SPRINGFIELD — Days before the Fourth of July, Mayor Domenic Sarno provided his own display of verbal fireworks, taking aim at state officials’ decision to place a new courthouse on Liberty Street.
On July 2, the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance announced the selection of the Liberty Junction Team to replace the aging Roderick J. Ireland Courthouse with a new regional justice center at 125 Liberty St.
The $600 million project calls for a six-story, L-shaped building located in close proximity to Union Station and Interstate 291. To accomplish this, the currently vacant Liberty Medical Arts Building will be demolished, and the new building will be erected across that property and a 2.2-acre piece of property on Frank B. Murray Street.
“After a thorough and competitive procurement process with several strong proposals, the Liberty Junction Team emerged as the best value proposal in the eyes of the Trial Court,” said DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke. “Their experience, an efficient layout that effectively meets functional and security requirements, a downtown location that can catalyze revitalization, and the project’s comparative cost savings make this an excellent outcome for the commonwealth and the Springfield community.”
At a press conference following the announcement, flanked by Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan, Sarno blasted “Boston power brokers” for “going on the cheap” and failing to deliver
what he believed could have been a transformative development for the city.
The mayor has been a vocal advocate for a North End riverfront project pitched by Peter Picknelly through his Opal development company in 2022 that would have included a courthouse, a mixed-use development with 120 to 180 oneand two-bedroom apartments and a first floor designated for retail and restaurants, and a 50-slip marina.
Repeatedly stating that his administration was led to believe by Baacke that DCAMM was looking for a “game-changing” project, Sarno said the “one-dimensional” Liberty Street proposal was the opposite and a missed opportunity.
He also decried the state’s decision to partner with outside developers, pointing to the riverfront proposal and a separate bid for a Dwight Street development by Balise Auto Sales President Jeb Balise and Tom Dennis, president of the Dennis Engineering Group, as viable projects with established project labor agreements. Balise’s team has already been demolishing properties on Lyman Street to prepare the site.
Sarno and Sheehan said it was their belief that those two locally driven proposals were finalists out of an initial group of 11, along with Liberty Junction, whose development group includes Virginia-based FD Stonewater and Boston-based Suffolk Construction.
A representative from DCAMM told Reminder Publishing that the three projects discussed were finalists, along with Greatland Realty Partners’ bid to redevelop 1860 Main St., the current site of The
Republican’s headquarters and 6 Brick’s cannabis dispensary.
“This is not the game-changing project. This is not the best project for the city of Springfield,” Sarno said. “Local developers were shunned. Once again, it’s Boston power brokers telling Springfield what to do.”
Sarno added that he “respectfully didn’t mince any words” with state officials when he spoke with them.
Sarno reiterated his belief that the north riverfront proposal was ideal due to its viability as a “destination” mixed-use development spanning more than 14 undeveloped acres. Calling the Liberty Street plot “a postage stamp,” Sarno questioned issues such as park-
ing at the site.
“I’m pissed off. I’m extremely disappointed. I just lost four developments in one,” he said.
When asked if the outcome would have been different for an eastern Massachusetts courthouse project, Sarno said with a chuckle, “Everything’s different in eastern Mass., right?”
Sheehan cut in and added, “I think the question would be is whether Boston would actually be taking a Springfield-based developer.”
Asked how he thought the Liberty Street area would be impacted by the new courthouse, Sarno huffed, “Not much. You’re going
Mayor Domenic Sarno speaks at City Hall following the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance’s decision to develop a new courthouse on Liberty Street. Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
Worthy Brewfest draws crowds to sample beer, cider at The Landing
A jar of hops and another filled with barley sit on the Tiber & Tide Brewing
stands with their beer samples. People play cornhole between trying beer samples at the festival.
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Music, food, sun and beer — lots of it —
brought hundreds of people out to The Landing on June 27 for the Worthy Brewfest. Started in 2010 by Theodores’ Blues, Booze, and BBQ
and Smith’s Billiards, and named for its origins on Worthington Street, Worthy BrewFest has grown and now includes more than 60 sampling vendors.
