep. Bud Williams
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Two lines of cheerleaders flanked the podium at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, rustling their blue and gold pom-poms as state Rep. Bud Williams stepped up to speak. After the applause died down, Williams made his remarks, saying, “There’s a lot of history in the Trade family, the Putnam family.” Williams is a part of that history, and to honor that, the school has named the gymnasium in his honor.
At the Jan. 30 naming ceremony, Williams said it was a “full circle” moment for him. He described growing up “very poor,” one of 10 children living in the North End in the 1960s and 1970s. Williams’s father died when the future legislator was 17. He attended what was then Trade High School, which was renamed after former Mayor Roger Putnam in 1972. During his time at the school, Williams made a name for himself on the basketball court, becoming the first person in the school’s history to score more than 1,000 career points. Williams’s colleague in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Carlos Gonzalez, called Williams “the Michael Jordan and Dr. J of his time.”
Retired NBA player and Springfield native Travis Best attended the ceremony. Best said Williams and his father, Leo Best, were contemporaries, playing high school basketball during the same time. Referring to a displayed photo of Williams in his Trade High School basketball jersey, Best said, “I love that image. When I was growing up hearing about basketball in Springfield, it was Trade, Classical.”
Williams said his mother told him education would be his “pass-
port” to advance in life. Williams received a scholarship to attend then-Westfield State College, going on to become a teacher and then as one of the first Black probation officers in city history.
Speaking of Williams’s work as a probation officer, Gonzalez said, “He kept a lot of people out of prison,” those who were “getting the short stick” because of their race. Similarly, Robert “Cee” Jackson, who described himself as a father figure in Williams’s life, said Williams made a difference. “Back then, the courtroom wasn’t fair to us, people of color,” he said, adding, “He stood up for us.” Jackson told Williams, “As a friend, as a father image, you’ve made me proud.”
A string of elected officials, community leaders and close friends took the microphone to
praise Williams and the legacy he has made in Springfield. Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “When you look back in the 1960s, there may not have been so many opportunities” for Black and brown people. He praised Williams’s accomplishments, including those he made as a city councilor and now, as a state representative. He specifically called out the way Williams partnered with the city during the coronavirus pandemic to keep Springfield’s Black residents healthy, who nationally were facing significantly poorer outcomes than their non-Black counterparts.
After listening to the speakers sing his praises, Williams quipped, “I didn’t know they were talking about me.” Williams told the crowd, which included students, “To get anywhere in life, you need to stand on
somebody’s shoulders.” He shared a memory from his time playing basketball at Trade and said that to travel in the 1970s, teenage boys were expected to wear sports coats, but Williams did not own one. Then-principal Edmond Garvey and coach, Ted Plumb, bought him a suit with their own money so he could travel to away games. “The shoulders I have stood upon...” Williams reflected. Finishing his remarks, he quoted an “old negro spiritual,” saying, “May the work I do speak for me.”
Williams and his son, Kamari Williams, are the only father and son pair in the city to both have a gymnasium named for them. Kamari was the head coach of the High School of Science and Technology Cybercats, and the school’s gymnasium was named for him after his death in 2020.
State Rep. Bud Williams lifts a triumphant fist after unveiling a plaque naming the gymnasium at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in his honor.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
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Ashe looks ahead to 2026, reflects on 2025
By Peter Tuohy ptuohy@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — State Rep. Brian Ashe spoke on what he is carrying into 2026, while taking a look back on what he accomplished in 2025.
Ashe detailed an act to regulate pet day care facilities in cities and towns named Ollie’s Law. Although it passed before 2025, work is still being done into 2026 to ensure regulations are still on track.
Ashe said Ollie was the name of a dog who was boarded in an East Longmeadow doggy day care center and mauled by 10 other dogs in 2020, succumbing to his injuries two months later at the age of nine months.
Ollie’s owner, Amy Baxter, said that the center was unlicensed and did not bring Ollie to the vet. Instead, she received a phone call later that said her dog was injured in a fight. Ashe said Ollie needed 270 stitches and multiple surgeries.
Ashe said his wife saw the story on Facebook and encouraged him to reach out. He said that he discovered there were zero regulations on doggy day cares and that someone could open one without knowing how they worked.
“I set up a coalition and put it together,” Ashe said. “It took two sessions but it passed.”
Ashe said the bill adds basic guidelines to day cares, such as dog to staff ratio. He said that East Longmeadow Animal Hospital was right next door, but the employee couldn’t bring Ollie because of the other dogs.
Ashe said that since the bill has passed, there’s a working group that has to make recommendations to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
“Keeping an eye on what’s
going on there, making sure that the original intent of the law is kept and it doesn’t go off,” Ashe said. “There’s been a couple issues where I’ve heard that they might be voting to change the staff to dog ratio, so little things like that. We want to make sure it stays on track.”
Ashe said that Baxter still lives in town and is on the commission, so he keeps in touch to make sure the law stays true to the original intent. Ashe also discussed being in the middle of an act relative to crumbling concrete foundations.
He said that foundations with pyrite or pyrrhotite in the concrete mix have affected homes across 51 towns because if there’s a crack that gets damp, the concrete disintegrates and turns to powder.
“People’s foundations are literally collapsing underneath them,” Ashe said. “The only thing you can do, if it is impacted all around, is they have to raise the house, remove the old foundation, pour new foundation and put it back.”
He said to fix something like this is a couple hundred thousand dollars on the average house, and insurance doesn’t cover it right now. Ashe is creating a crumbling concrete assistance fund, administered by the secretary of housing and living communities, to provide financial assistance to owners of property for the replacement of concrete foundations.
