Good morning, Springfield.

The Roman Catholic Diocese plans to restructure its 76 parishes in 2027 following a shortage of priests, with details shared with parishioners this weekend.

Bishop William Byrne noted that consolidations may include resource sharing and even church closures.

Staff from United Way of Pioneer Valley and volunteers filled a donated Peter Pan bus with 800 backpacks of school supplies on Thursday morning.

The loaded bus later delivered the supplies to 15 school districts to support unhoused students + help families.

Eight attorneys at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin were recognized in the Best Lawyers 2027 edition in Springfield, with Michele Feinstein named Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates (and Carol Cioe Klyman for Elder Law).

Their honors reflect top peer feedback in several legal practice areas.

Colleen interviewed Kinsey Foreman from High Five Books about the Pioneer Valley Bookstore Crawl, which invites locals to obtain passports at 10+ shops for a chance to win $800 in bookstore gift cards.

The Reading the Room podcast episode is now available on major platforms.

Springfield WORKS announced that founding executive director Anne Kandilis will retire at the end of the year after a decade of leadership, and the organization has started the search for her replacement to continue advancing economic opportunity in the community.

City Tire is offering college students 10% off car services and advising families to inspect tires, oil, brakes, and fluids before move-in day — a step to keep young drivers safe as they start college.

Andy Bewsee said proper upkeep brings peace of mind.

City leaders and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo addressed blight on the Boston Road-State Street corridor when property managers cleaned the former Sears building + Auto Center after outreach, while the Vibra Hospital site remains neglected as the city plans legal action against its owners.

Chicopee Country Club hosts the 27th Dusk to Dawn Golf Marathon on Sept.

14 to raise funds for cancer research. Golf Director Mike O’Neill will play 108 holes — the day ends with the 109th Hole Reception at 6 p.m. at The Boathouse in South Hadley.

Developers submitted a permit for a $68 million rehab of the Clock Tower and three nearby buildings at the corner of State and Main.

Construction will begin later this year, converting the historic site into 99 apartments over 12,500 sqft of retail space + boosting downtown growth.

Four families were chosen in a housing lottery to buy new three-bedroom colonials (priced at $195,000 instead of $400,000) in Old Hill; eligible applicants needed a preapproval letter, and seven more houses will be offered in a later lottery.

Western Mass. high school teams will contest seven key nonconference football games in September, including a marquee matchup on Sept.

11 (Berte Field in Springfield) that will set the tone for the season as teams build momentum for postseason play.

High school sports teams are set to defend their MIAA state titles this fall as practices begin.

Champions such as Catholic Memorial in football and West Springfield in soccer earned their titles last season and now face a competitive season ahead.