Veritas seniors to secure diploma, college degrees
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Next month, the inaugural class of seniors will graduate from Veritas Prep Charter Public School. The school has partnered with Springfield Technical Community College and Worcester State University to offer college-level courses while the students are still in high school. As such, nearly half of Veritas Prep’s 77 graduating seniors will have earned their associate’s degree as well as a diploma.
On May 15, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Department of Elementary Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez toured the school and spoke with students and faculty about their experiences with the school’s early college format.
In the college-level Spanish class they dropped in on, students were working on essays about an individual in their lives. Overseen by Westfield State University professor Marilyn Sanchez, four students shared their work with Zrike and Martinez, both fluent Spanish speakers. Martinez, who did not become fluent in Spanish until he was an adult, praised the students and said learning a language as a teen or adult is significantly more difficult than learning as a child.
In a college-level marketing class taught by Niasha Ortiz, a student presented a marketing plan for an original product — a hoodie with cooling pads and air vents, targeted to athletes. The professor said the student had hit “the four p’s” of marketing — product, price, placement and promotion. Martinez asked the student whether price or quality would set his product apart from others on the market. After thinking about it, he decided to offer superior quality.
EMTs, paramedics graduate from AMR’s Earn While You Learn American Medical Response, an emergency medical services provider, graduated a class of emergency medical technicians and paramedics from its Earn While You Learn program.
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Springfield honors its fallen police officers with ceremony
On May 13, the Springfield Police Department honored its fallen officers with a Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony. Page 3
Not all students participate in the early college courses, Veritas Prep Principal Stephen Mahoney said, but as a wall-to-wall program, every student is eligible to take college courses, beginning in their second semester of ninth grade, provided their grades meet
a certain standard. They are also required to sustain their grades to continue taking college courses. School-wide, 89 students take full-time college courses.
After the tour, Zrike and Martinez sat down with 10 students from various grades. They lis-
tened to students express what they have gotten out of the early college courses. One student said it was helpful to “get my gen eds out of the way” before high school graduation. Many of the courses
SPRINGFIELD
Above, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Veritas Prep Charter Public School Principal Stephen Mahoney hear from students about their early college course experiences. Below, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Veritas Prep Charter Public School Principal Stephen Mahoney and Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association Executive Director Tim Nicolette join Veritas Prep students engaging in the early college program.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
EMTs, paramedics graduate from AMR’s Earn While You Learn
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — American Medical Response, an emergency medical services provider, graduated a class of emergency medical technicians and paramedics from its Earn While You Learn program. The ceremony was hosted at AMR’s Springfield location on Cottage Street during National EMS Week.
The keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, recalled an experience he had several years ago, riding along with an ambulance crew responding to a call in Springfield. He said a man had fallen and become wedged between his bed and the wall, and his wife could not lift him. “It was a beautiful summer night. The windows were open ... and the game was on in the background on the radio,” Neal remembered. The crew had Neal ask the man his name to judge his cognitive state. “I leaned into him and said, ‘Can you please tell me your name.’ And he said, ‘Are the Red Sox still ahead?’” After a laugh from the crowd, Neal said, “We knew he was going to be okay.”
Neal said first responders are required to be “polite, kind and always empathetic,” no matter the situation. “Time and again, as we’ve witnessed what EMTs have been able to do, as they have been able to mitigate and calm some of the emotions that surround the challenging situation in which they find themselves,” Neal said. He said it requires “an extraordinary amount of patience.”
Neal said everyone in the room was “united in our quest for better and more affordable health care for the American people.” He said life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past 125 years. Because of that, many patients that EMTs and paramedics respond to have dementia and other maladies associated with aging. Often, those patients rely
on Medicare and Medicaid. He said he would fight against the cuts to those programs that are expected in November.
Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno said AMR has been there for Springfield through the tornado, gas explosion and coronavirus pandemic. When he addressed the graduates, he referred to the city’s police and fire services and said, “You’re part of the team. You’re part of the partnership. People are looking to you for guidance, to let them know, ‘You’re going to be okay.’”
Self-care was a running theme throughout several of the speeches. Sarno said, “You need also to take care of yourselves, too. You have to have those stress relievers — whatever hobby you do, whatever family support you have. And families, thank you for your understanding, because they’re going to see things that
you couldn’t imagine. But, yet, they’re going to be there to save those lives.”
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez congratulated the graduates, describing them as “new unsung heroes.”
