News
Heath voters OK $1.6M town budget, school spending
By LIESEL NYGARD
HEATH — After much discussion at Saturday’s Town Meeting, voters approved a $1.6 million fiscal year 2025 spending plan for town services and a $1 million assessment for Heath’s share of the $26.7 million Mohawk Trail Regional School District...
New USDA offices in Greenfield to aid staffing increase, program expansion
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will open its new office at 59 Montague City Road on Wednesday, May 15, leaving behind the department’s former Federal Street location amid staffing increases and an expansion of new programs. “It’s a...
Montague Notebook: May 10, 2024
Pamela Means presents ‘The Power of the Protest Song’TURNERS FALLS — Jazz musician, activist and educator Pamela Means will bring “The Power of the Protest Song: Our Shared History & Present Day” to Peskeompskut Park on Saturday, May 18, from 4 to 6...
Longtime Orange public servant Richard Sheridan dies at 78
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — Richard Sheridan, a longtime public servant whose Selectboard tenure ended in January, died unexpectedly on April 29. He was 78.Selectboard members on Wednesday held a moment of silence for their former colleague and Chair Tom Smith praised...
Deerfield’s Tilton Library expansion ‘takes a village’
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — With tosses of dirt, dozens of residents, town officials and legislators celebrated the start of Tilton Library’s expansion Friday morning.The ceremony was more than a decade in the making and officially kicked off the project as the...
Vote on resort permit anticipated soon in Charlemont as board talks conditions
By CHRIS LARABEE
CHARLEMONT — A vote on the special permit application for Hinata Mountainside Resort could come as soon as next week, as the Planning Board and applicants ironed out conditions on the permit Thursday evening.If approved, the Planning Board would give...
Rowe voters to consider two-town fire district, expanding cemetery
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
ROWE — Annual Town Meeting voters will consider creating a two-town fire district with Charlemont, expanding the town cemetery and enlarging Pelham Lake Park when they meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the Rowe Elementary School, following a Special Town...
Following ‘no’ vote in 2023, Hawley voters will again consider resolution on state flag, seal
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
HAWLEY — Voters will consider adopting a resolution to change the state flag and seal, and whether to approve the town’s Mohawk Trail Regional School District assessment, which is seeing a 19% increase, during Monday’s Annual Town...
South County Notebook: May 11, 2024
Historical Society hosting ‘French Flintlock Musket: A Game-Changer in the Struggle for Independence’ CONWAY — The Conway Historical Society is presenting its May program on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to learn about the role...
North Quabbin Notebook: May 11, 2024
Quilts of Valor presentation set for Tuesday ORANGE — The North Orange Grange will hold a Quilts of Valor presentation at the Community Church of North Orange and Tully on Tuesday.The ceremony at 48 Main St. will begin at 7:30 p.m.The Quilts of Valor...
Montague Police Logs: April 15 to April 21, 2024
Monday, April 157:56 a.m. — Fire Department requested to Park Villa Drive for a fire on top of a stove.Tuesday, April 167:55 a.m. — Reporting party from Turners Falls Road states there is some sort of unattended fire with heavy smoke coming from the...
PHOTO: Benefit concert bears fruit for Sgt. Jacob Garmalo Memorial Fund
Conway adopts records policy after Historical Commission’s taking of documents
By CHRIS LARABEE
CONWAY — With the adoption of a new policy this week, historical records have been returned to the town vault following a “series of misunderstandings” between the Historical Commission and town clerk over the custody and safety of the records.After...
Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Honor Roll, Third Quarter
Seventh Grade High Honors: Emma Chloe Bennington, Matthew Lee Brazie, Tristan William Dowler, Konner David DuPray, Calvin Michael Feltman, Lucas Robert Hart, Laylah Ann Marie Lamarche, Quinn Matthew Lucas-Mullen, Jenna Lynne Nolette, Carly Rose Paluk,...
Beacon Hill Roll Call: April 29 to May 3, 2024
By BOB KATZEN
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions during the week of April 22 to April 26. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.Tax credits for conservation land (H 4600)...
Beacon Hill Roll Call: April 22 to April 26, 2024
By BOB KATZEN
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 22 to April 28. Some of the House roll calls are on the House version of a $58 billion fiscal year 2025 state budget.$375 million for roads...
UMass graduation speaker Colson Whitehead pulls out over quashed campus protest
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Disturbed by the arrests of 132 protesters on the University of Massachusetts campus this week during a pro-Palestinian encampment, Colson Whitehead, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the...
Heath Finance Committee opposes school spending articles as Town Meeting nears
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
HEATH — Annual Town Meeting voters will be asked to consider an overall $1.6 million fiscal year 2025 spending plan for town government services on Saturday, along with another $1 million assessment for its share of the $26.7 million Mohawk Trail...
Peacemaker Awards recognize anti-bullying, outreach work done by area students
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The Interfaith Council of Franklin County and the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice honored 31 local students for their work fighting racism and bullying, spreading compassion, and acting as forces for positive change in their...
UMass student group declares no confidence in chancellor
By CHAD CAIN
AMHERST — A day after 132 people were arrested in pro-Palestinian protests on the University of Massachusetts campus, the university’s student government Wednesday night formally declared it had no confidence in Chancellor Javier Reyes and his...
