Staasi Heropoulos

1 week ago | masslive.com | Staasi Heropoulos

WESTFIELD — When students at St. Mary’s High School in Westfield remember where they were when Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance in the Vatican, they will recall seeing him on TV screens in their classrooms. Before the white smoke rose and signaled that the College of Cardinals had elected a pope, the 100 students at the school were celebrating teacher appreciation week.

1 week ago | masslive.com | Staasi Heropoulos

SPRINGFIELD — When Tony Melendez sings and plays the guitar at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield this week, his audiences will see how he inspired a pope to embrace, kiss and thank him for bringing hope to the world. Tony Melendez, 63, was born without arms but has been inspiring millions by singing a mix of secular, inspirational and Christian music, while playing the guitar with his feet.

2 weeks ago | masslive.com | Staasi Heropoulos

When Massachusetts joins the nation in celebrating this country’s 250th anniversary, the state’s four western counties won’t be left out. The commemoration will include details on how Western Massachusetts helped drive American history. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has launched Massachusetts 250, which runs through July 206. The commonwealth and country will mark the nation’s semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.

2 weeks ago | masslive.com | Staasi Heropoulos

EAST BROOKFIELD — Roxie, an 8-year-old German shepherd and husky mixed-breed dog, spent two years and six days at Second Chance Animal Services in East Brookfield before someone adopted her. It took a while to find her a home because of the way she “greeted” people, said Mike Byrnes, her new owner. “She’s very timid and a little scared. She’ll show you her teeth and growl,” he told The Republican. Byrnes, 52, is a kitchen and bathroom salesman who volunteers two days a week at Second Chance.

2 weeks ago | masslive.com | Staasi Heropoulos

HAMPDEN—A nonprofit organization that has put more than one million books into the hands of underserved children in Western Massachusetts is honoring the philanthropist, along with her husband, who founded the organization seventeen years ago. Susan Jaye-Kaplan launched Link to Libraries in 2008 with a mission of giving new hard and softcover books to children who need them the most, based on income and test scores of the communities they live in.