OPINION

Payton North

I’m finding my passions through giving my time

At the start of this year, I had an epiphany. “I don’t even know what makes me happy anymore,” I thought to myself. It...

Payton North

I’m making a resolution to make fewer resolutions

I have always been interested in setting goals and working toward them, which is everything the new year is branded to be: an opportunity to look ahead at what you would like to achieve and coming up with a plan to achieve it.

Payton North

Your hometown newspaper now has a new address

A few weeks ago, I penned a column about change. At the time, I was discussing the demolition of the Eastfield Mall and...

Payton North

Eastfield Mall demolition unearths old memories

At times, I can be a very sentimental person. When I sold my first car a few years ago — a Nissan Juke — so I could buy...

Payton North

Price of cutting human connection for the sake of profit

Returning to office life has been a big topic over the past year, year and a half. Personally, I had mixed feelings...

Chris Maza

Disney’s briar patch was too thorny to go unpruned

As I write this column, my family and I are in the final days of preparation for our trip to Walt Disney World. In the...

Chris Maza

The case of the missing reporting: a mea culpa

By now we’ve all seen the Saturday Night Live bit. We’ve seen the national news article shared on social media forums...

Chris Maza

As access to information deteriorates, what’s our ‘Plan B?’

A few years ago, there was a brief period of time during which I left journalism as a full-time vocation. While I still...

Dennis Hackett

Saying goodbye to a legendary creator in animation

As I was going to bed on March 7, I came across a Tik Tok that I thought was somebody trolling, claiming that legendary...

Dennis Hackett

Saying goodbye to the greatest coach in NFL history

Twenty-four years as the head coach of the New England Patriots. Six Super Bowl titles. Nine AFC Championship victories. Seventeen AFC East titles. Bill Belichick is no longer the head coach of the New England Patriots.

Dennis Hackett

The NFL playoffs have me thinking about time passing

Back when the NFL Wild Card playoff round wrapped up several weeks ago, I saw an article noting that the oldest...

Tony Cignoli

The power of the red suit: a great holiday responsibility

There is incredible power in that special red suit. And to anyone entrusted to portray the man who wears it, that power bears great responsibility.

Tony Cignoli

City of Springfield: The Square Center of a Nation

So many early mornings, at dawn and even before, I’ve had the opportunity to be in Springfield’s Court Square for live...

G. Michael Dobbs

For MGM, the attention is not about Springfield

In April, MGM Resorts International President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle met with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno to...

G. Michael Dobbs

Don’t discount this report about our economic future

Sometimes the universe has an unusual sense of timing. For instance, the following report from MassINC about the...

G. Michael Dobbs

Vets who died at Holyoke Soldiers Home didn’t get justice

Several things are on my mind this week. Where’s the justice? The families of those veterans who lost their lives due to...

G. Michael Dobbs

MGM is the gift that keeps on giving to journalists

And now there is a chorus singing, “I told you so.” The news that was reported by Bloomberg last week that MGM Resorts...

G. Michael Dobbs

The Cannabis Control Commission should move on this issue

According to the State House News Service, now at least one cannabis retailer has inquired to the Cannabis Control Commission that they are interested in applying to sell Massachusetts Lottery products.

G. Michael Dobbs

Taxing Boston drivers, visitors more is an idiotic plan

I’ve never been a fan of visiting Boston.

G. Michael Dobbs

MAGA vs. Taylor Swift, a Super Bowl of stupidity

As some of you may realize, I know very little about professional sports. This, of course, has been a problem for me most of my life.

G. Michael Dobbs

Inflation might have been bad, but it didn’t seem to affect gambling

I’m just an ignorant old reporter still with plenty of questions yet to ask — even in retirement.

Letters to the Editor

More than a parade

As we gear up for the 3rd Annual Springfield Pride Parade Weekend, May 30 through June 1, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement, not just for the festivities that lie ahead, but for the profound impact this weekend has on our community. It’s more than just a celebration — it’s a beacon of hope, solidarity and progress for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Greater Springfield area.

Letters to the Editor