Springfield’s $14.4 million preschool grant saving lives, educators tell Massachusetts’…
The $14.4 million federal Preschool Expansion Grant the city received four years ago is saving children and family’s lives, preschool leaders told Massachusetts’ top early education official Friday. Doreen Malone, of Headstart, told Ted Weber, commissioner of early education and care, told the story of a preschooler whose violent behavior and vulgar language was making…
New MassDOT plan includes East-West rail study, after years of legislative struggle
A newly-released draft of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s 2018 rail plan includes a proposal to study ways to connect Boston and Springfield with passenger rail, following a years-long struggle by Longmeadow Sen. Eric Lesser and other Western Mass. legislators to pass such a study through the State House. In the plan, MassDOT has designated East-West rail…
Northampton planning board approves affordable housing project in Village Hill…
The Northampton Planning Board voted Thursday night to approve the second of two mixed-income apartment buildings that will be built in the city’s Village Hill neighborhood. The developer behind the project, The Community Builders (TCB), is a nonprofit based in Boston that specializes in development of affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. MassDevelopment selected…
Skechers footwear store coming to West Springfield’s Century Center
Skechers, the California-based global footwear company, is opening a 10,000-square-foot store at Century Center, the 285,000-square-foot shopping complex on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield. The store is set to open in March, according to Andrew M. Cohen, owner of Century Center, the region’s first strip mall. “We are excited to have the No. 2 shoe brand in the…
Could Tandem Bagel come to Amherst’s Mill District?
In the fall of 2013, Cinda Jones launched a petition drive to lure Atkins to the Mill District she was developing in North Amherst. Two years later, Atkins North opened. Now the president of WD Cowls, Inc. is hoping to lure Tandem Bagel to the space occupied by Bread & Butter, which will be closing soon. “Maybe…
Westfield Technical Academy, city get boost from local businesses
Westfield Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, chairman of the School Committee, suspended the rules at Monday night’s meeting to acknowledge David Prouty, owner of Proudly Landscaping, and 2017 Westfield Technical Academy graduate Matthew Wilcox, owner of Wilcox Landscaping, and to accept a donation to the school’s Ornamental Horticulture Program. Sullivan recounted a call from Prouty, a…
Job Expo set for Tuesday at Basketball Hall of Fame
FutureWorks Career Center is among the sponsors of a Jan. 29 Job Expo at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and is also taking registration for information sessions on two, no-cost training sessions for Springfield residents interested in employment in the fields of manufacturing or construction Read the source article at masslive.com
Holyoke Mall focused on restaurant, entertainment options, has no immediate replacement for Babies ‘R’ Us
“Holyoke Mall is focused on adding more restaurant and entertainment options to its mix similar to the Sumo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar that just opened here,” spokeswoman Lisa Wray wrote in an email responding to questions about Babies ‘R’ Us. “We hope to make several more leasing announcements in the coming months when they…
Holyoke Medical Center to Offer Free Program on Heart Health
Holyoke Medical Center will host a free Learn with a Doc Program, “Heart Health: Valvular Heart Disease,” on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the HMC Auxiliary Conference Center. February is American Heart Month. The heart has four valves that direct the flow of blood as it pumps, and when these valves are not…
AIM President to Deliver State of Massachusetts Business Address
Will automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics help Massachusetts employers solve the shortage of skilled workers that threatens the future of the economy? That will be the topic as Richard Lord, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, delivers the fourth annual State of Massachusetts Business address before an audience of 300 business leaders on…
$20,000 state grants helping Holyoke students in early college programs
The state gave its blessing and $20,000 Tuesday for “early college” programs for public school students working with Holyoke Community College and Westfield State University. The ties with colleges are part of the Holyoke public schools’ redesign of the high schools and middle schools intended to establish a pathway for every student to college and…
New restaurant and retail store coming to Springfield’s Boston Road neighborhood
Colvest is completing a retail center on Boston Road that will be home to a new Moe’s Southwestern Grill restaurant and Batteries + Bulbs store. The center already has a Sprint cellphone store. It’s next to the Aldi discount supermarket at the corner of Pasco Road and adjacent to the Colvest building that houses MedExpress…