This year, the Springfield Business Improvement District incorporated Worth Brewfest into its Downtown Springfield calendar of events.
The festival was presented by Beacon Bank and included a homebrewer’s competition, four food trucks, a DJ and brewery-adjacent vendors.
Local principal writes children’s book to celebrate school community
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Danielle Delgado is so grateful to be the principal of Brightwood Elementary School that she wrote a children’s book to celebrate it. “Emilio and the Spirit Tunnel” began as a passion project, she said, and “became a celebration of the Brightwood community, which I’m so happy to serve.”
Delgado said she wanted to share the spirit of Brightwood with as many people as possible. While she said that she is a natural oral storyteller, she had never attempted to write anything down. However, she has always loved reading and was the instructional leader for reading and writing before becoming principal.
Personally, Delgado said, she prefers children’s books to adult novels. “A children’s book is
able to bring you back to your childhood joy, endless wonder and excitement that we lose as adults,” she said.
The book is based on the real-world tradition Brightwood has of greeting people with spirit tunnels. A spirit tunnel — a tradition made famous as a backstage ritual on the Jennifer Hudson Show — involves people lining both sides of a hallway, dancing and singing to celebrate the people walking through it and amping up the energy.
Spirit tunnels at Brightwood came about when renowned educator and author Ron Clark was scheduled to visit the school.
Delgado wanted to do something special to welcome him, something that would express the spirit of Brightwood. She was inspired to create a spirit tunnel for his arrival. She said they changed the lyrics to the Jermaine Dupri song
“Welcome to Atlanta” — Clark is from there — to “Welcome to Brightwood” for the event. To Delgado’s surprise, not only was Clark excited by the spirit tunnel, but the students were also.
Since then, she said the students do a spirit tunnel going into the art program each day. For larger events, like the recent graduation of Brightwood’s fifth graders, the entire school lines the halls for a spirit tunnel. Delgado said the boost it gives to student confidence cannot be overstated.
“They have a moment to celebrate themselves. They cheer just as loud for the last person as they did for the first person” going through the tunnel, she said. “It’s helping them to take a risk,” Delgado said. “You can show off whatever dance moves you’ve been practicing” and “not worry about what to say or do.” She said that confidence translates into the
classroom when students take a risk to read aloud or try to solve a difficult math problem.
“Emilio and the Spirit Tunnel” is not about any one student, Delgado said. “It’s taking the moments that we’ve all experienced at Brightwood,” she said. For example, numerous students have told teachers that they want to work at the school when they grow up, and — warning: spoilers ahead — at the end of the book, Emilio becomes the principal of Brightwood.
“Emilio and the Spirit Tunnel” can be purchased on Amazon. All proceeds go to a scholarship fund for former Brightwood students who graduate from high school.
“I just wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much,” Delgado said. “Brightwood is a beautiful community and I’m ... grateful to be a part of it.”
SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE “RAISING A RACKET”
Top row, from left: Beer is poured from a can at the Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company tent. A couple wearing pretzel necklaces enjoys samples at Worthy Brewfest. William Walls of 4 Walls Brewing Company tilts a glass to dissipate the head on a sample of beer. Middle row, from left: DJ Onyx plays music for the crowd. A festival goer tries the Peach Sour Patch Kids cider from Screaming Cider Company.
Company table. Bottom row, from left: A couple
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
“Emilio and the Spirit Tunnel” by Brightwood Elementary School Principal Danielle Delgado is available on Amazon.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Region lacks programs to help trafficking victims
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
Not every childhood is the same. From the age of 3 until she was 13 years old, Talia, who did not want her last name used for privacy reasons, was trafficked for sex in the Baltimore area. Her trafficker was the one person who was supposed to protect her — her mother. Talia’s mother was addicted to narcotics and would trade her daughter for drugs or the money to buy them.
“I remember smells, sounds. I remember a lot of it,” she said.
As Talia got older, she would spend as much time as possible at friends’ houses. Referring to her mother, she said, “She just kind of left me alone.”
She added, “No one stepped in and saved me or anything like that.” The trafficking eventually ended because her mother died from an overdose.
