Wilbraham News

SPRINGFIELD - Symphony Hall was filled to capacity Friday night as 316 students graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School surrounded by family and friends.

Exactly one year after a tornado devastated their building, the Cathedral High School Class of 2012 gathered Friday for a graduation ceremony that touted their triumphs and the bright days ahead.

On the the year anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that touched down in Western and Central Massachusetts, Gov.

Echo Hill Road, left, and Wildwood Lane in Wilbraham, are seen a year after the 2011 tornado hit the region WILBRAHAM - The June 1 tornado cut a gash from Tinkham Road to Monson through this town, damaging 237 homes.

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray joined state Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey in Springfield yesterday to award $1.35 million in reimbursements to the city to repair damage from the June 1 tornado.

One year after deadly tornadoes swept through western and central Massachusetts, state officials have outlined additional aid for many affected communities.

The genocide of Armenians is one of history's horrors. The slaughter of 1.5 million of them during World War I was orchestrated to empower a declining Ottoman empire by murdering all non-Muslims. Its start is observed as April 24, 1915 when hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were arrested and later executed.

EASTHAMPTON City school leaders got a peek into the future last week, as students from Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham presented information about their school's tech/engineering classes to the Easthampton School Committee.

WILBRAHAM - Police here are investigating the third serious motorcycle crash in about six weeks, but this time a rider got lucky compared with other recent crash victims.

Jake Roberts, 14, of Wilbraham, played Taps on his trumpet at Monday's Memorial Day Mass at St.

This is a view of homes along Roosevelt Avenue from Wendover Road the day the tornado hit last year, above, and as they look now, below, nearly a year later.

WILBRAHAM - A three-year court battle over who owned a right of way for a proposed subdivision has ended in favor of the developer, AC Homebuilding, LLC , which is now moving ahead with developing the 27 lots adjacent to Seneca Street and Washington Road.

Where the Wilbraham planning board approved a 27-home subdivision plan, the board acted permissibly based on the developer's rights in a private way.

WILBRAHAM - The people of Wilbraham have spoken: They want their beloved Rice Fruit Farm to reopen, and sooner rather than later.

Political newcomers carried the day in Saturday's town election for open seats on the Board of Selectmen and School Committee.

EAST LONGMEADOW - A Birchland Park Middle School English teacher will be arraigned Tuesday in Palmer District Court on charges of assault and battery and intimidation of a witness for allegedly pushing one of her students during an incident in which she called him "a piece of crap." The charges against Barbara J. Galanek, 59, were filed by East ... (more)

WILBRAHAM - Town Clerk Beverly J. Litchfield said she is hoping for a voter turnout of more than 20 percent in Saturday's town election.

Two men pleaded guilty Wednesday to beating a man with a hard object in Holyoke to collect a $2,000 loan.

WILBRAHAM - Voters at Monday's annual Town Meeting approved a new zoning amendment which will allow the Rice farm stand to reopen, upon approval of a special permit from the Planning Board.

WILBRAHAM - Voters at Monday's annual Town Meeting by majority vote approved a fiscal 2013 operating budget of $34,063,537. The budget includes a $21,040,546 assessment for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District .