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By JULIAN MENDOZA

TURNERS FALLS — Zoning out to the hum of her sewing machine and training her eyes along a laser guideline, Greenfield resident Alicia Rhodes musters a steady hand as she threads decades of practice and persistence into her fabric. She strikes her...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

A local group of bike-riding activists will ride together again for the first time in a decade, this time in protest of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station.The Solar Rollers, a grassroots advocacy group that...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

In terms of timeless relevance and impact, it’s tough to argue that any writer has had more of a lasting legacy than William Shakespeare. For this reason, veteran thespian Kenny Butler argues there is never a bad time to delve into his world of words...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

TURNERS FALLS — Demolition of the Farren Care Center last year was met with mixed feelings from residents, with many citing the loss of local history as reason for their dismay. Some community members, however, have been working to ensure that not all...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

It’s been nearly four decades since the inception of Welcome Yule, a theatrical spectacle of song, dance and storytelling that has since become one of the village’s most beloved holiday customs. Before the tradition hits 40 years old, though, those...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

GILL — More than 40 officials, school representatives and other stakeholders from six towns convened Tuesday to consider what regionalization of the Gill-Montague and Pioneer Valley regional school districts might entail, particularly in terms of...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

The late Pioneer Valley poet James Tate, whose work earned him a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, will be present in spirit for this week’s reading session at Unnameable Books in Turners Falls.The event, part of a reading series held weekly at...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Artists of all mediums know that a work of art doesn’t always pool from a constant flow of ideas. For Conway artist Bill Brayton, it took nearly 20 years and unprecedented storm conditions for one project to finally surface.Brayton, a 1976 graduate of...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

ERVING — The subcommittee devoted to examining the pros and cons of a theoretical departure from School Union 28 convened for the first time Wednesday evening, establishing its mission and planning first steps.The seven-member subcommittee includes...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

For the small handful of Pioneer Valley artists nominated between this year’s New England Music Awards and Boston Music Awards, the region’s highest musical honor would not merely be an individual accolade, or even a matter of putting the Valley on...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

ORANGE — Waves of local residents turned out on Sunday to determine the area’s best baker at the region’s sixth annual Cupcake Wars, an event featuring hundreds of elaborately designed and flavorful cupcakes for the judging. The line stretched well...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

TURNERS FALLS — FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. has completed interim repair work at the Turners Falls Dam, the company announced Friday.The hydropower company began an investigation into the Turners Falls dam’s bascule gate pistons this August...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

BERNARDSTON — Organizers of this year’s Scarecrow in the Park festival said despite the weekend’s poor weather, spirits and creativity may have hit an all-time high.“[The scarecrows] are more creative and detailed than they’ve ever been,” said Joel...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

CONWAY — A friend of two residents displaced by a house fire last weekend has set up an online fundraiser.“Anything you can donate to the cause will greatly help, and be hugely appreciated, as they will face many challenges over the next 12+ months,”...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

ERVING — To fund various departmental budget increases, Special Town Meeting voters will be asked on Wednesday to approve a $1.83 million tax levy limit override.The Special Town Meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Erving Elementary School.According to...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

TURNERS FALLS — Although 2022 marked the final year of the traditional Great Falls Festival, a new group of organizers has banded together to put on a unique version that pays homage to its beloved predecessor.“I feel like this is a pilot,” said...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Whether they make you feel transported to another world or right at home, Ugandan artist Mwanga William’s paintings reflect a culture worthy of Northfield Mount Hermon school’s embrace, according to Gallery Director Jamie Rourke.“Paintings by Mwanga...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

GREENFIELD — Archaeologists will ask the permission of “a couple hundred” property owners to collect 17th-century artifacts along the final stretch of the Great Falls Massacre’s colonial retreat route within the next two weeks, according to the...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Having scarfed down a pizza-sized portion of fried dough in three minutes and 45 seconds, Greenfield resident Ken Bacigalupo is the greatest dough-devourer the Franklin County Fair has ever seen. And it isn’t close.Since 2017, the fried dough eating...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

GREENFIELD — In June, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner voiced a commitment to being “as welcoming as we possibly can” to the group of Haitian immigrants that had just arrived in the city. Amy McMahan, owner of Mesa Verde, has since played her part by hosting...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

For the third straight year, the hill at Unity Park is set to become a race track with the return of Montague’s annual Soapbox Derby on Sunday, Sept. 17.Franklin County Soapbox racing returned from an eight-year hiatus in September 2021 with a lineup...