The Reminder (East Longmeadow, MA)

Members from Paws Finding Peace visit the Blandford Fire Department and its volunteers to donate pet oxygen masks kits for them to have on each vehicle. Reminder Publishing submitted photo CHICOPEE — Pets in Blanford will soon get the treatment they need during major emergencies thanks to a recent local partnership.

Dan Gabel’s Jazz Ultimate plays at the 2026 Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen SPRINGFIELD — Court Square was packed on July 10 for the kickoff of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. The sounds of drums, trombones and banjos echoed off the buildings as people gathered on picnic blankets and folding lawn and camp chairs. Nearly a dozen acts took the stage across the two-day event, kicking off with Dan Gabel’s Jazz Ultimate.

CHICOPEE — The city of Chicopee announced the newly purchased and former Westfield Bank buildings located at 219 and 225–233 Exchange St. will serve as the new administrative offices for Chicopee Public Schools. A press release from the mayor’s office stated that the property is ready to move into, is located on a public bus route and provides sufficient space to accommodate all School Department administrative offices.

The Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse currently sits on State Street in Springfield’s downtown. A site for a new courthouse has caused controversy, including a lawsuit from two local developers. Reminder Publishing file photo SPRINGFIELD — The selection of 125 Liberty St. as the future home for the Springfield Regional Justice Center is in question after a legal injunction was sought by two developers whose properties had also been in the running.

The Longmeadow Community House, one of the three buildings under review by the Future Building Use Task Force. Reminder Publishing file photo LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow’s Future Building Use Task Force is getting the public involved in three community forums across the next few months to get opinions on how the town should move forward with uses for the Community House, Old Town Hall and Town Hall. The task force will host its first forum on July 15.

Wilbraham police officer Jack Alberici poses with an alpaca. Reminder Publishing submitted photo WILBRAHAM — A decorated officer in the Wilbraham Police Department is seeking a kidney donor after an unexpected rare kidney disease diagnosis. Police officer Jack Alberici was working a routine shift back in March when he started to feel cramping in his hands, later revealed as one symptom of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

The School Committee drafts a statement for the town and Selectboard to show their support for a tax override vote to take place in September. Photo credit: SHCTV15 SOUTH HADLEY – With the Selectboard mulling over the idea of hosting another special election, the School Committee decided to advocate for an override vote in September during its July 6 meeting.

By 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, a steady stream of customers was coming into the Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. taproom to show support. Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza WEST SPRINGFIELD — Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. has announced last call on its West Springfield taproom as it prepares to stop operations due to rising costs. In that announcement, the business said it will continue brewing and distributing original beverages.

A look into the Longmeadow Middle School enabling phase construction. Photo credit: ELCAT01028 LONGMEADOW — The new Longmeadow Middle School enabling phases are well underway and project managers are preparing for when large-scale construction begins in September. Colliers Project Manager Adam Dalessio, Jones Whitsett Architects Principal Kristian Whitsett and Fontaine Bros. Project Executive Jason Boudreau provided project updates to the Middle School Building Committee at its meeting on July 8.

CHICOPEE — Mayor John Vieau recently appointed a task force team to begin reviewing and considering changes to the city’s real estate tax billing process. According to the mayor’s office, the change would mean that the process would go from bi-annual real estate tax billing to quarterly billing. In a press release, the city said the decision to consider this possibility comes from the recent non-binding question on the ballot from the election in November 2025.