The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley held a Panel Discussion on Feb. 12 at the Ludlow Country Club on the foster care system in Western Massachusetts and youth who experience significant barriers as it...
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The Agawam City Council should pass TR-2024-9, a resolution to urge state legislators to establish Medicare for All, a single-payer health care system for all who reside in Massachusetts.

Im...
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The Agawam City Council should pass TR-2024-9, a resolution to urge Beacon Hill to establish “Medicare for All” — a single-payer system for universal health care for every residen...
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The Friends of Hampden Seniors would like to thank all of those people involved in our Christmas “Shop Til You Drop” Fundraiser.

It was a great success thanks to the many wonder...
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Why did Hampshire College, an iconic progressive institution saved from closure in 2019, outsource information technology (IT) service to a national for-profit and lay off dedicated employees, some...
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On Dec. 7, 1941, the United States was attacked by Japan, “… a day,” then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a galvanizing speech, “which will live in infamy.” J...
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Dear community,

From available records, we believe that the Longmeadow High School Winter Concert, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., will mark the 60th anniversary of a very special tradition at LHS. We be...
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I would like to thank all the people of Agawam and Feeding Hills for going out and taking their time to vote on Election Day. My specials thanks to those who voted for me and those who put up my po...
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Serving as Massachusetts state auditor doesn’t just mean reviewing finances. A big part of my role, as I often speak about with folks across the state, is reviewing the performance and effica...
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During the wind blast frozen Tuesday night, voters approaching we remaining sign holders at the Ward 9 poll were exuberant and delighted to have voted for Delmarina for mayor. At 6:45 p.m. one gent...
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We are so lucky to have Tom Hendrickson as an Agawam city councilor. His vote on ordinances and resolutions before the council is always measured and evidence-based, taking into careful considerati...
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From its beginnings over 100 years ago, Eastern States Exposition has represented the cultivation of positive family memories at our fair year after year, as well as the successful growth of the ag...
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Community. “Sometimes you gotta’ create what you want to be a part of.” [Geri Weitzman]

On Nov. 7, the town of East Longmeadow has a critical vote about “ommunity.&rd...
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GivingTuesday is Nov. 28 and is always recognized on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a global, annual movement, and one of the biggest nonprofit fundraising opportunity days during the year. ...
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I’m voting yes on Nov. 7 in East Longmeadow to fund the building of a new high school, and I hope many of my fellow residents will join me. I’ve recently seen a slew of signs for people...
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Accolades of Applause to Delmarina Lopez.

Silence is not Lopez.

At City Council, Lopez’ questions speak truth in spite of a few councilors’ rhetoric, distraction, and gave...
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Despite the strain of the COVID slow recovery and continuing high inflation, the city of Chicopee and its Assessors Office continues to make progress. Chicopee has one of the lowest tax rates in We...
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St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church’s Taste of Greece committee would like to extend a big thank you to the East Longmeadow community for supporting our annual food festival event this pas...
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Our town faces a voting dilemma on Nov. 7. The proposal is to fund a new high school and a new pool building and pool by borrowing the money. An affirmative vote will increase the amount the Town c...
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This letter is a commentary on the existing East Longmeadow High School vs. ELHS Building Project proposal. Like so many other concerned citizens we took the town tour of the high school on Thursda...
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The Longmeadow fall Special Meeting on Nov. 7 has an article proposal for a zoning change from residential to commercial at the corner of Williams Street and Redfern Drive. The developer Colvest is...
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The Israeli bombing of Gaza is indeed an attack on the Palestinian people, a diaspora, not only on Hamas. The bombing and restricting of water, food, medicine is an attack on life itself — it...
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This year, the Big E took a step forward once again and broke some daily attendance records. The Big E had no wild animals for the second year in a row and removed a camel show that was there the p...
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As the last two and a half years of the Biden presidency have shown us, and today’s polls tell us, the New York Times columnist Charles Blow needs to write an opinion like his recent article,...
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Springfield has had a really difficult summer to say the least.

Too many killings, too much violence. It is overwhelming.

Our community leaders from the Mayor’s office, church l...
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I want to go on record as endorsing Kelly Hemmeler for Enfield Second District Council representative. I can confidently say Kelly has the necessary qualities and skills to excel in this position. ...
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Two separate groups of everyday Americans, fulfilling their civic duty by serving on a grand jury, have now issued two separate indictments of Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the will of v...
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In reading the Sept. 14 edition of The Reminder of the town of Longmeadow Board of Selectmen’s meeting, I have to shake my head at what are the priorities of Mr. Gold and Mr. Lachiusa? Mr. La...
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As a member of the Terminal Generation, I basically read this same story 50 years ago when I was in my 20s (“Climate Change Is Here Whether You Ignore It or Not,” The Pennysaver, page 7...
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Recently I released a monarch butterfly that I had watched grow from an egg to a caterpillar. It then formed a chrysalis, where in 12 days it was transformed to a creature that is now flying back t...
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I read the recent letter to the editor by former East Longmeadow Town Councilor Pat Henry titled “Town manager appointment process is troubling.”

But first I will say I have no i...
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First and foremost, the Parade Committee members would like to thank our community for allowing us to bring the parade to East Longmeadow annually. The viewers along the parade route clapping and s...
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Summer can be a great time to talk to your teen about dating and we have some suggestions about how to get started.

1. Starting the conversation. Everyday situations can offer a natural way ...
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The Friends of the Enfield Library are thrilled to announce that our annual book sale was a tremendous success. Thank you to everyone who donated books to our sale and then to those who enthusiasti...
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I want to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Robert Bryant Miller, but my family, friends and neighbors know me as Bryant. I am running for the open seat on the Longmeadow Planning Board...
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Last week The Reminder reported that Tom Christensen had been appointed our next Town Manager.  I like Tom very much and enjoyed working with him on projects when he was Deputy Superintendent ...
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In his Opinion piece on May 11-17, correspondent Mike Dobbs asks readers for “explanations” to several “old man conundrums.” But his questions are easily answered if one is ...
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Why do we have so much hate in our country? We have 14 active hate groups here in liberal Massachusetts. The Patriot Front, (white supremacists) account for more than 290 incidents in Massachusetts...
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the Three Truck Event at the Hampden Senior Center on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This very successful fu...
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For well over five years now, East Longmeadow residents — and all residents residing in towns served by the Springfield Water Commission have regularly received notices entitled “Import...
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April is sexual assault awareness month, and the Southern Hilltown Domestic Violence Task Force has some tips for talking to children about safety. While many of us still think about strangers when...
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Amherst homeowners already face paying the ninth highest property tax rate of all 300+ towns in the state. Now the same homeowners are being asked to nearly double their annual p...
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So, for many years I have been complaining about the direction that Hilltown Ambulance was going in with their former director, and some board members publicly, privately and recently at Huntington...
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As a longtime resident of Longmeadow, I was excited to learn that Vineeth Hemavathi was running for a seat on our Select Board. I have met and spoken with Vineeth, and like so many others who have ...
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Regarding your excellent article about saving money on utilities. I am referring to page 11 of the Feb 9th edition, titled,”Utilities costs are skyrocketing, here is what you can do about it....
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My inner rage against the machine is the only way to describe it. The helplessness, frustration, sadness, knowing the machine hasn’t changed in quite some time. To make it understand compassi...
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I read with great interest your article on the front page of The Reminder. None of it surprised me. When our state was awash in COVID money and gas prices were crippling families they voted down in...
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We need competition in East Longmeadow town as Spectrum has monopoly and keeps raising rates every now and then.

If there are more than one in the market for every service we can have better...
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It is important to acknowledge the limitations on municipal government. We must act in accordance with federal and state laws, and the town’s own bylaws. Even as we have faithfully complied w...
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In the January 19-25 issue of The Reminder, past editor G. Michael Dobbs makes a plea that Springfield’s MGM casino should reopen completely. Dobbs is dead wrong.

Mine is not an ad ho...
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In response to last week’s article, I want to voice my support for East Longmeadow to join the Green Communities program.

Green Communities has been running since 2010, and 290 of the ...
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Jan. 6 marked the anniversary of the death of East Longmeadow Town Councilor Thomas C. O’Connor.

Tom O’Connor may not have been born in East Longmeadow, but he surely did “...
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I had just left Baystate, where I was visiting my wife. She fell and broke her wrist and hip. It’s a chore to see her suffer like that. I was on my way to supper with a friend of my daughter,...
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First and foremost, the East Longmeadow Rotarians wish everyone happy holidays and sincere appreciation for your support as we “Serve Above Self” in the community. We were honored to ha...
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The East Longmeadow Veterans Memorial Committee has received a $4,000 donation towards the construction of the East Longmeadow Veterans Memorial. Because of the importance of this Veterans Memorial...
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In a recent decision by the judge in the case of Garvey, et.al. vs. the town of Hampden, several questions arose. Namely, “Is it possible that as alleged by the self-storage speculators and b...
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Why not work for the release of the Marine prisoner, Paul Whelan, rather than a drug carrying person like Brittney Griner, is an injustice to patriotic, law-abiding Americans?

It is a total ...
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Springfield City Councilors punted on their first opportunity to provide an additional $6.5 million in tax relief to homeowners and small business owners, delaying their vote until Monday. The $6.5...
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Springfield’s Martin Luther King (MLK) Community Center is looking for a new CEO.

Given its stated mission to empower the aspirations of individuals, families and youth to achieve the ...
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Editor’s note: Executive Editor Payton North asked readers to submit letters to the editor with what they are thankful for this year.

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At 70, I’m thankful for much. At 70, most of my friends and family are gone, which is sad, but it gives me good silent memories. My wife is still with me, good. My two older brothers are with...
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We recognize Thanksgiving as a national holiday as a one-time celebration each year on the fourth Thursday of November. I propose in this devotion to bring about a different view as you prepare for...
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Now is the time to shape the future of Longmeadow. The town is calling on all residents and stakeholders to help envision and inform Longmeadow’s future as we update our Long Range Plan for t...
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Seasonal cold temperatures are on their way, so will we soon forget the alarmingly high temperatures that just broke November records across the Northeast? Here in temperate New England, the effect...
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Fall is the most popular season of the year for many reasons. One of which is walking, such as walking the family pet. My wife and I enjoy walking our dog in the afternoon and we encounter countles...
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I am happy to endorse Anthony Russo for State Representative. 

