News
Hotfire Bar and Grill to open Memorial Day weekend in Shelburne Falls
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
SHELBURNE FALLS — The former site of the organic restaurant Hearty Eats at 24 Bridge St. is being transformed into Hotfire Bar and Grill, serving burgers, an eclectic array of sandwiches and comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and chicken...
First Franklin County Pride Prom set for Saturday
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Franklin County Pride is teaming up with the YMCA to host its first-ever Pride Prom for Franklin County LGBTQ students in grades nine through 12.The prom will be held on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Franklin County’s YMCA and is free to...
Deerfield Planning Board OKs Hamshaw Lumber expansion
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — An extensive addition to Hamshaw Lumber’s South Deerfield location can move forward following the Planning Board’s site plan review and stormwater permit approval this week.The New England hardware store is seeking to construct a new...
Business Briefs: May 17, 2024
Tommy Car Auto Group donates gift to nurses NORTHAMPTON — For the fifth consecutive year, Tommy Car Auto Group donated appreciation gifts to more than 500 Cooley Dickinson Hospital nurses for National Nurses Day on Monday, May 6.Chief Nursing Officer...
Real Estate Transactions: May 17, 2024
ASHFIELD John Ford Road. $875,000. B: Trinity Estate Alliance LLC. S: Gale A. Bulissa and David R. Bulissa.ATHOL 22 Allen St. $305,000. B: Patrick W. Courtemanche and Alivea Sicard-Martinez. S: My Three Sons Investments LLC. 74 Brown St. $100,000....
Montague and Gill Notebook: May 16, 2024
Brick House offering Women’s Money Matters program TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center is contracted to offer the Women’s Money Matters program, a 12-week online course for anyone who identifies as a woman and who wants to learn...
North County Notebook: May 16, 2024
‘Lunch and Learn’ to discuss elder financial exploitation BERNARDSTON — Franklin First Federal Credit Union will present a free “Lunch and Learn” event on elder financial exploitation and scams on Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. at the Bernardston Senior...
Greenfield residents seek to donate combined 32 acres to city for conservation
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The city might receive three parcels of conservation land between the Mohawk Trail and Shelburne Road spanning a combined 32 acres in the months ahead, as two residents intend to donate private land to the Conservation Commission.The...
Physician Pathway Act, co-sponsored by Amherst rep, may help ease physician shortage
By JIASHAN ZHENG
When she fled to the United States amid Haiti’s political turmoil, Dr. Marie Jacques envisioned continuing her work. However, upon claiming asylum in 2019, she encountered the harsh realities of the Massachusetts medical licensing system.“As a...
Experts advise bird rescue best left to professional, permitted wildlife rehabilitators
By CHRIS LARABEE
CONWAY — As spring continues to bloom and birds migrate back toward the region, folks should remember to leave bird rehabilitation and rescues to professional, permitted wildlife rehabilitators.Local experts and the state Division of Fisheries and...
Orange Selectboard to consider defunding town libraries
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — Residents are encouraged to attend or tune in to Thursday’s Selectboard meeting to have their voices heard on the possibility of removing all funding from the town’s two libraries.Orange is cash-strapped and Town Administrator Matt Fortier...
Unexpected twists await audience of Frontier’s ‘Reckless’
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — With a fast-paced dark comedy and a twisting narrative, Frontier Regional School’s theater program will conclude its school year with performances of “Reckless” this weekend.Beginning in Connecticut and then traveling to Springfields...
Registration open for sixth annual Brick House 5K in Turners Falls
TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center’s sixth annual 5K fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 a.m. on the Canalside Rail Trail in Unity Park.Everyone is invited to participate in this community-spirited...
Vote on debt exclusion for fire truck purchase on Warwick ballot
WARWICK — While there are no contested races in Monday’s town election, voters will weigh in on a ballot question authorizing a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion to fund the purchase of a new fire engine.Polls will be open at Town Hall from noon to 8...
Gill election to decide change to appointed positions, Sewer Commission expansion
By CHRIS LARABEE
GILL — While every race is uncontested in Monday’s town election, voters will be asked to consider three ballot questions related to changing the treasurer and tax collector positions to appointed roles and expanding the Sewer Commission by two...
Greenfield Historical Society talk to highlight Old Tavern Farm
GREENFIELD — The Historical Society of Greenfield will host Gary Sanderson for a program titled “New Discoveries about Old Tavern Farm and its Greenfield Meadows Neighborhood” on Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. in the Whiteman Room at the Episcopal...
Yacovone-Biagi looks to fill vacant Selectboard seat in Shelburne
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
SHELBURNE — Although there are no contested races on the ballot for the annual town election on Tuesday, May 21, voters will usher in a new Selectboard member.Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cowell Gymnasium, 51 Maple St. In-person...
Ja’Duke eyes expansion to Greenfield
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The former Greenfield Community College building at 270 Main St. might soon be converted into Ja’Duke Inc.’s newest location for performance art, driver’s education and a preschool center.Ja’Duke owners Kimberly Williams and Nicholas...
Report urges full reexamination of regional transit authorities
By MICHAEL P. NORTON
MBTA service problems and fiscal dilemmas have commanded significant public attention, but a new report says the regional transit authorities that provided 19 million bus and shuttle rides in 2021 lack connectivity and a “funding bedrock.”The report,...
Bike Month event in Greenfield looks at favorite cycling spots, room for improvement
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — In celebration of Bay State Bike Month and in anticipation of a new Franklin County Regional Bike Plan, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) welcomed cyclists to the John W. Olver Transit Center on Tuesday.With...