Talia did not tell anyone about her experience until she was in her 20s. Even then, while she recognized that she was abused, she didn’t realize it was human trafficking.
“A lot of kids don’t think of themselves as being trafficked. It’s shameful. It’s embarrassing.
It’s a really big stigma,” she said, adding that victims think, “Maybe you shouldn’t have been in that park or maybe you shouldn’t have been online.”
Talia is now the director of the RFK Community Alliance Human Trafficking Legacy Program in Pittsfield. She works with girls and boys whose experiences run the full spectrum of trafficking. “A lot of the kids I work with now, it’s somebody they know. In Hampden County, it’s more gang-related,” Talia said. The internet has increased the prevalence of trafficking, she said, and traffickers often reach out through gaming platforms. “Take time to talk to your kids about internet safety,” Talia urged parents. “I want people to not be embarrassed to say, ‘My kid’s talking to an 18-year-old on the internet.’”
RFK Community Alliance offers programs for at-risk youth in several locations from Boston to the Berkshires, but the Pittsfield location is the only site that specifically addresses the needs of formerly trafficked youth.
“In Western Mass., there’s not a ton of services. There are more in the more-populated places,” Talia said.
Margaret Tantillo is the executive director of the O’Dell Women’s Center in Springfield. The agency does not provide direct services, but funds grants and offers space to organizations that address women’s needs.
“We definitely abhor the sex trafficking of women and girls. We do try to connect them with resources,” Tantillo said. However, funding for those resources in Western Massachusetts has dwindled. “This is, unfortunately, more and more what we’re seeing. We’ve talked about the cuts but now we’re seeing it firsthand.”
The YWCA of Western Massachusetts operated a program for people who had been trafficked but, but it was unable to continue due to funding. While operating, the program helped more than 50 women who had been trafficked for sex, labor or a combination of the two. Men are also trafficked, with 15% of trafficking victims identifying as men.
Some programs, such as those for domestic violence, may offer resources that overlap with those for trafficking. “Second chances and not victim blaming is huge,” Talia said. She added that one of the most
important ways to help a child who is being trafficked is to “have one trusted adult. I know it sounds corny, but it helps.”
The following are some of the resources available to trafficked people in the Pioneer Valley:
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733, Available 24/7, Humantraffickinghotline.org
• Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts: 413737-2601, info@jfswm.org or jfswm.org/trafficking-victims-assistance-program
• Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County: 24 Hour Hotline: 800-792-5200, 593 Elm St., Northampton, 413-570-5989, kmcelhone@ cachampshire.com, cachampshire.org
• Salvation Army of Massachusetts: 413-733-1518, 170 Pearl St., Springfield, salvationarmyusa.org/usa-eastern-territory/massachusetts/ human-trafficking
EMS memorial convoy honors ‘unsung heroes’
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Sirens could be heard echoing off the buildings in downtown Springfield on June 29, announcing the arrival of six ambulances and emergency medical services vehicles. Crews from American Medical Response Springfield escorted the vehicles from the National EMS Memorial Moving Honors convoy to the steps of City Hall, where they honored their fallen colleagues. Emergency Medical Service professionals die in the course of their duties every year. Unlike their first responder colleagues in the police and fire fields, however, there is no permanent national memorial for them. The memorial service has been hosted annu-
Courthouse
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to have a high traffic area there. You’re going to have a quagmire of high traffic area.”
When asked if he would be speaking with the developers, Sarno said, “They’re going to have to do business with my administration.”
When asked what he would be asking for, he replied, “The world.”
Others praise progress
While Sarno was disappointed, other area officials applauded the fact that the project had taken the next step forward.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news, but it must be followed by action,” Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said. “For too long, dedicated public servants have
ally for three decades, and each year a display dubbed the “Tree of Life” is built and the names of the previous year’s fallen colleagues are added. Since 2020, a convoy of EMS vehicles has journeyed across the country, carrying the Tree of Life from city to city and state to state, allowing people to pay tribute.
“We’re so proud to have this convoy come through here, and to all the EMS professionals and their families who stand sideby-side with them, thank you for what you do day-in and dayout,” Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said at the ceremony.