Springfield Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi joked that he had been a paramedic longer than many of the graduates had been alive. Both he and Baystate Health Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Seth Kelly began their careers as paramedics. Calvi told the graduates that emergency services is a field they can parley into several careers.
Calvi also reminded the graduates to take care of themselves.
“Don’t let the bad days get you down,” he said. While these emergencies are tragic, they’re not your emergencies.” He told them, “It takes a lot of support from families to do this career.”
Springfield Police Lt. Eleni Barbieri congratulated the new EMTs and paramedics on behalf of Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. She said, “The work you’re preparing to do truly matters” and it “demands not only skill and knowledge, but compassion and professionalism.”
The Earn While You Learn program pays people while they train to become EMTs and paramedics. AMR Massachusetts Regional Director Patrick Leonardo said the EMTs go through a three-month program and are contracted to work full-time for AMR for one year. Then, they have a choice to go elsewhere, continue with AMR or go into the Earn While You Learn paramedic program. After graduation, 99.9% are guaranteed to get a job in the field.
Sarno praised the Earn While You Learn program, and said,
“The diversity of the program is very strong.” He added that a substantial number of the people who complete it are from Springfield.
In the beginning, Leonardo said it seemed like it would be complicated to attract people to the program, but after the first class graduated, new people heard about the program through word of mouth. Multiple people have enrolled after a family member told them about the program. After the graduates shook hands and received certificates, the dignitaries and AMR recognized EMS, police and fire personnel from Springfield and Greenfield who saved lives in 2025. Many of the honorees had previously graduated from the Earn While You Learn program. Several Springfield cardiac patients who had been saved, and one paramedic delivered a baby.
A first responder is congratulated by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal for saving a life. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi, Baystate Health Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Seth Kelly, Police Lt. Eleni Barbieri and AMR Regional Director Patrick Leonardo look on. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Springfield honors its fallen police officers with ceremony
man stands before the memorial to fallen members of the
A stone memorializes the 17 members of the Springfield Police Department who have died in the line of
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — The call of a bugle sounding taps echoed off the Springfield Police Department headquarters on Pearl Street before being carried away on the wind, while dozens of officers, dignitaries and community members looked on stoically. Following the bugle call, officers conducted a three-volley salute, firing rifles to recognize the 17 Springfield officers who have died in the line of duty.
“To all the families who have lost loved ones, we honor you today,” said Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. “Their sacri-
fice was not an act of chance, but an act of character. Your loved ones are not forgotten, and neither are you.”
Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “Policing is still an honorable profession and so needed.” He described police officers as “sentinels of peace.” The mayor wears a “Badge 7” pin on his lapel in remembrance of Sgt. Kevin Ambrose, who died in 2012 protecting a mother and child during a domestic disturbance. He said, “Never forget the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for people they didn’t even know.”
Police Chaplain William Hamilton remarked, “Behind the badge, there are wives, hus-
bands, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers.”
Michael Vigneault, son of fallen officer, Richard Vigneault, spoke about absence felt by children who have lost a parent. “Never forget the price of peace,” he said. Maura Schiavina, whose brother, Michael Schiavina, was killed in the line of duty, thanked Sarno for his “unwavering support and dedication” to the families of fallen Springfield police officers. Referring to the ceremony, she said, “These kinds of things give us comfort. I feel like I’m here with Michael.”
While the Police Department recognizes its fallen officers each year as part of National Police
Week, May 13’s memorial ceremony included the unveiling of new memorial plaques for the officers. The plaques were funded by donations from the Hockey for Heroes Foundation, the IBPO Local 364 Patrolman’s Union and the Springfield Police Supervisors Association.
A contingent of officers was absent from the ceremony, as they were representing the Springfield Police Department at the funeral of State Police Trooper Kevin Trainer who was recently killed in a wrong-way crash responding to a call.
