News
No surprises in Wendell election
WENDELL — There were no surprises in Monday’s town election, as there were no contested races and two positions for which there were no candidates on the ballot.According to Town Clerk Anna Wetherby, 133 ballots were cast, making for a 17.6% voter...
Korby claims Selectboard seat, Kurland elected moderator in Colrain
COLRAIN — Katie Korby is the town’s newest Selectboard member, having won her election to a three-year term by a 214-124 vote against candidate Howard Phelps.“I’m really grateful to the folks in Colrain that voted for me,” Korby, who is a worker-owner...
Luksha victorious in Northfield Planning Board race
By CHRIS LARABEE
NORTHFIELD — A new face will join the Planning Board as voters opted for Victoria Luksha over incumbent Stephen Seredynski and challenger Joseph Stacy in the town’s only contested race at the ballot box Tuesday.Joining Luksha in being elected to a new...
Streetlight proposal gets unanimous approval in Shelburne
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
SHELBURNE — Residents packed the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School auditorium Tuesday night to give unanimous approval to a plan to buy the town’s streetlights from Eversource and replace them with low-wattage LED lights that could save the town...
More than 130 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest at UMass
By SCOTT MERZBACH and ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
AMHERST — More than 130 people were arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday night after those who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union refused to dismantle tents and other parts of the site, and...
Work on Pinedale Avenue Bridge connecting Athol and Orange to resume
By GREG VINE
ATHOL — Closed for a year and a half, work on the Pinedale Avenue Bridge is set to resume next week, according to Public Works Superintendent Dick Kilhart.Kilhart explained that work has been on hold recently as the project’s contractor, Construction...
Bulky waste recycling event set for Saturday
The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District is holding a “Clean Sweep” Bulky Waste Recycling Day on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at three locations, including one new spot this year.Instead of the Northfield Highway Garage, the Erving...
Pair of public servants vying for Selectboard seat in Heath
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
HEATH — Two candidates with years of town service between them are vying for the Selectboard seat of Susan Lively, who is not seeking reelection to another three-year term.Michael Smith, 55, is a lifelong resident. He was the town’s highway...
Lawyer argues Joshua Hart’s 2018 conviction for Orange murder had inconsistent verdicts
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — Spurred by a state Supreme Judicial Court opinion that pointed to inconsistent verdicts, the Franklin County Superior Court judge who oversaw Joshua Hart’s murder trial in 2018 has taken under advisement a defense attorney’s motion to set...
New fire engine gets nod at Warwick Town Meeting
By DOMENIC POLI
WARWICK — The Fire Department may be in store for its first new fire engine in 3½ decades after Annual Town Meeting voters gave the nod to two articles authorizing $680,000 for one on Monday. Residents authorized the transfer of $200,000 from the...
Erving voters say ‘no’ to $3.7M debt exclusion
ERVING — Monday’s election saw incumbents reelected to their roles, including Highway Superintendent Glenn McCrory, who fended off Anthony Cunha for a one-year tree warden position, as well as the rejection of a debt exclusion to pay to demolish the...
South County Senior Center opts not to renew church lease after rift over LGBTQ program
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Senior Center Board of Oversight has opted to not renew the center’s lease to use the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church’s function hall after a disagreement over the Rainbow Elders program.With the current lease expiring May 31,...
Political newcomer defeats Shores Ness for Deerfield Selectboard seat
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — In the town’s highest-turnout race in at least a decade, political newcomer and longtime resident Blake Gilmore defeated Deerfield political fixture Carolyn Shores Ness, 898-857, for a seat on the Selectboard.Gilmore claimed victory...
Moratoriums on large-scale solar, battery storage passed in Northfield
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
NORTHFIELD — Residents voted in favor of 28 articles, including two citizen’s petitions to place temporary moratoriums on large-scale solar projects and battery storage facilities, during Monday’s Annual Town Meeting.Discussion on the two citizen’s...
Greenfield Notebook: May 8, 2024
Daytime closure of Route 2 westbound ramp continues through ThursdayGREENFIELD — The state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has closed the ramp from Route 2 westbound to Interstate 91 southbound through Thursday, May 9. The closure, in effect...
Montague Notebook: May 8, 2024
MassHire staff to talk job searchingTURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center at 24 Third St. will host staff from MassHire on Thursday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to noon. Attendees can learn about how MassHire can help in preparing for a...
New Salem election ushers in new Selectboard member
NEW SALEM — The town has a new Selectboard member following Monday’s annual town election. Mailande DeWitt, a University of Connecticut School of Law graduate who currently serves as a New Salem Public Library trustee, will fill a two-year vacancy on...
Slew of write-ins elected in Hawley
HAWLEY — With only three candidates listed on the ballot, write-ins filled many of the positions during Monday’s annual town election.With no one on the ballot for town auditor or moderator, the incumbents were written in, along with a write-in...
West County Notebook: May 8, 2024
Historical Society program focusing on GriswoldvilleCOLRAIN — The Colrain Historical Society’s May program will be a photographic journey through the village of Griswoldville as it was in 1920.The free program will be held Thursday, May 9, at 7:30...
Gill voters OK road discontinuance, change of 2 positions from elected to appointed
By CHRIS LARABEE
GILL — Voters overwhelmingly approved the seven warrant articles in the first leg of a two-part Annual Town Meeting on Monday, giving the initial go-ahead to change the treasurer and tax collector positions from elected to appointed.More than 30...
