$301K in grants funding upgrade at Western Mass Food Processing Center

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — More products and facility upgrades will be coming to the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center, as the Franklin County Community Development Corporation has reeled in two separate grants.The Franklin County CDC was awarded a...

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce launches revamped gift card program

GREENFIELD — In an effort to make shopping locally easier and more rewarding this holiday season, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has launched a revamped Franklin County Gift Card program that supports a growing list of small businesses with...

Business Briefs: Dec. 6, 2024

Freedom Credit Union seeks donations for Salvation Army campaign SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is inviting the community to donate money at any of its branches to support the Salvation Army of Massachusetts’ Toy for Joy campaign serving families...

Consumer Corner: Pitfalls to watch out for when shopping online

By ANITA WILSON

A survey from the National Retail Federation found that consumers plan to spend just over $900 on gifts this holiday season and 57% of those purchases will be made online.At the same time, consumer complaints about online purchases are on the rise....

Real Estate Transactions: Dec. 6, 2024

ASHFIELD 912 Creamery Road. $275,000. B: Heather Davis. S: Troy Santerre and John Dunphy.ATHOL 193 Freedom St. $100,000. B: BCF Investments LLC. S: Currier Road Holdings LLC. 232 Pequoig Ave. $145,000. B: Evergrain Orchard LLC. S: Michael S. Odle...

Passport promotion boosts business in Northfield

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

NORTHFIELD — One week remains in a new promotion that allows visitors to 17 Northfield businesses to get a “passport” stamped for a chance to win prizes. The passports were created by Leslie Cameron, who owns Cameron’s Winery and The Back Room Brewing...

Amid falling sales, Mycoterra Farm in Deerfield ends food distribution service

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — With folks confined to their homes in the early days of the pandemic, but still looking for local produce, Julia Coffey and her team at Mycoterra Farm branched out to bring products to their doors in the form of Mass Food Delivery.While...

Real Estate Transactions: Nov. 29, 2024

ATHOL 270 Cottage St. $320,000. B: Eric J. Supple. S: Hermogenes L. Almonte Sr. 44 Wilder St. $310,000. B: Alexandra M. Post. S: Christopher J. Gauvin and Donna M. Gauvin.COLRAIN 98 Nelson Road. $115,000. B: John Peters Jr. and Loretta Peters. S:...

Business Briefs: Nov. 29, 2024

Bank participating in two holiday toy drives GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank is participating in two holiday toy drives to benefit local children in need.Bank branches in Franklin County are once again partnering with the Salvation Army’s...

Maple Valley Creamery plans farmstand in South Deerfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — New life may soon be coming to the vacant farmstand at the intersection of Routes 5 and 10 and North Hillside Road.Maple Valley Creamery, the Hadley-based dairy farm that also operates Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silos, is eyeing the...

Lifelong home baker starts business, The Sourdog, in Orange

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Kristin Geyster officially started her own small business last month. But you won’t see a new storefront or signs in town.That’s because her new enterprise, The Sourdog, is a cottage bakery, meaning she sells bread out of her residential...

Business Briefs: Nov. 22, 2024

Bank offering rest stop for marchersSUNDERLAND — Greenfield Cooperative Bank is sponsoring a rest stop at its Sunderland branch on Tuesday, Nov. 26, for participants in the March for the Food Bank with Monte Belmonte.In addition to providing...

Real Estate Transactions: Nov. 22, 2024

ATHOL 99 Goddard St. $324,900. B: Antonio Mojica. S: 99 Goddard St. LLC. 573 Main St. $770,000. B: 573 Main St. Athol Real Estate Holdings. S: 573 Main St. LLC. Petersham Road, Lots 1-5. $200,000. B: RRJ Trust and Frances Goden. S: Vito Iacopino...

Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe in Deerfield reopens with smaller menu, renewed focus on dinners

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — After a few months of a temporary closure in which its owner was determining the next steps, Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe reopened its doors this week with a revamped business plan.Laura Thiem, who owns and operates the 6-year-old bakery and...

Real Estate Transactions: Nov. 15, 2024

ATHOL 58 Arthur Ave. $225,000. B: Anthony Gallo. S: Victor Perez and Alison D. Tracy. 149 Brooks Road. $369,900. B: Candace N. Brown and Steven C. Brown. S: Barry G. Brady. 766 Cottage St. $389,000. B: Rachel Zubair and Wayne S. Brownell. S:...

Business Briefs: Nov. 15, 2024

Bank donates to Children’s Advocacy Center ORANGE — Greenfield Cooperative Bank presented a $30,000 donation to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and the North Quabbin on Monday, Oct. 28, to support its new site in Orange, which is...

Rodney Hunt Inc. to refurbish manufacturing facility in collaboration with OEDIC

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Rodney Hunt Inc., the nearly 200-year-old factory sold to the American arm of an India-based company in 2017, is teaming up with the Orange Economic Development & Industrial Corporation to refurbish its manufacturing facility.Rodney Hunt, a...

Technician shortage stymies heating repair companies in Pioneer Valley

By DOMENIC POLI

This is a busy time of year for heating professionals and a technician shortage has resulted in companies having to prioritize their existing clients when it comes to servicing furnaces and heat pumps.The industry-wide scarcity has not spared Franklin...

Real Estate Transactions: Nov. 8, 2024

BERNARDSTON Brattleboro Road. $70,000. B: Dylan D. Johnson and Hannah S. Johnson. S: Feiran Lu and Jiaxu He. 148 Couch Brook Road. $195,000. B: David R. Fletcher and Joy T. Fletcher. S: BMFN LLC and Pavel Belogour.BUCKLAND 8 Old Upper St. $975,000....