Latest news with #IndianOrchardCitizensCouncil
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local organizations awarded $30k+ in grants by Carlos Vega Fund
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Local organizations were awarded grants for their impact in the community. The Carlos Vega fund for social justice presented 19 organizations with grants Thursday night at the Wistariahurst Museum. This includes several local groups like the Holyoke Health Center and the Indian Orchard Citizens Council. In their 14th year of funding, the Vega Fund was able to gather more than $30,000 in grants. 'This is the biggest granting we've ever done, and the board realized the sort of time we're in and what's happening federally and the orgs that we want to support, and we want to support as many as we can,' says Advisory board member Aaron Vega. Coming up in the fall, the Carlos Vega Fund will host a fundraiser and present their annual social justice award. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oldest resident in Indian Orchard presented ‘Purple Cane'
INDIAN ORCHARD, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts State Representative Orlando Ramos presented the traditional 'Purple Cane' to the oldest resident of Indian Orchard. Betty Steadward, 95, is the 2025 recipient of the Purple Cane. Steadward moved to Indian Orchard in 1966 and still lives in the same house she purchased 59 years ago. She worked at a local paper factory in Holyoke for 42 years. Springfield police warn of tire thefts in neighborhoods throughout the city Steadward is a single mother and homeowner, with four children, 17 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren. Her greatest passion is gardening. Indian Orchard's Purple Cane tradition is similar to the Golden Cane tradition celebrated in other towns, but purple is the official color of the Indian Orchard community. Representative Ramos was joined by the Indian Orchard Citizens Council and members of the community on Tuesday, 'The idea of the Purple Cane came from lifelong Indian Orchard resident Pat Voisine, who served on the Indian Orchard Citizens Council for 36 years,' said Representative Ramos. 'She contacted me in 2014. I thought it was a great idea, and I decided to donate the cane. It's fitting that this tradition takes place here, in a community filled with great history and tradition.' The last recipient of the Purple Cane was Stella Soja in 2023, who was 99 when she was recognized. Soja passed away peacefully at 100 years old on July 9, 2024, at Sixteen Acres Health Care surrounded by family. 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.
