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Today’s edition · Sat., Nov. 7

Springfield Central shuts out New Bedford in playoff opener

Plus, Armory Street detours start Monday and Rocky's customers raise $32,511 for shelters

The Springfield Morning News team2 stories16 sources5 min read

High School FootballTop story

Springfield Central shuts out New Bedford with seven touchdowns in its playoff opener

7touchdowns for Springfield Central against New Bedford

The Golden Eagles' offense scored on seven touchdowns in Friday's playoff opener.

Source: MassLive.com

If you missed it Friday night, here's the short version: Springfield Central's Golden Eagles cruised past New Bedford and shut the Whalers out. The offense scored on seven touchdowns in the playoff opener.

  • Result: Springfield Central shut out New Bedford
  • Touchdowns: seven for the Golden Eagles
  • Round: playoff opener on Fri., Nov. 6
  • Stream: Western Mass News, starting at 6 p.m.

High school football playoffs are underway, and the Whalers of New Bedford High traveled to Springfield Central High School for the game. Western Mass News planned live streaming coverage starting at 6 p.m.

Community

Rocky's Ace Hardware customers raised $32,511 for animal shelters, with $4,488 staying in Western Mass

If you round up at the register, you're in good company. Customers at stores raised $32,511 for animal shelters nationwide through the "Round Up for Pets" fundraiser in 2026, the company said. Of that total, stores in Western Massachusetts raised $4,488 for local shelters.

Rocky's Round Up for Pets raised $32,511 in 2026

$32,511
raised for animal shelters nationwide
$4,488
raised by Western Mass. stores for local shelters
52
Rocky's locations, from Maine to Florida

Sources: MassLive.com, BusinessWest

  • Springfield stores: Island Pond Road and Liberty Street
  • Also in: Agawam, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Ludlow, Palmer, South Hadley
  • How it works: round up your purchase at checkout

The donations help shelters provide food, medical care and other essentials. Local shelters benefiting include ones in Springfield, East Brookfield and Westfield. Rocky's opened its first store in Springfield in 1926 and has been under the same family ownership since.

Local shelters in three towns benefit from the drive

ShelterTown
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption CenterSpringfield
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane SocietySpringfield
Second Chance Animal ServicesEast Brookfield
Westfield Animal Control and ShelterWestfield

Sources: MassLive.com, BusinessWest

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Sponsored

Seasonal

5 gifts for book lovers

Presented by The Buy

Sponsored

The winter holidays are just around the corner. Start your shopping early with The Buy team’s 2026 Holiday Gift Guide, featuring trending and unique gifts sure to delight everyone on your list. Shop five gifts for book lovers:

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“Books read this year” tracker sign | $15.99 | For the book lover that is serious about meeting their reading goal.

Funny book socks | $12.99 | Keep their toes cozy with socks featuring a message on the soles, from “Shh… I’m reading” to “Sorry I’m booked.”

Wearable reading light | $17.99 | This book light that hangs around their neck has four color options, five dimness levels, and an auto shut-off feature for sleepy readers.

Gifts for retirees, students, and healthy living

News Notes

Armory Street

Starting Monday, MassDOT begins preliminary work on a $37 million project to replace two Armory Street bridges identified as unsafe, and the first phase requires northbound detours Monday through Friday. The project also brings roadway improvements and a new shared-use path. WWLP

Enrollment

Springfield Public Schools, the third largest district in Massachusetts, announced Tuesday that 800 fewer students are enrolled this school year, over three times higher than projected. "We're still grappling with the why," Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said. WBUR

Housing lottery

Five Springfield families were selected Friday in an affordable housing lottery to buy newly built homes for $215,000 each. Nine preapproved families took part in the drawing with Home City Development, Mayor Domenic Sarno and city officials. WWLP

$215,000price of each of five newly built affordable homes

Five families were selected in Friday's lottery from nine who were preapproved.

Source: WWLP

Sack Hunger

If you shop at Big Y, you can add a $5 donation to its Sack Hunger campaign at any register through Dec. 9. The money goes to four regional food banks, including the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which supply more than 1,400 member agencies. You can also give at Big Y Express and Table & Vine locations, or online. BusinessWestWWLP

Five Mile Pond

The Five Mile Pond boat launch and fishing area in Pine Point has reopened after being closed since June for ARPA-funded renovations. It completes one phase of a larger improvement project planned for the pond. WWLP

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone.

Trending

Your wardrobe is begging for these two fall footwear essentials on sale for a limited time: a sturdy, versatile chelsea boot in your choice of faux leather or suede, and the perfect home moccasin that will keep your feet cozy against cold floors all winter.

