Latest news with #Chicopee
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Generations of Desmarais family gather in Chicopee for 100th reunion
CHICOPEE — In 1925, Charles and Rosella Desmarais welcomed relatives to the family's homestead at 16 Boylston St., a reunion that has continued for 100 years. About 100 relatives showed up at the centennial event on Saturday, with family members traveling from as far as California, Arizona, Georgia, Canada and even the island of St. Thomas, said Charles 'Chuck' Desmarais, who at 91 is the family's patriarch. 'It's the warmth, the love we have for family' that has kept the tradition alive, Desmarais said. 'It's something special for families to get together and enjoy each other's company.' Five generations of the family have participated in the reunions. Desmarais is the last surviving member of the second generation and the last of seven children. With only brief adjustments, primarily because of World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, the gatherings of this large, extended family have been held at the same location — 16 Boylston St., in the Aldenville section — which the family calls 'The Homestead.' About 50 years ago, the reunions were held a couple of times in Indiana, when Desmarais' sister Claire decided to move there after marrying a serviceman whose family lived in that area. 'We had a convoy of about six or seven cars, driving all the way on Route 20,' Desmarais said. 'It took us 18 hours.' The house at 16 Boylston St. was bought by Charles and Rosella Desmarais in 1923 for $2,150, with $250 down and $75 every 6 months, Desmarais said. Desmarais' son, Bob Desmarais, and his wife, Sherri, live at the homestead, while the elder Desmarais and his wife, Joan, live across the street. In recognition of the 100th reunion, Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau presented Desmarais with a proclamation, thanking the Desmarais family for 'their century of devotion to family, community and tradition.' Desmarais said the gathering, which usually falls on the Fourth of July weekend but was adjusted a bit this year because of schedules, is held 'in recognition of the beauty of our country for which we are extremely proud.' While spread out across the land, the family has maintained firm Chicopee roots for more than a century. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicopee's next budget is 6% hike from this year. Here's where spending has increased
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee City Council approved its 2026 budget: $276.2 million, 6.45% up over the current year. On Thursday night, heads of six departments in the city, including Mayor John Vieau, schools Superintendent Marcus Ware and Sharyn Riley, the auditor, discussed their planned spending in the upcoming year. The mayor's office was cleared for $563,669.96, a 27% increase from this year's spending. Part of the reason for the hike is because the mayor wants to take a thorough look at more city departments — there is about $40,000 set aside for 'consulting services.' 'We recently used consulting for (the Human Resources Department), and I next want to use it for (Information Technology),' said Vieau. In December, the mayor hired an independent consultant to investigate the HR department, which dealt with a host of problems in the years leading up the investigation. In April, the city appointed a new director for the department. Vieau also said that he would be pausing the city's search for an economic development director, because of changes to grant funding provided by the federal government. The city has not yet received its Community Development Block Grant from U.S. Housing and Urban Development and is looking for other federal grants to help pay for the position. 'We're hopeful to fill this position next year,' he said. Sharyn Riley, city auditor, said she looked for ways to creatively cut spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The Auditing Department was approved for $1.46 million, a nearly 1% decrease from this year's spending. 'I think I'm being as frugal as I can be,' Riley said at the hearing. The School Committee's portion was approved for $131.6 million, a 2.2% increase from the current year. The budget went up by $5 million since fiscal 2025. Chapter 70A funds, which is the state's money for local schools, went up by $6 million, and the city's contribution is set to increase by $1.3 million. 'City costs went up,' said Ware, the superintendent. 'Transportation gets more expensive, and the needs of our students have increased.' About 75% of the district is low-income. He explained a big focus of the upcoming budget was around vacancies, of which there are over 100 open teacher positions. Ware also said the district was looking at other ways to get funding, including being reimbursed by the state Education Department for special education, especially because COVID relief funding expired last fall. The Department of Public Works' enterprise fund, which includes combined sewer overflows, pretreatment and utility services, has the second highest slated funding behind the schools, at $25.79 million. The Human Resources Department falls in third place, with $23.6 million on the budget for fiscal 2026, where medical insurance accounts for its biggest cost. The Chicopee Police and Fire departments' total budgets each increased from fiscal 2025. The Police Department's spending increased by 22.2%, from $15.2 million to $18.6 million, because of the cost of technology and to pay for increases in collective bargaining contracts. The Fire Department increased by about 1%, going from $14.5 million to $14.6 million. Westside, CSX have federal money for bad Memorial Ave. rail crossing, but who will care for it over the long haul? Companies admit construction errors at Westfield runway project, will pay $1.37M Holyoke police website down, but it's not hacked ... just an expired credit card Holyoke schools, union at odds over 'exit assurances' during transition to local control Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former B-2 Pilot Instructor speaks out after Operation Midnight Hammer
