Springfield celebration shines light on local heroes, helping to make communities thrive
SPRIINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – A celebration in Springfied shining a light on the many individuals and groups, who help make the region's communities thrive.
The Springfield community got to say a big thank you to more than 20 local heroes inside the high school o science and technology gym. Educators, first responders, veterans and community volunteers all recieved recognition. One Springfield Public Schools teachers, Virna Langford being recognized for her unwavering commitment to her students.
'I want to inspire all kids to just show their greatness be great. We're all made for a reason and let your potential just come out of you. Like just live up to your potential.Be the dream big and just push yourself. And that's how we're inspiring everybody here to do,' said Langford.
Langford aso provided a helping hand to the non-profit revitalize Community Devlopment Corporation in Sringfield in helping to make free home repairs to low income families and the elderly.
Another Honoree and Emcee of the event, political consultant, tony cignoli expressed its through efforts like that can make a big difference.It's positive. It's good. And that's why I think this is important for that reason as well. Just for folks to know that there are others out there like them who are doing good things and willing to continue to do good things. This is a gigantic support network of people,' said Cignoli.
These individuals and groups represent just a portion of the inspiring community members who go above and beyond to serve others. Local school counselor, Gianna AllenTuck who made this event possible says even the smallest gestures can brighten someone's day.
'We want to just focus on you, smile at somebody, tell somebody that, hey, I like your outfit.You know, just the little things that make me smile and make me laugh,' expressed AllenTuck.
And AllenTuck hopes other people will follow in the footsteps of some of these inspirational honorees to keep spreading kindness, courage, and commitment throughout their day to day lives.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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This morning the sound of water woke me at seven, splashing onto our balcony. I'd been awake reading until nearly two, and hoped to sleep until eight or nine. First, it's a Saturday. Plus nothing pressing waits at my desk. And that's a rare thing for me. A flock of geese honked, the birds sang, the usual morning sounds, but the downpour was strange, beyond strange, as the sky was that vast beautiful blue that happens more and more this time of year. I threw back the covers. When I stepped onto my balcony, I saw that my upstairs neighbor was pouring buckets of water over his. I said, 'What are you doing?' And he said, 'I'm cleaning my deck.' He heard the alarm in my voice, the distress in my tone, but he threw another bucket anyway, splashing potting soil out of another of my planters. 'Well, you've made quite the mess of mine!' I yelled. Which made the big white dog that lives below me bark and the small white dog bark that lives next to the big white dog bark. Before long there were three dogs barking. 'Okay, I'll stop,' he said. And without apology, he went back inside and slammed the door. It took me all morning to clean up the muddy spray that smeared my flooring, chairs, flowerpots, and siding. A part of me felt like marching up to his place to say that a condo balcony isn't like the deck of a house where you can do what you like. But I know disinterest when I hear it, heed it when it comes at me, and try not to overreact, i.e., cuss at him. Because I wanted to cuss at him. The bright spot is that he made me miss my old upstairs neighbor, Frank. Or, sometimes known to me as, 'Fraaank! For cripes sake, are you smoking on your balcony again?' 'I know. I know,' he'd say. Frank and I never met face to face. We were a little like Tim & Wilson who never revealed his full face on the sitcom "Home Improvement,' communicating not from behind a fence, but with a floor/ceiling between us. But the way we disagreed, I realize, was a rare gift between neighbors. Compared to what happened this morning, our exchanges were gentler, more considerate, even humorous — the best kind of neighborly give-and-take. 'Fraaank?' 'Promise you won't tell the board on me.' Frank needed to smoke, and I knew it. I also know the truth of condo living is that it's impossible to connect deeply with all of your neighbors, consideration is more important. So Frank's smoking was kind of a test. It felt like that to me anyway, and I did my best not to over object to his dependency because I also valued his quiet dignity, his sort of innocent chuckle mostly aimed at himself, and for two years, he revealed more and more ways the word 'neighbor' was apt. For example, in August of 2022, I had a gathering of friends that was bound to get a little rowdy because I'd made a pitcher of Negroni's. I texted Frank to say that one of us tends to laugh really loud when her dance shoes are on — it was me — emphasizing that it was Girls Night Out because I thought it might be rude to warn him but not invite him. Later — two seconds later — he texted back, 'Can I come?' Frank died in 2023. And, writing this now, I think how the people I know on the island are smart, hardworking people, saving the world with our organic food, recycling, and electric vehicles which, if nothing else, mirrors our hope. We do what we can, fight for things that need saving, buy our books from our local bookstore, support our community because, we figure, too many people don't anymore. I understand that this is the best most of us can do, and it's the best I can do. But Frank? Frank (Frank R. Jozwiak, tribal lawyer) did so much for so many that it feels as if this is no longer a story about neighborliness, but about selfless dedication. Frank and I never talked about our work lives. It was only after he died that I read how he practiced federal Indian law, including ten years as in-house counsel for the Makah Indian Tribe at Neah Bay. He drafted tribal constitutions, ordinances, drug and alcohol codes for tribal governments and enterprises. He represented tribal clients before numerous federal, state, and tribal courts throughout the United States. God, I thought, no wonder he smoked. Once, Frank spoke more intimately. Leaning over the railing, he said that his wife used to scold him, too. 'About what?' I said. ' 'One thing or another,' he said. 'So you kind of make me feel at home.' It wasn't an invitation to a longer conversation, just a clear after in our relationship — reserved before and more friendly after. As soon as I was back inside, I excitedly told my husband what a great exchange we'd had. When he asked me what, specifically, was so great about it, I couldn't really explain why Frank's talking about his personal life made me feel so happy, only that it did, as if the floor boards above had finally swung open to let a friendship in, which I think is the best way of putting it. These are the kind of interactions that have always renewed me. It just took us longer to give ourselves over; to recognize how in need of each other we really are, or can be, if not with this neighbor, then some other neighbor. And if I have any influence by telling a story about a good neighbor and it makes another person into a better one, it's been a good workday in my world. Mary Lou Sanelli's latest title is "In So Many Words." She works as a writer, speaker, and master dance teacher. An exhibition of her poetry alongside art by Fatima Young, "Visual Memoirs: Painting and Poetry," runs through June at the Bainbridge Island library. For more information visit This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: A good neighbor who was worth the wait | Opinion
