Public Affairs

Over 50 Job Fair

James P. Leyden, Deputy Director for West Springfield Council on Aging, and Laurie A. Cassidy, Executive Director of Council on Aging, talk about the first “Over 50” job fair to be held on May 19th in West Springfield. Also, what are some of the top...

Helping Returning Veterans

The unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty in the military at any time since September 2001 stands at nine percent, that’s according to a recent report by the bureau of labor statistics. The Springfield/CT metropolitan area is about two thirds down...

Amped for Education

Smith Academy teacher Jeff Pluta discusses “Amped for Education,” the program he started that’s built a high school in an impoverished village in Nicaragua. Joining him will be Dylan Talbot, a Frontier Regional High School student who has traveled to...

The State We’re In: Martha Coakley

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley discusses key issues in her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor. She also addresses the planned re-opening of North Adams Regional Hospital and the Supreme Judicial Court case to consider allowing a...

Westover Job Cuts

Last week Westover Air Reserve Base announced that it will shed 300 jobs and half of the 439th Airlift Wing’s C-5 fleet under new budget cuts. Connecting Point Contributor Carolee McGrath talks with Base officials, and Chicopee Business owners to learn what...

Develop Springfield

Jay Minkarah president and CEO of Develop Springfield talks about the non-profit redevelopment organization that focuses only on Springfield, rehabilitates blighted properties and encourages private development. We’ll be talking about how they deal with...

Teen Drinking Game

There is a new dangerous drinking game out where teens challenge peers over social media to out-do each other in drinking alcohol. Is the teen hard wired to take these risks and what can parents do about this? Here to answer these questions is Bill Corbett, parenting...

Fighting Foreclosure

Springfield No One Leaves is a member-led community organization dedicated to organizing families most affected by the economic & foreclosure crisis. They organize against displacement and evictions by defending their homes and communities. Deborah Nowell,...

The State We’re In: Sen. Don Humason

State Senator Don Humason (R) – Westfield and the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District looks at this week’s debate on the House Budget proposal for Fiscal year 2015, as well as the firing this week of the state Commissioner of the Department of Families and...

Florence Savings Bank Grants

Florence Savings Bank President John Heaps and representatives of three local non-profit agencies benefiting from $100,000 in Customers’ Choice Community Grants to be distributed by the bank this year, discuss that program. Joining Mr. Heaps is Betty Neisner,...

“Prison State” Preview

An upcoming “Frontline” documentary “Prison State” will be airing Tuesday April 29 at 10pm. it takes an intimate look at the cycle of mass incarceration in America and one state’s effort to reverse the trend. On a local level, we’re finding out from...