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Recorder/Paul Franz Teaching assistant Isaac Henry looks through colored windows in blocks with Cody Britt, 3, and Brandon Gent, 4, at the Washington Street Head Start Preschool in Greenfield.

Head Start cuts hit home locally

Monday, June 17, 2013

GREENFIELD — In the wake of federal spending cuts and a need to increase quality, anti-poverty agency Community Action is reorganizing its “Head Start” program — resulting in 129 fewer poor children across the Pioneer Valley who will be able to enroll in the free or discounted preschool/childcare service this fall. In Franklin County, the agency will cut 52 of … 0

Recorder file/Geoff Bluh In 2010, Ella Lester of Shutesbury, left, and Beatrice Gould of Pelham play on the beach at Lake Wyola State Park.

Neighbors: Get out and enjoy our parks

Monday, June 17, 2013

Hello neighbor. It’s time to get out and enjoy Franklin County’s parks. So many towns have pretty impressive parks, where children can play and adults can sit, relax or read ... whatever you feel like doing. Greenfield has several parks. There’s something for everyone. Montague is finishing up its renovations on Unity Park. … 0

South County Notebook

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Foxmyn gets consultant fee DEERFIELD — The town will pay Wendy Foxmyn $2,026 for two weeks to serve as consultant during the town administrator transition. She will be paid $33.76 per hour. From June 16 through June 30, Foxmyn will work alongside Town Administrator Bernie Kubiak, who will retire June 30. The two weeks will serve to help Foxmyn learn the job and … 0

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"I grew it specially for the occasion," Naomi Voldahl-Corliss (left) of Greenfield said of her mustache. In fact, she and friend Leah Boutotte picked up the 'staches from Curious Traveler Shandy, a beer company that features an handlebar mustache in its logo for its ale with lemon. Voldahl-Corliss and Boutotte were sampling brews at the 9th Annual Green River Brew Fest held behind Ryan & Casey Liquors in Greenfield on Saturday. Recorder/Trish Crapo Fashion trend
Recorder/David Rainville The Frog and Flower Parade winds its way down Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls during Saturday's 25th annual RiverFest. Greenfield's Maya Apfelbaum led a pre-parade workshop where kids and the young at heart made river-related masks, costumes and props. 25th RiverFest draws young and old
Recorder/Paul Franz Duke and Cooper swim in the Green River playing fetch with their owner Mark Rowe of Greenfield. Buddy system
Recorder/Paul Franz Ken Long of Turners Falls paddles in from some early morning fishing in a Wendell pond on Friday morning. Fishing spot
Recorder/Paul Franz Mohawk and Hawlemont fifth-graders got to experience colonial life at the Wilder Homestead in Buckland on Thursday. Jennifer Lee, a Narragansett descendent from Plainfield, talked about Native American life at her Eastern Conical Wigwam to students Evan Shippee, Hjordis Aho and Maitreya Smith. A taste of colonial life
Recorder/Paul Franz Paula Parsons of Northfield swings with her granddaughter Adele Ross, 4, of Greenfield, on Tuesday at Unity Park in Turners Falls. Swing shift
Recorder/Paul Franz Bleeding heart seems to drips off the vine next to the All Souls Church in Greenfield on Thursday. A study in pink
Recorder/Geoff Bluh Marilyn Lorenzo of Greenfield gets a smooch from 3-year-old Romeo while she was training him at the Green River Swimming and Recreation area. Not part of the training
Recorder/Mike Phillips Pete Mallett releases some rainbow trout into an undisclosed location on the Millers River. Pete is president of the Millers River Fishermans Association in New Salem. Stocking up
Recorder/Paul Franz John Graves of the Greenfield Department of Public Works flushes sediment from fire hydrants on Federal Street on Monday. Spray zone
Recorder/Mike Phillips It looks like snow in May during this foam demonstration by firefighters. Fire engine fans
Recorder/Paul Franz Barton Cove Bald Eagle takes off from tree on the island. On eagle’s wings
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Museum marks anniversary with free admission, special events
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Harmony train
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Arts & Entertainment Calendar: June 13 to June 19
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photo courtesy of Paperweight Collectors Association website Above is a Clichy Spaced Mille on Opaque Blue Ground paperweight circa 1850.

Off to the paperweight convention

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Hello neighbor. Well, I’ve settled in and am officially a Greenfield resident again. It was a long week. If reports are correct, we are in the first full day of a late-May-early-June heat wave. I’m sure I’m not … 0

Tech wins $100K grant for machines

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

TURNERS FALLS — Another $100,000 is headed to Franklin County Technical School for buying modern metal-working machines — an amount that will likely push local manufacturers over their $500,000 goal needed to refit the machine shop this summer and to start training 21st-century metal workers. The state awarded … 0

Second look at spending

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

SUNDERLAND — Frontier School Superintendent Regina Nash has asked Sunderland and Deerfield to reconsider some previously rejected capital spending requests at upcoming special town meetings. Nash requested a school budget article piggyback onto any future special town meeting for the regional ambulance proposal. The dates of the town … 0

Towns to vote on EMT service

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

DEERFIELD — In the fall, townspeople in Deerfield, Whately and Sunderland will likely be asked to pay between $27,000 and $66,000 more for expanded ambulance service. Town leaders say the extra service will be worth the extra money. The proposed service would be a paramedic level service 24 … 0

Whately EMT director questions regionalization

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

WHATELY — Since the Whately Emergency Management Department instituted its new shift schedule in April, EMS Director Gary Stone said the department has not missed any calls. “It’s been working really well,” Stone said. On April 1, the volunteer EMT department began a new system that has two … 0

Recorder/Paul Franz A water main break under the south parking lot of the Frontier Regional School had water department personnel busy on Tuesday afternoon.

Water line break cause of flooding at Frontier lot

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

SOUTH DEERFIELD — A water main break caused an explosive sound heard under the ground late Tuesday afternoon in the Frontier Regional School parking lot. According to Roger Sadoski, the water superintendent for the South Deerfield Water Supply … 0

Neighbors: Headed back to Greenfield

Monday, May 27, 2013

Hello neighbor. I’m writing this on Monday and have the rest of the week off to move, so I won’t be around to take your calls. I’m headed back to live in Greenfield, where I started my adult life. Grandson Justin and I can’t wait to see some … 0

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 … 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 … 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 … 0

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