“As a 34-year paramedic, I know all too well the work and sacrifice that EMS professionals put in day-in and day-out to serve their communities. Some of the most meaningful interactions
worked in a building plagued by serious environmental concerns, while respiratory illnesses and cancer have cast a shadow over the courthouse community. As we celebrate this milestone, we should also remember the many members of that community who never got to see this day, as well as those who continue to battle serious illnesses. The best way to honor them is to move this project forward as quickly as possible so future generations never have to question whether coming to work is putting their health at risk.”
Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton praised the decision. Fenton represents Ward 2, which abuts the area in which the new courthouse will be constructed, and is a candidate for Governor’s Council. He said, “Finally, after a decade of waiting, Western Massachusetts
I’ve ever had with people were in the back of an ambulance,” Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi added. “This memorial serves as a great reminder to the dedication and sacrifice that EMS professionals make every day in this country and are often the unsung heroes of public safety.”
Megan Haverkamp, the Moving Honors crew chief, has been escorting the Tree of Life for seven years. She said she comes from a first responder family. “We go in on someone’s worst day and unfortunately, these people didn’t get to come home,” she said, referring to those who died. “It is an honor to carry the spirit of the fallen. We’re fortunate to get to honor them.” For Haverkamp, the moments that leave the most impact are when people she meets share
will have a new courthouse in our largest city. A new courthouse will require a renewed focus on fully funding and staffing our court system in Western Mass. This once in
memories of their loved one who died on the job.
The establishment of a permanent memorial in Washington, DC will require a great deal of funding and the appropriate legislation, Haverkamp said. She was cautiously optimistic that a memorial would become a reality within the next five years.
Calvi later said that he believed no permanent memorial had been erected because EMS professionals did not have the same organizational structure that fire and police have, such as the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Fire Protection Association and the National Volunteer Fire Council, which helped garner
a generation project will also necessitate working collaboratively with the Governor and her team on fully realizing the economic development potential of this investment.”
The Springfield Reminder is
Springfield city leaders, the EMS Moving Honors crew and EMS professionals from American Medical Response flank the truck that contains the 2026 EMS Memorial Tree of Life.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Sounds of Springfield instruments bring musical experience to park
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — Tucked into a corner of Tower Square Park are six large-scale harmonic instruments. Far from being labeled “do not touch,” people are urged to experiment with the massive instruments, dubbed the “Sounds of Springfield.”
At the June 30 ribbon cutting for the installation, Springfield Cultural Council Executive Director Karen Finn described the instruments, which include a xylophone and harp, as “sound sculptures,” and said music is “the universal language that unites us all.” She said, “Art brings people together. Bringing people together makes our city stronger and
more vibrant.”
State Rep. Angelo Puppolo pointed out that projects like Sounds of Springfield do not happen without partnerships like the one between the city, businesses and the Springfield Cultural Council. He said instruments remind people of childhood.
“The arts are at the heart of any city,” said state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez. He later added, “It gives a little city a big city feel. It embraces the arts which not only supports locals but spearheads a type of tourism.”
Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce President Diana Szynal shared a similar sentiment. “This is about joy and gathering,” said Szynal, whose office looks out onto the instruments.
“The cultural economy is real. Everybody wins when communities invest in the arts. It’s also a way to celebrate the diversity in the city.”
Mayor Domenic Sarno remarked, “Keep it safe and clean and sound.” Recalling people’s skepticism when about 50 murals went up around the city a few years ago, Sarno said none have been defaced.
For Vid Mitta, owner of Tower Square, the installation reinforces Tower Square Park as a site for cultural expression. “Art is at the center of any culture. We’re so happy it is happening in our park,” he said. He urged, “Have families come down, enjoy nature and the music and maybe have a drink at the beer garden.”
MLK Charter School of Excellence receives state cybersecurity grant
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield
charter school recently received a helping hand in the everlasting battle against cybercriminals and bad actors. Martin Luther King Jr.
