Cooley Dickinson to resume shuttle service to Boston hospitals

NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to expand Pioneer Valley residents’ access to health care services at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear, Cooley Dickinson Hospital restarted its round-trip, daily shuttle service this week.

The 28-passenger, wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus, which is equipped with free Wi-Fi, departs daily from the parking lot across from 8 Atwood Drive in Northampton at 6:30 a.m. The bus will make one stop at a rest area along the Massachusetts Turnpike, arriving at Mass General Hospital’s Fruit Street entrance at approximately 9 a.m. for patients with appointments at Mass General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear. The bus will then proceed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to drop off patients.

In 2020, Cooley Dickinson Hospital paused the shuttle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All appointments at Mass General, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear must be scheduled between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. as the shuttle bus will leave the Boston hospitals at 3 p.m.

The shuttle runs Monday through Friday; there is no shuttle service on weekends or major holidays.

Legislative Coffee set for Saturday

GREENFIELD — The League of Women Voters of Franklin County will host a Legislative Coffee with state Reps. Natalie Blais and Susannah Whipps, and state Sen. Jo Comerford on Saturday, June 28, at 3 p.m. at the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center.

“It is as vital to engage at the community-level as it is to call our national leaders to account. Our state legislators understand the local impacts we’re facing — they need our passion and advocacy to bring attention to our needs at Beacon Hill,” Marie Gauthier, president of the League of Women Voters of Franklin County, said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to raise their collective voices and be heard.”

Franklin County students named to UNE dean’s list

BIDDEFORD, MAINE — Eight Franklin County students have been named to the dean’s list at the University of New England for the spring semester. They are:

Griffin de Ruiter of Bernardston; Benjamin Makosiej of Conway; Morgan Martineau of Greenfield; and Katheryn Fuller, Elizabeth Musselman, Jason Quinn and Avery Sargent, all of Northfield.

To be named to the dean’s list, students must attain a grade point average of at least 3.3 out of a possible 4.0.

MassDEP offers water, sewer infrastructure support to two local towns

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is providing free technical assistance for water and sewer infrastructure mapping to the Turners Falls Water Department and the Ashfield Water District through its Water Utility Resilience Program.

The assistance will support 11 drinking water systems and five sewer systems throughout Massachusetts. These maps will help communities plan effectively, respond to emergencies and manage their infrastructure.

“This program has significantly improved the water sector’s understanding of where and how services are delivered in Massachusetts,” MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple said in a statement. “By mapping potential vulnerabilities and infrastructure risks, we’re empowering local communities to plan for the future, adapt to our changing climate needs, and maintain the safety and quality of our water systems.”

Three local pupils named to Quinnipiac dean’s list

HAMDEN, Conn. — Three Franklin County students were named to the dean’s list at Quinnipiac University for the spring semester.

They are: Alana Redeker of Bernardston, Camryn Howe of Deerfield and Alexis Antonellis of Greenfield.

To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade point average of at least a 3.5 with no grade lower than a C. Full-time students must complete at least 14 credits in a semester, with at least 12 credits that have been graded on a letter grade basis to be eligible. Part-time students must complete at least six credits during a semester.

Valley Players seeks play submissions for Take Ten reading showcase

Valley Players is seeking play submissions for its Take Ten reading showcase, which will present five 10-minute plays written by Franklin, Hampshire or Hampden county residents in October.

The plays will be selected by leaders of the local theater community, directed by five Pioneer Valley directors and will feature a cast of local actors. Half of the net ticket sales from the staged reading will be donated to The Literacy Project to support the organization’s work serving education and literacy needs in western Massachusetts.

Only one submission per playwright will be considered. Plays must be no more than 10 to 12 pages, feature a cast of no more than three actors, and have not been performed, published or received a public reading.

There is no entry fee and no limitation on the topic, style or genre of the play. Playwrights whose work is chosen will receive a cash honorarium in addition to the staged reading.

Submissions must be received by email to info@valleyplayers.org no later than July 31.

Sen. Comerford receives two statewide honors

BOSTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, received two statewide honors in May: the Disability Law Center’s 2025 Senate Legislator of the Year and the Children’s League of Massachusetts’ 2025 Senate Champion for Children Award.

The Disability Law Center is a nonprofit that aims to provide protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities. Comerford received recognition for her leadership in passing legislation to curtail the state’s MassHealth Estate Recovery practices, which were in excess of the federally required minimum; her continued efforts to allow spouses to be paid family caregivers; and her commitment to supporting young adults living with disabilities through the Blue Envelope Program.

The Children’s League of Massachusetts is a nonprofit association of child and family organizations that collectively advocate for public policies and services that are in the best interest of children, youth and families. Comerford received recognition for her leadership on legislation to protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care and her leadership on a foster children’s bill of rights.