New funding found for Holyoke Soldiers Home outpatient clinic

HOLYOKE - Area lawmakers say they've been able to restore $500,000 in funding for the Holyoke Soldiers Home to save its outpatient clinic.

HCC reports spike in enrollment, cites national trend

HOLYOKE - Enrollment at Holyoke Community College shot up 13 percent this fall, prompting the college to hire more faculty and offer more courses.

The dramatic increase is part of a national trend on community college campuses. In the midst of a recession, students are looking to save money on education by attending typically less expensive public schools.

Soldier On honor aims high: First award credits Joint Chiefs chairman

HOLYOKE - Jack Downing, president of Soldier On, was certain the first award given by his homeless-veterans aid organization would have to go to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael G. Mullen, for his commitment to improving the lot of homeless vets. Mullen, who oversees the nation's entire military, was at the Log Cabin in Holyoke Thursday night to accept the award and talk about the needs of soldiers once they have completed their service to the country.

Patrick: 'We'll all share upside' is upbeat message in stops through Valley

NORTHAMPTON - There was no reason to shoot this messenger. Gov. Deval L. Patrick was in western Massachusetts Wednesday spreading good news in the cities of Amherst, Northampton and Holyoke: Yes, a high-performance computing center will be constructed in downtown Holyoke. Yes, Patrick will support a new multi-cultural learning initiative at the University of Massachusetts. And yes, once tax revenues pick up for the state, higher education funding will be restored.

Coal plant makeover nears end: Mount Tom offline as upgrade is completed

HOLYOKE - A $57 million upgrade designed to reduce toxic emissions from the Mount Tom Station coal plant is nearing completion, though the electricity generator will remain offline until it's ready to fire, according to state environmental regulators.

Cuts hit area bus funding: Valley schools face state aid cutbacks

Although public education in the Valley didn't suffer the brunt of $277 million in statewide spending cuts Gov. Deval L. Patrick announced this week, it didn't come out unscathed.