Holyoke City Councilor Kevin Jourdain will hold a neighborhood meeting in Ward 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 at Sullivan School, 400 Jarvis Ave.

HOLYOKE -- General Superintendent Michael McManus of the Department of Public Works will be the guest speaker at a neighborhood meeting on Monday held by Kevin A. Jourdain, Ward 6 representative on the City Council.

The meeting will be 6 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Sullivan School, 400 Jarvis Ave., said Jourdain, the City Council president.

McManus began as DPW chief in September.

"The Public Works department is a great department and works very hard for the city," Jourdain said in an email. "(McManus) will be present to listen to your public works concerns from sidewalk and road improvements to trash pickup to snow plowing, you name it."

Jourdain also will give a rundown of city issues and actions the City Council has taken recently and will be available for questions, he said.

"I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Nothing like kicking off 2017 with another great and informative Ward 6 neighborhood meeting," Jourdain said.

Jourdain is available by email at Kevin.Jourdain@verizon.net or phone at 413-538-5519 and has a website at kevinjourdain.com

Nelson R. Roman is the Ward 2 representative on the Holyoke, Massachusetts City Council and Rosalee Tensley Williams is the Ward 2 School Committee member, and the officials are holding a neighborhood meeting Feb. 16, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Waterfront, 920 Main St.

HOLYOKE -- The elected representatives for Ward 2 on the City Council and School Committee will hold office hours in a neighborhood meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 16 at The Waterfront, 920 Main St.

Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said he has asked representatives of two companies, Marcotte Ford and Quantum Biopower, to speak at the meeting.

Roman is holding the meeting with Rosalee Tensley Williams, the Ward 2 School Committee member.

The meeting is open to residents who live in the ward's four neighborhoods, Churchill, Ingleside, South Holyoke and Springdalem, he said.

The proposed redesign of the high schools is among other issues that will be discussed, he said.

Food from Damn Yankees Barbecue will be served, he said.

For more information contact Roman at 413-437-0130 or Ward2Roman@gmail.com.

A man was shot in Springfield on Wednesday night.

SPRINGFIELD — A man is recovering at Baystate Medical Center after being shot in Springfield on Wednesday night, according to police.

Capt. Robert Strempek of the Springfield Police Department said that police received a call about a walk-in gun shot victim at Baystate at approximately 6:55 p.m.

The man was shot in the abdomen and his girlfriend drove him to the hospital, Strempek said.

While police aren't sure where the shooting occurred, they believe it may have happened in the area of Westford Circle in the city's Upper Hill neighborhood.

Strempek said police received a call from a woman living in the area who said she had heard a gunshot, and officers also recovered a shell casing from the street.

However, Strempek said neither the man nor his girlfriend have been willing to talk to police about who may be responsible for the shooting, or the details of how it occurred. "They're not talking," Strempek said.

Officials say the first U.S. inmate to receive state-funded sex-reassignment surgery has been moved to a women's prison.

This Feb. 1, 2017 photo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows inmate Shiloh Heavenly Quine. AP 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Officials say the first U.S. inmate to receive state-funded sex-reassignment surgery has been moved to a women's prison.

California corrections department spokeswoman Terry Thornton said 57-year-old Shiloh Heavenly Quine was admitted to the Central California Women's Facility on Wednesday.

The prison northwest of Fresno holds about 2,900 women.

Quine previously was at a men's prison, although she has been living as a woman since 2009.

The convicted killer, who is serving a life prison sentence, underwent the surgery in December after a court settlement.

Her case led California to become the first state to set standards for transgender inmates to apply to receive the surgery. It also led a federal magistrate to provide transgender female inmates housed in men's facilities with items such as nightgowns, scarves and necklaces.

Comets 2P and 45P will be visible with binoculars or telescopes this month. Watch video

A pair of comets and zodiacal light are among the highlights in the night sky for February 2017.

Comets 2P and 45P will be visible with binoculars or telescopes.

Zodiacal light is "a triangular glow caused when sunlight reflects off dust particles in the plane of our solar system," says Jane Houston Jones, amateur astronomer, senior outreach specialist for the Cassini mission to Saturn and narrator of the above video. She says to use Venus and Mars as reference points to see it.

The brightest asteroid, Vesta, is visible this month near the stars Castor and Pollux in the Gemini constellation.

