logo
Springfield launches senior tax work-off pilot program

Springfield launches senior tax work-off pilot program

Yahoo07-02-2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The City of Springfield introduced a new pilot program for senior citizens.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno as well as members of the departments of Health and Human Services and Elder Affairs introduced the new Senior Tax Work-Off Program.
Helen Caulton-Harris, the commissioner of the Springfield Dept. of Health and Human Services said they originally were scheduled to introduce the program in 2020, but had to postpone due to the pandemic.
For the pilot year, 20 seniors will be selected from those who apply to complete 67 hours of work from July 1st to October 1st for the City of Springfield in a variety of different departments including the many senior centers and the city library.
Those selected will receive a $1,000 property tax credit. Jose Hernandez, a Program Assistant for the Department of Elder Affairs told 22News, 'It is a chance for them not only to get out of the house and contribute something to the city but I think it will also be good for the younger people that work for the City of Springfield as well to get knowledge and insight from the elders as well.'
There are income eligibility restrictions for whether someone is single, the head of the household, or filing jointly, applicants also must be 60 years or older and a homeowner by July 1st of this year.
Since the snow and inclement weather may have hindered some seniors from attending, they will be having more informational sessions coming up. Applications open on Monday, February 10th.
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 WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Whip City Jerky in Westfield reopens under new ownership
Whip City Jerky in Westfield reopens under new ownership

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Whip City Jerky in Westfield reopens under new ownership

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held for the reopening of Whip City Jerky in Westfield. In a news release sent to 22News from the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the new owner of Whip City Jerky is Jeff Bruch. He is expanding his product line with marinated meats, pork tenderloins, bacon, and pork chops. In addition, the retail store is selling local jams and honey, local coffee, and organic 'good-for-you' beverages. New England's first dual-launch straddle coaster to open at Six Flags New England 'We're looking forward to helping raise the downtown area by providing another destination,' says Bruch, who has been working in the meat industry for 38 years. 'Opening this facility is a dream of mine and a dream come true.' Whip City Jerky is located at 271 Elm Street in Westfield, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on June 14th at 9:30 a.m. They will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday until 7 p.m. 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.

Trump Lawyers Confirm They Are in ‘Active Settlement Discussions' With Paramount Over President's ‘60 Minutes' Lawsuit
Trump Lawyers Confirm They Are in ‘Active Settlement Discussions' With Paramount Over President's ‘60 Minutes' Lawsuit

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Trump Lawyers Confirm They Are in ‘Active Settlement Discussions' With Paramount Over President's ‘60 Minutes' Lawsuit

Attorneys representing President Trump in his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS over the allegedly deceptive editing of a '60 Minutes' segment have requested an extension of court deadlines, citing the fact that the parties 'are engaged in active settlement discussions.' Multiple news outlets including Variety have reported that Trump and Paramount have been engaged in ongoing settlement talks. In a filing Friday on Texas federal court, lawyers for Trump and co-plaintiff Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas — together with attorneys for Paramount Global — said they were requesting an extension to court deadlines 'because the Parties are engaged in active settlement discussions, including continued mediation.' More from Variety Federal Appeals Court Pauses Judge's Order to Return Control of National Guard to California in Late Night Ruling PBS, NPR Could Lose $1.1 Billion in Funding After Trump's Rescission Bill Narrowly Passes House 'Blue Bloods' Spinoff 'Boston Blue' Casts 'Black-ish' Star Marcus Scribner (EXCLUSIVE) 'The Parties are not seeking to extend any deadlines regarding the pending motions to dismiss, and Defendants intend to file their reply on or before June 23, 2025,' the filing said. Media reports have indicated Paramount is prepared to pay millions of dollars to settle Trump's suit. The media conglomerate, which is seeking FCC sign-off on its deal to merge with Skydance Media, offered $15 million to settle the suit but that figure was rejected by Trump, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Trump's lawyers want at least $25 million — and they want '60 Minutes' to issue an apology to the president, according to the Journal article. In addition, Trump's lawyers 'threatened another lawsuit' against CBS over its news coverage amid the settlement talks, according to the WSJ report. Trump filed the lawsuit against CBS just days before the 2024 presidential election, alleging that a '60 Minutes' interview with then-VP Kamala Harris violated a Texas consumer protection law by misleading voters and causing Trump personal financial harm. His suit initially asked for $10 billion in damages. In February, the president amended the complaint to seek at least $20 billion. It's not clear how those figures were calculated. Last month, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden sent a letter to Shari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder, warning her that a financial settlement by Paramount with the president would be tantamount to an illegal bribe. In Paramount's March 2025 motion to dismiss Trump's suit, the company called the legal action 'an affront to the First Amendment' that is 'without basis in law or fact.' CBS News has maintained that the '60 Minutes' broadcast and promotion of the Harris interview was 'not doctored or deceitful.' In a May 28 filing opposing Paramount's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Trump's lawyers claimed that the '60 Minutes' editing of the Harris interview 'led to widespread confusion and mental anguish of consumers,' including Trump. CBS's 'conduct, including news distortion, constituted commercial speech which cannot by any reasonable interpretation be found to have constituted editorial judgment, and that speech damaged Plaintiffs,' the filing said. 'The fact that such commercial speech was issued by a news organization does not insulate Defendants from liability under the First Amendment.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar

