“Longmeadow is such a beautiful town, there really is no other town like it. It holds a special place in my heart as I grew up here and I know I will always consider it my home, no matter where I end up.”

The Hanifin family’s roots in Longmeadow dates back to the 1800’s when the Hanifin’s had a farm down in what is now called “The Meadows” and a house on Longmeadow Street.

LONGMEADOW LAX: THE 2024 DII CHAMPIONS

In what was a nail-biter, the Longmeadow Lancers came out on top after a long season, capturing the state championship after defeating Marshfield 11-10 in triple overtime to capture the 2024 D-II State Championship.

“I’ve lived all over the US mostly in big cities or places where you live in a subdivision,” said Longmeadow Neighbors feature resident Amy Monroe.

“I love that in Longmeadow you have more of a sense of community. I love that kids bike to school and we have sidewalks everywhere. It’s a great place to raise a child.”

Imagine a day in an 8th grade classroom where students are transported to the depths of the sea, or the top of a mountain - all made possible by donated VR headsets. Or a high school student coming home with a 3D printed wooden contraption that they envisioned, designed and built with 3D printers. These opportunities are available to Longmeadow students when passionate teachers collaborate with the Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) to enrich their curriculum.

It seems like no matter what she’s doing, recent Longmeadow transplant Nicole Dalto is making the best of it - for her family, for her community, and for herself. Whether it’s in her nonprofit work for others, time in the garden, running, as a hobby, or something as simple as a walk with her pet, Dalto is always thinking of others.

School assemblies can run the gamut, from fun to flops and everything in between. So when one man with one story book can keep the attention of 300+ elementary students, you know the subject matter is good. And this subject matter, and our subject this month, is the Fortsch family, who have made their way from Longmeadow to Afghanistan and back again.

Excitement filled the air on a Wednesday morning at Liberty Elementary School in Springfield. The 4th grade students had three special visitors, Jaimie Cambi of Longmeadow and her two daughters Elle (age 10) and Summer (age 5), who were there to be welcomed as the school’s new Link to Libraries Community Book Link Sponsor. As a result of their family’s generous sponsorship, Liberty Elementary School’s library receives between 200-250 new high-quality books each year.

The Furnari family is basically the only logical choice for a Valentine’s Day edition of Longmeadow Neighbors. Between their romance that began by chance a decade ago this month, and their business, who have helped people symbolize their love for nearly a half century - the parallel rings true.

In the same way that the board game Monopoly features famous streets, Longmeadow’s Hatch family has direct descendant of the Bliss, Longfellow, Colton, Chandler, Williams families who settled in Longmeadow and have streets named after them. For Laurie Hatch, the Longmeadow is a massive part of her past and her family's future.

Since 1978, the Ryczek family has called Longmeadow home, and while much has changed in the last nearly half-century, for the Ryczek family, it’s always been about family.

As COVID-19 was upending life as we know it, the Reiff family decided to add to the chaos by moving to Longmeadow - and now that they are moved in and comfortable - they know they made the right choice.

The Rinaldi Family has deep roots in the Pioneer Valley and an interest in its future. For nearly 45 years, Rinaldi's Italian Specialties served customers on Longmeadow Street, and currently, the Rinaldi Capital Group, a real estate investment firm, helps to provide quality housing and keep businesses thriving in the Longmeadow area and beyond. Robert keeps busy managing various properties owned by the family in the area, and Kathleen assists with bookkeeping.

It’s been a journey from Ely Road, to the Carolinas and back again, but for Nate Munic, he’s enjoyed every step of the journey - and it’s all helped to inform who he is and what he does today.

“I love the neighborhood that I live in and am fond of the neighbors and how walkable the various parts of town are. My fondness for the community is also apparent in the work that I do for the town forum on Facebook, Longmeadow Pride and in the work that I do to help people with their technology in and around town.”

“Longmeadow is full of amazing, smart, and fun individuals. We also love Longmeadow’s green spaces, its walkability, and overall friendliness,” said Longmeadow resident Vineeth Hemavathi. “We often joke that we feel that Longmeadow is like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls – the ideal town!”

Whether you liken Longmeadow to Stars Hollow, Mayfield, Mayberry, or Agrestic, it is certainly some version of paradise for the Hemavathi-Stevens family.

It seemed to be a morning like any other. The minivan containing the Verriden family had just parked at Springfield’s Academy Hill School. Zach Verriden looked at his children grinning and giggling in the back three rows like they always did. But on this day, Zach (also Academy Hill’s principal) saw another adorable face - the children had smuggled their puppy, Gus, into the van!

It’s hard to fluster Zach, the even-kneeled midwesterner who dedicates his life to working with children - but the dog abduction by his well-intentioned children almost broke Verriden. Luckily, he was able to turn the dilemma into delight as the students of Academy Hill had a new mascot for the day - although Zach’s gray hairs are forever.

