A.L.I.C.E. Training

The thought of a gunman entering a school building is horrifying, yet as we saw tragically in Newtown and many other towns, it’s a reality that administrators have to prepare for. Different school districts and different states have come up with approaches to protect children and teachers. Many of those procedures involve what’s known as a lockdown.

Ludlow has adopted a safety model called A.L.I.C.E. training—which has lockdown as an option, but emphasizes evacuation and as a last resort, “countering.” Counter does not call for confronting an intruder, but to use distraction methods to reduce the shooter’s ability to kill.

Carolee McGrath sat down with Ludlow Superintendent Todd Gazda and Lt. Michael Brennan of the Ludlow Police Department to find out more.

Wheelhouse Food Truck

Wheelhouse is a farm-to-table caterer and food truck in the Pioneer Valley. It was started by to local farm apprentices, Jake & Will, who had a vison to increase access to sustainably grown produce sourced from local farms here in Massachusetts. Jake and Will travel the region creating great meals and educating the public on the importance of locally grown food. Producer Dave Fraser caught up with them recently at event at Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst and shares this story.

Wheelhouse Farm
Wheelhouse Farm on Facebook

Strong Young Minds’ “I Am Me” Event

Director Justin Haynes and Model Instructor Wanda Boone discuss the “I Am Me” event and fashion show on December 10th at the MassMutual Center, as well as the work done by the sponsoring organization, Strong Young Minds.

Through the Lens with the Republican Photographers: Casino Construction

Veteran Springfield Republican and Masslive photographers Don Treeger and Dave Roback join Jim Madigan to show off some of their most recent images of the casino construction in downtown Springfield.