Sarah Heinonen

WESTFIELD — The eggs, home fries and carved ham may be enough to draw parents to Westfield State University on Dec. 7, but the children will be there to see the guest of honor — Santa Claus.

LONGMEADOW — Lori Rapuano sees beauty in the world around her. At the Richard Salter Storrs Library this month, visitors can see how she recreates that beauty in vivid watercolors.

EAST LONGMEADOW — An old farm is breathing new life in East Longmeadow and the owners want to reintroduce it to the town. The Farm at Hawks Landing, formerly State Line Farm, will host Holiday Prelude on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 12-5 p.m

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Planning Board is in the process of crafting a bylaw to regulate tiny homes, in-law apartments and other “accessory dwelling units.”

While nothing is ever certain about the weather in New England, cold winters are a given, and temperatures can sometimes dip below zero degrees. The cost of home heating, be it oil, electricity or natural gas, can be expensive. Local aid organizations have seen an increase in the number of people unable to make ends meet when the mercury drops.

New York City famously had the Stonewall Inn and Club 82. In Boston, there was Sporters and The Other Side. The history of mid-20th century LGBTQ+ bars and hotspots in these cities has been well documented. But the history of Springfield, which also had a bustling LGBTQ+ nightlife, has largely gone undocumented, according to Anne Wheeler, a Springfield College professor who started The Western Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Oral History Project.

LONGMEADOW — Music is a labor of love for the musicians of the Longmeadow High School symphony orchestra. On April 26, 2025, that labor will pay off as the orchestra is one of only six in schools across 11 states that has been invited to play at the National Association for Music Education’s 58th Eastern Division In-Service Conference.

LONGMEADOW — Before becoming an author, Michael Tougias grew up in Longmeadow. On Jan. 8, he will return to the town to give a presentation on his book, “Extreme Survival: Lessons from Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds,” at the Longmeadow Adult Center.

A sign letting shoppers know a farmer’s market vendor participates in the state’s Healthy Incentives Program.

LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board voted to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the South Hadley Electric Light Department, which operates the Fiberspring fiber optic internet service provider. Longmeadow is pursuing a municipal fiber network, offering residents a local alternative to commercial ISPs and providing the town with a new revenue stream. At the November Town Meeting, voters approved the creation of a Municipal Light Plant Board and funding for pole permits and design work by Fiberspring.