HOLYOKE — In what was a relatively swift Feb. 23 meeting, the Holyoke School Committee granted a three-year contract to Anthony Soto that allows him to begin his tenure as the School Department’s chief of finance and operations on July 1.

LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s JGS Lifecare celebrated the grand reopening of Michael’s Cafe on Feb. 19.

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Friends of East Longmeadow Public Library are calling for the community to join them for a fundraising outing at the Springfield Thunderbirds game against the Iowa Wild on March 6 at 7:05 p.m.

SOUTH HADLEY — The Selectboard decided at its Feb. 17 meeting to maintain the current curbside collection rate of $250 per household and increase the sewer rate to $525 per household in fiscal year 2027.

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Housing Authority has established a search committee to help find a new executive director for the organization.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — It is still in the early stages of the fiscal year 2027 budget process, but West Springfield Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Adam Tarquini provided the Town Council with a budget overview on Feb. 17. The outlook for the budget, which will take effect on July 1, is stark.

SPRINGFIELD — Thanks to the congressional delegation from Massachusetts, the anti-violence organization ROCA received a $1.66 million earmark to continue its program that aims to stop violence through employment.

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize CDC, a Springfield-based community development organization, operates programs to create safe housing, adequate nutrition and digital literacy for people across the state. In early February, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal secured $250,000 in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, to help it continue to help others.

AGAWAM — Since 2023, a group of Agawam High School teachers, administrators and students have been working on an innovative project known as Meeting the Moment with the of goal creating a new teaching and learning vision for students.

SPRINGFIELD — The owner of a fire ravaged home in the Forest Park Heights Historic District was told to fix his mistakes after he renovated the building without the approval of the Historical Commission or the proper permits.