Western Mass. represented in Healey’s Youth Advisory Council

Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

Gov. Maura Healey swore in the members of her administration’s Youth Advisory Council on March 25....
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Don’t be a victim: spotting skimmers, phishing scams

Debbie Gardner
dgardner@thereminder.com

Do you use cash anymore? Most people don’t, we rely on one of the various credit or debit cards in our actual — or virtual — wallet....
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Students ready to ‘Match Wits’ on air — but some will wait

Amy Porter
aporter@thereminder.com

WESTFIELD — Students at three local high schools polished their trivia skills and got their buzzer fingers ready for “As Schools Match Wits” this year, and two of them will be on the air this month....
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Armbrook, Springfield College partner for Lifelong Learner classes

Staasi Heropoulos

SPRINGFIELD — Catherine Banks worked as an associate dean at Springfield College for 28 years. Now, at age 82, she is a student there, enrolled in a strength training and personal fitness class....
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Golf creates opportunities for scholarship recipients

Staasi Heropoulos

What could be more exciting in the game of golf than sinking a hole-in-one? When a caddy at the Longmeadow Country Club receives a full, four-year scholarship to one of America’s elite colleges and universities....
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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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