Good morning, Springfield.

Cancer Connection Thrift Shop opened its new store on Allen Street at Bicentennial Plaza Saturday to offer guidance, education, and peer support for locals facing cancer plus serve thrifters seeking a good cause.

The shop closed Sunday but will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Leaders from 18 Western Mass businesses attended the Springfield Regional Chamber's 2026 Washington Symposium in Washington, D.C. where they met with federal policymakers to discuss funding, immigration, and trade policies affecting the regional economy; the three-day program held sessions at MGM National Harbor + the Library of Congress.

On Sunday, Oct. 11, the Order of the Sons and Daughters in Italy hosted a Columbus Day parade on Main Street in the South End, celebrating Italian-American heritage.

Live music and food followed at Casa Italiana on Winthrop Street.

Cheryll Toney Holley of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band said only groups with strong ties will get help with land acknowledgments that are meant to be more than words.

Indigenous voices urge local organizations to back up these statements with real action — like returning land and funding native projects.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra cut the ribbon for its new headquarters at 1350 Main St. today in an event featuring an open house and the announcement of five music director finalists — over 100 local officials and community members toured, enjoyed instrument demos, and refreshed at Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill.

Square One is seeking new partners for its Adopt-A-Classroom initiative at centers on William, King, Hickory, and Sumner streets.

The program cares for 600+ children daily and offers classroom signage to donors contributing $5,000.

A ticket sold at a Citgo gas station in Springfield won $50,000 in Saturday’s Powerball drawing while a ticket bought at Randolph Market with the PowerPlay option netted $100,000 as winners matched four white ball numbers and the Powerball drawn on Oct.

10.

A lottery player won $126,979 by playing an online scratch ticket game on Saturday – 696 prizes of at least $600 were claimed in the state, including 7 in Springfield.

At the Mass Mutual Center on Saturday, a sellout crowd watched the local Thunderbirds lose their season home opener 5 to 2 to the Laval Rocket during a block party celebrating their return; the team will face the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday at 3 p.m.

UMass football fell to Miami (Ohio) 20-19 Saturday at McGuirk Stadium as a late touchdown pass from third-string quarterback Logan Inagawa gave the team a final chance that ended with a failed two-point conversion.

Coach Joe Harasymiak said starting QB Pop Watson III remains sidelined after hurting his ankle.