No surprises in Warwick election

By CHRIS LARABEE

WARWICK — With no contested races, there were no surprises in Monday’s town election.

West County Notebook: May 21, 2025

CHARLEMONT — The Department of Conservation and Recreation will be closing the day use area at the Mohawk Trail State Forest from May 23 through June 6 to accommodate storm damage repair work along the trails.

State plans to close all hotel, motel shelters this summer

By SAM DRYSDALE

The state will close its remaining motel and hotel shelters this summer, Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday, as the governor and lawmakers have imposed restrictions on the emergency housing system over the past year and family enrollment has declined.

Taking ‘a step toward peace’: 25th annual Peacemaker Awards honor students for creating positive change

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Students from across the Pioneer Valley were honored last week for their work in creating positive change in the world during the 25th annual Peacemaker Awards ceremony.

Life metaphors: Local poets’ prose recognized by National Baseball Poetry Festival

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORCESTER — According to Oxford Dictionary, baseball refers to both the game and the ball used in it. It’s a popular sport played by two teams of nine players, who take turns batting and fielding. The game involves hitting a ball with a bat and running around four bases before the other team can return the ball.

‘Spreading love and mindfulness’: Political activist Joshua Jay Dostis remembered at celebration of life

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

WENDELL — Before his death in November, Joshua Jay Dostis, better known locally as the politically charged jester Waffles T. Clown, announced his terminal illness in a fashion typical to him, with a communal gathering at the Full Moon Coffeehouse.

Greenfield Human Rights Commission urges support for single-payer health care

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Amid rising health insurance rates, Human Rights Commission member Paul Jablon drafted a resolution calling for the city’s support of a bill to convert  Massachusetts to a single-payer health care system — a change that he said was expected to save the city $3 to $5 million in insurance costs. 

Rowe Selectboard race questioned after campaign miscues

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ROWE — Town officials are awaiting guidance from the State Ethics Commission after both candidates for a Rowe Selectboard seat in Saturday’s election may have committed campaign or ethics law violations.

Greenfield man faces home invasion, assault charges in Elm Street standoff

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — The man accused of barricading himself in an Elm Street home on Friday morning, resulting in a six-hour standoff with police, pleaded not guilty to home invasion and assault charges in Greenfield District Court on Monday.

How Trump’s tariff proposals could hit Massachusetts’ biotech industry

By MILENA ROVCHANIN

Massachusetts’ thriving biotechnology sector, home to over 100,000 jobs and more than 1,000 life sciences companies, is staring down a potential shock to its supply chains: sweeping new tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump.

Growth of tourism, recreation focus of chamber luncheon

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — At Northfield Golf Course Friday morning, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly lunch was all about how tourism and recreation can drive the local economy.

Montague and Erving Notebook, May 19, 2025

TURNERS FALLS — Two ash trees located in front of Gary’s Coins and Antiques on Avenue A in Turners Falls were the subject of a brief tree hearing on Thursday, May 15 as contractors with Mountain View Landscaping continue their work for street improvements.

In the moment: UMass Amherst grads enter changing global landscape

By SAMUEL GELINAS

AMHERST — Change is a theme common enough at college commencements — a beginning and an end. But for the UMass Amherst class of 2025, change seemed more pressing and obvious when they received their diplomas Friday night.

Montague Police Logs: April 28 to May 10, 2025

Monday, April 28

Orange Sewer Commission eyes rate hikes to fund wastewater operations

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The Sewer Commission continued its May 14 public hearing for two weeks to allow time for research into possible ways to avoid drastic rate hikes in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Ready to fly: Greenfield Community College graduates 308 in ‘ challenging time’

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — As Greenfield Community College’s 308 graduates step out into a tumultuous world, they were urged to stay grounded in their values by a commencement speaker who one time left the world.

Berkshire East owner takes over Burke Mountain ski resort in Vermont

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

CHARLEMONT — Jon Schaefer, whose family owns Berkshire East Mountain Resort, has conquered another mountain and taken over operations of Burke Mountain Resort in northern Vermont.

Two North Quabbin area veterans honored with Quilts of Valor

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Two more North Quabbin area veterans became Quilts of Valor recipients following a ceremony at the Community Church of North Orange and Tully last week.

Photos: A city abuzz

Bernardston voters approve paying off fire truck loan at Town Meeting

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — Bernardston voters approved paying off the entire balance of the borrowing for a new fire truck at Town Meeting on Saturday, as well as 25 other articles on the Town Meeting, but voted down a citizen’s petition to add an October special Town Meeting to the calendar.