Heath

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. The tornado warning was spurred by severe … 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

Money for machines

Friday, May 17, 2013

TURNERS FALLS — Manufacturers’ effort to secure $500,000 for new metal-working machines at Franklin County Technical School — to help train 21st century metal workers for local industries desperate for such workers — won another victory Wednesday: a $250,000 proposed allocation from the state’s Senate Ways and Means Committee. The Senate committee’s budget proposal said, “that not less than $250,000 shall be used … 0

West County Notebook

Friday, May 17, 2013

Author to speak at Boswell’s Sunday at 4 SHELBURNE FALLS — Nationally acclaimed novelist Matthew Dicks will be speaking about and reading from his three novels at Boswell’s Books at 10 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls at 4 p.m. on Sunday. “Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend” was recently … 0

Elder services gets boost in Senate budget

Friday, May 17, 2013

TURNERS FALLS — Programs that allow poor elders to receive care in their own households, instead of turning to nursing homes, will see increases in funding next year — a much needed step in the right direction, said officials that help administer elder services. “The last four years … 0

Lively, Brisson honored at West County business event

Friday, May 17, 2013

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association’s “citizen of the year” award is named for the late businessman Marvin J. Shippee, whom Realtor Carol Bolduc described as a quiet, unassuming “man behind the curtain” in … 0

Warner Bros. opens Shelburne Falls office

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

SHELBURNE FALLS — A Warner Bros. film production crew has set up a Bridge Street office — yet one more sign that filming scenes for “The Judge,” a feature film starring Robert Downey Jr. is increasingly likely. Peter Novak of Warner Bros. introduced himself to Shelburne Selectmen Monday … 0

Dive team raises money for underwater radios

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Picture yourself swimming under murky water, unable to see your own hand in front of your face. The only way you can find your way through the depths is by relying on a signal rope held in your … 0

Symphony named one of area’s ‘outstanding organizations’

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Pioneer Valley Symphony, the 74-year-old community symphony and orchestra based in Greenfield, will be honored next week as one of the area’s “outstanding organizations.” The symphony will be one of four recipients honored at New England Public Radio’s 5th annual Arts and Humanities Gala on Tuesday night … 0

Meetings for week of May 6

Friday, May 3, 2013

ASHFIELD Annual town meeting/election: Today 10 a.m. in Town Hall. Board of Assessors: Monday 6 p.m. in Town Hall. Conservation Commission: Wednesday 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. BERNARDSTON Planning Board: Monday 6:30 p.m. in Antonio’s Pizza. Cultural Council: Monday 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall. Agricultural Commission: Tuesday 7:30 … 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