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Agawam, West Springfield see ‘grim’ budgets but big plans

Tyler Lederer
tlederer@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt told the business community at a recent West of the River Chamber of Commerce breakfast that the town’s budget outlook was “grimmer than it has been in the past.”...
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East Longmeadow, Longmeadow police partner with CHD to address mental health crises

Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — As awareness of the widespread nature of mental health issues has grown in recent years, so too have efforts by police departments to add mental health professionals to the toolbox of ways to address emergency calls....
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Local woman wants to buy truck for food distribution

Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

Three years ago, Aida Torres took on the job of helping communities by distributing donated food to area residents. Now, she is asking others for help to purchase a truck so she can continue her mission....
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Frigid fundraiser in Westfield to benefit Special Olympics

Miasha Lee

WESTFIELD — This year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run Western Massachusetts Polar Plunge takes place Sunday, March 10, at Hampton Ponds State Park, 1048 North Rd., Westfield. ...
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Librarians support book access laws, get few calls for bans

Mike Lydick
mlydick@thereminder.com

Book bans and attempted bans at public libraries across the country are increasing, and not just in conservative-leaning states. Even in Massachusetts, some libraries have been challenged. ...
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Runners’ Hall of Fame to Celebrate third class of inductees

Bill Zito
bzito@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE — Those who take to the road in Western Massachusetts will be honored again on March 8 as the 2024 class of inductees are welcomed into the Western Mass. Runners’ Hall of Fame....
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Teachers nominated for LifeChanger of the Year Award

Laura Mason
lmason@thereminder.com

The nominees for the 2023-24 LifeChanger of the Year Award were recently announced by host organization National Life Group....
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Towns and cities name 2024 colleens

Reminder News Staff
news@thereminder.com

With the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade just around the corner, Reminder Publishing caught up with this year’s colleens from around the area to discuss their journey to become this year’s colleens and what they are looking forward to from the festivities....
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State safety grants benefit local fire departments

Bill Zito
bzito@thereminder.com

Along with 319 other agencies in the state, the East Longmeadow and Longmeadow fire departments received state grant funding to apply toward reimbursement costs for service-related tools and equipment....
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Local nonprofits share in over $8 million in food access grants

Reminder News Staff
news@thereminder.com

On Feb, 13, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources awarded 42 businesses grants through the Urban Agriculture Program, the Local Food Policy Council Program and the Massachusetts Food Policy Council Program....
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Agric Organics offers mobile grocery store to help with food access

Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com

After announcing a store opening in early 2024 at 10 Chestnut St. at Sky View Tower in Springfield, Agric Organics will also be taking their products and more on the road with the introduction of the 99 Farm Mobile Store....
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E-ticketing expanding at Agawam, West Side varsity games

Staasi Heropoulos

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Fans of international music stars or professional sports teams have been getting e-tickets to concerts and sporting events for years. Many local high schools are now plugging in to the technology, starting a slow transition to having fans purchase their tickets online....
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General, CEO has 2 missions: defending U.S., hiring in Western Mass.

Staasi Heropoulos

AGAWAM — When Sean Collins is in the office, he might at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., or his manufacturing business in Agawam. The Southwick man is president and CEO of Governors America Corp., and a two-star major general in the Air National Guard....
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Safety Equipment Grants awarded to fire departments

Bill Zito
bzito@thereminder.com

As part of a statewide program, a number of fire departments in the region were awarded monetary grants to apply to reimbursement costs for service-related tools and equipment....
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Legislation would prohibit abusers from collecting alimony from abused

Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

A new bill in the Massachusetts Legislature, proposed by state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow), would prevent courts from requiring those who have experienced spousal abuse to pay alimony to their abusers....
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Legislators at ERC5 breakfast warn of ‘choppier’ waters ahead

G. Michael Dobbs

LONGMEADOW — Three state representatives and a state senator all had the same message for the people attending the Government Breakfast Reception and Awards meeting of the East of the River Chamber of Commerce: communicate with us....
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Cannabis impact fees, host agreements get review

Doc Pruyne
dpruyne@thereminder.com

The Cannabis Control Commission, or CCC, recently completed a public comment period on a model host community agreement, the contract that governs the relationship between a town and a cannabis facility. ...
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Ludlow, Belchertown do not anticipate impacts from state budget cuts

Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com

Gov. Maura Healey announced $375 million in mid-year budget cuts, but the Massachusetts Municipal Association said the “reductions do not directly impact core municipal and school aid accounts, but some reduced budget earmarks may have impacts at the local level.”...
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Funding awarded for affordable housing in South Hadley, Holyoke

Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com

Thanks to state funding, the Plaza Apartments in South Hadley and the Essex in Holyoke are both recipients of this award that will be used toward affordable housing development....
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Healey’s mid-year budget cuts impact local towns

Laura Mason
lmason@thereminder.com

On Jan. 8, Gov. Maura Healey announced that the state cut $375 million from the fiscal year 2024 budget in order to accommodate for the fact that revenues did not meet anticipated benchmarks....
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Older population impacted as budget cuts hit councils on aging

Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

The cuts to the state budget made by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration impacted industries and people across the commonwealth, including the state’s older population....
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Youngsters eager for Westfield-West Springfield Elks gift

Mike Lydick
mlydick@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — Students in Tara Witte’s third grade classroom at Sapelli School were eager to grab a book from the box delivered for them. But these weren’t just any books, they were new dictionaries....
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Agawam, West Springfield state budget cuts disappointing

Tyler Lederer
tlederer@thereminder.com

Officials from the town of Agawam and the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield were disappointed to see their earmarked state funds halved, but said they are grateful for what they will still receive amid state budget cuts....
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