News

Community Legal Aid expands Disability Benefits Project to Franklin County

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Community Legal Aid, a nonprofit that offers free civil legal support to elderly and low-income residents in western and central Massachusetts, has expanded its Disability Benefits Project into Franklin County, a change that coincides...

Streetlight decision comes to Shelburne Town Meeting

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

SHELBURNE — Will Shelburne buy its 101 streetlights from Eversource, replacing the sodium-vapor lights with low-wattage LEDs that would cut the town’s utility bills and energy use?Annual Town Meeting voters will decide on Tuesday, May 7. They will...

Conway rejects public safety building bids due to high costs, will likely try again

By CHRIS LARABEE

CONWAY — With bids coming in too high and a potential change in the scope of work, the Selectboard has voted to reject all of the bids for the public safety building addition project, but will likely try again to move the project forward. The board...

New Whately town admin starts June 17

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — With contract negotiations complete, the community’s newest town administrator will be returning to the Pioneer Valley in June.Swampscott Assistant Town Administrator and Easthampton native Peter Kane will take the reins in Whately on June...

PHOTO: Getting settled in Deerfield

Greenfield Notebook: May 4, 2024

GCC nursing students holding Health and Safety Expo GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Community College nursing students, as part of a service project, are holding a Health and Safety Expo on the GCC lawn on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Attendees...

Bringing forth ‘the world as it ought to be’: Community Action celebrating 60 years

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Community Action Pioneer Valley welcomed volunteers, legislators and community partners for its annual meeting — and celebrated an important milestone, too.The regional supportive...

Wear Orange organizers prepare display to remember gun violence victims

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Hadiya Pendleton spent part of Jan. 21, 2013, marching in President Barack Obama’s second inaugural parade. After the high school student’s life was cut short in a drive-by shooting eight days later, her friends decided to remember her by...

Three-way contest for Planning Board on Northfield ballot

By LIESEL NYGARD

NORTHFIELD — Three candidates are vying for one seat on the Planning Board, while a new individual is looking to fill a Selectboard seat in this year’s town election.Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 7, from noon to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.There are two...

After 15 years on Bernardston Selectboard, Garland chairs last meeting

By LIESEL NYGARD

BERNARDSTON — Before the town election on Monday, Selectboard Chair Stanley Garland led his final meeting this week, marking the end of his 15 years on the board.In addition to his time on the Selectboard, Garland also represented the board through...

Heath ‘Meet the Candidates’ night set for Sunday

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

HEATH — A pre-election “Meet the Candidates” event will be held Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. in the Jacobs Road Municipal Center.William Emmet and Michael Smith are vying for the three-year Selectboard seat currently held by Sue Lively, who is not seeking...

Vehicle purchases, petition on solar head to Northfield Town Meeting

By LIESEL NYGARD

NORTHFIELD — Between vehicle expenses and a citizen’s petition seeking a moratorium on large-scale solar projects, voters will consider a variety of topics at Monday’s Annual Town Meeting.The 28-article warrant will be addressed starting at 7 p.m. at...

Deerfield candidates, Whately incumbent discuss issues with voters at South County Senior Center

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Ahead of Monday’s Deerfield election and Whately’s June election, voters got a chance to speak with the Selectboard candidates about a swath of issues at the South County Senior Center on Friday.Seniors got a chance to talk taxes,...

No contested races in Wendell’s election

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — There are no contested races in Monday’s annual town election, and two positions have no candidates on the ballot.Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Offices.Laurie DiDonato, who serves as Selectboard chair, is running for...

Greenfield’s All Souls Church to host 20th annual Anti-Racism Film Festival

By MAX BOWEN

GREENFIELD — The Social Justice Committee of All Souls Church will present its 20th annual Anti-Racism Film Festival on Sunday, May 5.The festival will be held in the sanctuary of the church at 399 Main St. There will be three, two-hour films, each...

New fire engine, budget increase on Warwick Town Meeting warrant

By MAX BOWEN

WARWICK — Monday’s Annual Town Meeting will include a discussion on whether to buy a $700,000 vehicle for the Fire Department.The article seeks $200,000 from the stabilization fund and another $480,000 through borrowing to purchase the new fire...

Write-ins to decide most positions in Hawley

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

HAWLEY — Only three names are printed on this year’s town election ballot, but additional residents have stepped up to fill the empty seats as write-in candidates.Polls will be open on Monday, May 6, from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town...

New Salem could see new face on Selectboard

By DOMENIC POLI

NEW SALEM — Monday’s election will see no contested races, though a new candidate is running unopposed to fill a two-year term on the Selectboard and there are two positions on the School Committee for which there are no candidates on the ballot.Polls...

Gill Town Meeting to be held in two parts starting Monday

By CHRIS LARABEE

GILL — Annual Town Meeting will be conducted in two parts this year, with May 6 serving as the first leg, as voters consider converting the treasurer and tax collector roles to appointed positions and the discontinuance of Mount Hermon Road.Voters...