“We don’t want this to be something that’s going to ruin a family or two,” Ashe said. “It could ruin a neighborhood too, because if it’s your house and you don’t have the money to fix it, you just let it go. Now there’s an abandoned house, and it’s not good for property values, not good for anyone.”
Ashe said the act is on the step of figuring out how much money
to put in a pool and how to get that money. He said he isn’t in favor of making a small tax, such as a $12 homeowners tax, but wants to do something to make sure it moves forward.
“It looks like it’s just going to keep expanding to more and more homes and more towns are going to realize ‘oh, we have that too,” Ashe said. “Some people avoid going to the doctor, because if they go, they’ll find out they’re sick. So I think there’s some people like that. They don’t want to look at the house, because if it is, then they might have to do something. So we’re trying to get it easier for people to do it.”
Going into 2026, Ashe said he would like to do work related to industries not having the backfill like they used to. He said there are less and less doctors, nurses, plumbers, electricians and carpenters going into the trade. He added that there needs to be a way to incentivise young people to go into the work and stay in the area.
“Right now, we’re just seeing the tip of it,” Ashe said. “If we don’t do anything to address it, and I don’t just mean Massachusetts or around the country, we’re going to have these huge gaps where people are, one, they’re not going to be able to find people to do the work, and two, if they do find them, they might either have to wait forever or pay a crazy fee because there’s only four plumbers.”
Ashe said a challenge going into the year is the uncertainty from the federal government, such as how budgeting things out may work. He said that they’re in a good position due to a balanced budget and a rainy day fund, but not getting a certain amount of money in federal funding could have a major impact.
“If we had to dip into the sta-
bilization fund, yeah we could pay for it, but if our stabilization fund goes down, then our bond rating goes down, which means we’re borrowing money,” Ashe said. “We’re paying a higher rate. Which means everybody in Massachusetts is paying more money for different things.”
He also said he’s working to keep the people happy and bring more people in, such as through education and public safety. He noted the new high school in East Longmeadow and the new middle school in Longmeadow are things that cost money, but it’s all about quality of life.
“I think when we do those, it shows that we do care about that people that live in these communities,” Ashe said. “We care about the young people coming in, that they’re going to get a good education and hopefully appreciate it, stay and school around here, work and live around here and raise a family around here.”
Springfield schools receive Financial Education Grant
BOSTON — The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment, in partnership with the Division of Banks and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, announced the 20252026 recipients of the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant.
Following a competitive application process that concluded in November, the state agencies
awarded grants to 92 schools, totaling $383,420.00. This funding will allow Massachusetts high schools and special education programs to host financial education fairs, known as Credit for Life Fairs, for their students.
Springfield Public Schools received $3,200. Of the 92 recipient schools, 24 received funding as Seed Ap-
AIC DEAN’S LIST SPRINGFIELD — American International College in Springfield is proud to announce that 489 students have earned a place
lia Rodriguez, Julian Chatman, Shakira Martin Reyes, Courtney Ranson, Seyphon Triplett, Jonathon Aponte, Manny DeLeon, Darius Martin, Lorelei Reynolds, David Torres, Gloria Torres, Jacob Burgos, Orin Howell, Malwina Kukwa, Ariana Molina and Trinity Nunez of Springfield were named to the list.
plicants and will host fairs for the first time.
For the third year, participating schools that have a large population of low-to-moderate income students will receive an additional $500. Twenty-five schools received this additional funding to bring much-needed financial education to students in the state’s most vulnerable communities.
“Credit for Life Fairs empower high school students with the tools they need to succeed,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “This year, we are supporting a record number of schools, helping young adults prepare to make informed financial decisions as they approach graduation and adulthood.”
“The Division of Banks is proud to support this initiative with another round of funding,” said
Mary Gallagher, commissioner of Banks. “With hands-on, high-quality lessons offered at these fairs, students can learn foundational financial management skills they can use into adulthood.”
“It is important for high school students to understand how to manage their personal finances so they can be successful in life,” said Layla R. D’Emilia, undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. “Funding Credit for Life Fairs through these grants provides a fun, engaging and productive environment for students to learn fiscal responsibility.”
Since 2015, over 65,000 Massachusetts students have attended Credit for Life fairs. The Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant was established as an ongoing effort to strengthen access to financial literacy throughout Massachusetts. This financial education program is funded by the Division of Banks through a settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices.
State Rep. Brian Ashe. Reminder Publishing file photo
Requests to permanently close roads cause debate amongst councilors
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Similar requests to discontinue the use of two Springfield streets resulted in very different discussions at the City Council’s Feb. 2 meeting.
Springfield College Facilities
Management Director Kevin Roy presented a request to permanently close half a mile of Wilbraham Avenue, from King Street to Hickory Street. The expanse is bisected by Alden Street, which would remain a public street. Roy said one lane between Alden Street and King Street would also remain available for people who want to access the track or other public-facing college facilities.
The reason for the permanent closure is that Wilbraham Avenue is dangerous to cross, and eliminating the road will improve safety and traffic flow, Roy said. As proof, Springfield College President Mary-Beth A. Cooper offered to share with the council a video of a student being struck by a vehicle at one of the road’s eight crosswalks. The council declined to watch the clip.
The college first proposed the permanent closure of Wilbraham Road in 2023. Councilor Justin Hurst, who served on the body at that time, said the Mason Square neighborhood was “not excited” about the proposal at that time. Councilor Malo Brown went further, saying, “They were all going in an uproar.”
