Volunteer cuddlers provide a calming touch for babies

By ANDY CASTILLO

GREENFIELD — A rocking chair is prominent inside Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s birthing center — that’s where volunteer cuddlers provide human touch, which some mother’s aren’t able to give.Linda Jablonski, assistant manager of obstetrics, said...

District Court Logs, Feb. 2 to 10, 2017

Greenfield, Feb. 2, Judge William Mazanec III Wilifred E. Thompson III, 33, of Hope Street, Greenfield. Charge of violation of an abuse prevention order, in Greenfield, released on personal recognizance, continued to 3/8/17 for pretrial...

University of South Carolina trustee ditches Hitler painting, apologizes

By JOHN MONK

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A longtime University of South Carolina board of trustees member says he has gotten rid of a painting on display at his house by Adolf Hitler, the World War II Nazi leader who sent 6 million Jews and millions of others to be killed...

Calif. college plans to move into former NMH campus in Northfield

By SHELBY ASHLINE

NORTHFIELD — The former Northfield Mount Hermon School campus may finally have a new purpose.Thomas Aquinas College, a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Santa Paula, Calif., will be given the core campus on May 2, Emmitt Mitchell, a member of the...

Welcoming Good Vibes

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Anthony Cutaia has one foot in the door of the recreational marijuana industry.The Orange resident opened the Good Vibes smoke shop at 9 East Main St. in mid-September to sell tobacco and smoking accessories. He hopes the store will...

Burger King closes in Greenfield

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Nearly 30 people started 2017 without jobs following the closure of Greenfield’s Burger King, which shut down at the end of the business day on Dec. 31.Increasing costs and declining sales played a large factor in the decision to close...

land transfers franklin county

BERNARDSTONMary M. Gleason to Sean M. Mason of Northfield. 24 Harwood Drive. $1BUCKLANDBrian J. Pierce of Turners Falls to Ruth S. Pierce. 11 East Buckland Road. No ConsiderationConway Road Partners, John S. Carpenter of Greenfield and William J....

District Court Logs, Dec. 2 to 6, 2016

Orange, Dec. 2, Judge David S. Ross Jose Orellana, 31, of Chelsea. Charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, was not prosecuted, as, according to a statement made by a counsel from the district attorney’s office, it was in the interest of...

After recent damage, group responsible for Greenfield nativity scene hopes to deter vandals

By AVIVA LUTTRELL

GREENFIELD — After recent vandalism to the nativity scene on the Town Common, the group responsible for setting it up is hoping to find a solution that will put an end to the damage without diminishing the spirit of the display.Some time Monday night,...

During first look at wildfire rubble, residents in a daze

By ADAM BEAM and JONATHAN MATTISE

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Residents and business owners in Gatlinburg got their first look at the wildfire destruction on Friday, and many walked around the once-bustling tourist city in a daze, sobbing.They hugged each other and promised that they would...

A new vocation: Jay Healy talks about life at the Sawmill

By ANDY CASTILLO

CHARLEMONT — Former state legislator and Agriculture Secretary Jay Healy stands in cascading sunlight, pouring through a small window in a storage barn at The Sawmill at Hall Tavern Farm, just off Route 2.“We have some of the best pine trees in the...

Man charged with attempted murder in Turners Falls stabbing

By ANDY CASTILLO

TURNERS FALLS — A man charged with attempted murder in connection to a cocaine-related knife stabbing on L Street around 7:30 p.m. Halloween night was arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday afternoon.Bail was set at $10,000 for Christopher...

District Court Logs, Oct. 4 to 11, 2016

Greenfield, Oct. 4, Judge William Mazanec III Norman T. Plausky, 45, of Water Street, Greenfield. Pleaded guilty to shoplifting, third offense, at Big Y Supermarket in Greenfield, sentenced to six months in the house of correction, suspended, placed...

Tree service gets noise complaints

By AVIVA LUTTRELL

GREENFIELD — Jim’s Tree Service has been ordered to have a sound engineer assess the level of noise being produced at the business’ Wells Street location after neighbors complained about “horrendous” noise, sometimes as early as 7 a.m.Owner Jim Elwell...

Districct Court: Sept. 26 - Oct. 3

Greenfield, Sept. 26, Judge William Mazanec III Ayla K. Pierzchala, 27, of Hope Street, Greenfield. Pleaded innocent to operating a motor vehicle with license suspended, in Whately by state police, released on personal recognizance, continued to...

District Court Logs: Sept. 9 to 14, 2016

Orange, Sept. 9, Judge William Mazanec III Bryce M. Cass, 26, of Old Keene Road, Athol. Charges of trafficking in 18 grams or more, or less than 36 grams of heroin, morphine, or opium, and conspiracy to violate drug laws, in Orange by state police,...

Yankee Rowe was a powerful piece of history

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

ROWE — Although it happened 24 years ago, Leonard Laffond clearly remembers when the Yankee Rowe nuclear power plant announced it was closing for good.“That was the fateful day,” he said, finding a copy of the Feb. 27, 1992 Recorder, with its headline...

Hallmark school to close in October, state says

By ANDY CASTILLO

TURNERS FALLS — There won’t be as many student photographers looking for photo opportunities throughout Franklin County after October, when Hallmark Institute of Photography says goodbye to graduates for the last time.On Tuesday, the state confirmed...

New book covers centuries of Gill history

By JACK EVANS

GILL — Dinosaur tracks. A once-legendary fishing spot. Burned buildings, diary entries and the horrific massacre of 300 Native Americans. These seemingly disparate threads weave together in a new book detailing centuries of local history.For...

Deerfield Academy settles sexual abuse lawsuit

By TOM RELIHAN

DEERFIELD — Deerfield Academy has settled a federal lawsuit filed by a former student who accused a former mathematics teacher at the prestigious private school of sexually abusing him.The victim, referred to in the lawsuit as “John Doe” and who was...