News
Heath ‘Meet the Candidates’ night set for Sunday
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
HEATH — A pre-election “Meet the Candidates” event will be held Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. in the Jacobs Road Municipal Center.William Emmet and Michael Smith are vying for the three-year Selectboard seat currently held by Sue Lively, who is not seeking...
Vehicle purchases, petition on solar head to Northfield Town Meeting
By LIESEL NYGARD
NORTHFIELD — Between vehicle expenses and a citizen’s petition seeking a moratorium on large-scale solar projects, voters will consider a variety of topics at Monday’s Annual Town Meeting.The 28-article warrant will be addressed starting at 7 p.m. at...
Deerfield candidates, Whately incumbent discuss issues with voters at South County Senior Center
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — Ahead of Monday’s Deerfield election and Whately’s June election, voters got a chance to speak with the Selectboard candidates about a swath of issues at the South County Senior Center on Friday.Seniors got a chance to talk taxes,...
No contested races in Wendell’s election
By DOMENIC POLI
WENDELL — There are no contested races in Monday’s annual town election, and two positions have no candidates on the ballot.Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Offices.Laurie DiDonato, who serves as Selectboard chair, is running for...
Greenfield’s All Souls Church to host 20th annual Anti-Racism Film Festival
By MAX BOWEN
GREENFIELD — The Social Justice Committee of All Souls Church will present its 20th annual Anti-Racism Film Festival on Sunday, May 5.The festival will be held in the sanctuary of the church at 399 Main St. There will be three, two-hour films, each...
New fire engine, budget increase on Warwick Town Meeting warrant
By MAX BOWEN
WARWICK — Monday’s Annual Town Meeting will include a discussion on whether to buy a $680,000 vehicle for the Fire Department.The article seeks $200,000 from the stabilization fund and another $480,000 through borrowing to purchase the new fire...
Write-ins to decide most positions in Hawley
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
HAWLEY — Only three names are printed on this year’s town election ballot, but additional residents have stepped up to fill the empty seats as write-in candidates.Polls will be open on Monday, May 6, from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town...
New Salem could see new face on Selectboard
By DOMENIC POLI
NEW SALEM — Monday’s election will see no contested races, though a new candidate is running unopposed to fill a two-year term on the Selectboard and there are two positions on the School Committee for which there are no candidates on the ballot.Polls...
Gill Town Meeting to be held in two parts starting Monday
By CHRIS LARABEE
GILL — Annual Town Meeting will be conducted in two parts this year, with May 6 serving as the first leg, as voters consider converting the treasurer and tax collector roles to appointed positions and the discontinuance of Mount Hermon Road.Voters...
Write-in campaigns launched for Deerfield School Committee seat
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — Alongside the contested Selectboard race in Monday’s town election, two candidates are also mounting write-in campaigns for a two-year term on the Deerfield School Committee.Polls will be open at Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. To elect a...
Battery storage bylaw passes in Wendell
By DOMENIC POLI
WENDELL — Town Hall was packed Wednesday night with 102 registered voters eager to have their voices heard on a bylaw regulating battery energy storage systems, which was overwhelmingly approved. The Special Town Meeting warrant article was proposed...
Debt-burdened UMass students, grads rally for relief
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Responsible for $135,000 in student debt, Amherst resident Ian Rhodewalt observes that during the yearslong federal pause in making loan repayments during the pandemic, he and his family were able to get a vehicle, replace a broken-down car...
PHOTOS: Welcome, May
Fogbuster Coffee Works, formerly Pierce Brothers, celebrating 30 years in business
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Three decades ago, Sean and Darren Pierce, two brothers in their mid-20s, decided to start selling coffee — a business venture that was funded by a roughly $30,000 mountain of credit card debt.Today, the Greenfield-based Fogbuster Coffee...
Short-term rental bylaw tops Buckland Town Meeting warrant
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
BUCKLAND — Voters will consider adopting a new bylaw to better regulate short-term rentals and will review budget requests totaling nearly $5.88 million for fiscal year 2025 during Annual Town Meeting on Saturday.The meeting will be held at 10 a.m....
World Labyrinth Day event in Greenfield to promote unity, peace
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — In recognition of World Labyrinth Day, the Friends of the Community Labyrinth will hold a “Walk as One” event on Saturday at 1 p.m., in which residents will come together to navigate the labyrinth on the side lawn of the Episcopal Church...
Selectboard race between Gilmore, Shores Ness tops Deerfield ballot
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — Topping Monday’s election ballot is a race for Selectboard between longtime incumbent Carolyn Shores Ness and political newcomer but longtime Deerfield resident Blake Gilmore, as the two candidates seek to address residents’ concerns about...
Inaugural Cultural Kaleidoscope event at Frontier helps students become global citizens
SOUTH DEERFIELD — In a celebration of diversity, Frontier Regional School held its inaugural Cultural Kaleidoscope event last week, featuring a wide range of activities drawing on students’ and families’ backgrounds, all culminating in a potluck...
Business Briefs: May 3, 2024
BusinessWest announces 40 Under Forty Class of 2024 SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal of western Massachusetts, recently unveiled its 40 Under Forty Class of 2024, the 18th compilation of rising stars in the local business community.The...
1989 homicide victim found in Warwick ID’d through genetic testing, but some mysteries remain
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — It took nearly 35 years, but the human remains found just off Route 78 in Warwick in 1989 have been identified as belonging to Constance (Holminski) Bassignani, who was 65 years old at the time of her murder.The Northwestern District...