Watch the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory video to get more details.

Here are the winning numbers for Wednesday's Powerball drawing.

The winning numbers are out for Wednesday's Powerball drawing, which is giving those who bought a ticket a chance at one of its bigger lottery jackpots.

File

Here are the winning numbers:

09-43-57-60-64, Powerball: 10, PowerPlay: 2X

The estimated jackpot is $209.7 million. The lump sum payment before taxes will be more than $124 million.

The amount has been creeping up since a $121.6 million jackpot was won by a Pennsylvania couple Dec. 17.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Action Ambulance Services Inc. of Wilmington, Massachusetts, the new emergency services provider in Holyoke as of Feb. 1, 2017, will introduce mobile health care steps such as phone advice and follow up visits to cut down on hospital trips in addition to deploying ambulances at three fire stations.

HOLYOKE -- Action Ambulance Service Inc. of Wilmington is the city's new emergency medical services provider as of Wednesday, officials said.

The company will station ambulances at Fire Department headquarters at 600 High St., at Station 3 at 1579 Northampton St. and at Station 5 at 33 Whiting Farms Road, Fire Chief John A. Pond said in a text message Wednesday.

"With ambulances at those locations, it will greatly reduce response times for EMS calls," he said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse announced Action Ambulance Service had replaced AMR as the city's main ambulance service. That came after the city had issued a request for proposals and a selection committee made a recommendation, he said in a press release.

Morse said he liked that Action Ambulance was innovative in deploying vehicles around the city.

"Action has a forward-thinking approach to providing emergency medical services and has made a commitment to modernizing the city's dispatching capabilities," Morse said.

"I would like to thank AMR for their years of service to the city and look forward to a smooth transition as we move to a new provider," he said.

Action Ambulance was founded in 1977 by David and Stanley Portman on principles of customer loyalty, the importance of little things in customer service and "people helping people," according to the company Facebook page.

"We look forward to providing the city of Holyoke with an emergency medical service system that will be solely based within the city which will be focused on collaboration, support and quality patient outcomes," company CEO Michael Woronka said in the press release issued by Morse's office.

Fees for an ambulance trip are paid by the patient or his or her insurance company to the ambulance company. The only revenue the city will receive is from leases for the fire station spaces that Action Ambulance will use in parking its vehicles. Lease amounts are being worked out, Pond said.

Holyoke Medical Center will continue to provide medical direction over emergency medical services, ensuring emergency medical technicians and paramedics are trained up to date on procedures, Morse said.

"It was important that our partnership with Holyoke Medical Center continue. They are a key asset not only to the city but to the region," Morse said.

Spiros Hatiras, president and chief executive officer of Holyoke Medical Center-Valley Health Systems, also said he wanted to thank AMR "for the many years of dedicated service to our patients and community."

"We are looking forward to a close and productive relationship with Action Ambulance for the benefit of our patients," Hatiras said in the press release.

The agreement between the city and Action Ambulance includes the company introducing a method of care to the community called Mobile Integrated Healthcare. It's essentially provision of care on location to avoid hospital trips. It can include telephone advice to 911 callers, help with chronic disease management, follow up visits and transport or referral to other kinds of care instead of a hospital emergency room.

"The Holyoke Fire Department looks forward to working with Action to adopt this innovative approach to EMS delivery," Pond said.

The selection committee that advised Morse consisted of Police Chief James M. Neiswangeer, Purchasing Director Lori Belanger, Assistant City Solicitor Paul Payer, Chief of Staff Rory Casey and Pond.

Action Ambulance will install GPS equipment, dispatching software and other technologies in the public safety dispatch center at the Police Station, 138 Appleton St.

"Action's ability to employ state of the art technology on day one, combined with enhanced data management, will allow efficient police, fire and EMS communications during critical times," Neiswange said in the press release.

A new parent advisory council would allow parents to give direct input on the decisions made for their children in the Springfield Public Schools.

SPRINGFIELD -- For many years Springfield Public School administrators have stressed the importance of parent engagement when it comes to the education of their children.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lydia Martinez is hoping a new Parent Advisory Council, which will give parents direct access to not only teachers but also principals and administrators on a regular basis, will empower them and get more involved.

Although Martinez was not able to attend a meeting to discuss the proposed council due to travel complications, Ranjini Govender, the executive director of Stand for Children, which has partnered with the schools for this new initiative, said it is an opportunity for parents to tell their families' stories and connect with the people working with their children everyday.

