Bill targets underenrollment disparities in AP courses

By ALISON KUZNITZ

BOSTON — Aiming to strengthen participation in advanced classes among Black and Latino high school students, lawmakers sought to build momentum Tuesday for a framework that would streamline how public colleges accept AP credits.Redrafted legislation...

Longtime board member becomes GCTV’s new director

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — After nearly two decades on its board of directors, Greenfield Community Television’s newest director is looking to build on the station’s role as a community resource. Since his Jan. 16 start date, Drew Hutchison has been busy...

Remembering the Farren’s legacy

By WID PERRY

Montague began as a struggling enterprise, isolated and ignored despite its prime location on the banks of the vast Connecticut River. The town, named for English sea captain William Montague, was established in 1754 with its five villages: Turners...

Fundraising underway to repurpose Farren statue into memorial

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...

PHOTOS: The crossroads of math and art

Florence man part of team to claim gold in International Snow Sculpture Championships

By JAMES PENTLAND

FLORENCE — Fresh off his attempt to set the world record for distance traveled in a pumpkin boat, Dave Rothstein is celebrating a different kind of world championship — in snow sculpting.The Florence resident and his four-man team — Team Mexico — took...

Sandy Lane vote may head to Montague’s Annual Town Meeting

MONTAGUE — Selectboard members indicated their intention to move forward with putting an article on the May Annual Town Meeting warrant that, if approved, would make Sandy Lane a public way.Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey explained the...

Whately Selectboard loosens police detail requirements at Club Castaway

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — Following several check-ins, the Selectboard has opted to loosen Club Castaway’s police detail requirements to just Friday and Saturday nights.When the club reopened in October, the board opted to require a police detail each Thursday,...

Montague Selectboard executes contract with town administrator’s successor

By DOMENIC POLI

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard has executed a contract with Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey, who is slated to take over as town administrator for Steve Ellis starting July 1.The Selectboard started gearing up for the hiring process after Ellis...

Montague Elks Lodge’s $2.5K donation supports those in need at Turners Falls High School

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

TURNERS FALLS — What started as a simple way to provide food and snacks for those competing in after-school activities at Turners Falls High School has evolved into a way of giving back to the community. Athletic Director Adam Graves, School Resource...

Healing by Standing Together: Online forum features leaders of group promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace

By MADDIE FABIAN

The hearts of Jewish and Palestinian Americans in western Massachusetts are aching.Over the last nearly four months, hundreds of community members have united at protests in the form of rallies, sit-ins, and letter signings for a permanent cease-fire,...

North County Notebook: Jan. 31, 2024

Business plans ‘Saint Valentines Charcuterie Class’ NORTHFIELD — Cameron’s Winery and The Back Room Brewing Co. at 1046 Millers Falls Road invite residents to a “Saint Valentines Charcuterie Class” on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m.Participants will...

PHOTO: Eagle eye

Massachusetts troopers arrested for taking bribes to pass commercial drivers on test

By MICHAEL CASEY

BOSTON — Two current and two former Massachusetts State Police troopers were among six people charged Tuesday in a scheme to allegedly take bribes including a new snowblower and driveway in exchange for giving passing scores on commercial driving...

COVID-19 transmission risk remains ‘high’

By CHRIS LARABEE

As it has been for all of January, the COVID-19 transmission risk for the four communities in the Contact Tracing Collaborative — Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague and Sunderland — remains “high.” Last week’s wastewater testing results showed there were...

New wetlands bylaw in place in Shutesbury

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — After a series of amendments and nearly three hours of discussion and debate, a new wetlands protection bylaw is in place in Shutesbury, adopted without a sentence that some interpreted as giving developers veto power over certain...

Literacy Project spreads its wings with new Easthampton location

By MADDIE FABIAN

EASTHAMPTON — After dropping out of high school, Easthampton resident Peter Morris, now 32 years old, went on to work at the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s distribution center, then Friendly’s for a couple of years, before going on disability to search for...

Winter wonderland or season switch-up? 102nd Winter Carnival taking on summer theme

By ABNER ROJAS

GREENFIELD — Despite February being one of the coldest months of the year, attendees of the 102nd annual Winter Carnival can warm up with summer-style activities under this year’s theme of “Season Switch-Up.”Local businesses will be lending a hand to...

Police arrest two in Greenfield for drug, gun offenses

GREENFIELD — Two men were arrested on drug and firearm charges after the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force, the Greenfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police STOP Team executed a search warrant at 83 Hope St. on Friday...

PHOTO: Serene snowscape