Page 20 - BusinessWest January 20, 2025

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20 JANUARY 20, 2025
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BusinessWest
LightHouse J
uly 18 to Sept. 3. That’s 47 days. Not quite seven
Holyoke
weeks.
That’s how much time LightHouse Holyoke, a
non-traditional middle and high school celebrat-
ing its 10th year in operation, had between its purchase of the Gateway City Arts property on Race Street and the start of classes for the 2024-25 year.
Space — and
Its Innovative
Vision
Expands Its
Executive Director Catherine Gobron called that whirl- wind of activity “amazing” as she gave BusinessWest a tour of the facility during the recent holiday break and reflected on the past few months; the school’s impact on students, many of whom thrive there more than they would a tradi- tional public school; and how the new location opens up more educational programs — and potential career paths — for these teens.
Take, for example, a production academy integrated into two existing performance spaces, a small theater and a larger concert venue that has hosted national touring acts through the years; together, they will allow for training and
BY JOSEPH BEDNAR
[email protected]
“Our expenses have gone up quite a bit, and we’re still really figuring out how that’s all going to work. But we’ve got a vision to grow it, and I can see it.”
Executive Director Catherine Gobron