On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” state Sen. John Velis sat down with co-hosts Ryan Feyre and me to discuss data centers, cellphone and social media policies, upcoming ballot questions and opioid settlement funds.

SPRINGFIELD — Passing through Forest Park on Aug. 12, debris had been cleaned from the roads, but forestry crews were hard at work, stacking downed branches and cutting up the trunks of once-mighty trees. The damage could be seen everywhere, but it was nothing compared to the zoo.

NORTHAMPTON — Believing sweets should be joyful, not junky, Lilla Swedish Candy, previously the only e-commerce seller of Swedish candy, has found a new home inside Thornes Marketplace.

NORTHAMPTON — With the first round of fiscal year 2027 Community Preservation Act funding set to take place this fall, prospective applicants are invited to submit a one-page eligibility form by Monday, Aug. 24, to determine whether their project qualifies for CPA funding.

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow Public Schools is introducing a couple new firsts with the 2026-2027 school year on the horizon — the first year with the new East Longmeadow High School and Dr. Joanne Menard’s first year as superintendent.

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow is making its final moves before the build out of a townwide fiber network with the Town Council’s unanimous approval of a $43.5 million appropriation to cover the project.

SPRINGFIELD — Developer FDS MA Liberty Junction LLC had its day in court, going before Judge Jeremy Bucci, as he listened to arguments from rival developers who argued that Liberty Junction should be blocked from building the new Springfield Regional Justice Center.

SPRINGFIELD — Two people looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in the Massachusetts 1st Congressional House District met at a debate on Aug. 11 to discuss their politics, priorities and approach. Of those, the most daylight between Nadia Milleron and Jeromie Whalen was in their approach.

SPRINGFIELD — Ahead of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the Springfield Museums will host the fourth annual Latino Arts Festival in partnership with Mi Museo Committee. The festival, on Friday, Aug. 28, is free and open to the public.

In a final report on the January 2024 crash of a twin-engine plane near Leyden that killed all three on board, the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that several prescription medications that were in the flight instructor’s system may have contributed to the crash.