Anthony Russo has proven people skills so as to bring funds back to our district.

I see him as a man of dedication ...
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Many of us know little to nothing about the Sheriff’s responsibilities or role in our community, but we should. The HSO (Hampshire Sheriff’s Office) seems to have flown under the radar ...
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The membership of the East Longmeadow Republican Town Committee met on Oct. 19 and voted to adopt the following positions on the four ballot questions on the November ballot:

Question 1 &nda...
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This week, I read The Reminder article by Sarah Heinonen (Oct. 20-26 publication) on the East Longmeadow community development workshop conducted Oct. 12 at Birchland Middle School on the vacant co...
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This document provides information that lays out some of the impacts that horse racing will
have on Hardwick and surrounding towns.

1. Process is too rushed: Not enough time has been gi...
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The town of Longmeadow does not have a water resource problem.

Why are the Select Board and Town Manager (town) attempting to restrict water usage by including the following in Town Meeting ...
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Every 17 years, millions of cicadas emerge from the ground and flock across the countryside, destroying crops and creating a general nuisance. Did you know that Massachusetts has a similar cycle? E...
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Why is Trump supporting so many unfit candidates for office? For example, Marjorie Taylor Greene says that Biden’s advocacy and incentives for electric vehicles is an attempt to emasculate Am...
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The Monson Democratic Town Committee is aware of the discussion by the Select Board at its Oct. 11 meeting regarding the placement of political signs around the Civil War Soldiers Monument in Monso...
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I strongly support basic banking services at Post Offices nationwide. Postal banking has the potential to be transformative for consumers and will help support the public Postal Service. It is a wi...
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Ryan Henning, owner of the Camel Kingdom attraction at the Eastern States Exposition, sent the following letter in response to article “Protesters Ask Big E to Drop Wild Animal Carnival A...
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In response to the letter by Donalyn Gross, Sept 29 - Oct 5, I beg to differ with your position as to how children should learn about animals. I do believe that one does need to pet, feed, and ogle...
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A few months ago, I drove through the intersection of Wilbraham Road and Bradley Road, and was shocked to see a major construction project taking place.

At first, I presumed this was an exp...
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Hallelujah to the Big E for having no elephants at the fair! That’s a big step forward. Now we have to concentrate on eliminating camel exhibits (and other exotic animals), as well as pig rac...
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My campaign to serve in the state Senate came up short in the final count and I called Jake Oliveria on election night to congratulate him on a spirited race. I am asking you to join me in a coordi...
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There appears to be misconceptions as to the reasons the immediate surrounding neighborhood, of which I am a part, are not in favor of the zone change to 1297 Enfield St. proposed by the Felician S...
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On Sept. 6, I will cast my vote in the Democratic primary for Eric Lesser for lieutenant governor.

Eric’ s experience makes him uniquely situated to hep build a new foundation for Mass...
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The city of Northampton is issuing this statement to caution visitors to the Connecticut River Greenway Park and Boat Launch Area. Thanks to an unforeseen natural deposit of soft sand at the locati...
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This letter is intended to clarify certain matters covered in the article on the front page of the July 28 publication of The Reminder titled, “Options for mixed-use overlay district presente...
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Once again, as a volunteer for the Girl Scouts in South Hadley, it is with much gratitude that I reach out to say Thank You to another local business that has stepped up to help us out. This year, ...
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Does a person have a right to something that is not mentioned in the Constitution? If the answer is “no.” There are many things we do every day which can be regulated, such as drinking ...
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The East Longmeadow Parade Committee and supporters are pleased to announce the 2022 Award Winners… but first and foremost, we thank all of our parade attendees from communities near and far...
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I would like to recognize and thank the East Longmeadow Parade Committee for a truly wonderful July 4th Parade. It was encouraging to see how much our town openly supports freedom of expression. Ou...
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Having watched most of the hearings and having read the many articles that have consistently appeared in the media I am absolutely convinced that when Mr. Trump came into office as the President he...
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The Friends of the Enfield Library would like to express our sincere thanks to the people of Enfield and the surrounding towns for their book donations and their enthusiastic purchase of these dona...
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I gave little thought to gender and sport until Longmeadow High School’s Girls Field Hockey team advanced to the 2019 Division I State Championship. This elite team, led by legendary coach An...
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Should Roe v Wade as discussed in your opinion article be overturned?

First, Judges do not at any confirmation hearings opine on future cases that may or may not come before the court. There...
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On behalf of the Bottomley family, we would like to thank the East Longmeadow Police Department and the East Longmeadow Fire Department. On the night of May 2 our daughter was in a fatal car accide...
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My background in education began over 20 years ago when I had the pleasure of teaching music to elementary-age students. That grew to working with children of all ages, including instructing a high...
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I ask you to please vote for Richard Foster and Mark Gold for Longmeadow Select Board on June 14. I could list numerous important accomplishments of both these men, but we need to look to the futur...
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I have immense respect for all of East Longmeadow’s community leaders. It’s an often-thankless job and these folks give generous amounts of their time providing an essential service to ...
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As your mayor, as the father of 10-year-old twins and as a fellow human being, I share your grief and horror and heartbreak at the unspeakable murders yesterday (May 24) at the Robb Elementary Scho...
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We are deeply concerned that the Huntington Selectboard and the Finance Committee have decided to put the entire fiscal year 2023 Huntington Library budget on an override question. Libraries provid...
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Recently, and after intense legal research and discussions with the State Elections Commission, Attorney John Harding learned that he falls just short by a few months in qualifying as a candidate f...
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The desire on the part of some narrow-minded people to overturn this legislation sends me two messages which are: An attack on the personal and private decisions women should make about their own b...
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My name is John Matthews, and I am running for reelection for the town of Hampden Planning Board. The Planning Board operates under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40a. I have been a member of t...
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Donald L Davenport, chairman of the Hampden Board of Selectman has announced that he will seek a second three-year term on the board.

In making the announcement Davenport stated, “Whil...
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As a long-time provider of services to the homeless, the Mental Health Association welcomes the Senate passage of Bill 2612 to allow the commonwealth’s Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue a s...
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I urge you to go and experience the sights and sounds and smells of a gas facility. Go to the Eversource/Tennessee Gas Pipeline facility on Shaker Road just south of Pease Road in East Longmeadow. ...
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I want to make everyone aware of how all of us at the Community Survival Center in Indian Orchard are working to safeguard our community.

Our staff is small and we rely on many volunteers. T...
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The Reminder opinion titled “Baker’s Announcement Changes Massachusetts’ Political Landscape” (The Pennysaver, Dec. 9, page 7) should be more accurately be titled “Bak...
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Safe guarding the mental health of all Baystate residents and ensuring their access to needed behavioral health care in a timely fashion is a key component of legislation before the Massachusetts S...
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In a Town Council meeting on Nov. 9, East Longmeadow Town Manager Mary McNally repeated the allegations she made in her Oct. 4 letter of resignation that she was resigning “solely due to one ...
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Get away with as much as you can. Show no respect for the US Supreme Court, Department of Justice, the military, laws that don’t appeal to you, doctors, scientists and the Constitution. Ignor...
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I would like to thank the people of Agawam who voted on Election Day. My special thanks and appreciation to those who voted for me and gave me a big win.

It is a great honor to have their co...
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I want to thank the people of Holyoke for their trust in my ability to make our city a more promising place for our families.

My parents, Thomas and Mary Ellen, have been by my side along wi...
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I would like to add several facts to the article “Eversource Energy Presents Pipeline Reliability Project” published in last week’s Reminder (Oct. 21, 2021).

1. What Everso...
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On behalf of the Friends of Wilbraham Seniors Inc., I want to sincerely thank our hundreds and hundreds of members, supporters, and volunteers who persevered in this long, arduous journey to have o...
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As a long-time member of the Longmeadow Planning Board, I am proudest of my sponsorship of the town’s site and design review by-law. Site and design review is the town’s strongest tool ...
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EAST?LONGMEADOW – East Longmeadow Town Manager Mary McNally’s letter of resignation was read into the record at the Oct. 12 Town Council meeting. In it, she described a hostile work env...
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I have been to every hearing regarding the two proposals for the construction of self-storage units since first hearing on July 28. With approx two weeks’ notice we managed to gather over 400...
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This is a response to the gentleman from East Longmeadow who criticized my letter about Fox News. He added the information that it was a rapper who initiated the story that the vaccine could make o...
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My name is John E Cotton and I am running for the position of trustee of Smith Vocational and Technical High School.

I have a long history with Smith Vocational:

Sixteen years as a de...
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Opponents to the $35 million-dollar Amherst library expansion are not anti-government, anti-tax or anti-library. They simply understand the importance of prioritizing expenses. Here is a list of to...
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A library is more than its building or its stacks of books and reading materials. Among many other benefits, a strong public library supports and nurtures literacy and a love of learning among all ...
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Thanks to The Reminder for running the Sept. 30 summary of Celebrate EL 2021. Our Rotarians appreciate the coverage of the event but would be remiss in not acknowledging the support we received thi...
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In the Sept. 9 issue of The Reminder, I was quoted as having said that the Hampden Wilbraham schools continue to “spend all this time on stupid social issues.” Although I regret my choi...
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On behalf of the Somers Cultural Commission, I would like to thank everyone who supported the Spring, Summer and Fall Concerts, held mostly outdoors at the Gazebo at 19 Battle St. in Somers. These ...
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Wilbraham residents are being asked to approve the funds needed to build a new Senior Center. This letter explains the two steps that are required to bring this question to a vote and get approval ...
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Twelve years ago, I was invited to join the Friends of Wilbraham Seniors group. At my first meeting I was excited to see how many activities this group and the senior center organize for the senior...
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On Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, the Northampton Arts Council voted to cancel this year’s visual art and poetry Biennial. The Biennial was created 15 years ago by several former arts council membe...
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Our region’s economic resilience and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic depends on making sure that pathways to opportunity are open and accessible to all.