Such hijinks are the norm in the Verriden household. Zach and Anya, and their four children Henry (9), Tommy (8), Katy (7) and Sam (4), and their three dogs, Rosy (12), Maggie (2), and Gus (4 months), are always up to something. Sports and dance, Cub Scouts and Daisy’s, art, swimming, music, enrichment activities, and more, the Verriden’s are on the move.

Surgeon, writer, family man, philanthropist and mansion saver are just some of the superlatives fitting of Dr. Andrew Lam. Over the past 15 years, Andrew, his wife Christina, and their children Alex (19), Audrey (17), Sophia (17), and Daniel (12), have left their mark on Longmeadow, creating a rich history while preserving some of the town’s past.

Since the 1950’s, the Rome family has been not only selling cars, but also improving the community, both at home in Longmeadow, and all over the Pioneer Valley. It seems like everyone has seen the Rome family out and about in Longmeadow, bought a car from them, or seen their philanthropy in action - and at the very least - you’ve seen and heard their dogs on TV.

“Longmeadow is a great place to raise a family,” said Gary. “It’s safe, the community is diverse and engaging, it’s not difficult for people to make friends - and it’s a great place to walk around with our dogs.”

From Longmeadow to Mocorro and back again - for the McVety family, there’s nothing like raising a family in the town you grew up in - especially if that town is Longmeadow.

Balancing business and family isn’t an easy feat, but in the Miller Family, trying to find and share the solution is part of the daily equation. One of the many busy families of Longmeadow, they strive to strike the work/school/volunteer/life balance - but it isn’t without its complications!

“Work/life balance is a constant struggle, and I am the first one to admit that,” says Robyn Miller. “When you work remotely, work and family life all become one big blur and it is a job in itself to untangle that. But having the support of others around you, especially other mom’s who understand the battle, to help lift you up, is an essential part of reaching your goals. We have to help one another.”

For the Ferrentino family, it was always Longmeadow - and nearly every morning - it’s coffee at the Shoppes. “We get morning coffee every day at Starbucks with a group of friends known as the “Delaney Market Club,” said Marissa Ferrentino, 31.

Traditions like this are important to the Ferrentino family, and there are plenty of family members taking part! Marissa and Frankie live in Longmeadow with their two-year-old daughter, Francesca - but when you add in Frankie’s Italian family, and Marissa’s Portuguese family, the Thanksgiving table gets pretty long.

If you haven’t seen the Londraville family, you might need to have your eyes checked - because they are everywhere from the soccer fields, to the hockey rink, basketball courts to Batch, classrooms, author talks, and sidewalks. They’ve been in town for a decade - and they don’t plan on leaving a place they’ve come to love.

Meeting new people and making friends isn't easy. Getting to know people can be even more difficult in communities that pride themselves on families who remain in town for generations. Luckily, the Longmeadow Dad’s Club gives parents the opportunity to settle in, to find opportunities for their little ones, and even to gain some new skills along the way.

There’s a good chance that when you walk into The Kitchen, you’ll see Bobby Barkett, dish towel slung over his shoulder or tucked into his apron, and a smile on his face. Moreover, he’ll probably know you, or your order, or your neighbors. If most towns have a local burger joint or a watering hole - a “Cheers''-type situation - then The Kitchen is Longmeadow’s, and that makes Barkett our resident Sam Malone.

When we think of “college towns,” we think of Boston, Amherst, or Northampton. We think of dive bars, marching bands, and funky coffee shops. But amongst our Longmeadow Neighbors, and nestled in between historic Longmeadow homes, lives Bay Path University, an institution celebrating its 125th birthday. We caught up with one of your neighbors, a newer resident of Longmeadow, Sandra Doran, the 6th president of Bay Path University.

Steven Creelman was raised in Longmeadow, and returned to town after stops in Florida, Chicago, and Eastern Massachusetts. While as a young person, he never imagined he’d move back into town, after falling in love and starting a family, he returned to a town where he felt a strong sense of community and support - and square footage for his growing family.

They say that when you’re young, you want to escape your birthplace, explore the world, and always vow never to return to your hometown. But in our town, even those who leave the nest tend to realize that later in life, especially if they choose to raise a family, that they don’t know how good they had it in Longmeadow.

The Pioneer Valley is home to more than 500 nonprofits working to improve the 413 - and each has its own, rich story to tell. One of the largest and most adorable nonprofits can be found just one town over, in Springfield, and has transformed, over decades, into a national leader for animal welfare that is meeting the needs of a changing community.

Everybody knows what it is like to relocate. Most people have moved homes at some point in their lives, often multiple times. Whether it was growing up, moving to a different town, moving out of your parent's house for the first time, relocating for work, or buying a new house with a significant other, moving somewhere new can be nerve-wracking.