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Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

Jun 2, 2026 | Chicopee, Hampden County, Local News

Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

CHICOPEE — Aurora’s Pizzeria has a new home down the road from its old storefront, and to celebrate, it hosted a grand reopening ceremony on June 2 at its new 1782 Westover Road location.

Tyler Garnet

tgarnet@thereminder.com | + posts

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

Jun 2, 2026 | Hampshire County, Local News, Northampton

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Juneteenth Festival is returning to the EJ Gare Plaza on Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in another year of the vital community gathering dedicated to honoring Black liberation and excellence.

Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com | + posts

Jun 2, 2026 | Chicopee, Hampden County, Local News

Chicopee School Committee approves $139.4M budget for FY27

CHICOPEE — The School Committee approved an approximately $139.4 million fiscal year 2027 budget during its June 1 meeting, an increase from $136.7 in FY26.

Tyler Garnet

tgarnet@thereminder.com | + posts

Aurora’s Pizzeria reopens with a new location near previous one

CHICOPEE — Aurora’s Pizzeria has a new home down the road from its old storefront, and to celebrate, it hosted a grand reopening ceremony on June 2 at its new 1782 Westover Road location.

Northampton Juneteenth Celebration set for June 6

Chicopee School Committee approves $139.4M budget for FY27

CHICOPEE — The School Committee approved an approximately $139.4 million fiscal year 2027 budget during its June 1 meeting, an increase from $136.7 in FY26.

Roasted Beanery brews community with a side of coffee

SOMERS — At first glance, the Roasted Beanery may appear to be another independent coffee shop serving handcrafted drinks and breakfast sandwiches.

Herald communities prepare for Fourth of July celebrations

Chicopee, Holyoke and South Hadley are preparing to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks displays that bring residents together for an evening of festivities, family activities and summer tradition.

Symphony orchestra to play live at Star-Spangled Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — This July 4, as children play in the grass, families picnic on blankets and fireworks light up the sky over the Connecticut River, Springfield will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the sounds of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra playing live at Riverfront Park.

HWRSD students attend One8 learning showcase in Boston

WILBRAHAM — Students in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District recently expanded their STEM knowledge by completing hands-on projects and attending the One8 Applied Student Learning Showcase in Boston with Project Lead The Way.

Springfield City Council approves $1.04B budget

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council voted 10-3 to approve the $1.04 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, the first budget in the city’s history to top $1 billion.

Enfield Community Market focuses on more than shopping

ENFIELD — On any given Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors to the Enfield Community Market can browse fresh vegetables, locally raised meats, handcrafted wood products, artisan jewelry, baked goods and specialty coffee.

West Side man urgently needs living kidney donor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Fifteen years ago, routine bloodwork revealed that Theodore “Ted” Pinkerman had kidney damage.

Tyler Garnet

Gándara Center opens new women’s recovery residence in South Hadley

SOUTH HADLEY — For women working to rebuild their lives after addiction and hardship, Hermanas Del Rio is offering more than recovery services. It will also provide a space to regain stability, independence and hope for the future through supportive residential care.

Trent Levakis

Easthampton superintendent: 35 positions will be cut without override

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Balch presented a more detailed outlook on the two scenarios the district faces pending the results of the upcoming $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override vote on June 9.

Tyler Garnet

Stamborski set to retire in June; Cross to become next Chicopee fire chief

CHICOPEE — After 29 years of service, Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski is set to retire from the Chicopee Fire Department on June 16.

Peter Tuohy

Retiring educators honored by West Springfield School Committee

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Four retiring educators received applause and recognition from the West Springfield School Committee just a few weeks before their final days with the district, honoring their long-term commitment to the students and lasting impact on the district.

Tyler Garnet

Healey tours Veterans Home in Holyoke to highlight progress

HOLYOKE — The Veterans Home in Holyoke gave Gov. Maura Healey a tour of the facility six years removed from a travesty during the coronavirus pandemic and just months away from the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility.

Ryan Feyre

Northampton mayor presents $152M budget to council, warns of override in FY28

NORTHAMPTON — Amid “historic financial pressures” levied on cities and towns across the state, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra unveiled a $152 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 to the City Council.

Roasted Beanery brews community with a side of coffee

By Tina Lesniak | Jun 2, 2026

SOMERS — At first glance, the Roasted Beanery may appear to be another independent coffee shop serving handcrafted drinks and breakfast sandwiches.