Shalonda, a single mother i...
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When we moved to Amherst in 2003, we were surprised that our home relied on a septic system, and was not linked to the town’s sewage system. Our assumption was that our house would be connect...
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 I care deeply about sustaining Amherst as an affordable community that will serve and enrich people of all ages, income levels and backgrounds.

That is why I will be voting yes for the...
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We are the Amherst town councilors who voted for the Jones Library. Our vote allows the Town to borrow the money necessary to move the Jones Library expansion and renovation project forward and we ...
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The Burnett Gallery Committee is a group of volunteers who are responsible for monthly art shows in the Burnett Gallery in the Jones Library. These monthly shows provide an opportunity to display t...
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I ask the voters of Agawam to cast one of their eleven votes for City Council to Anthony Russo.

Anthony is a person of great character and honesty.  Not only is he a good listener but h...
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The invasion of lawless illegal entry now entering our southern border is reaching staggering numbers. People from all over the world are now flying into Mexico then catching a cab to the southern ...
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Many Longmeadow residents are unaware that, on Sunday, a little piece of history took place on the Longmeadow Town Green. What? On our Green? Yes. It was the first Longmeadow Pride Celebration.

My name is Diane DiPiero-Saia, a Longmeadow resident, well-educated and as pointed out [Pipeline and climate change weighed by Longmeadow Select Board, Sept. 15] by the Energy and Sustainability&nb...
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Wilbraham is considered by many to be a great place to live. The schools are excellent, the police station is new, the Fire Department is renovated. The emergency equipment available is state of th...
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As a resident-business owner in Wilbraham who has instructed many fitness classes and special events at our senior center, I share with urgency that we are in dire need of a larger facility with ap...
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I am a long-time resident of East Longmeadow. I would like to know who instituted the stormwater waste charge that is now appearing on our water bills.

When I first inquired about this, the...
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I applaud civic engagement, a barometer of a community’s vibrance. However, community developed plans exist to tether that engagement by checking exuberance, ensuring shared majority purpose ...
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The recent implementation of mandatory mask policy by the Longmeadow Board of Health was an issue with an employee of the Big Y Supermarket approaching a customer who obviously was not aware of the...
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Previous letter writers have made good arguments for the need of a new senior center in Wilbraham. Everything from lack of services for elders to making more space to serve a growing population of ...
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After being treated to stories about the wonderful training at the Springfield Police Department we find that they cannot read a permit.  If the sergeant was standing idly by and not stopping ...
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Preventing suicide is a fundamental commitment of the Mental Health Association (MHA). As an organization dedicated to mental health, we are in a unique position to raise the topic, share informati...
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Obviously in any political situation, such as a city, there will be both positive and negative views. In my opinion this is a time for some positive comments. I was born and raised in the North End...
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I was selected by the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen (BOS) to join the Senior Center Building Committee in November 2019. It was important to me to continue the completed work of the Senior Center Fe...
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The following is an open letter to David A Wilson, Executive Director, Massachusetts State Ethics Commission

We are a group of elected and appointed officials representing municipalities in ...
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Some one needs to point out how Afghanistan affects locally. As you mentioned there have been local casualties. This has to be one of the worse retreats in history.

By one count the Taliban ...
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I appreciate Mr. Dobbs’ opinion in last week’s Reminder reflecting on climate change’s current and potential future impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s ...
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I was selected by the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen (BOS) to join the Senior Center Building Committee in November 2019.  It was important to me to continue the completed work of the Senior Cen...
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Thank you, thank you Longmeadow town board for making a mask mandate for Longmeadow.  I hope every one follows suit.  Even if you save one life you did the right thing.  I work at th...
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Editor Mike Dobbs’ opinion piece in [the Aug. 5] Reminder creates more confusion than light on the subject of Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT has become integrally inseparable from the New Yo...
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This is Massachusetts where every act must be reacted to with legislation.  A Chicopee policeman spread crime photos around.  He was disciplined, and later left over some other incident.&...
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I noticed the street light was out between my house and my neighbors house. I called National Grid and reported it. I was told it would take between four to five days to make repairs and here it is...
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Senior Centers are keenly important for the health of a community and its citizens. According to the National Council on Aging,
“Senior Centers serve as a gateway... connecting older ad...
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I agree history lessons must be changed and updated through diversity and fairness to all. But CRT [critical race theory] makes whites oppressors and all others including Blacks and brown people as...
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This is Massachusetts where every act must be reacted to with legislation.  A Chicopee policeman spread crime photos around.  He was disciplined, and later left over some other incident.&...
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There have been letters published recently that I believe are giving a false tone to the discussion before Wilbraham in regards to a new senior center, and as a member of the Senior Center Building...
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Grace, strength, pain are not uncommon attributes of a seasoned gymnast, but to see Simone Biles exhibit them in her announcement that mental health concerns had prompted a pause in her participati...
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The Town of Wilbraham began its efforts for the proposed senior center building long ago. The committee’s report was published in October 2012 and found that the current senior center was ina...
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I am convinced that Mitch McConnell and his Republican cohorts are not interested at all in what is best for the USA. I have felt this way for a long time also feeling that McConnell is still not s...
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It is nice to see that the Legislature has its priorities right.

Supposedly our legislative delegation is interested in police reform.  The Civil Service System and the arbitration clau...
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We all know about the Baby Boomer generation. This large group of people is an active, involved group of people who will need support to age successfully.

Wilbraham has an adult population o...
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The largest Western Massachusetts Parade returned in 2021 to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and return from restrictions endured by the nation and world since 2020. It ...
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On June 14, 2021, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its document Further Guidance on Effectively Allocating Resources to Support Recovery and Acceleration. Throughout th...
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On June 12 at 12 p.m., the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MOSSO) will gather on the steps of Symphony Hall to call attention to the?precarious state of the Springfield Symphony Or...
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We have a health war against COVID viruses in America and our whole world. We must all work together, as allies and human beings, to act in a preventative and response treatment methods. I wish our...
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Veterans Assisting Veterans is a volunteer nonprofit organization. We note that the Boston Globe Spotlight team’s recent article vindicates the former Massachusetts secretary of veterans&rsqu...
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As the Holyoke Public Library prepares to reopen its doors to the public on June 14, 2021, the Library employees join our colleagues from Brookline and many other public libraries in expressing our...
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Lots of folks around Western Massachusetts have heard, met, or worked with John Hughes on and off the tennis court over the past 50 years. However, some folks may only know John for his work as the...
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On the eve of the Memorial Day holidays many in Longmeadow received a email from Longmeadow Parks and Rec. The good news is that the Reynolds Pool at Greenwood will open June 16.

And by the ...
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….as well we should have. The children have their playground and new school, the police have a new building and the firemen have their new building.

Now, it is time for the senior cit...
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Dear Governor Baker,

The Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition extends our deepest gratitude to you in the creation of the legislation for a new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. We also sincerely...
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G. Michael Dobbs’ characterization of Holyoke as “really a village” (5/13-19 column) speaks to fears I’ve had for Alex Morse since a fracas erupted, conveniently, on 8/7/202...
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Failing Septics on Bradford Drive and all 5 High Areas of Needs has be ignored by the Town of Agawam since the houses were built in the 1970s.

High levels of fecal coli continue to contamina...
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At our last council meeting the City Council, after discussion, unanimously voted in favor of the TR-2021-30 resolution in support of the Feeding Hills/ South West Sewage Project. On May 4 the mayo...
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When you hear “senior center,” you probably get a picture of a building filled with older adults playing cards, exercising or sharing a meal. While the main goal of a senior center is t...
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Our nation’s longest war will end on Sept. 11 with the withdrawal of our remaining troops in Afghanistan. No matter what you think of the war, Americans should unite behind the urgent need to...
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We are supporting Craig Rivest for selectman of Hampden. Craig is a forward thinking businessman who understands the needs of the changing demographics of Hampden. He wants to keep the uniqueness o...
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In this election season one of the issues, we are facing is that of the school litigation. Unfortunately, it is a far more complicated matter than settle or not settle as expressed in some of the r...
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Taxpayers beware! Because of the frivolous lawsuit filed by Mrs. [Mary Ellen] Glover and others, the town of Hampden faces an adverse judgement of between $250,000 and $500,000.

When this su...
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The East Longmeadow Veterans Memorial Committee was recently awarded a Preservation Veterans' Heritage Grant for $18,337 from the Massachusetts State Historical Advisory Board (SHRAB). Veterans Her...
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I wanted to comment on a Reminder article recently following [state] Sen. Eric Lesser’s update to the East Longmeadow Town Council on the status of the area’s “Crumbling Foundatio...
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I am writing to make your readership aware of efforts in Wilbraham construct a new Senior Center. Members of the Senior Center Building Committee, appointed by the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen, has...
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Solitary confinement was intended to be the harshest of punishments, yet many of our nations’ most vulnerable older adults spend hours, or even days, without any type of human contact. Social...
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I, Anthony C. Bonavita hereby announce that I will not be seeking re-election to the Agawam School Committee or any other seats in the 2021 Agawam election.

As everybody knows COVID has take...
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Despite our state's reputation as a progressive stronghold, the Massachusetts State House is broken and doesn’t pass valuable legislation that’s supported by a majority of the people. C...
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I’d like to follow up on a couple points that Bob Page made in his excellent letter last week. Contrary to what some people believe, seniors are not moving out of Wilbraham. Our senior popula...
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It is with a heavy heart that I report that William “Billy” Evans, the United States Capitol Police Officer tragically killed yesterday in Washington DC, was a member of the Golden Bear...
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I am writing this in support of Carol Constant for election to the South Hadley Select Board.  As an eight-year resident of Loomis Village in South Hadley, I have had the privilege and pleasur...
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Some thoughts.

We have powerful immune systems which protect against viruses. Vitamin D, zinc, mega doses of vitamin C, even garlic will prevent and heal.  

