HOLYOKE—Come next week, for the first time in 11 years, Aaron Vega will not represent the Paper City in any elected capacity. Compared to some here, this is a relatively brief period in public life. However, Vega’s arc has encompassed two citywide offices without the
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—In the recent past, before State Rep Aaron Vega announced his retirement from the state House of Representatives, David Bartley, a city councilor here, had also expected to retire. After
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—Growing up in a military family, Patricia Duffy had lived in a lot of places. Born in Los Angeles and educated in metro Boston, she found her way to Western
UPDATED 12:48AM: For clarity and grammar. Former Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin will remain in the political arena for the time being. After finishing out her third term this past January and serving as Elizabeth Warren’s Massachusetts director during the presidential campaign, Valentin has joined
This post is the first of two assessing how the outbreak has altered top-ticket Bay State races. Last Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives, US Representative Richard Neal was managing a pending bill. It was not the first time he managed, but
As the threat and infections from the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has swept the country and the commonwealth, cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley have not been immune. The 413 more broadly has already seen some cases and a few scares, including ones
UPDATED 12:35AM: To include news of Pat Duffy’s entrance into the race. HOLYOKE—The Paper City’s State Rep seeks a different tree product. His walking papers. Aaron Vega, who serves as the state rep for the Fifth Hampden District will not seek reelection in 2020. The
UPDATED: 1/1/2020 3:53PM: To note the passing of the mayor’s father. Cities around the Pioneer Valley inaugurated their governments elected in last November’s election. For many communities, it heralded a new start. On Monday, Chicopee and Westfield both took on new mayors with varying degrees
NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 91, Vt.—These days, highway travel, not constituent work, dominates outgoing Ward 4 Holyoke city councilor Jossie Valentin’s time. The Saturday before her successor would take office, she was leading Pioneer Valley supporters of US Senator Elizabeth Warren to New Hampshire on a
UPDATED 11/7/19 11:45AM: To reflect a correction. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Alex Morse was on the ballot this year. He was not and is in the middle of a four-year term. SPRINGFIELD—A collective whoosh swept through the Pioneer Valley as candidates