Holyoke Youth Performs Under the Big
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Serving the city HOLYOKE since 1995 FREE the June 28, 2019 Local news. Local stories. Local advertisers. A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com [email protected] www.sun.turley.com Holyoke youth performs Council discusses under the Big Top group By Colleen Montague Staff Writer home Parks and Rec HOLYOKE – For many sponsor people, there is just some- By Colleen Montague thing magical about the cir- Staff Writer Club Mud Pie cus. Everyone dreams during their childhood about being a HOLYOKE – Holyoke HOLYOKE – Club performer under the big top. residents came out to share Mud Pie, sponsored by It might be flying gracefully their concerns regarding the Holyoke Parks and through the air on a trapeze a group home going in on Recreation Department for or displaying skill with bal- Yale Street during the City ages 5 to 10, will be held ance walking across a fine Council’s June 18 meeting. over the summer from tightrope. The dream might Discussion came as the Monday to Friday from include doing a routine on ouncil addressed an order 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is the Chinese pole and never on a possible moratorium on $25 per week, and finan- losing rhythm or dropping a group homes coming into the cial assistance is available. single club in a juggling act. city, and how gateway com- Spaces are limited. The For one Holyoke youth, munities like Holyoke are that dream came true after he being disproportionately used CLUB, 4 auditioned for the traveling as recipients of group home youth circus Circus Smirkus programs. There were also and won a place with the concerns raised about wheth- Summer 2019 troupe, which er the group home actually will perform around New met the education definition England this summer. that would preclude the city Circus Smirkus, now in from regulating the facility in its 32nd year, is a nonprof- any way. The discussion also it arts and education orga- followed a previous meeting nization from Greensboro, with Representative Vega and Vermont. Its mission is to Senator Humason about what promote the culture, tradi- was happening at the state tions and skills of a traveling Turley Publicatgions Photo courtesy of Kathy Zweir level. Councilors also discussed circus; it is the only travel- As part of his live audition, 18-year-old Bradley Zweir and another Family fitness ing “tented” youth circus in youth, not shown, do a duo act on the Chinese Pole. four other orders in relation to the country. Among its many group homes in Holyoke. The summer program New England city and town to spend the whole summer on the current tour. From council will have state Sen. starts July 22 destinations, Circus Smirkus on an adventure of a lifetime there the youth are invited Humason and state Rep. Vega will perform in Northampton doing my favorite thing.” up the New England Center file legislation at the state level HOLYOKE – The in July at the Three County Zweir’s mother, Kathy, for Circus Arts (NECCA) to redefine the meaning of 413 Family Fitness Fairgrounds. explained that youth looking in Brattleboro, Vermont in education under the Dover Act Summer Program spon- “My favorite part of to audition submit audition January for the audition pro- and will have the legal depart- sored by the Holyoke being in the show is it’s real- videos showing their talents cess, including skill assess- ment look into all litigation Parks and Recreation ly cool to perform for so during the fall before the ments, group work and a opportunities to address the Department will be held many people all over New new year. From all those vid- three- to five-minute live number of group homes com- from Monday, July 22 to England,” Bradley Zweir eos, she says, Smirkus grants audition. She added that her ing into the city. The council Friday, July 26 from 1-3 said. “Performing is my around 40 live auditions, p.m. at Community Field. favorite thing to do, so I get which also include youth See BIG TOP, page 4 See GROUP, page 4 The program is for ages 8 FITNESS, 4 Celebrate Holyoke to host STANDS OUT IN A CROWD CPAC seeks member three-day festival Aug. 23-25 to fill vacancy HOLYOKE – The “I am thrilled to see Celebrate Holyoke Planning Celebrate Holyoke return HOLYOKE – The Committee announces the to Downtown Holyoke this Community Preservation 2019 dates for the three day year,” said Hoyloke Mayor Act Committee (CPAC) community event. Celebrate Morse. “With three days of of Holyoke would like to Holyoke will take place music, food, and entertain- announce that there is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, ment, we have an opportunity vacancy on their commit- Aug. 23, 24 and 25 at to connect with one anoth- tee that needs to be filled Heritage State Park in down- er as a community and cel- over the summer. The town Holyoke. ebrate all those things that City Council is in charge Celebrate Holyoke is a make Holyoke exceptional. of filling this position, so