News
Fogbuster Coffee Works, formerly Pierce Brothers, celebrating 30 years in business
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Three decades ago, Sean and Darren Pierce, two brothers in their mid-20s, decided to start selling coffee — a business venture that was funded by a roughly $30,000 mountain of credit card debt.Today, the Greenfield-based Fogbuster Coffee...
Battery storage bylaw passes in Wendell
By DOMENIC POLI
WENDELL — Town Hall was packed Wednesday night with 102 registered voters eager to have their voices heard on a bylaw regulating battery energy storage systems, which was overwhelmingly approved. The Special Town Meeting warrant article was proposed...
Debt-burdened UMass students, grads rally for relief
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Responsible for $135,000 in student debt, Amherst resident Ian Rhodewalt observes that during the yearslong federal pause in making loan repayments during the pandemic, he and his family were able to get a vehicle, replace a broken-down car...
PHOTOS: Welcome, May
Short-term rental bylaw tops Buckland Town Meeting warrant
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
BUCKLAND — Voters will consider adopting a new bylaw to better regulate short-term rentals and will review budget requests totaling nearly $5.88 million for fiscal year 2025 during Annual Town Meeting on Saturday.The meeting will be held at 10 a.m....
World Labyrinth Day event in Greenfield to promote unity, peace
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — In recognition of World Labyrinth Day, the Friends of the Community Labyrinth will hold a “Walk as One” event on Saturday at 1 p.m., in which residents will come together to navigate the labyrinth on the side lawn of the Episcopal Church...
Selectboard race between Gilmore, Shores Ness tops Deerfield ballot
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — Topping Monday’s election ballot is a race for Selectboard between longtime incumbent Carolyn Shores Ness and political newcomer but longtime Deerfield resident Blake Gilmore, as the two candidates seek to address residents’ concerns about...
Inaugural Cultural Kaleidoscope event at Frontier helps students become global citizens
SOUTH DEERFIELD — In a celebration of diversity, Frontier Regional School held its inaugural Cultural Kaleidoscope event last week, featuring a wide range of activities drawing on students’ and families’ backgrounds, all culminating in a potluck...
Business Briefs: May 3, 2024
BusinessWest announces 40 Under Forty Class of 2024 SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal of western Massachusetts, recently unveiled its 40 Under Forty Class of 2024, the 18th compilation of rising stars in the local business community.The...
1989 homicide victim found in Warwick ID’d through genetic testing, but some mysteries remain
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — It took nearly 35 years, but the human remains found just off Route 78 in Warwick in 1989 have been identified as belonging to Constance (Holminski) Bassignani, who was 65 years old at the time of her murder.The Northwestern District...
Real Estate Transactions: May 3, 2024
ASHFIELD 535 Cummington Road. $105,000. B: James Bacon. S: George Paradee. 449 Main St. $510,000. B: Craig Gibson and Rachel Gibson. S: Susan A. Gambino.ATHOL 41 Auburn Place. $380,000. B: Danielle B. Littles and Gary Littles. S: Athol Realty...
Greenfield homicide victim to be memorialized in Pittsfield
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Services for Christopher Hairston, 35, who was identified as the victim in last week’s slaying on Chapman Street, will be held Thursday at the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home in Pittsfield from 4 to 6:30 p.m.Hairston, a drummer from...
‘Stand up for our democracy’: Voting rights activist John Bonifaz keynote speaker during Law Day event
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Middle and high school students from across the county gathered at the Franklin County Justice Center on Wednesday to learn about the importance of democracy and the laws involved with protecting it.President Dwight Eisenhower established...
Office of Travel and Tourism director tours Franklin County, looks to increase presence
By DOMENIC POLI
Looking to increase her department’s presence around the state, the executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism recently visited some of Franklin County’s tourism destinations.Kate Fox was taken on a whirlwind tour around the...
Doors open at Tilton Library’s temporary home at South Deerfield Congregational Church
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — It was business as usual at Tilton Library on Wednesday morning — just in a slightly different location.The library reopened Wednesday in its temporary space at the South Deerfield Congregational Church, 71 North Main St., just a few...
DA to announce breakthrough in 1989 unsolved homicide in Warwick
GREENFIELD — Authorities have scheduled a press conference on Thursday morning to announce what they say is a major breakthrough in the case of human remains found in Warwick in 1989.Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, First Assistant...
Greenfield Notebook: May 2, 2024
May 3: ‘Delightful Dots Pop-Up Shop’ GREENFIELD — The Baystate Franklin Medical Center gift shop is sponsoring a “Delightful Dots Pop-Up Shop” in the hospital lobby on Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale, ahead of Mother’s Day, will feature...
Montague voters to decide spending requests for litigation, airport and library design
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
MONTAGUE — Residents will gather to vote on 25 warrant articles at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, deciding on funding for the airport, ongoing litigation with FirstLight Hydro Generating Co., and design work for library renovations or...
Clean energy proposals head to Ashfield Annual Town Meeting
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
ASHFIELD — Will residents see a ‘greener’ Ashfield in 2050?A pair of articles on Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting warrant will play a role in making that vision a reality, as voters will be asked to consider a decarbonization resolution in Article 30 to...
Mohawk Trail Regional School looks to leave audiences humming, smiling at spring musical
By GRACE LEE
BUCKLAND — Mohawk Trail Regional School’s theater program is bringing audiences a light-hearted, family-friendly musical for its spring production: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”Performances will be held Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, both...