The meeting, held at Forest Park Middle School Wednesday night, was intended for parents of children in the city's Empowerment Zone Partnership, which was formed to raise student achievement at struggling schools. The advisory council also will be open to other Springfield parents with children in the school district.

"There is a reason why you are here tonight," Govender said. "You have a story, you may not think so, but you do have a story and it is interesting and it is important."

Impact Prep at Chestnut South Middle School South Principal Nate Higgins said the advisory council will give parents a voice.

"If you don't speak up someone will speak for you," he said. "A lot of people are speaking for your children, but you have a say and you should communicate the things you need for your child."

Parent Mariane Kounta has children at two schools in the city. She recently attended a Springfield Empowerment Zone board meeting, which are open to the public.

"I got a lot of information about what is going on in my children's school and I really encourage parents and anyone to go because it is helpful," she said.

The event also included some information from the staff at PACE Center, including early registration happening now. They answered parent questions about the school district's lottery system, high school placement and work permits for students ages 14-17.

Amneris Narvaez of Stand for Children encouraged those who attended to fill out a survey asking parents to name an issue at their child's school that they would like to see resolved.

"We want to hear from you, we want to know what you need to make your child's learning experience the best it can be," she said.

The event also included dinner and an opportunity for parents form the various schools to meet.

The next Springfield Empowerment Zone board meeting will be held March 20 at 3:30 p.m. at Forest Park Middle School.

From OUI arrests to warrant arrests, Ludlow officers were busy from Jan. 15 to Jan. 21.

LUDLOW -- Officers responded to 318 calls for service and made two dozen arrests or summons / warrant arrests in a one-week period from Jan. 15 to Jan. 21, according to recently released data from the Ludlow Police Department.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Maxwell Brisebois, 22, of Monson, was arrested around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, and charged with disorderly conduct following an incident on Carol Street.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, Julian Baez, 22, of Springfield, was arrested after driving a stolen vehicle into a police cruiser in the parking lot of Cumberland Farms, 320 East St., then fleeing the scene, police said.

Baez was charged with a slew of offenses:

• receiving stolen property over $250 (motor vehicle);
• larceny over $250;
• unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle;
• assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle);
• breaking and entering a motor vehicle at night to commit a felony;
• leaving the scene of a property-damage accident;
• conspiracy to commit a crime;
• obstruction of justice;
• and resisting arrest.

Also arrested on Monday was Marcus E. Plummer, 29, of the Indian Orchard section of Springfield. Police said Plummer was taken into custody around 3:45 a.m. after officers found him slumped over inside his running vehicle outside O'Connell's Convenience Plus Mobil Station, 341 West St.

Plummer was charged with OUI-liquor (second offense) and driving with a suspended license, police said.

That same day, officers arrested Colleen M. Washington, 50, of Chicopee. She was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m., following a traffic accident at Center and Hubbard streets. Washington was charged with OUI-liquor (second offense) negligent operation, and unlicensed operation, police said.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, Yelizaveta V. Saykina, 19, of Springfield, and Louis P. Suzor Jr., 51, of Ludlow, were arrested near Center and Cherry streets just after 4:30 p.m. Police charged them with heroin possession. Suzor was also charged with heroin distribution and heroin possession with intent to distribute, police said.

At 11:30 that night, Kelsea Pelletier, 24, of Springfield, was arrested on an active warrant on Center Street near Haviland Pond.

On Friday, Jan. 20, Kuyler M. Davidson, 21, of Ludlow, was arrested on an active warrant around 9:45 p.m. near East and Chestnut streets.

Around 10:30 Saturday, Jan. 21, Joshua L. Langlois, 28, of Ludlow, was taken into custody on Oak Street on active warrant.

Chaka Meredith, 41, of Laconia, New Hampshire, was arrested Wednesday night without incident by local police.

A man accused of robbing banks across the state over the course of a month has finally been arrested.

Chaka Meredith, 41, of Laconia, New Hampshire, was taken into custody Wednesday night in Lawrence without incident, the FBI announced.

Meredith was accused of committing six bank robberies from Jan. 3 to Jan. 30.