three-day festival drawing an We are happy to announce those who are interest- estimated 12,000 to 15,000 that our new Fiscal Sponsor is ed may send their resume people downtown over the Holyoke Community Media, and cover letter to the course of the weekend each Inc. Holyoke Community Personnel Department year. This year’s festival will Media, Inc. (DBA Holyoke at Holyoke City Hall. include live musical perfor- Media) is a registered 501(c) Applicants may visit the mances, food and beverages (3) non-profit corporation. CPAC website for more from local restaurants, and Holyoke Media seeks to Turley Publications Photo courtesy of Dennis Lee information at holyoke- goods from local artists and Dennis Lee came across this red eft as he was hiking at Mt. Tom on cpac.org. makers. See CELEBRATE, page 2 June 20. The red eft is the juvenile stage of the Eastern newt. ◗ In The News Holyoke elementary school wins ‘Green Team’ prize BOSTON – State environmen- that helps students take action to protect footprint at school and at home. cling equipment from the Green Team tal officials recognized students from our natural resources, and brings to life These activities incorporated class- to initiate or expand school recycling 72 schools across the Commonwealth the subjects they are learning in school.” room disciplines from the fields of sci- programs. Fifteen schools received for outstanding environmental actions Students of any age can participate ence, engineering and mathematics to signs reading “Idle-Free Zone” from as members of the “Green Team,” a in the Green Team program, an initia- reading, writing and art, as well as other the Green Team that serve as a visu- statewide environmental education tive composed of students who share the non-classroom, interrelated projects. al reminder to drivers to turn off their program sponsored by the Executive goals of reducing pollution and protect- “Green Team students learn envi- engines while waiting in the schoolyard. Office of Energy and Environmental ing the environment. More than 82,000 ronmental stewardship, bringing Participating classes were entered Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts students in 351 classes at 322 schools energy conservation, recycling, com- into a drawing for prizes and 72 class- Department of Environmental Protection joined the Green Team this school year. posting and pollution prevention proj- es received prizes for their efforts. Lt. (MassDEP). Students took part in a range of ects to our schools and communities,” Clayre P. Sullivan Elementary School in “Congratulations to the teachers and activities including: expanding school said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Holyoke received a Green Team prize of students who participated in the Green recycling programs, collecting textiles Suuberg. “Green Team members work a recycling show. The teacher was Rick Team program during the past school for donation and recycling, starting a to have a positive impact on our envi- Haggerty. year, showing that there’s a new gener- compost pile using organic waste from ronment and to make their communities Seventeen schools won grand priz- ation of enthusiasm and environmental the school cafeteria and using the com- more sustainable.” es and will receive schoolwide perfor- leadership in Massachusetts communi- post it generates to nourish a garden to Participating teachers received a mances by environmental educators ties,” said Energy and Environmental grow vegetables, making their school Green Team Kit containing classroom Jack Golden and Peter O’Malley or gift Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. driveways “Idle-Free Zones,” increasing posters, lesson plans, recycling tips and cards to local garden centers for trees or “Participation in Green Team activities energy efficiency in their schools and access to a library of other resources. garden supplies to further “green” their is an important educational foundation communities and reducing their carbon In addition, 51 schools received recy- schools. Diaspora youth project offers program HOLYOKE – The MassHire and will participate in weekly trips to Holyoke Career Center has devel- local businesses where food is ware- oped an exciting pilot project funded housed, prepared and accessed. Nuestras by Commonwealth Corporation for the Raices, a grassroots urban agriculture Summer 2019. The center is recruiting organization based in Holyoke, will use Pioneer Valley students between the a curriculum called “Siembra Siempre” ages of 14 and 15 that are evacuees from or “Always Grow” to educate partici- Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria. It pants. MassHire Holyoke Career Center is a work and learning opportunity and will document the project and provide students will receive a stipend for partic- work readiness preparation. ipating. The program’s start date is July For more information, people may 8 and there is an application and eligibil- contact Diaspora Project Coordinator ity process.