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
Simone N. Gilpatrick
Suzanne C. Keating
Robert J. Slattery
EAST LONGMEADOW
Corina Laura Dalessio
HAMPDEN
Eileen J. Plante
LONGMEADOW
John R. Lyons
SOUTH HADLEY
Harvey L. Cook
SPRINGFIELD
Ann Eileen Cieboter
Denis W. LaMari
Joan Stephens
Gary S. Thompson
David P. Tuttle
Judith M. Veronesi
Charter School of Excellence received a $35,000 state grant to replace its cybersecurity hardware.
The grant was provided through the state’s new Community Compact Cabinet Cybersecurity Remediation Grant Program from the Healey-Driscoll Administration. The state Executive Office of Technology Services and Security administered the grants in partnership with the Communi-
ty Compact Cabinet. The goal of the program is to target cybersecurity vulnerabilities and strengthen protections against malicious software and hackers.
A total of $1 million in funds was awarded to 20 municipalities and school systems, but Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence was the only standalone charter school among them.
According to the federal Department of Education, school districts nationwide experience an average of five cybersecurity attacks per week. Most attacks take the form of data breaches, which are often achieved through phishing emails, or ransomware attacks, which take advantage of outdated software. While the financial cost of a cyber-attack is high — legal and insurance expenses, credit monitoring for impacted individuals, and teaching
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support for national memorials.
Some entities that are advocating for the permanent memorial include the National EMS Memorial Service and Global Medical Response, AMR’s parent company, both of which sponsor the Moving Honors.
The Moving Honors procession follows a six-week, 10,000mile journey from Redding, California, to Arlington, Virginia. Along the way, the convoy stops in 32 cities and towns in 24 states. When the procession reaches its destination, the fallen will be honored at the National EMS Memorial Service during the Weekend of Honor.
Each year, a Tree of Life occupies a place of honor in the procession. The leaves bear the names of the fallen EMS provid-
and learning loss — the loss of trust among teachers, families and students may also have an impact.
“Technology plays a critical role in how schools educate students, communicate with families and deliver essential services every day,” said State Sen .Adam Gómez, who represents the Hampden District, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence. “As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is critical that our schools have the tools and infrastructure needed to protect sensitive information and maintain safe, reliable operations.”
Gómez said, “This investment in the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence will help strengthen cybersecurity protections, support educators and staff and ensure students can continue learning without disruption.”
ers. While many died this year in vehicle accidents or medical emergencies, five of the 37 EMS professionals died of illnesses stemming from their response to those in need at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Haverkamp said there are a couple who die due to World Trade Center illnesses every year.
“I think back on the natural and manmade disasters that we’ve faced here in the city of Springfield, whether it was the devastating EF3 tornado; whether it was that gas explosion downtown; the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that we went through; EMS professionals, AMR delivering a baby; being on police and fire calls — seeing people at the worst time of their lives,” Sarno said. “AMR’s been a great corporate citizen, and it’s been a great asset here to the city of Springfield.”
2026 NATIONAL EMS MEMORIAL SERVICES HONOREES:
• Salih Abdur-Rahman, 46, Brooklyn, New York
• Scott Adams, 46, Milton, Indiana
• Stephen “Batman” Anderson, 53, Raleigh, NC
Amanda Benson, 25, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Jacob Bozeman, 20, Tappahannock, Virginia
• David Burke, 61, Brooklyn, New York
Michael “Mike” Campbell, 48, Coal Grove, Ohio
• Kameilia “Kami” Chavez, 38, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Everett Edwards, 84, Bridger, Montana
• Donald “DJ” Ellis, 57, Ketchikan, Arkansas
• Wesley England, 41, Nelson County EMS, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Adam Loren Finseth, 40, Burnsville, Minnesota
• Pamela Hehn, 61, Brooklyn, New York
Graham Hoffman, 29, Kansas City, Missouri
• Mary Jolly, 27, Gaston, North Carolina
• Jeff Jones, 55, Woodward, Oklahoma
Fred Kemp, 52, Johnson City, Tennessee
• Jakob Kindt, 37, Columbus, Mississippi
• Brenna Kulikowski, 31, Show Low, Arizona
• Justin Lauppe, 37, El Dorado, Kansas
• Nick Mancuso, 37, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Sarah McCarthy, 48, Saint Peters, Missouri