Springfield’s fallen officers are:
• Thomas Miller, Oct. 3, 1675
• Daniel Donovan, Sept. 29, 1908
Adelbert St. Marie, Aug. 31, 1934
• Carl Rolf, Nov. 2, 1938
• John P. Sullivan, Sr., Feb. 2, 1940
• Thomas F. Murphy, Feb. 2, 1940
• Raymond Moriarty, Sept. 2, 1946
John W. Connors, Feb. 20, 1953
• Leo Hamel, Oct. 31, 1955
• Francis Sears, Sept. 11, 1967
Walter C. Juskiewicz, June 21, 1969
• William R. Berte, Jan. 8, 1973
• Richard D. Vigneault, April 11, 1973
• Paul F. Mawaka, Oct. 30, 1973
• Michael Schiavina, Nov. 12, 1985
• Alain Beauregard, Nov. 15, 1985
• Kevin Ambrose, June 4, 2012
Top row, from left: A member of the Springfield Police Department sounds taps during the memorial ceremony. Members of the Springfield Police Department pay their respects to their fellow officers. Bottom row, from left. Springfield Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Walsh, Police Chaplain William Hamilton, Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers listen as Vanessa Ford sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A
Springfield Police Department. His brother is among those honored.
duty.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
City Councilors debate whether to mandate in-person meetings
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — A resolution by Ward 7 City Councilor Gerry Martin requiring councilors to attend meetings in person caused some fiery debate in the council chambers on May 18.
Martin broached the subject in a public letter to City Council President Tracye Whitfield on May 13. In the letter, Martin wrote, “It is my firm belief that we were elected to represent our constituents by showing up — physically present — to do the work of the City Council.” His constituents find it “disrespectful and disappointing” to see councilors attend remotely. Further, he wrote, “Councilors participating remotely were not visible on screen, were difficult to hear or appeared to step away to attend to other responsibilities during official proceedings.”
Whitfield released a public response two days later in which she stated that she does not support mandated in-person meetings. She said councilors balance public service with “real-life obligations,” including family, work and health.
“I would rather maintain quorum and continue conducting the public’s business than delay im-
Veritas Prep
involved in an associate’s degree are general education classes that all students must take.
“I always told myself I would take every opportunity, and I have,” said one student, who cares for his younger sisters.
Students in ninth and 10th grade take college-level courses at the high school, but juniors and seniors can take classes on campus at Springfield Technical Community College or Worces-
portant votes and agenda items because members are unable to physically attend a meeting on a particular evening,” Whitfield said. She left the door open to find a compromise.
At the council’s May 18 meeting, the resolution was put forward, co-sponsored by Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards, Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton and Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan. Martin stood to address the council and began the discussion by noting that it was the first time in five years that the entire council had attended a meeting in person. He said constituents have told him they find it disrespectful that councilors do not attend meetings in person. He made the case that if City Hall employees must physically come to work, the City Council should as well.
Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown stood, mirroring Martin’s gesture. Raising his voice, he said, “This is grandstanding and shame on it.” Brown said the council should follow the state’s guidelines, which have allowed hybrid meetings since the COVID-19-era restrictions on in-person gatherings. The current legislation on the matter allows for hybrid meetings until June 2027. “Being a city coun-
ter State University.
This year, senior Nicholas Grier’s classes have all taken place on the STCC campus. He said the experience has expanded his interests. He has also gained confidence and learned time management skills. “It’s a maturity thing,” he said about waiting until junior year to attend classes on a college campus.
Mia Erazo said the ability to learn on campus is important.
“It’s a different environment,” she said. “It sets a tone.”
Both Erazo and Laysha Gonzalez were enrolled in the fifth
cilor is not showing up at 5 p.m. to vote on parking,” Brown said. He suggested the resolution go to committee.
Whitfield reminded Brown of council rules that require councilors to address each other through the chair, not call out their colleagues by name and treat one another with respect.
Later, addressing Brown, Martin said, “It’s good to see you,” referring to his colleague’s frequent use of remote participation, often with the camera off. Brown began to push back, but Whitfield admonished the councilors, saying, “We are not in kindergarten. We are not going to do this back-and-forth.”
Responding to Brown’s comment on state guidelines, Govan pointed out that the state gave municipalities the option to opt out of hybrid meetings. Constituents have mentioned their desire for in-person attendance to her as well, she said. She remarked that people cannot read body language as well through a camera, and not at all if a councilor has their camera off.
“This seat is a service,” Govan said. “We work for our constituents.”
Ward 1 City Councilor Maria Perez said health issues, including invisible ones, may
grade at Veritas Prep Middle School through a lottery. Now, the two seniors who have gotten a head start on their future careers. Both have earned their certified nursing assistant certifications. Gonzalez said having the chance to take college courses while in high school “feels important. The opportunities have been so nice.” That said, she noted, “It’s what you put into it.” Erazo agreed. “We could have done the easy route, but we had to take night classes after a full day of high school,” she said. Both students will ma-
keep councilors from appearing in person. She pointed out that she has severe asthma and there was an air-quality warning in effect. Springfield’s asthma rates have routinely ranked among the highest in the country. She, too, felt the resolution should go to committee.
