News
Erving Town Meeting voters back Care Drive housing project
By DOMENIC POLI
ERVING — The town is one step closer to affordable housing on Care Drive after residents voted Wednesday to authorize the Selectboard to lease, convey or otherwise dispose of the property eyed for the development.Voters at Annual Town Meeting also...
Four Rivers Climate Club organizes litter cleanup, panel on environmental activism
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — In an effort to raise further awareness of climate change and the power of collective action, the new Climate Club at Four Rivers Charter Public School held a day of action this week with a speaker panel and trash pickup around the...
Stoneman Brewery, Real Pickles honored with Good Food Awards
Two area businesses were recognized at the recent Good Food Awards, held on April 29 in Portland, Oregon.Real Pickles, a worker co-operative based in Greenfield, won a Good Food Award for its organic sauerkraut and Stoneman Brewery of Colrain won for...
Leyden bylaw changes regarding ADUs look to address housing shortage
By LIESEL NYGARD
LEYDEN — The Planning Board discussed the possibility of adopting amendments and additions to the town’s zoning bylaws to promote housing growth during a public hearing on Wednesday.The changes, which will be voted on during Leyden’s Annual Town...
Business Briefs: May 10, 2024
May 15: Health Care Job Fair GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is holding a Health Care Job Fair on Wednesday, May 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenfield Community College Dining Commons.Employers who will be present...
Retired police officer, veteran opens firearms training academy in Millers Falls
By DOMENIC POLI
MILLERS FALLS — The Western Massachusetts Training & Education Academy offers an array of firearm courses taught by certified instructor and U.S. Marine veteran Leon “Lee” Laster. But you won’t find live ammunition on site.That’s because the new...
Real Estate Transactions: May 10, 2024
ATHOL 33 Laurel St. $200,000. B: Bryder LLC. S: Cin2023 LLC. 2 Myrtle St. $294,000. B: Kaylee Steele-Hunter and Samuel Steele-Hunter. S: Eamonn F. Mohan and Casey M. Mohan. 539 Sanders St. $325,000. B: Ana M. Sanchez. S: Lilian R. Davis and...
Montague Notebook: May 9, 2024
New trio to perform at Montague Common HallMONTAGUE — Sisters of the Circle, the new trio of singer-songwriters Sarah Pirtle, Hana Zara and Christy Grecsek, will perform at the Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St., on Saturday, May 11. The monthly open...
Valley lawmakers seek shorter license for FirstLight hydropower projects
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
TURNERS FALLS — Area lawmakers are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to limit the relicensing of FirstLight’s hydropower projects from 50 years to 30 years, and to mandate the company disclose more data to the public about its...
Comerford: Free community college plan will lift up students, offer immediate return on investment
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
A plan unveiled by Senate Democrats on Monday to make community college free for all in Massachusetts starting this fall has the potential to have a big impact for prospective students across the state.The “MassEducate” plan would invest $75.5 million...
No surprises in Wendell election
WENDELL — There were no surprises in Monday’s town election, as there were no contested races and two positions for which there were no candidates on the ballot.According to Town Clerk Anna Wetherby, 133 ballots were cast, making for a 17.6% voter...
Korby claims Selectboard seat, Kurland elected moderator in Colrain
COLRAIN — Katie Korby is the town’s newest Selectboard member, having won her election to a three-year term by a 214-124 vote against candidate Howard Phelps.“I’m really grateful to the folks in Colrain that voted for me,” Korby, who is a worker-owner...
Luksha victorious in Northfield Planning Board race
By CHRIS LARABEE
NORTHFIELD — A new face will join the Planning Board as voters opted for Victoria Luksha over incumbent Stephen Seredynski and challenger Joseph Stacy in the town’s only contested race at the ballot box Tuesday.Joining Luksha in being elected to a new...
Streetlight proposal gets unanimous approval in Shelburne
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
SHELBURNE — Residents packed the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School auditorium Tuesday night to give unanimous approval to a plan to buy the town’s streetlights from Eversource and replace them with low-wattage LED lights that could save the town...
More than 130 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest at UMass
By SCOTT MERZBACH and ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
AMHERST — More than 130 people were arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday night after those who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union refused to dismantle tents and other parts of the site, and...
Work on Pinedale Avenue Bridge connecting Athol and Orange to resume
By GREG VINE
ATHOL — Closed for a year and a half, work on the Pinedale Avenue Bridge is set to resume next week, according to Public Works Superintendent Dick Kilhart.Kilhart explained that work has been on hold recently as the project’s contractor, Construction...
Bulky waste recycling event set for Saturday
The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District is holding a “Clean Sweep” Bulky Waste Recycling Day on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at three locations, including one new spot this year.Instead of the Northfield Highway Garage, the Erving...
Pair of public servants vying for Selectboard seat in Heath
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
HEATH — Two candidates with years of town service between them are vying for the Selectboard seat of Susan Lively, who is not seeking reelection to another three-year term.Michael Smith, 55, is a lifelong resident. He was the town’s highway...
Lawyer argues Joshua Hart’s 2018 conviction for Orange murder had inconsistent verdicts
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — Spurred by a state Supreme Judicial Court opinion that pointed to inconsistent verdicts, the Franklin County Superior Court judge who oversaw Joshua Hart’s murder trial in 2018 has taken under advisement a defense attorney’s motion to set...
New fire engine gets nod at Warwick Town Meeting
By DOMENIC POLI
WARWICK — The Fire Department may be in store for its first new fire engine in 3½ decades after Annual Town Meeting voters gave the nod to two articles authorizing $680,000 for one on Monday. Residents authorized the transfer of $200,000 from the...