• James McGee IV, 54, Brooklyn, New York
Robert “Bob” Miller, 56, Lafayette, Indiana
• Larry Nuckols, 53, Portland, Indiana
• Skye Oraczewski, 22, Raleigh, North Carolina
Dustin Pope, 36, Columbus, Mississippi
• Kevin Robert, 55, New York, New York
• Stephen Scott, 62, Houston, Texas
• Michael Skody Jr., 68, Brooklyn, New York
• Roy Smith, 60, Staunton, Indiana
• Susan “Suzie” Smith, 67, Redding, California
• Damon Thompson, 21, Show Low, Arizona
Jeffrey “Jeff” Tuning, 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Springfield Cultural Council Creative Director Kali Green, Executive Director Karen Finn, business owner LB Global and state Reps. Angelo Puppolo and Carlos Gonzalez stand with the xylophone at the Sounds of Springfield interactive musical instruments installed in Tower Square Park.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
DINING ENTERTAINMENT
Panel discussion to follow autobiographical play about clergy abuse
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — This July, Easthampton resident Jay Sefton will stage a production of his one-person show “Unreconciled” at the Academy of Music in Northampton.
The play, about the sexual abuse Sefton experienced as a child at the hands of a priest, will be followed by a panel discussion with renowned author, researcher and educator in the field of trauma treatment, Bessel van der Kolk.
“It was really born out of political things that happened in 2021,” Sefton explained. Several times before then, the state legislature in Pennsylvania — where Sefton is from — had considered a constitutional amendment creating a two-year lookback window in the statute of limitations for adults who had experienced child sexual abuse. Sefton said that in 2021, the amendment was as close as it had ever been to being passed.
“I really thought it was going to happen this time,” Sefton
said. “When it didn’t, I didn’t know what else to do. I was filled with rage.”
Sefton started writing about his experiences. It began almost as a thought experiment, akin to one writing a letter they never mean to send to someone who wronged them.
“I was in that mindset, ‘I don’t have to perform it.,” he said, explaining he told himself, “There’s a chance nothing will happen with this.”
When the opportunity arose to workshop the play at the Chester Theatre Company, Sefton said he experienced hesitation. It would not be the last time. At each level of the play’s production — when it was first staged, when he performed it at a bar down the street from where the abuse happened in Philadelphia — he encountered another moment of hesitation.
“It’s rather hard to get people to come see a one-person show about clergy abuse, surprisingly,” Sefton said with a chuckle. “I thought no one would want to see it.” But he pushed forward.
Unexpectedly, he said, “It started to not become mine.” At the discussion he holds after each performance, people began voicing their own experiences of abuse, some for the first time.
After a production he staged on Cape Cod, a psychologist who was friends with van der Kolk approached him. Van der Kolk is the author of the 2014 book, “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma,” a popular book about how trauma reshapes the body and brain. The author lives in the Berkshires and after meeting with Sefton, agreed to join him for the discussion panel after the July 25 show.
Sefton said he no longer feels hesitant about the play. “What was born in rage has become a joy,” he said. “I enjoy performing it ... The play doesn’t feel like I’m screaming into the void anymore. It feels more profound than anything else I’ve done on stage.”
Reflecting on what he wants people to take away from “Unreconciled,” Sefton said he wants
them to have a full theatrical experience, filled with a wide array of emotions. “I would like survivors to feel heard and seen, if that’s possible,” he said. Sefton also wants people to be moved to urge their legislators to support legal mechanisms that provide an opportunity for adult survivors of child sex abuse to have their day in court.
In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, bill H.1829 would eliminate the statute of limitation in civil child sexual abuse cases. Current law provides a limit of 35 years to bring a civil suit for child sexual abuse “or within 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was cause.” Sefton said that in the case of clergy abuse, the Catholic church lobbies legislators to protect their institutions.
Sefton said, “It’s not good for survivors. It’s not good for communities.”
Having performed the play at
venues around Western Massachusetts, Sefton said the Academy of Music show will likely be the last time the play will run in the area. Sefton said he is going to perform in England and Ireland in the fall. After that, the play will run off Broadway.
