Heath

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 for a pilot program in Franklin County … 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 released in paperback and will be available for purchase and signing along with his other … 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 have been hard for elder services. This year, we are seeing long overdue emphasis on … 0

West County Notebook

Monday, April 8, 2013

Hawley voters face Wednesday deadline HAWLEY — If you want to vote in this year’s annual town election and state primary, Wednesday is the last day to register to vote. Pamela Shrimpton, the new town clerk, will hold special office hours at the town office that day, from … 0

Brush fire season under way: Firefighters busy in Orange, New Salem, Greenfield, Turners, Northfield

Sunday, April 7, 2013

NEW SALEM — Area fire departments responded to numerous brush fires over the weekend as dry conditions and gusty winds fanned flames, the most extensive burn on the border between New Salem and Orange. Angus “Terry” Dun, spokesman … 0

Next Hawley selectmen’s meeting Tuesday

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

HAWLEY — Tonight’s special selectmen’s meeting has been canceled, and the board will take up the agenda items at its regular meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Town Office. … 0

Iron Man coming to the Iron Bridge?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

SHELBURNE FALLS — Filmmakers for “The Judge,” which will star Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and Vincent D’Onofrio, are looking at Shelburne Falls, and could be filming movie scenes here this summer. It is reportedly one of two locations in the state being considered for filming. The Warner … 0

Letter: Non-existent center

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

I’m disappointed to see The Recorder (editorial, Feb. 27) get into the “both sides do it,” centrist rhetoric about the sequester. We only got the sequester as a last-ditch Democratic effort to stave off the debt-ceiling crisis, one of many manufactured by an obstructive and intransigent Republican Congress. … 0

Alleged ‘Pillowcase Bandits’ arraigned

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — Two Athol men who allegedly referred to themselves as the “Pillowcase Bandits” pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Northampton Superior Court to 26 counts each in relation to seven burglaries in five towns. A Franklin County grand jury Friday returned identical indictments against Aaron Provencher, 34, of … 0

Letter: Taking a stand

Sunday, March 3, 2013

As most of the public has heard, Mohawk Trail Regional High School is proposing to cut two popular classes, Peer Leadership and French. A group of concerned students and people from the community have rallied to fight this. I personally delivered a speech from the heart during the … 0

Heath changes election day to April 30

Sunday, March 3, 2013

HEATH ­­— The town has moved up the date of its annual town election, to coincide with the April 30 state primary for U.S. Senate candidates. This means deadlines for nomination papers are earlier than usual. Wednesday is the last day to obtain nomination papers from Town Clerk … 0

Snow, wind brings down greenhouses

Saturday, March 2, 2013

When blizzard Nemo blew into the region earlier in February, dumping a couple of feet of snow on the county, it left a heavy mark on several farms, causing thousands of dollars of damage by bearing down on … 0

Official calls for 9-town talk on schools

Friday, March 1, 2013

SHELBURNE — Fearing that the Mohawk Trail Regional School District may spend down all its stabilization funds in the next four years, Selectman Joseph Judd is considering a nine-town meeting, so that school and town officials can consider … 0