So did At Large City Councilor Brian Santaniello, who took issue with language in the resolution that states exceptions may be made for medical emergency or serious illness, family emergency or extraordinary hardship, “as determined by the council president.” He said requiring councilors disclose medical issues to the president is a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA prohibits the access or disclosure of protected health information by health care providers, insurance plans, health care clearinghouses and their business associates without the patient’s permission.
Edwards refuted Santaniello’s HIPAA violation claim. He also rejected Brown’s assertion that Martin was grandstanding. He said that he, too, had heard from a constituent who was dismayed that councilors did not attend meetings physically. Edwards said that, apart from an accident
jor in nursing, Gonzalez at Elms College and Erazo at Worcester State University.
Zrike said the state is grappling with how to deal with artificial intelligence. He asked the students for their opinion. One student said, “Don’t have AI write your English I essay for you.” Instead, she said she uses it to make her work “sound stronger.” Luis Olmeda described some of the AI tools that are available to search texts for relevant information and create study guides for exams, but he also had strong feelings about the amount of energy and resources data centers use.
Some of the students have been preparing for college since attending Veritas Middle School.
Coriel Williams said she took a seminar block that prepares students for high school and college. “They make you think a lot about where you want to go,” she said.
Martinez said that, while there are 10,000 high school students engaged in early college programs, the state has a goal of 100,000 student participants. He explained that 40% of children live in poverty, and DESE’s goal is to provide them with access to early college.
several years ago that prevented him from attending meetings for five months, he makes the effort to come to meetings in person.
“If you’re going to run... you have a responsibility to show up,” Edwards said, adding that constituents expect it.
At Large City Councilor Kateri Walsh disagreed. She said some circumstances keep councilors away. But Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila, who walks with a cane, said, “All of you know that I have an injury, but I still manage to make it here.” That said, he found fault with some of the provisions of the resolution.
At Large City Councilor Jose Delgado recalled that when he first became a councilor two years ago, “there were occasions when the chamber was half-empty, which interfered with the city’s business. He said he would like people to come in person but did not feel it should be mandatory.
Sharing statistics, At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst said the in-person attendance rate across all councilors this year is 88%. Of the 16 remote participations that have occurred so far in 2026, 13 of them pertained to the same three councilors. He noted those three councilors were a
“We want to send the message that if you do the work, there’s an early college seat for you,” Martinez said. “Early college is for everyone.”
Speaking with Veritas Prep founder and CEO Rachel Romano and other Veritas educators, Martinez said, “I’m a huge early college champion.” Statewide, he said the implementation of early college programs is “all over the board ... Veritas is the strongest I’ve seen.”
Romano said it took several years to grow the program to this point. Many of the obstacles were related to the differences between union contracts for teachers and college professors. She added, “It took a lot to get the [memorandum of understanding] to where it is. If you have the right relationship and the right attitude, you work it out.”
Romano said the school has worked hard to strike a balance between accountability and the flexibility needed to spur innovation. Tim Nicolette, executive director of Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association, said Veritas Prep began with one model before pivoting to an early college model.
Council reviews school, police budget proposals
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — On the first day of the City Council’s budget review process, councilors reviewed the budget requests of two of the city’s largest departments: schools and police. Before that, however, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Cathy Buono presented an overview of the city’s proposed $1.04 billion budget for fiscal year 2027.
The budget increased 5.49% over FY26, despite not including any new programs. Buono said that because costs increase each year, a level service budget presented the city with a $20 million gap to fill. Departments were asked to make cuts. Five full-time equivalent positions were cut. Rather than laying people off, the reduced positions were those that were unfilled, consolidated or ones from which people are retiring this year. Added to last year’s cuts, the city is running with 19 fewer employees than in FY25.
“We’ve made some substantial cuts,” Buono said, adding that they were based on historical spending. She also pointed out that the budget was balanced without using the city’s $75 million in stabilization reserves. Buono said it is too early in the season to calculate free cash.
Buono said that 83% of the city’s costs, including the schools and health insurance, are non-discretionary costs. The non-discretionary costs increased by 6.1%. The city
managed to keep the increase to discretionary spending, including most of the city department budgets, to 2.1%, despite the inflation rate being 3.8%.
