News
Greenfield City Council approves $64.87M budget, votes down proposed cuts
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — City Council voted to approve the city’s $64.87 million fiscal year 2025 budget, a roughly 5% increase from the current $61.63 million budget, without any cuts Wednesday night.The budget includes $23.7 million for the School Department...
Regional listening session to inform development of statewide housing plan
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — Availability, affordability and accessibility of housing was the focus of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ regional listening session on Thursday, which will help inform the development of a statewide housing...
Health care gaps create reentry hurdle for incarcerated individuals
By JIASHAN ZHENG
Despite ongoing reform efforts, the Massachusetts prison health care system continues to be confronted with significant challenges, deeply affecting the well-being of incarcerated individuals and complicating their reentry into society...
September half-marathon to be Tree House Brewing Co.’s first 5,000-capacity event
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — With the company’s emergency action plan nearly finalized and approval from the Deerfield Selectboard, Tree House Brewing Co.’s September half-marathon will serve as the popular brewery’s first 5,000-capacity event.The town had...
Walk for Peace in Gaza set for Saturday in Leverett
By SCOTT MERZBACH
LEVERETT — A Walk for Peace in Gaza, bringing participants from Town Hall to the New England Peace Pagoda, takes place Saturday, an event that organizers view as a way to stand with those experiencing loss and grief.Sponsored by the Village of Light...
Saturday event remembers Great Falls Massacre, marks 20th anniversary of reconciliation ceremony
By DOMENIC POLI
TURNERS FALLS — The 348th anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre will be marked with a Day of Remembrance on Saturday, as well as a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the reconciliation ceremony held to establish friendship and trust between...
Pair of write-in candidates vying for Rowe Selectboard seat
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
ROWE — Two write-in candidates are vying for an open three-year Selectboard seat, as the current chair, Chuck Sokol, is not seeking reelection.Polls will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rowe Elementary School.Meg PallottaSelectboard...
Hotfire Bar and Grill to open Memorial Day weekend in Shelburne Falls
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
SHELBURNE FALLS — The former site of the organic restaurant Hearty Eats at 24 Bridge St. is being transformed into Hotfire Bar and Grill, serving burgers, an eclectic array of sandwiches and comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and chicken...
First Franklin County Pride Prom set for Saturday
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Franklin County Pride is teaming up with the YMCA to host its first-ever Pride Prom for Franklin County LGBTQ students in grades nine through 12.The prom will be held on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Franklin County’s YMCA and is free to...
Deerfield Planning Board OKs Hamshaw Lumber expansion
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — An extensive addition to Hamshaw Lumber’s South Deerfield location can move forward following the Planning Board’s site plan review and stormwater permit approval this week.The New England hardware store is seeking to construct a new...
Business Briefs: May 17, 2024
Tommy Car Auto Group donates gift to nurses NORTHAMPTON — For the fifth consecutive year, Tommy Car Auto Group donated appreciation gifts to more than 500 Cooley Dickinson Hospital nurses for National Nurses Day on Monday, May 6.Chief Nursing Officer...
Real Estate Transactions: May 17, 2024
ASHFIELD John Ford Road. $875,000. B: Trinity Estate Alliance LLC. S: Gale A. Bulissa and David R. Bulissa.ATHOL 22 Allen St. $305,000. B: Patrick W. Courtemanche and Alivea Sicard-Martinez. S: My Three Sons Investments LLC. 74 Brown St. $100,000....
Montague and Gill Notebook: May 16, 2024
Brick House offering Women’s Money Matters program TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center is contracted to offer the Women’s Money Matters program, a 12-week online course for anyone who identifies as a woman and who wants to learn...
North County Notebook: May 16, 2024
‘Lunch and Learn’ to discuss elder financial exploitation BERNARDSTON — Franklin First Federal Credit Union will present a free “Lunch and Learn” event on elder financial exploitation and scams on Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. at the Bernardston Senior...
Greenfield residents seek to donate combined 32 acres to city for conservation
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The city might receive three parcels of conservation land between the Mohawk Trail and Shelburne Road spanning a combined 32 acres in the months ahead, as two residents intend to donate private land to the Conservation Commission.The...
Physician Pathway Act, co-sponsored by Amherst rep, may help ease physician shortage
By JIASHAN ZHENG
When she fled to the United States amid Haiti’s political turmoil, Dr. Marie Jacques envisioned continuing her work. However, upon claiming asylum in 2019, she encountered the harsh realities of the Massachusetts medical licensing system.“As a...
Experts advise bird rescue best left to professional, permitted wildlife rehabilitators
By CHRIS LARABEE
CONWAY — As spring continues to bloom and birds migrate back toward the region, folks should remember to leave bird rehabilitation and rescues to professional, permitted wildlife rehabilitators.Local experts and the state Division of Fisheries and...
Orange Selectboard to consider defunding town libraries
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — Residents are encouraged to attend or tune in to Thursday’s Selectboard meeting to have their voices heard on the possibility of removing all funding from the town’s two libraries.Orange is cash-strapped and Town Administrator Matt Fortier...
Unexpected twists await audience of Frontier’s ‘Reckless’
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — With a fast-paced dark comedy and a twisting narrative, Frontier Regional School’s theater program will conclude its school year with performances of “Reckless” this weekend.Beginning in Connecticut and then traveling to Springfields...
Registration open for sixth annual Brick House 5K in Turners Falls
TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center’s sixth annual 5K fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 a.m. on the Canalside Rail Trail in Unity Park.Everyone is invited to participate in this community-spirited...
