PVTA's New Southwick Route - Longmeadow's 250th on the Green
By Neal Quesnel ·
PVTA is adding a Southwick route, finally closing one of the longest-standing gaps in the regional bus map between the Valley and points southwest. Longmeadow marks the country's 250th on the Town Green this Saturday. The Springfield farmers' market returns to The Landing at the MassMutual Center on Friday, and Westfield's skate park rebuild has a July 1 start date with Platform Group on the contract. Here's the week.
This Weekend
§ 01- № 01
Farmers' market returns to The Landing
Fri Jun 12 · 11am to 3pm · MassMutual Center, SpringfieldThe Downtown Springfield Farmers' Market opens its 2026 weekly Friday run at The Landing at the MassMutual Center on Main Street. Lunchtime hours, every Friday in June, plus dates through July and August.
- № 02
Dye your own Washington Standard in Belchertown
Sat Jun 13 · 10am to 11am · Clapp Memorial Library, BelchertownThe Fabric of the Revolution Workshop at Clapp Memorial Library has local fiber artist Holly Field walking participants through making their own copy of George Washington's headquarters flag, the Washington Standard, the banner flown at his command tent during the Revolution. A 250th-themed hands-on hour.
- № 03
Longmeadow marks the Semiquincentennial on the Town Green
Sat Jun 13 · 1pm · Town Green, LongmeadowLongmeadow's 250th Anniversary ceremony on the Town Green runs a historical reenactment, a flag presentation, a time capsule sealing, and a reading of the names of the local militia who marched from Longmeadow toward Concord in 1775. Outdoors, free, 1pm on the Green.
- № 04
Handsome Jack at the Drake
Sat Jun 13 · 8pm · The Drake, AmherstHandsome Jack headlines a rock-and-roll and blues triple bill at The Drake in Amherst, with Troy Mercy and Canyon Lights opening. Doors at 8pm.
Kids Corner
§ 02- № 01
Aaron's Pinewood Derby Race and Family Fun Day
Sat Jun 13 · 10am-3pm · Town Common, BelchertownAges · All agesCost · Cost not postedAaron's Pinewood Derby Race and Family Fun Day takes over the Belchertown Town Common all Saturday, with a wood-block car race as the centerpiece and a few hours of run-around stuff stitched around it.
- № 02
Special Storytime with Vicki Johnson
Sat Jun 13 · 11am · Eric Carle Museum, AmherstAges · Ages 3 to 7Cost · Cost not postedSpecial Storytime with Vicki Johnson at the Eric Carle Museum celebrates the new picture book Mac Wears a Hat, from the team behind Molly's Tuxedo. Author and illustrator readings at the Carle work because the kids walk in already primed by the gallery upstairs.
- № 03
Longmeadow Celebrates the 250th
Sat Jun 13 · 1pm · Town Green, LongmeadowAges · All agesCost · FreeLongmeadow Celebrates the 250th brings a Revolutionary-era reenactment, a flag presentation, a time capsule ceremony, and a reading of the names of the militia that mustered for Concord to the Town Green.
- № 04
Soccer Watch Party at The Landing
Sat Jun 13 · 2:30pm · MassMutual Center, SpringfieldAges · All agesCost · FreeThe Soccer Watch Party at The Landing puts an international match up on the big outdoor screen behind the MassMutual Center, with food trucks, lawn games, and music filling in around the run of play. BYOchairs and your World Cup enthusiastic kids. Parking is $5. Qatar v Switzerland at 3p followed by Brazil v Morocco at 6.
- № 05
Reading Buddies with a therapy dog
Sun Jun 14 · 2:30pm · Eric Carle Museum, AmherstAges · Early readersCost · Cost not postedReading Buddies at the Eric Carle Museum pairs new readers with Jinx, a Bright Spot Therapy Dog who, by job description, will not correct anyone's pronunciation.