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)- B-2 Bombers returned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri Sunday. Local politicians speak out on U.S. attack on Iran This following Operation Midnight Hammer. President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. Launched strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran; Fordo, Natanz & Isfahan. This marks the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. History. Former B-2 Instructor Pilot, Joseph VanDusen is praising the men and women involved in the mission. VanDusen was a B-2 pilot instructor from 2012 to 2017. 'They've been hand selected to perform this mission. They're America's 911 force and when they're called upon, they will execute at this very high level. They sacrifice many weekends that were lost and family time. All because they are patriots that just love this country' says VanDusen. The B-2 Stealth Bomber has a total of two crew pilots. B-2's are capable of carrying the country's heaviest bombs and nuclear weapons. According to senior Pentagon officials, the day before the mission some of the B-2s took part in a plan involving deception and decoys. This came as news reports on Saturday showed several of them were headed towards Guam. The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff confiemd that was a 'deception effort' and all part of the mission. 'We train 16-hour plus missions a few times a year. It's not a comfy 787, which I fly right now. They blow up a matress behind the ejection seat and then they sleep there during a mission. You're trying to take a nap and stay fresh during a mission like this and your adrenaline is pumping. At first air fueling you're doing well, then second air refueling you're adjusting and now you're getting jacked up to do the mission and when you come out of that there's a bit of a let down. So when you get out of it you can do what you need to do, but then when you're done with execution, and now you got to make it back home' says VanDusen. The pilots on the seven B-2 Bombers used for the mission in Iran flew for 37 hours non-stop. This marks the longest mission for B-2s Bombers since 2001. VanDusen has also written several books about his experience and life after being a part of the B-2 community including How To Elevate Your Life & Leadership and Stealth Elevate: Warning: Secrets to Annihilate Life, Leadership and Business!. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Should America get involved in war between Israel and Iran? Hear what one Massachusetts lawmaker said
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Lawmakers are reacting to the tensions getting higher in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. According to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning, Iran is prepared to strike U.S. bases in the Middle East, but there are no indications that anything is imminent. U.S. bases and assets are at the highest state of alert and readiness and have been for months. Now, after Israeli strikes on Iran began last week, the officials say concerns are even more heightened about possible Iranian or Iranian proxy attacks against Americans. On Tuesday, President Trump urged an 'unconditional surrender' from Iran. President Trump weighs options about Middle East Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern told 22News that he does not think America should get involved. He says diplomacy is the way to go. 'An all-out war with Iran is not an easy thing; in fact, there could be a lot of unknown consequences. Some people thought going to war with Iraq was going to be an easy thing, but it turned out to be very, very complicated.' Congressman McGovern said he's working on a bipartisan resolution to remind the Trump administration that if you want to go to war, you have to go to Congress first. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
16-06-2025
- CBS News
Massachusetts State Police trooper injured in hit-and-run crash gives thumbs up as he's released from hospital
A Massachusetts State Police trooper seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash last week is all smiles as he continues his recovery. The agency released a photo of Trooper Sean Clark giving a thumbs up and said he has been transferred from the hospital to a physical rehabilitation facility. Trooper Clark had been at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield since June 10, when authorities say he was hit by a driver while making a nighttime traffic stop on the Mass Pike in Chicopee. "On behalf of Trooper Clark, we would like to thank everyone who has reached out with well wishes for him and his family," State Police said in a statement. "We continue to wish Trooper Clark the best in his recovery and remind all drivers to remember to move over when they see a first responder on the side of the road." The Massachusetts State Police are pleased to announce that Trooper Sean Clark, who was seriously injured on June 10th... Posted by Massachusetts State Police on Monday, June 16, 2025 Trooper Sean Clark hurt in hit-and-run crash The crash happened on the westbound side of the highway near exit 51 at about 2:20 a.m. Trooper Clark was in his cruiser on the way home from a detail shift when he pulled over a tractor-trailer for a traffic violation. Investigators allege that a driver, later identified as 32-year-old Naisha Rodriguez of Springfield, hit the trooper and drove away. She was arrested at her home later that day. Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to charges of operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, misleading a police investigation, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing personal injury. She is due back in Chicopee District Court on July 10. State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble visited Clark in the hospital last week and said his spirits were good. Noble said Clark has been with the State Police for less than a year, but described him as a "seasoned police officer" who has worked in law enforcement for over a decade. Noble said at the time that Clark is eager to get back to work, but "he's in for a long recovery."
