Greenfield Notebook: Jan. 10, 2024

Local author to host book reading GREENFIELD — Local author and teacher Mk Smith Despres will host a reading and book signing at Imaginary Bookshop, located at 365 Main St., on Saturday. Despres will be at the bookshop from 11 a.m. to noon, reading...

PHOTOS: Braving a blizzard

Climate Forestry Committee releases report with state forest management recommendations

By BELLA LEVAVI

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) has released the long-awaited Climate Forestry Committee’s report, which contains a slew of recommendations for forest management practices in Massachusetts with a key focus on climate...

Complaint challenges Trump’s ballot access in Massachusetts

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

After filing legal challenges in several other states to bar Donald Trump from ballot eligibility in this year’s primaries, a Massachusetts-incorporated advocacy group has now done so in its home state.Free Speech for People, a nonprofit led by...

Grant infusion boosts priority road projects in West County towns in 2024

By BELLA LEVAVI

Editor’s note: The Greenfield Recorder is publishing stories about what Franklin County residents can likely expect to see happening in their towns in 2024. Details about projects in the western part of the county were shared in two installments. This...

Sunderland Public Library closing for carpet replacement project

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — The Sunderland Public Library will close for two weeks starting Wednesday as it undergoes an extensive carpet replacement project.From Wednesday, Jan. 10 through Tuesday, Jan. 23, the library will be closed and all in-person services will...

GCC’s MLK Day celebration expands in 25th year

By MARY BYRNE

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College will host its 25th celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with an expanded lineup of workshops that organizers hope will engage the community in new ways. “GCC is obviously such a social and cultural hub in...

Montague Police Logs: Dec. 27, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024

Wednesday, Dec. 27 5:44 p.m. — Caller from Cumberland Farms on Montague City Road states that while she was in the store, her granddaughter was approached by a man who asked her to roll down the car window but she refused. Caller asked the party what...

After appeal dismissed, BlueWave Solar project back on track in Northfield 

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — With the appeal of BlueWave Solar’s three arrays on Pine Meadow Road dismissed in September, the company is working with its project partners as it prepares to make progress on their installation.Stagnant for two years because of the 2021...

Outreach program to enhance Deerfield River Watershed stream resources

By BELLA LEVAVI

SHELBURNE FALLS — An $11,850 grant from the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture’s Coldwater Stewardship Program awarded to the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute and Franklin Land Trust will support engaging the community in coldwater fisheries habitat...

DA’s office IDs Sunderland man struck and killed in Hadley

HADLEY — The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has identified the 33-year-old Sunderland man who was killed after being struck by a car early Saturday morning as Melvin L. Wilson.Wilson was struck by a car along the edge of the Route 116 in...

PHOTOS: Snowy Sunday stroll

Public safety infrastructure a key focus for North County towns in 2024

By LIESEL NYGARD

Editor’s note: The Greenfield Recorder is publishing stories about what Franklin County residents can likely expect to see happening in their communities in 2024.As 2024 gets underway, multiple towns in northern Franklin County are set on bolstering...

‘I wanted to be of service’: Lora Wondolowski joins Greenfield City Council as Precinct 8 rep

By MARY BYRNE

GREENFIELD — After years of encouraging others to step into leadership roles and get involved in their community, Precinct 8 Councilor Lora Wondolowski decided to heed her own advice.“When this opportunity came up, I said to myself, ‘Instead of...

Heat pumps slow to gain traction: Complexity, questions dog adoption of key factor in net-zero goal

By JAIMEE FRANCIS

Heat pumps, which use electricity rather than directly burning fossil fuel, are a key piece of Massachusetts’ goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But the state has hit only 1% of its installation target, in large part because...

PHOTO: Beacon of light

Leyden Public Safety Advisory Committee dissolves after two years

By CHRIS LARABEE

LEYDEN — With the town having achieved an intermunicipal policing agreement, a growing Fire Department and an ambulance contract, Leyden’s Public Safety Advisory Committee officially dissolved in December, just three days from its two-year...

North County Notebook: Jan. 5, 2023

Two Happy Feet walks plannedNORTHFIELD — The Happy Feet walking group has two walks planned this month.On Monday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m., walkers will meet at the Turners Falls canalside access road leading to Cabot Station. The walk is flat and great for...

Greenfield Notebook: Jan. 8, 2024

LAVA Center to host four-week theater workshop on directing and acting GREENFIELD — Led by theater artist Jan Maher, The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will host a four-week workshop for writers, actors and directors, exploring the basics of different...

And Then What Happened?: What a way to end the year

Well that was a weird way to close a year!When we last spoke in September, I was telling you tales of working with Jimmy Buffett, thinking I’d be right back with more fun stories after a quick run to New Orleans for meetings welcoming the 2024 Jazz...