Good morning, Springfield.

Beacon Bank is building its regional brand after merging four banks — its renovated Springfield headquarters on Harrison Avenue now serves as the hub for Western Mass. and Connecticut operations.

Regional president Jim Hickson said the bank combines large resources with small bank attention to support downtown growth.

Mercedes-Benz of Springfield celebrated local businessman Fran Beaulieu of Phil Beaulieu & Sons Home Improvement Inc. for making a hole in one at the Max Classic on Aug.

20 at Longmeadow Country Club; he won a Mercedes-Benz in one of the dealership’s rare contest awards.

The Big E fair will kick off on Sept.

18 in Springfield and run for 17 days. Big E President Gene Cassidy said he is nervous about traffic on Memorial Avenue because narrowed lanes and incomplete repaving could challenge access, though organizers expect a strong turnout.

Anne Pinkerton returns to live performance with a show at Sip 413 in Florence from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept.

17 — followed by a set at Tom’s Hot Dog Music Festival in Whately on Sept. 19 as she marks her musical comeback.

The Springfield Garden Club received national awards for restoring Dr. Seuss’ childhood home at 74 Fairfield St and used community donations & volunteer efforts to plant native perennials.

The club will continue expanding its gardens with raised beds and trellises as the project enters a second phase.

Gas prices in Springfield remain near $3.99 per gallon today while the statewide average hit about $4.12 during a record-breaking August—AAA data shows national averages stayed above $4, with prices varying across regions.

New state data shows opioid deaths hit their lowest level in over a decade with fewer than 1,000 fatalities recorded in 2025, credited to programs that reached 3,000 students and 2,000 at-risk individuals plus Springfield Police reporting that their Narcan program saved 712 lives.

CVS is offering updated COVID-19 vaccines at its CVS Pharmacy + MinuteClinic locations across Massachusetts today as the fall and winter season nears.

Appointments for up to four people can be scheduled online while walk-ins are accepted, and many vaccines are available at no out-of-pocket cost under state guidelines.

Springfield will sell vacant lots in Old Hill and Six Corners to a nonprofit and a local real estate company for developing five new homes; three units will offer affordable options for first-time buyers while two owner-occupied two-family homes are planned.

The Red Sox optioned Mickey Gasper to Triple-A Worcester and reinstated Roman Anthony and Trevor Story from the 60-day injured list ahead of their Sunday game against the Yankees.

Gasper hit .423 this road trip (after his recall on Aug. 16).

The River Valley Cyclocross Series kicked off at Blunt Park on Aug.

31 as riders took on challenges on road and off road terrain — further races are planned for Holyoke, Northfield and South Deerfield.