Wendell

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

Former county man dies after being hit by bus

Thursday, May 23, 2013

WORCESTER — A former Franklin County man died of injuries suffered in a bus accident earlier this week. Joseph L. “JJ” Barron Jr., of Buzzards Bay, died at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center University Campus, after being struck by a school bus. Barron was walking on the westbound lane of Interstate 290 in Worcester, when he was struck by the bus at … 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

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

Teacher alleges unfair treatment by Mahar supt.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ORANGE — A Mahar Regional High School social studies teacher says he was suspended without cause and without pay for 21 days. Now Michael Magee is speaking out against the unfair treatment he said he received from outgoing Superintendent Michael Baldassarre, and plans to take his appeal to … 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

Letter: Community project

Monday, April 29, 2013

Thank you, Franklin County Technical School, for another successful community project. Three years ago, we contacted Mark Amstein of the landscaping program about the conditions of our playing field to see if the school could help us. Shortly thereafter, the FCTS bus arrived at our school with Mark … 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

Prescription  Take Back Day sites  open on Saturday

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

If you have old, leftover, expired or unneeded medications around the house, don’t flush them or throw them in the garbage. Take them to a National Prescription Take Back Day drop-off point instead. The program is a collaboration between the Franklin and Hampshire County sheriffs departments, the Franklin … 0

Workshop taps ‘secrets of the soil’

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

SOUTH DEERFIELD — When you get right down to it, there’s almost nothing as basic and magical as soil. It’s easy to take for granted, but 30 or so farmers and farm agents from around the region took … 0