The last time the closure was before the council, it asked Springfield College to speak to its neighbors. Roy said the college had done so, hosting at least two public meetings for the Upper Hill neighborhood where the street is located. No one had spoken in opposition to the proposal, he said. Brown pointed out that those meetings took place two years ago, and City Council President Tracye Whitfield said he has never received a letter or head testimony either for or against shutting the road.
Brown said that the plan to close Wilbraham Avenue “seems like something the try to sneak in every couple of years.” Councilor Victor Davila agreed. “I am a little concerned with the constant quest to have this closed.” While he acknowledged the traffic issues, he said, “This is nothing new to us and we have said no because it’s part of the community.”
When asked by Davila, Hector Valez of the city’s Traffic Commission explained that when a public way is discontinued, the road is divided down the middle and the abutter on either side of the road absorbs their half of the road into their property. As the college owns the land on both sides of Wilbraham Avenue, it would take ownership of the street. Councilor Zaida Govan noted that colleges own a lot of land in Springfield and, due to pay-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements, the city does not receive as much revenue as it would from property taxes.
“We want to be good neighbors,” said Roy. He recalled that the college willingly gave up land for the construction of Samuel Golden Park.
The matter was referred to the council’s General Government Committee for a more detailed analysis.
A separate petition to discontinue a street was submitted for land at the end of Wallace Street, where it meets Wisteria Lane. There, Valdez explained, is a 600-square-foot “paper street,” a road that appears on maps but has never been built out. The petitioner, JETS Property Development founder Jelani Bland, owns property on one side of the street. As it stands, he said, the land is largely used for dumping.
Partway through the discussion, Councilor Michael Fenton inquired if Whitfield, who is Bland’s mother, intended to recuse herself. She said she had planned to and apologized for the delay, citing her relative in-
experience as the new council president.
Bland explained that his company is building a duplex on an abutting property. The abutter on the opposite side is willing to sell the portion of the road they will own after it is discontinued, and Bland would like to either use the land as additional parking or build on it in the future.
Brown and Councilor Brian Santaniello praised Bland for taking the initiative to create land for housing, something the landpoor city needs. Likewise, Govan said it was putting the land to “good use” because the city would be able to collect taxes on it. Hurst said it would remedy a blighted piece of land.
Fenton, however, said he was
uneasy about “giving away” land that could be developed. He said the discontinuance process is not typically used to facilitate personal gain and, if that is the intent, the land should be auctioned to provide the city with most eco-
nomic benefit. This argument was not enough to sway many of Fenton’s colleagues, however, and when the vote was called, only he and Councilor Melvin Edwards voted not to eliminate the road.
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY DEAN’S LIST
HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT — The following area students were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester at Quinnipiac University: Julia Fettes, Makenna Simis and Ian Torres of Springfield.
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Springfield College Facilities Management Director Kevin Roy displays the area of Wilbraham Avenue the college wants to have closed.
Photo credit: Focus Springfield
Schools surpass goals in college and career readiness metrics
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Public Schools is making incremental progress and surpassing its goals in the realm of career and college readiness. That was the report from Chief of Student Services Dr. Yolanda Johnson and her team at the Jan. 29 School Committee meeting.
“We’re really looking at it from a holistic perspective,” Johnson said of readiness for what lies beyond graduation. According to the information she presented, readiness includes the mastery of cognitive skills and academic content, building traits such as perseverance and self-discipline, and an
understanding of how to navigate and succeed in the workplace or an institution of higher education.
One way for students to get a head start on college is by enrolling in Advanced Placement classes. Advanced Placement is a program in which high school students complete college-level coursework. A comprehensive test is administered at the end of the course, and students are ranked against all other students in that course nationally. Many colleges and universities will grant college course credit to students who achieve a score of three or above, with five being the highest score possible. The portion of Springfield students in the 11th and 12th grades who
have completed at least one Advanced Placement course has been trending upward in recent years, from 37% in 2022, to 46% in 2025.
Springfield students are slightly outpacing the state average in terms of the number of students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA is an essential tool in obtaining grants and loans for college and, as such, a good metric to judge how many students are pursuing a post-secondary education. The School Committee gave a round of applause when they learned that 40.35% of students across the state have submitted their FAFSA, while 40.45% of Springfield students
GRAND OPENING — Community Bank, a financial institution with about 190 branches throughout New York and northern Pennsylvania, has opened a branch at 1387 Boston Road, its second in Springfield. President and CEO Dimitar Karaivanov was presented by state reps. Orlando Ramos and Carlos Gonzalez with a citation from the state House of Representatives. Ramos said the bank was well situated, as nearby Indian Orchard is a banking desert. Community Bank donated $5,000 to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and pledged to donate $25 per account opened before the end of March to Rick’s Place, a Wilbraham-based organization that supports grieving children and their families. Karaivanov said, “We never forget who we are. It’s in our name.”
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
have done so. Springfield Public Schools offers three tracks in its Innovation Career Pathways program, which partners with area colleges and employers to offer training and education in high-demand fields. Eighteen students are enrolled in an information and information technology program; 45 students are in an environmental science track and 49 are participating in advanced manufacturing courses. Future courses are planned in clean energy, health care and trade career awareness.
More than 500 students participated in student internships in the 2024-25 school year, far surpassing the School Department’s goal of 425. While only
halfway through the academic year, internship placements are again on track to outpace expectations. Last year, a total of 528 people attended the Career Fair at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, far more than the School Department’s goal of 475. The 2026 Career Fair will take place on March 30. School Committee members Barbara Gresham and Rosa Valentin both praised the work done by the Post-Secondary Success team. Valentin, who recently retired as an educator in Springfield, said she knows how hard the team has worked on college and career readiness programs. “My heart is full of joy,” she said before giving the team a thumbs up.