* Jan. 3, at 8:54 a.m., East Boston Savings Bank, 515 Centre St., Jamaica Plain
* Jan. 11, at 10:01 a.m., Meredith Village Savings Bank, 379 South Main St., Laconia
* Jan.17, at 12:51 p.m., Santander Bank, 555 Broadway, Lawrence
* Jan. 24, at 5:44 p.m., TD Bank, 450 Essex St., Lawrence
* Jan. 25, at 11:15 a.m., Lowell Five, 65 Groton St., Pepperell
* Jan. 30, at 12:12 p.m., Santander Bank, 58 Plaistow Road, Plaistow

Authorities initially reached out to the public Wednesday morning with pictures and a description of Meredith. According to an FBI statement, Meredith was believed to be armed and accompanied by his girlfriend.

During a robbery at East Boston Savings Bank, Meredith allegedly threatened to use a weapon. However, no one had been injured during any of the robberies.

The FBI was offering up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest.

"While we are grateful that nobody has been injured in any of these robberies, we'd like to put an end to his alleged crime spree before someone does get hurt," Supervisory Special Agent Daniel R. Romanzo, who supervises the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, said.

To 15-year-old Wesley Days Jr., public speaking is not only his hobby to express himself, but it has also given him a way to get his voice heard on issues of importance among minorities in today's society.

To 15-year-old Wesley Days Jr., public speaking is not only his hobby to express himself, but it has also given him a way to get his voice heard on issues of importance among minorities in society.

"We must bring sons back to their mothers, husbands to their wives, fathers back to their sons, and mentees back to their mentors. We now live in a society where people can kill a black male, be found innocent, and try to profit from the gun that he killed him with," said Days in his speech entitled "Pipeline to Prison" which he presented at the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the MassMutual Center in Downtown Springfield.

The sophomore from Longmeadow has been participating in speaking events for the last two years and has impressed audiences with his skilled oratory and insight into improving conditions for youth in society and breaking the school-to-prison pipeline.

According to Days, his initial interest in public speaking came from his desire to become a journalist when he grows up, stating that he wanted to have oratory as a skill listed on his academic resume.

His "Pipeline to Prison" speech which covered mass incarceration and racial inequities in modern society, won first place in the 2016 Senator Edward W. Brooke III Oratorical Scholarship Competition, and got the hundreds out of their seats for a standing ovation at the MassMutal Center on MLK Day.

The competition, which took place in May 2016, is sponsored by the Lee B. Revels Scholarship & Mentoring Foundation, Inc., which is a part of the Education department of the Theta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

"Any time you write, you have to really put your heart and soul into what you say because at the end of the day that's what it comes down to," Days said. "When I wrote my speech, I really got interested because people like me are going to prison and getting involved with the judicial system and it really hit home."

"In my life, I've seen a lot of things but I've never had to look inside a jail cell," he continued. "I've never had to look a judge in the face and say 'It wasn't me,' and it's sad that there are people that have to go through that."

According to Arthur Cash, who mentored Days during the oratorical competition, the two met almost twice a week to research and practice his presentation, saying that the young orator is a prime example of strong character and determination.

"Wesley can definitely serve as a role model for teenagers his age, and I think he also is a role model for all to witness what happens when you are concentrated and prepare yourself," Cash said. "Wesley is a young man of rigor and is someone who doesn't take things lightly. He puts a lot of energy and concentration on what he wants to do. So he serves as a role model for the community, for our schools, and for the nation."

According to Days' mother Alesia Days, her son's work behind the podium serves as a benefit to his peers and helps shed light on the misconceptions regarding issues that affect African Americans as a whole.

"I think it's more important for African American boys to see Wesley and to know that they too can achieve and do anything they want to do if they stay focused," she said.

For some, the 15-year-old public speaker appears to be a beacon of hope for individuals young and old, but Days doesn't look at himself as a role model, but it makes him feel good inside knowing that his speeches have helped others.

Each officer will receive $200 so they can purchase new uniform shirts.

CHICOPEE -- Police officers will begin purchasing new soft uniforms that are considered safer, especially if an officer ends up in a fight with a suspect.

The City Council recently agreed to transfer $25,600 from unused money in a police salary account to settle a dispute with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers locals 440 and 401, which represents different groups of Chicopee police officers.

The settlement will give each officer $200 to purchase new uniform shirts, Mayor Richard J. Kos said.

