South Hadley schools to hold community conversation
SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley Public Schools will hold an community conversation on Nov. 19 about the $115.3 million Mosier Elementary School building project. Officials at the meeting will discuss the latest designs and plans for the proposed school building.
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. with a walkthrough of the current building on 101 Mosier St, followed by a community conversation at 6 p.m. with Superintendent Jennifer Voyik and project leaders. South Hadley residents and school families will see building renderings, suggested plans and the timeline for the project.
The process to rebuild the 1969 building began in 2023 when Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) admitted South Hadley into its renovation program. Since then, the town has whittled down design options to a new two-story building for grades 1-5.
The Mosier Elementary School Building Project Committee approved the schematic design submission to the MSBA in October, marking another milestone in the project.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the committee backed a total project budget higher than the previous estimate of $114.8 million. Skanska, the project’s owner-project manager, reported that the HVAC and electrical systems estimates came in $500,000 higher than expected.
South Hadley Public Schools is expected to pay $52.7 million of the total project cost, equating to a 54.3% reimbursement rate from the MSBA.
Florence resident wins $150K lottery
Jeffrey Igneri of Florence is the winner of a $150,000 prize on a $30 bet while playing “The Lamp,” an online-only eInstant game available through Mass Lottery Online.
He claimed his $150,000 prize (before taxes) at the Mass Lottery’s headquarters in Dorchester. He plans on putting the winnings toward home improvements.
To play Mass Lottery games online, players must be 21 or older and physically located in Massachusetts at the time of play and to make a deposit to their account. Players need to have a Mass Lottery Player Account, which can be created at masslottery.com or by downloading the Mass Lottery app on a mobile device or tablet.
Bikes Fight Cancer to hand out $250K to local organizations
EASTHAMPTON — Bikes Fight Cancer will present $250,000 to four local organizations serving cancer patients and their families at its End-of-Year Celebration on Wednesday at CitySpace.
The event, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 43 Main St., will also honor top fundraisers, sponsors and volunteers from the 2026 Bikes Fight Cancer Charity Ride. It will also collect new, unwrapped toys for children being treated for cancer at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford. Checks will be presented at about 6:45 p.m.
This year’s recipients are the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Cancer Connection, the Center for Human Development’s Cancer House of Hope and Camp Rising Sun.
The seventh annual ride, held June 20 at Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield, drew more than 600 cyclists and 150 volunteers. It raised more than $450,000, the most in the event’s history, according to organizers. Riders brought in more than $330,000 of that through individual fundraising.
The volunteer-run group, co-founded by Meghan and Johnny Morin, has given more than $680,000 to local organizations and families since incorporating as a nonprofit in 2023.
More information is at bikesfightcancer.org.
Deadline extended for Quabbin Days Photo Contest
BELCHERTOWN — The deadline for the inaugural Quabbin Days Photo Contest has been extended to midnight on Nov. 30, and organizers have announced new prizes for the top entries in each of the four participating communities.
The top three entries from each community will be printed and featured in photography exhibits at their respective public libraries and at the Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitor Center in Belchertown. Winners will also receive gift cards to local businesses.
The contest, organized in partnership with the Athol Public Library, Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown, New Salem Public Library and Pelham Library, is open to residents of those four communities. Photographs must be taken during October or November 2026 and may feature subjects from any of the 12 towns that make up the Quabbin region.
The photo contest is designed to encourage residents to explore the Quabbin region and capture the landscapes, wildlife, communities, history, people and everyday details that help tell the area’s story. The contest is open to photographers of all experience levels, from those using smartphones to experienced photographers with professional equipment.
Each participating library is administering the contest for its own community, with individual rules and submission procedures. Residents interested in entering should visit the Quabbin Days Photo Contest webpage at QuabbinDays.org/photocontest for links to the Athol, Belchertown, New Salem and Pelham contests, including complete rules and submission information.