Springfield Public Schools receives
$1.79 million in state
earmarks
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Public Schools received nearly $1.79 million in state Fair Share funding. The School Committee approved the expenditure of the funds at its Jan. 29 meeting. More than half of the money will pay for school improvements, multilingual learner supports and arts education. Another major portion will be used on safety and security upgrades at several schools.
In 2022, Massachusetts voters passed the Fair Share Amendment, which placed a 4% tax surcharge of income over $1 million, with the revenue dedicated to education and transportation. In fiscal year 2026, the state allocated $1.59 billion in Fair Share funds to education programs and earmarks. Springfield received three earmarks containing funding for several projects, expenses and programs.
Improvements will be made at four schools, including flooring at Indian Orchard Elementary School, painting at Dorman School, refinish the floor and upgrade the divider in the gymnasium at Boland Elementary School and the first phase of upgrades to Chestnut Accelerated Middle School’s automated building management system.
A new fire alarm system is needed at the High School of Science and Technology, an accessible sidewalk replacement project must be design for Margaret Ellis School, and new communications systems and infrastructure will be installed at Mary Pottenger and Elias Brookings elementary schools, and Kensing-
ton International School. School Committee member LaTonia Monroe-Naylor said schools were chosen for upgrades based on their technological needs and what equipment is at the end of its useful life.
A total of $200,000 of the funding will go to supporting multilingual students throughout the city with translation devices, multilingual dictionaries and headphones for ACCESS English language proficiency testing. The funding will also support Springfield Public Schools’ plan to expand visual and performing arts education to every school. This will include purchasing supplies for art, theater, dance and pottery.
Finally, funding will go to a program designed to procure local food and educate students about nutrition and food systems, including field trips to farms and classroom gardens.
On the topic of food, Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall thanked Chief Financial and Operations Officer Patrick Roach for his work to organize the distribution of nearly 1,000 meals to families the day before a major winter storm on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 led to schools being closed the first two days of the week. Dinnall, anticipating that the schools would be closed, had asked Roach about sending children, many of whom rely on school lunches, home with extra snacks. Instead, she said he coordinated with Homegrown Springfield, the company that provides meals to the city’s schools.
“We met a need we probably didn’t know we had,” Dinnall said.
Layoff notices fueling competitiveness, political debates
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — A trio of major layoff notices will soon cost 260 workers their jobs in Boston and Western Massachusetts, adding to economic competitiveness pressures at play for the state and in this year’s elections.
Panera plans to lay off 92 workers in Franklin on March 25-27, according to a recently filed notice with the state. Zipcar intends to terminate 65 workers in Boston from April 1-14, followed by Thermo Fisher Scientific laying off 103 employees in Franklin from Dec. 31 through Dec. 31, 2027.
Critics say the losses underscore the state’s flailing competitive edge, as the Healey administration aims to mitigate affordability woes that are driving Bay Staters out of Massachusetts.
Residents continue to feel the squeeze of steep housing, energy and health care prices.
“These are not isolated decisions,” Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Diego Craney said on Feb. 2. “They are rational business responses to a state that has become increasingly expensive, unpredictable, and hostile to employers. High taxes, crushing energy costs and rigid Net Zero climate mandates are making it harder every day for companies to justify staying in Massachusetts.”
Craney added: “If state leaders refuse to take our loss of economic competitiveness seriously, this trend will continue, and working families will keep paying the price.”
Massachusetts is also experiencing a population exodus. New census data show that 33,340
residents left and went to other states between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.
In her State of the Commonwealth address, Healey referred to talent as “our greatest strength.”
“That’s why, when it comes to competing for jobs – my bet’s always on Massachusetts,” Healey said. “Hasbro and Lego agreed — they moved their headquarters here. So did Alnylam, a global leader in life-saving gene therapies. They started at UMass Chan Medical School. Now, they just built a brand-new manufacturing plant in Norton, all built with good union jobs. Then there’s Transmedics — a company saving lives for people who need organ transplants. They turned down New Hampshire and decided to grow right here in Massachusetts.”
In over-the-year data spanning from November 2025 to Novem-
ber 2024, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island saw declines in nonfarm payroll employment, while Vermont’s employment grew by about 0.6%, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said in a report last month. “Connecticut and Massachusetts employment barely grew, with increases of only 0.1% and 0.05%, respectively,” the report said.
Zipcar is closing the company’s local headquarters in Boston, and consolidating functions within owner Avis Budget Group’s U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, according to a state notice.
“Zipcar’s regional field and fleet operations teams will continue to be based in Boston and other local markets to support members and day-to-day service without interruption,” Avis said in a statement. “Zipcar remains fully operational and members should
expect the same service and experience they rely on today. We are committed to managing this transition responsibly and supporting our employees throughout the process.”
Panera intends to close its Fresh Dough Facility in Franklin on March 27 as the company implements a new bakery operating model, according to a state notice.
“Panera is offering all affected employees many forms of support throughout this transition, including a severance package, assistance locating other jobs within Panera and outplacement services, including a job fair on February 23, 2026,” the notice said.
Thermo Fisher plans to eventually close its Franklin facility, which “provides GMP biologics storage and cell therapy clinical
DA’s office provides court tour to Springfield eighth graders
SPRINGFIELD — A group of eighth graders from Springfield International Charter School got an inside look of the Hampden County Hall of Justice during a court tour on Jan. 21.