It will also call for the unions to withdraw complaints filed with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, the American Arbitration Association and a civil complaint filed in Hampden Superior Court over the new requirements, according to the agreement documents.

The Police Department is changing from the traditional uniforms with pinned-on metal badges and metal stars on the shoulder patches to so-called soft uniforms where everything is embroidered, including the badge.

"It is an officer safety issue. It you have all the metal on it can be used against you," Police Chief William R. Jebb said.

The embroidered badge also does not reflect light, which can be safer for officers working at night, he said.

The new uniforms will appear mostly the same as the old ones, though badge numbers will be replaced with the officer's last name, which is allowed under state regulations, Jebb said.

The department has been slowly moving toward the soft uniform and some officers already have purchased new embroidered shirts when replacing older uniforms. The settlement will speed up the process and require officers to wear the new uniform starting July 1, Jebb said.

The City Council approved the transfer in an 11-0 vote with no objections.

Will Ms. G see her shadow and predict another six weeks of winter today?

Will Ms. G see her shadow and predict another six weeks of winter today?

Ms. G is the Massachusetts State Groundhog and has been predicting the weather since 2008 but only recently got her official title.

Mish Michaels, the author of Ms. G's Shadowy Road to Fame and meteorologist, said the campaign started when her oldest daughter was in kindergarten at Hunnewell Elementary School in Wellesley. The students helped start and encourage the campaign.

"When I was working as a meteorologist, we would always go to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the official forecast for the rest of winter," Michaels said. "It just always irked me that we didn't have a groundhog with local expertise."

But it wasn't a quick fix. The bill wasn't signed into law until 2014, when her daughter was ending second grade.

Now, because of the bill, it's guaranteed that Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, where Ms. G lives, will always have a weather predicting groundhog.

Hopefully, they'll always be as accurate as the current Ms. G. According to Michaels, Ms. G is correct about 70 percent of the time, while Punxsutawney Phil is only correct 65 percent of the time, according to PennLive.com.

Either way, they're both helping children learn about science. Michaels also wrote a book to help with learning, while still having fun.

"A kid enjoys the idea of what animals can do and the power that they have," Michaels said. "I think she inspires that wonder that they have."

Michaels said she can't predict if Ms. G will see her shadow or not but she did say there's suppose to be sunshine, which means Ms. G would see her shadow -- and another six weeks of winter.

Groundhog Day: 10 Facts about the weather holiday

Firefighters were called to the Pine Point neighborhood of Springfield in the early hours of Thursday morning for a report of a fire spreading from a vehicle to a home.

Firefighters were called to the Pine Point neighborhood of Springfield in the early hours of Thursday morning for a report of a fire spreading from a vehicle to a home.

The Springfield Fire Department responded to 80 Elijah St. at approximately 2:30 a.m. and found a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis GS parked in the driveway in flames. 

The fire spread to the home, causing several thousand dollars in damage to the Cape-style house. A 2000 Chrysler Sebring parked in the driveway was also damaged from heat exposure. 

The cause of the fire has been determined by the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad to be electrical-mechanical failure of the car. 

What was supposed to be an hour-long call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ended in just 25 minutes, with Trump calling it the "worst call that day."

President Trump has denounced a pledge Barack Obama made with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that would have the United States accept 1,250 refugees from an Australian detention center, the Washington Post reports.

What was supposed to be an hour-long call with Turnbull ended in 25 minutes, with Trump calling it the "worst call that day," a senior official briefed on the conversation told the Post. 

According to the Associated Press, Trump agreed to discuss a promise made by the Obama administration to resettle the mostly Muslim refugees. Trump accused Turnbull of trying to export the "next Boston bombers," reports the Post. 

The deal may have been a way to continue the strong ties between the United States and Australia, countries that fought together in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 

However, Trump took to Twitter that day to express his feelings on the deal. 

Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2017

Senior officials told the Post that the president was skeptical of what advantage the United States gained by honoring the deal. 

After the Post's article was published, Turnbull insisted to reporters that the deal was still on, despite Trump dubbing the agreement "dumb" during their phone call, the Associated Press reports. 

Last week, the Trump administration enacted a travel ban preventing refugees from seven countries from traveling to the United States. 

Every year on February 2nd, people anxiously wait for a groundhog to tell them if there will be another six weeks of winter.