Herald communities prepare for Fourth of July celebrations

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 2, 2026

Symphony orchestra to play live at Star-Spangled Springfield

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 2, 2026

HWRSD students attend One8 learning showcase in Boston

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 2, 2026

Springfield City Council approves $1.04B budget

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 1, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council voted 10-3 to approve the $1.04 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, the first budget in the city’s history to top $1 billion.

Roasted Beanery brews community with a side of coffee

By Tina Lesniak | Jun 2, 2026

SOMERS — At first glance, the Roasted Beanery may appear to be another independent coffee shop serving handcrafted drinks and breakfast sandwiches.

Herald communities prepare for Fourth of July celebrations

By Tyler Garnet | Jun 2, 2026

Symphony orchestra to play live at Star-Spangled Springfield

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 2, 2026

HWRSD students attend One8 learning showcase in Boston

By Peter Tuohy | Jun 2, 2026

Springfield City Council approves $1.04B budget

By Sarah Heinonen | Jun 1, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council voted 10-3 to approve the $1.04 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, the first budget in the city’s history to top $1 billion.

Enfield Community Market focuses on more than shopping

By Tina Lesniak | Jun 1, 2026

Holyoke looks to fill School Committee vacancy

CAPA receives $4M grant for NHS geothermal project

Springfield Symphony Orchestra announces free Juneteenth celebrations featuring Avery Sharpe

City Council approves restaurant parking lot over landlord concerns

Drabiuk voted in as new member of Huntington Board of Selectmen

Cliff Clark

Commission unveils flood mitigation options for Congamond Lakes

SOUTHWICK — Conservation Commission Chair Norm Cheever announced at its meeting on May 18 that four alternatives have been developed to mitigate flooding events at Congamond Lakes, and he said the costs range from $3 million to $222 million.

Amy Porter

Review finds gaps in special education staffing, professional development in Westfield

WESTFIELD — In an effort to assess its special education programming, Westfield Public Schools has asked a Massachusetts-based educational consulting service, through a bidding process, to suggest where the programming can be improved.

Trent Levakis

Bands on Brewsters returns to downtown Northampton on June 5

NORTHAMPTON — Another summer of free live music in the heart of downtown Northampton is set.

Amy Porter

Chester on Track draws thousands of visitors

CHESTER — Over the course of a beautiful spring day, 3,000 visitors enjoyed the many old and new sights and sounds in the historic factory village of Chester during Chester on Track.

Peter Tuohy

East Longmeadow Town Council approves fiscal year 2027 budget

EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Town Council has brought its budgeting season to an end after voting to approve all 17 motions regarding the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Trent Levakis

Easthampton CPA Committee approves $135,000 request for dog park

EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton Dog Park is one step closer to reality after the Community Preservation Act Committee approved a $135,000 request from the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park at its May 14 meeting.

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Trent Levakis

Paradise City Arts Festival returns for 31st year later this month

NORTHAMPTON — The nation’s premier destination for lovers of the handmade and high-end is once again gracing the region over Memorial Day weekend.

Trent Levakis

New theater group introduces itself with first production

EASTHAMPTON — In an effort to bring fresh, queer and gender diverse stories to the local theater scene, a new theater group, Why’s It Gotta Be?, has formed here in Western Massachusetts.

Ryan Feyre

Scoreboard oozes traditional sports bar feel at every corner

AGAWAM — No matter the season, an avid sports fan such as myself usually spends my weekends on the lookout for the perfect spot to watch the game.

Dennis Hackett

The Best Damn Sandwich: BBQ panini from Krave in East Longmeadow

EAST LONGMEADOW — Having worked exclusively in East Longmeadow over the past year, I have come to appreciate the town’s many lunch stops. I am happy to report that another excellent spot recently opened its doors.

Tyler Garnet

Historic Deerfield announces schedule for Revolution’s

DEERFIELD — As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Historic Deerfield’s 2026 season is centered on bringing the Revolutionary era to life as a lived, local experience in Western Massachusetts.

Sarah Heinonen

Forbes Library hosts wide-ranging fiber arts exhibit by The Fiberistas

NORTHAMPTON — The Hosmer Gallery on the second floor of Northampton’s Forbes Library is awash in colors and textures. Nine women have put their heart and soul — and thread — into a fiber art exhibit, “Bits and Pieces.”

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