During court tours, students spend half a day touring the Springfield Courthouse as invited guests of the district attorney. The tours introduce students to a wide range of career paths within the criminal justice system, with victim witness advocates, judges, court officers, and other court professionals — as available — sharing insights into their roles.
The program welcomes students in grades 6-12, as some of the cases students sit in on can be
too mature for a younger audience.
The court tours are led by the Hampden District Attorney’s Community Safety & Outreach Unit.
CSO Director Tony Simmons and Deputy Director Gina Anselmo provided the Jan. 21 tour, which began with Simmons sharing an overview of what students could expect to see throughout the day. He then introduced Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Clarke, who shared some insight into his work and court operation.
Chief Court Officer Larry Roberson spoke to the students as well, talking about his journey to becoming a court officer, along with some of his most memorable
and “scariest” cases he was present for – a question raised by one of the students.
Following the introductions, students made their way to Courtroom 1 to sit in on the arraignment hearings.
It could be described as a busy day in the Springfield Courthouse as countless cases went before Judge Danielle Williams, such as shoplifting, domestic violence, larceny, drug distribution, bail hearings and more.
After nearly two hours of nonstop hearings, the court took a recess, and everyone except the students were asked to leave the courtroom so that Williams could talk with them and answer ques-
tions. Williams talked about her journey to becoming a judge, while also explaining what happens in arraignment court, and the different roles in the courtroom, from the clerk to the assistant district attorneys.
Students also had the opportunity to hear from a clerk magistrate, a defense attorney and a prosecutor.
“Getting young people into the courtroom and letting them see how the justice system works is incredibly important,” said District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “When students can experience it firsthand, it makes civics real and relevant. Court tours give them the chance to ask questions,
understand their rights, and see the wide range of career paths and professional roles that exist within the justice system.”
Court tours are one of many free programs offered by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office. For more information about the court tours, or to request a tour for your school, contact Hampden District Attorney’s Office Deputy Director of Community Safety & Outreach Gina Anselmo at gina. anselmo@mass.gov.
A group of eighth graders from Springfield International Charter School recently toured the Hampden County Hall of Justice, hearing from a judge, court officer, prosecutor and more.
American Hospital Association names Roose to Regional Policy Board
HARTFORD — Robert Roose, MD, MPH, president of Community Hospitals, Trinity Health Of New England, has been appointed as an at large delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 1. The Regional Policy Boards meet three times a year to discuss policy issues, and the American Hospital Association Board uses the recommendations of PRB members during its policy deliberations.
As president of Community
Hospitals, Roose leads strategic execution and operational direction across the organization’s acute care hospitals; Mercy Medical Center, Springfield; Johnson Memorial Hospital, Stafford, Connecticut, and Saint Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut. With his leadership focus on people and performance, the hospitals have sustained top quality scores and growth in several key areas, including oncology, imaging, inpatient discharges and robotic surgery. Roose also
successfully oversaw several strategic projects, including the development of the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit at Mercy, the opening of the Geriatric Wellness Pavilion at Johnson, and the completion and transition of care into the $50 million S. Prestley & Helen Blake Ambulatory Care Center in Enfield.
“Dr. Roose is a visionary leader who understands the important role of quality in the delivery of patient care. This ability, coupled with his exceptional busi-
ness acumen, solution-oriented thinking, and heartfelt compassion, make him a great asset to AHA’s Regional Policy Board,” said Montez Carter, PharmD, FACHE, president and chief executive office, Trinity Health Of New England.
“I am honored by the appointment to the AHA’s Regional Policy Board, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advocate for the health care needs of our patients and the communities we serve,” said Roose.
Springfield announces successful public real estate auction results
SPRINGFIELD — The city of Springfield held its first public real estate auction of 2026 on Feb. 3, at City Hall. The well-attended auction event was highly successful, with all listed parcels sold.
The public auction was one of the most successful in the city’s history in terms of dollar amount and number of parcels sold. There was a total of 20 parcels available, and each had a successful bid. The average bid amount was $50,000, and the total revenue from the sales will be just over $1 million.
All sales are not final. The successful bidders will secure financing and go through the closing
process to fulfill all requirements.
City Collector/Treasurer Steve Lonergan said, “The city held its first public auction in several years and it was a huge success!
Congratulations to the successful bidders of the 20 buildable lots that were auctioned off. The bids totaled $1,012,000 and once all the requirements are fulfilled, will be back on the city’s tax rolls. I would like to thank the tax title team, Sandy Powell, Julisa Davila-Ramos, Vanessa Adorno and Brianna Sylvester, for all of their hard work in ensuring the success that was achieved last night.”
“As many know, it is the city
who becomes owner of homes and vacant lots when owners fail to pay taxes,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. “This is a step in the right direction with 20 vacant parcels now able to be utilized for positive economic development opportunities by responsible owners. It takes a negative situation and, not only gets the property back on the tax rolls, but enables positive development of the neighborhood area in question. This successful auction event underscores the strong value of our property here in the city. This is reassuring for those who continue to believe in and invest in our
Springfield. Thank you to all who attended and participated, and I commend and thank Treasurer Steve Lonergan and his team for facilitating this event and the prior trainings too.”
Visit the city website for more information on purchasing cityowned property: springfield-ma. gov/finance/collector/purchasing-city-owned-property
Dr. Robert Roose. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
RENAISSANCE VS PIONEER VALLEY
BASKETBALL
Renaissance hosted Pioneer Valley Christian Academy on Jan. 27 at Rebecca M. Johnson School in Springfield. PVCA hung onto the lead and got the win 72-62.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVID HOSMER
Renaissance’s Jansiel Barreiro slices through the defenders.