All vaccines can be r...
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The Reminder editor revises history when he claims, “We started the process with not enough vaccine and we can lay the blame for that on the doorstep of the previous presidential administrati...
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John Adams, of Braintree, Massachusetts, was the principal author of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Our State Constitution went into effect almost 241 years ago (Octob...
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I wish to take this opportunity to say a warm so long to the many friends I made during the 47 years I had the pleasure of living in Wilbraham. Whenever I mowed the lawn or shoveled the driveway on...
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I am the principal of Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow.  We have offered a hybrid model of learning since January. On April 12th, we are inviting all students to return to schoo...
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Longmeadow wealth tax is already in place.

It is called a local Property Tax, and it exists in all cities and towns.

As the nation and State debate the wisdom of wealth taxes on the 1...
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The problem will be, with reduced masking compliance is that two major variants that escape the triggering of the immune system are now starting to become widely distributed.

For those prev...
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On March 4, the Chicopee Herald carried a very interesting article on local maple syrup production. I make maple syrup in my backyard and sell it at farmers markets. I have two degrees in forestry....
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Get ready for an increase in the fire tax. At the Feb. 24 Prudential Committee Meeting, the Fire Chief proposed adding two additional Advance Life Support (ALS) paramedics to the Fire Department, b...
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Why is Gov. Baker giving our tax dollars to Palmer Renewable to pollute Springfield, acknowledged as the “asthma capital of the U.S.” by The National Asthma and Allergy Association and ...
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Although some say my youthful visage belies my 75-plus years, I was grateful that  the accumulation of three quarters of a century’s existence made me eligible for Covid 19 vaccines at t...
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I am currently staying with my mother here in East Longmeadow, taking care of her during the pandemic. She is a homebound senior who is restricted to a wheelchair and who has an extremely hard time...
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This is a response to: “Exploring the radicalization of the American right .” First and foremost, thanks to the Reminder for providing a print channel to express views!

We believ...
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The council misses the charge at seven electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.  Agawam asks users to pay $1 per kilowatt.  The dollar represents $.60 per kilowatt for supply/delivery and...
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Why do we need a Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke while the Veterans Administration has a hospital in nearby Northampton? It appears to be a duplication of effort.  How many of them really need...
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I will probably stick to my ideological guns, such as the Bill of Rights.

We are seeing proposals for censorship, less election security etc. I do not consider that progress.

There wa...
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I’m an old friend of the Buendo family and have kidded Chris ever since your hiring. My take is that you’re much smarter than I am word-wise, but share an equal love for our country, an...
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As I drove down the western end of Maple Street yesterday, I was shocked and disgusted to see a homeowner flying our American flag upside down. I will not give the address, but anyone who travels t...
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America, at this time, can not continue to create animosities among the American people. Now is the time to bring our country together. I genuinely believe the Biden-Harris team will be an essentia...
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Biden has a big agenda to face when he comes into office. Climate change is urgent if we want our grandchildren to have any kind of life. Twenty-twenty was the hottest year on record (tied with 201...
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There is much fanfare with former UMass hoop star Lou Roe coming on board to coach our Putnam Vocational Technical Academy team, which is fine, but just as much fanfare, if not more should be given...
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The argument that “the Internet is my property and I can do whatever I want with it” is a poor argument to allow censorship and fact checking based on opinion.  Social media is the...
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The time for action regarding the election was long ago. I did not like Nixon, but no one doubted that he won the election. I am not fan of Rudy Guiliani, but he said he had over 1,000 affidavits o...
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Trump has deeply wounded our democracy and our nation. Some Republicans say we should not impeach him but rather let him leave office and let the nation heal. Not  possible. This wound is so s...
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To the reassuring, gracious individuals who gave of their time, expertise and positive caring concern – as well as the EMT and Hampden Fire Department – a heartfelt thank you for all yo...
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It feels as though one man has taken control of the USA, and not for the betterment of the country, but rather to satisfy his own ego needs which are never-ending. So much for improving our country...
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I was wondering why Agawam can’t seem to get a new school. Whether it’s a sorely needed preschool or high school, is it the state not seeing the need or is it a lack of trying? West Spr...
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On Friday morning, I was about to cross the North End Bridge – the light changed, I put my foot on the accelerator, and nothing happened. Helpless in the center lane, cars honked, people yell...
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With the changing world COVID-19 has placed on us, we as a society have been forced to change the way we live our lives and in many ways this pandemic has awoken us to discover what is important in...
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Having witnessed several Presidential elections I think that this one has caused more divisiveness in this country than anyone has seen since the Civil War. One man – Donald Trump – has...
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For all the people who wrote letters professing their utter hatred for Donald Trump, I just want to say I sympathize with you. If I watched and read only mainstream -MSS-media (because you know, FO...
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Would the Real Donald Trump  - Please Stand up…

Donald Trump is NOT a politician.    

Donald Trump is NOT a polished political speaker.

Donald Trump ...
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As a Christian I can’t quote scripture to show where Jesus spoke disparagingly about people like him. All I know is that he died for me on the cross and he died for an atheist on the cross an...
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For many reasons home Wi-Fi is frequently neglected.  Maybe intentionally to encourage kids to play outside or not spend so much time in front of a screen.  Maybe it helps make working fr...
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Markey’s quote “It’s time to start asking what your country can do for you.”

In one campaign video, Markey also paraphrased a famous JFK quote, “Ask not what yo...
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I have purposely waited to write this letter so to digest the situation and issues facing our School Committee and town.

As a School Committee member I have always acted with the best intere...
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Hello everyone!

Although I have only been state senator for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district for three months, it has been a packed time period, and I wanted to give you all an update ...
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Over that last several weeks I have noticed that there are many roadblocks in our lives aside from Covid-19 if that was not enough to knock us all off kilter. I say this after talking with several ...
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“Is teaching children an essential service?” asked members of the West Springfield Republican Town Committee (RTC).

While nurses and doctors have worked through the virus pandemi...
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Dear Agawam Community,

I want to address my rationale for not supporting the hybrid model that was voted on by a 4-3 margin during the School Committee meeting held on August 7. I am the par...
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I am writing to you to inform you that the Agawam School Committee voted for our re-entry plan to schools on 8/7/20.  The final vote was a hybrid model, which are students and teachers will be...
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The Reminder article (July 23rd) outlined proposed state legislation that would require  Massachusetts schools to change mascots and logo's associated with Native Americans. Additionally anoth...
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It has been reported recently that Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has filed a ground-breaking lawsuit in state court against Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, and The American Petroleum Ins...
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The intent of this letter is to condemn the outrageous tactics of the Massachusetts legislature in its handling of the so called police reform bill and not to discuss the contents thereof.

O...
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Many thanks to Payton North for extolling the benefits of community college as a viable higher education choice in the article Community College: a quality education for a fraction of the price, Ju...
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The word duke, as in the Iron Duke Beer is in reference to the the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who represented Ludlow as part of his district, and has nothing to do...
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Editor’s Note: The following is a resignation letter addressed to Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee Chair Patrick Kiernan.
    
Patrick,...
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Statistics help explain why the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 125,000 lives, continues to rage in the United States. The most shocking and tragic statistic is that the U.S. could h...
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I am very sympathetic to those who have suffered due to police brutality. However I do find some of the material that comes through the media and other sources very disturbing. There are some react...
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I am pleased to offer my support to the current Selectman John Flynn in his reelection bid. John has served the Town of Hampden for many years as a selectman and his vast knowledge of the workings ...
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Unfortunately, despite its length, its tone is frequently self-contradictory, and some proposals devoid of necessary explanation.

Clearly, the writers of Articles in this warrant have two ve...
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If you remove a tick, save and send it for testing which will determine the type of tick and if it was carrying pathogens. Ticks can transmit pathogens other than Lyme disease such as babesiosis, a...
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Dear Resident,

The town of Longmeadow is concerned about protecting your right to vote in a safe manner. We are planning to open the polls with protective measures in place. The polls will b...
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Thousands of local businesses will face economic calamity on June 1, 2020, when Massachusetts ‘Bans the Sale of Menthol Cigarettes’, and strips these products from their shelves, at a t...
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We all are trying to wrap our heads around what has happened and what it will be like when we begin to reintegrate ourselves back in the main stream of life. Knowing that we all gain our strength, ...
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The city of Chicopee should try to provide COVID-19 face masks to the residents of Chicopee. Several communities in Western Massachusetts have provided COVID-19 face masks to their residents.

The world is closed
But our hospitals are open
Our faces are covered
But our fears are exposed.
 
Our heroes are abundant
In healthcare
at fire and police st...
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Wilbraham School Committee member William Bontempi was mistaken when he recently said that the Hampden Wilbraham Education Association (HWEA) “didn’t care” about possible staff re...
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Joining many other not-for-profit groups and citizens across Western Massachusetts supporting those in need during the pandemic and recovery planning, the Rotarians of East Longmeadow have coordina...
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On behalf of the East Longmeadow Town Council, I hope you are staying safe and healthy amidst the current health crisis.  The purpose of my letter is to keep you up to date on your local gover...
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Meals On Wheels is one of the most important and utilized services provided by Pleasant View Senior Center in East Longmeadow. The Center delivers an average of 50 home-delivered meals every weekda...
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The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation donated $2,000 towards the construction of the East Longmeadow Veterans Memorial to be located at 328 N. Main Street, East Longmeadow.

The East ...
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What in the world is happening to the world ?  Passing by impeachment let me go to Western Massachusetts.  It is 20 degrees outside and downtown Springfield is blocked off to accommodate ...
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The East Longmeadow Education Association (ELEA) recently learned of the school committee’s decision to dismiss the school year calendar that has been in place since 2007.   Althoug...
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I would like Mr. Trump to explain why he is so determined to derail the impeachment process if, in fact as he always says, he hasn't done anything wrong. Just the fact that he has forbidden people ...
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There have been more than enough comments about the new trash barrels in Longmeadow but I must add one more voice on that subject.

