Good morning, Springfield.

Local and state officials cleaned nearly 2,000 veterans' graves at Saint Thomas Cemetery in West Springfield this week as they prepared the site ahead of Veteran's Day.

Southampton firefighters responded to a chimney fire on Wolcott Road Saturday afternoon, used a chemical pack after thermal imaging showed parts of the chimney reached 240 degrees Fahrenheit to knock down creosote, and cleared the scene about an hour and a half later while urging chimney cleaning for the heating season.

Crews hired by the city have begun cutting overgrowth and removing trash at the vacant Vibra Hospital property at 1400 and 1414 State St. as of this week, one week before a court-ordered deadline that requires the owners to reimburse the city for cleanup costs.

A conference Friday at Western New England University School of Law found tangled home titles are slowing rehab of vacant properties by blocking mortgages, tax abatements, and repairs; researchers estimate 1.9% to 3.5% of Springfield homes, about 1,128, have deceased owners, and the city will pursue whole-block revitalization.

City Council and health advocates vowed to keep fighting the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy wood burning biomass plant, citing air-quality and public-health risks; court hearings over state permits are scheduled for Nov.

9 and Dec. 8 and federal permits remain pending (Page Boulevard site).

Baystate Health completed its $300 million acquisition of Mercy Medical Center and 45 medical groups, renaming the Carew Street facility Baystate Mercy Hospital.

Baystate says patients in Springfield, Chicopee, and Agawam will keep the same care teams, locations, insurance coverage, and contact numbers.

The Red Sox had three players win 2026 Gold Gloves on Sunday: Wilyer Abreu (right field; third straight), Ceddanne Rafaela (center; second straight), and Caleb Durbin (third base; first-time winner), with Abreu leading MLB with 28 defensive runs saved.

Pope Francis beat Monument Mountain in penalty kicks, 3-1, after a 1-1 draw to win the Western Mass.

Class B title on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. Junior goalkeeper Max Graham made two crucial saves (including the final stop) to seal the championship.