Lomelda, Plume Girl, Home Baker celebrate new music at CitySpace
EASTHAMPTON — CitySpace welcomes Lomelda, joined by Plume Girl and Home Baker, for an evening of collaborative new music in the Blue Room at Old Town Hall on Friday, July 17.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m.
The concert celebrates the release of “Everyday I Weave on the Great Loom,” a new recording by Plume Girl and Home Baker. Designed in the spirit of
the album itself, the performance will feature selections from its “Voice and Wind” sections, alongside new music by Lomelda performed collaboratively by all three artists. Rooted in friendship, trust and years of creative exchange, the evening highlights the deep connections that have shaped each artist’s work.
Lomelda is the long-running songwriting project of Texas-born musician Hannah Read.
Since its beginnings nearly two decades ago, Lomelda has earned acclaim for intimate, emotionally resonant songs that explore connection, vulnerability and human relationships. Read’s acclaimed releases include “Hannah” in 2020, “M for Empathy” in 2019, “Thx” two years earlier and and “4E” in 2016. A new album is expected in 2027.
Plume Girl is the experimental music project of singer,
Theater class for queer teens comes this fall
NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music Theatre and Play Incubation Collective are thrilled to announce The Brave Space Youth Theater Project, coming to Northampton this fall. A collaboration between the two performing arts organizations, Brave Space is a new class designed specifically for queer-identified youth ages 13-18 and will be held Saturday mornings, Oct. 3 through Nov. 14, with a performance on Monday, Nov. 16, at the Academy of Music. This collaboration between the Academy of Music and Play Incubation Collective will be an opportunity for local queer youth to amplify their individual and collective voices and share their own stories. Participants will be guided through the creation of a
devised theater piece by instructor Sarah Marcus. Through a generous gift from the Scarlet Sock Foundation, registration for this 7-week workshop is only $30. The Academy of Music Theatre is committed to making these enriching experiences accessible, offering two half-tuition
scholarships per session. Families interested in applying for scholarships are encouraged to visit the financial aid page on the Academy’s website for more details. Registration is open, and space is limited. For more information and to register, visit aomtheatre.com/ brave-space-project.
dancer, and performer Sowmya Somanath. Drawing from Indian classical music and dance traditions alongside ambient folk, experimental pop, and musique concrète, her work explores sound, improvisation, and the emotional landscapes of love, mortality and spirituality. Her recent releases include “In the End We Begin” in 2023 and 2025’s “Unnameable Glory.”
Home Baker is the project
of Walter Nichols, whose music reflects the quiet rhythms of everyday life. Combining synthesizers, wind instruments, and field recordings, Nichols creates contemplative soundscapes informed by his work operating a sourdough bakery and his fascination with the beauty of ordinary moments. Ticket prices are $20–$30 and are available at CitySpaceEasthampton.org.
Jay Sefton presents his one-person play, “Unreconciled,” at the Academy of Music on July 25.
Photo credit: Google Meet
POPE FRANCIS PREP VS WESTFORD ACADEMY
BASEBALL
The Pope Francis Preparatory School baseball team defeated Westford Academy High School, 5-2, on June 4 at Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield, MA. The win came in the Round of 16 of the MIAA D1 state playoffs.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVID HOSMER
Garrett Piemonte reacts to the out call at third base.
Mark Jodoin makes a throw from second base.
Garrett Piemonta gets the ball back into the infield. Mark Jodoin fields a ground ball.
Ryan Aldrich catches a pop-up on the infield.
Patrick Willard scores on a hit.
Ryan Aldrich prepares to make the throw.
Ryan Aldrich fields a ground ball at shortstop.
Andrew Gagne delivers a pitch.
Teddy Dandurand records the out at first base.
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Michelle M. Grasso to Chan Dao and Lien Thi Cam Ngo, 23 Gilman St. $315,000
Migdalia Figueroa Rosa to Jessica Lindsey, 130 Fieldston St. $290,000 Mohammad Sadegh Raghfar to Pedro Fontanilles,