- № 06
Transportation Station at the library
Tue Jun 16 · 10am · East Longmeadow Public LibraryAges · Toddlers to age 5Cost · FreeTransportation Station at the East Longmeadow Public Library is a morning of trucks, trains, planes, and sound effects that toddlers make unprompted. Stories, songs, and hands-on play built around things that go, which covers about ninety percent of the under-five demographic's stated interests.
Real Estate Pulse
§ 03The 30-year dropped 5 basis points to 6.48% in this week's PMMS, the second straight weekly decline. Year over year the rate is down 37 basis points, which is what moves monthly payments.
Monthly payment · 20% down
| $300k home | $1,892/mo | −$74/mo vs last June |
| $500k home | $3,154/mo | −$124/mo vs last June |
| $750k home | $4,730/mo | −$186/mo vs last June |
* Estimated principal & interest only. Excludes property tax and homeowner's insurance.
The 15-year fell 8 basis points to 5.79% this week. The gap between the 30- and 15-year is 69 basis points right now, the widest since spring, and a wider gap means a 15-year saves more on the same loan than it has in months. For Valley owners running a refinance comparison or buyers shortening their term, that is the math worth running.
Monthly payment · 20% down
| $300k home | $2,498/mo | −$13/mo vs last week |
| $500k home | $4,163/mo | −$22/mo vs last week |
| $750k home | $6,245/mo | −$34/mo vs last week |
* Estimated principal & interest only. Excludes property tax and homeowner's insurance.
The 10-year Treasury closed last week at 4.48% and climbed to 4.57% Monday after the May employment report came in well above forecasts (172,000 jobs versus 85,000 expected). Treasury yields and Freddie Mac PMMS rates do not move in lockstep, but the 10-year is the leading signal for next week's mortgage reading.
Around Town
§ 04- · Vote
Easthampton heads to the polls today on a $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override. Superintendent Michelle Balch told the school committee the district would cut 35 positions if the override fails. The full $65.4M city budget hinges on the result.
- · New route
PVTA is adding a Southwick route to its schedule, one of the long-recommended gaps in the regional bus map between the Pioneer Valley and points southwest. Service starts this month; check the PVTA site to plan your next commute.
- · Opening
The Downtown Springfield Farmers Market is back for the season at a new spot, The Landing on Bruce Landon Way. Worth a note if you used to walk to the old location on muscle memory.
- · Town
In other Prop 2½ news, the South Hadley Selectboard hosts a public input forum on the proposed override at its June 16 meeting, 45 Dayton Street. The vote is the mechanism the town is using to close its FY27 gap; this is the session to hear the numbers and ask questions before the ballot.
- · Town
Amherst DPW employees have a new contract with improved pay and benefits, settled this week after extended negotiations; staffing was part of the holdup.
- · Opening
IcyBear Trading Card Games & Collectibles has opened at Yankee Village Plaza in Westfield, with cards, decks, accessories, and table space to play. The west side of the Valley has been thin on dedicated game shops since the last one closed.
Local Wins
§ 05The Westfield skate park rebuild has a contract, a designer, and a start date: Platform Group is on the job and shovels go in the ground July 1. Mayor Michael A. McCabe announced the award last week, which closes out a years-long stretch of patched concrete, fundraising nights, and renderings passed around at council meetings.
The new layout, per Platform's rendering, leans into a proper street-and-bowl mix instead of the bolted-on ramps the current park grew out of. Construction runs through the summer, so expect fencing and noise off Cross Street; the payoff is a park Westfield will keep using past August. If your kids love to skateboard, this will be a great place to skate once completed.
Valley Fact
Smith College
Sophia Smith of Hatfield died on June 12, 1870, 156 years ago this Friday. She left $393,000, the bulk of her estate, to found Smith College in Northampton. The campus opened five years later with eleven students. She never saw it.
Correction · Issue 004
Last week's Around Town said Easthampton's school override fight hinges on a $152M city budget. That's Northampton's number. Easthampton's budget is $65.4M, and the issue on the site has been corrected. Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader for flagging it.