Buono emphasized the role that the School Department plays in the city’s budget. More than half of the city’s revenue, 63%, comes from state aid. The $708 million school budget accounts for 68% of spending, meaning that all the state aid plus some tax revenue goes to funding the schools.
Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall recognized the outsized role that the School Department plays in the budget. The department costs are driven by factors that include a 37% increase in special education students. One area of savings this year is transportation.
Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton said this is the first year in his 17 on the council that school transportation has not risen, an issue he has been perpetually frustrated by. Chief Financial Officer Patrick Roach explained that the department hired a consultant and purchased software to streamline bus routes, which led to fewer buses needed overall. For the first time in 15 years, he added, no new charter schools have opened or added grades. He explained that the School Department has no control over the number of buses they need or the routes they use, despite having to pay for them.
At Large City Councilor Brian Santaniello asked Dinnall about per pupil expendi-
ture, which is roughly $20,000. Roach said that, for the past six years, the School Department has benefited from the Student Opportunity Act, which weighs the portion of a school system’s students with disabilities, those who are low-income and English language learners, when calculating state aid. That funding ends in FY27. Without the extra funding, Roach said the schools expect a deficit of $20 million next year.
At Large City Councilor Kateri Walsh asked Dinnall if the schools were struggling to attract and retain teachers. Dinnall said it was a struggle, but the department was “fighting hard to get our fair share of the best and the brightest in front of our students.” She said the department was working with area colleges and on creating pipelines to encourage paraprofessionals to earn teaching degrees.
Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown asked Dinnall about truancy. She said the department is working with families to find alternative paths to graduation. The department steps in when school-aged youth commit crimes. Brown recommended partnering with community organizations, such as Roca, Inc., to make connections with truant youth.
Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers presented his $63.97 million budget. Akers said it was difficult to find line items to cut, but he managed by eliminating $400,000 in unfilled positions.
Akers said the department is
composed of 600 employees, including 514 officers, 52 of which were recently onboarded. The department expects to maintain its walking patrols, investigative units and its Counter Criminal Continuum Policing program, which gathers intelligence through interagency, community and private enterprise cooperation. The budget allows for “much needed” training, Akers said. The department was recently released from a consent decree with the federal Justice Department that will save about $300,000.
Brown asked about the department’s use of technology.
“I’m very aggressive with it,” Akers said. The department recently implemented a new suite of software and services, which he said will save money. “If I could get $40 million, we’d have the most technologically advanced police in the country,” Akers said with a chuckle. Instead, he is adding capabilities as the budget allows.
Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce asked if the department’s crime prevention programs were adequately funded. Akers said prevention is aided by the Real Time Analysis Center, which generates predictive analytic crime bulletins, maps and reports, and completes pattern analysis. Akers said that he would welcome more funding but understands the financial realities.
The City Council will continue to review department budgets before voting on the city’s budget at a future meeting.
Red Cross: Support patients by giving blood or platelets
BOSTON — As we move past Memorial Day, the American Red Cross calls on people to schedule their blood or platelet donation appointments now to help medical centers stay ready and respond quickly to emergencies. Having blood products immediately available is a key part of summer safety. With millions of Americans expected to hit the road around Memorial Day and spend time boating, swimming, camping and enjoying the outdoors, the risk of
Mandate
Continued from page 4
senior, a woman and a person of color, three groups people he said may be discouraged from running for local office if their physical attendance was required. “We ought to be getting away from... restrictive” rules and “stop taking steps backward, embrace technology,” he said.
Delgado took the gavel so Whitfield could offer her opinion. While she thanked that council for a “healthy” conversation, she agreed with Hurst that the council rules should not discourage people from running for office. She also said she had only heard two people mention remote participation in her eight years on the council.
“Showing up is not showing up in this room,” Whitfield said, adding that it is about being pres-
traumatic accidents rises. Blood and platelets on hospital shelves help meet the demand when people experience critical injuries and massive bleeding. During Trauma Awareness Month, the Red Cross highlights this need by asking donors of all blood types and those giving platelets to give now to support all patients who count on transfusions for care.
Book your time to give lifesaving blood or platelets now — To schedule, visit RedCross-
ent in the community. Whitfield noted that she raised four children and taken care of her senior mother while on the committee, which at times kept her out of chambers. She also attended meetings remotely while caring for her dying father in an-
Blood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Those who come to give by May 31, will receive an oversized Red Cross beach towel, while supplies last.
