Latest news with #NicoleLaChapelle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Easthampton mayor to lead state Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle will change hats, leaving office to take the lead at the state Department of Conservation and Recreation in the coming weeks. That leaves a vacant mayoral seat and a new executive needed to fill it. Gov. Maura Healey announced LaChapelle's new role as the DCR commissioner on Wednesday. She is set to take over for former Commissioner Brian Arrigo, starting on July 21. It opens the city to four-and-a-half months of new leadership. In Easthampton, the city charter requires a vote among city councilors to determine which of them will be the interim mayor until the November municipal election, said Maddie Palmer, assistant city clerk. A date has not yet been set for a vote on the acting mayor position, Palmer said. LaChapelle has served as mayor of the city since 2018. The DCR manages state parks and oversees close to half a million acres of Massachusetts' natural, cultural and recreational resources. LaChapelle could not be immediately reached Thursday about the new role and what she brings to it, or how she hopes to round off her time as mayor. 'The hardworking staff at DCR are the caretakers for our state, and I'm looking forward to joining the team,' said LaChapelle in a statement. 'Our forests, lakes and beaches are at the heart of Massachusetts. I've had a front row seat in Easthampton, surrounded by so many of these properties. I'm ready to get to work preserving our public lands for generations to come.' The governor's statement highlighted several of LaChapelle's conservation efforts for the city during her seven years as mayor. LaChapelle 'leveraged record-level grant funding to promote new affordable housing, protected green spaces and strengthened infrastructure,' the statement said. She also worked with the Kestrel Land Trust, an Amherst nonprofit organization that works on land and river conservation in the Connecticut River Valley, to build 90 units of affordable housing and to conserve the land along the Manhan River, the statement said. During that relationship, she also secured close to two dozen acres for the Mount Tom North Trailhead Park. LaChapelle helped qualify Easthampton for environmental preparedness grants that are part of a state program to help cities and towns be prepared for climate change. She used that money to improve stormwater management, make flood preparations and upgrade the urban tree canopy in the city. The soon-to-be commissioner also oversaw Easthampton's Green Infrastructure Plan, with goals for its rivers and other natural resources to be cleaner and restored. Through this plan, she helped the redesign of the New City neighborhood, which created a new park, added multi-use paths and improved the sewer system. In 2021, she led the charge in offering city employees benefits if they transitioned to electric vehicles — the first mayor in the country to make that decision. This was a part of the city's mission to change over its entire fleet to electric. Last year, the city finished its Climate Action Plan, which set forward-looking goals for Easthampton to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and net-zero by 2050. She also hired Easthampton's first sustainability coordinator to advance these initiatives. Springfield Pharmacy plans new location, with groceries, at shuttered State St. Walgreens Tractor-trailer crash on I-90 in Charlton slowed traffic for hours Thursday morning Holyoke college's police chief is a 'heroine.' This is why (The Republican Editorials) At this church-turned-music-venue in Springfield, a mission to make arts accessible plays on Pridelands on Mane Street opens with live music, and cold local beer on tap Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Easthampton holds flag-raising for mental health awareness
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Easthampton held a flag raising Tuesday morning to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month. The Mental Health Awareness Month flag was raised with the help of MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. This month is focused on highlighting the importance of mental wellbeing, educating the public, reducing the stigma surround mental health, and promoting support. NAMI hosts 25th annual Walkathon for mental health Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said that before COVID, providing mental health resources was important for the city, and through the pandemic, the need was even greater. Kimberley Lee, the Chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista, said having the flag raised is helping to spread the word. 'Mental health is indeed health, and a flag raising such as this is another very visible opportunity to remind individuals that they are not alone,' Lee said. Mayor LaChapelle said she goes to weekly therapy, and she wants her employees to feel just as comfortable talking about mental health as physical health, meaning she doesn't want employees to feel nervous about attending therapy or having to say they need to leave work early for therapy. MiraVista also recently changed its admission hours to 24 hours a day to ensure that those who need mental health resources can receive them. 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
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Investigation launched after Easthampton City Hall break-in
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Easthampton Police Department is investigating after a glass door was broken at City Hall. VIDEO: Wildlife active early morning in Easthampton The Office of Mayor Nicole LaChapelle states that early Thursday morning, an individual broke the exterior glass door of the City Hall vestibule and was able to access the elevator area. The individual has not been identified at this time. No one was injured during the incident. The Easthampton Police Department is investigating, and the Department of Public Works has secured the site. There is no immediate threat to public safety. 'We take the security of our public buildings seriously, and we're grateful no one was in City Hall at the time of the incident. The Police Department is actively pursuing the investigation, and the building has been secured. As always, our priority is the safety of city employees and the public,' said Mayor LaChapelle. City Hall is open to the public for all regular business and scheduled public meetings. Due to the investigation, the City has no further comment. If anyone has questions, contact the Easthampton Police Department at 413-527-1212. 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
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New business for neurodiverse children and families opens during National Autism Acceptance Month
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A new business is catering to neurodiverse children and their families in Hampshire County. It's National Autism Acceptance Month, so this business comes at a perfect time, when more community spaces are needed for children on the autism spectrum. The residents of Easthampton saw this need in the community. 'We're seeing a clear community need for additional support, programming and education for some of our youngest residents who have a completely different way of communicating, interacting and growing in the world,' said Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor of Easthampton. Autism prevalence fuels push for Turning 22 supports Three women, Amy Christiansen, Suzanne Hopkins, and Sunia Hood, used their personal experience and research over the last five months to find a solution to support neurodiverse children and their families. Right next to Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, they opened up The Neuro Bridge on Wednesday. It's an organization that aims to provide unique sensory, social, and emotional needs in an inclusive environment. 'So what we're doing on Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00, we have a play group, its a sensory friendly play group, where we'll work with the kiddos on socializing and developmental skills, so its an opportunity for parents to step away,' said Amy Christiansen, co-founder of The Neuro Bridge. If it gets too loud or too crowded, children can come into another room, called the Quiet Zone, where the lights are dimmed to calm their sensory system. Other rooms will be used for family consultations, caregiver support groups, and hands-on workshops for a reasonable cost. 'We're hoping to do some work with the Department of Developmental Services to help navigate how parents and families can find funding opportunities,' Christiansen said. They'll also be working with hair salons and restaurants to train their employees on how to work with kids on the spectrum. Their goal is to make families feel comfortable going out in public no matter what. 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.