Renaissance’s Chris Reyes looks over the defense from the wing.
Renaissance’s Jason Starzyk spins for the score.
PVCA’s Isaac Souza sprints down the sideline with the dribble.
Renaissance’s Gady Mangezi applies pressure on defense.
Renaissance’s Damarion Walters attacks the paint on the drive.
PVCA’s Caleb Hill stretches to save the ball.
Renaissance’s Jansiel Barreiro streaks down the court on the fast break.
PVCA’s Eli Souza lines up a three from the top of the arc.
PVCA’s Jared Henderson takes it to the basket for the score.
PVCA’s Owen Knox cuts along the baseline.
PVCA’s Myron Callender battles through contact in the paint.
Healey to offer election year economic development bill
By Sam Drysdale State House News Service
BOSTON — Midway through the two-year session and as data points to a slow job market in Massachusetts. Gov. Maura Healey plans to file an economic development bill “at some point,” she said on Feb. 2, noting she has already put two bills before the Legislature to propel local economies.
Governors often file economic development or jobs bills that lawmakers entertain in the months leading up to elections. As the last session came to a close, Healey and lawmakers in 2024 agreed on a law committing state financial support to the life sciences and climate technology industries, expanding the mission of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and paving the way for a professional soccer stadium in Everett.
Asked by the News Service
On Feb. 2 what her plans were for a jobs bill, Healey pointed to bills she’s already filed: a $2.5 billion proposal (H 4693) to use bonding to upgrade infrastructure at higher education campuses, dubbed the BRIGHT Act; and a research-and-education based “DRIVE Act” (H 4375) that would infuse $400 million into higher education, research and biopharma development.
“Pending right now with the Legislature we’ve got the BRIGHT Act, that’s going to bring tens of thousands of jobs online in construction to build in-
frastructure on our college campuses. And then we also have the DRIVE Act, which is going to fund a lot of positions and help drive the job growth created in our life sciences and biotech industries. Those are construction jobs, retail jobs, architecture, in addition to scientific jobs as well,” Healey said.
Healey filed the higher ed infrastructure bill over a year ago, last January, and the science funding bill in July.
The BRIGHT Act passed the House in November and now is in Senate Ways and Means. It received a 13-0 favorable recommendation from the Joint Committee on Higher Education. The DRIVE Act has not emerged from the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, where House Chair of the Committee Rep. Carole Fiola pointed to other needs outside of higher education and biotech when asked about the bill in the fall. “There are a lot of important pressing needs: energy costs, all these federal implications of federal cutbacks. So, we’re looking at all of it,” Fiola said in September. The committee has until March 16 to make a recommendation on the bill.
Pressed on whether those two bills made up her economic agenda, Healey said, “No, no no. I’m just saying that that’s already stuff that we’ve done ... In terms of additional bills around workforce and job creation, we’re evaluating that now, but I imagine that we’ll have more to announce.”
She added, “I do expect we’ll file an economic development bill at some point.”
The governor said last week that she is leaning on the cochairs of her Competitiveness Council: Dan Kenary, president & co-founder of the Harpoon Brewery and board member of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Mark Nunnelly, chairman of Toolbox Holdings and Foundation and former managing director of Bain Capital.
“I think you should take comfort knowing that Dan and Mark are at the helm, leading that with an array of stakeholders, and I’ve asked for immediate feedback,” Healey said at an AIM conference last week.
Data released Jan. 23 shows Massachusetts’ job market continued to move slowly in December, with modest payroll growth paired with rising unemployment and a shrinking labor force.
Preliminary figures from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development show payroll jobs increased by 4,600 in December, following similar gains in October and November. While those gains add up to about 13,500 jobs since September, they point to steady but subdued hiring activity.
At the same time, the unemployment rate edged up to 4.8% in December, from 4.7% in November. The increase came alongside a decline in labor force participation, which slipped to 66.5%. The data showed 9,300 fewer individuals were employed.
TheReminder.com
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
CHICOPEE
Karen M. Benoit
Louise C. Hebert
Tina Laker
William G. Lomas
Adrienne Moreau
Gail L. Rogers
Walter B. Rohan
Luann T. Sheridan
EAST LONGMEADOW
Janet M. Richards
HAMPDEN
Bruce Edward Glover
Robert H. Zepke
HOLYOKE
William T. Baxter
Kathleen L. Bowler
Jean S. Buxton
Joseph E. Cavanaugh
LONGMEADOW
Michael J. Flaherty
Anthony A. Sergentanis Eleanor Stolar LUDLOW
Erika A. Desautels Paul Trigilio
SOUTH HADLEY
John V. Attardi
Thomas L. Bernard Mavis A. Blain
Janet A. Chagnon Helen Domurat
Joan P. Duffy
SPRINGFIELD
Bridget M. Beucke
John Patrick Lynch
John S. Musiak
Rory H. Quinn
Joanne F. Shapiro
Alan Dale Wilson
Marie M. Young
WILBRAHAM
John T. Liebel
Bowman Dean Franklin Milner Sr. Dr. Albert S. Orquiola
The state reported that fewer people were working across private and nonprofit jobs, self-employment and entrepreneurship, with some workers likely leaving the workforce altogether due to retirement or other factors.
The mixed signals reinforce a picture of a labor market that is stable but sluggish.
While employers added jobs in December, particularly in leisure and hospitality, health care and education, and manufacturing, the overall pool of workers continued to shrink. That combination — modest job gains paired with fewer people working and a higher jobless rate — suggests employers remain cautious about expanding payrolls, even as layoffs remain limited.
