Montague and Erving Notebook: Dec. 5, 2024

Grange history talk coupled with potluck, contra danceMONTAGUE CENTER — A celebration will be held at the Montague Common Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 5 p.m. to conclude the yearlong “Food, Farms and Factories” programming.The program...

‘Home for the Holi-gays’ blends drag show with musical theater in Turners Falls

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Joe Dulude II as “Mr. Drag” and the rest of his drag family return with a fresh take on the story of “A Christmas Carol” during Eggtooth Productions’ eighth annual holiday drag show called “Home for the Holi-gays” this...

PHOTOS: Gift givers get decorative

Frontier Regional School Honor Roll, First Quarter

Seventh Grade Maximum Honors: Zorica Ambs, Hunter Arial-Clough, Thomas Bagdon, Maisie Bliss, Jacob Burniske, Abigail Cendrowski, Saskia Coggeshall-Burr, Sadie Conlon, Theo D’Urs, Maxwell Dean, Elliana DiNardo, Madelyn DiVincenzo, Dalton Dove, Salome...

Drawing nears for ‘Taste of the Towns’ raffle in support of Greenfield library

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

GREENFIELD — There’s just a few days left to purchase a ticket for the seventh annual “Taste of the Towns” restaurant raffle to support the Greenfield Public Library. Tickets will be drawn on Saturday, Dec. 7, and the winners of the $1,200 in...

2025 Franklin County Railroad Calendar now available

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

The 2025 Franklin County Railroad Calendar is now available in stores and online. The calendar includes photos of trains and trolleys traveling throughout the region between 1897 and 1970, alongside historical commentary by historian Alden Dreyer of...

Greenfield High School Band to perform Winter Holiday Concert

GREENFIELD – Under the direction of Hannah Cherry, the Greenfield High School Band will perform a Winter Holiday Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the school auditorium.Admission is free. A bake sale, raffles and a silent auction of...

PHOTO: Abundant birds

Climate activist Bill McKibben: Solar is light in dark times

By EMILEE KLEIN

AMHERST — The past few weeks have been tough for climate activism, and longtime climate activist Bill McKibben, who makes his home in Vermont, is feeling the heat.This year will be the hottest year on record, breaking the record-setting temperatures...

Orange voters accept land for water tower, approve animal control bylaws

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The water tower proposed for the Orange Industrial Park is a go, after voters at Monday’s Special Town Meeting opted to accept land from Seaman Paper and to accept or take land from Power Fund Partners for its construction.Seaman Paper,...

‘Big paws to fill’: K-9 Larry joins Montague Police Department

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard swore in the Police Department’s new four-legged officer Lawrence “Larry” Akim on Monday, filling a role that was left vacant when beloved K-9 Artur, better known as “Artie,” died in October after a decade of...

Data shows a historic dry fall for western Mass

By CHRIS LARABEE

With bodies of water receding and brush fires throughout the state, it was clearly a dry fall for the Pioneer Valley and new data analysis confirms the season was historically dry for western Massachusetts.Preliminary National Weather Service data for...

North County Notebook: Dec. 4, 2024

Tomato soup on Dec. 11 menu NORTHFIELD — The monthly meal at the Northfield Senior Center, set for Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 12:30 p.m., will include a salad bar, rolls, homemade tomato soup and dessert.The cost is $7. Reservations are required by...

Five Town Meeting warrant articles sail through in Ashfield

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ASHFIELD — In a speedy 13-minute Special Town Meeting on Monday, residents unanimously approved all five warrant articles before the Selectboard turned its attention back to its regularly scheduled meeting, during which members approved a lower tax...

Montague Police Logs: Nov. 4 to Nov. 11, 2024

Monday, Nov. 4 3:43 p.m. — Caller reports she used the ATM at Carroll’s Market on East Main Street and there has since been tow withdrawals pending for $200 each that she hasn’t requested. She made the business aware, too. Would like it on record....

Greenfield Police Logs: Nov. 4 to Nov. 11, 2024

Monday, Nov. 412:48 p.m. — Larceny reported on Oak Hill Acres. Services rendered.2:04 p.m. — Threat reported at Federal Street School. Report issued.3:58 p.m. — Larceny reported on Lincoln Street. Services rendered.7:22 p.m. — Heriberto Carmona, 69,...

Jingle Fest bringing holiday cheer to Greenfield for 11th year

By AMALIA WOMPA

GREENFIELD — Building off the longstanding tradition of the tree lighting ceremony and the days when Santa would visit the now-closed Wilson’s Department Store, the Greenfield Business Association (GBA) has been adding to the holiday cheer with its...

State overrules Shutesbury bylaw on battery storage

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A general town bylaw creating a licensing process for large-scale battery storage in Shutesbury has been struck down by the state Attorney General’s Office, for both unreasonably regulating renewable energy and improperly regulating...

Home on Winter Street in Orange rendered uninhabitable after fire

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — No injuries resulted from a fire that was caused by the ignition of combustible materials near a pellet stove’s flue pipe early Sunday morning, according to the town’s fire chief.James Young said his department was dispatched to a reported...

In seventh year, The Scarf Project continues donation of warm clothing in Greenfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — With just dozens of the more than 1,000 items placed on the Greenfield Common remaining as of Monday afternoon, The Scarf Project’s seventh annual donation of scarves, mittens and other warm clothing proved to be another success.Each year...