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Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local high school seniors recognized with Latino scholarship funds
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A scholarship fund is celebrating local Latinx scholars and helping them to kickstart their careers. These high school seniors are excited to attend college in the fall and put in the work, but they say it wouldn't be possible without the Latino Scholarship Fund of Western Mass. 'I feel like this opened the door to many opportunities, especially to my family,' said Jaden Diaz, Holyoke High School senior. Dance workshops in Holyoke during Afro-Caribbean Festival The next generation of Latinx leaders celebrated at the Log Cabin in Holyoke Friday evening. Those in the room had the community behind them, making sure they have the tools they need to succeed. Eight high school seniors are able to take the next step in their education with the help of this scholarship fund. 'For the fall, I will be attending UMass Dartmouth, and I will be pursuing nursing,' Diaz said. Inspired to be a nurse after watching a TV show with his mom, this senior said he looks forward to saving people's lives. The Latino Scholarship Fund of Western Mass helps students across the region. This includes FAFSA Night, an evening that helps parents in both English and Spanish understand what FAFSA is. 'So for us to be able to go into the high schools to make sure they get their FAFSA done, which is part of applying for our scholarship, you have to have that FAFSA done, is something that we strive to continue doing but improve on doing,' said Derek Estrella-Padilla, President of the Latino Scholarship Fund of Western Mass. 'But have more programming along that way.' Recognition and celebration were emphasized at this event before these high school students close one chapter and begin another. 'It's going to be a long journey, but I know I can do it,' Diaz said. The scholarship fund is currently working on creating a mentorship program for high school seniors. For more information on this organization and all they have to offer, visit 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A commitment to the future': Star Store to become New Bedford's creative hub
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — The future of New Bedford's Star Store is looking bright. After sitting vacant for more than two years, the historic building is poised for a revival — one that builds on the city's legacy as a vibrant and diverse arts community. The Union Street landmark has lived several lives, beginning in 1844 when it first opened as the New Bedford Dry Goods Company. As the city expanded, the Star Store only continued to thrive, eventually becoming one of the region's most prominent department stores. Decades later, it became home to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's College of Visual and Performing Arts, until 2023 when the university abruptly announced it would vacate the premises, relocating all academic programs and activities to its main campus. 'We lost our studios. We lost the community that we had been a part of,' UMass Dartmouth alum Fallon Navarro said. SEE ALSO: UMass Dartmouth leaves Star Store Building due to lack of state funding The Star Store has long been revered as the heart of New Bedford's arts scene. Many feared the closure would irrevocably alter the city's cultural landscape. 'It created a void right in the heart of downtown,' local business owner Katie Lowe said. 'A prominent building sitting empty does not go unnoticed. It sends a signal, and it's not a good one.' In response, Mayor Jon Mitchell ordered a study to explore potential future uses for the building. While the report found it would too expensive to convert the space into housing or office units, it did identify a feasible path forward: artist studios and classrooms. With that in mind, the city filed a tax lien complaint in state Land Court in 2024 against the ownership group, seeking to recover nearly $1.5 million in unpaid property taxes. Now, the Star Store is being reborn as a lasting resource, with shared space, tools and equipment to sustain New Bedford's creative ecosystem. MORE: New Bedford takes Star Store owners to court, cites unpaid taxes On May 29, the building was purchased by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston (A&BC), for $1, according to a deed listed on the South Bristol County Registry of Deeds. According to its website, A&BC is a nonprofit that empowers artists with tools, creative space, legal services, and fellowship programs to support and enhance their practices. Through its Creative Campus and Creative Land Trust programs, A&BC works to ensure independent artists and cultural organizations can afford to stay in the communities they serve by securing permanent, equitable space for creativity and collaboration. The group has been involved in multiple redevelopment projects across Massachusetts, including transforming a 200,000-square-foot mill in Lowell into artist live-work spaces, galleries, offices, and a coffee shop. In partnership with the city and the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC), A&BC plans to redevelop the Star Store into a regional center for arts and culture. More than just a real estate transaction, A&BC views the project as part of a 'tectonic shift,' reimagining how cities like New Bedford can protect their cultural infrastructure for generations. 'Preserving the Star Store is about more than preserving the past, its a bold commitment to the future,' said Margo Saulnier, NBEDC's creative strategies director. As stewards of the building's next life, A&BC is committed to creating more opportunities for the public to engage with local art, and to establish New Bedford as a destination and constant for creatives. 'New Bedford is home to world class creativity and art marking. It's all here. Makers, artists, small creative businesses and all of that world class talent deserves world class resources,' Matt McArthur, A&BC director of real estate and fundraising, said. Although a reopening date hasn't been finalized, a recently-launched website for the project, states the goal is to reopen 'as soon as possible, without compromising listening and proper planning.' A&BC acknowledges that the Star Store's revival will 'take a village,' requiring major financial support and community input. Significant repairs, including to the roof and HVAC system, are needed to bring the building up to code. While the exact cost remains unknown and the city has not yet allocated any funds, Mitchell expressed confidence they will find 'a myriad of ways' to support the undertaking. In the meantime, A&BC is encouraging artists and residents to stay connected and submit input by completing a survey at the Star Store website which entails: Choosing up to three words that describe their craft Sharing how they'd like to use the space (make, see, do, experience) Providing their name, email, and zip code 'New Bedford has always been a city shaped by creativity,' Saulnier added. 'The artists, makers, and creatives are not just part of our heritage. They are central to our future.' NEXT: Star Store closure was 'collective failure,' wasted millions in public dollars, report reveals Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
RIC defeats UMass Dartmouth in Little East tournament, 80-64
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Ousmane Kourouma had a game-high 24 points to lead Rhode Island College to a 80-64 win over UMass Dartmouth in the first round of the Little East tournament. The Anchormen advance to play at Western Connecticut on Thursday at 6 p.m. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
