News

Heath Finance Committee opposes school spending articles as Town Meeting nears

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

HEATH — Annual Town Meeting voters will be asked to consider an overall $1.6 million fiscal year 2025 spending plan for town government services on Saturday, along with another $1 million assessment for its share of the $26.7 million Mohawk Trail...

Peacemaker Awards recognize anti-bullying, outreach work done by area students

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — The Interfaith Council of Franklin County and the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice honored 31 local students for their work fighting racism and bullying, spreading compassion, and acting as forces for positive change in their...

UMass student group declares no confidence in chancellor

By CHAD CAIN

AMHERST — A day after 132 people were arrested in pro-Palestinian protests on the University of Massachusetts campus, the university’s student government Wednesday night formally declared it had no confidence in Chancellor Javier Reyes and his...

Erving Town Meeting voters back Care Drive housing project

By DOMENIC POLI

ERVING — The town is one step closer to affordable housing on Care Drive after residents voted Wednesday to authorize the Selectboard to lease, convey or otherwise dispose of the property eyed for the development.Voters at Annual Town Meeting also...

Four Rivers Climate Club organizes litter cleanup, panel on environmental activism

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — In an effort to raise further awareness of climate change and the power of collective action, the new Climate Club at Four Rivers Charter Public School held a day of action this week with a speaker panel and trash pickup around the...

Stoneman Brewery, Real Pickles honored with Good Food Awards

Two area businesses were recognized at the recent Good Food Awards, held on April 29 in Portland, Oregon.Real Pickles, a worker co-operative based in Greenfield, won a Good Food Award for its organic sauerkraut and Stoneman Brewery of Colrain won for...

Leyden bylaw changes regarding ADUs look to address housing shortage

By LIESEL NYGARD

LEYDEN — The Planning Board discussed the possibility of adopting amendments and additions to the town’s zoning bylaws to promote housing growth during a public hearing on Wednesday.The changes, which will be voted on during Leyden’s Annual Town...

Business Briefs: May 10, 2024

May 15: Health Care Job Fair GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is holding a Health Care Job Fair on Wednesday, May 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenfield Community College Dining Commons.Employers who will be present...

Retired police officer, veteran opens firearms training academy in Millers Falls

By DOMENIC POLI

MILLERS FALLS — The Western Massachusetts Training & Education Academy offers an array of firearm courses taught by certified instructor and U.S. Marine veteran Leon “Lee” Laster. But you won’t find live ammunition on site.That’s because the new...

Real Estate Transactions: May 10, 2024

ATHOL 33 Laurel St. $200,000. B: Bryder LLC. S: Cin2023 LLC. 2 Myrtle St. $294,000. B: Kaylee Steele-Hunter and Samuel Steele-Hunter. S: Eamonn F. Mohan and Casey M. Mohan. 539 Sanders St. $325,000. B: Ana M. Sanchez. S: Lilian R. Davis and...

Montague Notebook: May 9, 2024

New trio to perform at Montague Common HallMONTAGUE — Sisters of the Circle, the new trio of singer-songwriters Sarah Pirtle, Hana Zara and Christy Grecsek, will perform at the Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St., on Saturday, May 11. The monthly open...

Valley lawmakers seek shorter license for FirstLight hydropower projects

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

TURNERS FALLS — Area lawmakers are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to limit the relicensing of FirstLight’s hydropower projects from 50 years to 30 years, and to mandate the company disclose more data to the public about its...

Comerford: Free community college plan will lift up students, offer immediate return on investment

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

A plan unveiled by Senate Democrats on Monday to make community college free for all in Massachusetts starting this fall has the potential to have a big impact for prospective students across the state.The “MassEducate” plan would invest $75.5 million...

No surprises in Wendell election

WENDELL — There were no surprises in Monday’s town election, as there were no contested races and two positions for which there were no candidates on the ballot.According to Town Clerk Anna Wetherby, 133 ballots were cast, making for a 17.6% voter...

Korby claims Selectboard seat, Kurland elected moderator in Colrain

COLRAIN — Katie Korby is the town’s newest Selectboard member, having won her election to a three-year term by a 214-124 vote against candidate Howard Phelps.“I’m really grateful to the folks in Colrain that voted for me,” Korby, who is a worker-owner...

Luksha victorious in Northfield Planning Board race

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — A new face will join the Planning Board as voters opted for Victoria Luksha over incumbent Stephen Seredynski and challenger Joseph Stacy in the town’s only contested race at the ballot box Tuesday.Joining Luksha in being elected to a new...

Streetlight proposal gets unanimous approval in Shelburne

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

SHELBURNE — Residents packed the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School auditorium Tuesday night to give unanimous approval to a plan to buy the town’s streetlights from Eversource and replace them with low-wattage LED lights that could save the town...

More than 130 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest at UMass

By SCOTT MERZBACH and ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

AMHERST — More than 130 people were arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday night after those who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union refused to dismantle tents and other parts of the site, and...

Work on Pinedale Avenue Bridge connecting Athol and Orange to resume

By GREG VINE

ATHOL — Closed for a year and a half, work on the Pinedale Avenue Bridge is set to resume next week, according to Public Works Superintendent Dick Kilhart.Kilhart explained that work has been on hold recently as the project’s contractor, Construction...