1. The design of the trash barrels is inferior.  I hav...
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With cheers and wild applause the audience erupts as Pete Buttigieg takes the stage. Overspilling with excitement and hope, the crowd anticipates the phenomenon they have come from near and far to ...
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If this wasn’t such sad situation it could be almost humorous. Every time I see the comments about Mr. Trump testifying “under oath” it makes me wonder who really believes that &l...
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When you consider the money spent by our national, state and local governments, to pay, not only their elected officials, but also the employees of their staffs, agencies, including all of the welf...
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Payton,

I read your Christmas Music article in last week's Pennysaver with great interest.  It was like you were writing about my childhood.  While I'm probably of your mom's gener...
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When I read your article in The Reminder, I couldn't help but to support you!  Yes,I absolutely love all Christmas music. Or maybe not all of it (Dominic the donkey) but 90 percent.  ...
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As a proud life-long resident of Springfield and in response to a City Council resolution – No, I will not be issuing a letter of consent to the White House, U.S. Department of State, the U.S...
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Hi Payton!

I saw your "Opinion" piece in the Chicopee Reminder. I have to admit that I refuse to decorate before Thanksgiving because I love that holiday also.

But my favorit...
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Dear Payton,

I couldn't help but laugh out loud after reading your column on your scrooge co-workers. But I must say I really can't blame them. It may be the most wonderful time of the year ...
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Hi Payton-

Thanks for your column today - we are aligned! I¹m a 60 year old guy who has been developing an eclectic Christmas playlist for the last 10 years or so; I literally spend hou...
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My name is Ray Cammisa I am a member of Disabled Americans Veterans (DAV) chapter 11 Chicopee, MA.

Over this past summer we held our Forget-Me-Not (blue flower) fund raiser. The purpose of t...
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I would like to congratulate the town of Agawam for joining the other 100 communities in the state for overwhelmingly voting down recreational sale of cannabis in their town.

The reason why ...
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Dear Wilbraham Residents,

At the Oct. 28 Selectmen’s meeting, a major step forward was initiated by the board regarding the long-awaited proposed new Senior Center in Wilbraham. A pub...
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The East Longmeadow Veterans Memorial Committee is raising funds to construct a Veterans Memorial at 328 N. Main Street (Senior Center).  This Veterans Memorial will be dedicated to honor and ...
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I strongly encourage you to attend the upcoming Town Meeting to be held on Tuesday, November 5, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.  There will be two related articles where resident will...
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Like countless other families, manufacturing allowed my family to pursue the American Dream. My grandfather was a tool and die maker in Brooklyn, and was able to support a family of five on that sa...
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I write today in support of my best friend Joel McAuliffe who is seeking re-election to his Ward 1 City Council seat in our hometown of Chicopee. Two years ago, I wrote that there was no one better...
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Over the past few days, I have reflected on the recent preliminary election in Chicopee. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who exercised your right to vote and I am humbled by the ...
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Like most families, autumn brings both great excitement and some butterflies into my household. We are enthusiastic about the possibilities of a new school year, but also nervous about starting a n...
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Kudos to our East Longmeadow neighbors, SWEAT Power Yoga, for their generous support of Springfield Education Association’s Tools 4 Teaching (T4T). Established in 2010, T4T accepts gently use...
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We just went through another summer with vegetation along our roads out of control. It makes Connecticut and Massachusetts look like they are going out of business.  Sure it takes money to mai...
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I am writing to encourage my fellow Longmeadow residents to attend the special town meeting at Longmeadow High School on Aug. 20 and to vote YES on Article 1.

A “Yes” vote will b...
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In the July 25-31 issue of The Reminder, I read with interest the reasons given by Longmeadow Select Board members for their votes regarding the Town’s use of Chapter 61B rights.

When ...
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I would like to comment on a situation I observed last week in the East Longmeadow library. A mother was ahead of me in line with three children. The oldest must have been eight or nine. They were ...
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Everyone at the Community Survival Center is grateful to the Springfield Fire Department for their recent quick response to our call about a burning smell. The fire fighters tracked the source of t...
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To my fellow citizens of Longmeadow:

My name is James Ryan.  I am an Eagle Scout, a public school teacher, a veteran policymaker, and I’m running for School Committee.

From...
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Recently Marie Kondo sparked a craze of simplifying your life, with the by line, “Does this item spark joy?” Now people all over the globe are taking part in cleansing the soul and home...
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Voters in East Longmeadow will go to the polls on June 4 to elect three residents to Town Council and two to School Committee.    I am running for Town Council, along with incumbent ...
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I am no longer surprised by anything that the “Teflon Don” does or says and I certainly do not see any humor in the nonsense and “fake news” that seems to be a major part of...
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Morse, thank you from West Springfield In Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Overstory,” a character cites an old proverb that inquires as to the optimal time to pl...
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At the Longmeadow Town Meeting at Longmeadow High School on May 14, please support the ban of j-brake (jake-brake) usage by large commercial trucks in and on the streets in residential neighborhood...
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Earlier this month, I took a ride in a van.

It wasn’t just any old van – it was a vehicle rented by half a dozen Western Mass. residents who commute to Boston every day for work....
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Great article about the response to the number one donut!

I have eaten many donuts in my day and I, also, grade them.

Dunkin Donuts are terrible.

Mrs. Murphy’s are good, ...
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Great article about the response to the number one donut!

I have eaten many donuts in my day and I, also, grade them.

Dunkin Donuts are terrible.

Mrs. Murphy’s are good, ...
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Great article about the response to the number one donut!

I have eaten many donuts in my day and I, also, grade them.

Dunkin Donuts are terrible.

Mrs. Murphy’s are good, ...
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The so-called “Fair Tax” is a way for the elite who manage our economy to solve a problem which they have created.  Since they shipped so many jobs to cheap labor countries the Ame...
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Wonderful things are taking place in the Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield area that go unreported. An increasing number of people in the Pioneer Valley have developed a mind of their own and no longe...
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The Town of Longmeadow is holding a special town meeting on March 26 after a citizen filed a petition asking that the New Adult Center be built according to the preliminary plan presented at the An...
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Robert Underwood makes some very good points about the tangled web of commissions, councils, and unions that all try and manage police issues.

However, what was not discussed why the same pr...
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For close to a decade, many residents  worked diligently to advocate for a new Adult Center In Longmeadow.  While on the sidelines, I watched and listened at various committee meetings as...
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Come one come all! Bring your friends and neighbors!  Finally, after a long wait, we are happy to report that the Public Hearing by FERC will be held in the Longmeadow High School Auditorium o...
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Under the old Police Commission many of the problems in the Springfield Police Department would not have come to light. Barbieri seems to have faced some issues head-on rather than avoiding them.&n...
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We need to remember to recognize all the hard-working men and women who do a difficult jobs every day: DPW, trash collectors, mail carriers, nurses, police, and fire are just a few examples.

As reported by The Reminder (Feb. 21, 2019, Dobbs), Senator Eric Lesser’s proposed legislation for a Western Massachusetts ‘remote worker incentive program’ is merited with great ...
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I simply cannot fathom how anyone who has the ability to reason can be supportive of the ego-maniacal, womanizing, pathological liar who currently disgraces the office of the President of this coun...
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I think Memorial School is a good building to house our Senior Center, Recreation Office, Veteran’s Agent and Senior and Veteran’s Housing. I have corresponded with John Catlin, the New...
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I attended the Nov. 28 Longmeadow School Committee (SC) meeting and listened to the praise for Superintendent Dr. Martin O’Shea by teachers and by a group of students;  I was indeed impr...
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Some Facebook Comments are simply name calling.  But in many cases the postings are by political “activists” whom I believe are simply following orders.    

T...
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I read with interest last week’s Letter to the Editor regarding the proposed sale of Longmeadow Country Club property so that a gas metering station can be built. To the ques-tions posed in l...
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Imagine my surprise when I learned last week that Longmeadow Country Club members will soon be voting on an option agreement for the sale of two acres of land to Tennessee Gas so that a gas meterin...
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Marie Angelides has now found names that were forged just two weeks before the election. How all of a sudden would Ms. Angelides know where to look for these signatures? Anyone can sign someone els...
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The East Longmeadow Republican Town Committee met Saturday, Oct. 20 to endorse candidates for the November state election.  The committee voted unanimously to endorse local candidate for State...
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My name is Donald J. Flannery and I am running for State Representative in the 12th Hampden District to replace Angelo Puppolo. I want for you, the bills that Angelo voted against.

I will w...
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Over the years I have been accused of supporting a partisan agenda in my arguing for a massive wave of support for Democratic candidates. Folks are saying the same thing about me with respect to th...
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I am concerned about the opioid crisis.  We have lost too many lives to this terrible epidemic.  We need leadership to address the issues of treatment, prevention and stopping the flow of...
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Is there anyone who was surprised by the outcome of the Kavanaugh fiasco? I remain convinced that this all started when the almighty leadership of the Republican Party refused to even meet with the...
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The race to pick a new Hampden County Register of Deeds in the upcoming November election is probably not on most voters’ radar screen, but it should be.  The person elected will be in c...
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Everyone becomes angry at their municipality from time to time.  Once a week, because again unable to meet an impossible standard, is way too often.