As in previous months, the data points less to a downturn than to a prolonged period of slow movement. Hiring continues at a restrained pace, unemployment has inched higher, and labor force participation has softened, underscoring ongoing headwinds for jobseekers in Massachusetts as the state enters the new year.
“I was looking at your recent survey,” Healey said during her business address last week to AIM. “I think 70% of you said your business was doing well, but only 46% were confident in the economy, right? And so, you know, we’re very mindful of the vibe out there.”
Healey called it “a hard time for people to plan, for people to deploy capital and make investments.”
Layoffs
Continued from page 5
trial support,” according to a company webpage. The first layoffs will occur on Dec. 31, and “separations may continue through” the next year, a state notice said.
The Thermo Fisher losses point to steady headwinds in life sciences, which lost more than 1,000 biopharma research and development jobs from 2023 to 2024. Massachusetts invests public funds in the sector, with a 2024 economic development law reauthorizing the life sciences initiative at $500 million for the next decade.
Thermo Fisher has never received state tax credits from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, an agency spokesperson said.
“Did every mid-size manufacturing plant in Massachusetts make a New Years Resolution to flee the state in 2026?” GOP candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve tweeted on Jan. 30. “Thermo Fisher Scientific is the largest publicly traded company in Massachusetts. When they close a home-turf plant, you know it’s bad.”
The Campbell’s Company last week announced plans to close its
“The reality is, we face a lot of headwinds,” the governor told business executives at the event in Newton. “We have the last three years, and you guys have been living it since we came out of COVID. We are focused on lowering costs, and we’re trying to do that across the areas that I know matter the most to all of you.”
Healey also told the News Service on Feb. 2 while discussing a possible jobs bill that, “I’ve also been very focused on the things that help attract talent and bring people for jobs to Massachusetts and keep them here for jobs. That’s why the investments in housing are so important. Building more; building faster.”
Asked whether she planned to file any additional housing legislation, Healey said she’s focused on laws that are on the books.
“Well, we filed a massive housing bill a few years ago, now we’re in the process of implementing that, along with the changes that we’ve made from the various commissions that I’ve set up and the reports coming back,” she said.
She later added, “If there are more things to do, we will certainly be filing whatever legislation is necessary. But what I want people to focus on right now is implementing what’s already out there.”
Sam Drysdale and is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro. Reach her at sdrysdale@statehousenews.com.
Hyannis facility in April, meaning Cape Cod potato chips will soon no longer be made on the Cape. The Hyannis plant produces just 4% of the total volume of Cape Cod chips annually, and Campbell’s said the “site no longer makes economic sense for the business.”
“Massachusetts under Maura Healey is so expensive and unfriendly to job creators that an iconic MA brand is cutting ties,” tweeted GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy, who pointed out Massachusetts gained 230,000 private sector jobs when he was housing and economic development secretary in the Baker administration.
“Since Maura Healey has been governor, our economy has been stagnant,” Kennealy continued. “That’s unacceptable.”
Reacting to the Cape Cod business news, GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue said, “Massachusetts brand can’t keep production in Massachusetts. We must do better.”
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
Festival to showcase, celebrate youth film and photography
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — From the Valley Fest, a new youth film and photography festival started by two Hampshire County high schoolers, is coming to 33 Hawley in Northampton on Feb. 21. The inaugural event will showcase and celebrate the work of young artists in their respective mediums.
The festival was cultivated by Amherst Regional High School junior Ava Beganny and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School junior Serena Gross, whose passion and friendship tied to photography and visual storytelling helped foster the idea. They became friends at the Deerfield Academy Summer Arts Camp and quickly bonded over their shared interests.
“We’ve been friends for a while, and we became friends because we had a shared love for visual art, such as photography and film. We were looking around the area trying to find some kind of festival to showcase our artwork, and we couldn’t really find anything that was really accessi-
ble to us, so we were like, ‘what if we just made it ourselves?’ And so over the summer, we started talking about it and planning, and it all kind of went from there,” Beganny told Reminder Publishing
As part of their summer at DASAC, the two were exposed to analog photography and visual storytelling, which eventually augmented the poetry they wrote.
Beganny said it was a great experience for the two of them because it helped build their skills in those areas.
The festival will run on Feb. 21 from 2-4 p.m. The first hour is devoted to a photo gallery walk/ mixer, where artists can connect further and speak to attendees about their work. The second hour features a presentation of the film submissions themselves.
“Youth artists can meet up with each other and get inspired, and just have a good connectiveness … I think that part is really cool, talking to other people your age that are interested in the same thing,” added Beganny. “It’s [the festival] casual, as in it’s not something to be super wor-
ried about going into it. Everyone who submitted has really good art, and it’s amazing to see, so it shouldn’t be a scary event where you’re worried your art isn’t good enough. It’s for youth artists, and it’s for people to try and experiment, and get inspired.
Beganny added, “I think that it’s really important to not only be creative in your own way in whatever art form it is, but to also look at other people’s ideas through artwork. I think it’s important to broaden your scope and to also get connected with other people. I have a lot of friends at Northampton High School, and I’m just trying to get a lot of people to come to this event. Not only if you’re an artist, but to see people doing things you’re not used to, because it can really make your brain open up more to different ideas.”
Beganny said the event is not meant to be competitive. Instead, it’s a showcase of the talented youth working in these areas. With that being said, one photographer and one filmmaker will be highlighted at the end of the event as “The Valley Favorite.”
