Ashfield

Recorder file photo
A bear goes after a sweet treat by way of a hummingbird feeder in a local back yard.

Bears showing up everywhere

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Brothers Grimm collected many fine fairy tales illustrating the dangers of antagonizing woodland creatures by, for instance, stealing their porridge. They neglected to mention, however, the dangers of enticing them with birdseed, garbage or undersized pets. The American black bear is native to the area and its local population has been showing up in Greenfield’s “urban” neighborhoods this week. Montague and Sunderland police also logged reports Saturday and Sunday of bears in backyards, singly or in family groups. A Montague Road, Sunderland, resident on Saturday reported a black bear active in the area for almost a month and in a neighbor’s yard almost every … 0

Tornado warning had western Mass. wary Wednesday

Thursday, May 23, 2013

People were forced underground as a tornado warning was issued for areas along and to the south of the Route 2 corridor Wednesday evening. Shortly after 5 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for central Franklin County. It wound up all for naught, but better safe than sorry, as they say. The tornado warning was cancelled at about 6:15 p.m. … 0

Mohawk earns 10-year re-accreditation

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

BUCKLAND — The Mohawk Trail Regional High School has passed muster with its accreditation, which is in good standing for the coming decade. Last fall, a 16-member re-accreditation committee spent four days at Mohawk. They reviewed the self-study documents prepared for them, met with administrators, teachers, other school and system personnel, students and parents. They shadowed students, visited classes, and interviewed teachers to … 0

Movie mania strikes again

Friday, May 3, 2013

SHELBURNE FALLS — A parked Peter Pan bus near the Glacial Potholes and a crowd of sunglass-wearing, baseball-capped visitors Thursday did not herald the annual return of tourists, but the start of scouting for a new Hollywood feature film. On Wednesday and Thursday, film scouts and production workers … 0

Six area towns make list of ‘best places to live’ in Mass.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Six Franklin County towns have made the Boston Globe’s “Top 25 Places to Live in Massachusetts” list. Shelburne, Leverett, Rowe, Greenfield, Northfield and Gill all made the list, which can be found on Boston.com. The Globe did an online survey of its readers, saying it wanted to match … 0

Neighbors: Dinosaurs at GCC next week

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Hello neighbor. I have spent a good deal of time with dinosaurs over the past six months or so. Grandson Justin is absolutely fascinated and sometimes mesmerized by them. He calls them “Big Das,” because he can’t quite say “dinosaur” yet. I mention this because on Wednesday at … 1

Health board contest in Ashfield Saturday election

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

ASHFIELD — Barring write-in campaigns, residents will see just one contest on Saturday’s election ballot — for a three-year seat on the Board of Health. They will also see a debt-exclusion ballot question that asks if the town should “raise and appropropiate” toward the cost of a new … 0

Road grader sought at Ashfield town meeting Saturday

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

ASHFIELD — On Saturday , annual town meeting voters will decide whether to authorize a $150,000 debt exclusion, so that the town can buy a new highway grader. The annual town meeting begins at 10 a.m. in Town Hall. The annual election also takes place, in downstairs polling … 0

Deerfield voters back keeping Baystate services in Greenfield

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

DEERFIELD — Voters here have overwhelmingly supported a resolution calling on Baystate Health System to keep services and resources at the Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. At its Monday annual town meeting, Deerfield was the first of 10 Franklin County towns to vote on the resolution. It … 0

GCC taps Bilodeau as Distinguished Alum

Sunday, April 28, 2013

When former Deerfield police officer Christopher Bilodeau, 39, got the call that he had been selected by the GCC Distinguished Alumni Committee to receive the 2013 award, his first words were “I am honored to have been chosen.” … 0

Neighbors: Plenty to do as warmer weather arrives

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Hello neighbor. I’m not going to take up a lot of your time today, because I have a lot of events to tell you about. Many of us got to see the Full Pink Moon Thursday night. I’m writing this before it happens, but I’m sure it’s going … 0

YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday

Thursday, April 25, 2013

On Saturday, the YMCA in Greenfield will celebrate YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encourages children ages 6 to 12 in Franklin County to get moving and learning. The Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and … 0

Hit the pottery trail

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is back for its ninth year this weekend, and features nearly twice as many potters as before. With nine stops in Shelburne Falls, Greenfield, Northfield, Northampton, Florence, Hadley and Pelham, the annual event … 0