A few weeks ago Republic’s blu...
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Dr. Scott Lively (lawyer and evangelical Christian) lost his bid for governor by a wide margin. However, if just a small percentage of the vast, vast amount of churchgoers who didn’t bother t...
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I am humbled by the outpouring of support on elections day Sept. 4. Gracias, thank you for sending a strong message to Boston that the Springfield progressive voice in the 10th Hampden District is ...
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What have we come to? We have a man in the White House who is no more deserving of the esteemed title of President of the United States than his two closest friends and allies – Putin and Kim...
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As I see videos of people protesting the Nike/Kaepernick deal by buying expensive Nike merchandise and destroying it, I’m torn between amusement and disgust.  I’m amused that these...
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After years of discussing it, Chicopee is finally moving forward with plans to merge city and school departments that are redundant.  The idea behind all of this is that by merging departments...
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We are now on a campaign to eliminate plastic straws from all places that serve drinks in containers.  Will this really solve the problem?  Granted we will eliminate billions of plastic s...
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This weekend, our city welcomed a new community partner. MGM Springfield officially opened their doors Friday and has been operating at full speed all weekend. I did join my wife opening night to s...
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The success of small businesses depends on well paid customers with disposable income. More people work for others than own small businesses. Many of the products we want, such as automobiles, depe...
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Last year alone, drug overdoses killed 72,000 Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that record number reflects a 10 percent increase from the year before. In Mass...
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On Aug. 17, I read a story in our local paper about our state’s Attorney General offering open meeting law training in an effort to “better educate elected officials and the public on t...
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Trump has been unable to reunite all immigrant families separated under his direction. Some parents have been deported without their children and without contact information. Some parents have chos...
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I went to the East Longmeadow post office this morning to pick up a box in which I was going to mail some candy, cookies etc. to a friend who is a major in the Army serving now in Afghanistan. The ...
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I support Medicare for All. My opponent does not. My seven-year old daughter survived open heart surgery when she was a newborn. Her recovery was rough, but she had a great prognosis. As a family, ...
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This construction has been made possible by your vote to approve Article 10 at the Special Town Meeting on November 2017.

Article 10: “To see if the town will vote to accep...
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The report of the latest expansion of services at our Springfield Shriners Hospital serves as a clear reminder of the Shriners’s continuing investment in the most valuable asset that exists f...
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The East Longmeadow Rotary Club, the sponsoring organization for this year’s East Longmeadow Fireworks held on July 3, 2018, regrets the delay in starting the fireworks.  Technical probl...
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My Soccer Head Gear Legislation is just the start in preventing concussions and head injuries in Massachusetts. Under the new concussion law, which was passed a few years ago also, I have the right...
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So the editor of this family newspaper proudly announces in last week’s Opinion Column that he went and viewed an over-the-hill porn “star” because she happens to be suing t...
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Sir: This is an open letter to the media, especially the White House Press corps. Why haven’t your reporters been asking Trump or his press secretary these questions?

1. If you are so...
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An increase in property tax revenue of well over $600,000 per year is the result of a Ten Taxpayer suit that charged the Springfield Board of Assessors of undervaluing billboards, cell towers and c...
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I wonder if anyone has thought about the meeting between Mr. Trump and Kim from a sort of historical perspective. While this meeting has generated a lot of media coverage and a certain amount of op...
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There has been recent controversy over South Congregational Church’s decision to shelter a Peruvian national facing deportation. Mayor Domenic Sarno claimed that he would take action against ...
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The ERC5-East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce would like to take a moment and thank our committee, sponsors, guests and vendors for supporting the 2018 Feast in the East. Our Chamber pro...
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Fox News (more propaganda than news) claims it is time to shut down the Mueller investigation because it has gone on too long and nobody cares anymore. By comparison, the Whitewater investigation w...
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As news comes out daily about the irrational actions of the person currently occupying the White House I remain puzzled as to why anyone – Democrat, Republican or Independent – can supp...
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Trump and Bolton talk about the “reality” that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and therefore the US Embassy belongs there. They never mention the “reality” that Jerusalem...
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I read with interest the article in last week’s Reminder regarding State funding obtained by Brian Ashe on behalf of Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) for their Capital Improvement proje...
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Regarding your article that the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court could mean sports betting could come to Massachusetts:

You are darn right it could come here as well as all other ty...
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In the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, gun control and gun rights activists were activated and began their respective marches. One side calling for policies that remove and restrict acce...
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On May 18 the Longmeadow Veterans hosted Gerry Izzo, CWO4, U.S. army retired and Peter R. Squeglia Jr, a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and Army Ranger from the Battle of Mogadishu. Both participated ...
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I read your opinion article and whole heartedly agree with you. Why hasn’t our State Representative, Angelo Puppolo been more help in getting us, in the greater Springfield area, more equal t...
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The Melha Shrine Circus just returned, and unfortunately, so did the elephants, tigers, horses, and dogs. In 2016 the Melha Shriners chose to live up to their mission to foster “the perpetuat...
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We the people urgently need our police patrolling the streets and we need a fair contract that takes Springfield into consideration. Recently there has been controversy over what constitutes a fair...
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A little more than three months have passed since I formally launched my campaign to represent Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hampden and Monson in the Second Hampden District of the Massachusetts Ho...
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By now you likely have read and heard a lot about the Town’s plans to build a new Senior Center.  What you likely have read and heard little or nothing about is the Town’s plans to...
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There’s no sugar-coating it: Massachusetts is facing another emergency in our state’s fight against the opioid epidemic. Two years after the state legislature created a bulk purchasing ...
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How often have you heard from a older person in your life say “Don’t worry, I am fine.” Or “Don't throw that away. There is a quarter  inch of milk left!” Or &ldq...
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There has been a lot of discussion about the Longmeadow Senior Center for several years with many options being opposed. Finally, we have a proposal and a design to replace the existing Senior Cent...
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The Springfield City Council recently wrote a letter to Mayor Domenic Sarno criticizing him for having a “lack of diversity” among his department heads. In the 382 years of Springfield&...
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As I followed the various news items related to Ms. Collazo and her family regarding the status of the church sanctuary matter, I found some things a bit confusing and other things that I felt were...
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There are over 4,509 senior residents in the Town of Longmeadow. Additionally, there are currently 2,666  people between the ages of 50 and 60.  The elder population will continue to grow...
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On Monday night the Springfield City Council passed a meaningless resolution directing City Departments to make Springfield a Sanctuary City. As a strong mayor city they have no authority to do thi...
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Let me see if I have this right, you must be 21 to buy cigarettes but not to buy marijuana.  Now they want you to be 21 to buy a gun.  Seems to me then you must be 21 before you can be se...
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Your March 29 opinion piece about the South Congregational Church in Springfield granting “sanctuary” to an illegal alien does not identify the crux of the problem:  Mayor Sarno is...
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Very relevant to the topic of school shootings is whether the shooters were taking prescription anti-depressants, a side effect of which can be violent behavior.  Information published by reno...
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It does not surprise me that former presidents were able to work across party lines to promote gun control, or citizen disarmament.  I once saw a bumper sticker with the message “politic...
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I am not a gun owner nor a member of the NRA and I have no interest in either of those items. I have no issue with people owning guns, other than assault weapons, which should be only in the hands ...
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Hi, Reminder folks. Thanks for showing up on my doorstep every week. You perform an important service.

Another thank you: I have followed the writings of Managing Editor G. Michael Dobbs. He...
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We have the power to end drug overdose deaths now. We can pull the rug out from under the traffickers and pushers by legalizing all drugs. Taking away the profits will end the business. Trump says ...
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Monday evening, March 5, the Springfield City Council voted against tax increment financing (TIF), refusing to grant tax incentives to a business that would have dramatically expanded the market ra...
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I’d like to join Allen Zippen, who recently wrote about the progress that the city of Springfield is making, progress that has implications for the entire region.  To Mr. Zippen’s ...
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I have been involved in civic affairs for over 50 years. In that time I have witnessed every kind of attitude, con job, gamesmanship that you can think of; but of late it has really gone over the t...
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On Thursday March 8th, Wilbraham Republicans will host Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Lively, who identifies as a Christian pastor.

Mr. Lively co-founded an organization, Watchmen ...
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Although I currently live in Longmeadow I was born and raised in the North End and East Springfield areas of Springfield and I still consider Springfield to be my “home town.” I think i...
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Some thoughts on guns and our current gun problem:

1. People should not be allowed to store guns in their homes. Instead they should be stored in a municipal lock up under the control of leg...
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Sid Starks of East Longmeadow is running for Republican State Committeeman from the 1st Hampden/Hampshire district in a special election March 7. Sid is a long time Republican, former chairman of t...
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As Congress crafts their responses to the White House's proposed infrastructure bill, we need a balanced transportation system that includes roads, transit, rail lines, and trail networks. We can't...
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On Feb. 13, the Pine Point Community Council voted not to support developer Nick Graham's proposal to build 14 townhouse apartments on the old Russell's Restaurant site on Boston Road.

For t...
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According to many sources, that I have read, there were nine Democratic representatives who did vote against the bill for a raise in pay, but he was not one of them.

I have several reports f...
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Shifting the cost of training to the applicant is very bad trend which has been happening for some time.  It has not been as visible because public money was used for the training in the form ...
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Democrats or Republicans –  neither group really matters anymore in today’s environment. Mr. Trump does not demonstrate the qualities and values of either party as he runs roughsho...
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I never would have guessed that a casino would pay so little. I do not advise my kids on spending $1,000 in education to acquire skills to earn $5 per hour. Tips? The information from most people I...
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I ask for all legislators in Western Massachusetts and all soccer players statewide to support House Bill number 220 concussion and head injury to help prevent concussions in soccer.  My bill ...
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Recently, Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno spoke of the need for a more positive message in all things to do with our fair city, I believe he said something about the Springfield you may not know. A...
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Imagine your daughter is addicted to prescription opioids after treating injuries from a car accident. After haggling with insurance companies and hounding state agencies, you have finally secured ...
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Regardless of the self-proclaimed title, should we trust real estate investors to preserve the character of Longmeadow? The group applying to change the home from residential to commercial zoning a...
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As a realtor in Longmeadow for the past 14 years, I want to publicly add my support for the re-zoning required to convert the Brewer Young Mansion from single-family occupancy to professional use. ...
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On Thursday, Jan. 25 there is will a special town meeting in Longmeadow. The residents of Longmeadow will be making an important decision regarding the Town Green. The discussion is framed by the f...
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Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield MA announced that Our Lady of the Rosary will be shutting its doors after 9:00 mass on January 28, 2018.

