News

Drug fugitive Cory Taylor found dead in abandoned building in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — The body of Cory Taylor, the alleged marijuana trafficker with a part-time residence in New Salem, who has been a fugitive since he disappeared in August after making bail at a county jail, was discovered by police in a vacant building at...

Damn Yankees BBQ to close while owner recovers from lasting effects of COVID-19

By MARY BYRNE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — The owner of Damn Yankees BBQ on Elm Street has announced he is closing the restaurant’s doors while he continues to recover from the lasting effects of COVID-19.“Damn Yankees BBQ has been a passion of mine since a very young age and...

1 dead, 2 injured following Route 2 head-on collision in Greenfield

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — One person was killed and two others were airlifted to hospitals following a head-on collision on the Route 2 bypass between Exit 27 and Adams Road in Greenfield on Sunday evening.A Ford Explorer crossed the centerline into the westbound...

Hearing held for former NMH teacher accused of statutory rape 40 years ago

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Opposing attorneys agreed to work together on a statement of facts so Judge Richard Carey can analyze the argument behind a motion to dismiss in the case of a man accused of raping a 14-year-old Northfield Mount Hermon School student when...

Tashlich: Casting stones, sins on the river for Jewish High Holidays

By TALIA GODFREY

GREENFIELD — Stones flew from hands into the Green River’s cold water this Sunday as a small group gathered at the swimming and recreation area to perform Tashlich, a Jewish High Holiday tradition for casting away heaviness and sins.Tashlich, a Hebrew...

Video of bear awakening Greenfield man goes viral

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — People have been told not to “poke the bear.” But apparently, no one has said a bear shouldn’t poke a human.Matthew Bete got a text from his father, who lives around the corner, shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday to inform him of a bear...

Mole Hollow Candle building in Shelburne Falls to be converted into apartments

By MARY BYRNE

SHELBURNE FALLS — After years of vacancy, a new use for the former Mole Hollow Candle building — the old candle store overlooking the Glacial Potholes — is beginning to take shape.“It’s a very nice building of great historic significance to the town,”...

New Mexican restaurant in Gill puts longtime family recipes on menu

By MAX MARCUS

GILL — Cielito Lindo opened this week at the town line of Gill and Turners Falls, offering a menu of homemade Mexican staples and family recipes that have been passed down over generations.The restaurant is at the corner of Route 2 and the Turners...

Montague seeks history behind Turners Falls name

By MAX MARCUS

MONTAGUE — As the historical namesake of Turners Falls has again become a point of controversy, the Montague Historical Commission hopes to provide an education on what really happened and who was involved in the incident that the name memorializes.It...

Selectboard backs acquisition, renovation plans for Charlemont Inn

By ZACK DeLUCA

CHARLEMONT — The Selectboard voted this week in favor of pursuing acquisition of the Charlemont Inn through foreclosure, so it can sell the property to a local developer to be turned into low-income elderly housing.Byron Gilchrest, a Charlemont...

DCR renting boats on Quabbin Reservoir starting Aug. 1, but with pandemic-specific guidelines

The three Quabbin Reservoir Fishing Boat Launch Areas are now open for the 2020 fishing season, and as of Saturday, Aug. 1, visitors can rent boats, motors, canoes and kayaks on a first come, first served basis.According to a notice from the state...

Suit filed against NMH for alleged negligence in 2017 incident

By ZACK DeLUCA

GILL — A former Northfield Mount Hermon School student has filed a legal complaint and is seeking a case against the school, claiming negligence and infliction of emotional distress from an alleged 2017 incident involving a current staff...

Early release for ex-officer convicted of vehicular homicide

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — The former Greenfield police sergeant convicted in January of vehicular homicide stemming from a 2017 incident has been released from prison early.James B. Rode, 50, was sentenced on Jan. 27 to two years behind bars, with 15 months of...

Under new owner, Montague Village Store looks to rebrand

By MAX MARCUS

MONTAGUE CENTER — Recently under new ownership, the Montague Village Store on Main Street is rethinking its relationship with its community — both in its product offerings, and in the way the store styles and brands itself.Kathy Lynch, who took over...

Residents flocking to redeem bottles, cans

By DOMENIC POLI

Data shows that sales of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are up as people take to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a lot of empty bottles and cans laying around and consumers looking for a place to bring them.Starting June 5,...

French King Bridge safety barriers off track

By MAX MARCUS

A project to build barriers on the French King Bridge — to address suicides and other safety issues — that was at least five years in the making has apparently been deprioritized by the state Department of Transportation, leaving local officials...

New Salem General Store getting new owners

By DOMENIC POLI

NEW SALEM — It’s the end of one era and the start of another at the New Salem General Store, which is set to have new owners Monday.Natalie and Jeffrey Reynolds are slated to take over from Rick and Lori Oliver, who about a quarter-century ago...

Dedicating a piece of Orange to Hazel Lackey

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — When New Salem resident Susan Arnold moved to the North Quabbin region in the late 1980s, she discovered a friendly face who helped her settle in.Through her jobs with Valuing Our Children, the Montachusett Opportunity Council, Peoples Bridge...

NMH faces $2M suit concerning sexual abuse allegations

By ZACK DeLUCA

GILL — Northfield Mount Hermon School is being sued for more than $2 million in a case alleging sexual abuse of a minor female by a female teacher between 1999 and 2001, according to a complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court.Received by the court...

Athol superintendent responds to calls for expulsion

By GREG VINE

ATHOL — In the face of calls for her expulsion, Darcy Fernandes this week mounted an impassioned defense of her tenure as superintendent of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District.The matter was discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of the School...