All who come to give June 1-28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood. org/June for details.
other state. Whitfield urged her colleagues to stay home when ill, rather than come to City Hall for fear of missing a vote.
The following upcoming blood donation opportunities from May 29 to June 7 take place at the Sprinfield Blood Donation Center, located at 150 Brookdale Drive:
• May 29: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. May 30: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• May 31: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• June 1: noon to 7 p.m.
• June 2: noon to 7 p.m.
• June 3: noon to 7 p.m.
• June 5: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• June 6: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 7: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
With a vote of 9-4, the resolution was sent to committee. Martin, Govan, Fenton and Edwards dissented.
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.
Cliff Clark, Tyler Garnet, Peter Tuohy
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh, Lorie Perry, Sophia McClellan, Susan Bartlett, Jim Johnson-Corwin, Molly Arnio
Sales Manager: Scott Greene
Account Executives: Matt Mahaney, Paula Dimauro, Lisa Nolan, Jeanette Grenier, Paul Poutre, Andy Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
Pope Francis Prep vs Springfield Central High BASEBALL
Pope Francis Preparatory School baseball hosted Springfield Central High School on May 4. Central completed a big come from behind win 14-8 in extra innings.
Alex Made drives it the opposite way for the RBI single.
Jaliee Rodriguez looks to turn on the pitch.
Seth Tyrrell keeps the hits rolling in extra innings.
Josh Angers looks to the dugout for the pitch selection.
Jaliee Rodriguez pitched well in relief late in the game.
Jake Reyngold rounds the bases after blasting a homerun to left center.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVID HOSMER
Matteo Cuccovia delivers the pitch home.
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
STRM: Pride Month events in Western Massachusetts
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet sat down with Holyoke Pride Committee members Jeffery Bianche and Jeffrey Anderson-Burgos, while Chris Maza and Dennis Hackett sat down with Springfield Pride Parade Founder and CEO Taurean Bethea to chat about what’s in store for Pride Month in their respective communities.
Holyoke
Holyoke will host its Pride flag raising on Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 536 Dwight St., and there will be a Youth Queer Prom on Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at the Holyoke War Memorial, 310 Appleton St. The latter event is for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies between the ages of 13-24 who want to “celebrate freely and joyfully.”
Other Pride events in Holyoke include a Buen Provecho Drag Brunch on Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m., at Fame Lounge, 386 Dwight St. and a Rainbow Run 5K and 1-mile fun walk on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m., where participants can hit the ground running, or walking, at Ashley Reservoir in their brightest rainbow gear.
Anderson-Burgos, who said he is interested in running, created this event and shared he is looking forward to seeing it continue to grow. “I know that runners are constantly looking for the next race, so going into it, I knew it was going to be, if you build it they will come. Just
putting in on the race calendar, people are immediately signing up for it.”
All ages and abilities are welcome. Readers can register for the event on the committee’s website until June 12.
A Drag Story Hour event will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St. Residents are encouraged to bring the family to library to experience heartwarming stories that celebrate acceptance and diversity.
The marquee event, Holyoke PrideFest, will take place on Saturday, June 27, from noon to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, 536 Dwight St. The day will include live performances, local food vendors, nonprofits, small businesses, art and community connections.
Bianche said there will be between 60-70 vendors at the event. He added that PrideFest has continued to grow since the first year, and he expects around 2,000 people.
The celebration continues at a Pride After Party from 6-11 p.m. at The Wauregan, 420 Dwight St., with music, dancing and “unforgettable vibes.” Tickets for the after party are available on the website.
For the latest updates and event details, readers can visit holyokepride.org. Vendors and performers can apply on the website as well. Readers looking to donate, sponsor, or volunteer can do so on the website, as well.
Bianche said he still needs to add a couple events to the website’s calendar for people to check out. He explained that the celebration has grown a lot, and
he and Anderson-Burgos wanted to sponsor and create events to support people of all ages.
“We’re trying to just get anyone who’s working in this realm to just sort of submit their event and get it listed to become part of this bigger Holyoke Pride umbrella,” Bianche said.
Springfield
Springfield is hosting its LGBTQIA+ flag raising on Thursday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Springfield City Hall, 36 Court St.
Bethea said this will be the fifth year that Springfield Pride Parade will host events to celebrate Pride Month.
