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By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — The Zoning Board of Appeals, at the applicant’s request, continued the public hearing on two special permits for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter’s proposed new location to June 9.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — While one developer inquired about the town’s senior housing project, no bids were submitted in response to the request for proposals (RFP) to transform the former St. James Church parcel at 83-85 North Main St. into affordable housing.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Following months of hearings, the Planning Board has approved the site plan for the proposed new location of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter.

DEERFIELD — To facilitate Eversource’s grid enhancement project, Stillwater Road will be closed to all traffic from Upper Road/Stillwater Bridge to Hoosac Road on Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9.

I trust I was not the only Greenfield Recorder reader who was taken aback by the headline on the May 1 front page (“Antisemitic incidents remain up”) accompanied by a photograph of a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College. Conflating these students’ actions with antisemitism is precisely what the Trump administration wants, but it is not the truth. People like RumaysaOsturk, Mahmoud Khalil, and Mohsen Mahdawi who express concern over Israel’s ongoing violence against Palestinian civilians are not antisemites. This regrettable placement of the photo and that headline warrants a correction by the paper or at least a commitment to do better in the future.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Selectboard Chair Tim Hilchey was reelected to his seat on Monday, fending off a challenge from former Selectboard member David Wolfram, 814-558.

By CHRIS LARABEE

Across the United States, beekeepers are facing their greatest crisis in decades, with more than 1 million colonies reported lost in the last 10 months.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Ahead of Monday’s election, the two Selectboard candidates came together for a forum to pitch their platforms to voters.

I am writing to express my full support for the re-election of Tim Hilchey to the DeerfieldSelectboard. As a former chair of the Community Preservation Committee and the Conservation Commission and a member of the Selectboard for the last three years, Tim has shown steady leadership, a deep commitment to our community and a genuine willingness to listen and act on the concerns of residents.

Tim Hilchey has proved he works for all of Deerfield, not just a few of us. His credentials, accomplishments and commitment have been demonstrated over and over again.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — As the 20th annual show for the Antique Truck Club of America’s western Massachusetts chapter is set to kick off this weekend, the event is nearly old enough to be considered “antique” itself.

I have lived in Deerfield since 1977. Over the years we have had some hurdles with funding projects and lining up priorities. We seem to jump around with what order we have for town projects. We need a plan for all town projects, not just the campus center. We have some terrific new staff at the Town Hall. We need to focus on our needs to develop long-range goals of what we expect to accomplish in 5, 10, and 15 years. We need to use their expertise to guide us forward.

An April 28 letter to the editor makes claims about Deerfield that don’t hold up on closer examination [“Deerfield needs David Wolfram on Select Board”]. In particular, the letter addresses property tax increases and housing affordability.

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Frontier Regional School students will be setting sail into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend when they put on performances of “Wild Kate: A Tale of Revenge at Sea.”

Regarding the upcoming election for Select Board in Deerfield, and in response to a public statement seeking to make one particular claim tying tax increases to Select Board members. The Select Board doesn’t raise taxes. The citizens vote at Town Meeting to approve projects, like the sewer plant and the library- that raise taxes. Housing values have skyrocketed in the past 5 years which has increased taxes, while the Select Board has actually reduced the tax rate. To imply that one Select Board member is responsible for tax increases is perhaps not a completely informed suggestion. I’ve also learned that Tim Hilchey has assisted in bringing in millions of dollars in grants to pay for much needed improvements to the sidewalks which everyone was complaining about, a beautiful parking lot with high speed EV chargers which bring people to town who spend their money while waiting to charge their EV, and worked tirelessly to get money to rehab the old senior center to make new town offices without spending any local tax dollars. Tim has shown himself to be resourceful and hard working for our town. To blame him for tax increases is a false argument, and does not do justice to a man who has done so much for our town. To quote Tim Hilchey: “I’m a guy who likes to get things done, and I enjoy it.” OK, sounds good to me. And just to be clear — I am grateful that we have two good candidates to choose from, both of whom have served the community. We live in a great place here, and it’s great to see more and more citizens interested and involved.

A vote for David Wolfram for Deerfield selectman is a vote for confidence. Confidence in accountability, commitment, courage and strong leadership. Town leaders have significant responsibilities and make decisions that are in the best interests of residents. Dave Wolfram has the history, and proven leadership, as a lifelong Deerfield resident, Frontier Regional School alum and class president, former police officer, EMT, volunteer firefighter and 9-year member of the Deerfield Selectboard. Experienced in preserving the town’s quality of life, he will focus on schools, community projects and senior support while conserving town resources with fiscal stability. Respect for diversity in both his personal and community experience allows for public inclusion on decision making. Life is about making good decisions. A vote for Dave Wolfram on May 5 is a vote for confidence and strong leadership.

I write in enthusiastic support of Tim Hilchey for re-election to the Deerfield Selectboard. For Tim, no job is too small or too big. He commits himself to both kinds of work in his role as a Selectboard member and in so doing advances the town’s economic health. 

ERVING — A Northfield motorcyclist was killed following a collision with a pickup truck at the intersection of Prospect Street and Route 63 in Erving at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — For the second time in two years, Annual Town Meeting voters once again rejected a citizen’s petition on Monday that would have asked the state Legislature to lower the municipal voting age to 16.

I am writing in support of Tim Hilchey’s re-election to the Deerfield Select Board. In addition to his selectboard seat, Tim has a history of service to our town, including participating in the Community Preservation Committee, South County EMS Oversight Board, Medical Reserve Corps, and Friends of Deerfield 350th fundraiser. As a selectman, he has worked tirelessly for the people of Deerfield, even donating his own physical labor! In tough financial times he has fought for state and federal funds, including almost $3 million to fund the Leary Lot and EV Charger Project— at no cost to the town.