Two cars collided on Insterstate 91 north just south of downtown Springfield on Thursday morning, causing a significant traffic snarl.

SPRINGFIELD -- Two cars collided on Insterstate 91 north just south of downtown Springfield in the area of Forest Park on Thursday morning, causing a significant traffic snarl.

A Massachusetts State Police trooper in the Springfield barracks reported the accident as "cleared" at 7:55 p.m. and expected the traffic to "work its way out."

Nobody was injured in the crash. No further details were immediately available.

Motorists reported being stuck in traffic longer than 30 minutes as responders dealt with the wreck. Backups extended into Longmeadow and onto Route 5, which runs adjacent to I-91.

The handlers of Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, said the furry rodent has "predicted" six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn Thursday.

The handlers of Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, said the furry rodent has "predicted" six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn Thursday.

The top hat-wearing members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle reveal Phil's forecast every Feb. 2, based on a German legend surrounding Candlemas. The legend says if a furry rodent casts a shadow that day, winter continues. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phil's prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Thousands of people gathered overnight to await the forecast. They were treated to folk music and a Star Wars-themed fireworks display under cloudy skies, with temperatures just below freezing, while they waited.

Ms. G, the Massachusetts State Groundhog, celebrates her 10th year predicting the weather

The groundhog's prediction is typically contained in a short poem, sometimes referencing current events or -- when the nearby Pittsburgh Steelers are participating -- a comment on the Super Bowl, which usually follows a few days later.

But this year, Phil stayed on message and didn't reference football, President Donald Trump or anything other than the weather.

"It's mighty cold weather, you've been braving. Is it more winter or is it spring that you're craving? Since you've been up all night and starting to tottle, I, Punxsutawney Phil, shall not dawdle," the proclamation read. "My faithful followers, I could clearly see a beautiful, perfect shadow of me. Six more weeks of winter, it shall be!"

Records dating to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 103 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times -- including last year. There are no records for the remaining years.

10 Facts about Groundhog Day

WGBY's first bilingual programming is back with more interviews, on location visits to restaurants in the Pioneer Valley and live performances. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - After the success of its first season, WGBY's "Presencia," is back with more music, food and interviews with the Latino community of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

"We received a lot of positive feedback from viewers after season one," said "Presencia" executive producer Vanessa Pabon-Hernandez. "What they seemed to like most was hearing from everyday people in nearby communities. So, this season, we'll be doing a few more on location pieces -- really getting out on the road with our crew to visit more Latino restaurants and, alternatively, to hear firsthand the inspiring personal stories from individuals right here in our neighborhoods."

"Presencia," is the first show of its kind for the network combining Spanish and English conversations in one program.

"It was important that we keep Presencia in the schedule," said WGBY Interim General Manager Lynn Page. "Our Latino community is an important part of our region's culture and economy. We want to connect with that audience and engage with them. It's part of our mission as a local public media entity to inform and connect with our diverse community."

New this year will be the translation closed captioning option for viewers to turn on and read along.

Beginning tonight "Presencia" returns to its Thursday 7:30 p.m. time-slot on WGBY for a second season. Co-hosts Veronica Garcia and Zydalis Bauer will ince again be speaking with a variety of Latino leaders as well as restaurant owners and digital storytellers.

This week's episode will feature a conversation with immigration lawyers Milagros Cruz and Carolina Guiral. The Digital Stories segment of the show will feature Bauer's interview with Caleb Sierra who will share a video he produced about his mission trip to Honduras at just 6-yrs-old.

Viewers will also meet Rolando A. Saravia, one of the owners of Bueno y Sano, and get a closer look at the popular local restaurant.

A musical performance by Grupo Folklorico Tradiciones will feature dancing to traditional folk music representing Colombia and Latin America.

"The Latino community loves to celebrate," says show host and producer Veronica Garcia. "Our show is about connecting diverse cultures, and this helps bring us together."

This year Univision will be rebroadcasting the second season for viewers who may not be able to catch every episode the first time around.

Follow "Presencia," on Twitter and Facebook. Use the #PresenciaWGBY to engage with fellow viewers, hosts and those who appeared on the show.

"Presencia" is sponsored in part by the Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation and Freedom Credit Union. Media sponsors include Full Power Radio, La Voz Hispana, and El Sol Latino. Additional media partnerships involve MassLive, El Pueblo Latino, and The Republican.