RaiseFashion Spotlights Production Gap
RaiseFashion Spotlights Production Gap

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

RaiseFashion Spotlights Production Gap

'I just have to say something,' Prabal Gurung said. 'Who knew Long Island City was so fashionable?' The American designer and memoirist was joking, of course, but the sentiment was sincere. More from Sourcing Journal Sustainability Takes Pressure, Policies Says Kering Exec Depop Brings the Second British Invasion to NYC Sorry, Charli: Future Snoops and the Great Retail Recovery Reframe Just above a local factory's cutting room floor was a group of industry insiders and emerging designers, gathered in support of RaiseFashion, a nonprofit dedicated to offering pro-bono advisory services, grant resources, and network access to Black, Indigenous, and people of color-owned brands. 'We're here tonight not just to network and fund-raise, but to name the production gap for what it is,' said Felita Harris, RaiseFashion's executive director and co-founder. Considering most manufacturers require high minimums, she explained, designers need thousands upfront just to get started. Payment delays of 60 to 90 days only deepen the strain. 'Eight out of 10 designers we've worked with cite production financing as their biggest barrier. In 2024, just 0.4 percent of venture capital went to BIPOC founders,' Harris said. 'These statistics aren't just numbers. They represent collections that never leave the sketchpad, opportunities that vanish before they're realized, and creative businesses that stall—not for lack of vision, but for lack of access.' The organization's annual Raise the Future fundraiser was held June 12 at the family-owned Ferrara Manufacturing headquarters in Long Island City in support of the Designer Production Fund. This grant initiative was created to front production costs, broker relationships and fulfill orders at scale to, ultimately, build sustainable businesses without compromising integrity. 'Your support helps turn a sketch into a sample, a sample into a collection and a collection into legacy,' Harris said. 'And who doesn't want to be a part of that?' Looking behind the curtain to 'go deeper into realities behind the runway,' per Harris, the evening's panel explored 'the trust cost of production' to take an honest look at what it takes to build a lasting business, highlighting production realities and power in local manufacturing. 'I love running a family business. It's been great, it's been an honor,' Joseph Ferrara, co-founder of Ferrara Manufacturing, said. 'What I love about the industry most is the creative force that drives it. It's the designers, it's the creators, and they are so prolific. They are so unbelievably talented.' To that end, Joseph Ferrara sees his role as something of a conduit. 'I like to capture that energy in a bottle, translate it into a factory activity, and produce clothes that are a representation of that vision, of that joy, of that unbelievable creative talent,' he said. 'That's what turns me on.' That same creative force, he said, is what makes the business possible in the first place. 'Our reason for existing is because design exists,' Ferrara said. 'Without design, without creativity, there's nothing for us to do.' Supporting the future of the industry, he emphasized, isn't optional—it's imperative. That means backing all emerging creators. 'Our job is to execute. It's to interpret, it's to monetize, it's to operationalize, it's to make sustainable,' Joseph Ferrara said. 'Design is a function, and if they're not making money, we're not making money.' The long-term viability of the business, Joseph Ferrara argued, hinges on investing in new talent now. 'We're going to need enough [designers] 10 years from now,' he said. 'It's all about replenishment. When we think about what sustains forests, you're seeding new plants. And if you're not part of that ecosystem—if you're not part of the future—you shouldn't be part of the present.' This mindset persists throughout the local manufacturer. Gabrielle Ferrara, president and COO of Ferrara Manufacturing (and Joseph Ferrara's daughter) highlighted a pervasive myth within the industry. 