Latest news with #Vieau
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicopee budget up 6% on personnel, police costs; mayor proposes $3M to defray taxes
CHICOPEE — Mayor John L. Vieau's proposed budget for fiscal 2026 is up 6% from last year's plan, he announced Monday. Vieau also announced plans to use $3 million from the city's fee cash account — money raised in taxes from the previous year but not spent — to defray taxes in the next year. The budget now goes to the County Council. Cities set tax rates in the fall. The cost of health insurance drove a $3.4 million increase in the human resources budget, Vieau said. The police budget went up $3.4 million, as well, because of the cost of technology and to pay for increases in collective bargaining contracts. The new school budget reflects the minimum net school spending requirement of $123 million and the cost of the lease for the school administration building of $280,200. Additional funding coming from the Stabilization Fund for Educational Purposes. Vieau said this budget represents a transition from pandemic-era programs like American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, often called ESSER. 'I commend our school Superintendent Dr. Marcus Ware for his difficult task of being creative about how to still deliver top-tier education to our students while also dealing with the reality that ESSER funds are gone,' Vieau said. 'Dr. Ware, myself and our mutual finance teams also recognize that the current federal administration has taken and may continue to take away funding that we have relied on in the past.' Residential retrofitting program turns on high-speed internet for Bay Meadow Apts. in Springfield ICE takes two into custody in Amherst in crackdown on 'sanctuary' communities With cannabis industry struggling, Western Mass. sellers and growers seek relief from high court Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicopee small businesses recognized at Walmart showcase
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – May is Small Business Month, and one local business was recognized Wednesday morning in Chicopee. A small crew working in the cellar of a mill plant now sells across the country in over 3,600 stores. Super Brush was founded in Chicopee 65 years ago, and now these seemingly simple swabs are available in the largest retailer in the world. Massachusetts cemetery honors veterans ahead of Memorial Day The Walmart Supercenter in Chicopee hosted the Small Business Appreciation Showcase with community members and local officials on Wednesday. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau expressed his excitement at seeing the business grow. 'It's exciting to see one of our origins, Super Brush, who started in Chicopee, is now expanded all the way to Springfield on the shelves at Walmart, nationally recognized,' Vieau said. 'So it's really an amazing opportunity for them.' Walmart hosted events like this all throughout the country during the month of May. Public Affairs Director Chris Buchanan explained why Walmart supports so many small businesses. 'It really goes back to the days of Sam Walton when Walmart was created over 62 years ago,' Buchanan said. 'We've had a very longstanding commitment to small businesses. Walmart itself started off as a small business, and now here we are.' Over 60% of the products in Walmart are supplied by small businesses like Super Brush. Many of them attend the Walmart Open Call, an event that allows small businesses to pitch their products to the retail giant. Misty McGinnes, who's been with the company for over 30 years, told 22News how Super Brush was able to scale its business. 'Little by little, we got new customers, big customers, little customers, just added all up,' McGinnes said. 'And right now, it's walked us through a whole bunch of bad things, like supply chain and COVID and all kinds of things. We still keep walking.' Super Brunch not only employs over 100 people in the western Massachusetts area, but products are also made in the U.S. 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
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chicopee mayor defends religious message broadcast on street sign
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – An electronic street sign operated by the city of Chicopee posted a religious message on Monday. Now, residents are asking who authorized this message, and how it relates to local government. A 22News viewer sent pictures of this street sign with a bible quote attached, posing the question of how religion plays a factor in local government. Springfield nonprofit receives donation for neighborhood rebuild event On the corner of Front Street and Wheatland Avenue, an electronic sign that's normally used to warn of road hazards posted inspirational messages Monday morning. One of them was a Bible verse from the Book of John, reading, 'If God is all you have, then you have all you need.' This was no accident, according to Chicopee Mayor John Vieau. When asked about this message, he defended it, saying it's not about religion. 'There's no intention to offend anybody, and it says 'In God We Trust' on our dollar bill,' Mayor Vieau said. 'If you don't believe in God, that's not what it's about. It's about a feel-good message to have some feelings of belief.' While the idea of the sign is to broadcast feel-good messages, when adding religious context, it can put into question the relationship between church and state. The sign is posted right outside Chicopee High School. The superintendent of the Chicopee School District declined the request for an interview. However, 22News spoke with one resident who said he runs right by the sign every day. 'I actually run over here and I see the messages,' said Joseph Rivera of Chicopee. 'I actually think they're good, 'cause they mention God and they mention good stuff like that. This one here says don't be afraid, just do it. I think that's perfect, especially for runners. I'm a boxer too, so that's actually perfect.' Mayor Vieau also said if the sign offends anyone to contact his office and it will be removed. 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
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anna E. Barry School may be forced to relocate due to site issues
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Renovation plans for the Anna E. Barry School in Chicopee may force the school to relocate after a survey of the building site. The original plan to build the new school just feet behind the current Barry location has been met with two problems: soil and Article 97. Tapestry Health and Craig's Doors receive $150K grant to expand harm reduction services A recent study of Garrity Grove found that the wetland soil would impact the structural integrity of the new building. The other problem with this site is Article 97, which protects the parkland area under Massachusetts State Law. 22News spoke with Chicopee Mayor John Vieau about what options the city is considering. 'There were some real obstacles in trying to use this site,' Vieau said. 'It's not been completely determined that we're moving to other options. We're looking at potentially relocating to Szetela School, as that site has a lot of extra land behind the building, and also looking at another location off of Robbins Road.'The Szetela Early Childhood School on Macek Drive could provide an alternative that wouldn't require redistricting. The Barry School Building Commission is currently assessing the viability of Szetela and they don't expect any delays. Information meetings regarding this potential relocation are held at Chicopee City Hall on the second Thursday of every month. 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
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Roads still covered in ice days after weekend storm
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Main roads have been mostly cleared from this past weekend's storm, but many side roads are still covered in snow and ice and it's leaving drivers frustrated with DPW across the state. Snow and freezing rain from the weekend left many areas covered in thick layers of ice. While most main roads were treated and cleared, side streets can still be seen with ice half an inch thick. One long-time Chicopee resident told 22News this is the worst she's seen it. 'This is the first time I'd like to say that this is ever happened to this degree. we're all dealing with slippery stuff right now. We're all dealing with sidewalks and you know it's difficult,' said Nancy LaPierre. We sat down with Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and asked why the roads weren't treated beforehand. He said it was due to the salt shortage. 'That salt shortage is real. We've been driving to Albany all weekend to That we've been waiting for for almost a month. That's all finally some of it came in today. We're very fortunate to receive 40 tons of the good stuff,' said Mayor Vieau. Early snow during the weekend clogged many drains on side streets here in Western Massachusetts and the rain afterward was only left to stay in the middle of the road and with freezing overnight temperatures well through the week the ice could be here to stay. The salt shortage can be felt at the commercial and retail level, with many stores selling out of salt and ice melt. Mayor Vieau said the DPW is working to get to ice-coated side streets, but people need to be patient. 'Right now ideally, they're trying to do as many side roads as they can and I ask people to be patient and to please be safe. I know that the conditions are not optimal but if you have to go somewhere, just be really careful,' said Mayor Vieau. 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.