Local

Want to reach the people who read this before their first coffee? 6AM City’s self-service portal lets you pick your placement, set your budget and be in tomorrow’s edition. Try it today.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Around Massachusetts

Data centers

Northampton's City Council voted unanimously Thursday to enact a yearlong moratorium on AI data centers. Northampton joins Greenfield, Easthampton and Westfield with moratoriums, while Shutesbury and Holyoke have banned such developments. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Field hockey

Westfield State beat Framingham State 2-1 and hosts Bridgewater State in the MASCAC championship Saturday. A win would secure a third straight title. MassLive.com

Lanternflies

The spotted lanternfly has infested more than half the cities and towns in Massachusetts, according to the state Department of Agricultural Resources. The department confirmed 65 new areas last year, up from 43 in 2023. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Newly confirmed lanternfly areas rose from 4 in 2021 to 65 in 2025

Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette

View as table
Value
20214
202212
202343
202565

Fire marshal

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine has announced plans to retire in January after nearly 30 years of service. He was sworn in as the state's 19th fire marshal on Aug. 16, 2023, and previously served as chief of the Northampton Fire Department. WWLP

Asked

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Asked

What's on your list for this weekend?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

— Cesar A. Cruz

Things to Do

Things to Do

Springfield, MA

Saturday, Nov. 7

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Jobs

Jobs

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Real Estate

Real Estate

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The Buy

Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

When I was out in West Springfield sourcing for my store and projects (I still desperately need wine bottles you are about to toss McKnight neighbors)

“I ended up at McDonald’s and saw this and it deeply moved me. How kind of McDonalds to remember our veterans. It costs nothing to be kind and to give honor where honor is due.”

— A neighbor, McKnight
Photo from the neighbor’s post

122 likes · 13 comments

View post

The Wrap

Rock 102's Bax & Nagle are about to spend 52 hours on the air outside the South End Market at MGM Springfield, and it's the 33rd time the Mayflower Marathon Food Drive has done it. The goal is to fill as many trailers as possible with non-perishable food for Springfield's Open Pantry Community Services. It starts Monday, Nov. 23. Fill those trailers.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? High school football state finals won't be at Gillette this year

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition16 links · 8 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. MassLive.commasslive.com
  3. Western Mass Newswesternmassnews.com
  4. MassLive.commasslive.com
  5. BusinessWestbusinesswest.com
  6. WWLPwwlp.com
  7. WBURwbur.org
  8. WWLPwwlp.com
  9. BusinessWestbusinesswest.com
  10. WWLPwwlp.com
  11. WWLPwwlp.com
  12. Daily Hampshire Gazettegazettenet.com
  13. MassLive.commasslive.com
  14. Daily Hampshire Gazettegazettenet.com
  15. WWLPwwlp.com
  16. Springfield events calendarspringfieldmorningnews.com

Past issues

  1. Fri., Nov. 6High school football state finals won't be at Gillette this year
  2. Thurs., Nov. 5Roca reopens, sewer lining starts and a Forest Park train is coming
  3. Wed., Nov. 4Mercy Medical Center is now Baystate Mercy Hospital
  4. Tues., Nov. 3A $30 million federal grant will fund a West Springfield rail overpass
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Springfield Morning Newsto me · Sat., Nov. 76:00 a.m.

Springfield Central shuts out New Bedford in playoff opener

Plus, Armory Street detours start Monday and Rocky's customers raise $32,511 for shelters

The TLDR

  1. Springfield Central shuts out New Bedford in playoff opener
  2. Rocky's customers raised $32,511 for animal shelters
  3. Armory Street bridge work brings northbound detours Monday
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Springfield Morning News’ other editions

All the news
High School SportsGillette Stadium won't host this year's high school football state championshipsIf you follow high school football, the finish line just moved. The MIAA announced Monday that Gillette Stadium won't host this year's state championships, ending a run that began in 2007. The association says it was informed late last week and thanked the Patriots for nearly two decades of hosting.Friday’s editionRead High School Sports25 Hampshire County teams and 15 Berkshire County soccer teams head into state tournament playIf you've got a soccer, field hockey or volleyball player at home, the brackets are out. The MIAA unveiled its state tournament brackets this week, and 25 Hampshire County teams made it. Granby girls soccer is the top seed in Div. 5, and Northampton boys soccer is No. 3 in Div. 2.Friday’s editionRead HealthMercy Medical Center is now Baystate Mercy Hospital after a $300 million dealIf you've passed Mercy Medical Center on Carew Street lately, the signs are changing. Baystate Health completed its acquisition of the hospital on Sun., Nov. 1, in a $300 million deal announced in April. Trinity Health had run Mercy, which faced financial pressures that threatened its long-term viability.Wednesday’s editionRead

Around Springfield

From MassLive.com, Greenfield Recorder and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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    Over ten hours in the emergency room, that’s how long one woman said she waited at Baystate Mercy Hospital.