Community Garden Sprouts in Ward 4

May 9, 2009: Corner Walnut + Essex Street

Instead of being frustrated about not being able to keep an abandoned lot clean, the Ward 4 Trash Bashers took matters into their own hands, and planted a Community Garden!







May 18, 2009 Garden Update
The garden is going strong! The spinach seeds that I planted are sprouted and doing great! Best of all, the lot appears to be collecting less trash. Hopefully as time goes along more residents from the immediate neighborhood will be interested in gardening on the lot.

News story from The Republican 9-18-2007

Candidates miss deadlines
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
By DAVID REID
dreid@repub.com
(This story appeared in The Republican Holyoke/Chicopee edition)

HOLYOKE - Just over half the 23 candidates for City Council this fall filed state-mandated campaign finance statements by yesterday's deadline.

And, according to records at the city clerk's office, only four of the 11 candidates for School Committee managed to file the required finance statements by yesterday.

Among those filing on time, At-large Councilor Patricia C. Devine topped the list of fund-raisers, declaring $7,440 in contributions in 2007. She also spent $4,979, leaving her campaign with $2,900 in cash and $200 in outstanding liabilities.

At-large Councilor Raymond H. Feyre, who announced he will not seek re-election, raised $7,030 and spent $3,771 this year, leaving his coffers with $3,259.

Among the other leading fund-raisers seeking election to the City Council were:
Timothy W. Purington, a candidate for the Ward 4 City Council seat, who raised $5,427, $1,617 of his own funds, and spent $957 this year.

Rebecca Lisi, a candidate in the race for eight at-large council seats, raised $4,004 and spent $2,256 this year.

Ward 6 incumbent Councilor Todd A. McGee raised $3,325 and spent $2,654 this year. He also listed $3,125 in outstanding loans to his own committee.

At-large council candidate Bruce F. Mitchell raised $2,726 and spent $2,650 this year. He also listed $1,321 in outstanding loans to his campaign.

Ward 1 Councilor Donald R. Welch raised $2,660 and spent $1,234 this year.

Incumbent At-large Councilor Peter R. Tallman raised $2,226 and spent $814 so far this year.

In Ward 5, incumbent Councilor John P. Brunelle reported raising and spending no money, leaving him with only $144 and outstanding loans of $2,256. His opponent, Linda L. Vacon, raised $1,401 and spent $660, leaving her campaign with $1,070. She also reported $1,910 in in-kind contributions, and outstanding liabilities of $500.

Those who missed yesterday's deadline include: At-large Councilors James M. Leahy, John E. Whelihan and Council President Joseph M. McGiverin; at-large candidate John D. Pierce Jr.; Ward 1 candidate Jeanne R. Forget; Ward 2 Councilor Diosdado Lopez; Ward 3 candidate Anthony M. Keane; Ward 4 Councilor John P. Lecca and one of his challengers, Thomas W. Hart; and Ward 7 Councilor John J. O'Neill, who is running unopposed.