• A big tipper reaches his tipping point
Igo to New York City several times a year.

• Agawam library home to town activities
You may think a library is just a place for books, but the Agawam Public Library plays a much greater role in the community by being a center of town activities.

• In Massachusetts, record can't be expunged
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series of monthly columns that addresses readers' questions on legal topics. Please send your questions to Ask the Experts, Plus Papers, The Republican, P.O. Box 2350, Springfield, MA 01102-2350 or e-mail to plus papers@repub.com with "Ask the Experts" in the subject line.

• Keystone conference planned for Worcester
The teen program Keystone will host a Northeast Regional Conference in Worcester on Nov. 20-22.

• Literacy important to mayors
The first time I met Mike Sullivan he was sitting at a table across from a group of newspaper editors, trying to explain why he would make a great mayor for the city of Holyoke. As I recall it, the conversation was colored by some of the great books he was reading at the time.

• Making sure Polish Calvary rides on
WESTFIELD - There are many true heroes in the Marine Corps League's 70,000-plus members, and associate member Maciej "Matt" Knas, of Westfield River Valley Detachment 141, is considered one.

• Nov. 13 fund-raiser for fighting ex-Green Beret
AGAWAM - A fund-raiser is slated for Nov. 13 to assist a former Green Beret who is battling brain cancer.

• November volunteer opportunities abound
Here is a partial list of volunteer opportunities offered by agencies of the United Way of Pioneer Valley for November. People interested should contact these agencies directly. For more, go online to

• Nurse practitioner loves new job
HUNTINGTON - Last year the Gateway School Based Health Center welcomed a new member to its team, Eileen B. Hirsch.

• Scholarships linked to blood drive efforts
WEST SPRINGFIELD - High school seniors looking for college scholarships will have another option as Bob's Discount Furniture is offering money for students who have made large contributions to their high schools' blood drives.

• Sled hockey team seeks players
WESTFIELD - A new adult sled hockey team is recruiting players with lower limb mobility impairments.

• Training aims to change negatives to positives
Ireceived a call from one of my favorite people, Karlene Shea from Multi-Cultural Community Services, who is an inspiring disabilities advocate.

• We must believe all students can achieve
At a recent conference of college admission professionals I attended a presentation in which the discussion was on a different type of gap in the education world - that which is called the belief gap.