News

Greenfield homicide victim to be memorialized in Pittsfield

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Services for Christopher Hairston, 35, who was identified as the victim in last week’s slaying on Chapman Street, will be held Thursday at the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home in Pittsfield from 4 to 6:30 p.m.Hairston, a drummer from...

Office of Travel and Tourism director tours Franklin County, looks to increase presence

By DOMENIC POLI

Looking to increase her department’s presence around the state, the executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism recently visited some of Franklin County’s tourism destinations.Kate Fox was taken on a whirlwind tour around the...

Doors open at Tilton Library’s temporary home at South Deerfield Congregational Church

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — It was business as usual at Tilton Library on Wednesday morning — just in a slightly different location.The library reopened Wednesday in its temporary space at the South Deerfield Congregational Church, 71 North Main St., just a few...

DA to announce breakthrough in 1989 unsolved homicide in Warwick

GREENFIELD — Authorities have scheduled a press conference on Thursday morning to announce what they say is a major breakthrough in the case of human remains found in Warwick in 1989.Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, First Assistant...

Greenfield Notebook: May 2, 2024

May 3: ‘Delightful Dots Pop-Up Shop’ GREENFIELD — The Baystate Franklin Medical Center gift shop is sponsoring a “Delightful Dots Pop-Up Shop” in the hospital lobby on Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale, ahead of Mother’s Day, will feature...

Montague voters to decide spending requests for litigation, airport and library design

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

MONTAGUE — Residents will gather to vote on 25 warrant articles at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, deciding on funding for the airport, ongoing litigation with FirstLight Hydro Generating Co., and design work for library renovations or...

Clean energy proposals head to Ashfield Annual Town Meeting

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

ASHFIELD — Will residents see a ‘greener’ Ashfield in 2050?A pair of articles on Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting warrant will play a role in making that vision a reality, as voters will be asked to consider a decarbonization resolution in Article 30 to...

Mohawk Trail Regional School looks to leave audiences humming, smiling at spring musical

By GRACE LEE

BUCKLAND — Mohawk Trail Regional School’s theater program is bringing audiences a light-hearted, family-friendly musical for its spring production: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”Performances will be held Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, both...

Judge sets bail for Millers Falls assault suspects

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Two men accused of beating another nearly to death in Millers Falls the night after Christmas can be released if they post $2,500 bail and submit to GPS monitoring, a Franklin County Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday.Brendon Collette,...

Former Greenfield man granted new trial after 1995 murder conviction, walks free

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — A former Greenfield man serving a life sentence for a 1994 murder was released from prison on Tuesday, three and a half months after the state Supreme Judicial Court ordered that a new trial be held in his case.Elvio J. Marrero, 63,...

Citizen’s petition on tax rate tabled in Bernardston

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

BERNARDSTON — After residents breezed through voting on the first 32 warrant articles at a 40-article Annual Town Meeting on Monday with little to no discussion, a citizen’s petition to lower property tax rates sparked an hour-long discussion.Voters...

Orange Selectboard declares armory as surplus property

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The Selectboard has voted to designate the Orange Armory as surplus property, the first step for the town in ridding itself of the 111-year-old structure.The armory, located at 135 East Main St., has fallen into disrepair. The Selectboard...

Student voting petition rejected in Deerfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — While voters approved the first 20 articles on Monday’s Annual Town Meeting warrant, residents did not follow in the footsteps of neighboring Sunderland, as they rejected a citizen’s petition seeking to ask the Legislature to lower the...

PHOTOS: Making an impression

Salvation Army of Greenfield raises over $5K for meals program

GREENFIELD — The Salvation Army of Greenfield raised more than $5,000 on Friday during its “Fill the Plate” fundraising dinner.On a monthly basis, The Salvation Army of Greenfield distributes more than 800 meals to residents who struggle with food...

Antique pickup trucks to vintage tractor trailers on tap for 19th annual show in South Deerfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Vintage trucks of all models will be on hand on Sunday, May 5, as the Antique Truck Club of America’s western Massachusetts chapter kicks off the club’s truck show season with its 19th annual event.As it has been for years, the truck...

Performing arts camp at NMH marks 25th year

By ABNER ROJAS

GILL — The Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts is celebrating its 25th year of providing arts programming to thousands of economically disadvantaged children from across the Northeast. The camp, for children ages 12 to 17, will be held from Aug....

New ‘giving circle’ fosters togetherness while funding Franklin County nonprofits

By AALIANNA MARIETTA

SHELBURNE FALLS — Three friends are looking to turn $50 donations into $5,000 contributions for nonprofits across Franklin County.Shelburne Falls residents Clare Pearson and Kim Klein, along with Charlemont resident Karen Hogness, are starting a...

Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment at UMass flagship, joining growing national movement

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — Student protesters at the University of Massachusetts began pitching tents near the W.E.B. DuBois Library Monday morning in solidarity with Palestinians, following the example of their peers at campuses across the country who have created...