Page 13 - BusinessWest November 23, 2020

Longmeadow
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munities this year, when East Longmeadow
From the beginning, Nick Morin says, he wanted to be part of the growth of the Ludlow Mills complex.
and Monson came on board with Longmeadow and Chicopee.”
WESTCOMM currently operates out of the Chicopee Police Department, but officials are exploring a move to a larger facility as more communities come on board. Simmons said she expects to hear more about that in the coming year.
Before the pandemic, Longmeadow was looking to share some public-health services with neighboring East Longmeadow. Because the health departments and boards of health for both towns are expending all their energy on COVID-19 concerns, that project has been set aside at least until the pandemic is over, she added. “Looking at a merger of two health departments right now is a little more than we can take on at the moment.”
Simmons was born and raised in Northampton, and she first became familiar with Longmeadow while pur- suing her undergraduate degree at Bay Path University.
As she completes her first year as Longmeadow’s town manager, she’s proud of how well people in the community have responded throughout the pandemic.
“I appreciate everyone’s understanding and support as we all try to get through this time together,” she said. “I am really looking forward to the new year when we will open both the new DPW and Adult Center in town.”
Simmons added that she can’t wait for the public to see both buildings and hopes to take residents on tours of the new facilities when they formally open in 2021 — a year when municipal leaders in all communities hope they can put COVID-19 behind them and are able to focus fully on the future once again. u
Iron Duke
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What’s on Tap?
At the height of the legal battle that ensued between Iron Duke and Westmass, the brewer put out a product called Eviction Notice IPA (India Pale Ale).
It became an immediate hit and one of its best sellers — in part because it was a quality ale with good flavor, but also because drinking it became a way to show support for the company in its quest
to stay where it always wanted to be.
“We bring it back every now and then because it
is a crowd favorite, but it’s not as bitter of a beer as it once was,” he explained. “It’s a fun beer to tell our story, but we always try to finish off the story on a positive note, rather than a negative one.”
Only 18 months ago, few would have thought this story could possibly sound a positive note, but things changed quickly and profoundly — and both sides seem poised to benefit from this collec- tive change of heart. u
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
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