'Sustainability is a hot topic,' said Gabrielle Ferrara. 'Everyone wants to buy sustainable clothing, and everyone wants to make it—but it's pretty complicated to do that.' She pointed out that the word 'sustainability' often gets flattened in conversations despite being quite multifaceted in practice. 'There's material sustainability: Buying something certified by one of many organizations,' she explained. 'But there's also production sustainability: Are you paying fair wages? Are the people making your clothes being treated how they should?' Certifications tend to dominate the conversation, especially among big brands, Gabrielle Ferrara said. But they don't tell the whole story. 'There are more holistic ways to approach it,' she added. 'One of my favorite projects was with Jacob James' American Woolen mill in Connecticut. We made a fully sustainable garment, using certified sustainable wool—but it wasn't just about the fiber. It was about labor, materials, the full production cycle.' The biggest myth, she said, is assuming that sustainability begins and ends with the fabric. 'It's not just about the material,' Gabrielle Ferrara said. 'It's about the entire process.' Aisling Camps, designer and CFDA member, as well as RaiseFashion masterclass alumna and Designer Production Fund recipient, knows this all too well. 'My background is in engineering, with a focus on sustainability,' she said. 'From the start, I was committed to making products that were ethically and responsibly produced. But that comes at a cost.' That cost? Thinner margins. And harder decisions. Even with 'great partners and growing resilience,' per Camps, the production process has been a constant challenge. And that's where RaiseFashion comes in. 'Raise has gotten me into rooms I never thought I'd be in—connected me to C-suite leaders, opened doors, and, more importantly, helped cover production when I didn't know how I'd pay my factory,' Camps said. 'The grants go straight to invoices. It's that real.' The system, she argued, is structurally broken for smaller, emerging designers. 'It's a cash flow game,' she said. 'You get paid in six months, but you have to pay your entire business now—your production, your staff, your show. The barrier to entry is astronomical. These production grants don't just help—they keep us alive.' For founders like Camps, the challenge is less about vision and more about viability. Even the most responsible brands can't survive on ethics alone without financial support. That's where people like Bradley Taylor, founder and investor of the Carrom Company, come in. For Taylor, a RaiseFashion board member, the evening was about more than fashion. It's about showing up. 'You can run a sheet metal business or a fashion label—it doesn't matter,' he said. 'If you believe in people, in nonprofits, in community, you have to actually show up. Everything is under attack right now. You can't sit it out.' For context, Taylor launched his own company in 2004 and sold it to Vista Equity Partners—led by Robert Smith, in 2017. That acquisition prompted Taylor and his family to set up a donor-advised fund at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. 'George Floyd's murder in 2020 made everything we were doing feel more urgent,' he said. Though Grand Rapids regularly ranks among the best places to live in America, Taylor pointed out the stark divide. 'If you're white, it's great,' he said. 'If you're a person of color, it's one of the worst cities in the country for economic opportunity.' Since then, he's focused on 'anything that has to do with generational wealth for people of color.' 'Everybody deserves a shot, but not everybody has the same access,' Taylor said. 'That's what we have to fix.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store