r/westernmass

I worked at 2 different places in Springfield in the past couple weeks and I must have killed 20 of em and saw well over a hundred on the sides of houses and in clusters on trees- I think they were all over a sumac bush or whatever it was.

I wish they lit up like a giant firefly- at least that'd be cool- but I guess all they do is destroy shit- something needs to be done before they spread everywhere- I filed a report for the address. What else can I do 🤷‍♂️

They're such cool looking bugs, I wish they weren't such assholes

Anyway- Springfield is cooked

Tara Jacobs has built a progressive reputation for herself in her four years representing western Mass on the Governor’s Council, a unique-to-Massachusetts elected council of eight that confirms judges and Parole Board appointments. But former Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton argues she has pushed too hard against the governor, jeopardizing the region’s representation in state courts and leaving too many vacancies locally.

In a race that one advocate for the incarcerated called “the most important race no one’s ever heard of,” the two will rematch after Jacobs defeated Fenton four years ago by only 2,300 votes. Read this first installment in The Shoestring’s 2026 election coverage, reported by Dylan Vrins.

I just moved to the area and am looking for some good antique stores to buy some furniture- any recommendations?

My kid might be interested in going into one (or all) of these fields. She's going into 9th grade, so it could change before she graduates. I am a licensed cosmetologist but I was trained in Florida at Aveda Institutes over 20 years ago, so I have no experience with MA cosmetology schools. I'm also not working in the industry anymore. I have the mass.gov list of accredited schools already.

In FL, a Cosmetology license was considered a "full license" and I could have done manicures, pedicures, all hair services, hair removal on face, and basic facials. Is it the same here?

I am also interested in experiences of students or parents with any of the cosmetology/beauty schools in MA? I want to avoid schools with negative reputations in terms of cleanliness, rigorousness of the curriculum, students coming out unprepared, poor teaching methods, etc.

Thanks again. I know I'm early to it, but she loves doing nails and make-up and I knew at 14 what I wanted to do, so if she's interested in this, I want to support her.

The second part of The Shoestring's deep dive into automated license plate readers, and the opposition to them, in western Mass.

Went in tonight to get a cheap all in one vape to take on a short trip with me and discovered that it didn't work when I got home. I immediately called them to see if I was using it wrong since these are new to me. She said it might just need to be charged, so i did that while I had dinner, and it still didn't work afterward. Headed back to the store only to be told there was nothing they could do. They suggested I call the owner tomorrow who might be able to do something. Am I just screwed despite the item being defective? It also seems strange to me that there wouldn't be someone working at all times who could handle a situation like this.

Thoughts? Advice?

Also accepting places in western CT and southern VT.

Hi everyone! I posted here last semester and a few people from this sub were kind enough to come in as patients. The people of Reddit has genuinely helped me a lot with my clinical! 😊

I’m now in my senior year of the Dental Hygiene program at MCPHS Worcester, and I’m hoping to find a few patients for my clinic sessions starting in September.

Because this is a student teaching clinic, appointments are a little different from a regular dental office. Visits are very thorough and include a dental and gum evaluation, oral cancer screening, X-rays when needed, and a dental cleaning. Everything I do is supervised and checked by licensed dental hygienists and dentists on-site.

There is no charge for treatment and insurance isn’t required!

The biggest thing I want to mention upfront is the time commitment. Appointments are about 3.5 hours because faculty check each step of the process, and I’m mainly looking for people who are able to commit to at least 2 visits. Depending on what you need, it could be fewer or more appointments.

My clinic availability this semester are Mondays: 8 AM–5 PM and Wednesdays: 5:30–9 PM.

If anyone has been meaning to get a cleaning/checkup and wouldn’t mind helping a dental hygiene student at the same time, feel free to message me. You’re also welcome to DM me if you just have questions about how the student clinic works!

Thank you 😊

I'm looking for a sweet, mature guy for cuddles. I'm vivacious, a little nerdy,  lefty-both ways, like to hike, dance, frisbee, games, read, try weird recipes ... I'm 65, fit, divorced w/ grown kid, 5'1", 105 lbs. Prefer someone close to my age. I've done this before and have learned that it's important of have an easy connection- something in common (that's why I wrote the stuff about myself), so if you're interested, please tell me about you! Please be willing to send a pic. Thanks!

Is anyone else experiencing a ridiculous amount of bugs flying around? It’s humid, it’s mid August, I know it’s to be expected. But I’ve never seen this large of swarms around light posts, deck lights, etc. I’m in south Hadley.

So I’m well aware of the seasoned tradition of cultivating tobacco in the Pioneer Valley. I pass some tobacco barns regularly where you can catch glimpses of the leaves drying between the slats. But where does one *purchase* this local plant? The roadside farm stands and weekend farmers markets are awash with fruits and vegetables. But if you wanted to purchase some tobacco for a pipe is there a place you or your smokey ol granpappy recommend?

Hey everyone,

​31M back in the area. I grew up around Worcester, but I’ve got family in Chicopee and my home base is down in Atlanta now. I commute up this way every now and then, but sitting in the house when I'm here ain't it

I need to get out, travel around, and actually explore the area.

​A bit about me and what I'm down for:

​Background: Colombian, love different cultures, and always hunting for good Hispanic and Asian food spots.

​Interests: Anime, video games, outdoor walks/exploring, and finding cool low key places to hit up.

​Vibe: Definitely a social introvert with a pretty heavy dose of dark humor and sarcasm. 420 friendly 🌿, down to clown, roast each other a bit, and not take life too seriously.

​Looking for like minded people who want to link up, grab a drink or a smoke, check out some local spots, or just wander around Western MA and explore.

​If you’re down to kick it or have recommendations for spots around Chicopee, Springfield, or Northampton, hit my DMs or drop a comment!

I’d like some recommendations for exploring Northampton and surrounding communities. I’d like to have an awesome lunch at someplace casual, do some clothes shopping, and maybe visit a gallery or two. I’m interested in boutiques or higher in consignment stores as well as used bookstores that might stock art or photography books. Please clue me in to places with artsy or unique vibes. Thanks.

Need a bridesmaid dress altered asap

Hey y'all. I drive all over creation fixing solar power systems, I also love espresso. Here's a list of places I will or like to go (sometimes you have to compromise 🤷‍♂️)

Is there anything I'm missing?

Espresso must be served in a porcelain or glass vessel. It must have a texture thicker than coffee.

Bonus points if you can park a extra long sprinter van near by

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zfsuStdcxYDmPCJh7?g\_st=ac

Have i missed any good ones? I would love to add more to the list.

The water in my apartment is green and I'm tired of paying to buy water at the grocery store.

Are there any public taps or spigots near Easthampton or in the Valley?

Thank you!

Hi, folks!

I first lived in the Northampton/Amherst area while I was getting my MFA in Poetry at UMass and after a decade away in NH, now I live in Belchertown. I’ve stayed committed to reading and writing for the past 10-12 years, but haven’t really had a community since grad school.

I really miss having a poetry community and wish I had folks to talk about books and poems with.

What I’m looking for is folks in the Pioneer Valley in their 30s and 40s who would like to have folks to talk poetry with. Maybe we can start a book group? Or a workshop group? Maybe both? I’m happy to co-create something together, so I’m open to just about anything.

Let me know if you’d be interested and thanks for considering!