“It’ll be a way to showcase one thing that really excelled in our eyes, but we don’t want it to be a competition; it’s just an added benefit. For everyone that’s submitted, we’re all proud of them, and it’s been amazing to see,” added Beganny.
Reflecting on the creation of the festival, Beganny said she and Gross are both thankful to be living in the valley, where doing something like this is attainable.
“I think we’re really lucky to live in an area where it’s accessible to do things like this and also to be supported through that. I think that it’s good that we’re taking this opportunity because there are places where people just don’t have access to these forms of art, or access to the funds to be able to put on such an event,” said Beganny. “We want to take advantage of that and be able to do this so that people will be more inspired in the future to do more stuff like this, because in all honesty, my ideas were inspired by a lot of local theater people who have put on their own events at different venues and such, and I kind of
wanted to lean into that and put on my own event. I just wanted to lean right into my hobbies, which I know a lot of youth share with me, and to be able to have a big gathering where everybody can learn one way or another.”
Tickets for the first-ever From the Valley: Youth Film and Photography Festival are $7 for students and $12 for general admission if purchased on Eventbrite: visit tinyurl.com/tjmvd4s8. The cost at the door is $5 for students and $10 for general admission attendees.
“Art is a very special medium. I think that it’s not encouraged in a lot of places, and I want to be able to encourage that to youth so that they can try this thing that is often discouraged, because it’s hard to make a living when only focusing on art,” added Beganny.
“But I think, especially as a kid or teenager, that’s the prime time to experiment with art, whether it’s film and photography, or theater, or writing, anything like that, I think is just wonderful, and I think everybody should have access to those types of things.”
Springfield Symphony’s Fearless Women Awards open for nominations
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Orchestra announced that its fourth Annual Fearless Women Awards are open for nominations, honoring local women who embody courage, resilience and empowerment. Women are nominated by their peers, and nominations are being accepted until Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.
Nominations can be made through a form on the SSO web-
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation on Feb. 4 announced that reservations for the 2026 state park camping season will open to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. Camping season at DCR’s 25 campgrounds will begin in April and continue through October.
“Camping at a DCR park is a cherished tradition for families and friends from all over — many of whom return to the same campground year after year, and in some cases for decades,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Spending time together outdoors strengthens relationships, creates lasting memories and helps foster the vital connection between people and nature, along with a shared responsibility to care for these special places.”
Campers should note the following prior to booking a reservation:
Reservations are available up to four months in advance of arrival.
Same-day reservations are available until 2 p.m. daily through ReserveAmerica
Campers should fill out all required fields of the reservation application at the time of booking to ensure a smooth arrival.
• Visitors without a reservation are not allowed in campsites; however, day-use areas are available for gathering and outdoor activities.
• All pets must have physical proof of valid rabies vaccination. Entry may be denied at check-in if paper verification cannot be provided.
Campground-specific updates
• Fans of camping at Mount Greylock State Reservation and the Boston Harbor Islands are encouraged to monitor DCR’s website and social media accounts for updates on the camping schedule.
• Savoy Mountain State Forest’s campground will close
site at SpringfieldSymphony.org.
This year’s Fearless Women will be recognized on stage at the SSO’s March 14 performance at 7:30 p.m., “Gershwin and A Woman’s Voice.”
Those who nominate a Fearless Woman can choose among five inspiring categories that most embodies the individual, including Bravery, Advocacy, Passion, Perseverance; and Au-
July 31, 2026, to accommodate the construction of a new bathhouse.
• This season, Washburn Island will be available for camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The campground at Washburn Island is accessible by private boat only. Please note that there is no on-site parking at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve or at the town of Falmouth parking lot at White’s Landing. Campers are responsible for finding suitable parking arrangements. Since last season, DCR has made several improvements to its campsites including the new yurts at both Clarksburg State Park and Nickerson State Park.
A list of DCR campsites can be found at DCR’s camping webpage. Campsites vary in offered accommodations, including showers, flush toilets, and R.V. water and power hook-ups.
thenticity. Last year’s Fearless Women Awards honored seven local women, and since its inception, the Awards have recognized more than 20 women in the region.
Those being honored will receive two tickets to the March 14 SSO concert, along with the individual who nominated them, and there will be a Welcome Reception for honorees, their guests
Yurts can be reserved at Myles Standish State Forest, Nickerson State Park, October Mountain State Forest, Clarksburg State Park, Otter River State Forest, Shawme Cromwell State Forest, Wells State Park and Willard Brook State Forest. Cabins can be rented at Mohawk Trail State Forest and Savoy Mountain State Forest. For more information on camping in cabins and yurts visit DCR’s cabin and yurt camping webpage. Additionally, approximately 20 of DCR’s campgrounds have accessible campsites that all provide accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and a flat, firm and stable surface for camping. For more information on accessible campsites visit DCR’s accessible camping webpage.
Last year, DCR accepted nearly 65,000 camping reservations at parks across the state. For more information and questions about the 2026 camp-
and nominators in the Mahogany Room prior to the concert. The Fearless Women will then be recognized on-stage at the start of the performance. The honorees will receive a plaque in recognition of this honor.
According to Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO, “The Fourth Annual Fearless Women Awards celebrate the remarkable women whose courage, creativity and commitment elevate our community and inspire us all. They reflect a deep dedication to lifting others, fostering connection, and creating meaningful, lasting impact through their everyday actions. We are proud to recognize their achievements and to shine a spotlight on these amazing women in our very own Symphony Hall.”
ing season, visit the agency’s website or email dcr.campinginfo@mass.gov.