A churc...
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Studies show that swarms of people in the Pioneer Valley are, as of late, coming to realize that Global Warming is truly a farce. Blue lips and red-and-teary-cold-eyes are trending from Bernardston...
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In a recent New York Times column, “We’re with stupid,” Timothy Egan wrote: “The problem is not the Russians – it’s us.... A huge percentage of the population ca...
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I read with interest The Reminder article about the propaganda campaign launched by the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance to smear the character and voting record of Rep. Brian Ashe. Instead o...
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I read Rep. Ashe’s comments in the recent 12/21/17 issue of The Reminder under the title “Ashe calls flyers distributed in towns ‘propaganda material’” referr...
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DCF [Department of Children and Families] has escaped scrutiny from the legislature and governors for years. The only people who care about it are the parents of “client” children, who ...
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DCF [Department of Children and Families] has escaped scrutiny from the legislature and governors for years. The only people who care about it are the parents of “client” children, who ...
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In my opinion today’s election in Alabama not only deals with the quality. or lack thereof, of the character of not only Mr. Moore but also Mr. Trump. The fact that he supports so disgusting ...
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I have seen a number of articles about the Keystone XL pipeline being routed through Nebraska but none tell the information that people need to know. Do people know that it will only carry tar sand...
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Every morning, a truck pulls up to Atlas Farm in Deerfield. It gets loaded up with fresh vegetables, and heads to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Another Western Mass. farm, Our Fami...
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I am not a gun owner and I have never had an interest in owning a gun. However, I do respect the right of others to own guns. My issue has to do with the ongoing call for more gun control regulatio...
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In the old “Three Stooges” movies Moe exhorts his colleagues, “Don’t just stand there stupid, push buttons.”  That is the behavior of the Massachusetts Legislatur...
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With enjoyment of these past summer months almost behind us, we have had some great events happening right here in the city of homes. Back in May we started with the pancake breakfast along with pu...
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Just for the record: My ancestors were in the Union Army. I am no fan of the Confederacy, nor the attempts to revise history. It was about slavery. If I had it my way there would be a statue of Gen...
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I support the repeal of the probate law because it excluded people with disabilities in our court system under the United States Constitution and Massachusetts...
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    I am happy and proud to congratulate my colleague and newly appointed Chairman of Ways and Means in the Massachusetts Legislature, Jeffrey Sanchez. The appointment is a sym...
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If Obamacare implodes it will be due to sabotage by Trump. He will not enforce the mandate and or the tax on the rich that fund it. He also plans to get rid of the regulations on insurance companie...
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The local news has recently broadcast a great deal of information regarding the East Longmeadow rotary. The number of accidents per year has been discussed, the placing of orange barrels to make th...
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The situation in Washington seems to amaze some people and I don't know why. I cannot imagine that anyone expected Mr. Trump to act any differently than he has always acted as a wealthy adolescent ...
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On June 22, 2017, members of ADAPT, a national disability rights organization, staged a “die-in” in Senator Mitch McConnell’s Office to protest cuts to Medicaid. This action came ...
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    While the Massachusetts Seat Belt law was passed on December 8th, 1993, the Anniversary date for this bill should really be seen as 6/15/1992.

As Chairman of t...
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During the Senate’s debate on my proposal to create a bulk purchase program for EpiPens, I read an open letter from Dr. Mark Kenton of Mercy Medical Center to the CEO of Mylan, ...
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In a letter-to-the-editor, the “Community Liaison for Dunkin’ Donuts,” Mr. Paul E. Caron concludes that “We should not continue sacrificing economic development, jobs ...
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There’s a lot of talk about making East Longmeadow more “business friendly,” and the need to encourage additional Economic Development.

Currently, East Longmeadow prohibits...
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On June 13, voters will be asked to fund a new DPW facility.  The replacement of our Department of Public Works (DPW) complex has been the most studied event in the history of our town. We hav...
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I am writing to urge your support of the Safe Communities Act.  We have a refugee family from Africa in our church.  They have been faithful members since arriving in the U.S. in 2005. Wh...
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Voters in Longmeadow face three important votes on 13 June that impact the future of Longmeadow. This election is important.

As I see it, we need to send strong candidates on to the school c...
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I have been a resident of Longmeadow for 34 years. My children went through the school system and I now have two grandsons in the preschool program. I am concerned that unnecessary spending in othe...
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The following is a response to the Mass INC. Prison Report released by Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi.

Although I have deep respect for our friends at MassINC., here in Hampden County we...
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Two comments on your “Rolling the Dice and Game Sense” article (March 30):

The explosion of gambling from three states casinos may be the tip of the iceberg. Proponents now...
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Tuesday evening representatives from Springfield Library outlined cosmetic changes that are to make the East Springfield Branch Library more accessible for neighbors with limited mobility. Director...
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So you wish the mayor and the City Council would discuss the noise issue? They did several years ago. Then Councilor Dominic Sarno sponsored a noise ordinance, which passed.  The people ...
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Those of us in Western Mass watched for two generations as the 128 corridor boomed and greater Boston turned into one of the world’s great tech centers.

Meanwhile, our larg...
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A college degree has never cost so much. Since the Baby Boomers were students, the price of a diploma has shot up more than 1,000 percent. As a result, it’s becoming impossible for middle cla...
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Some good has come of the media discussion. I think the “small” papers used to tell us they were like the “big” guys.  Now you are telling us that all pap...
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 I think now is the time for our legislators to take a serious look into the practices of cable providers and “rein them in.”   If my situation is typical, an...
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Which employees are able to vote themselves a pay raise? Our state legislators, that’s which ones. I don’t know of any other employee who can and I don’t think it should be legal....
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This letter is to express public gratitude and commendation to Sen. Eric Lesser. In an August 2016 letter-to-the-editor in The Reminder it was claimed “we cannot afford Lesser.&rdquo...
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What happened to the mechanism voted by our state Legislature several years ago that relieved them from the onerous task of voting for their own pay raises? You will recall their raises would go in...
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Was it sweeps week for local newspapers, when the Jan 12, 2017 issue of The Reminder was prepared?

Looking at the front page of your paper, one would think so! Not only was there a color pho...
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It is difficult for me to understand how anyone can respect the so called “art” in the photo in your article in the Dining & Entertainment section of the Dec. 22, 2016 Reminder<...
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I would like to thank everyone who donated food items to the East Longmeadow food pantry. A special thank you to the following groups and businesses: Impressions Hair Salon, Maybury Material Handli...
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State Representative-elect Bud Williams should step down from the Springfield City Council when he is sworn in to the State Legislature in January. The voters of the 11th Hampden District have entr...
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I want to congratulate Bud Williams being elected state representative from my district. He has served the city well as a city councilor and spent a lot of time on the job. It requires a lot of tim...
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I am a Christian who respects everyone's right to practice their own religion. However, with that being said, just because a building is a house of worship, should not entitle it to be built in suc...
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It was very interesting when I watched state Sen. Eric Lesser on a very well publicized statewide tour earlier this year speaking to the importance of engaging “millennials” and involvi...
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In response to a letter published on Oct. 13, I would like to assure that, yes, our family will be voting in our local election. We shall be voting for our incumbent, state Sen. Eric Lesser, who &n...
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Although the Massachusetts Department of Revenue allows municipalities to set multiple commercial tax rates (ie. mil rates), only one residential mil rate is permitted. A local option to have more ...
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I am writing in support of a vote “No” on Question 2, which is a ballot question for Massachusetts’s voters at the Presidential election on Nov. 8.

Question 2 deals with th...
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I have been a resident of Longmeadow for more than two decades. I am a senior citizen.

In years past, I voted in favor of the new high school. I voted in favor of the new Blinn tennis courts...
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The Annual Longmeadow Fall Town Meeting will be held on Oct. 25. Longmeadow Citizens to Save Our Parks are asking residents to vote “No” to Article 7 for the reasons outlined below.

Many Massachusetts voters are planning to stay home this election, knowing that Democrat Hillary Clinton will beat Donald Trump by at least 20 points in this ultra-liberal state.  And they kno...
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I first want to say thank you, after months of campaigning and hard work your votes have solidified my role as your next Governor’s Councilor here in the 8th district. I couldn’t be mor...
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I have news for both political parties, especially the Democrats. Your proposals to improve the economy will fall short of your expectations since you have not considered the most important aspect ...
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I would like to ask a hypothetical question. If there were six acres of land in the Ardsley Road-Woodsley Road area, would the DPW location selection committee and Select Board and the town manager...
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I am a proud American who is more fortunate than I probably deserve. However I am afraid for my, yours, and our nation’s future. We are told that we have two choices for president, that we mu...
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Within the past couple of weeks, Western Massachusetts suffered a significant defeat. A bill that would have provided a catalyst for a strengthened economy, elevated the standard of living for thou...
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With the new school year starting, parents’ to-do lists are now filled with shopping for school clothes, school supplies, and school food. That’s right – school food.

In pa...
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How sad that Big Y is forcing Alex’s Bagel Shop to close. Alex’s and its predecessor Kimmel’s has been a mainstay in Longmeadow for over 50 years. It seems like this is another ca...
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Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen what one-party rule has done for the 2017 state budget.  When Gov. Baker followed the law in making some difficult choices to reduce the budget, our...
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Sept. 8 will be state primary election day in the Commonwealth. In the 2nd Hampden district, Republican Sid Starks is running a write-in sticker campaign to get his name on the November General Ele...
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Trump’s latest economic talk shows how ignorant he is on the subject. Employers don’t hire people to do nothing just because they have excess cash. The cash can be safely placed in some...
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Having just finished my walk this Sunday morning in our beautiful Forest Park, I wanted to put down my thoughts on the positive excitement in our downtown Springfield last night.