Instead of the annual Gala, this year’s schedule will feature the first ever “Pride Strikes,” a charity bowling classic on Friday, June 5, at Tap’s MGM Springfield from 7-10 p.m. Readers can register their teams at springfieldprideparade.com.
The fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade is taking place on Saturday, June 6, starting at noon. The parade starts at the Springfield Technical Community College campus and proceeds to downtown Springfield, where guests can continue the celebration at the fifth annual Springfield Pride Parade Block Party from 1-6 p.m. at Stearns Square and the Pride Lands in downtown Springfield.
Outside of those events, Bethea said he is looking forward to the youth community panel. “Just hearing their thoughts on different things, and I feel like there’s always something to learn,” Bethea stated. “It’s like
what’s happening in the world from their perspective, where we’re just like, ‘Oh wow I didn’t know that.’”
Bethea said Springfield Pride’s work is much more than the parade. It’s also an opportunity to create “safe spaces” programming throughout the city for the youth and residents.
Although this year’s event in Springfield coincides with Boston’s celebration, Bethea said he expects a great turnout of about 5,000-7,000 people rain or shine.
He joked, “If you’re from Springfield, you are obligated to be here. A few years people have been like, ‘We went to Boston in the morning and ended up in Springfield,’ so there’s enough to go around.”
More details and information on each event can be found at springfieldprideparade.org.
To hear the full episode, visit thereminder.com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
Some other Pride events taking place during the month of June in the Pioneer Valley include:
• Westfield Pride Month events: Harlot Queen’s Album Release party at Westfield Women’s Club; a Pride flag raising at Westfield City Hall on Monday, June 1, at 5:15 p.m.; Pride Karaoke on Tuesday, June 2, at Shortstop Bar & Grill at 6 p.m.; Family Gift Card Bingo at the Senior Center on Wednesday, June 3, from 6-7:30 p.m.; Comedy Night at Hutghi’s on Thursday, June 4, from 4-7 p.m.; Out & About Social event at Fame, 386 Dwight St., Holyoke on
Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m.; Rainbows over Elm Pridefest will take place on June 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and there will be an ecumenical service at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 7, from 6-7 p.m.
• Chicopee Pride Festival, presented by the Chicopee Queer Consortium — Saturday, June 13, noon to 6 p.m. Includes its inaugural Chicopee Pride Parade, which will kick off the day at 10 a.m. The parade will step off at Dana Park on Serman Street and process down Springfield Street, Fairview Avenue, Academy Street and Front Street and into Szot Park.
• Franklin County Pride — Saturday, June 13. Parade begins at noon in Greenfield, starting at the intersection of Sanderson Street & Federal Street and finishing at Energy Park. The festival begins at 1 p.m. All of Miles Street down to Energy Park for the festival.
• Belchertown Pride Festival, hosted by the Belchertown DEI Task Force and Belchertown Police Department — Saturday, June 20, noon to 5 p.m. at the Belchertown Common. Amherst Pride Parade and Celebration — Sunday, June 28, noon to 3 p.m. The parade begins at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and processes to the Amherst Town Common.
This is not a comprehensive list of every event going on in Western Massachusetts. Readers are encouraged to check out events within their local communities for other celebrations taking place during Pride Month.
SPRINGFIELD — In recogni -
tion of Mental Health Awareness Month, community members are invited to a free, family friendly Community Celebration on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gurdon Bill Park in Springfield’s Lower Liberty Heights neighborhood, next to Behavioral Health Network’s campus at Liberty and Genesee streets.
This event is free and open to the public. Families, friends and neighbors are encouraged to attend and connect in the heart of the Lower Liberty Heights
neighborhood.
“Mental health is whole health,” said Kathy Mague, senior vice president. “We create well-being when we are creative, physically active, outside in nature and/or in community. Come, join us and experience all of this and more.”
Events like this help reduce stigma, empower people to cultivate their own well-being and connect people to support in a welcoming way.
The free event will feature:
• Food trucks
• Wellness activities
• Music and dancing
• Kids’ activities
Painting and creative expression, including graffiti art
• And more
BHN’s Center for Development will also offer a calm, sensory friendly space in the BHN conference room at 417 Liberty St. (next to the park), where guests can recharge, create, and connect at their own pace. For more information, including the event flyer, visit the BHN website at bhninc.org or view BHN’s Facebook event.
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