Community Corner

🌱 How much worse could Holyoke’s flooding get this century?

Be sure to catch Holyoke Mall, Performance on the Holyoke Patch calendar

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Thursday December 18th Patch AM
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Hello again Holyoke! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much worse could Holyoke’s flooding get this century?
  • Why Holyoke teachers say stalled contracts are hurting local students
  • How a Holyoke campaign is reshaping distracted driving across Massachusetts.

Also on today's calendar: Food Truck: Crazy Arepas — Fort Hill Brewery and 2 more events.

Find out what's happening in Holyokefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Holyokefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 38 and low of 33 degrees.
  • Friday: Rain tapering off, temps: high: 58, low: 27.
  • Saturday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 35 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Climate Risk Assessment: Holyoke, Massachusetts (woodwellclimate.org) — Holyoke faces a projected rise in flood risk this century, with today’s 100-year rainfall becoming far more frequent and the Connecticut River’s streamflow increasing. The report details how heavier downpours and deeper flooding could affect the city and offers data to guide long-term resilience planning for residents and local officials.
   

2. Holyoke teachers push for priority in contract talks (wwlp.com) — Holyoke teachers are pressing the school district to speed up stalled contract talks, saying expired agreements and ongoing turnover threaten students just as the district exits state receivership. The Holyoke Teachers Association recently delivered a priority list and a near-unanimous no-confidence vote in the school committee’s bargaining team, seeking better pay scales, leave policies, and cost-of-living increases to keep educators in city classrooms.
   

3. MassDOT, Travelers Marketing's Community Voices, and the City of Chelsea Join to Support Pedestrian Safety (mass.gov) — Holyoke residents are part of a statewide push to make streets safer, with a recent local campaign aimed at cutting distracted driving. While MassDOT and partners just launched a pedestrian safety effort in Chelsea, earlier Community Voices work in Holyoke shows how community-designed messages can change driver behavior and improve everyday safety for people walking and driving.
   

4. Maternal health care gaps in Springfield spark call for action (wwlp.com) — Holyoke residents are feeling the impact of recent maternity service cuts at Holyoke Medical Center as Springfield advocates push for new, midwife-led birth centers nearby. The Springfield Maternal Child Health Commission argues that freestanding centers could fill regional gaps in care, especially for low‑risk pregnancies, and is urging lawmakers and local governments to fund and support these facilities.
   

5. Sublime Systems announces Holyoke project pause (thereminder.com) — Sublime Systems has paused its planned green cement plant in Holyoke and cut 10% of its workforce after the Trump administration pulled back an $87 million federal energy grant. Local leaders, including Mayor Joshua Garcia and Planning Director Aaron Vega, warn the decision is a major setback for Holyoke’s green industry ambitions and likely ends hopes for the plant here, at least in the near term.
   

📸 Around Holyoke

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Planet Fitness Inc. posted a job opening for Overnight Custodian in Holyoke. Apply here.
  • Merry Maids posted a job opening for House Cleaner in Holyoke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Holyoke here.

Ok Holyoke! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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