Downtown Sp...
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While I might argue with a lot of your choices for Orchids and Onions (Opinion article, Aug. 4 to 10), I absolutely must protest your praise for Eric Lesser who almost cost taxpayers $700,000 to pe...
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I would like to thank the residents and business owners of East Longmeadow for their generous support during the town council election process. I have enjoyed meeting and talking with many of you a...
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On June 4, Westfield on Weekends (WOW), together with Westfield Creative Arts (WCA), presented Westfield’s first “Arts on Elm” Art Walk. The six-hour event started at 10 a.m. and ...
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Recently a letter to the editor from me was published about an incident during a concert at East Longmeadow High School. My daughter with Tourette Syndrome experienced screaming tics and was asked ...
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Thank you to Minnechaug Regional High School and Keith Poulin for hosting the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority when we met with families of graduating seniors on April 13 to talk about...
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The more I listen to the townspeople, the more concerned I am with East Longmeadow’s political scene. This confirms my belief that the town is in need of real change. There are whisperings am...
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There has been much discussion over the past few months about Longmeadow approaching the Proposition 2½ tax ceiling.  The concern is that Longmeadow’s FY 2016 tax rate is quickly ...
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The Reminder gave coverage of the Longmeadow Town Meeting from May 10, but truly failed to convey the sentiments of the voters protecting the town park land. Article 32 passed overwhelming...
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I would like to thank the East Longmeadow community for all of the support for our recent staff performance of The Odd Couple.  

We are thrilled to report that the fundraiser raised ove...
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Speaker of the House Ryan may have a rude awakening in his meeting with Donald Trump later this week. Mr. Trump should try to explain to Speaker Ryan one more time that the voters don’t want ...
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If you have been following the 2016 presidential campaign, you can see how frustrated voters are with the political system as is. They are looking for change with Donald Trump on the right and Bern...
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The Hampden Wilbraham Regional School Committee members should be thanked for volunteering their time and talent to improve educational opportunities for our children. It is an important, and all t...
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My name is Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman and I am announcing my candidacy for East Longmeadow Town Council.

My family and I have lived here for 14 years.  I’ve had the pleasure of m...
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On May 19 in the Cafeteria of the East Longmeadow High School, an opportunity to meet the candidates for Town Council will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Due to the large number of candidate...
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I recently had the privilege of helping cut the opening ribbon at Cheeky City Boutique, a new beauty retailer in downtown Springfield started by local entrepreneur Leanne Sedlak.

Small busin...
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On Dec. 14, 2012, Newtown, CT, did not have a big gun violence problem. Until it did.

The AR-15, military-style, assault weapon used to gun down the 20 kids at Sandy Hook Elementary School w...
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At the upcoming Town Meeting on May 10, there will be a vote on Article 27, which seeks to lower the speed limit on residential side streets to 20 miles per hour. I commend the effort of the young ...
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In light of the demands of my law practice and other professional commitments, I have found it necessary to reconsider my candidacy as democratic nominee for the Board of Selectmen for the town of ...
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It is with sadness that we saw the recent legislation proposed by Selectman Alex Grant on firearms which attempts to bring nasty national politics into the otherwise peaceable and largely crime-fre...
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As the lead petitioner for the gun control bylaws which will be voted upon at the Longmeadow Town Meeting on May 10, I would like to challenge you to a public debate on the proposed bylaws. I would...
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The March 16 East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen meeting, while both appalling and embarrassing, simply reaffirms the old quote, “In a democracy, people get the government they deserve.”...
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East Longmeadow needs to change its government. Unfortunately, the Charter Commission’s proposal isn’t the best for the town.

I have been privileged to serve as East Longmeadow&r...
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Sometimes I think it is just a bad dream, but then the sun comes up and memories of recent days come back to haunt us. The town has been front-page news for a number of days. How can this be? ...
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The world is gone crazy, we have hundreds of human beings, homeless and hungry in the western part of Massachusetts and instead of concentrating on helping to end the dilemma  of homelessness ...
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As we prepare to vote on April 12; voting “no” keeps our current form of government, whereas “yes” ushers in a new form.

Voting “yes” drastically reduces...
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On Feb. 29, during the open meeting of the Board of Selectmen, some very inaccurate statements were made regarding the Appropriations Committee.

During the meeting, Mr. Gorman while speakin...
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It is with great dismay that I read about the machinations of two members of the East Longmeadow’s Board of Selectmen to discredit Chief Douglas Mellis and the their attempts to manipulate th...
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I would like to comment on two letters from the Feb. 18, 2016 Reminder. I agree with the article “Don’t Blame the Contract.” In the past, if we have approved at Town Meet...
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I am attempting to use your paper to voice my concerns about pedestrian and crossing guard safety. I’ve been a crossing guard on the corner of Main and Central Street for the city of Springfi...
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The solution to making homecare more affordable, especially for the more physically or emotionally needy, is a major problem in all states and for the country. This is also a rapidly growing proble...
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In the Feb. 11 issue of The Reminder Appropriations Committee Chair states, “One of the reasons for the Police Department’s high overtime budget in recent years is due to the contracts ...
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With a commitment to continue to serve Longmeadow residents and bring balance to the Select Board, I am announcing that I am seeking reelection to the Longmeadow Select Board for a three year term....
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The cost of a college education and the interest on the loan is only part of the problem. Expense was always a problem for most of us.  But now the job for which people have trained has been o...
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I am disappointed (but not surprised) that you as an editor of a weekly newspaper would write an Op Ed piece without checking the facts. You regularly rail against your conservative Facework friend...
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I am writing in support of our current police chief, Doug Mellis. I was dismayed to learn that his contract with the town was not renewed. I wish Selectman Gorman and Selectman Thorpe could have wo...
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People are letting their dogs play on our playground. The dogs are pooping on the ground. Children step in it and spread it all over the school. Six of the students in our class stepped in the poop...
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From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, up and down the Pioneer Valley, and everywhere in between, projects that produce clean solar power for communities, save money for taxpayers and create thousands of...
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As someone who has served on the Select Board for the last three years, I can say there was some information presented at the recent DPW forum that was not entirely correct or was incomplete. ...
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A high quality education is undeniably the greatest gift we can give children. A high quality education empowers our children. It is the reason every child in America is guaranteed an education and...
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There's an important election March 1, but not the one you think, Every four years, the same day as the presidential primary, voters are also asked to select their choice for their party’s St...
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Some of the questions from the 82 residents who attended the East Longmeadow Charter Commission’s Jan. 7 open meeting did not seem to have been well thought out.

Several attendees seem...
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This week’s Reminder printed a letter from Senator Eric Lesser headlined “Bringing Down Student Debt.”

As “Scroogy” as I may sound to be saying this on Christma...
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This winter break, college students are bringing home more than just loads of laundry: they’re also bringing mounting loads of debt.

Student debt is a simmering crisis for young adults...
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Thanksgiving seems to arrive and pass too quickly in the midst of other holiday hustle and bustle. Yet thankfulness is so imperative when generosity is abundant.

I would like to pause and g...
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Regarding turning our backs on refugees is turning our backs on our values:

I can understand Gov. Baker wanting more information before accepting refugees from the Middle East, such as how c...
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Editor Mike Dobbs writes that the events in Paris are “more complicated than the memes and tweets would have us believe.” He asks, “Shouldn't our actions and opinions be based on ...
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Massachusetts’ educational success is attributed to decades of expert local standard development. Since 2005, students have led in national testing in all subjects and grades, and rank high i...
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As a registered representative working for brokerage houses and banks for the past 33 years, I understand the factors that make for a good investment. Senate 1747, An Act Combating Climate Change, ...
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The day after East Longmeadow’s annual town election on April 14, nine people woke up that morning and they were instantly town charter review commissioners. Since there was no competition an...
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This letter is written to inform everyone of the Ward 7 City Council debate scheduled for Oct. 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Spring Meadow Apartments. The final details of the debate are being worked o...
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A member of the audience made a statement about Muslims and Obama. It was not a question about the many candidates for president. The moderator should have stepped in and informed him that he was o...
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On Sept. 17, I suggested a series of three debates with Councilor Allen, to occur between Sept. 29 and Oct. 20, which he said on MassLive he would welcome.         Sin...
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Every year I look forward to the Big E.

The food, parades, 4-H exhibits, the amusement rides, music, tractors/autos, the state buildings, crafts and gifts galore!

What I don’t l...
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Editor’s note: The following letter is from an East Longmeadow man whose beloved dog was recently killed by a coyote. He wrote the letter to alert other pet owners to the potential danger...
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In principle, ward representation looks good. Since it passed its proponents have been grasping at straws pointing out to us how it is better. The ethnic and gender makeup of the City Council and S...
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Ward representation had been a controversial topic on the Springfield City Council for a long time before it took effect in the 2009 election.

We are now observing the 2015 municipal electi...
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The newly proposed location for the Western Massachusetts Rehabilitation Center on Wason Avenue has resulted in mass opposition, with hundreds of residents signing a petition to stop the developmen...
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On June 9 Longmeadow will be deciding on which two people will be on the Select Board for the next three years.

This is a very important election. This is a crucial year with our town manag...
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Paul Martin wrote a letter last week pointing out that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is pure income redistribution, and suggested it would be unnecessary if workers were paid the so-called &l...
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I was bemused to see Paul Santaniello’s letter in The Reminder this week describing his accomplishments on the Select Board. I would like to set the record straight about some of his claims:<...
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It is in the news that the Governor wants to eliminate the Movie Production Tax Credit and use the money saved to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  The EITC is an odd beast. I bel...
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Throughout my life I’ve been surrounded by inspiring women – whether it’s my mother, a social worker and scholar, my wife, a solo practicing attorney, or my two sisters who are bo...
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Your recent article on the Longmeadow Select Board’s evaluation of Stephen Crane gave enough information for your readers to see why we have so much conflict in town Select Board meetings. I ...
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I’m an engineer, my wife is a doctor, and we are arguing over our second grade daughter’s math homework – a real-life situation of parents expressing their frustration with Common...
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While it is commendable that Sen. Lesser supports job training, he seems to think that the only reason why people are unemployed is because they are uneducated. After people learn the skills for &l...
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As voter registrars for the town of East Longmeadow, we want to thank each of the over 500 voters who took 10 minutes out of their busy day to come to Birchland Park and make your voice heard at ou...
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The Olympics in Boston in 2024 sounds like a grand plan. It certainly would put Boston and the Commonwealth on the international map; but, leave Western Massachusetts off the same map.

And w...
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Here are a few points you missed in your editorial on so called “global warming:”

We have gone over 18 years without any increase in warming.

We can only accurately predic...
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